Written Answers of 25 October 1995

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Victims Charter
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to update the victims charter. [38916]

  Mr. Maclean
  We hope to publish a new victims charter later this year.

  Private Security Industry
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond to the first report from the Home Affairs Select Committee on the private security industry (HC, 1994–95, 17). [33915]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are studying in detail the recommendations of the Select Committee and will issue a substantive response as soon as possible.

  Mr. Stephen Laudat
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the transfer directives and any subsequent order made under the Mental Health Act 1983 section 47(1) in March 1992 in respect of Mr. Stephen Laudat, together with any relevant medical correspondence. [39342]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Medical reports recommending the transfer of a prisoner to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 are confidential and may not be placed in the Library. Information concerning the circumstances of Mr. Laudat's transfer to hospital is given in the report of the independent inquiry into the circumstances of the killing of Mr. Brian Bennett by Mr. Laudat. A transfer and restriction direction authorising Mr. Laudat's removal from HMP Wandsworth to the interim secure unit at Hackney hospital under sections 47 and 49 of the 1983 Act was issued on 19 March 1992.

  Automatic Fingerprinting Recognition System
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police authorities which are currently contracted to the computer firm Cambridge Neurodynamics Ltd. for its automatic fingerprinting recognition system; and if he will make a statement. [39036]

  Mr. Maclean
  I know of no police authority which has entered into a direct contractual relationship with Cambridge Neurodynamics Ltd. for automatic fingerprint recognition facilities; but I understand that CNL does provide such facilities to South Yorkshire police under the terms of a sub-contract.
  644

  Closed Circuit Television (Sale of Tapes)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that tapes from CCTVs installed in public places and which show members of the public in embarrassing or compromising positions are not sold on to commercial organisations for use in films or videos. [38906]

  Mr. Maclean
  Access to, and control of, images recorded by closed circuit television is a matter for the operator's of such systems to regulate. The Government strongly recommend that all CCTV operators adopt codes of practice suitable to their systems covering such matters as tape access and the use to which the images are put. Advice on developing such codes of practice is contained in the Home Office guidance booklet "CCTV—Looking Out For You", a copy of which is in the Library. Approximately 20,000 copies of the booklet have now been distributed.

  Life Sentenced Prisoners
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentenced prisoners released on licence in the period 1990 to 1994 were subsequently recalled. [38632]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Provisional data show that there were 485 life sentence prisoners released on licence between 1990 and 1994 inclusive; of whom 35 had their licence revoked and were subsequently returned to prison.

  Women's Refuges
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made by his Department of the match between the numbers of women's refuges and trends in the levels of domestic violence. [38468]

  Mr Maclean
  The official and ministerial groups on domestic violence are currently examining the extent of refuge provision. The underlying trends in domestic violence are particularly hard to ascertain due to the hidden nature of the crime. For this reason, measures are also being considered to improve the quality of the statistical information available on the level of domestic violence.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many interpreters are offered at women's refuges; in what regions they are offered; and what languages they speak. [38473]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of interpreters at women's refuges is not recorded centrally, and is a matter for individual refuges.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what(a) medical facilities and (b) advice facilities are available at women's refuges. [38465]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  Occupants of women's refuges are entitled to the same range of medical facilities as any other member of the public who registers with a general practitioner. The range of advice facilities available varies considerably, depending to a large extent on the particular problems of the users of the refuge.
  645

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the nationality of(a) men and (b) women who were being held in each prison in England and Wales as at 15 October for immigration offences; [38377]

  (2) if he will list the number of (a) men and(b) women who were held in each prison in England and Wales as of 15 October, for immigration offences. [38389]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Cox, dated 25 October 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the nationality and number of (a) men and (b) women who were held in each prison in England and Wales as of 15 October, for immigration offences.The latest available provisional information is for 30 September 1995 and is given in the attached table, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Population of immigration detainees in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1995, by nationality1

  Nationality

  Number

  Males

  Belmarsh

  14

  Cyprus

  1

  Jamaica

  3

  Nigeria

  3

  Not known

  1

  Pakistan

  1

  Sierre Leone

  1

  Turkey

  4

  Birmingham

  64

  Algeria

  1

  Bangladesh

  3

  China

  5

  Dominica

  1

  Gambia

  1

  India

  34

  Iran

  1

  Jamaica

  3

  Nigeria

  2

  Pakistan

  9

  South Africa

  1

  Turkey

  1

  Uganda

  1

  USSR

  1

  Blakenhurst

  2

  Jamaica

  1

  Morocco

  1

  Bristol

  6

  Bangladesh

  1

  Algeria

  1

  Jamaica

  2

  Nigeria

  1

  Tajikistan

  1

  Brixton

  9

  Bulgaria

  1

  Gambia

  2

  India

  1

  Pakistan

  1

  646

  Population of immigration detainees in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1995, by nationality1

  Nationality

  Number

  USSR

  1

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  Uganda

  1

  United States of America

  1

  Canterbury

  4

  Libya

  1

  Nigeria

  2

  Turkey

  1

  Cardiff

  2

  Nigeria

  2

  Dorchester

  1

  Jamaica

  1

  Doncaster

  3

  Columbia

  1

  Jamaica

  1

  Not known

  1

  Elmley

  2

  Algeria

  2

  Exeter

  2

  Benin

  1

  Sierre Leone

  1

  Feltham

  1

  Jamaica

  1

  Haslar

  106

  Albania

  1

  Algeria

  4

  Angola

  1

  Bangladesh

  3

  China

  17

  Ecuador

  2

  Egypt

  1

  Ethiopia

  1

  Ghana

  10

  Guyana

  1

  India

  17

  Iraq

  3

  Jamaica

  1

  Kenya

  2

  Lebanon

  1

  Liberia

  5

  Morocco

  2

  Niger

  1

  Nigeria

  18

  Romania

  3

  Sierra Leone

  2

  Sri Lanka

  1

  Sudan

  1

  Turkey

  1

  Uganda

  2

  USSR

  2

  Yugoslavia

  2

  Zaire

  1

  Highdown

  8

  Barbados

  1

  Ghana

  1

  Grenada

  1

  Jamaica

  1

  Nigeria

  4

  647

  Population of immigration detainees in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1995, by nationality1

  Nationality

  Number

  Hindley

  1

  Bangladesh

  1

  Holme House

  2

  Algeria

  1

  Nigeria

  1

  Leeds

  7

  Bangladesh

  1

  India

  2

  Pakistan

  3

  Turkey

  1

  Lincoln

  1

  Nigeria

  1

  Liverpool

  7

  Albania

  1

  Algeria

  1

  Israel

  1

  Liberia

  1

  Morocco

  2

  Not known

  1

  Manchester

  1

  United States of America

  1

  Pentonville

  3

  Algeria

  1

  Jamaica

  1

  Malaysia

  1

  Preston

  1

  Not known

  1

  Rochester

  189

  Algeria

  43

  Angola

  1

  Bangladesh

  2

  China

  10

  Ghana

  12

  India

  35

  Iran

  1

  Iraq

  1

  Jamaica

  4

  Kenya

  2

  Lebanon

  2

  Liberia

  3

  Libya

  2

  Mauritius

  1

  Morocco

  3

  Nigeria

  16

  Not known

  3

  Pakistan

  6

  Poland

  1

  Portugal

  1

  Romania

  11

  Serbia

  1

  Sierra Leone

  1

  South Africa

  1

  Sri Lanka

  2

  Switzerland

  2

  Tanzania

  2

  Tunisia

  1

  Turkey

  7

  Uganda

  1

  Yugoslavia

  2

  Zaire

  9

  Wandsworth

  10

  Jamaica

  1

  648

  Population of immigration detainees in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1995, by nationality1

  Nationality

  Number

  Chile

  1

  Kenya

  1

  Algeria

  2

  India

  3

  Nigeria

  1

  Ghana

  1

  The Wolds

  3

  Algeria

  3

  Wormwood Scrubs

  3

  Columbia

  1

  Ethiopia

  1

  Nigeria

  1

  Females

  Holloway

  3

  Nigeria

  1

  Not known

  1

  India

  1

  Total

  455

  1 Provisional figures.

  Confiscation Orders
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects agreement to be reached between Government Departments on the commitment to produce a confiscation order for the proceeds of crimes from counterfeit goods; and if he will make a statement. [34663]

  Mr. Maclean
  Such agreement has now been reached and I shall be bringing forward an order shortly which will add a number of counterfeiting and copyright offences to schedule 4 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 thereby enabling a confiscation order to be made by magistrates courts.

  2001 Census
  Mr. Calcum Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is being given to extending throughout the United Kingdom in the 2001 census the questions on Gaelic previously asked in Scotland in earlier censuses. [38310]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The case for including questions in the 2001 census will be considered in 1998 on grounds of usefulness and acceptability to the public. Consultations with major users of census data are already underway. The Government's proposals will be published in a White Paper and the final selection will be subject to parliamentary approval. Far more questions are proposed than can be included. The burden on the public needs to be kept to a minimum.

  Child Victims of Domestic Violence
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to look after child victims of domestic violence and keep them away from their violent parents. [38467]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.
  649
  The Government attach a high priority to the safety and welfare of children. The Children Act 1989 makes provision for the temporary or permanent removal of a child from its home if it is in the child's best interest to do so, and provides powers for local authorities to assist a person who is, or is likely, to cause a child to suffer ill treatment, to find alternative accommodation.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement setting out the legal aid funds which have been made available to Mr. Peter Clowes at each stage of the legal proceedings leading to his conviction for matters relating to the collapse of the Barlow Clowes companies and his subsequent attempts to obtain parole; if he will specify at each of those stages the sums paid or liable to become payable to Ms Cherie Booth QC, or practices in which she has an interest; if he will identify those specific steps which have been taken by the Legal Aid Board to verify Mr. Clowes' claims to have insufficient financial resources to finance his own legal advice; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that public funds are not in future used to finance parole applications for convicted fraudsters. [39324]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Details of legal aid paid to lawyers acting on behalf of Mr. Peter Clowes at each stage of the legal proceedings leading to his conviction for matters relating to the collapse of the Barlow Clowes companies are shown in the table. No payments have yet been made in support of the judicial review proceedings taken out against the Parole Board's decision not to grant parole to Mr. Clowes. Our records indicate that none of these payments were made, or are liable to be made, to Ms Cherie Booth QC or practices in which she has an interest. The Legal Aid Board has had inquiries made into Mr. Clowes' statement of means and has granted civil legal aid on the basis of the information provided. Further investigations are being carried out by the Benefits Agency. Because of the confidentiality provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988 I cannot disclose any details of the application. Nor can I comment on whether or not legal aid should be used to support similar applications in future as every application for legal aid has to be judged on its individual merits.

  Legal Aid including VAT £

  Magistrates' court

  47,521

  Crown Court

  2,527,663

  Court of Appeal

  35,843

  Mr. Derek Laffey
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when Mr. Derek Campion Laffey, WPD reference M2/1124557, will be called to his appeal tribunal, date of appeal, 14 December 1993. [38517]
  650
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Mr. Laffey's appeal was received by the pensions appeal tribunals on 19 July 1995 and has been ready to be listed since 11 August. The appeal is expected to be heard at Leeds in March 1996.

  Legal Education and Conduct
  Mr. Nick Hawkins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct intends to publish its fourth annual report. [39994]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct will publish its fourth annual report on Friday 27 October. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Salaries
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the salaries covered by the Ministerial and other Salaries Order. [39781]

  Mr. Newton
  During the debate on Members' salaries in November 1993,Official Report, 3 November 1993, column 457 I announced that, henceforth, the level of ministerial salaries should normally be increased by the same proportion as those of hon. Members, and that Ministers in the other place would receive the same increase, in cash terms, as their counterparts in this House receive from their combined ministerial and reduced parliamentary salaries.

  That arrangement will be applied this year, giving Ministers in this House an increase of 2.7 per cent. and Ministers in the other place the corresponding cash increase.

  The draft Ministerial and other Salaries Order to implement these changes from 1 January 1996 was laid in the House on Monday 23 October. The details are set out in the tables.

  In accordance with the resolution of 3 November 1993, the same percentage increase will be applied to the reduced parliamentary salary paid to Commons Ministers and paid office holders, increasing it from the current rate of 24,985 to £25,660 on 1 January 1996.

  Ministers Salaries

  Current salary £

  New salary £

  Commons Ministers

  Prime Minister

  57,018

  58,557

  Cabinet Minister

  42,834

  43,991

  Minister of State

  30,307

  31,125

  Parliamentary Under Secretary

  23,002

  23,623

  Attorney General

  45,516

  46,745

  Solicitor General

  37,321

  38,329

  Government Chief Whip

  35,650

  36,613

  Government Deputy Chief Whip

  30,307

  31,125

  Government Whip

  19,502

  20,029

  Assistant Government Whip

  19,502

  20,029

  Leader of the Opposition (actual)

  37,495

  38,507

  Leader of the Opposition (nominal)

  39,272

  40,332

  Opposition Chief Whip

  30,307

  31,125

  Assistant Opposition Whip

  19,502

  20,029

  651

  Ministers Salaries

  Current salary £

  New salary £

  Speaker (actual)

  42,834

  43,991

  Speaker (nominal)

  44,943

  46,156

  Chairman of Ways and Means

  30,307

  31,125

  First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means

  26,636

  27,355

  Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means

  26,636

  27,355

  Lord Ministers

  Cabinet Minister

  55,329

  57,161

  Minister of State

  48,835

  50,328

  Parliamentary Under Secretary

  41,065

  42,361

  Lord Chancellor

  Apr-96

  Apr-96

  Lord Advocate

  55,409

  57,241

  Government Chief Whip

  48,835

  50,328

  Government Deputy Chief Whip

  41,065

  42,361

  Government Whip

  37,111

  38,313

  Leader of the Opposition

  41,065

  42,361

  Opposition Chief Whip

  37,111

  38,313

  Chairman of Committees

  48,835

  50,328

  Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees

  44,856

  46,349

  Minister in neither House

  Solicitor General (Scotland)

  47,697

  48,985

  Parliamentary Salaries

  Member of Parliament

  33,189

  34,085

  Reduced Parliamentary Salary

  24,985

  25,660

  1. The Speaker has opted to take the salary of a Cabinet Minister in the House of Commons;

  The Lord Chancellor's Salary is set separately by Section 3 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

  Mr. Blair declined the 4.7 per cent. increase on 1 January 1995.

  Norman Shaw Buildings
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many bicycle racks are provided in the Norman Shaw South building for hon. Members and people working in the Norman Shaw North and Norman Shaw South buildings. [39225]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Fifteen.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many hon. Members and members of the staff of the House work in the Norman Shaw North and Norman Shaw South buildings. [39224]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  One hundred and thirty-eight hon. Members and 37 staff of the House work in these two buildings.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Pay Delegation
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [38283]
  652
  Mr. Tony Newton
  The Privy Council Office pay delegation plan submitted to the Treasury covers all staff of the Department, which is a single bargaining unit. All staff are employed in the discharge of headquarters functions; there are no agencies, agency candidates or other identifiable business units. The plan does not envisage trade union recognition for pay bargaining purposes. The Department, which has only 38 staff, is predominantly non-unionised. In these circumstances, given the numbers involved, trade union recognition would be inappropriate. It is, however, proposed to arrange for the election of staff representatives.

TREASURY

  Loss of Employment (Compensation)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the tax-free limit of £30,000 as termination payment for loss of office compensation by employees remains in force; and what plans he has to alter these arrangements. [37069]

  Mr. Jack
  The exemption from tax for the first £30,000 of payments made to an individual as compensation for loss of employment, remains in force where the conditions laid down in sections 148 and 188 of the Taxes Act are met.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the ratios which determine the division of public expenditure on health care, education and housing between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and how these have changed in the last five years. [37998]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The division of public expenditure provision on health care, education and housing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is determined by the respective Secretaries of State. An analysis of general government expenditure on these and other services can be found in the "Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96".

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was United Kingdom taxation as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure for other European Union countries; [38819]

  (2) what was United Kingdom public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure in other OECD countries; [38825]

  (3) what was United Kingdom taxation as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure in other OECD countries; [38827]

  (4) what was United Kingdom public expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure for other European Union countries. [38818]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Figures for UK public expenditure and taxation are available in "CSO Financial Statistics", and GDP figures are available in "Economic Trends". Figures for other EU and OECD countries can be found in the OECD "Economic Outlook" of June 1995. All publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
  653

  Business Loans
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average interest rate for loans to business; and what are the comparable figures for the Group of Seven leading industrial nations. [38828]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Specific data on average interest rates for loans to businesses are not generally available. However, a Bank of England report, in the February 1993 "Quarterly Bulletin", showed that lending to small firms was largely related to money market rates. It is likely that lending to larger firms is also predominantly money market rate-related, although fixed rate finance has become more popular in recent years. Money market rates will therefore provide a broad guide to the general trend in interest rates on loans to businesses.

  Data on comparable money market rates for the G7 countries can be found in "International Financial Statistics" published by the IMF.

  Tax and Prices Index
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations led his Department to cease publishing the monthly tax and prices index; and if he will make a statement. [39042]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Publication of the tax and prices index has not been discontinued. Data can be found in tables 5 and 6 of "Retail Prices Index", CSO monthly Business Monitor MM23. There are also available from the Central Statistical Office on request.

  Structural Funds
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the entitlements for 1995–96 resulting from the carry forward of underspends allowed under the new end-year flexibility scheme for structural funds relating to the 1994 to 1999 programme period. [39964]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A new end-year flexibility scheme has been introduced to allow Departments to match the level of public expenditure provision in their own programmes to the flow of EU receipts in any particular year. For the new structural funds programme period which started in 1994 and runs until 1999, the eligible Departments will be able to carry forward into the following year underspends on all their expenditure relating to the European regional development fund, the European social fund, and the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund—objective 5b. A list of entitlements for 1995–96, totalling £191,594,000, is shown in the following table.

  Entitlements for 1995–96 resulting from the carryforward of underspends relating to the 1994–99 Structural Funds Programme Period

  Department

  £ Thousands

  Department of Trade and Industry

  1,500

  Department of the Environment

  16,328

  Department for Education and Employment

  139,887

  Welsh Office

  10,000

  Scottish Office

  23,879

  Total structural funds

  191,594

  654
  Subject to parliamentary approval of any necessary supplementary estimates, individual cash limits will be increased as appropriate when entitlement is taken up.

  Take-up of end-year flexibility under the new scheme will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Scot Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 July,Official Report, column 1256, on what date Customs and Excise delivered the public interest immunity certificates in the Ordtec case to the Scott inquiry. [38260]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: Copies of the public interest immunity certificates were sent to the inquiry on 18 July 1995 and the associated bundle of documents, as prepared for the Court of Appeal, was provided to the inquiry by the 20 July 1995.

  Sanitary Products
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the rate of VAT on women's necessary hygienic products. [38771]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget statement.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the application of VAT to sanitary towels and tampons. [38770]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: Treasury Ministers receive a small number of representations from hon. Members and the public on this subject from time to time.

  Alcoholic Drinks (Taxation)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the present duty levels on spirits to equalise the tax treatment of spirits and the tax treatment of other alcoholic drinks. [39144]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: Each year prior to making his Budget decisions the Chancellor of the Exchequer reviews the levels of taxation on alcoholic beverages including spirits. Consideration is given to a wide range of social, economic and health factors as well as the revenue effect.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategy the ODA has for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries. [37750]

  Mr. Hanley
  ODA's strategy for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS was set out in a speech by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, on 26 April 1994; copies of her speech will be placed in the Libraries of the House. In summary, our goal is to
  655
  help people in developing countries avoid HIV infection and, if they are infected, better cope with the miseries it causes, in a way that is sustainable and makes use of all available resources. Since 1987, we have learnt about the need for a multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS and the need to provide better care for people with HIV, as well as prevent their infection.

  We provide assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels. We involve NGOs as well as Governments, often incorporating lessons learnt through pilot projects and research. We support the establishment of the new joint and co-sponsored UN programme on HIV/AIDS.

  Fay Report
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken following the Fay report to recover money lost by the Crown Agents as a result of their association with companies controlled by the Barclay brothers; and if he will make a statement. [38372]

  Mr. Hanley
  As noted in annexe IV to the statement by the Government on the report of the Fay committee of inquiry on the Crown Agents on 1 December 1977, House of Commons paper 49 of Session 1977–78, the Crown Agents, acting in accordance with a general directive from the then Minister of Overseas Development and on advice from professional advisers, sold the relevant debts for £3 million.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what losses were made at(a) actual and (b) 1995 prices by the Crown Agents as a result of their investments with Barclay Hotels. [38373]

  Mr. Hanley
  As set out in annexe IV to the statement by the Government on the report of the Fay committee of inquiry on 1 December 1977, House of Commons paper 49 of Session 1977–78, the Crown Agents realised a loss on disposal of their interest in 1976 of £6.5 million—in 1995 prices, £24.7 million.

  China
  Miss Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 110, if he will outline the details of the reports his Department has received on alleged abuses of reproductive rights in China. [37615]

  Table 1: Chairman and chief executive's remuneration—1994–95

  £ Thousands

  Health and Social Services Trust

  Basic salary

  Benefits

  Chairman Performance related pay

  Pensions contributions

  Total

  Eastern Board Area

  Belfast City Hospital

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Down and Lisburn

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Eastern Ambulance

  16

  0

  0

  0

  16

  Greenpark

  17

  0

  0

  1

  18

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital

  15

  0

  0

  0

  15

  North Down and Ards Community

  15

  0

  0

  0

  15

  North and West Belfast Community

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  656
  Mr. Hanley
  We have received reports from organisations and observers outside China of practices in some parts of China relating to forced abortion, punishment for evasion of family planning regulations and coercion to accept particular forms of contraception, including sterilisation. We continue to take every appropriate opportunity to express our deep concerns about these reports in our discussions with the Chinese Government.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on aid to Indonesia. [36884]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our policy on aid to Indonesia remains as set out by my hon. Friend, the then Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr.Wicks) on 16 January,Official Report, column 296.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Road Repairs (Expenditure)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on road repairs in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what is the projected expenditure for this year. [37969]

  Mr. Moss
  The relevant expenditure figures are as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  40.8

  1993–94

  42.1

  1994–95

  44.5

  1995–96

  143.6

  1 Estimated

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will itemise payments made in each NHS trust to(a) chairs, (b) non-executive directors, (c) chief executives and (d) board directors for 1993–94 and 1994–95, by region. [37944]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is set out on tables 1 and 2.
  657

  Table 1: Chairman and chief executive's remuneration—1994–95

  £ Thousands

  Health and Social Services Trust

  Basic salary

  Benefits

  Chairman Performance related pay

  Pensions contributions

  Total

  South and East Belfast Community

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals

  11

  0

  0

  0

  11

  Southern Board Area

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  17

  0

  0

  0

  17

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community

  17

  0

  0

  0

  17

  Newry and Mourne

  17

  0

  0

  0

  17

  Total

  220

  0

  0

  1

  221

  Health and Social Services Trust

  Basic salary

  Benefits

  Chief Executives Performance related pay

  Pensions contributions

  Total

  Eastern Board Area

  Belfast City Hospital

  61

  0

  2

  2

  65

  Down and Lisburn

  77

  0

  4

  3

  84

  Eastern Ambulance

  46

  3

  0

  2

  51

  Greenpark

  54

  4

  5

  2

  65

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital

  98

  0

  0

  4

  102

  North Down and Ards Community

  58

  0

  0

  2

  60

  North and West Belfast Community

  62

  4

  7

  2

  75

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  60

  6

  12

  2

  80

  South and East Belfast Community

  62

  0

  0

  3

  65

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals

  57

  3

  0

  2

  62

  Southern Board Area

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  55

  3

  0

  2

  60

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community

  54

  0

  0

  2

  56

  Newry and Mourne

  52

  0

  0

  2

  54

  Total

  796

  23

  30

  30

  879

  Table 1.1: Board members' remuneration—trusts—1994–95

  £ thousands

  Executive Directors

  Health and Social Services Trust

  Non-executive directors

  Basic salary

  Performance related pay

  Employers pension contributions

  Benefits in kind

  Compensation for loss of office

  Pensions paid to former directors

  Total

  Eastern Board Area

  Belfast City Hospital

  44

  285

  4

  11

  3

  0

  0

  347

  Down and Lisburn

  44

  276

  11

  11

  5

  0

  0

  347

  Eastern Ambulance

  31

  118

  0

  5

  6

  0

  0

  160

  Greenpark

  44

  235

  16

  10

  7

  0

  0

  312

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital

  40

  237

  0

  9

  0

  0

  0

  286

  North Down and Ards Community

  40

  197

  0

  6

  0

  0

  0

  243

  North and West Belfast Community

  44

  279

  17

  10

  5

  0

  0

  355

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  44

  222

  20

  8

  9

  0

  0

  303

  South and East Belfast Community

  44

  216

  0

  9

  0

  0

  0

  269

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals

  31

  273

  0

  11

  6

  0

  0

  321

  Southern Board Area

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  38

  191

  5

  8

  3

  0

  0

  245

  Craigavon and Banbridge

  Community

  40

  237

  0

  9

  0

  0

  0

  286

  Newry and Mourae

  42

  186

  0

  7

  0

  0

  0

  235

  Total

  526

  2,952

  73

  114

  44

  0

  0

  3,709

  658 659

  Table 2: chairman and chief executive's remuneration—1993–94

  £ thousands

  Health and social services trust

  Basic salary

  Benefits

  Chairman Performance related pay

  Pensions contributions

  Total

  Eastern board area

  Belfast City Hospital

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Eastern Ambulance

  16

  0

  0

  0

  16

  Greenpark

  17

  0

  0

  1

  18

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  19

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Southern Board Area

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  17

  0

  0

  0

  17

  Total

  88

  0

  0

  1

  89

  Health and social services trust

  Basic salary

  Benefits

  Chief Executive Performance related pay

  Pensions contributions

  Total

  Eastern board area

  Belfast City Hospital

  63

  0

  1

  3

  67

  Eastern Ambulance

  41

  3

  0

  2

  46

  Greenpark

  52

  4

  5

  2

  63

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  55

  4

  11

  2

  72

  Ulster, North Down & Ards Hospitals

  50

  2

  0

  2

  54

  Southern board area

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  52

  3

  0

  2

  57

  Total

  313

  16

  17

  13

  359

  Table 2.1: board members remuneration—1993–94

  £ thousand

  Executive directors

  Health and social services trust

  Non-executive directors

  Basic salary

  Performance related pay

  Employers pension contributions

  Benefits in kind

  Compensation for loss of office

  Pensions paid to former directors

  Total

  Eastern Board Area

  Belfast City Hospital

  44

  294

  3

  10

  2

  0

  0

  353

  Eastern Ambulance

  30

  101

  0

  5

  6

  0

  0

  142

  Creenpark

  44

  225

  15

  8

  6

  0

  0

  298

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  44

  211

  19

  8

  5

  0

  0

  287

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals

  20

  256

  0

  10

  3

  0

  0

  289

  Southern Board Area

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  42

  146

  2

  3

  3

  0

  0

  196

  Total

  224

  1,233

  39

  44

  25

  0

  0

  1,565

  1. The Chairman's remuneration is included within the total remuneration of Non-Executive Directors.

  2. The Chief Executive's remuneration is included within the remuneration of Executive Directors.

  Road Casualties
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [37967]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:660

  Persons killed

  Persons injured

  Serious

  Slight

  1990

  185

  11,576

  1,993

  9,583

  1991

  185

  10,129

  1,648

  8,481

  661

  Persons killed

  Persons injured

  Serious

  Slight

  1992

  150

  11,114

  1,841

  9,273

  1993

  143

  10,957

  1,725

  9,232

  1994

  157

  11,937

  1,648

  10,289

  The Government's target to reduce the total number of people killed and seriously injured on Northern Ireland's roads by one third by the year 2000 compared with the baseline 1981–85 average' is identified in the recently published road safety plan for Northern Ireland, to which the RUC is a signatory. This target has been universally accepted and is a focus for organisations and individuals involved in road safety.

  The current trend in deaths and serious injuries would indicate that this target is in line to be accomplished through a continuance of the multi-agency approach to road safety education and with the full support and determination of the community.

  The RUC will continue to provide a substantial, sustained and co-ordinated effort, involving road safety education and enforcement of more serious road traffic offences, to address accident causes and trends. Resources will be deployed towards a number of identified priority areas: speed, reckless/careless driving, drinking and driving, young drivers, pedestrians and child safety.

  Note:

  1 The baseline 1981–1985 average for fatal and serious casualties is 2362. The target, to be reached by the year 2000, is 1575.

  Public Inquiry (Carrickfergus Harbour)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total costs incurred by the Department of the Environment (NI) in respect of public inquiries regarding Carrickfergus harbour, Country Antrim, to date; and if he will make a statement on the future development of Carrickfergus harbour, and adjacent land. [38721]

  Mr. Moss
  Information on the cost to the Department of the Environment (NI) of public inquiries regarding Carrickfergus harbour is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  662
  Carrickfergus harbour is in the ownership of Carrickfergus borough council, which is responsible for its future development.

  The Department of the Environment (NI) and the borough council have formed a partnership to re-develop land adjacent to Carrickfergus harbour for housing, retail, commercial and other uses and are currently negotiating with a potential developer for the site.

  George Finbar Ross
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what considerations have led to the interval between the issue of prosecution directions by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in respect of George Finbar Ross and the decision regarding his extradition; and if he will make a statement. [38046]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Directions to prosecute George Finbar Ross were issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland on 3 May 1995.

  Since that time, the question of seeking the extradition of Mr. Ross has been under active consideration. Crown Counsel has been requested to advise on a number of relevant matters. That advice is awaited.

  It is the practice of the relevant authorities not to give details of the actions being taken to secure the apprehension of wanted persons or the progress thereof. To do so could undermine the effectiveness of those actions.

  Planning Inquiries
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances planning applications for new shopping developments will be referred to local public inquiries. [38351]

  Mr. Moss
  Where a planning application for a new shopping development is classified as of major importance, as defined in article 31 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland may call a public inquiry to consider valid planning representations about, and objections to, the proposal. The principal matters which the Department takes into account in forming a judgement as to whether to call an inquiry are:

  (i) the provisions of the development plan and relevant planning policies;

  (ii) decisions on previous planning applications relevant to the site in question;

  (iii) the nature and validity of the representations and objections; and

  (iv) the views of the district council as to whether an inquiry would be appropriate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Treaty Ratification
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to reform the procedures for the ratification of treaties. [36856]

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no plans to change our procedures.

  Turkey
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European partners, regarding Turkey's relationship with the European Union. [36875]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular and frequent discussions with our European partners on this subject, most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 2 October.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's Government's relations with Turkey. [36876]

  Mr. David Davis
  Turkey is an important friend and NATO ally. During his visit to Ankara on 6 September, my right hon. and learned Friend underlined the importance we attach to reinforcing bilateral links and to developing further Turkey's relationship with western and European institutions. He also referred to the importance of Turkey respecting international norms on human rights. A copy of a speech he gave in Ankara has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his American and European counterparts to discuss developments in the former Yugoslavia. [36877]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the prosecution of persons charged with war crimes in the former Yugoslavia. [36879]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The tribunal has issued eight indictments against 46 individuals so far. All these have been Serbs but non-Serbs are currently being investigated. Judge Goldstone has indicated that indictments will be issued within two months. The first trial, against Dusko Tadic, a guard in the Omarska POW camp, has already heard preliminary motions and is currently receiving witnesses.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps 664
  he is taking to prevent further human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. [36885]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  During recent visits to the former Yugoslavia, my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and I made clear to all parties our condemnation of human rights abuses and atrocities.

  We fully support the work of the war crimes tribunal and believe those who have committed atrocities should answer in court for their actions.

  Subsidiarity
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity as set out in the Maastricht treaty. [36878]

  Mr. David Davis
  Subsidiarity has taken root in the EU. There has already been a sharp drop in the number of new legislative initiatives. At the 1996 IGC, the UK will bring forward specific proposals with the support of other member states further to entrench subsidiarity in the treaty.

  European Policy
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with other European Foreign Ministers European policy on foreign and security affairs; and if he will make a statement. [36880]

  Mr. David Davis
  I regularly discuss policy on foreign and security affairs with my EU counterparts, most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 October and the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers at Santander on 9 to 10 September 1995.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. [36881]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are keeping this issue under review.

  UN Peacekeeping Initiatives
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Government's policy towards UN peacekeeping initiatives. [36883]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have played a leading role in supporting the UN Secretary-General's efforts to enhance UN peacekeeping capacity. In particular, we have helped strengthen the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and have supported the Secretary-General's attempts to improve UN rapid reaction capability. We are also helping to enhance the capability of African states to undertake effective peacekeeping.
  665

  French Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his French counterpart since July in regard to French nuclear testing in the Pacific. [36886]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have discussed this question with my French counterpart on a number of occasions.

  Middle East
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the middle east peace process. [36887]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which was given earlier by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary.

  European Elections
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which other European Union states British citizens can vote or stand in those countries' local elections. [36888]

  Mr. David Davis
  British citizens will be able to vote and stand in the local elections of any country of the European Union, under the same conditions as nationals of that country, once those countries have passed the necessary domestic legislation. Such legislation has already been passed in Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and Austria, and is under way in the remaining countries of the European Union. Limited exceptions may be made in areas with a high concentration of non-nationals, or when an elected office involves influence at national level.

  European Political Union
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his counterparts in the European Union to discuss greater political union. [36889]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Secretary of State regularly meets his counterparts in the European Union at the Foreign Affairs Council. The next meeting will be held in Luxembourg on 30 to 31 October.

  Palestine National Authority
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he will give towards ensuring that elections to the Palestine National Authority and the campaigning which precedes them are free and fair and suffer no interference from Israeli security forces. [36890]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are providing several staff for the EU electoral unit which will organise the international observation of the Palestinian elections. We will also send a full party of observers.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his preparations for the European intergovernmental conference. [36891]
  666
  Mr. David Davis
  We are continuing to develop Britain's approach to the intergovernmental conference. The study group preparing for the intergovernmental conference is continuing its work and will report to the Madrid European Council in December.

  Cuba
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's trade relations with Cuba. [38018]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom enjoys normal trading relations with Cuba, and the Government's policy is to support the efforts of UK firms to exploit the growing civil market opportunities which will arise as Cuba progresses with the reform of its economy along market-oriented lines. Her Majesty's Government will continue to urge on the Cuban Government the importance of an early settlement of outstanding debts to UK firms.

  The Government signed a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement with Cuba on 30 January 1995. It entered into force on 11 May 1995. Such agreements are designed to encourage investor confidence and investment flows by setting high standards of investment protection binding in international law. They are important to British companies thinking of investing overseas, because they contain strong commitments from other Governments about the way British investment will be treated. The agreement with Cuba is one of almost 80 concluded by the United Kingdom to date.

  Cuba is on the United Kingdom list of destinations for which export licences for certain goods are subject to special licensing procedures. There are no Untied Kingdom of EC restrictions on imports from Cuba, apart from those applied to imports from all sources, such as on certain firearms and fissile materials; specifically, there are no quantitive restrictions for trade policy purposes.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Science and Technology paid a second visit to Cuba in September to further strengthen bilateral relations, including the development of trade and investment. He opened the new embassy building in Havana and signed an operating agreement on behalf of the Commonwealth Development Corporation with the Cuban Government, paving the way for further British investment in support of economic reform.

  Human Rights (Kenya)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions Her Majesty's Government have taken so far to put pressure on the Kenyan Government to stop human rights violations. [38016]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have drawn our concerns about aspects of the human rights situation to the attention of the Kenyan authorities.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all Ministers who
  667
  have visited Cyprus in the last three years to discuss the issue of Cyprus. [38486]

  Mr. David Davis
  None, although British Ministers maintain regular contact with leading figures in both Cypriot communities. The then Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) met President Clerides and Mr. Denktash while visiting the island for Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in October 1993.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the accession of Cyprus to the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [36862]

  Mr. Davis
  The Cannes European Council reaffirmed that accession negotiations will start six months after the conclusion of the IGC, and taking account of its outcome.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the European Commission has requested from Her Majesty's Government for its special meeting on 23 October on nuclear testing. [39255]

  Mr. David Davis
  None.

  Bosnia
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position in Bosnia. [36874]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Although skirmishing has continued in north-west Bosnia,. the situation is generally much quieter following the ceasefire which came into effect on 12 October. We remain concerned about the continuing tense situation in eastern Slavonia.

  We call on all sides to abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreements and to co-operate fully with the UN.

  UN Peacekeeping Operations
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent review he has made of the scale and resourcing of United Nation's peacekeeping operations. [36871]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The United Nations Secretary-General reports regularly to the Security Council and the fifth committee on peacekeeping operations. We keep their scale and resourcing under constant review in the light of these reports.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Magistrates (Secret Societies)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 17 July,Official Report, column 904, how many magistrates in the Duchy
  668
  of Lancaster included freemasonry when asked by advisory committees to list their outside interests. [38411]

  Mr. Freeman
  Advisory committees do not keep these statistics. Candidates are asked to give their outside interests, which are discussed during interviews. Advisory committees ask for this information to learn about a candidate's involvement in the local community. Some candidates volunteer the fact that they are freemasons.

  Being a freemason is neither a qualification nor a disqualification for appointment as a magistrate.

  On appointment, all magistrates take a judicial oath to administer justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

DEFENCE

  University Air Squadrons
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the existing university air squadrons in the United Kingdom and those which he plans to relocate or close during the next three years. [39349]

  Mr. Soames
  The existing university air squadrons are as follows:

  Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrews

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cambridge

  East Lowlands

  East Midlands

  Glasgow and Strathclyde

  Liverpool

  London

  Manchester and Salford

  Northumbrian

  Oxford

  Queens

  Southampton

  Wales

  Yorkshire

  Current proposals include the closure of Queen's university air squadron at the end of the 1995–96 academic year, and the relocation of East Lowlands university air squadron to RAF Leuchars by 1 April 1996.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the need for alternative training facilities for members of the university air squadron of Queen's university, Belfast; and if he will make a statement. [39352]

  Mr. Soames
  Should the decision be taken to close Queen's university air squadron, alternative training facilities would in future be made available at other squadrons on the mainland for RAF sponsored students in Northern Ireland. Additional travelling expenses would be met by the Department.

  RAF Units (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the units and formations of the
  669
  Royal Air Force currently in Northern Ireland with their locations; and what plans he has for changes to that list over the next three years. [39350]

  Mr. Soames
  The following units of the Royal Air Force are currently based in Northern Ireland.

  Units

  Location

  3 Squadron RAF Regiment

  RAF Aldergrove

  230 Squadron Puma

  RAF Aldergrove

  27 Squadron Wessex

  RAF Aldergrove

  Queen's University Air Squadron

  Belfast City Airport

  No. 13 Air Experience Flight

  Belfast City Airport

  The Department has proposed the closure of Queen's university air squadron at the end of the 1995–96 academic year. This has been the subject of consultation with trade unions and other interested parties, and all representations will now be fully and carefully considered before any final decision is taken. Should Queen's UAS close, No. 13 Air Experience Flight, which shares accommodation with the UAS, would also close. It is, however, proposed to reactivate No. 664 Volunteer Gliding school to continue to provide flying experience for air cadets in Northern Ireland.

  Derek Campion Laffey
  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the reason for the discharge of 14190562 S/Sgt Derek Campion Laffey, Royal Corps of Transport; [38514]

  (2) what estimate he has for the number of persons advised of discharge procedures by 14190562 S/Sgt Derek Campion Laffey, Royal Corps of Transport; [38515]

  (3) what information was available to 14190562 S/Sgt Derek Campion Laffey, Royal Corps of Transport (a) during service and (b) at date of discharge; and if he will place it in the Library. [38516]

  Mr. Soames
  Mr. Laffey was discharged from the Army in June 1968. The information requested is not, therefore, readily available. Mr. Laffey's service documents have been requested from the records office at Hayes and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available from those documents. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of veterans of British nuclear tests who were alive at the start of the study conducted into the effects of radiation on them by the National Radiological Protection Board; what is his estimate of the number still alive; and if he will make a statement. [39214]

  Mr. Soames
  Out of over 20,000 veterans' studies by the National Radiological Protection Board, more than 3,000 would have died—over 900 of them from cancer—if the veterans had suffered the same death and cancer rates as members of the public in the same age groups. In fact, fewer than 2,800 veterans died—fewer than 800 from cancer—these figures being no higher than for the 670
  matched control group in the NRPB study. It follows that there has been no overall excess of death or cancer among test participants.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has made into the value of having an overarching sub-Department dealing with veterans' affairs; when he last met representatives of the Government of the United States of America to discuss this matter; when he next plans to meet them to discuss this matter; and if he will make a statement. [39210]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has not carried out any studies into the value of having a sub-Department for veterans' affairs. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any meetings with representatives of the Government of the United States of America to discuss this matter, nor has he any plans to do so.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the study by the National Radiological Protection Board into the effects of radiation on veterans of British nuclear tests; what instructions, advice and guidance he has given to the NRPB on the continuation of its study since the publication of its latest report; and if he will make a statement. [39215]

  Mr. Soames
  The studies conducted by the National Radiological Protection Board concluded that there has been no overall excess of death or cancer among British nuclear test participants. No instructions, advice or guidance have been given to the NRPB since the publication of the report in December, 1993, although we have made it clear that we see no need for a further study into the health of test veterans.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what categories of written or recorded oral evidence, computerised data and other information gathered by the National Radiological Protection Board before, during and after its study into the effects of radiation on veterans of British nuclear tests is available for public inspection; what categories are not available for public inspection; what written or recorded oral evidence, computerised data and other information arising from this study has been destroyed or lost; and if he will make a statement. [39211]

  Mr. Soames
  Information available to the public is contained in the National Radiological Protection Board's report "Mortality and Cancer Incidence 1952–90 in United Kingdom Participants in the UK Atmospheric Nuclear Weapon Tests and Experimental Programmes", published in December 1993. Personal details including recorded radiation dosage are available only to the individuals to whom they refer or their next of kin. We are not aware of any evidence having been destroyed or lost.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy that the National Radiological Protection Board should continue its study into the effects of radiation on veterans of British nuclear tests; what proposals he has to assist them; and if he will make a statement. [39213]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no plans to sponsor any further studies.
  671
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with representatives of foreign Governments who pay and have paid compensation to veterans of nuclear tests; what conclusion he has drawn as to the reasons they have decided to take such action; and if he will make a statement. [39209]

  Mr. Soames
  Among British nuclear test veterans there has been no overall excess of death or malignant disease, so the question of compensation does not arise. I am not aware of detailed discussions with foreign Governments on the matter, but I understand that in the USA, some ex-service veterans involved in former atmospheric nuclear test programmes may receive a pension and entitlement to free medical care.

  Royal Flight
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in 1994–95 the royal flight was used by members of the royal family; and how many of these flights were by fixed-wing aircraft. [38862]

  Mr. Soames
  During the financial year 1994–95, the Queen's flight was used by the royal family on 870 occasions; 479 of these flights were in fixed-wing aircraft.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have taken place since 1992 in the organisation of the royal flight and in the methods of allocating and seconding costs. [38861]

  Mr. Soames
  On 1 April 1995, following a Cabinet Office efficiency scrutiny of royal and VIP communications flying, the Queen's flight amalgamated and collocated with No. 32 Squadron at RAF Northolt to form No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron. Prior to financial year 1994–95, costs represented the total operating costs of TQF, but included some flying by entitled non-royal users which could not be separately identified because of disproportionate cost. From financial year 1995–96 onwards, costs are calculated on the proportionate usage by entitled members of the royal family of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron. The general costing philosophy remains as before. From 1995–96, private flying by the royal family becomes a charge to the Privy purse and no longer falls to class I votes.

  Exercise Brilliant Foil
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who was the sponsor for Exercise Brilliant Foil, held between 18 and 22 September; and if he will make a statement. [39031]

  Mr. Soames
  Exercise Brilliant Foil was sponsored by Commander Air Forces North West Europe. It was a large-scale, multinational exercise, involving non-UK based foreign aircraft, designed to maintain the operational capabilities of the United Kingdom's air defence forces. It also provided valuable training for NATO offensive forces.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 4 September, what factors led to his Department making available in the Vote Office copies of CM 2920, "The 672
  Atomic Weapons Establishment-Contractual Indemnities", on 14 August. [39259]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  On 6 July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence laid a departmental minute before the House seeking its approval for certain indemnification arrangements in respect of the Atomic Weapons Establishment. In such a case, if no objections are raised during the ensuing 14 days, it is normal procedure for parliamentary approval to be assumed. Accordingly, CM 2920, which describes the arrangements, was published by HMSO on 14 August.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Thurrock Borough Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 782, if he will publish the replies he has received from the solicitors acting on behalf of the (a) hon. Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) and (b) the chief executive of Thurrock borough council in respect of the video sent to him; and if he will make a statement. [38715]

  The Attorney-General
  No. Neither of the letters referred to in my answer to the hon. Member of 29 June,Official Report, column 782, required a response. The solicitors acting on behalf of the hon. Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) did, however, request some further information.

  Mr. Asil Nadir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussion he has had and with whom concerning Mr. Asil Nadir; and if he will make a statement. [38488]

  The Attorney-General
  I frequently discuss with the director of the Serious Fraud Office matters of departmental interest including the progress of current investigations and prosecutions. He keeps me informed of significant developments in cases including the Polly Peck case. It is my practice, not to divulge the substance of discussions about current cases.

  Prosecutions (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were sent forward for prosecution by the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions over the last 12 quarters, specifying the numbers of people so charged during those quarters; and if he will make a statement about the implications of the figures. [38482]
  673
  The Attorney-General
  Statistics are not kept by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in the form as sought in the question. The director keeps statistics in relation to the number of files submitted to him for his decision. Statistics are also kept as to the number of persons prosecuted. These are as follows:

  Quarter

  Files received

  Prosecutions directed (persons)

  1992 July-September

  2,854

  2,192

  1992 October-December

  2,748

  2,126

  1993 January-March

  2,720

  2,111

  1993 April-June

  2,570

  1,975

  1993 July-September

  2,571

  1,942

  1993 October-December

  2,708

  2,072

  1994 January-March

  2,898

  2,229

  1994 April-June

  2,934

  2,294

  1994 July-September

  3,056

  2,442

  1994 October-December

  3,087

  2,474

  1995 January-March

  3,154

  2,544

  1995 April-June

  2,423

  1,880

  Total

  33,723

  26,281

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Attorney-General what jurisdiction and role the Serious Fraud Office has in Scotland. [39220]

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office was established by section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987. The power of the director of the Serious Fraud Office to investigate offences involving serious or complex fraud is confined to those justiciable in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. By virtue of section 17(2) of the 1987 Act the investigative powers of the director under section 2 of that Act—the powers to require the production of documents and the answering of questions—are exercisable in Scotland in connection with offences committed in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Provision is made in section 2(19) for the director to apply to a sheriff in Scotland for a warrant to be granted under section 2(4) and (5) to search premises in Scotland and to take possession of documents found therein.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if the companies which successfully tendered for the national lottery contracts for(a) telecommunications links with lottery computer terminals, (b) software, (c) ticketing and consultancy services and (d) advice on consumer trends and retail development with the lowest cost bids in each case; [28723]

  (2) how many companies tendered for the contract to provide Camelot with (a) telecommunications links with the national lottery computer terminals, (b) software for the national lottery, (c) ticketing and consultancy services for the national lottery and (d) advice on consumer trends and retail development. [38722]
  674
  Mr. Sproat
  This is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked the director general of the national lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.

  Downe House, Kent
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assistance her Department is giving in saving for the nation Charles Darwin's home, Downe house, at Downe, Kent; and if she will make a statement. [39072]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department is providing grant-in-aid of £28.7 million in 1995–96 to the natural history museum, which took over the administration of Downe house in 1993. Decisions on how to spend this money are a matter for the trustees of the museum.

  Media Concentration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the European Commission's proposed directive on media concentration; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the concept of cross-European media regulations. [39234]

  Mr. Sproat
  The European Commission has not yet put forward proposals for a directive in this area, but has instead undertaken a series of consultations among member states and other interested parties. The Government's position is set out in our response to EC questionnaire No. III on "Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internet Market", which is available in the Library of the House. Our view is that the media industry cannot be treated on the same basis as other sectors of the economy. Ownership restrictions are an essential safeguard for plurality and diversity and, as such, are distinct from the separate question of controls on anti-competitive behaviour. We believe that member states are best placed to assess where the balance lies in securing both economic and cultural objectives, and do not therefore support the case for introducing harmonising legislation at the European level.

HEALTH

  Correspondence
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the letter of 8 September sent to his Department from the Nottinghamshire local medical committee; and if he will make a statement. [38322]

  Mr. Sackville
  A reply was sent today.

  Suicides
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of recorded suicides in each year since 1979. [38366]
  675
  Mr. Bowis
  The information is shown in the table.

  Recorded deaths from suicide in England and Wales in years 1979–1994, ICD91 Code E950-E959.

  Year

  Persons

  1979

  4,195

  1980

  4,321

  1981

  4,419

  1982

  4,279

  1983

  4,279

  1984

  4,315

  1985

  4,419

  1986

  4,126

  1987

  3,986

  1988

  4,220

  1989

  3,717

  1990

  3,950

  1991

  3,893

  1992

  3,952

  19932

  3,485

  19942

  3,256

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

  2 Provisional.

  Asthma
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the under-diagnosis of asthma with particular reference to schools since 1989; and if he will make a statement on the diagnosis of asthma. [38314]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has not commissioned or evaluated any studies specifically on under-diagnosis of asthma. Diagnosis is a matter of professional judgment. However, we are concerned about the burden which results from asthma and its increasing incidence, particularly in children. We shall continue to work with the medical profession, the Department of the Environment, the National Asthma Campaign and other interested parties to improve our knowledge of the causes of asthma and to make life as normal as possible for those who suffer.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to undertake a comprehensive review of the causes and effects of asthma; and if he will make it his policy to create a unified national strategy to combat asthma, involving his Department and other interested bodies. [38315]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government already support an extensive programme of asthma research, particularly through the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  In 1992, the Department of Health asked the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants to advise on the possible links between outdoor air pollution and asthma. Its report "Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution" was published on 19 October 1995, and copies have been placed in the Library. In addition, the Departments of Health and of the Environment, in collaboration with the Institute for Environment and Health and the National Asthma Campaign, are organising an important conference on the possible causes and successful management of asthma, to be held on 23 November 1995.
  676
  A wide-ranging review of the available information on the causes and effects of asthma, entitled "Asthma—An Epidemiological Overview", was published by the Department of Health in March 1995, a copy of which is available in the Library. Under the chronic disease management programme, introduced by the Department of Health in July 1993, over 90 per cent. of general practitioners are providing organised programmes of care for people with asthma.

  Hospital Discharge Procedures
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received concerning hospital discharge procedures; and if he will make a statement. [38036]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have received a number of representations concerning hospital discharge procedures. National health service and social services departments should work together to ensure that integrated and sensitive hospital discharge arrangements are in place.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients presenting themselves to accident and emergency departments within(a) the London area and (b) England in 1994 were seen by a doctor more than four hours after arriving; [38625]

  (2) what information his Department collects regarding waiting times for patients to be seen by a doctor after arriving in accident and emergency departments; [38629]

  (3) what percentage of patients presenting themselves to accident and emergency departments within (a) the London area and (b) England in 1994 were seen by a doctor within two hours after arriving. [38624]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. All hospitals should have a locally set standard on the time patients should wait before receiving treatment in an accident and emergency department once their initial need for treatment has been assessed and will collect information on this standard.

  Ms Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department waited more than four hours between the decision being made by a doctor to admit them and being admitted to a ward within(a) the London area and (b) England in 1994; [38627]

  (2) what percentage of patients admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department waited less than two hours between the decision being made by a doctor to admit them and being admitted to a ward within (a) the London area and (b) England in 1994. [38626]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally at present. Since April 1995, there has been a patients charter standard that a patient admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department can expect to be given a bed as soon as possible, and certainly within four hours. From April 1996, this standard will be improved to two hours. Information relating to this standard will become available in due course.
  677
  Ms Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had regarding waiting times for patients to be seen by a doctor after arriving in accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement. [38628]

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with interested parties on many aspects of patient care including the organisation of accident and emergency departments.

  Internet
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for connecting the NHS to the Internet. [38744]

  Mr. Sackville
  Framework contracts have been awarded to British Telecom and Mercury for wide area network services to establish a national health service-wide electronic communications infrastructure. This will provide an information super-highway dedicated to the NHS which will, in turn, be able to be connected to the global Internet through secure, centrally managed, gateways. These gateways will allow controlled access from the NHS-wide network but will prevent unauthorised intrusion from the Internet. Demonstration testing of the secure gateway between the NHS-wide networking services and the global Internet is under-way.

  Medicines
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for reducing the cost to the NHS of medicines which are an alternative to those previously containing chlorofluorocarbons as a propellant. [38870]

  Mr. Malone
  We have no such plans.

  Birth Defects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority the percentage of parents who have declined to abort a pregnancy when told their child may have a birth defect for each of the last four years. [39017]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have approached his Department with proposals for the involvement of private sector bodies in the provision of treatment facilities within NHS hospitals. [39062]

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service hospitals and facilities have always been built by private sector bodies. I have previously listed projects approved under the private finance initiative for the provision of facilities for the NHS, including the nature of the project. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 18 October Official Report, column 280.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to health authorities and NHS trusts relating to the involvement of 678
  private sector bodies in the provision of facilities for treatment within the NHS. [39061]

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service executive issued guidance about the private finance initiative under HSG(95)15 in March 1995, copies of which are available in the Library. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dulwich (Ms Jowell) on 16 October Official Report, columns 141–42 and to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 4 February 1994 Official Report, columns 977–78.

  Alcohol
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in each age cohort drank alcohol at least once each week, for each of the last five years, by gender. [38775]

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

  Percentage of people drinking alcohol at least once a week by sex and age

  Percentage

  Age groups

  16 to 24

  25 to 44

  45 to 64

  65 and over

  Males

  1990

  76

  80

  77

  67

  1992

  76

  78

  76

  67

  Females

  1990

  56

  59

  55

  46

  1992

  58

  58

  57

  43

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are rounded to nearest whole figure.

  2. The General Household Survey collects data in alternate years only. The latest year for which data is available is 1992.

  Sources:

  General Household Surveys 1990 and 1992 (Office of Populations, Censuses and Surveys—analysis by Department of Health).

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cost to the NHS of alcohol-related patient episodes, for each of the last five years. [38777]

  Mr. Malone
  There is no generally accepted method of producing such estimates.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in each age cohort drank more than the recommended amount of alcohol per week, for each of the last five years, by gender. [38776]

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

  Percentage of the population aged 16 and above drinking above recommended sensible level: England 1990 to 1992:

  Percentage

  Age Groups

  16 to 24

  25 to 44

  45 to 64

  65 and over

  Total

  Males

  1990

  32

  33

  26

  14

  27

  1992

  33

  30

  24

  15

  26

  679

  Percentage of the population aged 16 and above drinking above recommended sensible level: England 1990 to 1992:

  Percentage

  Age Groups

  16 to 24

  25 to 44

  45 to 64

  65 and over

  Total

  Females

  1990

  17

  13

  10

  5

  11

  1992

  17

  14

  12

  5

  12

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are rounded to nearest whole figure.

  2. The General Household Survey collects data in alternate years only. The latest year for which data are available is 1992.

  3. The currently recommended sensible levels for alcohol consumption, 21 unites per week for men and 14 units per week for women1 were adopted by the Government when it published in 1991 the Lord President's Report on Action Against Alcohol Misuse. They refer to adults only. The Government's advice on sensible drinking is currently being reviewed by an inter-departmental group of officials in light of the latest scientific and medical evidence.

  1A unit of alcohol is 8 grams; the amount contained in half a pint of ordinary beer or larger, or in a small glass of wine, or in a standard measure of sprits.

  Source:

  OPCS General Household Survey (Analysis by Department of Health).

  Oral Contraceptives
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the procedures adopted by his Department in respect of the brands of oral

  Percentage of the population who were regular smokers England, 1990 to 1992

  Percentage

  Age groups

  11–15

  16–19

  20–24

  25–34

  35–49

  50–59

  60 and above

  Males

  1990

  9

  28

  39

  37

  34

  27

  24

  1992

  9

  29

  39

  35

  31

  27

  20

  1993

  8

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1994

  10

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Females

  1990

  11

  33

  39

  34

  32

  27

  19

  1992

  10

  24

  37

  33

  28

  28

  19

  1993

  11

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1994

  13

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole figure.

  2. The General Household Survey collects data on smoking prevalence in alternate years only. The latest year for which data are available is 1992.

  n/a—not available.

  Source:

  OPCS General Household Survey and, smoking among secondary schoolchildren. Analysis by Department of Health.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the quinquennial review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will include a reconsideration of the current exclusion from its membership of individuals who have ethical objections to the use of living human embryos for experimental purposes; and if he will make a statement; [39280]
  680
  contraceptives about which a public warning was given on 19 October, with special reference of when the decision to give the warning about contraceptives was taken; when general practitioners and doctors working in family planning clinics were notified; and how the notification was given. [39353]

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement in the House on 23 October.

  Smoking
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cost to the NHS of tobacco-related patient episodes, for each of the last five years. [38774]

  Mr. Sackville
  The relationship between tobacco use and individual patient episodes is not straightforward. The best available assessment, from the Health Education Authority's 1993 report "The Smoking Epidemic—A Prescription for Change", estimated that the cost to the NHS of treating smoking-related diseases is £610 million.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in each age cohort by gender, were regular smokers, for each of the last five years. [38773]

  Mr. Sackville
  Estimates of smoking prevalence are not carried out on a year-by-year basis. The available information is shown in the table.

  (2) what steps he intends to take to implement the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the membership of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority should be balanced; and if he will make a statement. [39281]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1992 sets down basic requirements for the balance between lay and scientific membership of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Care is
  681
  taken in making appointments to ensure that the authority has access among the membership, to the relevant expertise, skills and personal qualities necessary to carry out its functions. No individual is excluded from membership of the authority because of his or her personal convictions. However, it is important before appointing members to ascertain whether they have any specific views which may make it difficult for them to participate in the full range of the authority's activities. These include granting licences for embryo research.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he intends to make during the course of the quinquennial review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority of the conflict between the need responsibly to control experiments on human embryos in accordance with strict criteria and the need to generate income through fees charged upon the granting of licences authorising such experimentation. [39282]

  Mr. Sackville
  It was a decision of Parliament during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1992 that part of the running costs of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority should be met from fees. I am not aware of any evidence of a conflict of interests resulting from these arrangements. I will consider the matter again should the findings of the quinquennial review call for such action.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has concerning the number of human embryos which have been killed in each year since the establishment of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and in accordance with licences issued by that authority; what fees were raised by such licences in each of those years; and what is the resultant cash revenue per human embryo death so far realised by the authority; [39283]

  (2) if he will list by period of membership those individuals who have served on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; if he will indicate in the case of each member the total number of (a) licences and (b) human embryo deaths which were authorised by the authority during that individual's terms of service; if he will indicate in each case the revenue raised by such licences in that period; and if he will calculate the cash revenue per human embryo death realised during the period of the term of office of each of those individuals. [39284]

  Mr. Sackville
  Details of the membership of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are set out in the authority's annual reports, the fourth of which was published on 11 October 1995. Copies of all annual reports are available in the Library.

  Information about the number of embryos is not available in the form requested. Information about the number of embryos donated for research, the number of research licences issued and income generated by them is shown in the table. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act requires the written consent of the man and woman who donated the gametes before any research is undertaken.
  682

  Research licences

  Embryo donated for research

  Income from research licences £

  August 1991-December

  1991

  1

  2,497

  100

  1992

  32

  7,038

  3,200

  1993

  30

  9,518

  3,000

  1994

  34

  8,452

  3,400

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  European Union Regional Funds
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those parliamentary constituencies covered(a) wholly or (b) partly by objective 5b European Union regional funds in England. [37689]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The information is as follows:

  English Parliamentary Constituencies covered by Objective 5(B)

  Partly covered

  Berwick upon Tweed

  Bishop Auckland

  Bridlington and Driffield

  Bridgewater

  Central Suffolk

  Devon North

  Devon West and Torridge

  East Lindsay

  East Yorkshire

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  Harrogate

  Hereford

  Hexham

  High Peak

  Holland and Boston

  Lancaster

  Leominster

  Ludlow

  Middlesborough

  Morecambe and Lunesdale

  Northallerton

  Norfolk North West

  North East Cambridgeshire

  Pendle

  Penrith and the Borders

  Ribble Valley

  Ripon

  Scarborough and Filey

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Shropshire North

  Skipton and Ripon

  South East Cambridgeshire

  South West Norfolk

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  683

  Stamford and Spalding

  Suffolk Coastal

  Thirsk

  Tiverton

  Torbay

  Waveney

  West Derbyshire

  Whitby

  Worcestershire South

  Workington

  Wholly covered

  Cornwall North

  Cornwall South East

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  Malton

  Pickering and Helmsley

  Richmondshire

  Settle

  St. Ives

  Truro and St. Austell

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those district and county councils that are covered(a) wholly and (b) partly by objective 5b of European Union regional funds in England. [37687]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 19 October 1995]: The information is as follows:

  English district and county councils covered by Objective 5(B)

  Partly covered

  Cambridgeshire County Council

  Cumbria County Council

  Derbyshire County Council

  Durham County Council

  Humberside County Council

  Lancashire County Council

  Lincolnshire County Council

  Norfolk County Council

  Northumberland County Council

  North Yorkshire County Council

  Staffordshire County Council

  Suffolk County Council

  Allerdale District Council

  Alnwick District Council

  Berwick District Council

  Breckland District Council

  Bridgnorth District Council

  Carlisle District Council

  Castle Morpeth District Council

  Derbyshire Dales District Council

  East Cambridgeshire District Council

  East Lindsay District Council

  East Yorkshire District Council

  Eden District Council

  Fenland District Council

  Hambleton District Council

  Harrogate District Council

  684

  Kings' Lynn and West Norfolk District Council

  Lancaster District Council

  Leominster District Council

  Malvern Hills District Council

  Mid Devon District Council

  Mid Suffolk District Council

  North Devon District Council

  North Norfolk District Council

  North Shropshire District Council

  Oswestry District Council

  Pendle District Council

  Ribble Valley District Council

  Ryedale District Council

  Scarborough District Council

  Shrewsbury and Atcham District Council

  South Hams District Council

  South Hereford District Council

  South Holland District Council

  South Lakeland District Council

  South Shropshire District Council

  Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

  Suffolk District Council

  Teesdale District Council

  Torbay District Council

  Torridge District Council

  Tynedale District Council

  Waveney District Council

  West Devon District Council

  West Lindsay District Council

  West Somerset District Council

  Wyre District Council

  Boston Borough Council

  High Peak Borough Council

  East Staffordshire Borough Council

  Wholly covered

  Caradon District Council

  Carrick District Council

  Craven District Council

  Isles of Scilly District Council

  Kerrier District Council

  North Cornwall District Council

  Restormel District Council

  Richmondshire District Council

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by region the European Union grants(a) available to and (b) taken up by each region of the United Kingdom; how much each is or was worth; and if he will make a statement. [37824]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: Not all European Union grants are allocated by region. The amounts allocated to the United Kingdom under the three regional objectives of the structural funds, 1, 2 and 5b, are shown in the table. Almost 100 per cent. of the 1989 to 1993 allocations were committed to projects in the regions concerned.
  685

  Structural funds allocations

  Million ecu, 1994 prices

  1989–93

  1994–96

  1994–99

  Objective 1

  Merseyside

  —

  —

  816

  Highlands and Island

  —

  —

  311

  Northern Ireland

  972

  —

  1,233

  Total Objective 1

  972

  —

  2,360

  Objective 2

  North East

  358

  308

  —

  West Cumbria

  23

  25

  —

  Eastern England

  485

  392

  —

  West Midlands

  438

  371

  —

  North West

  631

  329

  —

  Greater London

  —

  74

  —

  South East (i.e. Thanet)

  10

  14

  —

  South West (i.e. Plymouth)

  —

  29

  —

  Total England

  1,945

  1,542

  —

  South Wales

  244

  188

  —

  North East Wales

  72

  —

  —

  Total Wales

  316

  188

  —

  Eastern Scotland

  142

  121

  —

  Western Scotland

  486

  286

  —

  Total Scotland

  628

  407

  —

  Total Objective 2

  2,889

  2,137

  —

  Objective 5b

  South West England

  92

  —

  219

  Shrops/Hereford and Worcs

  —

  —

  40

  Staffs/Derbyshire

  —

  1

  12

  Northern Uplands

  —

  —

  108

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  53

  East Anglia

  —

  —

  60

  Total England

  92

  —

  492

  Rural Wales

  148

  —

  184

  Highlands and Islands

  172

  —

  —

  Borders of Scotland

  —

  —

  30

  Dumfries and Galloway

  17

  —

  47

  Central Scotland/Tayside

  —

  —

  25

  Grampian

  —

  —

  39

  Total Scotland

  188

  —

  141

  Total Objective 5b

  429

  —

  817

  Objectives 1, 2 and 5b

  England

  2,037

  1,542

  1,308

  Wales

  464

  188

  184

  Scotland

  816

  407

  452

  Northern Ireland

  972

  —

  1,233

  Total United Kingdom

  4,290

  2,137

  3,177

  All figures exclude Community initiatives, which are not generally allocated by region.

  ISDN
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the role of ISDN as a transmission technology; and what proposals he has to make it more widely available. [39236]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  ISDN is one of a number of complimentary technologies that together will provide us with the digital networks necessary to support advanced telecommunications services and applications.

  ISDN has been available in the UK for several years, but recent EC decisions on ISDN terminal standards and the growth of interest by British business in high-speed
  686
  connection to the Internet are likely to increase demand for ISDN substantially. The extent to which ISDN services are available is obviously a commercial matter for the telecommunications operators.

  With this in mind, the Government consulted in the summer on their proposals to hold a competition to award licences to run radio fixed-access systems. Such a system operating nationally at 10 GHz is intended to provide the minimum bit rate of 144 kbps necessary for an ISDN service as an alternative to the service already offered by BT and some cable operators.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons an ISDN connection in the United Kingdom costs more than in France and Germany; and what measures he is taking to address this. [39235]

  Mr. Taylor
  The pricing of ISDN services is a matter for the commercial judgment of service providers. Both my Department and the Office of Telecommunications are aware of the level of relative prices of ISDN services in the UK compared to France and Germany. As both the latter markets are yet far from liberalised, there is little available information about whether the prices for ISDN charged there can be justified in relation to underlying costs. Oftel is considering the inclusion of ISDN services in BT's price cap when it is next reviewed.

  The introduction of effective competition will also contribute to bringing prices down and this lies behind the Government's policy of licensing alternative infrastructure such as radio fixed access systems. Operating at 10 GHz these could provide an alternative ISDN service to that offered by BT and some cable providers.

  Manufactured Exports
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current estimate of the number of United Kingdom companies and firms which are engaged in the regular exporting of manufactured goods. [38745]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  According to HM Customs and Excise, there were approximately 112,000 exporting firms in the United Kingdom in 1994. This figure includes shipping agents but excludes firms that are below the United Kingdom VAT registration threshold.

  Copyright
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to implement the new term directive on copyright. [38857]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  A large number of submission were received in response to the consultative draft of legislation to implement this directive which was circulated to interested parties earlier this year. Consideration has now been given to the many points raised in these submissions, as a result of which we have concluded that a substantial number of changes to the proposed legislation are desirable. The draft is being revised, and regulation will be laid before both Houses as soon as possible.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what export licences have been granted to British
  687
  companies for defence-related equipment sales to Guatemala in each of the past five years. [37975]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 October]: I have recently placed in the Library of the House details of all export licences issued in respect of arms, and of military and security equipment, for the years 1993 and 1994. The information is broken down by category of goods, as defined in the appropriate Export of Goods (Control) Order; and by the number of licences issued in each category to every country of destination, including Guatemala. For the years 1990 to 1992 inclusive, the relevant information is as follows:

  Year

  EGCO category

  Number of licences

  1990

  —

  Nil

  1991

  —

  Nil

  1992

  ML11

  1

  ML3

  3

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences for the export of arms and ammunition were(a) issued and (b) applied for and refused for Indonesia between 1 January 1994 and 1 August 1995; and what were the items for which licences were refused. [37653]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have recently placed in the Library of the House details of all export licences issued in respect of arms, and of military and security equipment, for the year of 1994. The information is broken down by category of goods, as defined in the appropriate Export of Goods (Control) Order, and by the number of licences issued in each category to every country of destination, including Indonesia. In 1994, two licences were refused for Indonesia in the categories: ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML6, ML9, ML10, ML11, PL5018, PL5021, and PL5030. For these categories of goods, and in the period 1 January to 1 August 1995, the numbers of licences issued and refused for Indonesia were 23 and three respectively.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences for the export of arms and ammunition were(a) issued and (b) applied for and refused for each of the countries of central and south America for (a) 1994 and (b) between 1 January 1995 and 1 August 1995. [37654]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have recently placed in the Library of the House details of all export licences issued in respect of arms, and of military and security equipment, for the year of 1994. The information is broken down by category of goods, as defined in the appropriate Export of Goods (Control) Order, and by the number of licences issued in each category to all countries of destination, including all those in south and central America. In 1994, nine licences were refused for Argentina for the categories: ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML6, ML9, MLIO, ML11, PL5018, PL5021, and PL5030. No other licence applications were refused for these goods to the other countries of central and south America.

  For these categories of goods, and in the period 1 January to 1 August 1995, the numbers of licences issued and refused to the relevant destinations were as follows:
  688

  Issued

  Refused

  Argentina

  1

  4

  Belize

  0

  —

  Bolivia

  2

  —

  Brazil

  60

  —

  Chile

  102

  —

  Columbia

  16

  —

  Costa Rica

  0

  —

  El Salvador

  3

  —

  Ecuador

  24

  2

  French Guyana

  0

  —

  Mexico

  4

  —

  Guatemala

  1

  —

  Guyana

  5

  —

  Honduras

  0

  —

  Nicaragua

  2

  —

  Panama

  0

  —

  Paraguay

  0

  —

  Peru

  30

  —

  Surinam

  0

  —

  Uraguay

  4

  —

  Venezuela

  2

  —

  Export Market Information Centre
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many British companies have used his Department's export market information centre since its establishment. [38452]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Since its establishment in 1989, the export market information centre has received over 120,000 visits. In addition, around 37,000 telephone inquiries are being received each year by the centre.

  Television Programmes
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the balance of trade in television programmes(a) in 1985, (b) in 1990 and (c) in the latest year for which figures are available. [37916]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information, which is available only for films and television together, is published by the Central Statistical Office in the United Kingdom balance of payments—the Pink Book. The publication is available in the Library of the House.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the KPMG report on the Post Office commissioned by his Department. [38583]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This report is confidential between the Government, their advisers, and the Post Office board.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the funding commitments which have been given to Assessment Services Ltd. as part of the purchase agreement for the takeover of the National Engineering Laboratory. [38184]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: The Department is committed on behalf of industry over a five-year period to supporting the national measurement system through a programme of research and technology transfer at the National Physical Laboratory, the

  689
  Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Engineering Laboratory. Flow measurement work at NEL is an integral part of this. NEL has won other contracts under DTI's innovation and technology support budget. The Department will also be placing further work under these programmes in the next five years. The total of this guaranteed work at NEL is £30.2 million spread over five years.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the negotiated price paid by ASL for the National Engineering Laboratory. [38183]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: The Department and Assessment Services Ltd. signed on 23 October the assets purchase agreement and the framework agreement and supporting documents for the purchase of the National Engineering Laboratory, subject to the resolution of certain property issues which is expected shortly. Completion is planned to take place on 31 October as originally proposed.

  Steel and Aerospace Imports and Exports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the(a) tonnage and (b) cash value of (i) steel exports from the United Kingdom and (ii) aerospace exports in each of the last five years. [37991]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The available information is given in the following table.

  UK exports of steel and aerospace

  Steel

  Aerospace

  £ million

  Tonnes (000s)

  £ million

  Tonnes

  1990

  2,545

  6,759

  2,012

  n/a

  1991

  2,534

  7,671

  5,050

  17,214

  1992

  2,496

  7,954

  4,452

  16,969

  1993

  2,644

  7,973

  3,967

  13,484

  1994

  3,002

  8,377

  3,725

  14,412

  Source:

  Annual Statistics Publication 1994, Iron and Steel Statistical Bureau Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, CSO.

  The aerospace data refer to group 792 of the standard international trade classification; aircraft and associated equipment; spacecraft, including satellites and spacecraft launch vehicles; and parts thereof. The aerospace figures exclude avionic products which are products of the electronics industry. The cost of compiling information for such products would exceed the cost limit.

  The 1990 tonnage of aerospace exports from the United Kingdom is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the(a) tonnage and (b) cash value of (i) steel imports and (ii) aerospace imports into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [37968]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The available information is given in the following table.
  690

  UK imports of steel and aerospace

  Steel

  Aerospace

  £ million

  Tonnes (000s)

  £ Million

  Tonnes (000s)

  1990

  2,220

  5,158

  2,489

  n/a

  1991

  2,184

  5,309

  3,079

  17,119

  1992

  2,070

  5,173

  2,998

  16,052

  1993

  2,028

  4,820

  2,945

  13,873

  1994

  2,328

  5,701

  3,445

  15,916

  Source:

  Annual Statistics Publication 1994, Iron and Steel Statistical Bureau Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, CSO.

  The aerospace data refer to group 792 of the standard international trade classification; aircraft and associated equipment; spacecraft, including satellites and spacecraft launch vehicles; and parts thereof. The aerospace figures exclude avionic products which are products of the electronics industry. The cost of compiling information for such products would exceed the cost limit.

  The 1990 tonnage of aerospace imports into the United Kingdom is commercially confidential.

  Regional Industrial Support
  Mr. Macshane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by(a) amount, (b) company and (c) regional government funds, grants on tax relief schemes offered to foreign companies investing in the United Kingdom each year since 1990. [38712]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The question is unclear. If the hon. Gentleman would clarify the information he is seeking, I will endeavour to answer. However, the hon. Gentleman may care to note that the main instrument of regional industrial support is the regional selective assistance scheme. Details of the grants given can be found in the "Annual Report of the Industrial Development Act 1982".

  Prawns and Shrimps
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the annual imports of prawns or shrimps from(a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) the Faroe Islands for each year since 1980 by volume and value. [37957]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information prior to 1988 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The available information is given in the following table.

  UK imports of Prawns and Shrimps

  Iceland

  Norway

  Faroe Islands

  £ million

  Tonnes

  £ million

  Tonnes

  £ million

  Tonnes

  1988

  25

  4,751

  19

  3,750

  4

  835

  1989

  22

  4,162

  29

  6,075

  6

  1,329

  1990

  21

  4,735

  24

  5,734

  6

  1,390

  1991

  28

  7,244

  20

  5,118

  6

  1,470

  1992

  36

  8,220

  27

  6,707

  6

  1,551

  1993

  42

  9,559

  25

  6,361

  6

  1,346

  1994

  59

  13,036

  20

  4,527

  2

  533

  Source:

  Overseas trade statistics of the United Kingdom.
  691
  Shrimps and prawns are classified to codes 030623, 030613, and 160520 of the harmonised Commodity coding system.

  Buses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many buses were imported into and exported from Britain in each year since 1979. [38855]

  Mr. Page
  The available information is set out in the following table. The figures are for new and used public service type passenger vehicles taken from the overseas trade statistics.

  Trade in buses 1979 to 1994

  Exports

  Imports

  1979

  1,716

  564

  1980

  1,243

  444

  1981

  1,433

  701

  1982

  3,003

  1,087

  1983

  6,469

  1,642

  1984

  7,078

  1,321

  1985

  8,320

  1,210

  1986

  5,907

  1,599

  1987

  5,976

  1,132

  1988

  1,223

  1,183

  1989

  1,208

  1,178

  1990

  2,656

  747

  1991

  2,315

  633

  1992

  1,579

  783

  1993

  1,343

  920

  1994

  1,313

  1,037

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many buses were manufactured in Britain in each year since 1979. [38856]

  Mr. Page
  The available information is set out in the following table. The figures include buses, coaches and minibuses.

  United Kingdom production of buses 1979 to 1994

  Number

  1979

  25,531

  1980

  21,572

  1981

  12,444

  1982

  13,107

  1983'

  15,616

  1984

  16,499

  1985

  16,027

  1986

  12,340

  1987

  13,996

  1988'

  16,500

  1989

  14,858

  1990

  12,320

  1991

  9,837

  1992

  8,517

  1993'

  7,019

  1994

  9,566

  Note:

  1 53 week years.

  Source:

  Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the Coal Authority's actual budget figures for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 to prevent or
  692
  control water pollution from mine workings, including the cost of pumping operations transferred from British Coal; and if he will make a statement. [39026]

  Mr. Page
  The Coal Authority's annual report and accounts for 1994–95 record that the authority is spending in excess of £1 million a year pumping and discharging minewater into rivers. The Coal Authority's main targets for 1995–96 include agreeing with the National Rivers Authority and the river purification boards in Scotland a list of "priority sites" for remediation, together with initial costings for the most significant of these, by 31 December 1995. In these circumstances, it would be premature for the Coal Authority to establish a separate budget.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the land and property in the Don Valley constituency which currently remains in the ownership of British Coal Property. [39554]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Telephone Codes, Reading
  Sir Gerald Vaughan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the costs to local businesses and residential telephone users of changing the dialling codes for the Reading area twice within one year; if he will require BT through Oftel to consider compensation for those affected; and if he will make a statement. [39246]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Numbering issues are the responsibility of the Director General of Telecommunications. However I understand that no existing Reading numbers will need to change their codes until 1998. Any changes reflect demand for new telecoms services.

  Realising our Potential Awards
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment his Department has made of the success of the realising our potential awards; [38910]

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure the quality of projects receiving realising our potential awards. [38909]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 19 October 1995,Official Report, column 314.

  Technology Foresight Programme
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what collaborative projects with industry the technology foresight programme has identified for funding. [38908]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The technology foresight programme has produced 16 reports. These contain some 400 recommendations, many of which might be addressed by collaborative projects between academia and industry. Some of these priorities can be taken forward in more than one collaborative project—for example, the foresight vehicle priority of the transport foresight panel is being reflected in 15 collaborative project themes. Some collaborative projects identified in the foresight
  693
  programme are already being taken forward through the Link mechanism—see the table. The foresight challenge, which was launched in September 1995, is expected to

  How foresight is being taken forward through Link

  New Link programmes

  Programme

  Announced

  Sponsors

  Description

  Applied Biocatalysis

  March 1995

  BBSRC/DTI

  The programme aims to facilitate the broader application of biocatalysis in UK industry by supporting research to improve both the understanding and the usability of biocatalytic processes.

  Waste Minimisation through Recycling, Re-use and Recovery in Industry

  May 1995

  EPSRC/DTI

  The programme aims to develop and implement cost effective technologies for recycling, re-use and recovery of materials within the manufacturing and process industries, thereby reducing waste and input and disposal costs.

  Integrated Approaches to Healthy Ageing

  August 1995

  MRC

  The programme aims to improve understanding of psychological, physiological and social factors affecting good or ill health in old age. It also aims to develop new ways of supporting healthy ageing and independent living, and to develop new approaches to the prevention, management and rehabilitation of disorders affecting the elderly.

  Genetic and Environmental interactions in Health

  August 1995

  MRC

  The programme aims to develop collaborations between academia and industry in genetics, molecular/genetic epidemiology, pharmacogenetics and complementary disciplines and technologies.

  Earth Observation

  August 1995

  BNSC/DTI/ NERC/DoE

  The programme aims to support innovative pre-competitive earth observation applications research on a collaborative basis targeted on end user needs emerging from Foresight.

  Boosts to existing LINK programmes

  Programme

  Boost announced

  Sponsors

  Description

  Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

  June 1995

  DTI/NERC

  Additional funds are being allocated to research directed at more accurate identification and assessment of new oil and gas fields; and technological improvements to increase yields from existing oil and gas fields.

  Surface Engineering

  July 1995

  EPSR/DTI

  The programme supports collaborative research into new and improved surface treatment and coating systems and their associated process technologies. Additional funds are being allocated to new projects that address relevant Foresight priorities.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to ensure that funding for existing research projects is not diverted to new research projects under the technology foresight programme. [38911]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Research council and departmental funds for existing projects have not been diverted in response to foresight. The foresight challenge provides extra funds for projects which take forward foresight priorities. New research projects in the public and private sectors may take account of foresight findings as existing projects are concluded.

SCOTLAND

  News Releases
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many statements to the media in the last year 694
  identify many more collaborative projects; the closing date for the first round of outline applications under the challenge is 20 November 1995.

  have been made by civil servants at the Scottish Office; and if he will name the individuals concerned. [37508]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of 1,722 Scottish Office news releases was issued in 1994; the name of the press officer concerned is given at the end of each news release.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions are given to members of the NHS management executive concerning statements to the media. [37510]

  Mr. Forsyth
  Statements to the media by members of the NHS management executive are issued on behalf of Ministers and on the advice of the information directorate of the Scottish Office operating under the Cabinet Office guidelines for information officers. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the guidelines for statements to the media by civil servants at the Scottish Office. [37511]
  695
  Mr. Forsyth
  The guidelines for statements to the media are contained in the booklet "The Government Information Officer" published by the information officer management unit, which is a part of the Cabinet Office. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Forestry
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number, area and location of woods currently offered for sale by the Forestry Commission in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales, indicating those for which a legal agreement to protect public access on foot has been made and, for all woods, the length of time they have been on the market. [37500]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 18 October 1995]: The following Forestry Commission woodlands are currently for sale on the open market:

  County/Region

  Name of property

  Area (hectares)

  Time on market(months)

  England

  Buckinghamshire

  New Sowed Wood

  2

  4

  Stoke Park Wood

  64

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  Great and Little

  Widgam Woods

  55

  1

  Salome Wood

  23

  1

  Cornwall

  New Road Plantation

  16

  3

  Port Eliot, Bones

  13

  24

  Port Eliot,

  24

  Branchcombe

  2

  Port Eliot, Perdredda

  54

  24

  Port Eliot, Rytha

  24

  Plantation

  11

  Prideaux

  24

  2

  Treworgey Wood

  17

  3

  Cumbria

  Bird Dyke, Lamplugh (part)

  9

  1

  Chalk Plains

  40

  1

  Denton Fell

  627

  1

  Leesrigg Plantation

  17

  1

  Nuthill and Simpson's

  Wood

  14

  1

  Sunderland Gill

  28

  1

  Derbyshire

  Kennel Wood

  6

  12

  Moorhall Wood

  8

  12

  Devon

  Deershill

  11

  3

  Hawkmoor

  22

  27

  Knowle Wood

  8

  2

  Little Silver/Crowball

  Wood

  8

  3

  New Moor Plantation

  12

  3

  Durham

  Stanley Wood Cottages

  31

  24

  Humberside

  Greenwickdale Wood

  37

  18

  Isle of Wight

  Kemphill Moor

  20

  4

  Kent

  Cole Wood

  22

  2

  Lancashire

  Tythe Barn Plantation

  8

  1

  Leicestershire

  Bolt Wood

  27

  1

  Clipsham (part)

  14

  12

  696

  County/Region

  Name of property

  Area (hectares)

  Time on market(months)

  Lincolnshire

  Hum Wood

  9

  1

  Norfolk

  Foulden Broom Covert

  6

  1

  Great Wood Outliers

  18

  1

  North Yorkshire

  Seaton Ross Woods

  43

  24

  Northamptonshire

  Sandpit Copse

  3

  12

  Nottinghamshire

  Nut Wood

  9

  12

  Shropshire

  Cantlop Woods, Lot 1

  13

  3

  Cantlop Woods, Lot 2

  10

  3

  Cantlop Woods, Lot 3

  8

  3

  Coed Detton

  14

  59

  Somerset

  Higher Bitcombe

  30

  59

  South Yorkshire

  Greensprings Wood

  12

  24

  Old Park Wood1

  41

  24

  Owston and Duck Holt Woods

  66

  2

  Suffolk

  Barthorps Folly

  6

  1

  Scotland

  Borders

  Edgarhope

  143

  7

  Priesthaugh1

  787

  2

  Dumfries and

  Dalquhairn

  180

  2

  Galloway

  Glenshimmeroch

  178

  2

  Grampian

  Auchinroath Plantation

  62

  6

  Auqharney1

  133

  12

  Drybridge Woodlands

  52

  3

  Glenbuchat

  530

  11

  Hillockhead

  42

  3

  Malcolm Wood

  14

  3

  Rhynagoup Woods

  52

  3

  Rosarie Strip

  23

  9

  Tulloch Wood1

  239

  3

  Wangie Plantations

  47

  3

  Highland

  Avriachan Plantation

  865

  12

  Achrugan1

  559

  15

  Culdrach Plantation

  58

  8

  Tote Plantation

  421

  8

  Uig Plantation

  40

  8

  Strathclyde

  Ardmarnock1

  1,284

  3

  Caladh1

  153

  3

  Crookedstane

  347

  1

  Daljarrock

  51

  7

  Dererach Plantation

  177

  3

  Docherneil

  83

  7

  Glenmard

  56

  7

  Little Clyde

  650

  1

  Scoor Wood(part)

  360

  33

  Uluvalt

  197

  3

  Tayside

  Camusericht

  304

  13

  Upper Glenprosen

  230

  8

  Warroch

  68

  3

  Wales

  Clwyd

  Blackthorn Covert

  22

  3

  Castle Great Wood

  49

  3

  Coed Melin y Moch

  12

  13

  697

  County/Region

  Name of property

  Area (hectares)

  Time on market(months)

  Dyfed

  Allt Cil y Llyn Fawr

  3

  34

  Cilflower Wood

  3

  2

  Penhill Wood

  4

  7

  Ty'r Shyme

  6

  34

  Waun Baglan1

  26

  5

  Gwent

  Craig yr Arail

  56

  4

  Gwynedd

  Aberdunant(part)

  16

  12

  Amnodd Wood

  88

  3

  Beudu Mawr

  8

  1

  Cabin Wood

  18

  1

  Cefn Glas

  12

  3

  Cwm Prysor

  56

  3

  Factory Covert

  5

  1

  Glyn Covert1

  7

  1

  Gwinllan Rhos Dhu

  10

  1

  Gwinllan y Gaerwen1

  9

  1

  Rhiwbach and Tyddyn

  Bach1

  106

  8

  Ynysfor (part)

  4

  12

  West Glamorgan

  Graig Ynysgollen

  10

  8

  Nant y Stalwyn1

  44

  25

  1 Woodlands where a legal agreement to protect public access on foot has been concluded. For the other woodlands, either the local authority or a third party with an interest has declined to enter into an access agreeement.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [37990]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Fatal

  Non-fatal

  Total

  1981–85 average

  641

  26,502

  27,142

  1990

  546

  26,675

  27,221

  1991

  490

  24,849

  25,339

  1992

  463

  23,709

  24,172

  1993

  399

  22,016

  22,415

  1994

  363

  22,220

  22,583

  The continuing fall in the number of fatalities to the lowest on record is very encouraging and good progress is being made towards achieving the Government's target of reducing overall causalities by one third by the year 2000 compared with 1981–85 average. The Scottish Office and local authorities will continue to take forward road safety initiative designed to contribute towards achieving the target.

  Pay Delegation
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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
  698
  bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38278]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At April 1996 six distinct pay bargaining units are expected to operate within the Scottish Office and its associated departments. The approximate number of employees in each unit, distinguishing agency and HQ staff, are:

  Agency Staff

  Scottish Prison Service

  4,500

  Historic Scotland

  780

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  280

  Scottish Courts Service

  870

  Registers of Scotland

  1,120

  The core departments of The Scottish Office, plus remaining Agencies and Associated Departments, form a single central bargaining unit; covering some 5,960 staff, 670 of whom serve in Agencies, the remainder on HQ functions.

  For the central unit discussions are in progress on trade union recognition and possible future bargaining arrangements. In each of the separate agency bargaining units, the chief executive has responsibility for pay negotiations.

  Child Prostitution
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to hold centrally information in respect of the number of cases of child prostitution that are reported; and if he will make a statement. [38297]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Child prostitution is neither a separate criminal offence nor a statutory ground for referring a child to a children's hearing and is therefore not recorded as such. Where a child under the age of 16 becomes involved in prostitution, the child is considered more as a victim rather than an offender. The child is invariably referred by the police to the reporter to the children's panel who decides whether there should be a reference to a panel to consider whether compulsory measures of supervision may be appropriate. An adult involvement in the matter would be referred by the police directly to the procurator fiscal. I am satisfied that in these cases we have in place the necessary system of referrals and procedures to ensure that the action which is taken in relation to the child is in the best interests of the child's welfare.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the latest estimates of those aged 17 years and over, plus 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years, for each parliamentary constituency in Scotland together, in each case with the equivalent electoral registration figures also expressed as a percentage of these population figures. [36777]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: The information requested is given in the table. The population figures have been prepared by a method that involves a certain degree of approximation and therefore must be treated with some caution.
  699

  Parliamentary constituencies

  Parliamentary constituency

  Estimate of population aged 17 and over plus 63 per cent, of 16 year olds (as at 30 June 1994) (a)

  Parliamentary electors on the 1995 electoral registers (qualifying date10 October 1994) (b)

  (b) as a percentage of (a)

  Aberdeen north

  61,700

  59.390

  96.3

  Aberdeen south

  62,900

  60,612

  96.4

  Angus east

  67,200

  64,745

  96.3

  Argyll and Bute

  51,000

  49,885

  97.8

  Ayr

  68,400

  67,258

  98.3

  Banff and Buchan

  68,800

  67,769

  98.5

  Caithness and Sutherland

  30,800

  31,298

  101.6

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  56,400

  56,712

  98.8

  Central Fife

  57,600

  57,412

  99.7

  Clackmannan

  51,600

  50,413

  97.7

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  50,300

  48,768

  97.0

  Clydesdale

  65,300

  63,652

  97.6

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  49,400

  47,857

  96.9

  Cunninghame north

  57,400

  56,026

  97.6

  Cunninghame south

  51,000

  49,774

  97.6

  Dumbarton

  61,100

  57,497

  94.1

  Dumfries

  62,700

  61,591

  98.2

  Dundee east

  59,800

  57,292

  95.8

  Dundee west

  59,300

  56,822

  95.8

  Dunfermline east

  53,500

  52,374

  97.9

  Dumfermline west

  53,500

  52,203

  97.6

  East Kilbride

  68,000

  66,772

  98.2

  East Lothian

  69,100

  68,714

  99.4

  Eastwood

  66,300

  64,814

  97.8

  Edinburgh central

  61,300

  59,201

  96.6

  Edinburgh east

  48,000

  46,346

  96.6

  Edinburgh Leith

  58,700

  56,694

  96.6

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  57,800

  55,910

  96.7

  Edinburgh south

  64,800

  62,668

  96.7

  Edinburgh west

  61,500

  59,442

  96.7

  Falkirk east

  53,600

  52,280

  97.5

  Falkirk west

  51,100

  49,822

  97.5

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  55,200

  54,882

  99.4

  Glasgow Cathcart

  46,400

  44,277

  95.4

  Glasgow central

  51,000

  48,638

  95.4

  Glasgow Garscadden

  43,300

  41,310

  95.4

  Glasgow Govan

  47,200

  45,059

  95.5

  Glasgow Hillhead

  62,300

  59,483

  95.5

  Glasgow Maryhill

  51,900

  49,499

  95.4

  Glasgow Pollok

  47,400

  45,223

  95.4

  Glasgow Provan

  36,200

  34,525

  95.4

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  54,800

  52,314

  95.5

  Glasgow Shettleston

  54,200

  51,778

  95.5

  Glasgow Springburn

  48,400

  46,214

  95.5

  Gordon

  86,700

  84,897

  97.9

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  51,700

  50,935

  98.5

  Hamilton

  65,000

  62,866

  96.7

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  72,500

  72,378

  99.8

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  63,900

  62,555

  97.9

  Kincardine and Deeside

  72,900

  70,116

  96.2

  Kirkcaldy

  53,500

  53,328

  99.7

  Linlithgow

  64,000

  68,825

  98.2

  Livingston

  64,500

  63,325

  98.2

  Midlothian

  62,700

  61,013

  97.3

  Monklands east

  50,400

  49,132

  97.5

  Monklands west

  51,500

  49,850

  96.8

  Moray

  68,500

  65,625

  95.8

  Motherwell north

  60,400

  58,157

  96.3

  Motherwell south

  52,100

  50,164

  96.3

  North East Fife

  59,700

  58,332

  97.7

  North Tayside

  59,600

  57,800

  97.0

  Orkney and Shetland

  32,900

  32,411

  98.5

  Paisley north

  47,800

  46,448

  97.2

  Paisley south

  49,400

  48,037

  97.2

  Perth and Kinross

  69,900

  67,985

  97.3

  Renfrew west and Inverclyde

  62,100

  60,616

  97.6

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  59,000

  58,393

  99.0

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  44,100

  44,163

  100.1

  Stirling

  60,600

  59,813

  98.7

  700 701

  Parliamentary constituencies

  Parliamentary constituency

  Estimate of population aged 17 and over plus 63 per cent, of 16 year olds (as at 30 June 1994) (a)

  Parliamentary electors on the 1995 electoral registers (qualifying date10 October 1994) (b)

  (b) as a percentage of (a)

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  64,300

  62,003

  96.4

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  41,000

  40,881

  99.7

  Western Isles

  23,000

  23,304

  101.3

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will order a Scottish Office investigation into the causes of the financial difficulties of Aberdeen Royal Hospitals trust and Highland Communities trust, with a view to publishing a report, on the matter. [38499]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: The Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS trust and the Highland Communities NHS trust have reported to the Scottish Office Department of Health forecast deficits for 1995–96. These matters are being addressed by the trusts and health boards concerned and by the Department. All NHS trusts are required by statute to publish an annual report and audited accounts at the appropriate time.

  Paisley
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will put measures in place to allow Paisley to obtain city status. [39180]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  City status in Scotland can be achieved only through the granting of a royal charter. It has no statutory significance in Scotland. No royal burgh charter has been granted in modern times and there are no plans to revive the practice.

  Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [39135]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: The number, category and value in each of the stated years of frauds committed by employees of my Department, its associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies and reported to Treasury via the annual fraud return are as follows:

  (i) 1991–92: 1 Departmental fraud and 1 Agency fraud to the total value of £6,051.82 of which £5,653.84 was recovered.

  (ii) 1992–93: 1 fraud in a non-departmental public body, valued £255.00 non of which was recovered.

  (iii) 1993–94: 9 Departmental frauds and 1 Agency fraud to the total value of £11,047.40 of which £11,000 was recovered.

  (iv) 1994–95: 9 Departmental frauds and 1 Agency fraud amounting to £39,490.79 of which £5,550 has been recovered to date.

  702
  In addition, in 1993–94 there was one fraud in a non-departmental public body, reported to my Department. This amounted to £850.97 all of which was recovered. In 1994–95, three similar frauds amounting to £5,850.00 were reported of which £4,350.00 was recovered.

  Tate and Lyle
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been paid to Tate and Lyle plc, in relation to its cane sugar refinery in Greenock, by way of regional selective assistance grants in the period of time in which such grants have been available; and if he will make a statement. [38519]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Since the introduction of regional selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972, Tate and Lyle plc, through Tate and Lyle Industries Ltd., has received a total of £600,000 in regional selective assistance in respect of its cane sugar refinery in Greenock, the latest payment being made in 1988.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the progress being made towards the Forestry Commission becoming a next steps agency; and what targets and timetables he has for woodland disposal as a result of this process. [38265]

  Mr. Kynoch
  We shall publish the framework document establishing Forest Enterprise as an agency soon. This will not affect the current target and timetable for woodland disposals.

  Fishing
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the prohibition of the use of mobile fishing gear in sea lochs; and if he will make a statement. [38439]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Representations were received from 17 individuals and organisations on the prohibition of the use of mobile gear in sea lochs in response to a consultation paper which was issued by the Scottish Office on 24 May 1995. These are being considered.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the exclusion orders granted under the terms of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976, in each of the past 10 years; how many have been extended and for what lengths of time; what plans he has to issue further exclusion orders in the near future; and if he will make a statement. [38441]
  703
  Mr. Robertson
  The following protection orders have been made under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976:-

  The Rivers Tweed and Eye Protection Order 1980;

  The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection Order 1982;

  The River Lunan Catchment Area Protection Order 1983;

  The River Tummel Catchment Area Protection Order 1983;

  The River Tay Catchment Area Protection Order 1986;

  The West Strathclyde Protection Order 1988;

  The River Earn Catchment Area Protection Order 1990;

  The River Don Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1990;

  The Loch Morar and River Morar Protection Order 1992;

  The Loch Awe and Associated Waters Protection Order 1992;

  The River Clyde Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1994;

  The North West Sutherland Protection Order 1994;

  The River Arkaig, Loch Arkaig and Associated Waters Protection Order 1995.

  With the exception of those for the River Spey and River Tay, the orders run without limit of time. The current orders for the River Spey and River Tay run to February and October 1996 respectively.

  Further orders can be made on application, provided there is provision for increased access to the fisheries.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a ban, under the terms of the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984, on the fishing for scallops in inshore waters; and if he will make a statement. [38442]

  Mr. Robertson
  A review of regulations made under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 was the subject of a consultation paper issued on 24 May. Views were sought on the possibility of introducing a weekend ban

  NHS trusts' board director's remuneration1

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  NHS trust

  Chairman's remuneration

  Non-executive board director's remuneration

  Chief executive's remuneration

  Executive and non-executive board director's remuneration

  Chairman's remuneration

  Non-executive board director's remuneration

  Chief executive's remuneration

  Executive and non-executive board director's remuneration

  Glan Clwyd District General Hospital NHS trust

  19

  39

  70

  269

  18

  38

  72

  278

  Clwydian Community NHS trust

  23

  47

  71

  291

  21

  47

  71

  371

  Wrexham Maelor NHS trust

  0

  29

  71

  327

  0

  26

  74

  339

  North Wales Ambulance trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  17

  39

  59

  219

  Gwynedd Community NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19

  42

  64

  223

  Gwynedd Hospital NHS trust 2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19

  22

  77

  287

  Powys Healthcare NHS trust

  22

  49

  61

  312

  22

  48

  62

  317

  Carmarthen and District NHS trust

  17

  37

  67

  274

  17

  37

  69

  277

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS trust

  20

  37

  57

  250

  20

  37

  52

  246

  Derwen NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  21

  38

  61

  288

  Llanelli/Dinefwr NHS trust

  18

  42

  52

  281

  19

  44

  57

  308

  Pembrokeshire NHS trust

  17

  42

  90

  373

  17

  42

  77

  363

  Morriston Hospital/Ysbyty Traforys NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19

  30

  69

  295

  Swansea NHS trust

  17

  41

  61

  305

  17

  40

  67

  331

  Bridgend and District NHS trust

  19

  44

  67

  330

  19

  44

  74

  351

  Glan Hafren NHS trust

  20

  46

  73

  340

  20

  45

  82

  367

  704
  on scallop fishing in Scottish inshore waters. Twenty-two representations were received which commented on this proposal and these are currently being considered.

  Loch Caolisport
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the issue of suction dredging in Loch Caolisport; and if he will make a statement. [38440]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Representations were received from seven individuals and organisations on suction dredging in Loch Caolisport in response to a consultation paper which was issued by the Scottish Office on 24 May 1995. These are being considered.

  Fisheries Research Vessel
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the signing of the contract for the construction of a fisheries research vessel; and if he will make a statement. [38518]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Tenders for the construction of a replacement fisheries research vessel are currently being assessed and a decision as to their acceptability has to be made by 31 December 1995.

WALES

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will itemise payments made in each NHS trust to(a) chairs, (b) non-executive directors, (c) chief executives and (d) board directors for 1993–94 and 1994–95 by region. [37920]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows.
  705

  NHS trusts' board director's remuneration1

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  NHS trust

  Chairman's remuneration

  Non-executive board director's remuneration

  Chief executive's remuneration

  Executive and non-executive board director's remuneration

  Chairman's remuneration

  Non-executive board director's remuneration

  Chief executive's remuneration

  Executive and non-executive board director's remuneration

  Nevill Hall NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  17

  42

  60

  289

  Gwent Community Health NHS trust

  23

  47

  61

  301

  22

  47

  66

  327

  Llandough NHS trust

  23

  64

  73

  350

  17

  40

  75

  355

  Velindre NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  15

  35

  56

  218

  Rhondda NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19

  30

  67

  291

  East Glamorgan NHS trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  17

  37

  59

  264

  South East Wales Ambulance Trust

  15

  40

  55

  240

  15

  40

  58

  211

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance Trust2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  20

  40

  53

  233

  Source:

  NHS trust's annual accounts.

  Computers in Schools
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what statistics he has on the change in the number of computers available to pupils in schools in Wales in the last decade. [38410]

  Mr. Richards
  Surveys of microcomputers in schools were undertaken in 1986, 1988 and 1992. The 1986 survey covered only a third of primary schools, and special schools were covered only in 1992. The following table shows the average number of pupils per microcomputer, in those primary, secondary and special schools who responded to the surveys.

  Number of pupils per microcomputer

  1986

  1988

  1992

  Primary schools

  97

  68

  34

  Secondary schools

  55

  30

  14

  Special schools

  —

  —

  6

  Film Industry
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his office has made of the total amount of financial support provided by local authorities for the film industry in Wales for each of the last three available years; what is his assessment of the support which will be provided by the unitary authorities after April 1996; and if he will make a statement. [38133]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on local authority funding for the film industry in Wales is not held centrally. It will be for unitary authorities to decide on future levels of funding in the light of their available resources.

  Drug Prevention Week
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial provision his office has made to support Drug Prevention Week Wales; what is the funding level for drug prevention in Wales(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the figure in England; and if he will make a statement. [38135]

  Mr. Richards
  Drug Prevention Week was a police initiative; they and the agencies working with them were responsible for funding it.
  706
  Welsh Office funding for combating drug misuse is generally made available through general allocations to and various grant schemes operated by health and local authorities. It is not possible to identify separately the total amounts spent on drug prevention.

  University Research
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what way the Welsh Office co-ordinates and administers scientific research carried out at Welsh universities. [38737]

  Mr. Richards
  Public funding for research in higher education in Wales is directed through two distinct channels. General funds, for use at institutions' discretion, are allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales from grant in aid provided by the Welsh Office and are used to support basic and strategic research. The allocation of funding to individual institutions reflects the assessed quality of research undertaken at each institution. Specific funding for particular research projects undertaken by an institution is provided by the appropriate research council.

  The Welsh Office provides advice to the HEFCW on the general policies to be adopted in the allocation of funding for research. Neither the Department nor the funding council seeks to co-ordinate research undertaken in the higher education institutions.

  Renovation Grants (Rhondda)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask, the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take in relation to the recent findings about the operation of the renovation grant system by Rhondda borough council and if he will make a statement. [38616]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the renovation grant system rests with district councils. Any suggestion of malpractice should be placed before the monitoring officer, district auditor, local government ombudsman or the police to investigate. The district auditor has already carried out a full inquiry and reported on renovation grants in Rhondda.
  707

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has for the journey times for each of the lorries containing livestock that were taken from Shoreham to Dieppe aboard the Northern Cruiser on 17 May; [34864]

  (2) what action he has taken in respect of sheep that died during their export to France and Shoreham on 17 May; [34868]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the transportation of livestock on the Northern Cruiser from Shoreham on 17 May with particular reference to (a) the suitability of the vessel for livestock transportation and (b) the prevailing weather conditions; [34872]

  (4) what account was taken of the presence of a pregnant ewe in granting a certificate for the consignment of sheep exported on 17 May from Shoreham. [34869]

  Travelling times—17 May sailing, Shoreham to Dieppe (from returned journey plans and reports)

  Lorry Number

  1.

  2.

  3.

  4.

  5.

  6.

  Number and species

  220 sheep

  222 sheep

  144 calves

  147 calves

  211 calves

  205 calves

  Departure (including loading) to point of sailing

  5 hrs 20 mins

  2 hrs 50 mins

  2 hrs 50 mins

  5 hrs 20 mins

  5 hrs 20 mins

  2 hrs 50 mins

  Voyage (including unloading)

  9 hrs 10 mins

  9 hrs 25 mins

  9 hrs 10 mins

  9 hrs 40 mins

  9 hrs 40 mins

  9 hrs 10 mins

  (Period of rest in Dieppe)

  (8 hrs)

  (none)

  (8hrs)

  (none)

  (none)

  (none)

  Dieppe to final destination

  5 hrs 30 mins

  1 hr

  5 hrs

  1 hr 15 mins

  1 hr 15 mins

  4 hrs

  Maximum period without rest

  14 hrs 30 mins

  13 hrs 50 mins

  12 hrs

  16 hrs 15 mins

  16 hrs 15 mins

  16 hrs

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy regarding the export of live farm animals for slaughter or further fattening to countries outside the European Union; [38006]

  (2) what plans he has to permit the export of live farm animals for slaughter or further fattening to countries outside the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [38009]

  Mrs. Browning
  There is no intention of changing our long-standing policy of permitting the export of food animals only to those countries with standards at least equivalent to those in force within the European Union on the protection of animals during transport and at slaughter.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many alleged infringements of the laws designed to protect the welfare of animals in transit have been dealt with by his officials during the last two months in(a) Dover and (b) Brightlingsea; and how many prosecutions have been brought in respect of such infringements; [38010]

  (2) whether it is his policy that his officials should continue to inspect every consignment of animals exported through Dover and Brightlingsea; and if he will make a statement. [38011]

  Mrs. Browning
  During the months of August and September, all consignments of animals for slaughter or
  708
  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 19 July 1995]: It is, of course, the master's responsibility under the law not to carry animals if in his judgment there are grounds for believing that, due to adverse weather conditions, the voyage will be attended by serious risk to the animals of injury, suffering or death. It does on occasion happen, particularly during the winter months, that the master of a livestock vessel cancels a sailing because of adverse weather. This was not the case on 17 May, but I understand that the vessel was held in port while weather checks were made. Information about the journey times of the lorries on this voyage is given in the table.

  The local authority has completed its investigation with regard to the two dead sheep and the third animal which had given birth. The deaths of the sheep and the birth of a lamb do not in themselves amount to conclusive evidence of infringements, and the local authority will have needed to consider the available evidence in this respect. The local authority has in fact concluded that in this case it did not have evidence to support a prosecution. All the animals in the consignment had been certified as fit to travel, which suggests that the ewe which gave birth was showing no obvious sign of being pregnant and about to give birth at that time.

  further fattening exported from Dover and Brightlingsea were monitored by officials. This kind of monitoring brings to light a number of incidents ranging from the detection of actual welfare problems to minor documentary discrepancies: within this range there can be welfare problems that do not involve an infringement, and cases where intervention by Ministry staff anticipates and prevents problems or infringements from occurring.
  At Dover during the period in question, officials dealt with 43 incidents, of which three were subsequently referred to the local authority—which is, I understand, considering two of these for possible prosecution. At Brightlingsea, officials dealt with 11 incidents during the period. Four were referred to the local authority for action and dealt with either by verbal warning, formal caution or by statutory notice requiring remedial action to be taken. I understand that one case is being considered for prosecution.

  We intend for the time being to maintain this level of monitoring in the ports.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy on the export of horses for slaughter; [38005]

  (2) what plans he has to amend or repeal the minimum values system which prevents the export of horses for slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [38008]
  709
  Mrs. Browning
  We remain committed to the minimum values system for exported equines, and have no intention of amending or repealing it.

  DNA Nucleotides
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter 90854, of 23 September to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, if he will make a statement on his consultation with legal experts and scientists about the Tony research and development project, and the Bartlett-Davidson patent, relating to patenting of DNA nucleotides sequencing for identification of animal species. [37299]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 23 October 1995]: I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy on the export of horses for slaughter; [38005]

  (2) what plans he has to amend or repeal the minimum values system which prevents the export of horses for slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [38008]

  Mrs. Browning
  We remain committed to the minimum values system for exported equines, and have no intention of amending or repealing it.

  Pay Delegation
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [38279]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following is the information:

  A. Bargaining Units

  There will be the following four pay bargaining units from 1 April 1996:

  Bargaining unit

  Grades

  1

  Core-MAFF

  all grades

  Pesticides Safety Directorate1

  all grades

  Veterinary Medicines

  all grades

  Directorate1

  Directorate of Fisheries Research2

  for grades other than those below

  2

  Directorate of Fisheries Research

  for marine industrials/non-industrials and shore-based industrials

  3

  Central Science Laboratory1

  all grades

  4

  Central Veterinary Laboratory1

  all grades

  1 Agency.

  2 Canidate Agency.

  Note:

  ADAS and Meat Hygience Service are not covered by the MAFF pay delegation plan because they have already taken pay delegation from April 1994 and 1995 respectively.

  B. Trade Union Recognition and Negotiating Arrangements

  For the bargaining units list above:

  710

  1. Single table negotiations have been agreed with the FDA, IPMS, NUCPS, and CPSA.

  2. Multiple table negotiating arrangements will continue with GMB, NUMAST and TGWU.

  3. Single table negotiations have been agreed with the IPMS, NUCPS and CPSA.

  4. Discussions on single table negotiations are in progress with IPMS, NUCPS, CPSA and GMB.

  Animals (Transport)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to amend the Animal Transport Order 1994 to take into account the increase of trailer size to 3.7 metres. [38153]

  Mrs. Browning
  A number of representations have been made to us about the increase in the size of trailers commonly used by farmers to transport livestock on short journeys. We are currently consulting on revisions of the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994 and we are considering in that context how to update the current legislative requirements to reflect current practice.

  Fisheries
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions have taken place with Fisheries Ministers and officials of the Irish Republic regarding the harmonisation of fishing regulation in the Irish sea; and if he will make a statement. [38443]

  Mr. Baldry
  Officials in the UK Fisheries Departments are in frequent touch with officials of the Irish Republic's Departments of the Marine. I met the Irish Minister of the Marine in Dublin on 18 September when we discussed a range of fisheries questions including the regulation of fisheries in the Irish sea. All countries that fish in the Irish sea do so under the rules of the common fisheries policy.

  Departmental Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [39136]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: The analysis of reported cases of fraud committed by employees of the Department and its agencies is set out in the table:

  Financial year

  Number cases

  Value

  Amount recovered

  1991–92

  6

  £3,000

  See note

  1992–93

  3

  £1,000

  See note

  1993–94

  4

  £14,000

  £5,000 recovered

  £5,000 not recovered

  £4,000 under prosecution

  1

  —Still under investigation—

  1994–95

  No new cases

  Details of amounts recovered for earlier years are not readily available.
  711
  Details of frauds committed by staff of non-departmental public bodies for 1991–92 are not readily available. No frauds have been reported to the Department in respect of the years 1992–93 onwards.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what nuclear and toxic waste was deposited in the Beaufort dyke and in other areas of the North channel and the Irish sea in each of the last 20 years. [38591]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for licensing the disposal of waste at sea around the coast of England and Wales. The Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department performs a similar function in Scottish waters which includes Beaufort's dyke as do the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland in their waters. No nuclear waste has been dumped in the Irish sea, North channel or Beaufort's dyke. The Ministry has granted a number of licenses for the disposal of sewage sludge, industrial waste and dredged material in the North channel and Irish sea. None of this waste was toxic. The annual "Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report" published by the Directorate of Fisheries Research contains details of all licenses issued and copies are placed in the Library of the House.

  Fish Conservation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy in respect of implementing the days at sea limitation provision of the Sea Fish Conservation Acts after the recent rejection of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations case against it by the European Court of Justice. [39354]

  Mr. Baldry
  I welcome the European Court of Justice's clear endorsement of the legality of the measures adopted by this House in 1993. However, after two years' delay while the legal processes have been taking place, I would not see it as being sensible to implement now the planned arrangements which were based on levels of fishing in 1991.

  There have, in addition, been a number of developments in EU fisheries policy, including the new EU effort ceilings applying to all member states fishing in western waters, the enforcement of which is currently under discussion in the Fisheries Council. We also need to take account of the fact that the Council will soon be discussing the next stage of the multi-annual guidance programme to apply from 1997, in which it is expected that the concept of effort management will be extended further.

  Against the background, I do not at present see it as appropriate to reactivate the days at sea policy. We need to look ahead in the wider context of EU policy developments and the growing role envisaged for effort management. This will need careful consideration in close consultation with the industry in order to find the best way of securing a proper balance between the legitimate activities of our fishermen and the need to conserve the fish stocks on which they depend for tomorrow's catches.
  712
  Meanwhile, we will continue to monitor the effort currently being deployed to ensure that it does not undermine the reductions in capacity which we are securing through the decommissioning programme.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will pay the costs incurred by the NFFO in its action against the days at sea limitation in the Sea Fish Conservation Acts. [39355]

  Mr. Baldry
  This case arose as a result of a judicial review sought by the NFFO of measures which had been adopted by both Houses of Parliament. The measures adopted by Parliament have been found by the European Court of Justice to be compatible with EU law. The question of costs, including the Government's defence costs, will be dealt with by the UK courts when they consider the rulings of the European Court of Justice.

  Mr. Michell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total costs incurred in setting up the machinery for implementing and adjudicating the days at sea provisions of the Sea Fish Conservation Acts. [39356]

  Mr. Baldry
  Implementation of the Sea Fish Licensing (Time at Sea) (Principles) Order 1993 was suspended pending the outcome of a legal challenge initiated by the United Kingdom fishing industry, which the European Court of Justice has not upheld. Because of the suspension, the provisions of the legislation relating to the operation of a tribunal were not put into effect. Costs associated with preparatory work on the policy within Government prior to the suspension are estimated at approximately £555,000.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he proposes to hold with fishermen's organisations and what proposals he intends to put up for technical conservation measures following the decision by the European Court that those are lawful methods of restraining fishing effort. [39357]

  Mr. Baldry
  Technical conservation measures already apply to all sectors of the fishing industry. Consultations have recently taken place on new measures affecting fixed gear. Further discussions are planned for both the North sea and western waters fisheries. The Government will not put forward any proposals without discussing them with the industry.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for increasing the saithe quota for British fishermen and for stopping the dumping of saithe. [39358]

  Mr. Baldry
  If the, fishing industry would like an increase in its saithe quota for 1995, I will explore the possibility of obtaining additional quantities through exchanges with other member states. The size of the United Kingdom quota for 1996 will be decided in the light of scientific advice on the state of the stocks.

  In considering ways of improving the common fisheries policy, I will look at constructive ideas for reducing the discarding of saithe and all other fish.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the French and British total allowable catches for saithe; what is the distribution of
  713
  saithe between British and French waters; and what are the reasons for the variation in total allowable catches. [39359]

  Mr. Baldry
  There are three saithe stocks for which the United Kingdom and France have quotas: ICES areas IIa, III and IV—(the North sea and Baltic)—areas Vb, VI, XII and XIV—(west of Scotland), and areas VII, VIII, IX, and X—waters to the west of Ireland, England, France, Spain and Portugal. UK and French shares of the European Community total allowable catch for each of these stocks, reflecting historic catches during the period 1973 to 1978, are as follows:

  Per cent.

  Stock

  UK

  France

  North Sea and Baltic

  17

  51

  West of Scotland

  24

  66

  Other western waters

  15

  56

  Among member states, France has the largest quota and the UK the second largest.

  It is not possible to specify the distribution of saithe between British and French waters, since saithe cover extensive areas in their normal migration between spawning and feeding grounds.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the estimated cost of providing nursery education through the proposed voucher scheme in Solihull in 1995–96; [38794]

  (2) what is the cost of the provision of nursery education provided by Solihull council in 1995 and 1996; [38793]

  (3) what estimate she has made of how many additional pupils will be recruited to her nursery scheme in Solihull by the voucher scheme. [38792]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The cost of providing nursery education through the nursery voucher scheme, and the number of additional places that will be created, will depend on parental choice and the response of providers in the area.

  The current cost of nursery education provided by Solihull council is not held centrally.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what powers she has in respect of the provision of nursery education by local authorities. [38791]

  Mr. Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment may give notice to a local authority that a statutory proposal published by the authority to establish a new nursery class in a county school or to cease to maintain a nursery school or nursery class, requires her approval.

  Education Expenditure (West Sussex)
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money West 714
  Sussex county council spent on education in 1994–95 on administration and other central costs apart from direct expenditure on schools. [38578]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Expenditure by West Sussex education authority on service strategy and regulation, management and administration and the inspection and advisory service was £11.074 million in 1993–94. This figure has not been adjusted for any changes of function. Outturn figures for 1994–95 are not yet available.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the revenue support grant settlement for education for West Sussex for each of the last five years up to and including 1994–95, the percentage movement in each year; and if she will give the equivalent percentage figure for England and Wales as a whole. [38579]

  Mr. Squire
  The information requested since the introduction of the standard spending assessment system in 1990–91 in West Sussex and English local education authorities as a whole is set out in the table. Welsh authorities are funded separately. The percentage figures take amount of local authority changes of functions, such as the transfer of responsibility for most further education to the Further Education Funding Council in 1993–94.

  Year

  £ million

  West Sussex percentage change over previous year

  England percentage change over previous year

  1990–91

  183.94

  —

  —

  1991–92

  217.707

  18.4

  16.2

  1992–93

  236.038

  8.4

  7.1

  1993–94

  209.127

  3.2

  2.9

  1994–95

  220.285

  6.3

  2.7

  Fish Tank (Minister's Office)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of installing a fish tank in the office of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan). [38848]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The cost of installation of the fish tank was paid by me privately.

  Retired Teachers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers retired from the profession in' the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of them had reached statutory retirement age. [39116]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A total of 21,254 teachers started to draw a pension in 1994–95. Of these, 5,814 were aged 60 or more, the age at which they may retire and receive their pension of their own accord.

  Secondary Schools (Admission)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which local education
  715
  authorities have, during the last five years, successfully sought a change in age of admission to their secondary schools from 12-plus to 11-plus; how many introduced the change in phases and how many all at once; and what were the capital costs in each case. [38589]

  Mrs. Gillan:
  The table shows the local education authorities that have successfully sought a change in the age of admission to their secondary schools from age 12 or above to age 11 since January 1990 and whether the change was phased. Details of the capital costs involved could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  LEA

  Barnsley (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Berkshire (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Birmingham (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Bradford (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Devon (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Doncaster

  Phased

  Dudley

  Not phased

  Ealing

  Not phased

  Hampshire

  Phased

  Humberside (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Kent (part of the LEA area only)

  Phased

  Kirklees (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Leeds

  Phased

  North Tyneside (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Sheffield (part of the LEA area only)

  Not phased

  Surrey

  Phased

  Wakefield

  Phased

  Warwickshire

  Phased

  Training for Work
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to review outcome-related funding structures in the training for work scheme. [38520]

  Mr. Paice
  Any changes to the current funding arrangements for training for work will be considered in the light of performances of the programme, but we have no plans to cease making output-related payments, which are an effective incentive to produce results for participants.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what priority will be given to the long-term unemployed and persons with special needs, including illiteracy and innumeracy, within the training for work programme; and if she will make a statement. [38521]

  Mr. Paice
  People aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for two years or more and people with special needs—people with disabilities, those needing help with literacy and numeracy, and those needing help with English for speakers of other languages—have priority for places on the programme, and TECs have been set specific targets for starts in these groups. People with special needs also have accelerated entry to the programme. Priority entry is also given to those referred from specific Employment Service programmes designed to help the one year or two year unemployed.

  In addition, the Government pay TECs considerably higher prices for starts and outcomes for those who have been unemployed for over a year and for those with special needs.
  716
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the findings of the Coopers and Lybrand report "Evaluation of the Training for Work (TFW) Funding Pilots: Final Report". [38522]

  Mr. Paice
  The Coopers and Lybrand report made some useful suggestions for the funding of the programme.

  All the recommendations in the report regarding funding policy were implemented, bar one. The move to a funding system based on 25 per cent. payment for starts and 75 per cent. for outcomes, rather than to one partly based on a payment for weeks of training delivered as suggested in the report, will sharpen the focus on achieving a successful outcome for trainees.

  The Department's response to the report is set out, in full, in a note which accompanies the report. This is available in the Library.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she will take to improve recruitment rates on the training for work scheme. [38523]

  Mr. Paice
  Recruitment this year to training for work has been below anticipated levels. I am determined that performance should improve. Officials and TEC representatives have worked together to ensure that the changes necessary to improve recruitment are made as quickly as possible.

  I have written personally to all TEC chairmen stressing the importance that I place upon recruitment to the programme.

  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how she monitors the effectiveness of the training for work scheme in providing placements for the long-term unemployed. [38524]

  Mr. Paice
  The provision of placements is the responsibility of TECs in meeting their contracted starts and outputs targets. TECs are monitored against these targets.

  Walsall TEC
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress Walsall training and enterprise council is making in meeting the criteria for the award for a three-year licence. [39993]

  Mr. Paice
  I am pleased to announce the award of a three-year licence to Walsall TEC, which has now completed the process of meeting the rigorous standards we set.

TRANSPORT

  A66
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now support the addition of the A66 between Penrith and Scotch corner to the Trans-European road network. [38728]
  717
  Mr. Watts
  The A66 was carefully considered for inclusion in the Trans European road network during the consultation period in 1994 but it was decided not to incorporate the route into the United Kingdom portion of the network. As the circumstances of the route have not materially changed since, this remains the position.

  British Bus
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the flotation of British Bus and the establishment of a potential national cartel in the public bus transport sector. [38903]

  Mr. Norris
  The flotation of British Bus is a matter for the company concerned. The question of any potential cartel is a matter for the competition authorities.

  Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government grant made to Mersey Docks and Harbour Co., in 1989, was written off; and if he will make a statement. [38435]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: As part of the company's capital reconstruction in 1989, the Government agreed to write off £1.5 million, being a proportion of outstanding loans, and to waive its entitlement to £110 million of repayable grants made between 1971 and 1982. No additional grants were made to the company by Government in 1989 as part of that reconstruction.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the dock labour force who accepted payment in 1989, are now being re-introduced by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.; and if he will make a statement. [38434]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: This is a matter for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions the Government representatives on the board of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co., have been given to resolve the dispute with the dock labour force; and if he will make a statement. [38436]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: My right hon. Friend ceased to appoint "A" directors to the board of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. in 1989, following a capital reconstruction.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the salary and names of the board of the Mersey Dock and Harbour Co. and the salary in the financial year for 1987–88. [38432]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: These are matters for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. Details can be found in its annual report for the year involved.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it a condition of further grants to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. that the company provide permanent contracts of employment in respect of stevedoring work. [38739]

  Mr. Norris
  It is not Government policy to make grants to harbour authorities. Contracts of employment are matters for the company.
  718
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the Government's share in the Mersey Docks and Harbours Co. was used to finance the purchase of Medway Ports Ltd. in 1993; and if he will make a statement. [38433]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 October]: The Government played no role in this purchase which was entirely a commercial matter for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.

  Passenger Rail Franchises
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies which have expressed an interest in bidding for passenger rail franchises. [38907]

  Mr. Watts
  No. This information is commercially confidential.

  A(1)M bypass
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimate he has made of the daily number of vehicles which use the Doncaster A(1)M bypass in each direction; and what were the comparable figures for(a) five years and (b) 10 years ago. [39028]

  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 25 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 asking what is the current estimate of the daily number of vehicles using the A 1(M) Doncaster Bypass in each direction and what were the comparable figures 5 and 10 years ago.
  The provisional estimate for 1995 is 26,600 northbound and 27,000 southbound. The corresponding figures for 1990 were 22,800 northbound and 25,400 southbound. Estimates for 1985 are on a slightly different basis but showed 17,300 vehicles per day travelling northbound and 17,500 southbound.

  Tax Discs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles have been clamped by the driving and vehicle licensing centre for failing to display a valid tax disc since July; and if he will make a statement. [39019]

  Mr. Norris
  None. However, a pilot scheme to clamp those evading duty will commence early next year in parts of London.

  Marine Safety
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the British-registered ferries(a) Pride of Bruges, (b) Pride of Cherbourg, (c) Pride of Hampshire and (d) Pioneer are now able to offer 100 per cent. dry-shod evacuation arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [38289]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  719
  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 25 October 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about whether the British—registered PRIDE OF BRUGES, PRIDE OF CHERBOURG, PRIDE OF HAMPSHIRE and PIONEER are now able to offer 100% dry-shod evacuation arrangements.
  The evacuation arrangements for these ferries remain as set out in my reply to Mr. Paul Flynn on 9 May (Official Report, vol 259 col 347).

  Right-hand Driving
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department is considering to introduce driving on the right hand side of the road. [39763]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Motorways
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce high-occupancy vehicle lanes on the motorway systems of the M1, M62 and the new sections of the Al in Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [38999]

  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 25 October 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the introduction of high occupancy vehicle lanes on the M1, M62 and the new sections of the Al in Yorkshire.
  There are currently no plans to introduce high occupancy vehicle lanes on the MI, the M62 or on the new sections of the Al in Yorkshire. However, the Highways Agency is studying the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes overseas.
  Although useful lessons can be learnt from the experience of others, we need to judge how effective the technique is likely to be on the UK network with its traffic flow levels, types of driver behaviour and road layout. If the results of our studies are promising, we will consider introducing a pilot scheme at a selected site to trial the initiative.

  Railway Noise
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Noise Insulation (Railways and other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 1995 do not set standards to be applied to the mitigation of railway noise at source. [39846]

  Mr. Watts
  The enabling legislation for the Noise Insulation Regulations for new railway lines in section 20 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. This section authorises the Secretary of State to make regulations imposing a duty or conferring a power on the authority responsible for the public works to insulate buildings against noise from the construction or use of public works. This means that regulations made under the Land Compensation Act 1973 cannot include standards for the mitigation of noise at source.

  However, the existence of regulations for railways, and the noise trigger levels included in them, will encourage authorities constructing new lines to incorporate noise mitigation at source into the design of the lines.
  720

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Miss Chelsea Austin
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his Department's treatment of the funds raised by the Chelsea Austin appeal fund in respect of Chelsea Austin, Dingwall, Rossshire. [38588]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of income support 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. Charles Kennedy, dated 24 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 concerning the Department's treatment of the funds raised by the Chelsey Austin Appeal Fund. Mr. Mathison is away from Leeds on Benefits Agency business and he has asked me to reply on his behalf.
  The Adjudication Officer's original decision to treat the monies in the Chelsea Austin Appeal Fund as capital failed to take account of changes to Scottish Trust law, introduced earlier this year. As a result of those changes, the Chelsey Austin Appeal Fund is accepted as a trust fund in Scottish law.
  The Adjudication Officer has revised her decision in the light of this and arrears of benefit amounting to £143 have been paid to Chelsey's father, Mr. Kevin Austin.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures a lone mother with two children of different fathers is expected to take when completing the Child Support Agency maintenance application form if she wants only one father to be pursued; and what consideration has been given to requiring more than one signature on the maintenance application form to authorise maintenance from two separate fathers. [37587]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 25 October 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State concerning maintenance applications and disclosure of information about absent parents.
  To establish whether "good cause" applies in an application for child maintenance, a letter is first issued to the parent with care. This letter allows her to inform the Agency why she should not be required to co-operate with the Agency in respect of any alleged absent parent. The Agency will consider her representations and a maintenance application form will be issued to establish details only of the absent parent or parents for whom "good cause" has not been accepted.
  All of the parent with care's details are obtained on one form. She is asked to provide information about all the children who live with her. For each child she is asked "Is this child included in the application for child maintenance?". Where "good cause" has been accepted against that child's absent parent, she should answer "No" to that question. This procedure is explained in the help notes that accompany the maintenance application form and removes the need for multiple signatures on one form where there is more than one absent parent involved.

  721
  The Child Support National Enquiry telephone line is quoted in this section of the help notes and will provide help or confidential advice about the completion of this section of the form. Clients are also advised that they can contact the Child Support Agency Centre for help and if necessary an interview will be arranged to discuss matters.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 July,Official Report, column 1499, what steps are taken to ensure that benefit savings specified as coming from income support claims being withdrawn within four weeks of Child Support Agency action are entirely due to the operations of the Child Support Agency and not any external factors. [37616]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 25 October 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the subject of benefit savings.
  For the Child Support Agency, a benefit saving is only recorded when a parent with care ceases to claim Income Support within four weeks of Agency action, or within eight weeks if the action relates to an investigation into the requirement to co-operate.
  Savings which may not have arisen directly as a result of the Agency's action will be more than offset by those savings which are due to the Agency's actions, but occurred outside the four or eight week period and are not taken into account at all.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 July,Official Report, column 1499, what are the arguments for including benefit savings resulting from pre-Child Support Agency assessments within the total figure for benefit savings achieved by the Child Support Agency during 1994–95. [37617]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 25 October 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the subject of benefit savings resulting from pre-Child Support Agency assessments.
  The Agency has Departmental responsibility for all benefit savings arising from child maintenance. This includes savings arising from pre-Child Support maintenance arrangements under which maintenance was paid direct between parents, and cases in which the Agency provides a collection service for parents with care. In both categories, the Agency fulfils a continuing monitoring and, where necessary, enforcement role.
  It is estimated that of the £479 million in benefit savings recorded in 1994/95, £126.5 million arose in cases where the parent with care was receiving Income Support with maintenance under a pre-CSA arrangement. As more cases are assessed or reviewed by the Agency, the proportion of savings arising from these arrangements is reducing.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the average times taken for the liable relatives unit and the courts to deal with a child maintenance case in the last year of that system; and what is the equivalent figure for the Child Support Agency. [37595]
  722
  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department does not hold information as to the time taken by the courts to deal with child maintenance cases.

  The average time taken by the Child Support Agency between the issue of a maintenance application form and the maintenance assessment being made is 211 days. This calculation is based on 5 per cent. sample cases taken for May 1995.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a breakdown of the amounts of child maintenance absent parents were required to pay by the child support unit in the financial year 1992–93. [37598]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information requested is not available as, in many of the cases dealt with by the child support unit, an arrangement was made for the absent parent to pay maintenance direct to the parent with care. Where this exceeded the parent with care's benefit entitlement, benefit ceased and the unit was not required to collect information. In those cases where benefit continued to be paid, information collected centrally related only to the total amounts of maintenance which were actually paid.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will name the suppliers which were invited to tender for the supply of the Child Support Agency computer system; and what were the terms of their offers. [37599]

  Mr. Heald
  In 1992, a contract for the provision of the Child Support Agency's operational accounting system was awarded following a competitive procurement under European Community rules. Following a formal shortlisting process EDS Scicon and Lockheed IMS were invited to submit tenders. Following formal evaluation of these tenders the contract was awarded to EDS Scicon. The contract has later been extended to include additional requirements.

  In 1993, following a competitive procurement under EC rules a contract was awarded for a CSA financial accounting system. IBM United Kingdom Ltd., Easams Ltd. and Walker International were shortlisted and a contract was subsequently awarded to IBM United Kingdom Ltd.

  In 1995, following a competitive procurement under EC rules Sanderson CFL Ltd. and ICL (UK) Ltd., were shortlisted for a CSA debt management system. A letter of intent for contract award has been issued to Sanderson CFL Ltd.

  The terms of the offers received are regarded as commercial in confidence and cannot be disclosed.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 April,Official Report, column 181, whether the figure for benefit savings achieved by the liable relatives unit in the year 6 April 1991 to 5 April 1992 includes an allowance for parents with care who ceased to claim income support within four weeks of being contacted by the Department of Social Security, or for parents with care who ceased to

  723
  claim income support after maintenance had been arranged; and if he will estimate the benefit savings to the Child Support Agency of using the 1994 accounting rules in the financial year 1994–95. [37618]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The benefits savings figure for 1991–92 included amounts for cases where claims ceased within four weeks of the Department taking action to arrange, increase or enforce payment for maintenance.

  The Child Support Agency made benefit savings of £479.05 million in 1994–95.

  Chief Adjudication Officer
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the 11 th annual report of the chief adjudication officer, and if he will make a statement. [39870]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The report is published today. The chief adjudication officer's findings record further improvement in the standards of adjudication on benefits. Overall, more than three quarters of all decisions were correct in every respect. I am particularly pleased to see the substantial improvement in income support and the disability benefits.

  The chief adjudication officer will continue to work on a day-to-day basis with the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service providing additional guidance and expert technical assistance in those areas where further improvements are needed.

  The agencies are committed to improving standards of adjudication, as illustrated by the continuing emphasis on quality in their annual business plans. Both the chief adjudication officer and I look forward to continuing progress in coming years.

  Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of claims for benefit under the chronic bronchitis and emphysema regulations for each month in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the successful claims. [36736]

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

  Number of claims per month during 1995 in respect of PD D12— chronic bronchitis and emphysema

  Month ending

  PD D12 claims received

  31 January 1995

  208

  28 February 1995

  243

  31 March 1995

  214

  30 April 1995

  190

  31 May 1995

  185

  30 June 1995

  131

  31 July 1995

  133

  31 August 1995

  147

  Source:

  BA CDU 100 per cent. count, subject to amendment.

  The overall success rate for awards of PD D12 is 11.3 per cent. which is in line with the overall average success rate for claims in respect of prescribed diseases.

  Students' Benefits
  Mr. Battle
  to ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the effect of 724
  the new Social Security Benefits Regulations, SI 1995, No. 1742, upon intercalating students who cease to be eligible for educational maintenance and who now will be ineligible for social security maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [38406]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In general, it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for students, not the social security system. It has always been the case that students who temporarily suspend their studies are not entitled to claim social security benefits unless they fall within one of the specified vulnerable groups, including disabled students and families with dependent children. The effect of the new Social Security Benefits Regulations, SI 1995, No 1742, is to restore the policy intention following a recent Court of Appeal decision. The Department for Education and Employment has recently issued revised and expanded guidance to all local education authorities about their discretionary powers to continue to pay mandatory awards to students during periods of temporary absence.

  Athsma Sufferers (Benefits)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce dedicated training for Benefit Agency staff on the problems faced by those asthma sufferers on low incomes. [38313]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There are no plans to introduce dedicated training to Benefits Agency staff specifically on the problems faced by asthma sufferers on low incomes. The agency is not aware of any particular problems asthma sufferers have encountered with the service provided by its staff.

  Should information be received which indicates otherwise, the agency will consider what action, if any, is appropriate.

  Lone Parents
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents signed on to benefits in each of the last four years. [37606]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the table.

  Lone parents signing on to Income support/Family credit:

  Financial year

  Family credit

  Income support

  1990–91

  98,000

  n/a

  1991–92

  96,000

  n/a

  1992–93

  158,000

  303,000

  1993–94

  149,000

  290,000

  Claims to One Parent Benefit:

  Calendar Year

  One Parent Benefit

  1991

  180,000

  1992

  188,000

  1993

  196,000

  1994

  177,000

  Source

  Family Credit 5 per cent sample of awards

  Income Support statistics Quarterly Enquiries

  One Parent Benefit/Child Benefit Branch.

  Note:

  1. All figure have benn rounded to the nearest thousand.
  725
  2. One Parent Benefit figures are only available for calendar years.

  3. Figures relate to new claims in the periods shown. It is possible for the same person to appear more than one if they cease claiming benefit and subsequently make a fresh claim after some time has elapsed.

  4. Income Support figures are derived from 'point in time' figures at quarterly intervals through the year. It is possible that some new claimants may be omitted from the table if they started and ceased to claim Income Support entirely in the interval between two quarterly enquiries.

  Chief Child Support Officer
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the second report of the chief child support officer; and if he will make a statement. [39869]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  His report for 1994–95 is published today. The report shows that the CSA is making good and steady progress after a difficult start. The findings on the standard of adjudication show improvements over the first year, but that there is still some distance to go before standards may be regarded as generally acceptable. However, the chief child support officer, Mr. Ernie Hazlewood, recognises that there has been a high degree of legislative and operational changes over the last year and that this is bound to affect performance. He acknowledges the agency's obvious commitment to attaining good adjudication standards, which he expects to show further improvements in 1995–96. I am pleased to see that this improvement has continued strongly in the first half of this year.

  The continuing requirement for further improvement is substantial, but the key elements are in place and he and I expect the agency to use them effectively to produce the standards which all concerned have a right to expect.

ENVIRONMENT

  Pesticides
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inspectors are employed in the field to check on the use of and levels of pesticides. [37744]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Inspectors or other enforcement officers are not allocated solely to matters relating to pesticides. Pesticides work forms only part of a range of work for which they are responsible. This includes, for example, the health and safety of people at work, the protection and improvement of the water environment and the protection of wildlife. As at 1 October 1995, the total number of inspectors or enforcement officers in the field are set out in the table.

  Figures for Great Britain unless otherwise stated

  Number

  Health and Safety Executive

  742

  Local Authorities

  6,560

  National Rivers Authority (England and Wales)

  545

  River Purification Authorities (Scotland)

  111

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (England and Wales)

  34

  Scottish Office (Scotland)

  59

  726

  Bottle Factories
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the result of his Department's evaluation of the study carried out by the Health and Safety Laboratory in conjunction with the division of respiratory medicine at Sheffield in respect of respiratory illness experienced by bottle factory workers; what recommendations were made; and if he will make a statement. [38634]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive has released to the employers and trade unions involved the Health and Safety Laboratory's preliminary report on the investigation of the small group of bottle factory workers. Further work is required to determine the significance of the results.

  Mine Safety
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how pit safety in the privatised mining industry is currently regulated. [38491]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The newly privatised mining industry is subject to the same regulatory regime for health and safety as its predecessor. All mines are subject to the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 as well as the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 and the Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969. An extensive range of regulations applicable to mines has been made under both the 1954 and 1974 Acts. The Health and Safety Commission is the regulatory body and the Health and Safety Executive, through its inspectorate of mines, is the enforcing authority.

  Wylfa Power Station
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the nuclear installations inspectorate in respect of the magnox reactors at Wylfa power station consider whether a grab dropped into a fuel channel was specifically considered in the hazard and operability study; what their assessment of the minimum resistance to gas-flow passed by such an obstacle as a grab was; if they have discovered how many components needed to fail before the grab dropped off; what required modifications have been carried out to prevent a recurrence; when they were implemented; and if he will make a statement. [39069]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The circumstances surrounding the failure of the grab component at Wylfa power station and the subsequent actions taken to prevent a recurrence were presented at Mold Crown court on 12 to 14 September 1995 and are now a matter of public record.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to amend his guidance to housing associations to ensure that this does not encourage the break-up of families and the increase of housing benefit through increased provision of social housing for single people. [39268]

  Mr. Clappison
  Housing associations' provision of social housing is based on the local authorities' analysis of local needs for family and other accommodation contained in their annual housing strategies, which are assessed by Ministers. I have no plans to alter this policy.
  727

  Opencast Mines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider holding centrally, by county or region, records of contractors wishing to develop opencast mining who have submitted planning applications; and if he will make a statement. [39067]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Local planning authorities, usually the district or borough council, are statutorily required to maintain records of all minerals planning applications including those for opencast mining. The minerals planning authorities, usually the county council, are also advised by Government to maintain a similar register. To hold all this information centrally or regionally would be a needless duplication of effort.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications his Department has received submitted by contractors in respect of opencast mining in(a) Oxfordshire and (b) its neighbouring countries; and if he will make a statement. [39066]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment does not receive planning applications. However, the requested information can be obtained from the local planning authorities which have a statutory responsibility to maintain a public register of all planning applications that they receive.

  Menwith Hill
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons why Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire does not appear on ordnance survey maps. [39068]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Ordnance Survey under its chief executive, Professor Rhind. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Rhind to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 24 October 1995:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked me to reply to your Question about the depiction on Ordnance Survey maps of Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire.
  I have confirmed that the topographic feature, Menwith Hill, at National Grid reference SE1957, is included on Ordnance Survey maps and in our digital products at scale between 1:2500 and 1:50 000. It is omitted from the TravelMaster map at scale 1:250 000 due to the limited space available for features at this scale.
  However, it may be that your interest lies in the United States military establishment, Menwith Hill Camp, situated approximately one kilometre east of the hill. At present, the camp is named on the 1:25 000 scale Ordnance Survey Pathfinder map (Number 663) and on all larger scales of Ordnance Survey mapping. On the 1:50 000 scale Landranger map (Number 104), the camp is not named, but a number of the camp buildings, the internal roads and several radio masts are shown in a generalised way, consistent with the specification for the map.
  A review of the specification, insofar as it covers the depiction of security sites, has recently been completed by the various government departments concerned. The principle underlying the new specification is that sufficient details will be shown to satisfy the general map user whilst avoiding compromising the security and
  728
  safety of the site concerned. The protective marking and hence depiction appropriate for Menwith Hill Camp is currently under discussion between other parts of HM Government Survey has been informed of the outcome, our surveyors will revise the depiction of the site so that it conforms with the new specification. The timing of the revision will be dependent on the extent of the change involved.
  A number of considerations will determine whether the name of the establishment will be added if the site's protected status is amended or removed. In essence, at any scale of mapping, cartographic decisions have to be made about the amount of detail that can sensibly be shown at the scale, taking full account of map users' needs and priorities. In deciding whether to add the name, we would take into account the space available for it, the naming of Menwith Hill just to the west of the camp and features (topographic and textual) which would be of most use to Landranger users, as well as the need to conform with the rules on the depiction of security sites.
  I hope that the foregoing fully addresses your concerns but please let me know if you require any additional information or clarification.

  South Yorkshire Navigation
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) at how many points along the South Yorkshire navigation there is need for repairs or other action, in order that this navigation can be maintained as a satisfactory waterway; [38197]

  (2) how many people are employed to maintain and to operate the South Yorkshire navigation; and what the figure was in 1983; [38200]

  (3) if he will ensure that the hours during which freight can be carried on the South Yorkshire navigation are sufficient to allow this trade to continue effectively. [38203]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The British Waterways Board is the navigation authority for the Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation. These questions are matters for the board, which is responsible for management and operational issues on its waterways.

  Waterways
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment (1) what action is to be taken to ensure that boats are not moored in a position which impairs access to locks on navigable waterways; [38198]

  (2) if he will ensure that mooring bollards on navigable waterways which are placed close to locks occupy such a position as will allow crew members to drop ropes upon them without the need to leave their vessels especially when such siting is conducive to safety. [38201]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  These are matters for the navigation authority responsible for regulating activities on the waterway concerned.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which policies of his Department are designed to promote the movement of freight on inland waterways. [38199]

  Mr. Jones
  Government policy is that we wish to see maximum use made of inland waterways for freight
  729
  transport, but that this must be subject to commercial judgment. Freight hauliers should be free to choose the mode of transport best suited to their needs. The Department draws attention, where appropriate, to the potential of water for the carriage of freight, and grants that are available.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether dredging operations upon commercial waterways are at a level which will ensure effective and continuing use. [38202]

  Mr. Jones
  The Department has made no assessment of dredging operations upon commercial waterways. This is the responsibility of the navigation authorities concerned.
  730

  Local Authority Archives
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to hold centrally information in respect of local authorities on the amount of funding that is provided to maintain county archival records; and if he will make a statement. [38301]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department has recently assumed certain additional responsibilities for archives, formerly with the Department of Environment. Local authorities provide information on the funding of their archive services to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. This is collated in its annual publication "Archive Services Statistics".

  Charity Commissioners
  Charity Commissioners
  European Union Commissioners
  European Union Commissioners
  Consumer Protection: Development Risks Defence
  Consumer Protection: Development Risks Defence
  Adoptions: Children from China
  Adoptions: Children from China
  Adoptions: Current Number of Applications
  Adoptions: Current Number of Applications
  Abortions: Breakdown of Numbers
  Abortions: Breakdown of Numbers
  Organophosphates: Effects on Higher Mammals
  Organophosphates: Effects on Higher Mammals
  Tourism: Grants to Statutory Bodies
  Tourism: Grants to Statutory Bodies
  HELIOS II
  HELIOS II
  Ministers' Pay
  Ministers' Pay