Written Answers of 24 October 1995

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Fees Office
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will seek to define and publish targets for the work of the House of Commons Fees Office.

  Mr. Beith
  Performance indicators for the House of Commons Fees Office have been published in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 annual reports of the House of Commons Commission. Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) if asbestos products have been used in the works which have taken place in the Palace of Westminster since 20 July; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what record is kept in the Palace of Westminster of the presence of asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  No asbestos products have been used in the works which have taken place in the Palace of Westminster during the summer recess. Like most older buildings, the Palace of Westminster contains some asbestos, which used to be incorporated for insulation purposes. Since it became known that exposure to asbestos dust can be dangerous, the Parliamentary Works Directorate, and its predecessors, has sought to follow strictly the guidelines and procedures laid down by the Health and Safety Executive. An asbestos register is maintained recording the locations both where asbestos is known to remain—usually because it is inaccessible—and from which it has been removed. Only firms on an approved list are used for asbestos removal work and the work is carried out in the approved manner.

  It is the practice to remove asbestos found when undertaking maintenance and other works services. For example, during the installation of the wiring for the parliamentary data and video network and fire alarm system this summer, a considerable amount of previously undiscovered asbestos was found and removed. The result is that all ceiling voids and under-floor spaces which have so far been cabled for the parliamentary data and video network are now free of asbestos. All the evidence available indicates that the asbestos had not been disturbed for some considerable time and should not therefore have presented any risks. However, a full record has been made of the discoveries and will be kept on the register.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what recent improvements have been made in access to all parts of the Palace of Westminster for disabled people; what plans there are for further improvements; and if he will make a statement. [38393]

  Mr. Ray Powell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 8 February at column 243, which described in detail the conclusions of the review by the Accommodation and Works Committee into access for disabled people. Since then the Parliamentary Works Directorate has continued to implement many of the recommended improvements. The new entrance, which has been created at Black Rod's Garden, enables people in wheelchairs to go directly to the start of the line of route. A ramp has been constructed at the entrance to Speaker's House giving access to the North Door. The ramps in Star Chamber Court allow access for people in wheelchairs to the Strangers Gallery via lift number 1 and the new ramp at the Medals Corridor enables them to go on to the Terrace, the private dining rooms and via lift number 15, to the Principal Floor and Committee Rooms. This lift has been specially adapted to include such features as relocated control panels with embossed and illuminated buttons, handrails to the sides and rear of each car, and door edges with time delay sensors. Lifts numbers 3, Peers and Gallery, and 17, Speaker's House, have been similarly adapted as has one in the other place. Modifications to lavatories have been carried out and there are now specially adapted facilities in the following locations:
  Centre Curtain Corridor, Lower Waiting Hall, opposite Committee Room 7 on the Main Committee Corridor, and opposite Committee Room 19 on the Upper Committee Corridor.

  In addition, a continuous handrail has been ordered for installation on the Strangers' Gallery staircase and a platform lift is shortly to be installed to take people in wheelchairs from Westminster Hall to the Grand Committee Room. In time, we hope to install a proper lift in that area as part of the plans for a visitor centre in 1996–97. It is planned to spend a further £250,000 on overhauling five lifts including the provision of facilities for the disabled and £55,000 on other access facilities.

  Some £688,000 is to be spent this financial year in the Palace of Westminster on facilities for disabled people.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the latest figure for the amount of legal aid paid to Kevin and Ian Maxwell. [38196]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It would not be appropriate for me to give further details of payments in this case while the trial is in progress.
  505

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of those years what was the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated and (2) subsequently recovered. [39125]

  Losses (£) due to proven staff fraud

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Number

  Loss

  Recovered

  Number

  Loss

  Recovered

  Lord Chancellor's Department1 2

  11

  313,754

  7,753

  7

  58,890

  2,026

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  2

  1,166.70

  nil

  1

  17,507.01

  265.70

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies3

  1

  324

  324

  1

  500

  nil

  Total

  12

  314,078

  8,076

  8

  59,389

  2,026

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Number

  Loss

  Recovered

  Number

  Loss

  Recovered

  Lord Chancellor's Department1 2

  4

  180,876

  54,961

  7

  23,703

  72

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1

  20

  nil

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies3

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Total

  4

  180,876

  54,961

  7

  23,703

  72

  1 The Public Trust Office became an executive agency on 1 July 1994. For ease of comparison data since then has been separated.

  2 The Court Service became an agency on 1 April 1995.

  3 The frauds shown in the table above relate to the Legal Aid Board. There are no reported frauds from any of LCD's other NDPBs.

  Letter from Edward Beardsall to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 October 1995:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive who is presently away from the office I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning the total number of all forms of fraud committed by employees in the Land Registry for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95 and for each of these years the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated and (2) subsequently recovered. All cases related either to misuse of official postage, misuse of the telephone or abuse of the flexible working hours system. I can provide the following information:

  Total sum

  Number of cases

  Misappropriated £

  Recovered £

  1991–92

  7

  380.66

  380.66

  1992–93

  4

  (Minor sums of less than £10)

  1993–94

  4

  760

  760

  1994–95

  1

  58

  58

  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 October 1995:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about employee fraud.There were no cases of fraud committed by employees of the Public Record Office in the years that you list.506
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is set out in the table. In many cases we cannot establish whether a fraud was by an employee or an outsider, and by no means all attempted frauds succeeded. The table therefore includes known cases of actual fraud attributable to staff. Some further recoveries may have been made since the records for each year were compiled, and further recoveries may be made, especially in relation to frauds in 1994–95. I have asked the chief executives of the Public Record Office and Her Majesty's Land Registry to reply to the hon. Member directly.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to publish the report of the Securities and Investments Board/Department of Social Security study of the sale of personal pensions to low-income earners; and what are the terms of reference of the study. [38259]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Securities and Investments Board will be responsible for publishing a report into potential mis-selling of personal pensions to people who were previously in the state earnings-related pensions scheme. I understand that SIB hopes to report on this issue by the end of the year.

SCOTLAND

  Farm Sizes
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of farms sized(a) 1–25 hectares, (b) 26–50 hectares, (c) 51–75 hectares, (d) 76–100 hectares, (e) 101–150 hectares, (f) 151–200 hectares and (g) 201 or more hectares for the last available year and for 1985. [36431]
  507
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information is given in the table:

  Number of farms of size (hectares)

  1985

  1994

  Less than 26

  11,413

  12,592

  26-<51

  4,759

  4,754

  51-<76

  3,567

  3,476

  76-<101

  2,579

  2,490

  101-<151

  3,083

  3,205

  151-<201

  1,590

  1,652

  201 or more

  4,357

  4,344

  Total

  31,348

  32,513

  The figures come from the June agricultural census in 1985 and 1994 and relate to main holdings. The hectarages refer to total agricultural areas which include rough grazings.

  Red Deer Commission
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the future of the Red Deer Commission; and if he will make a statement. [36939]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 10 May 1995 Official Report, column 450. In addition, a policy and financial management review of the Red Deer Commission is currently being undertaken, in accordance with the Government's commitment to appraise effectiveness and value for money in all non-departmental public bodies on a regular basis.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what subsidies were paid out for environmentally sensitive areas in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95 and (d) 1995–96; and how many individuals were recipients of these payments in these years. [37125]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The total payments made under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme and the number of participants for the years requested are set out in the table.

  Amount paid £ thousands

  Number of participants

  1992–93

  1,086

  802

  1993–94

  963

  583

  1994–95

  1,044

  717

  1995–96 (to 31 August)

  781

  847

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what area in hectares and percentage terms of environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland is made up of productive, or potentially productive, agricultural land. [37124]
  508
  Mr. Robertson
  The information is set out in the table.

  Estimated hectares of agricultural land in each designated area

  Estimated percentage of total area designated

  Breadalbane

  140,000

  78

  Loch Lomond

  36,900

  75

  Stewartry

  48,500

  82

  Central Borders (formerly Whitlaw and Eildon)

  28,800

  81

  Machair of the Uists and Benbecula, Barra and Vatersay

  12,000

  79

  Central Southern Uplands

  220,300

  81

  Western Southern Uplands

  131,000

  52

  Cairngorms Straths

  148,700

  68

  Argyll Islands

  177,400

  84

  Shetland Islands

  144,900

  99

  Total

  1,088,500

  76

  New Homes
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the total number of new homes started by(a) local authorities and new towns and (b) housing associations in Scotland in each year since 1974, and his estimate of the likely number of starts in 1995 and 1996. [37492]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested on the number of new homes started is set out in the table. Housing associations plan to start 6,155 houses in 1995–96 and 193 new town starts are expected during 1995 and 1996. Information on planned local authority starts is not held centrally.

  New housebuilding starts—Scotland, 1974 to 1994

  Local authorities

  New towns

  Housing associations

  1974

  16,324

  2,600

  660

  1975

  12,326

  3,683

  592

  1976

  7,578

  2,665

  1,362

  1977

  5,829

  1,673

  629

  1978

  4,185

  2,202

  1,365

  1979

  4,858

  984

  963

  1980

  2,770

  1,155

  1,261

  1981

  1,929

  733

  1,051

  1982

  2,585

  765

  2,446

  1983

  2,141

  194

  1,068

  1984

  1,755

  126

  1,239

  1985

  1,693

  190

  1,487

  1986

  1,671

  141

  1,414

  1987

  2,145

  374

  1,988

  1988

  1,433

  495

  2,068

  1989

  871

  680

  2,748

  1990

  886

  720

  2,111

  1991

  848

  134

  3,448

  1992

  429

  395

  3,051

  1993

  503

  429

  5,062

  1994

  544

  208

  4,807

  Housing association figures are likely to be subject to future revision.

  Short-time Working
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies on short-time working; and how many employees are affected by such short-time working. [37514]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Available information is restricted to operatives—manual workers—in the manufacturing sector. In the week ending 9 June 1995, the latest date for which figures are available for Scotland, an estimated 1,300 operatives in manufacturing industries were affected by short-time working. Of these, 900 were stood off the whole week. The source of these figures is the Central Statistical Office.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1996. [37918]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Decisions on the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances are taken by Ministers in the light of the annual autumn review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands, which is currently under way.

  Health Service Revenue
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Government have to revise the Scottish hospital resource allocation formula—SHARE—in a manner similar to the revision of the NHS formula for allocating hospital and community health service revenue resources in England. [38001]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no immediate plans to revise the Scottish hospital resource allocation formula. We do, however, continually consider whether there is scope to improve the formula.

  Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about a policy and financial management review of the royal botanic garden, Edinburgh. [39728]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As part of the Government's rolling programme of five-yearly policy and financial management reviews of non-departmental public bodies, My Department will conduct a thorough review of the work of the royal botanic garden, Edinburgh between now and March 1996. The first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study. This will include an examination of what scope there is, if any, for discontinuing, or undertaking in some other way some or all of the functions which the garden carries out. This will include looking at how it takes forward its statutory obligations, including its objectives, as set out in the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985.

  The second stage of the review will concentrate on the garden's financial management systems and controls.
  510
  I would welcome comments from interested parties. They should be sent by 30 November 1995 to:

  Mr. K. K. Steven

  The Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries

  Department

  Pentland House

  47 Robb's Loan

  Edinburgh

  EH14 1TY.

  Vandalism (Schools)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what help is available to schools in Scotland suffering especially severe problems of vandalism. [37937]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 20 October 1995]: The response to acts of vandalism will depend on the nature of each incident and the circumstances in which they have been perpetrated. It is for the education authority concerned to consider appropriate measures having regard to the local circumstances and physical characteristics of the schools affected.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Kenya
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date programme aid was suspended to Kenya. [37675]

  Mr. Hanley
  Programme aid to Kenya has not been suspended. But disbursements continue to depend, as they always have, on Kenya continuing to implement economic programmes agreed with International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and on the overall political environment in Kenya.

  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards Kenya at the World Bank, and if he will make a statement. [37674]

  Mr. Hanley
  Discussions between the World Bank and the Kenyan Government continue. We hope that there will be sufficient progress in Kenya to allow early agreement on a structural adjustment credit.

  Bilateral Aid Programme
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the bilateral aid programme in promoting political and economic stability in the least developed countries. [38145]

  Mr. Hanley
  We believe that British bilateral aid, with its emphasis on good government and sound economic policies, has played a vital role in promoting political and economic stability in many of the least developed countries, notably in the Commonwealth. The effectiveness of British aid in meeting this objective is kept under constant review.
  511
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the foreign policy implications of reduction in Britain's bilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement. [38147]

  Mr. Hanley
  The bilateral aid programme is a very significant part of the United Kingdom's relationship with the developing world. The size of the programme is kept under constant review, along with all the other factors which contribute to the relationship with developing countries, including trade and investment.

ENVIRONMENT

  European Building Projects
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many British firms secured contracts on the(a) European Parliament building, Strasbourg,(b) European Parliament building, Brussels, and (c) Bundestag building, Berlin, projects; and what was the value of these projects. [37045]

  Mr. Clappison
  My officials are currently assembling the information requested and I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

  Housing Initiatives
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what assessment he has made of the impact of his Department's policy initiatives since 1979 on the housing associations. [37677]

  Mr. Clappison
  Between 1979–80 and 1994–95, capital and revenue grants totalling more than £16 billion have been made to registered housing associations, which are now the main providers of new social housing. By April 1995 there were around 860,000 housing associations properties, compared with around 350,000 in 1979.

  In 1988, we introduced mixed funding for housing association developments which has enabled associations to raise over £5 billion in private finance. This has generated almost 100,000 more housing association homes than would have been possible without the private finance input.

  Our shared home ownership and incentive initiatives have helped people who wanted to buy their own home but could not otherwise afford to do so. These initiatives represent good value for money, particularly where they release rented lettings for others in housing need. From 1990–91 to the end of 1994–195 more than 60,000 households have benefited from these initiatives, and more than 40,000 existing social lettings have been released for others in housing need.

  We have also encouraged housing associations to take on former local authority housing. Since 1988, 43 new housing associations have been created for this purpose. More than 180,000 dwellings have been transferred from local authority ownership, generating some £2.8 billion of linked private sector investment for the purchase, repair and long-term maintenance of the properties.

  Pay Bargaining
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide in respect of his plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury(a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in headquarters functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38282]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The pay bargaining units and the union recognition and bargaining arrangements proposed for 1996 are:DoE (central)
  Staff in headquarters, staff in the Government offices for the regions and rent assessment panels; current patterns of union recognition will remain and procedural agreements for future consultation and negotiation are under discussion.
  Planning Inspectorate
  Staff in the agency; union recognition will be on current lines and procedures for negotiations are in place.
  Building Research Establishment
  BRE already has responsibility for negotiating the pay of its industrial staff and will take this on for all staff in the agency; union recognition will be on current lines and procedures for negotiations are under discussion for non-industrial staff.
  PSA Services
  Staff in the centre will become part of the DoE (central) bargaining unit. Those on secondment to the successor businesses to PSA will have their pay determined by analogue to arrangements in DoE (central).
  Property Holdings (to become Property Adviser to the Civil Estate)
  Staff in the PACE agency; union recognition will be on current lines and procedures for negotiations are under discussion.
  Security and Facilities Executive
  SAFE already has responsibility for negotiating the pay of its industrial staff and will take this on for the other staff in the agency; union recognition will be on current lines and procedures for negotiations are under discussion.
  The Buying Agency
  Staff in the TBA agency; union recognition will be on current lines and procedures for negotiations are under discussion.
  It is planned that the final three bodies listed will have become the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by 1 April 1996.
  In addition, the Health and Safety Executive, the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre agency and the Ordnance Survey already have responsibility for their own pay arrangements and have agreed arrangements for negotiating with those unions recognised.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring is taking place following the Health and Safety Executive's increased emphasis on the risks of casual exposure to asbestos as outlined in the HSE statement on asbestos 1994. [38052]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive is currently commissioning an independent evaluation of its asbestos awareness campaign. The results should be available towards the middle of 1996.
  513
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the number of cases identified where respiratory protective equipment has been used but where the respirable asbestos dust levels exceed the respiratory protective equipment manufacturers claimed level of protection since July 1992; [38055]

  (2) what sanctions are applied to contractors who are caught using respirable protective equipment but where the level of respirable asbestos dust exceeds the respiratory protective equipment manufacturers claimed level of protection; [38056]

  (3) how many contractors have been sanctioned for using respiratory protective equipment where the level of respirable asbestos dust exceeds the respiratory protective equipment manufacturers claimed level of protection since July 1992; [38057]

  (4) how many contractors have been fined for using respiratory protective equipment where the level of respirable asbestos dust exceeds the respiratory protective equipment manufacturers claimed level of protection since July 1992; and what is the average level of the fine. [38058]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  If standards of health and safety are not adequate, health and safety inspectors have the statutory power to serve improvement or prohibition notices, or prosecute duty holders. Information is not centrally available on the number of cases or contractors sanctioned involving the use of respiratory protective equipment where the level of respirable asbestos dust exceeds the manufacturers claimed level of protection. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many instances have been identified in each of the last three years for which figures are available of asbestos removal work being carried out by licensed contractors using self-employed operatives who have been required to provide their own respiratory protective equipment; [38059]

  (2) what sanctions have been applied to licensed asbestos removal contractors who have been found using self-employed operatives who have been required to provide their own respiratory protective equipment. [38060]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Licensed asbestos removal contractors cannot require self-employed operatives to provide their own respiratory protective equipment. Where self-employed operatives voluntarily provide their own respiratory protective equipment the licensed contractor, as duty holder under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987, remains responsible for ensuring that the equipment is suitable for the work to be undertaken, taking into account the approved code of practice.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what work is being carried out to monitor the Health and Safety Executive's July 1992 initiative to reduce exposure to asbestos dust during the removal of asbestos insulation; and if he will make a statement. [38065]
  514
  (2) what evidence he has of reduced exposure to asbestos dust during the removal of asbestos insulation since July 1992; [38066]

  (3) what progress has been made on reduced exposure to asbestos by measures other than the use of respiratory protective equipment since July 1992. [38068]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive does not hold quantitative data on the progress made in reducing exposure to asbestos by measures other than the use of respiratory protective equipment since July 1992.

  Licensed asbestos removal contractors are required to provide the appropriate enforcing authority with written notification of the proposed work entailing the removal of asbestos insulation or asbestos coating. On the notification form, the licensed asbestos removal contractor is required to specify the dust suppression or dust control technique to be used. Where dust suppression methods—controlled wet stripping—are not to be used, that decision has to be justified to the satisfaction of the enforcing authority which can monitor the action being taken by the contractor in accordance with the July 1992 initiative.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many cases have been identified, in each of the last three years for which figures are available, of operatives directly employed by licensed asbestos removal contractors who are not under medical surveillance; [38050]

  (2) how many cases have been identified, in each of the last three years for which figures are available, of operatives directly employed by licensed asbestos removal contractors who have not been medically examined within the preceding two years. [38051]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information requested is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contractors have been(a) sanctioned and (b) fined for asking little attempt to use effective dust suppression or dust control measures and relying on respirators to protect against high levels of respirable dust, since July 1992; and what is the average level of fine. [38054]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information requested is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent on publicity to increase awareness of the risks of casual exposure to asbestos since the publication of the Health and Safety Executive statement on asbestos 1994. [38070]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In February this year HSE launched a major campaign to raise awareness of the risks of casual exposure to asbestos and of the appropriate precautions which should be taken when working with it. A total of £227,700 was spent on national newspaper and trade journal advertising alone. A low-cost telephone order line and the production and distribution of more than 250,000 free leaflets and pocket cards cost a further £244,000.
  515
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what approaches have been made to employers' associations and trade unions to participate in a joint publicity drive to highlight the risks of casual exposure to asbestos as outlined in the HSE statement on asbestos 1994. [38053]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Trade unions and employers' associations have been involved in HSE's asbestos awareness campaign, through the usual channel of the Health and Safety Commission's advisory committees, and in particular the Health and Safety Commission's construction industry advisory committee. In addition, HSE recently sought the help of all local authorities to ensure that workers and contractors involved in building maintenance are aware of the risks of exposure to asbestos dust.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sanctions are applied to contractors who make little or no attempt to use effective dust suppression or dust control measures and rely on respirators to protect against high levels of respiratory dust. [38069]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  If standards of health and safety are not adequate, health and safety inspectors have the statutory power to serve improvement or prohibition notices, or prosecute duty holders. The Health and Safety Executive may revoke a licence if an asbestos removal contractor is convicted of an offence of failing to discharge a duty relating to work with asbestos insulation or asbestos coating to which he is subject by any health and safety legislation.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on reducing the risk of heat stress during the removal of insulation from hot plant and pipework, since the publication of the Health and Safety Executive's guidance note EH 57, "The problems of Asbestos Removal at High Temperatures" in December 1992. [38067]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive has not undertaken a formal assessment of the impact of the advice contained in guidance note EH 57.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been taken by the Health and Safety Executive to enforce asbestos regulations since the publication of the HSE Statement on Asbestos-1994, and what was the corresponding number of prosecutions taken in the preceding period covering the same time span. [38071]

  Dorset County Council SSA (unadjusted for changes in function)

  SSA Element

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Education

  £ million

  157.560

  184.435

  200.117

  185.549

  191.515

  197.952

  Percentage change

  —

  +17.1

  +8.5

  -7.3

  +3.2

  +3.4

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +17.1

  +8.5

  +4.4

  +3.2

  +1.1

  Per Social Services

  £ million

  43.495

  53.506

  57.420

  59.481

  68.427

  77.623

  Percentage change

  —

  +23.0

  +7.3

  +3.6

  +15.0

  +13.4

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +23.0

  +7.3

  +3.6

  -1.4

  +0.2

  516
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive's statement on asbestos was published in September 1994. Details of informations laid by Health and Safety Executive inspectors alleging contravention of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987, the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 or the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 are given in the table. Statistics from April 1995 have not yet been compiled.

  Period

  Number of months

  Number of informations

  1 August 1993 to 31 August 1994

  13

  152

  1 September 1993 to 31 March 1994

  7

  31

  1 September 1994 to 31 March 1995

  7

  127

  1 Provisional: Statistics for April 1994 to March 1995 not yet verified.

  Safety Consultants
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many safety consultants are currently in operation in the United Kingdom; [38061]

  (2) what qualifications are required and what BSI standard is to be achieved before a person is recognised as a safety consultant; [38062]

  (3) what type of training, and for what duration, is required before a person is recognised as a safety consultant; [38063]

  (4) if safety consultants operating in British industry are required to register with the Health and Safety Executive. [38064]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive has no information on the numbers of safety consultants. Safety consultants are not required to register with HSE or to have any specific qualifications or undergo any particular type or duration of training. While there are a range of qualifications in health and safety, including National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Occupational Health and Safety Practice, there is no British Standard. HSE has published a free booklet, "Selecting a health and safety consultancy", which helps business to find competent consultants.

  Local Government Finance, Dorset
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total percentage increase in the various categories of standard spending assessments for Dorset compared with inflation since 1990. [38376]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is as follows:
  517

  Dorset County Council SSA (unadjusted for changes in function)

  SSA Element

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Fire

  £ million

  9.527

  10.928

  11.753

  12.065

  12.179

  12.444

  Percentage change

  —

  +14.7

  +7.6

  +2.7

  +0.9

  +2.2

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +14.7

  +7.6

  +2.7

  +0.9

  +2.2

  Police

  £ million

  20.801

  22.879

  26.993

  28.043

  29.218

  2—

  Percentage change

  —

  +10.0

  +18.0

  +3.9

  +4.2

  2—

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +10.0

  +18.0

  +3.9

  +4.2

  2—

  Highways maintenance

  £ million

  21.758

  24.680

  24.632

  24.273

  24.292

  24.828

  Percentage change

  —

  +13.4

  -0.2

  -1.5

  0

  +2.2

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  _13.4

  -0.2

  +5.5

  +0.1

  +2.2

  Capital financing

  £ million

  24.207

  27.321

  24.253

  24.240

  22.181

  20.065

  Percentage change

  —

  +12.9

  -11.2

  -0.1

  -8.5

  -9.5

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +12.9

  -11.2

  +0.1

  -8.5

  2-6.2

  All other services

  £ million

  12.992

  18.069

  24.608

  23.839

  23.731

  25.362

  Percentage change

  —

  +39.1

  +36.2

  -3.1

  -0.5

  +6.9

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +39.1

  +36.2

  -2.8

  -0.5

  +5.4

  Total SSA

  £ million

  290.339

  341.818

  369.776

  357.489

  371.543

  358.274

  Percentage change

  —

  +17.7

  +8.2

  -3.3

  +3.9

  -3.6

  Percentage adjusted1

  —

  +17.7

  +8.2

  +3.4

  +1.1

  +0.9

  GDP Deflator

  Percentage change

  -

  +4.1

  +3.0

  +1.8

  +3.0

  +3.0

  1For 1993–94 onwards, an adjusted SSA figure has been used to provide an appropriate year on year comparison. Details of the calculation are included in the annual Standard Spending Assessment Handbook.

  2In 1995–96, Dorset police authority's SSA is £31.619 million. This includes a police SSA element of £31.109 million, a capital financing element of -£0.273 million and an all other services element of £0.783 million. The comparable figures for 1994–95 and earlier years are included in Dorset county council's SSA.

  Regional Planning Guidance, West Midlands
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to review the regional planning guidance for the west midlands, to reduce the level of new house building required in Worcestershire and correspondingly increase it in Birmingham. [38146]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We shall keep our recently issued regional planning guidance for the west midlands under review. In particular, I have asked the local authorities to reconsider the housing figures in the light of the latest national household projections. They will advise me on this next year and we will then consider whether to revise our guidance. However, I cannot promise the hon. Member that the outcome will be a lower figure for Worcestershire and a higher figure for Birmingham.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of reorganisation in each of the individual local authority areas affected. [38412]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is too early to estimate the final cost of reorganisation in each area. The reports of the Local Government Commission give estimates of costs and savings for the main options they considered and for their recommendations. The outcome will depend on how authorities implement reorganisation.

  EU Fur Imports Ban
  Mr. Heppel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when a technical working group of the European Union with Canada and the USA was established to develop humane trapping standards; and if he will make a statement on its activities. [38705]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that EC Regulation 3254/91 to Ban the Import of Fur from Certain Species will be implemented at the end of the year and that no further delays in its implementation occur; and if he will make a statement. [38706]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that the working group was established in August this year. The United Kingdom is not represented on it and we have not so far received any written report from it. We would expect any advice from the working group to be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

  The Government strongly support the objectives of EC Regulation 3254/91 which was adopted by the Council of Ministers in November 1991. The ban will come into force on 1 January 1996. We are currently awaiting formal receipt of the Commission's detailed proposals for implementing the ban on the import of certain furs from countries which still use leghold traps. The proposals are expected to include a list of countries which have already banned the use of leghold traps and can therefore continue to trade in fur products from the 13 species listed in the regulation.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he will publish revised financial guidelines for the management agreements with owners and occupiers of sites of special scientific interest; [39242]

  (2) when he will publish recommendations, advice and information to aid owners and occupiers of sites of special scientific interest in accordance with section 33 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [39243]

  Mr. Clappison
  Work on revising these documents is continuing. They will be the subject of consultation with interested parties before being finalised and issued.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review permitted development rights for temporary activities within or adjacent to sites of special scientific interest. [38525]

  Mr. Clappison
  Following a review in 1992, permitted development rights for certain recreational uses of sites of special scientific interest were withdrawn. The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 remove permitted development rights which would adversely affect the integrity of a Natura 2000 site which is also a site of special scientific interest. We have no plans for a further review.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to prevent Mickletownings site of special scientific interest from receiving sewage-created nutrient input. [38529]

  Mr. Clappison
  In 1991, following a series of accidental sewage overflows during storm conditions in the 1980s, English Nature initiated a 10-year monitoring programme agreed with British Coal Opencast and Leeds city council to monitor the physical and chemical nature of the pond waters within the site of special scientific interest. Evidence points to an improvement in water quality and no damage to the special interest.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made and received on the impact of sea level rises on sites of special scientific interest in the Humber estuary. [38530]

  Mr. Clappison
  English Nature is working with the National Rivers Authority to address the concerns expressed and develop a comprehensive framework for the future management of the flood defences of the Humber.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to protect Skipwith Common site of special scientific interest from dredging and drainage operations. [38531]

  Mr. Clappison
  Routine maintenance, including dredging and drainage, does not adversely affect the scientific interest of this site.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to protect Bingley South Bog site of special scientific interest from damage arising from road construction. [38532]

  Mr. Clappison
  Appropriate mitigation measures will be taken to protect the scientific interest of this site.
  520
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to protect(a) Broadhead Clough, (b) Dark Peak and (c) Haworth Moor site of special scientific interest from acid deposition. [38533]

  Mr. Clappison
  The southern Pennines, in which the three sites lie, has had a long legacy of air pollution from the effects of the industrial revolution in neighbouring Lancashire and Manchester. The special interest of the sites of special scientific interest is presently maintained but long-term sustainability can only be ensured through the UK's commitment to reducing sulphur emissions. UK emissions of sulphur dioxide have fallen by 45 per cent. since 1970. The Government are committed to making further cuts under the EC Large Combustion Plants Directive, which will substantially reduce the proportion of the UK surface area suffering from acid damage by the end of the century.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to protect the Leeds-Liverpool canal site of special scientific interest from development for a boat and caravan storage facility. [38534]

  Mr. Clappison
  Appropriate mitigation measures have been taken to protect the nature conservation interests of this site.

  European Biodiversity Strategy
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the pan-European biological diversity strategy in relation to no climbing areas or seasons; and what discussions he has held with the British Mountaineering Council on this matter. [38029]

  Mr. Clappison
  The strategy is on the agenda of the European Environment Ministers conference in Sofia, which the Secretary of State is currently attending.

  The strategy is a useful framework for international action but further work is needed on it, particularly consultation with relevant interests, including the British Mountaineering Council.

  Mines Rescue Service
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the future size, location and funding of the mines rescue service. [38262]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government have been concerned to ensure that a mines rescue service continues to be available to those mines who may have need of it. To this end I will be making regulations in the near future requiring the owners of certain types of mines to participate in a mines rescue scheme approved by the Secretary of State and which would ensure that appropriate and effective rescue services continue to be available. Once these regulations are made I will consult the Health and Safety Commission and others whom I consider to be appropriate, on proposals for approval of such a mines rescue scheme. A scheme has already been submitted for approval which proposes to maintain the current level of provision of six central rescue stations in strategic locations and a minimum of 80 full-time
  521
  employees. The mines rescue service is currently operated by British Coal on a contract basis, and funded by the mine owners. Within the framework of the relevant statutory requirements, including the regulations and the scheme when these come into force, the future organisation of mines rescue service will be a matter for the mine owners.

  Local Government Residuary Body
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue the management statement to the chairman of the Local Government Residuary Body (England). [39322]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have today issued the management statement to the chairman of the Local Government Residuary Body (England). I am placing a copy in the Library.

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated in such frauds and (2) subsequently recovered. [39130]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is in the table:

  Number of frauds

  Total misappropriated £

  Total recovered £

  1991–92

  Department

  7

  84,139

  57,215

  Agencies

  0

  0

  0

  NDPBs

  6

  19,690

  2,442

  1992–93

  Department

  7

  9,024

  7,635

  Agencies

  0

  0

  0

  NDPBs

  9

  3,056

  1,028

  1993–94

  Department

  5

  3,241

  3,241

  Agencies

  1

  1,025

  0

  NDPBs

  6

  50,230

  50,000

  1994–95

  Department

  4

  84

  84

  Agencies

  0

  0

  0

  NDPBs

  2

  397

  0

  Environment Council
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 6 October. [39829]

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council in Luxembourg held on 6 October.

  Common positions were reached on a decision on the exchange of information on air quality and on a directive temporarily deferring the emission standards for certain diesel engines, in line with technical progress. On the
  522
  latter I secured the deletion of text relating to fiscal incentives. Political agreement was secured on the second phase of the financial instrument for the environment—LIFE—which agreed a budget of 450 mecu over four years, 1996–1999, to be reviewed in 1997. Political agreement was also achieved on an amendment to the Waste Shipments Regulation. In both cases a common position is expected in December.

  There was a policy debate about the proposed amendment to Directive 85/337 on Environmental Impact Assessment. I secured some helpful amendments to the proposals and further detailed discussions will now continue in the experts working group. The Presidency is aiming for a common position in December.

  Council conclusions were agreed on a number of international conferences taking place in the coming months. These include the third pan-European conference, "Environment for Europe", the seventh conference of the parties to the Montreal protocol, the second conference of the parties to the biodiversity convention and the Euro-Mediterranean conference. Agreement was also reached on Council conclusions deferring the review of the functions of the European Environment Agency for two years.

  Direct Labour Organisations
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he proposes to take against those local authorities whose direct labour and direct service organisations failed to meet their statutory financial objectives in 1993–94. [39828]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  On 25 July this year, 18 statutory notices were served on 18 local authorities concerning the failure of their direct labour and service organisations to meet the required financial objectives in 1993–94. A further five notices were served on the London borough of Islington for failure to submit unqualified accounts.

  My right hon. Friend has now considered the responses to those notices and has today given six directions to Corby borough council on vehicle maintenance, to Devon county council on grounds maintenance, to the London borough of Islington on building maintenance, grounds maintenance, and highways and sewers work, and to Ryedale district council on sports and leisure management.

  The directions take three forms:
  preventing the authority from carrying out the work if it fails to meet the financial objective in 1995–96:—Corby, vehicle maintenance.
  requiring the authority to retender the work if they fail to meet the financial objective in 1995–96, and to seek the Secretary of State's prior consent where the work has to be retendered and where the authority subsequently wishes to award the work in-house:—Devon, grounds maintenance, and Ryedale, sports and leisure management.
  preventing the authority from carrying out the work if they fail to submit unqualified accounts for work carried out in 1995–96:—the London borough of Islington, building maintenance, grounds maintenance and highways and sewers.
  The Secretary of State has also decided to take no further statutory action in respect of financial failure in 1993–94 by:
  Bedford, refuse collection; Colchester, sport and leisure management; Coventry, grounds maintenance; Dacorum, vehicle maintenance; Gedling, grounds maintenance; High

  523
  Peak, grounds maintenance; Hove, sports and leisure management; the London borough of Islington, refuse collection and sports and leisure management; Mansfield, refuse collection; New Forest, building cleaning; North Cornwall, building maintenance; Sedgefield, refuse collection; South Herefordshire, building maintenance; Stoke-on-Trent, other catering; Torbay, grounds maintenance; and Wakefield, schools and welfare catering.

  A decision on Lincolnshire county council's failure to meet the financial objective for highways and sewers work has been deferred and will be announced at a later date.

  To date, 120 statutory notices have been served by the Department on local authorities for losses incurred by their DLOs/DSOs in 1993–94. A further five statutory notices have been served on the London borough of Islington following its failure to submit unqualified accounts. Today's decisions follow those announced on 6 June, 11 July and 22 August 1995.

  Dounreay Reactor Site
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the results to date of the survey carried out of the whole of the Dounreay reactor site in respect of radioactive hotspots, and if he will make a statement. [38302]

  Mr. Page
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Agency has been carrying out an extensive survey of contamination on the Dounreay site and any areas of significant contamination on the Dounreay site have either been removed or have been barriered off to restrict access. A strategy for dealing with those areas where contamination has not yet been removed is being prepared for submission to the Health and Safety's Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate, the Scottish Office and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate. The survey is now well advanced and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

  Details of the UKAEA's findings have been reported to the relevant regulatory and advisory bodies and have been the subject of UKAEA "facts faxes" which have been issued to the site work-force, the hon-Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) members of the Dounreay local liaison committee, the Highland regional council and the local media. I am now arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress made on the implementation of the SIB/PIA review of pension transfer opt-outs and non-joiners. [38263]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government fully support the efforts of the financial services regulators to arrange for reviews to identify cases in which investors face financial loss as a result of bad investment advice not given in compliance with regulatory rules, and to ensure that redress is made where it is due. Progress in implementing the review has been delayed by a judicial 524
  review of the Securities and Investment Board's guidance earlier this year. However the Personal Investment Authority has now issued guidance, and many firms now have reviews in hand.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of purchasers of personal pensions contracted according to the SIB/PIA guidelines by(a) tied agents, (b) independent financial advisers and (c) all vendors of personal pensions. [38264]

  Mrs. Knight
  I regret that this information is not currently available. However, the Securities and Investments Board plans to collect data to monitor the progress of the review and I understand that it should be available early next year.

  Fish Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations have been made by(a) his Department and (b) the EEC Commission of the origin of fish products and prawns or shrimps imported into this country on EURI certificates from (i) Iceland, (ii) Norway and (iii) the Faroe Islands; how many staff were involved and for what period of time; and what information about consignments was made available to them. [37954]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No investigations have been made in Iceland, Norway or the Faroe Islands by Customs an Excise. The EC Commission has sent mission teams to all three countries. No information is available as to the precise duration of the inquiries or the number of staff involved.

  A team visited Iceland on several occasions from July 1992 to early 1993, in connection with exports of prawns. They were able to examine processing plant records, which identified the source of raw materials through to consignments of finished product. In 1995 another team visited Iceland to look at cod. The result of their inquiries are still being evaluated.

  A team visited Norway to make inquiries about cod. These inquiries were subsequently pursued by the Norwegian customs authorities who reported their conclusions to the EC Commission in January and March 1995.

  The mission to the Faroe Islands took place in 1991. Processing plant and export consignment records were examined.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retrospective claims against how many firms, for what total sums of money and for what period are being made by his Department against importers of prawns or shrimps in respect of(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands and at whose behest. [37946]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is as follows:
  525

  Number of claims

  Number of firms

  Total (£)

  Period

  a-i) Iceland (mission)

  15

  12

  435,000

  October 1990 to August 1992

  a-ii) Iceland (disclosure)

  11

  9

  23,000

  1993

  c) Faroes (mission)

  13

  13

  1,900,000

  May 1989 to October 1991

  a-i) and c) were the result of EC missions, while a-ii) was a disclosure by Icelandic customs in respect of one of their exporters.

  No claims have been made against importers in respect of Norway.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has made to the EEC Commission for compensation for British importers of prawns or shrimps innocently imported from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands on EUR1 certificates now considered by the European Commission to be invalid, what scale of compensation has been proposed; when it will be payable; and what response has been forthcoming from the Commission. [37955]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such proposals have been made because duty recovery has been suspended pending completion of the legal process. Therefore, compensation is not appropriate in the circumstances. The Commission and member states are being urged to produce a lasting solution which properly balances safeguarding the Community budget and the interests of European business. Such a solution will need to address the future as well as the past.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice was and is now given by his Department to importers of fish products from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands coming in duty free under EUR1 certificates about their liability if the certificates issued in the country of origin prove to be invalid, about how they can safeguard themselves against such retrospective charges and about how they can test the validity of EUR1 certificates. [37948]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Advice is set out in Customs notice No. 826. This recognises the difficulties that importers may experience in trying to establish whether a certificate is valid or whether goods shown on it are eligible for preferential tariff treatment. For very many years the notice has warned of the potential further duty liability and since July 1990 has advised importers to consider the advantages of including a clause in contracts allowing them to recover any duty charge from the supplier. In addition, Customs have regularly contributed articles for trade journals and participated in trade seminars and the consequences of invalid documentation has been covered on each occasion.

  , Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in levying retrospective duty on prawns or shrimps imported from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands with valid EUR1 certificates, he makes any allowance for the fact that a proportion of those prawn/shrimps will in fact have been caught in that country; what proportion he estimates this to be; and whether this is estimated as being constant or can be specifically assessed for each consignment. [37952]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The mission to Iceland found that most processing plants kept sophisticated records which identified the source of raw materials through to consignments of finished product. Duty demands were 526
  issued only for consignments where there was a clear audit trail from the non-originating prawns through to deliveries to specific companies in the EC. Where part of a consignment qualified, typical because it comprised prawns of different sizes and origin, then the duty demand was restricted to the non-originating element.

  No duty demands have been issued for prawns or shrimps imported from Norway.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the evidence provided to him by the European Commission that prawns or shrimps imported from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands in fact originated elsewhere; and indicate what proportion of the imports from the Faroe Islands this applied to. [37947]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  EC mission team reports, which contain sensitive commercial information, are protected by EC agreements which restrict their issue or publication.

  The proportion of imports from the Faroe Islands established as non-originating was 66 per cent. for 1989, 81 per cent. for 1990 and 53 per cent. for 1991.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has made to his customs counterpart in(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands about their acceptance of EUR1 certificates for the export of fish products to Britain which subsequently proved to have originated elsewhere than in Iceland; what compensation he has requested from them for British importers trusting these certificates; and what procedures his Department has put in place to check the validity of EUR1 certificates for Iceland. [37951]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such representations have been made to third country customs authorities.

  The UK has, however, made strong representations concerning these difficulties at recent EC meetings and gained considerable support from other member states. A number of different proposals have been put forward to alleviate the burdens on importers and these now have to be considered carefully. It will be for the European Commission to write to third country authorities if this is considered appropriate.

  In accordance with normal practice, EUR1 certificates are from time to time returned to exporting countries for verification by their customs authorities.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the outcome of all court cases pursued by his Department against importers of prawns or shrimps from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands on the basis of EUR1 certificates now considered by him to be invalid; what costs have been awarded and to whom; how much retrospective duty has actually been paid; and by how many firms. [37956]
  527
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Two of the companies who received duty demands in respect of imports from the Faroe Islands submitted an application for a judicial review on the grounds that the demands were incorrect in law. The High Court referred a number of questions to the European Court of Justice and awarded costs against Customs. No reason was given for the award and Customs are still in correspondence on the matter. The judgment of the European Court of Justice is expected by early December.

  There have been no other relevant court cases, although several importers have appealed to the VAT and duties tribunal. These cases are being stood over by the tribunal pending the European Court of Justice judgment. Payment of duty will not be pursued until the legal process is completed.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for duty have been made in each year since 1980 for duty not paid on fish products imported from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands on EUR1 certificates which subsequently proved to be invalid. [37949]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is as follows:

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Iceland

  —

  12

  —

  9

  Norway

  —

  —

  —>

  2

  Faroe Islands

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Figures are not available for imports of fish products prior to 1992.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what burden of proof about the origin of fish products imported on EUR1 certificates falls on(a) his Department (b) the British importer, (c) the customs of the originating country and (d) the exporter issuing the EUR1 certificate where such certificates are deemed by his Department to be invalid; on what basis such retrospective claims are made by his Department; and what time limitations apply. [37953]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The responsibilities of the various parties are set out in the preferential trade agreements between the European Community and Iceland, Norway and the Faroe islands. The prime responsibility for determining whether particular goods qualify for preferential status lies with the exporter. Where it is not possible to determine the origin of goods, or where they are non-originating—that is, they do not come originally from the exporter's country—an EUR1 certificate is inappropriate.

  The responsibility for accounting for any import duties due falls on the importer in the country of destination.

  The customs authorities in the country of importation are responsible for collecting any duties due, including duties charged retrospectively where EUR1s are found to be invalid.

  The customs authorities in the country of export are responsible for issuing EUR1s verifying any certificates returned by foreign import authorities and considering sanctions against exporters who abuse the system.
  528
  Customs and Excise have issued retrospective duty demands only where either the customs authorities for the exporter have advised that certificates were invalid or where an EC mission has provided firm evidence that goods did not meet the rules of origin.

  The time limitation for retrospective duty demands is three years from importation.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has had from the European Commission about retrospective duty on prawns or shrimps imported from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands on EUR1 certificates; how much he has been required to recover; to whom this is payable; what information he has about the levy of such duties in each fish importing member of the EU; and what representations he has made to the Commission about such changes. [37950]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No specific instructions have been received from the European Commission about retrospective duty on prawns or shrimps. However, where checks on EUR1s show that the goods were not entitled to relief, duty at the full rate becomes payable under the terms of the preferential trade agreement with the country concerned, which in the community are implemented in EC law. Customs duty is collected by member states and remitted to the Community as own resources.

  In the case of retrospective duty demand on prawns from Iceland, Customs and Excise are aware that duty recovery action has also been taken by Denmark and Germany, the only other countries with a major interest.

  Customs have made strong representations at recent EC meetings about the problems associated with duty recovery in respect of invalid documentation, including EUR1s, and have gained considerable support from other member states. Over the next few weeks, Customs will continue to press for urgent attention to be given to this issue with a view to reaching consensus among member states on the best solution.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount collected in value added tax(a) in 1979, (b) in 1985 and (c) in the latest year for which figures are available. [37910]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Net receipts of value added tax for financial years 1979–80, 1985–86 and 1994–95 are as follows:

  £million

  Net receipts

  1979–80

  1985–86

  1994–95

  8,189.3

  19.331.4

  41,817.3

  Independent Television (Taxation)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of taxation paid by the ITV companies to the Exchequer(a) in 1985, (b) 1990 and (c) in the latest year for which figures are available. [37966]
  529
  Mr. Jack
  Companies licensed by the Independent Television Commission to provide Channel 3 services had an estimated corporation tax liability in 1993 of approximately £50 million. Figures for 1985 and 1990 are only available at disproportionate cost.

  Kenya (IMF Facility)
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards the enhanced structural adjustment facility for Kenya at the International Monetary Fund; and if he will make a statement. [37673]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Discussions between the IMF and the Kenyan Government continue. We hope that there will be sufficient progress in Kenya so as to allow early agreement on an enhanced structural adjustment facility.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to reduce tobacco smuggling into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [38040]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise will continue to take vigorous action against those who smuggle tobacco goods. Working closely with the trade and developing intelligence to identify offenders remains the best method of achieving successful detections.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what numbers of Customs and Excise officers have been involved in pursuing tobacco smuggling into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [38041]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The duties of Customs and Excise officers cover a wide range of revenue and prevention functions. Officers are not normally assigned to deal with a single commodity.

  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss of revenue in each of the last five years caused by the smuggling into the United Kingdom of(a) hand-rolling tobacco, (b) cigarettes, (c) pipe tobacco and (d) cigars. [38082]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is particularly difficult to make meaningful estimates of smuggled tobacco goods. What can be relied upon however is the number of detections made by Customs and Excise. In the period from 1 January 1993 to 31 August 1995 there were 4,124 detections of smuggled tobacco goods representing a revenue value of some £7.05 million.

  The information requested for the last five years is not available. However following recent discussions with the trade, Customs are actively considering methods of deriving credible estimates of smuggling of tobacco goods.

  Government Debt
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of general Government gross debt for each country within the EU; and what were the figures for 1991, 1987 and 1983. [38335]
  530
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government do not produce estimates for general Government gross debt for countries in the EU other than the UK. The most recent figures for the UK are available in the Summer Economic Forecast. Historical data are available in the Financial Statement and Budget Report. Forecasts and historical figures for the rest of the EU can be found in the "OECD Outlook" of June 1995. All three publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Tourism
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of British competitiveness of the level of VAT on tourism products; and what conclusions he has reached. [38454]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There is no compelling evidence that the fiscal and regulatory environment in the United Kingdom places tourism at a disadvantage. We have a lower standard rate than most EU member states and our zero rate is applied to a wide range of consumer expenditure.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the consultations between Customs and Excise and the travel industry about the effects of the Value Added Tax (Tour Operators) (Amendment) Order 1995; and if he will make a statement. [39727]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There have been extensive and very productive talks over the summer between Customs, the travel industry and its representatives. These talks have produced a package of options to be publicised today which should allow most tour operators to organise their business so as to minimise any potential for distortion of competition while still fully respecting the provisions of the order. Unlike earlier proposals put forward by some in the industry, this package will not increase taxation for four operators' products. The major trade associations have confirmed that the options adequately address the industry's immediate concerns. Customs' review of the tour operators' margin scheme will now proceed to its second phase which will involve an examination of longer-term issues, including possible simplification of the scheme.

  Social Security (Liaison)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often he liaises with the Secretary of State for Social Security. [38815]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Frequently.

  Share Option Schemes
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Inland Revenue has made of the percentage of option holders who cash in their options or shares as soon as possible; and if he will publish the assumptions made and the basis of calculation. [37963]

  Mr. Jack
  Two independent surveys indicate that up to 90 per cent. of option holders sell all or most of their shares on exercise.
  531
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has from internal or external sources of the average income of all employees granted share options under approved discretionary share options schemes in each of the last three years. [37902]

  Mr. Jack
  A provisional estimate of the average relevant emoluments of those granted share options under approved discretionary share option schemes in 1994–95 is approximately £45,000. Estimates for the earlier years are not readily available.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the results of all research conducted by the Treasury or Inland Revenue since 1984 on the use of share option schemes by small and medium-sized enterprises; [37960]

  (2) if he will publish the results of all research conducted by the Treasury or Inland Revenue since 1984 on the use of share option schemes for the benefit of low and middle income employees; [37961]

  (3) if he will publish the results of all research carried on by the Treasury or the Inland Revenue since 1984 on the tax revenue gains resulting from increased payment of corporation tax and other taxes in companies whose shares increased in value and which operated successful approved discretionary share option schemes; and if he will publish the research. [37962]

  Mr. Jack
  A report by KPMG Management Consulting on employee share schemes, prepared for the Inland Revenue, Treasury and Department of Employment, was published by the Inland Revenue in 1991. This report addressed a wide range of issues, including an analysis of employee share schemes by company size. It did not consider the income of employees or any possible impact on corporation tax receipts. In addition regular monitoring is published in "Inland Revenue Statistics".

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax was paid in the last three tax years; and what proportion of the total corporation tax paid was by companies operating approved discretionary share option schemes. [37882]

  Mr. Jack
  The figures for corporation tax receipts are as follows:

  Year

  Corporation tax £ million

  1992–93

  15,783

  1993–94

  14,887

  1994–95

  19,390

  Estimates of the proportion of total corporation tax paid by companies operating approved discretionary share option schemes are not available.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies started(a) save-as-you-earn share option schemes and (b) profit sharing schemes in each of the last three tax years and the current year to date. [37901]
  532
  Mr. Jack
  Available information is given in the table.

  Year

  Profit-sharing schemes

  Savings-related share option schemes

  1992–93

  61

  95

  1993–94

  35

  104

  1994–95

  47

  144

  1995–961

  17

  77

  1 Year to date.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Inland Revenue has made of the value of revenue savings to be made by the proposed changes in taxation of share options; and if he will publish the assumptions made and the basis of the calculation. [37964]

  Mr. Jack
  There will be no effect on tax receipts for the next three financial years and the full-year level will not be reached until approximately 2002–03 as a result of transitional arrangements for options granted before 17 July 1995. A provisional estimate of the full-year revenue yield is about £80 million each year based on current levels of exercise, size of gains and the 1995–96 income tax and capital gains tax systems.

  An outline of the methodology and underlying assumptions for the estimated cost of tax relief for approved discretionary share option schemes was published in chapter 6 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1991." It has been assumed that the bulk of schemes will continue after the tax relief is withdrawn, and that the gains made on the exercise of options will generate income tax.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of companies which floated on the Stock Exchange during the last year had approved discretionary share option schemes in operation; [37879]

  (2) how many United Kingdom subsidiaries of United States parent companies operate approved discretionary share option schemes involving options being granted over shares in the United States parent companies; [37900]

  (3) how many of the 100 largest corporation tax paying United Kingdom—registered companies in the last year operated share option schemes; [37885]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the relationship between changes in the value of share options normally and over the longer term and the profitability of companies; [37972]

  (5) how many of the companies which have set up approved discretionary share options schemes since 1984 (a) had turnover below £50 million, (b) has pre-tax profits below £10 million and (c) did not have occupational pension schemes in the year the option schemes were approved by the Inland Revenue. [37903]

  Mr. Jack
  This information in the form requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, discretionary share option schemes have been monitored since the scheme began in 1984 and statistics published each year in "Inland Revenue Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.

  Loans to Business
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of loans to business are for(a) under three years, (b) under four years, (c) under five years and (d) over 10 years. [38829]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  This information is not collected by the Government. Figures on major British banking groups' advances to non-personal customers resident in the UK, analysed by residual maturity, are set out in table 1.10 of the British Bankers Association "Annual Abstract of Banking Statistics" which is in the Library.

  Import Duty on Wine
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds Customs and Excise are now expressing the import duty on wines in terms of ecu per hectolitre, details of which have been sent to the Minister in charge of Customs and Excise; and on what legal basis this description of duty is used. [37629]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The legal basis for customs duties on goods imported into the European Union is an EC agreement on a common tariff which is then incorporated into the UK tariff. To ensure equity, duties are expressed in the same units in all language versions of the common tariff. In the case of wine imports, one element of the duty is defined in monetary terms. In order that the same rate of duty is levied throughout the community, this is expressed in ecu, but is of course converted to national currency for payment.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Church Repair Grants
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list those churches which(a) have received, (b) are currently receiving and (c) have been granted but have not yet received, grant aid from English Heritage towards repairs necessitated by atmospheric pollution together with the amounts in each case. [38635]

  Mr. Sproat
  English Heritage does not categorise its grants according to the causes which have necessitated structural repairs. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of English Heritage's grant expenditure for work resulting from atmospheric pollution to churches. During 1994–95, English Heritage offered £14 million in grants for repairs to historic churches.

  Imperial War Museum
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to construct or assist with the construction of an imperial war museum for the north of England; and if she will make a statement. [39037]

  Mr. Sproat
  It is for the trustees of the imperial war museum to decide on whether there should be a branch of the museum in the north of England.

  Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the report of the reviewing 534
  committee on the export of works of art 1994–95 will be published. [39780]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The reviewing committee's annual report 1994–95 has been published today, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Film Industry (Financial Support)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will publish details of the total financial support for the film industry during each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [38134]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department's total expenditure on film over the past three years is as follows:

  1993–94: £24.34 million (out-turn)

  1994–95: £26.16 million (out-turn)

  1995–96: £26.07 million (planned expenditure)

  Funds are provided to two non-departmental public bodies, the British Film Institute and the National Film and Television School; three private-sector companies: British Screen Finance, the European Co-production Fund and the British Film Commission, and a number of European initiatives.

  Libraries (Internet Connections)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many libraries and what percentage of the total are currently linked to the Internet; what is the estimated cost of linking those libraries not hitherto connected; and if she will make a statement. [38585]

  Mr. Sproat
  We do not have precise information about the total number of public libraries with Internet connections, but we believe that a minimum of 35 out of 167 library authorities—over 20 per cent.—have connections to the Internet or are about to become connected. The cost of connection depends very much on how a library wishes to use the Internet but a basic package could cost from about £2,000, including hardware.

  Millennium Commission Funding
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has to reinforce compliance with the principle for Millennium Commission funding that it shall not replace, but be additional to already available sources of Government funding, while maintaining the principle of matching Millennium Commissions funding only with private funding. [38415]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 October 1995]: National Lottery funding is additional to existing provision. Millennium Commission projects can attract partnership funding from any eligible source, including public and private funds.

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of her(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (i) misappropriated in such frauds and (ii) subsequently recovered. [39133]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is as follows:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Total number of cases of fraud committed by employees of

  (a) DNH

  Nil

  1

  Nil

  Total monetary sum

  (i) misappropriated

  —

  £31.70

  —

  (ii) recovered

  —

  Nil

  —

  (b) its agencies

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  (c) its NDPBs

  6

  6

  9

  Total monetary sum

  (i) misappropriated

  £202,422

  £10,913

  £80,759

  (ii) recovered

  £138,637

  £6,155

  £76,270

  The figures for the year 1991–92, prior to the establishment of my department in April 1992, are not available.

  Pay Delegation Plan
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will provide in respect of her plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury(a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in HQ functions, agencies and agency candidates and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38272]

  Mr. Sproat
  The pay delegation plan that my Department submitted to the Treasury covered staff in the Department of National Heritage only. The Royal Parks Agency and the Historic Royal Palaces Agency are preparing separate delegation plans in consultation with my Department. The information requested for each bargaining unit is:

  Department of National Heritage

  The pay delegation plan covers all staff in my Department at grade 6 and below. This is currently 334 staff in grades as follows:

  Staff

  Grade 6

  8

  Grade 7

  48

  SEO and equivalent

  24

  HEO and equivalent

  71

  EO and equivalent

  61

  AO and equivalent

  59

  536

  Staff

  AA and equivalent

  24

  Secretarial group

  26

  Support grades

  13

  My Department is recognising all relevant unions for pay bargaining purposes and is currently in discussion with the trade unions about a procedural agreement which will enable negotiations to take place about changes to terms and conditions and pay progression.

  Royal Parks Agency

  The Royal Parks Agency already has delegated pay authority for the royal parks constabulary and negotiates this with the National Union of Civil and Public Servants. My Department is in discussion with the RPA about its delegation plan for all remaining staff, apart from the chief executive—currently 98 staff in the following grades:

  Staff

  Grade 6

  1

  Grade 7

  3

  SEO

  4

  SPTO

  2

  HEO

  9

  HPTO

  1

  EO

  15

  AO

  27

  AA

  1

  Typist

  2

  Park Manager

  4

  Assistant Park Manager

  7

  Park Supervisor

  13

  Groom

  6

  Cartographer

  1

  Wildlife Officer

  1

  Assistant Wildlife Officer

  1

  It has not yet finalised its negotiating arrangements with its trade unions for these staff.

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency

  The Historic Royal Palaces Agency already has delegated pay authority for its industrial staff. The agency is in discussion with my Department about a pay delegation plan covering all other staff in the agency, except the chief executive and any other staff who may form part of the new senior civil service. These staff number 394 staff in the following grades, excluding the chief executive.

  Staff

  Grade 5

  6

  Grade 6

  1

  Grade 7

  15

  SEO and equivalent

  18

  HEO and equivalent

  26

  EO and equivalent

  47

  AO and equivalent

  141

  AA and equivalent

  140

  Industrial staff

  55

  537
  The agency has held preliminary discussions with all the unions currently represented, but has not yet reached agreement on formal negotiating arrangements.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Support Agency (Inquests)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many suicide cases evidence relating to the activities of the Child Support Agency has been presented at a coroner's inquest since April 1993. [37593]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information about the evidence submitted at individual inquests is not held centrally.

  Mobile Phone Fraud
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the figures for the incidents for(a) each category of mobile phone cloning reported and/or investigated and (b) each category of mobile phone theft reported and/or investigated by each police force in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in each of the last two years for which figures are available and the totals for the last five years. [38344]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally. However, I understood that the mobile telecommunications industry has provided some estimates on mobile phone fraud as part of its contribution to the work of the industry and Government study group on mobile phone fraud. I understand that a copy of the briefing paper containing these estimates is in the Library.

  Burglaries (Amersham and Slough)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the incidence of burglary in the Amersham and Slough police areas in the latest quarter for which figures are available and for the corresponding quarter a year earlier. [38438]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not available centrally although figures for the 12 months to June 1995 for Thames Valley as a whole are published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 19/95, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Fine Defaulting (Young Offenders)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by individual centres the numbers of young people who have been committed to young offenders' centres for defaulting on fines in each of the last six years. [39277]

  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. Mark Fisher, dated 24 October 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, if he will list by individual centres the numbers of young people who have been committed to young offenders' centres for defaulting on fines in each of the last six years.
  538
  The information requested is in the attached table and is for young people aged under 21 for the years 1990 to 1994. Data for 1989 is not available.

  Receptions of young people into young offender institutions.

  Establishment

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Closed YOIS (male)

  Brinsford

  —

  —

  —

  97

  51

  Deerbolt

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dover

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Feltham

  84

  26

  185

  237

  218

  Glen Parva

  184

  37

  214

  323

  321

  Guys Marsh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hollesley Bay

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Huntercombe

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Lancaster Farms

  —

  —

  —

  19

  66

  Moorland

  —

  5

  24

  13

  —

  Northallerton

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  Wetherby

  133

  181

  —

  —

  —

  Total closed YOIS (male)

  403

  251

  423

  712

  657

  Open YOIS (male)

  Guys Marsh

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Hatfield

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Thorn Cross

  —

  2

  1

  12

  —

  Usk

  —

  —

  —

  6

  32

  Total open YOIS (male)

  —

  2

  1

  21

  33

  Short sentence YOIS (male)

  Eastwood Park

  6

  26

  176

  —

  —

  Hollesley Bay

  96

  107

  61

  —

  —

  Lowdham Grange

  9

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Werrington

  3

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Wetherby

  29

  609

  703

  —

  —

  Total short sentence YOIS (male)

  143

  752

  940

  —

  —

  Juvenile YOIS (male)

  Feltham

  —

  —

  51

  35

  —

  Lancaster farms

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Werrington

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  Total Juvenile YOIS (male)

  —

  —

  56

  35

  1

  Total all YOIS (male)

  546

  1,005

  1,420

  768

  691

  Closed YOIS (female)

  New Hall

  23

  6

  12

  22

  14

  Styal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total closed YOIS (female)

  23

  6

  12

  22

  14

  Open YOIS (female)

  Drake Hall

  1

  —

  2

  12

  21

  Total open YOIS (female)

  1

  —

  2

  12

  21

  Total all female YOIS (female)

  24

  6

  14

  34

  35

  Total all YOIS

  570

  1,011

  1,434

  802

  726

  Police Funding (Merseyside)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will now announce the date of his proposed visit to Liverpool and Mersyside to
  539
  discuss funding of the police authority; and if he will make a statement; [38832]

  (2) if he will list the hon. Members and organisations who have asked him to visit Merseyside to discuss police funding and the recent disturbances on Liverpool streets; and if he will make a statement; [38833]

  (3) what representations he has received from Merseyside police authority and hon. Members concerning police funding; and if he will make a statement. [38834]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have received invitations from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) and the chairman of the Merseyside police authority to visit Merseyside. I would be happy to visit the area when a suitable opportunity arises and when it would be practical to do so.

  I have received a number of representations from right hon. and hon. Members, local councils, and members of the public about the funding of Merseyside police. The police funding formula has been subject to some further developmental work this year. I cannot say at present how this will affect the allocation of funding to Merseyside for 1996–97. I have, however, taken note of the views of the police authority.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide funding to police forces to assist the recruitment of special constables and improvements to their conditions and training. [39830]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have established a new challenge fund for special constables. It includes £4 million of Government grant in 1995–96. Police forces in England and Wales are being invited to bid for money to help to resource an increase in the size of their local special constabularies and to help bring the training and equipment of special constables to a more consistent standard.

  We have asked forces to look for other sources of support, such as local sponsorship, to boost the fund. Sponsors are also invited to contribute on a national basis.

  The special constabulary makes a valuable contribution to the policing of this country by supplementing the efforts of the regular force. Specials provide an important and visible link between the police and local communities. I hope that the fund will not only increase numbers towards the Government target of 30,000 but improve the quality of the assistance special constable can give to regular police officers.

  We have issued guidance to all forces in England and Wales about bidding for grants from the fund. I am placing a copy of it in the Library.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the split between operations and policy in each agency which reports to him. [38853]
  540
  Mr. Howard
  There are four executive agencies within the Home Office: the Prison Service, the United Kingdom Passport Agency, the Forensic Science Service and the Fire Service College. In all cases, responsibility for day-to-day management is delegated to the chief executive, and responsibility for policy rests with me. This division is reflected in the framework document of each of these agencies, copies of which are in the Library.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations in each county in England have(a) closed permanently and (b) restricted their opening times in each year since 1987. [38568]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations in each English county are in premises shared with(a) the fire brigade, (b) the local authority and (c) other organisations. [38569]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 17 October,Official Report, column 142, when he expects to announce where the 10,000 CCTV cameras will be; what will be the rules of the competition for them; and if he will make it his policy that cameras will be allocated regardless of party political affiliations. [38720]

  Mr. Maclean
  I am currently considering the detailed funding arrangements for the support of further closed circuit television schemes. A challenge competition will be run and bidding guidance explaining the rules for the competition is being drawn up. Copies will be distributed shortly. The bids will be judged against the criteria set out in that guidance.

  Prison Cell Sharing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners currently share two to a cell designed for (i) one and (ii) two; [38292]

  (2) how many (a) female and (b) male prisoners currently share a cell with three or more other inmates; and if he will make a statement; [38290]

  (3) how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners currently share three to a cell designed for (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three. [38291]

  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.
  541
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 24 October 1995:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about cell sharing in the Prison Service.

  The only information recorded centrally is about the number of prisoners sharing two and three to a cell designed for one. At the end of September 1995 there were no prisoners sharing three to a cell designed for one. On that date there were 8,440 male prisoners and 56 female prisoners sharing two to a cell designed for one.

  Child Prostitution
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to hold centrally information in respect of the number of cases of child prostitution that are reported in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38298]

  Mr. Maclean
  Statistics on cautions and convictions for soliciting offences committed by children are already held centrally. Details are contained in the table.

  Convictions and cautions for soliciting offences for children under the age of sixteen years

  Offence

  Legislation

  Year

  Number convicted/ cautioned

  Common prostitute

  Street Offences Act

  1992

  145

  loitering or soliciting for

  1959 section 1

  1993

  183

  the purposes of prostitution(Female only offence)

  11994

  194

  Soliciting by a man

  Sexual offences Act

  1992

  6

  (Male only offence)

  1956 section 32

  1993

  4

  11994

  4

  1 Provisional.

  Police Discipline (Blackburn)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary proceedings were taken against a police officer of the Lancashire police force in respect of the loss and recovery in Blackburn town centre in June 1994 of police revolvers; and if he will make a statement. [38969]

  Mr. Maclean
  Police disciplinary matters are the responsibility of individual chief officers. However, I understand that the officer concerned was reprimanded at a disciplinary hearing for neglect of duty in respect of this incident and has been removed from firearms duties.

  Rohan Thomas
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was informed that Scotland Yard had allowed Rohan Thomas into the United Kingdom to help with investigations that were being undertaken by the Metropolitan police; and on what date he granted permission. [38391]

  Mr. Maclean
  The granting of leave to enter this country is a matter for the immigration service alone. Rohan Thomas presented a passport in a false identity and was given leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months as a visitor on 28 March 1993. The immigration service was informed of his true identity a few days later.542
  He was served with notice of intention to remove him as an illegal entrant after he was apprehended on 19 June 1993.

  Family Passports
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his policy whereby husbands on dual passports are eligible to travel alone without their wives, but wives are not allowed to travel without their husbands; and if he will make a statement. [38414]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Family passports, which included details of the passport holder's wife or husband, were discontinued in 1988, through those issued previously remain valid until their normal date of expiry. It is still possible to include particulars of children under 16 years of age on the passports of either or both parents. In accordance with international practice, only the person in whose name the passport is issued may travel on it alone.

  Fire Service College
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firefighters have been trained at the Fire Service College in each of the last five years. [38160]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Fire Service College under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from N. K. Finlayson to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 24 October 1995:

  Your Parliamentary Question seeking information relating to the number of Firefighters trained at the Fire Service College in each of the last five years, has been referred to me by the Home Secretary as falling within my delegated authority.

  In each of the 5 years up to and including the year 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995, the following numbers of students from United Kingdom Fire Brigades were trained at the Fire Service College.

  1990–91: 3,915 students

  1991–92: 4,187 students

  1992–93: 4,383 students

  1993–94: 4,571 students

  1994–95: 4,297 students

  Witness Intimidation
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to prevent intimidation and harassment of witnesses(a) before, (b) during and (c) after completion of trials. [37971]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have introduced provisions in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which make it an offence to intimidate a witness, juror or someone assisting the police. The relevant section, section 51, came into force on 3 February this year.

  Responsibility for the protection and relocation of witnesses rests with the police. They will consider in each case the degree of intimidation and assess the capability of those making the threats to carry them out.

  Sri Lankan Tamil Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons or detention centres at which Sri Lankan Tamils are being held while their application for asylum is being considered. [37644]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information for Sir Lankan Tamils is not recorded separately. As at 17 October 1995, all Sri Lankan nationals detained pending consideration of their applications for asylum were held at the immigration detention centre, Campsfield house.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the longest period to date that a Sri Lankan Tamil has been held in custody pending a decision on their application for asylum. [37646]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Costs
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average weekly cost of imprisonment in each category of prison(a) in 1985, (b) in 1990 and (c) in the latest year for which figures are available. [37958]

  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. Bruce Grocott, dated 24 October 1995:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average weekly cost of imprisonment in each category of prison.

  The attached table gives the average weekly net operating cost per inmate for the years 1984–85, 1989–90 and 1993–94, which is the latest year for which figures are readily available.

  Net operating cost per prisoner per week in cash terms (£)

  Category of establishment

  1984–85

  1989–90

  1993–94

  Local prisons and remand centres

  241

  309

  441

  Contracted out establishments

  —

  —

  385

  Dispersal prisons

  482

  554

  659

  Category B training prisons

  255

  318

  404

  Category C training prisons

  196

  257

  336

  Adult male open prisons

  164

  218

  269

  Young offender closed establishments

  269

  346

  415

  Young offender open establishments

  294

  459

  473

  Young offender remand establishments

  —

  —

  420

  Female establishments

  363

  433

  540

  Fear of Crime
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give details of recent meetings he has had with representatives of women's organisations to discuss crime and the fear of crime; [37522]
  544
  (2) what recent representations he has received from women's organisations on the subject of crime and fear of crime. [37521]

  Mr. Maclean
  Although there have been no further meetings since my reply to the hon. Member on 22 March at column 202, a number of wide-ranging representations have been received from women's organisations on issues relating to domestic violence issues. Many of these were received during the preparation of the recently published inter-agency circular on domestic violence.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve recorded information about incidents of domestic violence against women. [37520]

  Mr. Maclean
  Measures aimed at improving the quality of information on incidents of domestic violence are to be considered at forthcoming meetings of the official and ministerial groups on domestic violence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rugby Football in Schools
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the banning of Gavin Gordon from playing Rugby Union for Campbell college, Belfast; and if he will make a statement. [38527]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Irish Rugby Football Union has advised the headmaster at Campbell college that there is now no restriction on the selection of Gavin Gordon for the school's rugby team. His selection for the team is therefore a matter for the school.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy with regard to the playing of Rugby League by pupils in state schools in Northern Ireland. [38528]

  Mr. Ancram
  None. While team games are an important element of the physical education curriculum for Northern Ireland schools, the Government do not prescribe which team games should be played. That is a matter for schools to decide.

  Paramilitary Arms and Explosives
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on progress towards the decommissioning of arms and explosives held by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. [36901]

  Mr. Ancram
  No paramilitary arms or equipment have been decommissioned to date. The Government believe that progress on this issue is essential to create the necessary trust and confidence for successful all-party talks. I remain hopeful that progress can, and will, be made.
  545

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95 and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated in such frauds and (2) subsequently recovered. [39132]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number of frauds

  Sums misappropriated£

  Sums recovered£

  Departments (including agencies)

  1991–92

  17

  96,892

  50,314

  1992–93

  14

  5,323

  37,847

  1993–94

  21

  161,676

  30,954

  1994–95

  13

  94,846

  89,267

  Non Departmental Public Bodies

  1991–92

  5

  67,403

  13,231

  1992–93

  3

  189,440

  6,351

  1993–94

  2

  14,665

  21,016

  1994–95

  9

  26,675

  16,089

PRIME MINISTER

  Belfast
  Rev. Martin Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he plans to visit Belfast, South. [36596]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has at present no plans to do so.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 October. [36846]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 October. [36848]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is attending the commemorations for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in New York.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Mobile Phone Fraud
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will announce the recommendations of the industry and Government study group on mobile phone fraud which was set up in June. [39327]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I am pleased to announce the recommendations of the study group on mobile phone fraud which I set up in June. The group, comprising senior representatives from the industry, the Federation of Communication Services, my Department, the Home Office and the police, has analysed in detail the technical and legislative issues which need to be tackled if this fraud is to be combated more effectively.

  The recommendations which Government will consider are:
  1. Industry and the Government should fully support the introduction of the crime prevention scheme being set up by the FCS and endorse its early implementation. Once the scheme is in force, the four network operators—Vodafone, Cellnet, One 2 One and Orange—service providers and dealers in the industry must use their best endeavours to ensure that any equipment bought or connected by them is not stolen and that records are kept to demonstrate the precautions they have taken. Those that are found not to conform to this scheme will be unable to operate in the industry. Subject to the Director General of Fair Trading being satisfied with the scheme on competition grounds, it should be launched by December 1995.
  2. The Government should consider extending the range of offences under section 42 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 so that, in addition to the existing offence of dishonestly obtaining telecommunications service with intent to avoid payment, it would also cover, broadly, the possession or supply of equipment capable of use in the course of or in connection with the current section 42 offence. The maximum penalty for these new offences should be five years and the penalty for the existing section 42 offence should also be increased from two to five years. This would make all offences arrestable, provide the police with powers to search for and seize evidence and will be a major deterrent to those intent on using scanners or other high technology equipment with intent to defraud the network.
  3. Industry, police and Government should take action to build on previous initiatives to raise the level of public awareness of the problem of mobile phone fraud and crime and foster further crime prevention initiatives. In particular
  the industry increases its work with the police through seminars and training packages to raise the level of awareness of police forces around the UK to mobile phone fraud and crime and works with the police to implement any new legislation,
  the industry and the police take action to encourage owners of handsets to mark their phones.

  The Government welcome the recommendations of the study group, especially the proposed crime prevention scheme which should make a substantial contribution to reducing fraud within the industry. The group rightly recognises that the proposal for further legislation will need to be considered carefully, in particular taking into account any resource implications. The Government also welcome the practical suggestions of the study group to raise the level of public awareness. I am keen to see wider use of mobile phone marking schemes, such as post code markings or a register. It is only when those who own mobile phones appreciate that their phone is an attractive target for fraud and crime, and protect it accordingly, that serious inroads will be made into reducing the problem.
  548
  I am delighted at the work done by this group over the last few months. It has proved a highly effective forum for the industry, the police and the Government to work together to consider what further actions are needed to underpin the work of the industry in fighting mobile phone fraud and crime. These recommendations need to be considered very carefully. In respect of the suggested change to the Telecommunications Act, I am having discussions with ministerial colleagues, including at the Home Office, in respect both of the legislative programme and the implications for resources.

  A briefing paper describing the group's summary of the threat posed by mobile phone fraud and the group's subsidiary recommendations has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by his industry and government study group of mobile phone fraud and associated topics; and if he will make a statement as to his current and future proposals on these matters; [38340]

  (2) if he will set out the evidence, together with all figures of the incidence of cloning of mobile telephones for (a) each network licensed by his Department and (b) the combined networks, stating the source from which the figures were obtained and measures taken to verify those figures that have been presented to his Department; [38342]

  (3) if he will place in the Library a copy of all evidence, and including all figures, indicating the source from which they were obtained, and indicate the measures taken to verify those figures presented to his recent industry and Government study group on mobile phone fraud and associated topics; [38341]

  (4) if he will set out the evidence, with the figures, stating the individual sources from which they were obtained, concerning the cases of fraud involving the provision and use of mobile phones overall and for each network licensed by his Department. [38343]

  Mr. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes). Individual cases of mobile telephone fraud are a matter for the companies involved, the police and the prosecution authorities. The mobile telecommunications industry did provide some estimates for the overall scale of mobile phone fraud as part of their contribution to the work of the industry and government study group on mobile phone fraud. These have been reproduced in the briefing paper mentioned in my answer. The paper has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Copyright Tribunal
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes he has made and what further changes he proposes to make to the procedures of the Copyright Tribunal; and if he will make a statement. [38740]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Last year, my Department sought the views of users of the Copyright Tribunal to determine how satisfied they were with its performance, and how its procedures might be improved. The vast majority of respondents considered that tribunal procedures were fair,
  549
  flexible, unintimidating and thorough. There were, however, some concerns about the cost and speed of procedures and some suggestions were made for improvement in these and other respects. The Department is still considering, in consultation with the chairman of the tribunal, possible changes to the procedures in the light of suggestions with a view to proposing a statutory instrument providing for some amendments to the tribunal rules in due course. In the meantime, some useful changes have been made to the Copyright Tribunal practice direction and the new version was sent in July to all solicitors involved in cases currently before the tribunal and respondents to the user survey. The practice direction is issued for the guidance of parties, with a view to achieving a just, expeditious and economical disposal of proceedings. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if British Coal Enterprise will be sold as a single entity or broken down into its constituent parts; and if he will make a statement; [37658]

  (2) what plans exist for Grosvenor Career Services, the outplacement division of British Coal Enterprise, in the event of an outright sale of British Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [37659]

  Mr. Page
  Bids will be invited for all of British Coal Enterprise or its main activities—workshops, business funding and outplacement services (Grosvenor).

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the timetable for the proposed privatisation of British Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [37655]

  Mr. Page
  British Coal expects that the process will be concluded by March 1996.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on future methods of funding of British Coal Enterprise, Fast Track and Enterprise Fund; and if he will make a statement. [37657]

  Mr. Page
  Direct Government Funding of BCE, through British Coal, will continue until March 1996. Thereafter, funding will be a matter for the new owners of BCE.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are the criteria for the sale of British Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement; [37656]

  (2) what priority he attaches to ensuring the continuation of effective assistance to the coalfield communities in the event that British Coal Enterprise is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [37660]

  Mr. Page
  The sales process is intended to enable British Coal to take a clear view on the best way forward for BCE, having due regard to its statutory duties and the importance of ensuring continuation of effective assistance to the coalfield communities.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the role of(a) trading standards officers,
  550
  (b) the fire service and (c) the police in enforcing the law relating to the sale of fireworks to children under the age of 16 years in metropolitan areas. [38899]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Section 31 of the Explosives Act 1875 makes it an offence to supply fireworks to children apparently under 16 years of age. The 1875 Act makes no provision for the enforcement of section 31. Accordingly, the police, in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service, have the clearest role in dealing with offenders. However, trading standards departments have a well-established responsibility for safeguarding the safety of consumers and, in our opinion, should be in a position to bring prosecutions under section 31 in cases where the police have not become involved or have decided not to proceed. My Department draws no distinction between metropolitan and other areas regarding the standing of trading standards departments with respect to this legislation. Fire authorities in metropolitan areas are designated to undertake certain functions under the 1875 Act but have no duty to enforce section 31. Nevertheless, they too may be able to bring prosecutions under this provision.

  It is also an offence under the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 for a retailer to supply to any person a product which he knows, or should have presumed on the basis of information in his possession, is a dangerous product. Local authority trading standards departments have a duty to enforce the regulations and in doing so can draw on the range of powers supporting consumer safety legislation.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the board of Trade what has been the number of firework-related injuries since 1985 in total and each year, and how many of these were children under the age of 16 years. [38914]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  For the year 1985 to 1994, the total number of people receiving treatment for firework injuries at accident and emergency units in Great Britain within the four-week period around 5 November was 9,553; 5,053 of these were children under the age of 16. The figures for the individual years are set out in the table.

  Year

  Total injured

  Aged less than 16

  1985

  968

  593

  1986

  846

  466

  1987

  960

  540

  1988

  877

  446

  1989

  800

  414

  1990

  805

  394

  1991

  723

  362

  1992

  942

  488

  1993

  1,058

  542

  1994

  1,574

  808

  British Coal (Retirement Funds)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that British Coal distributes the coal industry industrial death and retirement funds among the people who contributed to it, or to their dependants. [37769]

  Mr. Page
  The operation of the industrial death and retirement scheme is a matter for British Coal. However, I understand that the scheme was not financed from a
  551
  conventional fund with separate assets. If it had been, British Coal's liabilities would have been capped in accord with the total amount of contributions paid. Instead, in return for contributions from members and notional matching contributions from British Coal itself, the corporation will continue to meet all entitlements under the scheme. British Coal confirms that all contributors who qualify for benefits will receive them. My Department will take over this responsibility when the liabilities associated with this scheme transfer at the of 1997.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what safeguards exist to protect funds and schemes similar to the coal industry industrial death and retirement fund in the privatised coal industry. [37770]

  Mr. Page
  The industrial death and retirement scheme did not transfer to successor coal companies on privatisation. Insurance and retirement arrangements in respect of service with the newly privatised industry are matters for the new owners.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what benefits were being paid out from the coal industry industrial death and retirement fund on 1 January; [37763]

  (2) what was the value of the coal industry industrial death and retirement fund on 1 January 1993, 1 January 1994, 1 January 1995 and its projected value on 1 January 1996; [37765]

  (3) what benefits are currently being paid from the coal industry industrial death and retirement fund; [37764]

  (4) how many people were paying into the coal industry industrial death and retirement fund on 1 January; [37762]

  (5) what was the initial payment made to the industrial death and retirement fund at its inception, and by whom. [37766]

  Mr. Page
  These are matters for British Coal. I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) in what circumstances the British Coal Corporation may appropriate the assets of the industrial death and retirement fund; [37767]

  (2) what legal provisions govern the distribution of the assets of funds of the nature of the coal industry industrial death and disablement fund when they are wound up. [37768]

  Mr. Page
  I understand that the industrial death and retirement scheme ceased to accept further contributions from members on 6 January 1995, but as it was not wound up the question of distribution of funds did not arise. As the arrangements constituted a scheme, there was no fund and thus no assets.

  Deputy Prime Minister
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the responsibilities of the Deputy Prime Minister within the area covered by the Department of Trade and Industry. [38453]
  552
  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility within Government for competitiveness, deregulation and public service issues. We work closely together on the issues of competitiveness and deregulation.

  The drive for enhanced competitiveness is central to my Department's work. It underlies the Department's programmes of support and assistance to business, including export promotion, innovation and small firms initiatives.

  Competitiveness and Deregulation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what responsibility his Department has for the areas of competitiveness and deregulation. [38449]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department remains central to the Government's work on competitiveness and deregulation.

  The drive for enhanced competitiveness underlies the Department's programmes of support and assistance to business, including export promotion, innovation and small firms support initiatives.

  Following the transfer of the central deregulation unit to the Cabinet Office, my Department retains specific responsibility for ensuring that the deregulation initiative is reflected in the way DTI itself undertakes regulation which impacts on business.

  Redundant Mineworkers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what education and training schemes are currently available to miners and their families made redundant during the past decade; [38489]

  (2) what plans he has to extend the current education and training schemes available to miners and their families made redundant during the last decade. [38490]

  Mr. Page
  In addition to its general training and education measures, a major element of the Government's £200 million regeneration package specifically directed to helping areas affected by pit closures since October 1992 was a £75 million package provided by the training and enterprise councils, which includes provision for training measures.

  British Coal's job and career change scheme which is managed by British Coal Enterprise Ltd. was established to provide support to those made redundant from the corporation. JACCS includes the provision of education and training support. This can take the form of on-the-job training where this meets specific identifiable skills shortages in local economies; and in some cases vocational educational courses.

  British Coal is currently proceeding with the disposal of BCE. Arrangements for JACCS beyond March 1996, when it is anticipated that the disposal of BCE will have been completed, are being considered by British Coal. However, I understand that British Coal will continue to provide outplacement assistance to its current and former employees made redundant and not in employment in line with present policy.

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the costs of the refurbishment of his Department's buildings in the past two years. [38451]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Department has carried out the following refurbishments over the past two years, listed by year of project completion:

  £ thousands

  Financial year and project

  Cost

  1993–94

  Partial refurbishment of Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1, to enable additional staff to be accommodated following the closure of 1–19 Victoria Street, London SW1

  4,532

  Full refurbishment of Kinsgate House, 66–74 Victoria Street, London SW1

  4,211

  Refurbishment of sub-standard parts of the Eastcote site, Eastcote, Middlesex

  720

  Partial refurbishment of Bushy House NPL site, Teddington, Middlesex

  1,077

  Full refurbishment of Main administrative building, NPL site, Teddington, Middlesex

  1,990

  1994–95

  No projects completed in this financial year

  The refurbishment of 1 Victoria street achieved practical completion in the current financial year. For the costs of that project, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the then President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe), on 21 June 1995, Official Report, columns 311–12.

  This reply does not take account of any buildings which the Department acquires as a result of the machinery of government changes announced on 5 July.

  Belvedere Waste-to-energy Plant
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the proposal by PowerGen and Cory for a waste-to-energy plant in Belvedere. [38566]

  Mr. Eggar
  The present position on the application is that pursuant to regulation 10 of the Electricity and Pipe-line Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1990 my officials will be writing to PowerGen CHP Ltd. seeking further environmental information in relation to its application.

  European Regional Aid
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the proposed reduction in funds for the RESIDER II steel regions aid programme in 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [38714]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Commission has not proposed a reduction in the allocation to RESIDER, but on the contrary, an increase of 380 mecu for RESIDER, RECHAR, RETEX and KONVER together: of which 60 mecu is for the UK. The Government would have preferred a larger figure. The Commission's proposal will be discussed by the member states in the structural funds 554
  community initiatives management committee in due course, but no date has been set for the committee's meeting.

  Iron and Steel Industry
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates his Department has made for output and employment in the United Kingdom iron and steel industries over the next five years. [38713]

  Mr. Page
  My Department does not forecasts of output and employment in the UK iron and steel industries.

  Osprey Wave Project
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department has given to applied research and technology over(a) research, (b) production and (c) newsletters of the Osprey wave power project; and if he will make a statement. [38375]

  Mr. Page
  My Department has directly assisted applied research and technology during the early phase of research and development on the OSPREY device through funding a wave tank testing experiment during 1992–93 at a cost of approximately £50,000 and a tow-out evaluation at an additional cost of £12,000.

  My Department has also assisted ART through sponsoring an assessment of OSPREY's structure, carried out by Advanced Mechanics and Engineering, an independent engineering consultancy, at a cost of £25,000, and to date has funded around £130,000 of research and development into pneumatic turbines, carried out by the Queen's university of Belfast, which will have been of indirect benefit to ART as the purpose of the work was to provide testing facilities for turbines suitable for eventual deployment in the OSPREY device. This work is scheduled for completion in 1996 at a final cost of around £200,000.

  My Department has also commissioned an independent study of the OSPREY device at a cost of around £17,000, conducted with full co-operation from ART.

  A short article on the OSPREY device is due to appear in the next issue of "New Review" magazine, scheduled for publication in December 1995, which is devoted to new and renewable energy and fully funded by my Department. "New Review" has a circulation in excess of 30,000. Copies are sent to the libraries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution his Department has made to research into renewable sources of energy during each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [38370]

  Mr. Page
  My Department has undertaken the following expenditure on research into new and renewable sources of energy during each of the last 10 years.

  Year

  Expenditure £ million

  1985–86

  13.2

  1986–87

  12.0

  1987–88

  16.3

  555

  Year

  Expenditure £ million

  1988–89

  16.0

  1989–90

  17.9

  1990–91

  20.8

  1991–92

  24.8

  1992–93

  25.6

  1993–94

  25.2

  1994–95

  19.1

  Dock Workers (Merseyside)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions have taken place with the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company about the dismissal of dockers in Merseyside. [38738]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  None. The Government believe that the resolution of industrial disputes is entirely a matter for the parties concerned—enlisting, as with the case of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, the services of ACAS if both sides agree.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the inward investment to the United Kingdom in excess of £10 million made in each year since 1979. [38334]

  Mr. Eggar
  For the financial years 1979 to 1995, of the total number of inward investment decisions notified to my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau, in excess of £10 million were 625. In recent years these have included:

  £

  Siemens

  1.1 billion

  Samsung

  450 million

  Toyota

  700 million

  Nissan

  250 million

  Goldstar

  40 million

  Fujitsu

  400 million

  These figures are based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest, and take no account of subsequent developments.

  Product Use
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what legislation requires private businesses to inform their customers how they use a product once a transaction has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [39052]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  If a consumer wishes to put a product to some unusual use he should seek advice from the trader. The trader should then indicate whether it will be reasonably fit for the purpose or make it clear if he is not confident on the point. There is no legislation which requires private businesses to inform their customers how they should use a product.

  High-tech Companies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many high-tech industrial companies have been established in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years. [38636]

  Mr. Page
  The information requested is not readily available.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for the four years leading up to the privatisation of the electricity industry and for the four years after(a) the retail prices index and (b) domestic electricity index, including all taxes at the relevant rate. [38179]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 20 October 1995]: The new electricity companies were established in March 1990 and flotation occurred at several different stages thereafter. For convenience, 1990 has been taken as the year of privatisation. The information requested is set out in the table.

  Year

  Retail Prices Index (all items)

  1Domestic electricity

  1986

  100.0

  100.0

  1987

  104.1

  99.5

  1988

  109.3

  104.9

  1989

  117.8

  112.5

  1990

  128.9

  121.7

  1991

  136.5

  133.9

  1992

  141.5

  140.9

  1993

  143.8

  140.4

  1994

  147.4

  2136.9

  Note:

  1The electricity component of the RPI.

  2Excludes VAT at 8 per cent. from 1 April 1994. The figure including VAT for 1994 would be 145.0.

  Source:

  Retail Prices Index compiled by the Central Statistical Office.

  Domestic electricity prices, excluding VAT, have fallen faster than the all items RPI since 1990. Further price falls can be expected as a result of additional reductions in electricity distribution charges which take effect on 1 April 1996.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if officials of his Department or its agencies met General Pinochet of Chile during his recent visit. [37978]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: No.

  Private Coal Mines
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences were held by private licensed mines on 31 March and in May in(a) south Wales, (b) the remainder of the United Kingdom and (c) the United Kingdom; and how many miners were employed at these dates. [37628]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The Coal Authority informs me that:

  (a) the numbers of licensed underground mines were as follows:

  557

  At 31March1995

  At 31 May 1995

  At 18 October1995

  Great Britain

  Licensed by British Coal under section 36(2)(a) of the Coal Industry nationalisation Act 1946

  1140

  24

  24

  Licensed by the Secretary of State/Coal Authority under section 26 of the Coal Industry Act 1994

  18

  63

  71

  Total

  1158

  87

  95

  South Wales

  Licensed by British Coal under section 36(2)(a) of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946

  87

  5

  5

  Licensed by the Secretary of State/Coal Authority under section 26 of the Coal Industry Act 1994

  1

  33

  39

  Total

  88

  38

  44

  1 Includes 115 mines whose licences expired on that date, about half of which were not producing coal at that time.

  (b) while precise figures are not available, employment at these underground mines has remained at around 10,500 for Great Britain and 700 for South Wales.

  Merseyside Docks
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Merseyside docks port operation being carried out by Drake International Port Services of Southampton. [37732]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: No. Any operation being carried out by Drake International Port Services of Southampton on the Merseyside docks is a matter for the companies involved.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  French Nuclear Tests
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received from the Australian Government in respect of French nuclear tests in the Pacific. [38399]

  Mr. David Davis
  We have had a number of contacts with the Australian Government on this issue.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received from the New Zealand Government in respect of French nuclear tests in the Pacific. [38397]

  Mr. Davis
  We have had a number of contacts with the New Zealand Government on this issue.

  Mr. Michael Horne
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who has replaced Mr. Michael Horne in his Department; at what salary; and if he will make a statement. [38300]

  Mr. Hanley
  Mr. Michael Home was replaced in his last appointment in the FCO by Mr. Shaun Cleary. Mr. Cleary is a grade 5 officer in HM Diplomatic Service and is paid on a salary range between £26,535 and £41,092.

  Romania
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the state of negotiations with regard to Romania's application to join the Council of Europe; what assessment he has made of Romania's ability to accede to the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; and if he will make a statement. [38020]

  Mr. David Davis
  Romania has been a member of the Council of Europe since 7 October 1993.

  Romania signed the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms on 7 October 1993 and ratified on 20 June 1994.

  Reflections Group
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the reflections group; and if he will make a statement. [38574]

  Mr. David Davis
  I am the Foreign Secretary's representative on the study group preparing the intergovernmental conference. I have reported regularly to the House on progress in the group, which will report to the Madrid European Council in December.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent of reporting restrictions in place in Sri Lanka at the present time. [38458]

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no restrictions on material produced by the international media for publication or broadcast outside Sri Lanka. Material on military issues to be published or broadcast in Sri Lanka has to be submitted to a censor.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact the Minister of State had with representatives of the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka on his recent visit there. [38459]

  Mr. Hanley
  I met a number of representatives of the Tamil minority during my recent visit to Sri Lanka, including Mr. Douglas Devanda and Mr. Neelan Tiruchelvam.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the Sri Lankan Government's proposals for devolution in Sri Lanka. [38460]
  559
  Mr. Hanley
  We welcome the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to achieve a lasting political settlement to the conflict by issuing proposals for devolution in Sri Lanka.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the extent to which renewed military action between Government forces and the Tamil Tigers in the north of Sri Lanka has caused civilian casualties; and if he will make a statement on the conflict. [38461]

  Mr. Hanley
  We do not have exact figures for civilian casualties caused in the renewed military action in the north of Sri Lanka. I raised this issue with the Sri Lankan Government during my official visit to Colombo from 8–10 October, and urged them to make every effort to avoid further civilian casualties.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the reported bombing by Sri Lankan Government forces of a school at Nagar Kovil Makavithiya Layam in Vadamarachi on 22 September; and if he will make a statement on the incident. [38462]

  Mr. Hanley
  We understand that on 22 September bombs landed close to Nagar Kovil Makavithiya Layam school in Nagar Kovil, killing over 60 people, including 34 children, and injuring many more.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response has been received, from(a) the Sri Lankan Government and (b) the Tamil Tiger rebels, to Britain's offer to facilitate negotiations, made by the Minister of State on his recent visit to Sri Lanka. [38463]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have offered to facilitate negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on several occasions, but neither side has responded. There has been no change in this position.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had and with whom on reports prepared by the Council of Europe on Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [38619]

  Mr. David Davis
  None.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when representatives from the British high commission in Cyprus last visited the Karpas area of occupied northern Cyprus; and what report was made following that visit. [38487]

  Mr. Davis
  High commission staff regularly visit all areas of Cyprus. The high commissioner visited the Karpas area on 30 March this year for extensive contacts with the local community accompanied by officials from the humanitarian branch of the UN force in Cyprus, UNFICYP. The latter have the responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of the Greek Cypriots living in the Karpas, and visit them every week.

  Islamic Countries (Defence and Security)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the value of the contribution of the Islamic countries to international defence and security. [36574]

  Mr. Hanley
  The contribution of Islamic countries to international defence and security varies from country to country.

  United Nations Day
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the actions planned by Her Majesty's Government to mark United Nations Day. [37632]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  UN flags fly in Parliament square on UN Day.

  Iran
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Iran following the parliamentary human rights group's report on the position of women in Iran. [38769]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our policy on Iran remains unchanged since the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) on 25 January 1994 at column 144. We are concerned about the situation of women in Iran and raise this matter whenever appropriate.

  Sudan
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Sudan in relation to allegations of harbouring of terrorist groups. [39270]

  Mr. Hanley
  We regularly express our concern to the Sudanese Government about reports that Sudan supports the activities of extremist groups. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with the Sudanese ambassador on 13 September. In particular, we regard as extremely serious allegations of official Sudanese complicity in the terrorist attack against President Mubarak in Addis Ababa on 26 June.

HEALTH

  Deprivation Payments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reduction of deprivation payments to General Practitioners within the Oldham family health services authority area and the resulting decision to abandon plans to extend their premises and improve their services. [37421]

  Mr. Malone
  Deprivation payments are based on the Jarman index and 1991 census data. The move to 1991 census data, recommended by the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body in its latest report, is one agreed by the profession and my Department. A generous transitional protection scheme has been agreed with the profession to protect those affected.

  Cooking Fumes (Cancer)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken by the NHS management executive or his Department into the possible occupational cancer risk for cooks from carcinogenic chemicals in cooking fumes. [37993]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has undertaken no such research.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of anaphylactic incidents dealt with at hospital accident and emergency units in recent years. [38359]

  Mr. Sackville
  There were nearly 12 million new attendances at accident and emergency departments in national health service hospitals in England in 1994–95. Information about the reasons for attendance is not available centrally.

  NHS Management
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how the figure of £140 million in his press release 95/473 to be transferred from administrative costs to patient care is calculated; what cash amount he intends to release from cuts in administrative costs in(a) NHS trusts, (b) health authorities, (c) GP fundholding practices and (d) other areas; and if these sums will be retained by the trusts, health authorities and general practitioner practices which make the savings, or will revert to the NHS executive or his Department. [38380]

  Mr. Malone
  We expect planned spending on running district health authorities and family health services authorities and estimated spending by national health service trusts on managerial and non-clinical administrative staff to be reduced by 5 per cent. nationally in 1996–97 in cash terms. This is equivalent to an 8 per cent. reduction in real terms on the basis of the latest expected gross domestic product deflator for 1996–97 and is estimated to yield savings of some £140 million. I anticipate savings on health authority costs will amount to some £40 million in real terms and savings by trusts to some £100 million. The savings will be retained locally and will be available for patient care.

  UKCC
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and the bodies responsible for appointing these members; and to whom they are responsible. [38390]

  Mr. Sackville
  The council has 60 members, of whom 40 are elected by the professions and 20 are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The council is required to submit an annual report and accounts to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
  562

  Name

  Whether appointed or elected

  Dr. D. K. Bose MBBS FRCGP

  Appointed

  Mrs. H. D. D. Campbell RGN RM

  Elected

  Prof. G. Castledine MSc BA(Hons) DipSocStud(Oxon) PGCE RGN RNT FRCN.

  Elected

  Mr. A. J. Charnock EN(MH) EN(G) RGN BN(Hons) PGCE CMS

  Elected

  Mr. P. Clarke RMN RGN

  Elected

  Mrs. L.M. Coey EN

  Elected

  Mrs. L. A. Connor RGN

  Elected

  Miss S. H. Coull RGN DipProfStudies

  Elected

  Mrs. M. W. Cronk RGN RM DNCert RGN RMN

  Elected

  Prof P. T. Darcy MSc DipN CertEd RGN RMN

  Elected

  Mr. J. Evans RGN RMN RNT BEd(Hons)

  Elected

  Miss M. G. E. Foster RGN RM MTD

  Elected

  Mrs. J. A. Frost MEd BN RGN RM DipN PGCAE RNT

  Elected

  Ms J. Furlong EN(G) RGN

  Elected

  Mr. G. N. V. Green MA AHSM

  Appointed

  Mr. C. B. Grimes IPFA FCCA

  Appointed

  Mrs J. W. Halleran RGN RHV

  Elected

  Mrs. M. B. Hanratty MSc BA RGN RMN RCIRNT

  Elected

  Mrs. H. Y. Herron RGN RSCN.

  Appointed

  Mrs J. Hughes.

  Appointed

  Mrs. A. Jackson RGN.

  Elected

  Dr. E. Jacobs MA(London) D.Univ(Paris)

  Appointed

  Mrs. F. R. Jones RGN EN

  Elected

  Mr. J. Kelly RMN RGN DMS MIPM

  Appointed

  Dr. A. A. Khan MBBS FRCOG FRCS FFARCS JP

  Appointed

  Mr. H. O. Lewis RMN

  Elected

  Mrs. R. A. R. M. Lewis MSc(Econ) BA(Hons)Econ PGCE

  Appointed

  Prof C. A. Lowis MEd DipN(Lond) RGN OHNC PgCertTLT

  Appointed

  Mrs. C. S. McGilvray RGN RHV

  Elected

  Prof S. A. M. McLean LLB MLitt PhD

  Appointed

  Miss J. C. Mahoney RGN RSCN RM DNCert PWT FETC

  Elected

  Mrs. A. V. Males RGN ONC RCNT

  DipN(Lond) MIPD MIM BA.

  Appointed

  Miss J. T. Matthew RGN RM MTD BA Master of Nursing

  Elected

  Mrs. M. J. Mitchell RGN RM RHV

  Elected

  Ms J. Morris RGN DipNPart A(Lond)

  Elected

  Mrs. A. V. Morrison MSc BEd(Hons) RGN RSCN RCI RNT DipN(Part A)

  Elected

  Mr. S. M. Niven BSc FTMgt

  Appointed

  Mrs. A. Norman RGN RM RHV

  Elected

  Ms T. A. O'Brian EN(G) RGN

  Elected

  Mr. P. J. O'Reilly RGN RMN

  Elected

  Prof J. A. Orr BA MSc RGN RHV HVT

  Elected

  Ms E. O. Paden MSc RGN RM DAM CertEd(FE)

  Elected

  Prof. P.M. Reilly MD FTCGP

  Appointed

  Mrs. S. Richards MSc DipHRC RGN CertHealtEdt PNT

  Elected

  Prof J. A. Robinson MA PhD MIPD RGN ONC RHV HVT FRCN

  Appointed

  Miss S. E. G. Roch RM RGN MTD FPACert

  Elected

  Mrs. E. C. Rush RGN EN

  Elected

  Ms A. E. Scouller BA(Hons) RGN RM DAM

  Elected

  Dr. E. Shanley BA(Hons) MSc PhD RNMH RMN CPN RNT CPsychol

  Elected

  Mr. A. M. Shannon BA(Hons) RGN

  Elected

  Prof D. T. Sines PhD BSc(Hons) RMN RNMH PGCTHE FRCN RNT

  Appointed

  Mrs. J. E. Smail RGN RM DNCert CertEd(FE)

  Elected

  Mr. T. A. Starrs MSc RNMH RGN RCNT RNT

  Elected

  563

  Name

  Whether appointed or elected

  Mrs. K. Touhig RGN RHV CPT DNCert

  Elected

  Miss M. E. Uprichard OBE RSCN RGN RM MTD

  Elected

  Mrs. E. Walker BEd(Hons) MA RGN RM RNT

  Elected

  Ms N. Watson-Druee MSc BA(Hons) PGCE DipHEd RHV RM RNT MITD

  Appointed

  Mrs. E. R. Williams CertED

  Appointed

  There are two vacancies for appointed members.

  Nurse Registration
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of his Department as to the restoration of former nurses who have been struck off their professional register. [38386]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had and with whom regarding the cases of(a) Dennis Thorpe-Price and (b) Subaschan Bunbuhn; and if he will make a statement as to their presence on the register of professional nurses. [38388]

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Registration is a matter for the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Institute of Health Services Management regarding nurses who have been struck off their professional register. [38387]

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide funding for the opening of centres of excellence in treating epilepsy throughout the country. [38403]

  Mr. Bowis
  The organisation of health services, including services for people suffering from epilepsy and the manner in which they are delivered, are matters for health authorities in their role as purchasers of services for their populations. They enter into arrangements with hospital and community trusts to ensure that the entire range of services is available, taking account of the needs of the local population and the priorities set for the use of the available resources.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the birth disorder sodium valproate syndrome and its connection with prescriptions following the misdiagnosis of epilepsy in mothers; and if he will make a statement. [38407]

  Mr. Bowis
  Many women with epilepsy need anti-epileptic medication in pregnancy to keep their seizures under control. When prescribing a drug in pregnancy, the doctor weighs the risks associated with no treatment against the risk of possible side effects of treatment. Without treatment, epileptics are likely to have major seizures, which could cause serious harm to both mother and unborn child.
  564
  Sodium valproate—Epilim—is a commonly used effective anti-epileptic. Like all anti-epileptic therapies, it has been associated with occasional foetal abnormalities, in particular spina bifida. Doctors are aware of this risk through the product data sheet and the British National Formulary, which recommends that women who become pregnant on sodium valproate should be offered screening and advised about the risks. A patient information leaflet is also available to inform women about these risks.

  The education and training of health professionals is a matter for the relevant royal college. However, as part of the programme of co-ordinated initiatives on epilepsy which I announced on 17 January, Official Report, columns 576–77, we shall be seeking to raise awareness of this condition among general practitioners and primary care teams.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to provide information about epilepsy and its treatment to doctors and the public. [38404]

  Mr. Bowis
  As part of the Department of Health's programme of co-ordinated initiatives on epilepsy, which I announced in the House on 17 January, we have:

  Commissioned a new series of posters on epilepsy which aim to address the stigma associated with epilepsy by providing positive images of real people with epilepsy. Two of the posters were used to advertise National Epilepsy Week 1995 and two more will be issued shortly,

  Provided £108,000 spread over three years to support the expansion of the British Epilepsy Association's freephone helpline and information service,

  Provided £36,000 to support a nationwide programme of primary healthcare workshops on epilepsy run by the Continuing Care at Home Association, CONCAH,

  Provided £40,000 over two years to support a joint Royal College of General Practitioners-National Society for Epilepsy Fellowship which will consider advice provided to general practitioners about the information and care that should be offered to people with epilepsy and those who care for them,

  Provided funding for two innovative service development projects:

  a. a total of £12,000 to support a project run by Doncaster health authority. This is an evaluation of a district epilepsy service involving an epilepsy clinic, guidelines for general practitioners, and a specialist epilepsy liaison nursing service.

  b. a total of £83,000 to support a project run by general practitioners in Cheshire. This project is an evaluation of providing services to people with epilepsy, in the community, through a working collaboration between the general practitioners themselves and a specialist epilepsy centre, the David Lewis centre.

  Awarded £90,846 to a joint Royal College of Physicians-National Hospital for Neurology project to develop national audit review criteria for the care of patients with newly diagnosed and established epilepsy,

  Sponsored a major multidisciplinary conference on users of services, youth and primary care which aimed to share information between people working in the field and users of services and to encourage good practice throughout the NHS and the wider field. A report of the conference will be disseminated shortly.

  Other possible activities aimed at professional and public education are under consideration.

  Hospital Discharge Procedures
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that health and local authorities adhere to the general good practice on hospital discharge procedures issued by his Department in 1994. [38034]

  Mr. Bowis
  Performance of hospital discharge is monitored by the national health service executive.

  Care for the Elderly
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the NHS's fulfilment of its responsibilities in providing in-patient care for elderly people. [38035]

  Mr. Bowis
  Health authorities are responsible for assessing the continuing health care needs of their local population. This includes continuing in-patient care for older people. Recent guidance set out national health service responsibilities in this area and requires health authorities to develop local policies and eligibility criteria for continuing health care. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  Cemfuel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has commissioned into the possible health effects of burning cemfuel. [38570]

  Mr. Sackville
  We have commissioned no such studies.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department's file WOP/4/5 that was mislaid in Hannibal house in 1981 has yet been traced; what was the nature of its contents; and if he will make a statement. [39078]

  Mr. Sackville
  Yes. The file relates to radio and television licences for receivers used in national health service hospitals.

  Asthma (Smoking)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is intending to take to inform(a) young female smokers and (b) the general public of the effect of maternal smoking on asthma; and if he will make a statement. [37588]

  Mr. Sackville
  Asthma in children is one of the many health problems associated with maternal smoking and symptoms of asthma are twice as common in the children of smokers. Information on this and the many other health problems caused by parental smoking forms an important part of the Department's anti-smoking campaign and is particularly emphasised in the smoking in pregnancy programme currently being run by the Health Education Authority.

  Health Care Terms
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had expressing support for a standard thesaurus for terms used in the caring services. [38027]
  566
  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service has created a standard thesaurus of health care terms used by the clinical professions. This thesaurus is available in read coded format for use in computerised clinical information systems.

  Expressions of support for the read coded standard thesaurus of health care terms have been received from the following organisations:

  British Medical Association

  Joint Consultants Committee

  Conference of Medical Royal Colleges

  Royal College of Nursing

  Royal College of Midwives

  Health Visitors Association

  The Spinario Federation

  College of Speech and Language Therapists

  British Dietetic Association

  Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

  British Psychological Society

  Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

  The following organisations have supported a scoping project to assess the extension of the read codes thesaurus into the personal social services arena:

  Association of Directors of Social Services

  Social Services Inspectorate

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received registering dissatisfaction about the misunderstanding of terms used in the caring profession. [38026]

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991, the chief executive of the national health service set up a working group consisting of representatives of the Conference of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties in the United Kingdom, the joint consultants committee, the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association and the NHS executive. The group's function is to advise him on the medically orientated NHS executive initiatives which have an information technology element and to strengthen the medical profession's contribution to this work. The group was later expanded to include the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, Health Visitors Association and the representative bodies of the professions allied to medicine.

  The professional bodies on the working group pointed out that without a common language useful communication is impossible. It was immediately recognised as vital to establish an agreed thesaurus of clinical terms without which computerised clinical information systems in the NHS could not capture, store, compare and transfer data. It was also agreed that the professions had to take the lead in this project to ensure professional "ownership" and commitment.

  The proposals to create the thesaurus of terms common to all sectors of the NHS was approved by the working group and subsequently endorsed by the clinical professions involved.

  This common thesaurus of terms used by the medical profession, nursing professions and professions allied to medicine was subsequently incorporated into the read codes. The read codes are Crown copyright and are structured for use in computerised clinical information

  567
  systems. The clinical professions have formally supported the adoption of the read codes as the underlying thesaurus for all NHS clinical information systems.

  A scoping project to extend this thesaurus into the personal social services arena has commenced. The scoping project has the support of the social services inspectorate of the Department of Health and the Association of Directors of Social Services. This initiative supports the care in the community programme and in the broader context of inter-agency teamwork, for example between social and health services, has shown that there are substantial areas in which there is comparable need to be able to share the use of terms, and feel secure that they are appropriately understood.

  Social Terms Scoping Project
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost so far of the social terms scoping project; and what are its estimated total costs. [38028]

  Mr. Sackville
  The social terms scoping project is a six month project which commenced on 1 May 1995. The cost at 30 September 1995 was £17,501. The estimated total cost is £34,383.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the remuneration of the Chairman and the project researchers of the social terms scoping project. [38025]

  Mr. Sackville
  The social terms scoping project is a six-month project which commenced on 1 May 1995.

  The chairman is employed one day per week at the standard university rate and will receive £6,760 in total.

  There are two part-time research workers. One research worker—0.6 whole-time equivalent—will receive £6,943 in total, and the second research worker—0.4 whole-time equivalent—will receive £6,702 in total.

  These rates of pay are also based on standard university research grades.

  Unregistered Children's Homes
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the names of those organisations mentioned in the national study of the social services inspectorate, published in August, on small unregistered children's homes whose homes do not achieve a satisfactory standard of care; and if he will make a statement. [38187]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not social services inspectorate practice to do so in such studies and visits to a sample of homes during the course of the study were not inspections.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will provide information on the numbers of staff working in small unregistered children's homes as a proportion of the social services inspectorate study(a) who had no relevant training, (b) who had no previous experience, (c) who were on short-term contracts and (d) who had been employed for less than six months; [38189]
  568
  (2) if he will make a statement on the percentage of children who have been placed in small unregistrable children's homes as emergency placements at the time of the social services inspectorate study into children's homes; [38190]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the percentage of children who were at the time of the social services inspectorate study into children's homes (a) were not attending a local school and (b) were unregistered at a local school; [38191]

  (4) if he will give information on the number of children placed in unregistered children's homes at the time of the social services inspectorate study he deems (a) to be in suitable accommodation and (b) to be at risk. [38194]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information was not sought as part of the recent social services inspectorate study.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the numbers of children in unregistered children's homes at the time of the social services inspectorate study who were placed(a) more than 50 miles and (b) more than 100 miles outside their placing authority's area. [38192]

  Mr. Bowis
  Some 47 and 13 respectively.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new practice guidelines he is planning to issue to local authorities as a result of the social services inspectorate study into unregistered children's homes. [38193]

  Mr. Bowis
  I do not intend to issue new practice guidelines. The current regulations and guidance, when applied properly, provide adequate protection for children placed in unregistered children's homes. The report of the study, which has been issued to local authorities, indicates what is good practice.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will send the hon. Member for South Hams a revised reply to his letter of 13 September regarding Mr. S. G. Horrocks of Brixham about charges for residential accommodation. [38835]

  Mr. Bowis
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 2 October and sent a further reply on 23 October.

  White Report
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has informed all social service departments that his Department holds the index of names of former members of Islington social services department mentioned in the White report. [38900]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not necessary to do so. Every social services department has received information on the procedures of the Department of Health's consultancy index and Islington council wrote on 1 June to every social services department agreeing to check against the White report the name of any former Islington employee currently employed by any local authority or child care agency.
  569
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 October,Official Report, column 153, if he will list the three social service departments which have made inquiries about the index of ex-employees of Islington council named in the White report. [38902]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department's consultancy service index is operated on the basis of absolute confidentiality, and it is not our practice to provide information regarding which employers have sought checks against the index.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the net cost to the national health service, after taking into account reduction in income from prescription charges and savings on the overall national health service drugs budget, of allowing individual pharmacists to offer patients the option of paying the cost price where the drug costs less than the prescription charge. [37048]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 16 October 1995]: The current net cost to the national health service in England is estimated to be in the order of £90 million per annum.

  This estimate is based on an assumption that all chargeable prescription items with a total cost of less than £5.25 would be dispensed privately. There is, however, no reliable way of estimating what proportion of patients and pharmacists might choose this option.

  In appropriate cases, it is already open to pharmacists to offer patients non "prescription only" items as an alternative to using an NHS prescription and paying the prescription charge.

  Public Immunity Certificates
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 July,Official Report, column 1286, if he will give details of the occasions on which the Secretary of State signed public immunity certificates in 1993 and 1994. [37414]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 17 October 1995]: I am answering in relation to the two certificates served on defendants in 1993 and 1994. The first was signed in relation to proceedings against the Department of Health and the second in relation to an application for preaction discovery.

WALES

  Pay Negotiations
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide in respect of his plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury(a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in HQ functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38274]
  570
  Mr. Hague
  There are two bargaining units; the Welsh Office, excluding Cadw, covering some 1,900 staff; the Welsh Historic Monuments executive agency and Cadw, covering some 220 staff.

  The Welsh Office proposes to recognise the Civil and Public Services Association, the National Union of Civil and Public Servants, the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists and the First Division Association and to have single table negotiation covering all staff. In Cadw, CPSA NUCPS and IPMS are recognised.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sites of special scientific interest in Wales have been denotified since 1981 on the grounds of a decline in their scientific interest. [38357]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, since the establishment of the Countryside Council for Wales on 1 April 1991, this data has been included in their annual reports. Prior to 1991 it was collated centrally for England, Scotland and Wales by the nature Conservancy Council and was published in it's annual reports. The annual reports of both organisations are in the Library of the House.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total proposed membership of the new unitary authorities in Wales. [38023]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are currently 1,273 councillors in the 22 new unitary authorities in Wales. On 16 June 1995, following consultation with local government, my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Wales issued directions to the Local Government Boundary Commission to conduct a review of electoral arrangements in the 22 unitary authorities. At the time he indicated that he had no desire to see a cut in councillor numbers. Copies of the directions have bene placed in the Library of the House.

  Tir Cymen
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure the expansion of the Tir Cymen scheme along the lines of the expansion of the countryside stewardship scheme in England. [38474]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Tir Cymen is a five-year experimental scheme which commenced in 1992. A full review of the scheme will be made towards the end of the experimental period, and decisions on its future will be made in the light of that review.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the payments made by the Welsh Office for capital works at grant-maintained schools and occasions when such payments have not been paid at the appropriate stages or on the completion of the work. [38429]
  571
  Mr. Richards
  A list of all grant payments made by the Welsh Office to grant-maintained schools for capital works will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. There have been no occasions where grant payments have not been made at appropriate stages or on completion of work where the Department was satisfied that grant should be released.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he make will a statement about the administrative processes involving grant maintained schools and the Welsh Office in paying building contractors for the work carried out at grant maintained schools. [38430]

  Mr. Richards
  Building contractors are paid by grant-maintained schools following the issue of an architect's certificate which states the value of work undertaken. Where the work is being funded by the school's formula-based capital grant, the school applies to the Welsh Office for the grant prior to the commencement of work. Where the building work being carried out forms part of a "named" project under the grant-maintained schools capital building programme, the Welsh Office pays grant to the school against certified claims form supported by the architect's certificate.

  As a precaution against overpayment of the total grant payable, and to ensure that the work is satisfactorily completed, grant payments on named projects are stopped once the level of grant reached 97.5 per cent. of the total approved grant, pending settlement at final cost stage. As soon as possible after completion of the work, schools are required to submit final cost documentation to the Welsh Office and following scrutiny and approval of the documentation, the final instalment of grant is released to the school.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local housing authority the amounts raised by sales of council homes to date and the amounts each local authority has available in capital receipts from these sales. [38431]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The cumulative amount of receipts from the sales of council homes since 1981 is set out in the following table. The usable receipt at the spot date of 31 March 1995 is also provided.

  Receipts from the sale of council houses1

  £ million

  Receipts from the sale of council houses 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1995

  Usable receipts from the sale of council houses available at 31 March 1995

  Alyn and Deeside

  18.4

  0.5

  Colwyn

  8.9

  0.6

  Delyn

  15.7

  0.0

  Glyndwr

  13.1

  0.5

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Primary and secondary schools

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  At

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  September 1988

  6,342

  17.8

  46,092

  17.4

  3,358

  14.5

  27,551

  14.3

  9,700

  16.5

  73,643

  16.1

  September 1989

  6,315

  17.4

  46,124

  17.1

  3,284

  14.5

  25,190

  13.5

  9,599

  16.3

  71,314

  15.6

  572

  Receipts from the sale of council houses1

  £ million

  Receipts from the sale of council houses 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1995

  Usable receipts from the sale of council houses available at 31 March 1995

  Rhuddlan

  9.5

  0.4

  Wrexham Maelor

  42.0

  1.0

  Carmarthen

  16.4

  0.8

  Ceredigion

  20.7

  1.2

  Dinefwr

  9.7

  0.6

  Llanelli

  28.3

  0.0

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  27.0

  2.6

  South Pembrokeshire

  12.6

  1.2

  Blaenau Gwent

  26.5

  2.2

  Islwyn

  36.9

  0.4

  Monmouth

  31.9

  3.6

  Newport

  53.5

  7.6

  Torfaen

  58.4

  2.7

  Aberconwy

  16.3

  0.2

  Arfon

  16.5

  0.0

  Dwyfor

  3.9

  0.3

  Meirionnydd

  7.6

  0.0

  Ynys Mon

  17.5

  0.2

  Cynon Valley

  13.6

  0.0

  Merthyr Tydfil

  20.2

  0.3

  Ogwr

  50.3

  0.6

  Rhondda

  5.7

  0.0

  Rhymney Valley

  35.5

  0.0

  Taff Ely

  36.4

  0.5

  Brecknock

  15.9

  1.2

  Montgomeryshire

  13.6

  0.7

  Radnorshire

  8.0

  0.4

  Cardiff

  101.0

  7.1

  Vale of Glamorgan

  38.7

  6.7

  Port Talbot

  33.4

  0.0

  Lliw Valley

  18.2

  0.0

  Neath

  21.7

  0.0

  Wales

  951.2

  44.4

  1 Includes receipts from the sale of dwellings and the repayment of principal from local authority mortgages.

  School Meals
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the entitlement to free school meals in(a) West Glamorgan, (b) Wales and (c) the United Kingdom from 1979 to the latest available date expressed (i) numerically and (ii) in percentage terms indicating the figures for (1) primary school pupils and (2) secondary school pupils and (3) total pupils. [38261]

  Mr. Richards
  The following table shows the number of children entitled to free school meals in maintained primary and secondary schools in West Glamorgan and Wales, and the percentage they represent of the total number of children on the school rolls. No comparable information is available for the United Kingdom. Data for West Glamorgan and Wales are not available prior to 1988, as information was not collected on the number of pupils entitled to free school meals.
  573

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Primary and secondary schools

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  At

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  September 1990

  6,744

  18.5

  48,860

  17.9

  3,358

  14.8

  24,865

  13.4

  10,102

  17.1

  73,725

  16.1

  September 1991

  7,733

  21.1

  56,593

  20.6

  3,842

  16.7

  29,220

  15.4

  11,575

  19.4

  85,813

  18.5

  September 1992

  8,305

  22.6

  62,973

  22.7

  4,338

  18.6

  33,320

  17.2

  12,643

  21.1

  96,293

  20.5

  January 19941

  9,342

  24.6

  71,675

  25.1

  5,003

  21.0

  36,526

  18.8

  14,345

  23.2

  108,201

  22.5

  Source:

  School Census.

  1 From 1993–94 onwards school meal data has been collected at January not September.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 October,Official Report, column 114, concerning the number of applications awaiting departmental approval under the private finance initiative, if he will give the capital value of each of the projects being examined. [39273]

  Mr. Hague
  The estimated capital value of each of the projects which have been announced is: M4 relief road (£330 million); A465 Heads of the Valleys road (£175 million); new general hospital, Baglan (£40 million); staff residential accommodation, district general hospital, Llantrisant (£3 million); car park, University hospital of Wales, Cardiff (£5 million); day surgery unit, Nevill Hall hospital, Abergavenny (£1.5 million); cancer treatment centre, Glan Clwyd district general hospital, Rhyl (£15 million); community hospital, Chepstow (£6 million); medium-secure unit, north Wales (£3.5 million); OSIRIS, office automation system for Welsh Office (£13 million).

  National Lottery
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place a copy in the Library of the guidance note sent to the non-departmental public bodies in Wales concerning the principles and eligibility rules under which matching funding for projects offered grants from the national lottery may be received; what is his definition of public funding for this purpose; and if he will list for each non-departmental public body

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Number

  Value £

  Amount recovered £

  Number

  Value £

  Amount recovered £

  Number

  Value £

  Amount recovered £

  Number

  Value £

  Amount recovered £

  Welsh Office

  1

  3,000

  Nil

  —

  —

  —

  1

  24

  Nil

  —

  —

  —

  Agencies

  1

  6

  Nil

  1

  6

  Nil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDPBs

  4

  24,137

  392

  2

  269

  215

  1

  41,739

  Nil

  1

  56

  56

  ERDP Grants
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his meeting with the member of the European Commission responsible for regional development in Brussels on Wednesday 4 October, in relation to the application of the additionality principle of his Department's grant-in-aid to the Welsh 574
  how many grants offers have been (a) made and (b) subsequently withdrawn. [39121]

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

  WDA: Cynon Valley
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement giving a detailed response to the legal opinion of Vernon Pugh, QC on the Grant Thornton report of 7 December 1994 on the actions of the Welsh Development Agency in relation to Gadlys road and Tirfounder fields which was enclosed with the letter to him of 21 March from Landare Investments Limited. [39272]

  Mr. Hague
  My officials have already made clear that it is not for them to judge the merits of Mr. Pugh's opinion or to offer a view on it. I have nothing to add.

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non—departmental public bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (i) misappropriated in such frauds and (ii) subsequently recovered. [39134]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is in the following table.

  Development Agency; and when he expects to supply the additional information on the funding of the Welsh Development Agency to the Commission. [37531]

  Mr. Hague
  I had a constructive meeting with the Commissioner for Regional Development, and the problem has been resolved.

TRANSPORT

  M25 (Service Area)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions were reached when his Department last undertook a comprehensive survey of possible sites for a motorway service area on the western quadrant of the M25. [38437]

  Mr. Watts
  The last such survey was carried out in July 1984 and led, in 1988, to an announcement that the Department would promote an MSA at Iver. Uncertainties over finance and the effect on an MSA of M25 widening meant, however, that no planning application was submitted. Instead, in 1989, the Department announced a fresh search for an MSA site on the western quadrant. Shortly afterwards, the decision was taken to deregulate the provision of new MSAs and the proposed site search was abandoned. The current Iver MSA proposals are purely private applications submitted under the deregulated arrangements.

  I will arrange to send my hon. Friend copies of the 1984 survey report and of the 1989 announcement of the fresh site search.

  Railway Speed Restrictions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many K2 speed restrictions exist on the rail line between Paddington and Plymouth; if he will list them; and what was the date and reason for their imposition. [38836]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack inform me that the total number of speed restrictions currently in place is approximately 16. All of these restrictions have been in place for between one and 14 months and in each case the reason for the restriction is the condition of the track.

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (i) misappropriated in such frauds and (ii) subsequently recovered. [39137]

  Mr. Norris
  The figures requested are not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reply to the Second Report of the Transport Committee on the privatisation of National Air Traffic Services (HC 36). [39275]

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State has responded to the recommendations made by the Transport Select Committee. It is for the Committee to decide when and how to publish that response.

  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the recommendations contained in the Second Report of the Transport Committee on the 576
  privatisation of National Air Traffic Services (HC 36) that the Safety Regulation Group's Air Traffic Services Standards Department should be transferred to a body separate from the Civil Aviation Authority has been accepted by his Department; what progress has been made towards the implementation of this recommendation; and if he will make a statement. [39276]

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State has responded to the Committee's report. It is for the Committee to decide when and how to publish that response. It would be inappropriate for me to comment more fully on the issues raised until the Select Committee publishes the responses to its recommendations.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation banning the fitting of steel bars as bumpers to(a) four-wheel drives and (b) ordinary private vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [39018]

  Mr. Norris
  The Transport Research Laboratory is currently analysing police reports of accidents involving bull bars which occurred in 1994. The results will not be available until towards the end of the year. We shall then decide what legislation if any, is needed.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to the environmental balance between the principle route alternatives in respect of Greenham Common air base and the Newbury bypass; and if he will make a statement. [39060]

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.

  I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 24 October 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to write in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Newbury Bypass.The Study Team commissioned by the then Secretary of State, Dr. Brian Mawhinney, did consider whether the closure of the Greenham Common Air Base had opened new possibilities for an eastern bypass of Newbury. A copy of their report is enclosed and you will see that their conclusion was that the overall balance remained in favour of a western bypass. The conclusion was endorsed by the then Secretary of State.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the major components of his announced £7 million cost of a study of the re-equipping the west coast main line and the estimated components and total cost of its modernisation. [39320]

  Mr. Watts
  The overall costs of the west coast main line investment programme is estimated at some £1 billion. Nearly £7 million of European funding has been secured for 1995. This money will be used to finance the
  577
  feasibility and design works for the modernisation project and go towards work to enable Eurostar trains to run international services on the route from next year.

  Road Signs (Metrication)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has for the replacement of existing road signs to include metric distances; [38876]

  (2) what plans he has for the introduction of metric distances for all new road signs. [38877]

  Mr. Watts
  None.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for the Doncaster travel-to-work area the current numbers of(a) casual and (b) fixed-term appointments in each Department of Transport office; and what were the figures 12 months ago. [39055]

  Mr. Norris
  According to the Department's personnel information systems, the numbers of casual and fixed-term appointments in my Department in the Doncaster area at 1 October 1995 and those of 12 months ago are given in the table.

  Address

  Casuals 1994

  Casuals 1995

  Fixed-term 1994

  Fixed-term 1995

  Sackville street, Barnsley

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Wellsyke road, Doncaster

  4

  1

  0

  0

  Shaftesbury avenue, Doncaster

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Doncaster road, Rotherham

  2

  4

  0

  0

  St Peter's house, Sheffield

  2

  6

  0

  1

  Orgreave way, Sheffield

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Middlewood road, Sheffield

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Richmond Park road, Sheffield

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Municipal Bus Undertakings
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the management-employee buy-outs of municipal bus undertakings which have since been sold on to private operators. [38756]

  Mr. Norris
  Municipal bus undertakings which are bought out by management-employee teams become private sector companies. My Department does not formally monitor changes of ownership within the bus industry.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is his policy in respect of compelling local authorities to dispose of their municipal bus companies and to bring forward the necessary legislation in this Parliament. [38892]
  578
  Mr. Norris
  Our policy continues to be to encourage local authorities to sell their bus companies, as many have already done. As and when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, we shall seek powers to compel authorities still owning bus companies to sell them.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations he takes into account when deciding whether or not to approve the sale of a municipal bus undertaking to a management-employee buy-out. [38891]

  Mr. Norris
  The decision on whether a municipal bus company is put up for sale and the conditions attaching to that sale are solely matters for the owners, but under the Transport Act 1985 the consent of the Secretary of State is needed to the arrangements made. Since 1992 it has been policy not to grant consent to a sale, whether to a management-employee buy-out or otherwise, unless it has followed a competitive tender.

  Rail Fare Increases
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all cases of which his Department has received notification of increases in rail fares deliberately introduced in order to reduce demand; and if he will make a statement. [38132]

  Mr. Watts
  The setting of rail fares is a commercial matter for train operators. Operators are not required to notify my Department of their reasons for increases in individual fares.

  From 1 January 1996 fares will be subject to the regime announced by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.

  Motorway Lighting
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in reducing the glare in the night sky caused by the lighting of motorways; what is his policy for ensuring that motorway service areas do not add to the loss of night sky caused by their illumination; and if he will make a statement. [38354]

  Mr. Watts
  It has been a requirement of motorway lighting schemes designed since February 1993 that the impact of lighting at night on dark landscapes should be minimised using an appropriate degree of special light control whenever lanterns are being provided or replaced. Examples of modern lanterns can be seen on M40 junctions 3 to 5.

  It is for the local planning authority to assess the environmental effects of lighting at motorway service areas. My Department's role is limited to ensuring that the lighting does not have an adverse effect on road safety on the motorway.

  Railway Property Sales
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whom Railtrack will have to consult after privatisation before selling or leasing its land or other property. [38307]

  Mr. Watts
  Although, as now, there will be no specific requirement after privatisation for Railtrack to consult before selling or leasing its land or other property, the
  579
  rigorous closure procedures set out in the Railways Act 1993 will continue to apply in respect of any proposal by Railtrack to close a part of its operational passenger network or any railway facility that it operates.

  Rural Roads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new proposals he has to protect the safety and integrity of green roads or lanes. [38851]

  Mr. Watts
  The Government's position on the regulation of vehicular use of byways is most recently set out in the White Paper, "Rural England—A Nation Committed to a Living Countryside", Cm 3016, published on 17 October. A section devoted to the subject appears on page 127.

  Railtrack Employees Share Offer
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many shares will be issued free or at a reduced price to Railtrack employees when the company's shares are put on the market; what he estimates the total value of employees' free shares and discounts will be; and how many employees will be eligible for these benefits; [38306]

  (2) how many shares and share options will be issued free or at a reduced price to Railtrack directors when the company's shares are put on the market; what he estimates the total value of directors' free shares and discounts will be; and how many directors will be eligible for these benefits. [38305]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend announced on 25 September the Railtrack employee share offers as part of the intended stock market flotation of Railtrack. The offers include:

  free shares for each eligible Railtrack employee worth approximately £160 at the offer price plus a further £2 worth of shares for each year of continuous service int eh rail industry;

  a matching offer of two free shares for every one purchased by eligible Railtrack employees up to a maximum value of approximately £250—that is, free shares of up to approximately £500;

  discount of 20 per cent. for eligible Railtrack employees on up to approximately £1,400 worth of shares at the offer price—that is, a discount of up to £280;

  priority over shares offered to the public to the value of approximately £18,000 at the offer price, including the shares purchased through the discount offer.

  The priority offer, excluding the discount element, will also be offered to Railtrack pensioners.

  It is too early to say how many shares will be issued or what the total value will be or how many employees and directors will be eligible. This will depend on the share price, the level of take-up and the number of eligible employees and directors at the time.

  There will be no share options for Railtrack directors.

  Motorway Resurfacing
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of concrete motorway have been resurfaced in black-top; and what factors caused it to be used. [38413]
  580
  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Christopher Gill, dated 24 October 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many miles of concrete motorway have been resurfaced in black-top; and what factors caused it to be used.Figures are not available for years prior to 1992/93. The lengths of concrete motorway in England resurfaced in black-top in recent years are as follows:

  Financial Year

  Miles

  1992–93

  1.8

  1993–94

  15.6

  1994–95

  9.3

  Motorways with a concrete road surface can be resurfaced in black-top as part of normal maintenance operations. This would be carried out for two main reasons—as a surface treatment or as a strengthening treatment. A surface treatment is required when the skidding resistance of the road surface falls below specified levels of where the concrete surface is showing signs of distress. A strengthening treatment is required when the structural condition of the pavement has deteriorated to the point where it is no longer able to carry the predicted future traffic. Overlaying with black-top is one means of providing the additional strength and extending the pavement life. Alternatively, concrete can also be used as an overlay treatment.

  Piracy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for the past 12 months how many attacks by pirates on British shipping have taken place on the high seas; and if he will make a statement. [39027]

  Mr. Norris
  During the last 12 months there has been one report of a piracy attack on the high seas against a ship registered in the UK or the Crown dependencies. This was against the UK-registered ocean-going yacht, the Longo Barda, attacked off Somalia in April 1995.

  Air UK
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Air UK in the last three years concerning the designation of civil air routes in eastern areas of the United Kingdom. [38121]

  Mr. Norris
  I am not aware that the Department has received any representations from Air UK on this subject in the last three years. However, I understand that the Civil Aviation Authority received a letter in December 1992.

  Solent Buoys
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those buoys in the Solent for which Trinity House is responsible; and what powers he has to require Trinity House to pass them out to another competent authority. [37906]

  Mr. Norris
  Trinity House is responsible for the following lights in the solent area:

  Prince Consort;

  581

  Gurnard;

  Gurnard Ledge;

  East Lepe;

  Salt Mead;

  West Lepe;

  Hamstead Ledge; and

  Sconce

  The Secretary of State has no powers to require Trinity House to transfer buoys to another authority. Under section 33 of the Ports Act 1991, it is for the appropriate general lighthouse authority to determine, with the consent of the Secretary of State, whether or not to transfer buoys to a harbour authority.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the gross cost to the public purse of British railways in the years 1998 to 2001 if the privatisation plans are implemented. [38460]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: The privatisation process has irresistible momentum. The Government remain committed to continuing to provide financial support to the railways. We believe that privatisation will bring efficiency improvements, competition and innovation, from which passengers and taxpayers will benefit, and which will become

  Date

  Location

  Numbers and type of A/C

  Nationality

  Nature of breach

  7 January

  Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Lockerbie avoidance area

  17 January

  Eshott Northumberland

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Eshott Microlight Site avoidance area

  17 January

  Ruabon, Clwyd

  1 x Hercules

  RAF

  Monsanto Chemical Works avoidance area

  20 January

  Beverley Humberside

  1 x Harrier

  RAF

  Hull Aero Club avoidance area

  25 January

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Gazelle

  AAC

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  9 February

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Sea King

  RN

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  28 March

  Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Gazelle

  AAC

  Lockerbie avoidance area

  6 April

  Market Rasen Lincolnshire

  1 x Tornado

  TTTE

  Hill House Riding School avoidance area

  11 April

  Bude, Cornwall

  2xF15

  USAF

  Seasonal avoidance area in Little Youlstone

  12 April

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Jaguar

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  12 April

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  12 April

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Jaguar

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  13 April

  St. Mary's Lock Selkirk

  2 x Jaguar

  RAF

  Failed to observe uni-directional flow while flying in the Moffat Valley

  15 April

  Beverley North Humberside

  1 x Tornado 4 x A7

  RAF Portuguese Airforce

  Hull Aero Club avoidance area

  25 April

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Jaguar

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  582
  increasingly evident over time. The major area of cost will be for the provision of passenger services. The level of this cost will be determined by market competition through the process of franchising the passenger train operating companies. No estimate of the cost of public sector support has been made beyond 1995–96.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning problems of low flying. [36570]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has received a number of representations from hon. Members and the general public about military low flying.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, locations, numbers, types and nationalities of aircraft, nature of breach, disciplinary actions taken against aircrew and lessons learned from each of the confirmed breaches of low flying regulations during 1994. [38140]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of breaches of military low flying regulations during 1994 confirmed by RAF police investigations are as follows. Unless stated otherwise, a lateral breach of the avoidance area listed occurred in each case.
  583

  Date

  Location

  Numbers and type of A/C

  Nationality

  Nature of breach

  26 April

  Bude, Cornwall

  1 x Hunter

  RN

  Seasonal avoidance area in Little Youlstone

  28 April

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Chinook

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  17 May

  Near Hay on Wye Powys

  1 x Hawk

  RAF

  Hay Bluff Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  17 May

  Shobdon Hereford and Worcester

  1 x Hawk

  RAF

  Shobdon Airfield avoidance area

  1 June

  Near Hay on Wye Powys

  2 x F15

  USAF

  Hay Bluff Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  1 June

  Near Hay on Wye Powys

  2 x F15

  USAF

  Flying in UKLFS outside of allocated times

  15 June

  Salisbury Wiltshire

  1 x Gazelle

  AAC

  Dean Hill RN Armaments Depot

  23 June

  Near Hay on Wye Powys

  1 x Hawk

  RAF

  Hay Bluff Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  20 July

  Ruabon, Clywd

  1 x Tornado

  TTTE

  Monsanto Chemical Works avoidance area

  27 July

  Carlisle, Cumbria

  1 x Tornado

  TTTE

  Overflew Carlisle, a town listed for avoidance

  28 July

  Near Hay on Wye Powys

  1 x F15

  USAF

  Hay Bluff Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  28 July

  Near Hay on Wye Powys

  1 x Hercules

  RAF

  Hay Bluff Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  29 July

  Keswick, Cumbria

  2 x F15

  USAF

  Bewaldeth Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  4 August

  Glyn-Neath, Dyfed

  2 x F15

  USAF

  Royal National Eisteddfod temporary avoidance area

  4 August

  Near Plymouth Devon

  1 x Sea King

  RN

  Dartmoor Wildlife Park avoidance area

  5 August

  Penrith, Cumbria

  2 x Jaguar

  RAF

  Lowther Event temporary avoidance area

  9 August

  Near Hay on Wye

  2 x Hawk

  RAF

  Hay Bluff Hang Gliding site avoidance area

  17 August

  Church Stretton Shropshire

  1 x Hawk

  RAF

  Midlands Gliding Club avoidance area

  1 September

  Caerlaverlock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  5 September

  Haltwhistle Northumbria

  1 x Tornado

  TTTE

  CANP avoidance area

  6 September

  Caerlaverlock Dumfries and Galloway

  2 x Tornado

  TTTE

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  11 September

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Hercules

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  13 September

  Caerlaverlock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Hawk

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  13 September

  Dolgellau/Tewkesbury/Gwynedd/Gloucestershire

  2 x F15

  USAF

  Unauthorised flight within UK night low flying system

  22 September

  Ambleside, Cumbria

  1 x F15

  USAF

  Flew below authorised Minimum Separation Distance

  28 September

  Beverley North Humberside

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Hull Aero Club avoidance area

  6 October

  Near Plymouth, Devon

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Dartmoor Wildlife Park avoidance area

  584

  585

  Date

  Location

  Numbers and type of A/C

  Nationality

  Nature of breach

  12 October

  Peebles, Borders

  1 x Tucano

  RAF

  Overflew Peebles, a town listed for avoidance

  17 October

  Haltwhistle Northumberland

  1 x F15

  USAF

  CANP avoidance area

  16 November

  Dumfries Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Jaguar

  RAF

  Crichton Royal Hospital avoidance area

  18 November

  Slimbridge Gloucestershire

  3 x B105

  Royal Netherlands Air Force

  Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust seasonal avoidance area

  18 November

  Hawick, Borders

  1 x Harrier

  RAF

  Minto Hills Hang Gliding Site avoidance area

  28 November

  Hawick, Borders

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Minto Hills Hang Gliding Site avoidance area

  9 December

  Sywell Northamptonshire

  1 x F15

  USAF

  Sywell Aerodome Avoidance area

  12 December

  Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway

  2 x Tornado

  TTTE

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  14 December

  Carlisle, Cumbria

  1 x F15

  USAF

  Overflew Carlisle, a town listed for avoidance

  15 December

  Market Rasen Lincolnshire

  2 x F15

  USAF

  Hill House Riding School avoidance area

  22 December

  Caerlaverlock Dumfries and Galloway

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  In cases where the nationality of the aircraft is shown as TTTE, the aircraft came from the Tri-national Training Establishment at RAF Cottesmore which trains aircrew of the Royal Air Force, German air force and Italian air force using aircraft provided by all three nations.

  Formal disciplinary action under the service discipline Acts was taken against the pilot of the Royal Navy Hunter responsible for the breaches at Langar airfield on 10 February 1994, who pleaded guilty to one charge of conduct to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline and one charge of annoyance by flying under the naval discipline Act for which he was severely reprimanded and fined. In cases involving UK aircrew where formal disciplinary action is not appropriate, aircrew who have breached regulations may be interviewed by their station commander or other appropriate senior officer. Such action could be recorded on individual's career records and affect flying status and promotion prospects. It is not our policy to release details of such action. It is the responsibility of senior officers to ascertain what lessons there are to be learnt from such incidents; central records are not maintained.

  Reports on breaches by foreign aircrew are passed to their relevant national authorities, which whom responsibility for any further action rests.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of low-flying sorties carried out over the United Kingdom by each aircraft type in each month from January 1994 to the latest available date. [38120]
  586
  Mr. Soames
  The number of sorties by aircraft type booked in the United Kingdom low flying system in each month from January 1994 to August 1995, the most recent month for which figures are available, were as follows:

  1994

  Aircraft type

  January

  February

  March

  April

  Buccaneer

  36

  70

  94

  21

  Harrier

  574

  442

  498

  466

  Hawk

  892

  887

  1,104

  1,168

  Jaguar

  409

  375

  276

  566

  Tornado

  1,615

  1,433

  1,847

  1,567

  Tucano

  653

  594

  855

  631

  F15

  241

  300

  252

  204

  Other aircraft (including helicopters)

  3,857

  3,838

  5,744

  3,689

  Total

  8,277

  7,939

  10,670

  8,312

  1994

  Aircraft type

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Buccaneer

  0

  4

  0

  1

  Harrier

  549

  574

  472

  365

  Hawk

  1,364

  1,496

  1,474

  1,398

  Jaguar

  318

  293

  522

  405

  Tornado

  1,554

  1,738

  1,554

  1,844

  Tucano

  693

  778

  720

  712

  F15

  292

  284

  278

  292

  Other aircraft (including helicopters)

  4,401

  6,081

  4,604

  4,000

  Total

  9,171

  11,248

  9,624

  9,017

  587

  1994

  Aircraft type

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Buccaneer

  5

  0

  3

  0

  Harrier

  682

  502

  648

  394

  Hawk

  1,180

  790

  764

  530

  Jaguar

  498

  608

  377

  420

  Tornado

  1,788

  1,598

  1,716

  1,358

  Tucano

  722

  669

  468

  534

  F15

  194

  278

  319

  211

  Other aircraft (including helicopters)

  5,477

  4,709

  4,500

  2,808

  Total

  10,546

  9,154

  8,795

  6,255

  1995

  Aircraft type

  January

  February

  March

  April

  Buccaneer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Harrier

  528

  676

  861

  409

  Hawk

  711

  635

  1,079

  853

  Jaguar

  469

  504

  504

  393

  Tornado

  1,769

  1,676

  1,765

  1,568

  Tucano

  404

  636

  637

  429

  F15

  346

  260

  397

  373

  Other aircraft (including helicopters)

  4,197

  4,406

  5,602

  3,889

  Total

  8,424

  8,793

  10,845

  7,914

  1995

  Aircraft type

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Buccaneer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Harrier

  994

  608

  701

  426

  Hawk

  1,213

  1,223

  620

  926

  Jaguar

  571

  710

  457

  297

  Tornado

  1,693

  2,025

  1,594

  1,571

  Tucano

  352

  693

  612

  643

  F15

  274

  325

  188

  232

  Other aircraft (including helicopters)

  5,607

  6,379

  5,022

  3,919

  Total

  10,704

  11,963

  9,194

  8,014

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the minimum authorised altitude for flights over the United Kingdom by the Italian air force Tornados deployed to RAF Cottesmore from 3 to 7 July; and if the aircraft were permitted to descend below that height when within(a) low flying area 13 and (b) the Spadeadam range danger area; [38128]

  (2) what was the minimum authorised altitude for flights over the United Kingdom by the Italian air force AMX aircraft deployed to RAF Leeming from 19 to 23 June; and if the aircraft were permitted to descend below that height when within (a) low flying area 13 and (b) the Spadeadam range danger area; [38126]

  (3) what was the minimum authorised altitude for flights over the United Kingdom by the Italian air force AMX aircraft deployed to RAF Leeming from 3 to 7 July; and if the aircraft were permitted to descend below that
  588
  height when within (a) low flying area 13 and (b) the Spadeadam range danger area; [38125]

  (4) what was the minimum authorised altitude for flights over the United Kingdom by the Italian air force Tornados deployed to RAF Cottesmore from 24 to 28 July; and if the aircraft were permitted to descend below that height when within (a) low flying area 13 and (b) the Spadeadam range danger area. [38127]

  Mr. Soames
  In each case, the authorised minimum separation distance for the Italian aircraft within the United Kingdom low flying system, including low flying area 13, was 500ft. Within the Spadeadam range danger area the aircraft were permitted to descend to 250ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what responsibilities are held by authorising officers concerning the pre-flight checking of low-level flight profiles for(a) safety and (b) conformity with low flying regulations. [38136]

  Mr. Soames
  Authorising officers are responsible for ensuring that low-level sortie plans comply with the regulations and procedures in the United Kingdom military low flying handbook, and that aircrew are suitably qualified to execute the planned sortie safely.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, columns 272–74, at what altitude and speed the aircraft were found to have been flying at the time of the two sonic boom incidents; and if either of the aircraft was carrying out a simulated attack or interception at the time of the incident. [38320]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Date

  Estimated height

  Estimated speed

  21 July 1993

  12,800

  Mach 1.01

  11 August 1993

  25,000

  Mach 1.02

  The aircraft involved in the incident on 21 July was engaged in air combat manoeuvring and the aircraft involved in the incident on 11 August was running in to commence a simulated attack.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the RAF police are tasked to investigate breaches of low flying regulations in cases where the breach also leads to an air miss report being filed. [38138]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our usual practice to initiate an RAF police investigation if, in the course of an investigation of an air miss report, it appears that a breach of low flying regulations may have occurred, but it is open to the chain of command of the aircrew concerned to request such an investigation if they believe there may be grounds for subsequent disciplinary action.

  If the alleged breach of low flying regulations is reported separately, an RAF police investigation may be started, but this will normally be terminated when it becomes apparent that an air miss investigation into the same incident is in progress.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties are required for(a) pilots and (b) navigators to qualify in use of the thermal imaging

  589
  airborne laser designation pod; and how many of these sorties are required to be at low level. [38129]

  Mr. Soames
  To become qualified in the use of the TIALD pod, RAF Tornado pilots and navigators are required to fly four medium-level and six low-level sorties, and RAF Jaguar pilots five medium-level sorties.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of flying hours' experience held by the aircrew involved in each of the RAF fast jet low-level accidents listed in his Department's evidence to the Defence Committee, HC 120 (1989–90) pp.144–153, and HC 314 (1993–94), pp.29–30. [38137]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 January,Official Report, column 105, if he will list the dates, numbers, types and nationalities of aircraft, for the four alleged breaches of the Eshott avoidance area which were subsequently not confirmed. [38321]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of the four alleged breaches of Eshott microlight site in 1992 where a breach was suspected but could not be confirmed by RAF police investigations are as follows:

  Date

  Number and type of aircraft

  Nationality

  3 August

  1 x Tornado

  Italian Air Force

  6 August

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  6 August

  1 x Tornado

  RAF

  14 September

  1 x F111

  USAF

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes were made to the boundaries of low flying area 1 in April 1993; and what notification of any such changes was made to(a) the media, (b) hon. Members, (c) the local authorities in the area concerned and (d) civil aviation interests. [38123]

  Mr. Soames
  The boundary between low flying area 1 and low flying area 18 was moved eastwards by approximately 15 miles. It is not our practice to notify hon. Members and the local media of all changes to the United Kingdom low flying system, and none of the individuals or bodies listed was notified at the time. Details of the change were, however, passed to the Defence Committee and published on page 25 of the House of Commons Defence Committee report, HC 314 of Session 1993–94, on low flying.

  Complaints from the Public
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were received by his Department from Welsh members of the public in(a) 1985, (b) 1990 and (c) 1994. [36571]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no way of knowing how many members of the public who complain to our Department are Welsh. We deal with all complaints as quickly and sympathetically as possible.

  Trafalgar Class Submarines
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to award the contract for the construction of batch 2 Trafalgar class submarines. [36572]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I hope to be in a position to place a prime contract for the construction of batch 2 Trafalgar class submarines next year.

  UNPROFOR
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of UNPROFOR. [36573]

  Mr. Portillo
  Subject to the outcome of peace negotiations, we would expect UNPROFOR to be replaced by a NATO-led implementation force. The Government welcome the progress so far, but much remains to be done and UNPROFOR will continue to have a vital role to perform while the peace talks continue and until the implementation force is in place.

  Overseas Wars
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy on involvement in wars overseas. [36576]

  Mr. Portillo
  The United Kingdom is committed to the defence of its dependent territories and, under article 5 of the Washington treaty, to assist a NATO ally should its territory come under attack. In addition, we shall continue to play an appropriate role—political, diplomatic or military—in international efforts to promote peace and stability.

  Reserve Armed Forces
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he proposes to enhance the role and status of the reserve armed forces over the next 12 months. [36577]

  Mr. Soames
  We aim to introduce a Reserve Forces Bill as soon as possible. I announced to the House on 30 March the publication of the Bill in draft for consultation. More than 500 written responses have been received, the great majority supportive of our proposals. Many useful detailed observations were made and the draft Bill is being revised to take account of them.

  Intelligence-gathering Satellites
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which countries the United Kingdom is collaborating or discussing collaboration on intelligence-gathering satellites. [36578]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Western European Union is currently studying the possibilities of co-operation on a European satellite observation system. The United Kingdom is contributing fully to that work.

  Hydrographic Service
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of ships available to the hydrographic service. [36579]
  591
  Mr. Soames
  There are currently six RN vessels available to the hydrographic service. There are three coastal survey vessels, HMS Bulldog, Beagle and Roebuck, the ocean survey vessels HMS Hecla and Herald and an inshore survey launcher, HMS Gleaner. HMS Scott, the replacement for HMS Hecla, is under construction as part of the ongoing programme to upgrade the capability of the hydrographic service. The hydrographic service also charters suitable commercial survey vessels which are used by RN survey teams in support of the civil hydrographic requirement.

  Anti-missile Defence
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of progress on the feasibility study on anti—missile defence. [36580]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A contract was awarded in October 1994 to a consortium led by British Aerospace to carry out a pre-feasibility study to identify ballistic missile defence systems to counter potential threats to the United Kingdom, the dependent territories and our forces deployed overseas. The study, which is scheduled to run for some 18 months and is proceeding according to schedule, will identify practical defensive architectures against a range of scenarios taking account of performance criteria, costs, timescales and technical risk. This advice will inform subsequent policy consideration, including whether the UK has a requirement for ballistic missile defence.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department in 1994–95 and in 1995 to date. [36581]

  Mr. Soames
  During financial year 1994–95 my Department spent £4.867 million on official hospitality, and as at 1 October 1995 £2.14 million has been spent during the current financial year. These figures include expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence itself, by formations and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable.

  RAF Northolt
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the number of military air traffic movements at RAF Northolt for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available. [36582]

  Mr. Soames
  There were 7,750 military air traffic movements at RAF Northolt during the period 1 October 1994 to 30 September 1995. Additionally, there were 2,085 civil movements on Ministry of Defence business during the same period.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his counterparts in the WEU to discuss the further development of a common defence policy; and if he will make a statement. [36583]
  592
  Mr. Soames
  WEU Foreign and Defence Ministers last met in Lisbon in May this year. The outcome was published in a communiqué of the meeting, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. They will meet again in November.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the situation in Bosnia. [36584]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Bosnia. [36588]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are currently serving in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [36847]

  Mr. Soames
  Following the relocation of 24 Airmobile Brigade to the UK as part of the reconfiguration of United Nations forces requested by the UN Secretary General, almost 5,000 UK ground troops will remain in the former Yugoslavia. In addition, there are some 3,000 Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel deployed in the Adriatic theatre in support of UN and NATO operations.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many humanitarian aid convoys to Sarajevo were escorted over Mount Igman by United Nations forces during August and September 1995; and approximately what tonnage of relief supplies was delivered by that route. [38328]

  Mr. Soames
  No United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees humanitarian aid convoys were escorted over Mount Igman by UNPROFOR during August and September. Aid convoys from non-governmental organisations were escorted over this route during the same period, but the UN has been unable to provide statistics on the numbers or tonnage involved.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average minimum temperature at the British Army positions on Mount Igman during the last two weeks of September; and when the soldiers serving at these positions were issued with cold weather clothing. [38045]

  Mr. Soames
  The average minimum temperature at the British positions on Mount Igman during the last two weeks of September was minus 1 deg C. Winter clothing was issued in the first half of September to personnel in exposed positions such as observation posts; the balance was issued over the period 23 to 27 September.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Britain's requirements for attack and support helicopters now meet the United Kingdom's needs into the next century. [36585]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The orders which were announced during the 1995—for 67 Apache attack helicopters for the Army and 14 Chinook MkII and 22 utility EH101 support
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  helicopters for the Royal Air Force—will ensure that the United Kingdom's requirements for these capabilities will be satisfied for the foreseeable future.

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ban the export of self-destruct anti-personnel land mines. [36586]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No. It would not be right to ban completely the export of a weapon which we may in future need to import for our own armed forces.

  New Office Accommodation
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have been or are planned to be accommodated in new office accommodation. [36587]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Detailed information relating to all the new-build office accommodation is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Four new office accommodation projects in excess of £10 million in value have been approved centrally since 1991 to accommodate some 8,800 staff in total. All of these are part of wider strategies which result in significant savings to the taxpayer. They are the new Procurement Executive headquarters at Abbey Wood near Bristol, an additional office block at Andover for HQ Quarter Master General's staff, a new personnel and training command headquarters at RAF Innsworth and a new logistic command headquarters at RAF Wyton.

  French Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he has had with his French counterpart on nuclear testing since July. [36751]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Nuclear testing was one of a wide range of defence issues discussed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State during his meeting with the French Defence Minister in Paris on 27 September.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access the United Kingdom will have to information or data resulting from the current French nuclear testing programme. [38457]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The UK has neither asked for, nor been offered, information or data resulting from the current French nuclear test programme.

  Nuclear Weapons (France)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the memoranda of understanding which currently exist between Britain and France with regard to all aspects of nuclear weapons, outlining the purpose of each, the date on which each one was signed and whether its text is classified; on what dates each one has been amended; and if any other countries are party to these memoranda. [38455]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is not our practice to reveal details on contacts with France on defence nuclear matters.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the current status of the technical discussions between Britain and France, referred to in 594
  para. 25 of the Commons report of the Defence Committee, "Progress of the Trident Programme", HC 350, on issues related to nuclear weapons stewardship, hydrodynamic experiments and computer simulations; which Ministers and officials have taken part in these discussions; and what subjects were covered. [38456]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 16 October 1995,Official Report, column 37.

  Helicopter Accident, Wales
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the report of the inquiry into the cause of the accident on 12 August 1993 at Padarn Lake, Llanberis, involving an RAF Wessex helicopter. [38097]

  Mr. Soames
  The RAF board of inquiry into this accident has been protracted by the complex technical investigation. It is planned to release the findings shortly.

  Royal Naval College (Irradiation Facilities)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent to which the Royal Naval College at Greenwich irradiation facilities have been used for commercial purposes. [39260]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of the NRTA to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. D. Ferguson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 24 October 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked the Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA) to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about the extent to which the irradiation facilities at the Royal Naval College at Greenwich have been used for commercial purposes. I am replying on behalf of the Chief Executive who is away.Whilst it is Ministry of Defence policy to make use of any irreducible and temporarily unallocated training capacity wherever it is possible to do so, it is not the case that RNC Greenwich has provided irradiation facilities for commercial purposes. RNC Greenwich is part of the recently created NRTA and the Agency operates in accordance with the MOD policy and HM Treasury guidelines to market spare training capacity at its shore training facilities and thereby generate income.The Navy's Department of Nuclear Science and Technology (DNST), together with its low power nuclear reactor (known as JASON) are located at RNC Greenwich and are also part of the NRTA. Whilst DNST has a number of irradiation facilities other than JASON (including X-radiation and Gamma radiation facilities), in the context of your Parliamentary Question you will wish to be aware that DNST has provided only two training courses on a commercial basis during the past 12 months. The first being a one day training session for university students where the students observed JASON, but did not use it as an irradiation facility. The second was a three week course on instrument calibration. During this course, one practical session made use of JASON, but, again, not as an irradiation facility.I hope that you will find the foregoing to be helpful.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about possible defence agency status for the Director General Naval
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  Bases and Supply and Director General Ships organisations. [39420]

  Mr. Soames
  I have decided that the Director General Naval Bases and Supply and Director General Ships organisations, within the Naval Support Command, should be considered as candidates for defence agency status under the next steps initiative. Prior options studies will be undertaken to establish whether agency status or other options would be appropriate. Comments and ideas would be welcome from any interested parties. These should be sent by 15 December 1995 to D. G. Jones Esq, Director General Naval Bases and Supply, Management suite, Room 13, Block C, Ensleigh, Bath BA1 5AB or R. V. Babington Esq, Director General Ships, Spur 12, Block B, Foxhill, Bath BA1 5AB as appropriate.

  Air Defence Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has with the United States authorities concerning the leasing of F-16C aircraft for use as air defence fighters by the Royal Air Force. [38130]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department is currently examining proposals to upgrade the weapon systems of the Tornado F3 air defence fighter. A routine part of our evaluation procedure is to examine the comparative costs of alternative options. We have, in this context, contacted the United States Department of Defence for information concerning F-16 aircraft.

  Dodman Point Naval Firing Range
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days firing practice has taken place since the naval firing range opened at Dodman Point in Cornwall; and on how many of those days safety boats have been present. [38479]

  Mr. Soames
  There have been 16 naval gunfire support training serials in the exercise areas off Dodman Point since the Operational Sea Training organisation moved to Plymouth this summer. Firing has taken place during five of these, at each of which a range safety craft was present.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when firing practice is taking place at Dodman Point naval firing range in Cornwall; on which occasions safety boats have been present throughout the firing; and for what period of time they have been absent. [38480]

  Mr. Soames
  Naval gunfire support training will be carried out in the sea exercise areas off Dodman Point on up to 72 occasions per year. Details of the specific timings of the individual firing serials are being published in advance in the local press and are also being broadcast through the Gunfacts system. A range safety craft has been present throughout all the firings which have been completed to date.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations are in force regarding the use of safety boats during firing practice at Dodman Point naval firing range in Cornwall. [38478]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no specific regulations governing the use of safety boats during firing practice off Dodman Point. The requirement for such a boat is decided on a case by case basis by the Royal Navy, taking account of the particular conditions and circumstances of 596
  the firing. The main methods of ensuring that the range is clear are through visual and radar observation from the firing ship, and observation from the helicopter which is present.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans has he for allowing the use of MoD airfields to export livestock from the United Kingdom or for the sale of MoD airfields to exporters of livestock; and if he will make a statement on this point. [38704]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no plans to allow the use of operational MoD airfields for the export of livestock from the United Kingdom. I am not aware of any specific offer from companies to purchase any redundant airfield for this purpose at this time.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission a study of the cost savings that would be made from linking British defence expenditure to the average level of out western European partners. [39250]

  Mr. Soames
  No. United Kingdom defence expenditure is determined by the Government's assessment of the UK's defence needs and spending priorities. It would be wrong to link defence spending to the average of other countries' defence spending.

  RAF 100 Squadron
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the specification used under the market-testing initiative in respect of contracts involving RAF 100 Squadron; how many firms bid for these contracts; and which firms were successful. [38378]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The statement of requirement used in respect of the strategic contractorisation of target towing facilities at RAF 100 Squadron is an integral part of the contract which has been placed and is, therefore, considered to be contracts in confidence. As such, it cannot be made available in the Library of the House. Six contractors bid for the contract, which was won by Hunting Aviation.

  Regimental and Military Museums
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money will be provided out of MOD funds to pay for staff in each regimental or military museum in the United Kingdom in 1995–96. [38382]

  Mr. Soames
  Seventy regimental museums will receive a total of around £1.6 million funding from MOD towards staff costs in 1995–96. Separately, MOD provides a grant in aid of £3.2 million to the National Army Museum which is applied to the museum's operating costs and purchase grant.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if we will ensure that his Department's funding for the museum of the Royal Dragon Guards and Prince of Wales, Own Regiment in York will be maintained in future years at a sufficient level to keep this joint regimental museum open; [38384]
  597
  (2) what are the terms of reference of his Department's review of funding for regimental museums; and when the conclusions of the review will be made public. [38383]

  Mr. Soames
  An internal MOD study earlier this year suggested, that savings might be possible in MOD funding for regimental and corps museums. Work is continuing on how savings could be achieved and the impact this would have on the continued existence of these museums, but no decisions have yet been made.

  Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the location of the Tornado event to be held in 1996. [38124]

  Mr. Soames
  We are not aware of any substantial Tornado event in 1996.

  Navigator Flying Training
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to privatise Royal Air Force navigator flying training. [38142]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans to privatise Royal Air Force navigator flying training.

  Air Miss, Humberside
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the US air force F15 aircraft involved in an air miss incident with an Icelandair Boeing 737 off Humberside on 19 August 1994 were found to have penetrated controlled airspace; and if he will make a statement. [38141]

  Mr. Soames
  The United States air force aircraft was operating legitimately within controlled airspace under air traffic control instruction at the time of the alleged incident. The pilot of the civil airliner has now withdrawn his report of an air miss, based on air traffic control evidence.

  Army Careers Information Office, York
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to close the Army careers information office in Micklegate, York. [38385]

  Mr. Soames
  No decision has yet been taken on when the Army careers information office in Micklegate, York should close.

  Jaguar Aircraft (Stress Corrosion)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the damage to Jaguar T.2A, serial number XX839; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [38119]

  Mr. Soames
  During a routine major servicing of Jaguar T.2A, serial number XX839, some relatively small stress corrosion cracks were identified in part of the fuselage structure. The aircraft is being held temporarily at St. Athan awaiting delivery of repair parts from the manufacturer.

  RAF Waddington
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what hydrazine incident response capability exists at RAF Waddington; and how many hydrazine incidents have occurred at RAF Waddington in each of the last three years. [38143]

  Mr. Soames
  All RAF Waddington's fire crash and rescue personnel are fully trained—and continue to receive refresher training—in hydrazine emergency handling procedures. Apart from a minor incident on 17 October 1995, which was successfully handled in accordance with standard procedures, there have been no other incidents involving hydrazine at RAF Waddington in the past three years.

  Flying Regulation Breaches
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, locations, numbers, types and nationalities of aircraft, nature of the breach, disciplinary actions taken against aircrew and lessons learned from each of the confirmed breaches of flying regulations other than low flying regulations during 1994. [38139]

  Mr. Soames
  Unlike breaches of low flying regulations, no cental record is maintained of breaches of general flying regulations which are much more wide ranging and varied. As a result, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details of incidents with flight safety implications are notified to the appropriate authority.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the methods of BSE transmission since the ban on certain forms of offal in animal feed. [36422]

  Mrs. Browning
  This Department has an extensive programme of research on BSE. Results are published in scientific journals. Details are also contained in the latest report of the Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee—"Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies—A Summary of Present Knowledge and Research", published in February this year. In addition, they are detailed in the regular reports on BSE which MAFF makes to the House. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases have been discovered of prohibited forms of offal being put into animal feeds since the ban was introduced, and if he will make a statement. [36426]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are not aware of any cases of Specified Bovine Offals being put directly into animal feeds since the ban was introduced. However, the fact that we are continuing to see cases of BSE in animals born after the introduction of the feed ban in July 1988 suggests that there has been some continued leakage of BSE infective material into feed. The results of recent
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  surveillance at slaughterhouses and head boning plants, announced in the House on 19 July, Official Report, 19 July 1995, columns 1467–68, also suggested that this was a possibility.

  Mr. Jones:
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the rate of enforcement of the ban on the use of certain forms of offal in animals feeds, with particular reference to restricting BSE transmission; and if he will make a statement. [36424]

  Mrs. Browning
  The state veterinary service regularly monitors the enforcement of the controls in slaughterhouse and elsewhere, on specified bovine offals, which are required to be separated and disposed of by incineration or burial. The results of recent surveillance of slaughterhouses and head boning plants were announced in the House on 19 July,Official Report, 19 July 1995, columns 1467–48.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of maternally transmitted BSE have been recorded in the United Kingdom herd, for each of the last seven years; and how many cases of BSE have been recorded for each of the last seven years. [36421]

  Mrs. Browning
  There is no experimental or epidemiological evidence available to confirm that maternal transmission of BSE occurs. Results of research to test the hypothesis that the disease might be transmitted maternally will not be available until 1997, when a definitive cohort study will be completed. It is already clear, however, that if maternal transmission does occur, it does so too infrequently to be detected with current statistical techniques or to sustain the epidemic.

  The following list of the number of confirmed cases of BSE in United Kingdom up to 13 October 1995. The cases prior to 21 June 1988 are recorded by date of clinical onset of disease and the cases thereafter are recorded by date of restriction.

  1986: 7

  1987: 435

  1988: 2,469

  1989: 7,137

  1990: 14,181

  1991: 25,032

  1992: 36,681

  1993: 34,371

  1994: 23,943

  1995: 9,602

  It is not possible to identify routes of transmission for each individual suspect given the long incubation period BSE, and considerable potential for exposure via feed. Evidence gathered when individual cases are investigated forms the basis of a statistical analysis on a population basis.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the budget of his Department to ensure regulations relating to BSE and the use of offal in feeds have been enforced, and if he will make a statement. [36425]
  600
  Mrs. Browning
  The BSE manpower budget for this Department, excluding agencies, for the current financial year is £4.2 million. It is not possible, without disproportionate costs, to identify enforcement costs separately.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the budget and how many staff are involved in monitoring the prohibited forms of bovine offal entering human food. [36727]

  Mrs. Browning
  Enforcement of the controls on specified bovine offal in slaughterhouses and head boning plants is the responsibility of the Meat Hygiene Service. The MHS currently employs 778 red meat inspectors in day to day enforcement work at red meat plants—pig, sheep and cattle—which includes the enforcement of the SBO controls. The cost of this work is not recoverable from the industry.

  The total budget for these staff for the current financial year is £12,180,000. It is not possible, without disproportionate costs, to identify from among the non-recoverable costs the enforcement costs from the SBO controls alone.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many cases in the last five years prohibited forms of offal have been found entering human food; and what fines have been imposed. [36728]

  Mrs. Browning
  No such cases have been notified to this Department. However, until 1 April 1995 local authorities were responsible for enforcement of the controls on specified bovine offal in slaughterhouses and head boning plants. Information on enforcement before that date is not therefore held centrally. It is not possible, without disproportionate costs, to collect and collate this information from local authorities.

  Since 1 April 1995 the Meat Hygiene Service has been responsible for enforcement of the controls. We know of no instances where SBOs have entered the human food chain. We are aware of four cases where small amounts of SBO had been left attached to carcases after dressing but these were properly removed before the carcases left the premises.

  Codex Alimentarius Agreement
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans his Department has to establish maximum residue limits for hormones in meats following the recent codex alimentarius agreement. [36423]

  Mrs. Browning
  Decisions by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to adopt maximum residue limits are not binding on codex member countries. They are taken into account when the Community establishes MRLs under regulation (EEC) 2377/90 which are then applicable in all member states. Before MRLs can be considered, applications must be submitted by pharmaceutical companies.

  The use of hormonal growth promoters in food producing animals has been banned throughout the Community since 1988. It also applies to meat and meat products imported from third countries. As a result of the ban, Community MRLs have not been set for growth-promoting hormones and residues surveillance is

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  based on analysis to the minimum level of quantification. It is for the European Commission to consider whether or not the Codex decisions will have any effect on the current prohibition.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what subsidies were paid out for environmentally sensitive areas in England in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95 and (d) 1995–96; and how many individuals were recipients of these payments in these years. [37130]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry paid the following sums to ESA agreement holders in England:

  Amount paid (£000s)

  Number of recipients

  1992–93

  10,461

  3,265

  1993–94

  16,235

  4,514

  1994–95

  19,367

  6,141

  The above figures relate to United Kingdom financial years (i.e. 1 April to 31 March).

  It is estimated that £30 million will be paid in 1995–96 to about 7,000 recipients.

  Game Rearing Industry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from the game rearing industry regarding the ban on Emtryl. [37430]

  Mrs. Browning
  We have received a number of representations from the game rearing industry, including the Game Conservancy Trust and the Game Farmers Association.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence Ministers received from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate about the ban on dimetridazole. [37428]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are aware of the concerns over this ban, and a number of options to overcome the consequential problems of the game rearing industry are under active consideration.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of Emtryl on the economies of those areas of rural Britain where game birds are bred. [37432]

  Mrs. Browning
  To official assessment has been made. We are aware however, that the banning of dimetridazole could lead to flock losses as high as 50 per cent. or more. This is why we are working with game bird organisations to try to find a solution.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of the recent European Union ban on the chemical dimetridazole sold under the trade name Emtryl. [37422]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government opposed the proposal to prohibit the therapeutic use of dimetridazole—Emtryl—by its inclusion in annex IV of Council regulation (EEC) 2377/90, on the grounds that the 602
  scientific data could enable a maximum residue limit to be set to protect consumers and because of the animal welfare problems which would result from a ban.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what weighting was given to the United Kingdom position on the European Union decision to ban Emtryl. [37431]

  Mrs. Browning
  The position of the UK was accorded its due weight under the normal procedures of the Community. Decisions on entries in the annexes of Council regulation (EEC) 2377/90 are taken at regulatory committee by qualified majority voting. If referred to the Council of Agriculture Ministers, the contre filet procedure applies.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what alternative drugs are available to breeders of game birds to control hexamitiasis and trichomoniasis in larger flocks. [37429]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are not aware that there are any satisfactory alternative medicinal products available to the game rearing industry for the treatment of these conditions.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government will now take steps to suspend the European Union ban on Emtryl pending further investigations on alternative disease control agents. [37433]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are considering a number of options to try to assist the game rearing industry as a result of this prohibition.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring is carried out by or for his Department to ensure(a) that pesticide residues on horticultural produce remain below recommended levels and (b) that the amount of pesticides sprayed on to horticultural crops remains below recommended levels. [37747]

  Mrs. Browning
  Monitoring of both home-produced and imported food for pesticide residues is carried out for the Government's working party on pesticide residues. Some 3,000 to 4,000 samples are analysed each year at a cost of over £2 million.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been carried out by or on behalf of his Department into the effects on humans of pesticide levels which exceed recommended levels, with special reference to the long-term low-level effects of pesticides on humans. [37745]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Department does not carry out or directly commission any such research. However, before any pesticide is permitted for use, a thorough assessment of its potential impact on humans, including long-term effects, is carried out based on research carried out by the applicant company on that specific pesticide. This assessment will identify the level at which no adverse effects will be seen and use is only permitted if it is expected to lead to human exposure substantially less than that level. The assessment also identifies the effects that may begin to be seen at high levels.
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  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines there are to control(a) the amount of pesticides sprayed on to horticultural crops and (b) the levels of pesticide residues on fresh fruit and vegetables. [37748]

  Mrs. Browning
  For each approved pesticide the maximum permitted usage rate, which may vary from crop to crop, will be set out on the product label. In some cases, a minimum interval between application of a pesticide and harvesting a crop will also be specified. It is an offence for a pesticide user to breach these statutory conditions of use. The conditions are set so as to ensure that, when observed, they do not give rise to unacceptable levels of residue on and in crops.

  For many pesticides, statutory maximum residue levels have been set which reflect the greatest amount of pesticide that should be found in a crop which has not been treated according to the approved conditions of use. The statutory code of practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings provides general guidance on the application of pesticides.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what pesticide products have been licensed for use in horticultural production since 1972; and what is the proprietary name, the manufacturing company, the exact ingredients and the date of the licence in each case. [37746]

  Mrs. Browning
  Pesticides approved as of 31 October 1994 are listed in the HMSO publication "Pesticides 1995". However, the detailed information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Ministers only approve the marketing or use of a pesticide if thorough evaluation establishes that it is effective and poses no unacceptable risk to human beings, non-target species or the wider environment.

  Pigs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans with regard to the welfare of pigs. [38004]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994, S.I 2126 implemented EU directive 91/630 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, including minimum space requirements for weaners and rearing pigs which will fully come into force on 1 January 1998. The regulations also maintained the requirement that the use of sow stalls and tethers should be phased out by the end of 1988 and banned the use of sweat box systems from 1 July this year.

  We await with interest the outcome of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's review of the welfare of outdoor pigs.

  The EU directive is due for review in 1997 and we have reminded the Commission of the importance of keeping to this timetable. We remain committed to securing harmonisation of EU legislation on the basis of our own high standards.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to repeal or amend the prohibition on sow stalls and tethers provided for by the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994; and if he will make a statement. [38007]
  604
  Mrs. Browning
  We have no such plans.

  Milk and Dairy Inspections
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to bring milk and dairy inspection charges into line with those in Scotland. [38150]

  Mr. Baldry
  None. Inspections in England and Wales are carried out by ADAS and the costs recovered from producers. In Scotland, inspections are carried out by environmental health officers and the costs met by the local food authorities.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects the Intervention Board to release for distribution stocks of(a) butter, (b) cheese and (c) wine; and if he will make a statement. [38295]

  Mr. Baldry
  I have no such plans for release of stocks of butter from intervention for distribution under the surplus food scheme. Neither cheese nor wine is held in intervention in the United Kingdom.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department possesses as to the quantities of nuclear wastes dumped(a) in Hurd deep off Alderney and (b) the Beaufort dyke off Scotland and Northern Ireland by the United Kingdom; and if he will place in the Library copies of all reports on the disposal of radioactive waste in these two locations held by his Department. [39254]

  Mr. Baldry
  No nuclear waste has been disposed of in the Beaufort dyke. Very low-level radioactive waste was disposed of in the Hurd deep from 1950 to 1963. Full details are contained in "Report of the Independent Review of Disposal of Radioactive Waste in there Northeast Atlantic" by Professor F. G. T. Holliday. This report was placed in the Library of the House on publication in 1984.

  Orange Juice
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the price of orange juice; what assessment he has made of future trends in prices; and which authorities influence the price charged in the United Kingdom. [39279]

  Mrs. Browning
  There is a wide variety of types of orange juice, including premium juice made from freshly squeezed oranges, long-life juice made from imported concentrate, and mixtures with other fruit juices. The retail price depends on the type of juice, the cost of manufacture and packaging, the pricing and promotional policy of the retailer and other factors. I see no way of predicting future price trends with confidence, given the number of variables involved.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of the import levy on non-EC orange juice being imposed in the present month; what will be the impact on retail prices; what is
  605
  the object of the levy; and what assessment he has made of whether the levy conforms to the EU's general agreement on tariffs and trade obligations. [37630]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: Imports of orange juice into the European Union from non-preferential sources are at present subject to an ad valorem duty of either 18.4 per cent., or 40.6 per cent., depending on the nature of the product, and in most cases a specific duty of 24.8 ecu—currently about £20—per 100 kg. Preferential arrangements apply to imports from a range of countries, for example imports from Israel within a quota are subject only to any specific duty payable.

  Given the range of duty rates and variety of product lines concerned, the impact on retail prices cannot readily be assessed.

  These duties form part of a system of Community preference that has existed for many years: on 1 July 1995, the variable levy that existed before that date was replaced by a specific duty required under the GATT settlement. I am satisfied that these duties conform to the EU's obligations under that settlement.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the average journey distance of a quadraped livestock animal to its place of slaughter for each of the last 15 years. [38422]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 20 October 1995]: The Department does not collect such information and has no plans to do so.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of abattoirs in the UK by convenient capacity categories for each of the last 15 years. [38445]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 20 October 1995]: The Department does not hold figures on the individual or total capacity of slaughterhouses in Great Britain and has no plans to collect this information centrally. The Meat and Livestock Commission's annual publication entitled "The Abattoir Industry in Great Britain"—available from the MLC—ISBN 0904650.33.2—contains information on the numbers of British abattoirs for the period requested, and discusses the changes in capacity that have occurred since 1982.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Short-time Working
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates her Department has made of the number of companies currently on short-time working; and how many employees are affected by such short-time working. [37513]

  Mr. Forth
  In August 1995—provisional—8,000 operatives were affected by short-time working. Further information can be obtained from table 1.11 of the 606
  Employment Gazette, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. Figures for the number of companies on short-time working are not available.

  Pupil Costs
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent per(a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil in each of the local education authorities in England in the most recent year for which figures are available at constant prices. [37665]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table sets out for each LEA in England the net institutional expenditure per pupil in LEA maintained pre-primary/primary schools and secondary schools.

  Cost per pupil—net institutional expenditure 1993–94

  Nursery/primary £

  Secondary £

  Corporation of London

  3,587

  0

  Camden

  2,047

  2,716

  Greenwich

  2,009

  2,583

  Hackney

  1,958

  2,617

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,534

  3,329

  Islington

  2,719

  3,005

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,394

  3,266

  Lambeth

  2,666

  3,296

  Lewisham

  2,058

  2,614

  Southwark

  1,806

  2,421

  Tower Hamlets

  2,656

  3,157

  Wandsworth

  2,139

  2,795

  City of Westminster

  2,592

  2,739

  Barking

  1,790

  2,355

  Barnet

  2,006

  2,952

  Bexley

  1,573

  2,341

  Brent

  1,633

  1,835

  Bromley

  1,525

  2,280

  Croydon

  1,793

  2,309

  Ealing

  1,915

  2,575

  Enfield

  1,768

  2,531

  Haringey

  2,236

  3,041

  Harrow

  1,913

  2,439

  Havering

  1,636

  2,290

  Hillingdon

  1,804

  2,670

  Hounslow

  1,935

  2,282

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,728

  2,284

  Merton

  1,853

  2,463

  Newham

  1,708

  2,563

  Redbridge

  1,640

  2,526

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,794

  2,280

  Sutton

  1,639

  1,978

  Waltham Forest

  1,821

  2,526

  Birmingham

  1,572

  2,330

  Coventry

  1,684

  2,469

  Dudley

  1,490

  2,098

  Sandwell

  1,681

  2,349

  Solihull

  1,574

  2,217

  Walsall

  1,672

  2,281

  Wolverhampton

  1,357

  2,300

  Knowsley

  1,485

  2,243

  Liverpool

  1,586

  2,613

  St. Helens

  1,605

  2,315

  Sefton

  1,448

  2,204

  Wirral

  1,552

  2,299

  Bolton

  1,581

  2,119

  Bury

  1,432

  1,979

  Manchester

  1,547

  2,328

  Oldham

  1,645

  2,278

  Rochdale

  1,307

  1,974

  Salford

  1,505

  2,215

  Stockport

  1,466

  2,310

  Tameside

  1,442

  2,095

  607

  Cost per pupil—net institutional expenditure 1993–94

  Nursery/primary £

  Secondary £

  Trafford

  1,428

  2,156

  Wigan

  1,437

  2,141

  Barnsley

  1,539

  2,101

  Doncaster

  1,425

  2,022

  Rotherham

  1,723

  2,271

  Sheffield

  1,573

  2,119

  Bradford

  1,654

  1,969

  Calderdale

  1,607

  2,162

  Kirklees

  1,579

  2,207

  Leeds

  1,647

  2,164

  Wakefield

  1,577

  2,150

  Gateshead

  1,664

  2,252

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  1,697

  2,187

  North Tyneside

  1,469

  1,995

  South Tyneside

  1,463

  1,948

  Sunderland

  1,509

  2,114

  Isles of Scilly

  2,401

  4,415

  Avon

  1,571

  2,288

  Bedfordshire

  1,639

  2,103

  Berkshire

  1,592

  2,214

  Buckinghamshire

  1,735

  2,286

  Cambridgeshire

  1,534

  1,956

  Cheshire

  1,483

  2,106

  Cleveland

  1,461

  2,129

  Cornwall

  1,535

  2,160

  Cumbria

  1,667

  2,216

  Derbyshire

  1,600

  2,214

  Devon

  1,503

  2,157

  Dorset

  1,485

  2,065

  Durham

  1,664

  2,114

  East Sussex

  1,643

  2,270

  Essex

  1,724

  2,286

  Gloucestershire

  1,523

  2,084

  Hampshire

  1,583

  2,180

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,617

  2,038

  Hertfordshire

  1,664

  2,245

  Humberside

  1,621

  2,257

  Isle of Wight

  1,598

  2,027

  Kent

  1,397

  2,079

  Lancashire

  1,669

  2,347

  Leicestershire

  1,629

  2,263

  Lincolnshire

  1,496

  2,322

  Norfolk

  1,585

  2,309

  North Yorkshire

  1,555

  2,187

  Northamptonshire

  1,522

  2,125

  Northumberland

  1,686

  2,083

  Nottinghamshire

  1,653

  2,381

  Oxfordshire

  1,765

  2,191

  Shropshire

  1,577

  2,354

  Somerset

  1,583

  2,138

  Staffordshire

  1,534

  2,078

  Suffolk

  1,673

  2,190

  Surrey

  1,701

  2,215

  Warwickshire

  1,555

  2,420

  West Sussex

  1,579

  2,467

  Wiltshire

  1,521

  2,379

  All England

  1,630

  2,245

  Education Expenditure, Staffordshire
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in total on education in Staffordshire in each of the past 25 years, at constant prices. [37667]
  608
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows expenditure by Staffordshire local education authority from 1970–71 to 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available. The figures have not been adjusted for any changes of function.

  Gross expenditure (1993–94 prices)

  Staffordshire county council

  £ million

  1970–71

  264.12

  1971–72

  279.46

  1972–73

  297.28

  1973–74

  320.22

  1974–75

  451.10

  1975–76

  463.65

  1976–77

  469.50

  1977–78

  450.99

  1978–79

  461.05

  1979–80

  451.17

  1980–81

  459.07

  1981–82

  466.49

  1982–83

  456.00

  1983–84

  461.19

  1984–85

  449.32

  1985–86

  440.32

  1986–87

  460.01

  1987–88

  472.42

  1988–89

  481.56

  1989–90

  457.29

  1990–91

  465.41

  1991–92

  470.05

  1992–93

  512.69

  1993–94

  405.15

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent per pupil in Staffordshire(a) in primary schools and (b) in secondary schools in each of the past 25 years, at constant prices. [37671]

  Mr. Squire
  The table shows expenditure by Staffordshire local education authority on(a) pre-primary and primary pupils combined, and on (b) secondary pupils from 1974–75 and 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available. Equivalent figures prior to 1974–75 are not readily available centrally. The figures differ from those in my answer of 28 February 1995, Official Report, column 536, because firm figures are now available for 1993–94, and because a revised GDP deflator has been applied.

  Unit costs (1994–95 prices)

  £

  Pre-;primary/primary

  Secondary

  Staffordshire county council

  1974–75

  1,195

  1,938

  1975–76

  1,201

  2,001

  1976–77

  1,220

  1,944

  1977–78

  1,164

  1,824

  1978–79

  1,178

  1,817

  1979–80

  1,192

  1,778

  1980–81

  1,183

  1,636

  1981–82

  1,250

  1,707

  1982–83

  1,276

  1,705

  1983–84

  1,320

  1,759

  1984–85

  1,285

  1,761

  1985–86

  1,278

  1,817

  609

  Unit costs (1994–95 prices)

  £

  Pre-primary/primary

  Secondary

  1986–87

  1,340

  1,968

  1987–88

  1,414

  2,108

  1988–89

  1,438

  2,219

  1989–90

  1,448

  2,242

  1990–91

  1,460

  2,173

  1991–92

  1,524

  2,231

  1992–93

  1,533

  2,189

  1993–94

  1,561

  2,114

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in total on school education in Staffordshire in each of the past 25 years, at constant prices. [37663]

  Mr. Squire
  The table shows expenditure on per-primary, and primary and secondary education by Staffordshire local education authority from 1970–71 and 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available. These figures have not been adjusted for any changes of function.

  Expenditure on school education (1993–94 prices)

  £ million

  Staffordshire county council

  1970–71

  156.23

  1971–72

  165.64

  1972–73

  175.95

  1973–74

  191.14

  1974–75

  283.80

  1975–76

  289.81

  1976–77

  292.80

  1977–78

  278.39

  1978–79

  281.47

  1979–80

  276.93

  1980–81

  288.04

  1981–82

  292.34

  1982–83

  285.42

  1983–84

  287.83

  1984–85

  277.12

  1985–86

  274.36

  1986–87

  282.80

  1987–88

  291.86

  1988–89

  293.64

  1989–90

  301.35

  1990–91

  304.63

  1991–92

  295.94

  1992–93

  353.99

  1993–94

  290.65

  Teachers' Salaries
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of the total schools' budget was spent on teachers' salaries in each of the local education authorities in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [37668]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table sets out for each LEA in England the expenditure on teaching staff in LEA maintained pre-primary/primary schools and secondary schools as a percentage of the net institutional expenditure in those schools for 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available.610

  Teaching staff cost as a percentage of net institutional expenditure 1993–94

  A

  B

  C

  LEA

  Teaching staff £000

  Net institutional expenditure £000

  A as a percentage of B Percentage

  Corporation of London

  378

  733

  52

  Camden

  35,194

  46,302

  76

  Greenwich

  50,130

  77,061

  65

  Hackney

  38,459

  51,207

  75

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  22,873

  39,040

  59

  Islington

  33,662

  63,274

  53

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15,156

  23,362

  65

  Lambeth

  34,363

  59,898

  57

  Lewisham

  41,099

  68,108

  60

  Southwark

  35,338

  54,945

  64

  Tower Hamlets

  54,948

  91,306

  60

  Wandsworth

  26,905

  43,474

  62

  City of Westminster

  29,294

  43,757

  67

  Barking

  33,546

  49,756

  67

  Barnet

  53,545

  79,721

  67

  Bexley

  39,690

  57,976

  68

  Brent

  35,940

  46,275

  78

  Bromley

  32,864

  45,870

  72

  Croydon

  48,644

  73,977

  66

  Ealing

  43,194

  64,023

  67

  Enfield

  49,634

  75,390

  66

  Haringey

  45,935

  69,825

  66

  Harrow

  37,489

  55,040

  68

  Havering

  40,556

  59,589

  68

  Hillingdon

  24,566

  38,121

  64

  Hounslow

  44,736

  66,548

  67

  Kingston upon Thames

  20,811

  29,733

  70

  Merton

  31,906

  43,984

  73

  Newham

  50,705

  75,469

  67

  Redbridge

  46,535

  67,518

  69

  Richmond upon Thames

  24,903

  35,540

  70

  Sutton

  21,402

  30,401

  70

  Waltham Forest

  40,535

  58,999

  69

  Birmingham

  196,471

  289,888

  68

  Coventry

  64,075

  95,385

  67

  Dudley

  53,025

  71,564

  74

  Sandwell

  62,564

  92,154

  68

  Solihull

  40,771

  58,845

  69

  Walsall

  52,830

  78,333

  67

  Wolverhampton

  51,527

  64,736

  80

  Knowsley

  31,389

  45,255

  69

  Liverpool

  96,545

  151,860

  64

  St. Helens

  37,063

  54,132

  68

  Sefton

  55,666

  79,781

  70

  Wirral

  66,090

  92,781

  71

  Bolton

  52,422

  72,778

  72

  Bury

  31,913

  43,809

  73

  Manchester

  82,441

  121,410

  68

  Oldham

  53,602

  76,242

  70

  Rochdale

  37,191

  51,176

  73

  Salford

  43,307

  60,293

  72

  Stockport

  51,810

  73,397

  71

  Tameside

  37,618

  55,878

  67

  Trafford

  34,606

  48,526

  71

  Wigan

  62,581

  83,150

  75

  Barnsley

  40,554

  57,556

  70

  Doncaster

  60,089

  83,367

  72

  Rotherham

  55,960

  81,735

  68

  Sheffield

  87,358

  120,122

  73

  Bradford

  104,376

  146,676

  71

  Calderdale

  36,813

  51,534

  71

  Kirklees

  78,290

  108,218

  72

  Leeds

  141,119

  198,082

  71

  Wakefield

  60,282

  88,219

  68

  Gateshead

  38,847

  55,499

  70

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  49,545

  74,609

  66

  North Tyneside

  38,582

  51,418

  75

  South Tyneside

  30,202

  40,908

  74

  Sunderland

  62,686

  85,118

  74

  Isles of Scilly

  582

  915

  64

  Avon

  167,577

  245,926

  68

  Bedfordshire

  100,576

  146,717

  69

  611

  Teaching staff cost as a percentage of net institutional expenditure 1993–94

  A

  B

  C

  LEA

  Teaching staff £000

  Net institutional expenditure £000

  A as a percentage of B Percentage

  Berkshire

  128,112

  181,262

  71

  Buckinghamshire

  105,449

  168,270

  63

  Cambridgeshire

  98,564

  143,360

  69

  Cheshire

  178,169

  258,947

  69

  Cleveland

  116,869

  165,533

  71

  Cornwall

  85,273

  122,213

  70

  Cumbria

  87,360

  121,321

  72

  Derbyshire

  161,265

  229,278

  70

  Devon

  169,425

  238,869

  72

  Dorset

  93,728

  131,513

  71

  Durham

  116,556

  171,186

  68

  East Sussex

  109,940

  158,657

  69

  Essex

  199,831

  297,785

  67

  Gloucestershire

  68,882

  95,940

  72

  Hampshire

  243,811

  350,002

  70

  Hereford and Worcester

  123,108

  169,327

  73

  Hertfordshire

  176,401

  254,881

  69

  Humberside

  165,106

  258,537

  64

  Isle of Wight

  23,356

  32,533

  72

  Kent

  216,360

  299,603

  72

  Lancashire

  277,811

  398,358

  70

  Leicestershire

  178,468

  256,746

  70

  Lincolnshire

  83,627

  118,238

  71

  Norfolk

  121,095

  170,158

  71

  North Yorkshire

  133,453

  184,672

  72

  Northamptonshire

  104,657

  148,318

  71

  Northumberland

  60,487

  94,228

  64

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sector 1991–95

  Position in January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Local education authority area

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  Corporation of London

  14

  —

  11

  —

  15

  —

  14

  —

  16

  —

  Camden

  1,196

  —

  1,299

  —

  1,273

  —

  1,321

  160

  1,346

  165

  Greenwich

  2,196

  —

  2,234

  —

  2,033

  —

  1,984

  —

  1,939

  11

  Hackney

  1,715

  —

  1,604

  —

  1,550

  —

  1,459

  —

  1,429

  7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,045

  79

  1,033

  83

  1,024

  88

  977

  86

  941

  82

  Islington

  1,310

  —

  1,338

  —

  1,533

  —

  1,627

  —

  1,360

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  689

  41

  795

  42

  696

  45

  670

  65

  674

  78

  Lambeth

  1,453

  —

  1,541

  39

  1,549

  55

  1,575

  303

  1,680

  390

  Lewisham

  1,818

  —

  1,411

  —

  1,777

  19

  1,809

  23

  1,863

  21

  Southwark

  1,714

  31

  1,695

  34

  1,705

  33

  1,739

  236

  1,687

  237

  Tower Hamlets

  2,115

  —

  2,118

  56

  2,232

  59

  2,309

  57

  2,250

  59

  Wandsworth

  1,725

  —

  1,730

  186

  1,754

  314

  1,625

  478

  1,561

  485

  Westminster

  1,154

  —

  1,147

  —

  1,188

  —

  1,160

  —

  1,121

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,267

  —

  1,322

  —

  1,353

  —

  1,375

  —

  1,446

  —

  Barnet

  2,415

  131

  2,595

  139

  2,597

  224

  2,596

  649

  2,638

  720

  Bexley

  1,745

  —

  1,711

  —

  1,753

  20

  1,781

  202

  1,836

  261

  Brent

  2,023

  63

  2,032

  64

  2,030

  147

  1,962

  595

  1,971

  803

  Bromley

  1,958

  58

  1,938

  383

  2,080

  720

  2,179

  745

  2,181

  871

  Croydon

  2,548

  —

  2,486

  50

  2,397

  57

  2,326

  266

  2,409

  544

  Ealing

  2,202

  —

  2,143

  —

  2,130

  349

  2,077

  444

  2,097

  460

  Enfield

  2,264

  —

  2,292

  —

  2,324

  —

  2,273

  362

  2,358

  371

  Haringey

  1,553

  —

  1,605

  —

  1,589

  —

  1,719

  —

  1,730

  —

  Harrow

  1,450

  —

  1,570

  —

  1,581

  —

  1,566

  33

  1,576

  37

  Havering

  2,011

  —

  2,049

  —

  2,009

  —

  1,907

  236

  1,891

  249

  Hillingdon

  1,754

  60

  1,770

  422

  1,843

  609

  1,814

  875

  1,870

  911

  Hounslow

  1,928

  —

  1,891

  —

  1,869

  —

  1,880

  128

  1,890

  134

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,035

  —

  988

  —

  1,051

  60

  1,066

  202

  1,057

  208

  Merton

  1,311

  —

  1,268

  —

  1,297

  —

  1,255

  —

  1,269

  51

  Newham

  2,070

  —

  2,039

  45

  1,972

  43

  1,916

  43

  1,968

  44

  Redbridge

  1,698

  —

  1,796

  —

  1,858

  —

  1,927

  72

  1,937

  74

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,016

  —

  1,135

  —

  1,029

  —

  1,040

  —

  1,052

  —

  Sutton

  1,345

  50

  1,299

  152

  1,266

  254

  1,292

  443

  1,354

  452

  Waltham Forest

  1,917

  —

  1,976

  67

  1,903

  71

  1,718

  127

  1,706

  140

  612

  Teaching staff cost as a percentage of net institutional expenditure 1993–94

  A

  B

  C

  LEA

  Teaching staff £000

  Net institutional expenditure £000

  A as a percentage of B Percentage

  Nottinghamshire

  194,118

  290,292

  67

  Oxfordshire

  100,658

  147,651

  68

  Shropshire

  75,902

  107,487

  71

  Somerset

  82,420

  115,127

  72

  Staffordshire

  185,020

  279,249

  66

  Suffolk

  126,513

  175,794

  72

  Surrey

  135,672

  195,024

  70

  Warwickshire

  85,464

  121,532

  70

  West Sussex

  122,783

  181,070

  68

  Wiltshire

  92,673

  132,678

  70

  8,462,266

  12,243,402

  69

  Teacher Numbers
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were employed and how many of them were employed in grant-maintained schools in each local education authority in England in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the figures in the previous five years. [37664]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  613

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sector 1991–95

  Position in January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Local education authority area

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  Birmingham

  9,125

  165

  9,343

  311

  9,548

  335

  9,452

  922

  9,366

  1,087

  Coventry

  2,745

  —

  2,795

  —

  2,752

  —

  2,747

  —

  2,657

  —

  Dudley

  2,727

  43

  2,781

  43

  2,670

  45

  2,534

  303

  2,576

  318

  Sandwell

  2,949

  —

  2,921

  50

  2,959

  53

  2,828

  48

  2,689

  109

  Solihull

  1,860

  —

  1,795

  —

  1,857

  27

  1,836

  26

  1,845

  25

  Walsall

  2,744

  —

  2,619

  —

  2,575

  154

  2,668

  390

  2,560

  465

  Wolverhampton

  2,582

  40

  2,636

  122

  2,467

  120

  2,447

  164

  2,377

  166

  Knowsley

  1,481

  —

  1,398

  —

  1,351

  —

  1,354

  44

  1,446

  46

  Liverpool

  4,470

  65

  4,221

  69

  4,185

  69

  4,191

  147

  4,194

  204

  St. Helens

  1,713

  —

  1,656

  —

  1,679

  —

  1,637

  —

  1,635

  —

  Sefton

  2,433

  —

  2,479

  —

  2,515

  —

  2,484

  —

  2,546

  —

  Wirral

  3,099

  —

  2,924

  —

  2,963

  —

  2,885

  129

  2,927

  132

  Bolton

  2,550

  47

  2,496

  50

  2,517

  71

  2,445

  202

  2,467

  202

  Bury

  1,484

  —

  1,461

  —

  1,467

  —

  1,395

  10

  1,420

  10

  Manchester

  4,254

  —

  3,974

  —

  4,044

  —

  3,631

  —

  3,587

  —

  Oldham

  2,196

  —

  2,253

  —

  2,256

  —

  2,215

  —

  2,202

  —

  Rochdale

  1,934

  —

  1,987

  —

  1,851

  10

  1,789

  101

  1,819

  189

  Salford

  2,147

  —

  2,052

  —

  2,000

  —

  1,802

  27

  1,821

  30

  Stockport

  2,340

  —

  2,332

  —

  2,362

  —

  2,170

  —

  2,185

  —

  Tameside

  2,042

  47

  2,085

  49

  2,036

  49

  1,791

  137

  1,842

  139

  Trafford

  1,763

  —

  1,611

  —

  1,616

  —

  1,621

  192

  1,694

  205

  Wigan

  2,972

  —

  3,015

  —

  3,096

  —

  2,728

  —

  2,754

  —

  Barnsley

  1,760

  —

  1,714

  —

  1,696

  —

  1,721

  —

  1,704

  —

  Doncaster

  2,753

  —

  2,691

  —

  2,760

  —

  2,732

  —

  2,703

  —

  Rotherham

  2,522

  —

  2,464

  —

  2,335

  —

  2,403

  —

  2,440

  —

  Sheffield

  4,043

  —

  3,937

  —

  3,866

  4

  3,797

  136

  3,719

  182

  Bradford

  5,012

  —

  5,093

  66

  5,004

  66

  5,103

  342

  4,779

  400

  Calderdale

  1,791

  —

  1,806

  89

  1,827

  96

  1,814

  298

  1,769

  530

  Kirklees

  3,701

  62

  3,590

  70

  3,632

  71

  3,443

  77

  3,373

  79

  Leeds

  6,320

  —

  6,300

  —

  6,010

  —

  5,839

  75

  5,759

  71

  Wakefield

  2,909

  —

  2,748

  —

  2,741

  —

  2,630

  —

  2,704

  —

  Gateshead

  1,750

  —

  1,731

  —

  1,707

  —

  1,759

  —

  1,715

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,346

  —

  2,285

  —

  2,212

  —

  2,112

  —

  2,104

  —

  North Tyneside

  1,826

  —

  1,768

  —

  1,765

  —

  1,649

  —

  1,639

  11

  South Tyneside

  1,410

  —

  1,385

  —

  1,325

  —

  1,342

  —

  1,340

  —

  Sunderland

  2,681

  —

  2,692

  —

  2,651

  —

  2,744

  —

  2,728

  —

  Isles of Scilly

  29

  —

  27

  —

  28

  —

  27

  —

  26

  —

  Avon

  7,401

  51

  7,996

  96

  7,612

  99

  7,504

  107

  7,677

  118

  Bedfordshire

  4,909

  44

  4,959

  51

  4,983

  194

  4,808

  586

  5,008

  629

  Berkshire

  5,892

  41

  5,892

  360

  6,080

  540

  6,149

  614

  6,171

  729

  Buckinghamshire

  5,136

  150

  4,973

  217

  5,215

  299

  5,236

  689

  5,310

  770

  Cambridge

  5,377

  —

  5,419

  10

  5,667

  367

  5,501

  1,005

  5,573

  1,029

  Cheshire

  7,956

  30

  7,968

  34

  8,072

  42

  7,922

  177

  8,013

  185

  Cleveland

  5,536

  —

  5,546

  —

  5,560

  —

  5,243

  —

  5,189

  —

  Cornwall

  3,751

  —

  3,697

  —

  3,647

  —

  3,561

  —

  3,675

  —

  Cumbria

  4,191

  4,154

  102

  4,211

  341

  4,078

  612

  4,016

  849

  Derbyshire

  8,490

  127

  7,910

  139

  8,098

  285

  7,861

  1,069

  7,555

  1,185

  Devon

  7,133

  31

  7,076

  33

  7,229

  90

  7,358

  304

  7,437

  319

  Dorset

  4,476

  56

  4,512

  168

  4,389

  374

  4,330

  587

  4,393

  651

  Durham

  4,845

  —

  5,007

  —

  5,239

  —

  5,105

  —

  5,117

  —

  East Sussex

  4,524

  —

  4,673

  —

  4,908

  —

  4,779

  —

  4,899

  —

  Essex

  12,274

  —

  12,251

  205

  12,033

  1,665

  11,616

  4,407

  11,771

  5,165

  Gloucestershire

  4,349

  187

  4,042

  186

  4,090

  828

  4,195

  1,234

  4,258

  1,616

  Hampshire

  11,415

  44

  11,593

  190

  12,037

  394

  11,394

  1,147

  11,871

  1,348

  Hereford and Worcester

  5,413

  —

  5,451

  —

  5,441

  —

  5,256

  202

  5,329

  207

  Hertfordshire

  8,248

  165

  8,155

  305

  8,280

  411

  8,510

  1,256

  8,725

  1,719

  Humberside

  7,722

  —

  7,680

  4

  7,740

  5

  7,229

  13

  7,394

  19

  Isle of Wight

  1,008

  —

  1,021

  —

  997

  —

  1,013

  —

  999

  —

  Kent

  11,674

  30

  11,724

  828

  11,980

  1,709

  12,224

  3,110

  12,552

  3,724

  Lancashire

  11,761

  106

  11,733

  225

  11,922

  281

  12,051

  455

  12,088

  485

  Leicestershire

  7,764

  21

  7,830

  24

  7,570

  25

  7,832

  193

  7,810

  194

  Lincolnshire

  4,869

  185

  4,748

  479

  4,808

  935

  4,876

  1,344

  4,877

  1,507

  Norfolk

  5,564

  65

  5,687

  102

  5,791

  474

  5,808

  706

  5,898

  763

  North Yorkshire

  5,656

  —

  5,803

  —

  5,954

  —

  5,844

  5,774

  2

  Northamptonshire

  5,337

  39

  5,458

  222

  5,466

  602

  5,376

  767

  5,624

  796

  Northumberland

  2,736

  —

  2,791

  —

  2,677

  —

  2,644

  42

  2,672

  45

  Nottinghamshire

  8,383

  —

  8,530

  —

  8,508

  20

  8,376

  120

  8,354

  121

  Oxfordshire

  4,042

  —

  4,150

  —

  4,206

  —

  4,363

  5

  4,426

  5

  614

  615

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sector 1991–95

  Position in January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Local education authority area

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  All schools

  GM only

  Shropshire

  3,634

  30

  3,712

  31

  3,563

  31

  3,352

  243

  3,384

  330

  Somerset

  3,585

  —

  3,558

  34

  3,595

  46

  3,653

  49

  3,665

  76

  Staffordshire

  8,862

  —

  8,798

  —

  8,357

  —

  8,263

  267

  8,245

  279

  Suffolk

  4,949

  —

  5,277

  —

  5,276

  —

  5,391

  —

  5,466

  —

  Surrey

  6,625

  47

  6,511

  276

  6,677

  590

  6,206

  816

  6,529

  1,218

  Warwickshire

  3,984

  —

  3,904

  88

  3,961

  206

  4,017

  311

  4,027

  327

  West Sussex

  4,855

  —

  5,210

  —

  5,319

  —

  5,208

  —

  5,230

  17

  Wiltshire

  4,513

  —

  4,559

  34

  4,596

  112

  4,604

  759

  4,698

  1,053

  England

  394,945

  2,430

  394,874

  7,121

  396,332

  15,353

  390,430

  33,794

  392,910

  39,941

  1. Figures for 1994 onwards exclude sixth from colleges which transferred to the new FE sector on 1 April 1993.

  Surplus School Places
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many surplus school places there were and what was their cost in each local education authority in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [37666]

  Mrs. Gillan
  For the numbers of surplus school places in each local education authority I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 9 December 1994,Official Report, columns 410–14. At a national level, the average premises-related cost of maintaining a surplus place is estimated to be £182 a year for a primary school and £303 a year for a secondary school at 1995–96 prices. The actual cost and the scope for realising savings from removal of surplus places in practice in each local education authority will depend on local circumstances.

  Barnsley and Doncaster TEC
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the directors of Barnsley and Doncaster TEC have received payments from TEC funds for services provided by the TEC; what these were and when; and if such payments will continue in the current financial year, and in 1996–97. [38293]

  Mr. Paice
  The activities of Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council are governed by the TEC licensing agreement, which provides that no director, except where he holds office as managing director or chief executive of the TEC, shall receive any remuneration from the TEC or a subsidiary of the TEC from payments made to the TEC by the Secretary of State. All directors give their time freely for TEC and TEC partnership activities. The chief executive's remuneration is reported in the TEC's annual report, a copy of which is placed in the Library.

  Careers Service Inspectorate
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the policy of publishing the inspectors' reports following careers service inspections, mentioned in the answer of 30 November 1993,Official Report, column 518, was changed and when it was reported to the House. [38318]
  616
  Mr. Paice
  The policy of publishing inspection reports has not changed. Inspections of aspects of careers service work will start later this year and reports will be published. The Chief Inspector of Careers Service has published two annual reports on the work of the Careers Service since the enactment of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will the public reports by the inspectorate of careers services since the enactment of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993. [38155]

  Mr. Paice
  The public reports by the inspectorate of careers services since the enactment of the TURER Act 1993 are as follows:

  The Careers Service annual report 1994–95

  The Careers Service annual report 1993–94

  Pay Bargaining
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide in respect of her plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury(a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in Headquarters functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for the trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38275]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The pay delegation plan for the Department for Education and Employment bargaining unit, excluding the Employment Service, includes the following staff, covered by the union agreement described:

  Grade

  Union agreement

  Staff in posts

  Administrative Officer

  CPSA

  1,348

  Personal Secretary

  CPSA

  156

  Support Grade Band 1

  NUCPS

  77

  Support Manager 3

  NUCPS

  12

  Economic Assistant

  FDA

  11

  Senior Economic Assistant

  FDA

  9

  Management Trainee

  NUCPS

  11

  Senior Executive Officer (inc.)

  NUCPS

  422

  617

  Grade

  Union agreement

  Staff in post

  Auditors and Accountants

  FDA

  8

  Admin Trainee HEO (D)

  FDA

  26

  Administrative Assistant

  CPSA

  410

  Chief Typing Manager

  CPSA

  1

  Typist

  CPSA

  98

  Higher Executive Officer (inc.

  NUCPS

  1,098

  Auditors and Accountants)

  NUCPS

  5

  Senior Instructional Officer

  NUCPS

  205

  Support Grade Band 2

  NUCPS

  1

  Support Manager 1

  Senior Personal Secretary

  CPSA

  43

  Typing Manager

  CPSA

  6

  Executive Officers (inc. Accountants)

  NUCPS

  1,203

  Support Manager 2

  NUCPS

  4

  Assistant Statistician

  FDA

  14

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  FDA

  8

  Higher Instructional Officer

  NUCPS

  12

  Senior Information Officer

  IPMS

  23

  Scientific Officer

  IPMS

  3

  Higher Scientific Officer

  IPMS

  7

  Senior Scientific Officer

  IPMS

  2

  Senior Professional and Technology Officer (SPTO)

  IPMS

  18

  Information Officer

  IPMS

  38

  Graphics Officer

  IPMS

  1

  Higher Graphics Officer

  IPMS

  1

  Assistant Information Officer

  IPMS

  14

  Research Officer

  IPMS

  2

  Senior Psychologist

  IPMS

  7

  Senior Research Officer

  IPMS

  27

  Grade 6

  IPMS,

  66

  Grade 7

  NUCPS and

  518

  Super Spec Inspector Band C

  FDA

  1

  Assistant Librarian

  IPMS

  16

  Librarian

  IPMS

  5

  Senior Librarian

  IPMS

  2

  Senior Training Adviser

  IPMS

  24

  Total

  5,963

  For collective bargaining purposes the DFEE intends to recognise four unions—the Civil and Public Services Association, the National Union of Civil and Public Servants, the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists and the Association of First Division Civil Servants.

  The Department will pursue single table bargaining arrangements.

  Indigenous Populations
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to ratify ILO convention 169 on indigenous and tribal populations. [38317]

  Mr. Forth
  ILO convention 169 has no practical application in the UK. The Government do not propose to ratify it.

  School Internet Links
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many 618
  schools and what percentage of the total are currently linked to the Internet; what is the cost of linking those schools not hitherto connected; and if she will make a statement. [38584]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Estimates of the number of schools currently connected to the Internet, and other relevant issues, will be covered in a paper to be published next month by the UK Education Departments outlining the way forward for superhighways in education.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made on the introduction of the formulation of a national policy on the provision of special education. [38790]

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Act 1993 requires the Secretary of State to issue a code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs. The code, which was issued in May 1994 and came into effect from September that year, gives practical guidance to local education authorities, schools and other agencies on identifying, assessing and monitoring all children with SEN. The Department is monitoring carefully the implementation of the code.

  Unemployment Benefit Fraud
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total amount saved by unemployment benefit fraud investigators in the last financial year; what evidence is required for each individual signing off unemployment benefit to be counted in the total figure for unemployed fraud figures; what is the assumed number of weeks that a unemployed fraudulent claim would have on average continued if not investigated; what research is the basis for the assumed number of weeks that an unemployed fraudulent claim would have on average continued if not investigated and what consideration has been given to the continued accuracy of this research; and what safeguards exist against Department of Social Security inspectors exaggerating the benefit savings for investigations into fraudulent benefit claims in an attempt to meet Department targets. [37592]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 24 October 1995:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about benefit fraud investigation.

  In 1994/95 78,231 clients withdrew their claim to benefit after being investigated by Employment Service (ES) Inspectors. This resulted in gross benefit savings of £92,061,095. After deducting the cost of the benefit fraud organisation, the net savings were £64,556,652.

  Safeguard exist through the checking and validation process performed by fraud staff, their managers and Audit. ES Inspectors authorise each saving/sign off, provided there is a link between the saving/sign-off and the last recorded action of the investigation and the claim is closed or modified within 10 working days of that action.
  619 Inspector Manager, who manage 10–15 ES Inspectors, check a minimum of 10% of all cases where a saving/sign-off is claimed to ensure that they are valid. All client prosecutions are authorised by Senior Inspector Managers who also arrange for an annual audit of savings/sign-off cases, where a proportion of cases are checked for validity. The cases checked include some which have not previously been validated.Benefit savings are calculated by multiplying the weekly amount of benefit in payment, at the time the client signs-off/modifies their claim, by 22. This 22 week figure was identified by Department of Social Security research in 1982 and represents the number of weeks clients would have remained on the register if they had not been investigated by ES Inspectors.Since 1982 there have been several similar studies undertaken by Benefits Agency and the ES, the last such study was in 1994. This is an ongoing process and has confirmed that the 22 week multiplier is still valid.I hope this is helpful.

  Social Affairs Council
  Ms Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Social Affairs Council of 5 October. [37709]

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring) on 19 October 1995,Official Report, column 379.

  Employment Service Agency
  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons unemployed for over(a) one year and (b) two years were placed in employment by the Employment Service agency in 1994–95. [38526]

  Mr. Forth
  In Great Britain during the financial year 1994–95 the Employment Service placed into jobs 556,600 people who had been claimant unemployed for six months or more. This represents an increase of 20 per cent. over the previous year. This is the extent of, the readily available information.

  School Premises Regulations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the cost of ensuring that all schools meet the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. [38765]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information about school premises that is available to the Department is not sufficient to allow such an estimate to be made.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many responses she has had to the consultation on the Education (School Premises) Regulations; and how many were in favour of proposed changes. [38767]

  Mrs. Gillan
  A total of 111 responses were received by the Department before the consultation period formally came to an end on 18 October. They are still being analysed. We shall make available a summary of the responses in the usual way.
  620
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools meet the requirements in the Education (School Premises) Regulations in respect of(a) space allocation, (b) washrooms and (c) staff rooms. [38768]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Education Authority Capital Spending
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amounts have been requested by way of capital spending in 1996–97 by each local education authority; and what has been the total amount requested in England. [38766]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The closing date for the submission of capital bids by local education authorities was 13 October. The bids are therefore still being analysed by the Department.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what method of funding the Government envisage for the new nursery classes under the consultation for removing the requirements to publish statutory proposals to establish nursery classes in the maintained, grant-maintained, voluntary and county school sector. [39148]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently consulting interested parties on removing the requirement for the maintained sector to publish statutory proposals to establish new nursery classes. The consultation letter discusses a number of options and their funding implications. These will be considered in light of the responses to the consultation letter.

  Student Union Membership
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students have chosen to exercise their right not to be a member of a students union following the enactment on 21 September 1994 of the Education Act 1994, section 22, subsection 2(c) relating to the rights of students; and from which institutions unions students have exercised this right. [39147]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available as it is not collected centrally.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors led her not to intervene in the case of Mr. Michael Johnson's appearance before the industrial tribunal on 23 May; what factors underlay her delay in intervening in the case under the terms of the Education Act 1944 and the Education Reform Act 1988; when she expects to intervene in this case; and what factors allowed her to intervene in the case of Jennifer Watson under this legislation. [39146]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to seek to usurp the functions of industrial tribunals through the exercise of her powers under
  621
  sections 68 and 99 of the Education Act 1944. My right hon. Friend is still considering certain points of law in the case of Mr. Johnson and hopes to conclude her consideration in the near future. In the case of Mrs. Watson, my right hon. Friend concluded that the appointment of a particular governor to the disciplinary panel constituted a breach of natural justice of a kind that no sensible governing body acting with due appreciation of its statutory duties could have decided to adopt.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many school leavers there were in each of the past five years from maintained and independent sectors; and what percentage in each category were intending to enter degree or teacher training courses. [38901]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on school leavers is no longer collected by the Department. The numbers of school leavers in maintained and independent sector schools in England for the latest two years for which information was available are as follows:

  Number of school leavers of which intended to enter degree or teaching training courses

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Maintained schools

  494,130

  474,450

  11 per cent.

  13 per cent.

  Independent schools

  47,740

  44,750

  46 per cent.

  54 per cent.

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of her(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (i) misappropriated in such frauds and (ii) subsequently recovered. [39140]

  Mr. Forth
  The number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by Department for Education and Employment staff for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95 and the sums involved and subsequently recovered are as follows:

  Number of cases

  Amount involved £

  Amount recovered £

  1991–92

  DFEE

  1

  24,417.92

  24,417.92

  Agencies

  30

  141,753.97

  846.58

  NDPBs

  1

  3,7000.00

  Nil

  1992–93

  DFEE

  2

  1,675.00

  1,675.00

  Agencies

  18

  12,749.41

  861.65

  NDPBs

  2

  3,657.00

  Nil

  1993–94

  DFEE

  4

  204,493.05

  Nil

  Agencies

  24

  89,570.79

  277.54

  NDPBs

  6

  3,588.90

  642.00

  622

  Number of cases

  Amount involved £

  Amount recovered £

  1994–95

  DFEE

  6

  8,329.55

  3,000.00

  Agencies

  12

  78,562.01

  3,190.81

  NDPBs

  3

  3,727.54

  556.54

  Notes:

  1. The figures for DFEE have been produced from the annual Treasury returns submitted by the Employment Department and the Department for Education.

  2. Where thefts have occurred but no perpetrator identified these cases have been excluded.

  3. The figures represent the year in which the frauds were reported to Treasury, not necessarily when they were committed.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils attended each school taking part in the assisted places scheme in the last academic year; how many in each case were on an assisted place; and what was the percentage on the assisted places scheme. [37933]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The information requested, which relates to England only and to the academic year 1994–95, is given in the following table.

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number of pupils on roll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  Abbey School, Reading

  991

  47

  4.74

  Abingdon

  761

  96

  12.61

  Ackworth

  470

  26

  5.53

  Aldenham

  350

  29

  8.29

  Alice Ottley

  700

  89

  12.71

  Alleyn's, Dulwich

  1,101

  207

  18.80

  Ardingly College

  668

  31

  4.64

  Arnold School, Blackpool

  1,145

  80

  6.99

  Ashford

  556

  42

  7.55

  Ashville College

  725

  15

  2.07

  Austin Friars

  298

  15

  5.03

  Bancroft's

  943

  80

  8.48

  Barnard Castle

  624

  23

  3.69

  Bath High GPDST

  632

  100

  15.82

  Batley Grammar

  582

  270

  46.39

  Bedales

  646

  3

  .46

  Bedford

  1,119

  104

  9.29

  Bedford High

  916

  113

  12.34

  Bedford Modern

  1,171

  144

  12.30

  Belvedere GPDST

  653

  177

  27.11

  Berkhamstead Girls

  529

  21

  3.97

  Berkhamsted

  694

  28

  4.03

  Birkenhead

  1,086

  179

  16.48

  Birkenhead High GPDST

  973

  251

  25.80

  Bishop's Stortford College

  564

  50

  8.87

  Blackheath High GPDST

  596

  96

  16.11

  Bloxham, Banbury

  339

  26

  7.67

  Bolton School Boys

  1,008

  253

  25.10

  Bolton School Girls

  1,162

  240

  20.65

  Bootham, York

  334

  30

  8.98

  Bradfield College

  592

  6

  1.01

  623

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number of pupils on roll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  Bradford Girls Grammar

  911

  65

  7.14

  Bradford Grammar School

  1,107

  231

  20.87

  Brentwood School

  1,259

  113

  8.98

  Brighton College

  472

  114

  24.15

  Brighton and Hove High School GPDST

  750

  155

  20.67

  Bristol Cathedral

  471

  132

  28.03

  Bristol Grammar

  1,225

  280

  22.86

  Bromley High GPDST

  792

  102

  12.88

  Bromsgrove

  1,156

  27

  2.34

  Bruton Girls

  538

  137

  25.46

  Burgess High Girls

  610

  30

  4.92

  Bury Grammar Boys

  820

  209

  25.49

  Bury Grammar Girls

  1,092

  253

  23.17

  Canford

  467

  31

  6.64

  Carmel College

  213

  76

  35.68

  Casterton

  359

  56

  15.60

  Caterham

  470

  133

  28.30

  Central Newcastle High School GPDST

  887

  123

  13.87

  Charterhouse

  700

  9

  1.29

  Cheadle Humle

  958

  136

  14.20

  Cheltenham Ladies' College

  853

  23

  2.70

  Chigwell

  668

  72

  10.78

  Christ's Hospital

  818

  31

  3.79

  Churcher's College

  697

  131

  18.79

  City of London

  877

  139

  15.85

  City of London Freemans

  716

  15

  2.09

  City of London Girls

  640

  125

  19.53

  Clifton College, Bristol

  1,063

  66

  6.21

  Clifton High, Bristol

  715

  54

  7.55

  Colfe's

  971

  204

  21.01

  Colston's Girls

  499

  178

  35.67

  Colston's Bristol

  632

  98

  15.51

  Coventry, Bablake

  859

  188

  21.89

  Cranleigh

  691

  35

  5.07

  Croham Hurst

  496

  27

  5.44

  Croydon High GPDST

  1,029

  96

  9.33

  Culford

  612

  51

  8.33

  Dame Alice Harpur

  943

  144

  15.27

  Dame Allans Boys

  458

  113

  24.67

  Dame Allans Girls

  443

  140

  31.60

  Dauntseys

  620

  60

  9.68

  Denstone College

  296

  119

  40.20

  Derby High

  530

  25

  4.72

  Douai, Reading

  197

  28

  14.21

  Dover College

  221

  25

  11.31

  Downe House, Newbury

  553

  16

  2.89

  Dulwich College

  1,406

  275

  19.56

  Durham

  429

  44

  10.26

  Edgbaston College Girls

  319

  27

  8.46

  Edgehill College

  470

  141

  30.00

  Ellesmere College

  352

  17

  4.83

  Eltham College, London SE9

  769

  121

  15.73

  Emanuel, London SW11

  702

  280

  39.89

  Epsom College

  657

  23

  3.50

  624

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number of pupils on roll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  Exeter

  828

  169

  20.41

  Farnborough Hill

  536

  151

  28.17

  Felsted, Dunmow

  598

  54

  9.03

  Forest School

  1,229

  139

  11.31

  Framlingham College

  728

  13

  1.79

  Francis Holland

  376

  30

  7.98

  Friends, Saffron Walden

  341

  101

  29.62

  Giggleswick, Settle

  438

  21

  4.79

  Godolphin and Latymer

  706

  172

  24.36

  Godolphin, Salisbury

  434

  29

  6.68

  Gresham's

  743

  12

  1.62

  Guildford High Girls

  730

  30

  4.11

  Haberdashers' Aske's Boys

  1,301

  235

  18.06

  Haberdashers' Aske Girls

  1,138

  117

  10.28

  Haileybury

  585

  28

  4.79

  Hampton

  947

  204

  21.54

  Harrogate College

  342

  22

  6.43

  Headington

  768

  27

  3.52

  Hereford Cathedral

  634

  240

  37.85

  Highgate

  1,077

  41

  3.81

  Hipperholme Grammar

  353

  18

  5.10

  Holy Child

  295

  25

  8.47

  Hulme Grammar Boys

  807

  212

  26.27

  Hulme Grammar Girls

  620

  189

  30.48

  Hurstpierpoint College

  331

  26

  7.85

  Hymers College

  920

  155

  16.85

  Ipswich

  731

  75

  10.26

  Ipswich High GPDST

  671

  112

  16.69

  James Aliens Girls

  1,004

  172

  17.13

  John Lyon's

  503

  115

  22.86

  Kent College

  684

  88

  12.87

  Kimbolton Schools

  730

  32

  4.38

  King Edward VI High

  541

  131

  24.21

  King Edward VI Norwich

  762

  112

  14.70

  King Edward VI Southampton

  937

  233

  24.87

  King Edward VII Lytham

  530

  219

  41.32

  King Edward's at Bath

  869

  102

  11.74

  King Edward's Birmingham

  869

  239

  27.50

  King Edward's Witley

  515

  58

  11.26

  King Henry VIII

  1,049

  93

  8.87

  King's College Wimbledon

  1,181

  54

  4.57

  King's High Girls, Wark

  564

  135

  23.94

  King's Bruton

  312

  27

  8.65

  King's, Chester

  671

  89

  13.26

  King's Macclesfield

  1,255

  179

  14.26

  King's, Rochester

  653

  66

  10.11

  King's Tynemouth

  894

  26

  2.91

  King's, Worcester

  921

  178

  19.33

  Kinglsey

  566

  24

  4.24

  Kingston Grammar

  597

  171

  28.64

  625

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number of pupils on roll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  Kingswood School, Bath

  437

  44

  10.07

  Kirkham Grammar

  742

  80

  10.78

  La Sagesse Convent

  466

  170

  36.48

  Lady Eleanor Holies

  867

  42

  4.84

  Latymer Upper

  1,065

  264

  24.79

  Laxton

  197

  9

  4.57

  Leeds Girls High

  959

  81

  8.45

  Leeds Grammar

  1,178

  172

  14.60

  Leicester Grammar

  584

  45

  7.71

  Leighton Park

  377

  27

  7.16

  Leys, Cambridge

  411

  38

  925

  Liverpool College

  997

  186

  18.66

  Lord Wandsworth College

  455

  81

  17.80

  Loreto Convent Grammar

  683

  41

  6.00

  Loughborough Grammar

  940

  130

  13.83

  Loughborough High

  534

  95

  17.79

  Magdalen College

  513

  125

  24.37

  Malvern College

  834

  101

  12.11

  Manchester Grammar

  1,414

  264

  18.67

  Manchester High

  934

  181

  19.38

  Marist Convent Senior

  372

  19

  5.11

  Maynard

  540

  168

  31.11

  Merchant Taylors' Girls

  914

  197

  21.55

  Merchant Taylors', L'pool

  823

  223

  27.10

  Merchant Taylors', N'wood

  748

  83

  11.10

  Mill Hill

  527

  75

  14.23

  Monkton Combe

  311

  41

  13.18

  Mount Carmel, Cheshire

  545

  30

  5.50

  Mount St. Mary's College

  297

  70

  23.57

  Mount, York

  274

  30

  10.95

  Newcastle under Lyme

  1,293

  383

  29.62

  Newcastle upon Tyne Church High

  651

  30

  4.61

  North London Collegiate

  971

  89

  9.17

  Northampton High

  831

  167

  20.10

  Norwich High GPDST

  894

  176

  19.69

  Notting Hill and Ealing High GPDST

  840

  117

  13.93

  Nottingham Girls High GPDST

  1,091

  204

  18.70

  Nottingham High

  841

  171

  20.33

  Oakham

  1,005

  28

  2.79

  Old Palace, Croydon

  817

  226

  27.66

  Oxford High GPDST

  650

  57

  8.77

  Pangbourne College

  392

  25

  6.38

  Perse School for Boys

  643

  40

  6.22

  Perse School for Girls

  710

  78

  10.99

  Plymouth College

  824

  202

  24.51

  Pocklington

  735

  152

  20.68

  Polam Hall

  409

  40

  9.78

  626

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number of pupils onroll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  Portsmouth Grammar

  1,173

  178

  15.17

  Portsmouth High GPDST

  743

  138

  18.57

  Prior Park College

  491

  30

  6.11

  Putney High School GPDST

  849

  97

  11.43

  Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol

  501

  179

  35.73

  Queen Elizabeth's, Blackburn

  1,132

  267

  23.59

  Queen Elizabeth, Wakefield

  749

  133

  17.76

  Queen Mary, Lytham

  638

  231

  36.21

  Queen's College, London

  367

  79

  21.53

  Queen's College, Taunton

  675

  67

  9.93

  Queen's School, Chester

  634

  58

  9.15

  Ratcliffe College

  479

  74

  15.45

  Red Maids', Bristol

  581

  178

  30.64

  Redland High, Bristol

  638

  102

  15.99

  Reed's School, Cobham

  351

  26

  7.41

  Reigate Grammar

  775

  99

  12.77

  Rendcomb College

  247

  29

  11.74

  Repton

  570

  58

  10.18

  Rossall

  657

  43

  6.54

  Royal Grammar, Guildford

  834

  124

  14.87

  Royal Grammar, Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,098

  218

  19.85

  Royal Grammar, Worcester

  795

  287

  36.10

  Ryde School

  689

  17

  2.47

  Salesian College

  490

  75

  15.31

  Scarborough College

  381

  30

  7.87

  Sedbergh

  376

  45

  11.97

  Sevenoaks, Kent

  931

  26

  2.79

  Sheffield High GPDST

  780

  96

  12.31

  Shrewsbury High GPDST

  582

  91

  15.64

  Silcoates

  595

  15

  2.52

  Sir William Perkin's

  591

  89

  15.06

  Solihull

  994

  36

  3.62

  South Hampstead High GPDST

  883

  77

  8.72

  St. Albans

  635

  139

  21.89

  St. Albans High Girls

  697

  56

  8.03

  St. Ambrose College

  908

  54

  5.95

  St. Anselm's College

  839

  193

  23.00

  St. Bede's College

  1,169

  220

  18.82

  St. Bees

  287

  74

  25.78

  St. Benedict's

  544

  74

  13.60

  St. Catherine's

  603

  34

  5.64

  St. Dunstan's College

  837

  163

  19.47

  St. Edmund's College

  535

  80

  14.95

  St. Edward's College

  1,047

  396

  37.82

  St. Felix, Southwold

  308

  32

  10.39

  627

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number ofpupils onroll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  St. George's College

  499

  36

  7.21

  St. Helen and St. Katharine, Abingdon

  530

  84

  15.85

  St. Helen's, Northwood

  939

  52

  5.54

  St. John's College, South sea

  777

  203

  26.13

  St. John's, Leatherhead

  383

  17

  4.44

  St. Joseph'sCollege, Ipswich

  714

  77

  10.78

  St. Joseph'sCollege, Stoke on Trent

  470

  25

  5.32

  St. Joseph's Convent, Reading

  372

  130

  34.95

  St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate

  357

  32

  8.96

  St. Margaret's, Bushey

  419

  27

  6.44

  St. Margaret's, Exeter

  429

  31

  7.23

  St. Mary and St. Anne

  281

  25

  8.90

  St. Mary's College, Crosby

  870

  271

  31.15

  St. Mary's Convent, Cambridge

  571

  124

  21.72

  St. Mary's Hall, Brighton

  422

  72

  17.06

  St. Maur's Convent, Weybridge

  607

  64

  10.54

  St. Paul's Girls, Hammersmith

  604

  69

  11.42

  St. Paul's, Barnes

  1,213

  76

  6.27

  St. Peter's, York

  756

  107

  14.15

  St. Swithun's, Winchester

  628

  2

  .32

  Stafford Grammar

  288

  25

  8.68

  Stamford

  922

  102

  11.06

  Stamford High

  956

  113

  11.82

  Stockport Grammar

  1,285

  243

  18.91

  Stonyhurst College

  391

  37

  9.46

  Stowe

  544

  6

  1.10

  Streatham Hill and Clapham High GPDST

  611

  164

  26.84

  Surbiton High

  885

  27

  3.05

  Sutton High GPDST

  755

  70

  9.27

  Sutton Valence

  349

  69

  19.77

  Sydenham High GPDST

  699

  124

  17.74

  Talbot Heath

  525

  137

  26.10

  Taunton

  944

  52

  5.51

  Teeside High

  553

  24

  4.34

  Tonbridge

  658

  3

  .46

  Tormead

  610

  28

  4.59

  Trent College

  688

  132

  19.19

  Trinity School of John Whitgift

  854

  149

  17.45

  Truro

  793

  115

  14.50

  Truro High

  392

  69

  17.60

  University College School

  816

  70

  8.58

  Upton Hall Convent

  601

  169

  28.12

  Ursuline Convent, Kent

  216

  30

  13.89

  628

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Number of pupils on roll1

  Number of APs

  Percentage of APs

  Ursuline High, Ilford

  368

  142

  38.59

  Wakefield High

  1,061

  144

  13.57

  Walthamstow Hall

  528

  46

  8.71

  Warwick

  993

  145

  14.60

  Wellingborough

  766

  67

  8.75

  Wellington College

  810

  39

  4.81

  Wellington, Somerset

  778

  230

  29.56

  Wells Cathedral

  806

  73

  9.06

  West Buckland

  548

  82

  14.96

  Westholme

  1,009

  30

  2.97

  Westminster

  664

  61

  9.19

  Whitgift, Croydon

  1,063

  113

  10.63

  William Hulme Grammar

  789

  221

  28.01

  Wimbledon High GPDST

  810

  78

  9.63

  Winchester College

  667

  23

  3.45

  Wisbech Grammar

  638

  336

  52.66

  Withington Girls

  593

  78

  13.15

  Wolverhampton Grammar

  696

  267

  38.36

  Woodbridge

  744

  128

  17.20

  Woodhouse Grove

  774

  127

  16.41

  Worksop

  326

  25

  7.67

  Wrekin College

  248

  15

  6.05

  Wycliffe College

  607

  43

  7.08

  Yarm

  473

  44

  9.30

  1 As at January 1995.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the fees charged by each school taking part in the assisted places scheme in the last academic year. [37931]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The information requested, which relates to England only and to the academic year 1994–95, is given in the following table:

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Annual fees charged for assisted pupils £

  Abbey School, Reading

  3,615

  Abingdon

  4,472

  Ackworth

  4,093

  Aldenham

  7,742

  Alice Ottley

  4,092

  Alleyn's Dulwich

  5,461

  Ardingly College

  7,379

  Arnold School, Blackpool

  3,405

  Ashford

  4,790

  Ashville College

  4,520

  Austin Friars

  3,966

  Bancroft's

  4,440

  Barnard Castle

  4,230

  Bath High GPDST

  3,405

  Batley Grammar

  3,189

  Bedales

  8,158

  Bedford

  5,866

  Bedford High

  4,401

  Bedford Modern

  4,056

  Belvedere GPDST

  3,405

  Berkhamstead Girls

  4,903

  Berkhamsted

  5,926

  629

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Annual fees charged for assisted pupils £

  Birkenhead

  3,249

  Birkenhead High GPDST

  3,405

  Bishop's Stortford College

  6,861

  Blackheath High GPDST

  3,825

  Bloxham, Banbury

  6,846

  Bolton School Boys

  4,071

  Bolton School Girls

  4,071

  Bootham, York

  5,426

  Bradfield College

  8,612

  Bradford Girls Grmmar

  3,720

  Bradford Grammar School

  3,619

  Brentwood School

  4,633

  Brighton College

  6,326

  Brighton and Hove High School GPDST

  3,405

  Bristol Cathedral

  3,813

  Bristol Grammar

  3,613

  Bromley High GPDST

  3,825

  Bromsgrove

  5,140

  Bruton Girls

  3,315

  Burgess Hill Girls

  4,896

  Bury Grammar Boys

  3,216

  Bury Grammar Girls

  3,216

  Canford

  8,250

  Carmel College

  7,344

  Casterton

  5,011

  Caterham

  4,910

  Central Newcastle High School GPDST

  3,405

  Charterhouse

  9,459

  Cheadle Hulme

  3,786

  Cheltenham Ladies' College

  6,875

  Chigwell

  6,029

  Christ's Hospital

  6,480

  Churcher's College

  4,656

  City of London

  5,365

  City of London Freeman's

  5,431

  City of London Girls

  4,633

  Clifton College, Bristol

  7,049

  Clifton High, Bristol

  3,962

  Colfe's

  4,220

  Colston's Girls

  3,384

  Colston's, Bristol

  4,978

  Coventry, Bablake

  3,315

  Cranleigh

  7,068

  Croham Hurst

  3,925

  Croydon High GPDST

  3,825

  Culford

  5,512

  Dame Alice Harpur

  3,807

  Dame Allan's Boys

  3,300

  Dame Allan's Girls

  3,300

  Dauntsey's

  5,841

  Denstone College

  6,037

  Derby High

  4,137

  Douai, Reading

  4,987

  Dover College

  5,488

  Downe House, Newbury

  7,032

  Dulwich College

  5,954

  Durham

  6,191

  Edgbaston College Girls

  4,309

  Edgehill College

  4,706

  Ellesmere College

  5,999

  Eltham College, London SE9

  4,791

  Emanuel, London SW11

  4,352

  Epsom College

  6,675

  Exeter

  3,789

  Farnborough Hill

  4,022

  Felsted, Dunmow

  7,758

  Forest School

  4,396

  Framlingham College

  5,718

  Francis Holland

  4,417

  Friends, Saffron Walden

  5,657

  Giggleswick, Settle

  5,067

  630

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Annual fees charged for assisted pupils £

  Godolphin & Latymer

  5,166

  Godolphin Salisbury

  5,821

  Gresham's

  7,568

  Guildford High Girls

  4,530

  Haberdashers' Aske's Boys

  5,010

  Haberdashers' Aske's Girls

  3.505

  Haileybury

  6,735

  Hampton

  4,237

  Harrogate College

  5,400

  Headington

  4,079

  Hereford Cathedral

  4,185

  Highgate

  5,939

  Hipperholme Grammar

  2,951

  Holy Child

  4,476

  Hulme Grammar Boys

  3,426

  Hulme Grammar Girls

  3,426

  Hurstpierpoint College

  7,711

  Hymers College

  3,259

  Ipswich

  4,534

  Ipswich High GPDST

  3,405

  James Allen's Girls

  5,216

  John Lyon's

  4,721

  Kent College

  4,932

  Kimbolton Schools

  4,572

  King Edward VI High

  3,756

  King Edward VI Norwich

  3,976

  King Edward VI Southampton

  4,116

  King Edward VII Lytham

  3,135

  King Edward's at Bath

  3,765

  King Edward's Birmingham

  4,134

  King Edward's Witley

  5,423

  King Henry VIII

  3,302

  King's College Wimbledon

  5,802

  King's High Girls, Wark

  3,530

  King's Bruton

  6,450

  King's Chester

  3,684

  King's Macclesfield

  3,942

  King's Rochester

  5,652

  King's Tynemouth

  3,312

  King's Worcester

  4,797

  Kingsley

  3,845

  Kingston Grammar

  4,491

  Kingswood School, Bath

  4,919

  Kirkham Grammar

  3,229

  La Sagesse Convent

  3,515

  Lady Eleanor Holies

  4,281

  Latymer Upper

  4,476

  Laxton

  4,506

  Leeds Girls High

  3,814

  Leeds Grammar

  3,729

  Leicester Grammar

  3,378

  Leighton Park

  7,720

  Leys, Cambridge

  7,537

  Liverpool College

  3,984

  Lord Wandsworth College

  6,468

  Loreto Convent Grammar

  2,671

  Loughborough Grammar

  3,762

  Loughborough High

  3,399

  Magdalen College

  4,288

  Malvern College

  7,297

  Manchester Grammar

  3,704

  Manchester High

  3,589

  Marist Convent Senior

  3,650

  Maynard

  3,637

  Merchant Taylors' Girls

  3,420

  Merchant Taylors', Liverpool

  3,418

  Merchant Taylors', Norwood

  5,972

  Mill Hill

  6,509

  Monkton Combe

  6,970

  Mount Carmel, Cheshire

  3,056

  Mount St Mary's College

  5,020

  631

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Annual fees charged for assisted pupils £

  Mount, York

  5,608

  Newcastle Under Lyme

  3,190

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Church High

  3,426

  North London Collegiate

  4,302

  Northampton High

  3,858

  Norwich High GPDST

  3,405

  Notting Hill and Ealing High GPDST

  3,825

  Nottingham Girls High GPDST

  3,405

  Nottingham High

  3,865

  Oakham

  5,833

  Old Palace, Croydon

  3,681

  Oxford High GPDST

  3,405

  Pangbourne College

  6,878

  Perse School for Boys

  4,150

  Perse School for Girls

  3,672

  Plymouth College

  3,958

  Pocklington

  4,377

  Polam Hall

  3,887

  Portsmouth Grammar

  3,701

  Portsmouth High GPDST

  3,420

  Prior Park College

  4,378

  Putney High School GPDST

  3,825

  Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol

  3,758

  Queen Elizabeth's, Blackburn

  3,588

  Queen Elizabeth, Wakefield

  3,615

  Queen Mary, Lytham

  3,135

  Queen's College, London

  4,920

  Queen's College, Taunton

  5,245

  Queen's School, Chester

  3,291

  Ratcliffe College

  4,864

  Red Maids', Bristol

  3,665

  Redland High, Bristol

  3,602

  Reed's School, Cobham

  6,131

  Reigate Grammar

  4,170

  Rendcomb College

  6,361

  Repton

  7,640

  Rossall

  5,588

  Royal Grammar, Guildford

  5,467

  Royal Grammar, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  3,330

  Royal Grammar, Worcester

  4,146

  Ryde School

  3,966

  Salesian College

  2,662

  Scarborough College

  4,694

  Sedbergh

  7,369

  Sevenoaks, Kent

  6,033

  Sheffield High GPDST

  3,405

  Shrewsbury High GPDST

  3,405

  Silcoates

  4,997

  Sir William Perkins's

  3,517

  Solihull

  3,978

  South Hampstead High GPDST

  3,825

  St Albans

  4,521

  St Albans High Girls

  4,182

  St Ambrose College

  3,094

  St Anselm's College

  3,003

  St Bede's College

  3,654

  St Bees

  6,202

  St Benedict's

  4,484

  St Catherine's

  5,297

  St Dunstan's College

  4,231

  St Edmund's College

  5,106

  St Edward's College

  3,297

  St Felix, Southwold

  5,537

  St George's College

  5,953

  St Helen and St Katherine, Abingdon

  3,603

  St Helen's, Northwood

  4,401

  St John's College, Southsea

  3,340

  St John's, Leatherhead

  6,402

  St Joseph's College, Ipswich

  3,798

  St Joseph's College, Stoke-on Trent

  3,051

  St Joseph's Convent, Reading

  3,527

  632

  Assisted places scheme 1994–95 academic year

  School name

  Annual fees charged for assisted pupils £

  St Lawrence College, Ramsgate

  5,999

  St Margaret's, Bushey

  4,763

  St Margaret's, Exeter

  3,489

  St Mary and St Anne

  6,423

  St Mary's College, Crosby

  3,413

  St Mary's Convent, Cambridge

  3,515

  St Mary's Hall, Brighton

  5,349

  St Maur's Convent, Weybridge

  4,077

  St Paul's Girls, Hammersmith

  5,521

  St Paul's, Barnes

  6,452

  St Peter's, York

  5,533

  St Swithun's, Winchester

  5,964

  Stafford Grammar

  3,843

  Stamford

  3,762

  Stamford High

  3,765

  Stockport Grammar

  3,695

  Stonyhurst College

  6,729

  Stowe

  7,743

  Streatham Hill and Clapham High GPDST

  3,825

  Surbiton High

  4,296

  Sutton High GPDST

  3,825

  Sutton Valence

  6,620

  Sydenham High GPDST

  3,825

  Talbot Heath

  4,101

  Taunton

  5,978

  Teesside High

  3,259

  Tonbridge

  7,761

  Tormead

  4,315

  Trent College

  5,418

  Trinity School of John Whitgift

  4,786

  Truro

  4,074

  Truro High

  3,630

  University College School

  5,895

  Upton Hall Convent

  2,652

  Ursuline Convent, Kent

  4,616

  Ursuline High, Ilford

  3,915

  Wakefield High

  3,615

  Walthamstow Hall

  5,062

  Warwick

  4,048

  Wellingborough

  5,020

  Wellington College

  7,757

  Wellington, Somerset

  4,019

  Wells Cathedral

  4,886

  West Buckland

  4,392

  Westholme

  3,282

  Westminster

  6,933

  Whitgift, Croydon

  4,928

  William Hulme Grammar

  3,828

  Wimbledon High GPDST

  3,825

  Winchester College

  8,545

  Wisbech Grammar

  4,270

  Withington Girls

  3,357

  Wolverhampton Grammar

  4,130

  Woodbridge

  5,127

  Woodhouse Grove

  4,458

  Worksop

  5,434

  Wrekin College

  5,757

  Wycliffe College

  7,350

  Yarm

  4,318

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will state for each year in which the assisted places scheme has been operating the number of places available and the number actually taken up, the amount budgeted each year for the scheme and the amount actually spent. [37932]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The information requested is given in the following table:

  633

  Year

  Places 1 available

  Places 1 taken up

  Budget2estimate £million

  Actual2outturn £million

  1981–82

  5,446

  4,185

  3.3

  3.0

  1982–83

  11,058

  8,616

  9.3

  8.7

  1983–84

  15,866

  13,102

  16.5

  15.0

  1984–85

  20,699

  17,386

  22.5

  22.2

  1985–86

  25,210

  21,412

  31.1

  29.6

  1986–87

  29,295

  24,478

  37.4

  37.9

  1987–88

  33,228

  26,899

  47.8

  46.0

  1988–89

  33,217

  27,083

  55.1

  50.9

  1989–90

  33,280

  27,008

  57.0

  56.5

  1990–91

  33,302

  26,740

  60.4

  63.4

  1991–92

  33,312

  27,641

  64.9

  75.7

  1992–93

  33,479

  28,674

  87.1

  392.8

  1993–94

  33,883

  29,291

  94.9

  92.3

  1994–95

  33,139

  29,747

  101.5

  101.5

  The figures are for England only.

  1 Academic year.

  2 Financial year.

  3 includes £4.9 million brought forward from financial year 1993–94.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total spending on the Careers Service by local authorities in England and Wales in each financial year since 1990–91; and what is the expected expenditure in 1995–96. [38256]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: From 1 April 1994, the duty of providing the Careers Services became the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Employment. Prior to that date, services were funded via local education authorities through the rate support grant and these figures are unhypothecated.

  The estimated outturn of spend by the Employment Department for 1994–95 for the Careers Service in England was £187.4 million. In 1995–96, the Department for Education and Employment plans to spend £211.2 million on the Careers Service.

  Responsibility for the Careers Service in Wales rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was their spending on the Careers Service through each of the five West Yorkshire metropolitan district councils in each financial year since 1990–91; and what is the expected expenditure in 1995–96 for each of the individual councils. [38257]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: From 1 April 1994, the duty of providing the Careers Service became the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Employment. Prior to that date, services were funded via Local education authorities through the rate support grant which is unhypothecated.

  Spend under Careers Service instruments of direction issued by the Secretary of State for Employment to the five West Yorkshire metropolitan district councils in 1994–95 was:

  Bradford: £1,598,302

  Calderdale: £546,000

  Kirklees: £1,103,000

  Leeds: £1,849,991

  Wakefield: £985,000

  634
  In 1995–96 only Leeds and Wakefield remain under direction from the Secretary of State. Their budget allocations are:

  Leeds: £2,041,000

  Wakefield: £1,126,000

  Since 1 April 1995, careers services in Bradford have been delivered by Careers Bradford Ltd. and in Calderdale and Kirklees by Calderdale and Kirklees Careers Service Partnership Ltd. These are both private limited companies and details of their income and expenditure will be available in their annual reports next year.

  Residual payments to local authorities for 1994–95 activities have been made in 1995–96 as follows:

  Bradford: £144,700

  Calderdale: £45,977

  Kirklees: £100,001

  Additional expenditure relating to careers libraries and careers guidance has been made available through the training and enterprise councils in West Yorkshire. In 1994–95 this amounted to: £1,622,725. In 1995–96 the allocation is £894,721. For 1995–96 the careers guidance element has been included in the Careers Service contracts for two TEC areas.

  Cooking Fumes (Cancer)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research is being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive into the possible occupational cancer risk for cooks from carcinogenic chemicals in cooking fumes. [37992]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive is undertaking a review of the published literature on a number of potential health problems which might affect those occupationally engaged in food handling and preparation. The incidence of cancer is one area under scrutiny. Once that review is completed, the HSE will consider whether there is cause for particular concern and, if so, whether further research could contribute to the control of risks to those working in this area.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the number of medical examinations for the all-work test of incapacity which have been scheduled but have not yet taken place. [38508]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ursula Brennan to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 23 October 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the latest estimate of the number of medical examinations for the all-work test of incapacity which have been scheduled but have not yet taken place. Mr. Mathison is away from Leeds on Benefits Agency business and he has asked me to reply on his behalf.635
  The number of medical examinations scheduled but not yet carried out as at 1 October 1995 was 64,247. This figure is made up of four weeks appointments scheduled from 1 October 1995 and includes an extra 33 per cent, which our experience has shown, fail to attend their appointment. The figure is provisional and subject to change.

  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) passed and (b) failed the new incapacity benefits all work test in the Greater Manchester areas. [38587]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Ursula Brennan to Mr. Robert Litherland, dated 23 October 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of people that a) passed and b) failed the new Incapacity Benefit All Work Test in the Greater Manchester area. Mr. Mathison is away from Leeds on Benefits Agency business and he has asked me to reply on his behalf.
  Information is not available in the form that you requested for the Greater Manchester area. However, I can tell you that, for the period from 13 April to 30 September 1995, 16,984 people passed the all work test and 1,556 failed the all work test in the Manchester Lead Site. The Lead Site includes the Manchester Disability Benefits Centre and the following Benefits Agency District Offices, many of which are located within the Greater Manchester area:

  South Cheshire

  Manchester Central

  Manchester Trinity

  Manchester South

  Oldham

  Sale/East Cheshire

  Salford

  Stockport

  Tame side

  Blackburn/Accrington

  Bolton/Farnworth

  Burnley/Pendle/Rossendale

  West Pennine

  Wigan/Leigh

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many medical reports in respect of incapacity benefit have been carried out in each region; what is the average delay in producing a report; and how many are outstanding at the latest date. [37090]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jeff Rooker, dated 23 October 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many medical reports in respect of Incapacity Benefit have been carried out in each region; what is the average delay in producing a report; and how many are outstanding at the latest date.
  636
  Figures for the Benefits Agency's Medical Services (BAMS) operations are not available by region, they are however, available for each of the 11 major medical services centres. The BAMS computer system records the number of medical examinations carried out rather than the number of reports. A medical report is produced following each medical examination and reports are normally written on the day the examination is carried out.

  Figures for the number of medical examinations carried out this year, in the period ending 31 August, are at Annex A.

  However, figures are not available for the average delay in producing a report, nor for the number of reports outstanding.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Number of medical examinations carried out in respect of incapacity benefit

  Management unit

  May 1995

  June 1995

  July 1995

  August 1995

  Total

  Birmingham

  31

  740

  1,775

  2,816

  5,362

  Bootle

  37

  1,271

  2,521

  3,352

  7,181

  Bristol

  15

  465

  1,385

  2,383

  4,248

  Cardiff

  0

  899

  2,724

  3,921

  7,544

  Edinburgh

  112

  809

  1,666

  1,819

  4,406

  Glasgow

  435

  1,909

  2,241

  3,614

  8,199

  Leeds

  62

  1,670

  2,491

  4,046

  8,269

  Manchester

  96

  1,338

  2,029

  3,820

  7,283

  Newcastle

  42

  913

  1,518

  2,724

  5,197

  Sutton

  32

  1,099

  2,864

  3,487

  7,482

  Wembley

  43

  741

  2,204

  4,190

  7,178

  Total

  905

  11,854

  23,418

  36,172

  72,349

  This data is provisional and is subject to change.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if leaflet 1B214 describing the new all work test is available in all DSS/Benefits Agency offices, including those in Birmingham; and from what date. [36616]

  Mr. Burt
  IB 214 is a detailed leaflet on the incapacity benefit all-work medical test, produced primarily for advisers. The leaflet has been available since May to anyone who rings the freeline number—0800 868868—and it has been available from DSS local offices since mid-August 1995.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the new incapacity benefit will affect those suffering from asthma. [38312]

  Mr. Burt
  The new medical test of incapacity takes account of the effect of all medical conditions. The basis of the test is the effect of a medical condition on the ability to work and not he medical condition itself. The symptoms of conditions such as asthma may vary in intensity across time from mild to severe. The new test is designed to take account of the variability of symptoms and is not a snapshot of the claimant's capacity to work at a point in time.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to receive the report from the advisory body on the review of the Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [36740]
  637
  Mr. Roger Evans
  I understand that the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council expects to complete its review and submit a report to Ministers in the new year. The Government will consider carefully any recommendations that the council makes.

  Lone Parent Premium
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received the single parent's premium in each since its inception; and what has been the cost of the premium in each of these years. [37159]

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

  The lone parent premium forms part of the calculation of the total potential amount of benefit in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. It is not possible to apportion costs between the various allowances and premiums that make up the total potential benefit in those cases where the amount paid is less than the total.

  Income support/housing benefit/council tax benefit cases with the lone parent premium

  Year

  Number of income support cases

  Number of housing benefit/council tax benefit cases

  1988

  690,000

  —

  1989

  760,000

  —

  1990

  790,000

  110,000

  1991

  870,000

  110,000

  1992

  960,000

  110,000

  1993

  1,010,000

  120,000

  1994

  1,040,000

  140,000

  Notes:

  1. Sample size 1 in 100.

  2. Council tax benefit replaced community charge benefit from April 1993. Above figures include community charge benefit.

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

  4. Housing benefit/council tax benefit/community charge benefit figures include estimates due to the data collection procedure in Scotland.

  5. The housing benefit/council tax benefit/community charge benefit analysis excludes recipients of housing benefit/council tax benefit with income support and the overlap between housing benefit/council tax benefit/community charge benefit.

  6. Housing benefit/community charge benefit figures are not provided for 1988–89 as it is not possible to accurately estimate the overlap between housing benefit and community charge benefit, at that time community charge benefit applied only in Scotland.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly and Annual Enquiries 1988–1994.

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiry without Income Support, taken at the end of May in each year shown.

  Share Option Schemes
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated current cost to the Exchequer in(a) lost income tax and (b) lost national insurance contributions of companies paying low-paid employees earning below tax and national insurance thresholds via share options. [37074]

  Mr. Heald
  The Inland Revenue does not hold centrally collated information regarding tax revenue forgone under relieved share option schemes. However, a sample of such schemes available to the Inland Revenue indicates that very 638
  few employees currently earning below income tax and national insurance thresholds realise gains under share option schemes which would otherwise have brought them into income tax. Information regarding national insurance contribution revenue forgone is not available.

  Student Benefits
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time higher education students suspended their courses due to sickness or personal circumstances and then claimed for social security benefits, for each year from 1985; and what is the total estimated annual cost of such claims. [38405]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  Pay Bargaining
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide in respect of his plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury(a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in headquarters functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38280]

  Mr. Burt
  In line with the Government's Civil Service White Papers, "Continuity and Change" and "Carrying Forward Continuity and Change", at April 1996 DSS will have six bargaining units; Benefits Agency, Child Support Agency, Contributions Agency, Information Technology Services Agency, War Pensions Agency and DSS headquarters. Each bargaining unit will have responsibility for all staff up to and including unified grade 6, including professional equivalents.

  DSS headquarters will also have responsibility for the pay of staff in the five non-departmental public bodies related to the Department Central Adjudication Service, Independent Review Service for the Social Fund, Independent Tribunal Service, Pensions Ombudsman's office and the Executive Office of the Occupational Pensions Board.

  All six units have recognised the Civil and Public Servants Association and the National Union of Civil and Public Servants for collective bargaining purposes. Additionally, BA, ITSA and headquarters have recognised the Association of First Division Civil Servants and BA and headquarters have recognised the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists. The War Pensions Agency has a small number of staff represented by the Transport and General Workers Union whose pay will follow the settlement reached between the Ministry of Defence and the TGWU.

  Those bargaining units which took delegation in 1994—BA, CA and ITSA—and in 1995—CSA and WPA—agreed bargaining mechanisms with unions for past negotiations and these have been either single-table or multi-table. Arrangements for 1996 will be agreed in due course.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of recipients and cost
  639
  to the public of council tax benefit; and what are the figures for each of the last five years. [38332]

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

  Number of recipients and benefit expenditure on council tax benefit

  Year1

  Number of recipients(000s)2

  Financial year

  Benefitexpenditure£ million3

  19934

  5,290

  1993–94

  1,901

  1994

  5,549

  1994–95

  2,005

  1995

  5,674

  1995–96

  2,039

  Notes:

  1 Number of recipients obtained from quarterly aggregate counts taken on last working day of May of each given year.

  Housing benefit recipients by tenancy in Great Britain

  Thousands

  Year

  Total housing benefit cases

  Rent Rebate Local authority tenants

  Total housing associations tenants and private tenants

  Rent Allowance Housing association tenants

  Private rented excluding housing association tenants

  1991

  4,030

  2,945

  1,085

  n/a

  n/a

  1992

  4,325

  3,034

  1,292

  340

  952

  1993

  4,533

  3,053

  1,481

  412

  1,068

  1994

  4,650

  3,016

  1,634

  509

  1,125

  1995

  4,734

  2,967

  1,766

  610

  1,156

  Notes:

  1. Number of recipients obtained from quarterly aggregate counts taken on last working day of May for each given year.

  2. Figures refer to the number of benefit units. These maybe a single person or a couple.

  3. Separate figures for housing association and private rented accommodation tenants excluding housing association tenants are not available for 1991.

  4. Totals may not sum due to rounding of figures to the nearest thousand.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents with dependent children claiming income support were receiving maintenance in each year since 1989; and in the case of Child Support Agency assessments, how many of these were minimum assessments of £2.30 or less. [37589]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Maintenance Payments
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average amount of maintenance received by parents with dependent children claiming income support in each year since 1989. [37590]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the following list:

  1989: £18.99

  1990: £19.60

  1991: £20.73

  1992: £22.19

  1993: £22.64

  1994: £23.71

  640
  2 Figures for recipients refer to the number of benefit units. These may be a single person or a couple.

  3 Figures given for benefit expenditure for 1993–94 are outturn, those for 1994–95 estimated outturn and 1995–96 planned outturn.

  4 Council tax benefit was introduced in April 1993.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people in receipt of housing benefit in(a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private rented accommodation; and what were the figures for each of the last five years. [38333]

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

  Method of Payment Fraud
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the savings made by his Department in tackling organised method of payment fraud in 1993–94 and 1994–95; what were the reasons for any change in savings; and what new policies his Department intends to take to substantially increase the savings by tackling organised method of payment fraud. [37591]

  Mr. Heald
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current cost of the social security budget per working person per day. [38081]

  Mr. Burt
  The current cost of the social security budget is equivalent to £15.00 per working person per working day.

  Employee Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total

  641
  monetary sum (1) misappropriated in such frauds and (2) subsequently recovered. [39131]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Government Publications
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which institutions in the USA are designated depositories for United Kingdom Government publications produced through HMSO. [38329]

  Mr. Horam
  Her Majesty's Stationery Office has no deposit arrangements with designated institutions in the USA or elsewhere overseas.

  Pay Bargaining
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide, in respect of his plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury,(a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in HQ functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38281]

  Mr. Horam
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's responsibilities cover several Departments\agencies which are classed as separate bargaining units for the purpose of pay delegation:642
  Cabinet Office/Office of Public Service has 1,283 staff covering support, clerical, executive, specialist and open structure grades based in London, Norwich and Basingstoke. Meeting planned with the Association of First Division Civil Servants, the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists, the National Union of Civil and Public Servants and the Civil and Public Services Association to discuss negotiating machinery.
  Her Majesty's Stationery Office already has pay delegation for its clerical, executive and managerial staff which now number about 2,000 and for its printing, technical and maintenance staff which now number about 900. These staff are based in Norwich and in outlets nationwide. Single-table bargaining exists for white-collar staff with its trade union side comprising CPSA, NUCPS and IPMS and separately with the Graphical, Paper and Media Union, the General Municipal and Boilermakers Union, the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians for its blue-collar staff.
  Central Office of Information has 480 staff covering support, clerical, executive, specialist and open structure grades based in London and a number of regions. About to discuss negotiating machinery with IPMS, NUCPS and CPSA.
  Civil Service College has 274 staff covering a range of clerical, executive and Open Structure grades based at both Sunningdale and London. About to meet FDA, NUCPS, IPMS and CPSA to discuss negotiating machinery.
  Chessington Computer Centre has 417 clerical, executive and Open Structure staff on one site. Negotiating machinery to be discussed with representatives of NUCPS and CPSA.
  Recruitment and Assessment Services covers a mix of support, clerical and executive grades together with Open Structure staff and some psychologists based in Basingstoke and London. Discussing negotiating machinery with NUCPS and CPSA.
  Occupational Health and Safety Agency covers 95 administrative, executive, specialist and Open Structure staff with HQ functions in Edinburgh and a number of offices in London and the regions. Principal discussions on negotiating machinery are currently with IPMS.

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