Written Answers of 24 November 1995

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Ordtech
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what advice he gave to Ministers before they signed public interest immunity certificates in relation to the initial Ordtech trial. [1024]

  The Attorney-General
  The signing of public interest immunity certificates in relation to the Ordtech trial falls within Sir Richard Scott's terms of reference. The Government will await Sir Richard's considered view on the Ordtech case.

HEALTH

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Acts of Parliament including Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [24]

  Mr. Bowis
  There are none that affect local government directly.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the mental health task force submitted an overview report on the way purchasers and providers of mental health services were approaching the replacement of large mental hospitals, following its visits to health authorities early in 1994; and if it has been published. [1924]

  Mr. Bowis
  No specific report has been published on this part of the mental health task force's work. The main conclusions are summarised in section 4.2 of the task force's final report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require NHS auditors as part of their routine audit to ensure that checks against undischarged bankruptcy or criminal convictions on the appointment of chairmen, chief executives and directors have been carried out. [1788]

  Mr. Malone
  It is for the statutory auditor to investigate such matters as he sees fit and to satisfy himself accordingly.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to examine the implications of the European Court of Justice ruling on prescription charges for men aged 60 years and over for the treatment of the sexes in other areas of benefits and charges. [2593]

  Mr. Malone
  The ruling does not affect any other area of charges or benefits paid under national health service regulations.

  Teenage Conceptions
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of "The Health of the Nation" to reduce teenage conceptions. [3069]

  Mr. Sackville
  Recently published figures show that conception rates among girls under 16 have fallen for the third year running and by a fifth over those three years. While conception rates are still high by international standards, this encouraging reduction has reversed the upward trend of the 1980s and reflects valuable work on the part of all those who provide help and advice to young people. Further sustained effort will be necessary to maintain the downward trend towards the target of "The Health of the Nation".

  NHS Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many contracts have been made between purchasers and providers in the NHS in each of the last three years; [2413]

  (2) how many GP fundholder contracts with providers have been made in each of the last three years. [2412]

  Mr. Malone
  In 1993–94 3,982 national health service contracts were agreed between district health authorities and trusts, in 1994–95 there were 3,505 and in 1995–96 there are 3,737 national health service contracts agreed. There is no information available centrally on the numbers of general practitioner fundholder contracts.

  Non-NHS Providers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary for Health if he will itemise how much(a) NHS trusts, (b) general practitioner fundholders, (c) regional health authorities and (d) district health authorities spent on health care from non-NHS providers in each year since 1991–92 in each region. [2417]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information will be placed in the Library.

  Extra-contractual Referrals
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra-contractual references have been made in the NHS in each of the last three years. [2410]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available centrally.

  Private Patient Income
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish details on private patient income in the NHS for each of the last four years(a) by region, (b) by district and (c) by trust. [2430]

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures for 1994–95, 1992–93, and 1991–92 will be placed in the Library. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 13 January 1995,Official Report, columns 267–68 for figures for 1993–94.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total capital expenditure(a) for trusts and (b) for regions in each year from 1993–94, by region. [2418]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 October 1995,Official Report, columns 34–35.

  Continuing Care
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of reinvestment being planned by health authorities in continuing care provision in response to circular HSG(95)8. [2411]

  Mr. Bowis
  Health authorities are currently consulting on their draft policies and eligibility criteria for continuing health care. They are required to finalise these and any resulting changes in spending on continuing health care services by 1 April 1996.

ENVIRONMENT

  Carbon Tax
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer with respect to the introduction of a carbon tax on polluting industries. [1168]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friends have frequent discussions on matters of common interest, which from time to time include the question of a carbon tax.

  The United Kingdom is committed under the framework convention of climate change to return emissions of all greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. We do not need a carbon tax to meet this commitment as, for carbon dioxide, we are on course to achieve reductions of 4 to 8 per cent. below 1990 emission levels.

  This rate of progress puts us at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change and demonstrates once again the Government's determination to deliver on their environmental commitments.

  Energy Efficiency (Government Estate)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility, in each year since 1990. [1456]
  336
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Figures for the energy efficiency performance of the Government estate are published annually. The information given in the last report— published in the answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey, (Mr. Ainsworth) on 17 May 1995,Official Report, column 260—showed that the percentage reduction in the standard energy cost performance indicator for each year covered, relative to the base year 1990–91, for the Department of the Environment was as follows:

  1991–92: 3 percent.

  1992–93: 5 per cent.

  1993–94: 9 per cent.

  Energy efficiency is an important aspect in the specifications for the new buildings which the Department will occupy once it vacates 2 Marsham street.

  Air Pollution Monitoring
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the air pollution monitoring stations in Oxford and the London borough of Brent will be integrated into the national air monitoring network. [1805]

  Mr. Clappison
  The air pollution monitoring stations in Oxford and the London borough of Brent will be integrated into the national air monitoring network shortly.

  Beverley Town
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he will use to decide whether the town of Beverley should be included in any forthcoming parish review. [1904]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We are aware of the strong local desire for a parish council in Beverley town. We are currently considering what reviews the Local Government Commission should be directed to undertake in addition to its on-going programme of periodic electoral reviews.

  Drought Orders
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drought orders have been made in the south-west in 1995; what rivers they affect; how much water is to be extracted; and what is the duration of the order. [2061]

  Mr. Clappison
  Seven drought orders have been made so far in 1995 affecting the area for which South West Water Services Ltd. is the water undertaker. The details are as follows:

  Made 7 September; in force for up to six months.

  1. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order authorised the imposition of restrictions on non-essential uses of water in parts of Carrick. Kerrier and Penwith districts.

  2. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (DRIFT RESERVOIR) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order halved the minimum flow of compensation water required from Drift reservoir into the Newlyn river from 0.016 cubic metres a second to 0.008 cubic metres a second.
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  3. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (STITHIANS RESERVOIR) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order halved the minimum flow of compensation water required from Stithians reservoir into the River Kennal from 0.0316 cubic metres a second to 0.0158 cubic metres a second.

  4. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (RIVER HAYLE) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order reduced the minimum flow required to be maintained in the River Hayle below the St. Erth intake from 0.222 cubic metres a second to 0.105 cubic metres a second.

  5. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (LESWIDDEN POOL) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order authorised the abstraction of not more than 5,460 cubic metres of water a day from Leswidden pool to boost the flow in Sancreed stream.

  Made 20 September; in force for up to six months

  6. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (HAWKS TOR PIT) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order authorised the abstraction of up to 10,000 cubic metres of water a day from Hawks Tor Pit and its transfer by pipeline to the De Lank water treatment works.

  Made 31 October; in force up to 31 December 1995

  7. THE SOUTH WEST WATER SERVICES LIMITED (COLLIFORD LAKE) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995

  The order increases the amount of water that may be abstracted from Colliford Lake reservoir in 1995 from 5,390,000 cubic metres to 8,000,000 cubic metres.

  Water Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will order an investigation into the investment activities of Yorkshire Water and Welsh Water. [1901]

  Mr. Clappison
  No. This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the total education standard spending assessment for England and (b) the latest estimate of the actual expenditure by local authorities on education for 1995–1996. [2249]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is as follows:

  Expenditure on education by English local authorities 1995–96

  £ million

  (a) Standard spending assessment

  17,024

  (b) Budgeted net revenue expenditure

  17,821

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Ministerial Transport, London
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many times in the last year he has used(a) London Underground and (b) London Transport buses while on official business. [379]

  Mr. John. M. Taylor
  I have used neither London Underground nor London Transport buses on official business in the last year.

  Legal Aid (Immigration)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many legal aid certificates were issued for advice and/or representation in cases arising out of the operation of the Immigration Acts; and what was the total cost for each of the past five successive years. [205]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not possible to identify separately the number of civil legal aid certificates arising out of the operation of the Immigration Acts. The figures for green form payments on all immigration and nationality matters are as follows. It is not possible to break them down any further.

  Green form bills in immigration and nationality matters

  Year

  Number of cases

  £ Expenditure

  1990–91

  14,660

  2,652,770

  1991–92

  23,556

  5,017,978

  1992–93

  30,443

  7,247,751

  1993–94

  45,493

  11,294,855

  1994–95

  51,828

  14,572,056

  Human Rights
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department upon which date before 1 January 1996 and with effect from which retrospective date the Lord Chancellor will introduce a measure to provide the effective remedy required under article 13 of the European convention on human rights for a violation of a citizen's right under article 6 of that convention where such violation is or was caused by the failure of the Law Society in the performance of its duties towards the supervision of solicitor officers of the court. [208]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government have no such plans. No further action is required of the Government to comply with article 6 of the European convention on human rights. It follows that article 13 has no application here.

  Asylum Appeals
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against a refusal of asylum are currently outstanding with the Immigration. Appellate Authority; and what was the equivalent figure on(a) 1 January 1995 and (b) on 1 January 1994. [569]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There were approximately 9,980 appeals outstanding on 31 October 1995, 3,400 on 1 January 1995 and 480 on 1 January 1994.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [45]
  339
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department has introduced no Act of Parliament during this period containing provisions which affect local government exclusively. However, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1995 effected the repeal of certain obsolete and unnecessary local enactments.

  Jurors (Counselling)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what provisions are made for jury counselling at the conclusion of murder trials. [337]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Court Service makes no specific provision for jury counselling at the conclusion of murder trials. Where jurors who are distressed contact court staff, they are advised to contact their general practitioner or, if they prefer, a freephone healthline number which details counselling services available. Where the evidence in a case is particularly distressing, the Court Service offers further advice or assistance, where this is considered appropriate.

  Immigration Adjudicators
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of full-time and part-time special adjudicators employed by the Immigration Appellate Authority(a) at the present time, (b) on 1 January 1994 and (c) on 1 January 1993. [568]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There were no special adjudicators on 1 January 1993 as the Immigration Appeals Bill had not yet been enacted. The first special adjudicators were designated by the Lord Chancellor in July 1993. On 1 January 1994 there were 16 full-time immigration adjudicators and 15 part-time immigration adjudicators who were designated as special adjudicators by the Lord Chancellor. At the present time 25 full-time and 52 part-time immigration adjudicators are so designated.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Audiovisual Eureka
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the outcome of the United Kingdom's presidency of the pan-European Audiovisual Eureka initiative. [3072]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am pleased to announce that I have today formally made the London declaration setting out a new role and objectives for Audiovisual Eureka. I do so having been notified by Ministers of 25 of the 33 participating Audiovisual Eureka countries, as well as by the Council of Europe, that they are content to see the declaration adopted. A copy of the declaration has been placed in the House Libraries.

  The London declaration, negotiated under the United Kingdom presidency of Audiovisual Eureka—AVE— takes forward the recommendations of an independent evaluation of the initiative undertaken by management consultants, Coopers and Lybrand. The declaration
  340
  refocuses the pan-European media initiative more narrowly and in keeping with its limited resources. The redefined objectives are to:

  strengthen and promote the audiovisual industry in the wider Europe, taking into account new technology;

  concentrate its activities on acting as an intermediary on the one hand between AVE countries not presently members of the European Union and, on the other, the members of the European Union, as well as European Community and other programmes and instruments applicable to the audiovisual sector;

  initiative and further appropriate structural projects principally in the areas of training audiovisual professionals and the development and distribution of European audiovisual works; and

  provide a range of project-related services targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular to foster partnerships involving countries with limited audiovisual capacity.

  These objectives will be achieved through a four-year work programme prepared by the United Kingdom and Poland, as the current and future presidencies of AVE, which was approved by national co-ordinators from participating countries on 23 and 24 November in Strasbourg.

  The declaration will take effect from 1 January 1996, which also marks the beginning of the new work programme. I expect all member countries of AVE to signal their acceptance of the declaration before then.

DEFENCE

  Princess of Wales
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of which regiments the Princess of Wales is colonel in chief. [2282]

  Mr. Soames
  The Princess of Wales is colonel in chief of the Light Dragoons and the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment—Queen's and Royal Hampshires.

  Training Areas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which body was responsible for taking the decisions on the locations of the low-level operational training areas; and what other bodies were consulted prior to their establishment. [528]

  Mr. Soames
  The decisions on the locations of the tactical training areas were taken by the Ministry of Defence in consultation with National Air Traffic Services. Records to indicate whether any other bodies were consulted have not been retained.

  Refits
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the last refitting dates of all(a) surface vessels and (b) submarines which have taken place over the last five years, indicating the cost of each refit. [463]
  341
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 20 November 1995]: The date and cost of refits undertaken over the last five years are:

  Vessel

  Refit completion date

  Total cost at outturn prices (£)

  a. Surface vessels

  Middleton

  April 1991

  3,800,000

  Chiddingfold

  April 1991

  4,304,000

  Sheraton

  April 1991

  2,568,000

  Southampton

  May 1991

  23,600,000

  Sirius

  May 1991

  22,990,000

  Dovey

  May 1991

  707,000

  Humber

  May 1991

  545,000

  Sir Bedivere

  August 1991

  1,873,000

  Landing Craft Unit 715

  August 1991

  200,000

  Landing Craft Unit 714

  August 1991

  202,000

  Nottingham

  September 1991

  23,562,000

  Beaver

  September 1991

  25,859,000

  Helford

  November 1991

  839,000

  Andromeda

  December 1991

  27,392,000

  Herald

  December 1991

  8,522,000

  Hurworth

  January 1992

  7,554,000

  Blackwater

  January 1992

  2,592,000

  Itchen

  March 1992

  1,921,000

  Olmeda

  April 1992

  8,995,000

  Kingfisher

  April 1992

  746,000

  Britannia

  May 1992

  7,627,000

  Landing Craft Unit 701

  May 1992

  277,000

  Liverpool

  July 1992

  39,538,000

  Bicester

  July 1992

  8,215,000

  Colonel Templer

  July 1992

  5,854,000

  Anglesey

  November 1992

  5,029,000

  Wilton

  November 1992

  1,977,000

  Landing Craft Unit 710

  November 1992

  365,000

  Hecla

  December 1992

  4,985,000

  Arun

  December 1992

  640,000

  Manchester

  February 1993

  45,697,000

  Alderney

  March 1993

  5,692,000

  Diligence

  March 1993

  2,983,000

  Smiter

  March 1993

  15,000

  Spey

  April 1993

  2,539,000

  Bayleaf

  April 1993

  3,865,000

  Messina

  May 1993

  13,000

  Biter

  May 1993

  24,000

  Olna

  May 1993

  8,786,000

  Archer

  June 1993

  28,000

  Ajax

  July 1993

  193,000

  Beagle

  September 1993

  2,547,000

  Atherstone

  September 1993

  2,773,000

  Fort Austin

  September 1993

  6,875,000

  Brave

  November 1993

  20,488,000

  Argus

  November 1993

  4,726,000

  Black Rover

  November 1993

  3,058,000

  Grey Rover

  November 1993

  2,415,000

  Orangeleaf

  December 1993

  3,721,000

  Brecon

  March 1994

  9,024,000

  Sir Percivale

  March 1994

  1,693,000

  Illustrious

  April 1994

  152,659,000

  Gleaner

  April 1994

  56,000

  Brambleleaf

  May 1994

  5,058,000

  Berkeley

  May 1994

  3,741,000

  Landing Craft Unit 706

  June 1994

  145,000

  Battleaxe

  July 1994

  13,203,000

  Leeds Castle

  August 1994

  5,013,000

  Gold Rover

  August 1994

  3,405,000

  Sir Geraint

  September 1994

  2,081,000

  Gloucester

  October 1994

  48,365,000

  Resource

  October 1994

  6,236,000

  Sir Galahad

  November 1994

  2,956,000

  Ledbury

  December 1994

  6,106,000

  Olwen

  December 1994

  8,119,000

  Sir Tristram

  February 1995

  3,647,000

  Orkney

  March 1995

  5,457,000

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  Vessel

  Refit completion date

  Total cost at outturn prices (£)

  Oakleaf

  April 1995

  5,883,000

  London

  May 1995

  127,584,000

  Fort Grange

  May 1995

  8,353,000

  York

  June 1995

  34,339,000

  Bulldog

  June 1995

  3,774,000

  Landing Craft Unit 700

  September 1995

  123,000

  Landing Craft Unit 704

  September 1995

  116,000

  b. Submarines

  Renown

  April 1993

  155,571,000

  Splendid

  December 1993

  118,202,000

  1 Shows costs to date, as final cost certificates have not yet been received.

  Royal Ordnance plc
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the relationship between his Department, Royal Ordnance and PRB; and which countries were supplied with armaments and defence equipment arising from it. [996]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The question does not specify dates, but the Royal Ordnance factories were part of the Ministry of Defence until 2 January 1985, when the property, rights and liabilities were vested in Royal Ordnance plc. At this time, the company was wholly owned by the Government and the Secretary of State for Defence was the sole shareholder. RO plc from 2 January 1985 operated, as far as possible, as an independent company and acted commercially, under the terms of a memorandum of understanding. RO plc sold the tank factory in Leeds to Vickers plc in October 1986 and the sale of RO plc to British Aerospace was completed in April 1987. Since April 1987 the relationship between the Ministry of Defence and the company has been one of customer and supplier.

  PRB was also a supplier to the Ministry of Defence, both directly and, we believe, indirectly, as a subcontractor to Royal Ordnance.

  From 2 January 1985, exports by Royal Ordnance were subject to the normal licensing arrangements, but it has been the practice of successive Governments not to reveal information about individual defence exports.

  Military Aircraft
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures exist for military air traffic controllers to report breaches of active danger areas by military aircraft; and how many such breaches were reported in each of the last three years. [1298]

  Mr. Soames
  National Air Traffic Services procedures allow military air traffic controllers to report civil and military aircraft breaches of danger areas in the United Kingdom. In the event of a breach by UK-based military aircraft, a report is sent to the appropriate military operating authority. Reports of breaches by foreign military aircraft are sent to NATS. Where the aircraft operator is not known, breaches are reported initially to
  343
  HQ Military Air Traffic Organisation so that the aircraft can be identified. Since the beginning of 1993, the number of infringements by military aircraft has been:

  Year

  Number

  1993

  3

  1994

  15

  1995 (to date)

  13

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the difference between a practice interception and a visual identification, in terms of the manoeuvres permitted by British military fighter aircraft when in the vicinity of a civil aircraft. [1305]

  Mr. Soames
  An interception is the initial manoeuvre flown by military aircraft to identify visually an aircraft which has penetrated the UK air defence region without warning. The practice of these manoeuvres is essential training for military aircrew, but any training involving civil aircraft is conducted only as part of a pre-briefed exercise and does not take place in controlled airspace.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates in the past year on which fast jet low flying was authorised after 2300 hours; and what was the reason for the special authorisation in each case. [1286]

  Mr. Soames
  Fast jet low flying was authorised after 2300 hours on the nights of 8–9 and 9–10 June 1995 and 25–26 July 1995 to meet essential training requirements.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to use the automated low flying enquiry and notification system to monitor the concentrations of night low flying in particular areas over time, as an aid to managing the environmental impact of such flights. [1292]

  Mr. Soames
  The intention is to make the fullest practicable use of ALFENS, which will include such monitoring.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if military aircraft are permitted to carry out night low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom, other than in the highlands restricted area, in areas where the forecast weather is less than the minimum requirements for visual flight. [1304]

  Mr. Soames
  Outside the highlands restricted area, night low-flying sorties may be conducted only in areas where the weather conditions meet the minimum requirements for visual flight.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in introducing the ALFENS system; when he expects the system to reach its full operational capability; and how many United Kingdom air bases will have the system installed. [1293]

  Mr. Soames
  Tests of the system commenced in July 1995 as scheduled. These revealed a number of problems which are being resolved, in order to provide full operational capability as expected by mid-1996. ALFENS will be installed at 73 United Kingdom military bases.

  Service Deaths
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and circumstances of all deaths of service or civilian personnel in the past five years for which coroners' inquests or fatal accident inquiries have been held. [1294]

  Mr. Soames
  Information of the nature requested is not held centrally by my Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Purple Airspace
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many infringements of purple airspace have been reported in each year since 1990. [1276]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested has been provided by National Air Traffic Services:

  Year

  Infringements by military aircraft

  Infringements by civil aircraft

  1990

  2

  5

  1994

  0

  1

  1995 (to date)

  1

  0

  There were no infringements of purple airspace recorded in 1991, 1992 or 1993.

  AIRPROX
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessments he has made of the likely effects of the adoption of the AIRPROX system on the rates of aircraft proximity incident reporting by(a) pilots and (b) controllers. [1300]

  Mr. Soames
  The forthcoming introduction of the AIRPROX (Pilot) term may result in an increase in the number of aircraft proximity incidents since the new term has a wider definition than "airmiss" which it replaces. The introduction, last year, of the AIRPROX (Controller) has not resulted in a significant change in the number of incidents since the definition of the new term is the same as "Aircraft Proximity Hazard (APHAZ)" which it replaced.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the AIRPROX (Controller) reporting system to military air traffic controllers. [1301]

  Mr. Soames
  None. Aircraft proximity incidents reported by military air traffic controllers will continue to be investigated by military authorities. Where an AIRPROX (Controller) report raised by a civil air traffic controller involves military aircraft, the military authorities will assist with the Civil Aviation Authority investigation.

  In-flight Dumping
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount of aviation fuel lost as a result of in-flight dumping in each financial year since 1990; what was the cost of the loss in each year; and if he will make a statement on measures taken since 1990 to reduce waste by minimising in-flight dumping. [1296]
  345
  Mr. Soames
  In-flight dumping of fuel takes place only when absolutely necessary for operational or flight safety reasons. Details of the amount and costs of aviation fuel lost as a result of in-flight dumping are not held centrally and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Military Aircraft Accident Summaries
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the timing of the publication of military aircraft accident summaries in relation to the timing of inquests or fatal accident inquiries. [1295]

  Mr. Soames
  Military aircraft accident summaries of aircraft accidents involving fatalities are published by my Department after the next of kin have been notified of the outcome of the board of inquiry. The timing of inquests and fatal accident inquiries is entirely a matter for the coroner or procurator fiscal, as appropriate.

  Harrier Aircraft
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum permitted altitude for use of thrust vectoring in forward flight by Harrier aircraft when evading mock interceptions over the United Kingdom. [1285]

  Mr. Soames
  The use of thrust vectoring up to 30 deg. of nozzle deflection in forward flight is permitted down to approved minimum separation distances within the United Kingdom low flying system when Harrier aircraft are evading mock interceptions. Full nozzle deflection thrust vectoring is permitted above 7,000 ft.

  Parachute Regiment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action was taken in respect of the members of the Parachute Regiment involved in anti-social behaviour on a recent commercial flight to Tenerife; how many personnel were involved; and if he will make a statement. [1815]

  Mr. Soames
  As a result of this incident, 15 soldiers were placed on a formal warning as to their future conduct.

  Ship Sales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 November,Official Report, column 17, if he will list the dates of construction of each of the vessels currently being sold by his Department. [2250]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is as follows:

  Ship name

  Laid down

  HMS Sirius

  9 August 1963

  HMS Scylla

  17 May 1967

  HMS Hermione

  6 December 1965

  HMS Jupiter

  3 October 1966

  HMS Redpole

  14 August 1967

  HMS Cygnet

  18 July 1976

  HMS Kingfisher

  18 October 1975

  RMAS Roysterer

  126 April 1972

  RMAS Foxhound

  122 February 1963

  RMAS Labrador

  114 November 1966

  346

  Ship name

  Laid down

  RMAS Daphne

  119 December 1968

  RMAS Nancy

  131 August 1973

  RMAS Lydford

  17 April 1970

  RMAS Waterspout

  15 April 1967

  HMS Upholder

  November 1983

  HMS Unicorn

  February 1989

  HMS Unseen

  January 1986

  HMS Ursula

  August 1987

  RMAS Pauline Elizabeth

  Not recorded

  1 Dates shown are commissioning dates, as laid down dates are not available for these vessels.

  Nigerian Military Personnel
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the number of Nigerian military currently undertaking training in the United Kingdom; and what is the policy of the Government regarding further such training for Nigerian military officers and non-commissioned officers. [2259]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no members of the Nigerian armed forces currently undertaking training in the United Kingdom. In December 1993, together with our European Union partners, we announced a series of measures applying to Nigeria which included a complete suspension of all military training. Nigerian military personnel undertaking training in the United Kingdom at that time were asked to leave.

  Ships and Submarines
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) surface ships and (b) submarines which have been decommissioned but not put up for sale by his Department; and if he will specify what has happened to each of these vessels over the last five years. [2251]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is the Government's policy to put up for sale all vessels, apart from nuclear-powered submarines, that are no longer required by the Royal Navy. The following nuclear submarines have been decommissioned in the last five years and are stored at Rosyth awaiting disposal: Churchill, Conqueror, Courageous, Resolution, Revenge, Swiftsure, Valiant and Warspite.

  Skyship 600
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of his Department's airship, the Skyship 600, Prince of Wales; where it is currently based; what investigation his Department is carrying out into how it burst; what estimate he has made of the total cost of repair to the airship; and if he will make a statement. [2252]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The total procurement cost of the Department's Skyship 600, registered number ZH 762, was approximately £2.6 million and it is based at the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation site at Boscombe Down. The incident which resulted in rupture of the envelope occurred during a masting operation at Boscombe Down in May 1995 following a day's flying. This was investigated at a formal board of inquiry which
  347
  concluded human error to be the cause. Repair of the envelope has not been possible; the cost of a replacement has not yet been established.

  Former Officers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in relation to former serving officers of the armed services taking up business appointments in companies which may be bidding for defence contracts. [2253]

  Mr. Soames
  Former serving officers of the armed forces are required, for a period of two years after leaving Crown service, to apply for official permission before accepting a paid appointment with any organisation with which they had dealings during their last two years of Crown employment.

TRANSPORT

  Light Rail Funding
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for Wythenshawe of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority's strategic development plan; and if he will make a statement of the future of light rail funding with particular reference to the benefits of extending Metrolink. [2112]

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for Manchester, Withington of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority's strategic development plan; [1847]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of light rail funding. [1848]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is aware of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority strategic development plan for public transport which covers the period 1992 to 2002. It is a matter for GMPTA to prioritise the proposals in the plan, which we will then consider in competition with other bids for local transport resources.

  Bids for light rail schemes are submitted to my Department during the annual transport policies and programmes round, and are funded through the package approach. I am prepared to consider supporting light rail schemes, including extensions to the Metrolink, provided that they can be demonstrated to be the right and most cost-effective solution to a particular urban transport problem, where they are planned within the context of a strategy or transport package to achieve mode shift away from the private car, and where they will attract significant private sector and local 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.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current status of all proposed light rail projects applying for, or seeking(a) construction powers and (b) funding; indicating the
  348
  percentage levels of funding secured on each project from the private sector. [2256]

  Mr. Norris
  Two applications for orders under the Transport and Works Act 1992 have been made which relate to light rail projects. These are the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension) and the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Eccles Extension) Orders. In both cases local inquiries have been held and the Secretary of State is awaiting the inspectors' reports.

  My Department has received two applications for funding in 1996–97. These are for the Manchester Metrolink extension to Salford quays and the Leeds supertram. The amount of private sector funding for both these projects has not yet been finalised. Before I agree to fund a new light rail scheme, the promoters must have secured significant private sector and local investment. Each light rail project is different and the level of private sector investment in each scheme will differ.

  Metrolink
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits of extending Metrolink. [1849]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has received an application from Greater Manchester passenger transport executive for funding under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 of the Metrolink extension to Salford quays. Subject to final costs and the value of the operating concession, this application appears to meet the criteria that we expect such a scheme to fulfil.

  The Department has also received an initial section 56 application for the Metrolink extension to Oldham and Rochdale, although GMPTE has not submitted a bid for funding in 1996–97. GMPTE need to carry out further work on the economic appraisal of this scheme before we can give an indication of whether it meets the relevant criteria.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met Greater Manchester passenger transport authority to discuss Metrolink 2000 and Greater Manchester's plans for an integrated passenger transport network. [1766]

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend visited Manchester to perform a sod-cutting ceremony at Manchester airport on 20 October 1995. While he was there, he received a presentation from Greater Manchester passenger transport authority on its plans to extend the Manchester Metrolink.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in support of the planned Metrolink extensions; and if he will list them. [2113]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has received a small number of letters from the general public and local Members of Parliament in support of the proposed Metrolink extensions, primarily in response to the recent public inquiries into the extensions to Manchester airport and Eccles. We also received 200 objections to the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension) Order.
  349
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of how many fewer car journeys will be made as a consequence of the opening of the planned Metrolink extension to Eccles via Salford quays. [2088]

  Mr. Norris
  We have yet to receive an economic appraisal of the extension to Eccles. Greater Manchester passenger transport executive must obtain the necessary powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the extension from Salford quays to Eccles before submitting an application for funding to the Department of Transport. The extension to Salford quays alone is forecast to remove 19 million car trips over the 30-year period of the appraisal.

  Crossrail
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expenditure to date by his Department on the crossrail 2000 scheme. [2149]

  Mr. Norris
  Expenditure to date on crossrail amounts to some £143 million.

  Ferrybridge-Hook Moor Inquiry
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure in respect of recording of statements, questions and answers was applied during the public inquiry held recently into the A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor proposals by the Highways Agency. [2107]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November,Official Report, columns 897–98.

  Rail Operators
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require railway operators to comply with specific passenger loading maxima. [1784]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director will specify load factors or seating capacity requirements in the passenger service requirements where this is necessary to avoid overcrowding on commuter services. The franchising director will set rigorous standards which will regulate the level of crowding on London commuter services below the average experienced in the last 10 years. Where neither load factor regulation nor capacity requirements apply, franchise operators will be required to use all reasonable endeavours to avoid excessive overcrowding on the services they provide.

  M1 (Lighting)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for continous lighting on the remaining unlit sections of theM1 between London and junction 29. [1706]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Irvine Patnick, dated 24 November 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for continuous lighting on the remaining unlit sections of the M1 between London and Junction 29.
  350
  The M1 is unlit between junctions 19 and 20, 21A and 23, and 26 and 29. There are no plans at present to light these sections but lighting will be considered if it can be economically justified on the bases of forecast savings in night time road accidents.

  Motor Vehicle Licensing
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the results of the consultation exercise on the continuous licensing of motor vehicles. [1791]

  Mr. Norris
  The consultation exercise on the continuous licensing of motor vehicles ended on 2 June. The responses to the exercise have been very carefully considered and an announcement will be made shortly.

  Light Rail Systems
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of tram systems currently operating, indicating the number of passengers carried for each where known; if he will make it his policy to promote the development of trams; and if he will make a statement. [1787]

  Mr. Norris
  There are five principal light rail/tram systems currently operating in England. Details of the schemes and the number of passenger journeys made on each system in 1994–95 are:

  Millions

  1994–95

  Blackpool Tramway

  5.8

  Tyne and Wear Metro

  37.2

  Docklands Light Railway

  11.0

  Greater Manchester Metrolink

  12.3

  South Yorkshire Supertram

  2.2

  Source:

  Transport Statistics Great Britain 1995 and Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.

  Inter-urban operations have survived on the Isle of Man with Manx electric railway and the Snaefell mountain railway. A seasonal tramway operates in Llandudno. Construction of the Midland Metro line 1 has begun, and funding has been arranged for the Croydon Tramlink subject to the bids that come forward from the private sector for the concession.

  The Government do not have a policy of promoting light rail schemes: local authorities are best placed to develop solutions for the urban transport problems in their town or city. We are prepared to consider supporting light rail schemes that can be demonstrated to be the right and most cost-effective solution to a particular problem, where they are planned within the context of a strategy or transport package to achieve mode shift away from the private car, and where they will attract significant private sector and local investment.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [262]
  351
  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: My Department employs the following number of staff in the Government offices for the regions:

  Numbers

  East Midlands

  12

  Eastern

  10

  London

  68

  North west

  12

  Northern

  21

  South west

  9

  West Midlands

  10

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4

  Total

  146

  The financial resources required for managing the Government offices are integrated and a separated figure for expenditure on the transport element is not available.

  My Department also employs a number of staff in the regions in its executive agencies, its traffic area network and a number of HQ branches. These staff are not employed on a regional basis and a breakdown of each region would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants for income support have been subjected to the habitual residence test since its inception. [1829]

  Income support families with/without dependants by gender, region and marital status 1994

  Region

  All cases

  Cases without dependants

  Cases with dependants

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  With partner

  Single

  With partner

  Single

  With partner

  Single

  With partner

  Single

  South East (excluding London)

  795,000

  6,000

  274,000

  59,000

  225,000

  4,000

  143,000

  74,000

  10,000

  London (inner and outer)

  939,000

  7,000

  272,000

  57,000

  318,000

  6,000

  186,000

  79,000

  13,000

  North

  359,000

  2,000

  117,000

  27,000

  109,000

  2,000

  64,000

  33,000

  4,000

  Wales

  323,000

  2,000

  110,000

  23,000

  93,000

  2,000

  60,000

  28,000

  4,000

  Scotland

  556,000

  5,000

  191,000

  36,000

  181,000

  3,000

  99,000

  33,000

  8,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  517,000

  4,000

  177,000

  39,000

  151,000

  3,000

  89,000

  48,000

  6,000

  East Midlands

  353,000

  3,000

  117,000

  29,000

  101,000

  2,000

  64,000

  32,000

  5,000

  East Anglia

  163,000

  1,000

  58,000

  15,000

  44,000

  1,000

  28,000

  14,000

  2,000

  South west

  388,000

  3,000

  137,000

  31,000

  114,000

  2,000

  65,000

  31,000

  5,000

  West Midlands

  547,000

  5,000

  184,000

  43,000

  156,000

  3,000

  94,000

  55,000

  6,000

  North west

  761,000

  7,000

  254,000

  48,000

  234,000

  5,000

  148,000

  56,000

  9,000

  Total

  5,700,000

  47,000

  1,891,000

  408,000

  1,727,000

  35,000

  1,039,000

  482,000

  70,000

  England

  4,821,000

  40,000

  1,590,000

  349,000

  1,453,000

  29,000

  880,000

  420,000

  59,000

  Scotland

  556,000

  5,000

  191,000

  36,000

  181,000

  3,000

  99,000

  33,000

  8,000

  Wales

  323,000

  2,000

  110,000

  23,000

  93,000

  2,000

  60,000

  28,000

  4,000

  Great Britain

  5,700,000

  47,000

  1,891,000

  408,000

  1,727,000

  35,000

  1,039,000

  482,000

  70,000

  Notes:

  1. Single includes separated, temporarily separated, widowed, divorced, and prisoners' partners.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding some of the totals may not tally.

  3. A dependant is defined as under the age of 19.

  Source: Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1994.
  352
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The habitual residence test has applied to all claimants for income support who have made either a new or repeat claim since 1 August 1994. Figures relating to those claimants who indicated on their claim forms that they entered the United Kingdom within the five years prior to the claim are available in the Library.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving the £10 weekly allowance with (i) family credit and (ii) disability working allowance for working more than 30 hours a week. [1835]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Provisional figures for July 1995 will be available next month. Data for November 1995 will not be available until April 1996.

  Income Support
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures available for people claiming income support(a) by gender, (b) by region, (c) by marital status, (d) with dependants and (e) in total; what were the equivalent figures for 1979; and if he will make a statement. [1082]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Direct comparisons cannot be made between supplementary benefit and income support as their structure and scope differ considerably.
  353

  Income support families without dependants by gender, region and marital status

  All cases

  Cases without dependants

  Region

  All couples

  Single male

  Single female

  England

  1,994,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Scotland

  2,30,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Wales

  1,42,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Great Britain

  2,367,000

  397,000

  486,000

  1,484,000

  Notes:

  1. Single include separated, temporary separated, widowed, divorced and prisoners' partners.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding some of the totals may not tally.

  3. A dependant is defined as under the age of 19.

  4. No regional breakdown is available for 1979 for cases without dependants.

  Source: Supplementary Benefit Statistics Annual Enquiry November 1979.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1994.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of income support with a disability premium payable on incapacity grounds are currently exempt from the all-work test by virtue of(a) receipt of the highest rate of the disability living allowance care component, (b) in receipt of the premium and aged over 58 years on 13 April 1995, (c) with a serious medical condition and (d) a serious mental illness. [1834]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is not available. Information on the number of income support recipients who qualify to be treated as incapable of work without having to take the all-work test because of receipt of the highest rate of the care component of the disability living allowance will be available at a later date.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families on income support receive(a) the disabled child premium and (b) the lone parent premium; and how many who receive the lone parent premium also receive the disabled premium. [1838]

  Mr. Evans
  In November 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, 48,000 families on income support had been awarded the disabled child premium, 1,043,000 families had the lone parent premium and 25,000 families had both premiums.

  Notes:

  All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Enquiry.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving income support urgent cases payment; and how many of these also receive(a) a disability premium and (b) a disabled child premium. [1841]

  Mr. Evans
  As of November 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, 63,000 claimants were receiving income support urgent case payments. Of these, 2,000 claimants were awarded the disability premium and the number with an award of disabled child premium was negligible.
  354
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what how many claimants of income support are working 16 or more hours per week but treated as not in remunerative work because earnings or hours are reduced to 75 per cent. of a non-disabled person. [1756]

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

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently in receipt of disability premium payable with(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax are also in receipt of earnings. [1757]

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

  Recipients

  Income support

  12,000

  Housing benefit

  22,000

  Council tax benefit

  32,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures refer to the number of benefit units which could be a single person or a couple.

  2. Earnings could be declared by either the claimant or their partner.

  3. Figures given may include recipients who are in receipt of more than one of the benefits listed.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Enquiry: May 1994.

  Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample taken May 1994.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the main disabling conditions of people currently in receipt of(a) incapacity benefit and (b) income support with a disability premium; [1750]

  (2) if he will list the main disabling conditions of people who have been found capable of work between April and September 1995 who were previously in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) income support with a disability premium. [1753]

  Mr. Evans
  Information is not available in the format requested. Of the 800 categories of diagnosis recorded for incapacity claims the 20 most common are:

  1. Backache

  2. Depression (Unspecified)

  3. Osteo Arthritis

  4. Arthritis (Unspecified)

  5. Ischaemia, of any kind

  6. Angina

  7. Spondylitis

  8. Hypertension

  9. Pain, other or unspecified

  10. Injury to limb, face, neck, trunk, joint, or shoulder

  11. Anxiety State

  12. Asthma

  13. Nervous Debility

  14. Diabetes

  15. Schizophrenia

  355

  16. Sciatica

  17. Heart Disease

  18. Multiple Sclerosis

  19. Epilepsy

  20. Invertebral disc, prolapsed, slipped, lesion.

  Family Benefits
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children were living in families dependent on benefit in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [1083]

  Mr. Heald
  Information prior to 1991 is not available. The information that is available is set out in the table:

  Number of children in Great Britain in families receiving income-related benefits

  Thousands

  Year

  Number of children in families receiving one or more income-related benefit

  1991

  3,340

  1992

  3,720

  1993

  4,100

  1994

  4,170

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  2. Children may be in families receiving more than one income-related benefit. Overlaps between benefits have been taken into account.

  3. Children are defined as aged 15 and under.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics May 1991–May 1994.

  Family Credit Statistics April 1991–April 1994.

  Disability Working Allowance Statistics April 1992–April 1994.

  Housing Benefit Management Information System Enquiries May 1991–May 1994.

  Percentage of men between the ages of 20 and 59 years who belong to an occupational or personal pension scheme by age group (Great Britain, 1993)

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  Total 20–59

  Occupational pension scheme member1

  21

  31

  41

  43

  43

  48

  42

  32

  38

  Personal pension scheme member

  18

  34

  33

  30

  29

  31

  27

  19

  28

  Note:

  1 Including a few people who were not sure if they were in a scheme but thought it possible.

  Source:

  General Household Survey 1993.

  Percentage of women between the ages of 20 to 59 years who belong to an occupational or personal pension scheme by age group (Great Britain, 1993)

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  Total 20–59

  Occupational pension scheme member1

  18

  26

  25

  25

  28

  28

  25

  18

  24

  Personal pension scheme member

  13

  16

  12

  13

  16

  15

  11

  6

  13

  Source:

  General Household Survey 1993.

  Note:

  1 Including a few people who were not sure if they were in a scheme but thought it possible.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the percentage of those in employment but not in an occupational pension scheme who(a) earn more than £10,000 per annum, (b) earn less than £8,000 per annum and (c) earn less than £6,000 per annum. [1843]

  Mr. Heald
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage of employees not in an occupational pension scheme by usual gross annual earnings (Great Britain, 1993)

  Annual earnings

  All employees

  More than £10,000

  32

  Less than £8,000

  57

  Less than £6,000

  44

  Note:

  Excluding a few people who were not sure if they were in a scheme but thought it possible.

  Source:

  1993 General Household Survey.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage of (i) men and (ii) women, between the ages 20 to 59 years and broken down by five-year age groups, who belong to(a) an occupational pension scheme and (b) a personal pension scheme; what are the average yearly contributions made by each group; and what estimate he has of the average pension receivable in (i) 1995, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2005, (iv) 2010, (v) 2015, (vi) 2020, (vii) 2025 and (viii) 2030 for those whose membership will have been (1) 10 years, (2) 20 years, (3) 30 years and (4) 40 years, respectively. [1828]

  Mr. Heald
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people of pensionable age fail to qualify for a full pension in their own right. [1844]

  Mr. Heald
  Information on the number of people who have no entitlement to retirement pension is not immediately available. I will let the hon. Member have such information as becomes available as soon as possible.

  The available information is in the table.

  Retirement Pension in payment in Great Britain at 30 September 1994 to men over 65 and women over 60

  Category

  All rates

  less than full rate

  Cat A men

  3,321,170

  179,370

  Cat A women

  2,395,760

  692,890

  Cat BL wives

  1,279,970

  49,030

  Cat ABL wives

  682,490

  2,890

  Cat B widows

  1,779,040

  62,790

  Note:

  Cat A—pension derived from own contributions.

  Cat BL—pension derived from spouse's contributions. Full rate is about 60 per cent. Cat A rate.

  Cat ABL—pension derived from both own and spouse's contributions. Full rate is about 60 per cent. of Cat A rate.

  Cat B—pension derived from late spouse's contributions. Full rate same as Cat A rate.

  Source:

  Retirement Pension Biannual enquiry September 1994.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to his Department of paying retirement pension to people(a) who die before their next pay day and (b) whose benefit was due to be reduced for a hospital stay. [1749]

  Mr. Heald
  Retirement pension is payable for complete weeks only. There is, therefore, no cost if people die before their next pay day and their benefit was due to be reduced as a result of a stay in hospital.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the numbers of new claimants and (b) the cost of reducing the disability working allowance taper from 70 per cent. to (i) 60 per cent., (ii) 50 per cent. and (iii) 30 per cent. [1751]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The estimated effects of changes in the disability working allowance taper are given in the table. The costs are given in 1995–96 prices rounded to the nearest £1 million, and are net of housing benefit and council tax benefit offsets. The numbers of new DWA claimants are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  Disability working allowance

  60 per cent. taper

  50 per cent. taper

  30 per cent. taper

  New claimants

  1,000

  2,000

  7,000

  Net cost £ million

  1

  4

  14

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Disability Working Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry January 1995.
  358
  The use of proxy groups means that the estimates are subject to wide margins of error. They will be accurate only to the extent that the proxy groups have the same characteristics as those eligible for DWA.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently in receipt of reduced earnings allowance; how many are aged(a) 39 or under, (b) 40 to 49, (c) 50 to 59, (d) 60 to 65 and (e) 65 to 70 years, by gender; and what is the average amount payable. [1755]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the format requested. At 2 April 1994—the latest date for which information is available—there were 142,796 people receiving reduced earnings allowance.

  Such information as is available is set out in the table:

  Number of reduced earnings allowance assessments current at 2 April 1994 analysed by age and gender

  Males

  Females

  Age at 31 March 1994

  Reduced earnings earnings allowance

  Frozen or restricted reduced earnings allowance

  Reduced earnings allowance

  Frozen or restricted reduced earnings allowance

  39 or under

  8,342

  —

  2,501

  —

  40–49

  17,604

  —

  4,874

  —

  50–59

  29,196

  —

  7,965

  —

  60–64

  17,480

  —

  3,628

  30

  65–69

  14,992

  109

  217

  2,382

  Based on a 10 per cent. sample with an allowance for late returns.

  The average rate of reduced earnings allowance at 2 April 1994 was £36.05 and the average rate of frozen or restricted reduced earnings allowance was £24.64.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families on housing benefit receive(a) the disabled child premium and (b) the lone parent premium; and how many who receive the lone parent premium also receive the disabled child premium. [1839]

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

  Housing benefit recipients: Great Britain, May 1994

  Numbers of families

  (a) Disabled child premium

  39,000

  (b) Lone parent premium

  859,000

  (c) Disabled child premium and lone parent premium

  21,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures relate to the number of benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.

  2. Families have been defined as single people or couples who have dependants.

  3. The figure for (c) is included within the figures given for (a) and (b).

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample taken May 1994.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the benefits on receipt of which people may be credited with class 1 national insurance contributions; how many people were affected by this; and what is the cost to the Exchequer of crediting people with class 1 national insurance contributions by benefit type and in total. [1827]

  Mr. Heald
  Class 1 national insurance credits may be awarded to people receiving unemployment benefit, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance, disability working allowance, invalid care allowance and, where the individual is sick or unemployed, with income support. Credits may also be awarded in cases of sickness and unemployment where no benefit is in payment. Estimates of the cost of credits to the Exchequer are not available. Estimates of the number of benefit recipients in the United Kingdom who were credited with at least one class 1 contribution in the tax year 1992–93 are in the table.

  Number of people in the United Kingdom with at least one credited contribution in the tax year 1992–93 (UK) by type of benefit to which this relates

  Thousands1, 2

  Type of benefit

  Number

  Unemployment benefit

  35,083

  Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit/maternity allowance/SDA/SSP/SMP

  41,947

  Invalid care allowance

  220

  Disability working allowance

  3

  Notes:

  1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2 People credited with more than one type of credit are included in more than one of the above totals.

  3 Includes unemployed people receiving income support and unemployed people not receiving benefit.

  4 Includes sick people receiving income support and sick people not receiving benefit.

  Source:

  1 per cent. sample of national insurance records.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to privatise sections of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [634]

  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 23 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about privatisation of parts of the Child Support Agency.
  The Agency is currently undertaking a study into the feasibility of having incoming mail opened and sorted during night time hours by Royal Mail. Evaluation of the feasibility study will enable the Agency to determine whether there are significant operational advantages in placing a contract for the delivery of this service in the longer term.
  360
  A pilot exercise is running at Falkirk until 31 March 1996. After the exercise, decisions will be taken on whether to contract out the service at Falkirk and whether to extend the operation to other Child Support Agency Centres.
  On a wider basis, the services provided by the Child Support Agency will be considered as part of a formal evaluation of the Agency, as is required of all Next Steps Agencies. This is due to be completed by March 1998 and it will include the consideration of all possible options for the best means of delivering the services currently provided by the Agency.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of child support arrears, indicating the initial payment period, and the number of cases with each level of arrears. [635]

  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 23 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support arrears.
  Although information on the number of cases with arrears is available, a breakdown of the amount of arrears in each case could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of arrears that relate to the initial payment period (IPP) is not available. Once IPP maintenance has been rescheduled as arrears it cannot be separately identified.
  At 15 September 1995, there were 161,309 cases with arrears. Of these, 89,768 had made at least one payment in the previous 13 weeks, and in the remaining 71,541, no payments had been made.
  At the end of September the total maintenance owed to the Agency was £738m. Around 65% of this (£480m) is provisional debt as it relates to interim maintenance assessments. A further 13% (£100m) relates to cases where an agreement has been made with the absent parent as to how and when the maintenance will be paid in the future; these agreements are carefully monitored. It is not possible to say how much of the remaining £158m relates to the initial payment period.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in how many cases he has become aware that a Child Support Agency client is a potential suicide risk; and if he will give a month-by-month breakdown for each centre; [636]

  (2) what procedures are applied when he becomes aware that a client of the Child Support Agency is a potential suicide risk. [637]

  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 23 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency's approach to cases where a client "is a suicide risk".I am sorry that it is not possible to provide an answer to your Questions in. the form you have asked, but I will try to address what I think are your main concerns.Like many other organisations, this Agency is responsible for administering legal and financial responsibilities which are prescribed in legislation, and which may have to be enforced—not least to protect the rights of third parties. Because of the basic nature of our work, we often have to enter people's lives with information that may well add to existing emotional and financial problems.361 All staff, particularly those engaged on debt management work, are well trained to deal sensitively with all clients, and to have due regard for the fact some people—whether they are absent parents or parents with care—may well become extremely distressed and even threaten to harm themselves. If they have serious concerns about a particular client, then, following the sort of procedures adopted by organisations with comparable responsibilities, they refer it to a senior, more experienced, manager for their consideration. For example, if a non-compliant absent parent is apparently getting seriously distressed by impending court action, they may check to make doubly sure that all other possibilities have been exhausted, and suspend action on the case for a limited period while this is done. They will decide on how to proceed with all such cases and will control and monitor further action on them.That manager has no discretion to vary the legally-due amount of maintenance, but they can negotiate the rate of arrears repayments if this offers a possible solution. When managers act in this special role they are not counsellors, nor do they deal solely with cases where there is a suggestion that a client may have threatened to harm themselves: they are simply taking on additional management responsibilities. They act in a supportive manner, but within the framework of ensuring that child maintenance is paid at the required levels to those to whom it is due.I hope this information is helpful to you.

SCOTLAND

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the timetabling of capital projects by existing councils as a result of their being unable to commit more than 70 per cent. of the new unitary budgets for 1995–96; [1183]

  (2) when he issued guidance to existing councils in Scotland not to commit more than 70 per cent. of the capital budgets of the new unitary councils in 1995–96; and what considerations underlay the issuing of this guidance; [1184]

  (3) what discussions officials of his Department have had with those of the existing regional, district and island councils and shadow councils relating to the impact of his Department's guidance to existing councils not to commit more than 70 per cent. of the capital expenditure of the new unitary councils in the financial year 1995–96; and what the content of these discussions has been. [1185]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Local authorities' ability to enter into legal commitments in forward years is restricted to a percentage specified in annual capital consent letters. In previous years, authorities have been permitted to enter into forward legal commitments on their non-housing capital programmes of up to 80 per cent. of their provisional capital allocations for the two subsequent years. Non-housing capital consents issued to authorities on 13 March 1995 changed the amount which could be committed in 1996–97 and 1997–98 to 70 per cent. of capital allocations for 1995–96, except in the case of the islands councils where the limit remains at 80 per cent.

  The change was made to ensure that existing authorities were able to maintain continuity in their capital programmes without unduly constraining their successors
  362
  by committing a very high proportion of their likely future resources. This change was discussed and agreed with representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities at a meeting on 14 February 1995.

  The forward commitment limit of 70 per cent. for housing capital programmes is unchanged from previous years.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to indicate the budgets and capital budgets of Scotland's new unitary councils. [1182]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend intends to issue non-housing capital consents in late February or early March 1996 and housing capital consents in March 1996. The setting of the revenue budgets for 1996–97 is entirely the responsibility of the councils concerned.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into the impact identity cards have had on the reduction of crime in European Union countries where they are compulsory; and if he will make a statement. [1528]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The Green Paper "Identity Cards" Cm 2879 published in May included information on international experience of identity cards. We have since sought further information on the lessons to be learnt from the use of national identity cards in other European Union countries including any information which may be available in those countries on the impact of identity cards in reducing crime.

  Prisons (Discipline)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many concerted acts of indiscipline have taken place at each prison in England and Wales in the current year and in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [448]

  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. Alan Beith, dated 24 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 concerted acts of indiscipline have taken place at each prison in England and Wales in the current year and in each year since 1990.
  Concerted indiscipline takes place when two or more prisoners refuse to conform to the rules and regulations of a prison. Such incidents include both passive disobedience and active indiscipline.
  The information requested is provided in the attached table, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
  363

  Prison

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  1 April 1995 to 31 October 1995

  Acklington

  6

  2

  5

  2

  0

  0

  Albany

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Aldington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ashwell

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Askham Grange

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Aylesbury

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bedford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  Belmarsh

  0

  3

  15

  7

  4

  1

  Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Blakenhurst

  0

  0

  0

  8

  3

  1

  Blantyre House

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Blundeston

  1

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Brinsford

  0

  4

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Bristol

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Brixton

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brockhill

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Buckley Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  Bullingdon/Oxford

  1

  0

  11

  11

  2

  4

  Bullwood Hall

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Camp Hill

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Canterbury

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Cardiff

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Castington

  1

  0

  4

  0

  1

  0

  Channings Wood

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Chelmsford

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Coldingley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cookham Wood

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dartmoor

  1

  0

  3

  1

  1

  0

  Deerbolt

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  3

  Dorchester

  1

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Dover

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Downview

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Drake Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Durham

  0

  4

  4

  0

  0

  0

  East Sutton Park

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Elmley

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Erlestoke

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Everthorpe

  1

  3

  1

  3

  3

  0

  Exeter

  3

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Featherstone

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  2

  Feltham

  0

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Frankland

  1

  2

  3

  1

  0

  1

  Full Sutton

  13

  26

  13

  7

  3

  1

  Garth

  0

  1

  3

  2

  3

  0

  Gartree

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glen Parva

  1

  1

  2

  2

  1

  0

  Gloucester

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Guys Marsh

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Haslar

  1

  1

  2

  1

  3

  0

  Hatfield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Haverigg

  0

  2

  1

  2

  0

  1

  Hewell Grange

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Highdown

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  0

  Highpoint

  0

  3

  1

  2

  2

  4

  Hindley

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Holloway

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  1

  Holme House

  0

  0

  6

  1

  1

  0

  Hull

  5

  3

  1

  4

  3

  1

  Huntercombe

  8

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kingston

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirkham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirklevington

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancaster

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Lancaster Farms

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Latchmere House

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  3

  1

  2

  0

  1

  0

  Leicester

  1

  1

  3

  0

  1

  1

  Lewes

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  364

  365

  Prison

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  1 April 1995 to 31 October 1995

  Leyhill

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lincoln

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Lindholme

  2

  3

  3

  3

  2

  0

  Littlehey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Long Lartin

  1

  6

  3

  3

  7

  1

  Low Newton

  4

  7

  0

  1

  2

  2

  Maidstone

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Manchester

  1

  4

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Moorland

  0

  3

  5

  0

  0

  2

  Morton Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Mount

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  New Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northeye

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Sea Camp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northallerton

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Norwich

  4

  4

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Nottingham

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Onley

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Parkhurst

  0

  0

  4

  2

  2

  1

  Pentonville

  3

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Portland

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Preston

  1

  2

  0

  6

  1

  1

  Pucklechurch

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1

  Ranby

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Reading

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Risley

  0

  2

  1

  4

  2

  0

  Rochester

  4

  9

  3

  3

  3

  2

  Send

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shepton Mallet

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Shrewsbury

  1

  1

  0

  1

  3

  0

  Stafford

  1

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Standford Hill

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Stocken

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Stoke Heath

  2

  2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Styal

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Sudbury/Foston Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swaleside

  1

  1

  0

  2

  5

  3

  Swansea

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Swinfen Hall

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Thorn Cross

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Usk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Verne

  1

  0

  1

  10

  2

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Wandsworth

  1

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wayland

  3

  1

  1

  3

  1

  1

  Wealstun

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wellingborough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Werrington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wetherby

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Whatton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Whitemoor

  0

  5

  5

  11

  8

  6

  Winchester

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Wolds

  0

  0

  7

  4

  3

  0

  Woodhill

  0

  0

  3

  1

  2

  1

  Wormwood Scrubs

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Wymott

  2

  3

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Total

  106

  149

  142

  146

  116

  54

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female officers there were in each constabulary and at each rank per constabulary in England and Wales in (i) 1979, (ii) 1984, (iii) 1989 and (iv) 1994; and if he will make a statement. [449]
  366
  Mr. Maclean
  Information for 1994 is provided in table 1. Information for 1979, 1984 and 1989 in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Tables 2, 3 and 4 show police strength by rank for those years. Information on overall proportions of male and female officers in each force is contained in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, copies of which are in the Library.
  367

  Table 1: Police service in England and Wales Strength for ordinary duty return for 31 December 1994

  Male ranks

  Police force name

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  AsstChf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf lnsp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Total male ranks

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  1

  3

  6

  28

  46

  155

  457

  1,963

  2,660

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  3

  13

  13

  57

  147

  708

  944

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  1

  1

  3

  12

  20

  58

  185

  833

  1,114

  Cheshire

  1

  0

  2

  3

  17

  29

  96

  259

  1,247

  1,654

  City of London

  1

  1

  0

  4

  7

  15

  49

  118

  571

  766

  Cleveland

  1

  1

  1

  0

  12

  19

  84

  207

  932

  1,257

  Cumbria

  1

  1

  1

  4

  13

  23

  66

  180

  734

  1,023

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  2

  4

  20

  29

  92

  260

  1,169

  1,578

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  1

  2

  12

  26

  45

  139

  422

  1,867

  2,515

  Dorset

  0

  1

  1

  6

  14

  24

  70

  190

  814

  1,120

  Durham

  1

  1

  1

  4

  15

  21

  74

  206

  873

  1,196

  Essex

  1

  1

  3

  7

  23

  49

  122

  424

  1,871

  2,501

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  1

  4

  12

  19

  56

  164

  763

  1,021

  Greater Manchester

  1

  1

  5

  20

  62

  111

  381

  999

  4,375

  5,955

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  3

  6

  38

  44

  147

  477

  2,093

  2,810

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  4

  19

  28

  89

  233

  1,040

  1,416

  Humberside

  1

  1

  1

  8

  18

  33

  106

  295

  1,336

  1,799

  Kent

  1

  1

  2

  8

  27

  41

  191

  407

  1,986

  2,664

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  3

  6

  30

  59

  152

  484

  1,994

  2,730

  Leicestershire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  14

  25

  100

  256

  1,165

  1,569

  Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  1

  4

  12

  19

  63

  184

  782

  1,067

  Merseyside

  1

  1

  3

  14

  51

  74

  230

  689

  2,908

  3,971

  Metropolitan Police

  10

  9

  29

  68

  195

  405

  1,309

  4,104

  17,514

  23,643

  Norfolk

  1

  1

  1

  4

  13

  21

  58

  193

  964

  1,256

  Northamptonshire

  1

  0

  1

  4

  13

  18

  60

  151

  768

  1,016

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  3

  7

  38

  51

  169

  497

  2,391

  3,158

  North Yorkshire

  1

  0

  1

  3

  12

  21

  65

  209

  850

  1,162

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  23

  27

  123

  324

  1,539

  2,047

  South Yorkshire

  1

  1

  3

  11

  31

  44

  153

  423

  1,950

  2,617

  Staffordshire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  24

  35

  116

  331

  1,354

  1,871

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  1

  5

  15

  18

  64

  173

  769

  1,047

  Surrey

  1

  1

  2

  2

  21

  15

  97

  240

  1,059

  1,438

  Sussex

  1

  1

  3

  4

  23

  41

  158

  430

  1,904

  2,565

  Thames Valley

  1

  1

  3

  8

  34

  47

  196

  502

  2,504

  3,296

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  1

  2

  12

  15

  56

  158

  644

  890

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  1

  4

  21

  40

  122

  280

  1,290

  1,760

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  5

  18

  73

  87

  354

  952

  4,292

  5,783

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  4

  8

  41

  68

  268

  738

  3,237

  4,366

  Wiltshire

  1

  0

  0

  4

  10

  20

  66

  182

  816

  1,099

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  1

  1

  3

  13

  20

  42

  152

  624

  857

  Gwent

  1

  0

  1

  2

  13

  13

  43

  149

  667

  889

  North Wales

  1

  1

  1

  6

  21

  25

  68

  216

  854

  1,193

  South Wales

  1

  1

  2

  6

  31

  45

  156

  468

  2,037

  2,747

  Total all forces

  51

  46

  106

  319

  1,160

  1,862

  6,320

  18,115

  80,051

  108,030

  Female ranks

  Police force name

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf lnsp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Total female ranks

  Total police ranks

  Avon and Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  4

  19

  330

  357

  3,017

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  11

  153

  169

  1,113

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  13

  139

  154

  1,268

  Cheshire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  27

  219

  252

  1,906

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  6

  110

  121

  887

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  5

  14

  157

  178

  1,435

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  5

  155

  162

  1,185

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  12

  197

  215

  1,793

  Devon and Cornwall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  19

  338

  363

  2,878

  Dorset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  13

  150

  167

  1,287

  368

  369

  Female ranks

  Police force name

  ChfCn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf lnsp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Total female ranks

  Total police ranks

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  8

  150

  160

  1,356

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  9

  24

  386

  420

  2,921

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  7

  137

  146

  1,167

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  5

  16

  70

  935

  1,029

  6,984

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  7

  25

  409

  442

  3,252

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  19

  248

  270

  1,686

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  14

  226

  243

  2,042

  Kent

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  3

  40

  405

  452

  3,116

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  7

  26

  429

  464

  3,194

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  4

  16

  245

  269

  1,838

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  2

  11

  124

  141

  1,208

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  2

  12

  60

  630

  707

  4,678

  Metropolitan Police

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  7

  38

  290

  3,625

  3,968

  27,611

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  10

  139

  152

  1,408

  Northamptonshire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  7

  145

  155

  1,171

  Northumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  6

  23

  404

  437

  3,595

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  6

  142

  151

  1,313

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  10

  269

  284

  2,331

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  27

  376

  409

  3,026

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  10

  328

  343

  2,214

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  7

  147

  157

  1,204

  Surrey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  19

  210

  234

  1,672

  Sussex

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  3

  36

  318

  359

  2,924

  Thames Valley

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  1

  7

  42

  526

  582

  3,878

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  5

  137

  146

  1,036

  West Mercia

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  16

  256

  277

  2,037

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  20

  79

  1,108

  1,213

  6,996

  West Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  13

  30

  625

  671

  5,037

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  9

  144

  157

  1,256

  Dyfed Powys

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  6

  116

  123

  980

  Gwent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  5

  107

  115

  1,004

  North Wales

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  8

  158

  170

  1,363

  South Wales

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  4

  22

  252

  279

  3,026

  Total all forces

  0

  2

  3

  9

  31

  50

  238

  1,126

  15,804

  17,263

  125,293

  Notes:

  Chf Cn = Chief Constable.

  Dp Chf Cn = Deputy Chief Constable.

  Asst Chf = Assistant Chief Constable.

  Chf Sup = Chief Superintendent.

  Sup = Superintendent.

  Chf Insp = Chief Inspector.

  Insp = Inspector.

  Sgt = Sergeant.

  Const = Constable.

  Table 2: Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1979

  Police force

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf lnsp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Totals

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  1

  3

  15

  31

  71

  131

  440

  2,168

  2,861

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  14

  17

  51

  141

  692

  923

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  14

  24

  51

  175

  814

  1,087

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  2

  9

  21

  31

  107

  273

  1,353

  1,803

  Cleveland

  1

  1

  2

  7

  19

  26

  83

  223

  1,049

  1,411

  Cumbria

  1

  1

  2

  7

  16

  24

  68

  171

  782

  1,072

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  28

  35

  100

  243

  1,339

  1,757

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  1

  3

  14

  34

  52

  124

  425

  1,985

  2,639

  Dorset

  1

  1

  1

  4

  15

  22

  59

  175

  881

  1,159

  Durham

  1

  1

  2

  8

  18

  28

  71

  204

  980

  1,313

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  1

  1

  7

  10

  24

  36

  156

  682

  918

  Essex

  1

  1

  3

  11

  25

  58

  111

  408

  1,885

  2,503

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  14

  19

  58

  169

  830

  1,099

  Greater Manchester

  1

  1

  5

  29

  93

  148

  413

  1,071

  4,892

  6,653

  Gwent

  1

  1

  1

  6

  10

  21

  44

  144

  730

  958

  370

  371

  Table 2: Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1979

  Police force

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf Insp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Totals

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  3

  14

  29

  62

  121

  418

  2,296

  2,945

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  2

  9

  21

  31

  82

  238

  1,081

  1,466

  Humberside

  1

  1

  2

  10

  27

  37

  100

  311

  1,384

  1,879

  Kent

  1

  1

  4

  11

  34

  54

  168

  417

  2,118

  2,808

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  4

  16

  45

  68

  151

  511

  2,292

  3,089

  Leicestershire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  23

  35

  90

  284

  1,258

  1,701

  Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  15

  29

  62

  179

  871

  1,167

  Merseyside

  1

  1

  5

  20

  60

  69

  231

  701

  3,381

  4,469

  Norfolk

  1

  1

  1

  6

  14

  26

  63

  186

  939

  1,237

  Northamptonshire

  1

  1

  —

  7

  12

  24

  54

  146

  681

  926

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  2

  13

  51

  60

  190

  511

  2,510

  3,339

  North Wales

  1

  1

  1

  7

  18

  30

  59

  204

  950

  1,271

  North Yorkshire

  1

  1

  1

  7

  16

  29

  73

  202

  1,008

  1,338

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  2

  9

  34

  42

  130

  316

  1,590

  2,125

  South Wales

  1

  1

  3

  13

  42

  63

  178

  518

  2,206

  3,025

  South Yorkshire

  1

  1

  3

  11

  37

  43

  150

  426

  1,972

  2,644

  Staffordshire

  1

  1

  3

  11

  27

  49

  102

  325

  1,496

  2,015

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  1

  6

  12

  28

  52

  163

  841

  1,105

  Surrey

  1

  1

  2

  8

  22

  30

  75

  240

  1,081

  1,460

  Sussex

  1

  1

  3

  14

  38

  44

  157

  460

  2,059

  2,777

  Thames Valley

  1

  1

  2

  12

  41

  62

  138

  446

  2,061

  2,764

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  12

  18

  53

  139

  652

  883

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  2

  10

  29

  35

  115

  259

  1,385

  1,837

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  5

  21

  81

  112

  360

  1,005

  4,574

  6,160

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  6

  26

  70

  88

  285

  796

  3,526

  4,799

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  11

  23

  47

  148

  769

  1,007

  City of London

  11

  21

  31

  7

  13

  18

  61

  146

  586

  834

  Metropolitan

  16

  216

  352

  178

  214

  465

  1,197

  3,812

  16,542

  22,482

  Totals

  48

  58

  146

  614

  1,410

  2,274

  6,057

  17,925

  83,176

  111,708

  1 Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in Metropolitan police, and commissioner in City of London police.

  2 Includes deputy assistant commissioner in Metropolitan police, and assistant commissioner in City of London police.

  3 Includes commanders in Metropolitan police and City of London police.

  Chf Cn = Chief Constable.

  Dp Chf Cn = Deputy Chief Constable.

  Asst Chf = Assistant Chief Constable.

  Chf Sup = Chief Superintendent.

  Sup = Chief Superintendent.

  Chf Insp = Chief Inspector.

  Insp = Inspector.

  Sgt = Sergeant.

  Const = Constable.

  Table 3: Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1984

  Police force

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf Insp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Totals

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  1

  3

  13

  38

  68

  153

  466

  2,236

  2,979

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  15

  19

  52

  141

  759

  994

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  14

  24

  57

  180

  853

  1,136

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  22

  30

  107

  281

  1,345

  1,797

  Cleveland

  1

  1

  2

  7

  18

  29

  93

  234

  1,079

  1,464

  Cumbria

  1

  1

  1

  7

  17

  24

  71

  175

  809

  1,106

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  1

  8

  27

  38

  101

  261

  1,323

  1,761

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  1

  3

  13

  35

  47

  134

  436

  2,075

  2,745

  Dorset

  1

  1

  1

  6

  17

  21

  68

  180

  886

  1,181

  Durham

  1

  1

  2

  8

  19

  27

  78

  214

  928

  1,278

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  1

  1

  7

  11

  24

  35

  155

  687

  922

  Essex

  1

  1

  3

  11

  28

  59

  118

  414

  2,014

  2,649

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  15

  18

  58

  174

  865

  1,139

  Greater Manchester

  1

  1

  6

  27

  94

  135

  410

  1,072

  4,999

  6,745

  Gwent

  1

  1

  —

  4

  14

  16

  49

  143

  729

  957

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  3

  11

  31

  58

  123

  436

  2,387

  3,051

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  2

  9

  24

  32

  91

  253

  1,167

  1,580

  Humberside

  1

  1

  1

  8

  24

  38

  109

  319

  1,411

  1,912

  Kent

  1

  1

  3

  11

  34

  50

  174

  418

  2,164

  2,856

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  4

  14

  41

  68

  151

  514

  2,301

  3,095

  372

  373

  Table 3: Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1984

  Police force

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf Insp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Totals

  Leicestershire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  26

  35

  96

  279

  1,256

  1,703

  Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  13

  26

  63

  178

  863

  1,152

  Merseyside

  1

  1

  5

  20

  60

  76

  246

  743

  3,441

  4,593

  Norfolk

  1

  1

  1

  7

  16

  21

  68

  192

  953

  1,260

  Northamptonshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  12

  20

  61

  149

  760

  1,010

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  3

  14

  48

  63

  191

  504

  2,519

  3,344

  North Wales

  1

  1

  1

  7

  20

  29

  66

  206

  950

  1,281

  North Yorkshire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  17

  27

  77

  197

  1,012

  1,341

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  32

  35

  123

  331

  1,687

  2,220

  South Wales

  1

  1

  3

  14

  45

  63

  186

  530

  2,263

  3,106

  South Yorkshire

  1

  1

  3

  11

  37

  44

  159

  452

  2,165

  2,873

  Staffordshire

  1

  1

  2

  11

  31

  48

  115

  313

  1,581

  2,103

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  1

  6

  16

  23

  53

  161

  865

  1,127

  Surrey

  1

  1

  2

  8

  22

  28

  80

  245

  1,216

  1,603

  Sussex

  1

  1

  3

  12

  39

  42

  158

  417

  2,136

  2,809

  Thames Valley

  1

  1

  2

  13

  41

  58

  152

  459

  2,548

  3,275

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  15

  18

  61

  142

  672

  916

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  2

  11

  29

  37

  126

  295

  1,395

  1,897

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  5

  19

  83

  114

  356

  1,028

  4,917

  6,524

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  4

  24

  72

  88

  286

  804

  3,746

  5,026

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  15

  19

  56

  147

  783

  1,029

  City of London

  11

  21

  31

  5

  11

  19

  56

  130

  574

  798

  Metropolitan

  16

  217

  352

  206

  221

  458

  1,405

  4,228

  20,125

  26,718

  Totals

  48

  59

  140

  621

  1,459

  2,216

  6,472

  18,596

  89,444

  119,055

  1 Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in Metropolitan police, and commissioner in City of London police.

  2 Includes deputy assistant commissioner in Metropolitan police, and assistant commissioner in City of London police.

  3 Includes commanders in Metropolitan police and City of London police.

  Chf Cn = Chief Constable.

  Dp Chf Cn = Deputy Chief Constable.

  Asst Chf = Assistant Chief Constable.

  Chf Sup = Chief Superintendent.

  Sup = Superintendent.

  Chf Insp = Chief Inspector.

  Insp = Inspector.

  Sgt = Sergeant.

  Const = Constable.

  Table 4: Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1989

  Police Force

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf Insp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Totals

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  1

  3

  13

  37

  70

  150

  468

  2,312

  3,055

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  4

  15

  21

  53

  143

  799

  1,038

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  13

  26

  58

  192

  893

  1,190

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  21

  32

  105

  291

  1,413

  1,874

  Cleveland

  1

  1

  2

  7

  20

  27

  92

  232

  1,086

  1,468

  Cumbria

  1

  1

  1

  7

  18

  24

  71

  191

  838

  1,152

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  26

  37

  100

  262

  1,353

  1,790

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  1

  3

  13

  35

  48

  129

  445

  2,155

  2,830

  Dorset

  1

  1

  1

  7

  16

  23

  68

  189

  952

  1,258

  Durham

  1

  1

  2

  6

  17

  28

  78

  212

  1,012

  1,357

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  1

  1

  7

  13

  22

  38

  150

  701

  934

  Essex

  1

  1

  2

  11

  31

  59

  126

  438

  2,130

  2,799

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  15

  19

  58

  174

  887

  1,162

  Greater Manchester

  1

  1

  6

  28

  89

  130

  401

  1,078

  5,231

  6,965

  Gwent

  1

  1

  1

  5

  15

  17

  48

  155

  757

  1,000

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  3

  10

  34

  52

  135

  478

  2,404

  3,118

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  2

  10

  25

  30

  93

  250

  1,235

  1,647

  Humberside

  1

  1

  2

  7

  25

  38

  105

  324

  1,490

  1,993

  Kent

  1

  1

  3

  10

  37

  50

  173

  435

  2,268

  2,978

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  3

  12

  41

  72

  154

  516

  2,374

  3,174

  Leicestershire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  21

  32

  103

  278

  1,303

  1,748

  Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  12

  25

  67

  196

  877

  1,181

  Merseyside

  1

  1

  4

  18

  61

  80

  253

  761

  3,501

  4,680

  Norfolk

  1

  1

  1

  5

  17

  23

  67

  199

  1,039

  1,353

  Northamptonshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  14

  23

  69

  164

  840

  1,119

  374

  375

  Table 4: Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1989

  Police Force

  Chf Cn

  Dp Chf Cn

  Asst Chf

  Chf Sup

  Sup

  Chf Insp

  Insp

  Sgt

  Const

  Totals

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  3

  13

  49

  65

  195

  516

  2,683

  3,526

  North Wales

  1

  1

  1

  7

  23

  28

  66

  211

  994

  1,332

  North Yorkshire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  18

  27

  73

  211

  1,039

  1,379

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  26

  34

  131

  333

  1,784

  2,320

  South Wales

  1

  1

  3

  13

  43

  63

  186

  538

  2,270

  3,118

  South Yorkshire

  1

  1

  2

  10

  39

  47

  161

  443

  2,242

  2,946

  Staffordshire

  1

  1

  1

  12

  31

  50

  123

  335

  1,618

  2,172

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  1

  6

  18

  20

  55

  179

  903

  1,184

  Surrey

  1

  1

  2

  7

  23

  25

  96

  262

  1,237

  1,654

  Sussex

  1

  1

  3

  12

  33

  40

  173

  460

  2,201

  2,924

  Thames Valley

  1

  1

  3

  13

  39

  50

  173

  500

  2,865

  3,645

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  14

  18

  64

  151

  722

  977

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  2

  11

  30

  40

  127

  299

  1,463

  1,974

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  6

  24

  84

  123

  395

  1,074

  5,138

  6,846

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  5

  21

  69

  81

  288

  818

  3,933

  5,217

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  16

  22

  59

  183

  831

  1,119

  City of London

  11

  21

  31

  6

  11

  20

  55

  125

  565

  785

  Metropolitan

  16

  216

  334

  161

  252

  483

  1,434

  4,304

  21,411

  28,101

  Totals

  48

  58

  124

  566

  1,485

  2,244

  6,645

  19,163

  93,753

  124,086

  1 Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in Metropolitan police, and commissioner in City of London police.

  2 Includes deputy assistant commissioner in Metropolitan police, and assistant commissioner in City of London police.

  3 Includes commanders in Metropolitan police and City of London police.

  Chf Cn = Chief Constable.

  Dp Chf Cn = Deputy Chief Constable.

  Asst Chf = Assistant Chief Constable.

  Chf Sup = Chief Superintendent.

  Sup = Superintendent.

  Chf Insp = Chief Inspector.

  Insp = Inspector.

  Sgt = Sergeant.

  Const = Constable.

  Prisoners (Mental Health)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England, Wales and Scotland received some form of mental health care in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1527]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter as far as England and Wales are concerned has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. The provision of information about the position in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. A. J. Beith, dated 24 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners in England and Wales who have received some form of mental health care in each of the last five years.
  This information is not available in the form requested. The Mental Health Act 1983 provides for prisoners who are so mentally disordered as to warrant their detention in a psychiatric hospital for medical treatment to be transferred to such hospitals. The number of such transfers for the years in question is as follows:

  Year

  Number transferred

  1990

  337

  1991

  457

  1992

  605

  1993

  767

  1994

  784

  376
  Since December 1991, Prison Service establishments in England and Wales have been carrying out regular medical monitoring exercises. To monitor the assessed needs of mentally disordered prisoners, information is collected centrally on a periodic basis. On a given day prisoners considered by prison doctors to need some form of mental health care are categorised as follows:

  (a) prisoners requiring removal or transfer to a psychiatric hospital under Mental Health Act provisions and who are awaiting transfer. This figure included remand prisoners awaiting disposal by the court.

  (b) prisoners who were sufficiently ill to be occupying in-patient beds in prison health care centres.

  (c) prisoners requiring some form of mental health care but not removal/transfer to psychiatric hospital or in-patient treatment in a prison health care centre.

  These single-day surveys can be used to calculate the average number of prisoners requiring transfer to a psychiatric hospital or some other form of mental health care on any one day in the year in question and produce the following figures.

  Year

  Number of prisoners

  1992

  2,483

  1993

  2,694

  1994

  2,742

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) serving police officers, (b) civilian staff assisting the police and (c) crimes there were in the latest available 15 years for each police authority in the United Kingdom; and what was the ratio of crimes to police officers in each case. [1529]
  377
  Mr. Maclean
  Information about police strength and criminal offences recorded by the police for each force in England and Wales for the last 15 years can be found in the appendix to the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". Copies of these reports are in the Library.

  The table gives the number of notifiable offences, excluding criminal damage valued at £20 and under, recorded per police officer for each force area in England and Wales for the years 1980 to 1994. Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Notifiable offences recorded per police officer

  Force area

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  Avon and Somerset

  18

  20

  22

  22

  24

  Bedfordshire

  27

  29

  30

  31

  34

  Cambridgeshire

  26

  28

  26

  26

  26

  Cheshire

  17

  19

  21

  22

  23

  Cleveland

  23

  26

  29

  28

  32

  Cumbria

  15

  16

  18

  19

  21

  Derbyshire

  19

  23

  25

  24

  26

  Devon and Cornwall

  17

  19

  20

  21

  22

  Dorset

  20

  21

  24

  25

  26

  Durham

  20

  22

  25

  26

  30

  Essex

  20

  21

  23

  23

  23

  Gloucestershire

  16

  18

  20

  19

  21

  Greater Manchester

  26

  30

  32

  33

  37

  Hampshire

  20

  23

  25

  25

  27

  Hertfordshire

  21

  22

  24

  22

  24

  Humberside

  17

  27

  30

  29

  32

  Kent

  17

  18

  21

  21

  23

  Lancashire

  16

  18

  20

  20

  22

  Leicestershire

  19

  21

  24

  24

  25

  Lincolnshire

  15

  17

  20

  20

  22

  London, City of

  7

  7

  8

  8

  8

  Merseyside

  24

  27

  29

  29

  32

  MPD

  23

  24

  25

  24

  26

  Norfolk

  19

  23

  26

  26

  26

  Northamptonshire

  24

  25

  29

  29

  31

  Northumbria

  30

  33

  38

  38

  43

  North Yorkshire

  15

  18

  20

  20

  22

  Nottinghamshire

  33

  37

  37

  36

  38

  South Yorkshire

  20

  22

  25

  26

  30

  Staffordshire

  17

  19

  20

  22

  23

  Suffolk

  16

  18

  19

  20

  21

  Surrey

  14

  15

  17

  17

  17

  Sussex

  16

  17

  20

  21

  22

  Thames Valley

  23

  25

  28

  28

  30

  Warwickshire

  15

  18

  20

  21

  23

  West Mercia

  17

  20

  23

  23

  24

  West Midlands

  25

  28

  31

  31

  34

  West Yorkshire

  25

  27

  29

  28

  31

  Wiltshire

  18

  20

  22

  22

  24

  Dyfed-Powys

  15

  12

  13

  14

  16

  Gwent

  33

  20

  23

  24

  25

  North Wales

  20

  20

  21

  22

  24

  South Wales

  23

  24

  27

  27

  29

  England and Wales

  21

  23

  26

  25

  27

  Force area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Avon and Somerset

  26

  30

  32

  31

  31

  Bedfordshire

  34

  38

  39

  37

  38

  Cambridgeshire

  27

  27

  28

  28

  30

  Cheshire

  23

  24

  26

  24

  23

  Cleveland

  32

  36

  38

  37

  38

  Cumbria

  22

  25

  23

  22

  23

  Derbyshire

  25

  24

  24

  22

  25

  Devon and Cornwall

  23

  25

  25

  25

  26

  378

  Force area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Dorset

  27

  29

  30

  28

  30

  Durham

  30

  30

  30

  29

  30

  Essex

  24

  26

  26

  25

  26

  Gloucestershire

  23

  24

  28

  28

  29

  Greater Manchester

  39

  43

  41

  39

  38

  Hampshire

  28

  30

  30

  28

  30

  Hertfordshire

  24

  26

  25

  24

  24

  Humberside

  36

  39

  43

  41

  43

  Kent

  24

  24

  25

  25

  26

  Lancashire

  22

  24

  25

  26

  24

  Leicestershire

  26

  27

  28

  28

  30

  Lincolnshire

  25

  25

  28

  26

  28

  London, City of

  8

  10

  9

  8

  9

  Merseyside

  32

  35

  33

  29

  27

  MPD

  26

  28

  26

  25

  26

  Norfolk

  28

  30

  30

  30

  32

  Northamptonshire

  34

  35

  36

  33

  34

  Northumbria

  45

  46

  47

  43

  48

  North Yorkshire

  25

  25

  25

  24

  24

  Nottinghamshire

  38

  40

  40

  39

  43

  South Yorkshire

  28

  30

  31

  28

  30

  Staffordshire

  24

  26

  25

  25

  26

  Suffolk

  23

  25

  25

  24

  26

  Surrey

  17

  19

  19

  19

  20

  Sussex

  23

  23

  22

  22

  25

  Thames Valley

  31

  33

  32

  29

  32

  Warwickshire

  22

  23

  25

  23

  25

  West Mercia

  24

  25

  24

  23

  24

  West Midlands

  35

  38

  38

  33

  32

  West Yorkshire

  31

  32

  33

  31

  34

  Wiltshire

  25

  25

  23

  22

  23

  Dyfed-Powys

  16

  17

  18

  19

  17

  Gwent

  27

  25

  26

  23

  23

  North Wales

  25

  26

  27

  25

  25

  South Wales

  30

  33

  33

  35

  35

  England and Wales

  28

  30

  30

  28

  29

  Force area

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Avon and Somerset

  40

  48

  55

  56

  55

  Bedfordshire

  48

  51

  51

  49

  47

  Cambridgeshire

  36

  45

  51

  51

  48

  Cheshire

  27

  32

  39

  41

  38

  Cleveland

  47

  49

  53

  51

  52

  Cumbria

  26

  35

  35

  34

  34

  Derbyshire

  32

  41

  45

  48

  47

  Devon and Cornwall

  31

  37

  38

  41

  38

  Dorset

  36

  39

  38

  39

  42

  Durham

  36

  43

  44

  44

  44

  Essex

  32

  36

  38

  37

  35

  Gloucestershire

  35

  46

  52

  52

  52

  Greater Manchester

  44

  50

  51

  48

  45

  Hampshire

  36

  43

  45

  43

  42

  Hertfordshire

  27

  32

  34

  33

  32

  Humberside

  50

  57

  61

  68

  66

  Kent

  32

  43

  49

  49

  49

  Lancashire

  29

  33

  35

  36

  34

  Leicestershire

  40

  48

  52

  53

  53

  Lincolnshire

  31

  36

  39

  42

  38

  London, City of

  9

  9

  8

  6

  6

  Merseyside

  27

  31

  30

  29

  29

  MPD

  29

  31

  32

  30

  28

  Norfolk

  38

  44

  46

  44

  40

  Northamptonshire

  41

  49

  48

  50

  49

  Northumbria

  53

  59

  56

  53

  50

  North Yorkshire

  32

  35

  37

  41

  45

  Nottinghamshire

  54

  61

  67

  65

  62

  South Yorkshire

  34

  39

  43

  50

  50

  Staffordshire

  32

  38

  44

  44

  42

  Suffolk

  30

  32

  35

  34

  32

  Surrey

  25

  29

  31

  31

  28

  Sussex

  31

  37

  39

  35

  35

  Thames Valley

  39

  49

  50

  50

  48

  Warwickshire

  31

  39

  44

  43

  41

  West Mercia

  29

  35

  37

  39

  40

  West Midlands

  37

  42

  45

  46

  46

  379

  Force area

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  West Yorkshire

  42

  55

  58

  59

  57

  Wiltshire

  27

  31

  32

  31

  30

  Dyfed-Powys

  20

  25

  27

  23

  20

  Gwent

  29

  36

  39

  38

  37

  North Wales

  27

  31

  35

  34

  31

  South Wales

  42

  49

  51

  50

  52

  England and Wales

  34

  40

  40

  42

  40

  Probation Service
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place a copy of his draft replacement to his Department's recruitment brochure for the probation service in the Library; [2297]

  (2) when he aims to publish the replacement to his Department's recruitment brochure for the probation service "Facing up to Crime"; and what will be the total cost of the new production; [2296]

  (3) if he will list the organisations he is consulting or intends to consult on his replacement for his Department's recruitment brochure for the probation service, together with the closing date for comments; and if he will place copies of all responses in the Library. [2298]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  An information and recruitment booklet about the work of the probation service to replace "Facing up to Crime" will be published as soon as possible, at a cost of about £45,000. The Association of Chief Officers of Probation, Central Probation Council, Association of Black Probation Officers, National Association of Asian Probation Staff, National Association of Probation Officers, Probation Managers Association and the Society of Chief Officers of Probation have been consulted, with a request to comment by 20 November. We shall place a copy of the new booklet in the Library on publication but do not propose to do so in relation to the consultative draft or the one comment on it so far submitted.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers are currently paid from public funds; how many have a qualification in social work; what is the age profile of the probation service; how many probation officers were recruited in 1994; and what was the age profile of these recruits. [1986]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The latest available information is as follows:

  At 31 March 1995 there were in post 6,0411 main grade probation officers.

  Statistics on the age profile of probation service staff, the numbers holding a social work qualification and the numbers recruited each year are not collected centrally.
  1Excludes trainee and temporary probation officers.

  Nigerian Military Personnel
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Nigerian military entered the United Kingdom since the execution of Mr. Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues; when they entered the United Kingdom; and for what reasons. [2258]
  380
  Mr. Kirkhope
  Statistical records are not kept of admissions by reference to occupation. However, since 24 June 1993 visas have been issued to members of the Nigerian military only in exceptional circumstances.

  Asylum
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the European Union resolutions, to which he has been a signatory, relating to harmonisation of asylum policy among European Union member states. [1672]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following measure relating to the harmonisation of asylum policy has been adopted by the Council in accordance with the procedures established by the intergovernmental chapter—title VI—of the treaty on European Union:

  Resolution on minimum guarantees for asylum seekers.

  Additionally the following resolutions were adopted by Immigration Ministers under the ad hoc arrangements which existed before the structures created under title VI:

  Resolution on a harmonised approach to questions concerning host third countries;

  Resolution on manifestly unfounded applications for asylum;

  Resolution on certain common guidelines as regards the admission of particularly vulnerable groups from the former Yugoslavia.

  Immigration Ministers also agreed the following additional measures:

  Convention determining the state responsible for examining applications for asylum lodged in one of the member states of the European Community ("Dublin Convention");

  Decision setting up CIREA—Centre of Information Discussion and Exchange on Asylum;

  Conclusions concerning countries where there is generally no serious risk of persecution.

  Asylum and Immigration
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those countries on the asylum and immigration white list. [1900]

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. and learned Friend informed the House on 20 November,Official Report, column 336, that he will announce at an early stage during the passage of the Asylum and Immigration Bill the likely candidates for inclusion on the list of countries to be designated as not giving rise to a serious risk of persecution.

  Prison Service
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the director general of the Prison Service about problems being experienced as a result of the growth in the numbers of prisoners. [1683]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have regular discussions with the Director General on a wide range of Prison Service issues, including the prison population.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made
  381
  of the number of employers in the United Kingdom who employ illegal immigrants; and what is the basis for this estimate. [1675]

  Miss Widdecombe
  No such estimates are available.

  Extradition
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British citizens have been extradited to(a) Thailand and (b) the Philippines in each year from 1979 to date, to answer charges relating to sexual activity with juveniles. [1627]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  There have been no extraditions from the United Kingdom to Thailand or the Philippines since 1979. Statistics regarding the extradition of British citizens are not recorded because there is no bar to extradition of United Kingdom nationals in United Kingdom law.

  Prison Staff
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the daily average number of prison staff absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison work force. [132]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 24 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the daily average number of prison staff absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison workforce.
  The information sought is not available centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  During the six months to 30 September 1995, 4.9 per cent. of total shift hours were taken as sick leave by prison officer grades. Over the same period, a total of 31,204 staff weeks were lost due to sick absence (an average of 1200 staff weeks lost per week). There are approximately 24,500 staff in the above mentioned grades.

  Prisons (Teachers)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the teaching staff working with prisoners are employed on a part-time basis and how many on a full-time basis; what is the average rate of pay for(a) part-time and (b) full-time teaching staff working with prisoners; and what is the average holiday entitlement for (i) part-time and (ii) full-time teaching staff working with prisoners. [395]

  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 24 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many of the teaching staff working with prisoners are employed on a part-time basis and how many on a full-time basis; what is the average rate of pay for (a) part-time and
  382
  (b) full-time teaching staff working with prisoners; and what is the average holiday entitlement for (i) part-time and (ii) full-time teaching staff working with prisoners.The Prison Service does not directly employ any of the teaching staff working in prisons. They are employees of organisations which were awarded contracts for the provision of education services at prison establishments following a competitive tendering exercise. All issues relating to their terms and conditions of employment are matters for their employers, and details of the deployment of teachers are not held centrally. Under the General Terms and Conditions of Contract covering education services, contractors are required to appoint a full-time education co-ordinator to undertake duties for no less than 30 hours a week at each establishment where they hold a contract, so there is at least one full-time teacher at each establishment.Teaching staff at the contracted out prisons (Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall, Doncaster and Wolds) and at Manchester are employees either of the organisation holding the contract for overall management of the establishment, or of an organisation appointed by the main contractor to manage the education provision. Issues relating to the terms and conditions of employment of these staff are also a matter for the employing organisation rather than the Prison Service.

  Prisons (Education)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of Prison Service education facilities is provided by private contractors. [394]

  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 24 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what proportion of Prison Service education facilities is provided by private contractors.
  There are currently separate contracts for the provision of education services at 123 Prison Service establishments and these are held by 46 different organisations. The great majority of these are colleges of further education, together with one university and three local authority education departments. Four contractors are constituted as private companies. These are Dartington Tech, Direct Training Services Ltd, Mill Wharf Education Services and Secure Education and Training (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of North Oxfordshire College). In addition, two of the four privately-managed prisons have private sector organisations providing the education services.

  Private Security Firms
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of private security firms under contract to his Department, indicating whether or not they are members of the industry's self-regulating organisations. [139]

  Mr. Howard
  The following private security firms are currently employed by my Department:

  Armaguard Ltd.

  Aviation Security Consultants

  Burns International Security Services Ltd.

  Care Security Systems Ltd.

  Chubb Alarms Ltd.

  Defenco Security Services

  Group 4 Court Service Ltd.

  Group 4 Prison Services Ltd.

  Group 4 Securitas (Security Express)

  383

  Group 4 Total Security Ltd.

  Lisburn Security Services

  Maritime Aviation Security Services

  Premier Prison Services Ltd.

  Reliance Security Service Ltd.

  Scrottons Aviation Security

  Securicor Custodial Services Ltd.

  Securicor Security Services Ltd.

  Securiguard Services Ltd.

  Security Ulster Ltd.

  Security Wales Ltd.

  Sigma Security Ltd.

  Shorrock Security Guards Ltd.

  UK detention Services Ltd.

  Information about the self-regulating organisations to which these security firms belong is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorists
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those convicted terrorists who will be released from Ulster's jails before Christmas as a result of changes in remission rules, indicating the crime they were convicted of and the length of sentence imposed. [64]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. D. Shannon to Rev. Ian Paisley, dated 23 November 1995.
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to this Parliamentary Question in which you asked for a list of convicted terrorists who will be released before Christmas as a result of changes in remission rules.
  It remains our policy not to divulge information about individual prisoners and their crimes but I can advise you that it is anticipated that 94 prisoners who were convicted of scheduled offences will be released on licence before Christmas 1995 as a result of the changes in remission rules brought in by the Northern Ireland (Remission of Sentence) Act 1995.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proposals he has to improve the quality of the buildings in the Belfast institute of further and higher education; [1111]

  (2) when the Belfast Institute of further and higher education commissioned an economic appraisal to address the institute's most pressing accommodation needs in accordance with his request; what were its findings, and what action has been taken. [1112]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Belfast education and library board completed a major review of the institute's accommodation needs in 1991 which produced a preferred option of a new building on a new site at a cost of some 384
  £70 million. Because of the magnitude of this proposal, the board was asked to examine how the accommodation needs could be provided on a phased basis. An economic appraisal to address the most pressing accommodation needs is currently being prepared by the board and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

  Health Spending
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will itemise how much(a) NHS trusts, (b) general practitioner fundholders, (c) regional health authorities and (d) district health authorities spent on health care from non-NHS providers in each year since 1991–92 in each region. [2416]

  Mr. Moss
  In Northern Ireland integrated health and personal social services are supplied by health boards, health and social services trusts and general practitioner fundholders.

  Expenditure by health and social services boards on purchase of health and social services from non-NHS/HPSS providers was as follows:

  NHSSB £

  SHSSB £

  EHSSB £

  WHSSB £

  1992–93

  377,056

  159,871

  4,876,322

  364,100

  1993–94

  279,013

  172,350

  3,177,081

  820,278

  1994–95

  65,190

  631,752

  2,693,070

  1,143,911

  The accounts of health and social services boards were revised in 1992–93 to take account of the separation of the purchaser/provider functions. Consequently, the information in the table on expenditure is not available prior to this date.

  The first six health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland were established with effect from 1 April 1993, a further seven trusts were established with effect from 1 April 1994. The accounts of the trusts, within each board area, indicated expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers as follows:

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Northern area

  Nil

  Nil

  Southern area

  Nil

  4,048

  Eastern area

  Nil

  36,509

  Weatern area

  Nil

  Nil

  General practitioner fundholders' expenditure on the purchase of health and personal social services from non-NHS/HPSS providers was as follows:

  1994–95 £

  Northern area

  86,518

  Southern area

  1,067

  Eastern area

  165,510

  Western area

  67,769

  385
  Prior to 1994–95 the accounts of general practitioner fundholders did not separately record expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers. Consequently, the information in the table on purchase is not available prior to this date.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Spiro Family
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the consul general in Los Angeles if he might be prepared to interview Mr. Alain and Mr. Arthur Ivy on the question of what knowledge they have as to the circumstances surrounding the death of the Spiro family. [2073]

  Mr. Hanley
  It is for the United States police authorities to conduct any interviews relevant to the incident.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the consul general in Los Angeles has, within the last eight weeks, asked the San Diego county sheriff when he intends to release the medical examiners' report into the circumstances surrounding the death of the Spiro family in the United States of America. [2072]

  Mr. Hanley
  Consular officials in Los Angeles requested copies of the police and autopsy reports on 19 October following the conclusion of police investigations. We expect them in the next few weeks.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's current policy on the sale of military equipment to Sri Lanka; when the latest embargo was lifted; and what considerations underlay this action. [2070]

  Mr. Hanley
  We maintain strict controls on all exports of military equipment to Sri Lanka. We examine each case on its merits, paying particular attention to the Sri Lankan Government's human rights record. A total embargo on arms sales to Sri Lanka was lifted in October 1992, following evidence that the Sri Lankan Government had improved their human rights record.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ban the sale of arms to Sri Lanka. [2051]

  Mr. Hanley
  We maintain strict controls on all exports of military equipment to Sri Lanka. We examine each case on its merits, paying particular attention to the Sri Lankan Government's human rights record, and bearing in mind their right to defend themselves against military attack.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how evidence of wrongdoing referred to in his answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 551, will be investigated in the absence of information on export licences granted prior to 1987 at the Department of Trade and Industry; and what
  386
  are the specific criteria against which wrongdoing is assessed in this investigation; [1982]

  (2) which body will undertake the investigation referred to in his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 551; and what is the estimated date for completion of the investigation; [1981]

  (3) when the United Nations Special Commission referred information, which was referred to in his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 551, to the British Government; and what it expected the British Government to do with that information; [1983]

  (4) over what period and in which goods the British companies mentioned in the UNSCOM evidence, referred to in his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 551, were trading with Iraq; [1984]

  (5) if the information provided by the United Nations Special Commission in his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 551, is being investigated at present. [1980]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to my letters of 24 July and 25 September and to my replies of 27 October,Official Report, column 862, and 6 November, Official Report, column 551.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 21 November, Official Report, column 68.

  I have nothing further to add to previous answers to questions on this subject.

  Nepal
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to press for the release of 11 Christians imprisoned in Nepal for proselytism. [1994]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our ambassador in Katmandu raised the case of the 11 Christians with the Nepalese authorities on 24 August. All 11 were released on 9 November.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage constructive action by the Governments of Nepal and India on the problem of the trafficking of women and children from Nepal to India for the purpose of prostitution. [1995]

  Mr. Hanley
  We share international concern about this matter. We are working through our aid programme, and through liaison with the Nepalese authorities and non-governmental organisations, to help combat the trafficking of young Nepalese women.

  Nigerian Military Personnel
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy towards the granting of visas for Nigerian military personnel. [2257]

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 24 June 1993 it has been Government policy not, except in the most exceptional circumstances, to issue visas to Nigerian military or security personnel or their families. In line with an EU resolution adopted on 20 November this year, this policy
  387
  has now been extended to Nigerian civilian Ministers and their families. Although visas that have already been issued cannot be cancelled, we have arranged for entry to the United Kingdom to be denied to those who hold valid multiple entry visas.

PRIME MINISTER

  Computers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision to exclude the British company Meiko from the shortlist to provide computers for the Ministry of Defence on Britain's technology base. [1565]

  Mr. Page
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department of Trade and Industry has made no such assessment.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of how many school playing fields are under threat of development in England. [1558]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The latest information available comes from the Sports Council's register of recreational land, which at present hold records for around 80 per cent. of all playing fields in England.

  According to the register, of the 42,690 school playing fields in England, 850 are subject to existing planning permission or to a pending planning decision.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the number of school playing fields that have been sold in England since 1981. [1557]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 19 October 1995, Official Report, column 376.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans her Department has to increase the statutory minimum areas of school playing fields. [1468]

  Mrs. Gillan
  None.

  School Computers
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average number of computers(a) per school and (b) per pupil in the Sheffield, Yorkshire and Humberside areas; and if she will make a statement. [1708]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is not available.

  School Governors (Training)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  to ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what training courses for school governors are the statutory responsibilities of local education authorities; how many courses Sheffield education authority has held in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [1707]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Each local education authority must by law make available free of charge to the governors of its schools any training it considers necessary for them to discharge their functions effectively. It is for each LEA to judge what is necessary. But most LEAs, including Sheffield, have appointed governor training co-ordinators to secure the availability of suitable training programmes. Figures on the number of training courses provided by LEAs are not held centrally. But since April 1992 Sheffield has offered governing bodies the opportunity to buy into an annual scheme including various forms of support and training.

  In 1993–94 Sheffield provided 189 training events; in 1994–95, 158; and for the current year an anticipated total of 184.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to review the financial assessment regulation in respect of the assisted places scheme. [2228]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Walden) on 23 November 1995,Official Report, columns 323–24.

  Restart Courses
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of participants for restart courses; what the scheme cost, what the planned expenditure was; and what number of those on the scheme achieved positive outcomes, and the breakdown of those outcomes in terms of numbers moving into(a) full-time education, (b) full-time employment, (c) part-time employment and (d) other outcomes for each year since 1991. [1764]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Blunkett, dated 24 November 1995:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Restart Courses.

  It may help if I explain that Restart Courses have been in existence since 1986. In April 1994 a new two week Restart Course programme was launched. The new course combines formal morning attendance with individual job search activities in the afternoon. New Restart Courses were developed on the success of the original shorter one week courses and are designed to boost confidence and job search activity. There is an emphasis

  389
  on making real applications for jobs and opportunities. They give people an opportunity to take a fresh look at their situation, become aware of the options open to them locally and plan positive steps back to work. During the course each person produces a plan of the steps they need to take to help them back to work.

  Restart courses

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants

  133,840

  134,960

  143,280

  147,120

  63,855

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)1

  10.6

  10.9

  11.3

  14.1

  6.1

  Planned expenditure (£ million)2

  8.1

  10.9

  39.5

  15.1

  10.7

  Outcomes into employment3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,588

  Other outcomes4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15,393

  Total positive outcomes5

  —

  —

  —

  26,529

  17,981

  Notes:

  1 Total expenditure for the year.

  2 (i) 1993–94 includes planned expenditure for Jobplan.

  (ii) The figures shown are those published in the Departmental Report just before the start of each operational year. These figures are subject to change during the year.

  3 Information on total job entries was not collected until April 1995. Both full and part-time jobs are included in this figure. Separate figures are not routinely collected.

  4 Other outcomes include starts on TFW, Jobclub, Community Action, JIG, Worktrials, JRW, jss, Career Development Loans, PDF, Further Education, Other e.g. Princes Trust voluntary work. Information on starts on other outcomes was not collected until April 1995. Separate information on participants entering full-time education is not routinely collected.

  5 This information was not routinely collected until April 1994.

  Training
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year since 1994 in respect of(a) workwise/worklink and 1-2-1 and (b) modern apprenticeships (i) the number of participants, (ii) the scheme cost, (iii) the planned expenditure, (iv) the number of those on the scheme

  1994–95 Youth Training

  Number of participants

  Scheme cost (£000s)

  Planned expenditure 1995–96 (£000s)

  Percentage of leavers gaining a positive outcome (to January 1995)

  Percentage of leavers into full-time education (to January 1995)

  Percentage of leavers into full-time employment (to January 1995)

  Percentage of leavers into part-time employment (to January 1995)

  Other outcomes (to January 1995)

  Modern Apprenticeships

  1 270,600

  676,491

  669,386

  72

  8

  50

  5

  28

  Notes:

  Figures are for all Youth Training (including Youth Credits). Figures for Modern Apprenticeships cannot be separately identified.

  1 At August 1995.

  2 Self-employment or another Government training programme.

  Source:

  TEC MI returns, Welsh Office, The Scottish Office, YT National Follow-Up Survey.

  1995–96 (to 31 October 1995) (Workwise/worklink/1-2-1)

  Number of participants

  Scheme cost

  Planned expenditure 1997–97

  Positive outcomes

  Into full-time education

  Into full-time employment

  Into part-time employment

  Other outcomes

  Workwise/Worklink

  12,308

  £9.5 million

  Not yet known

  7,431

  n/a

  11,307

  n/a

  33,781

  1-2-1

  40,265

  £6 million

  Not yet known

  23,108

  2n/a

  12,381

  n/a

  220,727

  1 Includes full and part-time employment.

  2 Numbers into full-time education included in 'Other Outcomes'.

  3 Other outcomes includes Business Start-Up starts; Training for Work starts; Community Action starts; Family Credit starts; other sign offs; Jobclub starts; Job Interview Guarantee (JIG) starts; Work Trial starts.

  390
  The attached table gives the number of participants who have attended the courses since 1991 and the cost and planned expenditure for each year. The table and explanatory notes also contain information on positive outcomes.

  I hope this is helpful.

  who achieved positive outcomes, and the breakdown of the positive outcomes in terms of numbers going into (1) full-time education, (2) full-time employment, (3) part-time employment and (4) other outcomes. [1842]

  Mr. Forth
  The figures requested are shown in the following tables:
  391

  1994–95
  (Workwise/Worklink/1-2-1)

  Number of participants

  Scheme cost

  Positive outcomes

  Into full-time education

  Into full-time employment

  Into part-time employment

  Other outcomes

  Workwise/Worklink (pilot)

  9,266

  £2.5 million

  2,953

  1n/a

  1n/a

  1n/a

  1n/a

  1-2-1 (pilot)

  7,533

  £0.5 million

  5,109

  2n/a

  3866

  n/a

  44,243

  1 Separate information on types of positive outcome were not collected during the pilot stage.

  2 Numbers into full-time education included in 'Other Outcomes'.

  3 Includes full and part-time employment.

  4 Other outcomes includes Business Start-Up starts; Training for Work starts; Community Action starts; Family Credit
  starts; other sign offs; Jobclub starts; Job Interview Guarantee (JIG) starts; Work Trial starts.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year since 1993 in respect of(a) community action, (b) workstart and (c) training for work, (i) the number of participants, (ii) what the scheme cost, (iii) what the planned expenditure was, (iv) what number of those on the scheme achieved positive outcomes and (v) the

  Table 1

  Community action

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of participants1

  23,389

  47,646

  21,932 (to October)

  Cost of scheme2

  £14.4 million

  £98.5 million

  £44,947,987 (to October)

  Planned expenditure

  £31.4 million

  £100 million

  £70 million

  Outcomes into full-time education3

  2.8 per cent.

  3.8 per cent.

  —

  Outcomes into full-time employment3

  12.7 per cent.

  9.4 per cent.

  —

  Outcomes into part-time employment3

  4.1 per cent.

  4.4 per cent.

  —

  Other outcomes3, 4

  6.5 per cent.

  9.3 per cent.

  —

  Total positive outcomes3

  26.1 per cent.

  26.9 per cent.

  —

  Notes:

  1 This is the number of people who started on Community Action in each year.

  2 Community Action began in July 1993 and the underspend in 1993–94 was due to a less rapid build up than was anticipated.

  3 Outcomes are measured by postal follow up of all participants 3 months after leaving the programme. As this is a survey the figures are represented as percentages, no actual numbers are available. The latest available data are up to the end of March 1995.

  4 Other positive outcomes are self-employment and participation in Government training schemes.

  Table 2

  Workstart

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Numbers into employment

  1,099

  476

  —

  Cost of scheme

  £0.28 million

  £1.87 million

  —

  Planned expenditure

  £1.14 million

  £2.45 million

  £0.53 million

  1) Workstart subsidies are paid to employers who recruit the ES's very long term unemployed clients. All clients enter jobs which involve working 16 hours or more per week and are expected to last at least the length of the subsidy period.

  2) For Workstart pilots ran from June 1993 to December 1994. The subsidy was paid over a 12 month period and so some participating employers are still receiving payments. As payments cease if a subsidised employee leaves, the total 1995–96 expenditure will not be known until February 1996.

  3) Two new Workstart pilots began in April this year. They have a combined budget of £5.89 million for 1995–96. As in the first pilots the exact amount to be spent will depend upon people remaining in work for the duration of the subsidy set. To date (10 November) there have been 482 starts on this pilot.

  Table 3

  Training for work

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of participants

  147,800

  118,000

  81,700 (to August)

  Cost of scheme1

  £760.2 million

  £683 million (provisional)

  —

  Planned expenditure

  £781,826,000

  £693,348,000

  £573,984,000

  Outcomes into full-time education2

  4 per cent.

  3 per cent.

  —

  Outcomes into full-time employment2

  23 per cent.

  25 per cent.

  —

  392
  break-down of the outcomes in terms of the numbers going into (1) full-time education, (2) full-time employment, (3) part-time employment and (4) other outcomes. [1758]

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is contained in the following three tables:
  393

  Table 3

  Training for work

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Outcomes into part-time employment2

  8 per cent.

  8 per cent.

  —

  Other outcomes2, 3

  8 per cent.

  6 per cent.

  —

  Total positive outcomes2

  43 per cent.

  42 per cent.

  —

  Notes:

  1 The final outturn information for 1994–95 will not be available until late autumn when the Department's Appropriation Accounts are finalised.

  2 Information on positive outcomes comes from the TFW National Follow up Surveys and it is only possible to give percentages and not actual numbers. The latest available information is up to January 1995. Over the period covered by the table it is only possible to give a consistent series for England and Wales.

  3 Other outcomes are self-employment or another Government training programme.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year since 1991 for(a) job review workshops, (b) job clubs, (c) travel to interview, (d) youth training credits, (e) career development loans, and (f) job search seminars (i) the number of participants, (ii) what the scheme cost, (iii) what the planned expenditure was, (iv) what number of those on the scheme achieved positive outcomes, and

  Table 1: Job review workshops

  1991–92

  1992–95

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants

  15,358

  41,915

  37,293

  33,821

  18,266

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)1

  1.3

  3.8

  3.4

  2.6

  1.3

  Planned expenditure (£ million)2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  3.8

  3.2

  Outcomes into employment3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other outcomes3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total positive outcomes3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Total expenditure for the year.

  2 (i) The Government updates its expenditure plans annually and these are published in March in the Departmental Report. These figures are subject to change during the year. "n/a" equates to figures which are not published in the Departmental Report and are therefore not available. (ii) The figure for April to October 1995 is an estimate for the total operational year and may be subject to change.

  3 Job review workshops are targeted mainly at unemployed professional and executive people and help individuals identify transferable skills so that they are able to consider a wider range of occupations. Information about outcomes which participants may enter during or following the two day workshop is not therefore routinely collected. Outcomes into employment is not therefore available.

  1. Other outcomes are not collected for this programme (see above).

  2. Total positive outcomes are not collected for this programme (see above).

  Table 2: Jobclub

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants

  190,117

  220,997

  249,107

  266,422

  141,291

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)1

  29.2

  38.7

  50.0

  49.0

  26.1

  Planned expenditure (£ million)2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  48.7

  Outcomes into employment3

  76,831

  96,925

  105,678

  113,768

  60,769

  Other outcomes4

  26,082

  30,953

  29,992

  29,849

  15,142

  Total positive outcomes

  102,913

  127,878

  135,670

  143,617

  75,911

  1 Total expenditure for the year.

  2 (i) The Government updates its expenditure plans annually and these are published in March in the Departmental Report. These figures are subject to change during the year. "n/a" equates to figures which are not published in the Departmental Report and are therefore not available.

  (ii) The figure for April to October 1995 is an estimate for the total operational year and may be subject to change.

  3Total outcomes into employment include full and part-time jobs. Separate figures are not routinely collected. Outcomes are only recorded if they occur during Jobclub membership and can be directly attributed to the programme.

  4 Other outcomes include Government training programmes and other training or employment related opportunities, including further education and self-employment.

  394
  (v) the breakdown of the positive outcomes in terms of the numbers going into (1) full-time education, (2) full-time employment, (3) part-time employment and (4) other outcomes. [1759]

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is contained in the following tables:
  395

  Table 3: Travel to interview scheme

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants

  31,004

  45,240

  50,373

  51,140

  122,280

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)2

  0.9

  1.5

  1.7

  1.8

  1.0

  Planned expenditure (£ million)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1.3

  2.2

  Outcomes into employment4

  n/a

  n/a

  5,801

  6,762

  3,121

  Other outcomes5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total positive outcomes6

  n/a

  n/a

  5,801

  6,762

  3,121

  1 To September.

  2 Total expenditure for the year.

  3 (i) The Government updates its expenditure plans annually and these are published in March in the Departmental Report. These figures are subject to change during the year. "n/a" equates to figures which are not published in the Departmental Report and are therefore not available.

  (ii) The figure for April to October 1995 is an estimate for the total operational year and may be subject to change.

  4 Information about outcomes into employment was not collected prior to 1993–94.

  5 Since the scheme is targeted only at those gaining job interviews and subsequently jobs, information about other outcomes is not collected. The numbers obtaining a job as a result of an interview where fares to the interview are funded by this scheme are recorded.

  6 Total positive outcomes are jobs entries only (see (4) above).

  Table 4: Youth Training Credits

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants1

  286,000

  282,100

  283,600

  273,200

  270,600

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)2

  n/a

  60.9

  111.6

  149.4

  n/a

  Planned expenditure (£ million)3

  115

  132

  712

  676

  669

  Outcomes into employment (per cent.)4

  46(4)

  44(5)

  47(5)

  50(5)

  —

  Other outcomes (per cent.)5

  17

  17

  18

  16

  —

  Total positive outcomes (per cent.)6

  67

  67

  70

  72

  —

  1 The figures shown are the total number of people participating in Youth Training since the number of people taking Youth Training Credits is not separately available.

  2 (i) For 1991–92 separate data was not collected for this programme.

  (ii) For 1994–95 the figure shown is provisional and may be subject to change.

  (iii) For 1995–96 Youth Training Credits now work, not as a separate programme as in previous years, but as an access mechanism to training. Outturn figures will not be available until after the end of this financial year.

  3 (i) Planned expenditure on Youth Training credits in 1993–94 and subsequently is included as part of the overall planned expenditure on Youth Training and cannot be separately identified. In 1991–92 and 1992–93 actual figures for Youth Training Credits are shown. For comparative purposes the total planned expenditure on Youth Training, which included Youth Training Credits, was £741 million and £705 million respectively.

  (ii) In 1994–95 planned expenditure included spending by TECs on careers advice and guidance and the development of the youth credits scheme.

  (iii) In 1995–96 planned expenditure includes provision for Modern Apprenticeships which was introduced nationally in September 1995.

  4 (i) As outcome information is estimated from survey data it is not possible to give actual numbers. The information given is on the basis of percentage outcome estimates from surveys conducted six months after a participant leaves the programme.

  (ii) The latest available information is for the period April 1994 to January 1995 and is for England and Wales only.

  (iii) The percentage of people entering full-time employment is shown. The figures in brackets shows the additional percentage of participants entering part-time employment.

  5 Other Outcomes include entry into other Government programmes and self-employment.

  6 This is the percentage of participants who entered jobs, further training, self-employment and full-time education.

  Table 5: Career development loans

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants1

  10,432

  10,230

  12,159

  15,159

  15,169

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)2

  5.4

  6.9

  8.0

  9.8

  7.2

  Planned expenditure (£ million)3

  5.9

  7.0

  8.3

  12.5

  16.8

  Outcomes into employment (per cent.)4

  75

  68

  68

  70

  72

  396

  397

  Table 5: Career development loans

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Other outcomes (per cent.)5

  0.3

  5.3

  3.7

  —

  —

  Total positive outcomes6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Total number of participants are shown as the number of loans approved in year.

  2 Total expenditure in the year.

  3(i) The Government updates its expenditure plans annually and these are published in March in the Departmental Report. The figures provided are the Supply Estimate for each year and may, due to minor adjustments between the PES settlement and publication of the Estimate, differ slightly from the planned figure published in the Departmental Report.

  (ii) The figure for April to October 1995 is an estimate for the total operational year and may be subject to change.

  4 Total job entries include full and part-time jobs. Separate figures are not routinely collected. As outcome information is estimated from survey data it is not possible to give actual numbers. The information given is on the basis of percentage outcome estimates from surveys conducted three months after a participant leaves the programme.

  5 For this programme the only other outcome recorded is the number of clients going into further training. This is expressed as a percentage (see (4) above).

  6 Since only percentage figures are available for those entering outcomes a total number of participants entering positive outcomes is not available.

  Table 6: Job Search Seminar

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  April—October 1995

  Number of participants

  18,772

  86,297

  68,816

  66,226

  34,726

  Cost of scheme (cash prices £ million)1

  2.4

  5.0

  4.7

  4.3

  2.3

  Planned expenditure (£ million)2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4.9

  4.9

  Outcomes into employment3

  3,410

  15,131

  11,015

  9,605

  4,884

  Other outcomes4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total positive outcomes5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Total expenditure for the year.

  2 (i) The Government updates its expenditure plans annually and these are published in March in the Departmental Report. These figures are subject to change during the year. "n/a" equates to figures which are not published in the Departmental Report and are therefore not available.

  (ii) The figure for April to October 1995 is an estimate for the total operational year and may be subject to change.

  3 Total job entries include full and part-time jobs. Separate figures are not routinely collected. Only those job outcomes achieved during the five week period of the seminar are recorded are shown above.

  4 The main focus of this programme is to provide advice on job search and to increase job search activity with the aim of helping participants find employment. Entry into outcomes other than employment is not therefore routinely collected.

  5 Total positive outcomes are for job entries only [see (4) above].

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in how many cases she has required governors to modify proposals for grant-maintained status. [1760]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Some 650 proposals for grant-maintained status have been approved with modifications. These include changes to the implementation date, the admissions arrangements and the membership of the governing body.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each of the last two years the date of each ballot result on grant-maintained status and the date of publication of each set of proposals. [1761]

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

  Ballot result

  Proposal published

  3 January 1994

  N\V

  7 January 1994

  22 April 1994

  19 January 1994

  3 February 1994

  19 January 1994

  4 May 1994

  398

  Ballot result

  Proposal published

  25 January 1994

  27 January 1994

  25 January 1994

  11 February 1994

  25 January 1994

  4 March 1994

  25 January 1994

  29 April 1994

  26 January 1994

  4 March 1994

  26 January 1994

  18 March 1994

  26 January 1994

  25 March 1994

  27 January 1994

  N\V

  31 January 1994

  3 February 1994

  31 January 1994

  17 Febuary 1994

  31 January 1994

  28 February 1994

  31 January 1994

  31 March 1994

  31 January 1994

  14 May 1994

  31 January 1994

  14 May 1994

  1 February 1994

  N\V

  1 February 1994

  9 March 1994

  2 February 1994

  N\V

  2 February 1994

  N\V

  2 February 1994

  N\V

  2 February 1994

  3 February 1994

  7 February 1994

  N\V

  7 February 1994

  28 March 1994

  7 February 1994

  31 March 1994

  8 February 1994

  N\V

  10 February 1994

  N\V

  11 February 1994

  18 February 1994

  14 February 1994

  N\V

  399

  Ballot result

  Proposal published

  14 February 1994

  8 March 1994

  14 February 1994

  16 March 1994

  16 February 1994

  15 March 1994

  16 February 1994

  15 March 1994

  16 February 1994

  5 May 1994

  16 February 1994

  25 May 1994

  22 February 1994

  N\V

  22 February 1994

  N\V

  22 February 1994

  17 June 1994

  23 February 1994

  N\V

  23 February 1994

  N\V

  23 February 1994

  28 March 1994

  25 February 1994

  25 May 1994

  28 February 1994

  N\V

  28 February 1994

  10 March 1994

  28 February 1994

  25 March 1994

  4 March 1994

  18 March 1994

  7 March 1994

  N\V

  7 March 1994

  29 April 1994

  7 March 1994

  25 May 94

  9 March 1994

  N\V

  9 March 1994

  N\V

  9 March 1994

  28 March 1994

  9 March 1994

  6 May 1994

  14 March 1994

  N\V

  14 March 1994

  18 March 1994

  14 March 1994

  18 April 1994

  14 March 1994

  21 April 1994

  14 March 1994

  11 July 1994

  15 March 1994

  N\V

  17 March 1994

  N\V

  18 March 1994

  N\V

  18 March 1994

  27 April 1994

  21 March 1994

  N\V

  21 March 1994

  N\V

  21 March 1994

  22 April 1994

  21 March 1994

  22 April 1994

  22 March 1994

  N\V

  22 March 1994

  N\V

  22 March 1994

  30 June 1994

  23 March 1994

  N\V

  23 March 1994

  15 April 1994

  23 March 1994

  14 June 1994

  23 March 1994

  14 June 1994

  24 March 1994

  14 April 1994

  25 March 1994

  N\V

  25 March 1994

  N\V

  25 March 1994

  20 April 1994

  25 March 1994

  27 April 1994

  28 March 1994

  18 April 1994

  29 March 1994

  N\V

  29 March 1994

  13 May 1994

  29 March 1994

  14 June 1994

  30 March 1994

  N\V

  30 March 1994

  15 April 1994

  5 April 1994

  N\V

  5 April 1994

  27 April 1994

  5 April 1994

  8 July 1994

  5 April 1994

  23 December 1994

  6 April 1994

  N\V

  6 April 1994

  16 April 1994

  6 April 1994

  22 April 1994

  7 April 1994

  N\V

  7 April 1994

  N\V

  7 April 1994

  1 September 1994

  9 April 1994

  N/V

  11 April 1994

  N\V

  11 April 1994

  15 April 1994

  13 April 1994

  N\V

  14 April 1994

  N\V

  18 April 1994

  N\V

  18 April 1994

  20 May 1994

  18 April 1994

  3 September 1994

  19 April 1994

  N/V

  400

  Ballot result

  Proposal published

  26 April 1994

  10 May 1994

  26 April 1994

  8 June 1994

  27 April 1994

  N/V

  27 April 1994

  N/V

  27 April 1994

  17 November 1994

  28 April 1994

  N/V

  29 April 1994

  N/V

  29 April 1994

  15 July 1994

  2 May 1994

  N/V

  2 May 1994

  9 May 1994

  2 May 1994

  30 May 1994

  3 May 1994

  28 May 1994

  4 May 1994

  N/V

  5 May 1994

  N/V

  6 May 1994

  N/V

  9 May 1994

  N/V

  9 May 1994

  N/V

  12 May 1994

  N/V

  13 May 1994

  1 June 1994

  16 May 1994

  8 July 1994

  20 May 1994

  N/V

  20 May 1994

  N/V

  24 May 1994

  28 May 1994

  24 May 1994

  28 May 1994

  26 May 1994

  N/V

  27 May 1994

  N/V

  30 May 1994

  N/V

  30 May 1994

  N/V

  31 May 1994

  N/V

  31 May 1994

  15 July 1994

  1 June 1994

  N/V

  2 June 1994

  23 June 1994

  7 June 1994

  N/V

  10 June 1994

  N/V

  10 June 1994

  8 July 1994

  13 June 1994

  12 August 1994

  13 June 1994

  30 September 1994

  13 June 1994

  10 October 1994

  15 June 1994

  N/V

  15 June 1994

  22 June 1994

  17 June 1994

  N/V

  22 June 1994

  N/V

  22 June 1994

  N/V

  27 June 1994

  N/V

  27 June 1994

  15 July 1994

  27 June 1994

  16 September 1994

  30 June 1994

  11 November 1994

  1 July 1994

  N/V

  1 July 1994

  12 September 1994

  1 July 1994

  21 October 1994

  4 July 1994

  N/V

  5 July 1994

  N/V

  6 July 1994

  N/V

  6 July 1994

  N/V

  8 July 1994

  11 November 1994

  12 July 1994

  N/V

  1 August 1994

  N/V

  1 August 1994

  N/V

  3 August 1994

  N/V

  4 August 1994

  10 October 1994

  15 August 1994

  N/V

  15 August 1994

  18 October 1994

  24 August 1994

  25 November 1994

  9 September 1994

  N/V

  22 September 1994

  N/V

  19 October 1994

  13 December 1994

  21 October 1994

  1 December 1994

  26 October 1994

  4 November 1994

  31 October 1994

  20 December 1994

  4 November 1994

  30 November 1994

  7 November 1994

  N/V

  18 November 1994

  N/V

  21 November 1994

  24 November 1994

  22 November 1994

  N/V

  401

  Ballot result

  Proposal published

  22 November 1994

  19 December 1994

  22 November 1994

  11 January 1995

  23 November 1994

  20 December 1994

  24 November 1994

  N/V

  29 November 1994

  19 December 1994

  30 November 1994

  22 December 1994

  1 December 1994

  N/V

  2 December 1994

  N/V

  2 December 1994

  N/V

  2 December 1994

  23 December 1994

  5 December 1994

  N/V

  6 December 1994

  7 December 1994

  7 December 1994

  N/V

  8 December 1994

  N/V

  9 December 1994

  15 December 1994

  9 December 1994

  27 February 1995

  12 December 1994

  20 January 1995

  15 December 1994

  N/V

  19 December 1994

  N/V

  27 December 1994

  6 February 1995

  28 December 1994

  14 January 1995

  2 January 1995

  N/V

  2 January 1995

  N/V

  6 January 1995

  N/V

  11 January 1995

  15 February 1995

  18 January 1995

  24 February 1995

  25 January 1995

  9 Febuary 1995

  26 January 1995

  N/V

  2 February 1995

  N/V

  10 February 1995

  N/V

  13 February 1995

  17 March 1995

  20 February 1995

  31 March 1995

  21 February 1995

  N/V

  21 February 1995

  19 June 1995

  1 March 1995

  20 April 1995

  6 March 1995

  16 March 1995

  6 March 1995

  30 March 1995

  10 March 1995

  N/V

  10 March 1995

  14 March 1995

  13 March 1995

  21 March 1995

  14 March 1995

  24 June 1995

  22 March 1995

  N/V

  29 March 1995

  22 June 1995

  31 March 1995

  7 April 1995

  3 April 1995

  N/V

  3 April 1995

  7 April 1995

  7 April 1995

  16 May 1995

  7 April 1995

  9 June 1995

  13 April 1995

  24 May 1995

  4 May 1995

  N/V

  16 May 1995

  22 May 1995

  18 May 1995

  N/V

  18 May 1995

  30 June 1995

  24 May 1995

  7 August 1995

  25 May 1995

  N/V

  30 May 1995

  17 July 1995

  5 June 1995

  15 June 1995

  7 June 1995

  N/V

  8 June 1995

  N/V

  12 June 1995

  N/V

  16 June 1995

  30 June 1995

  30 June 1995

  12 October 1995

  3 July 1995

  25 August 1995

  5 July 1995

  N/V

  7 July 1995

  21 July 1995

  10 July 1995

  N/V

  11 July 1995

  4 August 1995

  14 July 1995

  N/V

  19 July 1995

  25 July 1995

  19 July 1995

  22 September 1995

  21 July 1995

  N/V

  21 July 1995

  10 August 1995

  31 July 1995

  12 September 1995

  4 August 1995

  N/V

  402

  Ballot result

  Proposal published

  19 October 1995

  P/A

  25 October 1995

  P/A

  2 November 1995

  P/A

  2 November 1995

  P/A

  2 November 1995

  P/A

  2 November 1995

  N/V

  3 November 1995

  N/V

  6 November 1995

  N/V

  8 November 1995

  N/V

  8 November 1995

  P/A

  9 November 1995

  P/A

  14 November 1995

  P/A

  15 November 1995

  P/A

  20 November 1995

  P/A

  20 November 1995

  N/V

  22 November 1995

  N/V

  Note:

  Proposals published:

  N/V= 'no' vote

  P/A= proposals awaited

  Job Finder's Grant
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of persons benefiting from job finder's grant; what the scheme cost; and what the planned expenditure was for each year since 1994. [1762]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Blunkett, dated 24 November 1995.

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the Jobfinder's Grant.

  I attach a table showing how many people have been awarded Jobfinder's Grants nationally and by Employment Service region.

  The figures shown cover the period 7 February 1994 to 31 December 1994 when the scheme was being piloted in the Midlands and from 18 April 1995 when the programme was introduced nationally (22 May in Yorkshire and Humberside region, where a more flexible variant to the programme is being piloted) up to 3 November, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Last year's pilot cost £800,000. Planned expenditure in 1995/96 is £5 million.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Jobfinder's grant

  Grants awarded (7 February 1994 to 31 December 1994)

  Grants awarded (18 April 1995 to 3 November 1995)

  London and South East

  —

  952

  South-west

  —

  536

  Wales

  —

  442

  West Midlands

  1,417

  1,023

  North-west

  —

  1,015

  Scotland

  —

  467

  Northern

  —

  563

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  701

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,291

  1,149

  National total

  4,708

  6,848

  Jobmatch Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of persons benefiting from the jobmatch scheme; what the scheme cost; and what the planned expenditure was for 1995. [1763]

  Mr. Forth
  The fullest information available, covering the period 3 April to 30 September 1995, shows that 989 people had benefited from jobmatch at a total programme cost of £497,000. The overall planned expenditure for the 1995–96 financial year was £5 million.

  Job Interview Guarantee
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of participants for the job interview guarantee; what the scheme cost; what the planned expenditure was; what number of those on the scheme achieved placings; and what was the breakdown of the placings in terms of the numbers going into(a) full-time employment and (b) part-time employment. [1765]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Blunkett, dated 24 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Job Interview Guarantee (JIG).
  During the year 1994/95, the number of people assisted by JIG was 450,138. Actual expenditure was £22,367,851, compared with planned expenditure of £23,767,851.
  The number of those assisted who were placed into a job was 205,020. As JIG is particularly aimed at long term unemployed people, you might be interested to know that 165,535 of those placed had been out of work for six months or more. I am afraid no statistics are held which differentiate between full and part time employment.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the people disallowed invalidity benefit following the all-work test between April and September 1995 made a claim to unemployment benefit and(a) received unemployment benefit only, (b) received unemployment benefit and income support, (c) received income support only, (d) received credits only and (e) were not entitled; how many were signing on pending an appeal against disallowance of incapacity benefit; and how many were referred to the placing, assessment and counselling teams. [1837]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 24 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many of the people disallowed Incapacity Benefit (IB) following the All Work Test between April and September 1995, made a claim to unemployment benefit and about the outcome of those claims.
  404
  In the period April to September 1995, 8,974 people disallowed IB following the All Work Test made a claim to unemployment benefits. Of these, 34 had their claims disallowed because they did not meet the conditions for receiving such benefits by being available for and actively seeking work. Information is not collected centrally about the nature of the benefit received by the remainder. Also we do not keep records of the number of people who while making a claim for unemployment benefits are also making an appeal against the decision of the Benefits Agency adjudication officer to disallow IB. This is because such appeals have no effect on a claim to unemployment benefits.
  During the same period, 2624 people who had been disallowed IB were referred to our Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams for specialist assessment and help.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, for the latest month for which figures are available and for the equivalent month in 1990, the number of job vacancies advertised in jobcentres which were(a) part-time and (b) temporary in character; and what proportion of total vacancies advertised each represented. [2423]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 24 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about part time and temporary vacancies in Jobcentres.
  The information is recorded on a quarterly basis, rather than monthly as you requested. Details for the latest quarter, and the equivalent period in 1990 are as follows:

  10 July 1995–6 October 1995

  Number

  (a) Total number of vacancies notified

  697,693

  (b) of which were part time

  202,561

  (c) percentage of total vacancies

  29

  (d) of which were temporary

  162.025

  (e) percentage of total vacancies

  23.2

  9 July 1990 to 5 October 1990

  Number

  (a) Total vacancies notified

  622,768

  (b) of which were part time

  184,312

  (c) percentage of total vacancies

  29.6

  (d) of which were temporary

  108,031

  (e) percentage of total vacancies

  17.3

  I hope this is helpful.

  Remploy
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the calculation of flow back shown in the Remploy annual accounts as the net cost to the Treasury; what is the detailed basis for the calculations; and if she will publish the calculations for the average flow back per Remploy disabled employee for each of the last five years. [2255]
  405
  Mr. Paice
  The figures are Remploy's own and no assessment has been made of the results or the basis for the calculations.

  Labour Statistics, West Yorkshire
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total number of(a) full-time

  Employees in West Yorkshire, by occupation Spring 1995

  Permanent

  Temporary

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All employees

  588,000

  187,000

  26,000

  30,000

  Managers and administrators

  104,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Professional occupations

  61,000

  10,000

  n/a

  n/a

  Associated professional and technical

  58,000

  10,000

  n/a

  n/a

  Clerical and secretarial

  87,000

  39,000

  n/a

  n/a

  Craft and related

  82,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Personal and protective services

  39,000

  38,000

  n/a

  n/a

  Selling

  30,000

  35,000

  n/a

  n/a

  Plant and machine operatives

  103,000

  11,000

  n/a

  n/a

  Other occupations

  23,000

  35,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a—not available, estimate below 10,000.

  Incomes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of workers on adult rates currently earn less than(a) £2.50, (b) £3, (c) £3.50, (d) £4, (e) £4.50, (f) £5, (g) £5.50 and (h) £6.50, per hour including and excluding overtime, in (i) Yorkshire and Humberside, (ii) north Yorkshire, (iii) the north and (iv) the United Kingdom, distinguishing between manual and non-manual, male and female and part-time workers; [1462]

  Hourly earnings including overtime

  Non-manual

  Manual

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage earning

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  <£2.50

  0.7

  5.0

  0.9

  3.2

  0.7

  7.1

  2.9

  6.6

  <£3.00

  1.2

  9.4

  2.1

  5.7

  1.9

  16.5

  9.6

  13.0

  <£3.50

  2.5

  17.7

  6.0

  18.1

  5.4

  41.2

  27.0

  40.0

  <£4.00

  4.9

  28.2

  11.5

  32.3

  11.4

  54.1

  45.1

  65.2

  <£4.50

  8.0

  39.2

  20.4

  45.4

  19.6

  66.5

  62.0

  80.1

  <£5.00

  11.4

  46.4

  29.5

  56.4

  29.7

  69.4

  73.3

  85.8

  <£5.50

  15.8

  51.9

  39.1

  64.7

  40.4

  75.3

  80.7

  90.7

  <£6.50

  24.9

  60.2

  55.0

  75.0

  59.8

  83.5

  92.4

  95.7

  North Yorkshire

  <£2.50

  1.1

  6.3

  1.3

  3.7

  0.5

  3.4

  4.3

  4.1

  <£3.00

  1.9

  12.5

  2.5

  5.3

  1.0

  6.9

  8.5

  13.8

  <£3.50

  3.3

  25.0

  7.8

  16.3

  5.7

  37.9

  39.4

  41.4

  <£4.00

  6.8

  46.9

  13.1

  35.3

  12.1

  65.5

  54.3

  62.8

  <£4.50

  10.8

  56.3

  22.2

  47.4

  22.1

  79.3

  67.0

  77.9

  <£5.00

  12.7

  65.6

  33.8

  59.5

  35.5

  79.3

  76.6

  85.5

  <£5.50

  17.1

  68.8

  42.8

  65.3

  46.9

  79.3

  81.9

  98.7

  <£6.50

  26.8

  68.8

  59.7

  74.7

  66.7

  93.1

  92.6

  93.1

  North

  <£2.50

  0.4

  6.3

  0.7

  3.7

  0.8

  5.1

  3.0

  6.0

  <£3.00

  1.0

  8.1

  2.0

  5.2

  2.1

  13.1

  9.7

  17.7

  <£3.50

  2.7

  19.8

  6.8

  18.8

  5.9

  32.3

  25.6

  47.4

  <£4.00

  5.1

  27.0

  13.7

  36.4

  11.5

  47.5

  40.4

  71.8

  <£4.50

  8.3

  33.3

  21.3

  47.4

  20.3

  59.6

  59.6

  82.8

  406
  and part-time permanent positions and (b) full-time and part-time temporary positions in the West Yorkshire region, including a breakdown of occupations. [1446]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  The estimates available from the labour force survey are shown in the table following:

  (2) what percentage of full-time workers on adult rates currently earn less than (a) £100, (b) £150, (c) £200 and (d) £250 per week, including and excluding overtime, in (i) Yorkshire and Humberside, (ii) north Yorkshire, (iii) west Yorkshire, (iv) south Yorkshire, (v) Humberside, (vi) the north of England and (vii) the United Kingdom. [1458]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information available from the new earnings survey is provided in the tables.
  407

  Hourly earnings including overtime

  Non-manual

  Manual

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage earning

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  <£5.00

  11.3

  45.0

  29.2

  56.3

  29.3

  70.7

  70.2

  88.6

  <£5.50

  15.4

  49.5

  40.1

  63.1

  38.2

  76.8

  79.0

  92.2

  <£6.50

  24.3

  55.0

  55.3

  76.1

  56.6

  82.8

  89.4

  96.3

  Great Britain

  <£2.50

  0.5

  5.6

  0.6

  3.4

  0.7

  8.0

  2.9

  6.1

  <£3.00

  0.9

  8.9

  1.4

  5.2

  1.8

  15.3

  8.5

  13.6

  <£3.50

  1.9

  17.8

  3.9

  15.1

  4.9

  38.0

  22.5

  38.9

  <£4.00

  3.7

  27.8

  8.4

  29.0

  10.4

  53.4

  39.0

  61.8

  <£4.50

  6.2

  36.6

  14.4

  40.7

  18.1

  64.7

  55.0

  76.3

  <£5.00

  9.2

  44.1

  21.6

  50.9

  27.7

  91.9

  67.1

  83.6

  <£5.50

  12.7

  49.1

  29.9

  59.7

  37.9

  79.1

  76.9

  89.2

  <£6.50

  20.5

  56.6

  45.5

  72.0

  57.4

  85.8

  89.0

  94.8

  Hourly earnings excluding overtime

  Non-manual

  Manual

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage earning

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  <£2.50

  0.7

  5.0

  0.9

  3.3

  0.8

  7.1

  2.9

  6.6

  <£3.00

  1.3

  9.4

  2.1

  5.9

  2.2

  17.1

  10.2

  13.2

  <£3.50

  2.7

  17.7

  6.1

  18.7

  6.1

  41.2

  28.7

  40.3

  <£4.00

  5.2

  28.2

  11.6

  32.5

  13.5

  56.5

  46.8

  65.7

  <£4.50

  8.5

  38.7

  20.8

  46.1

  23.3

  67.6

  63.7

  80.8

  <£5.00

  12.1

  45.3

  30.1

  56.7

  33.4

  70.6

  73.9

  86.4

  <£5.50

  16.5

  51.4

  39.6

  65.2

  43.9

  75.3

  82.2

  90.9

  <£6.50

  25.8

  59.1

  55.4

  74.8

  63.8

  82.9

  93.4

  95.8

  North Yorkshire

  <£2.50

  1.1

  6.3

  1.3

  3.7

  1.0

  3.4

  4.3

  4.1

  <£3.00

  2.2

  12.5

  2.5

  5.8

  1.9

  6.9

  8.5

  14.5

  <£3.50

  3.3

  25.0

  8.1

  16.8

  6.9

  37.9

  39.4

  42.1

  <£4.00

  7.3

  46.9

  13.4

  35.8

  15.0

  65.5

  57.4

  62.8

  <£4.50

  11.7

  56.3

  22.5

  49.5

  28.6

  79.3

  68.1

  77.2

  <£5.00

  13.6

  62.5

  34.1

  59.5

  40.5

  82.8

  76.6

  85.5

  <£5.50

  17.3

  65.6

  43.1

  65.3

  50.7

  82.8

  85.1

  89.0

  <£6.50

  27.1

  65.6

  60.3

  74.7

  69.3

  93.1

  93.6

  93.1

  North

  <£2.50

  0.4

  6.3

  0.7

  3.8

  0.9

  5.1

  3.0

  6.3

  <£3.00

  1.1

  9.0

  2.0

  5.4

  2.3

  13.1

  10.4

  17.5

  <£3.50

  2.7

  20.7

  7.1

  19.2

  6.6

  34.3

  26.6

  47.6

  <£4.00

  5.1

  27.0

  14.1

  37.6

  13.7

  48.5

  42.3

  72.2

  <£4.50

  8.7

  34.2

  21.9

  48.6

  22.7

  61.6

  61.4

  84.5

  <£5.00

  11.8

  45.0

  30.0

  56.8

  31.6

  68.7

  72.5

  89.6

  <£5.50

  16.1

  49.5

  40.9

  63.7

  41.2

  76.8

  79.9

  92.5

  <£6.50

  24.7

  54.1

  55.9

  76.4

  59.5

  82.8

  91.0

  96.1

  Great Britain

  <£2.50

  0.5

  5.8

  0.7

  3.4

  0.8

  8.1

  3.0

  6.2

  <£3.00

  1.0

  9.3

  1.4

  5.4

  2.0

  15.4

  8.9

  13.8

  <£3.50

  2.0

  18.2

  4.0

  15.4

  5.5

  38.3

  23.6

  39.5

  <£4.00

  4.0

  28.5

  8.6

  29.5

  11.9

  54.0

  40.7

  62.2

  <£4.50

  6.6

  36.8

  14.7

  41.1

  21.0

  65.2

  57.1

  77.0

  <£5.00

  9.6

  43.6

  22.0

  51.1

  30.9

  71.7

  68.8

  83.9

  <£5.50

  13.2

  49.0

  30.4

  59.9

  41.2

  79.3

  78.0

  89.2

  <£6.50

  21.1

  56.6

  45.9

  72.0

  60.7

  85.6

  89.7

  94.6

  Gross weekly earnings including overtime

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North Yorkshire

  West Yorkshire

  South Yorkshire

  Humberside

  North of England

  Great Britain

  <£100

  1.2

  1.5

  1.1

  1.4

  1.0

  1.1

  0.9

  <£150

  9.4

  12.2

  8.4

  9.7

  9.6

  10.3

  7.4

  <£200

  26.2

  29.8

  25.3

  27.0

  24.8

  27.8

  21.7

  <£250

  43.5

  47.6

  43.3

  43.4

  41.2

  45.2

  38.3

  408

  409

  Gross weekly earnings excluding overtime

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North Yorkshire

  West Yorkshire

  South Yorkshire

  Humberside

  North of England

  Great Britain

  <£100

  1.3

  1.5

  1.2

  1.4

  1.4

  1.1

  1.0

  <£150

  11.3

  14.0

  10.3

  11.3

  12.1

  12.2

  8.8

  <£200

  32.1

  36.1

  30.9

  32.1

  32.0

  32.7

  26.4

  <£250

  51.7

  56.0

  51.1

  51.4

  50.7

  52.0

  45.0

WALES

  Cryptosporidium
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the recorded number of cases of cryptosporidium in each health authority and in Wales as a whole for the last two years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [548]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of cases of cryptosporidium is not available. However, the numbers of finished consultant episodes recorded for Welsh residents by hospitals in Wales, where the condition was the principal diagnosis, are given in the following table:

  Area of residence

  1992–93

  1994–95

  Clwyd

  4

  3

  Gwent

  0

  3

  Gwynedd

  0

  1

  Mid Glamorgan

  5

  5

  Powys

  1

  0

  South Glamorgan

  2

  7

  West Glamorgan

  0

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  1

  3

  East Dyfed

  1

  0

  Wales

  14

  23

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has initiated to examine the causes of the breast cancer rates in Wales in respect of(a) East Dyfed and (b) Gwynedd. [1149]

  Mr. Richards
  Research has identified a number of factors which are consistently related to the development of breast cancer, and it is unlikely that breast cancer rates in Gwynedd and East Dyfed are being influenced by some new factor that has not been detected in previous studies. For this reason we do not consider that research into the incidence of breast cancer in individual regions or countries would be of benefit in terms of the treatment or prevention of this disease.

  School Budgets
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage of the potential schools budget delegated to schools through the aggregate schools budget in each local education authority for each year for which information is available. [1421]

  Mr. Richards
  Welsh Office circular 38/91 on local management of schools, published in July 1991, proposed that a minimum of 85 per cent. of a local education authority's potential schools budget should be delegated 410
  to schools and that all LEAs would be expected to comply with this requirement by 1 April 1993. The following table shows the levels of delegation since then.

  PQ 35/95/96: Percentage of PSB delegated to ASB by LEA

  Percentage

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Clwyd

  86.3

  85.0

  85.1

  Dyfed

  84.5

  85.2

  85.0

  Gwent

  84.8

  85.0

  85.6

  Gwynedd

  85.6

  87.5

  88.0

  Mid Glamorgan

  86.2

  87.4

  87.8

  Powys

  92.0

  90.0

  89.2

  South Glamorgan

  87.6

  87.1

  87.7

  West Glamorgan

  88.0

  88.2

  89.2

  Wales

  86.4

  86.6

  87.0

  Note:

  The details for 1993–94 are taken from Section 42 outturn statements provided by LEAs; the 1994–95 and 1995–96 details from Section 42 budget statements.

  Health Services (Rationing)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the health authorities in Wales which are rationing(a) ear grommets, (b) dilatation and curettage for women under 40 years, (c) varicose vein surgery, (d) screening for osteoporosis, (e) fertility treatment, (f) screening for aortic aneurysm and (g) screening for colon and rectum cancers. [1639]

  Mr. Hague
  None. Decisions on the appropriateness of a particular treatment are a matter for clinical judgment.

  Welsh Language (Cardiff Airport)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the management of Cardiff international airport measures to improve the use of the Welsh language on signs within the airport precinct; and if he will make a statement. [2052]

  Mr. Hague
  No. This is entirely a matter for TBI, the owner of Cardiff international airport, which I understand is in contact with the Welsh Language Board.

  Welsh Islands Conference
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the conference on Welsh islands organised by the Countryside Council for Wales on 15 November. [1813]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The two-day conference brought together for the first time nearly 100 delegates who are involved in managing Welsh islands. A note of the proceedings will be provided by the Countryside Council for Wales in due course.
  411
  I understand that the event was considered to have been successful.

  Non-NHS Providers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will itemise how much(a) NHS trusts, (b) general practitioner fundholders, (c) regional health authorities and (d) district health authorities spent on health care from non-NHS providers in each year since 1991–92 in each region. [2414]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is as follows:

  £ thousands

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  NHS trusts

  n/a

  nil

  2,688

  2,492

  GP Fundholders

  11

  113

  657

  1,290

  District health authorities

  4,384

  8,078

  11,261

  14,309

  Notes:

  1. Information is not held centrally in respect of individual GP fundholding practices but their expenditure is shown on an aggregated basis in the annual accounts of the Family Health Services Authorities which pay for healthcare purchases on their behalf.

  2. There are no regional authorities in Wales.

  3. The first NHS trust in Wales, Pembrokeshire NHS Trust was established on 1 April 1992. A further 13 and 10 became operational in 1993–94 and 1994–95 respectively.

  Source:

  Annual accounts of District health authorities and Family Health Services Authorities and Financial Returns from NHS trusts.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the outturn figures for regional selective assistance(a) offers and (b) payments for 1994–95; and if he will indicate how these figures related to the original budgeted plans for that year. [2110]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is available in the most recent Welsh Office departmental report, Cm 2815, and Industrial Development Act 1982 annual report, Cm 723. Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Temporary Traffic Lights
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales where are the longest serving temporary traffic lights on the trunk roads for which he is responsible, how long they have been in use and what has been the total cost so far. [2150]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The longest serving temporary traffic lights are located on the A494 trunk road at Drws y Nant Bala. They have been in use for 16 years. The current annual cost of retaining the lights is approximately £1,800.

  North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive the accounts of the North East Wales institute; and when they will become publicly available. [2151]
  412
  Mr. Richards
  The annual audited accounts of the North East Wales institute of higher education are expected to be submitted to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales on 31 December 1995 and will become publicly available from that date.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Debt Write-offs
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made on the implementation of Naples terms by the Paris Club; and if he will make a statement about how debts forgiven or abandoned are to be treated in the trading accounts of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [3070]

  Mr. Nelson
  In December 1994 the Paris Club— representing leading creditor Governments—agreed to implement write-offs of up to 67 per cent. of official bilateral debt owned by the world's poorest, most indebted countries. This agreement—known as Naples terms—represented the culmination of very substantial efforts by the UK, beginning with the Prime Minister's announcement of his Trinidad terms initiative in 1990, to reduce the debt service obligations of the world's poorest countries to manageable levels. Official creditors have been implementing Naples terms since the beginning of the year. So far 10 countries have had agreements from the Paris Club incorporating debt reduction up to 67 per cent; one of these—Uganda—has been given debt reduction in respect of all its eligible debt to official Paris Club creditors.

  In order to put ECGD's trading accounts on to a more realistic footing, the amounts shown in the accounts as owing to the Consolidated Fund, in respect of account 1, will be reduced in line with the extent that debts are forgiven or abandoned; this will apply to both debt forgiveness under Paris Club arrangements, including debt forgiveness for Poland and Egypt, and debts on which recovery is to be abandoned because their further pursuit is no longer justified on grounds of value for money. This has resulted in a reduction of £1,030 million in the balance owed to the Consolidated Fund as at 31 March 1995. Further details are given in ECGD's 1994–95 annual report and trading accounts which are being published on 30 November.

  Research Institutes
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about forthcoming prior options reviews of institutes sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. [3071]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government announced on 29 September 1995 that all public sector research establishments would be subject to prior options reviews.

  The BBSRC's arrangements for sponsoring the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Institute of Arable Crops Research, Silsoe Research Institute and the John Innes Centre will be reviewed immediately. Other research council research establishments will be reviewed in the course of 1996.
  413
  These reviews will take place alongside those of establishments parented or sponsored by other Government Departments which are carrying out work in similar or related fields. The reviews will build on any relevant recent studies.

  I should welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 8 January 1996 to:
  Dr. M. Anderson, BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH in respect of the IACR and SRI, and to Dr. Vincent Essex at the same address in respect of IGER and the JIC.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been lost in the aerospace industry in each year since 1980; and what are the equivalent statistics for(a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Italy. [1010]

  Mr. Eggar
  The figures requested are given in the table:

  Change in employment in the aerospace industry

  Job gain/(losses) in thousands

  United Kingdom

  France

  Germany

  Italy

  1980–81

  1.3

  2.7

  3.1

  2.7

  1981–82

  (12.4)

  4.0

  (0.9)

  0.8

  1982–83

  (10.7)

  (0.7)

  (1.1)

  (0.2)

  1983–84

  (6.1)

  0.0

  (0.8)

  (0.8)

  1984–85

  0.2

  (0.7)

  0.5

  (0.7)

  1985–86

  1.8

  (0.1)

  3.1

  1.0

  1986–87

  5.8

  (3.0)

  1.0

  2.2

  1987–88

  (7.6)

  (3.0)

  3.5

  2.0

  1988–89

  (1.9)

  (1.3)

  5.5

  2.2

  1989–90

  5.3

  3.4

  0.4

  6.5

  1990–91

  (6.5)

  0.9

  2.7

  0.5

  1991–92

  (10.6)

  (4.4)

  2.0

  n/a

  Source:

  ACOP and Eurostat VISA-DEBA.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of output of the aerospace industry for each of the years since 1989 in(a) real terms and (b) as a percentage of GDP; and what are the equivalent figures for (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Italy. [1012]

  Mr. Eggar
  The figures. requested are given in the table:

  Gross value added at factor cost in 1990 prices

  £ million

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  United Kingdom

  5,261

  5,620

  5,035

  3,872

  France

  3,475

  3,265

  3,397

  3,049

  Germany

  2,228

  2,358

  2,598

  2,260

  Italy

  1,257

  1,418

  1,266

  n/a

  Source: Eurosat VISA-DEBA.

  Contribution to GDP

  Percentage

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  United Kingdom

  1.1

  1.2

  1.1

  0.8

  France

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  0.5

  Germany

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  Italy

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  n/a

  Source: Eurosat VISA-DEBA and OECD National Accounts.

  Invoices (Late Payments)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many (i) orders and (ii) firms are represented by the 16 per cent. of invoices not paid by his Department within 30 days or in accordance with contractual agreements in 1994–95; and how many of these are related to firms with fewer than 500 employees; [913]

  (2) what is the amount owed to those businesses whose invoices were not paid within 30 days or within the agreed credit period in each of the last five years; [1121]

  (3) how his Department publicises payment practices other than as percentages of invoices paid late; [966]

  (4) what is the average length of time it takes for his Department to pay invoices. [921]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: Much of the information sought either is not available or could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  My Department's prompt payment performance is checked by means of a random survey which monitors approximately 4,000 invoices over the course of each year with the purpose of identifying invoices paid later than 30 days after receipt, or after the agreed credit period. In 1994–95, 16 per cent., or approximately 640, of these invoices were found to fall into one or other of these categories. As I have made clear before, this was clearly an unsatisfactory performance which we are seeking to address through the introduction of a challenging performance target for this year. The survey does not, however, gather information on the size of the companies involved, the amounts outstanding or the average time taken to make payment.

  My Department publishes its payment performance in the form of a percentage figure which gives the proportion of invoices paid either within 30 days or within an agreed credit period. The overall results of the annual survey are published in the departmental report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House. The 30-day target for paying invoices is itself published in the DTI standard terms and conditions of contract for supplies.

TREASURY

  Corporation Tax
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the latest rates of corporation tax applicable to shipping companies in each country of the European Union; and if he will make it his policy to bring United Kingdom rates into line with those elsewhere in the European Union. [2111]

  Mr. Jack
  The rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom is kept under frequent review. The UK continues to provide one of the lowest main rates in the European Union. The current main national rates of corporation tax applicable to shipping companies in each European Union country are in the table.
  415

  Main national rates of corporation tax applicable to shipping companies in the European Union

  Percentage

  Country

  Rate

  Austria

  34

  Belgium

  139

  Denmark

  34

  Finland

  25

  France

  233.33

  Germany

  345

  Greece

  4nil

  Ireland

  510

  Italy

  637

  Luxembourg

  733

  Netherlands

  35

  Portugal

  836

  Spain

  935

  Sweden

  28

  United Kingdom

  33

  Notes:

  1 There is also a surcharge of 3 per cent., making an effective rate of 40.17 per cent.

  2 There is also a surcharge of 10 per cent., making an effective rate of 36.66 per cent.

  3 There is also a surcharge of 7.5 per cent. and local trade taxes (of an average 20 per cent.) which give an average total effective rate of 58 per cent. For distributed profits, the main rate is 30 per cent., giving an effective rate of 46.25 per cent. Companies engaged in international shipping can elect for certain of their profits (normally 80 per cent.) to be taxed at half the average rates they would otherwise pay provided relief in respect of any foreign tax borne by those profits is forfeited.

  4 Profits from shipping are not subject to corporation tax. Instead a special tax, based on gross tonnage and age, is charged on usage of a vessel.

  5 This special rate of corporation tax applies to manufacturing and the sale of goods. Certain shipping activities are deemed to be manufacturing for this purpose.

  6 There is also local tax at 16.2 per cent., making an effective rate of 53.2 per cent.

  Number of taxpayers affected and increases in tax revenue resulting from reinstating tax rates over 40 per cent.

  Region of residence

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Numbers Thousands

  Amount £ million

  Numbers Thousands

  Amount £ million

  North

  40

  50

  40

  50

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  70

  200

  70

  250

  North west

  90

  200

  90

  250

  East Midlands

  70

  200

  70

  150

  West Midlands

  90

  200

  80

  200

  East Anglia

  40

  100

  40

  100

  South east

  620

  2,300

  650

  2,550

  South west

  90

  250

  80

  250

  Wales

  30

  50

  30

  50

  Scotland

  80

  200

  90

  200

  Northern Ireland

  20

  50

  20

  50

  United Kingdom1

  1,230

  3,850

  1,260

  4,200

  1Includes members of the forces and merchant navy and a small number of civil servants serving overseas who are not all allocated to regions.

  VAT
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those bodies which are able under section 33 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 to recover value added tax; and if he will make a statement on how the
  416
  7 There is also a surcharge of 4 per cent. and local trade taxes (in range of 8 per cent.–12 per cent.) which give an effective rate of 40.9 per cent.

  8 The main rate is only applied to 30 per cent. of the profits from maritime transport activities. In Madeira corporation tax does not apply to profits arising from the operation of Madeira-registered vessels in international waters.

  9 There is also a surcharge of 1 per cent., giving an effective rate of 35.35 per cent. In the Canary Islands shipping companies are granted up to a 35 per cent. reduction in corporation tax, giving a minimum possible effective rate of 22.75 per cent.

  Heroin and Semtex
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further actions Customs and Excise is taking to identify heroin and semtex at airports. [1634]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise continues to assess the risk of smuggling of these commodities and to deploy anti-smuggling teams to address those risks. Training programmes for these teams include the identification and handling of the materials. Detector dogs and scientific aids are used as appropriate.

  Tax Revenue
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, in current prices, the net revenue forgone in each year since 1988–89 as a result of the reduction in personal income tax for higher rate taxpayers introduced by the Finance Act 1988; and what has been the total number of beneficiaries in each year, by region. [87]

  Mr. Jack
  Available information is in the table. Figures for earlier years were given in the reply to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 17 December 1993,Official Report, columns 969–70. Some regional estimates are based on small samples and all amounts are given to the nearest £50 million.

  EC sixth VAT directive restricts changes to eligibility to recover value added tax. [1807]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The public bodies eligible for refunds of VAT under section 33 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 are too numerous to be individually identified. In addition to the general categories listed in section 33(3)
  417
  (a) to (j), other bodies such as the National Rivers Authority, the Environment Agency and probation and magistrates courts committees have been added from time to time under section 33(3)(k).

  Section 33 bodies are treated under the VAT system in much the same way as other taxable persons, except that, where they are carrying out statutory obligations outside the scope of the tax, they may recover their input tax. This accords with the general principles governing the tax treatment of public bodies laid down in the EC sixth VAT directive.

  Domestic Fuel
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, by region, the average weekly expenditure in 1997–98 and 1996–97 of(a) all households, (b) families with children, (c) non-retired households and (d) retired households, on domestic fuel, showing separately for 1995–96 the extra expenditure as a result of VAT at 8 per cent. [92]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Table 5.1 of the CSO report "Family Spending: A report on the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey" provides the latest published data.418
  Figures for 1995–96 and subsequent years will depend on the future level of fuel prices, and on what happens to incomes and spending patterns.

  Labour Force Survey
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the latest annual figures available on(a) the number of young people aged 25 years and under in the work force and (b) the number and proportion who are not in full-time or part-time employment; and if he will provide comparable information for each of the member states of the European Union. [1790]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Estimates from the spring— March to May—1995 labour force survey show that there were 4,622,000 economically active people in the United Kingdom aged 16 to 24, of whom 706,000–15 per cent.—were International Labour Organisation unemployed.

  The latest European comparisons on young people aged under 25 in the labour market are published by Eurostat in "Statistics in focus: Labour Force Survey Principal Results 1994". A copy of the publication is available in the Library.