Written Answers of 28 November 1995

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Hotels
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her Department's definition of a hotel; what representations she has received(a) for the use of the word to be brought within the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and (b) for all hotels to be registered with the local authority; and if she will make a statement. [1266]

  Mr. Sproat
  There is no accepted definition of the term "hotel". In our publication "Hotels: The Consumer View" published on 14 November 1995, we used the term in its generic sense to cover all accommodation which has full or limited service, including bed and breakfast accommodation, guest houses and inns.

  There have been no representations for the use of the word to be brought into the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

  Opinion within the industry is divided on whether compulsory registration is the appropriate way to ensure that hotels meet a minimum standard. I believe that this is better done by means of an effective, consumer led, voluntary scheme and I have asked the English tourist board for proposals to strengthen the crown accommodation classification and grading scheme.

  Football Licensing Authority
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the annual income of the Football Licensing Authority from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part time and (ii) full time; and what contribution her Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years. [2748]

  Mr. Sproat
  In the year ended 31 March 1995 the Football Licensing Authority received fees of £9,400; these have been paid to the Consolidated Fund via the Department of National Heritage. The authority employs nine full-time inspectors, seven full-time administrative staff and two part-time typists. The Department's grant to the authority was £870,000 in 1994–95, £860,000 in 1993–94 and £800,000 in 1992–93.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many statutory instruments her Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2460]
  524
  Mr. Sproat
  My Department sponsored 12 statutory instruments in the last Session of Parliament. Two of these are new regulations—the Open Spaces: Hyde Park and Regent's Park (Vehicle Parking) Regulations 1995, controlling parking in the royal parks, and the Football Spectators Seating Order 1995 extending the regulations affecting seating at football grounds. None of the statutory instruments was introduced to implement European Community directives, and none amplifies the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive.

  Sporting Events (Broadcasting)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what plans she has to prohibit the exclusive transmission of major sporting events on satellite channels; [2502]

  (2) what plans she has to extend the broadcasting of major sporting events to a wider audience. [2501]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his earlier question on television rights on 22 November 1995,Official Report, column 160.

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for her Department in 1993–94. [1913]

  Mr. Sproat
  Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology" contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. Departments' policy responsibilities are subject to change and can vary from year to year. My Department currently has responsibility for 0.20 per cent. of the Community's R and D budget.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to allow lottery funds for revenue support; and if she will make a statement. [2086]

  Mr. Sproat
  National lottery funding is already available for revenue support. The National Lottery Charities Board makes revenue grants available to caring charities. The millennium award scheme will invest in people's talent. Revenue and endowment funding is also available in association with capital projects receiving grant, where other funds cannot be found.

  The Government have always made clear that the lottery is being kept under review. It is still early days. As the lottery unfolds naturally, we see it investing in human as well as physical capital.

  Local Community Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what studies her Department has commissioned into the possible introduction of local community television using analogue technology. [2592]
  525
  Mr. Sproat
  None. However, the Government are keen that local television services are allowed to develop and are considering making provision in the forthcoming broadcasting legislation.

  Agency Travel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list for each of her executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2360]

  Mr. Sproat
  Listed are details in respect of overseas travel for the last financial year for my two agencies.

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency

  Cost

  Country Visited

  Post held by staff involved

  961.92

  Chicago, USA

  Business Development Manager

  374.86

  Geneva, Switzerland

  Business Development Manager

  592.00

  Switzerland

  Deputy Palace Manager

  330.90

  Germany

  Curator

  195.00

  Brussels, Belgium

  Curator

  700.00

  Canada

  Head Housekeeper

  226.90

  Munich, Germany

  Assistant Curator

  195.00

  Brussels, Belgium

  Assistant Curator

  140.00

  Amsterdam, Netherlands

  Assistant Curator

  2,492.001

  USA

  Travel Trade Manager

  3,155.001

  USA

  Travel Trade Manager

  739.00

  Germany

  Travel Trade Manager

  4,051.001

  Germany

  Travel Trade Manager

  250.00

  Barcelona, Spain

  Interpretation Manager

  201.40

  Amsterdam, Netherlands

  Member of the Textile Conservation Studio

  1 These trips were for exhibitions in which HRPA was taking part. The costs of the exhibition (including stand hire etc) and membership fees to necessary associations, are included in this figure.

  The Royal Parks Agency

  During the last financial year no one in the employ of the Royal Parks Agency went overseas on agency-related business.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 16 August on the subject of television licences. [2722]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My Department is looking into the issues raised in the hon. Member's letter. I hope to let him have a substantive reply shortly.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of her Department's expenditure in 1994–95 was spent on procuring goods or services from small and medium-sized enterprises. [1951]
  526
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Neither my Department nor its agencies keep a specific record of a suppliers size. The information could therefore be obtained only by incurring disproportionate costs.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidated Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [46]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 20 November 1995,Official Report, column 21.

  Risk Assessment
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the work of the independent panel of scientific experts on risk assessment. [2048]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply. The panel receives papers from time to time on individual topics and more general matters of principle and advises the deregulation task force. The task force's first report recommended that a risk assessment should be required for all regulatory proposals affecting business; that Ministers should be required personally to sign off all risk assessments; and that no regulatory proposals should be considered collectively by Ministers without a certificate signed by the responsible Minister that he has read the risk assessment and that he believes that the balance between cost and benefit has been approximately struck. The Government have accepted these recommendations and new guidance on risk assessment methodology for use by Government Departments is currently being developed.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department from whom his Department is seeking legal advice in relation to private finance initiative schemes. [1657]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Masons solicitors are advising the Court Service on contractual issues surrounding the local county court procurement project. No other current Departmental procurements have obtained such support.

  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the MORI Survey, "Public Attitudes to Marriage, Divorce and Family Mediation," will be made available in full. [3235]

  Mr. Taylor
  The survey was conducted as part of the detailed process of consultation on the divorce reform proposals. The results of the survey were considered in the White Paper, "Looking to the Future-Mediation and the Ground for Divorce," Cm 2799, published in April this year, and were included in the summary of the
  527
  consultation analysis published at the same time. The survey has been made available in full today, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the estimated cost of the legal advice his Department is seeking in relation to private finance initiative schemes; and on what terms that advice is being sought. [1658]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Legal advice to the local county court—LOCCS procurement project is likely to cost up to £25,000. The contract with Masons is subject to normal departmental terms and conditions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations voted on the draft resolution in committee on 17 November concerning proposals to oppose nuclear testing; what consideration underlay the vote; and if he will list the nations which voted with the United Kingdom on the draft resolution. [2735]

  Mr. David Davis
  The United Kingdom voted against the resolution. We do not believe that the current testing programmes are inconsistent with commitments made by the nuclear weapon states at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference. We have made clear that it would be hypocritical and wrong for us to condemn the French decision to undertake a final limited series of tests, based on scientific advice that these tests are necessary to preserve the safety and reliability of French nuclear weapons. We regret that the resolution failed to mention either the good progress made towards achieving a comprehensive test ban treaty, or the commitment of all five nuclear weapon states to conclude these negotiations no later than 1996. Eleven other countries voted with the United Kingdom; 45 abstained and 33 did not take part in the vote. The full list of votes has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra equipment has been purchased recently for the Royal Gibraltar police to combat drugs and tobacco smuggling. [2666]

  Mr. David Davis
  Equipment provided to the Royal Gibraltar police over the last 12 months to combat drugs and tobacco smuggling includes technical equipment, vehicles and spares, computer equipment, a fast patrol launch and night vision goggles.

  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the reasons for the early termination of the contract of the Gibraltar Attorney-General. [2569]

  Mr. Davis
  Mr. Blackburn-Gittings, former Attorney-General of Gibraltar, decided to resign because a difference of views arose between himself and the governor.

  EU Commissioners (Earnings)
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the rules covering outside earnings and the public disclosure of income for members of the Commission of the European Communities. [2729]

  Mr. David Davis
  Article 157 of the European Community treaty states that the members of the Commission may not, during their term of office, engage in any other occupation, whether gainful or not.

  International Peacekeeping
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding international peacekeeping efforts; and if he will make a statement. [827]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The United Kingdom is in constant dialogue with the United Nations, and other international organisations, on a wide range of peacekeeping issues. As the second largest troop contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping operations, with troops in four separate missions, we continue to take an active part in discussions to develop international peacekeeping capabilities.

  BBC World Service
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for funding the BBC World Service in the last year of the current triennium. [3095]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary will write to the hon. Member immediately after the Budget statement.

  International Sanctions
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken and on what dates, to freeze the personal accounts or assets of members of regimes with whom the United Kingdom are in dispute as part of a national or international sanctions policy. [2565]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The United Kingdom has no unilateral sanctions in place against the assets or personal accounts of foreign regimes. However, we do implement the mandatory financial sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. Such financial sanctions are in place against Iraq, in UNSCR 661 adopted on 6 August 1990, and against Libya in UNSCR 863 adopted on 11 November 1993.

  The financial sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in UNSCRs 757 and 820 adopted on 30 May 1992 and 17 April 1993, respectively were suspended with immediate effect by UNSCR 1022 adopted on 22 November, with the exception that certain assets frozen or impounded by UNSCRs 757 and 820 shall remain frozen or impounded. A copy of UNSCR 1022 is available in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the existing measures to ensure that specified bovine offals do not enter the human food chain. [3372]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The controls in place require the specified bovine offals, the potentially BSE infected tissues, to be removed from all cattle at slaughter and be destroyed. These controls are kept under continual review. The independent spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee again looked at all the controls to protect public health from any remote theoretical risk from BSE at its meeting on 23 November. It concluded:"Earlier in 1995 SEAC had concluded that 'provided in the slaughtering process the removal of the spinal cord was done properly, the mechanically recovered meat (MRM) process was safe and there was no reason for the Committee to change its advice'.
  In the light of the current audit reports [reported to Parliament in my answer to the hon. Member for Scarborough (Mr. Sykes) on 22 November (Official Record columns 192–193)] showing failure to remove parts of the spinal cord in a small number of carcases the Committee expressed its grave concern.
  It noted the further tightening up of controls but felt that unless and until it was clear that the removal of SBO, particularly spinal cord, was now being undertaken properly in all cases it would be prudent, as a precaution, to suspend the use of vertebrae from cattle aged over six months, in the production of MRM."

  Taking account of practical considerations, I have decided to make regulations which would prohibit the use of bovine vertebral column from cattle of any age in mechanically recovered meat. Most MRM is made from poultry, pig and sheep meat and the committee therefore made no recommendation for any other action in respect of products containing MRM. The committee also reiterated its advice that beef, including cuts such as rib of beef and T-bone steak that include backbone, was a safe product.

  I must emphasise that these, like all our controls on BSE, are precautionary measures and that there is no evidence of a link between BSE and the human disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993–94. [1910]

  Mr. Boswell
  Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology" contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. Departments' policy responsibilities are subject to change and can vary from year to year. My Department currently has responsibility for 3.93 per cent. of the Community's R and D budget.

  Badger Setts, Paignton Zoo
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badger setts there are 530
  known to be in the boundaries of Paignton zoo; how many of these have been interfered with; in respect of how many a licence to interfere has been issued; and for what reasons the licences were issued. [2277]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the letter I sent him on 11 May 1995; there has been no change in the situation.

  Apples
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the likely timetable for decisions in European Community negotiations about the definition of co-operatives or producer organisations with particular reference to the intervention regime for apples; what are his objectives in these negotiations; and if decisions will be taken by majority voting; [2436]

  (2) what is the timetable for likely decisions in European Community negotiations about the intervention regime for apples; what are his objectives in these negotiations; and whether decisions will be taken by majority voting. [2437]

  Mr. Boswell
  I understand that the Spanish presidency hopes to reach agreement at the December Council of Agriculture Ministers. Any decisions will be taken by qualified majority voting.

  Our objectives include seeking a clear signal that intervention will come to an end altogether. We will also seek to ensure that the recognition criteria for producer organisations do not discriminate against those which exist in the United Kingdom.

  Farming (New Entrants)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has received on the subject of offering financial assistance to new entrants into fanning in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [2528]

  Mr. Boswell
  A number of suggestions have been made to the Department for supporting new entrants to farming. These include modifications to the taxation regime, lower interest rates, quota allocation arrangements and the introduction of assistance under EC regulation 2328/91. This measure enables member states to provide assistance in the form of installation premia or interest rate subsidies on loans for new farms; it has not been taken up in the United Kingdom. We believe that such measures are more appropriate in cases where member states' inheritance laws may lead to the breaking up of agricultural holdings and hence the need for additional infrastructure investment to maintain viability. In the UK, holdings tend to pass intact from one generation to the next. Our recent deregulatory steps on tenancy reform, in the Agriculture Tenancies Act 1995, are designed to encourage new entrants to farming, and have been widely welcomed across the industry.

  Crofting
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on low intensity croft farming; and if he will list the pilot schemes his Department has assessed. [2572]

  Mr. Boswell
  Crofting is not a system of farming which is practised in England. The Department has not therefore made any assessment of its impact.

  Poultry (Gas Stunning)
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to lift the prohibition on the gas stunning of poultry. [2114]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The killing of poultry by exposure to specified gas mixtures has been permitted since 1 April 1995 under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995.

  Ostrich Farms
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to monitor and control ostrich farms. [2161]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The State Veterinary Service inspects ostrich farms in Great Britain to check that the welfare standards are satisfactory. A total of 23 welfare inspections have been made since 1 April 1994. In making the inspections, the state veterinary service takes account of the guidelines on the welfare of ostriches prepared by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

  Alport Dale
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if English Nature has stated any formal objection to Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale. [2377]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Yes. Forest Enterprise is now.reviewing its proposals and is, jointly with English Nature, developing a management plan for the land within the sites of special scientific interest.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what options are being considered as alternatives to putting underground the electricity line supplying Alport Hamlet; and what is the estimated cost of each of these options. [2375]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: It is for Yorkshire Electricity to decide what options to consider.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters of objection have been received by(a) the Peak Park joint planning board and (b) the Forestry Authority opposing Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale; and on what dates his Department received these figures. [2376]
  532
  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: I have no current information on the number of letters of objection received by the Peak Park joint planning board. The Forestry Authority arm of the Forestry Commission has received two letters opposing the proposals.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual saving to business which will accrue from the deregulation of the(a) Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868, (b) Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980 and (c) Corn Returns Act 1882 Orders 1995. [2025]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The annual saving to business accruing from deregulation of the Acts at (b) above has been estimated to be in the region of £100,000. This relates to the reduction of licensing-registration requirements in respect of slaughterhouses. Other benefits and non-recurring cost savings for business are detailed in the explanatory document which accompanies the draft deregulation order. The annual cost saving to business accruing from deregulation of the Corn Returns Act 1882 (c) has been estimated at £100,000. As regards the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1968, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is responsible for this legislation.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the costs involved in preparing the cost-benefit assessment contained in the explanatory memorandum for the deregulation of the(a) Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980, (b) Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868 and (c) Corn Returns Act 1882 Orders 1995. [2026]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The costs associated with the identification of the cost savings to business and other benefits arising from the proposed amendments to the Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980, and the Corn Returns Act 1882 have not been estimated. As regards the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is responsible for this legislation.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of his Department's expenditure in 1994–95 was spent on procuring goods or services from small and medium-sized enterprises. [1960]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The information requested is not available for 1994–95. In the current year, MAFF cannot separately identify medium-sized suppliers, but small businesses are being identified and the relevant information regarding the Ministry's spend with such enterprises during 1995–96 will be sent to the hon. Member in due course.

  MAFF's executive agencies do not maintain records regarding the size of their supplier companies.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [30]

  Mr. Boswell
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1995 c. 79]: My earlier reply should have made clear that the Land Drainage Act 1994 was introduced by the Earl of Lindsay, and was supported by the Government.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Photography
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what proposals the Commission has for allowing photography in the Commons. [676]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Administration Committee reviewed the regulations governing filming and photography in the Palace of Westminster earlier this year and no amendments were considered necessary.

TREASURY

  Local Government Finance, Nottinghamshire
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received about the financial settlement for Nottinghamshire county council in 1996–97; if he will summarise these representations; and if he will list the individuals and organisations that have sent them. [2755]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Treasury has received representations from a number of individuals and organisations concerning the financial settlement for Nottinghamshire county council for 1996–97.

  Private Finance Panel
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the members of the private finance panel, their remit and the interests they have been required to declare. [3087]

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 November to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett),Official Report, columns 260–61.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects since the 1992 autumn statement. [84]

  Mr. Jack
  Over £16 billion by the end of 1995–96, including over £1 billion under the private finance initiative.

  European Communities (Fraud)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what actions have been taken in the last 12 months to combat fraud and maladministration within the European communities. [170]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  At the Essen European Council on 9 and 10 December 1994, the Prime Minister made a number of proposals to help tackle fraud, waste and mismanagement. These included a requirement that each member state should report on what it is doing to combat fraud against the community Budget on its own territory. Member states have now submitted their reports and the Commission has produced a framework for further work which will be considered by the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December.

  Separately, the new Commission has centralised anti-fraud work within its services, in particular reinforcing its anti-fraud unit and extending its remit.

  Full details of developments in this area will be published in the next "Annual Statement on European Finances". The Commission also publishes an annual report on the fight against fraud.

  Single European Currency
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost to business of converting equipment and systems in the event of the United Kingdom joining a single European currency; and if he will make a statement. [1572]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  If the UK participates in stage 3 of economic and monetary union, there will be transitional costs to business associated with the changeover to the single currency. The Government do not have an assessment of the potential size of these costs, because no decision has been taken as to whether the UK will join the single currency, and costs would depend on decisions taken individual businesses.

  European Union (Gross National Products)
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the gross national product per head of population in each of the member states of the European Union for the last year for which comparable figures are available. [1811]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information for these countries is available in the OECD publication "National Accounts", available in the House of Commons Library.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many estates in each county in England inheritance tax was paid in each year since its introduction. [2244]

  Mr. Jack
  The information is not available at county level.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many estates in each county in England were allowed conditional exemption from inheritance tax in each year its introduction. [2247]
  535
  Mr. Jack
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Enterprise Centre of Europe
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the position of the United Kingdom as an enterprise centre of Europe. [1348]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: The Government will continue to create the economic conditions where business can flourish by further encouraging enterprise and competitiveness, through the development and growth of small and large businesses alike and promoting further deregulation. Our firm financial policies directed towards low inflation on a permanent basis and sound public finances, together with our intention to reduce the share of national income taken by public spending will help us to achieve this.

  VAT

  Excise

  VAT

  RSP pence per litre

  Total Tax as percentage of RSP

  Excise Duty as percentage of RSP

  As percentage of RSP

  Duty in per pence litre

  In pence per litre

  Leaded

  57.79

  77.43

  62.54

  14.89

  36.14

  8.61

  Super unleaded1

  58.52

  68.41

  53.52

  14.89

  31.32

  8.72

  Unleaded

  51.56

  75.64

  60.74

  14.89

  31.32

  7.68

  Diesel

  52.01

  75.11

  60.22

  14.89

  31.32

  7.75

  City diesel2

  51.4

  75.83

  60.93

  14.89

  31.32

  7.66

  LPG auto3

  42.0

  54.35

  39.45

  14.89

  16.57

  6.26

  1 The most recent RSP available for super unleaded is for September 1995.

  2 The small market in this product is dominated by one supermarket chain which retails it at 2 pence per litre more than its own price for normal diesel. This latter price is considerably lower than the average price for diesel shown in the table.

  3 This RSP is very much a 'best estimate' by the LPG Association. All other figures are correct for 20 November 1995.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the cost of the VAT exemption for cultural activities. [2504]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It would be premature to do so. The outcome of the recent consultation exercise on the scope of an exemption for certain cultural services is still under consideration.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has as to the cost of the VAT exemption to voluntary sports clubs, including the interest paid on overcharged VAT. [2506]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The total amounts refunded to non-profit-making organisations supplying sporting services are estimated at £140 million plus £30 million interest.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the VAT exemption for sports centers with charitable status. [2505]

  Unemployment, London
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of unemployment amongst ethnic minority(a) men and (b) women in each of the London boroughs; and how many are in (i) full-time employment and (ii) part-time employment. [2732]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The most recent available information is from the 1991 census of population, and can be obtained from the NOMIS data base in the Library.

  Fuels
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the retail prices and the tax elements of the ranges of petrol, liquified petroleum gas and diesel fuels, including the reduced pollution varieties, for motor vehicles. [2144]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Average retail selling prices and the respective tax elements are as follows:

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No separate figures are available.

  Deregulation
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the deregulation measures agreed by his Department during 1995. [285]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The Chancellor's Departments have introduced a large number of deregulatory measures during 1995. Among the most significant are the orders which the Treasury has laid before Parliament, under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, to provide new flexibility in the operation of building societies, credit unions and friendly societies respectively. The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, together with the Contributions Agency, have developed closer working relations. This has resulted in, for example, trials of a new shared telephone helpline, together with a joint notification form and leaflet for businesses starting up. Initiatives undertaken by the Central Statistical Office, which are being co-ordinated under a new compliance planning system, include reductions in duplication between surveys, and simplification of the forms sent to business.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Internal Market Council, held on 23 November, giving details of all votes and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [1599]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the deputy UK permanent representative represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 23 November.

  The council reached unanimous political agreement on the customs 2000 programme on which Germany abstained, and on the flavourings directive, on which France abstained. The required simple majority were in favour of the directive on collection of statistical information in the field of tourism, which Germany opposed. Political agreement was reached on the draft directives amending public procurement directives, though a common position awaits the European Parliament's opinion.

  The council also agreed common positions on the pressure equipment directive, on which Italy abstained, and on the motor-cycle multi chapter directive, which Austria opposed. Although the UK voted against, political agreement was reached on the mineral water proposal. Denmark and Sweden also voted against and the Netherlands abstained.

  There was also an informal lunchtime discussion with Ministers from central and eastern European countries.

  Women and Ethnic Minority Staff
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of(a) women and (b) ethnic minorities are employed in the highest 10 per cent. of paid staff in his Department. [1515]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The figures for the DTI, excluding its executive agencies, are as follows:

  Breakdown of top 10 per cent. salary earners in DTI (excluding its executive agencies)

  Number

  Percentage

  Women

  78

  15.0

  Staff of ethnic minority origin

  13

  2.5

  Total number of staff

  521

  —

  The figures exclude casual staff and staff currently out of the Department. The figures do not take account of staff transferring to the DTI from the Cabinet Office and the former Employment Department in the latest machinery of government changes.

  The chief executives of the following executive agencies will respond direct to the hon. Member—Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency.
  538
  Letter from David Durham to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
  You tabled a Parliamentary Question regarding the percentage of women and ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of staff in DTI. I have been asked to reply to you directly as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.
  The total number of staff in Companies House as at 23 November 1995 was 1087 on headcount and 937 on full time equivalent. The percentage of women employed in the highest 10% of paid staff is 28%, and of ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of paid staff is 5.5 %.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about the percentage of women and ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in The Insolvency Service.

  The relevant figures at 20 November were:

  Number of permanent staff

  Females in highest 10% of paid staff

  Ethnic minorities in highest 10% of paid staff

  1,411

  14–9.9%

  10–7.1%

  Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 20 November 1995:
  I have been asked to answer your question PQ26N to the President of the Board of Trade tabled on 16 November 1995 with respect to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.
  Of the highest 10% of paid staff employed at the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, 4% are women and 4% are from ethnic minorities.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about the employment of women and ethnic minorities in the highest 10 per cent of paid staff.
  There are no women or ethnic minorities employed at that level in the National Weights and Measures Laboratory.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
  You asked for information about the percentage of women and ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in the Department of Trade and Industry. This reply covers the Patent Office which is an Executive Agency of the Department.
  The relevant information is that the Patent Office has 88 staff in the top 10% salary bracket. Of these, 4.5% are women and none are from ethnic minorities.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
  I am replying on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your written question to the President of the Board of Trade about the percentage of women and ethnic minority staff employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in the Agency.
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of (a) women and b) ethnic minorities are employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in his Department.
  Of the highest 10% of paid staff in the Agency, women and staff from ethnic backgrounds account for 4% each.

  Disused Mineshafts
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure the accuracy of the Coal Authority's records of disused mineshafts in the Kingswood parliamentary constituency. [2941]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the Coal Authority.

  Export Licences (Guatemala)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which EG(C)O category the licence issued for export of arms and ammunition to Guatemala between 1 January and 31 August 1995 falls. [2422]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Earlier this year, there were placed in the Library of the House detailed statistical analyses of exported licences which were granted for military, paramilitary and security equipment in the calendar years 1993 and 1994. These analyses included all countries of destination for which these licences were issued, including Guatemala. Early in 1996, I intend to place in the Library of the House a similar analysis for the full calendar year 1995. I shall write to the hon. Member when this is done.

  Export Licences (Nigeria)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what British companies have applied for export licences to supply arms to Nigeria in each year since 1993. [2876]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to reveal details of export licences or applications for licences unless the requirements of commercial confidentiality are outweighed by the public interest.

  Post Office Closures
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many closures of post offices in rural areas have been notified to his Department in the past five years. [2651]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In September 1990 there were 10,166 post offices in rural areas. In September 1995 there were 9,494.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of British exports is defence related. [882]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Goods identified as being defence equipment accounted for 1.3 per cent. of British exports in 1994.

  Irish Steel Ltd.
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the conformity of state aid to Irish Steel Ltd. with the provision of the treaty of Paris and EU policy. [2835]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Commission's proposal to authorise state assistance to Irish Steel contains a proposal for financial assistance which is not permitted by either article 4(c) of the treaty
  540
  of Paris or the steel aid code. The Commission has therefore requested a derogation from the steel aid rules under article 95 (ECSC), which is subject to the unanimous assent of the Council of Ministers.

  Nigerian-British Society
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has received and what meetings it has had with the Nigerian-British Society since November 1993; and if he will make a statement. [2814]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My Department has not had any contact with the Nigerian-British Society.

  Training Schools (Textile Businesses)
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funds are available for textile businesses in the north-west to set up training schools. [2883]

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no funds directly available to textile businesses to set up training schools. Training facilities are available to support the textile industry in colleges in the north-west. Their provision is kept under review by the Further Education Funding Council in consultation with north-west training and enterprise councils, which are responsible for assessing the local labour market needs.

  Consortex
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what grant was made to Consortex in the last year; and how it has been spent. [2884]

  Mr. Eggar
  A sum of £92,500 of European funding under the RETEX programme was awarded to Consortex in the last year. Of that amount, £12,835 was spent on staff costs in respect of work carried out before the project was terminated. Attempts are being made to re-allocate the balance.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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 relate to the original budgeted plans. [2108]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 November 1995, Official Report, column 255. These publications also provide information on offers.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average time taken by each integrated regional office to process regional selective assistance grants to(a) all businesses and (b) small and medium enterprises in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will list the minimum and maximum time taken by those offices. [1928]
  541
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Reliable data are not available on the size of businesses applying for grant. The figures provided for small and

  Integrated regional offices

  Working days

  All businesses

  Small and medium enterprises

  Minimum time

  Average time

  Maximum time

  Minimum time

  Average time

  Maximum time

  East

  1

  26

  196

  1

  26

  196

  East Midlands

  2

  61

  253

  2

  61

  253

  London

  5

  45

  102

  5

  45

  102

  Merseyside

  5

  50

  237

  5

  50

  237

  North-East

  1

  23

  187

  1

  23

  107

  North-West

  1

  39

  222

  1

  39

  222

  South-East

  2

  42

  173

  2

  42

  173

  South-West

  1

  51

  135

  1

  51

  135

  West-Midlands

  1

  27

  330

  1

  26

  330

  Yorkshire/Humberside

  2

  31

  177

  2

  31

  177

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the total sum paid in regional selective assistance to(a) British-owned firms and (b) foreign-owned firms, (i) where firms had 0 to 9 employees, (ii) where firms had 10 to 49 employees, (iii) where firms had 50 to 99 employees, (iv) where firms had 100 to 249 employees, (v) where firms had 250 to 499 employees and (vi) where firms had more than 500.

  Expenditure on regional selective assistance in England

  Size of grant application

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  UK owned

  Foreign owned

  UK owned

  Foreign owned

  UK owned

  Foreign owned

  £000

  Percentage

  £000

  Percentage

  £000

  Percentage

  £000

  Percentage

  £000

  Percentage

  £000

  Percentage

  £25,000 or less

  6,725

  98

  148

  2

  5,266

  99

  58

  1

  4,658

  98

  93

  2

  Greater than £25,000 or less than £100,000

  131,169

  96

  485

  4

  10,294

  94

  668

  6

  10,743

  97

  286

  3

  £100,000 or less than £1 million

  21,485

  70

  8,995

  30

  14,069

  64

  7,927

  36

  16,562

  74

  5,797

  26

  £1 million or more

  16,373

  43

  21,771

  57

  7,471

  21

  28,575

  79

  8,837

  27

  24,124

  73

  Total

  57,699

  65

  31,399

  35

  37,100

  50

  37,228

  50

  40,800

  57

  30,300

  43

  Size of grant application

  1993–94

  1994–95

  UK owned

  Foreign owned

  UK owned

  Foreign owned

  £000

  Per cent.

  £000

  Per cent.

  £000

  Per cent.

  £000

  Per cent.

  £25k or less

  5,010

  98

  83

  2

  6,542

  98

  115

  2

  Greater than £25k or less than £100k

  11,020

  95

  640

  5

  15,228

  96

  566

  4

  £100k or less than £1m

  21,547

  69

  9,638

  31

  30,663

  70

  12,956

  30

  £1m or more

  15,224

  33

  31,452

  67

  17,867

  38

  29,163

  62

  Total

  52,801

  56

  41,813

  44

  70,300

  62

  42,800

  38

  542
  medium-size enterprises relate to firms with grant applications for less than £1 million. Processing times are based on decision taken during 1994–95.

  employees, indicating for each category what proportion this constituted of the total awarded for each financial year since 1990–91. [1929]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Reliable data are not available on the size of businesses applying for grant. The figures provided are based on the size of the grant requested.

  Restrictive Practices (Retail Newsagents)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will undertake a review of the workings of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 as far as retail newsagents are concerned; and if he will make a statement. [2089]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 is designed to prevent agreements restricting competition and acting against the public interest. I see no reason to treat retail newsagent differently from others.

  Statutory Fees and Charges
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the annual income from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) Companies House fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part-time and (ii) full-time

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Companies House

  917

  356

  880

  347

  878

  340

  Radiocommunications Agency

  526

  1—

  534

  1—

  541

  1—

  Export Licensing Unit

  Disaggregated information is not available

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  44

  7

  40

  8

  41

  8

  Engineering Inspectorate

  7

  0

  7

  0

  27

  0

  1 Part-time figures for the Radiocommunications Agency could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  2 The number of full-time staff in the Engineering Inspectorate in 1994–95 reduced from 7 to 6 after 30 November 1994.

  With the exception of my Department's funding of the late filing penalties scheme administered by the Companies House agency, no contributions have been made to its or the Radiocommunications Agency annual running costs in the past three years. This is because Companies House was established as an off-vote trading fund in October 1991, and the Radiocommunications Agency has retained its income to offset against its running cost expenditure since becoming a net controlled agency in April 1990. The Office of Fair Trading is independent of my Department. It is not funded from the DTI's vote. The information requested in respect of (5) and (6) is set out in the table: Disaggregated figures for (4) are not available.

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Export Licensing Unit

  Disaggregated information is not available

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  2,043

  2,008

  2,015

  Engineering Inspectorate

  383

  433

  459

  Running cost contribution to Companies House for late filing penalties work

  2,100

  1,700

  1,500

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the annual saving which will accrue to business from the deregulation(a) Fair Trading Act 1973 Amendment, Merger
  544
  and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years in respect of (1) Companies House, (2) the Radio Communications Agency, (3) the Office of Fair Trading, (4) the Export Licensing Unit, (5) the National Weights and Measures Laboratory and (6) the Engineering Inspectorate. [2741]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The amount of statutory fees and charges that were appropriated in aid of my Department's gross running cost provision in 1994–95 was £37.8 million. The late filing penalties collected by my Department's Companies House executive agency amounted to £16.7 million in the same period. These are treated as Consolidated Fund extra receipts and are therefore surrendered to the Treasury.

  The information requested on total staff numbers is set out in the table: Disaggregated figures for (4) are not available.

  Reference Time Limits Order 1995, (b) Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 (Amendments) Variation of Exempt Agreements Order 1995, (c) Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 (Amendment) Time Limits Order 1995 and (d) Resolutions of Private Companies Order 1995; and what were the costs involved in repairing the cost-benefit assessment contained in the explanatory memorandum in respect of each. [2027]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The estimates of cost savings have been considered in the respective explanatory documents. For the first two orders, savings are not readily quantifiable but include savings in management time, the cost of legal advice, and, for the second order, the potentially high cost of remaking an entire agreement; for the third order, the estimated saving is around £100,000 per year. All three orders provide substantial benefits for business by reducing uncertainty or the consequences of accidental error or oversight. The fourth order will also bring significant but not precisely quantifiable savings from speedier decision-taking, including reduced administrative and legal costs. Each cost-benefit assessment derived from the mandatory consultation with business and other interested bodies. The costs involved in preparing them were the normal costs of officials' time associated with any such exercise.

  National Coal Board Superannuation Fund
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the new trustees of the NCB superannuation fund; what are their qualifications and backgrounds; what they are each being paid as trustees; and who selected them. [2495]
  545
  Mr. Page
  The current trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme are:

  Mrs. S. Gleig (chairman)

  R. Dennis

  D. Brandrick

  M. Atkinson

  P. McNestry

  B. Chappell

  D. McIntosh

  B. Hancock

  Mrs. Gleig and Mr. Dennis are professional pensions managers from the TSB and the John Lewis Partnership respectively. Mr. Brandrick was formerly secretary of the British Coal Corporation. Mr. Atkinson is an assistant secretary in the DTI. All the above have been selected and appointed by me, in accordance with the scheme's rules.

  Mr. McNestry is General Secretary of the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers. Mr. Chappell is a treasurer of the British Association of Colliery Management. Each has been appointed as trustee by his union.

  Mr. McIntosh is a former senior accountant with British Coal. Mr. Hancock is General Secretary of the south Wales area of NACODS. Both were elected trustees by ballots of scheme members in their respective areas in September 1995.

  Mrs. Gleig, as chairman, receives remuneration of £15,000 per annum. No remuneration is currently paid to other trustees.

  European Funds (East Midlands)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what delays have occurred in the handling of bids for European funds at the Government office for the east midlands; and what are the reasons for these delays. [2758]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Delays to agreeing single programming documents with the European Commission have accounted for the majority of time lost to dealing with bids for European structural funds under the programmes administered by the Government Office for the east midlands. Such delays are similar to those experienced by objective 2 and objective 5b programmes across the country. Offers of European social funds and European regional development funds are now beginning to flow on all east midlands mainstream programmes.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what timetable the Government office for the east midlands has set out to deal with the RECHAR II programme; and when successful projects will be announced. [2757]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Two funds contribute to the RECHAR II programme: the European regional development fund and the European social fund.

  The deadline for first-round east midlands ERDF RECHAR II applications is 31 December 1995. A total of £10.3 million will be available. The exact timetable for announcing successful projects will depend on the number of bids received and the degree of competition for funds. It is anticipated that the working group to consider ERDF
  546
  project bids will first meet in March 1996 and that the Government office will make its first formal offers shortly afterwards. A second bidding round for an ERDF allocation of £9.1 million will have a deadline of 31 May 1996.

  The position with the ESF is more complex. Because of delays to the RECHAR II programme, it is likely that there will be no ESF bidding round in 1995. The Government have sought a derogation from the European Commission from rules preventing their making retrospective awards of 1995 ESF allocations in 1996. Although no official decision has been received, we understand that such a derogation is unlikely. In this case, 1995 ESF allocations will be rolled forward into 1996 giving a total fund of up to £4.1 million. The closing date for bids for this tranche will be 19 January 1996. The timetable for announcing successful ESF projects will be similar to that for ERDF.

  Medical Examination
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of miners and former miners examined under the PD12D regulations from September 1993 to date, broken down for each region. [1402]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 28 November 1995. [1493]

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

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minster if he will discuss with the UN Security Council the offer by the Government of Libya of a trial in The Hague of two Libyan suspects accused of the destruction of Pan Am 103. [1637]

  The Prime Minister
  At its 11th review of sanctions against Libya, held on 22 November, the UK's permanent representative reminded the Security Council that proposals for the trial of the Lockerbie suspects in The Hague or elsewhere were unacceptable alternatives to trial in Scotland or the United States.

  Disabled People (Policies)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Prime Minister which minister has the overall responsibility for co-ordinating policies in relation to access to the built environment for people with disabilities throughout all Government Departments; and if he will make a statement. [3012]
  547
  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People is the focal point for issues affecting disabled people.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the Czech Republic in the next 12 months. [2514]

  The Prime Minister
  I look forward to having the opportunity to visit the Czech Republic, but as yet have no firm plans.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met President Clerides of Cyprus; and what issues on Cyprus were discussed. [845]

  The Prime Minister
  I have met President Clerides on several occasions in recent months. We had a substantive discussion at No. 10 this year, addressing the range of issues affecting the UK and Cyprus.

  We met again at the VE day commemoration in May, at the Cannes European Council in June, and again at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting earlier this month.

TRANSPORT

  Railtrack
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the representations he has received regarding the level of track access charges levied by Railtrack; and if he will make a statement. [472]

  Mr. Watts
  The approval of access charges is a matter for the Rail Regulator.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been received by Railtrack in track access charges for each operating division area of British Rail and for the corporation as a whole; and if he will make a statement. [474]

  Mr. Watts
  In 1994–95 Railtrack's access related income from passenger train operators was £1,995.2 million and freight revenue was £191.1 million.

  The Rail Regulator has decided that track access agreements available for public inspection should exclude details of access charges in line with his duties under section 72 (3) of the Railways Act 1993. Consistent with this policy Railtrack does not publish income figures by train operator.

  Chiltern Trains
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the cancellation of rail tours in Wales by Chiltern Trains; and if he will make a statement. [473]

  Mr. Watts
  The Department received a number of representations about Chiltern Trains last year. The cancellation of rail tours is a commercial matter for Chiltern Trains.

  Departmental Cars
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost of chauffeur driven cars used by this Department for each of the last five years. [419]

  Mr. Norris
  Expenditure on chauffeur driven cars was as follows:

  Financial Year

  £

  1990–91

  236,746

  1991–92

  280,200

  1992–93

  340,846

  1993–94

  345,138

  1994–95

  356,599

  Figures include VAT.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects of bus deregulation in the last ten years. [2833]

  Mr. Norris
  Bus deregulation continues to be a great success. Recent statistics confirm the continuing trend of more operators running more bus miles at lower cost and involving significantly less public subsidy than previously. In addition, the long term decline in bus patronage appears to have begun to flatten out.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what were the costs involved in preparing the cost-benefit assessment contained in the explanatory memorandum for the Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order 1995; [2880]

  (2) what is the estimated annual saving to business from the Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order 1995. [2882]

  Mr. Watts
  The assessment of benefits to business and administrative cost savings was developed in the course of consultation. The cost of preparing this assessment cannot be identified separately.

  The order will bring savings in costs and other benefits to business as a result of reduced delay in introducing new equipment and the removal of a disincentive to innovation. However, it has not been possible to quantify these benefits.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Driving Standards Agency's annual income from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part-time and (ii) full-time; and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years in respect of (1) the Driving Standards Agency, (2) the Civil Aviation Authority, (3) the Vehicle Inspectorate, (4) the Vehicle Certification Agency, (5) the Traffic Commissioners office and (6) the Surveyor Generals Organisation. [2744]

  Mr. Norris
  In 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 the Driving Standards Agency's income from fees and charges was £47.2 million. £50.2 million, and £54.8 million respectively. This income is treated as extra
  549
  receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund. DSA does not receive income from fines. In the same years the agency employed 1,867, 1,783, and 1,728 full-time staff; 267,285 and 289 part-time staff; and, in 1994–95, 31 driving examiners on a contract basis.

  The size of the running costs contributions made by the Department depends on the nature of the financial regime under which the organisations operate. VI, DSA and VCA cover most of their expenditure through fees collected from services provided. My Department's contributions in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 were nil in the case of VCA and VI, although the Department did purchase enforcement and other services from VI and VCA at a cost of £16.1 million, £15.3 million, and £15.1 million respectively. My Department made contributions of £1.6

  Agency

  Total gross cost of overseas travel in 1994–95 £

  Countries visited

  Grade of staff involved

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  31,632

  Sweden

  Grade 3

  Latvia

  Grade 5

  USA

  Grade 6

  Holland

  Grade 7

  Germany

  SEO

  France

  HEO

  Belgium

  Spain

  Finland

  Driving Standards Agency

  Nil

  None

  n/a

  Highways Agency

  142,386

  EC countries

  Various but usually Senior Professional and Technical Officer level or above

  Austria

  Sweden

  Hungary

  Poland

  Finland

  Iceland

  Australia

  USA

  Marine Safety Agency

  295,546

  Various

  Various but generally all staff except clerical grades

  Transport Research Laboratory

  564,395

  Bangladesh

  Various, from G3 to Scientific Officer

  Belgium

  Botswana

  China

  Colombia

  Ghana

  Hong Kong

  India

  Indonesia

  Kenya

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Austria

  Czechoslovakia

  Norway

  Japan

  Italy

  Luxembourg

  Sweden

  France

  Germany

  Denmark

  Singapore

  Iceland

  Switzerland

  Australia

  Mauritius

  550
  million, £1.5 million, and £1.5 million to DSA; £11.9 million, £12.0 million and £11.4 million to the Traffic Commissioners' offices; and £14.1 million, £14.9 million and £14.9 million to the Surveyor General's Organisation which became an executive agency on 1 April 1994 under the new title of the Marine Safety Agency.

  The Civil Aviation Authority is a nationalised industry and my Department makes no contribution towards its running costs.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2359]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is in the table.
  551

  Agency

  Total gross cost of overseas travel in 1994–95 £

  Countries visited

  Grade of staff involved

  Nepal

  Pakistan

  Papua New Guinea

  Philippines

  South Africa

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Turkey

  USA

  Vietnam

  Zambia

  Holland

  Spain

  Portugal

  Finland

  Greece

  Jordan

  Jordan

  Dubai

  Jamaica

  St. Lucia

  Egypt

  New Zealand

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  103,183

  Belgium

  Various but mostly Senior Professional and Technical Officer and Higher Professional and Technical Officer

  Sweden

  France

  Italy

  Spain

  Switzerland

  Holland

  Greece

  Poland

  Hungary

  Portugal

  Hong Kong

  Singapore

  Malaysia

  Korea

  China

  USA

  Canada

  Japan

  The Coastguard Agency

  33,709

  France

  Grade 4

  Denmark

  Grade 5

  Sweden

  Grade 6

  USA

  Grade 7

  Canada

  SEO

  Uruguay

  HEO

  Germany

  EO

  Belgium

  AO

  Norway

  Holland

  Portugal

  Spain

  Iceland

  The Vehicle Inspectorate records of travel expenditure are not separated between United Kingdom and overseas travel and so the answer to this question for VI could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Road Programme
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those schemes in the national road programme for which statutory pre-construction procedures have been completed and orders have been 552
  made, the dates on which the orders were made and the dates on which they will expire. [1809]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 28 November 1995
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list those schemes in the national road programme for which statutory

  553
  pre-construction procedures have been completed and orders have been made, the dates on which the orders were made and the dates on which they will expire.
  The relevant schemes are listed below together with the dates when the Compulsory Purchase Orders were made. Notices to Treat, warning interested parties that the Highways Agency intends to exercise its powers, have to be served within 3 years from the date of making of such orders.

  Scheme Title

  CPO Made

  A40 Western Circus Junction Improvement

  July 1991

  A40 Gypsy Corner Improvement

  July 1991

  A406/A1/A598 Regents Park Road Junction Improvement

  January 1992

  A12 Hackney Wick-M11 Contract 1

  July 1992

  A12 Hackney Wick-M11 Contract 3

  July 1992

  A13 West of Heathway-Thames Avenue Improvement

  July 1992

  A13 Wennington-Mar Dyke Improvement

  September 1992

  M66 Denton Middleton Contract 3

  March 1993

  M66 Denton Middleton Contract 1

  March 1993

  A43 Silverstone Bypass

  April 1993

  A65 Hellifield and Long Preston Bypass

  May 1993

  A65 Gargrave Bypass

  August 1993

  A27 Polegate Bypass

  September 1993

  A34 Newbury Bypass

  October 1993

  A406 Golders Green Junction Improvement

  February 1994

  A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement

  February 1994

  A650 Bingley Relief Road

  March 1994

  A564 Derby Southern Bypass Contract B

  March 1994

  A11 Roundham Heath-Attleborough Improvement

  June 1994

  A500 Basford-Hough-Shavington Bypass

  May 1994

  A550 Deeside-A5117 (S)

  October 1994

  A1 (M) Wetherby-Walshford

  October 1994

  M4 (Heavy Loads)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the nature and the laden weight of the heavy loads notified to his Department which have created bottlenecks on the east-bound M4 on each of the last three Tuesdays; where the loads originated and terminated; how long they were on the M4 and at what speed they travelled; for what reasons they were not transported at night; who owns the loads; what costs associated with the escorts and delays are met by(a) the
  554
  transporter and (b) the owner; how many more similar loads are planned; what (i) warnings and (ii) advice were given to motorists by his Department on avoiding the delays; at what times future similar loads will be on the M4; and what assessment has been made of potential road damage. [2730]

  Mr. Norris
  The loads in question are electrical generating equipment for a new power station at the National Power plc site at Didcot in Oxfordshire. The weights of the loads vary between 135.6 tonnes and 455 tonnes. They originated at Siemens factories in Germany and entered the United Kingdom at Avonmouth docks. Each load is timed to minimise both inconvenience to other road users and the overall cost to the project. The journeys from the docks to the power station site consist of two night-time moves and a day-time move conducted outside the peak traffic hours on the M4. The day-time movement is required because all other traffic has to be stopped when two particular bridges are traversed and the police rightly believe that this can be done safely only in hours of daylight. The loads are restricted to a maximum speed of 12 mph, but in practice the speed and therefore the time taken is limited by the gradients on the roads. A further 17 loads are planned over the next 11 months. They are required to be carried on multiple axle trailers to minimise the potential damage to roads and highways structures.

  Contractual arrangements and costs are a matter between National Power plc as the customer and Siemens plc as the supplier; they, rather than public funds, have met the cost both of assessing structures on the route and the police escorting the loads.

  I am satisfied that National Power and the police forces involved on the route have provided satisfactory advance notice including warnings broadcast on national and local radio, advertisements in local media, notification to the main road haulage and passenger transport groups and the provision of recorded information on a free telephone number-0800 241 504.

  Changes between years largely reflect changes in the Government car service charges to recover the full economic cost of the service.

ENVIRONMENT

  Government-owned Empty Properties
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total number of empty residential properties owned by each Government Department, together with the average length of time that these properties have been empty; and what were the equivalent figures for last year. [315]

  Mr. Curry
  My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on 23 November 1995,Official Report, column 238, included the number of homes owned by Government Departments which were empty on 1 April 1995, and targets for 1995–96 aimed at reducing the number. The table shows the number which were empty at 1 April 1994. Information is not available about the average length of time properties are empty.

  Department

  Empty at 1 April 1994

  Department of Transport

  887

  Home Office

  498

  Ministry of Defence

  11,006

  Scottish Office

  158

  Welsh Office

  43

  Secondary Liquid Fuel (Burning)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to stop the burning of secondary liquid fuel in cement kilns where there is persistent plume grounding. [1985]

  Mr. Clappison
  No. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 already provides sufficient controls for each site to be judged on its own merit.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Atkins) if the letter sent by the right hon. Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins) to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 13 June constituted the Government's reply to the second report of the Environment Committee on the Burning of Secondary Liquid Fuel in Cement Kilns (HC 479) of session 1994–95. [1987]

  Mr. Clappison
  The letter contained initial comments and indicated that the Government would be considering and responding fully to the committee's report.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what level of ozone his Department issues health warnings. [1794]

  Mr. Clappison
  EC directive 92/72/EEC on air pollution by ozone sets a population information threshold of 180µg/m3 or 90ppb and a population warning threshold of 360µg/m3 or 180ppb. If either of these thresholds is exceeded, the directive requires member states to inform the public.

  In the United Kingdom, my Department provides information on levels of ozone and other pollutants through the air quality helpline, the Internet, Ceefax, Teletext and the media. Ozone levels are described as "poor" when over the population information threshold,
  556
  and very poor when over the population warning threshold. In addition, my Department and the Department of Health issue occasional press notices.

  Both the helpline and the press notices contain appropriate health advice when air quality is poor or very poor.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the number of(a) rural and (b) urban areas covered by air monitoring stations; how his Department determines each; and if he will make a statement; [1808]

  (2) what is (a) the number of air monitoring stations currently in operation, (b) the percentage of the country covered by air monitoring stations and (c) the percentage of the population covered by air monitoring stations; and if he will make a statement. [1810]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government have established a number of air quality monitoring networks to monitor air pollutants in rural and urban areas. The number of monitoring stations currently in operation in each of the national networks is shown in the table.

  About three quarters of local authorities in the United Kingdom—based on 1993 boundaries—have at least one air quality monitoring site in their area. These sites are either wholly funded by the Government or run in collaboration with local authorities. Since the majority of monitoring is undertaken in urban areas a significant proportion of the population are covered by air quality monitoring.

  The objectives of the Government's air quality monitoring programmes are to understand air quality problems in order that cost-effective policies and solutions can be developed; to monitor compliance with European Community directives; to assess how far guidelines and targets are being achieved; to provide public information on current and forecast air quality; and to assist the assessment of personal exposure to air pollutants. The Government establish air quality monitoring sites to meet these criteria, drawing on advice from their expert review groups.

  Further details of the Government's monitoring programme are given in "Air Pollution in the UK: 1993–94", a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Network and Pollutants measured

  Urban stations

  Rural stations

  Total

  Automatic Urban1 (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and monoxide and fine particles (PM10))

  27

  —

  27

  Automatic Hydrocarbon (25 hydrocarbons including benzene and 1,3-butadiene)

  11

  —

  11

  Automatic Rural1 (ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide)

  0

  15

  15

  Non-Automatic Urban Nitrogen Dioxide

  1,216

  —

  1,216

  Non-Automatic Urban Smoke and sulphur dioxide

  227

  —

  227

  557

  Network and Pollutants measured

  Urban stations

  Rural stations

  Total

  Non-Automatic Lead and Multi-Element

  20

  4

  24

  Acid Deposition

  —

  32

  32

  Rural sulphur dioxide

  —

  39

  39

  Toxic Organic Micropollutants (dioxins and polyaromatic hydrocarbons)

  3

  1

  4

  North Sea (organochlorines and metals)

  —

  4

  4

  Total

  1,504

  95

  1,599

  1 Not all sites monitor all pollutants.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what comparisons his Department has carried out of the levels of(a) ozone, (b) nitrogen dioxide and (c) sulphur dioxide in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. [1806]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department does not compile statistics of the measured concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide or sulphur dioxide in countries outside of the United Kingdom. A summary of all UK monitoring data for these pollutants is presented in the Department of the Environment, "Digest of Environmental Statistics No. 17, 1995", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the latest available figures for carbon dioxide emissions for each member state of the EU and the EEA, together with the equivalent figures for 1990; and if he will indicate the targets which have been agreed internationally for reducing them. [1792]

  Mr. Clappison
  The framework convention on climate change, which the UK ratified in December 1993, commits developed countries to adopt policies and take corresponding measures aimed at returning anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. The UK is on target to meet this commitment.

  The table gives figures for carbon dioxide emissions by EU member states and EEA countries in 1990 and 1993, based on data published by the International Energy Agency.

  Carbon dioxide emissions, 1990–1993

  Country

  1990 CO2 emissions (MtC)

  1993 CO2 emissions (MtC)

  (EU)

  Austria

  15.9

  15.5

  Belgium

  30.3

  30.9

  Denmark

  14.4

  16.1

  Finland

  14.5

  15.0

  France

  101.9

  100.4

  Germany

  269.2

  244.5

  Greece

  19.8

  20.3

  Ireland

  9.1

  9.1

  Italy

  112.4

  111.9

  Luxembourg

  2.9

  3.1

  Netherlands

  43.4

  46.6

  Portugal

  11.2

  12.5

  Spain

  59.7

  60.8

  Sweden

  14.6

  14.1

  United Kingdom

  159.2

  152.3

  558

  Carbon dioxide emissions, 1990–1993

  Country

  1990 CO2 emissions (MtC)

  1993 CO2 emissions (MtC)

  (EEA)

  Norway

  8.4

  8.6

  Iceland

  0.7

  0.6

  Liechtenstein

  1—

  1—

  1 Figures not included in relevant IEA data.

  Figures converted from IEA for energy-related CO2 emissions. 1990 figures: Climate Change Policy Initiatives—1994 Update: Volume I—OECD Countries. 1993 figures: Energy Policies of IEA Countries—1994 Review

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the air pollution sites referred to on his answer of 31 October 1995,Official Report, column 177–78, are classified as (a) urban and (b) rural. [1803]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 31 October. Column 3 of the table states whether the sites are rural or urban. All of the sites marked hydrocarbon are classified as urban.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the areas in which EC guidelines on levels of nitrogen dioxide have been exceeded. [1793]

  Mr. Clappison
  EC directive 85/203/EEC on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide sets a mandatory limit value and two non-mandatory guide values for nitrogen dioxide. The latter two are 135µg/m3 (70.6ppb) expressed as a 98th percentile, and 50µg/m3 (26.2ppb) expressed as a 50th percentile, both of hourly values over a year.

  The table lists the sites of the national monitoring network and the years where either of these guide values has been exceeded.

  Year

  Site

  1985

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  1986

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  1987

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  Stevenage

  Glasgow

  Manchester

  Walsall

  1988

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  Glasgow

  1989

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  Walsall

  1990

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  Manchester

  1991

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  1992

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  London Bloomsbury

  Manchester

  559

  Year

  Site

  Sheffield

  Edinburgh

  1993

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  London Earl's Court

  London Bloomsbury

  Sheffield

  Newcastle

  1994

  London Roadside

  London Victoria

  London Earls' Court

  London Bloomsbury

  Manchester

  Sheffield

  Edinburgh

  Leeds

  Mr. Roy Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to implement the recommendation of the Government's expert panel on air quality standards for a standard for ozone of 50ppb. [3125]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government's national air quality strategy, which we intend to publish within the next few months, will include objectives for particular air pollutants, including zone, and the steps which we will expect local authorities and others to take in order to meet them.

  About half the ozone affecting the UK has its origins abroad. Therefore, the UK believes that the most sensible approach is to act internationally to reduce emissions of the precursors of ozone. The United Kingdom has already signed the United Nation economic commission for Europe protocol on the reduction of volatile organic compounds, and is currently preparing for the negotiation of a new agreement on the reduction of oxides of nitrogen.

  EU Research and Development Budget
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993–94. [1907]

  Mr. Clappison
  Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology 1995" contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. Departments' policy responsibilities are subject to change and can vary from year to year. My Department currently has responsibility for 8.04 per cent. of the Community's R and D budget.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Mathew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the next report from the intergovernmental panel on climate change has been sent to his Department for comment; what is the timetable for its publication; and if he will make a statement. [1814]
  560
  Mr. Clappison
  The reports of the three working groups of the intergovernmental panel on climate change were sent to my Department for comment following extensive scientific peer review. Comments were sought from other Departments and, where appropriate, external experts. Comments were provided on early drafts and as input to discussion at plenary sessions of the working groups.

  The summary reports of working groups II and III of IPCC were approved last month in Montreal and the working group I report will be addressed at a meeting on 27 to 29 November in Madrid. All three summaries and the underlying reports are due to be accepted formally by the IPCC at its plenary session in Rome in December. An overall synthesis report will also be considered for approval in Rome.

  Final published forms of the full reports should be available in spring 1996.

  Asbestos (Building Demolition)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what obligations there are for an organisation or person demolishing a building that is known to contain asbestos to report to a local authority that it is their intention to demolish such a building; and if he will make a statement. [1703]

  Mr. Clappison
  Any organisation or individual intending to demolish certain types of buildings is required to notify the local authority of their intention to do so. Buildings covered by this requirement are listed in section 80 of the Building Act 1984.

  The local authority may respond to the notice by imposing conditions on the demolition work including removal of material or rubbish from the site and measures for the protection of the public and preservation of public amenity. Depending on the nature of the conditions, the organisation or individual must notify the local authority again 24 or 48 hours before the required action is taken.

  For buildings containing asbestos, additional requirements depend on the nature and position of the asbestos in the building. If the building contains asbestos insulation or coating this should be removed wherever possible before any other demolition work begins. Such removal should be undertaken only by contractors licensed under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983.

  Inland Waterways (Speed Limits)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons he has given advice that speed limits on inland waterways shall henceforth be notified in kilometres per hour; what consultations were made prior to such notification; what is its statutory basis; and to what rivers, canals or tidal waterways such advice applies. [1797]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Under the Units of Measurement Regulations 1995, which took effect from 1 October 1995, certain references to imperial units of measurement were converted to their metric equivalent. My Department had kept British Waterways and the National Rivers Authority informed on the proposed regulations. The regulations
  561
  apply to all waterways except those used for sea transport, where units of measurement are laid down in international conventions or agreements.

  Assured Shorthold Tenancies
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many cases have been referred by tenants of assured shorthold tenancies to rent assessment committees in each year since the introduction of the Housing Act 1988; how many determinations have been made as a result of such referrals; and what has been the average reduction of rent consequent on those determinations; [2406]

  Rent assessment committees, England—caseload for rent referrals under section 22 Housing Act 1988 since 1989

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  11995

  Number of referrals

  166

  423

  638

  765

  994

  1,583

  1,520

  Number of determinations

  33

  77

  237

  240

  284

  444

  519

  Average rent reduction (pa)(£)2

  813

  979

  763

  728

  834

  1,359

  1,246

  Number of determinations declined (insufficient similar lettings)

  22

  14

  15

  10

  16

  8

  3

  Number of determinations declined (rent not significantly high)

  36

  129

  144

  173

  194

  378

  424

  Determinations may also be declined on the grounds that the Committee has no jurisdiction to make a determination and where a referral has been withdrawn.

  1 To date.

  2 These exclude the London and South Western committees where the figures were unavailable.

  My Department's consultation paper "The Legislative Framework for Private Renting" issued in June 1995, proposed to repeal the right of assured shorthold tenants to refer to committees for a rent determination under section 22 of the Housing Act 1988. In the light of responses to that paper, I have decided to retain this right of referral.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of tenants in assured shorthold tenancies who have been receiving housing benefit in each year since the introduction of the Housing Act 1988; and how many of these have had their rents determined by a rent assessment committee. [2407]

  Mr. Curry
  The estimated number of tenants in assured shorthold tenancies in England receiving housing benefit is as follows:

  1989: figures not available

  1990: 25,000

  1991–92: figures not available

  1992–93: figures not available

  1993–94: 300,000

  1994–95: 300,000

  These estimates are from the 1990 private renters survey and the survey of English housing. Like all estimates from sample surveys, they are subject to sampling error.

  Tenants seeking a rent determination by a rent assessment committee are not required to inform the committee whether they are in receipt of housing benefit.

  Toxic Waste Shipments
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what permits his Department has issued to
  562
  (2) in how many cases involving referrals by tenants of assured shorthold tenancies under section 22 of the Housing Act 1988, in each year since the introduction of that Act, the rent assessment committee declined to make a determination (a) on the grounds that there were insufficient similar lettings in the locality and (b) because the rent was not considered significantly higher than that which the landlord might reasonably be expected to obtain. [2405]

  Mr. Curry
  The number of referrals by tenants of assured shorthold tenancies under section 22 of the Housing Act 1988 in each year since the introduction of that Act and action taken by the committees is as follows:

  allow the shipment of toxic waste into Liverpool in the last five years; and what quantities of toxic waste have entered the port in this period. [2135]

  Mr. Clappison
  Day-to-day administration of controls over imports and exports of waste is the responsibility of waste regulation authorities. Authorisation of hazardous waste imports is a matter for the waste regulation authority for the area where the destination facility is located. This may not be the same as the authority for the port of entry.

  The following table shows the quantities of hazardous waste entering the United Kingdom through the port of Liverpool since 1989:

  Year

  Tonnes1

  1989–90

  754

  1990–91

  573

  1991–92

  1,362

  1992–93

  1,081

  1993–94

  4,566

  1 Imports under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988.

  Source:

  Digest of Environmental Statistics, Nos. 13–17, HMSO.

  No imports of hazardous wastes were notified for disposal at facilities within the jurisdiction of Merseyside waste regulation authority during this period.

  Housing Bill
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will incorporate measures in the forthcoming housing Bill to remedy problems confronting leaseholders. [2403]

  Mr. Curry
  I am aware of the concerns which have been expressed. We are considering the possibility of framing appropriate measures.
  563
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what parliamentary timetable he envisages for the forthcoming Housing Bill; and if it is his intention that it will include measures relating to construction contracts. [2404]

  Mr. Curry
  We are finalising legislation to make better provision for housing and to lay the foundations for a construction industry based on partnership and co-operation, and hope to publish it shortly.

  Planning Guidance (Shopping Centres)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his new planning guidance on shopping centres. [2867]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We hope to publish the revised PPG6 early next year.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Scotland)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are the criteria used for selecting companies to be placed on the long list of contractors suitable for selection as network installers under the home energy efficiency scheme in Scotland; [2119]

  (2) what was the value of work carried out under the home energy efficiency scheme by each network installer in Scotland in the latest year for which figures are available; [2120]

  (3) who are the network installers used under the home energy efficiency scheme for each region in Scotland. [2132]

  Mr. Clappison
  All applicants for the long list are selected by competitive tender. Applicants are required to demonstrate their willingness and continuing ability to meet specified performance standards for grant work set by Eaga Ltd. and approved by my right hon. Friend. They are also required to carry out work sensitively with proper regard to the needs of clients; and to operate in accordance with Eaga's code of conduct.

  The same criteria are applied in England and Wales.

  Information about the value of work of individual installers is commercially confidential. A breakdown for 1994–95 by geographical area is shown in table 1. Table 2 shows the installers operating in each area.

  Table 1: Value of HEES work carried out in each operating area of Scotland. 1994–95

  £

  Roxburgh, Berwickshire, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Tweeddale, Midlothian, East Lothian

  301,012.45

  West Lothian and Edinburgh

  591,223.28

  Wigtown, Stewartry, Nithsdale, Annandale and Eskdale, Kyle and Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  505,371.67

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Cunninghame

  452,178.88

  Eastwood, Renfrew, Inverclyde, Dumbarton Argyll and Bute

  592,840.86

  Monklands, Motherwell, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Clydesdale

  1,117,191.97

  Glasgow North

  427,725.56

  Glasgow East

  386,129.47

  Glasgow South

  267,937.60

  564

  Table 1: Value of HEES work carried out in each operating area of Scotland, 1994–95

  £

  Clydesbank, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Strathkelvin Bearsden and Milgavie, Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannan

  390,646.35

  Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, North East Fife

  445,677.16

  Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Angus

  303,737.37

  Kincardine and Deeside, Gordon, Aberdeen, Banff and Buchan

  229,544.84

  Moray, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Inverness, Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness

  244,091.88

  Orkney Islands

  49,154.12

  Shetland Islands

  76,855.80

  Total

  6,381,319.26

  Table 2: HEES network installers for each operating area in Scotland

  Area

  Installers

  Roxburgh, Berwickshire, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Tweeddale, Midlothian, East Lothian

  Everwarm KNW

  West Lothian and Edinburgh

  McSence Heatwise Ltd.; Everwarm

  Wigtown, Stewartry, Nithsdale, Annandale and Eskdale, Kyle and Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  Phoenix Energy Conservation Everwarm

  Kilmarnock and Loudon, Cunninghame

  BEST Ltd. Kendon Holdings

  Eastwood, Renfrew, Inverclyde, Dumbarton Argyll and Bute

  Solas Insulation Ltd. Everwarm

  Heatwise Glasgow

  Monklands, Motherwell, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Clydesdale

  Homes Consortium Microcom Insulations Everwarm

  Glasgow North

  Heatwise Glasgow; Solas

  Insulation Ltd.; Everwarm

  Glasgow East

  Heatwise Glasgow; Everwarm

  Glasgow South

  Heatwise Glasgow; Everwarm

  Miller Pattison Ltd.

  Clydebank, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Strathkelvin

  Microcom Insulations Heatwise Glasgow

  Bearsden and Milgavie, Falkirk

  EU Insulation Ltd.

  Stirling, Clackmannan

  Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, North

  Heatwise Fife Ltd.

  East Fife

  Clyde Insulation Contracts (UK)

  Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Angus

  Claverhouse Services Tayside Energy Training Co Ltd.

  Kincardine and Deeside, Gordon

  SCARF

  Aberdeen, Banff and Buchan

  Moray, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Inverness, Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness

  Rosswise Ltd.

  BEST Ltd.

  Orkney Islands

  Keep Orkney Warm

  Shetland Islands

  Shetland Heatwise

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for local government revenue spending in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [2796]

  Mr. Gummer
  Every year, the Government announce the sum of money which local authorities are expected to spend. Next year's figure is £44.92 billion, up
  565
  3.3 per cent. on last year. This means an increase of £1.4 billion, and when the transitional costs of local government reorganisation are taken into account, represents a cash improvement of 3.1 per cent.

  In allocating this sum between services, I have decided to give the main priority to education. My proposal is therefore that education spending should increase year on year by 4.5 per cent. The amount actually spent on schools remains a matter for individual local authorities, but I have no doubt that parents, governors and teachers will wish to ensure that the whole of the increased funding feed through into schools' budgets.

  I propose that the level of aggregate external finance distributed to local authorities in 1996–97 should be £35.62 billion. This represents an increase of some £960 million—2.8 per cent.—compared with this year's figure.

  I also propose that the national non-domestic rate poundage for 1996–97 should rise to 44.9, reflecting the annual increase in the retail price index to September.

  I propose to set the distributable amount of non-domestic rates at £12.74 billion. I propose that the total of revenue support grant should be £18 billion. Special and specific grants within AEF will amount to £4.88 billion.

  I shall announce shortly my proposals for the distribution of Government grants, including my proposals for changes in the standard spending assessment methodology. At the same time, I shall announce my capping intentions.

  It is essential that local and central government continue to play their part in restraining expenditure. My proposals for total standard spending, aggregate external finance and the non-domestic rate poundage represent a balanced approach to funding the demands on local authority services in 1996–97.

  I look to local authorities to scrutinise their priorities and to take every opportunity to increase their cost efficiency in the delivery of services. If they do so then, even in the climate of a tight settlement, the provision I have announced will enable authorities to meet priority needs across the range of their functions.

  Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what period his Department will continue funding the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea. [2652]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department currently provides support to the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea through the environmental action fund. ACOPS has applied for further funding for the financial year 1996–97. My Department is considering this, along with all other requests for environmental action fund support and we hope to announce our decisions on all applications early in 1996.

  Rebuilding Grants
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of 566
  the pilot project for rebuilding grants carried out under the terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. [3097]

  Mr. Clappison
  We expect to publish the results of the study early in the new year.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to ensure equality in terms of competition and regulation as between housing associations and the proposed independent social landlords. [2697]

  Mr. Clappison
  All organisations that wish to receive subsidy from the Housing Corporation to provide social housing will be required to meet the same standards of construction, maintenance, management and services to tenants. The corporation will monitor these organisations to see that these standards are delivered, and will have regulatory powers to take action where standards are not being met.

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the proposals from the National Federation of Housing Associations relating to the proceeds from the sale of the Housing Corporation's loan portfolio; and if he will make a statement. [2786]

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government will be making a statement on this matter later this afternoon.

  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to sell to the private sector the Housing Corporation portfolio of earlier loans to housing associations. [3426]

  Mr. Curry
  Since 1989, housing associations have secured around £5.5 billion of private resources to support housing projects, and a further £3 billion in support of large-scale voluntary transfers of housing from local authorities.

  Prior to 1989, housing associations' loan finance was provided by the Housing Corporation with resources borrowed from the national loans fund. There is no reason for public sector bodies to continue to hold these loans, and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have decided in principle that the corporation's portfolio of loans to housing associations in England, and the equivalent lending in Scotland by Scottish Homes and in Wales by Housing for Wales should be sold, subject to detailed investigations of the options for sale and the prospective disposal receipt. We shall shortly be appointing advisers to carry out this investigation.

  Sale, if confirmed following investigation, will not affect the financial position of the housing associations concerned, or their tenants, or rents, or the future development programmes of the Housing Corporation, Scottish Homes or Housing for Wales.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on tax relief grant for non-charitable housing associations. [3427]
  567
  Mr. Curry
  The White Paper "Our Future Homes" set out the Government's proposals to enable profit-making companies and other bodies to compete alongside housing associations for funds to support the provision of social housing in England and Wales.

  In this context, it would not make sense for non-charitable housing associations to continue to receive tax relief grant, which currently offsets their liability for income and corporation tax. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have, therefore, decided that tax relief grant should be discontinued with effect from 1 April 1997, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation.

  The tax position of charitable housing associations will remain unchanged.

  Stray Dogs
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if a local authority must include on its register of stray dogs information derived from(a) a tattoo, (b) an identification tag or collar and (c) a microchip which is carried by a stray dog; and if he will make a statement. [3425]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992 No 288) set out what information a local authority must include in its register of stray dogs. This contains specific mention of information from tattoos, tags and collars, but does not include specific mention of microchips. The local authority must, however, take reasonable steps to include any information which is carried by the dog. The interpretation of these regulations is ultimately a matter for the courts.

DEFENCE

  Western European Union
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aims the Government have for their presidency of the Western European Union. [816]

  Mr. Portillo
  We intend to concentrate our efforts during the United Kingdom presidency on ensuring that the WEU can fulfil more effectively its operational role as the European pillar of the transatlantic alliance.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the issues discussed and decisions taken at the recent Western European Union meeting in Madrid; and if he will place in the Library copies of all Western European Union declarations made in 1995. [1575]

  Mr. Soames
  The WEU Ministerial Council met in Madrid on 14 November. Ministers approved an options paper prepared as the WEU's contribution to the 1996 intergovernmental conference, and publication of a reflection document entitled "European security: a common concept of the 27 WEU countries". Ministers also took decisions on a range of measures to strengthen the WEU's operational capability, and welcomed a statement by the UK on the programme for its presidency commencing on 1 January 1996, which focuses on the 568
  WEU's further operational development. Copies of all 1995 WEU declarations not already in the Library of the House will be placed there.

  Trident Programme
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the Trident programme. [824]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Trident programme continues to make good progress and is on time and within budget. The second Vanguard class submarine, HMS Victorious, is due to enter service around the turn of the year.

  Joint Defence Policy (USA)
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the US Secretary for Defense to discuss joint defence policy. [825]

  Mr. Portillo
  I last met the US Defence Secretary at the NATO Ministerial meeting at Williamsburg on 6 October. I shall meet him again later this afternoon.

  Mr. David Hart
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances of confidentiality have been provided by Mr. David Hart regarding information supplied to his Department by the United Kingdom defence industry. [826]

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 19 October 1995,Official Report, column 361.

  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access Mr. David Hart has to confidential information provided by the British defence industry. [828]

  Mr. Portillo
  Mr. Hart has access to the information necessary for him to fulfil his duties as my independent adviser.

  RAF High Wycombe
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of RAF High Wycombe. [829]

  Mr. Soames
  Although some changes are proposed to the internal structure of RAF Strike Command, RAF High Wycombe will continue to play an important role as the home for HQ RAF Strike Command, HQ Allied Forces North West Europe, and the Franco-British Euro Air Group.

  Military Helicopters (Exports)
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department provides to assist companies wishing to export military helicopters. [830]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Within the Ministry of Defence, support for defence exports is provided, primarily, by the Defence Export Services Organisation, which exists to help British manufacturers market and sell their products abroad, complementing the wider range of services offered by the Department of Trade and Industry. In
  569
  addition to the DESO/DTI support, the Export Credits Guarantee Department makes available its range of export credit facilities to support defence sales.

  Eurofighter 2000
  Ms Church
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the consequences for Eurofighter 2000 of the delay in reaching agreement with European allies on workshare. [832]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A number of aspects, including workshare, relating to the planning of the future phases of the Eurofighter 2000 project are being discussed between the partner Governments. It would be premature to speculate now on the consequences of delay in reaching decisions on these aspects.

  Trident Programme
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received with regard to the Trident programme; and if he will make a statement. [833]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A number of representations have been received regarding the Trident programme.

  RAF Pilot Training
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of advanced RAF pilot training. [834]

  Mr. Soames
  Advanced RAF fast-jet pilot training will continue to take place at RAF Valley. Multi-engine pilot training is undertaken at RAF Cranwell, but is currently the subject of a trial to explore the feasibility of conducting this activity in the private sector. Rotary wing training will continue to be undertaken at RAF Shawbury, but from April 1997 will be provided by the new tri-service defence helicopter flying school which is to be based at the station.

  French Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart concerning nuclear testing. [836]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Since their meeting in Paris on 27 September, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the French Defence Minister have not discussed nuclear testing.

  Empty Service Properties
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many empty service properties his Department currently possesses. [837]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September 1995, my Department owned 13,898 vacant service families quarters. Of these, 3,202 were in the process of being sold while the majority of the remainder were either awaiting major maintenance work, held for unit deployments, already allocated to service families due to move in shortly or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available to house entitled service personnel.
  570
  A continuing programme should ensure significant additional disposals of surplus quarters during the next 12 to 18 months.

  British-French Air Defence Co-operation
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British-French air defence co-operation. [839]

  Mr. Soames
  Excellent relations exist between the two air forces. This close co-operation was recently demonstrated by the inauguration of the Franco-British Euro Air Group.

  Military Air Crashes
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all military jet airplane crashes in United Kingdom airspace since 1980 indicating the date and location of each crash or the types of aircraft involved. [2738]

  Mr. Soames
  The table lists crashes which resulted in category 4 or category 5 damage, or nearest equivalent, to one or both of the military fixed-wing jet aircraft involved:

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  1980

  12 February

  Hunter FGA9

  Isle of Skye

  5 March

  Phantom FGR2

  RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire

  12 March

  Harrier GR3

  2¾ nm SE of Lampeter, Dyfed

  17 March

  Hunter GA11

  English Channel, 10 nm SSW of Start Point

  29 April

  F-111E

  Mappenton, Dorset

  8 May

  Jet Provost T5A

  Near RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire

  17 May

  Hawk T1

  Brighton sea front, Sussex

  28 May

  Hunter FGA9

  3 nm SE of Dufftown, Morayshire

  29 May

  Hunter T7

  1 nm S of Little Saxham, Suffolk

  3 June

  Phantom FG1

  RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire

  31 July

  Jet Provost T3A

  ½ nm S of RAF Elvington, North Yorkshire

  19 August

  Hawk T1

  RAF Valley, Anglesey

  12 November

  Phantom FGR2

  North Sea, 50 nm NE of Cromer

  17 November

  Nimrod MR2

  RAF Kinloss, Morayshire

  18 November

  2 x A-10A

  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

  1 December

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  English Channel, 25 nm S of Land's End

  9 December

  Phantom FGR2

  North Sea, 10 nm NE of Lowestoft

  1981

  9 January

  A-10A

  RAF Donna Nook, Lincolnshire

  28 January

  Jet Provost T5A

  4 nm W of RAF Leuchars, Fife

  4 February

  A-10A

  East Wretham, Suffolk

  23 February

  Hunter FGA9

  Moray Firth, 20 nm N of RAF Lossiemouth

  25 March

  F-111

  RAF Fairford, Gloucester

  3 April

  Hunter FGA9

  RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire

  8 May

  A-10A

  RAF Wainfleet, Lincolnshire

  1 June

  Jaguar T2

  4 nm NE of Kirriemuir, Tayside

  16 June

  Jet Provost T5A

  RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire

  571

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  9 July

  Phantom FG1

  RAF Leuchars, Fife

  17 July

  Jaguar GR1

  1 nm SE of Great Malvern, Hereford and Worcester

  23 July

  Lightning F6

  North Sea, 50 nm NNE of RAF Binbrook

  24 July

  Jaguar T2

  Bristol Channel, 9 nm W of Hartland Point, Devon

  30 July

  Jet Provost T3A

  2 nm N of Snainton, North Yorkshire

  6 August

  Jaguar GR1

  2 nm SW of Barnard Castle, Durham

  23 September

  Buccaneer S2B

  RAF Wattisham, Suffolk

  21 October

  Hunter T7

  St. George's Channel, 35 nm SW of Brawdy

  22 October

  Jet Provost T3A

  Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, Humberside

  18 November

  Jaguar GR1

  14 nm NW of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty

  1 December

  Hunter T7

  1½ nm N of RAF Brawdy, Dyfed

  1982

  7 January

  Hawk T1

  RAF Bedford, Bedfordshire

  12 February

  Harrier GR3

  8 nm S of Corwen, Clwyd

  17 March

  Hunter 12

  RAF Farnborough, Hampshire

  2 April

  Jaguar GR1

  The Wash, 5 nm SW of Hunstanton

  14 April

  Phantom FGR2

  ½ nm SE of Walcot, Lincolnshire

  22 April

  Jet Provost T4

  Nant-y-Moch Reservoir, Dyfed

  4 May

  F-16

  Beccles, Suffolk

  12 May

  Tornado GR1

  RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire

  13 May

  Hunter FGA9

  15 nm SE of Aberystwyth

  17 May

  Jet Provost T5A

  RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire

  17 May

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset 1½ nm SW of RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire

  17 June

  Buccaneer S2B

  1½ nm SW of RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire

  23 June

  F-111F

  Strathconon Forest, Ross and Cromarty

  7 July

  Phantom FGR2

  North Sea, 35 nm N of Cromer

  28 July

  Hawk T1

  RAF Valley, Anglesey

  5 August

  Hunter T7

  4½ nm NW of Carmarthen, Dyfed

  13 September

  Jaguar GR1

  11 nm N of Bonar Bridge, Sutherland

  16 September

  F-111F

  RAF Leuchars, Fife

  15 October

  Victor K2

  RAF Marham, Norfolk

  20 October

  Hawk T1

  RAF Chivenor, Devon

  7 December

  F-111F

  Cullin Hills, Isle of Skye

  7 December

  F-104G Starfighter

  Irish Sea, off Brawdy

  9 December

  Jet Provost T5A

  Lake Thirlmere, Cumbria

  16 December

  Hunter T8C

  The Solent, 3 nm of Nab Tower

  1983

  21 January

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  Cattistock, Dorset

  23 February

  Harrier GR3 and Harrier T4

  3 nm NE of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

  7 March

  Jaguar GR1

  RAF Tain, Ross and Cromarty

  30 March

  Jet Provost T3A

  RAF Elvington, North Yorkshire

  12 April

  F-104 Starfighter

  Otterburn range

  19 April

  Jaguar GR1

  North Sea, 35 nm NNE of RAF Coltishall

  16 May

  Hunter GA11

  English Channel, 2 nm off Portland Bill

  24 June

  Hawk T1

  Irish Sea, 4 nm SW of the Isle of Man

  29 July

  2 x Hawk T1

  Near Holsworthy. Devon

  572

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  29 July

  Hawk T1

  St. George's Channel, 40 nm SW of RAF Brawdy

  26 August

  Lightning F3

  Scarborough, North Yorkshire

  19 September

  Jaguar GR1

  RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire

  27 September

  Tornado GR1

  Wolferton Marsh, Norfolk

  19 October

  Canberra B2

  North Sea

  20 October

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  2 nm SE of Dorchester, Dorset

  28 October

  Harrier GR3

  RAF Holbeach, Norfolk

  28 October

  Tornado GR1

  North Sea, 10 nm N of Sheringham

  14 November

  Tornado GR1

  RAF Honington, Suffolk

  21 November

  Jet Provost T3A

  2 nm SE of Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire

  12 December

  2 x A-10A

  North Sea, off Great Yarmouth

  21 December

  F-111F

  North Sea, off Scotland

  1984

  17 January

  Jaguar T2

  ¾ mile from A and AEE Boscombe Down

  29 February

  A-10A

  Suffolk

  11 May

  Jet Provost T3A

  RAF Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire

  20 May

  Buccaneer S2B

  North Sea, 45 nm NE of Fraserburgh

  3 June

  Nimrod MR2

  RAF St. Mawgan, Cornwall

  12 July

  Tornado GR1 and Jaguar GR1A

  l ½ nm NW of Sheringham, Norfolk

  9 August

  F-111E

  Loch Eye, Ross and Cromarty

  15 August

  Jet Provost T3A

  RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire

  22 August

  Jaguar GR1A

  North Sea, 20 nm ENE of Cromer

  31 August

  Hawk T1

  Sidmouth Bay, Devon

  9 October

  Tornado

  RAF Cottesmore, Leicestershire

  25 October

  Hawk T1

  Tremadoc Bay, Gwent

  31 October

  Hunter T8C

  The Solent, 2 nm off Nab Tower

  7 November

  Hawk T1

  Mona Airfield, Anglesey

  8 November

  Lightning F6

  North Sea, 7 nm E of Spurn Head

  1 December

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  6 nm NE of Fort William

  1985

  30 January

  Hawk T1A

  Bristol Channel, off Mumbles Head

  7 February

  Harrier T4N

  3 nm N of RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

  6 March

  Lightning F6

  North Sea, 20 nm NE of Skegness

  10 April

  F-111F

  RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk

  17 April

  Hawk T1

  1 nm S of RAF Wattisham, Suffolk

  30 April

  F-5A

  RAF Kinloss, Morayshire

  14 June

  Buccanneer S2B

  RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire

  8 August

  Canberra B2

  RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire

  19 September

  Lightning F6

  North Sea, 50 nm E of Flamborough Head

  7 October

  Jaguar GR1A and Jaguar GR1 and Jaguar GR1

  4 nm WSW of Alston, Cumbria

  24 October

  Tornado

  Stannersburn, North Yorkshire

  19 November

  Harrier GR3

  RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  12 December

  Tornado GR1

  North Sea. off Flamborough Head

  1986

  7 January

  Phantom FGR2

  5 nm SSE of Aysgarth, North Yorkshire

  16 April

  Sea Harrier FRS 1

  North Atlantic Ocean, 120 nm W of Tiree

  25 May

  Meteor T7 and Vampire T11

  RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

  573

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  6 June

  2 x Jet Provost T5A

  2½ nm NNW of Helmsley, North Yorkshire

  17 June

  Tornado

  Near Claerwen Reservoir, Powys

  17 June

  Harrier GR3

  RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

  2 July

  Hawk 200

  BAe Dunsfold, Surrey

  7 July

  Hawk T1

  RAF Valley, Anglesey

  15 July

  Lightning F6

  North Sea, 7 nm N of Whitby

  24 July

  F-4 Phantom

  St. Bride's Bay, Dyfed

  21 October

  Tornado

  Otterburn range

  3 November

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

  27 November

  Jaguar GR1A

  Eskdalemuir Forest, Borders

  2 December

  Tornado GR1

  Wortham, Suffolk

  10 December

  2 x Tornado GR1

  Near Thorney, Cambridgeshire

  1987

  23 February

  F-111

  Near Newmarket, Suffolk

  19 March

  Lightning F3

  RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire

  22 April

  Buccaneer S2B

  North Sea, 25 nm E of Wick

  3 June

  Tornado GR1

  Manby Airfield, Lincolnshire

  17 June

  Jaguar GR1A and Tornado GR1

  S of Keswick, Cumbria

  24 June

  Jaguar GR1A

  3 nm SE of Builth Wells, Powys

  27 July

  Tornado GR1

  10 nm NW of Pickering, North Yorkshire

  28 July

  F-111

  Near Lauder, Berwickshire

  26 August

  F-4J(UK) Phantom

  10 nm S of Aberystwyth, Dyfed

  7 September

  Phantom FG1

  North Sea, 50 nm E of RAF Leuchars

  15 October

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  North Atlantic Ocean, 85 nm SW of Tiree

  2 November

  2 x Harrier GR3

  Otterburn range

  16 November

  2 x Hawk T1

  Welton, Lincolnshire

  1988

  22 January

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

  11 April

  Lightning F6

  North Sea, 5 nm off Easington, Humberside

  20 April

  Phantom FG1

  North Sea, 23 nm E of RAF Leuchars

  13 May

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Brawdy, Dyfed

  30 May

  Meteor T7

  3nm NE of Coventry Airport, Warwickshire

  14 June

  Hunter GA11

  2 nm NW of RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

  24 June

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

  9 August

  2 x Tornado GR1

  Blencarn, Cumbria

  23 September

  Phantome FGR2

  RAF Abingdon, Oxfordshire

  22 December

  A-10A

  RAF Alconbury, Cambs

  1989

  9 January

  Phantom FGR2

  North Sea, 50 nm E of RAF Leuchars

  8 March

  Jet Provost T3A

  Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire

  13 April

  Jaguar GR1A

  Lumsdaine Beach, Borders

  17 April

  A-10A

  Near RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire

  24 April

  Phantom FGR2

  North Sea, 30 nm E of Flamborough Head

  14 June

  2 x Hawk T1

  6 nm NE of Aberystwyth, Dyfed

  21 July

  Tornado F3

  North Sea, 35 nm NE of Newcastle

  14 September

  Tornado GR1

  3 nm of RAF Abingdon, Oxfordshire

  20 September

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Brawdy, Dyfed

  4 October

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  English Channel, 13 nm West of Portland Bill

  574

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  1990

  9 January

  Tornado GR1 & Jaguar GR1A

  4nm E of Hexham, Northumberland

  5 February

  F-111E

  RAF Wainfleet, Lincolnshire

  6 February

  A-10A

  Near Hereford

  10 April

  Hunter T8C

  3½ nm N of Dorchester, Dorset

  30 April

  Phantom FGR2

  RAF Valley, Anglesey

  2 May

  F-111F

  Near Sculthorpe, Norfolk

  9 May

  Hawk T1

  1 nm NW of RAF Valley, Anglesey

  27 June

  Canberra E15

  1 nm E of RAF Kinloss, Moray

  14 August

  2 x Tornado GR1

  North Sea, 10 nm NE of Spurn Head

  16 August

  Tornado GR1

  North Sea, 6 nm NE of Spurn Head

  12 September

  Jaguar GR1A

  Solway Firth, 4 nm W of Silloth

  1991

  28 February

  F-16A

  North Sea, 80 nm NE of RAF Coltishall

  18 March

  Canberra T4

  RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire

  10 May

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  1 nm NE of Parc Seymour, Gwent

  29 August

  Jaguar T2A

  Carno, Powys

  12 September

  Tornado GR1

  Bristol Channel, S of Steep Holm Island

  25 September

  Harrier T4

  3 nm N of Great Driffield, Humberside

  1992

  17 February

  Hunter T8C

  North Atlantic Ocean, 85 nm NW of Cape Wrath

  2 April

  EF-111A

  RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire

  14 May

  Harrier GR3

  RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  9 July

  Buccaneer S2B

  North Sea, 38 nm E of RAF Leuchars

  7 August

  Harrier GR5

  RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  17 September

  F-111E

  RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire

  30 September

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Chivenor, Devon

  1993

  28 June

  Harrier GR7

  5 nm SW of Heckington, Lincolnshire

  1 July

  Hawk T1

  RAF Valley, Anglesey

  24 July

  2 x MIG-29

  RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire

  21 October

  Tornado F3

  Stainmore, Cumbria

  1994

  5 Janaury

  Sea Harrier FRS2

  Bristol Channel, 5 nm SE of Lundy Island

  14 January

  Harrier GR7

  Vale of Evesham, Hereford and Worcester

  7 June

  Tornado F3

  North Sea, 45 nm NE of Scarborough

  27 June

  Harrier T4N

  RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

  19 July

  Tornado GR1

  Moray Firth, 16 nm N of RAF Lossiemouth

  1 September

  Tornado GR1A

  Glen Ogle. Perthshire

  1995

  10 March

  Tornado F3

  North Sea, 20 nm SE of Spurn Head

  16 May

  Nimrod R1

  Moray Firth, 3½ nm N of RAF Lossiemouth

  1 June

  Harrier GR7

  Solway Firth, 3 nm SE of Burrow Head

  26 July

  Harrier T10

  RAF Wittering,

  575

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  Cambridgeshire

  10 August

  Hawk T1W

  Mona Airfield, Anglesey

  29 August

  U-2R

  RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire

  20 October

  Sea Harrier FA2

  RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

  30 October

  2 x Tornado F3

  North Sea, 50 nm E of RAF Leuchars

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to inform hon. Members of proposed low flying exercises. [2230]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 10 February 1995,Official Report, column 463.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to review the conduct of low flying; and if he will make a statement. [2434]

  Mr. Soames
  The regulations governing the use of the United Kingdom low flying system are kept under continuous review.

  Shoeburyness Firing Range (Noise)
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the number of complaints he has received in the current year from Kent residents about(a) noise and (b) vibration from the Shoeburyness firing range; how many exceptionally loud detonations have taken place; what procedures are adopted to reduce inconvenience to the minimum possible; and what is the role of the establishment within the defence strategy. [2439]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Sir Roger Moate, dated 28 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about complaints from Kent Residents on the activities at the Shoeburyness range has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which includes the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO), of which Shoeburyness is a part, as one of its divisions.
  You asked about the role of DTEO Shoeburyness. The site has developed over the last 140 years to provide a large land area and firm tidal sands which are used to test, trial and dispose of weapons and munitions for the Ministry of Defence. In more detail there are four main strands of activity.

  a. The Dynamic Trials Section conducts a wide variety of trials and proof testing involving guided weapons, tank ordnance and artillery systems. The use of the tidal sands gives the section the capability to observe end trajectory functioning out to 24km.

  b. The Static Trials Section conducts a wide range of trials on all explosive items and targets. The section also tests ballistic body armour and explosive suppression techniques.

  576

  c. The Environmental Test Centre (ETC) on Foulness Island is the focus of excellence within DTEO Shoeburyness for all matters relating to safe handling, transportation and storage of military and potentially hazardous stores.

  d. Shoeburyness is also a world leader in the development of Conventional Munitions Disposal techniques and has developed a modern integrated range of facilities for the safe, efficient and environmentally benign demilitarisation of ammunition and explosives.

  The number of complaints in any year is variable depending on the programme of work we have underway for the MOD. The number of complaints has increased since Shoeburyness undertook large scale demilitarisation at the end of 1993 as a result of the UK signing the 1989 Oslo Convention Agreement which banned deep sea dumping of ammunition. The staff at Shoeburyness have taken a number of steps to minimise the effects of noise on the local population. Before any firings take place an acoustic forecast is undertaken which predicts the likely noise effect over the surrounding area. If conditions are such that disturbance might be caused on any one or more centres of population then firings are postponed, where possible, until conditions are more favourable. The acoustic forecast is backed up by a number of noise monitors, three of which are on the Kent coast, which give an accurate, real time, indication of what noise is actually being propagated. If these results show an unacceptable level of noise, then trials or firings are, if possible, postponed until conditions are more favourable. The management at Shoeburyness has also implemented a policy of encouraging local residents to get in touch with staff at the site if they feel they have a complaint. Details of how to do this have been widely advertised in the local press. We have also tried, by open days at the site, to explain to local people the reason for the noise and the very important role that Shoeburyness fulfils for the Ministry of Defence. We also try to deal sympathetically with claims from members of the public who feel that our activities may have caused damage to their property.
  Since January 1995 the complaints regarding noise and vibration from residents in Kent have totalled 290 compared with 336 for the full year in 1994. There have been 26 days so far in 1995 on which one or more of the three Kent monitors have recorded noise above 130 decibels. It should be pointed out, however, that the monitors register all noise, not just that from Shoeburyness. Our statistics do not break down between noise and vibration. The vibrations are, in fact, the result of a low frequency noise side effect.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (Chaplains)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many chaplains are currently appointed in the TAVR; to which regiments they are attached; which denominations they represent; and if he will make a statement. [2872]

  Mr. Soames
  There are at present 103 serving TA chaplains with three more in the process of being recruited.

  The 103 serving TA chaplains are deployed as follows:

  6 with Royal Armoured Corps Units.

  8 with Royal Artillery Units.

  6 with Royal Engineers Units.

  9 with Royal Signals Units.

  26 with Infantry Units.

  6 with Royal Logistics Corps Units.

  31 with Army Medical Services Units.

  There are a further 11 chaplains serving with minor units.
  577
  The denominational split of the 103 chaplains currently serving with the TA is as follows:

  Number

  Church of England

  74

  Roman Catholic

  9

  Methodist

  2

  Church of Scotland

  13

  United Board

  5

  Tornado Air Miss (Alaska)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the air miss between two Royal Air Force Tornado GR1s over Alaska in May 1993. [1308]

  Mr. Soames
  The investigation of air misses and publication of any subsequent reports are matters for the aviation authority in whose airspace the alleged incident occurred. My Department is not aware of an air miss between two Tornados over Alaska in May 1993.

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993–94. [1909]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the forward look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. My Department does not have policy responsibility for Community research and development expenditure.

  Airwork Ltd.
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will respond to the report of the Defence Select Committee into the work carried out on Tornado jets based at RAF St. Athans by Airwork Ltd. during 1993. [2399]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government intend to respond by the end of the year to the Defence Committee's report on market testing and contracting out of defence support functions.

  Military Equipment Sales (Civilian Casualties)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to collate figures on civilian casualties caused by military equipment sold by United Kingdom firms. [2774]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In the case of equipment owned by the Ministry of Defence, accidents at work to MoD civilians are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of Ministry of Defence personnel in the examination of timing devices 578
  allegedly connected with the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [1636]

  Mr. Soames
  Ministry of Defence scientists did assist the Dumfries and Galloway police. I am not prepared to give details that could prejudice criminal proceedings.

  Isle of Wight (Visit)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to visit defence contractors on the Isle of Wight to discuss defence production. [838]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Currently I have no plans to do so.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength, by rank, of the Ministry of Defence police; what he expects it to be, by rank, in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [2875]

  Mr. Soames
  The strength, by rank, of the Ministry of Defence police, as at 1 October 1995, was: chief constable, one; deputy chief constable, one; assistant chief constable, four; chief superintendent, seven; superintendent, 25; chief inspector, 58; inspector, 149; sergeant, 698; and constable 3,436.

  The overall manpower requirements of the Ministry of Defence police are kept under constant review. We will issue consultative documents concerning our proposals for future defence police and guarding requirements shortly.

  European Defence Co-operation
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the prospects for increased European defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement. [815]

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government are firmly committed to increasing European defence co-operation in a practical way that enhances defence capabilities and complements NATO. We hope our European partners share this objective.

SCOTLAND

  Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd.
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of state aid(a) made available to and (b) promised to Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. to locate in Lanarkshire. [338]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Details of the financial assistance offered to Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. are commercially confidential.

  The company is, however, eligible for support on exactly the same basis as any other commercial venture bringing investment and jobs to an assisted area. The greater part of the financial support package offered to the company comprised an offer of grant under the regional selective assistance scheme. In accordance with normal practice, brief details of the RSA offered to the company

  579
  will be published in "Labour Market Trends" in the quarter after the first payment of grant is made. No payments have been made to date.

  Gaelic Television Service
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received with regard to providing for an enhanced Gaelic television service within any forthcoming legislation for establishing digital terrestrial television services. [163]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has noted representations received last week from Comunn na Gaidhlig—the Gaelic development agency— and the Gaelic Television Committee which were both anxious to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the Gaelic-speaking community for enhanced Gaelic television and radio services are taken fully into account in the Government's plans for the introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting services.

  Water Authority Chairmen
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedure was used by the Scottish Office in appointing the chairman of Scotland's new water authorities; how many individuals were considered for the posts; what agencies were employed to assist this process; and what was the value of the contracts relating to the process of appointing these individuals. [1181]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Candidates for appointment were identified from the public appointments lists and other sources. About 100 names were considered. No external agency was involved.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to restrict further the production of Temazepam; and if he will make a statement. [1580]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Additional controls to prevent diversion from the legitimate trade in Temazepam, including import and export licences, will shortly be introduced.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of Temazepam per capita is distributed annually in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [1505]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In 1993–94, 99 grams of Temazepam were dispensed on prescription per 1,000 population in Scotland. In 1994–95 the figure was 89g.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to educate young people about the dangerous effects of Temazepam, with particular reference to its mixture with other drugs or injection in jellied form. [1577]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government encourage schools to tackle drugs education within a comprehensive programme of health and social education and good-quality resources have been made available to schools. The content of the curriculum in Scottish schools is, however, the responsibility of education authorities and teachers.
  580
  In addition, the Health Education Board for Scotland runs general drug misuse campaigns aimed at young people and their parents. A current campaign contains information on individual drugs, including Temazepam.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 17 October a ban on the prescribing of the gel-filled capsule formulation of Temazepam.

  Inward Investment
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the value, at current prices, of inward investment to Scotland for the last five years. [1399]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The inward investment figures published by Locate in Scotland in each of the last five years are as follows:

  Year

  Number of projects

  Planned investment (£ million)

  Planned jobs (new and safeguarded)

  1990–91

  63

  394.1

  10,244

  1991–92

  59

  380.9

  6,002

  1992–93

  65

  352.0

  8,059

  1993–94

  95

  587.6

  11,072

  1994–95

  97

  1,126.6

  12,329

  Totals

  379

  2,841.2

  47,706

  These figures relate only to projects handled by Locate in Scotland or the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department. The figures for planned investment and planned jobs are those provided by the companies concerned at the time of the investment decision and take no account of subsequent developments.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1438]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon Friend the Minister for Construction Planning, and Energy Efficiency gave to the hon. Member for Surrey, East (Mr Ainsworth) on 17 May 1995,Official Report, columns 260–62.

  Drugs (Education Expenditure)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on education on drug abuse per regional council in Scotland in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information sought is not held centrally by the Scottish Office. In Scottish schools, the life skills approach to drugs, alcohol and smoking will continue to be the core of education programmes rather than the focus on individual substances. It is, therefore, not possible to identify the money that has been spent on education on drug misuse.

  NHS Trusts (Termination Payments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to issue guidance to NHS
  581
  trusts on the levels of severance payments to (a) NHS managers and (b) other NHS employees. [1783]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Guidance is in preparation on the calculation of termination payments to general and senior managers for issue to the NHS in Scotland. The guidance will also be appropriate to calculate termination payments to any other NHS staff on similar contracts to general and senior managers.

  NHS Hospital Doctors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospital doctors have left the national health service who qualified(a) five years previously and (b) 10 years previously in each year since 1991; [2279]

  (2) if he will list the number of hospital (a) consultants and (b) doctors who have left the national health service through taking (i) early retirement or (ii) other voluntary reasons in each year since 1991. [2280]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available centrally. Evidence of doctors leaving the profession prematurely is available from studies published in 1991 by Professor James Parkhouse. These studies suggested that although 20 per cent. of doctors were not practising in the national health service five years after qualification, the majority of these were not lost permanently to medicine. Many were working in short-term postings overseas, to develop further their skills, while others were working in United Kingdom medical work outside the NHS, or taking short career breaks.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that individual general practitioners and other health service providers vet and properly dispose of their clinical waste. [2121]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The NHS management executive wrote to NHS health bodies on 31 August 1994 reminding them of their responsibilities for the management of clinical waste. General managers of health boards were asked to bring the letter to the attention of general practitioners, dentists and hospital/community pharmacists.

  Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how he will distribute the current central funding of artificial limb and appliance centre services to individual health boards as from 1 April 1996; [2134]

  (2) if he will list the organisations he consulted about his decision to devolve the provision and funding of artificial limb and appliance centre services from the Common Services Agency to local health boards in Scotland with effect from 1 April 1996. [2131]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  ALAC services are not a designated national service and have been purchased centrally on a temporary basis for only two years. The national services division of the Common Services Agency which is responsible for centrally purchased services set up a working group in early 1995 to look at 582
  the future provision of these services. The working group was made up of representatives from trusts, health boards and artificial limb and appliance centres; from training, therapy, supplies and primary care interests; and a consumer sub-group and a consultation network. It concluded that funding for ALAC services should be devolved to health boards, a recommendation that I have approved.

  The funding of artificial limb and appliance centres will be returned to boards in 1996–97 through the weighted capitation formula and notification of the notional allocation for each board will be included in the financial allocations for 1996–97.

  Council Tax
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he plans to take to protect Scottish council tax payers. [3236]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  During the past 10 years, current expenditure by Scottish local authorities has increased in real terms by 20 per cent., even after adjusting for additional responsibilities on authorities. In the same period, there has been an increase in Scottish local authority manpower levels. Since 1987, those levels have increased by almost 6 per cent. In the same period, staffing levels have reduced in England by over 6 per cent., despite the fact that English authorities have also had additional responsibilities such as care in the community transferred to them.

  Since its introduction in 1993–94, the council tax in Scotland has risen faster than in England. The average band D tax has increased from £559 to £624 in the current year in Scotland and from £569 to £609 in England. In other words, there has been an increase of 11.6 per cent. in Scotland as compared with only 7.0 per cent. in England.

  Against this background, I have decided that action must be taken to protect Scottish council tax payers. In addition to the significant increase in Government support for local authority spending next year which I am announcing separately, I plan to take the following two further measures.

  The first concerns the use of CFCR by Scottish authorities. In the current year, authorities budgeted to spend a total of £132 million on CFCR, nearly three times the level in 1991–92. As CFCR is funded entirely from the council tax, increase in its use has pushed up tax levels. In the current year it has added £79 to the average band D council tax. Particularly in view of the predictions by some authorities of large tax increases next year, I have concluded that the use of CFCR needs to be curbed. For 1996–97 my intention is to use my powers under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to limit consents for CFCR to a total of £62 million. As compared with the level of budgeted expenditure this year this will reduce the average band D council tax by £41. The detail of this, including how the £62 million will be distributed amongst authorities, will be the subject of discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

  Despite my general desire to reduce controls on local government, I have concluded, especially against the background of the growth in expenditure, staffing levels and council tax levels in Scotland, that capping must be

  583
  retained. I have therefore decided to announce provisional capping principles for the year ahead in order to assist local authorities in their budgeting process.

  I have the power to cap a local authority either where I consider that its planned expenditure is excessive or where there is an excessive increase in its planned expenditure as compared with the previous year.

  My provisional capping principles for 1996–97 are:

  Mainland Councils

  Any increase in budget for 1996–97 of more than 0.8 per cent. over the amount specified in relation to that council in a report under section 94A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is above the council's grant-aided expenditure for 1996–97—in the case of the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Highland councils—and the council's GAE for 1996–97 adjusted to take account of the transitional scheme to deal with the mismatch problem announced by the Minister with responsibility for industry and local government, my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch), on 22 November Official Report, column 162,—in the case of all other mainland councils;

  Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Western Isles Councils

  Any increase in budget between 1995–96 and 1996–97 of more than 0.8 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is above the council's GAE assessment for 1996–97;

  Any budget for 1996–97 more than 12.5 per cent. above the council's GAE assessment will be excessive save that if that budget is no greater than the budget set by that council for 1995–96, the council will not be capped.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce details of the 1996–97 Scottish local government finance settlement. [3237]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have decided to improve on last year's plans and to allocate to Scottish local authorities the full amount of the extra sum added to the Scottish block as a consequence of the English settlement. Scottish local authorities are therefore being treated very favourably, despite the difficult public expenditure round. Next year, the level of local authority spending in Scotland will be 31 per cent. higher per head in Scotland than in England and the level of Government support will be no less than 44 per cent. higher.

  Within the settlement, priority is being given to the police and education services and a further transfer of resources is being made to local authorities in respect of their care in the community responsibilities.

  On the basis of this settlement, there should be no need for cuts in front-line services or excessive council tax increases, especially if the new councils grasp the opportunity present by reorganisation to streamline their management structures and take a fresh approach to the way services are delivered to ensure that both the national and the local taxpayer receives best value for money.

  The details of the settlement are:

  Government-supported Expenditure

  I propose that government supported expenditure—which is the Government's view of the total amount local authorities need to spend on providing services and meeting debt charges—for 1996–97 should be set at £6,200.7 million. After adjusting for transfers of responsibility to and from local government from 1 April 1996, this is an increase of 2.08 per cent. on the current year's figures.

  584

  Grant-aided Expenditure

  Local authorities will incur an estimated £777.7 million on loan and leasing charges in 1996–97. This is an increase of £32.3 million over this year's figure—after adjusting for transfers of responsibility. These charges are increasing at an alarming rate and I am announcing separately my plans to bring them under greater control. After deducting this sum from the GSE total, £5,423 million is available for allocation as grant-aided expenditure. This is the amount which we think local authorities need to spend on services. This GAE amount is 1.75 per cent. higher than that for the current year, after adjusting for transfers of responsibility. I shall announce GAE figures for individual local authorities as soon as possible.

  Aggregate External Finance

  I further propose that Government support for local authority current expenditure—that is, aggregate external finance which consists of revenue support grant, specific grants and non-domestic rate income—for 1996–97 should be set at £5,400.9 million. This is an increase of 2.62 per cent. on the current year's figure, after adjusting for transfers of responsibility. Proposals for the distribution of AEF to individual local authorities are again likely to be issued before Christmas.

  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of local authority debt in Scotland and if he will make a statement. [3238]

  Mr. Forsyth
  At the end of March 1995 local authorities' outstanding debt on general fund services was £5,338 million. This represents an increase of £2,114 million or 65 per cent. since 31 March 1987. The level of loan charges and repayments associated with that debt is an estimated £799 million in the current year, £42 million higher than in 1994–95. At over 13 per cent. of all Government-supported expenditure, these loan charges are pre-empting an increasing proportion of the resources available for local authority services in Scotland. They are also pre-empting resources for other public services since rising loan debt is a factor I have had to take into account in deciding the share of the Scottish block which is allocated to revenue support for local authorities.

  Outstanding capital debt on local authorities' housing revenue accounts has also increased since 1987, despite a 25 per cent. fall in the number of council houses over that period. Outstanding debt at 31 March 1995 was £3,938 million and debt per local authority house was £6,166, compared with £3,930 per house eight years earlier, a 57 per cent. increase. As the size of the local authority stock has declined, the burden of loan charges is being shouldered by a decreasing number of tenants.

  The high debt levels in Scotland are the product of two factors: the high levels of capital spending by Scottish local authorities, 75 per cent. higher per head than in England; and the absence of a policy which encourages the use of receipts to repay outstanding debt.

  Provided they spend them in the same year, local authorities in Scotland are currently allowed to use the full proceeds of asset sales to incur new investment, without having to pay off debt. This contrasts with the position in England and Wales where councils are in general required to use 50 per cent. of general receipts and 75 per cent. of most housing receipts to repay outstanding debt.

  I have decided that it is necessary, in the interests of future generations of council tax payers, council tenants and customers for local services, to encourage greater

  585
  prudence in the use of capital receipts. From 1 April 1996, therefore, the new Scottish authorities will be obliged to use 25 per cent. of their capital receipts for the repayment of debt. My present intention is that from 1 April 1997, the proportion of receipts to be used to repay debt will be 50 per cent. The details of the new regime, including the question of any exceptions to these general rules and the implications for large-scale disposals of housing stock, will be the subject of detailed consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in the near future. As announced separately, I have also decided to control the level on capital expenditure financed from general revenues, in order to protect council tax payers.

  By allowing councils to spend 75 per cent. of their receipts next year, I am giving them an incentive to dispose of assets quickly after local government reorganisation. If councils take full advantage of this opportunity and make sufficient progress in reducing their outstanding debt, I hope to be able to allow them in future to spend 50 per cent. of both housing and non-housing receipts, a more favourable position than in England. I shall, however, keep the position under review.

  Councils' ability to incur capital expenditure at their own hand will obviously be curtailed. There is, however, plenty of opportunity for them to meet the needs of their communities by doing more to involve the private sector in meeting local needs. The outgoing councils have in general been able to pursue the outdated philosophy that where needs exist they must be met by direct public investment. The Government's approach, reflected in the private finance initiative, is that the public sector should increasingly focus on specifying the services its customers need and look to others to incur the necessary investment. By actively promoting the private finance initiative and pursuing joint ventures with the private sector, the new councils should be able to attract private investment on a scale which more than offsets the effect of these changes.

  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the non-domestic rate poundage for 1996–97. [3239]

  Mr. Forsyth
  Yes. I propose that the Scottish non-domestic rate poundage for 1996–97 should be 44.9p. An order prescribing the poundage will be laid before Parliament in due course. This poundage maintains the link between the Scottish and English poundages and ensures that Scottish business will continue to benefit from the Government's unified business rate policy.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the outturn figures for regional selective assistance(a) offers and (b) payments made in 1994–95; and if he will indicate how these figures relate to the original budgeted plans. [2109]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Offers of RSA, worth £116.7 million, were made in 1994–95. As regards payments of regional selective assistance I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 November, Official Report, column 57.

  Health Boards (Expenditure)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will itemise how much(a) NHS trusts,
  586
  (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. [2415]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: In Scotland, the purchase of hospital, community and family health care is primarily the responsibility of health boards. The tables are based on health board accounts and show expenditure on purchases of health care from private providers, by health board, and by general practitioner fundholders. Expenditure by NHS trusts on purchases from private providers in Scotland is not held centrally.

  Health boards also have contracts with local authorities, hospices and voluntary agencies where these organisations are registered charities undertaking specific contracted activities, but information on these is not collected centrally.

  1994–95

  £000

  Health board

  GP fundholders

  Health boards

  Argyll and Clyde

  9

  1,015

  Ayr and Arran

  21

  1,744

  Borders

  6

  1,591

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  65

  Fife

  23

  264

  Forth Valley

  54

  657

  Grampian

  199

  468

  Greater Glasgow

  8

  11,089

  Highland

  3

  81

  Lanarkshire

  2

  3,003

  Lothian

  205

  261

  Orkney

  0

  8

  Shetland

  0

  3

  Tayside

  53

  322

  Western Isles

  0

  4

  Scotland Total

  583

  20,575

  1993–94

  £000

  Health board

  GP fundholders

  Health boards

  Argyll and Clyde

  1

  1,066

  Ayr and Arran

  0

  1,504

  Borders

  3

  1,355

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  50

  Fife

  0

  405

  Forth Valley

  51

  368

  Grampian

  77

  233

  Greater Glasgow

  6

  7,730

  Highland

  0

  142

  Lanarkshire

  0

  2,625

  Lothian

  73

  237

  Orkney

  0

  2

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Tayside

  21

  474

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  Scotland Total

  232

  16,191

  1992–93

  £000

  Health board

  GP fundholders

  Health boards

  Argyll and Clyde

  0

  1,742

  Ayr and Arran

  0

  11

  Borders

  0

  463

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  29

  Fife

  0

  33

  587

  1992–93

  £000

  Health board

  GP fundholders

  Health boards

  Forth Valley

  0

  802

  Grampian

  54

  123

  Greater Glasgow

  5

  7,652

  Highland

  0

  29

  Lanarkshire

  0

  2,492

  Lothian

  72

  7,992

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Tayside

  0

  107

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  Scotland Total

  131

  21,475

  1991–92

  £000

  Health board

  GP fundholders

  Health boards

  Argyll and Clyde

  9

  54

  Ayr and Arran

  0

  181

  Borders

  0

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  Fife

  0

  33

  Forth Valley

  0

  1

  Grampian

  0

  52

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  1,502

  Highland

  0

  722

  Lanarkshire

  0

  95

  Lothian

  25

  0

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Tayside

  0

  1

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  Scotland Total

  34

  2,642

  Legislative Repeals
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what legislation from his Department passed in the last five years contains provision for statutory repeal or review. [2038]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Department regularly reviews and, where appropriate, amends or consolidates relevant legislation. For example, in the 1994–95 parliamentary session there was a major consolidation of criminal justice legislation.

  In addition, the Scottish Law Commission, together with the Law Commission for England and Wales, has responsibility for statute law revision. The Law Commissions prepare programmes of statute law revision with a view to recommending in reports presented to Parliament the repeal of enactments identified as being no longer of practical utility, usually because they are spent, obsolete or unnecessary.

  In the last five years the Law Commissions have submitted two statute law revision reports. The 14th report on statute law revision was published on 22 April 1993 and was implemented by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1993, c. 50. The 15th report was published on 22 March 1995 and was implemented by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1995, c. 44.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of his Department's expenditure in 1994–95 was spent on procuring goods or services from small and medium enterprises. [1954]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Scottish Office's current financial and procurement systems have no facility for categorising suppliers according to the size of their businesses. It is therefore not possible to make any estimate for 1994–95 of the proportion of expenditure with suppliers which could be considered to be small or medium enterprises.

  Forestry
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what work the Forestry Commission has undertaken to classify its woodland according to level of recreational use; if he will publish the results of such work; if he will detail how recreational use has been assessed; if he will describe the purpose of the exercise; and if he will make a statement. [2424]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Following the forestry review, we asked the forestry Commission to strengthen the arrangements for protecting public access to woodlands which it sold. This included classifying the woodlands according to the level of existing public access. The new arrangements will be set out in revised access guidelines which will be published soon.

  Campsie View Flats, Cumbernauld
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given Cumbernauld development corporation concerning Campsie View flats in Cumbernauld; and if he will make a statement. [2540]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend has approved the recommendation from Cumbernauld development corporation that, when compared to the costs of the refurbishment necessary to bring the homes up to standard, demolition of the three blocks of flats at Campsie View represents better value for money. Over the next few months, tenants will be rehoused and the corporation will repurchase the owner-occupied properties in the blocks.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an announcement on the roads programme for 1996. [2544]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend will make an announcement on the roads programme for the next three years after he has set out his new expenditure plans for the Scottish Office.

  Lanarkshire Development Agency
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to the Lanarkshire development agency on the membership of its board
  589
  following local government reorganisation; and if he will make a statement. [2541]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: None. The membership of the board of a local enterprise company is a matter for that board subject to the requirements in its articles of association. In particular, these require two thirds of the members to be drawn from senior businessmen or businesswomen from the local area. It is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise to ensure that Lanarkshire development agency complies with those requirements.

  Councillor's Earnings
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he makes for councillors to disclose earnings wholly or partly derived from their elected membership of a local authority; and if he will make a statement. [2543]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Regulation 28 of the Local Authorities etc. (Allowances) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 requires councils to publish annually details of payments—basic allowances, attendance allowances and special responsibility allowances—made to individual councillors.

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met councillor Rosemary McVenna CBE JP, president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and what subjects were discussed. [2545]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: I last met Councillor Rosemary McKenna and other representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 10 November as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters. During this meeting, a number of matters affecting local government in Scotland were discussed including the 1996–97 local government finance settlement and reorganisation finance issues.

WALES

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what action he is taking to initiate further research into the incidence of breast cancer in Wales; [1147]

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure that all patients with breast cancer have equal access to high quality care. [1148]

  Mr. Richards
  In April, my right hon. Friend announced plans for improving cancer care services in Wales based on the report of the chief medical officers of England and Wales—"A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services".

  The report recognised that it is essential for all patients with cancer, including those with breast cancer, to have access to high quality, safe and effective care.

  An expert group on cancer services, chaired by Professor Ian Cameron, provost of the university of Wales college of medicine, was established earlier this year to
  590
  assist health authorities in Wales to implement the recommendations of the chief medical officers' report. It has already started work on identifying how effective services for all cancer patients should be provided and will report in 1996.

  International comparisons suggest that differences in the rates observed between countries and regions are due to a mixture of social, environmental and genetic factors. For this reason, the Department considers that basic research into how and why breast cancer develops is more likely to be of benefit in terms of treatment and prevention than an attempt to establish why exactly breast cancer rates vary from region to region.

  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish comparative statistics for Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the incidence and mortality rates from breast cancer. [1144]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on deaths from cancer is published separately in the annual reports by the registrars general for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for England and Wales.

  Information on cancer registrations for Scotland is given in "Cancer Registrations: Scotland", published by the Scottish Common Health Service Authority; for Northern Ireland in "Cancer Registration", published by the Department of Health and Social Security; in "Cancer Registrations: Wales", published by the Wales cancer registry; and in the series "Cancer Statistics: Registrations" by the OPCS.

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many deaths in each of the past five years are attributable to the abuse of Temazepam in each district health authority in Wales. [1508]

  Mr. Richards
  The table shows the number of deaths recorded in "The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys" due to temazepam abuse, alone or with other drugs—ICDs1 304.1, 304.7, 304.8, 305.4, 305.9—by year of occurrence and district health authority for the latest five year period available.

  Residents of:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Clwyd

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Dyfed

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gwent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gwynedd

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mid Glamorgan

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Powys

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Glamorgan

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  West Glamorgan

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Total for Wales

  0

  1

  1

  0

  3

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death (9th revision).

  Cancer Research
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial contribution the Government are making directly to cancer research; and how much is contributed by charities in respect of Wales. [1146]

  Mr. Richards
  The Government are committed to encouraging research into the causes, prevention, early detection and treatment of all cancers.

  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which received Government funding from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The council spent £13.5 million directly on research into cancer in 1992–93. This figure would rise considerably if a proportion of the council's spend on basic medical research that could yield results relevant to cancer were included.

  Charities, including the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign, play a major role in cancer research. In 1992–93 they spent £114.8 million. Information is not held centrally on the contributions made by charities in respect of Wales.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993–94. [1918]

  Mr. Hague
  Table 2.1 of the "Statistical Supplement to the Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology" contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. My Department does not have any policy responsibilities for Community research and development expenditure.

  RECHAR II
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the membership of the technical group advising him on the distribution of RECHAR II money in south Wales. [2116]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Welsh Office officials are currently consulting the industrial south Wales monitoring committee on the membership of the RECHAR II technical group.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount available to south Wales under the RECHAR II programme; and what consultations he has held on the distribution of these funds. [2115]

  Mr. Jones
  Some 20.21 mecu—£16.8 million at current exchange rates—will be available to the mining communities of south wales under the RECHAR II programme over the period 1994–97. Welsh Office officials are currently consulting the industrial south wales monitoring committee on how these moneys are to be administered.

  General Practitioners (Out-of-hours Systems)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each family health service authority and for Wales as a whole(a) the number of general practitioner practices and (b) the number of
  592
  practices known to operate an out-of-hours system similar to that operated by the association of Gwent doctors on call. [2314]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of general practitioner partnerships and single-handed practitioners for each family health services authority in Wales as at 1 April 1995 was as follows:

  Number

  Clwyd

  73

  Dyfed

  65

  Gwent

  91

  Gwynedd

  52

  Mid Glamorgan

  104

  Powys

  18

  South Glamorgan

  72

  West Glamorgan

  63

  Wales

  538

  The organisation of out-of-hours services is a matter for individual FHSAs, and information is not held centrally.

  Executive Agencies (Travel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2362]

  Mr. Hague
  For Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments executive agency, responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  I also have shared responsibility for the Planning Inspectorate and the Agricultural Development Advisory Service agencies. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are arranging for replies to be given separately for these agencies.

  Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 November 1995 As Cadw is an Executive Agency the Secretary of State for Wales has asked me to write to you direct in respect of Cadw, in response to your recent Parliamentary Question about overseas travel by Cadw staff.
  Three overseas visits were made by staff in the last financial year and the information that you have requested is as follows:

  Cost

  Country visited

  Post held

  1,249

  USA

  Head of Presentation

  1,139

  Spain

  Chief Executive

  148

  Eire

  Head of Presentation

  Staff Transfer (Unitary Authorities)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Welsh county and district councils have submitted detailed plans for transfer of staff to unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement. [2477]
  593
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  All county and district councils whose areas are split by reorganisation have submitted details of staff to be transferred to the new authorities, although there are gaps in some cases because of decisions which have yet to be taken by those authorities. The old councils concerned have been asked to supply the further information as quickly as possible.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many playing fields are currently under threat of development; [2587]

  (2) what area of playing fields have been sold off since 1981; [2585]

  (3) what is the value of playing fields sold off since 1981; [2588]

  (4) how many playing fields have been sold off since 1981. [2584]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Research
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much he spends annually on research in Wales, indicating the amounts spent under each heading; and if he will make a statement. [2660]

  Mr. Hague
  Estimated expenditure by the Welsh office on research in 1994–95 is as follows:

  Subject area

  Estimated outturn £ million

  Health

  1.9

  Housing

  0.1

  Environmental protection

  0.6

  Transport and Highways

  0.1

  Public services

  0.1

  Total expenditure

  2.7

  The Welsh Office also supports, through the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, basic and strategic research in universities and colleges.

  Further information is contained in "Forward Look of Government Funded Science Engineering and Technology 1995", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the sheep annual premium was paid to farmers in Wales in each year since 1990. [2807]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Payments began in the following months:

  Scheme

  First advance payment

  Second advance payment

  Final payment

  1990

  September 1990

  December 1990

  May 1991

  1991

  September 1991

  November 1991

  April 1992

  1992

  September 1992

  November 1992

  April 1993

  1993

  October 1993

  October 1993

  May 1994

  594

  Scheme

  First advance payment

  Second advance payment

  Final payment

  1994

  September 1994

  September 1994

  June 1995

  1995

  July 1995

  July 1995

  Not yet determined

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the hill livestock compensatory allowance was paid to farmers in Wales in(a) 1992, (b) 1993, (c) 1994 and (d) 1995. [2806]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Payments began in February in each case.

  Professors
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) female and (b) male professors there are in Wales, and if he will make a statement. [2661]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Out-of-town Supermarkets
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many out-of-town supermarkets have been opened in the last three years. [2657]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Roads Expenditure
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the planned expenditure for roads in Wales in the year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [2923]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend is to announce his roads and transport expenditure plans for 1996–97 shortly.

  Listed Building Surveys
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with Cadw what measures are required to encourage tendering by Welsh-based consultants for the surveying of historic properties; and if he will make a statement. [1087]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department, of which Cadw forms a part, follows procurement procedures which promote open competition between suppliers to offer value for taxpayers' money and comply with European public procurement regulations. The procurement procedures cannot be used to discriminate in favour of Welsh companies. Of the six companies currently working on contract to Cadw, three are based in Wales. Expressions of interest were invited through the United Kingdom and Welsh press bilingually, and through the Architects' Journal. Cadw would welcome any further expressions of interest from suitably qualified Welsh-based organisations to undertake this work.
  595
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in respect of(a) each district council area in Wales and (b) for Wales as a whole the number of historic buildings surveyed by Cadw for each of the last available three years, together with his estimate of the number of properties which remain to be surveyed. [1088]

  Mr. Jones
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Cadw, Welsh Historic Monuments. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy, to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 28 November 1995 The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question in which you asked for information about the number of historic buildings surveyed by Cadw in the last 3 years and the work that remains to be done.
  The Government gave a commitment to accelerate the Welsh listed building resurvey programme in response to the recommendation made by the Welsh Affairs Committee which reported on the preservation of historic buildings and ancient monuments some three years ago. Since that time substantial progress has been made—the Agency has resurveyed some 78 Community Council areas. This has seen the number of listed buildings in Wales increase from 14,778 in 1992 to some 17,671 today. The completion of the resurvey by 2005 should, we estimate, see the number of listed buildings increase to roughly double today's total. We have assumed that the volume of structures to be surveyed is between 2 and 3 million, and to judge by experience in England and Scotland, would expect to list about 1½%.
  In undertaking a community resurvey all buildings within each community are surveyed and those which are judged to be of special architectural or historic interest are listed. The Agency does not keep statistics of the numbers of buildings assessed in each community but I hope that the number of listed buildings will give you some indication of progress to date. To complete the resurvey within the next 10 years will require the Agency to resurvey over 700 further communities—and to do so remains a priority for the Agency.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2461]

  Mr. Hague
  The Secretary of State for Wales makes many statutory instruments with English Ministers and the Secretary of State for Scotland. Other Departments will include such statutory instruments in their lists. In the 1994–95 Session of Parliament, 101 local statutory instruments were made solely by the Secretary of State for Wales. These relate to the control of traffic either temporarily or permanently on various lengths of trunk roads and motorways in Wales; 111 general SIs were made by the Secretary of State alone. Six of these constituted new rules or regulations prohibiting or restricting activities.Five general statutory instruments were made to implement European Community directives. None amplified the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive.

  A449
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the access road to the A449 from Raglan to Newport will be reopened. [2547]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The southbound slip road at the Raglan interchange will be opened by the end of the year.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the cost to date of the reconstruction of the A449 trunk road; what is the estimated total cost; and on what date the road will become fully operational. [2546]

  Mr. Jones
  The cost to date of the renewal of the A449 trunk road is £8.6 million. The estimated total cost is expected to be £21.4 million. The future programme has yet to be determined.

  Tir Cymen and Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the success of the current prescriptions of the Tir Cymen and ESA schemes; [2937]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to modify the prescriptions of Tir Cymen/ESAs to enhance the development of farmland bird communities; [2936]

  (3) what forecasts he has made about the impact of the Tir Cymen and ESA schemes on farmland bird communities in Wales. [2938]

  Mr. Hague
  Tir Cymen and ESA prescriptions are subject to a five-year evaluation monitoring exercise and five year policy review respectively. Some modifications and enhancements have been, and will continue to be made, during Tir Cymen's experimental period; and modifications of ESA prescriptions will be considered in the light of the policy review. Although neither scheme is specifically targeted at enhancing the population of farmland birds, the nature of both will help to ensure a positive impact on their populations in Wales.

  RSPB "Silent Fields" Report
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds report "Silent Fields"; and what proposals he will initiate in response to this report. [2939]

  Mr. Hague
  I launched the report in Wales at the royal Welsh show in July. I also discussed it with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds when I met it on 24 October. I will take the report into account in developing environmental and agricultural policies.

  Overgrazing
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on overgrazing; if he will place a copy of all representations in the Library; and what is his assessment of the impact of overgrazing on Wales' wildlife. [2931]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received a number of complaints about specific instances of overgrazing, which we are investigating, as well as representations about the issue generally. I will place copies of the general
  597
  representations in the Library, subject to the permission of the organisations concerned. Overgrazing can have a damaging effect on habitat, which we are anxious to arrest.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of reports of overgrazing that have been investigated by the Welsh Office agriculture department in relation to the hill livestock compensatory allowance over the past five years; and how many of these investigations have resulted in hill livestock compensatory allowance payments being refused. [2933]

  Mr. Hague
  We have investigated nine cases in the period, all of which have been drawn to our attention during the past 18 months. The investigations are still in progress because of the need to study the vegetation during all seasons of the year. Where overgrazing is proven, our aim is to encourage farmers to change management practices voluntarily or reduce stocking levels to prevent further damage. There have been no cases where HLCA's have been reduced, but WOAD retains the right to do so in any cases where changes in farming practices are shown to be necessary and cannot be achieved voluntarily.

  Moorland Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for increasing the financial incentives of the moorland scheme. [2932]

  Mr. Hague
  The moorland scheme payment rates are currently under review. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been made for entry into the moorland scheme in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [2935]

  Mr. Hague
  Five applications have been approved in respect of the moorland scheme in Wales. In addition, 28 farmers have expressed an interest in joining the scheme, which suggests the potential for further take-up in future years.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what monitoring of birds is taking place or is planned in environmentally sensitive areas in Wales; what methodologies are being used; which organisations have been consulted about monitoring; and if he will place copies of all consultation documents in the Library. [2934]

  Mr. Hague
  Winter wading bird populations are being monitored in the Lleyn peninsula and Ynys Mon ESAs using the wetland bird survey and national wildfowl counts, which have been developed by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust respectively and are contained in the ADAS national strategy for ESA monitoring. A survey of breeding waders in these ESAs is also planned. The Countryside Council for Wales, as my statutory conservation advisers, has been consulted. No consultation documents are available to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Non-Domestic Rating
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his proposals are for the Welsh non-domestic rate poundage for the next financial year. [3326]

  Mr. Hague
  I propose that the national non-domestic rate poundage for Wales should rise to 40.5p to reflect the annual increase in the retail prices index to September 1995.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his proposals are for local government revenue spending in 1996–97. [3327]

  Mr. Hague
  I propose to set total standard spending in Wales for 1996–97 at £2,867.3 million. This figure includes £149.6 million for care in the community. It represents an increase of £85.2 million, 3.1 per cent. on the comparable level of funding for 1995–96.

  I propose to set central government support for total standard spending at £2,517.4 million.

  I shall announce provisional standard spending assessments and provisional capping principles for Welsh police authorities later this week. At the same time, I shall announce my proposals for aggregate external finance and for damping increases in council tax arising from the reorganisation of local government from 1 April 1996. My Department will shortly write to the Welsh local authority associations to consult them on my proposals for revenue support grant in 1996–97.

  I shall announce provisional standard spending assessments and provisional capping principles for unitary authorities in mid-December and my final decisions early in the new year.

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to consult on his housing revenue account subsidy proposals for 1996–97 and what proposals he will be making. [3328]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office is issuing proposals for consultation today. Local authorities and other consultees have been invited to let us have their views by 22 December 1995. I am arranging for copies of the proposals to be placed in the Library of the House.

  We are proposing to keep guideline rents for 1996–97 at the same level in real terms as for 1995–96. This means an increase of £48 per dwelling per year, 92p per week for each authority. The flat rate increase is a transitional measure for the first year of the unitary authorities. We shall consult next year on the distribution of guideline rent increases between authorities in future years.

  To encourage efficiency, we are also proposing a change in the subsidy rules which will limit rent rebate subsidy to the guideline rent increase. Authorities with rent below the guideline will be unaffected. The proposal does not affect tenants' entitlement to rent rebate.

  For Wales total management and maintenance allowances will be around £175 million. This will allow broadly the same cash value of allowances per dwelling

  599
  as in 1995–96. However, there will be increases for authorities furthest below the target level under a formula which takes account of relative stock condition. No authority will receive less than the equivalent of their 1995–96 allowance per dwelling and all authorities will achieve at least 97 per cent. of their targeted level in 1996–97.

  Together, these proposals strike a reasonable balance between the need to constrain public expenditure and the need to ensure that housing is provided for tenants at reasonable cost.

  Housing Associations (Tax Relief Grant)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on tax relief grant for non-charitable housing associations. [3329]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration.

HEALTH

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993–94. [1911]

  Mr. Malone
  Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look of Government funded Science, Engineering and Technology", copies of which are available in the Library, contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the European Community budget in respect of research and development. Departments' policy responsibilities are subject to change and can vary from year to year. The Department of Health currently has responsibility for 2.67 per cent. of the United Kingdom's share of the Community R and D budget.

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be responsible for alerting doctors and the medical services to test for carbon monoxide poisoning, after the introduction of competition in the domestic gas supply market. [2005]

  Mr. Sackville
  The chief medical officer will shortly be issuing a reminder that general practitioners should consider the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning when patients complain of certain symptoms. The medical profession will continue to be responsible for considering all possibilities when diagnosing illness in their patients.

  Accident and Emergency League Tables
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the next edition of the accident and emergency league tables the number of patients left on trolleys for more than two hours in each NHS trust. [1798]
  600
  Mr. Malone
  The current patients charter standard is that patients admitted to hospital through accident and emergency departments should be given a bed as soon as possible and certainly within three to four hours. This standard will be tightened to two hours from 1 April 1996.

  The next set of NHS performance tables will cover NHS performance to 31 March 1996.

  "Employer's Guide to Stress"
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of the document commissioned by his Department entitled "Employers' Guide to Stress"; how many copies were printed; and what has happened to them. [2078]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department commissioned a document for internal use. The cost to the Department of this was £1,500. Subsequently, the Department has agreed that a priced version of this may be published independently of the Department by HMSO. It will be published in due course.

  Asthma
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of preventable deaths from asthma. [2227]

  Mr. Sackville
  We do not have the information centrally on which to base such an assessment. It is important that people with asthma should discuss with their general practitioner or an asthma nurse what their individual trigger factors are and how to avoid them, and what practical steps and medicines they may take to control their symptoms.

  NHS Hospital Doctors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of hospital(a) consultants and (b) doctors who have left the national health service (i) through taking early retirement or (ii) for other voluntary reasons in each year since 1991. [2281]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require general practitioner fundholders to inform their patients of the hospital with whom they have contracted for in-patient services. [2238]

  Mr. Malone
  General practitioner fundholders are already expected to make available to patients at the practice, key information which relates to the management of their fund, including major shifts in purchasing intentions and annual practice plans. The requirement is set out in the "Accountability Framework
  601
  for GP Fundholding", published in April 1995, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed as suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the last 24 months; how many people so diagnosed had previously received growth hormone treatment; and if he will make a statement. [2312]

  Mr. Sackville
  Between 24 November 1993 and 24 November 1995, there have been 89 definite and probable cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Of these, six had previously received growth hormone treatment.

  Executive Agencies (Travel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2364]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Lowestoft Hospital
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement regarding Suffolk health authority's proposal to close 30 continuing care beds at Lowestoft hospital; [2094]

  (2) what representations he has received from (a) members of the local community and (b) medical professionals regarding Suffolk health authority's proposal to close 30 continuing care beds at Lowestoft hospital; [2095]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact of Suffolk health authority's proposal to close 30 continuing care beds at Lowestoft hospital on local continuing care facilities; what alternative provision for continuing care in the area has been proposed; and if he can make a statement. [2096]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for Suffolk health authority, which is currently conducting public consultations on the proposal.

  Men's Health
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new steps he is taking to improve standards of health among men. [2129]

  Mr. Sackville
  Departmental activity to improve men's health continues through the strategy of "The Health of the Nation", which places an important focus on men's health in emphasising the reduction of avoidable illness and premature death.

  Men's health was discussed in the report of the sub-group of the chief medical officer's health of the nation working group—"Variations in Health: What Can the Department of Health and the NHS Do?"
  602
  The Department is also contributing to raising awareness of testicular cancer and carrying out research into prostate cancer.

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion administration costs form in the overall budget of the QMC, Nottingham; and what is the equivalent figure for other hospitals in the United Kingdom. [2106]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not centrally available.

  Manchester Family Health Services Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Sectretary of State for Health what reason the chief executive of Manchester FHSA gave for resigning from it; and what was his age at the time of his resignation. [2236]

  Mr. Malone
  This is a matter for Manchester family health services authority.

  NHS Trusts
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS trust executive directors received annual salaries of more than(a) £90,000 and (b) 100,000 in each financial year since 1992–93; [3117]

  (2) how many NHS trust executive directors received annual salaries of more than £100,000 in the years 1992–93 to 1994–95. [3105]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Audit Commission Powers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers the Audit Commission has to carry out investigations into the reasons for and costs of the early retirements of chief executives at NHS authorities and trusts. [3115]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Audit Commission and its appointed auditors have powers to examine all areas of expenditure incurred by health authorities and trusts.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of hospital beds in each year since 1988–89; [3118]

  (2) what was the number of total available NHS acute hopsital beds in each year between 1988–89 and 1994–95. [3104]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is published annually in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Medical Examinations
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual number of unconsenting medical examinations on female patients; and if he will make a statement. [450]

  Mr. Sackville
  All patients with the capacity to do so have a common law right to consent or otherwise before undergoing a medical examination or treatment. Exceptions are where examination or treatment is required for a life-saving procedure and the patient is unable to indicate her wishes; where there are statutory powers requiring examination of a patient; or where the patient is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and treatment is for mental disorder. If an adult does not have the capacity to consent, medical examination and treatment can still be given if they are in her best interests but must be confined to what is necessary to preserve life, health or well-being. A court can also make orders in respect of the treatment of adults incapable of consenting.

  Information about medical examinations falling into these categories is not available.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplifies the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2427]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health sponsored 222 statutory instruments in the last Session of Parliament. Of this total, 62 constitute a new rule or regulation and six were introduced to implement European Community directives. None amplifies the minimum standards set out in any of the original European Community directives.

  Migration Statistics
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the net migration figures for each of the last 10 years for which they are available; and if he will make a statement. [2337]

  Annual income

  Total number of staff employed

  Department's contribution to annual running costs

  Fees £ million

  Charges

  Fines

  Part-time

  Full-time

  £ million

  1992–93

  Medicines Control Agency

  0.021

  nil

  nil

  1349

  —

  nil

  Good Laboratory Practice Monitoring Authority

  0.140

  nil

  nil

  4

  4

  2—

  Medical Devices Agency

  30.402

  nil

  nil

  n/a

  n/a

  4.851

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  0.647

  nil

  nil

  1

  15

  40.922

  1993–94

  Medicines Control Agency

  0.024

  nil

  nil

  1374

  —

  nil

  Good Laboratory Practice Monitoring Authority

  0.147

  nil

  nil

  4

  4

  2—

  604
  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Estimated net inward migration to the United Kingdom

  Year

  Thousands of migrants

  1984

  58.3

  1985

  80.2

  1986

  58.8

  1987

  30.6

  1988

  18.3

  1989

  91.2

  1990

  88.8

  1991

  73.9

  1992

  35.5

  1993

  35.2

  Work Experience
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to hospitals about school pupils undertaking work experience in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [2762]

  Mr. Malone
  None. This is a matter for local national health service employers.

  Hip Replacement Operations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hip replacement operations have been carried out in the national health service on individuals over the age of 80 years during the past 12 months. [2698]

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available, 18,487 patients over the age of 80 years had hip replacement or other arthroplasty of the hip operations.

  Public Bodies (Income and Staff)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the annual income from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part time and (ii) full time; and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years in respect of (1) the Medicines Control Agency, (2) the Good Laboratory Practice Monitoring Authority, (3) the Medical Devices Agency and (4) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [2749]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.
  605

  Annual income

  Total number of staff employed

  Department's contribution to annual running costs

  Fees £ million

  Charges

  Fines

  Part-time

  Full-time

  £ million

  Medical Devices Agency

  30.483

  nil

  nil

  56

  5162

  5.714

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  0.907

  nil

  nil

  1

  18

  41.173

  1994–95

  Medicines Control Agency

  0.025

  nil

  nil

  —

  1399

  nil

  Good Laboratory Practice Monitoring Authority

  0.159

  nil

  nil

  3

  4

  2—

  Medical Devices Agency

  1.229

  nil

  nil

  67

  6165

  11.392

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  0.794

  nil

  nil

  1

  23

  41.353

  1Full-time and part-time counted as whole-time equivalent. Breakdown not readily available.

  2Authority is staffed by DH officials and full annual running costs are met from the DH Vote.

  3Figures are fees/receipts.

  4Figures include contributions from other Territorial Departments.

  5Figures at 1st April 1993.

  6Figures at 1 April 1994.

  Social Workers
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers there were per(a) 10,000 residents and (b) 10,000 residents over 65 years of age in each year since 1988 in each metropolitan district, London borough and shire county. [2790]

  Mr. Bowis
  It would depend on the definition of "social workers"—that is, by qualifications or by job and whether one were looking at all of such categories working in all sectors.

  The Department has published a wide range of statistical information on local authority staff which is available in the Library.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers qualified in mental health in each year since 1988 in each metropolitan district, London borough and shire county. [2789]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Unregistrable Children's Homes
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers of(a) unregistrable children's homes visited by the social services inspectorate, (b) proprietors interviewed, (c) agencies sent a questionnaire and (d) questionnaires completed, in their recent study of unregistrable children's homes. [2791]

  Mr. Bowis
  Five, six, 41 and 15 respectively.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make publicly available a copy of the questionnaire sent to agencies and proprietors managing small unregistrable children's homes as part of the study by the social services inspectorate published in August. [2792]

  Mr. Bowis
  Copies of the questionnaire have been placed in the Library.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much private capital has been invested in each NHS region and in how many projects in each year since the private finance initiative was launched, listing each of the projects and their value. [3088]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 6 November,Official Report, columns 622–23.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for the purposes of the private finance initiative in the NHS, if he will specify which clinical services are to be excluded from PFI-NHS contracts. [3103]

  Mr. Sackville
  The private finance initiative in the national health service is concerned with the provision of modern and efficient facilities for the delivery of NHS health care. It does not seek to extend private sector responsibility into the clinical area. No clinical or clinical support service will be provided by PFI partners without the support of local clinicians.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schemes, and to what value, are currently being considered for private finance initiative in each region. [3091]

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will specify the PFI contracts in the NHS(a) under way, (b) signed and (c) under discussion. [3102]

  Mr. Sackville
  To ensure that national health service capital projects meet NHS needs as cost effectively as possible, the option of using private finance, under this Government's private finance initiative, must be considered for every potential capital project. Formulation of plans for projects to meet local needs is the responsibility of NHS trusts and health authorities. I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 6 November,Official Report, columns 622–23, for the available information on PFI projects that have been given approval by the NHS executive.
  607
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials are responsible within(a) his Department and (b) the NHS executive for the private finance initiative. [3092]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 2 May 1995,Official Report, columns 775–76.

  Psychiatry (Consultants)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and

  Wte of Consultants by each speciality in the Psychiatry Group by Region per 100,000 head of population as at 30 September 1994

  Child and adolescent psychiatry

  Forensic psychiatry

  Mental handicap

  Mental illness

  Old age psychiatry

  Psychotherapy

  England

  0.6

  0.2

  0.3

  2.3

  0.3

  0.1

  Northern

  0.5

  0.1

  0.3

  2.3

  0.3

  0.1

  Yorkshire

  0.5

  0.1

  0.2

  2.3

  0.3

  0.1

  Trent

  0.6

  0.1

  0.2

  2.3

  0.3

  0.2

  East Anglia

  0.7

  0.1

  0.3

  1.7

  0.4

  0.0

  North West Thames

  0.9

  0.2

  0.4

  2.4

  0.2

  0.3

  North East Thames

  0.8

  0.1

  0.3

  2.3

  0.3

  0.3

  South East Thames

  0.7

  0.2

  0.3

  3.0

  0.5

  0.1

  South West Thames

  0.5

  0.1

  0.4

  3.0

  0.2

  0.1

  Wessex

  0.8

  0.1

  0.2

  2.1

  0.3

  0.1

  Oxford

  0.9

  1—

  0.3

  2.3

  0.4

  0.3

  South Western

  0.5

  0.1

  0.4

  2.4

  0.1

  0.0

  West Midlands

  0.5

  0.1

  0.4

  1.8

  0.4

  0.1

  Mersey

  0.6

  0.1

  0.3

  2.5

  0.3

  0.1

  North Western

  0.5

  0.1

  0.2

  2.2

  0.2

  0.1

  Special health authorities (inc Special Hospitals)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 "Zero value".

  n/a = "not available".

  Wte of Consultants by each speciality in the Psychiatry Group by Region as at 30 September 1994

  Child and adolescent psychiatry

  Forensic psychiatry

  Mental handicap

  Mental illness

  Old age psychiatry

  Psychotherapy

  England

  310

  70

  150

  1,130

  150

  70

  Northern

  20

  0

  10

  70

  10

  0

  Yorkshire

  20

  0

  10

  90

  10

  0

  Trent

  30

  10

  10

  110

  10

  10

  East Anglia

  20

  0

  10

  50

  10

  0

  North West Thames

  30

  10

  10

  70

  10

  10

  North East Thames

  30

  0

  10

  90

  10

  10

  South East Thames

  30

  10

  10

  110

  20

  10

  South West Thames

  10

  0

  10

  90

  10

  0

  Wessex

  20

  0

  10

  70

  10

  0

  Oxford

  20

  1—

  10

  60

  10

  10

  South Western

  20

  0

  10

  80

  10

  0

  West Midlands

  30

  10

  20

  100

  20

  10

  Mersey

  10

  0

  10

  60

  10

  0

  North Western

  20

  0

  10

  90

  10

  0

  Special health authorities (inc Special Hospitals)

  1—

  20

  1—

  0

  1—

  0

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 101 Denotes "zero value".

  0 Denotes figure is greater than 0 but less than 5.

  England total does not equal the sum of the regions due to rounding.
  608
  adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy consultant posts have been vacant in each of the last five years in each region. [2943]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy consultants there are in each region and per 100,000 head of population. [2945]

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information is shown in the tables.
  609
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy consultants there have been per 100,000 head of population in each of the last five years; [2947]

  Consultants in the Psychiatry Group per 100,000 population

  England—as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalents (WTE)

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Wte

  Per 100,000 population

  Wte

  Per 100,000 population

  Wte

  Per 100,000 population

  Wte

  Per 100,000 population

  Wte

  Per 100,000 population

  England total

  1,840

  3.8

  1,830

  3.8

  1,840

  3.8

  1,880

  3.9

  1,880

  3.9

  Mental illness

  1,120

  2.3

  1,110

  2.3

  1,130

  2.3

  1,120

  2.3

  1,130

  2.3

  Child and Adolescent psychiatry

  330

  0.7

  330

  0.7

  300

  0.6

  320

  0.7

  310

  0.6

  Forensic psychiatry

  70

  0.1

  70

  0.1

  80

  0.2

  80

  0.2

  70

  0.2

  Mental handicap

  160

  0.3

  160

  0.3

  160

  0.3

  160

  0.3

  150

  0.3

  Old age psychiatry

  80

  0.2

  100

  0.2

  110

  0.2

  130

  0.3

  150

  0.3

  Psychotherapy

  70

  0.1

  70

  0.2

  70

  0.1

  70

  0.1

  70

  0.1

  Consultants data rounded to the nearest 10.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy beds there are in each region and per 100,000 head of population; [2944]

  (2) how many (a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy beds there have been per 100,000 head of population in each of the last five years; [2946]

  (3) how many (a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy beds there have been in each of the last five years; and how many there are currently. [2948]

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

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medium secure psychiatric beds have been available in each region in each of the last three years per 100,000 population. [2930]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 9 June,Official Report, columns 333–34.
  610
  (2) how many (a) acute adult psychiatric, (b) adult rehabilitation and continuing care, (c) child and adolescent psychiatric, (d) learning disabilities, (e) old age psychiatric and (f) psychotherapy consultants there have been in each of the last five years; and how many there are now. [2949]

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Private Patient Income
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total income received from private patients by(a) region and (b) each trust in each region in 1994–95. [2952]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 November,Official Report, column 337.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the speed which pharmacists are paid in full for prescriptions dispensed; and if he will make a statement. [3018]

  Mr. Malone
  None. Pharmacists are currently paid on time, to a timetable originally agreed with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

  Services and Treatment (Non-NHS Purchases)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department maintain on the services and treatments purchased by(a) NHS trusts, (b) health authorities or (c) general practitioner fundholders from outside the NHS. [3090]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on services and treatments purchased outside the national health service is included in the information requirements set out in the health authorities manual of accounts on form HFR25, family health services authorities manual of accounts on form FAA23 and in NHS trusts manual of accounts on form TFR3. Copies of these manuals will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Policy Board
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the NHS policy board and explain their remit. [3094]

  Mr. Malone
  The national health service policy board provides a forum in which Ministers and senior managers meet regional chairmen to consider current NHS management issues. The board is non-statutory and is advisory to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. The members of the policy board are:The right hon. Stephen Dorrell, Secretary of State for Health; Gerald Malone, Minister of State for Health; the hon. Tom Sackville, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State; John Bowis OBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State; Baroness Cumberlege CBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Graham Hart, Permanent Secretary Department of Health; Alan Langlands, NHS Chief Executive; Dr. Kenneth Caiman, Chief Medical Officer; Yvonne Moores, Chief Nursing Officer; Keith Ackroyd, Regional Chairman Trent; Bryan Baker, Regional Chairman West Midlands; Sir Stuart Burgess, Regional Chairman Anglia and Oxford; Rennie Fritchie, Regional Chairman South and West; John Greetham, Regional Chairman Northern and Yorkshire; Sir William Staveley, Regional Chairman North Thames; William Wells, Regional Chairman South Thames; Sir Donald Wilson, Regional Chairman North West.

  External Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on all external consultants, with special reference to management consultants in each year since 1990–91, for his Department, the national health service executive and other agencies. [2950]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health and its agencies have spent the following amount on all external consultancy.

  1990–91: £18,398,000

  1991–92: £24,258,000

  1992–93: £18,399,000

  1993–94: £15,933,037

  1994–95: £18,479,405.

  Information about expenditure on management consultancy specifically is not available centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the quantified annual cost savings made as a consequence of spending on external consultants by his Department, the national health service executive and other agencies in each year since 1990–91. [2960]

  Mr. Sackville
  External consultants are used to assist in improving efficiency and effectiveness in the Department, but it is not possible to assess the savings which are a direct consequence of their activity.

  NHS Services
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) clinical services and (b) non-clinical services provided by the NHS. [3101]

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service provides a comprehensive range of clinical and non-clinical services for the investigation, diagnosis, treatment and care of people both inside and outside hospital.

  Medicines
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods alternative to the resale price maintenance scheme for medicines he has considered for ensuring the continued effectiveness of a nationwide pharmacy service. [3016]

  Mr. Malone
  None. The Office of Fair Trading is conducting a review of the resale price maintenance arrangement for medicines.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) medical locums and (b) agency nursing staff were employed in the NHS (i) as a total and (ii) as a proportion of permanent medical and nursing staff in each year since 1990 (1) nationally and (2) regionally. [2421]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: This information will be placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  War Widows Pension
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  to ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have claimed war widows and war disablement pension in each year since 1980. [1659]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the tables:

  Claims for war widow's pension

  Year

  Number

  1980

  3,400

  1981

  2,100

  1982

  3,350

  1983

  3,100

  1984

  2,850

  1985

  2,700

  1986

  2,800

  1987

  3,000

  1988

  3,100

  1989

  3,009

  1990

  4,027

  1991

  3,578

  1992

  3,548

  1993

  3,570

  1994

  4,283

  1995

  113,476

  1 January to October.

  The 1995 figure includes 9,878 claims for restoration of the war widow's pension made as a result of the change introduced in the Pensions Act 1995. The war widow's pension is withdrawn on re-marriage; the Act provided that it may be reclaimed, for instance, on subsequent widowhood or divorce.

  War disablement pension: First Claims

  Year

  Number

  1980

  5,896

  1981

  4,909

  1982

  5,532

  1983

  5,782

  1984

  4,468

  1985

  6,760

  1986

  7,225

  1987

  9,345

  613

  War disablement pension: First Claims

  Year

  Number

  1988

  13,173

  1989

  17,167

  1990

  20,214

  1991

  36,527

  1992

  116,605

  1993

  139,757

  1994

  51,947

  1995

  130,560

  1January to October.

  War disablement pension: claims for further conditions (additional disablement)

  Year

  Number

  1989

  3,321

  1990

  4,874

  1991

  6,354

  1992

  12,654

  1993

  18,089

  1994

  13,598

  1995

  110,138

  1January to October.

  This information is available only from 1989.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases a separated husband and wife have both sold their homes following a maintenance award made by the Child Support Agency. [2221]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information requested is not available. The maintenance assessment formula ensures that parents with care and the vast majority of absent parents have their housing costs taken fully into account.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what precautions the Child Support Agency takes to ensure that no child is rendered homeless as a result of its assessments. [2385]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Absent parents who have children living with them have their housing costs taken fully into account when their maintenance payments are assessed.

  Where the agency needs to consider enforcement action, it is required by law to have regard to the welfare of any child likely to be affected by its decision.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many type D interim assessments have been issued by the Child Support Agency. [2014]

  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 27 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency Type 'D' interim assessments.
  The type 'D' interim assessment was introduced in April 1995 to make interim assessments on cases where the absent parent has exceptionally high earnings. At 30 September 1995 this measure had been used in eight cases.
  I hope this is helpful.
  614
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the weekly maintenance due via the Child Support Agency's collection service in(a) cases which are fully paid and (b) cases which are partially paid. [2020]

  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 27 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about cases using the Child Support Agency collection service.
  Information on these cases is not available in the form you have requested. However, the average amount of maintenance assessment in cases with an interim assessment is £95. In cases with a full maintenance assessment, when the absent parent has earned income,' the average amount is £39.69.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases a Child Support Agency assessment is limited by(a) the protected income formula and (b) the 30 per cent. rule; and what are the amounts of weekly maintenance due in these cases. [2012]

  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 27 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
  The increase of protected income to 70% of net income was one of a number of policy changes introduced in April 1995. It was introduced to ensure that after a maintenance assessment, an absent parent retained a minimum guaranteed income, and at the time 18,752 cases benefitted.
  Specific information is not available on the impact of this policy change on the amount of child maintenance payable in each individual case. However, I can tell you that as a result of all the changes in April where liability decreased, the average maintenance assessment reduced from £60.64 to £52.31.
  I am afraid I cannot establish what subject you are asking for information in relation to the "20 per cent" rule. The April policy changes did not include any such measure. If you write to me explaining what you are interested in, I will do my best to help.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what agencies, Government Departments or other sources the Child Support Agency has received from, or supplied to, information related to clients. [2015]

  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 27 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about information related to clients.
  The Child Support Agency is registered with the Data Protection Registrar's Office in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
  This registration includes details of the possible sources, from which we may require information and to whom such information may be disclosed. The information is shown on the attached table.

  615

  DATA HELD BY THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY

  Sources of Data

  Family, relatives, guardians, trustees

  Financial representatives,

  Landlords.

  Inland Revenue,

  Customs and Excise,

  DVLC,

  Local authority housing department,

  Prison Service,

  Public utilities,

  Banks,

  Northern Ireland housing executive,

  Building societies.

  Recipients of Data

  Home Office,

  Local authority social services,

  Police forces,

  The Post Office,

  Other Government Departments,

  Treasury Solicitors.

  Sources and Recipients of Data

  The data subject themselves,

  Employers past, current, prospective,

  Legal representatives,

  Nominated Representatives of Customers,

  Persons working within DSS to gain Work Experience,

  Recipients, customers, clients for goods or services,

  Department of Employment,

  Departments of Health and Social Security,

  MoD (Including Armed Forces),

  The Courts,

  Judges magistrates,

  Central Government. Departments in Northern Ireland,

  Registered medical practitioners.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases(a) which are fully paid and (b) which are partially paid, absent parents are paying child support maintenance by way of a deduction of earnings order. [2019]

  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 27 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about deduction of earnings orders.
  The number of absent parents who were paying their child maintenance by way of a deduction of earnings order since April 1995 is 28,302. It is not possible to break this figure down into full or partial payments.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the total amounts paid to recipients of housing benefit in(a) Humberside, (b) Hull,
  616
  (c) North Yorkshire, (d) Leeds, (e) Bradford and (f) Sheffield in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1993–94; and if he will estimate the amounts likely to be paid out in the current year; [2146]

  (2) what were the total amounts paid to recipients of housing benefit in Bridlington in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 1993–94; and if he will estimate the amounts likely to be paid out in the current year. [2147]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure figures for Bridlington are included in those given for East Yorkshire district council which administers housing benefit in the Bridlington area.

  Housing benefit expenditure

  £ million

  Counties

  1991–92

  1993–94

  Humberside

  85.9

  116.1

  North Yorkshire

  44.4

  66.3

  Districts

  1991–92

  1993–1994

  Bradford

  51.1

  68.9

  East Yorkshire

  7.3

  10.8

  Kingston upon Hull

  42.8

  55.3

  Leeds

  83.7

  109.8

  Sheffield

  63.7

  84.6

  Expenditure shown for Humberside includes the amounts shown for East Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull.

  Estimates for expenditure during 1995–1996 are not available.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of those claimants appealing against the results of the all-work test for incapacity benefit have had their appeals upheld. [2085]

  Mr. Burt
  As at 31 October 1995, 354 appeals against decisions on incapacity benefit entitlement following application of the all-work test had been heard. In 146 cases—41 per cent.—the appeal tribunal found in the appellant's favour.

  Benefit Uprating
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the new rates of benefit proposed from April 1996. [3231]

  Mr. Lilley
  As usual, the annual uprating of social security benefits will take place in the first full week of the tax year. In 1996, this will be the week beginning on 8 April.

  Expenditure on social security will be £90 billion in 1996–97, £93 billion in 1997–98 and £96 billion in 1998–99.

  I have reviewed social security benefits in accordance with section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. My proposals, which are set out in the schedule,

  617
  will increase most of the major benefits in line with inflation. The statutory instruments to implement them will be laid before both Houses for debate. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland proposes to introduce similar changes for Northern Ireland.

  All national insurance benefits will be uprated in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index up to September, which this year is 3.9 per cent.

  Income-related benefits will generally rise by 3 per cent., in line with the Rossi index—RPI less certain housing costs.

  As a first step in restructuring benefits for lone parents, one parent benefit and the income-related benefit lone parent premiums will not be increased in 1996.

  Some key points of the 1996 increases are:

  Retirement pension

  The standard rate of retirement pension will be increased by £2.30 per week for a single person to £61.15 and by £3.65 per week for couples to £97.75.

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  Attendance Allowance

  higher rate

  46.70

  48.50

  lower rate

  31.20

  32.40

  Child Benefit

  —only, elder or eldest for whom child benefit is payable

  10.40

  10.80

  —each subsequent child

  8.45

  8.80

  Child's Special Allowance

  see note on child dependency increase

  11.05

  11.15

  Council Tax Benefit

  Personal allowances single

  18 to 24

  36.80

  37.90

  25 or over

  46.50

  47.90

  lone parent —18 or over

  46.50

  47.90

  couple —one or both over 18

  73.00

  75.20

  dependent children

  under 11

  15.95

  16.45

  11 to 15

  23.40

  24.10

  16 to 17

  28.00

  28.85

  18

  36.80

  37.90

  Premiums

  family

  10.25

  10.55

  lone parent

  11.50

  11.50

  pensioner

  single

  18.60

  19.15

  couple

  28.05

  28.90

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  20.70

  21.30

  couple

  30.95

  31.90

  618
  Incapacity benefit

  The basic rate of long term incapacity benefit will rise to £61.15 per week from £58.85, an increase of £2.30 per week.

  Unemployment benefit

  Unemployment benefit for a single person under pension age will rise from £46.45 to £48.25 per week.

  Child benefit

  Child benefit will again be raised in line with prices. For the first or eldest eligible child the weekly rate will increase from £10.40 to £10.80 and for each subsequent child the rate will rise from £8.45 to £8.80.

  War pensions

  War pensions will again be uprated fully in line with prices.

  Non-dependant deductions

  Increases will be made to deductions from housing-benefit, income support and council tax benefit in respect of non-dependant adults living in the claimant's home. The income thresholds will also be increased so that non-dependants can earn more before a higher deduction band takes effect.
  619

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  25.15

  25.90

  couple

  35.95

  37.05

  disability

  single

  19.80

  20.40

  couple

  28.30

  29.15

  severe disability

  single

  35.05

  36.40

  couple (one qualifies)

  35.05

  36.40

  couple (both qualify)

  70.10

  72.80

  disabled child

  19.80

  20.40

  carer

  12.60

  13.00

  Allowance for personal expenses for claimants in hospital

  higher rate

  14.70

  15.30

  lower rate

  11.75

  12.25

  Non-dependant deductions aged 18 or over and in remunerative work

  —gross income: £114 or more

  2.30

  2.60

  —gross income: under £114

  1.15

  1.30

  others, aged 18 or over

  1.15

  1.30

  Alternative maximum council tax benefit

  second adult on Income Support

  25 per cent. of CT

  second adult's gross income:

  —under £114

  15 per cent. of CT

  —£114 to £149.99

  7.5 per cent. of CT

  Capital

  upper limit

  16,000.00

  16,000.00

  amount disregarded

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  child's limit

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit.

  Earnings disregards:

  where disability premium awarded

  15.00

  15.00

  various specified employments

  15.00

  15.00

  lone parent

  25.00

  25.00

  where the claimant has a partner

  10.00

  10.00

  single claimant

  5.00

  5.00

  where carer premium awarded

  15.00

  15.00

  childcare charges

  40.00

  60.00

  Other income disregards:

  maintenance disregard

  15.00

  15.00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10.00

  10.00

  certain voluntary and charitable payments

  10.00

  20.00

  student loan

  10.00

  10.00

  student's covenanted income

  5.00

  5.00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50% of the balance of the charge

  20.00

  20.00

  30 Hr Adult Allowance in DWA

  10.00

  10.30

  30 Hr Adult Credit in FC

  10.00

  10.30

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4.00

  4.00

  where heating is included, additional

  9.20

  9.25

  Dependency Increases

  Adult dependency increases For spouse or person looking after children, with; retirement pension on own insurance, long term incap. benefit, unemployability supplement and, if beneficiary over pension age, unemployment benefit

  35.25

  36.60

  620

  621

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  severe disablement allowance

  21.15

  21.95

  invalid care allowance

  21.10

  21.90

  short-term incap. benefit if beneficiary over pension age

  33.85

  35.15

  unemployment benefit

  28.65

  29.75

  maternity allowance / short-term incap. ben.

  27.50

  28.55

  child dependency increases, with; retirement pension, widows benefit, short term incap ben. at the higher rate and long term incap. ben. invalid care allowance severe disab. allowce, higher rate industrial death benefit, unemployability supplement and short-term incap.ben./unemployment benefit if beneficiary over pension age

  11.05

  11.15

  NB —The Overlapping Benefits Regulations provide for the rate of child dependency increases, guardian's allowance and child special allowance to be adjusted where the increase or allowance is payable for the eldest eligible child for whom Chb is also payable. The weekly rate of the increase or allowance is reduced by the differential (less the 75p derived from the Oct 1991 increase in Chb) between the rate of Chb payable for the oldest eligible child and that payable for a subsequent child. This gives a rate of £9.85 (1995) and £9.90 (1996).

  Disability Living Allowance

  Care component

  Highest

  46.70

  48.50

  Middle

  31.20

  32.40

  Lowest

  12.40

  12.90

  Mobility component

  Higher

  32.65

  33.90

  Lower

  12.40

  12.90

  Disability Working Allowance

  Adult allowance

  Single people

  46.85

  48.25

  Couples/lone parents

  73.40

  75.60

  30 hours allowance. Child allowance

  10.00

  10.30

  under 11

  11.40

  11.75

  11 to 15

  18.90

  19.45

  16 to 17

  23.45

  24.15

  18

  32.80

  33.80

  Applicable amount (ie taper threshold)

  Single people

  54.75

  56.40

  Couples/lone parents

  73.00

  75.2

  Disabled child's allowance

  19.80

  20.40

  Capital

  upper limit

  16,000.00

  16,000.00

  amount disregarded

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  child's limit

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards:

  maintenance disregard

  15.00

  15.00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10.00

  10.00

  certain voluntary and charitable payments

  10.00

  20.00

  student loan

  10.00

  10.00

  student's covenanted income

  5.00

  5.00

  Income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20.00

  20.00

  child care charges

  40.00

  60.00

  Expenses for subtenants furnished or unfurnished

  4.00

  4.00

  where heating is included, additional

  9.20

  9.25

  622

  623

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  Earnings Rules

  Invalid care allowance

  50.00

  50.00

  Unemployment benefit (daily rate)

  2.00

  2.00

  Unemployment benefit (maximum weekly amount)

  58.00

  61.00

  Therapeutic earnings limit

  44.00

  45.50

  Industrial injuries unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)

  2,288.00

  2,366.00

  War pensioners' unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)

  2,288.00

  2,366.00

  Adult dependency increases with short-term incap.benefit

  where claimant is

  (a) under pension age

  27.50

  28.55

  (b) over pension age

  33.85

  35.15

  maternity allowance

  27.50

  28.55

  unemployment benefit where claimant is

  (a) under pension age

  28.65

  29.75

  (b) over pension age

  35.25

  36.60

  retirement pension, long-term incap. ben., severe disablement allowance, unemployability supplement where dependent:

  (a) is living with claimant

  46.45

  48.25

  (b) still qualifies for the tapered earnings rule

  45.09

  45.09

  retirement pension, long-term incap benefit and unemployability supplement where dependant not living with claimant

  35.25

  36.60

  severe disablement allowance where dependant not living with claimant

  21.15

  21.95

  invalid care allowance

  21.10

  21.90

  Child dependency increases level at which CDIs are affected by earnings of claimant's spouse or partner:

  for first child

  125.00

  130.00

  for each subsequent child

  16.00

  17.00

  Family Credit

  Adult credit

  45.10

  46.45

  Adult credit for working 30 hrs+ pw.

  10.00

  10.30

  Child credit

  under 11

  11.40

  11.75

  11 to 15

  18.90

  19.45

  16 to 17

  23.45

  24.15

  18

  32.80

  33.80

  Applicable amount (ie taper threshold)

  73.00

  75.20

  Capital

  upper limit

  8,000.00

  8,000.00

  amount disregarded

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  child's limit

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15.00

  15.00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10.00

  10.00

  certain voluntary and charitable payments

  10.00

  20.00

  student loan

  10.00

  10.00

  student's covenanted income

  5.00

  5.00

  624

  625

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50% of the balance of the charge

  20.00

  20.00

  childcare charges

  40.00

  60.00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4.00

  4.00

  where heating is included, additional

  9.20

  9.25

  Guardian's Allowance

  11.05

  11.15

  see note on child dependency increase

  Hospital Downrating

  20 per cent, rate

  11.75

  12.25

  40 per cent, rate

  23.50

  24.50

  Housing Benefit

  Personal allowances

  single

  16 to 24

  36.80

  37.90

  25 or over

  46.50

  47.90

  lone parent

  under 18

  36.80

  37.90

  18 or over

  46.50

  47.90

  couple

  both under 18

  55.55

  57.20

  one or both over 18

  73.00

  75.20

  dependent children

  under 11

  15.95

  16.45

  11 to 15

  23.40

  24.10

  16 to 17

  28.00

  28.85

  18

  36.80

  37.90

  Premiums

  family

  10.25

  10.55

  lone parent

  11.50

  11.50

  pensioner

  single

  18.60

  19.15

  couple

  28.05

  28.90

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  20.70

  21.30

  couple

  30.95

  31.90

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  25.15

  25.90

  couple

  35.95

  37.05

  disability

  single

  19.80

  20.40

  couple

  28.30

  29.15

  severe disability

  single

  35.05

  36.40

  couple (one qualifies)

  35.05

  36.40

  couple (both qualify)

  70.10

  72.80

  disabled child

  19.80

  20.40

  carer

  12.60

  13.00

  Allowance for personal expenses for claimants in hospital higher rate

  14.70

  15.30

  626

  627

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  lower rate

  11.75

  12.25

  Non-dependant deductions

  rent rebates and allowances

  aged 25 and over, in receipt of income support aged 18 or over, not in remunerative work or —gross income under £76

  5.00

  6.00

  aged 18 or over and in remunerative work:

  —gross income: £76 to £113.99

  10.00

  12.00

  —gross income: £114 to £149.99

  14.00

  16.00

  —gross income: £150 or more

  30.00

  32.00

  Service charges for fuel

  heating

  9.20

  9.25

  hot water

  1.10

  1.15

  lighting

  0.75

  0.80

  cooking

  1.10

  1.15

  Amount ineligible for meals

  —three or more meals a day

  single claimant

  16.60

  17.10

  each person in family aged 16 or over

  16.60

  17.10

  each child under 16

  8.40

  8.65

  —less than three meals a day

  single claimant

  11.00

  11.35

  each person in family aged 16 or over

  11.00

  11.35

  each child under 16

  5.55

  5.70

  —breakfast only—claimant and each

  member of family

  2.00

  2.05

  Capital

  upper limit

  16,000.00

  16,000.00

  amount disregarded

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  child's limit

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Earnings disregards

  where disability premium awarded

  15.00

  15.00

  various specified employments

  15.00

  15.00

  lone parent

  25.00

  25.00

  where the claimant has a partner

  10.00

  10.00

  single claimant

  5.00

  5.00

  where carer premium awarded

  15.00

  15.00

  childcare charges

  40.00

  60.00

  Other income disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15.00

  15.00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10.00

  10.00

  certain voluntary and charitable payments

  10.00

  20.00

  student loan

  10.00

  10.00

  student's covenanted income

  5.00

  5.00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20.00

  20.00

  30 Hr Adult Allowance in DWA

  10.00

  10.30

  30 Hr Adult Credit in FC

  10.00

  10.30

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4.00

  4.00

  where heating is included, additional

  9.20

  9.25

  Incapacity Benefit

  Long-term incapacity benefit

  58.85

  61.15

  628

  629

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  Short-term incapacity benefit (under pension age)

  lower rate

  44.40

  46.15

  higher rate

  52.50

  54.55

  Short-term incapacity benefit (over pension age) lower and higher rate

  56.45

  58.65

  Increase of long-term incap. ben for age

  higher rate

  12.40

  12.90

  lower rate

  6.20

  6.45

  Invalidity allowance (transitional)

  higher rate

  12.40

  12.90

  middle rate

  7.80

  8.10

  lower rate

  3.90

  4.05

  Income support

  Personal allowances single

  under 18 —usual rate

  28.00

  28.85

  under 18 —higher rate payable in specific circumstances

  36.80

  37.90

  18 to 24

  36.80

  37.90

  25 or over

  46.50

  47.90

  lone parent

  under 18 —usual rate

  28.00

  28.85

  under 18 —higher rate payable in specific circumstances

  36.80

  37.90

  18 or over

  46.50

  47.90

  couple

  both under 18

  55.55

  57.20

  one or both 18 or over

  73.00

  75.20

  dependent children under 11

  15.95

  16.45

  11 to 15

  23.40

  24.10

  16 to 17

  28.00

  28.85

  18

  36.80

  37.90

  Residential allowance except Greater London

  51.00

  54.00

  Greater London

  57.00

  60.00

  Premiums

  family

  10.25

  10.55

  lone parent

  5.20

  5.20

  pensioner

  single

  18.60

  19.15

  couple

  28.05

  28.9

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  20.70

  21.30

  couple

  30.95

  31.90

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  25.15

  25.90

  couple

  35.95

  37.05

  disability

  single

  19.80

  20.40

  couple

  28.30

  29.15

  severe disability single

  35.05

  36.40

  630

  631

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  couple (one qualifies)

  35.05

  36.40

  couple (both qualify)

  70.10

  72.80

  disabled child

  19.80

  20.40

  carer

  12.60

  13.00

  Maximum amounts for accommodation and meals in

  residential care homes

  old age

  197.00

  203.00

  very dependent elderly

  227.00

  234.00

  mental disorder (not handicap)

  207.00

  214.00

  drug / alchohol dependence

  207.00

  214.00

  mental handicap

  237.00

  244.00

  physical disablement

  (a) (under pension age)

  267.00

  276.00

  (b) (over pension age)

  197.00

  203.00

  others

  197.00

  203.00

  maximum Greater London increase

  34.00

  38.00

  nursing homes

  mental disorder (not handicap)

  296.00

  304.00

  drug / alchohol dependence

  296.00

  304.00

  mental handicap

  301.00

  310.00

  terminal illness

  295.00

  303.00

  physical disablement

  (a) (under pension age)

  331.00

  341.00

  (b) (over pension age)

  295.00

  303.00

  others (including elderly)

  295.00

  303.00

  maximum Greater London increase

  39.00

  43.00

  Amounts for meals where these cannot be purchased within the accommodation (Daily rate)

  breakfast

  1.10

  1.10

  midday meal

  1.55

  1.55

  evening meal

  1.55

  1.55

  Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in:

  private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes personal expenses dependent children

  13.35

  13.75

  (a) under 11

  5.50

  5.65

  (b) 11 to 15

  8.00

  8.25

  (c) 16 to 17

  9.25

  9.55

  (d) age 18

  13.35

  13.75

  Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in:

  hospital

  higher rate

  14.70

  15.30

  lower rate

  11.75

  12.25

  local authority (part III) accommodation

  13.35

  13.75

  the Polish home Ilford Park

  maximum amount for accommodation and meals

  331.00

  341.00

  personal expenses for claimant

  17.35

  17.35

  personal expenses for partner

  17.35

  17.35

  personal expenses for dep children

  (a) under 11

  5.50

  5.65

  (b) 11 to 15

  8.00

  8.25

  (c) 16 to 17

  9.25

  9.55

  (d) 18

  15.55

  15.55

  632

  633

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  Housing costs

  deduction for non-dependants aged 25 and over, in receipt of Income Support aged 18 or over, not in work or —gross income under £76

  5.00

  6.00

  aged 18 or over and in remunerative work:

  —gross income: £76 to £113.99

  10.00

  12.00

  —gross income: £114 to £149.99

  14.00

  16.00

  —gross income: £150 or more

  30.00

  32.00

  Deduction for direct payments arrears of housing, fuel and water costs council tax and fines default, and deductions for child maintenance

  2.35

  2.40

  Arrears of community charge court order against claimant

  2.35

  2.40

  court order against couple

  3.70

  3.80

  Maximium rates for recovery of overpayments ordinary overpayments

  7.05

  7.20

  where claimant convicted of fraud

  9.20

  9.60

  Reduction in benefit for strikers

  25.00

  26.00

  Capital

  upper limit

  8,000.00

  8,000.00

  amount disregarded

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  child's limit

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  standard earnings

  5.00

  5.00

  higher earnings

  15.00

  15.00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10.00

  10.00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10.00

  20.00

  student loan

  10.00

  10.00

  student's covenanted income

  5.00

  5.00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20.00

  20.00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4.00

  4.00

  where heating is included, additional

  9.20

  9.25

  Industrial Death Benefit

  Widow's pension

  higher rate

  58.85

  61.15

  lower rate

  17.66

  18.35

  Industrial Disablement Pension

  18 and over, or under 18 with dependants

  100 per cent.

  95.30

  99.00

  90 per cent.

  85.77

  89.10

  80 per cent.

  76.24

  79.20

  70 per cent.

  66.71

  69.30

  60 per cent.

  57.18

  59.40

  50 per cent.

  47.65

  49.50

  40 per cent.

  38.12

  39.60

  30 per cent.

  28.59

  29.70

  20 per cent.

  19.06

  19.80

  Under 18

  100 per cent.

  58.35

  60.65

  90 per cent.

  52.52

  54.59

  80 per cent.

  46.68

  48.52

  70 per cent.

  40.85

  42.46

  634

  635

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  60 per cent.

  35.01

  36.39

  50 per cent.

  29.18

  30.33

  40 per cent.

  23.34

  24.26

  30 per cent.

  17.51

  18.20

  20 per cent.

  11.67

  12.13

  Maximum life gratuity (lump sum)

  6,330.00

  6,580.00

  Unemployability Supplement

  58.85

  61.15

  plus where appropriate an increase for early incapacity

  higher rate

  12.40

  12.90

  middle rate

  7.80

  8.10

  lower rate

  3.90

  4.05

  Maximum reduced earnings allowance

  38.12

  39.60

  Maximum retirement allowance

  9.53

  9.90

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  76.40

  79.40

  intermediate rate

  57.30

  59.55

  normal maximum rate

  38.20

  39.70

  part-time rate

  19.10

  19.85

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  38.20

  39.70

  Invalid Care Allowance

  35.25

  36.60

  Maternity Allowance

  Lower rate

  45.55

  47.35

  Higher rate

  52.50

  54.55

  One Parent Benefit

  6.30

  6.30

  Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis, Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) and other Schemes

  Total disablement allowance and major incapacity allowance (maximum)

  95.30

  99.00

  Partial disablement allowance

  35.25

  36.60

  Unemployability supplement

  58.85

  61.15

  plus where appropriate increases for early incapacity

  higher rate

  12.40

  12.90

  middle rate

  7.80

  8.10

  lower rate

  3.90

  4.05

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  76.40

  79.40

  intermediate rate

  57.30

  59.55

  normal maximum rate

  38.20

  39.70

  part-time rate

  19.10

  19.85

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  38.20

  39.70

  Lesser incapacity allowance

  maximum rate of allowance

  35.25

  36.60

  based on loss of earnings over

  46.70

  48.50

  Retirement Pension

  Category A or B

  58.85

  61.15

  Category B (lower) —husband's insurance

  35.25

  36.60

  Category C or D —non-contributory

  35.25

  36.60

  Category C(lower) —non-contributory

  21.10

  21.90

  636

  637

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  Additional pension

  Increase by 3.90 per cent.

  Increments to:— Basic and additional pensions

  Increase by 3.90 per cent.

  Contracted out deductions (CODs):

  (Pre April 1988 earnings)

  Increase by 3.90 per cent.

  (Post April 1988 earnings)

  Increase by *0.90 per cent.

  Graduated Retirement Benefit (GRB)

  Increase by 3.90 per cent.

  * 3 per cent. paid by scheme

  Graduated retirement benefit (unit)(pence)

  7.64

  7.94

  Graduated retirement benefit (Inherited)

  Increase by 3.90 per cent.

  Addition at age 80

  0.25

  0.25

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  Basic rate

  35.55

  36.95

  Age-related addition (from Dec 90)

  Higher rate

  12.40

  12.90

  Middle rate

  7.80

  8.10

  Lower rate

  3.90

  4.05

  Social Fund

  Maternity payment

  100.00

  100.00

  Cold weather payments

  8.50

  8.50

  Capital limit

  aged under 60

  500.00

  500.00

  aged 60 and over

  1,000.00

  1,000.00

  Statutory Maternity Pay

  Earnings threshold

  58.00

  61.00

  Lower rate

  52.50

  54.55

  Statutory Sick Pay

  Earnings threshold

  58.00

  61.00

  Standard rate

  52.50

  54.55

  Unemployment Benefit

  Over pension age

  58.85

  61.15

  Under pension age

  46.45

  48.25

  Occupational pension abatement

  35.00

  35.00

  War Pensions

  Disablement pension (100 per cent. rates) private

  101.10

  105.00

  officer (£ per annum)

  5,275.00

  5,479.00

  Age allowances

  40 per cent.–50 per cent.

  6.75

  7.00

  over 50 per cent. but not over 70 per cent.

  10.40

  10.80

  over 70 per cent. but not over 90 per cent.

  14.85

  15.45

  over 90 per cent.

  20.80

  21.60

  Disablement gratuity

  (base figures for calculation purposes only) specified minor injury

  6,330.00

  6,580.00

  unspecified minor injury

  3,481.50

  3,619.00

  Unemployability allowance personal adult dependency increase

  62.45

  64.90

  adult dependency increase

  35.25

  36.60

  a. increase for first child

  9.85

  9.90

  b. increase for subsequent children

  11.05

  11.15

  638

  639

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  Invalidity allowance

  higher rate

  12.40

  12.90

  middle rate

  7.80

  8.10

  lower rate

  3.90

  4.05

  Constant attendance allowance exceptional rate

  76.40

  79.40

  intermediate rate

  57.30

  59.55

  normal maximum rate

  38.20

  39.70

  part-time rate

  19.10

  19.85

  Comforts allowance

  higher rate

  16.40

  17.00

  lower rate

  8.20

  8.50

  Mobility supplement

  36.35

  37.75

  Allowance for lowered standard of occupation (maximum)

  38.12

  39.60

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  38.20

  39.70

  Severe disablement occupational allowance

  19.10

  19.85

  Clothing allowance (£ per annum)

  higher rate

  129.00

  134.00

  lower rate

  82.00

  85.00

  Education allowance

  120.00

  120.00

  (£ per annum) (maximum)

  War widow's pension

  Widow (private)

  76.35

  79.35

  Widow (NCO)

  76.60

  79.60

  Widow—Officer (£ p.a. maximum)

  4,723.00

  4,907.00

  Childless widow under 40 (private)

  17.66

  18.35

  Childless widow (NCO)

  17.93

  18.63

  Childless widow (Officer maximum £s p.a.)

  4,723.00

  4,907.00

  Supplementary Pension age allowance

  49.77

  51.71

  (a) age 65–69

  8.70

  9.05

  (b) age 70–79

  16.75

  17.40

  (c) age 80 and over

  24.95

  25.90

  children's allowance

  a. increase for first child (adjusted for ChB increase)

  14.00

  14.10

  b. increase for subsequent children

  15.20

  15.35

  Orphan's pension

  a. increase for first child (adjusted for ChB increase)

  15.65

  15.85

  b. increase for subsequent children

  16.85

  17.10

  Unmarried dependant living as spouse (maximum)

  74.30

  77.30

  Rent allowance (maximum)

  28.85

  30.00

  Adult orphan's pension (maximum)

  58.85

  61.15

  Widower's pension

  (i) Private (maximum)

  76.35

  79.35

  (ii) officer (£ per annum) maximum

  4,723.00

  4,907.00

  Widow's Benefit

  Widow's payment (lump sum)

  1,000.00

  1,000.00

  Widowed mother's allowance

  58.85

  61.15

  Widow's pension standard rate

  58.85

  61.15

  age-related

  age 54 (49)

  54.73

  56.87

  age 53 (48)

  50.61

  52.59

  640

  641

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security benefits—April 1996

  £ per week unless otherwise stated

  Old Rates 1995

  New Rates 1996

  age 52 (47)

  46.49

  48.31

  age 51 (46)

  42.37

  44.03

  age 50 (45)

  38.25

  39.75

  age 49 (44)

  34.13

  35.47

  age 48 (43)

  30.01

  31.19

  age 47 (42)

  25.89

  26.91

  age 46 (41)

  21.77

  22.63

  age 45 (40)

  17.66

  18.35

  Note:

  For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age points shown in brackets.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy when details of the April 1996 benefit uprating are released to list(a) for each benefit and each capital or income limit which is not to be increased in April 1996, the reasons for not doing so and (b) the current value of each such benefit or limit and the value which would have resulted from increasing it in line with prices and average earnings since it was last increased or since it was introduced. [1089]

  Mr. Burt
  No. The announcement of benefit rates from April 1996 is in a similar format to previous years.

  National Insurance Contributions Review
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has yet completed his review of national insurance contributions for 1996–97. [3232]

  Mr. Lilley
  I have completed the annual review under section 141 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. My proposals will take effect from 6 April 1996. There will be no change to the standard rates of contributions for either employees or employers. The rates will remain at 10 per cent, and 10.2 per cent, respectively, but from April 1997, I intend to reduce the main rate of contributions for employers by 0.2 per cent. The savings to employers from this measure will be equivalent to the money raised from the landfill tax. The national insurance contribution holiday for employers, also announced in last year's Budget, will take effect from 6 April 1996. This will effectively remove the national insurance costs for employers for up to a year when they take on someone who has been out of work for at least two years. I am reducing the rate of class 4 contributions paid by self-employed earners by 1.3 per cent, to 6 per cent. This will more than offset the effect of the abolition of the tax relief for class 4 contributions announced by my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Employers and employees

  In line with the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, the lower earnings limit for class 1 contributions is to be raised to £61 a week. It is set at the level of the basic retirement pension rate for single person from April 1996, rounded down to the nearest pound.

  The upper earnings limit is to be raised to £455 a week which is slightly less than seven and a half times the new basic pension rate as provided by the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. These new earnings limits will replace the current ones of £58 and £440 respectively.
  642
  Employees whose earnings reach the lower earnings limit will continue to pay an initial contribution of 2 per cent, of that limit and standard rate contributions of 10 per cent, on that portion of their earnings which exceeds the lower but not the upper earnings limit.

  For employers, the three lower contribution rates remain unchanged at 3 per cent., 5 per cent, and 7 per cent, respectively. The thresholds for these rates will be raised so that from April 1996 they apply to weekly earnings which fall below £110, £155 and £210 respectively, compared with £105, £150 and £205 at present.

  Not contracted out employees and their employers

  Neither employees nor employers will have to pay any contributions if earnings are less than £61 a week. Employees whose earnings do not exceed £440, the former upper earnings limit, will pay 24p a week less in contributions than at present. This is because a further £3 of their weekly earnings will be subject to the 2 per cent, rate rather than 10 per cent. For employees with earnings above £440, the maximum possible increase will be £1.26 per week.

  There will be no change for most employers, but some employers will pay less as a result of the increase in the earnings thresholds. For example, where earnings fall between £205 and £209.99, employers will pay between £6.56 and £6.72 a week less.

  Contracted out employees and their employers

  Employees with earnings between £61 and £440, the former upper earnings limit, will usually pay 18p a week less. For those who earn more than £440, the maximum possible increase will be £1.05 per week.

  Where earnings are less than £440, most employers will pay 9p a week extra. This is due to the increase in the lower earnings limit which means that a further £3 of earnings is not subject to the contracted-out rebate. Some employers will pay less as a result of the increase in the earnings thresholds. For example, where earnings fall between £205 and £209.99, employers will pay between £6.47 and £6.63 a week less. Where earnings reach or exceed £455, employers will pay 36p a week less.

  Self-employed people

  The flat rate class 2 contribution will be raised by 30p to £6.05 a week.
  643
  The rate of class 4 contributions will be reduced by 1.3 per cent, to 6 per cent. The annual limits of profits between which class 4 contributions are paid will be raised to £6,860 and £23,660 from £6,640 and £22,880 respectively.

  Self-employed people who pay only class 2 contributions will pay an extra £15.60 a year in 1996–97.

  All self-employed people who pay class 2 and class 4 contributions will pay less, ranging from a few pence a year less for those with profits of £6,860, the new lower profits limit to £208.72 a year less for those with profits of £22,880, the former upper profits limit.

  Class 3 (voluntary) contributions

  The rate of class 3 contributions will be raised by 30p to £5.95 a week.

  National health service allocation

  The allocation to the national health service is unchanged at 1.05 per cent, from employees and 0.9 per cent, from employers.

  Treasury grant

  The general increase in contributory benefit expenditure, which I am maintaining, means that the outgoings of the national insurance fund will continue to exceed income. In accordance with section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993, I propose to maintain the level of the fund in 1996–97 by means of a grant from the Treasury. I estimate that the grant required will be approximately £2.2 billion.

  As usual, I shall lay a draft order before Parliament, with a report by the Government Actuary describing the effects of my proposals.

  Mortgage Protection Insurance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a summary of the information he has obtained about the quality, availability and cost of mortgage protection insurance. [897]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  A summary of the information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Housing Costs (Domestic Violence)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if the easement which enables women who have been deserted by their partners and who make an application for income support after 1 October to have their housing costs treated as existing housing costs, will include women who have been subjected to domestic violence and have taken legal action to exclude their partner from the house; [2787]

  (2) how he will establish that adjudication officers in judging that a woman who had been the victim of domestic violence and had taken legal action to exclude her partner from the house, had been abandoned, had interpreted statute law correctly. [2788]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Our intention is that this easement should apply to any lone parent who claims income support as a result of being deserted by his or her partner. This should not preclude a claimant in the circumstances 644
  outlined in the question from benefiting from it. However, decisions on the application of the income support regulations to individual claims are taken by the independent adjudicating authorities after applying the regulations to the circumstances of the individual case. The operation of all aspects of the new rules on income support help with mortgage interest payments, including this easement, will be kept under review.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2458]

  Mr. Heald
  The number of statutory instruments sponsored by the Department of Social Security in the last Session of Parliament was 71. Of these, one consolidated existing legislation: the remainder therefore constituted new legislation. None were introduced to implement European Community directives and none amplified the minimum standards set out in a European Community directive.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the current weekly and monthly earnings limits which do not require a person to make national insurance contributions or to be allocated a national insurance number; and what is the current estimate of the numbers of people to whom these exemptions apply. [2548]

  Mr. Heald
  The current weekly and monthly earnings limits below which an employee is not required to pay contributions are £58 and £252 respectively. In any week, some 3 million people are estimated to have earnings below £58. Any individual who enters employment and does not already have a national insurance number is required to apply for one to the Secretary of State, irrespective of the level of earnings.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many spare national insurance numbers exist at the present time.

  Mr. Heald
  There is technically no such thing as a "spare" national insurance number, or NINO. NINOs are unique reference numbers allocated to individuals. These NINOs are kept by the individual throughout their lifetime.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances an employer is not required to ask a new employee for his or her national insurance number. [2721]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the national insurance scheme is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the right hon. Member.
  645
  Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 28 November 1995:
  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency. I have been asked to reply to your question about the circumstances in which an employer is not required to ask a new employee for his or her National Insurance (NI) number.
  An employer is required by law to ask all new employees for their NI Number where their earnings reach or exceed the prescribed level at which National Insurance contributions (NICs) become payable.
  The NI Number is a unique reference number which is used by the Department of Social Security to identify a customer's NI record. Its use ensures that NICs paid or credited are put on the right record so that contributors will receive the correct rate of benefit when they make a claim. The NI Number is also used by Inland Revenue as reference for Pay As you Earn (PAYE) purposes. The Contributions Agency issues guidance to employers which stresses the importance of asking all new employees for their NI Number as soon as possible after they start work.
  It is in employees' own interests to give their NI Number to their employer. If, however, an employee does not know his or her NI Number, the Contributions Agency provides clear guidance to employers on what to do to get that number.
  I hope that my reply proves helpful. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

  Income Support
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the maximum financial benefit available to claimants or families in receipt of income support in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and when it was last uprated. [3096]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It is not possible to give figures in answer as income support, and supplementary benefit before it, is made up of different elements paid to people according to their circumstances. There is no single maximum amount available to claimants.

  The amount of supplementary benefit and income support available has always varied according to the age and the size of the claimant's family as well as any other commitments such as a rent or mortgage liability. In addition, supplementary benefit included exceptional circumstances additions, further reflecting individual household variations. Income support was last uprated in April 1995.

  Statutory Fees
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the annual income from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part time and (ii) full time; and what was the contribution his Department has made in the last three years in respect of (1) the Contributions Agency and (2) the Occupational Pensions Board. [2745]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Figures are not available for fines due to the following reasons:

  Contributions Agency

  Any fines for non-compliance with national insurance regulations are imposed by the courts and no income is received by the agency or Department.
  646
  Occupational Pensions Board

  Any fines would be imposed by the courts but no court action has been taken by the OPB in the period concerned.

  The available information is set out in the tables:

  Annual income from fees and charges

  £

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Contributions agency (CA)

  346,202

  575,024

  693,146

  Occupational pensions board1, 2(OPB)

  2,746,131

  1,393,487

  1,608,639

  1 The current Pensions Levy on Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes was introduced with effect from January 1991 to meet some of the costs arising from three separate bodies, the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pensions Registry and the Occupational Pensions Advisory Service which is funded through a grant made by OPB. Only the last two of these form part of the running costs of the OPB. The total sum raised cannot be disaggregated to provide only the part used to fund the OPB.

  2 Amounts of Pensions Levy collected is normally paid according to a three-yearly cycle under which only a third of scheme pay in any one year. Special introductory arrangements covering the payments due between 1 January 1991 and 31 March 1995 required all schemes to pay the levy in 1992–93 and resulted in higher than usual revenue for that year.

  Staff employed

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  CA

  Full time

  7,668

  8,566

  9,077

  Part time1

  1,277

  1,608

  1,487

  OPB

  Full time

  121

  121

  135

  Part time

  9

  11

  13

  1 Part time is in actual staff numbers rather than full time staff equivalent. Please note that staff figures are taken as at 1 April for each financial year.

  Contribution towards annual running costs1

  £ million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  CA

  149.258

  205.325

  254.340

  OPB

  2.373

  2.625

  3.061

  1 The figures represent expenditure outturn.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoner Statistics
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners in England and Wales at the last available date. [1531]

  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.
  647
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. A. J. Beith, dated 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the ethnic breakdown of the current prison population.
  The information is shown in the attached table.

  Prison population on 31 October 19951 by ethnic origin and sex, England and Wales

  Ethnic origin

  Total

  Males

  Females

  White

  42,565

  41,056

  1,509

  Black

  6,323

  5,917

  406

  South Asian

  1,645

  1,620

  25

  Chinese and other Asian

  617

  602

  15

  Unrecorded

  878

  815

  63

  Total

  52,027

  50,009

  2,018

  1 Provisional figures.

  Prison receptions1 by ethnic origin2, England and Wales 1990 and 1991

  Year

  Total

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese, Arab, mixed origin

  Unrecorded

  1990

  Remand

  60,174

  50,471

  6,171

  1,354

  1,331

  847

  Sentenced3

  67,510

  59,903

  4,748

  1,214

  1,048

  597

  1991

  Remand

  62,604

  52,796

  6,328

  1,476

  1,551

  453

  Sentenced3

  72,313

  68,873

  4,549

  1,354

  1,158

  379

  1 Total receptions cannot be calculated by adding together remand and sentenced receptions because there is double-counting.

  2 A new classification for ethnic origin was introduced in 1992. It is congruent with that used for the Census Population. Data for 1990 and 1991 is shown separately as the classification prior to 1992 is not directly comparable with that in later years.

  3 Including fine defaulters.

  Prison receptions by ethnic origin1, England and Wales 1992–19942

  Year

  Total

  White

  Black

  South Asian

  Chinese and other Asian

  Unrecorded

  1992

  Remand

  57,551

  48,285

  6,156

  1,402

  192

  1,516

  Sentenced1

  69,832

  61,978

  4,672

  1,478

  143

  1,561

  1993

  Remand

  63,236

  53,442

  7,072

  1,477

  403

  842

  Sentenced3

  72,966

  65,086

  5,279

  1,384

  401

  816

  19942

  Remand

  68,414

  57,420

  7,937

  1,512

  553

  992

  Sentenced1

  89,288

  77,813

  7,408

  2,173

  691

  1,203

  1 A new classification for ethnic origin was introduced in 1992. It is congruent with that used for the Census of Population. Data for 1990 and 1991 is shown separately as the classification prior to 1992 is not directly comparable with that in later years.

  2 Provisional figures.

  3 Including fine defaulters.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a breakdown of the number of people in prison at the most recent count by(a) sex, (b) age group and (c) ethnic group; if he will publish the same figures for 3 May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [1533]

  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.
  648
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners received into prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [1532]

  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 A.J. Beith, dated 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the ethnic breakdown for all prisoners received into prison in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.
  Information is only available for the last 5 years and is shown in the attached table.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. A. J. Beith, dated 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for a breakdown of the current prison population by sex, age group and ethnic origin and for the same breakdown on 3 May 1979.
  Table one gives the age, sex and ethnic origin breakdown of the population for latest available date, 31 October 1995. Information on the ethnic breakdown of the prison population for 1979 is not available. An age and sex breakdown is available for June 1979 and is given in table two.

  Justice Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice Council held on 23 to 24 November, giving details of all votes and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [1600]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My right hon. and learned Friend represented the United Kingdom at the Council which was held in Brussels on 23 November.

  The Council agreed as A points, among other things, a draft resolution on the protection of witnesses, a draft decision on monitoring the implementation of texts adopted regarding admission of third country nationals, reports on the activities of the Europol drugs unit during the first half of 1995 and its programme of activities for the first half of 1996, the rules of procedure of the Europol management board, a draft report on simplified extradition procedure and a draft resolution on the status of third country nationals residing legally in the territory of member states of the European Union.

  Following discussion, the Council agreed to a joint position on the definition of refugee status, a joint action on airport transit visas, a report on organised crime in 1994, and standard re-admission clauses for mixed agreements with third countries. The Council discussed the question of European Court of Justice jurisdiction in the Dublin convention which deals with the determination of the state responsible for examining applications for asylum lodged in one of the EU member states. The Council noted the current situation with regard to the draft external frontiers convention and discussed the challenge represented by drug trafficking. The insolvency convention was opened for signature and signed by 12 member states.

  The Council had a full discussion on the issue of European Court of Justice jurisdiction in the Europol convention and on the difficulties for the United Kingdom presented by the draft joint action on racism and xenophobia. The Council also examined the draft protocol to the convention on fraud against the revenues of the European Community and the draft convention dealing with matrimonial matters. A number of issues relating to extradition were considered, and the Council discussed proposals my right hon. and learned Friend put forward to enhance co-operation in the fight against terrorism.

  The Council received information from the presidency relating to EU relations with third countries and with the European Parliament in the fields covered by title VI of the treaty of European Union. It also examined certain procedural questions regarding working methods, decision-taking and finance.

  Together with his colleagues, my right hon. and learned Friend signed a memorandum of understanding on the legal interception of telecommunications.

  Child Murder (Joint Enterprises)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about joint enterprise cases in which a child loses its life. [2308]
  650
  Mr. Maclean
  We have examined the relevant legal provisions to see whether there is any scope for changes to make it easier to secure convictions in joint enterprise cases in which a child dies. We have, however, been unable to identify any option for reform which would not itself create further injustice. The priority must be to obtain sufficient evidence in each case pointing to the guilt of one or both parties. The provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will make it more difficult for those who are guilty of such appalling crimes to hide behind their silence in police interviews and at trial. We will keep the law under review and consider any practical proposals for reform.

  Murder Victims (Family Compensation)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to allow the families of(a) all murder victims, (b) parents of adult victims, (c) the adult children of murder victims, (d) the unmarried partners of murder victims and (e) the fathers of illegitimate murder victims who applied for compensation under the tariff-based scheme of criminal injury compensation which was announced in April 1994 and subsequently withdrawn to make a new application under the terms of the new scheme he proposes to implement from April 1996 under the terms of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995. [2309]

  Mr. Maclean
  All applications received under the former tariff scheme fall to be considered or reconsidered under the terms of the 1990 scheme as the only scheme lawfully in force. To allow applicants in any particular category to withdraw a claim lodged between 1 April 1994 and 5 April 1995 and then reapply under the proposed new scheme would be wrong in principle and anomalous in practice.

  Not all applicants in the categories mentioned who were eligible under the former tariff scheme are ineligible under the 1990 scheme. For example, parents of adult victims may have been dependent on their children and thus qualify for an award in respect of that dependency; so too might a common law spouse dependent on the deceased partner. There may be cases where such a claim either fails, or is treated less generously under the 1990 scheme criteria than might be the case under the proposed new tariff scheme. But we cannot reasonably adopt an arrangement whereby applicants since 1 April 1994 can select which scheme they wish to be bound by according to the perceived advantages and disadvantages.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were received from the families of murder victims in general and specifically from(a) parents of adult victims, (b) the adult children of murder victims, (c) the married partners of murder victims and (d) the fathers of illegitimate murder victims, under the tariff-based scheme of criminal injury compensation which was announced in April 1994 and subsequently withdrawn. [2293]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: A total of 1,246 applications in respect of fatal cases were received under the former tariff scheme. All applications received under that scheme are subject to consideration or reconsideration under the 1990 scheme. That has meant

  651
  making changes to the data held and dispersing the case papers to board members and staff for assessment. A precise analysis of the relationship between the applicant and the victim, and the other data requested, are not therefore readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort. The board has, however, provided the following summary of the position.

  A total of 1,192 fatal applications were outstanding when the tariff scheme was withdrawn. About a third were from a parent or parents, some 30 per cent. were in respect of children under 18 years of age, about 20 per cent. were from children aged 18 or over, and some 15 per cent. were from spouses, whether formally married or regarded as a spouse in common law.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was paid out to the families or murder victims in total and specifically to(a) parents of adult victims, (b) the adult children of murder victims and (c) the unmarried partners or murder victims and (d) the fathers of illegitimate murder victims under the tariff-based scheme of criminal injury compensation which was announced in April 1994 and subsequently withdrawn. [2295]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: The board advises that precise figures are not readily available.

  Its estimate is that 40 applications resulted in provisional payment of awards, including funeral expenses, totalling some £200,000.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total cost involved if all applications received from the families of murder victims and specifically from(a) parents of adult victims, (b) the adult children of murder victims, (c) the unmarried partners of murder victims and (d) the fathers of illegitimate murder victims were to be paid under the terms set out in the tariff-based scheme of criminal injury compensation which was announced in April 1994 and subsequently withdrawn. [2294]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Taking account of the proportion of cases which might have failed the eligibility criteria—perhaps 20 per cent.— the total cost might have been of the order of £5 million. Assuming that 250 eligible applicants were from the specific categories mentioned, the estimate for these is in the range £1.25–£2.5 million.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual saving to business which will accrue from(a) the Deregulation (Greyhound Racing) Order 1995 and (b) the Deregulation (Sunday Dancing) Order 1995. [2024]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: It is estimated that the proposal in the Deregulation (Greyhound Racing) Order to remove the requirement for an accountant to be present when the Tote is operated will result in cost savings of £260,000 a year. In addition the industry estimates that inter-track betting will increase turnover by 10 to 15 per cent. in its first year of operation. Details of compliance costs are given in the explanatory memorandum.
  652
  No direct cost savings were anticipated as a consequence of the Deregulation (Sunday Dancing) Order. The industry expected that the order would create new market opportunities and resultant financial benefits although these could not be quantified.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the costs to public funds involved in preparing the cost-benefit assessment contained in the explanatory memorandum for(a) the Deregulation (Greyhound Racing) Order 1995 and (b) the Deregulation (Sunday Dancing) Order 1995. [2023]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Details of costs and benefits were sought as part of the public consultation exercise on the proposed Deregulation (Greyhound Racing) Order 1995 and the Deregulation (Sunday Dancing) Order.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2456]

  Mr. Howard
  In the Session November 1994 to October 1995, 64 statutory instruments—excluding commencement orders—were made. Of these five related to changes in fee levels affecting business; nine either removed burdens on business or provided more favourable regimes; two, relating to video recordings, tightened the law. The remainder had no significant impact on business.

  Only one of the statutory instruments implemented a European Community directive, and none amplified standards set out in an original European Community directive.

  Departmental Drugs Branch
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list annual income from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines what was the total number of staff employed (i) part time and (ii) full time; and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years in respect of the drugs branch of his Department. [2750]

  Mr. Maclean
  Drugs branch is a centrally funded part of the Home Office drugs division. It has four part-time and 28 full-time staff. Annual income from fees—there are no charges or fines—and running costs for each of the past three year were as follows:

  Fees (£)

  Fees (£)

  1992–93

  318,693

  895,614

  1993–94

  358,991

  882,418

  1994–95

  409,200

  875,666

  Immigration (DNA)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dependants aged over 21 years have been allowed to enter the United Kingdom since the Government accepted DNA evidence as conclusive evidence of a relationship; and how many such dependants were allowed to enter the United Kingdom following decisions by Ministers to exercise their discretion exceptionally outside the immigration rules. [2549]

  Mr Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available. No separate statistics are maintained of dependants over the age of 21 admitted as a result of conclusive DNA evidence.

  Witnesses (Media Payments)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has regarding changes in the law relating to newspapers offering money to a witness in a criminal trial before that witness has given evidence in court. [511]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 20 November 1995]: The Government are concerned about the potential impact of payments to witnesses in criminal proceedings. We have sought reports from prosecuting counsel and others on the effect of such payments in the Rosemary West trial and will consider urgently, in the light of those reports, what further action is needed.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases in which people whose applications for political asylum were under consideration were not determined at the closest date to 31 December 1994 for which figures are available.[3143]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As at 31 December 1994, there were 55,225 applications for asylum awaiting initial decisions. The number of people who had claimed asylum and were being detained on this date is not known. As at 18 November 1994, 654 persons, who at some stage had sought asylum including those awaiting removal

  Number of people detained on 21 November 1995 who have sought asylum, by place of detention and stage of application

  Awaiting initial decision on application

  Awaiting result of appeal

  Awaiting removal after application refused

  Other

  Total

  Detained in prison service establishments

  63

  207

  94

  14

  378

  Detained in other places of detention

  89

  188

  57

  64

  398

  Total detained

  152

  395

  151

  78

  776

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by(a) nationality, (b) gender, (c) length of detention, (d) place of detention and (e) immigration status at the time of application. [549]
  654
  following refusal of their applications as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal, were being held in detention.

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been rejected on safe third country grounds to date. [1671]

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

  Ms Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the short procedure pilot scheme introduced in May 1995 for processing asylum claims. [1689]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. and learned Friend on Monday 20 November, at column 335–38.

  Ms Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are currently waiting to be heard. [1686]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  A total of 66,665 asylum applications were awaiting an initial decision as at 31 October 1995.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose cases(a) have yet to be determined and (b) have been determined are (i) currently detained and (ii) currently detained in prisons; and what is the average period of their detention. [986]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As at 21 November 1995, a total of 776 persons who had at some stage sought asylum were detained. This figure includes people awaiting removal following refusal of their applications as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 267 had been in detention less than one month, 99 between one and two months, 304 between two and six months, 89 between six and 12 months, and 17 had been detained for longer than 12 months.

  Information on the stage of application and place of detention of people who have sought asylum is given in the table.

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As at 21 November 1995, a total of 776 persons who had at some stage sought asylum were detained. This figure includes people awaiting removal following refusal of their applications as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 267 had been in detention less than
  655
  one month, 99 between one and two months, 304 between two and six months, 89 between six and 12 months, and 17 had been detained for longer than 12 months.

  Information on the gender, immigration status, nationality and location of those detained, as at 21 November 1995, is provided in tables 1 to 3.

  Table 1: Number of people detained on 21 November 1995 who had sought asylum by immigration status and gender

  Immigration status

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Port case

  363

  34

  397

  Illegal entrant case

  320

  8

  328

  Deportation case

  49

  2

  51

  Total

  732

  44

  776

  Table 2: Number of people detained on 21 November 1995 who had sought asylum, by nationality

  Number

  Afghanistan

  6

  Albania

  4

  Algeria

  78

  Angola

  9

  Bangladesh

  15

  China

  48

  Colombia

  5

  Cote D'Ivoire

  3

  Cuba

  3

  Cyprus

  5

  Ecuador

  3

  Ethiopia

  3

  Gambia

  52

  Ghana

  34

  India

  106

  Iran

  9

  Iraq

  2

  Jamaica

  7

  Kenya

  24

  Lebanon

  4

  Liberia

  13

  Morocco

  8

  Niger

  2

  Nigeria

  107

  Pakistan

  31

  Peru

  3

  Poland

  8

  Romania

  35

  Sierra Leone

  8

  Somalia

  9

  Sri Lanka

  19

  Sudan

  3

  Tanzania

  5

  Togo

  2

  Tunisia

  3

  Turkey

  24

  Uganda

  8

  Former USSR

  15

  Former Yugoslavia

  9

  Zaire

  17

  Other nationalities

  17

  Nationality not known

  10

  Total

  776

  656

  Table 3: Number of persons detained who have claimed asylum as at 21 November 1995, by place of detention

  Place of detention

  Number detained

  Prisons/YOIs

  HMP Rochester

  160

  HMP Haslar

  93

  HMP Winson Green

  43

  HMP Greenock

  11

  HMP Wormwood Scrubs

  11

  HMP Crumlin Road Belfast

  9

  HMP Armley Leeds

  7

  HMP Liverpool

  5

  HMP Brixton

  4

  HMP Wolds

  4

  HMP Belmarsh

  4

  HMP Craiginchess Aberdeen

  3

  HMP Edinburgh Saughton

  3

  HMP Doncaster

  2

  HMP Hindley

  2

  HMP Chelmsford

  2

  HMP The Mount

  2

  HMP Exeter

  2

  Other HM Prisons

  9

  Total

  378

  Other places of detention

  Campsfield House

  164

  Harmondsworth

  99

  Gatwick Detention Centre

  44

  Dover Habour Board

  31

  Stansted

  14

  Queens Building

  13

  Newhaven

  9

  Manchester Airport Detention Suite

  5

  Dover West

  3

  Other Detention Centres

  2

  Police cells

  14

  Total

  398

  Grand total

  776

  External Frontiers Convention
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have emerged from within(a) the Council of Ministers and (b) the Justice and Home Affairs Council to resolve disputes between member states with regard to the draft convention on external borders. [2827]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: At its meeting on 23 November the Justice and Home Affairs Council received a progress report on the state of discussions on the draft external frontiers convention. The report recorded the presidency's hope that outstanding issues could be resolved as soon as possible. A copy of the progress report is being placed in the Library.

  Nigerian Criminals
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the national criminal intelligence service has to conduct an inquiry into the flow of currency between Nigeria and Britain. [2810]
  657
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer on 27 November 1995]: None. The national criminal intelligence service is already aware of the threat to the United Kingdom posed by some Nigerian criminals and monitors the situation on a regular basis.

  Asylum and Immigration
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he held, and from which bodies he sought information, opinions and advice about asylum and immigration problems. [2538]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: We discuss these matters regularly with a wide range of organisations.

  Ethnic Minority Business Group
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the ethnic minority business advisory group meets; when it last met; who are its members; and what issues it is currently pursuing. [1936]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The ethnic minority business advisory group last met on 20 September 1994. It was formally disbanded in September 1995. Its membership consisted of ethnic minority business agencies, representatives of mainstream businesses and organisations, and Government Departments.

  Oleoresin Capsicum
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the police or Prison Service are considering oleoresin capsicum as a possible chemical incapacitant for use in their operations; [2369]

  (2) what (a) biomedical and (b) other technical testing of the chemical agent oleoresin capsicum have recently been carried out by the police scientific development branch, with particular reference to the effects of the agents when dispersed as an aerosol spray; with what results; and what further testing or trials of OC currently are taking place or planned; [2368]

  (3) what recent (a) biomedical or (b) other technical testing of the chemical agent oleoresin capsicum has recently been carried out by his Department; and with what results. [2317]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. In addition, research commissioned by my right hon. and learned Friend has been undertaken into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin. That research indicates that capsaicin is not a genotoxic carcinogen.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has, however, concluded, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, that currently too little is known about oleoresin capsicum's effects on health for it to be considered for use by the police in this country.
  658
  Further work has been undertaken to determine methods of analysing oleoresin capsicum products. The Home Office police scientific development branch will continue to review any relevant research undertaken elsewhere.

  The Prison Service has no proposals to use products containing oleoresin capsicum at this time.

  Police Gallantry Awards
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the rules governing the recommendations for gallantry awards to police officers, with particular reference to the circumstances in which a lesser award may be made than the one for which a recommendation has been made. [2237]

  Mr. Maclean
  There are four categories of civilian gallantry award which may be made to police officers:

  (i) of the highest order (George cross)

  (ii) of an extremely high order (George medal)

  (iii) of a high order (Queen's gallantry medal)

  (iv) not up to the foregoing standards, but entailing risk to life and meriting recognition (Queen's commendation for bravery or the Queen's commendation for bravery in the air)

  The category for which a case may be considered depends on the circumstances of the case and partly upon the risk of death to the person being nominated.

  There are three main factors which must be evident in the actions taken. Firstly, the act of bravery must be carried out in the knowledge of the risk. Secondly the act must show persistence in the face of danger and, thirdly, there must have been a degree of choice in taking positive action. A lesser award will be made than the one recommended if the circumstances of the case do not merit a higher award.

  Princess of Wales
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is taking to investigate allegations by the Princess of Wales that her telephone calls were illegally intercepted. [2366]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no such formal complaint has been received.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by substance the total volume of illegal drugs seized by law enforcement agencies in Britain annually since 1984. [2124]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is contained in tables 2.4 and 2.5 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Statistics of drug seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1993", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total sums spent by law enforcement agencies in Britain in detecting and seizing illegal drugs annually since 1984 in constant prices. [2122]
  659
  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not available. The sums spent on tackling drug trafficking cannot be separated from expenditure on other aspects of law enforcement.

  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate and list by substance the total volume of illegal drugs available for sale in Britain annually since 1984. [2123]

  Mr. Maclean
  Since drug misuse is a clandestine activity, it is impossible to estimate the volume of controlled drugs which is circulating illegally.

  Police Support Functions
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued to chief constables in England and Wales regarding the outsourcing and privatisation of police support functions. [2128]

  Mr. Maclean
  It is the Government's policy to introduce the benefits of the market place to police support functions by extending compulsory competitive tendering to these areas. In support of this policy, the Home Office issued guidance earlier this year on the cleaning of police buildings, 19 April, on police legal services—2 March on police construction-related and property services—2 March, and on police personnel service—9 November.

  Summer Time
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the current policy of putting back the clocks by one hour at the end of the summer. [2130]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  This system of operating without summer time and keeping the clocks on Greenwich mean time plus one hour throughout the year was tried between 1968 and 1971. We have no plans to revert to it.

  Establishment

  Attempted suicides

  Self inflicted deaths

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Acklington

  4

  3

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Albany

  3

  4

  3

  6

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Aldington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ashwell

  2

  1

  2

  3

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Askham Grange

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Aylesbury

  8

  5

  4

  4

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Bedford

  0

  2

  4

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  Belmarsh

  14

  21

  24

  22

  0

  1

  0

  2

  Birmingham

  9

  5

  4

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  Blakenhurst

  not open

  4

  35

  26

  not open

  0

  0

  1

  Blantyre House

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Blundeston

  2

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Brinsford

  10

  10

  6

  22

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Bristol

  4

  7

  6

  11

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Brixton

  24

  26

  23

  6

  1

  1

  3

  0

  Brockhill

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Buckley Hall

  not open

  not open

  0

  1

  not open

  not open

  0

  0

  Bullingdon

  3

  5

  8

  6

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Bullwood Hall

  7

  7

  5

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camp Hill

  5

  3

  8

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Canterbury

  9

  11

  4

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Cardiff

  6

  2

  1

  6

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Castington

  2

  4

  1

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Prison Ombudsman
  Mr Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many cases from Doncaster prison the prisons ombudsman has reported: and if he will make a statement. [2274]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since the prisons ombudsman began to take complaints from prisoners on 24 October 1994 he has received 26 complaints from Doncaster. Twenty of these were ineligible—19 because the prison has not exhausted the internal request complaint system and one because it came from a third party. The eligibility of two cases is currently being considered. Investigations have taken place into the remaining three complaints and in one of these cases the complaint was upheld. This case involved property stolen from a prisoner's cell, apparently as a result of a design fault in the cell windows at Doncaster. The prison ombudsman recommended that the prisoner involved should receive compensation for the loss and the Prison Service accepted this recommendation.

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted suicides and suicides have occurred in each prison for each year since 1992. [2139]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter had 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. Neil Gerrard, dated 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about suicides in Prison Service Establishments since 1992.The attached table gives the number of reported incidents of attempted suicide and the number of self inflicted deaths at each establishment for the years 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 (to 21 November).661

  Establishment

  Attempted suicides

  Self inflicted deaths

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Channingswood

  0

  0

  3

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Chelmsford

  20

  7

  8

  3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Coldingley

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cookham Wood

  2

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dartmoor

  2

  16

  10

  18

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Deerbolt

  2

  5

  9

  15

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  not open

  not open

  59

  37

  not open

  not open

  2

  1

  Dorchester

  6

  2

  3

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Dover

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Downview

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Drake Hall

  3

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Durham

  11

  12

  21

  13

  2

  1

  0

  0

  East Sutton Park

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Wood Park

  0

  closed

  closed

  closed

  0

  closed

  closed

  closed

  Elmley

  18

  9

  23

  8

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Erlestoke

  2

  4

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Everthorpe

  4

  4

  1

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Exeter

  30

  23

  21

  9

  0

  4

  1

  2

  Featherstone

  0

  3

  5

  7

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Feltham

  16

  5

  21

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Ford

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Frankland

  8

  7

  13

  6

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Full Sutton

  3

  7

  12

  27

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Garth

  1

  6

  2

  8

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Gartree

  1

  2

  7

  3

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Glen Parva

  9

  5

  4

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Gloucester

  6

  11

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grendon

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  Guys Marshi

  1

  4

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Haslar

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hatfield

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Haverigg

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Hewell Grange

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Highdown

  1

  14

  20

  9

  0

  1

  1

  4

  Highpoint

  3

  4

  2

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hindley

  24

  19

  13

  3

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  2

  3

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Holloway

  18

  4

  7

  4

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Holme House

  9

  30

  7

  6

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Hull

  7

  12

  20

  22

  2

  1

  2

  1

  Huntercombe

  16

  5

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kingston

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirkham

  2

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirklevington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancaster

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancaster Farms

  0

  13

  1

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Latchmere House

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  2

  1

  0

  8

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Leicester

  0

  5

  14

  19

  1

  3

  3

  1

  Lewes

  5

  3

  7

  1

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Leyhill

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lincoln

  3

  6

  9

  8

  0

  3

  1

  1

  Lindholme

  15

  10

  2

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Littlehey

  14

  8

  4

  11

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  19

  54

  33

  6

  1

  2

  5

  1

  Long Lartin

  5

  7

  6

  6

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Low Newton

  9

  16

  4

  8

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Maidstone

  9

  4

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Manchester

  1

  6

  7

  22

  0

  2

  2

  0

  Moorland

  52

  58

  51

  2

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Morton Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Mount

  2

  3

  4

  3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  New Hall

  2

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Northallerton

  2

  2

  9

  5

  0

  0

  1

  0

  North Eye

  0

  closed

  closed

  closed

  0

  closed

  closed

  closed

  North Sea Camp

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norwich

  18

  25

  3

  10

  2

  2

  0

  4

  Nottingham

  1

  3

  5

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Onley

  14

  15

  6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxford

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Parkhurst

  1

  1

  6

  12

  1

  1

  2

  0

  Pentonville

  18

  54

  25

  14

  4

  0

  0

  2

  Portland

  18

  4

  6

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  662

  663

  Establishment

  Attempted suicides

  Self inflicted deaths

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Preston

  10

  14

  9

  10

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Pucklechurch

  4

  3

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ranby

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Reading

  4

  3

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Risley

  46

  19

  10

  20

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Rochester

  12

  2

  12

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rudgate

  0

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  0

  —

  Send

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shepton Mallet

  1

  0

  4

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Shrewsbury

  7

  4

  3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Spring Hill

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stafford

  8

  6

  2

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Standford Hill

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stocken

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stoke Heath

  2

  3

  7

  5

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Styal

  1

  4

  3

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Sudbury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swaleside

  8

  5

  8

  3

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Swansea

  10

  3

  4

  4

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Swinfen Hall

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Thorn Cross

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Thorpe Arch

  1

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  0

  —

  Usk

  0

  1

  3

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  The Verne

  5

  0

  4

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Wakefield

  2

  2

  6

  3

  1

  3

  1

  1

  Wandsworth

  5

  19

  31

  19

  0

  2

  4

  0

  Wayland

  5

  7

  1

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wealstun

  —

  —

  —

  0

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Wellingborough

  0

  1

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Wellington

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wetherby

  2

  2

  1

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Whatton

  0

  0

  4

  3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Whitemoor

  3

  11

  9

  5

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Winchester

  4

  9

  2

  4

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Wolds

  0

  7

  17

  35

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Woodhill

  2

  8

  12

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Wormwood Scrubs

  19

  21

  16

  38

  1

  0

  3

  0

  Wymott

  1

  3

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  728

  814

  841

  683

  42

  47

  61

  55

  South Africa (Oil Embargo)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were successfully brought against individuals and organisations who breached the oil embargo against South Africa. [2243]

  Mr. Maclean
  Court proceedings data held centrally by my Department do not identify this type of offence.

  Children's Certificates
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a standardised system for the issue of children's certificate liquor licences. [2126]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Among the questions we are considering in our review of the operation of the system of children's certificates is whether there is a need for greater uniformity in the terms on which they are granted.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to ensure that applications from animal welfare charities for lottery funding are considered; [2318]

  (2) what representations he has received from animal welfare charities on the allocation of funds arising from the national lottery. [2319]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have received a number of such representations. The national lottery charities board is responsible for distributing part of national lottery proceeds allocated for charitable expenditure. My right hon. and learned Friend has issued directions to the board. These require it to take into account the need to ensure over time the distribution of money to a reasonably wide spread and range of recipients, including small organisations and those operating purely at a local level. The board—after consultation with the sector, including animal welfare charities—has announced themes for
  665
  future grant rounds which reflect this direction. Animal welfare charities are welcome to apply for grants, and in doing so will no doubt take account of the programme announced by the board.

  Invoices
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many orders and firms are represented by the 8 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. [939]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The number of invoices not paid by my Department within 30 days or in accordance with contractual agreements in 1994–95 was approximately 46,400 out of a total of 580,000 valid invoices. Information on the number of individual purchase orders and firms to which these invoices related is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Illegal Immigration
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the employers' organisations about taking action against employers for employing illegal immigrants. [1670]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Ministers have met representatives of a number of employers' organisations to discuss this matter.

  Visitors
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the cost to public funds of recording the dates on which visitors to the United Kingdom leave the country. [1990]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We estimate the costs of establishing and running an information technology system capable of providing such data would be £66 million over 10 years. There would also be considerable additional Immigration Service staffing and other costs.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of the number of people who entered the United Kingdom on a visitor's visa since 1990 and have overstayed. [1991]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As the hon. Member was informed in the replies given to his questions on 29 March 1994 at column 612 and 15 April 1994 at column 312,

  Average sentence length given for persons sentence to immediate custody for offences of trafficking in class B drugs by sex, type of court and type of offence, 1994

  England and Wales

  Average sentence lengths (months)

  Type of offence

  Sex

  Magistrates' courts

  Crown court

  Production or being concerned in the production of a controlled class B drug1

  M

  —

  57.0

  F

  —

  —

  Supplying or offering to supply a controlled class B drug

  M

  3.6

  16.1

  F

  3.0

  11.9

  Having possession of a controlled class B drug with intent to supply

  M

  3.5

  14.7

  F

  1.5

  10.3

  666
  comprehensive information on which an estimate could be based of the number of visitors who remain in the United Kingdom after the expiry of their leave is not available.

  Prison Population
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners currently being held in(a) Prison Service prisons and (b) privately run prisons. [1687]

  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 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners currently being held in Prison Service prisons and privately run prisons.
  On 23 November 1995, 52,411 prisoners were being held in Prison Service prisons. Of these, 2,103 prisoners were being held in contractually managed establishments.

  Prison Places
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional prison places he expects will be available for use by the end of 1995–96. [1693]

  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 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of additional prison places expected to be available by the end of 1995–96.
  The Certified Normal Accommodation available for uses in prisons in England and Wales on 23 November 1995 was 51,328. Some 1,600 additional places are currently expected to be available by the end of March 1996.

  Drug Trafficking
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average sentence handed down for trafficking in class B drugs to(a) men and (b) women. [1690]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is given in the table.
  667

  Average sentence length given for persons sentence to immediate custody for offences of trafficking in class B drugs by sex, type of court and type of offence, 1994

  England and Wales

  Average sentence lengths (months)

  Type of offence

  Sex

  Magistrates' courts

  Crown court

  Offences in relation to the unlawful importation of a drug controlled under the

  M

  3.1

  51.2

  Misuse of Drugs Act 19712

  F

  —

  55.8

  Offences in relation to the unlawful exportation of a drug controlled under the

  M

  —

  49.2

  Misuse of Drugs Act 19712

  F

  —

  26.4

  1 Excludes production of cannabis (growth of plant).

  2 Class of drug not separately specified.

  Ministerial Proposals
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sectors of his Department have been involved in the drawing up and implementation of his proposals published on 12 October. [1902]

  Mr. Howard
  I draw as necessary on all the relevant parts of my Department.

  Fines
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the court procedures used in(a) Scotland and (b) England for the recovery of fines as a civil debt. [1978]

  Mr. Maclean
  A fine imposed by a court is not a civil debt. In England and Wales, magistrates' courts have a wide range of powers to enforce payment of fines and other financial penalties. The Lord Chancellor has established a working group to identify ways of improving the effectiveness of these powers. Court procedures relating to fine enforcement in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Television Licence Fines
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total annual cost in England and Wales of imprisoning(a) men, (b) women and (c) men and women for the non-payment of a television licence fine. [1925]

  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 Liz Lynne, dated 28 November 1995.
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what is the total annual cost in England and Wales of imprisoning (a) men, (b) women, and (c) men and women for non-payment of a television licence fine.Information on the cost of prisoners according to their type of offence is not collected centrally. On the basis of the number normally in custody—under 10—we estimate the costs of imprisoning these defaulters to be up to £200,000 a year, approximately 67% for men and 33% for women.
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the discrepancies of imprisonment rates for television licence fine defaulters in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland. [1979]
  668
  Mr. Maclean
  Imprisonment cannot be imposed for television licence evasion. It may be imposed by the courts only where an offender has failed to pay a fine imposed upon conviction for failing to have a television licence. A total of 763 people in England and Wales were imprisoned in 1994 for non payment of a fine imposed for television licence evasion. Information is not held centrally on the proportionate use of imprisonment for fine defaulters, where the fine was imposed for television licence evasion, as between England and Wales. Court procedures relating to fine enforcement in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1445]

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 17 May 1995,Official Report, columns 260—62.

  Final figures for 1994–95 are not yet available, but are likely to be broadly in line with those for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those in his Department who have authority to issue public interest immunity certificates; how many such certificates have been issued in each of the last five years; and what were the main reasons for them. [1430]

  Mr. Howard: A claim for public interest immunity is normally made by the appropriate Minister. Within the Home Office central records of public interest immunity certificates used in legal proceedings have only been kept since 1992. The available figures are:

  Year

  Number of PII certificates

  1992

  4

  1993

  5

  1994

  7

  1995

  12

  669
  The certificates have been issued to protect information relating to the Security Service and information relating to the security and operation of prisons.

  Prisoners, Leeds
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of inmates at Leeds gaol were(a) unemployed and (b) homeless before entering prison for each year since 1990. [1464]

  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. John Battle, dated 28 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the percentage of inmates at Leeds jail who were (a) unemployed and (b) homeless before entering prison for each year since 1990.
  This information is not available as Leeds prison does not keep records of its previous prisoners. However, research findings from the National Prison Survey 1991 (from a random sample of the prison population) indicated that approximately 13% of the prison population had no permanent home just before imprisonment and 33% were unemployed.

  Immigration
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) admissions and (b) refusals for immigration and settlement in the United Kingdom have been made in each of the last 10 years. [1551]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Number of persons granted and refused settlement 1985-June 1995

  Persons accepted for settlement1

  Persons overseas initially refused2 an entry clearance for settlement3

  Persons in the UK initially refused4settlement

  1985

  55,360

  n/a

  260

  1986

  47,820

  n/a

  510

  1987

  45,980

  n/a

  540

  1988

  49,280

  n/a

  490

  1989

  49,650

  7,290

  800

  1990

  53,200

  8,240

  1,060

  1991

  53,900

  6,780

  1,750

  1992

  52,570

  7,300

  2,360

  1993

  55,640

  8,690

  3,220

  1994

  55,110

  9,690

  3,020

  19955

  27,890

  n/a

  1,730

  n/a not available.

  1Including persons admitted to the United Kingdom on a temporary basis and subsequently granted settlement following a change of immigration status, as well as persons granted settlement on arrival or admitted in a category leading to settlement and subsequently granted settlement.

  2Some were subsequently granted an entry clearance for settlement following an appeal.

  3Includes applications for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.

  4

  5 January to June, Provisional figures.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Student Costs
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost and what is the cost of(a) fees, (b) student maintenance, (c) student loans and (d) other to the Northern Ireland office of supporting students from Northern Ireland in places of higher education elsewhere in the United Kingdom. [1768]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: In the 1994–95 academic year, the total cost for Northern Ireland domiciled students on first degree, or equivalent courses at institutions of higher education elsewhere in the United Kingdom was £30.8 million. Expenditure on tuition fees was £15.4 million as was that on maintenance grant, including allowances and supplementary maintenance.

  The information on loans is not readily available from the Student Loans Company and could be obtained only from the company at disproportionate cost.

  Information about access funds which are administered by the higher education institutions is not available.

  Student Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the ratio of provision of higher education places and qualified students in Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. [1769]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding reply 27 November 1995]: Available information relates to students studying in each of the four territories, and the number of students domiciled in each territory. The 1993–94 figures in respect of full-time undergraduates are as follows:

  (a) Full-time undergraduate students studying in territory

  (b) Full-time undergraduate students domiciled in territory

  (c) Ratio of places : students (a) : (b)

  Northern Ireland

  23,000

  30,200

  0.8: 1

  England

  755,200

  704,100

  1.1 : 1

  Wales

  52,600

  43,800

  1.2: 1

  Scotland

  117,400

  92,100

  1.3 : 1

  Legislative Repeals and Reviews
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislation from his Department passed in the last five years contains provision for statutory repeal or review. [2037]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: In Northern Ireland the Emergency Provisions Act 1991 is required to be renewed annually in order to keep the statutes in force.

  As part of the Government's deregulation initiative Northern Ireland Departments have been reviewing, on a regular basis, legislation which affects business.

  Dry Stone Walls
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) grants and (b) other support will be available from his Department for the conservation and protection of dry stone walls from April 1996. [2329]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The only scheme with this provision in Northern Ireland will be the sub-programme for agriculture and rural development. It was suspended temporarily from 24 March 1995 to allow an assessment to be made of the financial commitments to cover the applications already received. No decision has been made yet when it can be reopened.

  This scheme offered 50 per cent. grant rate on a maximum expenditure of £25,000 on a variety of items including the provision, replacement and improvement of dry stone walls.

  Electricity
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals or plans have been notified to his Department to deal with increased demand for electricity in(a) Newry (b) Armagh and (c) South Armagh. [1239]

  Mr. Ancram
  My Department has been informed by Northern Ireland Electricity that the maximum demand in the Newry and South Armagh area is increasing by 2.7 per cent per annum and in Armagh by 2.5 per cent. per annum.

  NIE plc have further advised that development plans covering these areas are currently being implemented. These include the provision of new substations, providing new 33kv and 11kv circuits, replacing obsolete equipment and carrying out extensive network refurbishment.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to resolve outstanding problems of low voltage supply in(a) Newry and (b) South Armagh. [1240]

  Mr. Ancram
  This is primarily a matter for Northern Ireland Electricity plc. NIE has informed my Department that it is implementing an extensive programme of works in these areas.

  Camlough Lake
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in determining the future ownership and usage of Camlough lake, South Armagh. [1241]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment's Water Executive inherited water abstraction rights at Camlough lake at local government reorganisation in 1973. In August 1994 it published notice of its intention to vest the bed and soil of the lake. This is necessary to ensure the sufficiency of water obtained from this source for the pubic supply and to facilitate effective protection of the quality of water supplies.

  A number of representations about the vesting proposals have been received. Discussions are currently underway with objectors, including those with parallel use proposals for the lake such as recreational development and hydro-electric power generation. The Water
  672
  Executive's position in such discussions is that any supplementary development must be compatible with the continuing use of the lake as a water supply source for the Newry area, especially in regard to the safeguarding of water quality. If agreement is not forthcoming in these discussions the Department will convene a local inquiry at which the outstanding issues can be presented and progress made to determining the lake's future ownership and use.

  It is my understanding, as conveyed in a recent letter from my noble Friend, Baroness Denton, to the chief executive of Newry and Mourne district council, that the Director-General of Electricity Supply is still considering the complex issues involved in proposals for pumped storage electricity generation at Camlough.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1)what proportion of decisions to refuse incapacity benefit have been(a) overturned on appeal and (b) are pending a decision since the benefit was introduced in April; [1242]

  (2) what is the total number of applications received for incapacity benefit since April; [1243]

  (3) what is the average length of time taken to process an incapacity benefit appeal; [1244]

  (4) how many decisions to award incapacity benefit have been issued since April; [1245]

  (5) how many decisions to refuse incapacity benefit applications have been issued since April; [1246]

  (6) what is the average cost of each incapacity benefit appeal. [1247]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 28 November 1995:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary questions in which you asked for some statistical information on Incapacity Benefit.
  Some 30,000 claims to Incapacity Benefit were received from 13 April 1995 to 31 October 1995. Unfortunately, records are not maintained on the actual number of claims which were either allowed or refused but I can tell you that 2474 claims were disallowed during this period solely on incapacity grounds. Not included in this figure are claims disallowed for other reasons such as insufficient contributions, last claims and dependents claims.
  As we do not maintain statistics on the number of claims refused, I'm afraid I cannot provide you with the number of appeals received as a proportion of the overall number of refusals. However, a total of 358 appeals has been received by the Agency since April 1995, 50 appeals have been heard, 19 of which were allowed by the Appeal Tribunal. Of the remaining 308 appeals outstanding, 81 are awaiting hearing by an Appeal Tribunal and the remainder, the majority of which have been received within the last couple of months, are still in the process of being prepared.
  Finally, the average length of time taken to process an incapacity appeal from the date of receipt in the Agency until the appeal papers are despatched to the Independent Tribunal Service for hearing is 36 working days. However, no information is available on the average cost of each incapacity appeal.

  673
  I hope you find this information helpful but if you require any further clarification please let me know.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2463]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Three statutory instruments were sponsored directly by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. None of these constituted a new rule or regulation. None of them were introduced to implement European Community directives.

  In addition 16 Orders in Council were made in the last session of Parliament, under schedule 1 paragraph of the Northern Ireland Act 1974.

  Eight of the Orders in Council constituted a new rule, that is their main purpose was not to amend, supersede or replace earlier rules or regulations.

  None of the Orders in Council were introduced to implement European Community directives.

  In addition, 35 statutory instruments were sponsored by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland acting with Great Britain Departments. Four of these were introduced to implement European Community directives.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the Acts of Parliament including consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by her Department since January 1994. [29]

  Mr. Paice
  There are none.

  Training and Enterprise Council, Barnsley and Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC's report and accounts for 1994–95 to be published; and if she will make a statement. [2275]

  Mr. Paice
  The Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council's annual report for 1994–95 was published in August 1995. A copy has been placed in the Library. Further copies can be obtained by contacting the TEC.

  A copy of the TEC's annual accounts for 1994–95 were lodged with Companies House in November 1995 and have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been allocated to the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC for training from(a) the single regeneration budget and (b) the single regeneration budget challenge fund. [2239]
  674
  Mr. Paice
  The money for successful bids to the single regeneration budget challenge fund round 1 was allocated to the partnerships who submitted the bid, not to individual members of the partnership. I understand that successful bids for challenge fund round 2 are expected to be announced in December.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the level of administrative costs of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; and if she will make a statement. [2276]

  Mr. Paice
  This is an operational matter for Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council.

  Executive Agencies (Travel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each of the executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by agency staff(a) the costs of the travel, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff concerned. [2289]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Two executive agencies report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State: the Teachers' Pensions Agency and the Employment Service.

  In the last financial year there was no overseas travel by staff of the Teachers' Pension Agency.

  Details of overseas travel by staff of the Employment Service are not separately recorded and could not be provided without disproportionate cost. The number of Employment Service staff who travel overseas is however small. Visits are predominantly to European Union and former eastern block countries in connection with employment and training developments. The cost of some Employment Service visit is met from the know-how fund, the United Kingdom's programme of bilateral assistance to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Employment services are among the priorities in these countries.

  Pupil Registration Regulations
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has further to update the Pupils Registration Regulations 1956.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Revised and updated pupil registration regulations came into effect on 1 September 1995 and copies were sent to all schools and local education authorities in England. We will consider whether any additional guidance is necessary in the light of the West case.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the area of playing fields in England that has been sold off since 1981. [2672]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not held centrally.
  675
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many school playing fields have been sold in England since the introduction of regulation DES 909 in 1981. [2589]

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

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the value of playing fields in England that have been sold off since 1981. [2586]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Education (School Premises) Regulations
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research her Department has commissioned into the impact on children's(a) learning, (b) health, (c) safety and (d) discipline, arising from the proposed changes to the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. [2715]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 were reviewed by officials and professional advisers in the Department and the Welsh Office. The views of LEAs, school governors, teachers' association and voluntary bodies were sought.

  The changes to the regulations we are considering will safeguard the health and safety of pupils. We do not believe that the changes will have any effect on learning and discipline in schools.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that(a) the number of three-and-a-half, four and five-year-olds and (b) the quality of education of this group in nursery education in Solihull will be maintained following the implementation of her nursery voucher proposals; and if she will make a statement; [2650]

  (2) if she will estimate the number of local education authorities where the quality of nursery education for three-and-a-half, four and five-year-olds will (a) improve and (b) deteriorate as a result of her nursery voucher proposals; and if she will make a statement. [2675]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The introduction of nursery education vouchers will be accompanied by measures to assure the quality of what is provided, which will be of benefit to parents in all areas. The funding mechanism is designed to ensure that if maintained schools continue to recruit pupils as they do now, there is no financial disadvantage. However, the number of four-year-olds in state provision will depend on parental choice, and on the response of providers to the voucher scheme.

  Provision for other age groups should not be affected by the scheme.

  Teachers Pensions Agency
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of the failure to implement the Hoskyns computer system at the Teachers Pensions Agency. [2714]
  676
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The cost of the failure to implement the pensions administration system forms a significant component of a claim which the Department is pursuing against Hoskyns, through litigation. Since the litigation is as yet unresolved, it would be inappropriate to provide details at this stage.

  Managers (Training)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to expand the provision of postgraduate courses for the training of managers for the manufacturing sector. [2571]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for providing postgraduate courses for managers within the manufacturing sector rests with higher education institutions, who take demand from manufacturing industry into account in arranging their provision.

  Furthermore, the Government are keen supporters of the use by organisations in all sectors of the national occupational standards for managers. These were developed in consultation with industry to articulate best practice by managers at all levels. They also form the basis for national vocational qualifications.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to ensure the expansion of postgraduate education successfully produces high quality industrial managers. [2679]

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have introduced comprehensive quality assurance arrangements within higher education which apply to all subjects, including management. The Higher Education Funding Council for England has a statutory responsibility to undertake quality assessment in specific subjects; and the Higher Education Quality Council undertakes quality audits of institutions' internal quality control systems.

  In addition, the Department is taking forward its Competitiveness White Paper commitment to
  "look to Business Schools and others to contribute to improving the skills base by continuing improvement in the relevance and quality of courses".

  This has resulted in contracts being agreed with a number of business schools to develop postgraduate level courses which are competence based and which draw where appropriate on the national management standards.

  Remploy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are currently engaged in work with Remploy; and if she will indicate the locations of the work force in each case. [2662]

  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. Barry Jones, dated 28 November 1995.
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many people are currently engaged in work with Remploy and the locations of the workforce in each case.677
  A total of 10,929 people, of whom 9,357 were disabled workers, were engaged in work in Remploy at the end of October 1995. 8,682 (7,110 disabled workers) were working in 102 locations and these are listed in the attached table (Annex 1). The remaining 2,247 are Interworkers who are supported by Remploy in placements with host firms but not working on Remploy premises.

  I hope this is helpful.

  ANNEX 1

  Aberdare

  Aberdeen

  Abertillery

  Acton

  Aintree

  Ashington

  Aycliffe

  Banbury

  Barking

  Barnsley

  Barrow

  Bath

  Belfast

  Birkenhead

  Birmingham

  Blackburn

  Blackwood

  Bolton

  Bradford

  Bridgend

  Bridgewater

  Bristol

  Brynamman

  Brixton

  Bromborough

  Burnley

  Chatham

  Chesterfield

  Cleator Moor

  Clydebank

  Coventry

  Cowdenbeath

  Croespenmaen

  Derby

  Dudley

  Dundee

  Edinburgh

  Gateshead

  Halifax

  Hartlepool

  Hereford

  Hillington

  Holloway

  Huddersfield

  Hull

  Jarrow

  Leatherhead

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Leven

  London

  Lydney

  Manchester

  Mansfield

  Medway

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Milton Keynes

  Motherwell

  Neath

  Newcastle under Lyne

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Norwich

  Oldham

  Oxford

  Oxfordshire

  Penzance

  Pinxton

  678

  Plymouth

  Pontefract

  Poole

  Porth

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  Radcliffe

  Redruth

  Rotherham

  St. Helens

  Salford

  Sheffield

  Southampton

  Southend

  Spennymoor

  Springburn

  Starman

  Stirling

  Stockport

  Stockton

  Stoke

  Sunderland

  Swansea

  Tixall

  Treforest

  Trentham

  Wakefield

  Wigan

  Wisbech

  Wolverhampton

  Woolwich

  Worksop

  Wrexham

  York

  Ystradgynlais

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to sell off Remploy; and if she will make a statement. [2663]

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

  Legislative Repeals and Reviews
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what legislation from her Department passed in the last five years contains provision for statutory repeal or review. [2028]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Statutes frequently contain provisions for the repeal of other provisions. I am not however aware of any provision in legislation promoted by the former Department for Education or the former Employment Department in the last five years which provides for future repeal or for future review by Parliament.

  Training for Work
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the number of new recruits to the training for work programme in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each month since January 1994. [2425]
  679
  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The information requested is in the following table:

  Training for work—Number of starts in period ending1

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  1994

  31/28 January

  29,000

  1,800

  2,700

  27/25 February

  26,500

  1,900

  3,200

  27/31 March

  22,100

  1,600

  3,100

  24/29 April

  18,700

  1,400

  2,600

  22/27 May

  19,300

  1,500

  2,500

  19 June/1 July

  18,900

  1,300

  3,000

  17/29 July

  20,300

  1,500

  1,900

  14/26 August

  18,800

  1,200

  2,800

  11/30 September

  20,200

  1,400

  3,800

  9/28 October

  32,600

  2,800

  2,800

  6/25 November

  24,000

  1,700

  2,900

  4/30 December

  22,900

  1,800

  2,000

  1995

  1 January

  11,600

  700

  n/a

  30/27 January

  24,200

  1,800

  2,600

  26/24 February

  22,400

  1,400

  2,900

  26/30 March

  15,800

  800

  3,300

  23/27 April

  11,100

  700

  2,200

  21/25 May

  15,600

  800

  2,400

  18/22 June

  14,400

  900

  2,800

  16/30 July

  15,200

  800

  1,600

  13/27 August

  13,600

  700

  2,200

  Source:

  TEC MI returns, the Welsh Office, the Scottish Office.

  1 First date shown is for England and Wales, the second is for Scotland.

  Some trainees may have changed programmes and are therefore counted twice.

  Learning Credits
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to provide a scheme of learning credits for those aged 16 years; and if she will make a statement. [2819]

  Mr. Paice
  The second competitiveness White Paper: "Forging Ahead", published in May, noted that the Government remain attracted in principle to the idea of learning credits for all 16 to 19-year-olds, while recognising that it would have significant practical implications. We have invited comments on the Coopers and Lybrand study of learning credits which was also published in May. We are now considering how best to develop the idea further in the context of the Department's wider programme, set out in the White Paper, to improve education and training for 16 to 19-year-olds.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many school governing bodies she has consulted in respect of modifications to their published proposals for grant-maintained status. [2894]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In some 650 cases the school governing body has been consulted.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total amount of financial balances held by both local education authority and 680
  grant-maintained schools broken down by local authority. [2696]

  Mr. Squire
  For local education authority schools in England this information was given in respect of 1993–94 in answers to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 19 January 1995,Official Report, column 641–43 and 27 January 1995, Official Report, column 410–11. I shall write to the hon. Member when the Department has completed its examination of the local management of schools outturn statements produced by LEAS for 1994–95.

  The financial monitoring of grant-maintained schools is the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will compare the trends in the examination results at grant-maintained and non-grant-maintained schools. [2879]

  Mr. Squire
  Over the last four years pupils at GM schools have, on average, gained better GCSE results than their LEA school counterparts, as the table shows:

  Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving 5+ GCSE grades A1-C

  Percentage

  1992

  1993

  1994

  11995

  LEA maintained schools

  Comprehensive

  34.3

  36.4

  38.5

  38.7

  Selective

  86.9

  91.6

  94.1

  94.0

  Modern/other

  18.6

  22.0

  24.1

  25.9

  Total

  35.0

  37.0

  39.1

  39.4

  Grant-maintained schools

  Comprehensive

  38.8

  40.9

  43.4

  44.7

  Selective

  89.8

  93.2

  94.5

  93.7

  Modern/other

  20.3

  23.0

  24.6

  26.2

  Total

  44.9

  45.3

  47.4

  48.8

  1 The 1995 figures are provisional.

  The difference is most marked when the performance of comprehensive school pupils is compared. In 1992 38.8 per cent, of GM school pupils had gained three or more grades A to C, compared with 34.3 per cent. in LEA-maintained schools, a gap of 4.5 per cent. By 1995 this gap has risen to 6 per cent.

  Information is not yet available on trends in results at GM and LEA primary schools. In 1994 the key stage 1 results for GM and LEA primary schools were as follows:

  Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above

  Reading

  Writing

  Number

  GM

  LEA

  GM

  LEA

  GM

  LEA

  84

  80

  72

  67

  85

  82

  Equivalent information on key stage one results in 1995 will be available early in the new year, together with results for key stages 2 and 3 for the first time.

  Supplementary Credit Approvals
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what applications were made by metropolitan districts for supplementary credit approvals in each of the last three years; how much of each sum granted was(a) unused or (b) not used within the time limit attached to the approval; and if she will make a statement. [2871]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested on applications is as follows:

  Year

  Sum of bids £ m

  Number of bids

  1993–94

  22.9

  94

  1994–95

  36.3

  104

  1995–96

  43.3

  103

  Further bids are likely during the remainder of the 1995–96 financial year.

  Information on supplementary credit approvals which authorities have not used is not held centrally.

  Education, Nottinghamshire
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many representations she has received about the need to maintain and improve education services in Nottinghamshire in 1996–97; if she will summaries these representations; and if she will list the individuals and organisations that have sent them. [2756]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of such representations, many of which have requested increased funding for school budgets in 1996–97. It is not possible to list the individuals and organisations that have made these representations.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many statutory instruments her Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2468]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department for Education, Employment Department and the Department for Education and Employment sponsored a total of 92 statutory instruments of which seven wholly or partly were introduced to implement European Community directives. None of these amplify the minimum standards set out in the original directive.

  Departmental Expenditure Plans
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for her Department's expenditure in 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [3233]
  682
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in a statement today, the Government intend to provide £14,040 million for the Department's voted expenditure in 1996–97. This will be in addition to expenditure on schools provided through the local authority finance settlement.

  SCHOOLS

  Provision for schools is to increase by £878 million. The bulk of this will be provided through the local authority finance settlement. Detailed allocations for individual local authorities will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 30 November. The local authority settlement will allow for an increase of 4.5 per cent. for schools. It is for local authorities to decide how to allocate the available funding, but the Government expect that priority will be given to schools. The total package of Government and local authority funding for schools—including provision for the under-fives—represents an increase over 1995–96 of 4.9 per cent.

  Schools capital

  In 1996–97, the amount available for school building will be £625 million, an increase of £40 million or 6.8 per cent. on the current year. This includes an extra £8 million for grant-maintained schools, £5 million for voluntary aided schools, and £27 million for local authority schools. Alongside these extra resources lie the new opportunities arising from the private finance initiative; the proposed legislation enabling grant-maintained schools to borrow commercially; the full use of proceeds from asset disposals by grant-maintained schools; and the relaxations on the capital controls which apply to disposals of local authority school property. Overall this is an excellent outcome which will help to maintain the school building programme at record levels and to introduce a substantial challenge fund for school renewal, further details of which will be announced shortly.

  Grant-maintained Schools

  The Government will continue to ensure that GM schools receive the necessary funding to meet their extra responsibilities and particular circumstances.

  The plans provide for spending on special purpose grants to be maintained broadly at current levels. The Funding Agency for Schools is considering the balance of provision between the various grants.

  Specialist schools

  The settlement includes £23 million in 1996–97, £28 million in 1997–98 and £27 million in 1998–99 for our specialist schools programme. Already, 101 schools are operating as technology colleges and six as language colleges. The settlement, with provision higher than announced last year, will enable us to expand the network of schools to well over 250 schools by 1998–99.

  Teacher Training Agency

  The total grant for the Teacher Training Agency for recurrent and capital expenditure is planned at £198 million, £208 million and £214 million in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively. The grant takes account of changes in forecast student numbers which reflect, among other things, revised targets for intakes into initial teacher training courses. It also covers the Headlamp scheme, and work on the development and piloting of the new national professional qualification for headteachers.
  683
  FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  16–19 and further education student numbers

  The plans provide for the forecast increase in demand from 16–19 year olds for education and training in schools, colleges or by work-based routes to be met. This will contribute to the achievement of the national targets which the Government have endorsed for the year 2000. The number of students in further education is forecast to increase by 50,000 students in 1996–97 overall and 20 per cent. in all between 1994 and 1999.

  Grant to further education funding council

  The total grant to the FEFC is planned at £3,069 million in 1996–97, £3,049 million in 1997–98 and £3,016 million in 1998–99. Within those totals, reflecting the priority accorded to this sector of education, the level of recurrent grant per year has been maintained at just under £2.96 billion per year, as announced a year ago. These figures imply continuing efficiency gains over the next three years to help meet the forecast increases in student numbers.

  I have set as a condition of my grant to the FEFC that it requires institutions in the further education sector to take account of the principles set out in the Chancellor's statement on public sector pay of 18 September 1995. Any failure by institutions to observe these principles may be expected to have an adverse effect on the level of grant made available to the council in 1997–98.

  Modem apprenticeships and youth training

  Government funding on modern apprenticeships and youth training is planned to increase by £116 million next year against anticipated expenditure in 1995–96 to £783 million. Plans allow for 60,000 entrants to modern apprenticeships next year, a doubling of the number of entrants to the programme compared to the anticipated level of entrants in 1995–96.

  EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

  Employment service programmes

  The welcome reduction in the past year in the number of people out of work for over six months has enabled the Government to make savings in existing employment programmes. The Government have also taken the opportunity to rebalance provision so that it supports the key aims of the jobseekers allowance. The "1-2-1" programme of intensive help for individual long-term unemployed people will be more than doubled to support active job search. A new package of help and assistance with fares to interviews for people who have been unemployed for 13 weeks will be introduced. Community action will cease at the end of 1995–96, and we will conduct pilots of a programme of mandatory work experience for people out of work for two years or more, who have failed to benefit from other help provided by the Employment Service.

  Training for work

  The planned reduction in the number of people joining training for work next year—12 per cent.—is broadly in line with the reduction in the number of people reaching six months' unemployment. The programme will continue to focus on getting more trainees into jobs. Participation on the programme of people with special needs, and younger long-term unemployed people, will be maintained at broadly the same levels as this year.
  684
  Lifetime learning

  The major programme initiatives to support lifetime learning—skills for small businesses and employer investment in people—are being broadly maintained at their previously planned levels. Over the survey period some £150 million is planned to be spent encouraging employers to invest in the training and development of their employees.

  Jobseeker's allowance

  The provision that my Department has been given will include the resources required to introduce JSA in October 1996. We regard JSA as a most important step in our wide-ranging labour market reforms.

  Total opportunities

  Overall, some 1.5 million opportunities will be provided for unemployed people in 1996–97, broadly the same level as in the current year.

  TRAINING AND ENTERPRISE COUNCILS

  Provision for programmes delivered by training and enterprise councils, at £1,437 million is set to rise by 5 per cent. from anticipated expenditure this year. TEC budgets, within these programmes, are estimated at £1,173 million, 5 per cent. more than forecast expenditure by TECs this year.

  HIGHER EDUCATION

  The Government have maintained their plans for student numbers in higher education. Within the planned totals, it should be possible for universities and colleges to expand further the numbers of part-time students and to keep the participation rate for young people at over 30 per cent. through to 1998–99. I have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England to continue to exercise tight controls over the number of full-time and sandwich undergraduate students in the next three years, in order to contain forecast spending and to protect quality.

  Tuition fees

  The maximum tuition fees reimbursed through mandatory awards in 1996–97 will be the same as for 1995–96: £750 for classroom-based courses; £1,600 for laboratory and workshop-based courses; and £2,800 for the clinical elements of medical, dental and veterinary courses. The maximum tuition fee paid through postgraduate awards funded by my Department will be £2,490 in 1996–97.

  HEFCE grant

  The total provision for the HEFCE for recurrent and capital expenditure is planned at £3,438 million, £3,381 million and £3,336 million in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively. Within these totals, the settlement confirms the plans for recurrent expenditure announced a year ago. I have asked the funding council to have regard to equipment needs, especially equipment for research, in allocating grant to institutions. I have set as a condition of my grant to the HEFCE, and also to the TTA, that they require institutions in the high education sector to take account of the principles set out in the Chancellor's statement on public sector pay of 18 September 1995. Any failure by institutions to observe these principles may be expected to have an adverse effect on the level of grant made available to the council in 1997–98.

  Student support

  The plans allow for the level of student support through the main rates for grants and loans to be increased over the next three years in line with inflation. In 1996–97, loan

  685
  and grant taken together will increase by 2.6 per cent., in line with the forecast change in the retail prices index, exclusive of mortgage interest payments. The main allowances, including dependants' allowances, will also be increased by 2.6 per cent. in 1996–97. Planned expenditure in the financial year 1996–97 is £698 million in loans and £2,009 million on mandatory awards covering maintenance grants and tuition fees. Access funds are being maintained at £28 million a year.

  The Government decided in 1993 to accelerate the shift from grant to loan so that by 1996–97 the main rate of grant and loan would be broadly equal. The new rates provide for the main rates of grants to be reduced by about 9 per cent. in 1996–97 with a corresponding increase in the loan rates, so that broad parity will be achieved. The parental contribution scales under the awards regulations will be adjusted so that, for parents whose residual income has risen at the same rate or slower than the rise in national average earnings, the assessed contribution will continue to fall in real terms.

  FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION CAPITAL

  The Government believe that within the framework of the private finance initiative, colleges in the further education sector and higher education institutions can, and should, be enabled to make much greater use of private finance in funding capital works. Within the total grant to the FEFC, the plans provide for capital grant of £110 million in 1996–97, £92 million in 1997–98 and £59 million in 1998–99. The capital grant to the HEFCE provides for £243 million in 1996–97, £228 million in 1997–98 and £189 million in 1998–99.

  OTHER INITIATIVES

  On top of the increase in general provision for schools, extra funding is also being provided for a range of programmes designed to widen choice, enhance diversity and promote excellence across all educational sectors:

  Nursery provision

  The settlement for under-fives in 1996–97 is £37 million—of which £16 million is transferred from education standard spending. Phase 1 of the nursery education voucher scheme will start in a limited number of local authority areas in April 1996. The scheme will be implemented throughout England in April 1997 subject to the passage of necessary legislation.

  Grants for educational support and training

  The overall level of funding available for grants for educational support and training will increase by 6 per cent. over the 1995–96 equivalent programme. The new total will provide £264 million for schools and local education authorities to spend on a range of important educational priorities—in particular measures for improving school effectiveness. Two new grants will be introduced, providing support for improving literacy and numeracy, and pupil behaviour and discipline. The scheme to raise standards of literacy and numeracy would support the establishment, in close co-operation with Ofsted, of a network of centres which would work with groups of local primary schools to help them improve the teaching and learning of these core skills. Full details of all GEST programmes will be announced shortly.
  686
  Assisted places scheme

  The plans include provision for a further expansion of the assisted places scheme. The scheme will be doubled in size over time, with the pace of expansion depending on the supply of new places—for which I have invited bids from eligible schools—and on parental demand.

  Out-of-school care initiative

  The out of school childcare programme will continue to offer parents with school-age children the chance to participate more fully in the labour market. Funding will be available to make grants to childcare projects to cover the initial set up costs, and contribute towards operating costs for up to 12 months while the project becomes firmly established.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made with the arrangements to introduce three-year licences for TECs, and if she will make a statement. [3234]

  Mr. Paice
  I am pleased to be able to announce today that 13 training and enterprise councils have completed the process of meeting the rigorous standards we set for the award of three-year licences. The licences will be effective from April 1996. The TECs are:

  Central England

  Co. Durham

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  Devon and Cornwall

  Dorset

  Greater Nottingham

  Leeds

  Norfolk and Waveney

  Normid TEC

  Rochdale

  Teesside

  Tyneside

  Wolverhampton

  A number of other TECs are close to completing the process. I expect to make shortly further announcements of TECs to be awarded licences from April 1996.

  This announcement brings the total number of licensed TECs to 42, over half of the TEC network in England. Our expectation has always been that the introduction of licensing for all England TECs would take until 1997.

  Youth Training
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assistance is given to unemployed young people or those in part-time employment seeking to establish a co-operative run enterprise as a means of creating permanent full-time employment in response to market demand. [1789]

  Mr Raymond S. Robertson
  I have been asked to reply.

  In Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are responsible for the business start-up scheme, which assists unemployed people to become self-employed. In 1995–96, over £11 million has been allocated to this scheme. Resources are not earmarked

  687
  specifically for the establishment of co-operative run enterprises, but neither is support precluded. Assistance may also be provided through the main programme, training for work, which helps long-term unemployed
  688
  people into work. Some local enterprise companies provide financial support, via regional councils, to assist individuals and organisations, particularly in areas of high unemployment, to set up co-operatives.

  Prison Building Costs
  Prison Building Costs
  Prisoner Numbers by Length of Sentence
  Prisoner Numbers by Length of Sentence
  Prisoners Sentenced for Burglary and Drugs Offences
  Prisoners Sentenced for Burglary and Drugs Offences
  Male Farmers in Wales: Deaths from Injury and Poisoning
  Male Farmers in Wales: Deaths from Injury and Poisoning
  Murder: Defence of Provocation
  Murder: Defence of Provocation
  Service Housing: Management
  Service Housing: Management
  Prisoners in Scotland: Early Release
  Prisoners in Scotland: Early Release
  Prisoners in Scotland: Cost per Place
  Prisoners in Scotland: Cost per Place
  Prisons in Scotland: Capacity and Population
  Prisons in Scotland: Capacity and Population
  EU Nationals on Remand in Scotland
  EU Nationals on Remand in Scotland
  Recycled Paper: House of Lords Use
  Recycled Paper: House of Lords Use
  Game Licences
  Game Licences
  Treaties: "Ponsonby Rule"
  Treaties: "Ponsonby Rule"
  British Citizens' Property Claims in Former GDR
  British Citizens' Property Claims in Former GDR
  The Homeless: Poor Diet
  The Homeless: Poor Diet
  Social Security (Income Support Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations
  Social Security (Income Support Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations
  Income Support and Mortgage Protection
  Income Support and Mortgage Protection
  Armistice Day: Two-Minute Silence
  Armistice Day: Two-Minute Silence
  Mr. Nicholas Soames
  Mr. Nicholas Soames
  M.1: Extension to Central London
  M.1: Extension to Central London
  Marriage, Divorce and Mediation: Survey of Public Attitudes
  Marriage, Divorce and Mediation: Survey of Public Attitudes