Written Answers of 29 November 1995

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Quality of Service Survey
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will list(a) the cost of the Serjeant at Arms quality of service survey and (b) the payment to Janet Levin Associates for its services in connection with the survey. [2435]

  Mr. Beith
  The final cost of the survey is dependent on the amount of work which is considered necessary at each stage to complete it satisfactorily. I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to write to the hon. Member with details.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister what issues concerning Cyprus were discussed by him during his recent meeting with the Prime Minister of Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [3171]

  The Prime Minister
  I discussed with Mrs. Ciller the prospects for a solution of the Cyprus problem. We agreed that the status quo was not acceptable. I urged Mrs. Ciller to bring positive Turkish influence to bear in moving towards a settlement.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Green Paper on legal aid to the seemingly wealthy was published; when the consultation period ended; and when a decision will be announced. [2001]

  Mr. Evans
  The Lord Chancellor published his consultation paper on legal aid for the apparently wealthy on 20 December 1994. The consultation period ended on 1 March 1995 and a press release listing the Lord Chancellor's proposals was issued on 26 April 1995. A

  CPS England Magistrates' Courts cases

  Of which…

  Received

  Dealt with1

  Completed in Magistrates Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals2

  Year ending September 1993

  1,365,586

  1,285,624

  898,921

  173,423

  97,121

  116,109

  Year ending September 1994

  1,354,692

  1,245,974

  868,062

  148,440

  98,563

  130,909

  690
  report by the study group on the establishment of the special investigations unit will go before the Lord Chancellor in the near future. Proposed amendments to the regulations will be placed before Parliament early in 1996.

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many justices of the peace there are per 1,000 persons in each of the district council areas in Northern Ireland. [1668]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Justices of the peace are appointed to serve in county court divisions. Details of the number of justices of the peace per 1,000 persons in each division in Northern Ireland are as follows:

  Ards: 1.7

  Antrim: 1.3

  Armagh and South Down: 1.6

  Belfast: 2.0

  Craigavon: 2.0

  Fermanagh and Tyrone: 1.0

  Londonderry: 2.0.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list for(a) each court circuit in Wales, (b) for Wales as a whole and (c) for England for each of the last three years for which figures are available: (i) the number of cases submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police for consideration of bringing proceedings, (ii) the number of prosecutions brought by the Crown Prosecution Service and (iii) the figures in (ii) expressed as a percentage of (i); and if he will make a statement. [1090]

  The Attorney-General
  The tables of figures show the number of cases received from the police and those dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service during the last three years, for Wales and for England. The figures comprise proceedings in the magistrates courts, but do not include the specialised casework handled by the headquarters of the service. No figures are held for individual court circuits.

  The percentage of cases discontinued, expressed as a proportion of those dealt with, was:

  Wales percentage

  England percentage

  Year ending September 1993

  11.8

  13.5

  Year ending September 1994

  11.1

  11.9

  Year ending September 1995

  12.1

  11.9

  691

  CPS England Magistrates' Courts cases

  Of which…

  Received

  Dealt with1

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals2

  Year ending September 1995

  1,293,999

  1,243,964

  861,904

  147,561

  89,566

  144,933

  1Cases dealt with comprise all those completed, excluding advice cases and non criminal proceedings.

  2Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases in which the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant could not be found, and other cases in which the prosecution could not proceed (e.g., through the death of the defendant).

  CPS Wales Magistrates' Courts cases

  Of which…

  Received

  Dealt with1

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals2

  Year ending September 1993

  105,328

  105,407

  72,623

  12,401

  6,144

  14,239

  Year ending September 1994

  100,736

  95,759

  65,521

  10,645

  5,698

  13,895

  Year ending September 1995

  95,815

  90,826

  63,442

  11,033

  5,662

  10,689

  1 Cases dealt with comprise all those completed, excluding advice cases and non criminal proceedings.

  2 Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases in which the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant could not be found, and other cases in which the prosecution could not proceed (e.g., through the death of the defendant).

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Football Trust
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the income of the Football Trust in each week since 1 November 1994(a) in total, (b) from pool betting duty and (c) from "spot the ball". [2268]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information contained in the following table has been obtained from the Football Trust.

  The Football Trust: Weekly income since November 1994

  Week ending

  Total income £

  Pool betting duty £

  Spot the ball £

  1994 November

  4

  733,750

  473,752

  259,998

  11

  724,750

  468,851

  255,899

  18

  758,972

  479,946

  279,026

  25

  730,158

  473,315

  256,843

  December

  2

  703,908

  455,816

  248,092

  9

  694,337

  450,908

  243,429

  16

  675,709

  448,161

  227,548

  23

  696,142

  460,085

  236,057

  30

  1,460,364

  924,477

  535,887

  1995 January

  6

  119,323

  116,368

  2,955

  13

  161,749

  160,420

  1,329

  20

  583,560

  393,654

  189,906

  27

  610,005

  404,662

  205,343

  February

  3

  614,825

  408,250

  206,575

  10

  605,460

  408,357

  197,103

  17

  606,123

  401,609

  204,514

  24

  599,293

  398,305

  200,988

  692

  The Football Trust: Weekly income since November 1994

  Week ending

  Total income £

  Pool betting duty £

  Spot the ball £

  March

  3

  594,043

  398,545

  195,498

  10

  584,063

  389,026

  195,037

  17

  579,733

  386,974

  192,759

  24

  586,984

  386,892

  200,092

  31

  578,654

  381,238

  197,416

  April

  7

  565,827

  369,835

  195,992

  14

  565,397

  372,364

  193,033

  21

  567,903

  375,494

  192,409

  28

  551,028

  363,933

  187,095

  May

  5

  475,885

  349,427

  126,458

  12

  491,057

  354,366

  136,691

  19

  483,546

  354,411

  129,135

  26

  462,926

  336,321

  126,605

  June

  2

  466,731

  335,725

  131,006

  9

  459,213

  328,176

  131,037

  16

  428,790

  311,703

  117,087

  23

  443,163

  321,627

  121,536

  30

  434,357

  313,315

  121,042

  July

  7

  435,190

  312,106

  123,084

  14

  427,861

  309,524

  118,337

  21

  411,226

  297,011

  114,215

  28

  420,019

  304,625

  115,394

  August

  4

  414,367

  299,673

  114,694

  11

  399,916

  289,773

  110,143

  18

  382,969

  279,530

  103,439

  25

  397,699

  289,334

  108,365

  September

  1

  409,326

  299,532

  109,794

  8

  404,044

  297,407

  106,637

  15

  400,544

  295,237

  105,307

  22

  410,667

  302,533

  108,134

  29

  415,098

  306,839

  108,259

  693

  The Football Trust: Weekly income since November 1994

  Week ending

  Total income £

  Pool betting duty £

  Spot the ball £

  October

  6

  407,116

  300,100

  107,016

  13

  405,738

  297,780

  107,958

  20

  407,511

  298,040

  109,471

  27

  411,044

  301,645

  109,399

  November

  3

  405,125

  295,681

  109,444

  10

  405,849

  298,747

  107,102

  17

  404,842

  294,120

  110,722

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the annual income of the Football Trust for each year since 1990. [2269]

  Mr. Sproat
  This information is available from the Football Trust annual reports held in the Library of the House.

  Swimming and Recreation Centres
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the number of public swimming baths and recreation centres per head of population; what is the equivalent figure for other European Union member states; and if she will make a statement. [1534]

  Mr. Sproat
  Latest figures for England, based on 1991 population census and the Sports Council's sports facilities database, are for one swimming pool for every 43,429 of the population and one sports centre for every 32,572 of the population. Equivalent figures for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State. We do not hold comparative data for other European Union member states.

  Millenium Exhibition
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what provisions are being made to ensure that charity, Church and other non-commercial organisations will be able to fully participate in the millennium exhibition. [373]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

TREASURY

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the unemployment rates by sex, age and ethnic origin for each year from 1989 using the latest labour force survey. [2848]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Comparable information on International Labour Organisation unemployment by sex, age and ethnic origin is available from the labour force survey (LFS), quarterly from spring 1992 onwards. It can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the 694
  Library. Information for the average of the three years 1989–91 is available from the February 1993 issue of the Employment Gazette, which is also available from the Library.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list employment by broad occupation, by ethnic origin and by sex for each year from 1991. [2850]

  Mrs. Knight
  Comparable information on employment, by occupation, ethnic origin and sex is available from the labour force survey quarterly from spring 1992 onwards. It can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the Library.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the proportions of(a) men and (b) women by ethnic origin who are working as (i) full-time employees, (ii) part-time employees and (iii) self-employed. [2847]

  Mrs. Knight
  Estimates from the labour force survey are shown in the table.

  Men and women, by ethnic origin in employment Great Britain, spring 1995

  Proportion (percentage) of those who are in employment who are:

  Full-time employees

  Part-time employees

  Self-employed

  Men

  White

  75

  6

  18

  All ethnic minority groups

  71

  9

  18

  Black

  73

  10

  13

  Indian

  74

  7

  18

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  61

  10

  25

  Mixed/other origins

  70

  11

  17

  Women

  White

  51

  40

  7

  All ethnic minority groups

  63

  30

  5

  Black

  69

  26

  n/a

  Indian

  60

  32

  7

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  61

  29

  n/a

  Mixed/other origins

  61

  31

  n/a

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

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list employment by industry for each year from 1991 of(a) men and (b) women broken down into (i) whites and (ii) ethnic minorities. [2849]

  Mrs. Knight
  Comparable information on employment, by industry, ethnic origin and sex is available from the labour force survey, quarterly from spring 1992 onwards. It can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the Library.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of his 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. [2283]
  695
  Mrs. Knight
  The information for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's four agencies is as follows:

  Cost of overseas travel 1994–95

  Countries visited

  Posts held by travelling staff

  Central Statistical Office

  £159,661

  Countries of the European Community Switzerland, Scandinavia, United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong

  Directors (Grades la to Grade 4) Heads of Inquiry Divisions, Branches and Sections (Grades 5–7) Heads of Statistical Units (Grades of 5–7) Heads of Service Divisions, Branches and Sections and staff (Grades EO to Grade 5) Statistical staff (SEO to Assistant Statistician)

  PAYMASTER There was no overseas travel by staff of the PAYMASTER in the last financial year.

  Royal Mint This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Mint is a commercial organisation which carries out more than two-thirds of its business for export. This necessarily entails extensive overseas visits by Mint staff.

  Valuation Office Agency

  Only one overseas visit as follows:

  Cost of overseas travel 1994–95

  Countries visited

  Posts held by travelling staff

  £275

  Dublin, Ireland

  Grade 5 and 7

  Single Currency
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what preparations have been made within the Treasury in anticipation of the single currency; [2772]

  (2) what preparations the Bank of England has made in anticipation of the introduction of the single currency. [2771]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a member of the ECOFIN Council. The Governor of the Bank of England is a member of the European Monetary Institute Council. Treasury and the Bank of England both have representatives on the

  Contributions to and receipts from the EU—12 Budget in 1990 and 1994

  1990 ecu/£ = 1.39

  Gross contribution (mecu)

  Gross Receipts £ million

  Net Contribution/Receipt (mecu)

  £ million

  (mecu)

  £ million

  Belgium

  1,763.7

  1,268.8

  989.8

  712.1

  -773.9

  -556.8

  Denmark

  775.1

  557.6

  1,197.6

  861.6

  422.5

  304.0

  Germany

  10,357.5

  7,451.4

  4,807.1

  3,458.3

  -5,550.4

  -3,993.1

  Greece

  563.6

  405.5

  3,033.8

  2,182.6

  2,470.2

  1,777.1

  Spain

  3,671.1

  2,641.3

  5,382.7

  3,872.4

  1,711.3

  1,231.2

  France

  8,089.5

  5,819.8

  6,284.6

  4,521.3

  -1,804.9

  -1,298.5

  Ireland

  368.2

  264.9

  2,260.7

  1,626.4

  1,892.5

  1,361.5

  Italy

  6,097.7

  4,386.8

  5,681

  4,087.1

  -416.7

  -299.8

  696
  EU monetary committee. Under the EC treaty, ECOFIN, the EMI and the monetary committee are all involved in preparatory work for a single currency.

  The United Kingdom's involvement in preparatory work in no way prejudges the UK's decision whether or not to notify our intention to move to stage 3 of EMU, in accordance with the provisions of protocol 11 annexed to the EC treaty.

  Under protocol 11 annexed to the UK treaty, the Prime Minister has ensured that the United Kingdom shall not be obliged or committed to move to the third stage of economic union without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. We will agree to take part in a single currency only if it is in our national interest to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

  Tax
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was remitted or written off as irrecoverable in 1994; and how much of this was PAYE contributions. [83]

  Mr. Jack
  The total amount of tax remitted or written off as irrecoverable in the year ended 28 October 1994 was £1.16 billion—about 1.4 per cent. of the total tax collected, and some 26 per cent. lower than the figure for the previous year.

  The amount of PAYE contributions remitted or written off in the year ended 28 October 1994 was £270.13 million, some 32 per cent. less than the previous year.

  Insolvencies, where the Inland Revenue has very little control over the amount recoverable, account for the vast majority of tax written off or remitted.

  EU Contributions
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the gross contributions, receipts and net contributions or receipts, (b) the population and approximate number of households and (c) the net contributions or receipts per head and per household of each state which was a member of the EU before the treaty of Corfu for (a) 1990 and (b) 1994, in (i) ecus and (ii) £ sterling. [2513]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This information is set out in the table. This covers the former European Union of 12 member states. Following the conclusions of the European Council in Corfu in June 1994, Sweden, Austria and Finland proceeded to join the Union at the beginning of this year.
  697

  Contributions to and receipts from the EU—12 Budget in 1990 and 1994

  1990 ecu/£ = 1.39

  Gross contribution (mecu)

  Gross Receipts £ million

  Net Contribution/Receipt (mecu)

  £ million

  (mecu)

  £ million

  Luxembourg

  74.5

  53.6

  14.5

  10.4

  -60

  -43.2

  Netherlands

  2,615.2

  1,881.4

  2,983.6

  2,146.5

  368.4

  265.0

  Portugal

  502.4

  361.4

  1,103.2

  793.7

  600.8

  432.2

  United Kingdom

  6,534.3

  4,700.9

  3,147.4

  2,264.3

  -3,386.9

  -2,436.6

  1990 ecu/£ = 1.39

  Population Millions

  Number of households Millions

  Net per head (ecu)

  £

  Net per household (ecu)

  £

  Belgium

  9.9

  3.95

  -78.2

  -56.2

  -196

  -141.0

  Denmark

  5.1

  2.27

  82.8

  59.6

  186

  133.9

  Germany

  79.1

  35.26

  -70.2

  -50.5

  -157

  -113.2

  Greece

  10.1

  3.2

  244.6

  176.0

  772

  555.4

  Spain

  38.8

  11.84

  44.1

  31.7

  145

  104.0

  France

  56.6

  21.54

  -31.9

  -22.9

  -84

  -60.3

  Ireland

  3.5

  1.03

  540.7

  389.0

  1,837

  1,321.9

  Italy

  56.7

  19.91

  -7.3

  -5.3

  -21

  -15.1

  Luxembourg

  0.4

  0.15

  -150.0

  -107.9

  -400

  -287.8

  Netherlands

  14.9

  6.16

  24.7

  17.8

  60

  43.0

  Portugal

  9.9

  3.15

  60.7

  43.7

  191

  137.2

  UK

  57.5

  22.42

  -58.9

  -42.4

  -151

  -108.7

  Notes:

  1. Contribution figures are after abatement.

  2. Administration costs are not fully allocated by member state in the Court of Auditors Report. Allocation of administrative spending would increase gross receipt figures for Belgium and Luxembourg.

  3. Figures for population and households in Germany are for unified Germany for both 1990 and 1994.

  4. Figures for number of households are the latest available and refer to 1990–91.

  Source:

  Court of Auditors Reports and Eurostat.

  1994 ecu/£=1.29

  Gross contribution (mecu)

  £ million

  Gross receipts (mecu)

  £ million

  Net contribution (mecu)

  £ million

  Belgium

  2,822.1

  2,187.7

  2,512.8

  1,947.9

  -309.3

  -239.8

  Denmark

  1,296.2

  1,004.8

  1,495.1

  1,159.0

  198.9

  154.2

  Germany

  21,366.3

  16,563.0

  7,729.2

  5,991.6

  -13,637.1

  -10,571.4

  Greece

  992.3

  769.2

  4,844.2

  3,755.2

  3,851.9

  2,986.0

  Spain

  4,718.1

  3,657.4

  7,834.7

  6,073.4

  3,116.6

  2,416.0

  France

  12,550.9

  9,729.4

  9,924.5

  7,693.4

  -2,626.4

  -2,036.0

  Ireland

  638.9

  495.3

  2,390.9

  1,853.4

  1,752

  1,358.1

  Italy

  7,759.6

  6,015.2

  5,219.2

  4,045.9

  -2,540.4

  -1,969.3

  Luxembourg

  165.4

  128.2

  419.1

  324.9

  253.7

  196.7

  Netherlands

  4,245.9

  3,291.4

  2,416

  1,872.9

  -1,829.9

  -1,418.5

  Portugal

  1,215.6

  942.3

  3,042.6

  2,358.6

  1,827

  1,416.3

  United Kingdom

  6,417.4

  4,974.7

  5,258.6

  4,076.4

  -1,158.8

  -898.3

  1994 ecu/£ = 1.29

  Population millions

  Number of households millions

  Net per head (ecu)

  £

  Net per household (ecu)

  £

  Belgium

  10.1

  3.95

  -30.6

  -23.7

  -78

  -60.7

  Denmark

  5.2

  2.27

  38.2

  29.7

  88

  67.9

  Germany

  81.3

  35.26

  -167.7

  -130.0

  -387

  -299.8

  Greece

  10.4

  3.2

  370.4

  287.1

  1,204

  933.1

  Spain

  39.1

  11.84

  79.7

  61.8

  263

  204.1

  France

  57.8

  21.54

  -45.4

  -35.2

  -122

  -94.5

  Ireland

  3.6

  1.03

  486.7

  377.3

  1,701

  1,318.6

  Italy

  57.1

  19.91

  -44.5

  -34.5

  -128

  -98.9

  698

  699

  1994 ecu/£ = 1.29

  Population millions

  Number of households millions

  Net per head (ecu)

  £

  Net per household (ecu)

  £

  Luxembourg

  0.4

  0.15

  634.3

  491.7

  1,691

  1,311.1

  Netherlands

  15.3

  6.16

  -119.6

  -92.7

  -297

  -230.3

  Portugal

  9.9

  3.15

  184.5

  143.1

  580

  449.6

  UK

  58.3

  22.42

  -19.9

  -15.4

  -52

  -40.1

  Notes:

  1. Contribution figures are after abatement.

  2. Administration costs are not fully allocated by member state in the Court of Auditors Report. Allocation of administrative spending would increase gross receipt figures for Belgium and Luxembourg.

  3. Figures for population and households in Germany are for unified Germany for both 1990 and 1994.

  4. Figures for number of households are the latest available and refer to 1990–91.

  Source:

  Court of Auditors Reports and Eurostat.

  Agriculture Contributions (EU)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken in respect of the conclusions contained in paragraph 1.125, page 44, of the annual report of the Court of Auditors of the European Communities, in respect of the United Kingdom's provision of information and methods of estimating the agriculture component of gross national product. [2800]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In July 1994 the GNP committee discussed a paper by the Commission covering the agriculture component of GNP for all member states. There was a routine request for several member states, including the United Kingdom to supply the Commission with additional information on sources and methods.

  Immediately following the meeting, the Central Statistical Office sent the Commission a copy of an inventory on the sources and methods for agriculture, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. The Central Statistical Office will continue to respond to any reasonable request for information from the Commission and the GNP committee.

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the effect on market share and exhaust pollution in Sweden of fuel tax related to the sulphur contents of motor vehicle diesel. [3078]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rates of motor vehicle fuel duty for different types of petrol and for diesel. [3077]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The excise duty rates for petrol and diesel road fuel are as follows:

  Leaded petrol: 39.12p per litre

  Unleaded petrol: 34.30p per litre

  Diesel road fuel: 34.30p per litre.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the differential in fuel duty needed to achieve common retail prices for ordinary diesel and for low sulphur diesel for motor vehicles. [3075]
  700
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I regret that, because of the wide variation in the pre-tax price of diesel, no meaningful estimate can be made.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the medium-term change in shares of motor vehicle diesel between ordinary and low sulphur diesel if retail prices were the same. [3076]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government have no information on which to base such an estimate.

  Inflation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of overall inflation in 1995–96. [1932]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97" contains my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor's latest forecast for inflation for the years 1995 and 1996.

  World Bank Inspection Panel
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to support the continuation of the World bank inspection panel. [2910]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have been asked to reply.

  Yes. We hope the panel will prove a useful addition to the existing systems of control provided through the board of directors and by management and will enhance measures to increase the openness of the bank's operations.

SCOTLAND

  Registered Land
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage and acreage of land in Scotland is unregistered. [2393]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Title to all land in Scotland is registered in the Land Register for Scotland or recorded in the Register of Sasines.
  701

  Electoral Wards
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the new council wards which now contain(a) the 3,865 electors from Strathclyde electoral division 46 (Chryston) included in the East Dumbartonshire council, (b) the 8,099 electors from Strathclyde electoral division 35 (Toryglen/Kingspark) included in the area of South Lanarkshire council, (c) the 320 electors from Strathclyde electoral division 8 (Vale of Leven) included in the area of Argyll and Bute council and (d) the 248 electors from Tayside electoral division 31 (Sidlaw) included in the area of Dundee city council; and, where any of these groups of electors is contained in more than one new council ward, if he will indicate how many of the electors in question are contained in each of those wards. [2105]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information is as follows:

  (a) East Dumbartonshire electoral ward 26: South Lenzie/Waterside.

  (b) South Lanarkshire:

  Electoral ward 62: Rutherglen West (3,507 electors)

  Electoral ward 64: Bankhead (3,095 electors)

  Electoral ward 65: Spittal/Blairbeth (1,497 electors)

  (c) Argyll and Bute electoral ward 31: Rhu/Garelochhead/Luss

  (d) City of Dundee:

  Electoral ward 13: Menzieshill West (76 electors)

  Electoral ward 16: Pitalpin (19 electors)

  Electoral ward 17: Ardler (2 electors)

  Electoral ward 19: St Mary's West (17 electors)

  Electoral ward 20: Downfield (6 electors)

  Electoral ward 27: Fintry North (14 electors)

  Electoral ward 29: Whitfield North (0 electors)

  Electoral ward 35: Balgillo (38 electors)

  Electoral ward 36: Dalhousie (76 electors).

  Source: GRO (Scotland).

  Arts
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase funding for the arts in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [2087]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend will make an announcement on his future spending plans shortly.

  Fire Brigades
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statutory obligation the fire brigade has to attend flooding, road accidents and other non-fire related incidents. [2680]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A fire authority is empowered, under section 3(1)(e) of the Fire Services Act 1947, to employ the fire brigade maintained by it, or to use any equipment so maintained, for purposes other than firefighting purposes. There is no statutory obligation on such an authority to do so.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is given to the activities of the fire brigade that are not related to firefighting or prevention in determining its funding. [2681]
  702
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The principal determinants of fire service funding are the personnel, fire stations, and equipment required to provide fire cover. Activities not related to firefighting are undertaken largely with those resources, but any additional requirements in relation to these activities are also taken into account by my right hon. Friend.

  Water and Sewerage Authorities
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his proposals for the financing of the new Scottish water and sewerage authorities in 1996–97. [3686]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Water authorities are currently preparing charges schemes for submission to the Customers Council. The financial arrangements that I am announcing today mean that average charges in 1996–97 need increase by no more than 6 per cent. I invite the authorities to be guided accordingly in finalising their charges schemes. It is for each authority to decide upon its own scheme and on the allocation of charges, and of any overall increase in charges among different groups of customers. It is then for the authorities and the Customers Council to consider all aspects of the charges scheme. I become involved only if there remain differences which cannot be resolved.

  Section 83(2) of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 empowers me to set a rate of return which the authorities should earn on the value of their net assets. I propose that for each authority this rate of return should be 6.5 per cent. to be earned annually on net assets amounting initially to £336 million in the case of the east authority, £260 million in the case of the north authority, and £404 million in the case of west authority. The necessary order will be laid before Parliament shortly.

  I have also decided that the external financing limits for 1996–97 for the authorities will amount to £274 million. The allocation to each authority will be announced shortly.

  We have already undertaken to provide relief to offset the charge for domestic sewerage which from 1 April next year will be levied direct on customers instead of being a service met from the council tax. I can now announce that we will give the authorities income of £89.7 million to compensate for the charge income they will forgo in 1996–97. Of this, £27.3 million will be available to the east authority, £22.4 million to the north authority and £40 million to the west authority. The necessary order will be laid before Parliament shortly.

  I believe that these arrangements which I have announced will establish the new water and sewerage authorities on a sound financial footing and will enable them from the outset to deliver a first class service at the lowest possible cost.

  Highland Health Board
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the proportionate value of the computer equipment transferred from Highland health board to the Computing Sciences Corporation Ltd. as part of the privatisation process earlier this year; and if he will make a statement. [308]
  703
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The proportionate value as at March 1995 of the equipment transferred from Highland health board to the Computing Sciences Corporation Ltd. was 5.5 per cent. of the total market value of the equipment transferred by the NHS in Scotland. This was based on an independent market evaluation.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of individuals who have been appointed to non-departmental public bodies serving and working within Lanarkshire indicating their political party affiliations, if known. [2953]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Non-departmental public bodies in Scotland are listed in the annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies", which includes the addresses of all executive non-departmental public bodies. The hon. Member may wish to approach these bodies direct for the information he seeks. As a general rule, political affiliation is not a criterion for appointment to public bodies and, except where this information is volunteered by the appointee, it is not made a matter for record.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total expenditure on non-departmental public bodies in Scotland. [2954]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: In 1993–94, my Department spent £1,567 million on executive and advisory bodies and tribunals. This is the most recent year for which figures are available. It includes total Government funding to these bodies of £1,562 million and direct expenditure by my Department of £5 million. Details of expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is published annually by Cabinet Office in "Public Bodies".

  Orchard House Nursing Home
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request that BBC Frontline Scotland programme to supply him with its videoed evidence of its investigation into Orchard House nursing home. [2957]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend understands that, as part of Lanarkshire health board's inquiry into the standards of care at Orchard House nursing home, the investigating officer was allowed by the British Broadcasting Corporation to view its videoed evidence of the Frontline Scotland investigation into Orchard House nursing home. The board's inquiry is now complete and the necessary follow-up action is underway.

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to review legislation to give more powers to local authorities and health boards to enable them to introduce stricter controls on registration of nursing homes and residential homes; and if he will make a statement. [2958]
  704
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: A Scottish Office working group, which includes representatives of local authorities, care home owners' associations and users, is currently considering residential home registration and inspection issues, including the current legislative arrangements. National standards for the registration and inspection of nursing homes will be the outcome of a project funded by the health board general managers' group.

  We shall consider all recommendations from these groups, which would help ensure the continued protection of the potentially vulnerable people cared for in these homes.

  Nursing Homes, Lanarkshire
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many residents have died in Lanarkshire nursing homes in the Lanarkshire health board area in each year since 1979. [2959]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: This information was not held centrally before October 1992. The information requested since then is as follows:

  Year

  Deaths

  1 October to 31 December 1992

  93

  1993

  538

  1994

  589

  1 January to 30 September 1995

  479

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions his Department has had with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in relation to the levels of beneficial interest declared by local enterprise company directors in local enterprise company contracts; [1191]

  (2) what information the directors of local enterprise companies are required to declare in relation to their interests in other enterprise companies; [1320]

  (3) if he will instruct the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to carry out a study of the beneficial interests of local enterprise directors in other local enterprise companies for the purpose of ensuring that this information is publicly accountable; [1192]

  (4) what studies his Department has carried out into the involvement of local enterprise company directors in the contracts awarded by local enterprise companies; [1190]

  (5) what procedures are currently in place to ensure that the beneficial interests of the director of a local enterprise company in the contracts awarded by a different local enterprise company are open to public scrutiny; [1194]

  (6) for what regions information is not currently delivered by directors of local enterprise companies in respect of their interest in other enterprise companies. [2148]
  705
  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: The local enterprise company operating contracts approved by the Scottish Office require local enterprise companies to have in place registers of directors' interests that are open to public inspection, procedures for avoiding conflicts of interest, and arrangements for publishing details in their annual reports of contracts in which directors have an interest.

  The detailed procedures within this overall framework are an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which the Department has discussed with them from time to time. Both the Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise networks have adopted procedures which ensure that the private interests of local enterprise company directors are declared and registered, and that directors do not take part in board decisions on matters in which they have an interest. Local enterprise company directors serve on the board of only one local enterprise company, in whose area they must live or work. They play no role in the decisions of any other local enterprise company board, so there is no conflict of interest if another board should take a decision affecting their private beneficial interests.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Japanese Companies
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those Japanese firms which currently have research and development teams operating in the United Kingdom. [3162]

  Mr. Eggar
  As of 3 October 1995, my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau was aware of 100 Japanese companies engaged in some form of research, development and/or design—RD and D—in the United Kingdom. A full list of these companies with details of their RD and D activities and their locations within the United Kingdom is being placed in the Library of the House.

  COPEX Exhibition
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the representatives of Government Departments who visited the COPEX exhibition at Sandown racecourse in November. [1641]

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is not held by my Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Telephone Disconnections
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of telephone disconnections in each year of the five years prior to privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [3098]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  This is a matter for BT. The statistics requested are not currently maintained within the Department, or by Oftel.
  706

  Offshore Installations
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects to receive the abandonment programme for the North West Hutton platform; and if he will make a statement; [2045]

  (2) if he will list the abandonment programmes for off-shore installations, deposited with his Department in each of the past five years; how many were (a) accepted; (b) rejected and (c) returned to the companies concerned for modification; and if he will make a statement. [2046]

  Mr. Eggar
  Amoco (UK) Exploration Company, the operator of the North West Hutton installation, has been conducting studies since 1992 in connection with the future decommissioning of this installation. The decommissioning date for this installation will depend on a number of factors. I am not yet in a position to say when I will be calling on the owners to submit a programme.

  We have approved the following abandonment programmes for offshore installations in each of the past five years:

  Year

  Facility

  1991

  Crawford

  1992

  Argyll, Duncan and Innes Blair

  1993

  Angus Forbes

  1994

  Fulmar Single Anchor Leg Mooring (SALM) buoy Brent Spar oil storage and tanker loading facility

  1995

  Esmond (2 installations) and Gordon

  Each of these programmes was approved after a series of discussions with my Department and consultation with interested parties. No abandonment programme has been rejected or modified under section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987.

  Nigerian Trade Fairs
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the agreed priority sectors from the United Kingdom for Nigerian regional trade fairs in February and March 1996; and who are(a) the bankers and (b) the sponsors of the event. [3109]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The British high commission is proposing to take a stand at two regional trade fairs in Nigeria in February and March 1996. My Department and the high commission have invited UK companies to exhibit their brochures on the stands. This invitation has been targeted at companies involved in oil and gas, agriculture—agricultural equipment, water and water treatment, food processing, power generation/distribution, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. There is no UK sponsorship of either trade fair.

  Channel 5
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the range of the proposed transmissions of Channel 5 within Northern Ireland has been restricted. [3168]
  707
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The coverage plan for Channel 5 is the responsibility of the Independent Television Commission. Limitations on the range of the transmissions are required to avoid causing interference to other television services, and other radiocommunication services, in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

  Greenbury Report
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his proposals for implementing such recommendations of the Greenbury report as require action or assistance from Her Majesty's Government. [3080]

  Mr. Lang
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 7 November 1995,Official Report, columns 702–4.

  Employment Agency Licensing Division
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the annual income of the employment agency licensing division arising 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. [2751]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The licensing requirements of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 were abolished on 3 January 1995. Fees for licenses issued under the Act and fines imposed by magistrates courts for offences against the Act were paid to the Consolidated Fund. They could therefore not be set against departmental expenditure.

  Fees paid £million

  Fines imposed £thousands

  1992–93

  1.7

  1.9

  1993–94

  1.7

  3.2

  1994–95

  11.4

  1.1

  1 To 3 January 1995 only.

  708
  Staff employed on administering the 1973 Act in 1992–93 and 1993–94 were 50.5 and 51.5 respectively. During 1994–95 the number fell to 35. The number of part-time staff did not exceed five at any time in the three years.

  Power Cables
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to introducing a statutory requirement on electricity companies to pay compensation to householders living beneath power cables where it can be proved that householders have faced(a) a decline in the value of their property and (b) a deterioration in their health. [1962]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Government have no plans to introduce such a requirement.

  With regard to item (a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 27 November 1995, Official Report, column 422.

  With regard to item (b), the National Radiological Protection Board advises the Government on scientific matters relating electromagnetic fields to alleged effects on human health. To date, there is insufficient scientific evidence to establish a link between electromagnetic fields and cancer or leukaemia, the diseases of most concern, or to any other serious illness.

  Foreign Assets
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department has seized or frozen personal accounts and assets of members of foreign Governments; what was seized or frozen; and if he will make a statement. [2918]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given to his previous question on 27 November, Official Report, column 429.
  709

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Student Loans
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the support that will be available to students through mandatory awards and student loans in the academic year 1996–97. [3499]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 28 November that the total level of support available to students through the main rates of grant and loan together in 1996–97 will be 2.6 per cent. higher than for 1995–96, in line with forecast price increases. I am placing a memorandum in the Library giving full details of the new grant and fee rates for 1996–97. These rates will be incorporated in the Education (Student Loans) Regulations to be laid before Parliament in due course.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what detailed arrangements she proposes for expanding the assisted places scheme. [3500]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 13 October that the assisted places scheme is to be doubled in size. I am today announcing the plans for implementation in England. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland will make statements about the arrangements for their schemes.

  The pace of this expansion over time will depend on the supply of eligible high-quality places and on parental demand. This Department is inviting bids from independent schools—whether they are already participating in the scheme or not—for the first instalment of new places in September 1996. We look forward to receiving bids for:

  (a) new day places mainly for entry at age 11, but also at age 13 and for the sixth form, in mainstream independent secondary schools;

  (b) some new day places for children below age 11 in integral junior departments of independent secondary schools;

  (c) some new aided places in specialist schools of music or ballet for talented pupils.

  To be eligible, schools must provide a broad-balanced curriculum, have an excellent record of GCSE and A-level performance and maintain a strong sixth form. I will also be seeking an equitable distribution between boys and girls, and will especially welcome bids from schools serving inner-city areas.

  The scheme will continue to be aimed at able children from low-income families who would not otherwise have had the opportunity of the education offered in these schools. Schools will continue to select pupils according to their own academic entry criteria and the general eligibility conditions prescribed in the regulations. I will encourage them to give priority to those with potential to benefit from the distinctive facilities the school offers, including where appropriate pupils from inner-city areas and the ethnic minority communities.
  710
  I intend to continue the present broad framework of means-tested parental contributions towards approved fees. The arrangements for means testing and fee setting are reviewed annually for the purpose of the regulations, and I will consider any representations on these matters for the reviews in 1996 and subsequent years.

  I aim to announce the successful bidders for the first instalment of new places early in 1996, and to ensure that parents are fully aware of the new opportunities open to them. I am confident that they will widely welcome the expansion of choice, diversity and excellence which this initiative offers.

  Doncaster and Mexborough Jobcentre
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reason the reply in respect of jobcentres in Doncaster and Mexborough, from her chief executive of the Employment Service referred to in her answer of 23 October, was not published in the Official Report as well; and if she will make a statement. [1103]

  Mr. Forth
  I regret the fact that, due to an administrative error in the Department, the reply was not published in the Official Report. A copy of the chief executive's reply to the hon. Member has now been placed in the Library.

  Expenditure, Calderdale
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of Calderdale's(a) total and (b) secondary education sector is grant maintained; and what proportion of total public expenditure on education in Calderdale is in the grant-maintained sector. [1467]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  According to the local education authority's expenditure return for 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available, the proportion of local authority net recurrent expenditure, which was allocated as recurrent funding to grant-maintained schools in Calderdale was 11 per cent. NRE is gross expenditure on schools, continuing education and management and support services related to education, minus income other than that in the form of specific grants and excluding capital. The percentage figures also includes special purpose grants paid to grant-maintained schools by the Funding Agency for Schools.

  The proportion of pupils in grant-maintained schools as at January 1994 in Calderdale was (a) 15 per cent. of the total and (b) 35 per cent. of the secondary sector. At January 1995 the proportions were (a) 26 per cent. and (b) 56 per cent.

  Written Answers
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State For Education and Employment how many written questions her Department has failed to answer since it was established; and if she will give an explanation for each such failure, listing the question and any answer now available. [2248]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The matter is currently being investigated and I will write to the hon. Member when this is complete.
  711

  Youth Training
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many YT trainees(a) have gained full employment (b) have gone on to further training and

  Percentage of leavers gaining each outcome Youth Training (including Youth Credits)

  England and Wales

  In full-time employment

  In part-time employment

  In self-employment

  Full-time education or another training programme

  Unemployed

  1987–88

  57

  4

  1

  16

  20

  1988–89

  63

  4

  2

  15

  13

  1989–90

  63

  4

  2

  14

  14

  1990–91

  53

  4

  1

  16

  20

  1991–92

  46

  4

  1

  16

  25

  1992–93

  44

  5

  1

  17

  28

  1993–94

  47

  5

  1

  17

  25

  April 1994-January 1995

  50

  5

  1

  15

  22

  Source:

  YT National Follow-up Survey.

  The YT National Follow-up Survey records 8 separate labour market outcomes plus "not stated". These are; full-time job with same employer, full-time job with different employer, self-employment, part-time job, unemployed, another government training programme, full-time education and something else as stipulated by the trainee.

  Sheffield TEC
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what negotiations have taken place between her Department and Sheffield TEC to make provision for employment for the over-45 year age group; and if she will make a statement; [2520]

  (2) what initiatives her Department is undertaking to make provision for the employment for the over-45 age group in the Sheffield travel-to-work area; and if she will make a statement. [2517]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department continues to provide a wide range of employment and training measures in the Sheffield area to help unemployed people find a job and employed people to enhance their skill and knowledge levels. It also has a campaign for older workers targeted at employers who impose age restrictions to persuade them of the need to recruit, retain and retrain individuals on the basis of ability and not age.

  In addition, the Department has contracted with Sheffield TEC to provide during this financial year training, education and enterprise courses amounting to 4,350 adult places; many of which will be filled by those in the over-45 group.

  It is these measures and programmes as part of the Government's policy of maintaining the economic conditions of low inflation and a fully competitive and flexible labour market which continues to maintain existing jobs and creates new employment opportunities for all large groups including the over-45s.

  Over the last two years, in the Sheffield travel-to-work area, unemployment in the 45-and-over age group has fallen by almost 17 per cent., and long-term unemployment in the same group by almost 11 per cent.
  712
  (c) became unemployed at the end of their training in each year since the scheme began. [2315]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Child Care Expenses
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce guidelines governing the payment of child care expenses by governing bodies to school governors attending meetings. [2737]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. Being a school governor is a voluntary, unpaid activity. The Government applaud the 300,000 volunteers who give their time and energy to this important work. Governors may receive reimbursement for travel and subsistence costs, but the law does not currently allow payments beyond that, nor does the current pattern of governor recruitment suggest a need to change these arrangements.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost of obtaining an NVQ; and how many of these have been obtained in Sheffield. [2519]

  Mr. Paice
  Research carried out by KPMG Management Consultants in 1994 found that, among the 60 firms studied, the median cost to an employer for one member of staff obtaining a national vocational qualification was £200 on direct outlays, such as NVQ registration and certification fees. In addition, staff time was spent on training, assessment and other activities related to achieving an NVQ, and for the typical employer in that survey this amounted to around £3,000.

  More than 2 million NVQs have been awarded since their launch. Information on the numbers awarded on the Sheffield area is not available
  713

  Oxford University (Admissions)
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of pupils from state schools gained admission to Oxford university in(a) 1969, (b) 1979 and (c) 1994. [2892]

  Mr. Forth
  Detailed information on admissions to individual universities is not collected centrally. It is for each university to decide its own criteria for the admission of students. I understand that the admissions office of Oxford university produces annual statistics along these lines and my hon. Friend might care to speak to it directly.

  Name of school

  LEA of school

  Ballot initiated by

  Ballot closed

  GM proposal published

  Secretary of State decision

  Implementation of GM status

  North Somercotes CE Primary School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  24/02/93

  04/03/93

  07/07/94

  01/09/94

  Totley All Saints' CE Junior and Infant School

  Sheffield

  G

  10/03/93

  05/04/93

  01/03/94

  01/09/94

  Dr. John Bingham Primary School

  Sheffield

  P

  31/03/93

  23/07/93

  11/02/94

  01/09/94

  Barkston and Syston CE (GM) Primary School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  02/06/93

  08/11/93

  24/03/94

  01/09/94

  Cheltenham Kingsmead School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  03/06/93

  18/10/93

  14/03/94

  01/09/94

  The Barr Beacon School

  Walsall

  G

  07/06/93

  24/09/93

  18/07/94

  01/09/94

  The Corbett CE GM Primary School

  Staffordshire

  G

  30/07/93

  14/01/94

  27/06/94

  01/09/94

  Little Reddings Primary School

  Hertfordshire

  G

  30/07/93

  20/10/93

  10/03/94

  01/09/94

  Broomhill Infant School

  Sheffield

  P

  02/08/93

  13/09/93

  11/02/94

  01/09/94

  The John Warner Grant Maintained School

  Hertfordshire

  G

  15/10/93

  31/03/94

  15/08/94

  01/09/94

  Wincheap Primary School

  Kent

  G

  15/10/93

  24/02/94

  26/05/94

  01/09/94

  St. Mary's High School

  Hertfordshire

  G

  25/10/93

  28/01/94

  17/06/94

  01/09/94

  Tadworth Primary School

  Surrey

  G

  01/11/93

  14/01/94

  16/05/94

  01/09/94

  Hayes Primary School

  Bromley

  G

  12/11/93

  31/12/93

  09/07/94

  01/09/94

  Highfield Infant School

  Bromley

  G

  19/11/93

  31/01/94

  04/05/94

  01/09/94

  Highfield Junior School

  Bromley

  G

  19/11/93

  31/01/94

  04/05/94

  01/09/94

  Shirley High School

  Croydon

  G

  22/11/93

  29/11/93

  16/03/94

  01/09/94

  Charlton Horethorne CE Primary School

  Somerset

  G

  26/11/93

  10/12/93

  26/07/94

  01/09/94

  Atwood Primary School

  Croydon

  G

  01/12/93

  31/01/94

  06/05/94

  01/09/94

  Wilmington Primary School

  Kent

  G

  03/12/93

  19/01/94

  11/05/94

  01/09/94

  Chatham House Grammar School

  Kent

  G

  03/12/93

  30/03/94

  03/08/94

  01/09/94

  Boston Grammar School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  03/12/93

  06/01/94

  16/05/94

  01/09/94

  Castle Primary School, Ludgershall

  Wiltshire

  G

  03/12/93

  04/03/94

  13/07/94

  01/09/94

  Westgate Junior School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  07/12/93

  25/01/94

  06/05/94

  01/09/94

  Brymore School

  Somerset

  G

  07/12/93

  28/01/94

  21/07/94

  01/09/94

  Loddon First School

  Norfolk

  G

  13/12/93

  31/01/94

  19/06/94

  01/09/94

  Sutton Benger CE Primary School

  Wiltshire

  G

  17/12/93

  17/01/94

  14/04/94

  01/09/94

  Hollingwood First School

  Bradford

  G

  17/12/93

  11/02/94

  06/05/94

  01/09/94

  The Curzon CE Primary School

  Derbyshire

  G

  20/12/93

  04/02/94

  21/07/94

  01/09/94

  Salesbury CE Primary School

  Lancashire

  G

  20/12/93

  31/12/93

  15/05/94

  01/09/94

  Heathfield High School

  Sandwell

  G

  20/12/93

  26/01/94

  26/05/94

  01/09/94

  Ashton CE Middle School

  Bedfordshire

  G

  20/12/93

  20/04/94

  11/08/94

  01/09/94

  The Archbishop Lanfranc School

  Croydon

  G

  21/12/93

  28/01/94

  12/05/94

  01/09/94

  Hill Top CE First School

  Bradford

  G

  22/12/93

  11/01/94

  20/04/94

  01/09/94

  Fir Ends School

  Cumbria

  G

  07/01/94

  22/04/94

  29/07/94

  01/09/94

  Durand Primary School

  Lambeth

  G

  19/01/94

  04/05/94

  11/08/94

  01/09/94

  Halfway Houses Primary School

  Kent

  G

  19/01/94

  03/02/94

  16/05/94

  01/09/94

  Brookmans Park School

  Hertfordshire

  G

  25/01/94

  27/01/94

  01/07/94

  01/09/94

  Chestnut School Grant Maintained

  Hertfordshire

  G

  25/01/94

  11/02/94

  01/07/94

  01/09/94

  The Grange Junior School

  Shropshire

  G

  25/01/94

  29/04/94

  19/07/94

  01/09/94

  St. Catherine of Sienna School

  Hertfordshire

  G

  26/01/94

  25/03/94

  19/08/94

  01/09/94

  Loudwater Combined School

  Buckinghamshire

  G

  26/01/94

  04/03/94

  27/06/94

  01/09/94

  Greenacres Primary School

  Shropshire

  G

  31/01/94

  14/05/94

  10/08/94

  01/09/94

  Greatstone Primary School

  Kent

  G

  31/01/94

  03/02/94

  10/05/94

  01/09/94

  Glebe Infants School

  Gloucestershire

  P

  31/01/94

  28/02/94

  20/05/94

  01/09/94

  Greenway Junior School

  West Sussex

  G

  31/01/94

  17/02/944

  06/07/94

  01/09/94

  St. David's School (Grant Maintained)

  Gloucestershire

  G

  31/01/94

  31/03/94

  06/07/94

  01/09/94

  Holy Trinity CE School

  Wiltshire

  G

  01/02/94

  09/03/94

  29/06/94

  01/09/94

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  Wiltshire

  G

  02/02/94

  03/02/94

  30/06/94

  01/09/94

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  Kent

  G

  07/02/94

  31/03/94

  28/07/94

  01/09/94

  Swindon Village Primary School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  07/02/94

  28/03/94

  08/07/94

  01/09/94

  Dersingham First School

  Norfolk

  G

  14/02/94

  08/03/94

  20/07/94

  01/09/94

  Cam Woodfield Junior School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  14/02/94

  16/03/94

  28/06/94

  01/09/94

  Reay Primary School

  Lambeth

  G

  16/02/94

  15/03/94

  08/07/94

  01/09/94

  Preston Manor High School

  Brent

  G

  16/02/94

  05/05/94

  30/08/94

  01/09/94

  Immanuel and St. Andrew CE Primary School

  Lambeth

  G

  16/02/94

  15/03/94

  29/06/94

  01/06/94

  Lincoln School of Science and Technology

  Lincolnshire

  G

  23/02/94

  28/03/94

  21/07/94

  01/09/94

  Myrtle Park First School

  Bradford

  G

  28/02/94

  25/03/94

  01/07/94

  01/09/94

  Whyteleafe School

  Surrey

  G

  28/02/94

  10/03/94

  03/06/94

  01/09/94

  Prospect School

  Berkshire

  G

  04/03/94

  18/03/94

  04/08/94

  01/09/94

  Earls Colne Primary School

  Essex

  G

  07/03/94

  29/04/94

  21/07/94

  01/09/94

  714

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the date of(a) the close of the ballot, (b) publication of proposals and (c) the Secretary of State's decision in respect of each school which has become grant-maintained since 31 August 1994; and whether the ballot was initiated by the governors' resolution or parents' petition. [2893]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is set out in the table:
  715

  Name of school

  LEA of school

  Ballot initiated by

  Ballot closed

  GM proposal published

  Secretary of State decision

  Implementation of GM status

  Flimby Primary School

  Cumbria

  G

  09/03/94

  06/05/94

  19/08/94

  01/09/94

  Healey Primary School

  Rochdale

  G

  14/03/94

  18/03/94

  29/06/94

  01/09/94

  Wallace Fields Junior School

  Surrey

  G

  14/03/94

  21/04/94

  16/08/94

  01/09/94

  Wicklewood Primary School

  Norfolk

  G

  18/03/94

  27/04/94

  10/08/94

  01/09/94

  High Faringdon School

  Berkshire

  G

  21/03/93

  22/04/94

  26/08/94

  01/09/94

  Oakworth First School

  Bradford

  G

  24/03/94

  14/04/94

  25/07/94

  01/109/94

  Fullbrook School

  Surrey

  G

  25/03/94

  20/04/94

  15/08/94

  01/09/94

  Christ Church Primary School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  25/03/94

  27/04/94

  01/08/94

  01/09/94

  Woodlands Community School

  Derbyshire

  G

  28/03/94

  18/04/94

  22/08/94

  01/09/94

  St. John Houghton RC School

  Derbyshire

  G

  05/04/94

  27/04/94

  31/08/94

  01/09/94

  Hollingworth High School

  Rochdale

  G

  06/04/94

  16/04/94

  22/07/94

  01/09/94

  Thrapston Primary School

  Northamptonshire

  G

  11/04/94

  15/04/94

  22/08/94

  01/09/94

  Fair Meadows Primary School

  Derbyshire

  G

  11/04/94

  15/04/94

  22/08/94

  01/09/94

  Two Mile Ash Middle School

  Buckinghamshire

  G

  26/04/94

  10/05/94

  25/08/94

  01/09/94

  Severnbanks Primary School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  02/05/94

  09/05/94

  28/07/94

  01/09/94

  The Winston Churchill School

  Surrey

  G

  13/05/94

  01/06/94

  25/08/94

  01/09/94

  Beaconside CE Infant School

  Cumbria

  G

  24/05/94

  28/05/94

  07/11/94

  01/12/94

  Beaconside CE Junior School

  Cumbria

  G

  24/05/94

  28/05/94

  08/11/94

  01/12/94

  Barmby Moor CE Primary School

  Humberside

  P

  02/06/93

  01/02/94

  11/10/94

  01/01/95

  Mount Street Infant School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  31/01/94

  14/05/94

  30/11/94

  01/01/95

  Nun Monkton GM School

  North Yorkshire

  P

  11/02/94

  18/02/94

  08/12/94

  01/01/95

  Pott Shrigley Church School

  Cheshire

  P

  22/02/94

  17/06/94

  21/11/94

  01/01/95

  St. Hilda's CE High School

  Liverpool

  G

  25/02/94

  25/05/94

  06/09/94

  01/01/95

  Petersfield School

  Hampshire

  G

  07/03/94

  25/05/94

  22/09/94

  01/01/95

  The Turnpike School

  Berkshire

  G

  09/03/94

  28/03/94

  18/10/94

  01/01/95

  Sir William Romney's Community School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  14/03/94

  11/07/94

  02/12/94

  01/01/95

  Ursuline Convent High School

  Merton

  G

  21/03/94

  22/04/94

  05/10/94

  01/01/95

  Sandwich High School

  Kent

  G

  22/03/94

  30/06/94

  02/11/94

  01/01/95

  Halifax Catholic High School

  Calderdale

  G

  29/03/94

  14/06/94

  08/12/94

  01/01/95

  Lightcliffe CE Junior and Infants School

  Calderdale

  G

  05/04/94

  08/07/94

  28/11/94

  01/01/95

  Ruskington Chestnut Street CE Primary School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  18/04/94

  25/05/94

  17/10/94

  01/01/95

  Castle Carrock Primary School

  Cumbria

  G

  29/04/94

  15/07/94

  01/11/94

  01/01/95

  Stanion CE Primary School

  Northamptonshire

  G

  02/05/94

  30/05/94

  03/11/94

  01/01/95

  Bamford Primary School

  Rochdale

  G

  03/05/94

  28/05/94

  01/09/94

  01/01/95

  Surrey Square Infant and Junior School

  Southwark

  G

  16/05/94

  08/07/94

  24/10/94

  01/01/95

  Toftwood First School

  Norfolk

  G

  02/06/94

  23/06/94

  27/10/94

  01/01/95

  West Vale Junior and Infants School

  Calderdale

  G

  10/06/94

  08/07/94

  16/11/94

  01/01/95

  Burpham Primary School

  Surrey

  G

  13/06/94

  12/08/94

  19/12/94

  01/01/95

  Milton Hall GM Primary School

  Essex

  G

  15/06/94

  22/06/94

  23/12/94

  01/01/95

  Docking Primary School GM

  Norfolk

  G

  27/06/94

  15/07/94

  04/11/94

  01/01/95

  Moat Junior School

  Gloucestershire

  P

  01/07/94

  12/09/94

  15/12/94

  01/01/95

  Hinchley Wood School

  Surrey

  G

  30/06/93

  01/10/93

  09/03/95

  01/04/95

  Minchinhampton School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  16/02/94

  25/05/94

  03/11/94

  01/04/95

  Haselor School

  Warwickshire

  P

  14/03/94

  18/04/94

  09/11/94

  01/04/95

  The Central School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  05/04/94

  23/12/94

  29/03/95

  01/04/95

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  Brent

  G

  27/04/94

  17/11/94

  16/03/95

  01/04/95

  Holmshill School

  Hertfordshire

  G

  31/05/94

  15/07/94

  30/01/95

  01/04/95

  Heron Primary School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  13/06/94

  10/10/94

  09/02/95

  01/04/95

  Pippins First School

  Berkshire

  G

  15/06/94

  01/09/94

  27/03/95

  01/04/95

  Caister High School

  Norfolk

  G

  01/07/94

  21/10/94

  23/02/95

  01/04/95

  Mill Hill School

  Derbyshire

  G

  26/10/94

  04/11/94

  28/02/95

  01/04/95

  Shelton Junior School

  Derbyshire

  G

  31/10/94

  20/12/94

  27/03/95

  01/04/95

  Langley Park School for Girls

  Bromley

  G

  04/11/94

  30/11/94

  15/02/95

  01/04/95

  Stalbridge GM Primary School

  Dorset

  G

  21/11/94

  24/11/94

  28/03/95

  01/04/95

  Keelham First School

  Bradford

  G

  23/11/94

  20/12/94

  29/03/95

  01/04/95

  The Ravensbourne School

  Bromley

  G

  29/11/94

  19/12/94

  16/03/95

  01/04/95

  The Hayfield School

  Doncaster

  G

  30/11/94

  22/12/94

  29/03/95

  01/04/95

  Crosby on Eden CE Primary School

  Cumbria

  G

  02/12/94

  23/12/94

  29/03/95

  01/04/95

  Pitton Primary School

  Wiltshire

  G

  22/11/94

  11/01/95

  18/05/95

  01/06/95

  St. Kentigerns RC Primary School

  Manchester

  G

  06/12/94

  07/12/94

  23/05/95

  01/06/95

  Brookfield Junior School

  Kent

  P

  12/12/94

  20/01/95

  01/06/95

  01/07/95

  Keswick School

  Cumbria

  G

  10/03/95

  14/03/95

  28/06/95

  01/07/95

  Bestwood Community School

  Nottinghamshire

  G

  23/03/94

  15/04/94

  28/04/95

  01/09/95

  Clarendon Infants School

  Wiltshire

  G

  23/03/94

  14/06/94

  07/07/95

  01/09/95

  Clarendon Junior School

  Wiltshire

  G

  23/03/94

  14/06/94

  07/07/95

  01/09/95

  Dunchurch First School

  Warwickshire

  P

  29/03/94

  13/05/94

  08/08/95

  01/09/95

  Dunnington CE Primary School

  Warwickshire

  P

  30/03/94

  15/04/94

  18/07/95

  01/09/95

  Middlemarsh Middle School

  Warwickshire

  P

  26/04/94

  08/06/94

  07/07/95

  01/09/95

  Wolverton Primary School

  Warwickshire

  P

  24/08/94

  25/11/95

  07/07/95

  01/09/95

  Longridge GM Primary School

  Lancashire

  G

  22/11/94

  19/12/94

  15/08/95

  01/09/95

  Pennine Way Junior School (G.M.)

  Derbyshire

  G

  09/12/94

  27/02/95

  04/08/95

  01/09/95

  Longtown Junior School

  Cumbria

  G

  27/12/94

  06/02/95

  02/05/95

  01/09/95

  William Hildyard C of E Primary School

  Lincolnshire

  G

  28/12/94

  14/01/95

  16/06/95

  01/09/95

  Engaines Primary School

  Essex

  G

  11/01/95

  15/02/95

  21/06/95

  01/09/95

  Zouch Primary School

  Wiltshire

  G

  18/01/95

  24/02/95

  23/06/95

  01/09/95

  Rochford Primary School

  Essex

  G

  01/03/95

  20/04/95

  24/08/95

  01/09/95

  Harcourt Primary School

  Kent

  G

  06/03/95

  30/03/95

  18/08/95

  01/09/95

  716

  717

  Name of school

  LEA of school

  Ballot initiated by

  Ballot closed

  GM proposal published

  Secretary of State decision

  Implementation of GM status

  All Souls' CE Primary School

  Kent

  G

  06/03/95

  16/03/95

  21/06/95

  01/09/95

  Gravesend Grammar School for Boys

  Kent

  G

  31/03/95

  07/04/95

  11/08/95

  01/09/95

  St. Mary's R C Primary School

  Lambeth

  G

  03/04/95

  07/04/95

  20/07/95

  01/09/95

  Castledown Comprehensive School

  Wiltshire

  G

  07/04/95

  09/06/95

  15/08/95

  01/09/95

  Carrant Brook Junior School

  Gloucestershire

  G

  07/04/95

  16/05/95

  02/08/95

  01/09/95

  Kilburn Park Junior School

  Brent

  G

  16/05/95

  22/05/95

  31/08/95

  01/09/95

  Enmore CE GM Primary School

  Somerset

  G

  13/03/95

  21/03/95

  28/09/95

  01/10/95

  King David Primary School

  Liverpool

  G

  13/06/94

  30/09/94

  09/10/95

  01/11/95

  St. Mary's RC Primary School

  Wiltshire

  G

  08/07/94

  11/11/94

  15/08/95

  01/11/95

  Note:

  In the 'ballot initiated by' column 'P' = Parents and 'G' Governors.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the grant-maintained schools which have applied for loans under section 92 of the Education Act 1993, in each case stating(a) the size of loan requested, (b) the purpose for which the loan was agree, (c) the size of the loan agreed, (d) the period of repayment and (e) the interest rate applied. [2895]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  These matters are now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member with this information.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the grant-maintained schools which have applied for special purpose grant (restructuring), in each case stating(a) the number of (i) teaching and (ii) non-teaching posts affected, (b) the posts for which grant was awarded and (c) if (i) premature retirement compensation or (ii) statutory redundancy payment was awarded. [2897]

  Mr. Squire
  These matters are now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member with this information.

  Pupil Achievements
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of(a) primary and (b) secondary school children perform two or more years below their chronological age in (i) English and (ii) maths. [2992]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected by the Department. The table shows for 1994 the proportion of pupils in England at the end of key stages 1 and 3 reaching the expected national curriculum level of their age group. Figures for 1995, which for the first time will show the results of pupils at the end of key stages 1, 2 and 3, should be available in the new year, and will be placed in the Library.

  Primary

  Secondary

  Total schools1

  LEA area

  Schools2

  schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Schools2

  schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Schools

  Schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Corporation of London

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  41

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  3

  27

  2

  18

  60

  4

  7

  2

  3

  718

  Percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 1 reaching or exceeding level 2

  Teacher assessment

  Test

  Reading

  80

  80

  Writing

  70

  67

  Spelling

  73

  71

  Handwriting

  81

  80

  Mathematics

  81

  81

  Based on a response rate from schools of about 52 per cent.

  Percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 3 reaching or exceeding level 5

  Teacher assessment

  Test

  English

  63

  58

  Mathematics

  65

  60

  Based on a response rate from schools of about 22 per cent.

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the published recommended response times within which her Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [2998]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department aims to respond to all letters from members of the public within 20 working days, which is the target set in the code of practice on access to Government information.

  Opting-out
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) schools, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools there are in England and Wales and in each county; how many schools have (i) held ballots to decide whether or not to opt out of local authority control and (ii) decided to opt out of local education authority control; and what are (i) and (ii) as a percentage of (a), (b) and (c) for each county and for England and Wales. [640]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information in respect of maintained schools in all local education authorities in England is set out in the table. Information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  719

  Primary

  Secondary

  Total schools1

  LEA area

  Schools2

  schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Schools2

  schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Schools

  Schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Greenwich

  75

  1

  1

  1

  1

  15

  1

  7

  0

  0

  98

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Hackney

  62

  1

  2

  1

  2

  10

  1

  10

  0

  0

  78

  2

  3

  1

  1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  37

  2

  5

  1

  3

  9

  1

  11

  1

  11

  52

  3

  6

  2

  4

  Islington

  57

  0

  0

  9

  0

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  71

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  27

  2

  7

  2

  7

  4

  1

  25

  1

  25

  33

  3

  9

  3

  9

  Lambeth

  77

  10

  13

  9

  12

  11

  6

  55

  6

  55

  103

  17

  17

  16

  16

  Lewisham

  70

  1

  1

  1

  1

  13

  2

  15

  0

  0

  90

  3

  3

  1

  1

  Southwark

  73

  7

  10

  6

  8

  13

  4

  31

  4

  31

  96

  11

  11

  10

  10

  Tower Hamlets

  75

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  2

  13

  1

  7

  97

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Wandsworth

  60

  5

  8

  3

  5

  9

  8

  89

  7

  78

  80

  13

  16

  10

  13

  Westminster

  41

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  1

  13

  0

  0

  52

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Barking and Dagenham

  55

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  66

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Barnet

  89

  6

  7

  2

  2

  21

  11

  52

  10

  48

  114

  17

  15

  12

  11

  Bexley

  64

  4

  6

  3

  5

  16

  7

  44

  5

  31

  84

  11

  13

  8

  10

  Brent

  60

  7

  12

  7

  12

  13

  12

  92

  12

  92

  78

  19

  24

  19

  24

  Bromley

  78

  7

  9

  6

  8

  17

  18

  106

  17

  100

  100

  26

  26

  24

  24

  Croydon

  98

  5

  5

  3

  3

  20

  9

  45

  9

  45

  124

  14

  11

  12

  10

  Ealing

  66

  4

  6

  4

  6

  12

  8

  67

  6

  50

  85

  12

  14

  10

  12

  Enfield

  67

  4

  6

  1

  1

  16

  6

  38

  5

  31

  88

  10

  11

  6

  7

  Haringey

  76

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  90

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Harrow

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  1

  10

  1

  10

  68

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Havering

  71

  3

  4

  0

  0

  18

  4

  22

  4

  22

  92

  7

  8

  4

  4

  Hillingdon

  71

  10

  14

  10

  14

  15

  12

  80

  14

  93

  94

  22

  23

  24

  26

  Hounslow

  62

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  2

  14

  2

  14

  81

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Kingston

  36

  1

  3

  1

  3

  10

  4

  40

  4

  40

  49

  5

  10

  5

  10

  Merton

  49

  1

  2

  0

  0

  11

  1

  9

  1

  9

  64

  2

  3

  1

  2

  Newham

  66

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  1

  7

  1

  7

  85

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Redbridge

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  1

  7

  1

  7

  74

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Richmond

  39

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  50

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sutton

  43

  6

  14

  3

  7

  14

  8

  57

  8

  57

  60

  14

  23

  11

  18

  Waltham Forest

  62

  2

  3

  1

  2

  16

  2

  13

  2

  13

  84

  5

  6

  4

  5

  Birmingham

  332

  10

  3

  5

  2

  79

  24

  30

  17

  22

  444

  34

  8

  22

  5

  Coventry

  89

  1

  1

  0

  0

  19

  0

  0

  0

  0

  119

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Dudley

  83

  1

  1

  1

  1

  22

  9

  41

  7

  32

  112

  10

  9

  8

  7

  Sand well

  112

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20

  4

  20

  2

  10

  143

  4

  3

  2

  1

  Solihull

  70

  1

  1

  1

  1

  13

  2

  15

  1

  8

  87

  3

  3

  2

  2

  Walsall

  103

  3

  3

  2

  2

  20

  9

  45

  7

  35

  131

  12

  9

  9

  7

  Wolverhampton

  98

  2

  2

  0

  0

  20

  7

  35

  5

  25

  124

  9

  7

  5

  4

  Knowsley

  64

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  3

  27

  1

  9

  83

  3

  4

  1

  1

  Liverpool

  174

  2

  1

  1

  1

  35

  9

  26

  4

  11

  231

  11

  5

  5

  2

  St. Helens

  66

  1

  2

  1

  2

  12

  1

  8

  0

  0

  83

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Sefton

  93

  0

  0

  0

  0

  22

  2

  9

  0

  0

  121

  2

  2

  0

  0

  Wirral

  106

  0

  0

  0

  0

  21

  4

  19

  2

  10

  139

  4

  3

  2

  1

  Bolton

  105

  3

  3

  1

  1

  16

  3

  19

  3

  19

  128

  6

  5

  4

  3

  Bury

  71

  2

  3

  1

  1

  14

  0

  0

  0

  0

  89

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Manchester

  171

  1

  1

  1

  1

  28

  1

  4

  0

  0

  225

  2

  1

  1

  0

  Oldham

  102

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  1

  7

  0

  0

  124

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  76

  9

  12

  6

  8

  14

  4

  29

  2

  14

  97

  13

  13

  8

  8

  Salford

  88

  0

  0

  0

  0

  18

  4

  22

  1

  6

  113

  4

  4

  1

  1

  Stockport

  109

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  2

  13

  0

  0

  131

  2

  2

  0

  0

  Tameside

  80

  1

  1

  0

  0

  18

  6

  33

  3

  17

  105

  7

  7

  3

  3

  Trafford

  78

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16

  7

  44

  5

  31

  101

  7

  7

  5

  5

  Wigan

  121

  1

  1

  0

  0

  21

  1

  5

  1

  5

  151

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Barnsley

  92

  1

  1

  1

  1

  14

  2

  14

  0

  0

  109

  3

  3

  1

  1

  Doncaster

  110

  5

  5

  4

  4

  34

  2

  6

  1

  3

  151

  7

  5

  5

  3

  Rotherham

  115

  0

  0

  0

  0

  17

  1

  6

  0

  0

  139

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  149

  17

  11

  15

  10

  31

  8

  26

  6

  19

  197

  25

  13

  21

  11

  Bradford

  165

  10

  6

  8

  5

  87

  11

  13

  6

  7

  265

  21

  8

  14

  5

  Calderdale

  91

  8

  9

  6

  7

  15

  11

  73

  9

  60

  109

  19

  17

  15

  14

  Kirklees

  158

  4

  3

  0

  0

  32

  6

  19

  3

  9

  199

  10

  5

  3

  2

  Leeds

  247

  4

  2

  2

  1

  46

  3

  7

  1

  2

  307

  7

  2

  3

  1

  Wakefield

  131

  2

  2

  2

  2

  29

  1

  3

  1

  3

  170

  3

  2

  3

  2

  Gateshead

  80

  1

  1

  0

  0

  13

  2

  15

  0

  0

  99

  3

  3

  0

  0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  79

  1

  1

  0

  0

  21

  1

  5

  0

  0

  110

  2

  2

  0

  0

  North Tyneside

  58

  2

  3

  1

  2

  23

  3

  13

  2

  9

  86

  5

  6

  3

  3

  South Tyneside

  58

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  74

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  17

  0

  0

  0

  0

  125

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Avon

  367

  7

  2

  0

  0

  60

  5

  8

  2

  3

  453

  12

  3

  2

  0

  Bedfordshire

  219

  5

  2

  3

  1

  70

  20

  29

  11

  16

  303

  26

  9

  15

  5

  Berkshire

  272

  11

  4

  8

  3

  59

  17

  29

  13

  22

  344

  28

  8

  21

  6

  Buckinghamshire

  286

  12

  4

  8

  3

  44

  11

  25

  10

  23

  350

  23

  7

  18

  5

  Cambridgeshire

  265

  10

  4

  7

  3

  44

  23

  52

  17

  39

  325

  33

  10

  24

  7

  Cheshire

  435

  10

  2

  7

  2

  67

  11

  16

  4

  6

  523

  21

  4

  11

  2

  Cleveland

  201

  1

  0

  0

  0

  44

  3

  7

  0

  0

  261

  4

  2

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  247

  2

  1

  1

  0

  31

  0

  0

  0

  0

  282

  2

  1

  1

  0

  Cumbria

  300

  35

  12

  27

  9

  42

  16

  38

  16

  38

  347

  51

  15

  43

  12

  Derbyshire

  449

  21

  5

  12

  3

  61

  27

  44

  17

  28

  530

  48

  9

  29

  5

  Devon

  439

  11

  3

  2

  0

  63

  11

  17

  7

  11

  523

  22

  4

  9

  2

  Dorset

  198

  3

  2

  2

  1

  56

  14

  25

  12

  21

  266

  21

  8

  16

  6

  Durham

  295

  0

  0

  0

  0

  43

  2

  5

  0

  0

  351

  2

  1

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  218

  1

  0

  0

  0

  35

  2

  6

  0

  0

  272

  3

  1

  0

  0

  Essex

  578

  84

  15

  77

  13

  103

  75

  73

  72

  70

  715

  162

  23

  152

  21

  Gloucestershire

  257

  24

  9

  21

  8

  42

  32

  76

  30

  71

  316

  56

  18

  51

  16

  Hampshire

  567

  21

  4

  18

  3

  93

  23

  25

  18

  19

  705

  45

  6

  37

  5

  Hereford and Worcester

  286

  3

  1

  1

  0

  76

  9

  12

  5

  7

  376

  12

  3

  6

  2

  Hertfordshire

  429

  15

  3

  12

  3

  89

  32

  36

  29

  33

  547

  47

  9

  41

  7

  Humberside

  352

  6

  2

  4

  1

  60

  4

  7

  0

  0

  427

  10

  2

  4

  1

  Isle of Wight

  46

  0

  0

  21

  0

  21

  0

  0

  0

  0

  69

  0

  0

  0

  0

  720

  721

  Primary

  Secondary

  Total schools1

  LEA area

  Schools2

  schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Schools2

  schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Schools

  Schools balloted on GM status

  Per cent. Of schools held GM ballots

  Schools voted 'yes'

  Per cent. Of schools voted 'yes'

  Kent

  567

  31

  5

  29

  5

  128

  76

  59

  74

  58

  729

  107

  15

  103

  14

  Lancashire

  598

  10

  2

  6

  1

  106

  18

  17

  9

  8

  746

  28

  4

  15

  2

  Leicestershire

  332

  4

  1

  0

  0

  79

  10

  13

  5

  6

  429

  15

  3

  6

  1

  Lincolnshire

  290

  33

  11

  29

  10

  63

  31

  49

  30

  48

  372

  64

  17

  59

  16

  Norfolk

  394

  27

  7

  21

  5

  52

  19

  37

  13

  25

  458

  46

  10

  34

  7

  North Yorkshire

  392

  5

  1

  1

  0

  59

  3

  5

  0

  0

  466

  9

  2

  2

  0

  Northamptonshire

  270

  17

  6

  13

  5

  63

  21

  33

  13

  21

  346

  38

  11

  26

  8

  Northumberland

  144

  1

  1

  1

  1

  61

  0

  0

  1

  2

  214

  1

  0

  2

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  424

  1

  0

  0

  0

  82

  9

  11

  4

  5

  533

  11

  2

  5

  1

  Oxfordshire

  237

  1

  0

  1

  0

  44

  2

  5

  0

  0

  296

  4

  1

  2

  1

  Shropshire

  212

  6

  3

  6

  2

  35

  7

  20

  7

  20

  256

  13

  5

  12

  5

  Somerset

  228

  6

  3

  4

  2

  39

  3

  8

  2

  5

  275

  9

  3

  6

  2

  Staffordshire

  409

  5

  1

  4

  1

  85

  10

  12

  5

  6

  523

  15

  3

  9

  2

  Suffolk

  256

  0

  0

  0

  0

  77

  1

  1

  0

  0

  343

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Surrey

  332

  24

  7

  22

  7

  52

  18

  35

  17

  33

  408

  42

  10

  39

  10

  Warwickshire

  235

  15

  6

  12

  5

  37

  9

  24

  8

  22

  285

  24

  8

  20

  7

  West Sussex

  247

  1

  0

  1

  0

  41

  4

  10

  0

  0

  303

  5

  2

  1

  0

  Wiltshire

  294

  27

  9

  24

  8

  44

  24

  55

  17

  39

  351

  51

  15

  41

  12

  England

  18,551

  678

  4

  507

  3

  3,614

  893

  25

  682

  19

  23,385

  1,589

  7

  1,204

  5

  1 Figures for total numbers of maintained schools in England include special schools.

  2 Figures for numbers of maintained schools, primary, secondary and total, are derived from the January 1995 DfEE Annual Schools' Census, and exclude those schools which have closed subsequent to holding a ballot on GM status. Figures for the proportion of schools that have held GM ballots need to be viewed accordingly.

  Education Vouchers
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what sums of money(a) have been and (b) will be paid to Capita Managed Services Ltd. for issuing and redeeming nursery education vouchers for phase 1 of the voucher scheme. [3373]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government's contract with Capita Managed Services Ltd. to administer phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme was awarded after a competitive tender. The financial details are commercially confidential.

HEALTH

  Nurses
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) district nurses and (b) health visitors were in training for each of the years between 1988 and 1995 inclusive broken down by real frequency and whole-time equivalents. [1270]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses(a) entered and (b) left the profession in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [3140]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Clinical Depression
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the incidence of clinical depression in the United Kingdom. [2223]

  Mr. Bowis
  The report of the first national survey of psychiatric morbidity in Great Britain, commissioned by my Department, was published in May 1995. This described the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adults aged 16 to 64 living in private households and 722
  showed that in this population 77 per 1,000 adults were suffering from mixed anxiety and depressive disorder and 21 per 1,000 adults from a depressive episode.

  Family Health Service Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct family health service authorities to include in the public papers of their meetings details of all cases where they have withheld remuneration from general practitioner practices to the value of £500 or more. [2240]

  Mr. Malone
  No. Decisions to withhold remuneration from a general practitioner are taken by family health services authorities under the National Health Service (Service Committee and Tribunal) Regulations 1992, as amended. Regulation 9(9) provides for the FHSA's decision to be communicated only to the parties to the proceedings, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and where reasonably requested to do so by either party, to any Member of either House of Parliament.

  Prozac
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the prescription by psychiatrists of Prozac to children. [2229]

  Mr. Bowis
  The use of Prozac for children is not recommended under the terms of the product licence but the application of this advice is a matter for individual clinical judgment.

  Adoption and Fostering
  Mr. John Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) adoptions there have been in the United Kingdom and (b) children have been put out to foster in each of the last 10 years; and what has been the total cost to public funds of fostering in the last year. [2133]

  Mr. Bowis
  Numbers of adoptions in England and Wales are published in "Marriage and Divorce Statistics: England and Wales 19XX. OPCS series FM2", copies of which are available in the Library. Information about adoptions in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for
  723
  my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Numbers of children placed with local authority foster parents in England in the 10 years to 31 March 1993 are contained in historical tables in "Children Looked After by Local Authorities, 14 October 1991 to 31 March 1993. A/F 93/12", copies of which are available in the Library. The provisional figure for 31 March 1994 was 32,000.

  Net expenditure by local authorities on children boarded out in 1993–94, the latest year for which the information is available, was £244 million.

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the unauthorised ex gratia payment to the former director of regionally managed services of the West Midlands regional health authority has been recovered. [2473]

  Mr. Malone
  The prospects for recovering this payment are presently being reviewed, taking account of recent legal advice.

  Dental Amalgam
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evaluation his Department has carried out in the past two years of the level of toxicity of mercury fillings in current use in dentistry; and if he will make a statement; [2488]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the cost to the NHS of a ban on the use of mercury-based amalgams in dentistry and the use of alternative non-mercury based amalgams; and if he will make a statement; [2522]

  (3) what recent research has been undertaken or commissioned by his Department into the exposure of patients to mercury following the use of dental silver amalgam; and if he will make a statement; [2489]

  (4) what representations he has received in respect of the ban imposed by the German Ministry of Health on the use of mercury amalgam in dentistry; and if he will make a statement; [2654]

  (5) what assessment his Department has made of the ban by the Austrian Government of the use of mercury amalgams in dental fillings for children from 1996; and if he will make a statement; [2521]

  (6) what research his Department has undertaken into mercury hypersensitivity from dental amalgam in patients giving rise to oral lichen planus lesions; and if he will make a statement; [2529]

  (7) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the level of mercury concentration in the hippocampus, the amygdala and the nucleus basalis of people who have died of Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement; [2523]

  (8) if he will evaluate the research material upon which the Swedish Government have now introduced a gradual phasing out of the use of mercury amalgam for dental fillings; and if he will make a statement. [2671]
  724
  Mr. Malone
  The Committee on Toxicity advised in 1986 that the use of dental amalgam is free from the risk of systemic toxicity and that only a few cases of hypersensitivity occur. The subsequent research findings and recent evaluations by other authoritative national and international expert committees are consistent with that advice. The Department continues to monitor and evaluate research in this area.

  There are neither reasons to ban dental amalgam nor to carry out a cost assessment of the use of amalgam or alternative materials.

  In 1994, the South and West regional health authority commissioned research by Bristol dental school into whether amalgam-related treatment should be avoided during pregnancy.

  A European working group, which includes United Kingdom representatives, is currently reviewing dental amalgam in the context of the requirements of the European medical devices directive.

  The Department is aware that the European Commission has received notification from German authorities of an intention to restrict the use of amalgam for certain patients. However, the Department has not received any formal notification of any German or Austrian ban on the use of amalgam.

  There are only a few documented cases of hypersensitivity to dental amalgam in literature and there has been no evidence to suggest an increase. The Committee on Toxicity advised that there was no need for further research.

  The Department has commissioned no research into the preponderance of mercury concentration on the brains of people who have died of Alzheimer's disease. An information sheet, prepared for the Alzheimer's Disease Society by Professor Jim Edwardson director of the MRC Neurochemical Pathology unit, concludes that there is very little evidence to link this metal with Alzheimer's disease.

  The Department has received and considered the 1994 report from Sweden which states that the expert group found no evidence that there is a connection between dental amalgam and general or specific ill health except in rare cases of hypersensitivity.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the causes of high concentrations of mercury in the brain cells of deceased victims of Alzheimer's disease; if he will list the conclusions of his Department in respect of the causes; and if he will make a statement. [2524]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department has not commissioned any such research.
  725
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Alzheimer's disease were reported in the United Kingdom(a) 1970, (b) 1975, (c) 1980, (d) 1985, (e) 1990 and (f) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [2525]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally. It is estimated that there are currently around 600,00 sufferers from dementia in England and Wales.

  Royal London Hospital
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what grounds a payment of £140,000 was made to a former finance director at the Royal London hospital. [3114]

  Mr. Malone
  This is a matter for the Royal Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Derek Boorman, chairman of the trust, for details.

  NHS Pension
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the time scale for decision-taking in respect of the matter referred to in his answer 7 November,Official Report, column 678. [3086]

  Mr. Malone
  When all relevant factors have been taken into account.

  Health Visitors
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much time health visitors spend each week administering purchasers' contracts. [3122]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally. National health service trusts and health authorities are expected locally to ensure that health visitors activity is both clinically and cost effective.

  Management Costs
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the league table of management costs in NHS trusts and health authorities. [3380]

  Mr. Malone
  We will be publishing information shortly.

  Clinical Negligence
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the number of cases reported alleging clinical negligence, (b) the total amount of money claimed in these cases, (c) the total amount of money advised by solicitors of the trusts or otherwise resolved by them in settlement of such claims and (d) the figures for (c) expressed as a percentage of turnover, for each health trust and for England as a whole for each of the last two years for which information is available. [642]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners are now fundholders. [2551]
  726
  Mr. Malone
  As at April 1995, just over 39 per cent. of general practitioners are fundholders serving 41 per cent. of the population.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners have moved to fundholding status in each year since the inception of the scheme. [2552]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of fundholding general practitioners

  1991–92

  1,715

  1992–93

  1,444

  1993–94

  2,944

  1994–95

  2,657

  1995–96

  1,650

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of general practitioners expected on present trends to move to fundholding status(a) in 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [2553]

  Mr. Malone
  From April 1995, over 39 per cent. of general practitioners in England are in the fundholding scheme. This is expected to increase to over 50 per cent. by April 1996 with more preparing to join in 1997.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total administrative costs of running general practitioner fundholding schemes in each year since the inception of the scheme. [2554]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 17 January,Official Report, columns 425–26. For 1994–95, expenditure on management allowances was £66 million.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he had with the medical profession to improve the workings of general practitioner fundholding schemes. [2555]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with the medical profession to discuss a range of issues including general practitioner fundholding.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the reorganisation of community health councils in the Plymouth and Torbay area; and if he will make a statement. [2700]

  Mr. Malone
  None. The re-organisation of community health councils is a matter for regional health authorities, in their capacity as the establishing body for community health councils. They have a responsibility to ensure that CHCs are able to reflect the views of the communities they serve, for example when the establishing body are considering CHC mergers or boundary changes the first consideration must always be whether maintaining the existing CHCs will best serve the local interest.
  727
  With specific reference to the Plymouth and Torbay area, the hon. Member may wish to contact Ms Rennie Fritchie, chairman of the RHA for details.

ENVIRONMENT

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information, advice and facilities will be made available to(a) the relatives of victims and (b) victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, and by whom, after the introduction of competition in the domestic gas supply market. [2004]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All carbon monoxide, CO, fatalities that are notified to the Health and Safety Executive will continue to be investigated. The question of whether the industry will have a duty to conduct separate investigations into CO deaths has yet to be agreed by the Health and Safety Commission. HSE inspectors will continue to follow the general HSE policy of keeping interested parties, including those affected by CO poisoning and the families of victims, informed of progress with the investigations; informing them of any legal proceedings to be taken; liaising closely with the police and coroners courts in the case of fatal accidents; and liaising with the crown Prosecution Service if manslaughter charges should be considered. HSE inspectors also issued the leaflet "Advice to Bereaved Families" in respect of all work-related fatalities.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures the public gas transporters and emergency service providers will adopt to deal with carbon monoxide poisoning after the introduction of competition in the domestic gas supply market. [2006]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Regulation 6(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangers Occurrences Regulations 1985 require suppliers of flammable gas to notify the Health Safety Executive forthwith of any incident notified to them, which has led to a death or other specified condition arising from exposure to carbon monoxide, CO from the incomplete combustion of gas. The supplier is also required to make a report in writing within 14 days.

  It is proposed that a revision to RIDDOR, which is expected to come into force on 1 April 1996, will transfer the duty to notify and report to HSE from suppliers to gas conveyors.

  The Health and Safety Commission issued a consultative document on draft Gas Safety (Management) Regulations in July 1995. One of the proposals was that when a gas conveyor is notified of a suspected or actual release of CO, it should attend the premises to make the situation safe.

  The HSC will shortly be considering the results of the consultation exercise, including the arrangements for dealing with CO poisoning incidents. It is intended that the new regulations will come into force on 1 April 1996.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who will have responsibility for investigating cases of carbon monoxide poisoning after 728
  the introduction of competition in the domestic gas market. [2007]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Commission issued a consultative document in July 1995 on the draft Gas Safety (Management) Regulations. One of the proposals on which the commission specifically sought views was that a duty should be placed on gas suppliers to investigate carbon monoxide poisoning incidents.

  The HSC will shortly be considering the results of the consultation exercise, including the arrangements for dealing with CO poisoning incidents. It is intended that the new regulations will come into force on 1 April 1996.

  Mining Accident Statistics
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the private coal mining companies which publish accident figures on a six-monthly basis; what considerations apply in determining which companies provide such statistics on this basis; and what plans Her Majesty's inspectorate has to publish figures on this basis for the whole of the United Kingdom coal industry. [2053]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive is not aware of the private coal companies which publish accident figures on a six-monthly basis. The decision whether to publish company accident statistics is a matter for the individual company concerned. The HSE mines inspectorate publishes accident statistics for the whole of the mining industry on an annual basis and has no plans to publish any on a company basis.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussion his Department had with(a) English Heritage and (b) the Wiltshire county archaeologist about the proposal to build three houses inside the enclosure known as Vespasian's Camp in the Stonehenge world heritage site before planning permission was granted; what assessment he has made of the conformity of the permission with PPG15; what requests he has received to revoke it; and if he will make a statement. [2367]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government office for the south-west received representations from English Heritage and the Wiltshire county archaeologist, as well as Salisbury district council and Chapman Warren, agents for the applicants. The planning permission was issued by Salisbury district council on 2 December 1994, including a condition which provides for archaeological investigation prior to development. On the same day, Wiltshire county council wrote to request call-in by the Secretary of State.

  The land involved is not an scheduled ancient monument and in those circumstances the district council felt unable to refuse planning consent, which was consistent with the unchallenged housing provisions of the draft local plan, unless English Heritage gave an undertaking to meet the costs of any award against the council at appeal. No such undertaking was given and English Heritage did not press the Secretary of State to call in the application.
  729
  I have received no requests to revoke the planning permission.

  EAGA Services Ltd.
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the relationship between the energy action grants agency and EAGA Services Ltd. and on the role referred by EAGA Services Ltd. [2136]

  Mr. Clappison
  The energy action grants agency was recently renamed EAGA Ltd. EAGA Ltd. and EAGA Services Ltd. are sister companies within the EAGA group of companies. EAGA Ltd. works within the public sector, and its major contract is with the Department of the Environment to administer the home energy efficiency scheme. EAGA Services Ltd. tenders for work outside the public sector.

  Rail Deregulation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Minister has ultimate responsibility for the deregulation of rural business. [2640]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I report to the Secretary of State for the Environment on the deregulation of the burdens on business which fall within this Department's areas of responsibility.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanisms exist to co-ordinate the rail transport policy with the Department of Transport. [2642]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department is in regular contact with the Department of Transport on all policy issues affecting the environment.

  Development Corporations
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the development corporations in the United Kingdom that were originally formed; how many are still in existence; what are their respective time limits; how much land each has reclaimed; how many jobs have been created by each corporation's activities; what value of private sector funding has been attracted by each; and if he will make a statement. [2518]

  Mr. Curry
  The information is given in the table:

  UDC

  Wind-up date

  Land reclaimed (hectares)

  Jobs created (gross)

  Private investment (£million)

  London Docklands

  31 March 1998

  709.0

  63,025

  6,084.4

  Merseyside

  31 March 1998

  342.0

  14,458

  394.0

  Black Country

  31 March 1998

  257.7

  13,357

  690.0

  Teesside

  31 March 1998

  355.6

  7,682

  837.3

  Trafford Park

  31 March 1998

  142.3

  16,197

  914.6

  Tyne and Wear

  31 March 1998

  456.4

  19,649

  758.4

  Bristol

  31 December 1995

  60.0

  4,250

  200.0

  Sheffield

  31 March 1997

  234.5

  11,342

  553.1

  Central Manchester

  31 March 1996

  33.0

  4,909

  344.8

  Leeds

  31 March 1995

  68.0

  9,066

  357.0

  Birmingham Heartlands

  31 March 1998

  54.0

  1,773

  106.8

  Plymouth

  31 March 1998

  5.5

  8

  0

  730
  All corporations except Leeds are still in existence.

  Responsibility for the Cardiff bay and Laganside development corporations lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.

  All outputs are cumulative to 31 March 1995.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses the Housing Corporation has built in rural areas; and how many he expects to be built in(a) 1996 and 1997 and (b) in each year since 1992. [2641]

  Mr. Clappison
  Since 1989–90, some 10,800 new homes have been approved in rural areas—defined as settlements with a population of 3,000 or less—through the Housing Corporation's rural programme. Of these, some 1,660 new homes were completed in 1992–93, 1,700 in 1993–94 and 1,890 in 1994–95. Rural schemes can be more difficult to develop and take longer to reach completion. We have therefore enabled the Housing Corporation to enhance grants to housing associations from 1996–97 to recognise the higher costs of developing small schemes in villages.

  Forecast figures for future years will not be available until early in the new year, when the Housing Corporation has finalised its approved development programme.

  Out-of-town Supermarkets
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from organisations representing small rural businesses expressing concern about the impact on their trade of out-of-town supermarkets in the last year. [2574]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have received a small number of representations from rural business interests and local authorities in response to the draft PPG6 and the consultation exercise on the rural White Paper.

  Dearne Valley Partnership
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many ministerial visits have been made to the Dearne Valley Partnership since April 1992; and what has been the total cost involved of each visit. [2388]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There have been 14 visits by sponsor Ministers and three visits by other DOE Ministers to the Dearne valley; information on the total cost of visits is not readily available.

  Government Office for the East Midlands
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in total and by individual department the number of staff who were at the Government office for the east midlands. [2764]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  At the start of this financial year, 247 staff were attached to the Government office for the east midlands. Departments are currently meeting the office's pay costs in the following proportions:
  731

  Department of Trade and Industry: 36 per cent.

  Department of the Environment: 33 per cent.

  Department for Education and Employment: 26 per cent.

  Department of Transport: 5 per cent.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the annual revenue costs of the Government office for the east midlands. [2765]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  GOEM's pay and non-pay running costs totalled £7.3 million in 1994–95.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources he will make available to authorities that have been or are to be reorganised on 1 April 1994, 1996 or 1997 for reorganisation costs incurred by them in 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [3687]

  Mr. Curry
  On 27 July I invited authorities that have been, or are to be, reorganised on or before 1 April 1997 to submit estimates of the amount of expenditure that they expect to incur on transitional costs of reorganisation in 1995–96. On the basis,inter alia, of the information provided by the authorities, I have decided the maximum amounts that it would be appropriate to allocate towards such costs in 1995–96.I have given priority to authorities that are to be reorganised on 1 April 1996 and within that group, to the shadow authorities that are to become the new unitary authorities, and to the redundancy costs of authorities that are to be abolished.

  The amounts are as follows:

  Maximum amounts: £000s rounded

  Authority

  1995–96

  Total 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Isle of Wight

  Isle of Wight council

  1,750

  3,494

  Cleveland

  Cleveland county council

  2,500

  —

  Hartlepool borough council

  3,200

  3,748

  Langbaurgh on Tees borough council

  2,550

  2,637

  Middlesbrough borough council

  2,160

  2,354

  Stockton on Tees borough council

  2,930

  3,428

  Avon

  Avon county council

  2,500

  —

  Bristol city council

  3,000

  —

  Woodspring district council

  3,250

  —

  In Bath and North East Somerset, of which:

  3,000

  —

  Bath and North East Somerset council

  1,810

  —

  Bath city council

  600

  —

  Wansdyke district council

  590

  —

  In South Gloucestershire, of which:

  3,000

  —

  South Gloucestershire council

  1,800

  —

  Kingswood borough council

  650

  —

  Northavon district council

  550

  —

  Humberside

  Humberside county council

  2,500

  —

  Hull city council

  3,000

  —

  In the East Riding of Yorkshire. of which:

  3,200

  —

  East Riding of Yorkshire council

  1,200

  —

  Beverley borough council

  650

  —

  Boothferry borough council

  300

  —

  East Yorkshire borough council

  550

  —

  732

  Maximum amounts: £000s rounded

  Authority

  1995–96

  Total 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Holderness borough council

  500

  —

  In North Lincolnshire, of which:

  2,900

  —

  North Lincolnshire council

  1,800

  —

  Glanford borough council

  550

  —

  Scunthorpe borough council

  550

  —

  In North East Lincolnshire, of which:

  2,950

  —

  North East Lincolnshire DC

  1,900

  —

  Cleethorpes borough council

  450

  —

  Great Grimsby

  600

  —

  North Yorkshire

  North Yorkshire county council

  1,500

  —

  Ryedale district council

  410

  —

  Selby district council

  510

  —

  In York, of which:

  3,000

  —

  York district council

  2,550

  —

  York city council

  450

  —

  Total

  49,310

  52,824

  In addition, £0.2 million has been set aside, for distribution by the Home Office, for the reorganisation costs of combined fire authorities. A reserve of £0.49 million has been retained to meet any unanticipated, exceptional, costs incurred by shadow authorities.

  I have considered carefully the bids submitted by authorities that are to be, or might be, reorganised in 1997. The arrangements make it clear that these authorities would have to make an exceptional case and that priority would be given to supporting expenditures that had to be incurred in 1995–96 if reorganisation were to be implemented by the specified date, and that were of a scale that could not reasonably be found from within the authority's budget. In my view, none of the bids established a sufficiently exceptional case to justify an allocation in the current year. These authorities have, however, been invited to submit bids for 1996–97.

  Government Offices for the Regions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to public funds of each of the Government offices for the region since their commencement. [1940]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The expected cost to public funds of running each of the 10 Government offices in the two years from their creation in April 1994 to the end of this financial year is as follows:

  Government Office

  £ Million

  North-east

  18.160

  North-west

  21.841

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  18.850

  Merseyside

  9.675

  West Midlands

  21.731

  East Midlands

  14.508

  Eastern Region

  12.706

  South-west

  14.548

  South-east

  17.252

  London

  27.484

  733
  The Government offices have replaced the regional offices of the Departments of the Environment, Trade and Industry and the training, enterprise and education directorate of the former Employment Department, which together cost £92 million in 1993–94.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 (1) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, (2) the British Waterways Board (3) the Health and Safety Executive, (4) the National Rivers Authority and (5) the drinking water inspectorate. [2743]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The information is as follows with all cash figures in £ thousands and manpower figures in man-years:

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Income from:

  (a) Fees

  8,912

  13,935

  16,856

  (b) Charges

  15

  5

  5

  (c) Fines

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Staff Numbers

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  (i) Part-time

  4

  3

  7

  (ii) Full-time

  354

  433

  427

  Total

  358

  436

  434

  Running costs

  14,338

  11,252

  10,131

  British Waterways Board

  Income from

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  (a) Fee and charges

  10,500

  11,400

  11,800

  (b) Fines

  —

  —

  —

  Average number of persons employed

  1,967

  1,804

  1,696

  Grant-in-aid1

  51,100

  49,300

  48,900

  1 BW receives a deficit grant (grant-in-aid) to cover the gap between its self-generated income and expenditure.

  Health and Safety Executive

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Income from

  (a) Fees

  28,000

  28,300

  22,800

  (b) Charges

  10,100

  11,300

  13,800

  (c) Fines

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Staff numbers

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  (i) Part-time

  361

  361

  377

  (ii) Full-time

  4,357

  4,364

  4,154

  Total

  4,718

  4,725

  4,531

  Running costs

  163,500

  169,000

  170,500

  734

  National Rivers Authority

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Income from

  (a) Fees1

  126,200

  136,400

  124,000

  (b) Charges2

  209,500

  199,000

  171,400

  (c) Fines

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Staff numbers

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  (i) Part-time3

  759

  636

  760

  (ii) Full-time

  7,483

  6,722

  6,762

  Total

  8,242

  7,358

  7,522

  Grant-in-aid4

  74,700

  61,200

  60,300

  Notes:

  1 Fees for abstraction licences, discharge consents, navigation licences, rod licences and net licences.

  2 Charges are mainly flood defence levies on local authorities.

  3 Includes limited period employees and consultant and agency staff.

  4 NRA receives a general deficit grant (grant-in-aid) to cover the gap between its income and expenditure on functions other than flood defence. It is not hypothecated between running costs and other purposes.

  Drinking Water Inspectorate

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Income from fees, charges and fines

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Staff numbers

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  (i) Full-time

  29

  31

  31

  (ii) Part-time

  1

  0

  0

  Total

  30

  31

  31

  Running costs

  1,180

  1,413

  1,660

  Running costs for Drinking Water Inspectorate are funded within the Department's running costs.

  Water Services (Yorkshire)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an independent inquiry into the management of the water supply service in the Yorkshire area. [2940]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: No. The Director Genral of Water Services is already investigating various aspects of Yorkshire Water's performance.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Deep-sea Fish
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the deep sea fish aspects of the international workshop referred to in his answer of 8 November,Official Report, column 878, considering the competitiveness and consistency of global arrangements for the management of the oceans. [124]

  Mr. Baldry
  The workshop will consider the key pressure points affectting the sustainability of the oceans, ocean science, linking science to management, and global arrangements for ensuing effective implementation of ocean policies. All of these issues are relevant to intergovernmental co-operation on questions related to deep sea fish.
  735

  Moroccan Tomatoes
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with British horticulture interests over the European Union's proposals to increase access to European countries of Moroccan tomatoes. [2225]

  Mr. Boswell
  Growers' views on access of Moroccan tomatoes were made very clear by the NFU at the start of the negotiations.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his opposite numbers in Spain and Portugal in connection with their requests for greater access to the European Union of Moroccan tomatoes. [2226]

  Mr. Boswell
  No bilateral discussions were held with Spanish and Portuguese Agriculture Ministers. The issue was discussed in the Foreign Affairs Council where all member states were represented.

  Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will lay before the House the results of monitoring of the effect of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [2490]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department is planning to obtain relevant information annually from the June agricultural census and a new annual survey of tenanted land commencing in 1996. This information will be published when it becomes available.

  Agriculture Fertilisers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of subsidy and grant aid for the use of lime as an agriculture fertiliser; what was the level in(a) 1965 and (b) 1970; and if he will make a statement. [2527]

  Mr. Boswell
  There have been no subsidies or grant aid available for the use of lime as an agriculture fertiliser since 1976. The level of subsidy in the financial year 1964–65 was £9.9 million and in 1965–66 £8.1 million. Subsidies in the financial years 1969–70 and 1970–71 totalled £4.6 million and £5 million respectively. Lime can be beneficial in certain circumstances and decisions on its application are for farmers and growers. We see no need to subsidise its use.

  Arable Area Payments
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the highest payment made under the arable area payments scheme in England in 1994. [3020]

  Mr. Baldry
  For reasons of confidentiality, it is not possible to identify the highest payment under the arable area payments scheme in 1994.

  Barley
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what levels of United Kingdom intervention stocks of barley were in each 736
  month since November 1994; and what the intervention price was in each month. [159]

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1995, c.198]: The information requested is as follows:

  Month

  Physical stock of barley at month end thousand tonnes

  Intervention price £/tones

  December 1994

  976

  103.94

  January 1995

  820

  105.08

  February 1995

  732

  1st 106.23

  17th 107.59

  21st 108.40

  March 1995

  559

  1st 109.57

  6th 109.78

  16th 111.66

  26th 112.83

  April 1995

  521

  1st 114.04

  15th 114.48

  25th 114.93

  May 1995

  478

  1st 116.14

  15th 116.78

  June 1995

  477

  108.25

  July 1995

  357

  100.59

  August 1995

  260

  100.59

  September 1995

  195

  100.59

  October 1995

  139

  100.59

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Overseas Aid
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of overseas aid to(a) sub-Saharan Africa, (b) Latin America and the Caribbean, (c) south and central asia, (d) the middle east and north Africa, (e) other Asia and Oceania and (f) eastern Europe is spent on (i) basic education, (ii) primary health care, (iii) safe drinking water, (iv) adequate sanitation, (v) family planning and (vi) nutrition. [1548]

  Mr. Hanley
  The requested information is available only for that bilateral expenditure which is allocable by sector. The most recent figures available are for financial year 1994–95, and are given in the table.

  The categories are by economic sector and each ODA project or programme is classified to a single sector. This does not present the full picture because there will be further expenditure in each of these sectors through projects which form part of other, more general, sectors. This is particularly so for family planning, which has not been separately identified. In the calendar year 1994, it is estimated that 2.3 per cent. of total United Kingdom aid, both bilateral and multilateral, was spent on reproductive health care.

  The table excludes block grants to NGOs and multilateral assistance, as it is not possible to provide a breakdown by sector. Bilateral food aid is included in the expenditure on nutrition. It is not possible to provide a sectoral breakdown of the non food aid component of emergency aid. It is likely that a significant amount of this excluded expenditure contributes to the sectors shown.
  737
  This information is provisional until the publication in December of the 1995 edition of "British Aid Statistics".

  1994–95 bilateral Gross Public Expenditure (GPEX) on selected sectors as a percentage of total bilateral GPEX in specified regions

  Basic education1

  Primary health care

  Water and sanitation2

  Nutrition3

  Sub-Saharan Africa

  2.2

  4.1

  1.0

  7.3

  Latin America and Caribbean

  2.0

  3.0

  3.2

  0.2

  South and Central Asia

  1.5

  6.8

  3.2

  0.9

  Middle East and North Africa

  1.3

  6.0

  4.6

  —

  Other Asia and Pacific

  0.7

  1.5

  2.1

  —

  Eastern Europe

  —

  0.2

  —

  0.3

  1 The amount spent on basic education comprises around 18.S per cent. of total bilateral expenditure on education in the regions shown. As for the other categories, some additional expenditure is classified to more general sectors.

  2 Information on water and sanitation projects is presented jointly since a significant amount of expenditure in these sectors is spent on joint projects.

  3 Figures for nutrition include bilateral food aid. Other emergency aid is excluded from the table.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the overseas aid budget is used for(a) food, (b) medical supplies and equipment, (c) housing, (d) education and training programmes, (e) construction of infrastructure and (f) administration of development and aid programmes. [1544]

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested in parts(c), (d) and (e) of the question is available only for that bilateral expenditure which is allocable by sector. The most recent figures available are for financial year 1994–95. Expenditure on food aid and administrative costs relates both to bilateral and multilateral aid, parts (a) and (f). It is not possible to identify separately information on medical supplies and equipment, part (b); therefore expenditure on the whole health sector is included. This information is given in the table.

  The categories shown have been defined in terms of economic sector and each ODA project or programme is classified to a single sector. This does not present the full picture for the sectors shown. There will be further expenditure in each of these sectors through broad projects which form part of more general sectors.

  The figure given for food aid includes emergency food aid. The table excludes other emergency aid, block grants to NGOs and multilateral aid, as a sector breakdown is not available. It is likely that a significant amount of this excluded expenditure contributes to the sectors shown.

  The information is provisional until the publication in December of the 1995 edition of "British Aid Statistics".

  ODA expenditure on selected sectors as a percentage of total ODA expenditure, 1994–95

  Percentage

  Percentage share of total ODA programme

  (a) Food aid1

  4.1

  (f) Administration

  2.3

  738

  ODA expenditure on selected sectors as a percentage of total ODA expenditure, 1994–95

  Percentage

  Percentage share of total ODA bilateral programme

  (a) Food aid

  3.3

  (b) Health

  7.0

  (c) Housing2

  0.5

  (d) Education

  10.4

  (e) Construction of infrastructure3

  12.8

  1 In 1994–95 £56.8 million of ODA's multilateral expenditure was spent on EC and UN food aid programmes in addition to £36.3 million of bilateral food aid. This includes both regular and emergency contributions.

  2 This figure includes expenditure on slum improvement projects.

  3 Infrastructure is defined according to the 1994 World Development Report to include: public utilities (energy, telecommunications, water, sanitation and sewerage), public works (roads, irrigation and drainage) and transport.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Government to reach the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent. gross national product for overseas aid. [2224]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have not set down a timetable for reaching the 0.7 per cent. target. Progress towards the target will depend on our economic circumstances and on other priorities for public expenditure.

  In 1994, our ODA-GNP ratio was 0.31 per cent.—above the average for all OECD donors of 0.29 per cent.

  Bilateral Aid Programme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what would be the impact on the bilateral aid programme over each of the next three years of reductions of(a) 1 per cent. (b) 5 per cent. (c) 10 per cent. and (d) 12 per cent., levels in the overall aid programme. [1591]

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not possible to answer this question precisely, since there is some scope to modify certain categories of multilateral spending such as contributions to new multilateral replenishments or voluntary contributions to United Nations or Commonwealth bodies.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from voluntary organisations regarding the United Kingdom's bilateral aid programme in the last year. [2118]

  Mr. Hanley
  In the last year, my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development and her officials have had frequent contact with voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations. This dialogue covers a wide range of issues, including the United Kingdom's bilateral aid programme.

  Kenya
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Kenya about the work of the international genocide tribunal. [2568]
  739
  Mr. Hanley
  We have made our views about the work of the international tribunal for Rwanda quite clear to the Government of Kenya. They have given assurances to the United Nations Security Council that they will co-operate with the tribunal.

  Commonwealth Institute
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of the future of the Commonwealth Institute; what proposed legislation will affect the Commonwealth Institute; what recent discussions he has had with the management of the Commonwealth Institute; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of those discussions. [2900]

  Mr. Hanley
  Discussions have been under way since July this year between Ministers and the executive committee of the Commonwealth Institute on its future operation after March 1996. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the chairman, vice-chairman, director general and chairman of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland on 24 October to discuss future policy. The annual general meeting on 5 December will allow future options after March 1996 to be considered.

  Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will supply figures for the amount of money allocated from the TACIS programme for the environment; and what percentage of the total money allocated this represents. [1234]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The amount committed under TACIS to the environment and nuclear safety sector from its inception up to the end of 1994 was 321 mecu—£242.44 million—representing 18.4 per cent. of total commitments.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part the United Kingdom has played in the clearance of land mines throughout the world. [835]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 29 November 1995]: We have provided more than £17.3 million over the last four years for humanitarian mine clearance operations in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, northern Iraq, Laos, Mozambique, Rwanda, north-west Somalia, and Yemen.

  Gambia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Gambian regime to ensure that free and fair elections are held in July 1996. [2754]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development had the opportunity to discuss our concerns with representatives of the regime at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Auckland and to press for a rapid return to a civilian democracy and for the full respect of human rights. The Gambia should benefit from the Millbrook
  740
  programme, which is intended to advance Commonwealth fundamental political values and support the practice of Harare principles.

  Mr. LLoyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the human rights situation in the Gambia in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [2753]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: We have received numerous representations from individuals and human rights organisations on the Gambia. We have repeatedly called on the regime to respect human rights and demonstrate its own stated commitment to return the Gambia to a civilian democracy in July 1996 by lifting the ban on political activity.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international discussions he has had on the possibility of freezing the assets and accounts of the members of the Nigerian military regime. [2597]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: We continue to consult closely with Commonwealth, European Union and other United Nations partners on all aspects of our policy towards Nigeria. [2566]

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy in respect of Nigeria was agreed within the European Union on 20 November; and how the United Kingdom will implement it. [2598]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: On 20 November the European Union adopted a common position introducing visa restrictions on civilian Ministers and their families, a full arms embargo and a suspension of non-humanitarian aid. The measures agreed on Nigeria in 1993 remain in force. New and existing measures will be strictly implemented by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from, and what meetings it has held and on which dates, with the Nigerian-British Society since November 1993.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: We are not aware of any such society. My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development met a combined group from the British-Nigeria Association and the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce on 15 May, and held a meeting with representatives of the British-Nigeria Association on 24 August. Officials also have regular contact with these and other such organisations.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions were issued to the high commission in Lagos to organise meetings with representatives of(a) Shell and (b) the Ogoni people; what meetings were organised; and if he will make a statement. [2292]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Our high commission in Lagos has had regular meetings with Shell, as it does with other companies operating in Nigeria

  741
  as a matter of routine. It has also had regular meetings with a wide variety of groups in Nigeria, including representatives of Ogoni groups.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the export of arms to Nigeria in the last two years; and what is the current policy. [2254]

  Mr. Hartley
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Previous policy was set out in the answer given to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 2 December 1993 at column 676. On 11 November, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a full UK arms embargo against Nigeria. On 20 November, the European Union agreed to strengthen existing restrictions on arms sales to Nigeria through a full arms embargo.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has held recently with the Government of Sri Lanka regarding provision of humanitarian aid to the Jaffna region of Sri Lanka; [2050]

  (2) what discussions he has held recently with representatives of the United Nations regarding provision of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka. [2049]

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government about offering food and medical supplies to people living in the northern area of Sri Lanka, with particular reference to Jaffna to alleviate suffering and hardship caused by the present conflict; and if he will make a statement; [1782]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on food and medical aid being made available by the British Government to the Tamil community in northern Sri Lanka; [1705]

  (3) what reports he has received from the British high commissioner in Sri Lanka on the present conflict that is taking place, with special reference to the facilities which exist to help people who have become refugees as a result of the conflict; and if he will make a statement. [1702]

  Mr. Hanley
  The high commissioner in Colombo has frequent and extensive discussions with the Sri Lankan Government and with relief agencies about the conflict and the humanitarian situation in the north of the country.

  I refer the hon. Members to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Ilford, South, (Mr. Gapes) on 21 and 22 November at columns 67–8 and 111.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the indicative contributions to the EU Budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993–94. [1914]
  742
  Sir John Wheeler
  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 R and D expenditure.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the figures on revenue collected by the Child Support Agency in his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 252, with reference to the latest data available and also show for each month since April 1994 (a) the amount of revenue demanded attributable to type A interim assessments and (b) the amount which offsets state funds. [2266]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 28 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about revenue collected by the Child Support Agency.
  You asked for updated information on maintenance assessed, scheduled for payment and collected via the Agency collection service. The available information on maintenance scheduled for payment and collected by the Agency is set out in the attached table, together with how much of the maintenance collected each month has offset benefit spending. During 1994–95, 65% of maintenance collected offset benefit spending, compared with 54% to date this year.
  Additionally, between April and September 1995 £61.46 million arising from Agency assessments was paid direct between parents who do not use the Agency's collection service.
  Information on the amount of revenue attributable to Type 'A' interim assessments is not available.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Maintenance arising from CSA arrangements

  £ million

  Assessed and scheduled for payment via Agency collection Service

  Paid via Agency collection service

  Amount collected which offsets benefit spending

  Total 1993–94

  107.54

  12.57

  5.70

  1994

  April

  27.82

  3.70

  1.78

  May

  30.43

  4.04

  1.82

  June

  32.33

  4.66

  2.36

  July

  43.31

  4.80

  3.08

  August

  42.64

  5.75

  3.43

  September

  47.41

  6.10

  3.75

  October

  44.81

  6.47

  3.53

  November

  45.95

  7.03

  4.30

  December

  53.98

  7.09

  3.87

  January

  43.56

  7.85

  4.52

  February

  43.48

  7.66

  5.85

  March

  49.05

  9.09

  9.65

  Total 1994–95

  504.77

  74.24

  47.94

  743

  Maintenance arising from CSA arrangements

  £ million

  Assessed and scheduled for payment via Agency collection service

  Paid via Agency collection service

  Amount collected which offsets benefit spending

  1995

  April

  45.44

  7.92

  4.11

  May

  45.06

  8.99

  5.58

  June

  47.43

  9.31

  5.36

  July

  41.87

  9.12

  4.73

  August

  42.24

  9.70

  5.16

  September

  46.33

  10.36

  5.21

  Year to date 1995–96

  268.38

  55.40

  30.16

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedure exists for the payment of arrears to the Child Support Agency by instalments. [2387]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 28 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about payments of arrears by instalments to the Child Support Agency.
  If an absent parent (AP) falls into arrears without contacting the Agency then every effort is made to get in touch with him to determine why payments have fallen behind. He will be asked to make up the missing payments, but if there is a problem, the Agency arranges an arrears agreement with the AP.
  The arrears agreement negotiated is based on the amount of debt and the AP's ability to pay. It is made clear to the AP that he will not be expected to pay more than 33% of his net income in regular payment and arrears.
  The welfare of any children involved is considered when deciding how much to enforce and officers are trained to negotiate the most reasonable level of payment in the interests of all parties.
  Where arrears are in respect of the initial payment period, the possibility of deferring debt other than that appropriate to the most recent 26 weeks can be considered in certain circumstances, where the delay in making the assessment has been substantially due to the Agency. In these circumstances, the arrears agreement is based on that 26 weeks arrears total.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will say what the procedure is for collecting arrears of Child Support from a husband who pays directly to his wife. [2386]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 28 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about collection of arrears by the Child Support Agency.
  Where child maintenance is paid directly to the parent with care PWC) by the absent parent (AP), the Agency only becomes aware arrears when the PWC get in touch to advise us of the AP's
  744
  failure to pay. If the PWC wishes the Agency to pursue the arrears she may do so by requesting the collection and enforcement service at any time. The current moratorium of fees means that no further fee will be levied for this service.
  If we are asked to undertake collection and enforcement action, the Agency confirms the amount of unpaid maintenance with the AP and arranges an arrears agreement with him. Collection is then made via the Agency so that we can monitor the arrears agreement and take any necessary action to ensure regular payments of maintenance, including enforcement action if this becomes essential.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of deduction of earning orders issued by the Child Support Agency since April 1994(a) against type A interim assessments and (b) against full maintenance assessments. [2267]

  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 28 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of. State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
  From April 1994 to September 1995, 54,093 deduction of earnings orders have been issued by the Agency. Of these 14,478 were issued on interim maintenance assessments and 39,615 on full maintenance assessments.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of the weekly maintenance being paid in cases where absent parents are paying child support maintenance by way of a deduction of earnings order. [1238]

  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 28 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency deduction of earnings orders.
  The latest information I am able to supply is that the Child Support Agency is currently collecting in excess of £996,000 maintenance per week from absent parents, by means of deductions of earnings orders.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Child Support Agency cases have arrangements to pay via the agency's collection service; and how many are(a) fully paid and (b) partially paid indicating the numbers of (i) type A interim maintenance assessments and (ii) full assessments. [1237]

  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 28 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. The breakdown you requested is shown in the table.

  745

  Number of cases involving type A interim maintenance assessments

  Number of cases involving full maintenance assessments

  Fully paid1

  6,545

  39,661

  Partially paid2

  15,979

  73,789

  Not paid

  60,947

  17,370

  Total

  83,471

  130,820

  1 Full compliance—no payments outstanding.

  2 Partial compliance—at least one payment received in the last 13 weeks.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria have to be fulfilled for an absent parent to be classified as making regular maintenance payments. [1236]

  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 28 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
  You asked what criteria have to be fulfilled for an absent parent to be classified as making regular maintenance payments. An absent parent is considered to be complying in full if all outstanding payments have been received; and partially if at least one payment has been received in the last 13 weeks.
  I hope this is helpful.

  War Widows' Pensions
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the level of resources allocated to the payment of war widows' pensions. [2832]

  Mr. Heald
  These are matters for Mr. John Sheppard, the acting chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Sheppard to Mr. Den Dover, dated 28 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the level of resources allocated to the payment of War Widows Pensions.
  As at 27 November, a total of 98 staff are employed on dealing with all aspects of war widows claims. Included in this figure are 45 members of staff dealing with the restoration of War Widows Pension under the Pensions Act, which came into effect on 19 July 1995. Agency expenditure in this financial year for all the above is expected to be £780,000.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been prosecuted in each year since 1987 for using bogus national insurance numbers. [1989]

  Mr. Heald
  There is no separately identifiable offence of using a bogus national insurance number. However, the use of a false NINO can form the basis of a prosecution under section 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 or other legislation such as the Theft Act 1978. A person may be guilty of an offence if he supplies to the 746
  Department, for a purpose connected with social security legislation, information he knows to be false. The number of prosecutions involving false or misappropriated NINOs is not separately available.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amounts, in cash terms, have been spent on the administration of the social fund for each year since its inception; and what percentage of the total fund this represented in each year. [2082]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Social fund administration costs are met separately from expenditure from the regulated and discretionary fund. The figures requested are set out in the table; 1993–94 is the latest year for which figures on administration costs are available.

  Year

  Administration cost (£ million)

  Percentage of gross expenditure

  Percentage of total gross expenditure plus recoveries

  1988–89

  61

  30.3

  24.5

  1989–90

  77

  32.1

  22.1

  1990–91

  132

  48.5

  33.3

  1991–92

  163

  48.2

  33.5

  1992–93

  208

  51.9

  35.3

  1993–94

  270

  61.1

  41.4

  The table compares administration costs in each year since 1988–89 to the fund's gross expenditure—that is, the money paid out. However, the fund's business involves paying money out and recovering the amounts awarded as loans. A more accurate reflection of the work needed to operate the fund would therefore be a comparison between administration costs and gross expenditure plus recoveries, and this information is also given in the table.

  In 1990–91 the basis of the calculation of administration costs changed, and so direct comparisons with previous years are not possible.

  In both 1992–93 and 1993–94 the rise in administration costs is largely attributable to expenditure on the new social fund computer system, which was purchased and put in place during those years.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the Acts of Parliament including Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [39]

  Mr. Burt
  The Jobseeker's Act 1995 section 18.

  Residential Care and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) DSS income support expenditure for residents in private and voluntary residential nursing homes and (b) the number of claimants in Scotland between 1979 and 1994. [1142]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No data for Scotland are available prior to 1988. The available information is set out in the table:
  747

  Number of claimants and income support expenditure on residents in residential care and nursing homes in Scotland

  Number of claimants

  Year

  Residential care

  Nursing homes

  Residential allowance

  Annualized Cost £ million

  1988

  6,000

  4,000

  —

  62

  1989

  6,000

  4,000

  —

  65

  1990

  9,000

  6,000

  —

  98

  1991

  9,000

  9,000

  —

  145

  1992

  10,000

  12,000

  —

  201

  1993

  10,000

  11,000

  —

  219

  1994

  8,000

  9,000

  5,000

  208

  Notes:

  1. Figures prior to 1994 are a "snap-shot" taken at a particular month each year. From 1988 the month of the inquiry was May.

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand and expenditure to the nearest million.

  3. Expenditure for 1994 has been calculated by adding together the estimated quarterly expenditure May 1993-February 1994 (number of cases multiplied by average Income Support multiplied by 13). Expenditure prior to 1994 has been calculated by multiplying the number of cases by the average weekly Income Support and multiplying by 52. For 1990 and 1991 average Income Support for Scotland is not known and the figure for Great Britain has been used.

  4. Residential Allowance was introduced in April 1993. Figures for 1993 are negligible. For 1994 the figures shown are for preserved rights cases split by residential care and nursing homes and Residential Allowance for which no equivalent split is available.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Inquiries—Residential Care nd Nursing Home Inquiries May 1991–1994.

  Income Support Quarterly Inquiries—Board and Lodging Inquiry 1988–1990.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners received cold weather payments in each region over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1091]

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

  Benefits (Savings)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the financial savings that will be made by(a) the proposed changes to entitlements to social security benefits for asylum seekers, (b) other announced changes to entitlements to social security benefits and (c) other planned changes to entitlements to social security benefits; and if he will make a statement. [2349]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The savings as a result of the proposed changes to social security benefits for asylum seekers are estimated to amount to £300 million a year by the year 2000–01.

  As a result of measures announced today and in the previous two Budgets it is estimated that £5 billion a year in benefit expenditure will be saved by 2000–01.

  Both these figures are in 1995–96 prices.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time a claimant 748
  receives disability working allowance, including awards on renewal. [1836]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: As at 30 April 1995, the average length of time a claimant received disability working allowance, including awards on renewal, was 46 weeks.1

  1 This figure relates to all awards, both completed and current at 30 April 1995.

  Source: 100 per cent. scan of all DWA claims.

WALES

  Staff (Town and Country Planning)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many members of staff are employed in the town and country planning section of the Welsh Office at Cathays park; and if he will make a statement. [2804]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of staff employed by my Department who work on town and country planning matters is 50.8 full-time equivalents.

  These include staff working in planning inspectorate in Wales.

  Beef Special Premium Scheme
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the beef annual premium was paid to farmers in Wales in(a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995. [2803]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office assumed responsibility for the scheme in 1993. Payments were previously made, under the different scheme rules that were then in place, by the Intervention Board, as and when cattle were presented for slaughter or marketed with a view to slaughter.

  Since the Welsh Office took over the scheme, payments began in the following months:

  1993: December

  1994: November

  1995: November

  Poverty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of people in Wales living in poverty; what plans he has to reduce this figure; and if he will make a statement. [2731]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No Government of any political persuasion have ever accepted that it is possible to define poverty in a meaningful way.

  Statistics on patterns of household disposable income, for the United Kingdom as a whole, are provided in "Households Below Average Income 1979–1992/93", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Information for Wales is not available separately.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are currently employed in the textile and garment making industry in Wales. [2919]
  749
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest available figures are for 1993 when, according to the census of employment, the number of employees employed in the manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel in Wales was 12,300.

  School Transport
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has issued to local authorities with regard to escort provision on school transport services. [2928]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Welsh Office Circular 19/95 "Home to School Transport", which was issued on 10 May 1995, contains guidance about local education authorities' responsibilities in providing supervision on school transport.

  A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what new initiatives he proposes to improve safety on school buses; [2929]

  (2) if he will review the current advice given to local authorities with regard to the maximum numbers of pupils per seat on school transport. [2927]

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  I hope to lay two sets of regulations before the House later this autumn. The first will require seat belts to be fitted in minibuses and coaches used specifically for the transport of children. The second will remove the concession allowing three seated children, under 14 to count as two passengers, when travelling on public service vehicles fitted with seat belts.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the planned expenditure for housing in Wales for the year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [2925]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend will be announcing the details of his public expenditure decisions for 1996–97 in December.

  Clinical Negligence Claims
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the number of cases reported alleging clinical negligence, (b) the total amount of money

  Table 1: Amounts raised from the council tax, band D averages and per dwelling averages, 1993–94 to 1995–96 at constant 1995–96 prices

  Total amount of council tax budgeted to be collected (£ million)

  Average band D council tax (£)

  Average council tax per dwelling (£)

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Alyn and Deeside

  9.8

  9.7

  10.4

  398

  393

  403

  358

  351

  357

  Colwyn

  7.6

  7.8

  8.1

  377

  372

  387

  330

  325

  338

  Delyn

  9.1

  9.1

  9.8

  397

  377

  401

  358

  340

  360

  Glyndwr

  5.5

  5.7

  5.9

  374

  366

  383

  328

  330

  345

  Rhuddlan

  7.1

  7.3

  7.7

  393

  384

  399

  328

  319

  333

  Wrexham Maelor

  14.4

  14.5

  15.1

  398

  388

  406

  330

  320

  334

  Carmarthen

  7.4

  8.2

  9.0

  363

  390

  439

  326

  355

  397

  Ceredigion

  9.5

  10.3

  11.3

  373

  404

  451

  337

  370

  406

  Dinefwr

  5.0

  5.3

  6.0

  364

  394

  445

  313

  339

  379

  Llanelli

  9.5

  10.3

  11.5

  414

  447

  495

  317

  341

  378

  750
  claimed in these cases, (c) the total amount of money advised by trust solicitors or otherwise resolved by trusts in settlement of such claims, and (d) the figures for (c) expressed as a percentage of turnover, for each health trust and for Wales as whole for each of the last two years for which information is available. [641]

  Mr. Richards
  I will write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list for each district council in constant 1995 prices the actual amount collected in council tax within each band and in average terms for each available year since its introduction, indicating also the corresponding amounts collected per household; [1850]

  (2) if he will list for each unitary council and for Wales as a whole (a) the estimated council tax which would be collected based on the latest provisional assessments issued to councils by his office and (b) the actual council tax levied during 1995–96 for each band and in average terms, indicating also the corresponding amounts collected per household; and if he will make a statement. [1851]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The available information is given in the following tables. Table 1 gives the amounts of council tax budgeted to be collected by each authority at the beginning of each financial year. This information is not collected by band. The average per dwelling is based on the number of dwellings liable for the council tax in the relevant year.

  Table 2 gives the available, equivalent information for unitary authorities.

  The figures for the implied council tax levels in 1995–96 have been derived from the final disaggregated budget and indicative standard spending assessments issued on 27 October. These redistribute 1995–96 budgets and SSAs for the existing councils to the new authorities. Weighted band D taxes, based on the actual 1995–96 taxes set in each district area within the new unitary boundaries, are given together with estimates of the amount which would have been raised by that level of tax. Per dwelling averages are not available.

  On 30 October, I announced that a scheme would be introduced to damp the increases in council tax arising from the disaggregation exercise.

  751

  Table 1: Amounts raised from the council tax, band D averages and per dwelling averages, 1993–94 to 1995–96 at constant 1995–96 prices

  Total amount of council tax budgeted to be collected £ million)

  Average band D council tax (£)

  Average council tax per dwelling (£)

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  9.0

  9.8

  10.7

  354

  381

  427

  313

  340

  378

  South Pembrokeshire

  5.7

  6.0

  6.8

  339

  368

  416

  304

  322

  367

  Blaenau Gwent

  6.4

  6.7

  7.2

  315

  319

  343

  217

  220

  238

  Islwyn

  5.9

  5.9

  6.4

  319

  308

  334

  224

  236

  255

  Monmouth

  10.1

  10.3

  11.1

  330

  330

  351

  349

  346

  368

  Newport

  13.9

  14.3

  15.3

  324

  328

  349

  272

  277

  294

  Torfaen

  8.8

  9.1

  10.0

  326

  327

  354

  253

  259

  280

  Aberconwy

  7.2

  7.2

  8.4

  345

  361

  400

  307

  323

  359

  Arfon

  5.8

  6.3

  6.7

  342

  365

  382

  270

  286

  302

  Dwyfor

  3.9

  4.2

  4.7

  327

  347

  384

  288

  307

  340

  Meirionnydd

  4.7

  4.7

  5.2

  359

  356

  391

  295

  291

  318

  Ynys Mon

  9.1

  9.3

  10.0

  353

  370

  399

  304

  323

  349

  Cynon Valley

  5.2

  6.3

  7.0

  299

  356

  390

  208

  249

  274

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4.7

  5.6

  6.4

  294

  349

  396

  203

  242

  274

  Ogwr

  12.5

  15.9

  18.3

  297

  358

  401

  248

  304

  342

  Rhondda

  5.9

  7.4

  8.3

  292

  353

  400

  191

  235

  266

  Rhymney Valley

  8.7

  10.5

  11.9

  299

  357

  402

  227

  271

  305

  Taff Ely

  9.5

  11.0

  12.3

  324

  365

  402

  268

  300

  332

  Brecknock

  5.2

  5.6

  6.2

  326

  356

  393

  310

  339

  370

  Montgomeryshire

  6.2

  6.8

  7.6

  312

  341

  377

  284

  311

  343

  Radnorshire

  2.9

  3.2

  3.6

  309

  341

  378

  287

  317

  348

  Cardiff

  29.3

  29.6

  33.8

  302

  299

  338

  266

  265

  299

  Vale of Glamorgan

  13.1

  13.3

  15.4

  310

  313

  353

  308

  310

  348

  Port Talbot

  5.5

  5.9

  6.4

  366

  385

  419

  279

  293

  317

  Lliw Valley

  7.3

  7.9

  8.7

  366

  384

  419

  298

  313

  341

  Neath

  8.0

  8.6

  9.3

  400

  422

  454

  313

  328

  353

  Swansea

  22.3

  24.7

  26.6

  376

  397

  435

  317

  339

  366

  Wales

  321.6

  344.4

  379.1

  341

  358

  392

  287

  303

  330

  Source:

  Local authority returns.

  Table 2: Band D council tax estimates for unitary authorities—estimates based on the latest budget and indicative SSAs compared with averages of actual taxes levied in component districts, 1995–96

  (a) Estimates based on latest unitary budget figures and indicative SSAs for 1995–96

  (b) Estimates based on weighted averages of actual band D taxes set in component districts in 1995–96

  Implied band D council tax (£)

  Implied council tax to be collected (£ million)

  Weighted band D council tax (£)

  Implied council tax to be collected (£ million)

  Anglesey

  320

  8.0

  399

  10.0

  Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire

  422

  18.1

  385

  16.5

  Aberconwy and Colwyn

  292

  12.0

  394

  16.2

  Denbighshire

  491

  16.1

  393

  12.9

  Flintshire

  426

  21.4

  402

  20.2

  Wrexham

  367

  14.5

  405

  15.9

  Powys

  348

  16.1

  383

  17.7

  Cardigan

  590

  14.8

  451

  11.3

  Pembrokeshire

  372

  15.4

  423

  17.5

  Carmarthenshire

  443

  25.2

  463

  26.4

  Swansea

  348

  26.1

  432

  32.5

  Neath and Port Talbot

  515

  21.9

  436

  18.5

  Bridgend

  392

  17.1

  401

  17.6

  Vale of Glamorgan

  346

  15.8

  355

  16.2

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  490

  32.8

  398

  26.7

  Merthyr Tydfil

  435

  7.1

  396

  6.4

  Caerphilly

  407

  19.8

  375

  18.3

  Blaenau Gwent

  524

  10.2

  343

  6.7

  Torfaen

  351

  9.9

  354

  10.0

  Monmouthshire

  242

  8.0

  351

  11.7

  Newport

  246

  10.7

  349

  15.3

  Cardiff

  371

  38.1

  339

  34.9

  Wales

  392

  379.1

  392

  379.1

  Source:

  Local authority returns.
  752 753

  Students
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many students in Wales applied for student loans in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement. [2338]

  Mr. Hague
  These are matters for the Student Loans Company. I have asked the acting chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many students in Wales applied for hardship funds in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement. [2339]

  Mr. Hague
  Since the academic year 1990–91 institutions in Wales have received student access funds so that they may provide financial help to students in financial difficulties. Institutions may supplement these funds from their own resources.

  The number of students in the former public sector further and higher education institutions in Wales applying for assistance from the access funds in the academic years 1990–91 to 1993–94 is as follows:

  1990–91: 3,102

  1991–92: 3,827

  1992–93: 3,597

  1993–94: 3,317.

  Information on applications to the colleges of the university of Wales is not available prior to 1993–94. In that year, 3,260 students applied for assistance from the access funds. Information for academic year 1994–95 is not yet available.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average grant received by undergraduate students in Wales in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement. [2340]

  Mr. Hague
  The average net maintenance grants, after means-testing, received by mandatory award holders in Wales in the academic years 1990–91 to 1993–94 are set out in the following table. Since 1990–91, eligible students have also had access to non-means-tested student loans.

  Average net maintenance grants to holders of mandatory awards (£) Wales: 1990–91 to 1993–94

  Academic year

  Average net maintenance grant paid by local education authorities1

  1990–91

  1,590

  1991–92

  1,620

  1992–93

  1,690

  1993–94

  1,740

  1 To the nearest £10.

  754
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research has been undertaken in the last five years by his Department into the level of students suffering from stress and depression; and if he will make a statement. [2341]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken to improve the welfare and counselling services to students in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [2342]

  Mr. Hague
  As autonomous bodies, it is for individual further and higher education institutions to ensure that such services are sufficient to enable students to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average annual payment, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, for patients who paid for NHS dental treatment, per family health services authority; and if he will make a statement. [2763]

  Mr. Hague
  Information about patient charges is held on the basis of individual courses of treatment rather than per patient. The estimated average patient charge per course of treatment is given in the following table:

  Year ending March (£)

  Family health services authority

  1993 £

  1994 £

  1995 £

  Clwyd

  19.65

  18.91

  20.06

  Dyfed

  20.16

  19.61

  20.34

  Gwent

  20.47

  19.45

  20.34

  Gwynedd

  18.88

  18.06

  17.82

  Mid Glamorgan

  20.60

  19.69

  20.60

  Powys

  20.49

  20.16

  21.72

  South Glamorgan

  19.97

  19.76

  21.36

  West Glamorgan

  18.78

  18.41

  19.09

  Source:

  Dental Practice Board.

  Exempt patients and patients receiving remission from charges are excluded. The year relates to the date on which payment for treatment was authorised by the Dental Practice Board.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to extend the assisted places schemes in Wales. [3685]

  Mr. Hague
  As I mentioned in the Welsh Grand Committee earlier today, I proposed to double the number of places available under the assisted places scheme in Wales over a period of time. Over 700 pupils in Wales are currently benefiting from the scheme which makes an important contribution to our policy of parental choice, diversity and excellence in education.
  755
  I propose to invite bids for additional places from schools already participating in the scheme and other schools which have reached an appropriate standard. Schools must be able to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and have a good record of performance in public examinations.

  Bids will be invited for places at age 11 or 13, where there is currently a high demand, and at sixth form, bids will also be invited for places for children below age 11 years in junior departments which form an integral part of secondary schools.

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

  Mr. Hague
  [pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1995, c. 414]: I regret that there was an error in my answer. The reference for the Industrial Development Act 1982 annual report should have been HC 723, not Cm 723 as quoted.

DEFENCE

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of his 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. [2288]

  Mr. Arbbuthnot
  This is a matter for the agencies concerned. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from N. R. Essenhigh to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  Your question to the Secretary of State asking about overseas travel in 1994/95 has been passed to me for reply as Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office.
  The overseas travel costs incurred by the Agency in 1994/95 were £123,252.11. A list of the countries visited is at Annex A; and the posts held by the staff concerned is at Annex B.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  COUNTRIES VISITED BY HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE STAFF FY 1994/95

  Argentina

  Australia

  Bahrain

  Belgium

  Canada

  Cuba

  Denmark

  756

  Falkland Islands

  Finland

  France

  Germany

  Greece

  Gibraltar

  Holland

  Hong Kong

  Iceland

  Italy

  Japan

  Korea

  Malaysia

  Monaco

  Norway

  Oman

  Portugal

  Singapore

  Spain

  South America

  South Africa

  Sweden

  USA

  POSTS OF HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE STAFF MAKING OVERSEAS VISITS FY 1994–95

  Hydrographer

  Deputy Chief Executive

  Director Defence Requirements

  Director Production and Marketing

  Director Information Systems

  Director Nautical Charts and Publications

  Head of Product Development

  Head of Bilateral Arrangements

  Head of Maritime Safety Information

  Head of Physical Oceanography

  Head of Sales and Marketing

  Head of Information Processing Project

  Head of Finance

  Head of Submarine Operations and Surveys

  Head of Nautical Chart Branch 1

  Head of Nautical Chart Branch 4

  Head of Nautical Chart Branch 5

  Head of MOD/RN Requirements and Co-ordination

  Head of Tidal Branch

  Head of International Liaison

  Retired Officer 2-Maritime Safety Information

  Staff Officer Survey Planning

  Commercial Sales Manager

  SMCO Information Processing Project Implementation

  SMCO Submarine Operations and Surveys

  SMCO Operational Charting and Mine Countermeasure Support

  757

  SMCO Physical Oceanography

  Engineering Manager

  Technical Officer Ship Equipment (HPTO)

  SMCO Printing

  SMCO Marketing

  Assistant Maritime Safety Information (Defence)

  Reviser Tidal Branch

  HMCO Information Processing Project Implementation

  HMCO Physical Oceanography

  HMCO Submarine Operations and Surveys

  SMCO MOD/RN Requirements and Co-ordination

  HMCO Geodesy

  HMCO Printing

  HMCO Marketing

  Technical Officer Print Equipment (PTO)

  Technical Officer Ship Equipment (PTO)

  ABBREVIATIONS

  SMCO = Senior Mapping and Charting Officer

  HMCO = Higher Mapping and Charting Officer

  HPTO = Higher Professional and Technical Officer

  PTO = Professional and Technical Officer

  Letter from Alan Pollard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Minister to reply to your parliamentary question on overseas travel by Defence Agency Staff during Financial Year 1994–95. LISA was formed on 21 November 1994 and the figures listed at the Annex to this letter are based on travel after that date and before 1 April 1995. The figures do not include my staff travelling on RAF flights in support of operations, since I do not hold such costs. If you require further details please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Travel overseas by LISA personnel-Financial Year 1994–95

  Country

  Post

  Cost £

  Germany

  HPTO

  159.70

  Germany

  Captain

  175.60

  Germany

  Major

  159.70

  Canada

  Warrant Officer

  1,678.46

  Germany

  HEO Lieutenant

  282.26

  Germany

  Colonel

  282.26

  Germany

  Captain

  159.70

  Germany

  Captain

  236.46

  Germany

  Contractor

  236.46

  Germany

  Contractor

  236.46

  USA

  AO

  2,641.00

  Germany

  Colonel

  159.70

  Germany

  RO2

  159.70

  Germany

  Contractor

  249.86

  Canada

  EO

  2,507.40

  Canada

  PTO

  2,291.06

  Germany

  Captain

  321.70

  Canada

  Warrant Officer

  2,507.40

  Canada

  EO

  2,507.40

  Germany

  Captain

  322.56

  Germany

  Captain

  322.56

  Germany

  Captain

  341.68

  758
  Letter from Captain W. S. Graham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  1. In your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, you asked for a list for each of his 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 In response:

  2. RNAY Fleetlands

  (a) £8601 spent on Travel and Subsistence.

  (b) Countries visited: Holland, Cyprus, Germany and Norway.

  (c) Variety of Industrial and Non Industrial posts held consisting of:

  Quality Assurance Manager

  Engineering Manager

  Dope Shop Supervisor

  Safety Officer

  Quality Inspectors

  Technical Officer

  Engineering Desk Officer

  Aircraft Fitters (6)

  3. RNAW Almondbank

  (a) £3088 spent on Travel and Subsistence

  (b) USA only country visited

  (c) Engineering Services Manager Engineering Desk Officer.

  Letter from Philip Wildman to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  1. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question seeking details of overseas travel undertaken by the staff of this Defence Agency in Financial Year 1994–95.1 regret that the Chief Executive is unable to reply personally due to absence.

  2. The answers you require are as follows:

  (a) Cost of Travel—£578,000 excluding costs of centrally provided trooping services e.g. Washington and British Forces Germany.

  (b) Countries Visited—see Annex A attached.

  (c) Posts Held by Staff Concerned—

  (1) Serial 1—Headquarters

  Director General and supporting staff.

  (2)Serial 2—Commitments

  Commitments staff are responsible for MOD geographic policy and its related NATO and international aspects.

  (3) Serial 3—Acquisition

  Acquisition staff are responsible for the development and maintenance of highly cost-effective exchange agreements which enable Military Survey to obtain the geographic data essential for Defence needs world-wide.

  (4) Serial 4—Production and Information Systems

  Production staff travel is undertaken to manage the technical aspects of NATO and international coproduction and burden-sharing agreements. In addition, some travel by Information Systems staff is in support of standards and compatibility work to facilitate the international exchange of geographic data.

  3. I hope you find this information useful.

  759

  Military Survey Defence Agency Overseas Travel Destination Financial Year 94–95

  Serial

  Function

  Countries Visited

  1

  Headquarters (Director General and senior staff)

  Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic.Greece, Australia, Bosnia, Norway, Romania, Turkey USA.

  2

  Commitments

  Belgium, Germany, Bosnia, USA, Spain, Denmark, Canada, Cyprus, Honk Kong, Holland

  3

  Acquisition

  USA, Czech Republic, Greece, dubai, Muscat, Austria, Bahrain, Saudia Arabia, Sweden South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Hungary.

  4

  Production and Information Systems

  Germany, Belgium, USA, Finland, France, Canada,Denmark, Norway, Holland, Poland, Cyprus.

  Letter from Jim Drew to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  I have been asked to reply, as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO), to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State if he will list for the FY 94/95 details in respect of overseas travel as follows:

  a.costs of travel

  b.countries visited

  c.posts held by staff who visited those countries.

  I detail below the information in respect of ABRO:

  Grade

  Destination

  Subsistence Cost (£)

  G7

  Production Engineers

  Canada

  501

  SPTO

  Paris, Sweden, Germany

  884

  HPTO

  Paris, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg

  2,388

  RO1

  Supply

  Germany

  119

  EO

  Managers

  Germany

  104

  Med/Dent

  Repair

  Belize

  465

  Sen C/Hand

  Technicians

  Belgium

  181

  Total

  4,642

  The total commercial air costs were £4,783, which has proven difficult to break down in the time available and does not include air trooping flights for which we are not charged. The first 3 elements in the above table were directly related to repair support contracts in place with commercial companies based in these countries: the remainder were routine staffing meetings with our customers and suppliers.

  Therefore, the total overseas travel costs were £9,425.

  Letter from Michael Maycroft to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Defence to reply to your Parliamentary Question about overseas travel by agency staff. As the Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) I can advise you of the following information in respect of this agency.
  760
  During the financial year 1994–95 the cost of overseas travel made by DCTA personnel was £42,503 and the countries visited were:

  Australia

  Belgium

  Canada

  Denmark

  Finland

  Germany

  Gibraltar

  Hong Kong

  Hungary

  Italy

  Israel

  Lithuania

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  United Arab Emirates

  United States of America

  Yugoslavia

  These journeys were undertaken by the following DCTA personnel:

  Chief Executive

  Scientific Staff (Scientific Officer to Grade 6)

  Quality Assurance Staff (PTO to Grade 6)

  Product Managers (Maj/Lt Col)

  Research & Development Advisor (Grade 7)

  Letter from Peter Trevelyan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:

  You asked the Secretary of State for Defence for details of expenditure by Executive Agencies for the last Financial Year in respect of overseas travel by agency staff. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Accounts Agency.

  (a) Cost of travel £14,037.23

  (b) The countries visited and the posts held by the staff were as follows:

  USA

  2 Senior Executive Officers

  2 Higher Executive Officers

  Germany

  2 Senior Executive Officers

  2 Higher Executive Officers

  Administrative Officer

  United Arab Emirates

  1 Higher Executive Officer

  1 Executive Officer

  France

  1 Higher Executive Officer

  Cyprus

  1 Higher Executive Officer

  1 Executive Officer

  1 Administrative Officer

  Holland

  2 Executive Officers (Information Technology)

  761

  Malta

  1 Grade 6

  1 Senior Executive Officer

  1 Higher Executive Officer

  Letter from Richard Kyle to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 November 1995:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Defence for details of overseas travel by agency staff. I have been asked to reply as the Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency.
  I regret that the information you request is not readily available in the form required. The vast majority of journeys carried out by the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency personnel involved the distribution of Service Freight and the maintenance of equipment located overseas. The cost of travel for the last financial year was £699,652. The countries visited during the period are listed as an attachment to this letter. Unfortunately, details of specific posts held by staff are not readily available.
  I hope that this information is helpful to you.
  LIST OF COUNTRIES VISITED BY STAFF IN THE MAINTENANCE GROUP DEFENCE AGENCIES DURING FINANCIAL YEAR 1994–95

  Belgium

  Canada

  Cyprus

  Denmark

  Eire

  Falkland Islands

  France

  Germany

  Gibraltar

  Hong Kong

  Italy

  Luxembourg

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Portugal

  S Africa

  Turkey

  USA.

  Letter from Peter Ayee to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  I write as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment (RAFSEE) Defence Agency in response to your Parliamentary Question, No 9363 of 23 November 1995, to the Secretary of State for Defence.
  The role of the Agency is to design, install and recover ground signals systems and selected airborne equipment for its operational customers in the UK and overseas. In carrying out these tasks, RAFSEE design and installation staff visited locations in Germany, Cyprus, USA, Belgium, Dubai and Gibraltar on a total of 52 occasions in the period between Agency launch on 22 November 1994 and the end of the Financial Year. The total cost was £54,253.

  Letter from John Clarke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about details of overseas travel by Agency staff during the last financial year, in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency.
  You will wish to be aware that the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA) came into being on 1 April 1995 and, as such, was not an executive agency during the period of the last financial year.
  762
  Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about overseas travel by Agency staff.
  Our Bursar did travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada in order to reconnoitre the situation at the International Tattoo in Halifax in preparation for our Pipe Band going there in June 1995. The cost of the trip was £609.20.

  Letter from W. E. Spreadbury to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive on duty, I am replying to your enquiry concerning overseas travel by agency staff.
  The details you requested are:-

  (a) £2,185

  (b) Germany, for Rhine Army Show

  (c) Headmaster, Publicity Officer and four pupils.

  Letter from J. M. Powell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:

  1. I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Defence to reply to your Parliamentary Question.

  2. The specific answers are as follows:

  (a) The costs of travel during FY 1994/95 were £155,946.

  (b) Travel in Europe related solely to training and the management of schools within SCS (NWE) in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. In addition one visit was made to service schools in Cyprus.

  (c) The posts held by staff travelling were:

  i. travel in Germany was by all staff of SCS (NWE).

  ii. travel elsewhere was by the Chief Executive, three Assistant Chief Executives, the Budget manager, Finance manager, Personnel manager, Contracts manager, members of their staff, Headteachers and members of the Inspection Advisory Service.

  3. However, it must be appreciated that the Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) Agency with its Headquarters in Rheindahlen Germany is concerned with the operation of service schools in North West Europe, where 80% of service families posted overseas are stationed. Therefore whilst all travel undertaken by Agency staff is "overseas" this represents no more than the normal discharge of duties; The only exception was a four day liaison visit to Cyprus by the Chief Executive.

  4. If you require any further information or clarification please contact this Headquarters.

  Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Next Steps Agencies and how this relates to my Agencies.

  The responses to your questions in the order put to me are:

  In the last financial year DASA spent £547 on overseas travel.

  The country visited was France.

  The trip was for one Grade 6.

  Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:

  I am replying on behalf of the Disposal Sales Agency to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about overseas travel.

  The information in respect of my Agency is as follows:

  Costs: The overall costs amounted to £97,198.09.

  Countries Visited: Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Germany, Gibraltar, India, Lebanonn, Pakistan, Spain, Switzerland, USA.

  Posts Held: Chief Executive

  Assistant Director (Germany)

  Assistant Director (Plans & Budget)

  Disposal Sales (Health & Safety)

  763

  Disposal Sales (Marketing Agreements)

  Assistant Director (Ships & Armaments)

  Disposal Sales (Ships)

  Disposal Sales (Armaments)

  Royal Navy Liaison Officer

  Royal Navy Liaison Officer—(Helicopters)

  Letter from John May to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence on overseas travel by the staff of executive agencies during the last financial year has nevertheless been passed to me to answer in respect of the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency.
  The breakdown of the information you ask for is not collected centrally within the Agency or by any other branch of the Royal Air Force. The cost of any trawl to determine the statistics you require would take extensive and un-resourced clerical effort, at a cost that would substantially outweigh any benefit arising from the answer. Nor have we any plans for our future financial and management accounting systems to access discrete data of this nature. It is a principle of good business management that authorization of and accounting for overseas travel should be delegated to the lowest proper level and accommodated within overall travel and subsistence budgets. 1 therefor regret that I am unable to help you further.
  I am sending a copy of this letter to the Agency's owner, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel & Training Command.

  Letter from 1. A. Lumsden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding details of overseas travel in the year 1994–95. The Chief Executive is absent on leave and I am standing in for him.
  During this period no official overseas travel was undertaken by any civilian members of the Defence Animal Centre. Service personnel travelled to normal service destinations as part of their duties. To obtain further detail on military travel would, however, be disproportionately costly if indeed it were possible.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about overseas travel by agency staff.
  DERA does not hold centrally information about the overseas travel of our staff and I regret this could only be collected at disproportionate cost. 1 should explain that the Agency, which employs over 12,000 staff at over 50 sites in the UK, is organised into five operating divisions. These, in turn, consist of Business Sectors each of which has been delegated considerable managerial and financial freedoms to conduct their affairs in response to customer requirements. Overseas travel is one of the areas which has been delegated and our local managers have the authority to employ a variety of means to make cost effective travel arrangements. It would be disproportionately costly to seek details of all overseas travel by all DERA staff over the last year in these circumstances.
  I am sorry that I could not be more helpful on this occasion.

  Letter from Tweedie McBrown to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, PQ 2288, concerning overseas travel by Defence Agency staff has ben passed to me. As Head of the Defence Postal & Courier Services Agency (DPCSA), I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Secretary of State in respect of travel by staff from within my Agency.
  764
  The DPCSA exists to provide a postal and courier service to MoD/Service establishments in the UK and throughout the rest of the world. My Agency also undertakes work on behalf of other Government Departments, particularly the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. In fulfilling our role we therefore send significant number of staff abroad on a regular basis.
  During FY 1994/95 the Agency spent £638k on civil airline and RAF transport costs. In addition, foreign accommodation and subsistence amounted to £79k.
  The Courier Service operates scheduled delivery services for classified material to most countries in which HM Forces personnel are serving, and to HM Ships wherever they operates. We also provide non-scheduled special services when the need arises. The Postal Service operates a scheduled service for non-classified mail to HM Forces serving throughout the world, including HM Ships and UN Forces in locations such as Bosnia.
  Almost all of the foreign travel & accommodation costs relate to Defence Couriers. These are civilian (ex military) staff employed for the sole purpose of providing the courier service. Military staff from the Agency were also sent abroad to support military operations, particularly in Bosnia. Overseas travel by senior Agency staff is limited to visiting British Forces Post Offices (BFPOs) and other military facilities and is infrequent.
  I hope you find this information helpful. Should you require any further information please let me know.

  Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  I have been asked to respond to your recent question to the Defence Secretary concerning overseas travel by executive agency staff.In 1994–95 the cost of overseas civil air travel and subsistence for Meteorological Office staff is estimated to have been some £560,000. The costs were incurred in pursuit of the Meteorological Office's role as a member of the international meteorological community.
  The countries visited were:

  Africa

  South America

  Ascension

  New Zealand

  Belgium

  Denmark

  Norway

  France

  Switzerland

  Holland

  Italy

  Spain

  Poland

  Middle East

  North America

  Canada

  Australia

  Austria

  Cyprus

  Finland

  Sweden

  Germany

  Gibraltar

  Ireland

  Portugal

  Hungary

  Russia

  Far East

  765
  Unfortunately information on the posts held by the staff concerned is not available.

  I am sorry that I am unable to reply fully to your question but I hope the information I have given will be of help.

  Correspondence
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to write to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak giving the information requested on the cost of ministeral transport in each of the past five years, on allowances paid to Ministers who use their own vehicles and on the cost in each of the past five years as undertaken on 3 November,Official Report, column 476.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I wrote to the hon. Member yesterday.

  Indonesian Armed Forces (Training)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Indonesian armed forces have received training at United Kingdom armed forces institutions in each year since 1983. [3138]

  Mr. Soames
  The UK has provided training for Indonesian students during this period. Details of training, including the numbers involved, are, however, regarded as confidential between Governments.

  Anti-tank Mines
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to enhance the Army's anti-tank mine capability; and if he will make a statement. [3609]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have agreed to the procurement of 29 vehicle-launched scatterable mine systems from Alliant Techsystems of the United States, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of a contract. VLSMS will provide the Army with a key capability to lay anti-tank minefields at short notice in support of armoured formations. This decision will result in work equivalent to around half the value of the contract being undertaken by UK firms as part of the industrial participation arrangements of the programme, including work for Alvis, which makes the Stormer carrier vehicle.

  Equipment Programmes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the effect on in-service dates for each major equipment programme listed in tables 3, 4 and 5 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995" of the Budget settlement for defence. [2271]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The settlement provides the resources necessary to maintain and enhance the front-line capabilities of the armed forces, and to provide the support they need to carry out their wide range of tasks.

  Army Surgeons
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of regular Army surgeons employed by his Department in each of the last five years. [2054]
  766
  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: The number of trained specialist, senior specialist and consultant regular Army surgeons, comprising the disciplines of general surgery, ophthalmics, burns and plastics, maxillo-facial, orthopaedics and ear-nose-throat—oto-rhino-laryngology— employed during each of the last four years is as follows:

  1995: 54

  1994: 61

  1993: 63

  1992: 61.

  The grade of specialist is not deployable to meet the war commitment for surgeons. Figures are not available for 1991.

  "Partnership for Peace"
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to Russian officers on the civic education in a democracy and human rights in the armed services under NATO's "Partnership for Peace" programme; and if he will make a statement. [2768]

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply.

  One of the main objectives of "Partnership for Peace" is to ensure democratic control of the armed forces. Russia has indicated interest, through their individual partnership programme in the following related areas:

  Civil democratic control over the armed forces.

  Role and functions of the armed forces in a democratic society.

  Legislation concerning the armed forces in a democratic society.

  Relations between the military and civilians in a democratic society.

  Implementation of Russia's IPP has not yet commenced.

  The United Kingdom is, however, undertaking bilateral initiatives in this area. As part of our Outreach programme, a seminar, "Armed Forces and Society", is to be held in London from 12 to 14 December. Representatives from the Russian Ministry of Defence are expected to attend.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Transsexuals
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to allow a change in the legal status of post-operative transsexuals; and if he will make a statement. [2351]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  None.
  767

  Ticket Touting
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the value of the ticket touting market; and if he will make a statement. [2353]

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has no such estimate.

  Juries
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that juries represent the social mix in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [2350]

  Mr. Maclean
  It is a fundamental principle of our jury system that juries should as far as possible represent a cross-section of society drawn at random from the community as a whole. Any person between the ages of 18 and 70 is eligible to serve on a jury, unless they are disqualified in one of a number of specified ways.

  Passports
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the introduction of machine-readable passports. [2917]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The phased introduction of the machine-readable passport commenced in 1988 and was completed in 1991. Since then, all passports issued in the United Kingdom have been machine-readable.

  Prisons
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the capacity of United Kingdom prisons, per category and in total, for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [2343]

  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.

  Table 2: Certified normal accommodation in use on 30 June by Security Category, 1990–1994

  Certified normal accommodation in use

  Security standard of accommodation

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Closed Training Prisons (including Dispersal prisons)

  Category A, B and C

  17,073

  18,602

  19,487

  19,210

  19,206

  Local Prisons and Remand Centres

  Category B

  13,593

  13,823

  15,565

  16,206

  18,103

  Open Training Prisons

  Category D

  3,496

  3,434

  3,674

  3,581

  3,745

  Female Prisons (Closed and Open)

  —

  1,773

  1,776

  1,765

  1,782

  1,863

  All Young Offender Institutions

  —

  6,869

  6,240

  5,748

  5,867

  5,374

  Total

  42,804

  43,875

  46,239

  46,646

  48,291

  1994 Statistics are due to be published in January 1996.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest figure for the population in custody, per category and in total; and if he will make a statement. [2344]
  768
  Letter from Alan Walker to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the capacity of United Kingdom prisons, by category and in total for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
  Prisons in England and Wales are defined by operational function and an establishment will have, according to its particular function, accommodation designed for holding prisoners up to a particular security category.
  Information on the security standard of accommodation available on 23 November 1995 at closed and open training prisons and local prisons in England and Wales is given in table one, attached.
  The only information available for the previous five years (1990–95) is that published annually in "Prisons Statistics, England and Wales". This information is given in table two.

  Table 1: Certified normal accommodation for use in prisons in England and Wales by Security Category and in total on 23 November 1995

  Security standard of accommodation

  Certified normal accommodation in use

  Closed Training Prisons (Dispersals)

  Category A

  3,698

  Belmarsh Prison

  Category A

  48

  Category A unit

  Other Closed Training

  Category B

  3,022

  Prisons

  Category C

  14,414

  Local Prisons and Remand Centres

  Category B

  18,606

  Open Training Prisons

  Category D

  3,893

  Closed Female Prisons

  —

  1,520

  Open Female Prisons

  —

  593

  Closed Young Offender Institutions

  —

  4,052

  Open Young Offender Institutions

  —

  1,482

  Total

  51,328

  Notes:

  1. Some of the more secure local prisons also hold Category A prisoners as and when necessary. A formal maximum number of places for this purpose is not designated.

  2. With the exception of those categorised A, convicted and sentenced female prisoners and young offenders are not normally categorised, but are allocated to open or closed conditions.

  3. There are currently only three sentenced Category A female prisoners. All are held at Durham Prison.

  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.
  769
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the latest prison population figure by category of prisoner and in total.

  The information requested is given in the attached table.

  Number of prisoners held in England and Wales on 23 November 1995 by category and in total

  Number

  Category A

  826

  Category B

  7,969

  Category C

  17,529

  Category D

  2,926

  Uncategorised or awaiting categorisation

  23,161

  Total

  52,411

  1. Female prisoners and young offenders are only given a security category when category A is applicable.

  2. Unless category A is applicable, adult male prisoners are not given a security category until after conviction and sentence.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average waiting time for a decision to be made on an application for asylum; and if he will make a statement; [2345]

  (2) what is the average waiting time between an initial rejection of an application for asylum and the hearing of an appeal; and if he will make a statement. [2346]

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the speed with which asylum applications are processed. [1676]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Newcastle Upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) on 22 November,Official Report, column 219, which gave the available information on the average times involved in deciding applications for asylum.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of visitors and short-term students who have overstayed in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990 or asked for political asylum; and if he will name the country from which these people came. [2834]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on the number of visitors and students who have overstayed in the United Kingdom is not available. The estimated proportion of asylum-seekers since 1990 who had entered the United Kingdom in another capacity before submitting their asylum application is given in the table. A nationality breakdown of these figures is not available.

  Proportion of in-country1 asylum applicants who had been granted leave in another capacity2 before applying for asylum

  Number of in-country applications

  Of which proportion submitted

  Year

  In-time Percentage

  Out of time Percentage

  Other3 Percentage

  1990

  17,200

  45

  9

  46

  1991

  35,815

  32

  5

  63

  1992

  22,370

  53

  13

  34

  770

  Proportion of in-country1 asylum applicants who had been granted leave in another capacity2 before applying for asylum

  Number of in-country applications

  Of which proportion submitted

  Year

  In-time Percentage

  Out of time Percentage

  Other3 Percentage

  1993

  15,050

  43

  18

  39

  1994

  22,600

  36

  17

  47

  1 Applications submitted after entry into the United Kingdom.

  2 Include those granted leave to enter or remain in other capacities as well as visitors and students.

  3 Includes illegal entrants and those whose status was unknown.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the European countries which operate special asylum procedures to deal with cases where the applicant is a national of a country in which there is no serious risk of persecution. [550]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22 November,Official Report, column 220.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently being held in detention in police stations; what is the length of time of their detention(a) in police stations (b) in total; and if he will present this information according to the nationality of the asylum seekers. [1524]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: As at 21 November 1995, 14 people who had sought asylum were being detained in police cells. Of these, five are Nigerians and four are Algerians.

  The longest period of time that any of these people have been detained in a police cell is seven nights. This is the maximum time that a person who has claimed asylum can be detained in police cells if removal directions have been set. If removal directions have not been set, a person can be detained for up to five nights.

  Refugees
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that his proposals for reform of asylum and immigration rules do not contradict commitments made under the 1951 United Nations refugee convention; and if he will make a statement. [2347]

  Miss Widdecombe
  As my right hon. and learned Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 20 November, all our proposals for further measures are consistent with our international obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.

  Extradition
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received extradition requests from the Italian Government in respect of Roberto Fiore and Massimo Morsello. [2550]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  It is not Government policy to confirm or deny the existence of extradition requests from foreign Governments, unless they are already made public, for example, following court proceedings. Italian requests for the extradition of Roberto Fiore and Massimo Morsello
  771
  failed in 1982 when the courts found an insufficiency of evidence under the prima facie case standard which then applied. Since 1991 a lesser standard under section 7 of the Extradition Act 1989 is required in respect of such requests.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the prosecution of Bengt Bolin under Sweden's extra-territorial jurisdiction for child sex offences; and what plans he has to introduce equivalent extra-territorial laws in the United Kingdom. [2578]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have not yet received all the information we need from the Swedish authorities to make a full assessment of whether the evidence used in the Bolin case would have satisfied the normal requirements of a United Kingdom court.

  However, if a British national had committed a similar offence abroad we, unlike the Swedes who do not extradite their nationals, would have been able to return him to stand trial in the place where he was alleged to have offended. We believe that extradition in these cases is a more appropriate response, and we have no current plans to extend our jurisdiction to enable us to deal in this country with offences committed abroad. We do, however, keep this matter under review.

  Entry Clearances
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes have been made in each year since 1992; how many have been refused; and if he will list the refusal rate for each year expressed as a percentage of the whole. [2835]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Applications for entry clearance for temporary purposes, United Kingdom 1992–94

  Numbers and percentages

  1992

  1993

  1994

  New applications

  903,020

  955,440

  1,086,940

  Granted1

  803,520

  861,810

  980,600

  Initial refusals

  67,830

  60,100

  64,420

  Initial refusal rate2

  7.8 per cent.

  6.5 per cent.

  6.2 per cent.

  1 Includes granted initially and granted on appeal.

  2 Calculated as the number of initial refusals as a proportion of total decisions.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the time taken for claims to be processed under the

  Table A: Number of persons aged 10 to under 18 years cautioned by type of offence1 and region, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994

  Region

  Offence

  19792

  1984

  1989

  1992

  1993

  1994

  North

  Indictable

  —

  8,256

  6,845

  7,856

  7,476

  7,993

  Summary non motoring

  —

  1,466

  2,744

  2,691

  2,670

  2,992

  Total

  —

  9,722

  9,589

  10,547

  align="right"10,146

  10,985

  772
  criminal injuries compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement. [3144]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not record centrally fully comprehensive information about the time taken to process applications. However, some information about the time taken for the board to reach decisions on cases and the time taken to resolve hearings is given at paragraphs 3.12 and 4.14 of the board's 30th annual report (CM 2849), copies of which are held in the Library.

  This shows that the board's performance in processing cases has been improving. But as we have made clear, we believe that a scheme which is based on common law damages is inherently incapable of providing the level of service which claimants are entitled to expect. That is why we plan to introduce, in April 1996, the new tariff-based scheme provided for in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995. The new scheme should be easier to understand, simpler to administer and claimants should get their money more quickly.

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the meeting held on 17 November with political representatives and officials of the Channel Islands states and what further plans exist for future meetings. [2733]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The meeting on 17 November was one in a regular series held at the Home Office in which United Kingdom Government officials brief political representatives, Crown officers and officials of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man on international developments of particular interest to the islands' authorities.

  The meeting discussed recent and prospective developments in the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organisation, the International Labour Organisation, the Energy Charter Treaty, the external frontiers convention, identity cards and the transport and disposal of radioactive waste. At the islands' request, a further meeting, to provide additional briefing on the latter issue, is currently being arranged for early January.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles(a) received a police caution and (b) have been prosecuted for a criminal offence by region for each year since 1979. [2499]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information for 1979, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994 is given in the tables. The provision of data for other years would involve disproportionate costs.
  773

  Table A: Number of persons aged 10 to under 18 years cautioned by type of offence1 and region, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994

  Region

  Offence

  19792

  1984

  1989

  1992

  1995

  1994

  North West

  Indictable

  —

  15,237

  11,516

  15,802

  12,915

  13,159

  Summary non motoring

  —

  3,328

  4,257

  5,281

  4,774

  4,859

  Total

  —

  18,565

  15,773

  21,083

  17,689

  18,018

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Indictable

  11,365

  11,538/

  12,893

  10,054

  10,512

  Summary non motoring

  —

  3,171

  4,288

  3,304

  2,992

  3,282

  Total

  —

  14,536

  15,826

  16,197

  13,046

  13,794

  East Midlands

  Indictable

  —

  8,758

  7,026

  8,409

  7,731

  7,814

  Summary non motoring

  —

  2,241

  2,672

  2,000

  2,224

  2,143

  Total

  —

  10,999

  9,698

  10,409

  9,955

  9,957

  West Midlands

  Indictable

  —

  12,874

  10,928

  11,968

  10,900

  11,470

  Summary non motoring

  —

  2,259

  2,647

  2,993

  2,992

  3,011

  Total

  —

  15,133

  13,575

  14,961

  13,892

  14,481

  East Anglia

  Indictable

  —

  3,837

  2,985

  4,550

  3,605

  3,956

  Summary non motoring

  —

  991

  1,016

  1,072

  913

  985

  Total

  —

  4,828

  4,001

  5,622

  4,518

  4,941

  South East

  Indictable

  —

  28,571

  19,646

  32,001

  28,784

  28,563

  Summary non motoring

  —

  6,320

  7,516

  7,845

  7,970

  8,618

  Total

  —

  34,891

  27,162

  39,846

  36,754

  37,181

  South West

  Indictable

  —

  7,830

  4,937

  6,369

  6,865

  7,201

  Summary non motoring

  —

  1,980

  1,397

  1,305

  1,379

  1,602

  Total

  —

  9,810

  6,334

  7,674

  8,244

  8,803

  Wales

  Indictable

  —

  5,280

  4,940

  5,775

  5,733

  4,819

  Summary non motoring

  —

  1,795

  1,899

  1,578

  1,605

  1,675

  Total

  —

  7,075

  6,839

  7,353

  7,338

  6,494

  England and Wales

  Indictable

  —

  102,008

  80,361

  105,623

  94,063

  95,487

  Summary non motoring

  —

  23,551

  28,436

  28,069

  27,519

  29,167

  Total

  125,559

  108,797

  133,692

  121,582

  124,654

  1 A number of indictable offences were reclassified as summary on October 1988 following the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  2 Not available.

  Table B: Number of persons aged 10 to under 18 years prosecuted at magistrates' courts by type of offence1 and region, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994

  Region

  Offence

  1979

  1984

  1989

  1992

  1993

  1994

  North

  Indictable

  9,615

  9,694

  5,454

  6,131

  6,208

  6,919

  Summary non motoring

  3,782

  2,999

  3,249

  2,578

  2,500

  2,730

  Total

  13,397

  12,693

  8,703

  8,709

  8,708

  9,649

  North West

  Indictable

  23,105

  20,803

  11,260

  10,170

  8,620

  10,340

  Summary non motoring

  8,337

  6,031

  5,622

  4,058

  3,182

  3,620

  Total

  31,442

  26,834

  16,882

  14,228

  11,802

  13,960

  774

  775

  Table B: Number of persons aged 10 to under 18 years prosecuted at magistrates' courts by type of offence1 and region, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994

  Region

  Offence

  1979

  1984

  1989

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Indictable

  15,715

  15,508

  8,026

  8,311

  8,156

  8,152

  Summary non motoring

  7,107

  4,639

  3,755

  2,843

  1,992

  2,176

  Total

  22,822

  20,147

  11,781

  11,154

  10,148

  10,328

  East Midlands

  Indictable

  8,750

  8,448

  5,438

  5,826

  5,288

  6,018

  Summary non motoring

  2,893

  2,448

  2,433

  1,982

  1,608

  1,939

  Total

  11,643

  10,896

  7,871

  7,808

  6,896

  7,957

  West Midlands

  Indictable

  11,253

  13,030

  7,649

  7,856

  7,347

  8,262

  Summary non motoring

  3,933

  3,771

  3,403

  2,486

  2,195

  2,272

  Total

  15,186

  16,801

  11,052

  10,342

  9,542

  10,534

  East Anglia

  Indictable

  3,219

  3,595

  1,814

  1,547

  1,577

  1,681

  Summary non motoring

  1,669

  1,123

  774

  473

  379

  525

  Total

  4,888

  4,718

  2,588

  2,020

  1,956

  2,206

  South East

  Indictable

  35,864

  32,596

  17,635

  214,247

  214,717

  17,620

  Summary non motoring

  10,962

  8,963

  8,233

  25,174

  24,512

  5,763

  Total

  46,826

  41,559

  25,868

  219,421

  219,229

  23,383

  South West

  Indictable

  7,182

  7,463

  4,150

  3,521

  3,315

  4,169

  Summary non motoring

  2,344

  2,409

  2,170

  1,266

  1,113

  1,287

  Total

  9,526

  9,872

  6,320

  4,787

  4,428

  5,456

  Wales

  Indictable

  7,933

  7,672

  4,667

  4,551

  4,564

  35,324

  Summary non motoring

  3,137

  2,405

  2,574

  1,979

  1,475

  31,845

  Total

  11,070

  10,077

  7,241

  6,530

  6,039

  37,169

  England and Wales

  Indictable

  122,636

  118,809

  66,093

  262,160

  259,792

  368,485

  Summary non motoring

  44,164

  34,788

  32,213

  222,839

  218,956

  322,157

  Total

  166,800

  153,597

  98,306

  284,999

  278,748

  390,642

  1 A number of indictable offences were reclassified as summary on October 1988 following the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  2 Improvements in the data collection methods used by the Metropolitan Police have lead to increases in the numbers proceeded against in 1992 and 1993.

  3 Missing data for South Wales lead to a small decrease in the number of summary offences recorded.

  Community Policing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on community policing in rural areas. [2649]

  Mr. Maclean
  Police operations in rural areas are a matter for individual chief officers of police. The Government encourage a partnership approach to policing, and we are aware of a number of successful local initiatives in rural areas, including the farm watch and horse watch schemes, which involve a close partnership between the police and rural communities. In addition, the Government have introduced the parish constable scheme which is being taken up in many rural areas.
  776

  Prisoners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) sentenced and (b) remand prisoners were held at Doncaster prison on the 17th day of each of the last 12 months. [2397]

  Miss Widdercombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many (a) sentenced and (b) remand prisoners were held at Doncaster prison on the 17th day of each of the last twelve months.
  The information requested is given in the table.

  777

  Number of sentenced and remand prisoners held at Her Majesty's Prison Doncaster during the last 12 months

  Sentenced

  Remand

  17 December 1994

  345

  383

  17 January 1995

  386

  388

  17 February 1995

  375

  381

  17 March 1995

  363

  394

  17 April 1995

  360

  365

  17 May 1995

  416

  340

  17 June 1995

  404

  326

  17 July 1995

  417

  332

  17 August 1995

  416

  361

  17 September 1995

  386

  362

  17 October 1995

  414

  361

  17 November 1995

  444

  333

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of(a) the number of prison places that will be available by 1 January 1996 and (b) the number of convicted and remand prisoners being held by that date. [1681]

  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 29 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prison places that will be available by 1 January 1996 and the estimated number of convicted and remand prisoners being held by that date.
  The Certified Normal Accommodation available for use in prisons in England and Wales on 23 November 1995 was 51,328. Approximately 140 additional places are expected to be available, following modernisation and refurbishment, by 1 January 1996.
  The latest short-term projection (produced in October) indicates that the prison population at the end of December 1995 will be around 50,000, due to the seasonal downturn at the end of the year. Remand prisoners are assumed to be just over 10,000, sentenced prisoners around 39,000 and non-criminal prisoners around 600.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that Premier Prison Services Ltd. recognises trade unions in managing Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement. [2396]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about trade union recognition at Doncaster prison.
  Whether or not a trade union is recognised at a contracted out prison is a matter for the contractor. The contractor at Doncaster prison, Premier Prison Services Ltd., has decided not to recognise a trade union to represent staff.
  Doncaster prison has a fully constituted Works' Council which represents all the staff t the prison.
  778

  Prison Service
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the management of the Prison Service. [1699]

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. and learned Friend made a statement on 16 October 1995 about the report by General Sir John Learmont which made a number of recommendations about the management of the Prison Service. He has undertaken to come back to the House with a full response to those recommendations in due course. He will also take into account the results of consultation within the Prison Service on the recommendations of the senior management review.

  Prison Costs
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) by what amount he expects the cost of prisons to exceed the amount budgeted for 1995–96; [1685]

  (2) what is his current estimate of the total cost of holding prisoners for 1996–97, and what was his previous estimate. [1695]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions asking by how much the cost of prison is expected to exceed the amount budgeted for 1995–96 and what is the current estimate of the total cost of holding prisoners for 1996–97, and what was the previous estimate.
  The present provision for 1995–96 in Class VIII, Vote 2, Prisons, England and Wales is £1,660,160,000. While the financial requirements of the Prison Service are regularly monitored, it would be premature to estimate what the final requirement will be. A clearer picture of whether additional provision will be required will emerge in February 1996, at the time of the Spring Supplementary Estimates.
  An announcement on the provision available for the Prison Service in 1996–97 will be made at the same time as the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget speech on 28 November.

  Spending Plans
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his Department's spending plans for 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98. [1680]

  Mr. Howard
  Detailed information for 1995–96 is set out in the supply estimates 1995–96 (HC271-VIII), subsequently amended by the revised estimate (HC465-VIII) and the winter supplementary estimate (HC4-VIII). Copies of these are available in the Library. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Government's latest plans for the following years in his statement yesterday.

  Sunday Dancing
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to deregulate Sunday dancing. [54]
  779
  Mr. Kirkhope
  We are considering how to proceed in the light of the reports of the Deregulation Committee and the House of Lords Delegated Powers Scrutiny Committee on our draft Deregulation (Sunday Dancing) Order.

  Bull Bars
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give instructions to remove bull bars from all police road cars and passenger transit vans. [2881]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The equipment fitted to police vehicles is the responsibility of individual chief officers. The police are aware of the concerns about the use of bull bars and in June of this year the Association of Chief Police Officers' Traffic committee invited all chief officers to consider removing bull bars from their vehicles, where so equipped.

  Table 1 Persons prosecuted in magistrates' courts in England and Wales for offences1 under Section 24(l)(b)(ii) of the Immigration Act 1971, 1990–94

  Prosecutions

  Proceedings terminated early2

  Committed for trial3

  Found guilty

  Found guilty

  Total

  Of whom

  Fined

  Immediate custody

  1990

  76

  14

  5

  55

  30

  2

  2

  1991

  41

  10

  —

  28

  17

  2

  3

  1992

  28

  8

  1

  17

  12

  1

  2

  1993

  13

  7

  —

  6

  4

  1

  —

  1994

  12

  9

  —

  3

  2

  —

  —

  1 Principal immigration offence.

  2 Including cases discontinued or "written off".

  3 At a Crown Court.

  4 Charge dismissed.

  Table 2: Persons removed1 from United Kingdom under enforcement powers

  1990

  4,280

  1991

  5,804

  1992

  6,214

  1993

  6,076

  1994

  5,077

  1995 January to June2

  2,345

  1 Including 'voluntary' departures after enforcement action was initiated.

  2 Provisional figure.

  Illegal Employment
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department are dedicated to detecting illegal employment; where those staff are based; how those staff routinely operate; and to what extent those staff co-operate with the police. [2761]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: No staff are dedicated specifically to detecting illegal employment. This task is part of the role performed principally by some 247 operational immigration staff employed at the main immigration service enforcement offices. These are located in London at the immigration
  780

  Illegal Employment
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many entrants to the United Kingdom have been found guilty of working illegally, how many were fined; how many were subject to a custodial sentence; how many were removed from the United Kingdom; and how many were found not guilty of any charge in each of the last five years. [2759]

  Mr. Timothy Kirkhope
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: Information is available for 1990–94 on criminal proceedings taken against persons under section 24(l)(b)(ii) of the Immigration Act 1971—failure to observe conditions of leave, excluding overstaying and failure to report to a medical officer—and is given in table 1. Only a small proportion of persons found working in breach of conditions of leave are proceeded against in this way. The vast majority are dealt with under enforcement powers of the act and information on persons removed from the United Kingdom under these powers is given in table 2.

  service enforcement unit at Status park and at Becket house—with satellites at Stansted and Apex house, Gravesend; and at Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham airports. Other immigration staff are engaged in enforcement work from time to time throughout the United Kingdom.

  Immigration offenders are identified by following up information from a variety of sources. The normal practice is for the information to be checked through official records with a view to ensuring that a named offender is identified before any attempt to locate him or her is made. The only exception to this "named offender" policy is where visits may be made to places of work where there is apparently reliable information that immigration offenders will be found. In these circumstances particular account is taken of whether there is a history of the premises being used by offenders.

  The immigration service works closely with the police and an immigration officer will normally be accompanied by a police officer where an arrest may be necessary. In addition, the police will seek the assistance of the immigration service where they identify a possible offender in the course of other police inquiries.
  781

TRANSPORT

  Fish Factory Inspections
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign registered fish factory shops were inspected by officials of the Marine Safety Agency in each of the past four years; how many of these were judged to be inadequate; what action was taken against the masters and owners concerned; and if he will make a statement. [2041]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about the inspection of foreign registered fish factory ships.
  In the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95, the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) carried out 86 and 189 inspections respectively of foreign registered factory ships. To date in 1995–96, the MSA has undertaken 87 inspections of such ships.
  The inspections are carried out throughout the herring and mackerel seasons by a small team of surveyors. A report describing the defects found and the action required to be taken is left with the master. A copy is also sent to the ship's flag state for follow-up action by them. More than 50% of the fish factory ships inspected have deficiencies which would result in detention if the ships were alongside, but the majority of fish factory ships are inspected outside a port where, currently, our powers of detention do not extend. Where factory ships with serious deficiencies have entered ports in the UK, the ship has been detained until the deficiencies have been rectified. The MSA has detained 43 fish factory ships since April 1993.

  MUL 16 Minelayer
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of(a) the threat posed to the safety of shipping and (b) the insurance status of the former Swedish minelayer known as the MUL 16 currently in Poole Harbour; [2103]

  (2) what steps have been taken to verify the registration and nationality of the MUL 16. [2101]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Rupert Allason, dated 29 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Questions about the former Swedish minelayer MUL 16.
  The ship was detained by surveyors from the Marine Safety Agency on 18 August 1995 at Poole Harbour. It was detained because of inadequate lifesaving, navigational and radio equipment and insufficient manning. The ship will not be allowed to go to sea until the Agency is satisfied that it is safe to do so. A ship of this type and size is not required to carry insurance and we believe no insurance is carried.
  You asked what steps have been taken to verify the registration and nationality of the "MUL 16". The MSA has attempted, unsuccessfully, to confirm registry so as to establish which maritime administration, if any, is responsible for the ship. The ship carried no document indicating registry and we believe it to be un-registered. The master claimed that application for UK registry had been made but in fact only a name has been registered and no formal application has been made.
  782

  QEII
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what remedial action has been taken following his assessment of the Marine Safety Agency's report on the QE II incident last December. [3608]

  Mr. Norris
  A report on the QE II incident has been completed by the director of operations and seafarers standards of the Marine Safety Agency. The director's report discloses serious deficiencies in the shore and ship management of the vessel by Cunard; it also identifies failings on the part of the Marine Safety Agency.

  On the instructions of the agency's chief executive the following action is being taken with Cunard;

  (a) the agency is holding discussions with Cunard's ship and shore management both to ensure that systems are in place to avoid any recurrence of the problems experienced last December and to work towards early certification under the international safety management code;

  (b) for the time being agency surveyors will continue a programme of inspections of the QE II.

  In addition, following the director's report, the agency's chief executive has instituted more stringent procedures governing the certification of passenger vessels; these will lead to much tighter control over the continuance in service of vessels on which refit work is in progress. The main changes are as follows:

  (1) the agency's surveyors have been instructed not to issue a certificate which is subject to conditions until they are satisfied that adequate steps have been taken by the ship's management and crew to apply and to enforce the conditions for the period during which they apply;

  (2) if a certificate is issued subject to special conditions, these conditions will be set down in writing and attached to the certificate, and they will be reinforced by written confirmation from the district chief surveyor to the owner or operator;

  (3) any special conditions, or an appropriate summary of them, will be displayed alongside the passenger certificate in a public area of the ship;

  (4) the agency's surveyors have been instructed that they should issue a full passenger certificate only after the completion of work needed to comply with the certificate, except in minor matters, where the surveyor may issue a certificate if he is satisfied that the work will be completed before the ship sails.

  Appropriate action has been taken in respect of the agency officials involved.

  The chief executive has also stressed to surveyors the importance of maintaining a close but objective working relationship with shipowners. All the agency's staff have been reminded of the agency rules on the acceptance of hospitality.

  The full details of the incident are set out in the MSA director's report, which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Train Protection
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received from the Health and Safety Commission and Railtrack on train protection strategy; and if he will make a statement. [3607]
  783
  Sir George Young
  The Health and Safety Commission has considered Railtrack's strategy for reducing the incidence of signals passed at danger, buffer stop collisions and overspeeding. Historically, such risks have accounted for less than one third of all casualties in collisions and derailments, and about 3 per cent. of total casualties on the railway, excluding trespassers and suicides.

  The Health and Safety Executive is pursuing, as a matter of priority, discussions with Railtrack and British Rail, and others as required, about action to develop and implement the wide range of measures to which they are committed in the train protection strategy. Objectives for reducing the risks in question will again be included in the annual railway group safety plan.

  Railtrack and BR are pursuing five initiatives to reduce the incidence of signals passed at danger.

  First, nine tenders were received by Railtrack for the development and pilot installation of a new train protection and warning system, and tender evaluation is proceeding to plan. This system is potentially capable of reducing risks arising from signals passed at danger, overspeeding and buffer stop collisions. The TPWS would enhance the existing automatic warning system by adding functions which would, if necessary, apply the brakes automatically on the approach to, or at, certain signals, and which could not be overridden by the driver. Trials of the TPWS will take place in 1996, and the aim is to start wider installation in 1997. The pilot trials and initial operational use will demonstrate the extent to which it is practicable to install the TPWS.

  Secondly, the current trial of a driver reminder appliance, to reduce the risk of starting against a red signal, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subject to the outcome of the trial, the intention is to assess the fitting of the device to all traction units operating on Railtrack's infrastructure, with a target for complete installation by the end of 1997.

  Thirdly, the existing automatic train protection installations on the Great Western and Chiltern lines should be brought into full service next year. Meanwhile, those passenger trains with ATP fitted are being run with a supervisor in support of the driver.

  Fourthly, measures to improve braking performance and driver and systems performance continue. The pilot trials of an emergency sanding device to improve rail adhesion are encouraging.

  Finally, and in the longer term, the reduction of risk arising from signals passed at danger and overspeeding is expected to come from a new primary control system consisting of radio-based cab signalling. Railtrack has invited tenders for a development contract for such a system as part of the project to modernise the west coast main line.

  Copies of the full advice from the HSC and Railtrack, and my response, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the national air traffic services. [3606]
  784
  Sir George Young
  I have now given approval in principle to a proposal by the chairman and board of the Civil Aviation Authority that their air traffic control operation should be incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the CAA. This would help to clarify accountability and responsibilities and would mean that the directors of the subsidiary board would have the legal duties inherent in Companies Act status. It would achieve a greater degree of separation within the CAA between service provision and regulation and would pave the way for future privatisation, which remains the Government's longer-term objective.

  Detailed proposals for establishing the subsidiary by April 1996 are now being developed. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority will be working with my officials and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the integrated civil and military air traffic control service currently provided by NATS is fully safeguarded under the new arrangements.

  M4
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the status of the M4 junction 4B-8/9 widening scheme under the revised national roads programme; and if he will make a statement. [3501]

  Mr. Norris
  The scheme is one of a number identified for review to establish whether smaller-scale proposals would meet the objectives. The proposals for new all-purpose trunk roads alongside the M4 put to public consultation will not be pursued. My right hon. Friend is asking the Highways Agency to consider a range of lower-level solutions, including traffic management, and to have early and extensive consultation with local authorities about options.

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision is made for the budget of the British Transport police in the current financial year and in each of the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement. [2885]

  Mr. Watts
  The British Transport police's budget is determined by its police committee. In 1995–96, the BTP revenue budget is £101.2 million and the force will also undertake capital expenditure of some £2.4 million. The revenue budget for 1996–97 has been set at £101.2 million, and it is envisaged that the capital expenditure next year will be the same as this year. No decisions have yet been made on budgets for subsequent years.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has had further discussions with the Home Office about the jurisdiction of the British Transport police; what was discussed; and what was the outcome. [2886]

  Mr. Watts
  Discussions are continuing between my Department and the Home Office about the jurisdiction of the British Transport police. The Department remains in close touch with the force's senior management over developments.
  785
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current manpower of the British Transport police by rank; what it is forecast to be in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [2888]

  Mr. Watts
  The strength of the British Transport police was 2,180 officers as at 11 November 1995. Staffing levels by rank were as follows:

  Rank

  Numbers

  Chief constable

  1

  Deputy chief constable

  1

  Assistant chief constable

  3

  Superintendents

  21

  Chief inspectors

  30

  Inspectors

  127

  Sergeants

  303

  Constables

  1,694

  Total

  2,180

  Manpower levels in future will reflect the resources available to the force. The force is currently rationalising the supervisory ranks and, where possible, increasing constable posts.

  Great Western Rail Franchise
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the selection of Resurgence Railways as preferred bidder for the Great Western franchise. [2846]

  Mr. Watts
  No. The franchising director has not announced bidders. He expects to announce the award of the Great Western franchise in December.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising on matters relating to the Great Western rail franchise; what information on the bidding franchise he receives from the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising; and if he will make a statement. [2845]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is briefed regularly by the franchising director on franchising issues including the progress being made towards offering the Great Western franchise to private sector bidders.

  "Safer Ships Cleaner Seas"
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the organisations and other interested parties which received and responded to the consultation paper referred to in the second paragraph on page 47 of "Safer Ships Cleaner Seas"; and if he will make a statement; [2043]

  (2) what proposals he expects to bring forward in respect of recommendation 77 of the document "Safer Ships Cleaner Seas", Cm 2560, and if he will make a statement. [2042]

  Mr. Norris
  The consultation paper referred to has not yet been published. It is hoped that this will be possible by around the end of the year. Until the consultation exercise has been carried out, we cannot say what proposals we expect to bring forward.
  786
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the recommendations contained in the report "Safer Ships Cleaner Seas", Cm 2560, which(a) have been accepted, (b) have been implemented and (c) are awaiting implementation by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [2044]

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 16 October,Official Report, column 85.

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [3003]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport aims to respond to correspondence from the public within a 15-working day period. This target is published in a publicly available leaflet "Serving the Public".

  A249
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about progress with construction of the new dual carriageway for the A249 between the M2 and Kingsferry Bridge. [2438]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Roger Moate, dated 29 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 make a statement about progress with construction of the new dual carriageway for the A249 between the M2 and Kingsferry Bridge.
  I am afraid that unforeseen ground conditions have meant delays to this scheme. Because of the delay to the contractors programme, laying of the concrete pavement which we had expected to be substantially completed by now has to be suspended over Winter, but work will re-start next Spring when the weather permits. But most of the diversion of statutory undertakers equipment is now complete and good progress is being made on the Key Street Underpass; the earthworks have also been completed. We expect the scheme to be completed later next year.

  Rail Users' Consultative Committee
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for the post of chairman of the Rail Users' Consultative Committee his Department has received; what are the criteria for selection; and when he will announce the appointment. [2125]

  Mr. Watts
  Some 147 applications for the post of chairman of the Rail Users' Consultative Committee were received in response to the advertisement published in March. An additional 235 applications were received in response to the further advertisement published in September. The advertisements made clear to applicants the criteria needed for the post. An example of the advertisements is held in the House Library. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed shortly and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to announce the appointment of the new chairman early in 1996.
  787

  Pleasure Craft
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce safety regulations relating to leisure craft following the deaths in Lyme bay. [2291]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: The Government have no plans to introduce national legislation for the compulsory regulation or registration of pleasure craft. The national marine safety steering committee concluded that a satisfactory system would be prohibitively difficult to devise and enforce. However, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the Health and Safety Commission is currently consulting interested parties on proposed regulations to implement the Activity Centres (Young Persons' Safety) Act 1995. The proposals would introduce a licensing scheme for certain adventure activity providers, including those using canoes and most sailing craft.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deliberations of the reflections group as part of the process leading up to the European intergovernmental conference in 1996. [875]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House today to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain).

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Foreign Ministers of the other European Union countries about the preparations for the 1996 intergovernmental conference. [863]

  Mr. David Davis
  I frequently meet my European counterparts to discuss a wide range of topics, including the intergovernmental conference.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future funding of the BBC World Service. [878]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Swansea, East, Mr. Anderson in the House today.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to change the present three-year funding agreement with the BBC World Service. [2270]

  Mr. Hanley
  The triennium system for the World Service was instituted 10 years ago to bring it in line with the rest of the BBC. Since then there have been many changes in the management of public sector finances. We are exploring modifications to the system with the World Service. There can be no absolute guarantee of fixed funding for three years for any publicly funded organisation.
  788
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the input of satellite technology deployment on the reception quality for the BBC World Service radio transmission funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement of future prospects. [475]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The world service uses satellites to distribute to its overseas relay stations. Satellites have improved reliability and technical quality. They have enabled World Service programmes to be broadcast by over 900 MW and FM radio stations. A new satellite distribution system, which is being introduced from 1 April 1996, will bring further significant improvements.

  For the longer term, the World Service is investigating direct to home satellite transmission to replace shortwave transmissions. This will depend on the development of low-cost receivers and agreement on the co-ordination of frequencies in the broadcast satellite sound bands. It will probably take many years from the introduction of satellite broadcast before there are sufficient receivers in use to allow the ending of shortwave transmissions.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy on nuclear testing. [880]

  Mr. David Davis
  We have no plans to conduct any further nuclear weapon tests. We are actively negotiating for a comprehensive test ban treaty. But it would be wrong for us to criticise the French decision which they believe is necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of their deterrent, and which was taken on the basis of scientific advice.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions the Government have imposed on the military regime in Nigeria. [882]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary earlier. We have noted calls for the severing of trade links and an oil embargo and continue to consider a range of options with our EU and other partners. Nothing is ruled out but we would wish as far as possible to avoid harming ordinary Nigerians.

  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has met representatives of Shell since 10 November to discuss company policy towards Nigeria. [884]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have a broad-ranging discussion with the chairman of Shell UK, Mr. John Jennings, on 23 November during which Nigeria was discussed. My noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey also met Mr. Jennings on 16 November.
  789

  Kashmir Elections
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reason he has been given by the Indian Government for the cancellation of elections in Kashmir. [883]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in the State of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Minister on 21 November. Under the Indian constitution, responsibility for decisions relating to the conduct of elections rests with the independent Indian Election Commission.

  India (Prisoners)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the conclusions of an agreement with the Indian Government to enable convicted prisoners to apply for transfer to a prison in their home country. [886]

  Mr. Hanley
  I raised the prisoner transfer agreement with my opposite number when I visited India last month. Negotiations have now reached an advanced state and I hope that we will sign an agreement in the very near future.

  Cyprus
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received with regard to the Greek Cypriot application to join the European Union. [887]

  Mr. David Davis
  This Department is in regular contact with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and other interested parties on this issue.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British high commissioner or one of his officials will next visit the Karpas area of occupied northern Cyprus. [1778]

  Mr. Davis
  British high commission officials visit the Karpas every three to four months. The last such visit was on 22 November 1995.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Republic of Cyprus. [1779]

  Mr. Davis
  None.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what private discussions with members of the enclaved Greek Cypriot community and visits to their homes and properties take place when a British high commission official visits the Karpas area of the occupied northern Cyprus. [1780]

  Mr. David Davis
  The nature of such visits varies according to the availability and willingness of inhabitants to meet officials. The last time a British high commission official visited the Karpas he had extensive discussions with Greek Cypriots in Leonarisson, visited the home of a Greek Cypriot near Ayios Trias, and had a full exchange with a Greek Cypriot family in their home near Rizorkarpasso.
  790

  Syria
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next hopes to meet the Syrian Foreign Minister to discuss bilateral relations. [888]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Shara'a in Damascus on 8 November and on 27 November in Barcelona, to discuss bilateral relations and the middle east peace process.

  European Union Decisions
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts about the need to reform the European Union's decision-making procedures. [889]

  Mr. David Davis
  I frequently meet my European counterparts to discuss a wide range of topics, including decision-making procedures.

  Brazil
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil concerning the rights of the Makuxi people in Ruraima and the expenditure of Group of Seven money. [871]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Government of Brazil are aware of our concern that the rights of the Makuzi and the other indigenous people of Brazil should be observed and protected. Our embassy in Brasilia keeps in regular touch with the Brazilian authorities and monitors the situation closely. The ODA representative in Brasilia is in regular contact with the Brazilian authorities about the expenditure of G7 money.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the authorities in Brazil about the trials for the murder of agricultural workers' leaders; and if he will make a statement. [881]

  Mr. Davis
  I believe that the hon. Member is referring to the murders of rural workers in Rio Maria in southern Para in 1991 and 1992. The embassy in Brasilia has remained in regular touch with the Brazilian authorities about these cases and has attended the resulting trials where possible. The sentences for those convicted have ranged from suspended sentence to 50 years imprisonment.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards bringing to trial those accused of genocide in Rwanda. [2567]

  Mr. Hanley
  The international criminal tribunal for Rwanda expects to bring its first indictments shortly. The United Kingdom has played a full part in efforts by the international community to rehabilitate the domestic judicial system in Rwanda.
  791

  GCHQ
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 November,Official Report, column 13, what was the value of new equipment investment in GCHQ Culmehead in the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 to date; and if he will make it his policy that such new equipment will be effectively redeployed elsewhere when GCHQ Culmehead closes. [3128]

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 November,Official Report, column 13, when equipment was last ordered for the GCHQ composite tracking station in Culmehead; what was the nature of this equipment; and what will happen to this equipment after the site is closed. [2699]

  Mr. Rifkind
  It is not Government policy to reveal details of the procurement of equipment used for intelligence purposes. So far as possible, equipment at the composite signals organisation station at Culmehead will be redeployed when the station closes.

  Correspondence
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [2996]

  Mr. Hanley
  The target for both the diplomatic wing and the ODA is 20 working days.

  Middle East
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving to the peace process in the middle east. [876]

  Mr Hanley
  On his recent visit, my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary encouraged the Palestinians and Israelis to maintain progress on the Palestinian track. He also urged Syria and the Israelis to press forward in their negotiations. He encouraged all the countries of the region to support the peace process. In addition, the United Kingdom provides over £83 million in assistance to the Palestinians, and is providing observers for the forthcoming Palestinian elections.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the United Nations the request of the Libyan Government to hold a trial in the Hague, under a Scottish judge, operating Scottish rules of evidence, of the two Libyan suspects involved in the Lockerbie bombing. [1638]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost of an application for entry clearance in pounds sterling in each of the entry clearance posts overseas. [2840]
  792
  Mr. Hanley
  Entry clearance application fees are set in pound sterling, are the same worldwide and the equivalent is charged in the appropriate local currency. Details of the current fees are given in the consular fees order 1995 (SI 1995 No. 1617).

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each entry clearance post, how many applications to visit the United Kingdom to(a) attend a funeral and (b) have medical treatment have been made in the last year for which information is available and how many of these applications were refused. [2842]

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not available. A total of 1,086,940 applications for temporary admission were received in 1994 but separate records showing the purpose of each visit are not kept.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken to implement the recommendations set out in the report by the independent monitor in respect of the Asylum and Immigration Appeal Act 1993, published in December 1994. [2844]

  Mr. Hanley
  In her first report as the independent monitor into entry clearance refusals without a right of appeal, Dame Elizabeth Anson made four recommendations.

  First, that all applications and re-applications should be accepted and applicants should be told that they have a right to proceed, even where warned of likely failure. Instructions have been issued to posts to implement this recommendation, including a suitable written notification for applicants.

  Secondly, posts should be more consistent in their requirements for documentation before an entry clearance application is lodged or an applicant interviewed. We are encouraging greater consistency between posts and encouraging all posts to have a set list of documents required in advance.

  Thirdly, the refusal notice should not refer to confidential matters such as political asylum applications by United Kingdom sponsors or others, given that the notice may become a public document with an applicant's consent. Instructions have been issued to posts reminding them of this requirement.

  Finally, writing should be legible on all documents on an applicants file. We are encouraging posts to ensure this, particularly the typing of refusal notices. This process is being helped by the spread of word processing equipment at posts.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the average waiting time before an interview is granted at each entry clearance post overseas; and if he will make a statement on the training given to entry clearance officers on interviewing. [2839]

  Mr. Hanley
  Eighty-six per cent. of all applications are issued within 24 hours of being lodged either on the evidence of the papers or after a short interview. It is not possible to provide a calculation of average waiting times for longer interviews at each post except at disproportionate cost.
  793
  Prior to taking up appointment as an entry clearance officer, FCO personnel attend an intensive three-week course run by the immigration and nationality department unit.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been collected in application fees for entry clearance since the introduction of the Asylum and Immigration Appeal Act 1993; and how much of that total represents fees accepted for applications which were subsequently refused. [2841]

  Mr. Hanley
  Records of application fees are kept by financial year only. The value of fees collected for applications which were subsequently refused is not separately recorded. The hon. Member may find the following useful:

  Application fees collected for entry clearance applications in the financial year 1993–94 totalled £30.51 million.

  Application fees collected for entry clearance applications in the financial year 1994–95 totalled £32.35 million.

  The number of refusals made at all entry clearance posts overseas during 1993 and 1994 was 143,113.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests to reconsider refusals for entry clearances have been received from right hon. and hon. Members in each year since the introduction of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. [2843]

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the location of entry clearance posts overseas, detailing for each(a) the number of locally engaged staff, (b) the total number of staff employed, (c) the number of full-time entry clearance managers and (d) the number of interpreters. [2836]

  Mr. Hanley
  In view of the amount of detail needed to answer this question I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of(a) applications to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes and (b) refusals made at each entry clearance post overseas from 26 July 1993 to the last available date for which information is available; and if he will express the number of refusals as a percentage of the whole. [2837]

  Mr. Hanley
  In the form requested, these figures could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Details of entry clearance applications for temporary purposes, both granted and refused, are in table 2.1 in the "Control of Immigration Statistics" published by the Home Office for the years 1993 and 1994.
  794
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the time allowed for interviews at each designated entry clearance post overseas. [2838]

  Mr. Hanley
  As a guide, entry clearance posts are offered the following target times for interviews:

  3 minutes: for straightforward applications, received at the counter, by post or from a travel agent, resulting in immediate issue.

  10 minutes: for secondary examination of less straightforward applications.

  30 minutes: for cases likely to result in refusal.

  45 minutes: for settlement applications.

  In practice, posts achieve timings close to these targets, but a list showing times taken in each post could be compiled only at disproportionate costs.

  Invoices
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the amount owed to those businesses whose invoices were not paid within the agreed credit period or within 30 days in each of the last five years. [1123]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 November]The information available about the amount owed—expressed as a figure and as a percentage of payments as a whole— is set out in the following table:

  £000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  FCO (DW)

  —

  210(8 per cent.)

  243 (8 per cent.)

  ODA

  26,242(13 per cent.)

  55,356(13 per cent.)

  20,580 (7 per cent.)

  Wilton Park

  —

  1 (5 per cent.)

  —

  NRI

  —

  1,460 (4 per cent.)

  1,340 (8 per cent.)

  1 To end of October. Most of these invoices have now been paid.

  To obtain detailed information about amounts owed in earlier years would incur disproportionate cost.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for peace in the former Yugoslavia. [866]

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of talks aimed at a permanent settlement in Bosnia; [877]

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Members to the statement I made in the House on 22 November,Official Report, columns 659–61.
  795

  EC Commission Conduct
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what code governs the conduct of staff at the European Commission's office in London. [2793]

  Mr. David Davis
  The code of conduct is available from the European Commission office at:

  No. 8 Storey's Gate

  London

  SWIP 3AT.

  796

  Foreign Assets
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department has seized or frozen personal accounts and assets of members of foreign Governments; what was seized or frozen; and if he will make a statement. [2918]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given to his previous question on 27 November, Official Report, column 429.

  European Court of Human Rights: UK Representation
  European Court of Human Rights: UK Representation
  Divorce Petitions: Dismissals
  Divorce Petitions: Dismissals
  Family Law Bill [H.L.]
  Family Law Bill [H.L.]
  Human Rights Treaties: Duty of Compliance
  Human Rights Treaties: Duty of Compliance
  Specified Bovine Offals
  Specified Bovine Offals
  National Air Traffic Services
  National Air Traffic Services
  QE2 Incident: Marine Safety Agency Report
  QE2 Incident: Marine Safety Agency Report
  EU Nationals on Remand in Northern Ireland
  EU Nationals on Remand in Northern Ireland