Written Answers of 16 April 1996

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Waste Minimisation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an office waste minimisation strategy for his Department indicating the targets set. [24501]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department supports fully the Government's waste strategy set out in the White Paper, "Making Waste Work," Cm 3040. In accordance with the aim of the White Paper, my Department is working towards setting waste minimisation targets by the end of 1996.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an office waste minimisation strategy for his Department, indicating the targets set. [24507]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Environmental Impact Assessment
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action his Department is taking to assess the environmental impact of its policies and programmes. [25337]

  Mr. Freeman
  Procedures within my Department provide for the environmental impact of policies and programmes to be assessed on a regular basis.

  Sustainable Development
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if the promotion of sustainable development is one of his Department's objectives; [25335]

  (2) what action his Department is taking to promote sustainable development. [25336]

  Mr. Freeman
  The objective of promoting sustainable development is an integral part of my Department's environmental strategy, which is supported by a comprehensive departmental action plan. The main elements of that plan are to:maximise the efficiency of energy usage;
  minimise wastage in the use of goods and products, and maximise recycling of waste materials;
  maximise procurement of goods and supplies which avoid dependence in their production on non-renewable resources or pollutant substances; and
  maximise the purchase of products based on recycled materials.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints the prisons ombudsman has received in connection with Doncaster prison since it opened; what were the nature of the complaints; and if he will list those complaints that have been upheld. [24487]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since the prisons ombudsman began to take complaints from prisoners on 24 October 1994, he has received 26 complaints from Doncaster. Twenty-two of these were ineligible—21 because the prisoner had not exhausted the internal request/complaint system and one because it came from a third party. Investigations were started on the remaining four cases. One complaint was later withdrawn by the prisoner, two complaints were not upheld and one complaint was upheld. Of the complaints received, 10 involved complaints about transfers, seven were about property and five concerned home leave. The remaining four involved a medical matter, an assault, visits and an adjudication.

  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 28 November 1995, Official Report, column 661, which gave details of the one complaint about Doncaster the prisons ombudsman has upheld.

  Prisoners' Brains
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the routine removal of brains and other body organs in post mortems and the arrangements for their return to the body; and if he will make a statement. [24463]

  Mr. Sackville
  The removal of the brain, or other body organs, is a standard procedure in many post mortem examinations, in accordance with Royal College of Pathology guidelines and the clinical judgment of the pathologist. The procedure may be essential for determining the medical cause of death, even in cases where this may not at first appear connected with the condition of the organs in question. We therefore have no plans for a specific review, but these issues will be raised as part of wider discussions with the Department of Health later this year.

  Prisons (Dye Stamping)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales that use dye stamping on the hands of visitors when visiting prisons and their reasons for using this system. [24557]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisons that use dye stamping on the hands of visitors visiting prisons in England and Wales.

  363
  The most recent date for which centrally held information is available on the use of dye stamping on the hands of visitors is August 1995. This information is given in the attached table.
  The system, which uses ultra violet marker dye, is designed to enable staff to differentiate between visitors and prisoners and to prevent prisoners leaving the visits room or prison either with, or in the place of, a visitor.
  Other establishments use alternative methods such as biometric identification, but dye marking is the cheapest and most easily operated system of visitor identification available.
  Prisons in England and Wales using dye-stamping on the hands of visitors1 visiting prisons in August 1995.

  Aylesbury

  Belmarsh

  Birmingham

  Brinsford

  Bullingdon

  Cardiff

  Erlestoke

  Exeter

  Featherstone

  Frankland

  Gloucester

  Guys Marsh

  Holme House

  Holloway

  Hull

  Lincoln

  Littlehey

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  The Mount

  Northallerton

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Onley

  Pucklechurch

  Risley

  Rochester

  Shepton Mallet

  Shrewsbury

  Swansea

  Wandsworth

  Wayland

  Winchester

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1Feltham and Long Lartin prisons used dye stamping on the hands of prisoners receiving visits.

  Smoke Detectors
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England and (e) the United Kingdom occurred in buildings which did not have smoke detectors in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [24615]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information prior to 1994 is not available. From 1994, information was collected for the first time. Data from this new collection have not been fully processed.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire officers were injured in the course of their duty in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [24602]

  Mr. Sackville
  In England and Wales in the financial year 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available, one fire officer died and 737 were seriously injured in the line of duty. Serious injuries are defined as those which result in absence from duty for at least one month or two weeks or more of hospitalisation.

  Detainees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) men and (b) women being held in detention centres in England and Wales on issues relating to immigration on 30 March. [24556]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  There were 312 males and 55 females detained solely under Immigration Act powers in Immigration Service detention centres in England and Wales on 30 March. These figures exclude persons detained in Prison Service establishments and police cells.

  Liquor Licences
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many premises are licensed to sell intoxicating liquor in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland. [23663]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested, with respect to England and Wales, is contained in table 1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Liquor Licensing Statistics, England and Wales, July 1994–June 1995", a copy of which is in the Library. Information on the number of licensed premises in Scotland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of funding to be made available through the private finance initiative to his Department for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [24886]

  Mr. Howard
  My latest estimates of capital funding generated by the private finance initiative—PFI—are as follows:

  £million

  1995–96

  20.0

  1996–97

  99.5

  1997–98

  229.5

  Taken with the transfer to the private sector of the risk in development and operations involved in PFI projects, the expected private funding will make a valuable contribution to my Department's work.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his Department's proposals for section 11 funding for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [24960]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  With the exception of a very small number of projects which reached the end of their planned life on 31 March, all approved projects have continued into the 1996–97 financial year. Notifications of allocations for 1996–97 were issued to all grant recipients on 26 February. The figures included adjustments to reflect the fact that there have been movements in costs.

  Consultancy Contract (Probation Qualification)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the award of a consultancy contract to KPMG to advise on the development of the new probation qualification; and if it was awarded after competition. [25339]

  Mr. Sackville
  A contract was awarded to KPMG in January 1996 to advise on the competences required for probation officers on appointment. The contract followed a competitive procurement. The Central Probation Council and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation were invited to participate in the procurement, but declined to do so.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25273]

  Mr. Howard
  Three compliance cost assessments were produced by my Department in 1995. Copies are available in the Library.

  Charity Commission
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current remuneration of the chair of the Charity Commission; how often he meets representatives of the Charity Commission; and who sets the Charity Commission's terms of reference. [25251]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Charity Commission is a non-ministerial department whose powers and duties are set out in the Charities Act 1993. The head of the department is the Chief Charity Commissioner who, with his fellow commissioners, is appointed by, and accountable for, the commission's general efficiency to my right hon. and learned Friend. The post of Chief Charity Commissioner is currently held by Mr. Richard Fries, appointed by the then Home Secretary in 1992. His current salary is £69,783 per annum. He, other commissioners and commission staff meet Ministers to discuss particular topics when the occasion requires.
  366
  As explained by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minster in answer to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 1 April, Official Report, column 1, ministerial responsibility in relation to the Charity Commission is being transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage as soon as the necessary financial and other arrangements can be made.

  Volcano (Montserrat)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made for people from Montserrat to enter the United Kingdom in the event of a natural disaster; and if he will make a statement. [25486]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The potential immigration implications are being kept under review.

  EC (Civil Service Employment)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the implications of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 1991 for service in the police and prison services. [22918]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 1991 makes it possible for the Prison Service in England and Wales to appoint suitable candidates who are nationals of other European Union member states. The order does not apply to the police service.

  Fire Service Funding
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet with the chairman of North Wales fire authority to discuss fire service funding. [23432]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 29 March 1996]: My right hon. and noble Friend wrote to the hon. Member today to explain that she would be happy to meet the North Wales fire authority.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral answer of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 26 February,Official Report, column 576, if he will list those statutory instruments and Acts of Parliament which have been gold plated in the past five years; and what steps he is taking to amend or repeal each piece of gold plating on existing legislation. [23628]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: The Government's policy is not to add unnecessary burdens when implementing European Community directives. Departments take every opportunity to review existing legislation in the light of this. Officials are currently working on revised guidance to enable Ministers to see where implementing legislation goes beyond the underlying European Community directive.

  Waste Minimisation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an office waste minimisation strategy for his Department, indicating the targets set. [24510]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 3 April 1996]: Work on waste minimisation strategy for the Home Office is to begin shortly.

  Suicides
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 March,Official Report, column 2, at assessment he has made of the reasons for the (a) rise in male suicides and (b) fall in female suicides. [24136]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  The suicide rate among young men under the age of 25 rose during the 1970s and 1980s but has since stabilised and that for some groups of older men has declined. The suicide rate in older women is also declining, and that in young women is remaining steady. The overall rate of suicide has declined by 4 per cent. between 1990 and 1994.

  The reasons for these trends is being explored. Meanwhile, in pursuing "The Health of the Nation" target of reducing the rate of suicide by 15 per cent. by 2000, we are undertaking a number of initiatives, including focusing on particular occupational and demographic groups which appear to be at higher risk of suicide.

TREASURY

  Works of Art
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the register of conditionally exempt works of art. [22558]

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 20 June 1995,Official Report, column 149. The Inland Revenue is considering a technical feasibility study, which it has just received, with the aim of making the register available on the Internet.

  Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance his Department has given to public service schemes, on the application of equal treatment requirements, to guaranteed minimum pensions accruing from pensionable service completed between 17 May 1990 and 5 April 1997. [23584]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Land (Access)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how members of the public can ascertain what land is accessible under the tax-exempted arrangement. [23815]
  368
  Mr. Jack
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 29 March,Official Report, columns 776–77.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of(a) imports and (b) exports of manufactured goods in the fourth quarter of 1995. [24825]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In the year to 1995, fourth quarter, the volume of exports of manufactured goods rose by 3¼ per cent. while the volume of imports of manufactured goods fell by¾ per cent.

  Drug Imports
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the totals of class A and class B drugs confiscated at the United Kingdom's borders in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of the percentage these figures constitute of the totals imported into the United Kingdom. [24839]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  HM Customs and Excise has primary responsibility for preventing and detecting the illegal importation and exportation of controlled drugs. Customs seizes illicit consignments both at the United Kingdom's borders and inland, the latter frequently resulting from controlled deliveries or following an initial border seizure. The Department does not hold at the centre information broken down between border and inland seizures, but the following information on total seizures may be helpful.

  The weights of drugs seized in each of the past five calendar years and their estimated street level value when they were seized were:

  Year

  Class A (kg)

  value(£)

  Class B (kg)

  value(£)

  1995

  2,604

  254,579,620

  53,039

  202,945,811

  1994

  3,301

  298,730,928

  47,761

  251,691,927

  1993

  1,549

  121,761,673

  52,633

  244,852,477

  1992

  2,702

  403,908,338

  44,673

  141,149,414

  1991

  1,763

  218,660,819

  27,463

  89,266,608

  The proportion of the total quantity of illicit drugs targeted on the UK which is intercepted by Customs cannot, by the very nature of the trade, be estimated with any degree of confidence. While there has been academic research into the size of the UK drugs market, this has largely been based on an extrapolation from the numbers of registered heroin addicts. Similar use data are not available for other drug types. This research does not provide a sound basis on which any reliable performance indicator could be developed by Customs. It is, however, known that for each kilogram of drugs sized, more is prevented from entering the United Kingdom by the subsequent investigation of the trafficking organisation responsible for the smuggling attempt, the arrest of those involved and the confiscation of their drug-related assets.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what compliance cost assessment has been produced for the White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money"; if it is publicly available; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [25269]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No compliance cost assessment has been produced for the White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money".

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (i) male and (ii) female employees in the west midlands were in(a) full-time, (b) part-time, (c) temporary and (d) permanent employment in each year since 1979. [24999]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested can be obtained via the Quantime Labour Force Survey service available in the Library.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the west midlands were employed in manufacturing industry in each year since 1979; and for each year what was the percentage change over the previous year. [25176]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information showing the number of jobs is provided in the table. Comparable information prior to 1981 is not available.

  Employees in manufacturing in the west midlands region: December1

  Year

  Level (thousands)

  Year-on year (per cent.)

  1981

  716

  -6

  1982

  672

  -3

  1983

  651

  -1

  1984

  646

  -1

  1985

  635

  -2

  1986

  614

  -3

  1987

  614

  -3

  1988

  626

  2

  1989

  634

  1

  1990

  618

  -3

  1991

  559

  -10

  1992

  505

  -10

  1993

  500

  2

  1994

  211

  2

  1995

  515

  1

  1Unadjusted.Source

  ONS.

  Company Directors
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers are company directors according to information supplied on form X of the Inland Revenue survey of personal incomes; and what is the average income from dividends from shares in United Kingdom companies and unit trusts of those taxpayers who are directors. [24929]
  370
  Mr. Jack
  Based on the survey of personal incomes for 1993–94, the number of company directors liable to income tax is 550,000. Their average income from dividends from shares in UK companies and unit trusts in around £4,700.

  Convergence Programme
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to update the convergence programme produced by the United Kingdom in March 1995. [25539]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  An updated convergence programme is today being submitted to the European Commission. Copies of the programme are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Investment Tax Allowance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the annual cost to the Exchequer of introducing an investment tax allowance of £200,000 per annum for companies. [22828]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 March 1996]: A 100 per cent. first-year allowance of £200,000 for investment in plant and machinery by companies and unincorporated businesses, introduced from December 1996, has an estimated small initial cost of about £100 million in 1997–98 and would then cost approximately £1.3 billion in 1998£99. The cost would decline subsequently. For companies in groups, it is assumed that the limit is applied to the whole group and not each separate company.

  Kenya
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make statement about the proposed International Monetary Fund—enhanced structural adjustment facility for Kenya. [23150]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: Last month, the Government of Kenya launched a framework for the economic reform agenda for the next three years on which they have worked with the IMF and World bank. A programme under the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility, designed to support these reform efforts, is expected to be considered by the IMF's executive board later this month.

  Vocational Education Courses
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to(a) cease and (b) reduce the tax relief available for certain vocational education courses. [24146]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: The Finance Bill being considered by Parliament extends vocational training relief so that tax relief may be given on fees paid for a course which is full time, lasts more than four weeks but less than a year and is aimed at learning or practising knowledge or skills for gainful employment. This tax relief is available to trainees aged 30 or over. We have no plans to change other forms of tax relief for vocational education courses.

  Government Spending
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Government spending was spent in the years 1988 and 1995 on(a) defence, (b) education and (c) mortgage tax relief. [24015]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: Figures for public expenditure on defence, education and mortgage tax relief expressed as a percentage of general Government expenditure are as follows:

  1988–89 Outturn Per cent.

  1995–96 Estimated outturn Per cent.

  Defence

  10.7

  7.0

  Education

  12.3

  11.9

  Mortgage tax relief paid to non-taxpayers

  0.1

  0.1

  Total mortgage tax relief amounted to £5.4 billion in 1988–89 and –2.7 billion in 1995–96, of which £260 million in 1988–89 and £180 million in 1995–96 paid to non-taxpayers is classified as public expenditure.

  No. 11 Downing Street
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the non-official or party receptions and functions which have been held at No. 11 Downing street since November 1990; [24268]

  (2) if he will list all (a) charity, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) non-official and (d) party receptions and functions which have been held at No. 11 Downing street since November 1990; [24270]

  (3) on which occasions he has used No. 11 Downing street for the purpose of raising funds for the Conservative party since November 1990. [24269]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: No. 11 Downing street is the home of my wife and I in London and I pay tax on it as a benefit in kind. I am not accountable to Parliament for private functions held there on which no public funds are expended.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens were victims of violent crime abroad in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [24597]

  Mr. Hanley
  The numbers of British citizens reported murdered, raped, assaulted or violently robbed abroad in each of the last five years are as follows:

  1991: 145

  1992: 196

  1993: 231

  1994: 257

  1995: 174

  Scott Report
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department first evaluated the information on the Iraqi nuclear programme cited on pages 608 and 609 of the Scott report. [24832]

  Mr. Hanley
  During February 1989.

  Export Bans
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions and the circumstances of all European Commission bans upon the export of a product by an individual member state; and if he will indicate how many of these occasions were against the wishes of the member state. [24578]

  Mr. David Davis
  The information requested is not held centrally. There are a number of bans on the export of certain products from certain member states. Examples are the current ban on live cattle and certain products derived from cattle in the UK, and a ban on pigs for slaughter from certain parts of Germany affected by classical swine fever.

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he and (b) his officials have had with Britain's allies concerning banning the manufacture, supply and export of land mines. [25179]

  Mr. Hanley
  In preparation for the final session of the UN weaponry convention review conference in Geneva on 22 April to 3 May, we have recently discussed within the western group the questions on which agreement was not possible at the first session of the review conference in September-October 1995. Appropriate NATO and EU experts' groups have also discussed preparations for the conference.

  Bhutan
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions on aid have been applied to Bhutan in the last year. [25407]

  Mr. Hanley
  We do not have an aid programme in Bhutan.

  Bhutanese Refugees
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to representatives of the Indian Government regarding the recent arrest and detention of Bhutanese refugees voluntarily returning to their country; and what future representations are planned concerning this matter. [25408]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are aware of these arrests and detentions. We have made no representations to the Indian Government, but continue to monitor the situation closely with our EU partners.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what humanitarian aid and assistance the Government are currently providing for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. [25410]
  373
  Mr. Hanley
  In the last financial year, we provided £100,000 for projects to assist Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. No application for funding has yet been made for this financial year.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what future meetings and discussions the Government are planning to hold with the Governments of Bhutan, Nepal and India regarding the situation of Bhutanese refugees. [25406]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have no plans to hold discussions with the Governments of Bhutan, Nepal and India regarding the Bhutanese refugee situation. We believe that the problem is best solved through bilateral negotiation between Bhutan and Nepal.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings have been held with representatives of the Bhutanese refugees currently exiled in camps in Nepal. [25409]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our ambassador in Kathmandu visited the Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa last month and talked to representatives of the refugees. A representative of the refugees also called on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 22 March.

  "A Partnership of Nations"
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "A Partnership of Nations" White Paper. [25290]

  Mr. David Davis
  The policies in the White Paper, "A Partnership of Nations", do not have significant environmental implications. It would not be appropriate to monitor their environmental impact.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "A Partnership of Nations" White Paper were considered in environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department. [25288]

  Mr. Davis
  No alternative courses of action were considered as a result of environmental appraisals. Such appraisals would not have been relevant to the policies outlined in the White Paper, "A Partnership of Nations".

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by the Department of the Environment to "A Partnership of Nations" White Paper has been subject; and if he will publish the appraisal. [25287]

  Mr. Davis
  "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" provides guidance on environmental appraisal of domestic policies which will have significant environmental implications. It is not relevant to the policies outlined in the White Paper, "A Partnership of Nations".

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how "A Partnership 374
  of Nations" White Paper was modified by the results of environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department. [25289]

  Mr. Davis
  The policies outlined in the White Paper, "A Partnership of Nations", do not have significant environmental implications. It would not have been appropriate to carry out an environmental appraisal.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Medical Research Fraud
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the cases of fraud involving medical research studies in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years, and the costs to public funds of prosecuting them. [24481]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record enabling all cases of the description given by the hon. Member to be identified. The information sought could be obtained only by a scrutiny of all CPS files over the past 10 years and would involve disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT

  Pollution (Abandoned Mines)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions are made by(a) his Department, (b) the Coal Authority and (c) the Environment Agency to monitor the incidence and effects of pollution from abandoned mines. [24804]

  Mr. Clappison
  The responsibility for monitoring pollution from abandoned mines lies with the Environment Agency and, where appropriate, the Coal Authority or other owner or operator.

  The Coal Authority monitors pumping at 11 pumping stations, mainly in County Durham. It also measures underground water levels at a number of locations throughout the country. It has carried out pumping trials at more than one location.

  The Environment Agency has an extensive chemical and microbiological monitoring programme for the general assessment of the quality of surface waters in England and Wales. Some 60,000 samples are taken each year for chemical analysis. River stretches affected by minewater discharges will be identified and assessed within this programme, each stretch being sampled 12 times per annum. In parallel with the system for the monitoring of controlled waters, the routine sampling of major discharges takes place approximately four times a year.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what treatment methods other than pumping are currently in use to deal with polluted minewater from abandoned mines; where each is in use; how long it has been in use; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness. [24803]
  375
  Mr. Clappison
  There are around 10 small-scale pilot treatment projects in England and Wales, which use chemical and physical methods to treat minewaters. These include those on the River Pelenna in south Wales, at Woolley colliery near Barnsley, and at the Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall. The Coal Authority is also looking at best practice in the use of treatment methods.

  The Environment Agency routinely monitors the principal discharges from these treatment projects, but is too early to make a precise assessment of the effectiveness of the methods used.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the measures which the Environment Agency is evaluating to deal with pollution from abandoned mines. [24801]

  Mr. Clappison
  The agency monitors surface waters and principal discharges from abandoned mines and undertakes environmental assessments. It is currently funding research, and monitoring the research of others, into a range of treatment methods.

  The measures in the Environment Act 1995 relating to abandoned mines will enhance the agency's ability to ensure that this aspect of water pollution is addressed.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the regulations on the six-month notification period for the abandonment of mines. [24797]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department is in discussion with the Environment Agency and other interested parties on the content of these regulations. It is intended that a consultation paper on the regulations will be issued very soon.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been set aside by(a) the Coal Authority and (b) the Environment Agency for pumping of minewater from abandoned mines in the current financial year and for the next three years. [24799]

  Mr. Clappison
  In the current year, the Coal Authority has set aside £1.2 million for the costs of electricity for pumping and £0.66 million for maintenance of pumping stations, amounting to a total of £1.9 million. It is likely that the budget for future years will be of a similar order, but will depend on future liabilities or potential savings.

  The agency has resources of up to £2 million per annum to cover the cost of pumping and treatment of minewater from Wheal Jane, and expects to spend around £6 million over the three years 1996–97 to 1998–99. It has made no other financial provision for dealing with pumping costs, which would normally be borne by the relevant owner or operator.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each abandoned mine where pumping of minewater is currently taking place in order to prevent pollution and the date that the mine was abandoned. [24802]

  Mr. Clappison
  The mines where pumping of minewater is taking place to prevent pollution of controlled waters are as follows:376

  Name of mine

  Date of abandonment

  Kimblesworth

  1968

  Kibblesworth

  1976

  Ushaw Moor

  1961

  Page Bank

  pre 1947

  Vinovium

  pre 1947

  Chester Moor

  1968

  Nicholson

  pre 1947

  Lumley 6th

  1966

  Sherburn Hill

  1966

  Wooley

  1987

  Mid Cannock

  1967

  Wheal Jane

  1991

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each abandoned mine where pumping of minewater ceased and was subsequently reinstated, with the dates of cessation and reinstatement. [24798]

  Mr. Clappison
  The mines where intentional cessation and reinstatement of pumping has taken place are as follows:Mid Cannock—pumping ceased on 16 May 1995, and was restarted on 13 September 1995
  Ushaw Moor—pumping ceased on 10 October 1995, and was restarted on 18 January 1996

  These were temporary cessations which formed part of a process of information gathering by the Coal Authority, and were implemented in consultation with the former National Rivers Authority.

  Contaminated Land
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he will publish the ministerial guidance on contaminated land; [24805]

  (2) when the contaminated land provisions of the Environment Act 1995 will come into effect. [24806]

  Mr. Clappison
  Informal consultations are taking place on a working draft of the statutory guidance on contaminated land, being prepared under section 57 of the Environment Act 1995. I envisage a further round of informal consultations. The formal draft will be published in time to allow three months for consultation before those parts of the final guidance requiring parliamentary consideration are laid before Parliament at the start of the new Session.

  The contaminated land provisions will not be brought into force until the guidance has been formally issued.

  Departmental Staff
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the numbers of staff in each grade in the(a) local development group, (b) local government finance policy (i) local taxation, (ii) local capital, (iii) local authority statistics, (iv) local authority grants and (v) local authority grants and revenue and (c) local government (1) structure, (2) sponsorship and superannuation and (3) competition sections of his Department. [24644]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The table lists the numbers of staff in each grade in all of the directorates, divisions and units that comprise the Department's new local development
  377
  group. Within the local government directorate, LG1 division on local government reorganisations works on structure, LG2 division on local government sponsorship and the local government pensions unit works on sponsorship and superannuation, and LG3 division on local authority contracting out and competition in providing services works on competition.

  Table showing numbers of staff by grade in Local Development Group

  Totals

  Grade 2

  1

  Grade 3

  3

  Grade 5

  13

  Grade 6

  3

  Grade 7

  42

  G7 (Stats)

  6

  G7 (Econ)

  3

  Local Development group of which:

  Totals

  G2 office

  Sec and IT unit

  ERL

  PFU

  Grade 2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Grade 6

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 7

  3

  —

  —

  1

  2

  G7 (Stats)

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  G7 (Econ)

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sn A Stat

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Asst Stat

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SEO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SRO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SPTO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TSO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Econ Asst

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  HEO

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  EO

  3

  —

  1

  —

  2

  RO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SPS

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  AO

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1

  PS

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  DS

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AA

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  14

  3

  3

  1

  7

  Grade 2's office. Secretariat and IT unit.

  ERL DOE regional link.

  PFU private finance unit.

  LG Directorate of which:

  Totals

  G3 office

  LGI

  LG2

  LGPU

  LG3

  Grade 2

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Grade 6

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Grade 7

  12

  —

  3

  3

  3

  3

  G7 (Stats)

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  G7 (Econ)

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sn A Stat

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Asst Stat

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SEO

  3

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  SRO

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  SPTO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TSO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Econ Asst

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  HEO

  25

  —

  5

  4

  4

  12

  EO

  21

  —

  5

  5

  3

  8

  RO

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  378

  Table showing numbers of staff by grade in Local Development Group

  Totals

  Sn A Stat

  3

  Asst Stat

  2

  SEO

  16

  SRO

  4

  SPTO

  1

  TSO

  1

  Econ Asst

  1

  HEO

  72

  EO

  69

  RO

  1

  SPS

  4

  AO

  52

  PS

  15

  DS

  2

  AA

  6

  Totals

  320

  379

  LG Directorate of which:

  Totals

  G3 office

  LG1

  LG2

  LGPU

  LG3

  SPS

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AO

  19

  —

  3

  3

  3

  10

  PS

  4

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  DS

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AA

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  94

  2

  18

  18

  16

  40

  LG Local government directorate. Grade 3's office.

  LG1 local government organisation.

  LG2 local government sponsorship.

  LGPU local government pensions unit.

  LG3 local authority contracting out and competition in providing services.

  LGFP Directorate of which:

  Totals

  G3 office

  EF

  FLT

  FLC

  FLAS

  FLG

  FLGR

  Grade 2

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  6

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Grade 6

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 7

  12

  —

  2

  3

  4

  —

  3

  —

  G7 (Stats)

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  2

  G7 (Econ)

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sn A Stat

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Asst Stat

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  SEO

  6

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  1

  —

  SRO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SPTO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TSO

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Econ Asst

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  HEO

  21

  —

  1

  3

  4

  7

  6

  —

  EO

  19

  —

  —

  5

  2

  6

  5

  1

  RO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SPS

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AO

  17

  —

  1

  4

  2

  9

  1

  —

  PS

  5

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  DS

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AA

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Totals

  106

  2

  5

  19

  17

  32

  19

  12

  LGFP Local government finance policy directorate. Grade 3's office.

  EF efficiency scrutiny.

  FLT finance local taxation.

  FLC finance local capital.

  FLAS finance local authority statistics.

  FLG finance local authority grants.

  FLGR finance local authority grants and revenue.

  RD Directorate of which:

  Total

  G3 Office

  Sec

  RD1

  RD2

  RD3

  Grade 2

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  3

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Grade 6

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Grade 7

  15

  —

  —

  5

  7

  3

  G7 (Stats)

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  G7 (Econ)

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sn A Stat

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Asst Stat

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SEO

  7

  —

  —

  2

  4

  1

  SRO

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  SPTO

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  TSO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Econ Asst

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  HEO

  25

  —

  1

  6

  15

  3

  EO

  26

  —

  1

  5

  16

  4

  RO

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SPS

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AO

  14

  —

  2

  3

  7

  2

  380 381

  RD Directorate of which:

  Totals

  G3 Office

  Sec

  RD1

  RD2

  RD3

  PS

  4

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  DS

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  AA

  4

  —

  —

  1

  3

  —

  Totals

  106

  2

  4

  26

  59

  15

  RD Regeneration Directorate. Grade 3's office.

  Secretariat.

  RD1 regeneration, special grants voluntary sector and HATs.

  RD2 challenge fund, SRB, estate action and partnerships.

  RD3 UDCs, CNT, enterprise zones and English partnerships.

  Castle Cement
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds Castle Cement is appealing against the most recent notice served by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in respect of the works at Clitheroe; and if he will make a statement. [24966]

  Mr. Clappison
  Castle Cement has appealed against variation notice, AR 9435 issued by HMIP under section 10 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 23 January 1996. The company contends that the notice is null and void, and also appeals against six specific conditions of authorisation.

  HMIP became part of the Environment Agency on 1 April 1996 and a full copy of Castle Cement's grounds of appeal is available for inspection by the public in the register maintained at the agency's office in Bamber Bridge, Preston. It will also be available in the register maintained by Ribble Valley borough council.

  Biodiversity Project (Dog Whelk)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the biodiversity project announced at the Darwin initiative seminar will include a study of the dog whelk. [24936]

  Mr. Clappison
  None of the 34 Darwin initiative projects announced at last month's seminar to help developing countries protect biodiversity include such a study. "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report," published in December 1995, recommends that the dog whelk should be among 1,253 species whose conservation status should be monitored. The Government expect to publish their response to the report in the late spring of 1996.

  Public Paths and Byways
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to alter the obligation to reclassify roads used as public paths as byways open to all traffic if vehicular rights are shown ever to have existed. [24962]

  Mr. Clappison
  We have no plans to alter the obligation to reclassify RUPPs as BOATs where vehicular rights exist. However, as the Government announced in the rural White Paper, Cm 3016, we intend to discuss with interested parties the issue of restricting the use of byways by motorised vehicles.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the implications of the research by Aberdeen university in 1995 into dietary nitrate intake on the efficacy of European Commission directives on nitrates in water supplies. [25025]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has received inquiries from two correspondents and letters from five hon. Members on behalf of three correspondents.

  Open Space
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications he has received during the most recent 12 month period for which information is available for permission to compulsorily purchase metropolitan open space in accordance with section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981; how many certificates he has given; and if he will make a statement. [24950]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  During the year ended 31 March 1996, Government offices received 12 requests for certificates under section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, relating to compulsory purchase of open space. They issued seven certificates during the same period.

  Section 19 sets out a scheme of special protection for commons, open space and certain allotments which ensures that the national stock of such special land is not eroded through piecemeal compulsory purchase.

  Rights of Way
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish a best practice guide regarding management of the use of motorised vehicles on rights of way. [24963]

  Mr. Clappison
  We intend to publish a best practice guide in the summer.

  Green Lanes
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of deterioration of green lanes by vehicular use have been brought to his attention in the last year for which figures are available. [24961]

  Mr. Clappison
  Neither my Department nor the Department of Transport keeps statistics of this sort. Few cases of deterioration of green lanes are brought to our attention. Research currently in hand includes an attempt to assess the scale of the problem.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure threshold will trigger local authorities to entitlement to 80 per cent. compensation for unavoidable costs incurred as a result of obligations to asylum seekers. [24976]

  Mr. Clappison
  No decisions have been taken yet on the threshold.

  Stormgate Mining Ltd.
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to obtain information about Stormgate Mining Ltd., with special reference to employers liability insurance cover; and if he will make a statement. [25002]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive has served a statutory notice on the Stormgate Mining Co. Ltd., requiring it to produce a current certificate of employers' liability compulsory insurance in relation to its Whittle colliery, Northumberland.

  Outdoor Advertising
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) to what environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department, "Outdoor Advertisement Control—Areas of Special Control of Advertisements"—ASCAs—consultation paper has been subjected; and if he will publish the appraisal; [25262]

  (2) how "Outdoor Advertisement Control—Areas of Special Control of Advertisements"—ASCAs—consultation paper was modified by the results of environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [25264]

  (3) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Outdoor Advertisement Control—Areas of Special Control of Advertisements"—ASCAs—consultation paper were considered in environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [25263]

  (4) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Outdoor Advertisement Control—Areas of Special Control of Advertisements"— ASCAs—consultation paper. [25265]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 11 March,Official Report, column 418.

  Local Government Ombudsman
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the review of the local government ombudsman service consultation paper; [25286]

  (2) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the review of the local government ombudsman service consultation paper were considered in environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [25284]
  384
  (3) what environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department the review of the local government ombudsman service consultation paper has been subject to; and if he will publish the appraisal; [25283]

  (4) how the review of the local government ombudsman service consultation paper was modified by the results of environmental appraisals undertaken Department. [25285]

  Mr. Clappison
  Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield's independent report on his prior options review of the Commission for Local Administration, or local government ombudsman service, considered whether the functions presently undertaken by the commission were necessary. It did not in itself have any direct impact on the environment and no environmental appraisal was undertaken.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage increase for band D council tax for(a) each unitary local authority and (b) each district council in England for the year 1996–97 over the year 1995–96. [25250]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 20 March 1996,Official Report, column 213.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what compliance cost assessment has been produced for the Housing Bill; if it is publicly available; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [25266]

  Mr. Clappison
  A compliance cost assessment has been produced for the Housing Bill; it is publicly available and a copy was placed in the Library of the House on 29 January 1996.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what compliance cost assessment has been produced for the guidance to the Environment Agency; if it is publicly available; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [25268]

  Mr. Clappison
  A compliance cost assessment was produced when the Environment Bill setting up the Environment Agency was introduced, as indicated in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill. A copy of the CCA is available in the Library.

  There was no need to produce a further CCA for the guidance, which is intended to assist the agency with respect to its objectives and the contribution it is to make towards achieving sustainable development.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25267]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Seven compliance cost assessments were produced by my Department during 1995. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  "Capital Challenge"
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the "Capital Challenge" consultation paper; [25282]

  (2) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the "Capital Challenge" consultation paper were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [25280]

  (3) what environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department the "Capital Challenge" consultation paper has been subject to; and if he will publish the appraisal; [25279]

  (4) how the "Capital Challenge" consultation paper was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [25281]

  Mr. Clappison
  Our proposals for a capital challenge fund set out a new mechanism for supporting local authority capital expenditure. The mechanism proposed will not of itself have any direct impact on the environment and no environmental appraisal was undertaken. It is more relevant to focus on the environmental impact of spending proposals approved. I am determined that all local authority capital spending proposals, whether brought forward under capital challenge or under the existing capital finance system, should take proper account of the environmental impact of projects. I therefore intend that, should our proposed pilot scheme go ahead, all bidders would be required to provide a clear assessment of the environmental impact of their proposals. We will also look in particular for projects which reflect the Government's objectives for the promotion of sustainable development.

  Transitional Relief, Waltham Forest
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures relating to transitional relief paid to Waltham Forest in the same form and for the same periods as in parts(b) to (d) of his answer to the hon. Member for North-West Durham (Ms Armstrong) of 7 March, Official Report, columns 304–5. [25399]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Total amount of transitional relief

  1993–94: £378,652,826

  1994–95: £111,283,108

  1995–96: £27,178,1791

  (b) Amount of transitional relief paid to London Borough of Waltham Forest

  1993–94: £582,601

  1994–95: £67,544

  1995–96: £9,0461

  (c) Percentage of total amount of transitional relief paid to

  London Borough of Waltham Forest

  1993–94: 0.15 per cent.

  1994–95: 0.06 per cent.

  1995–96: 0.03 per cent.1

  386

  (d) Amount paid per chargeable dwelling in London Borough of Waltham Forest

  1993–94: £6.45

  1994–95: £0.74

  1995–96: £0.101

  These figures are averages. The actual amount of transitional relief varied according to a household's council tax banding, its composition and its previous liability for community charge.
  1Information for 1995–96 is provisional and is subject to final grant claims to be made during 1996–97.

  Town and Country Planning Act
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amounts received by(a) the Corporation of London, (b) the inner London boroughs, (c) the outer London boroughs, (d) shire authorities and (e) metropolitan districts, under the provisions of section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in each year since the implementation of the Act, together with the total in each year for English authorities as a whole. [25480]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Under section 12 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, planning obligations must be registered as a local land charge and are therefore available for the public to see.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 February to the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend),Official Report, column 663, if he will publish the revised estimates of expenditure on the transitional cost of reorganisation in 1996–97, submitted by the councils of East Riding, Yorkshire, Hull city, Bristol city, Bath and North East Somerset and York district. [25460]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The revised estimates of expenditure on the transitional costs of reorganisation in 1996–97 submitted by the councils of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull city, Bristol city, Bath and North East Somerset and York district were as follow:

  Authority

  thousands rounded 1996–97

  East Riding of Yorkshire council

  114,140

  Hull city council

  7,759

  Bristol city council

  11,089

  Bath and North East Somerset council

  9,525

  York district council

  8,321

  1Average of a range of estimates.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the annual partnership funding requirement from the private
  387
  and corporate sectors for lottery awards from the good cause bodies other than the National Lottery Charities Board up to 2000. [22013]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information currently available to the Department does not distinguish between sources of partnership funding. The following table shows the figures for those distributing bodies currently able to provide estimates.

  Estimated annual partnership funding requirement to year 2000

  Million

  Private sector

  Corporate sector

  Arts

  Arts Council of England

  Information currently unavailable

  Scottish Arts Council

  Information currently unavailable

  Arts Council of Wales

  £13.8

  £1.2

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland1

  £8.4

  Sports

  Sports Council

  Information currently unavailable

  Scottish Sports Council1

  £25

  Sports Council for Wales

  Information currently unavailable

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  £0.25

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  Information currently unavailable

  Millennium Commission

  Information currently unavailable

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Not applicable

  1 Distributing body does not differentiate in its data collection between private and corporate sponsorship.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the balance of private and corporate sponsorship available as lottery partnership funding(a) to national institutions and (b) to regional and local projects. [22014]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information currently available to the Department does not distinguish between sources of partnership funding. The following table shows the breakdown for partnership funding to date for those distributing bodies currently able to provide figures.

  Balance of Partnership Funding

  Million

  Private sponsorship

  Corporate sponsorship

  National institutions

  Regional and local projects

  National institutions

  Regional and local projects

  Arts

  Art Council of England1

  £60.8

  £333

  Scottish Arts Council

  Information currently unavailable

  Arts Council of Wales

  £3.3

  £4.8

  £0.25

  £0.44

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland2

  £0.05

  Sports

  Sports Council2

  £175

  Scottish Sports Council2

  £3.7

  £25.8

  Sports Council for Wales

  Information currently unavailable

  388

  Balance of Partnership Funding

  Million

  Private sponsorship

  Corporate sponsorship

  National institutions

  Regional and local projects

  National institutions

  Regional and local projects

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  £0.43

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  Information currently unavailable

  Millennium Commission

  Information currently unavailable

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Not applicable Lottery

  1 Analysis between 'national' and 'regional' institutions is currently not available.

  2 Distributing body does not differentiate in its data collection between private and corporate sponsorship.

PRIME MINISTER

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, column 535, if he will list each regulation and the Department which takes responsibility for it in the past three years. [23709]

  The Prime Minister
  Information about individual Council and Commission regulations adopted in the last three years can be obtained from the Commission's CELEX database of Community legislation. Information on which Department leads on each individual measure could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 April. [23788]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 April. [23789]

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

  No. 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the functions, and the dates on which they took place, which were held at No. 10 Downing street where the costs have been met by political parties and organisations for the purpose of providing financial support to political parties since November 1990. [23556]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: There have been so such functions.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Prime Minister what charges are levied on(a) charities, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) non-official or party function organisers permitted to use the invitations secretary as the responding address for invitations to functions at No. 10 Downing street. [23557]
  389
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 April 19961: When charitable or other non-official events are held at No. 10 Downing street, the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. As under previous Administrations, invitations are normally handled by the invitations secretary. This is necessary to ensure that the appropriate security procedures are followed. No charge is levied for this.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Volcano (Montserrat)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the active volcano on the population of Montserrat; and if he will make a statement. [25484]

  Mr. Hanley
  Assessments of both the eruptive state of the volcano and the effects of the resulting forecasts have been continuous since last July. An ODA mission was in Montserrat last week to reassess needs, following the latest relocation of the people into the north of the island on 3 April. A range of relief actions was agreed with the Governor and the Government of Montserrat and is now being implemented.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been made available in(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97 for emergency relief in Montserrat; and if she will make a statement. [25485]

  Mr. Hanley
  Relief commitments by Her Majesty's Government totalled £4.5 million in 1995–96. No specific allocations have been made for 1996–97 as future needs cannot yet be foreseen. Discussions will also take place in Brussels this week to encourage support from the European Commission.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Governments of islands neighbouring Montserrat concerning assistance in the event of a volcanic eruption. [25487]

  Mr. Hanley
  Productive discussions have been held with the Government of Antigua for off-island evacuation; with the French authorities on Guadeloupe for evacuation and for rapid support on Montserrat in time of crisis; with certain Governments with interests and assets in the area, notably the American, Dutch and Venezuelan Governments; and with other Governments through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schools (Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State Education and Employment if she will list total capital expenditure on schools in cash and real terms for each year since 1974–75. [20570]
  390
  Mrs. Gillan
  The table gives the total expenditure on schools capital between 1974–75 and 1994–95—the latest date for which figures are available—in cash and 1994–95 price terms.

  The hon. Gentleman has chosen the base year with care. It should be noted that capital expenditure was higher in real terms before 1974–75 under the Conservative Administration. The level of expenditure in the 1970s reflects both the rise in the school population, as a result of demographic changes and the raising of the school leaving age, and the building work required by comprehensive schools. The fall in expenditure in real terms after 1974–75 was partly the result of the Labour Government having to deal with the International Monetary Fund crisis.

  Between 1979–80 and 1994–95, capital expenditure increased in real terms by over 19 per cent. The introduction of the private finance initiative in the schools sector now offers new opportunities for bolstering capital expenditure on schools by levering in investment from the private sector.

  Capital expenditure on schools 1974–75 to 1994–95

  Year

  Total1

  1994–95 prices

  1974–75

  346.7

  1,818.5

  1975–76

  369.6

  1,545.3

  1976–77

  362.2

  1,334.3

  1977–78

  315.0

  1,021.5

  1978–79

  296.7

  865.3

  1979–80

  325.1

  812.4

  1980–81

  391.1

  826.0

  1981–82

  314.4

  605.5

  1982–83

  327.8

  589.4

  1983–84

  343.1

  589.4

  1984–85

  368.6

  602.9

  1985–86

  396.5

  614.9

  1986–87

  420.2

  632.5

  1987–88

  470.3

  672.2

  1988–89

  628.6

  842.1

  1989–90

  782.3

  979.6

  1990–91

  779.2

  903.2

  1991–92

  795.4

  867.9

  1992–93

  809.1

  848.4

  1993–94

  894.5

  911.3

  1994–952

  968.7

  968.7

  Up to 1992–93 figures include sixth form colleges; in 1993–94 sixth form colleges became the responsibility of the FEFC.

  1 The totals include local education authority schools capital expenditure; Government grant aid to voluntary aided and special agreement schools; governors' contributions to capital cots at VA/SA schools; grant-maintained schools capital grant; Government grants to and private sponsorship of technology colleges and city technology colleges. They do not include provision for repairs at VA/SA schools.

  Figures for sponsorship of city technology colleges amount to £37 million up to 1994–95. However, only £31 million of this is included in the table; information held centrally does not enable the remaining £6 million to be apportioned to specific financial years.

  2Includes provisional figures for LEA outturn expenditure.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many days were taken to carry out(a) quality and safety and (b)s financial control audits at Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; what were the costs in each case; and if she will make a statement. [24491]
  391
  Mr. Paice
  In 1995–96, five staff days were spent on a health and safety compliance audit, 25 staff days on a total quality assurance supplier management compliance audit and 85 staff days on financial control audits at Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council. Information on the costs of these audits is not available.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice she has given to the Further Education Funding Council in relation to ensuring access to free further education tuition for asylum seekers who are not eligible for income support because of their asylum status but would pass the means test for a state benefit if they were United Kingdom citizens. [24823]

  Mr. Paice
  None.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total public expenditure on publicity for the accelerated modern apprenticeships. [24575]

  Mr. Paice
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 13 February 1996,Official Report, column 532.

  No public money has been allocated by this Department specifically for the publicity of accelerated modern apprenticeships.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people started accelerated modern apprenticeships. [24576]

  Mr. Paice
  As at December 1995, there were 400 young people on accelerated modern apprenticeships in England and Wales.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was her Department's original forecast of the number of places that would be available on accelerated modern apprenticeships. [24574]

  Mr. Paice
  Resources were originally made available to support around 9000 places for accelerated Modern Apprenticeships in 1995–96. Feedback from training and enterprise councils and industry training organisations indicated that the needs of the young people involved could be better met by mainstream modern apprenticeships, and the Government agreed to merge accelerated modern apprenticeships and modern apprenticeships from the start of April this year.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assistance is available from her Department for unemployed persons wishing(a) to start their own business and (b) to become self-employed. [24814]
  392
  Mr. Paice
  Help for unemployed people wishing to become self-employed or to start their own business is provided through training for work. The Department also contributes to the work of the Prince's Youth Business Trust which helps disadvantaged young people aged 18 to 29 to set up in business through the provision of grants and loans.

  School Premises
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on(a) the discretion of governors in charging outside bodies for the use of schools' premises and (b) guidelines she has issued in respect of minimum or maximum amounts to be charged. [24631]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Guidance on charging outside bodies for the use of school premises is contained in "Our School—Your School", published by the Department for Education and Employment and sent to all schools and local education authorities on 24 October 1995. There are no specific guidelines on minimum or maximum amounts to be charged. Subject to any directions issued by a local education authority might place on its own schools, school governors are free to negotiate charges with users, so long as they at least break even overall. Schools can apply whatever income they earn for the purposes of the school.

  Publication Costs
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total cost of(a) her Department's departmental report for 1996 and (b) "Department for Education and Employment: Action in London", broken down to show the cost of
  (i) compilation and (ii) printing and distribution. [24627]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total cost of the Department's departmental report, published in March 1996, was £60,500. This comprised: (i) compilation, £29,500; (ii) printing and distribution, £31,000.

  The total cost of "Department for Education and Employment: Action in London" was £17,400. This comprised: (i) compilation, £7,900; (ii) printing and distribution, £9,500.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his Department will accept an average of the annual amount of guided learning hours calculated over the number of weeks in which there are any such hours as a weekly figure when deciding whether students on courses funded by the Further Education Funding Council for Wales are part-time for the purposes of the jobseeker's allowance. [24812]

  Mr. Forth
  The jobseeker's allowance regulations provide that a person who undertakes a course funded or part-funded by the Further Education Funding Council for Wales will be considered to be a part-time student if a document signed on behalf of the establishment which is funded by the FEFC for Wales for the delivery of the course says that the course involves 16 guided learning hours or less a week.
  393
  In the case of courses funded by the Secretary of State for Scotland at a college of further education, a student will be considered to be part-time if a document signed on behalf of the college says that the course involves 16 hours or less a week of classroom or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff; or 21 hours or less a week, made up of 16 hours or less of classroom or workshop-based programme learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff and additional hours using structured learning packages with the support of teaching staff.

  In both cases, the Employment Service will accept these documents as evidence of whether or not a person is a part-time student. In the case of courses funded by the FEFC for Wales, the number of hours per week will be calculated on the basis of a weekly average of the number of guided learning hours for the course. In the case of courses funded by the Secretary of State for Scotland at a college of further education, the number of hours of study per week will be calculated in the same way.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if part-time students in receipt of the jobseeker's allowance will be deemed to have restricted their availability for work where they have paid a fee for the course. [24813]

  Mr. Forth
  People who receive jobseeker's allowance and study part time must remain available for work. Independent adjudication officers will determine whether or not a person is available for work, taking into account all the relevant circumstances of the case: payment of a fee for a course will not automatically mean that a person will be considered to have restricted his or her availability for work.

  For certain jobseekers, the Jobseekers' Allowance Regulations 1996 have the effect that payment of a fee should not be taken into account. For people who have, broadly, been unemployed for three months in the last six no matter relating to their course will be taken into account when determining whether they are available for work providing they are willing and able to rearrange the hours of their course to take a job within the hours they have agreed they are available for work in their jobseeker's agreement.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average grant received by students in(a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994 and (f) 1995; and if she will make a statement. [24617]

  Mr. Forth
  The average net maintenance grants after means-testing received by mandatory award holders in England and Wales in the academic years 1984–85,1989– 90,1991–92 to 1994–95, the latest year for which data are available, are set out in the table. Since 1990–91, eligible students have also had access to non-means-tested student loans.394

  Average net maintenance grants to holders of mandatory awards

  England and Wales

  1984–85

  1,240

  1989–90

  1,390

  1991–92

  1,550

  1992–93

  1,610

  1993–94

  1,670

  1994–952

  1,520

  1 To the nearest £10.2 1994–95 data are provisional.

  Graduates
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of(a) Welsh, (b) Scottish, (c) Northern Irish and (d) English graduates secured full-time employment within one year of graduation in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1992, (iv) 1994 and (v) 1995; and if she will make a statement. [24614]

  Mr. Forth
  The available information based on graduates' employment position six months after graduation is as follows:

  Percentage of graduates in employment six months after graduating, Great Britain

  Year of qualification

  Percentage

  1985

  63

  1990

  60

  1992

  52

  1994

  57

  Separate figures for each country are not readily available.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many graduates left university and took up careers in industry in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [24608]

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

  Graduates employed in industry six months after graduating, Great Britain

  Year of qualification

  Numbers

  As a percentage of all graduates with known destination

  1990

  16,200

  15.1

  1991

  12,600

  11.1

  1992

  11,800

  9.6

  1993

  13,200

  9.5

  1994

  16,800

  10.7

  Centre for Health and Academic-related Research, Sheffield
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) which institutions funded the Sheffield centre for health and academic-related research; and who was responsible for negotiating its funding agreements over the last three years; [24632]
  395
  (2) if she will list the staff employed by the university of Sheffield in the Sheffield centre for health and academic-related research, indicating those formerly in the employment of Trent regional health authority; if she will make a statement on the academic research experience of the staff; if she will list the salary levels of these staff; and which bodies are responsible for paying these salaries. [24633]

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not held centrally. Universities are responsible for their own staffing matters.

  Part-time Studies
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the impact of the 1996–97 settlement to universities on the opportunities for part-time studies. [23707]

  Mr. Forth
  The November 1995 Budget settlement confirmed the 1994 plans for higher education recurrent expenditure, but planned capital expenditure was reduced reflecting the policy that capital should, wherever possible, be financed through private finance schemes. I understand that, in response to the Secretary of State's guidance, the Higher Education Funding Council for England has recently decided to allocate extra resources for part-time students in science and engineering in 1996–97.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of local authority budgets for education was spent on discretionary awards for each year since 1990. [24125]

  Mr. Forth
  Information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows total local education authority expenditure in England on discretionary awards in the academic years 1990–91 to 1994–95 and total net recurrent local authority expenditure on education in the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95. Because the figures for discretionary awards expenditure and net recurrent expenditure are not directly comparable, it not possible to calculate the percentage of total expenditure which is attributable to discretionary awards.

  Expenditure by local education authorities: England

  Academic year

  Expenditure on discretionary awards1 £m(cash terms)

  Financial year

  Total expenditure on education1, 2£m(cash terms)

  1990–91

  198

  1990–91

  17,230

  1991–92

  222

  1991–92

  19,451

  1992–93

  219

  1992–93

  20,892

  1993–94

  173

  1993–94

  18,635

  1994–953

  132

  31994–95

  18,392

  Source:
  1 LEA returns of form 503G and LEA RO1 returns to the Department of the Environment.

  Notes:
  2Net recurrent expenditure, ie., total recurrent expenditure, excluding joint arrangements, minus customer and client receipts and revenue from LEAs for pupils and students educated by other authorities.
  3Provisional.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of average local authority costs incurred in the statementing procedure for a child; and how many children were statemented in the last year for which figures are available.[24126]

  Mrs. Gillan
  In 1994, the latest year for which information is currently available, local education authorities' returns indicate that statements were issued for the first time in respect of some 45,800 children. The Department does not collect information on the average cost of statutory assessments.

  Devon and Cornwall Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the membership of the business and Education board of the Devon and Cornwall training and enterprise council since 1987 by(a) name, (b) dates of birth and (c) remuneration given. [24648]

  Mr. Paice
  Membership of the main board and training and enterprise council area boards of Devon and Cornwall TEC is listed in the annual review report of the TEC, which was established in 1990. Board directors are appointed within the eligibility criteria set out in the Department's contract with the TEC. The appointments are made by the TEC. No remuneration is given. The hon. Member will need to contact the TEC for the further information that he seeks about the dates of birth of board directors.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many representations she has received on making membership of students' unions voluntary; and if she will make a statement. [25009]

  Mr. Forth
  Membership of students' unions was made voluntary by the Education Act 1994, which gave students the right not to belong to their students' union. Since September 1994, when this provision came into force, there has been one representation that membership should be on an opt-in basis.

  Nursery Places, Lancashire
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children are currently in nursery places in Lancashire; what percentage this is of the children of nursery age; and what estimate she has made of the change in each case from the introduction of the nursery voucher scheme. [24876]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In January 1995, the latest date for which information is available, 8,130 or 21 per cent. of children aged three and four were being taught in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in Lancashire Local Education Authority area. In addition, 12,867 or 33 per cent. of children aged three and four were being taught in infant classes in maintained primary schools.
  397
  The number of additional places for four-year-olds created through the nursery voucher scheme in any local authority area will depend on the response of providers to parental demand. I am confident that providers of all types, either alone or in partnership, will satisfy parental demand over time.

  After-school Care
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current number of places available for after-school care; and what plans she has to increase aid provision. [24877]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Since the out-of-school child care initiative started in April 1993, 57,145 places have been created in England up to the end of February 1996. Further funding of £12.5 million has been made available to extend the initiative for a further three years from April 1996.

  "Lifelong Learning"
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures she plans to introduce as a result of the consultation process on the "Lifelong Learning" document. [25172]

  Mr. Paice
  There has been a tremendous interest in the consultation exercise, which is now being analysed. It would be premature to make any announcements at this stage. The Government will be responding in due course. The Department already has many successful measures in place to support lifetime learning.

  Aggregate Schools Budget, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the 1996–97 aggregate schools budget for Liverpool local education authority. [24923]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Liverpool's aggregated schools budget for 1996–97 is £140,991,000. This figure is taken from budget statement published by the local education authority under section 42 of the Education Reform Act, 1988.

  Security Guards (Schools)
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the use of private security guards in schools. [24884]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Whether or not to employ security guards is a matter for schools and local education authorities to decide in the light of their assessment of security risks and the range of measures which can be taken to reduce those risks in the circumstances of each school. I am aware that some schools do employ such staff, mainly for security patrols outside school hours. The Department produces guidance on a range of security measures for schools, including the use of security guards.

  Merseyside Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress Merseyside TEC is making in meeting the criteria for the award of a three-year licence. [25371]
  398
  Mr. Paice
  I am pleased to announce the award of a three-year licence to Merseyside TEC, which has now completed the process of meeting the rigorous standards that we set.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many compliance cost assessments were produced by her Department in 1995; and if she will place copies in the Library. [25260]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department for Education and Employment or its predecessors produced two compliance cost assessments in 1995:

  (a) for the Activities Centres (Young Person's Safety) Bill; and

  (b) for the employment code of practice under the Disability Discrimination Act 1985.

  Copies are available in the Library.

  Dance and Drama Students
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she plans to make a statement on alternative funding proposals for students of dance and drama. [25248]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to make such a statement.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent assessment she has made of the number of local education authorities that currently make discretionary awards to students of dance and drama. [25249]

  Mr. Forth
  Discretionary awards are a matter for local education authorities. No recent assessment of the distribution of such awards by subject has been made.

  Left-handedness
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will conduct a survey of the teacher training institutions to establish what strategies they have in place to enable new teachers to assist left-handed pupils with their writing. [25367]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Office for Standards in Education publishes reports following its inspections of initial teacher training courses. The Teacher Training Agency accredits course providers to ensure that they meet the Secretary of State's criteria. These criteria require new teachers to be able to identify and to respond appropriately to relevant individual differences between pupils. Despite being left-handed, I see no need for further information from providers in this respect.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action the Government are taking within the Council of Ministers to end age discrimination in Europe.[25330]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Government's policy is to tackle age discrimination through this Department's campaign for older workers. The campaign, which I head, operates through persuasion and education. It aims to persuade employers of the business benefits in recruiting, retraining
  399
  and retaining workers on merit; to raise awareness of the importance of older workers; and to support older workers in remaining active in the labour market.

  On the 29 June 1995, the Council of Ministers adopted the resolution on the employment of older workers, reference 8258/95 SOC 201. A copy has been deposited in the House of Commons Library. The resolution recognises the significance of older workers as an employment issue. Equally, it recognises the importance of member states following their own policies in combating this problem.

  Schools Statistics
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list in rank order for each local education authority the number and percentage of pupils obtaining five GCSEs at grade C or above in the latest year

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local Education Authority

  Pupils aged 15 achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A 2—C, 1994–95

  Pupils aged 17 achieving 3 or more GCE A/AS passes, 1994–95

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  Kingston upon Thames

  756

  55.5

  1

  254

  49.3

  46

  Sutton

  982

  52.9

  2

  466

  59.3

  11

  Barnet

  1,618

  52.7

  3

  532

  46.7

  60

  Harrow

  1,087

  52.5

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Isles of Scilly

  11

  52.4

  5

  —

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  3,912

  51.0

  6

  727

  47.5

  55

  North Yorkshire (inc York)

  4,061

  50.2

  7

  1,243

  68.9

  3

  Gloucestershire

  2,919

  49.4

  8

  907

  54.8

  24

  Surrey

  4,491

  49.3

  9

  1,000

  51.4

  39

  Buckinghamshire

  3,789

  49.1

  10

  1,766

  56.7

  20

  Dorset

  3,347

  48.8

  11

  1,064

  54.8

  24

  Wiltshire

  2,976

  48.4

  12

  707

  51.6

  37

  Berkshire

  4,075

  48.3

  13

  1,518

  56.7

  19

  Richmond upon Thames

  682

  48.1

  14

  —

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  5,543

  47.9

  15

  2,096

  51.1

  40

  Solihull

  1,369

  47.9

  15

  72

  21.5

  95

  Somerset

  2,298

  47.7

  17

  269

  48.9

  47

  Stockport

  1,389

  47.5

  18

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley

  1,359

  47.4

  19

  569

  53.2

  30

  Trafford

  1,019

  47.1

  20

  302

  78.0

  1

  Cheshire

  5,431

  46.8

  21

  1,583

  58.7

  13

  Cornwall

  2,490

  46.3

  22

  370

  43.9

  68

  Hampshire

  7,489

  46.0

  23

  183

  40.1

  75

  Oxfordshire

  2,636

  45.8

  24

  845

  51.9

  36

  Suffolk

  3,248

  45.8

  24

  1,065

  48.8

  48

  Shropshire

  2,300

  45.6

  26

  344

  53.3

  28

  Bury

  921

  45.3

  27

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  1,127

  45.1

  28

  529

  49.7

  44

  Lincolnshire

  3,101

  44.8

  29

  1,121

  66.4

  5

  Cambridgeshire

  3,304

  44.5

  30

  743

  49.4

  45

  Sefton

  1,500

  43.8

  31

  422

  53.6

  26

  Warwickshire

  2,337

  43.8

  31

  796

  60.1

  9

  Cumbria

  2,329

  43.5

  33

  888

  61.6

  8

  Devon

  4,709

  43.2

  34

  1,195

  46.8

  59

  Norfolk

  3,494

  43.2

  34

  900

  48.7

  49

  Bexley

  1,064

  43.1

  36

  338

  48.6

  50

  Wirral

  1,668

  43.1

  36

  636

  57.7

  17

  Hereford and Worcester

  3,296

  43.0

  38

  915

  58.4

  15

  Essex

  7,512

  42.8

  39

  1,827

  53.1

  32

  Northumberland

  1,724

  42.8

  39

  617

  47.3

  56

  Wigan

  1,664

  42.4

  41

  116

  50.9

  41

  Havering

  1,196

  42.1

  42

  284

  59.9

  10

  East Sussex

  2,712

  41.9

  43

  411

  40.1

  75

  Kent

  7,516

  41.9

  43

  2,960

  52.6

  35

  Lancashire

  6,684

  41.7

  45

  1,139

  65.2

  6

  Dudley

  1,480

  41.6

  46

  72

  55.8

  23

  Camden

  706

  41.5

  47

  312

  44.0

  67

  Bolton

  1,313

  41.4

  48

  314

  68.7

  4

  400
  for which figures are available together with (a) the number and percentage of pupils obtaining three A-level passes, (b) the average primary school class size, (c) the average secondary school class size, (d) expenditure per primary pupil and (e) expenditure per secondary pupil; and if she will indicate in each of (a) to (e) the local education authority's rank order. [24030]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]The following table lists in rank order for each local education authority the number and percentage of pupils obtaining five GCSEs at grade C or above in 1994–95 together with(a) the number and percentage of pupils obtaining three or more GCE A-level or AS equivalent passes in 1994–95,
  (b) the average primary school class size, (c) the average secondary school class size, (d) expenditure per primary pupil and (e) expenditure per secondary pupil. In each case, the local education authority's rank order is indicated.
  401

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local Education Authority

  Pupils aged 15 achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A 2—C, 1994–95

  Pupils aged 17 achieving 3 or more GCE A/AS passes, 1994–95

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  Avon

  4,058

  41.2

  49

  1,140

  45.3

  64

  North Tyneside

  888

  40.2

  50

  205

  48.2

  51

  Northamptonshire

  2,873

  40.0

  51

  961

  46.9

  58

  Derbyshire

  4,307

  39.8

  52

  1,266

  59.1

  12

  Leicestershire

  4,167

  39.7

  53

  1,287

  53.0

  33

  Bedfordshire

  2,565

  39.3

  54

  854

  57.4

  18

  Enfield

  1,200

  39.3

  54

  449

  47.2

  57

  Isle of Wight

  529

  39.1

  56

  204

  50.9

  41

  Hounslow

  989

  39.0

  57

  233

  32.6

  86

  Merton

  578

  39.0

  57

  88

  41.3

  74

  Staffordshire

  4,699

  38.7

  59

  1,315

  57.9

  16

  Hillingdon

  926

  37.8

  60

  290

  42.2

  72

  St. Helens

  832

  37.6

  61

  214

  56.6

  22

  Kirklees

  1,702

  37.5

  62

  327

  53.3

  28

  Calderdale

  884

  37.1

  63

  312

  47.9

  54

  Croydon

  1,160

  36.8

  64

  104

  23.4

  92

  Gateshead

  847

  36.4

  65

  216

  46.0

  62

  Sheffield

  1,872

  36.3

  66

  411

  64.6

  7

  Kensington and Chelsea

  179

  36.2

  67

  64

  37.2

  78

  Rotherham

  1,195

  36.2

  67

  288

  46.7

  60

  Nottinghamshire

  4,055

  36.0

  69

  1,292

  53.2

  30

  Leeds

  2,737

  35.8

  70

  1,010

  53.5

  27

  Wakefield

  1,279

  35.2

  71

  164

  42.4

  71

  Brent

  686

  35.1

  72

  192

  25.9

  91

  Durham

  2,514

  34.4

  73

  575

  50.7

  43

  Coventry

  1,142

  34.0

  74

  377

  43.7

  69

  South Tyneside

  655

  34.0

  74

  29

  34.5

  82

  Humberside

  3,666

  33.8

  76

  754

  53.0

  33

  Cleveland

  2,506

  33.6

  77

  145

  56.6

  21

  Ealing

  815

  33.5

  78

  181

  36.4

  80

  Tameside

  881

  33.3

  79

  8

  26.7

  90

  Rochdale

  789

  32.8

  80

  123

  42.9

  70

  Waltham Forest

  740

  32.7

  81

  43

  33.1

  85

  Oldham

  995

  31.9

  82

  177

  51.6

  37

  Hammersmith & Fulham

  334

  31.8

  83

  101

  45.3

  64

  Doncaster

  1,071

  31.5

  84

  449

  48.1

  52

  Walsall

  1,082

  31.3

  85

  418

  45.8

  63

  Birmingham

  3,510

  31.2

  86

  1,079

  48.1

  52

  Sunderland

  1,202

  31.1

  87

  183

  58.7

  13

  Wolverhampton

  905

  30.9

  88

  265

  37.3

  77

  Wandsworth

  476

  30.0

  89

  103

  27.3

  88

  Barnsley

  730

  29.0

  90

  60

  74.1

  2

  Lewisham

  576

  29.0

  90

  129

  31.9

  87

  Westminster

  353

  28.8

  92

  127

  34.5

  82

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  782

  28.5

  93

  277

  44.7

  66

  Greenwich

  726

  28.3

  94

  111

  22.6

  94

  Bradford

  1,673

  28.1

  95

  564

  35.3

  81

  Salford

  650

  27.9

  96

  —

  —

  —

  Barking & Dagenham

  469

  27.6

  97

  64

  27.0

  89

  Haringey

  462

  27.5

  98

  75

  22.7

  93

  Sandwell

  963

  26.9

  99

  111

  33.2

  84

  Liverpool

  1,414

  26.1

  100

  447

  37.1

  79

  Hackney

  328

  23.9

  101

  28

  19.4

  96

  Newham

  607

  23.7

  102

  17

  16.2

  98

  Lambeth

  285

  23.2

  103

  1

  3.3

  101

  Manchester

  900

  22.5

  104

  73

  42.0

  73

  Southwark

  372

  22.2

  105

  1

  1.4

  102

  Tower Hamlets

  435

  21.7

  106

  40

  14.4

  100

  Knowsley

  349

  19.2

  107

  24

  18.5

  97

  Islington

  221

  17.4

  108

  20

  15.4

  99

  Corporation of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total England

  528,319

  40.4

  54,482

  50.06

  1The figures for GCSE and GCE A/AS achievements and the class sizes are based on LEA and grant maintained schools in England. The unit costs are based on LEA maintained schools only and excluded grant maintained schools.

  2The percentages of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C and 17-year-old pupils achieving three or more GCE A/AS passes are based on those on roll in maintained schools at January 1995.

  402 403

  Single teacher class sizes January 1995

  1994–95 unit costs

  Primary

  Secondary

  Pre-primary and primar

  Secondary

  Local Education Authority

  Class size

  Rank

  Class size

  Rank

  Cost (£)

  Rank

  Cost (£)

  Rank

  Kingston upon Thames

  29.5

  108

  20.0

  4

  1,730

  80

  2,518

  86

  Sutton

  28.0

  91

  21.5

  44

  1,860

  88

  2,514

  85

  Barnet

  26.5

  26

  19.4

  2

  1,763

  85

  2,415

  81

  Harrow

  27.1

  57

  22.9

  96

  2,043

  96

  2,598

  90

  Isles of Scilly

  17.3

  1

  26.0

  108

  2,471

  106

  4,484

  108

  West Sussex

  26.5

  26

  21.9

  65

  1,668

  64

  2,240

  47

  North Yorkshire (including York)

  26.2

  20

  20.7

  19

  1,577

  29

  2,180

  31

  Gloucestershire

  26.7

  34

  21.6

  50

  1,274

  1

  1,937

  1

  Surrey

  25.6

  11

  21.6

  50

  1,744

  82

  2,234

  45

  Buckinghamshire

  27.3

  61

  20.6

  15

  1,636

  48

  2,256

  50

  Dorset

  27.6

  75

  21.8

  62

  1,510

  10

  2,061

  11

  Wiltshire

  26.9

  44

  21.4

  40

  1,548

  17

  2,125

  20

  Berkshire

  27.0

  52

  20.3

  9

  1,630

  45

  2,238

  46

  Richmond upon Thames

  26.1

  17

  23.5

  104

  1,884

  89

  2,373

  76

  Hertfordshire

  26.5

  26

  20.0

  4

  1,717

  75

  2,264

  54

  Solihull

  27.6

  75

  21.6

  50

  1,605

  34

  2,225

  38

  Somerset

  27.0

  52

  22.5

  87

  1,660

  58

  2,113

  18

  Stockport

  27.5

  70

  21.9

  65

  1,566

  24

  2,152

  25

  Bromley

  28.4

  100

  20.2

  8

  1,634

  46

  2,231

  42

  Trafford

  29.0

  105

  21.8

  62

  1,477

  5

  2,319

  65

  Cheshire

  27.3

  61

  21.3

  35

  1,529

  13

  2,176

  29

  Cornwall

  27.0

  52

  22.2

  81

  1,615

  41

  2,202

  33

  Hampshire

  27.7

  80

  22.3

  84

  1,645

  52

  2,177

  30

  Oxfordshire

  25.9

  14

  21.1

  31

  1,680

  67

  2,285

  58

  Suffolk

  24.9

  3

  20.9

  24

  1,690

  69

  2,182

  32

  Shropshire

  26.6

  31

  21.5

  44

  1,605

  34

  2,413

  80

  Bury

  27.8

  84

  23.0

  99

  1,492

  7

  2,032

  5

  Redbridge

  29.2

  106

  20.6

  15

  1,678

  66

  2,553

  82

  Lincolnshire

  26.8

  39

  20.0

  4

  1,588

  30

  2,384

  77

  Cambridgeshire

  27.3

  61

  21.8

  62

  1,540

  15

  2,160

  26

  Sefton

  27.6

  75

  21.9

  65

  1,487

  6

  2,227

  40

  Warwickshire

  26.9

  44

  20.6

  15

  1,665

  62

  2,349

  71

  Cumbria

  26.2

  20

  21.0

  26

  1,541

  16

  2,034

  7

  Devon

  26.7

  34

  21.3

  35

  1,554

  20

  2,203

  34

  Norfolk

  25.4

  7

  20.0

  4

  1,600

  33

  2,342

  69

  Bexley

  28.6

  103

  21.4

  40

  1,536

  14

  2,232

  44

  Wirral

  26.1

  17

  20.5

  13

  1,567

  25

  2,294

  61

  Hereford and Worcester

  25.5

  10

  21.9

  65

  1,643

  51

  2,063

  13

  Essex

  26.9

  44

  21.9

  65

  1,734

  81

  2,321

  66

  Northumberland

  27.2

  59

  22.7

  90

  1,528

  12

  1,944

  2

  Wigan

  28.0

  91

  21.6

  50

  1,474

  4

  2,130

  21

  Havering

  27.4

  67

  22.0

  74

  1,715

  74

  2,570

  88

  East Sussex

  27.5

  70

  21.3

  35

  1,692

  70

  2,359

  74

  Kent

  27.7

  80

  20.7

  19

  1,555

  21

  2,276

  57

  Lancashire

  27.9

  88

  21.6

  50

  1,661

  60

  2,345

  70

  Dudley

  27.3

  61

  22.9

  96

  1,575

  26

  2,205

  35

  Camden

  27.3

  61

  19.8

  3

  2,057

  98

  2,790

  99

  Bolton

  28.7

  104

  21.3

  35

  1,646

  54

  2,261

  53

  Avon

  27.8

  84

  21.1

  31

  1,613

  40

  2,336

  67

  North Tyneside

  26.9

  44

  22.1

  77

  1,636

  48

  2,145

  23

  Northamptonshire

  26.7

  34

  20.8

  23

  1,618

  42

  2,265

  55

  Derbyshire

  27.9

  88

  21.7

  57

  1,596

  32

  2,290

  59

  Leicestershire

  26.5

  26

  22.2

  81

  1,612

  38

  2,274

  56

  Bedfordshire

  26.8

  39

  21.9

  65

  1,674

  65

  2,231

  42

  Enfield

  28.4

  100

  21.0

  26

  1,761

  84

  2,359

  74

  Isle of Wight

  26.3

  23

  22.1

  77

  1,607

  36

  2,030

  4

  Hounslow

  27.4

  67

  21.5

  44

  1,931

  92

  2,582

  89

  Merton

  27.0

  52

  22.0

  74

  1,931

  92

  2,663

  95

  Staffordshire

  27.6

  75

  22.0

  74

  1,565

  23

  2,104

  15

  Hillingdon

  26.8

  39

  20.7

  19

  1,777

  86

  2,625

  93

  St. Helens

  27.0

  52

  20.3

  9

  1,521

  11

  2,247

  49

  Kirklees

  28.2

  96

  20.9

  24

  1,607

  36

  2,256

  50

  Calderdale

  27.5

  70

  21.0

  26

  1,651

  56

  2,104

  15

  Croydon

  28.1

  94

  22.2

  81

  1.725

  79

  2,165

  27

  Gateshead

  26.0

  15

  20.4

  11

  1,638

  50

  2,257

  52

  Sheffield

  26.8

  39

  22.6

  88

  1,612

  38

  2,110

  17

  Kensington and Chelsea

  25.1

  4

  18.5

  1

  2,397

  104

  3,327

  106

  Rotherham

  25.8

  13

  21.4

  40

  1,719

  77

  2,220

  36

  Nottinghamshire

  27.4

  67

  20.6

  15

  1,692

  70

  2,396

  79

  404 405

  Single teacher class sizes January 1995

  1994–95 unit costs

  Primary

  Secondary

  Pre-primary and primar

  Secondary

  Local Education Authority

  Class size

  Rank

  Class size

  Rank

  Cost (£)

  Rank

  Cost (£)

  Rank

  Leeds

  28.2

  96

  20.5

  13

  1,645

  52

  2,223

  37

  Wakefield

  27.9

  88

  21.7

  57

  1,590

  31

  2,046

  9

  Brent

  26.9

  44

  21.0

  26

  1,718

  76

  2,033

  6

  Durham

  27.7

  80

  21.9

  65

  1,757

  83

  2,122

  19

  Coventry

  27.8

  84

  22.9

  96

  1,705

  72

  2,418

  82

  South Tyneside

  26.3

  23

  22.6

  88

  1,623

  44

  2,062

  12

  Humberside

  27.7

  80

  22.8

  91

  1,652

  57

  2,304

  62

  Cleveland

  26.9

  44

  22.1

  77

  1,505

  8

  2,172

  28

  Ealing

  26.6

  31

  22.1

  77

  1,969

  94

  2,457

  84

  Tameside

  29.5

  108

  23.8

  105

  1,447

  3

  2,046

  9

  Rochdale

  29.2

  106

  23.3

  103

  1,552

  19

  2,225

  38

  Waltham Forest

  26.5

  26

  23.0

  99

  1,792

  87

  2,395

  78

  Oldham

  28.5

  102

  22.8

  91

  1,621

  43

  2,293

  60

  Hammersmith & Fulham

  25.6

  11

  22.8

  91

  2,482

  107

  3,316

  105

  Doncaster

  28.1

  94

  21.4

  40

  1,444

  2

  2,025

  3

  Walsall

  26.0

  15

  20.4

  11

  1,664

  61

  2,314

  63

  Birmingham

  28.2

  96

  21.7

  57

  1,721

  78

  2,356

  73

  Sunderland

  25.4

  7

  21.0

  26

  1,576

  28

  2,142

  22

  Wolverhampton

  26.2

  20

  21.6

  50

  1,648

  55

  2,341

  68

  Wandsworth

  25.2

  5

  21.7

  57

  2,268

  101

  3,053

  102

  Barnsley

  27.5

  70

  22.8

  91

  1,550

  18

  2,102

  14

  Lewisham

  25.4

  7

  21.6

  50

  2.097

  99

  2,677

  96

  Westminster

  25.3

  6

  21.1

  31

  2,440

  105

  2,825

  100

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  27.6

  75

  21.3

  35

  1,660

  58

  2,314

  63

  Greenwich

  26.4

  25

  21.7

  57

  2,028

  95

  2,772

  98

  Bradford

  27.8

  84

  22.8

  91

  1,681

  68

  2,041

  8

  Salford

  27.3

  61

  21.9

  65

  1,507

  9

  2,151

  24

  Barking & Dagenham

  26.7

  34

  21.2

  34

  1,891

  90

  2,353

  72

  Haringey

  27.2

  59

  21.5

  44

  2,300

  102

  2,986

  101

  Sandwell

  28.2

  96

  21.9

  65

  1,666

  63

  2,244

  48

  Liverpool

  27.1

  57

  20.7

  19

  1,634

  46

  2,603

  91

  Hackney

  26.1

  17

  21.5

  44

  2,249

  100

  3,138

  103

  Newham

  27.5

  70

  24.2

  106

  1,711

  73

  2,623

  92

  Lambeth

  24.6

  2

  21.5

  44

  2,573

  108

  3,782

  107

  Manchester

  26.9

  44

  22.3

  84

  1,558

  22

  2,435

  83

  Southwark

  26.9

  44

  24.7

  107

  1,898

  91

  2,681

  97

  Tower Hamlets

  26.7

  34

  23.1

  101

  2,393

  103

  3,194

  104

  Knowsley

  28.0

  91

  22.4

  86

  1,575

  26

  2,227

  41

  Islington

  26.6

  31

  23.2

  102

  2,055

  97

  2,657

  94

  Corporation of London

  26.8

  39

  N/A

  —

  3,635

  109

  N/A

  —

  Total England

  27.1

  21.5

  1,661

  2,270

  1The figures for GCSE and GCE A/AS achievements and the class sizes are based on LEA and grant maintained schools in England. The unit costs are based on LEA maintained schools only and excluded grant maintained schools.

  2 The percentages of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C and 17-year-old pupils achieving three or more GCE A/AS passes are based on those on roll in maintained schools at January 1995.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Challenge Programme
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department's challenge programme was introduced; and when it will be completed. [24196]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department runs a number of challenge programmes. The regional challenge was launched in February 1995 and the winners were announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy last December. Following the success of that round, we intend to launch a second round, probably early next year. In July 1995, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced details of the export challenge to trade associations and the winners of this challenge were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade in March. The technology foresight challenge was launched in September 1995. The final results of this challenge are expected to be 406
  announced in May or June. In February 1996, we announced at the launch of our information society initiative—the first of a number of challenges designed to encourage business support organisations to participate in the initiative. The results of this first challenge, which is for trade associations, will be announced in June 1996. Details of the further challenges under the initiative will be given later in the year. Finally, my Department has also jointly funded the skills challenge with the Department for Education and Employment. The results of the second round of this challenge were announced recently. The Department continues to look for new areas that would benefit from the introduction of challenge funding.

  Industry Council
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Industry Council meeting held on 28 March. [25119]
  407
  Mr. Eggar
  The Council adopted resolutions on the co-ordination of activities in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises—SMEs—and on an industrial policy for the EU pharmaceutical industry. The Council also agreed conclusions on a Commission communication on the impact of international developments on the textile and clothing sector.

  The Commission made oral presentations on its proposal for a new SME multi-annual programme for the period 1997 to 2000, on its green paper on innovation and the work of the research/industry task forces on its communication on the challenges facing the EU defence-related industry and on its communication on the competitiveness of EU maritime industries.

  The Council debated the issue of how many separate directives should be adopted on food for particular nutritional uses—"dietary foodstuffs". It did not prove possible to reach a common position on the basis of the presidency's compromise proposal, which is expected to be discussed further at the Internal Market Council on 28 May.

  Shipbuilding was raised under other business. The Commission indicated that it would produce a proposal for extending the existing directive on aid to shipbuilding, in the event of further delays in the ratification of the OECD agreement. Denmark circulated a short paper on the need to strengthen EU monitoring of shipbuilding aid rules. Finally, the Commission provided information on the Bremer Vulcan aid case and made clear that it would take firm action. Germany acknowledged that the case represented a misuse of public funds.

  The presidency outlined its plans for an EU-Mediterranean conference of Industry Ministers on 21 May.

  No votes were taken at the Council.

  Coal Mining
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will discuss with the Coal Authority, as early as possible, arrangements to establish a register of all companies involved in mining operations in the United Kingdom and to ensure the deposit of a copy of each company's current employers liability insurance certificate. [25003]

  Mr. Page
  In accordance with the provisions of section 35 of the Coal Industry Act 1994, a register of licences granted for the carrying out of coal mining operations has been established by the Coal Authority. The enforcement of legislative requirements on employers' liability insurance is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the measures which the Coal Authority(a) has taken to date and (b) proposes to take to deal with pollution from abandoned mines. [24800]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the Coal Authority. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Oil and Gas Exploration
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has held with Amoco (UK) exploration company concerning the future 408
  decommissioning of the north-west Hutton installation; and when the company submitted an abandonment programme for the structure. [24368]

  Mr. Page
  Neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor any other DTI Minister has had discussions with Amoco about decommissioning the north-west Hutton installation. The owners of the installation have not yet been directed to submit a decommissioning programme.

  Work Force Representatives
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how work force representatives will be elected for the purposes of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 requirements; how this process will be monitored; what challenge and appeal safeguards are included; what will be the time scale for elections; how the electorate will be(a) determined and (b) monitored; and what will be the term of office for those elected. [24124]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981, as amended, an employer is required to provide, long enough before the transfer of an undertaking for consultation to take place, information to appropriate representatives of any employees who may be affected by the transfer. Appropriate representatives may be representatives of an independent trade union recognised by the employer in respect of those employees or representatives elected by the employees themselves, whether specifically for that purpose or for some other relevant purpose.

  The regulations do not specify detailed rules for the election by the affected employees of representatives or the term of their office, but provision is made for complaints to be made to an industrial tribunal about an employer's failure to consult appropriate representatives. If the elected representatives or a recognised trade union consider that the employer has not consulted them as required, or the employees affected have not been given a proper opportunity to elect representatives, they may present a complaint to an industrial tribunal.

  Company General Meetings
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will be publishing a consultative document on the Companies Act provisions under which shareholders may table resolutions for discussion at the annual general meeting. [25354]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have today published a consultative document seeking views on the provisions of the Companies Act relating to the circulation of shareholders' resolutions. This follows up the Government's undertaking to consult on the recommendation of the former Employment Committee in its report, "The Remuneration of Directors and Chief Executives of Privatised Utilities" that the Companies Act should be amended to require shareholders' resolutions, where they are supported by a sufficient number of shareholders and are limited in length, to be circulated by the company to all shareholders without cost.
  409
  The consultative document seeks views on whether the existing rules operate effectively. It considers whether good practice in circulating shareholders' resolutions without charge should be incorporated into a statutory requirement and whether a tightening up of the rules would be appropriate. It also examines some related questions concerning the wider issue of communication between shareholders and the board.

  Copies of the consultative document "Shareholder Communications at the Annual General Meeting" have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Home Accident Prevention Initiatives
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to make the provision of home accident prevention initiatives a mandatory function of local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [24939]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are no plans to make home accident prevention initiatives a mandatory function of local authorities. Many local authorities already participate in home accident prevention, underpinned by the wide range of free home safety awareness literature provided by my Department's consumer safety unit. However, it is important that local authorities are free to balance this activity alongside other competing priorities.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to provide specific funding for local authorities to provide home accident prevention initiatives; and if he will make a statement. [24938]

  Mr. Taylor
  There are no plans for specific funding for local authorities to provide home accident prevention initiatives. However, my Department makes a wide range of free home safety literature available to local authorities and provides a grant in aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which is used to support four regional home safety officers who work closely with accident prevention staff in local authorities.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many accidents in the home necessitated hospital treatment for each year for which records are available; and if he will make a statement. [24899]

  Mr. Taylor
  The number of home accident victims treated in accident and emergency units in the United Kingdom in 1994 is estimated at 2.9 million—according to one report of the home accident surveillance system, HASS, for 1994.

  Estimates for earlier years—1977 onwards—are given in the appropriate HASS reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Prior to 1987, the estimates refer to England and Wales only.

  Nuclear Power Industry (Privatisation)
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his proposals for employees and pensioners of the nuclear electricity industry to participate in the forthcoming British Energy share offer; and if he will make a statement. [25353]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government strongly believe in the positive effects of employee share ownership and I welcome the excellent opportunity which privatisation of British Energy provides for its employees to claim a410
  significant stake in the future of their company. This package is comparable to those offered to employees during previous Government flotations and is in line with out intention of extending share ownership as widely as possible.

  I am confident that British Energy's employees will be keen to take advantage of the offer and I look forward to seeing high levels of take-up.

  Employees of the British Energy Group will be offered free shares to a fully paid value of about £160, plus shares at a fully paid value of about £2 for every year of continuous service within the electricity supply industry on the day before the prospectus is issued.

  Employees will also be offered two free fully paid shares for every share bought at the offer price on a matching basis up to a maximum fully paid value of about £500-worth of free shares. Under this element of the package, if an employee bought shares with a fully paid value of £250, he would receive additional free shares to a fully paid value of £500.

  These free and matching shares will be available to employees who have completed at least six months' continuous service within the British Energy Group or, where applicable, Nuclear Electric plc, on the day before the prospectus is issued.

  In addition, employees will be able to buy shares up to a maximum fully paid value of about £1,400 of additional shares at a discount of 20 per cent. from the public offer price.

  Employees applying for shares will be treated on a priority basis, over the general public, up to an individual fully paid limit of shares worth about £18,000.

  These discount and priority shares will be available to each person employed by the British Energy Group on the day before the prospectus is issued.

  Magnox Electric employees have been part of the effort by the industry which has brought it to the point where the more modern part can be privatised. The co-operation of Magnox has been vital in the run-up to the restructuring of the industry, which took effect at the end of March. In recognition of this co-operation, special arrangements have been made for employees of Magnox Electric to participate in the British Energy share offer.

  Employees of Magnox Electric will be able to buy shares in British Energy up to a maximum fully paid value of about £1,400 of additional shares at a discount of 20 per cent. from the public offer price. Employees applying for shares will be treated on a priority basis, over the general public, up to an individual fully paid limit of shares worth about £18,000. The discount and priority shares will be available to each person employed by Magnox Electric on the day before the prospectus is issued.

  Pensioners of both the British Energy Group and Magnox Electric will be able to apply on a priority basis, over the general public, for shares up to a fully paid limit of about £16,600.
  411
  The extent to which employees and pensioners will be able to apply for shares on a priority basis, over the general public, may be subject to scaling down if the number of shares applied for by employees and pensioners exceeds a prescribed proportion of the total number on offer.

  Further details of the share offer arrangements will be made available individually to employees and pensioners in due course. These will include, where applicable, the requirements of the Inland Revenue as they apply to these offers.

  Environmental Technology and Services
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much was spent on promoting exports in the environmental technology and services industry in 1995–96; [24640]

  (2) what is the budget for the year 1995–96 of the joint environmental markets units; and what amount of that budget was spent on export services. [24641]

  Mr. Page
  The full range of the Government's export promotion and support services were available to the UK environmental technology and services industry in 1995–96. In addition, the joint environmental markets unit-JEMU-and the UK technology partnership initiative-TPI-were also specifically concerned with promoting UK environmental technology and services overseas. The forecast outturn for general export services, excluding staff and overheads, in 1995–96 is approximately £53 million, though it is not possible separately to identify how much was spent promoting exports for the environmental sector. The 1995–96 forecast outturn for JEMU-TPI, excluding staff and overheads, is £431,000, much of which has supported export-related activity either directly or indirectly. £n addition, in many cases, TPI funds have leveraged local resources to promote UK technologies and services.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account was taken of the effects on environmental technology manufacturers when his Department recommended that the Department of the Environment postpone the upgrading deadlines in the process guidance notes; and if a full cost-benefit analysis was obtained. [24643]

  Mr. Page
  The decision to postpone the upgrading deadlines in the process guidance notes did not result from a recommendation by my Department. It is for the Department of the Environment, as lead Department, to assess the costs and benefits to the environment and to all those affected by any decision relating to environmental policy.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take into account the economic cost to environmental technology manufacturers when he makes representations to the Department of the Environment concerning the four-year revision of all chief inspectors evidence notes and process guidance notes. [24642]

  Mr. Page
  The costs and benefits to all parties with an interest in the revision of these guidance notes will be considered by the Department of the Environment, as the lead Department, at the appropriate time.
  412
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what proposals he has developed a specific export strategy for the environmental technology and services industry; [24638]

  (2) what plans his Department has to encourage exports in the environmental technology and services industry. [24639]

  Mr. Page
  The full range of the Government's export promotion and support services are available to UK suppliers of environmental technologies and services. In addition, in 1992 the Government established a joint environmental markets unit—JEMU—bringing together resources from my Department and the Department of the Environment to ensure that UK firms are informed of the large and growing environmental market opportunities and to help them exploit these opportunities.

  As part of a developing strategy, JEMU commissioned a report on the strengths and weaknesses of the UK industry and its global competitiveness, "The UK Environmental Industry: Succeeding in the Changing Global Market". Following this report, the unit has been working closely with the Government's overseas trade services-OTS-including British embassies and high commissions overseas to identify key markets for UK environmental goods and expertise. As a result, environmental technology and services is currently targeted as a priority in 48 of the top 80 UK export markets. JEMU and OTS are also working with industry, trade associations and others to promote export opportunities and to raise the profile of the UK industry abroad.

  In addition, JEMU manages the UK technology partnership initiative-TPI-which provides information to business in rapidly industrialising and developing countries on UK environmental technology and expertise. TPI publishes regular information and sponsors overseas seminars about UK capabilities. It has recently reviewed its strategy and is currently producing a directory of 1,000 UK environmental supply companies active or keen to be active in some 37 priority markets. It also aims to expand its network of 3,500 active overseas business multipliers.

  As part of its lead sponsorship role, JEMU is currently working with the UK environmental industry to assist it in identifying the factors which affect the industry's competitiveness and in developing a strategy for improved performance. This will include a focus on responding to export opportunities.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25275]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department published 20 compliance cost assessments in 1995. Copies have already been placed in the Library of the House.

  Domestic Gas and Electricity Bills
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the projected average(a) gas and (b) electricity bill per household on a regional basis for 1996–97; what were the equivalent figures in 1995–96; and what is the percentage change in each case. [24927]

  Mr. Eggar
  For the financial year 1995–96, the average regional household electricity bills excluding VAT are given in the table. In England and Wales, the regions represent those covered by the regional electricity companies.

  Region

  Average electricity bill1 during the financial year 1995–96, excluding VAT£

  Eastern

  264.94

  East Midlands

  275.78

  London

  277.26

  Manchester and North Wales (MANWEB)

  297.99

  West Midlands

  272.10

  Northern

  282.09

  North West (NORWEB)

  255.16

  South East (SEEBOARD)

  260.50

  Southern

  270.30

  South Wales

  311.64

  South West

  294.69

  Yorkshire

  272.02

  Scotland

  272.10

  Northern Ireland

  326.66

  UK average

  275.33

  1 Average for a typical domestic consumer with consumption of 3,300 kWh of electricity a year. Calculated from published tariffs and standing charges. The average bill represents the amount paid by a typical household in the financial year including any rebates received by the households.

  In addition, domestic electricity customers in England and Wales will have received a £50 discount on their bills in the first quarter of 1996, following the flotation of the National Grid.

  For gas, there was no regional difference in pricing to households in the financial year 1995–96. The average household gas bill for a typical customer with consumption of 17,600 kWh per year in 1995–96 was £305.44 excluding VAT.

  My Department does not make projections of electricity or gas prices.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sums have been received from the sale of British Coal Enterprise. [25131]

  Mr. Page
  The sale of British Coal Enterprise, BCE, is a matter for British Coal. I understand that the corporation has not yet completed the sale of all of the activities of BCE.

  Public Interest Disclosure Bill
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations his Department has received since 26 February on the Public Interest 414
  Disclosure Bill; and (a) how many of these were in favour of the Bill and (b) how many indicated that the Bill would pose an undue burden on business. [25333]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the period 26 February to 10 April, my Department received 10 letters expressing support for the Bill and none expressing opposition.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what public consultations his Department intends to take in respect of the Public Interest Disclosure Bill. [25332]

  Mr. Taylor
  None.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations his Department undertook on the Public Interest Disclosure Bill during March. [25331]

  Mr. Taylor
  None.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Clerk to the Justices (Middlesex Petty Session)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how often, over the last three years, in each of the Middlesex area petty session courts the clerk to the justices has clerked cases. [25154]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Magistrates courts are locally managed by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979. The sort of information requested is not kept centrally and it is not the sort of information the Department would expect to receive from individuals MCCs.

  Clerk to the Justices (Brent)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what salary the clerk to the justices in Brent receives as chief executive in addition to his salary as clerk. [25156]

  Mr. Evans
  Under the provisions of section 26A of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, justices' chief executives and justices clerks are employed under contract by magistrates courts committees, on terms which the courts committees decide. I do not have access to individual contracts.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the costs to public funds arising from the recent successful appeal by the Brent court clerk to an industrial tribunal against her dismissal; if he will provide a breakdown of the costs; and if he will make a statement about the circumstances that led to this case. [25160]

  Mr. Evans
  Magistrates courts are locally managed by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979. The Department has not been notified of either the amount of the legal costs incurred by the magistrates courts committee, or the amount of the agreed settlement, made in 1994, between the magistrates courts committee and the former employee.

  These amounts would have been paid from locally held funds, and no request for additional cash-limited grant was made to cover these payments.

  Court Administration Costs (Middlesex)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what, over the last three years, have been the administrative costs of each of the petty sessional courts in the Middlesex area. [25155]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The areas of eight magistrates courts committees fall within the Middlesex area. Expenditure information is collected and held by this Department at committee and not petty sessional court level. The audited gross revenue expenditure for these eight committees for the three most recent available financial years, as reported to this Department by the responsible local authorities to those magistrates courts committees is:

  £

  Committee

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Barnet

  1,692,643

  1,852,997

  1,906,629

  Brent

  2,509,038

  2,620,844

  2,799,017

  Ealing

  1,689,984

  1,996,810

  1,984,330

  Enfield

  1,642,974

  1,698,950

  1,800,809

  Haringey

  1,714,042

  1,781,759

  2,197,974

  Harrow

  720,115

  761,579

  802,260

  Hillingdon

  1,542,868

  1,636,486

  1,748,196

  Hounslow

  1,895,440

  1,963,763

  2,076,765

  Brent Court
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the chief inspector of magistrates courts services last conducted an inspection into the efficiency of the Brent court; when the court will next be inspected; and what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Brent court. [25161]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The magistrates courts service inspectorate was established in January 1993 with the appointment of the chief inspector, Mrs. Rosemary Melling, to inspect and report on the administration and organisation of all the 100 magistrates courts committees. The inspectorate is still carrying out its first inspection cycle. The inspection of the Brent MCC area is due to take place in November 1996. The subsequent inspection report will be published no later than May 1997.

  Licensed Premises (Children's Certificates)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the cost of administering children's certificates for licensed premises, broken down by(a) inspections, (b) magistrates' time and (c) printing costs. [23662]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  At the time of the policy assessment, it was considered that there would be an initial surge of work in the magistrates courts but that this would then level off and be cost neutral. Since the introduction of children's certificates, there has been no evidence to suggest that this assessment was wrong.

  Courts (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department: how many magistrates courts there were in Wales in(a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1993 and (d) at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [24623]
  416
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The provision of courthouses is a matter for the magistrates courts committee in conjunction with the paying authority. The Lord Chancellor is involved only when there is an appeal by a local authority against a proposed closure. Information is therefore not collected centrally.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the cost of administering(a) county courts and (b) Crown courts in Wales in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [24598]

  Mr. Evans
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer. I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the cost of administering Crown and county courts in Wales.
  The table below sets out the cost to the Wales and Chester Circuit since 1990. The figures are in respect of the Circuit as a whole and therefore includes areas of Cheshire. It is not possible to give a separate breakdown for Welsh courts alone. Figures for 1995/96 have not yet been finalised.

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  County

  10.153

  12.158

  14.251

  15.160

  16.274

  Crown

  6.210

  8.525

  10.321

  10.093

  10.727

  Total

  16.363

  20.683

  24.572

  25.253

  27.001

  Legal Aid Board
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the Legal Aid Board to contract out its visits systems to solicitors' offices; and what is the estimated cost to the Legal Aid Board of the franchise audit operation. [24777]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  There are no plans for the Legal Aid Board to contract out its system of franchise audit visits to solicitors' offices. The audit costs are not currently separable from the overall administrative cost of franchising, which was £3.2 million in 1995–96. This included the cost of auditing and related costs such as the recruitment and training of auditors.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he now has to ensure that remand prisoners are brought to trial within a reasonable time. [24794]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Cases where defendants are on remand are treated as a priority in the magistrates courts and Crown court. In the Crown court, with the national introduction of plea and directions hearings, defendants who are remanded in custody are brought before the court within four weeks of committal, and a date is given for the trial, unless there is a good reason for not doing so. For both the Crown court and the magistrates courts, a sub-group of the trials issues group is considering the operation of current time guidelines and in particular the extent of compliance with those guidelines.
  417
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases in each of the last three years for which figures are available courts in England and Wales met the 70-day limit in magistrates courts and 112 days in Crown courts for bringing remand prisoners to trial. [24795]

  Mr. Evans
  For the Crown court, defendants on remand were brought to trial within 112 days as follows: 1993: 16,579 (77 per cent), 1994: 17,632 (74 per cent), 1995: 19,373 (77 per cent). Figures are not collected in the magistrates' courts on the same basis. However, sample figures indicate that the proportion of defendants remanded in custody throughout, whose proceedings within the magistrates' courts were completed within 70 days is as follows: 1993: 81 per cent, 1994: 84 per cent, 1995: 81 per cent.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Compassion in World Farming Exhibition
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will consider an application for an exhibition relating to Compassion in World Farming to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [24646]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 17 June to Friday 21 June 1996.

  Arts Council Exhibition
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Arts Council to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [25449]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 15 July to Friday 19 July 1996.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date his Department will make available(a) to employers and (b) to occupation pension scheme administrators, definite details of the Contributions Agency's NIRS 2–national insurance recording system-information system. [23158]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from George Bertram to Mr. John Denham, dated 4 April 1996:
  As the Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency is away from the office on annual leave, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency and the National Insurance (NI) scheme in her absence.
  418
  I have been asked to reply to your question regarding the availability of details of the Agency's NIRS2 Information system to employers and occupational pension scheme administrators.
  The NIRS2 information system will replace the current National Insurance Recording System (NIBS) and will be designed to ensure that current burdens on employers and Occupational Pensions Schemes are decreased. The first details of the new system will appear in the information pack issued to Employers starting in February 1997.
  Details of the contracted our arrangements from 6 April 1997 will be issued in draft shortly, with final guidance to be issued to Occupational Pension Schemes in the Autumn.
  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain the position.

  Industrial Injuries Benefit
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many adjudicating medical decisions awarding industrial injuries disablement benefit have been made; and how many reviews of existing benefits have been instigated at the request of the Benefits Agency; [23765]

  (2) how many applications for industrial injuries disablement benefit are outstanding; what is the waiting time for processing them; and what is the total value of the payments currently suspended, subject to review. [23766]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of industrial injuries disablement benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will reply to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Ursula Brennan to Ms Joan Walley, dated 3 April 1996:
  As Peter Mathison is on leave at present, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many adjudicating medical decisions awarding Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) have been made; how many reviews of existing benefits have been instigated at the request of the Benefits Agency; how many applications for IIDB are outstanding; what is the waiting time for processing them; and what is the total value of the payments currently suspended, subject to review.
  The number of adjudicating medical decisions in the period 1 March 1995 to 29 February 1996 was 24,467, the latest information available.
  Information about the number of reviews of existing benefit instigated at the request of the Benefits Agency is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  The number of claims outstanding at the end of February 1996, was 25,813. These were made up of 10,253 claims in respect of industrial accidents and 15,560 claims in respect of prescribed diseases.
  Annex A gives details of the current claims clearance targets.
  Information on the number of outstanding applications and the number of cases where payment is currently suspended subject to review is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  419

  Annex A

  Target set for 1995–96

  Target achieved 1 April 1995 to 29 February 1996

  Industrial Accidents

  60 per cent. in 70 days

  62.6 per cent. in 70 days

  90 per cent. in 150 days

  92.4 per cent. in 150 days

  Prescribed Diseases

  63 per cent. in 100 days

  73 per cent. in 100 days

  90 per cent. in 200 days

  94.5 per cent. in 200 days

  These figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Severe Hardship Payments
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the number of young people claiming severe hardship payments currently(a) nationally, (b) in London, (c) in Waltham Forest, (d) in Redbridge and (e) in Leyton. [24137]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ursula Brennan to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 3 April 1996:
  As Peter Mathison is on leave at present, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what are the number of young people claiming severe hardship payments currently (a) nationally, (b) in London, (c) in Waltham Forest, (d) in Redbridge and (e) in Leyton.
  The information is not available in the form requested. Statistics are not kept for specific geographical areas, but for Benefits Agency (BA) Districts.
  The number of young people who claimed severe hardship in November 1995 nationally, England, Scotland and Wales, was 9977. The number claiming in the BA Districts which include the London postal area was 571. However this will include some claims from people living outside London, see Annex. The number claiming from Lea Roding District was 60. The Lea Roding District comprises of Ilford, Leytonstone and Walthamstow offices, which includes Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Leyton. These figures are provisional and may be subject to change.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Annex

  Bankside

  Barnet*

  City East

  Ealing*

  Euston

  Hackney and Islington

  Leaside

  London Central

  Neasden

  Newham

  North Surrey*

  Palace

  South Circular*

  South West Thames

  Thameside*

  *The area covered by these Districts includes postal areas outside of London.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) had social security
  420
  benefits withdrawn and (b) were ruled ineligible for such benefits due to the changes in social security regulations for asylum seekers, in the first four weeks following implementation of the regulations. [24422]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. In the four weeks beginning 4 March, the Benefits Agency was notified by the Home Office of 702 negative decisions on asylum status involving social security benefit claims.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security who will be responsible for the funding of free school meals to the children of asylum seekers who would hitherto have qualified for means-tested state benefits. [24977]

  Mr. Evans
  Free school meals remain available only to those pupils whose parents are in receipt of income support.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the(a) original and (b) revised target dates for the announcement of decisions on PFI deals for his Department's site changes in Tyne and Wear; and if he will give the reasons for the change in target dates. [23700]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter for George Bertram to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 4 April 1996:
  As the Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency is away from the office on annual leave, I have responsibility for answering questions about administration matters relating to the Agency in her absence.
  I have been asked to reply to your question regarding the target dates for the announcement of decisions on PFI deals for Agency's site changes in Tyne and Wear.
  The original date for making an announcement of the decision on the Newcastle Estate Development PFI was April 1996. The revised date for making an announcement is now June 1996.
  The change in the target date is to allow the opportunity for clarification of parts of each company's Best and Final offer to be sought. In consultation with our advisors, central departments, the Private Finance Panel Executive and the bidders, the evaluation process has been adjourned. The Newcastle Estate project is a complex one with many facets which need to be addressed. As a pathfinder project within PFI it is breaking new ground and establishing guidelines for future projects.
  I am confident that this additional information will enable the best decision to be made.

  Money Purchase Pensions
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what kind of pension guarantees a money purchase pension scheme offers the employee; and if he will make a statement. [24822]

  Mr. Heald
  Occupational money purchase pension schemes do not offer pension guarantees. Contributions to the scheme by employees and members are invested in a fund, the value of which is used either to provide a pension or to purchase an annuity from an insurance company on retirement. The rate of pension is therefore dependant on the level of contributions made, the
  421
  investment performance of the resulting fund and, where an annuity is purchased, the prevailing annuity rates at the time of retirement.

  With money purchase schemes which are contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme, SERPS, employers must guarantee to make contributions which at least equal the value of the reduction in national insurance contributions that they and their employees enjoy.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice he has made available to employers and unions since 1988 about the quality of a good money purchase scheme; and what steps he has taken to ensure such schemes have a level of predictability. [24820]

  Mr. Heald
  The Department produced two guides in 1988, the year in which employers were first able to set up money purchase schemes contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme, SERPS. Both the NP41, "New Pension Choices for Employees" and the NP42, "New Pension Choices for Employers" explain how money purchase schemes work, the difference between contracted-out money purchase, COMP, and salary-related pension schemes, the factors which affect the eventual rate of pension payable and the legal requirements which employers have to satisfy to be able to establish such schemes.

  From April 1997, the Government are introducing age-related rebates for COMP schemes. The rebates are designed to ensure that the value of the final pension reflects more closely the value of the benefit forgone by contracting out of SERPS.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that older employees will not be disadvantaged if their employer switches from a salary scheme to a money purchase scheme; and if the measures will be retrospective to 1988. [24821]

  Mr. Heald
  Employers set up occupational pension schemes voluntarily and the decision to switch from one type of provision to another is a matter for them. Where an occupational scheme is contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme, SERPS, certain specific conditions have to be met if the nature of the provision is altered-the accrued rights of all members have to be secured, interested parties such as trades unions have to be consulted and members must be kept fully informed about the change. Scheme members in such situations should consider seeking independent financial advice on their pension position.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the proportion of occupational pension schemes that are currently money purchase schemes; and what is the approximate number of employees covered by such schemes. [24819]

  Mr. Heald
  In 1991, the latest year for which data' are available, it is estimated that 71 per cent. of occupational pension schemes2, covering around 900,000 members, were arranged on a money purchase basis3.

  The figures are based on information from both contracted-in and contracted-out occupational schemes.

  Notes:
  1 1991 survey on occupational pension schemes by the Government Actuary's Department.
  422
  2This figure should be treated with a degree of uncertainty due to the limitations of the sampling method for small occupational schemes.
  3This figure includes hybrid schemes where the main benefits are defined by the accumulation of the contributions paid.

  Industrial Deafness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of claimants awarded a five-year provisional disablement assessment for industrial deafness lose it after the initial five-year period; and what is the main reason given for discontinuing it. [24817]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of all re-assessments in respect of occupational deafness, including those following the initial five-year assessment, and those re-assessed to less than 20 per cent. for the latest years available, is set out in the table. In the case of occupational deafness, entitlement to industrial injuries disablement benefit ceases if the percentage assessment of disability is less than 20 per cent.

  Occupational deafness re-assessments

  Period

  Number referred for re-assessment

  Number re-assessed to less than 20 per cent.

  1990

  1,192

  126

  1991

  1,169

  145

  1992

  1,098

  182

  1993

  1,136

  177

  1994

  896

  122

  Based on 100 per cent. count of cases.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the proportion of occupational pension schemes that are currently money purchase schemes; and what is the approximate number of employees covered by such schemes. [24819]

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if people who were claiming unemployment benefit before 7 October will still be covered by the current part-time earnings rules during their period on transitional protection. [24793]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Yes.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who failed the incapacity benefit all-work test have had their benefit reinstated on appeal. [25136]

  Mr. Burt
  Up to the end of February 1996, 2,111 claimants who had been found capable of work following the all-work test had the decision reversed on appeal.

  Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what regulations have been made under section 45(5) of the Social Security (Contributions and Benefits)
  423
  Act 1992 defining the years to be disregarded in calculating the earnings-related component of the retirement pension; what further regulations he plans to make; and what categories of persons are affected by them. [25312]

  Mr. Heald
  No regulations have been made under section 45(5) of the Social Security (Contributions and Benefits) Act 1992. We made it clear in the White Paper "Equality in State Pension Age" that the regulations would be made at the appropriate time.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that the relevant maintenance payments are made without any further delay to Mr. S. Sadler (CSA Reference PBU/JHR/1012755 177). [24302]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The Child upport Agency can pass on only payments of maintenance which have been made by an absent parent. The chief executive of the Child Support Agency, Miss Ann Chant, will write to the hon. Member separately detailing the enforcement action the agency has been taking and updating him on recent details of this case.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new proposals he has to improve the Child Support Agency; and when he expects to present them to Parliament. [24837]

  Mr. Mitchell
  On 2 April, the Government published their response to the second report in the 1995–96 Session of the Social Security Committee and a report on a review of the good cause provisions of the Child Support Act 1995. These described a number of new measures which should improve aspects of the system.

  In addition, I recently announced plans for the recruitment of an independent complaints examiner, improvements to the agency's compensation scheme and the introduction of interest payments on maintenance collected but not transferred promptly to the parent with care.

  These measures build on major legislative changes introduced by the Child Support Act 1995. As the Government have consistently made clear, we keep all aspects of child support under close scrutiny and make changes whenever necessary.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to help lone parents to work. [24840]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Successive improvements in family credit have been designed to assist lone parents to take work. The reduction in the qualifying hours to 16, the introduction of a maintenance disregard, the introduction of help with child care costs in family credit and the other in-work benefits are measures of particular importance to lone parents. Around 200,000 lone parents have moved from income support to family credit since 1992.
  424
  From this month, the child care disregard in the in-work benefits has been increased from £40 to £60 a week. Out-of-school child care provision will be extended by a further 18,000 places on top of the nearly 60,000 generated in the last three years. The back-to-work bonus and the child maintenance bonus will be introduced in October 1996 and April 1997 respectively. They will encourage part-time work and provide opportunities to build up a tax-free lump sum on leaving benefit for work. Also in April 1997, a major new pilot will commence, providing training and employment opportunities to up to 25,000 lone parents.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many landlords in the last available financial year received direct payments of housing benefit totalling(a) more than £500,000, (b) between £250,000 and £500,000 and (c) between £100,000 and £250,000. [25382]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available centrally as housing benefit is administered by local authorities.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 313, if he will provide the figures on housing benefit in London 1994–95. [25381]

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

  Table 1: Average number of housing benefit recipients for London boroughs—1994–95

  Local authority

  Recipients

  Barking and Dagenham

  18,300

  Barnet

  19,900

  Bexley

  11,500

  Brent

  33,200

  Bromley

  16,000

  Camden

  33,200

  City of London

  1,300

  Croydon

  24,400

  Ealing

  26,800

  Enfield

  17,900

  Greenwich

  26,900

  Hackney

  40,300

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  23,100

  Haringey

  39,600

  Harrow

  10,900

  Havering

  11,700

  Hillingdon

  15,300

  Hounslow

  17,900

  Islington

  33,100

  Kensington and Chelsea

  18,200

  Kingston upon Thames

  7,500

  Lambeth

  47,400

  Lewisham

  35,700

  Merton

  12,300

  Newham

  37,400

  Redbridge

  12,900

  Richmond upon Thames

  9,700

  Southwark

  42,900

  Sutton

  10,200

  Tower Hamlets

  33,000

  425

  Table 1: Average number of housing benefit recipients for London boroughs—1994–95

  Local authority

  Recipients

  Waltham Forest

  22,900

  Wandsworth

  30,500

  Westminster

  25,000

  Note:
  Figures given are an average of four quarters each year.

  Source:
  Housing benefit management information system—100 per cent. quarterly counts.

  Table 2: Housing benefit expenditure in London boroughs

  £millions

  Local authority

  1994–95

  Barking and Dagenham

  36.1

  Barnet

  66.3

  Bexley

  31.3

  Brent

  117.0

  Bromley

  47.4

  Camden

  113.1

  City of London

  3.5

  Croydon

  82.5

  Ealing

  100.8

  Enfield

  63.7

  Greenwich

  74.8

  Hackney

  146.0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  74.9

  Haringey

  142.3

  Harrow

  40.8

  Havering

  27.2

  Hillingdon

  50.0

  Hounslow

  50.9

  Islington

  103.1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  71.1

  Kingston upon Thames

  24.8

  Lambeth

  126.3

  Lewisham

  91.9

  Merton

  37.2

  Newham

  122.3

  Redbridge

  52.4

  Richmond upon Thames

  28.3

  Southwark

  117.4

  Sutton

  27.5

  Tower Hamlets

  74.3

  Waltham Forest

  66.6

  Wandsworth

  100.8

  Westminster

  124.0

  Source:
  Department of the Environment.
  DSS planning and finance division.

  Note:
  Not all of the figures given are final audited figures and may be subject to change.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25271]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In 1995, this Department produced 15 compliance cost assessments, copies of which are in the Library.

WALES

  Drugs (Juveniles)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what budget was allocated by his Department for juvenile drug prevention education in 1994–95; and if he will make a statement; [24609]

  (2) what initiatives his Department is taking to combat juvenile drug abuse in the current year; and if he will make a statement; [24611]

  (3) what funds his Department is forecast to have allocated in 1995–96 for juvenile drug prevention education; and if he will make a statement. [25017]

  Mr. Richards
  Activity to combat drug misuse in Wales is undertaken by a variety of organisations, from both the statutory and voluntary sectors. Many of these are funded wholly or partly by the Welsh Office. It is not possible to identify separately either the amounts of expenditure or the activity which is specifically targeted at juvenile drug misuse. The new Welsh drug and alcohol strategy, which will be published soon, set out a comprehensive framework for tackling drug and alcohol misuse.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many buildings which are listed as being of historical importance are currently being renovated in(a) Gwynedd, (b) Clwyd and (c) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [24605]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the Department gives grant for the repair of buildings of outstanding historic or architectural interest and for works which enhance conservation areas. The number of buildings currently being assisted under these provisions is:Gwynedd: 51
  Clwyd: 69
  Wales: 353

  The heritage lottery fund is currently contributing towards the cost of repairing 22 historic buildings in Wales, one each in Clwyd and Gwynedd.

  Local authorities are empowered to grant aid historic buildings but information on this assistance is not held centrally, nor is information on buildings of historical importance which are being renovated without grant aid.

  Schools (Grant-maintained Status)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools in Wales applied for grant-maintained status in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [24607]

  Mr. Richards
  None and one, respectively.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is(a) the standard admission number of each grant-maintained school and (b) the number of pupils which each of these schools plans to admit in September 1996. [25166]
  427
  Mr. Richards
  The grant-maintained equivalent of the standard number in LEA schools is the approved admission number. This is set when a school is approved for grant-maintained status. The details are as follows:

  School

  Approved admissions number

  Our Lady and St. Michael's RC Primary, Abergavenny

  39

  Ysgol Caergeiliog, Ynys Môn

  21

  Derwen Primary, Higher Kinnerton

  30

  Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn, Colwyn Bay

  34

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanerfyl, Welshpool

  8

  St. Cyres Comprehensive School, Penarth

  270

  Mary Immaculate RC High School, Cardiff

  150

  Stanwell Comprehensive School, Penarth

  182

  Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay

  161

  Eirias High School, Colwyn Bay

  200

  Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele

  220

  St. Alban's RC Comprehensive School, Pontypool

  116

  Cwmcarn GM School, Cwmcarn

  133

  Brynmawr GM School, Brynmawr

  127

  Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive School, Swansea.

  185

  The Maelor School, Wrexham

  92

  Information on the number of pupils that each school plans to admit in September 1996 is not available centrally.

  Departmental Publicity Campaigns
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on publicity campaigns commissioned by his Department from 1 April 1995 to

  Gross current expenditure on repair and maintenance of local authority school buildings, fixed plant and grounds, at cash prices1

  £million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Clwyd

  3.3

  3.7

  3.7

  4.8

  5.6

  Dyfed

  3.9

  3.5

  4.3

  3.5

  3.1

  Gwent

  4.9

  5.5

  6.4

  6.5

  7.0

  Gwynedd

  2.5

  2.5

  2.5

  2.9

  2.9

  Mid Glamorgan

  10.3

  12.5

  11.5

  11.6

  9.9

  Powys

  1.5

  1.9

  2.1

  0.8

  0.7

  South Glamorgan

  4.4

  4.7

  5.5

  5.7

  5.0

  West Glamorgan

  6.4

  6.6

  5.9

  5.5

  7.1

  Wales

  37.0

  40.9

  42.0

  41.4

  41.4

  Note:
  1Excludes all capital expenditure. Excludes grant-maintained schools. Includes salaries of building maintenance workers and groundsmen, cost of materials, contract charges, including those relating to compulsory competitive tendering arrangements, recharges by external agencies, charges from direct service organisations, architects, engineers and surveyors and expenditure on energy conservation and on health and safety. Excludes salaries of caretakers, cleaners, etc.

  Source:
  Local authority returns.

  Housing and Care Report
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the report on "Crossing the Housing and Care Divide" by the Housing Corporation; if he will make it his policy to assist the elderly to remain in their own homes; and if he will make a statement. [24540]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government's community care policy recognises that people should be helped to continue to live in their existing housing where this is 428
  1 March 1996; what was (a) the purpose and (b) the cost of each publicity campaign; and if he will make a statement. [24610]

  Mr. Hague
  Forecast outturn for overall publicity expenditure in 1995–96 is £1.7 million, made up of many individual publicity projects, details of which can be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, two areas of significant publicity expenditure were:

  £

  Promotion of Business Connect

  187,000

  Placing of public notices relating to trunk road and special road schemes

  258,000

  Snowdonia Mountain Rescue Services
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times Snowdonia mountain rescue services were called into action in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [24606]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held by the Welsh Office.

  School Buildings (Repair and Maintenance)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount was spent on repair and maintenance of school buildings(a) by each local education authority in Wales and (b) in Wales as a whole for each financial year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [24616]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is given in the following table. Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available.

  their preference and it is practicable and cost-effective for them to do so. Bringing together housing and social services within the new unitary authorities provides good opportunities for close working.

  The Welsh Office already provides considerable help to older people through its support of home renovation grants, minor works grants, disabled facilities grants and care and repair agencies. We shall continue to provide such support under new measures in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the effects on the terms of loans to small enterprises in Wales of the privatisation of British Coal Enterprise. [25004]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Existing loans made by British Coal Enterprise will be transferred to the new owners of the business funding activity as part of the sales process; their terms will not be affected by the sale. The terms of any new loans negotiated after the sale is concluded will be a matter for the parties to the loan.

  Rural White Paper
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "A Working Countryside for Wales: Wales Rural White Paper". [25294]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The cross-department team being set up to oversee the implementation of the White Paper will consider economic, social and environmental issues. It will include representatives of the Welsh Office environment division and the Countryside Council for Wales.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "A Working Countryside for Wales: Wales Rural White Paper" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [25292]

  (2) what environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by the Department of the Environment "A Working Countryside for Wales: Wales Rural White Paper" has been subject to; and if he will publish the appraisal; [25291]

  (3) how "A Working Countryside for Wales: Wales Rural White Paper" was modified by the results of an environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [25293]

  Mr. Jones
  The White Paper represents a review of the full range of the Welsh Office's responsibilities which affect rural Wales. It was prepared in the light of the Government's policy of supporting sustainable development and protecting and conserving the environment, and is not itself susceptible to environmental appraisal, I am confident that the policies it sets out will separately and together improve the environment in rural Wales.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Small Businesses (Subsidised Loans)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what projects the £29 million subsidised loan scheme for small businesses from the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation will be spent. [24527]

  Mr. Ancram
  The interest relief subsidy scheme under the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation is designed to encourage productive 430
  investment in industry, related services and tourism. As the scheme has only recently been launched and will be open to applications until 28 February 1997, it is not possible to indicate which projects will benefit.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights was commissioned to review the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989; what research reports SACHR has commissioned; how much he expects the review to cost; and when SACHR's report is due to be published. [24529]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  An undertaking was given to this House that there would be a full review of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 after it had been operated for five years. In November 1994, I invited SACHR to assume responsibility for the review. Research projects commissioned by SACHR are as follows:

  (i) Vacancies, access to employment and long-term unemployment: three case studies.

  (ii) Specialist experience of FE legislation, the FEC and the FET: the experience of the Equality Forum.

  (iii) A review of the impact of TSN on public expenditure patterns and policy making in Northern Ireland.

  (iv) A review of the implementation and potential of PAFT.

  (v) A review of local councils' economic development activities.

  (vi) Long-term unemployment and the Community Work Programme in West Belfast.

  (vii) The impact of public sector job losses on employment equality.

  (viii) Public Attitudes to Fair Employment Issues; the Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey.

  (ix) Complainants' experiences of, and attitudes towards, FE legislation, the FEC and the FET.

  (x) A review of selected aspects of educational and training policy in Northern Ireland.

  (xi) The FEC as a regulatory and enforcement agency, Dr. Hilary Metcalf, Policy Studies Institute.

  (xii) A comparative review of 'fair employment'/equality of opportunity statutes and caselaw, affirmative action measures permitted adopted, in other jurisdictions, drawing comparisons with, and conclusions for, fair employment in Northern Ireland.

  (xiii) A Review of practice and procedure in the FET.

  (xiv) A critical review of the concept of 'fair participation'.

  (xv) A review of 'the Merit Principle'.

  (xvi) A paper reviewing FET case law.

  (xvii) To provide a critical response to the papers produced by projects 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (`the legal group') together with an overview of the issues raised by all of them.

  (xviii) Change and continuity in the views of NI Political Parties and non-party organisation on employment equality issues and Fair Employment Legislation.

  (xix) Employers' experiences of, and attitudes towards, FE legislation, the FEC and the FET.

  The cost of the review is as follows: 1995–96£422,000; 1996–97—£248,000.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many directions have been given under section 6 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. [25237]
  431
  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 344 directions were given between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1995.

  Roman Catholic Men (Employment)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic men are of economically active age in Northern Ireland. [24530]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1991 census of population provides the most recent information on the total population of Northern Ireland by age, religion and economic activity. The number of Roman Catholic men recorded in the census as being of economically active age—16 to 64—was 175,283.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of men in Northern Ireland of economically active age are Roman Catholic. [24531]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1991 census of population provides the most recent information on the total population of Northern Ireland by age, religion and economic activity. The percentage of men in Northern Ireland of economically active age—16 to 64—recorded in the census as Roman Catholic was 36.5 per cent.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic men in Northern Ireland are in employment. [24532]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1991 census of population provides the most recent information on the total population of Northern Ireland by age, religion and economic activity. The number of Roman Catholic men in Northern Ireland recorded in the census as in employment was 100,584.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the men in employment in Northern Ireland are Roman Catholic. [24533]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1991 census of population provides the most recent information on the total population of Northern Ireland by age, religion and economic activity. The proportion of men in employment in Northern Ireland recorded in the census as Roman Catholic was 31.2 per cent.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic men are employed by(a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (b) the Army. [24534]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The numbers of men serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary at 1 April 1996 who are perceived to be from the Roman Catholic community are:

  Number

  Regulars

  602

  Full-time reserve

  187

  Part-time reserve

  39

  Total

  828

  Information relating to employment by the Army is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.
  432
  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the men employed by(a) the Royal Ulster Constaulary and (b) the Army are Roman Catholic. [24535]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The proportion of men serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary at 1 April 1996 who are perceived to be from the Roman Catholic community is:

  Percentage

  Regulars

  8.0

  Full-time reserve

  6.4

  Part-time reserve

  3.9

  Total

  7.2

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic men would be employed in(a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (b) the Army if the number employed were in proportion to the percentage of men of economically active age in Northern Ireland who are Roman Catholic. [24536]

  Sir John Wheeler
  If the number of Roman Catholic men in the RUC were similar to the percentage of Roman Catholic men who are economically active—36.5 per cent.—there would be approximately 2,751 Roman Catholic men in the regulars and 1,067 in the full-time reserve.

  Information relating to the Army is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fewer Roman Catholic men are employed in Northern Ireland than would be the case if the number employed were in exact proportion to the percentage of men of economically active age in Northern Ireland who are Roman Catholic. [24537]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1991 census of population provides the most recent information on the total population of Northern Ireland by age, religion and economic activity. The number of Roman Catholic men of economically active age in employment in Northern Ireland was 100,584. This is 17,054 fewer than if the number employed were in exact proportion to the percentage of men of economically active age in Northern Ireland recorded as Roman Catholic.

  Fair Employment Tribunal
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases brought by individuals have been dismissed by the fair employment tribunal since January 1990. [25234]

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 159 complaints brought by individuals have been dismissed by the fair employment tribunal during the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1996.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the cases heard by the fair employment tribunal were(a) individual cases of alleged discrimination, (b) appeals by employers to the tribunal and (c) applications by the commission for enforcement of undertakings. [25231]
  433
  Mr. Ancram
  The fair employment tribunal heard 207 complaints between 1 January 1990 and 31 March 1996. All involved individual complaints of alleged discrimination and there were no appeals by employers to the tribunal or application by the commission for enforcement of undertakings.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases before the fair employment tribunal have been settled; and of these cases how many were settled on terms endorsed on counsel's brief since January 1990. [25233]

  Mr. Ancram
  During the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1996, 50 complaints were conciliated by the Labour Relations Agency and 1,122 complaints were withdrawn. It is not known how many of these complaints were settled on terms endorsed on counsel's brief.

  Gas Licences
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on terms of licences being prepared by the Department for Economic Development for gas network development and supply of gas over that network indicting(a) what towns or districts are (i) to be included and (ii) to receive priority, (b) what measures are being taken not to prejudice network development and supply to a wider area and (c) what measures are being taken to promote network development and gas supply to the north-west; and what measures will be taken to encourage competition through the natural gas supply network on the same basis as in Great Britain. [24869]

  Mr. Ancram
  Premier Energy Suppliers Ltd. has sought a licence for the development of a natural gas industry in an area comprising Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Larne, Holywood, Newtownards and Bangor and the Department has entered into discussions on the terms of such a licence. The roll-out of the new gas industry would be based on a development plan which has yet to be agreed.

  The licence would provide for third party access to the main transmission pipeline and gas could be taken through the licensed area to other areas.
  434
  The introduction of natural gas to the north-west, or any other area of Northern Ireland, would be undertaken by the private sector on the basis of commercial viability.

  The Department's objective is the introduction of competition in gas supply at the earliest possible stage. Periods of exclusivity may, however, be required given the very significant commercial risks associated with the development of a new gas industry.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases before industrial tribunals in Northern Ireland were settled since January 1990; and of these how many cases were settled on terms endorsed on counsel's brief. [24991]

  Mr. Ancram
  During the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1996, a total of 4,419 complaints to industrial tribunals were conciliated by the Labour Relations Agency and 8,839 complaints were withdrawn. It is not known how many of these complaints were settled on terms endorsed on counsel's brief.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of the peace process broken down into costs of travel, accommodation, printing and ministerial and civil service time. [25259]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not possible to provide the detailed information in the form requested.

  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in preparation for elections leading to all-party negotiations on 10 June. [25543]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have today published the draft of a Northern Ireland (Entry into Negotiations, Etc.) Bill, to be introduced in the House tomorrow. In parallel, following consultations with the political parties on the proposals in the consultation paper of 15 March, I have published as Command Paper 3232 the best judgment of the British and Irish Governments on the most suitable and broadly acceptable ground rules for the negotiations starting on 10 June 1996.

TRANSPORT

  Drivers' Hours (Cumbria)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons EU drivers' hours regulations now apply to some bus services in Cumbria hitherto governed by United Kingdom drivers' hours regulations. [23341]

  Mr. Norris
  UK rules apply to services less than 50 km long; the EU drivers' hours rules apply to regular services longer than 50 km using vehicles with 18 or more seats.

  Oil Pollution (Sea Empress Incident)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what have been the total costs incurred to date by the marine pollution control unit in clean-up operations following the Sea Empress incident; and what has been the cost of(a) the charter of oil skimming and recovery vessels, (b) the hire of road tankers for collected oil, (c) aerial spraying operations, (d) beach cleaning operations and (e) other related activities; [23287]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the likely final total costs to be incurred by the marine pollution control unit in all clean-up operations and related activities following the Sea Empress incident. [23288]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about MPCU costs following the Sea Empress incident.
  PQ 127C
  The final cost of the operation is estimated to be between £7m and £9m. To date the MPCU have received invoices totalling just over £3m.
  PQ 137C
  (a) The charter of oil skimming and recovery vessels invoiced to date, including manpower and the hire of equipment, is £1,140,040. There are still a number of invoices for vessel charter outstanding.
  (b) The hire of road tankers for collected oil was organised through the local oil industry and local authority roads and highways departments. Information on these costs is not currently available.
  (c) Aerial spraying and surveillance costs amount to £387,796 for aircraft and £317,796 for mobilising and transporting dispersant and for purchasing replacement dispersant.
  (d) Beach cleaning operations are still ongoing in a number of locations. To date the MPCU has been invoiced for £1,094,356.
  (e) Scientific support costs, car hire, overtime, travel and subsistence and minor miscellaneous items amount to £67,429.

  EDS Software
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the savings to date to his Department and his Department's agencies from out-sourcing arrangements made with the EDS software computer system; what assessment he has made of the equivalent costs of carrying out this work in-house; and if he will make a statement. [24361]
  436
  Mr. Norris
  At the time the contracts were awarded, the Department of Transport forecast that it would make savings of at least 25 per cent. The savings realised have been in line with this forecast.

  Shipping Companies (Assistance)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the shipping companies which have received assistance under(a) the Government assistance for training scheme and (b) the development of certificated sectors scheme in the past 12 months; and if he will provide a breakdown of the level of the assistance given to each company. [24476]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the amount of assistance received by shipping companies under the Government Assistance for Training (GAFT) and Development of Certificated Seafarers (DOCS) Schemes in the last 12 months, as the responsibility of administering the schemes lies with the Marine Safety Agency (MSA).
  May I first explain that assistance under the GAFT scheme, currently £55 per week, is not payable to shipping companies but to eligible trainees via "Managing Agents". The total assistance paid in the last 12 months amounted to £3.22 million of which £151,360 was paid to Managing Agents to cover administrative costs, at the rate of £110 per annum for each trainee.
  As regards DOCS, financial assistance is paid to eligible companies against the cost of each junior officer undergoing training for a second certificate of competency. The grant of £16 per training day for each trainee, amounted to £1,518,436 in the last 12 months. A breakdown of payments to companies is attached at Annex A.

  Annex A: Developments of Certificated Seafarers Scheme. Payments made from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1996

  Company

  Payments £

  ARC Marine Ltd.

  17,984

  Bibby International Services (IOM) Ltd.

  26,736

  Boston Putford Offshore Safety

  20,304

  BP Shipping Ltd.

  265,856

  Cable and Wireless Marine Ltd.

  17,232

  Cunard Line Ltd.

  30,432

  Delta Marine Personnel Services Ltd.

  6,896

  Denholm Ship Management (TOM) Ltd.

  34,128

  F T Everard and Sons Ltd.

  18,128

  James Fisher and Sons (Liverpool) Ltd.

  55,296

  James Fisher and Sons Plc

  2,864

  London and Overseas Freighters (UK) Ltd.

  33,856

  Lowline Ltd.

  27,024

  Mobil Shipping Co Ltd.

  48,768

  Northern Marine Management Ltd.

  48,112

  Oil Ltd.

  43,360

  P&O Containers Ltd.

  171,136

  P&O Cruises Ltd.

  73,872

  P&O Tankships Ltd.

  12,800

  Petroleum Shipping Ltd.

  45,280

  R Lapthorn and Co Ltd.

  3,728

  Ropner Shipping Services Ltd.

  11,988

  Shell Marine Personnel (IOM) Ltd.

  332,640

  Souter Shipping Ltd.

  22,752

  South Coast Shipping Ltd.

  13,184

  Star Offshore Services Marine Ltd.

  1,328

  Stena Line Ltd.

  32,736

  Stirling Ship Management Ltd.

  8,400

  437

  Annex A: Developments of Certificated Seafarers Scheme. Payments made from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1996

  Company

  Payments £

  Texaco Overseas Tankship Ltd.

  176

  The Maersk Company (IOM) Ltd.

  91,440

  Total

  1,518,436

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will identify the climbing company contracted to clear tree-bound protestors from the route of the Newbury bypass; and what are the forecast payments to this company. [24792]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Mike Gapes, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the climbing company contracted to clear tree bound protestors from the route of the Newbury Bypass and the forecast costs of the work.
  I understand from the Deputy Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire that he has used expert climbers from two companies: Nathan & Company (Sheriffs Officers) Ltd and Richard Turner Ltd.
  We expect the cost to be around £600,000 in total.

  Rail Privatisation
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions he has held discussions with the franchising director about the timing of the franchising programmes; and if he will make a statement. [24765]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with the franchising director to discuss franchising issues including the timing of the franchising programme. He last met the franchising director on 26 March.

  The franchising programme is gaining momentum. Five franchises have been awarded: South West Trains, Great Western, InterCity East Coast, Gatwick Express and Network SouthCentral. The franchising director is in the final stages of negotiating franchise awards for Midland Main Line. LTS Rail has been re-tendered and the franchising director will award the franchise as soon as practicable. Initial bids were received for Chiltern and South Eastern on 22 March. Initial bids were invited for South Wales and West and Cardiff on
  27 March and are to be received by 6 June. The franchising director will issue invitations to tender for Anglia and Thames as soon as practicable. Further franchises are being developed and progress will be announced by the franchising director in due course.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to take a decision on the proportion of Railtrack to be sold in the forthcoming flotation; and if he will make a statement. [25436]

  Mr. Watts
  We intend a sale of substantially all of the Government's shares in Railtrack, subject to reserving shares to satisfy share bonus entitlements.

  Railtrack (Asset Maintenance)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list studies commissioned by his Department into the costs of maintenance of Railtrack's assets over the next 10 years; and if he will indicate their conclusions. [24767]

  Mr. Watts
  My Department has not commissioned any such studies.

  Railtrack (Track Access Performance)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much compensation has been paid by train operating companies to passengers for delays attributable to Railtrack since introduction of the track access performance monitoring regime. [24550]

  Mr. Watts
  The track access performance regime sets out compensation arrangements between Railtrack and train operators. It is not concerned with payments to passengers for late trains, which are made under operators' passenger charters.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the track access performance monitoring regime for Railtrack was introduced; and if he will make a statement. [24568]

  Mr. Watts
  Live running of the track access performance regime started on 10 December 1995.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount in supplementary track access charges has been paid by train operating companies and freight operating companies to cover the cost of compensation under the track access performance monitoring regime. [24551]

  Mr. Watts
  In 1995–96, passenger TOCs paid to Railtrack a supplementary access charge of £75 million. This charge was agreed between BR and Railtrack following a consultation exercise by the Rail Regulator.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much compensation has been paid to train operating companies and freight operating companies by Railtrack under the track access performance monitoring regime since its inception. [24549]

  Mr. Watts
  This is a commercial matter between Railtrack and the companies concerned.

  Tolls (Disabled People)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made for motorists who are registered as disabled in contracts for the operation of roads and bridges where tolls are charged. [24796]

  Mr. Watts
  All the Acts under which Government have agreed concessions for the operation of tolled roads and bridges require exemptions from tolls for the disabled.

  Helicopter Search and Rescue Services
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many sorties have been flown in the last year by the Coastguard helicopter based at Lee-on-Solent. [24572]
  439
  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Peter Viggers, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of sorties flown by the Coastguard helicopter at Lee-on-Solent.
  During 1995 the Coastguard helicopter based at Lee-on-Solent was tasked on 258 occasions. Since 1 January 1996 up to and including 31 March 1996 the aircraft has been tasked on 31 occasions.

  Road Contracts
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the design, build, finance and operate road contracts he expects to have let by April 1997, indicating for each the construction, non-maintenance projects he expects to have begun within these contracts by April 1997. [24775]

  Mr. Watts
  To date, four design, build, finance and operate projects have been let to the private sector:A69 Carlisle to Newcastle DBFO Project, which includes the A69 Haltwhistle bypass scheme;
  M1–A1 Yorkshire link DBFO project, which includes the M1–A1 link road: Lofthouse to Bramham scheme;
  A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough DBFO project, which includes the A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough improvement scheme;
  A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester DBFO project, which includes the A419–A417 Cirencester and Stratton bypass scheme, A417 north of Stratton to Nettleton improvement scheme and A419 Latton bypass scheme.

  Construction on these six schemes within the four DBFO projects will start in the 1996–97 construction season.

  A further four DBFO projects remain on course to be let by the late spring. Contracts for these projects are currently being negotiated with private companies. It is reasonable to expect that construction of the schemes encompassed by these four projects will have begun by April 1997, assuming that negotiations deliver bids which are good value for money. These projects are:
  A168–A19 Dishforth to Tyne tunnel DBFO project, which includes the A19 Norton to Parkway interchange improvement scheme;
  A30–A35 Exeter to Bere Regis DBFO Project, which includes the A30 Honiton to Exeter improvement scheme and A25 Tolpuddle to Puddletown bypass scheme;
  A50–A564 Stoke to Derby link DBFO project, which includes the A564 Doveridge bypass scheme;
  M40 Junctions 1 to 15 DBFO project, which includes the M40 junction 1A to 3 widening scheme.

  Derailment (Wakefield)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the derailment of a goods train on 9 March at Healey Mills yard, Wakefield. [24769]

  Mr. Watts
  On Saturday 9 March 1996, three wagons of a goods train were derailed in the marshalling yard at Healey Mills near Wakefield. At the time of the derailment the train was moving very slowly. There was no danger to other trains and no one was injured.

  Broken and Cracked Rails
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent changes have occurred in procedures for dealing with broken and cracked rails identified by the ultrasonic test train. [24766]

  Mr. Watts
  I am informed by Railtrack that there have been no recent changes in procedures for dealing with broken and cracked rails.

  British Transport Police
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if franchise agreements for rail operations will stipulate(a) the mandatory use of the British Transport police and
  (b) an obligation for operators to contribute to the costs of this service. [24764]

  Mr. Watts
  The British Transport police will continue, as a unified public force, to be responsible for policing Britain's rail network. Police services will be provided to all licensed railway operators, who will be obliged, through licence conditions, to enter into agreements with the British Transport police to use and pay for all law and order functions that require the use of professional police resources.

  Railways (Passenger Complaints)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average cost of dealing with a passenger complaint under the current railway system; and what was the equivalent cost(a) one, (b) two and (c) three years ago. [24547]

  Mr. Watts
  Figures on the average cost of answering customer complaints about railway services are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Derailments (Rugby)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight train derailments have taken place in Rugby during the last 12 months. [24768]

  Mr. Watts
  One freight train derailment at Rugby has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate during the last 12 months.

  Railcard Information
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safeguards are in place to ensure that information about railcard holders and railcard promotional schemes is not used by train operating companies that run bus and coach services to target and undercut other train operating companies' services with bus and coach services. [25439]

  Mr. Watts
  Arrangements between train operating companies prohibit the information on railcard databases being used in connection with the development of any product operating as an alternative to the railcard.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information is available to privatised train operating companies regarding the personal details of railcard holders. [25435]
  441
  Mr. Watts
  The inter-operator agreements governing the railcards provide for all operators to have access to any information held on a railcard database. Information held on railcard databases is protected under the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Railway Accident (Aisgill)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the inquest will take place into the fatal railway accident at Aisgill on 31 January 1995. [25438]

  Mr. Watts
  An inquest into the railway accident at Aisgill is due to be held by the coroner for the Carlisle area assisted by an inspecting officer of railways. Setting a date for the inquest is a matter for the coroner. The inspector's report, under section 8 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1871, will be made public.

  Railtrack (Safety Offences)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) improvements notices and (b) prosecutions have been initiated by the Health and Safety Executive against Railtrack since 1 April 1994. [25437]

  Mr. Watts
  Since 1 April 1994, the Health and Safety Executive has initiated 18 improvement notices and one prosecution against Railtrack.

  Crash Barriers
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the places where crash cushions have been installed in the last 12 months. [25419]

  Mr. Watts
  No crash cushions have been installed on the trunk road network in the last 12 months. Information on roads which are the responsibility of other highways authorities is not comprehensively available.

  Rail Services (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of reduced staffing levels at railway stations on disabled access to train services. [25482]

  Mr. Watts
  None. The reduction of staffing levels at stations is a matter for individual station operators. All station operators are required to have regard to the needs of people with disabilities as a condition of being granted a licence to operate.

  The Department has carried out research recently into ways of enabling disabled people to travel safely to and from unstaffed stations. Among the options considered, in consultation with disabled people, were information systems and tactile and audible signals to help visually impaired people and stair lifts to provide access between platforms for people with walking difficulty. Other equipment, such as train-mounted ramps, has been used successfully at unstaffed stations by train operating companies.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of(a) the percentage increase in traffic on roads by the year 2005 and (b) the cost of consequent delays and inefficiencies. [25221]
  442
  Mr. Watts
  The Department's most recent forecasts show road traffic in 2005 between 16 per cent. and 26 per cent. higher than in 1996.

  The Department does not make estimates of the national cost of delays and inefficiencies. These costs at a national level are very difficult concepts to pin down. Others have made estimates of the UK cost of congestion on the basis of work carried out by the Organisation for Economic Congestion and Development some six years ago. However, the method used contains a number of gross simplifications and the results are consequently unreliable.

  Our own assessments focus on the appraisal of individual transport projects. They start from the baseline of current conditions and estimate the reduction in costs in the area concerned that can be achieved by implementing the project. These estimates are backed up by an on-going extensive programme of research on methodology.

  Overcrowded Trains (Safety)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, columns 543–44, what assessment was made by the Health and Safety Executive of the additional time an overcrowded train will take to evacuate in the event of an accident. [25246]

  Mr. Watts
  The time taken to evacuate a train will depend on the type of accident and its location. This is particularly relevant when an accident occurs on electrified lines or where there are trains running on adjacent lines.

  In all incidents other than fires, it is preferable that passengers do not attempt to leave the train until directed to do so by railway staff or the emergency services. In such circumstances, crowded trains do not present a hazard for passenger safety.

  Marine Pollution
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those substances in respect of which, when spilled at sea, compensation for damage can be claimed from the international oil pollution compensation fund. [25328]

  Mr. Norris
  Under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, compensation is available from the international oil pollution compensation fund for pollution damage caused as a result of spills of "persistent hydrocarbon mineral oil" when carried as cargo at sea, or spills of bunker oil from laden tankers. A comprehensive list of substances which fall within this definition is not readily available, but it does include orimulsion.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if damage caused by a spillage at sea of orimulsion is covered by the international oil pollution compensation fund. [25327]

  Mr. Norris
  Yes.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to produce a compliance cost assessment for the forthcoming White Paper on transport policy; and if it will be publicly available. [25278]

  Sir George Young
  It is the Department's policy to produce compliance cost assessments for all regulatory proposals which have an impact on business, voluntary organisations and charities. Copies of all assessments are sent to the Libraries of both Houses and are available, on request, from this Department.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [25277]

  Mr. Norris
  This Department produced 17 compliance cost assessments for new regulations last year. In common with other Government Departments, copies of cost assessments are placed in the House Libraries.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of bull bars in Britain he estimates will be banned under the present proposed amendment to the European external projection directive now being considered by the Commission; and what vehicles will be included. [24834]

  Mr. Norris
  The present proposed amendment to the European external projections directive will apply to the type approval of new cars, including car-type four-wheel drive vehicles, and to bull bars for these vehicles which are sold separately. The effect would be to allow a ban of all bull bars with a rigid metal surface for these vehicles.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure there are adequate facilities for river traffic in connection with the millennium exhibition at Greenwich. [25005]

  Mr. Norris
  It is anticipated that the majority of visitors would use means of transport other than the river and would therefore benefit from the improvements in transport capacity outlined in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Sir M. Neubert) on 11 March,Official Report, columns 470–71. The development of a river service to the millennium exhibition is a matter for the private sector in conjunctions with the consortium running the exhibition, but the Government would consider the case for contributing to the provision or upgrading of necessary piers in that connection.

  London Underground
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the operation by a separate organisation of(a) telecommunications, (b) power supply and transmission, (c) ticketing, (d) train maintenance, (e) train operating, (f) station management including staffing,(g) railway signalling and (h) track maintenance and renewal on the London Underground. [25512]
  444
  Mr. Norris
  Whether services are best provided in-house or by contractors is a matter for London Underground to decide. It is currently holding competitions under the private finance initiative for projects involving telecommunications, electricity generation and distribution, and ticketing and revenue collection. Some train and track maintenance work is already carried out by contractors.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations are being made into the power failure on the London Underground system on 6 April; who is conducting these investigations; to whom they will report; what findings will be published; and when. [25509]

  Mr. Norris
  London Underground Ltd. staff are carrying out an investigation into the power failure on the underground on 6 April and the lessons to be learned. The investigation is under the direction of Denis Tunnicliffe, LUL's managing director, and its report will be made to the board of London Transport. The report is expected to be completed in early May. Publication of its findings would be a matter for the LT board.

  Bus Routes (London)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers London borough councils have to determine(a) whether London Transport will be permitted to run single or double-decker bus routes and (b) to site bus stops in (i) trunk roads and (ii) local roads. [25383]

  Mr. Norris
  London boroughs have powers to make orders to regulate traffic, including buses, on roads for which they are the highway authority. The siting of stops is a matter for London Transport and either the appropriate borough in the case of local roads, or the Traffic Director for London in the case of stops on the red route network—which includes all trunk roads.

  Silvertown to Woolwich Rail Tunnel
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the bodies represented on a project team to investigate engineering, environmental and financial aspects of the proposed Silvertown to Woolwich rail tunnel; who is responsible for its chairing and administration; to whom it will report; what bodies will need to give consent to any recommendations of the project team; and what is the planned timetable for its operation and subsequent activities. [24577]

  Mr. Norris
  British Rail, Railtrack, London Transport and the London Docklands development corporation are jointly undertaking a study into the feasibility of the scheme for a rail tunnel between Silvertown and Woolwich. It is hoped that the results of the study will be put to me soon, with a view to a subsequent public report. I shall consider their recommendations carefully, especially with regard to the scope for private finance, the case for and affordability of any public funding, and whether powers should be sought. There is, as yet, no firm timetable.

SCOTLAND

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will accept an average of the annual amount of hours' study undertaken, calculated over the number of weeks of the course, as a weekly figure when deciding whether students are part time for the purposes of the jobseeker's allowance. [24811]

  Mr. Forth
  The jobseeker's allowance regulations provide that a person who undertakes a course funded or part-funded by the Further Education Funding Council for Wales will be considered to be a part-time student if a document signed on behalf of the establishment which is funded by the FEFC for Wales for the delivery of the course says that the course involves 16 guided learning hours, or less, a week.

  In the case of courses funded by the Secretary of State for Scotland at a college of further education, a student will be considered to be part time if a document signed on behalf of the college says that the course involves 16 hours or less a week of classroom or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff; or 21 hours or less a week, made up of 16 hours or less of classroom or workshop-based programme learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff and additional hours using structured learning packages with the support of teaching staff.

  In both cases, the Employment Service will accept these documents as evidence of whether or not a person is a part-time student. In the case of courses funded by the FEFC for Wales, the number of hours per week will be calculated on the basis of a weekly average of the number of guided learning hours for the course. In the case of courses funded by the Secretary of State for Scotland at a college of further education, the number of hours of study per week will be calculated in the same way.

  Housing Revenue Account (Borrowing)
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of borrowing consent for the housing revenues account capital budget of each local authority in(b) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [24612]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Local authority housing capital allocations: 1995–96 and 1996–97 borrowing consent

  Housing revenue account

  Authority

  Borrowing consent £ million

  1995–96

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  0.063

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  0.644

  Roxburgh

  1.474

  Tweeddale

  0.609

  Central

  Clackmannan

  0.327

  Falkirk

  3.038

  Stirling

  3.595

  Dumfries and Galloway

  446

  Local authority housing capital allocations: 1995–96 and 1996–97 borrowing consent

  Housing revenue account

  Authority

  Borrowing consent £ million

  Annandale and Eskdale

  0.543

  Nithsdale

  2.782

  Stewartry

  0.000

  Wigtown

  1.177

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  2.234

  Kirkcaldy

  1.629

  North East Fife

  0.000

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  0.577

  Banff and Buchan

  0.000

  Gordon

  2.337

  Kincardine and Deeside

  0.770

  Moray

  0.000

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0.433

  Caithness

  1.082

  Inverness

  2.404

  Lochaber

  1.970

  Nairn

  0.263

  Ross and Cromarty

  2.915

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1.077

  Sutherland

  0.496

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  1.691

  Edinburgh

  18.488

  Midlothian

  2.280

  West Lothian

  0.000

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  0.004

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  0.880

  Clydebank

  3.486

  Clydesdale

  0.874

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  0.201

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  0.847

  Cunninghame

  3.086

  Dumbarton

  3.959

  East Kilbride

  0.471

  Eastwood

  0.741

  Glasgow

  58.788

  Hamilton

  0.000

  Inverclyde

  5.048

  Kilmarnock and Londoun

  2.460

  Kyle and Carrick

  0.448

  Monklands

  3.820

  Motherwell

  5.336

  Renfrew

  9.986

  Strathkelvin

  2.049

  Tayside

  Angus

  0.597

  Dundee

  8.414

  Perth and Kinross

  0.769

  Islands areas

  Orkney

  0.000

  Shetland

  2.949

  Westerm Islands

  2.556

  1996–97

  Aberdeen City

  1.691

  Aberdeenshire

  3.901

  Angus

  1.048

  Argyll and Bute

  0.984

  Clackmannan

  0.926

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3.892

  Dundee City

  10.012

  East Ayrshire

  2.888

  East Dunbartonshire

  2.571

  East Lothian

  1.911

  447

  Local authority housing capital allocations: 1995–96 and 1996–97 borrowing consent

  Housing revenue account

  Authority

  Borrowing consent £ million

  East Renfrewshire

  0.693

  Edinburgh City

  16.512

  Falkirk

  4.750

  Fife

  1.963

  Glasgow City

  58.001

  Highland Region

  7.269

  Inverclyde

  4.072

  Midlothian

  2.144

  Moray

  0.537

  North Ayrshire

  2.943

  North Lanarkshire

  11.925

  Orkney

  0.000

  Perthshire and Kinross

  1.813

  Renfrewshire

  8.832

  Scottish Borders

  2.231

  Shetland

  2.217

  South Ayrshire

  1.499

  South Lanarkshire

  1.222

  Stirling

  2.756

  West Dunbartonshire

  6.078

  West Lothain

  1.496

  Western Isles

  2.223

  Road Congestion
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish maps showing forecasts of future road congestion for Scotland on the same basis as those published for England. [25178]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In 1992, the Government published the document "Roads, Traffic and Safety 1992", which included a summary of the findings of the Scottish Office's then recently completed trunk and key principal road network review.

  This review included a level of service analysis of existing and forecast future road congestion for Scotland. Figures 3.5a and 3.5b on page 14 of "Roads, Traffic and Safety 1992" are maps illustrating the level of service analyses for 1990, and for 2010 assuming high national road traffic forecasts. A copy of the document is in the Member's Library.

  Chess
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the amount of public expenditure on chess in Scotland during the current year and during each of the five previous years. [25189]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Scottish Chess Association has been offered a grant of £7,850 to assist with the cost in the current financial year of maintaining its headquarters operation. The information set out in the table details the financial assistance provided in each of the five previous years:

  Year

  Headquarters grant £

  1991–92

  6,500

  1992–93

  11,000

  448

  Year

  Headquarters grant £

  1993–94

  7,500

  1994–95

  8,800

  1995–96

  7,850

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in respect of the separate funding arrangement administered by the Scottish Office Education Department to the Scottish Chess Association. [25190]

  Mr. Robertson
  The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department provides grant funding to the Scottish Chess Association to assist with the cost of operating its headquarters administration. Grant is paid through a scheme which assists national voluntary organisations in the community education field in terms of the Further Education (Approved Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1989. Grant support to SCA takes into account costs of promoting the development of chess amongst young people particularly through schools.

  Local Government Reform
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the method of calculating the capital expenditure allocation for 1996–97 for the new unitary authorities in Scotland. [25359]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Capital allocations for the new unitary authorities have been determined partly by formula and partly following consideration of authoritiess' financial plans and annual policy statements. The new councils will also receive an allocation to cover expenditure they incur as a result of legal commitments entered into by their predecessors.

  Council Tax
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the costs(a) in cash terms and (b) at current prices of (i) introducing the community charge in Scotland and (ii) introducing the council tax in Scotland. [25420]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Office provided additional capital allocations amounting to £21 million for the introduction of the community charge and additional provision of £24 million within the 1992–93 local government finance settlement for the introduction of the council tax. These are cash figures, and equate to £37.7 million and £25.8 million respectively at current prices. Local authorities expenditure returns, however, indicate that they spent only £7.3 million—cash—or £7.9 million—current prices—of the £24 million in preparation for the council tax in 1992–93.

  Fatal Accident Inquiries
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each year since 1976 the number of instances where there has been a death to which section 1 of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 applies, and the next of kin has requested a fatal accident inquiry and such inquiry has been(a) refused and (b) held; and if he will take steps to ensure that where under the Fatal Accidents and Sudden

  449
  Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 a fatal accident inquiry is not held contrary to the wishes of the next of kin, steps are taken to explain the reason for such decision to the next of kin with particular reference to the use of a private interview. [25427]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that the information requested concerning the number of death cases which fall into the categories referred to by the hon. Member is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I understand from the Lord Advocate that procurators fiscal, where appropriate, will interview relatives of the deceased to ascertain whether there is any wish for a fatal accident inquiry to be held. In the course of the interview, the procurator fiscal will explain the public inquiry system and the criteria for holding inquiries. The interview also gives the next of kin the opportunity to obtain information from the procurator fiscal about the cause and circumstances of the death. If it is decided not to hold a fatal accident inquiry, this decision will be communicated to the next of kin.

  Right to Buy
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will amend the Tenants' Rights etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 so that tenants of council houses whose titles disclose rights of pre-emption to superiors or prohibitions against sub-division are entitled to the benefit of the right to buy. [25429]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The interaction between a tenant's right to buy under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, which consolidated earlier legislation, and rights of pre-emption by feudal superiors is at present the subject of an appeal to the House of Lords. It would be inappropriate to amend the legislation in advance of the outcome of the appeal.

  Meanwhile, it remains the Government's view that local authorities are free to remove any such obstacle to the exercising of the right to buy by negotiating a waiver of any pre-emption rights with the feudal superior or by applying to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland under section 1 of the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been received and from whom that the Tenants' Rights etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 should be amended in order to ensure tenants have a statutory right to purchase properties whose titles contain rights of pre-emption and prohibition against sub division. [25430]

  Mr. Robertson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 19 October 1995,Official Report, column 321. No further representations have been received.

  Education for Sustainable Development Group
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) recommendations; (b) public consultations and (c) public statements have been made by the education for sustainable development group within the Scottish Office since its establishment in September 1995; and if he will provide details. [25423]
  450
  Mr. Kynoch
  In "A Scottish Strategy for Environmental Education", published in June 1995, the Secretary of State asked his advisory group on sustainable development, chaired by Sir Charles Fraser, to take on a national role in environmental education as part of its wider programme on sustainable development. It established a sub-group on education for sustainable development with a remit to review and report on education for sustainable development and the environment, with particular regard to:promoting a strategic approach and assessing its effectiveness;
  suggesting priorities for resource allocation;
  focusing attention on concerns within sustainable development, in which education has a major influence;
  suggesting research and monitoring which might underpin the setting of targets; and
  making recommendations to the advisory group on sustainable development.

  The sub-group, chaired by Professor Bart McGettrick, has met on four occasions, beginning on 31 July 1995, and will shortly publish its first action plan setting out its planned programme of activity.

  Private Landed Estates
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what mechanisms are in place for monitoring the use of publicly funded(a) grants and (b) loans to private landed estates in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [25465]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  There are no separate mechanisms for monitoring the use of publicly funded assistance to private estates in Scotland. Each grant or loan scheme includes its own mechanism for monitoring, and the conditions attaching to the monitoring exercise are applied to all recipients of assistance irrespective of their land tenure status.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those land owners known to the Scottish Office at the present time who own estates in Scotland of over 500 acres, and express their total land holding as a percentage of the total land area of the country; and if he will make a statement. [25514]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available for the whole of Scotland. Information on title to land over two hectares which has been registered on the land register is available from the Registers of Scotland executive agency.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the publicly funded(a) grants and (b) loans received by the Atholl estate since 1979; what mechanisms are currently in place to monitor the use of such payments; and if he will make a statement. [25466]

  Mr. Robertson
  Details of financial assistance given to Atholl estate since 1979 are not held centrally. The collation of this information could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

  The monitoring of any such payments is designed to ensure the achievement of the particular scheme objectives and the fulfilment of individual scheme conditions.

  Ministerial Aircraft
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the total costs of running his ministerial aircraft since his appointment; and if he will provide a breakdown of journeys, giving dates and the passengers on each journey. [25493]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no ministerial aircraft.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of departmental expenditure on administration for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (j) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97. [11409]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]Gross running costs for the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Cash

  Real terms

  1996–97

  184.0

  184.0

  1995–96

  189.2

  194.4

  1994–95

  185.9

  196.3

  1993–94

  188.4

  202.6

  1991–92

  175.1

  201.7

  1989–90

  142.0

  187.7

  1979–80

  58.0

  153.0

  With the exception of those for 1979–80 and 1989–90, the cash figures above are shown in appendix 3 of the 1996 departmental report for my departments (Cm 3214). The figures for 1979–80 are not strictly comparable with those for later years owing to the introduction of superannuation charges of approximately 13 per cent. which have been taken into account from 1989–90 onwards, the introduction of charges for the occupation of Government offices in 1983–84—which now amount to some £25 million per annum—and various shifts of responsibility from UK Departments to the Scottish Office. The total effect of these changes has been to increase the figures over the period by an amount estimated in 1996–97 to be approximately £40 million per annum.

  BSE
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of BSE have been identified in Ayrshire in each of the past 10 years; and how many farms were involved. [23761]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Cases

  1986

  Nil

  1987

  Nil

  1988

  5

  1989

  25

  1990

  65

  1991

  93

  1992

  250

  1993

  277

  1994

  166

  452

  Year

  Cases

  1995

  64

  1996

  6

  Total

  951

  Farms may count in more than one year. The total number of farms involved is 383.

  Scottish Pre-School Play Association
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his meeting with Mrs. Doreen Black of the Scottish Pre-School Play Association. [22194]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: On 25 March I met the chairman and chief executive of the Scottish Pre-School Play Association. We had a useful and informative exchange of views and in particular I welcomed their support for our expansion of pre-school provision. I undertook to consider carefully the points made by the association.

  Departmental Promotion
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Scottish Office has spent promoting(a) the right-to-buy scheme and (b) exemptions from prescription charges in 1995–96; and of that, how much was spent in each case on (i) television, (ii) radio and (iii) the press. [24459]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 April 1996]: In 1995–96, my Department spent £168,000 on promoting the right-to-buy scheme, of which £111,000 was spent on television and £57,000 on press. A total of £21,000 was spent on a press campaign to publicise exemptions from prescription charges.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on publicity campaigns commissioned by his Department from 1 April 1995 to 1 March 1996, showing (i) the medium, (ii) the purpose and (iii) the cost of each publicity campaign. [24460]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 April 1996]: The information requested is as shown:

  Medium

  Purpose

  Cost £

  Radio and press

  To recruit members to Children's Panels

  88,000

  Cinema, radio, press, posters, leaflets and booklets

  Campaign against housebreaking

  244,000

  Television

  Campaign against domestic violence

  84,000

  Television and press

  To encourage electoral registration

  60,000

  Television and leaflet

  To encourage pre-planning of fire escape route

  323,000

  Press and leaflet

  To inform men over 60 of changes in prescription charge legislation

  21,000

  Press

  To recruit organ donors

  35,000

  453

  Medium

  Purpose

  Cost £

  Television, cinema, radio and posters

  To encourage enrolment in children's traffic club; to encourage young drivers to drive more carefully and discourage speeding

  320,000

  Television and press

  Informing public sector tenants of their right to purchase their homes

  168,000

  Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the application of schedule 1 to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 to Scotland; and what reply he has given. [13815]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Forty-eight letters have been received from members of the Banking Insurance and Finance Union asking for the Government's support in seeking dialogue between BIFU and the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers with a view to reversing the decision by the Scottish clearing banks to harmonise their bank holidays with those in England and Wales.

  Replies to these letters have made it clear that the banks took their decision for business reasons, after taking their own legal advice. They did not consult the Scottish Office about their decision, nor were they obliged to do so. The days on which banks decide to close or open is a matter for them.

  The statutory bank holidays in Scotland remain those set out in schedule 1 to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 or proclaimed each year under that Act. The legislation does not expressly require the banks, or any other employer, to close on bank holidays. Its general effect is to provide certain financial safeguards for banks who do not transact business on those days. The Government have noted the decision of the Scottish clearing banks, and although we have no present plans to change the legislation on bank holidays, we will continue to keep the position under review.

  Bank holidays, like all other pay and conditions issues, are a contractual matter for agreement between employers and employees. The law does not give any statutory rights to time off, or extra pay, on bank holidays. The initiative lies entirely with the banks and their decision is not one in which the Government can intervene.

DEFENCE

  Cyprus (Murder)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who has funded the legal costs for the defence of riflemen of the Royal Green Jackets against the charges of assault and manslaughter of Louise Jensen in Cyprus in September 1994. [24072]

  Mr. Soames
  The legal costs for the three soldiers have been funded from the Army legal aid scheme.

  Daedalus Site
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what current plans he has for the future of the Daedalus site at Lee-on-Solent. [24571]

  Mr. Soames
  The HMS Daedalus site is surplus to MOD requirements and is due to be vacated by the Navy on 31 July 1996. A working group comprising MOD officials and officers from the relevant local authorities has been set up to consider its future use, development opportunities and an appropriate disposal strategy.

  Alderney
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to release the papers relating to the wartime occupation of Alderney. [24613]

  Mr. Soames
  We hope to release the few remaining closed papers covering the wartime occupation of Alderney later this year.

  HMS Dolphin
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of HMS Dolphin. [24570]

  Mr. Soames
  Options for the future use of HMS Dolphin are currently being considered. Any proposals for change will be subject to consultation.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are currently on active service in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [25014]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently some 10,500 UK troops with the NATO peace implementation force in Bosnia.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British aircraft are currently in use in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [25011]

  Mr. Soames
  RAF Chinook, RN Sea King and Army Air Corps Lynx and Gazelle helicopters operate with UK forces in Bosnia. RAF Harrier GR7, Tristar and E-3D AWACS aircraft based in Italy and C130 aircraft from the UK operate in support of IFOR.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 11 December 1995,Official Report, columns 482–84 and 1 April, Official Report, columns 38–41, what factors led to information on the number of properties owned by his Department in each parliamentary constituency being currently unavailable. [24922]

  Mr. Soames
  The Defence housing executive took over the management of the family quarters estate from the services on 1 April 1996. The estate is managed by area managers who report to regional controllers and details of all the properties are now held centrally by address and postal code. Cross referencing to parliamentary constituencies can presently be done only at
  455
  disproportionate cost. Copies of a map showing the regions and areas will be placed in the Library when they are available.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of gross national product was spent on defence in the last year for which figures are available by (i) each NATO country, (ii) Japan, (iii) Switzerland, (iv) Finland and (v) Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [25008]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of defence expenditure by NATO countries in 1994 are contained in page 82 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. According to The Military Balance 1995/96, compiled by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, comparable information for Japan, Switzerland, Finland and Ireland is as follows:

  Defence expenditure 1994 $ million

  As percentage of GDP

  Japan

  45,800

  1.0

  Switzerland

  4,300

  1.6

  Finland

  1,970

  2.0

  Ireland

  622

  1.2

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each European member of NATO, defence expenditure expressed(a) by proportion of gross national product and (b) on a per capita basis. [25398]

  Mr. Soames
  This information is contained in page 82 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the fast jet types which are authorised to conduct night low flying in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [25010]

  Mr. Soames
  The fast jet types normally authorised to operate in the United Kingdom night low flying system are: Canberra, F15, Harrier, Jaguar and Tornado.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying movements were recorded over Wales in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [25157]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) gave him on 16 February 1994,Official Report, column 818.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment, Llanishen
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 95, when he expects to have an estimate of the decommissioning costs of Atomic Weapons Establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff, and for how long the site will require sterilisation before any after-use. [25193]
  456
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  An estimate of the decommissioning costs of the atomic weapons establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff was made in 1994. It was taken into account in reaching the decision to close the factory. A period of sterilisation will not be required once the work of decontaminating the site has been completed in accordance with the requirements of the local authority.

  Armed Forces (Roles)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what roles and functions are carried out by Her Majesty's armed forces that are not carried out by other European members of NATO. [25397]

  Mr. Soames
  The roles and tasks of Her Majesty's armed forces are set out in annex A of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The main functions they carry out which are not mirrored by other European members of NATO's integrated military structure include the provision of nuclear forces, the defence of our dependent territories and military aid to the civil power in Northern Ireland.

  Asbestos, Broughton Moor
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will authorise a full land and building contamination survey for asbestos by the Royal Ordnance Environmental Services Group on the former Royal Navy armaments depot—RNAD—site at Broughton moor, Cumbria. [25261]

  Mr. Soames
  Royal Ordnance Environmental Services Group was among the unsuccessful bidders for a term contract to carry out land quality assessments of MOD sites. A site assessment of the former RNAD Broughton moor, of which asbestos contamination is one element, has now been completed.

  Torbay Submarine
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the recent failure in the steering system of the atomic-powered submarine Torbay in Plymouth sound. [25395]

  Mr. Soames
  HMS Torbay's electrical primary steering gear failed as the submarine was leaving Devonport naval base on 12 March. Torbay was brought to a controlled stop under her primary hydraulic steering gear, which was activated automatically. She then moved to a mooring buoy and, following successful checks and repairs, proceeded to sea. She remained under control at all times and was throughout accompanied by two tugs, as is standard practice for nuclear submarines in Plymouth sound, although a third tug was made available as a precaution. This was a minor incident with no nuclear or other safety implications.

  Legal Costs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on legal costs in defending personnel in military and civilian courts in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate for the current year. [24831]
  457
  Mr. Soames
  Service legal aid is available to accused service personnel who are to be tried by courts martial, or wish to appeal to the courts martial appeal court, or are to be tried by a civilian criminal court outside the UK in respect of an offence committed while off duty, or are to be tried before standing civilian courts. Records of the total costs of this aid are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bulford Barracks
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy to reduce overcrowding at barracks in Bulford; and what assessment he has made of the number involved. [24873]

  Mr. Soames
  It is our policy that soldiers should, wherever possible, live in appropriately scaled accommodation. To this end, an assessment was made of the barracks at Bulford which showed that the single soldier accommodation was significantly overcrowded and in need of refurbishment. The move from Bulford of 249 Signal Squadron and the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) Combat Service support battalion will ease the overcrowding problem and allow the existing accommodation to be refurbished. It will also enable more efficient use to be made of the barracks at Colerne and Hullavington to which these units will relocate.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will replace the 350 service personnel due to vacate Bulford barracks in 1997 and 1998 with a like number; and if he will make a statement. [24874]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently no plans to make any significant increases in the number of Army personnel based at Bulford. The deployment of Army units and the use of the defence estate are, however, kept under review to ensure that defence resources are employed cost effectively while maximising operational capabilities.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when 249 Signal Squadron will vacate Bulford barracks; [24918]

  (2) when Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) Combat Service support battalion will vacate Bulford barracks. [24919]

  Mr. Soames
  We expect both of these moves to occur during 1998, but the precise timings have yet to be decided.

  Accommodation
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of units(a) single accommodation and (b) married quarters at (1) Craigiehall, Edinburgh (2) Glencorse, Peniciuk, (3) Benbecula and (4) King's barracks, Kirkudbright. [25188]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is given below:

  Single accommodation

  Family accommodation

  Craigiehall, Edinburgh

  221

  110

  Glencorse, Penicuik

  792

  51

  458

  Single accommodation

  Family accommodation

  Benbecula

  692

  212

  King's barracks, Kirkcudbright1

  —

  —

  1 Temporary hard lying accommodation available for training purposes only. A development programme on Kirkcudbright will provide 480 units of single accommodation by 2001.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25276]

  Mr. Soames
  The MOD is not a regulator of business or responsible for any primary or secondary legislation which impacts significantly upon business. However, my Department published one compliance cost assessment in November 1995 to accompany the new Reserve Forces Bill because of its potential impact on some businesses. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

  NATO Implementation Force
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army and Army Reserve are to be called out for the second phase of the United Kingdom's contribution to the NATO implementation force in former Yugoslavia. [25325]

  Mr. Soames
  Approval has been given to call out up to 575 members of the TA and Army Reserve to provide support to operations in former Yugoslavia. They will report from 29 April 1996 to the mobilisation centre and those selected will undertake refresher training before deployment. All are volunteers.

  Project D154
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the costs quoted in the original bid; what are the current estimated costs of Project D154; what is the reason for the difference; and from what source the additional expenditure will be met. [25411]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The 1993 comparator offer by Devonport Management Ltd.—DML—was some £236 million. Comparison between this and the heads of agreement recently signed with DML for construction of nuclear submarine refitting facilities would be unrealistic because the 1993 offer was not of contractual qualify and different factors, for example different levels of risk, were included in the prices. Certain contractual details, including price, remain subject to negotiation and are commercially confidential. Any additional costs will be contained within my Department's forward expenditure totals.

  Radar Base, Mormond Hill
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to(a) use or (b) dispose of the former MOD radar base at Mormond Hill; and if he will make a statement. [25424]
  459
  Mr. Soames
  Part of the site at Mormond Hill is to be retained for on-going MOD requirements. The remainder is expected to be offered for sale on the open market.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for public consultation prior to a final decision on the future of the former MOD radar base at Mormond Hill; and if he will make a statement. [25425]

  Mr. Soames
  Any change of use by a purchaser of the surplus site at Mormond Hill would require planning permission in the normal way. It would be for the local planning authority to take account of any representations from the public.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with(a) commercial firms and (b) other bodies on the future of the former MOD radar base at Mormond Hill; and if he will make a statement. [25426]

  Mr. Soames
  Communications have been received from two telecommunications companies, a local landowner and a power company and from the director of planning and economic development for the Aberdeenshire council and from the Grampian regional council.

  Emergency Aid, Montserrat
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence personnel and what equipment is currently deployed on emergency aid duties in Montserrat; and if he will make a statement. [25488]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently no defence personnel or equipment deployed on emergency aid duties in Montserrat. However, the West Indies guardship is on standby in the region and we are in close and regular contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about possible requirements for military assistance.

  Apprentice Training
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to restructure apprentice training within the Army. [25538]

  Mr. Soames
  A review of apprentice training arrangements in the Army has recommended, subject to consultation, that they should be restructured along the lines of the Government flagship initiative on modern apprenticeship training, which is intended to raise the competence and competitiveness of the UK work force as a whole.

  The Army's scheme, which will encompass the Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Royal Signals Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, would be open to young people aged sixteen and a half to eighteen and a half, and would commence with a common 28-week foundation course at Rowcroft barracks, Arborfield followed by technical training at the appropriate arm or service's trade training school and a period of on-the-job training leading to the award of a national vocational qualification—NVQ—level three within three to four years.
  460
  The proposals would necessitate some revision to our previous plans to transfer all R Signals apprentice training to Blandford. Under the new arrangements, future R Signals apprentices would still complete their trade training at Blandford, but only after completing their 28-week foundation course at Arborfield.

  Rosyth
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guarantees he will provide for the current Rosyth dockyard pension and redundancy arrangements following its sale; and what plans he has in respect of the pension fund surpluses. [25373]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In respect of the overall pension and redundancy arrangements at Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman), on 3 July 1995,Official Report, columns 84–90. The treatment of any surplus that the next valuation of the Rosyth Royal Dockyard pension scheme may disclose will be fully consistent with the trust deed and rules of the pension scheme and will not affect the pension benefit entitlements of scheme members and beneficiaries.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guarantees he will provide for the work load of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc following its sale. [25372]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government's policy on the allocation of work to Rosyth dockyard continues to be governed by the principles announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary as Defence Secretary, on 24 June 1993,Official Report, columns 447–50, which I confirmed in my answer on 2 April 1996, Official Report, column 98. The precise contractual arrangements relating to the work in question are the subject of negotiation between my Department and the tenderer for Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc, Babcock International Group plc. It would be inappropriate to give details of these discussions, which are commercially confidential.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the outcome of the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc; and what factors underlie the delay in that announcement. [25362]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As I made clear in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Sir J. Spicer) on 2 April,Official Report, column 98, negotiations continue with Babcock International Group plc in respect of the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc and there has been no delay in any announcement. It would not be appropriate to comment on the details of those negotiations while they are under way. Privatisation of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc remains the Government's preferred option, subject to the right terms being secured and to the completion of appropriate consultation with employees and others.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements for the provision of nuclear refuelling and refitting facilities will be included in the terms of the sale of Rosyth dockyard. [25361]
  461
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Under the terms of the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc, the purchaser will be required to carry out all allocated refit work, surface and nuclear, that is placed with the dockyard by my Department. Appropriate terms for this work are being negotiated as part of the continuing negotiations with Babcock International Group plc to which I referred in my answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 98. There is a continuing programme of appropriate works at Rosyth to enable the dockyard to fulfil its refit programme.

  Devonport Management Ltd.
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the issues which have been the subject of negotiations with DML since 1994. [25363]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The main subjects of discussion between my Department and DML since 1994 have been the proposed privatisation of Devonport Royal Dockyard plc and the provision of new nuclear refuelling and refitting facilities at Devonport—Project D 154— on which I made a statement on 2 April,Official Report, column 98. There have also been the routine discussions appropriate between my Department and a major contractor about on-going refit and other contracts. Details of such discussions are commercially confidential.

  Military Equipment Exports
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs in Scotland are dependent(a) directly and (b) indirectly on the export of military equipment; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local government area within Scotland. [25422]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Statistics are not held in the form requested. Owing to the complexities and methodological problems involved, it would be extremely difficult to generate the information required and this could be achieved only at disproportionate cost. Tables 1.9 and 1.10 of the 1995 edition of "UK Defence Statistics" include figures for the number associated with direct employment in the production of defence equipment in the UK, by region, and the number employed in the UK associated directly and indirectly with defence expenditure. A copy of this publication is held by the Library of the House.

  Torture Equipment
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations are taking place into the producer of the "Dispatches" programme on the export of torture equipment by his Department's police; and how much the investigation has cost so far. [24952]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief constable/chief executive of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked the chief constable/executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Walter Boreham to Mrs. Anne Clwyd, dated 16 April 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Despatches programme, as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
  462
  My officers have conducted an investigation regarding the Despatches programme screened on 11 January 1995, and have submitted a report to the Crown Prosecution Service. I am awaiting their advice.
  I estimate the cost of the investigation to be £3,600.

  Married Quarters
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (1) the number of married quarters for service personnel stationed in Scotland, for(a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) Royal Marines personnel, (2) the location of the housing and (3) the number of housing units at each location. [25187]

  Mr. Soames
  Family quarters are no longer managed by the individual services but are now managed centrally by the Defence housing executive through a system of seven regional controllers and 24 area managers. There are 6,702 family quarters in areas 23, 24 and 25 which cover the whole of Scotland.Area 23: Glasgow, Helensburg, Dumfries, Prestwick, Benbecula and Sterling.
  Area 24: Perth, Edinburgh, Penicuik, Pitreavie, Turnhouse, Melrose, Kinross, Dumfermline, Windygates, Cupar, Dundee, Leuchars, Arbroath and Rosyth.
  Area 25: Inverness and Highlands sites, Kinloss, Lossiemouth, Buchan, Saxa Vord, Stornoway and Thurso.

  The number of housing units within each area is as follows:

  Area 23: 1,778

  Area 24: 2,506

  Area 25: 2,418.

  Boards of Inquiry
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances his Department's boards of inquiry are set up; who carries out the inquiry; in what circumstances the reports or conclusions of boards of inquiry are made public; and how many boards of inquiry have been launched in each of the past five years. [24959]

  Mr. Soames
  A board of inquiry—BOI—is set up in accordance with Section 135(1) of the Army Act 1955 and BOI (Army) Rules 1956, section 135 of the Air Force Act 1955 and BOI (Air Force) Rules 1956 and Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy by authority of the Defence Council.

  A BOI must be convened in certain circumstances such as unlawful absence exceeding 21 days, the capture by the enemy of a person subject to military law, the death of a person abroad in a military establishment where no inquiry is required by civil law, disablement of a ship, and aircraft accidents. BOIs may also be convened in a variety of other circumstances where the incident affects military service.

  In general, a BOI may be convened by the service boards, an officer not below the rank of colonel or equivalent or, in certain circumstances, an officer of any rank commanding a unit or detachment.

  Boards of inquiry are internal fact-finding investigations undertaken for military purposes and to prevent a recurrence of a similar incident. As such, they are not in the public domain. Boards of inquiry reports

  463
  are, however, made available, subject to the minimum security requirements, to the next of kin of deceased service personnel who are killed in in-service accidents.

  Records covering the number of BOIs convened are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishing Safety Group
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that the position of the fishing industry safety group will be safeguarded following changes to the Marine Safety Agency. [24816]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. John Townend, dated 16 April 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Question about safeguarding the position of the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) following changes to the Marine Safety Agency (MSA).
  Procedures for consultation on safety matters with the fishing industry, of which FISG is an important part, are currently being reviewed with the full participation of the industry. As part of the review, industry representatives met recently with MSA officials to discuss consultation procedures, including FISG. The industry has undertaken to consider and comment on the current arrangements and possible ways in which those arrangements could be improved. The MSA will consider those comments fully before decisions are taken about future consultation arrangements.

  Food Nutritious
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to promote the nutritional benefits of food grown in the United Kingdom. [21617]

  Mrs. Browning
  A wide range of nutritious foods are grown in the United Kingdom and my colleagues and I are happy to promote their virtues.

  EDS Ltd.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what savings to date have been made by his Department as a result of out-sourcing arrangements made with the EDS computer system; what assessment he has made of the equivalent costs for carrying out this work in-house; and if he will make a statement. [24230]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry holds no out-sourcing contracts with EDS, so there are no savings or equivalent in-house costs to be assessed.

  Integrated Administration and Control System Forms
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many individual cases assistance was refused owing to mistakes by farmers 464
  in completing IACS forms, in each of the years since these came into effect; and what representations he has received on this subject since 1 January 1995. [24292]

  Mr. Baldry
  It is possible to correct mistakes in IACS forms in certain limited circumstances. The EC rules prescribe automatic penalties for all other cases of discrepancy and make no allowance for the reason for the discrepancy. More stringent penalties apply in respect of serious negligence and fraud.

  Some 3,465 and 2,807—provisional figures—IACS applications in 1994 and 1995 respectively faced some level of penalty in the UK as a result of discrepancies found in land area. Of these, the penalties applied in 553 and 367 cases respectively resulted in the loss of all area-related aid. A number of representations on this subject have been received since 1 January 1995, mainly relating to individual cases.

  Sea Empress Oil Spill
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the chemical two-butoxy Etanol was an ingredient in the dispersant used on the Sea Empress oil spill at Milford Haven. [23708]

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes. Two-butoxy ethanol is one of the family of butyl glycols, as included in the list given in my reply of 4 March 1996,Official Report, column 83.

  Driftnetting
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make available the recent report, "Cetacean bycatch in the UK tuna driftnet fishery in 1995", to the Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting in April; and if he will be making recommendations to the Ministers on driftnetting. [24841]

  Mr. Baldry
  The report has already been made available to the Council of Fisheries Ministers and I intend to urge the Council to seek further ways of reducing by-catches of cetaceans in high seas driftnet fisheries while taking account of the effect of fishermen's livelihoods.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he intends to review the current maximum lengths of driftnets in respect of the finding of the recent report, "Cetacean bycatch in the UK tuna driftnet fishery in 1995"; and what proposals he has to ban the use of driftnets; [24842]

  (2) what response he has made to the proposals for a ban on the use of driftnets from the European Parliament and the European Commission; and if he will make it his policy to support an EU-imposed ban on driftnetting; [24580]

  (3) what asssessment he has made of the scientific evidence for a ban on high seas driftnets. [24581]

  Mr. Baldry
  The current maximum length of driftnets permitted on UK and other Community fishing vessels is set at 2.5 km, in line with the precautionary approach and in response to United Nations resolutions. I am not aware of scientific evidence that justifies a different maximum length or a ban on the use of driftnets. I do not therefore
  465
  support the European Commission's proposal, but I do not think that means should be sought to reduce by-catches of cetaceans in high seas driftnet fisheries.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of suspected BSE were reported in each week from 1 June 1989 to 1 June 1990. [23204]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: A breakdown of the number of reported suspected BSE cases on a weekly basis from 1 June 1989 to 1 June 1990 is as follows:

  Number of BSE suspects reported

  Week ending

  Number restricted

  2 June 1989

  117

  9 June 1989

  169

  16 June 1989

  130

  23 June 1989

  130

  30 June 1989

  147

  7 July 1989

  115

  14 July 1989

  127

  21 July 1989

  140

  28 July 1989

  171

  4 August 1989

  182

  11 August 1989

  146

  18 August 1989

  190

  25 August 1989

  181

  1 September 1989

  163

  8 September 1989

  180

  15 September 1989

  166

  22 September 1989

  171

  29 September 1989

  167

  6 October 1989

  176

  13 October 1989

  193

  20 October 1989

  190

  27 October 1989

  174

  3 November 1989

  205

  10 November 1989

  221

  17 November 1989

  215

  24 November 1989

  192

  1 December 1989

  207

  8 December 1989

  185

  15 December 1989

  202

  22 December 1989

  211

  29 December 1989

  128

  5 January 1990

  244

  12 January 1990

  293

  19 January 1990

  282

  26 January 1990

  292

  2 February 1990

  309

  9 February 1990

  329

  16 February 1990

  359

  23 February 1990

  370

  2 March 1990

  421

  9 March 1990

  389

  16 March 1990

  401

  23 March 1990

  354

  30 March 1990

  336

  6 April 1990

  329

  13 April 1990

  294

  20 April 1990

  274

  27 April 1990

  302

  4 May 1990

  347

  11 May 1990

  339

  18 May 1990

  401

  25 May 1990

  366

  1 June 1990

  355

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are in place to prevent the export of beef and beef products from the United Kingdom to countries other than those in the EU. [24378]

  Mrs. Browning
  Following notification of EU decision 96/239, we have ceased to issue export health certificates for products covered by the decision. The Customs and Excise (Management) Act 1979 enables Customs to detain goods presented for export which are subject to the decision.

  Slaughterhouse Waste
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the oral statement of the Secretary of State for Health of 20 March,Official Report, columns 375–86, on the links between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, what plans he has to commission research and what research he has commissioned into the effects of the disposal of (a) offal and (b) other cattle waste on agricultural land and the water supply. [22981]

  Mrs. Browning
  This Department, together with the Department of Environment and the Environment Agency, is funding research to provide guidance on the landspreading of industrial wastes, including abattoir waste. A prime objective of the research is to provide further technical, scientific and practical guidance on the spreading of industrial wastes on land in a manner that protects human health and the environment, as required by article 4 of the amended EC framework directive on waste. The results of the research will be published.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total estimated tonnage of abattoir waste disposed of on agricultural land over the last(a) 20 years, (b) 10 years, (c) five years, (d) two years and (e) year. [23003]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 26 March 1996]: The spreading of waste on land for the benefit of agriculture or ecological improvement, including abattoir waste consisting of blood and gut contents from animals slaughtered for human consumption, is a recovery operation for the purposes of the amended EC framework directive on waste. The spreading of waste for these purposes is controlled under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. No central record is held of the tonnage of abattoir waste spread on land for the benefit of agriculture or ecological improvement.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which agency is responsible for regulating the spreading of abattoir waste over land; and if he plans to review current arrangements. [23217]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: The spreading of waste on land for the benefit of agriculture or ecological improvement, including abattoir waste consisting of blood and gut contents from animals slaughtered for human consumption, is a recovery operation for the purposes of the amended EC framework directive on waste. The spreading of waste for these purposes is controlled under part II of the Environmental

  467
  Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. On 1 April 1996, responsibility for these controls was transferred from waste regulation authorities to the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Spreading must be carried out without endangering animal or human health or posing a risk to the environment. The code of good agriculture practice for the protection of water issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Welsh Office Agriculture Department provides guidance to farmers and others adopting this practice. The Scottish Office has issued a code of good practice for the prevention of environmental pollution from agricultural activity which also offers guidance.

  Pet Food
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ban the sale of cat and dog food until it is produced from ingredients free of mammalian meat and bonemeal. [23348]

  Mrs. Browning
  SEAC recommended that the use of mammalian meat and bone meal should be prohibited in feed for farm animals. The rationale for this is that it should not be used in any circumstances where there might be a risk of the material being fed to or ingested by ruminants. MBM is not considered a risk to dogs and cats.

  Animal Feed
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations were received by his Department in each year since 1976 regarding the issuing of a requirement that animal feed manufacturers should publish a precise analysis of their products; and what response was made by his Department. [24464]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am unable to provide the precise information requested. However, farmers' organisations did seek full information concerning compound feeds. EC directives introduced quantitative declarations for nutritional constituents and, in 1990, ingredient listing. This provision, requiring either a full list or categories of ingredients, was supported by the Government.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of cattle feed exported from the United Kingdom to each EU member country in each of the last 15 years. [23318]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: Exports intended primarily for cattle feed are not separately identifiable.

  Information covering the percentage composition of raw materials in main compound feed rations used in Great Britain is published in MAFF bi-annual press notice entitled "Results of the survey into the composition of main compound feed rations as used in Great Britain". Information on trade in raw materials can be found in the CSO Business Monitor MA 20, which is published annually.

  Copies of the press notices and the business monitor can be found in the Library of the House.

  Tanning Industry
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessments he has made of the consequences for the United Kingdom tanning industry of(a) the current level of activity in abattoirs and (b) the culling of older dairy cattle; and if he will make a statement. [24619]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have received a representation from the United Kingdom Industry about the financial impact of the loss of hides from the culling of older cattle and understand that the UK tanning industry is currently experiencing difficulty in sourcing hides due to the slow-down in beef production.

  The Council of Agriculture Ministers on 1 and 2 April concluded that bovine animals over the age of 30 months should not enter the human food or animal feed chains or be used for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. There was no reference to the destruction of hides from cull cattle; therefore, these hides could be recovered and be available to the United Kingdom tanning industry.

  Warble Fly
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when dairy farmers were first required by Government to treat their cattle with an organophosphate-based insecticide as an antidote to warble fly; and when this practice ceased. [24828]

  Mrs. Browning
  Compulsory treatment for cattle infested with warble fly was re-introduced in 1978 and is still required. Alternatives to organophosphate-based products have been available from October 1984, when the first ivermectin-based product was authorised.

  Cattle Heads
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date the Government announced that the splitting of bovine heads in slaughterhouses was to be prohibited; and when that prohibition came into force. [23203]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: Guidance was issued to local authorities on 14 June 1990 that bovine head meat must be recovered from the intact skull before the brain is removed. This guidance was subsequently enacted in the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Amendment) Regulation 1992, which came into force on 12 March 1992, prohibiting the removal of any meat for human consumption from the head of a bovine animal after the skull has been opened or the brain has been removed from that head. The Specified Bovine Offals Order 1995, which came into force on 15 August 1995, prohibited the removal of the brain from the head of a bovine animal.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all plants in the United Kingdom licensed by the Government to debone cattle heads; and if he will make a statement. [24214]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: Cattle heads, expect for the tongue, are specified bovine material and must be disposed of intact.

  There is no statutory provision for the Government to approve or licence plants to debone cattle.

  Slaughterhouse Hygiene
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses had yet to complete their work plans to meet the structural requirements of the Fresh Meat (Hygiene Inspection) Regulations 1992 at 31 December(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [24443]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: There were 320 licensed red meat slaughterhouses in England operating under temporary derogations at the end of 1993, 276 at the end of 1994 and 160 at the end of 1995.

  State Veterinary Service
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of staff in the state veterinary service in each year since 1989–90; and what is the planned number of staff for each year from 1996–97 to 1998–99. [24447]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: The total number of staff in the state veterinary service in each year since 1989–90 was as detailed in the following table, which shows the number of staff in post, to the nearest full-time equivalent, at 1 April each year. The figures include staff of all grades and include staff at the veterinary investigation centres, but exclude the central veterinary laboratory.

  Year

  Number of staff

  1989–90

  791

  1990–91

  858

  1991–92

  936

  1992–93

  11,114

  1993–94

  1,360

  1994–95

  1,383

  1995–96

  1,376

  1 The State Veterinary Service took over responsibility for administrative staff in animal health offices in England from 1 April 1992. These were not all recorded at 1 April 92, but are fully reflected in the 1993 figure.

  On 1 October 1995, the veterinary investigation service combined with the central veterinary laboratory to form to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and 358 posts were transferred to that agency. On 1 April 1996, 31 administrative staff were transferred to the SVS from the Welsh Office. The planned number of staff for 1996–97 is 905. Plans for 1997–98 and 1998–99 have not yet been finalised.

  Waste Minimisation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an office waste minimisation strategy for his Department indicating the targets set. [24499]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 3 April 1993]: The principle of waste minimisation is already an intrinsic part of the Department's "green housekeeping" policy. With regard to targets set, we are awaiting the outcome of the Department's study into the appropriateness or otherwise of an environmental management system and, to avoid duplication across Government Departments, the Department of the Environment's pilot study on waste minimisation.

  Civil Servants (Company Directors)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which serving civil servants in his Department are currently directors of companies, and if he will indicate for each(a) the name of the company concerned and (b) if the annual remuneration was (i) £1 to £5,000, (ii) £5,000 to £10,000 and (c) above £10,000. [18153]

  Mr. Boswell
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1996, c. 128]: The answer should read as follows.

  A number of officials in the Department have declared their outside interests in accordance with departmental requirements. As with all employment matters, individuals' details are a confidential matter between them and their employer.

  The following staff currently hold directorships under the guide to non-executive directorships for civil servants:

  Mr. R. G. Purnell: H. R. Wallingford

  Mr. A. R. Burne: The Albert Fisher Group plc

  Mr. B. J. Harding: Cadbury Ltd.

  The individuals concerned do not receive payment.

HEALTH

  Emergency Services
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Royal College of Nursing to discuss emergency services. [23478]

  Mr. Horam
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Health met representatives of the medical and nursing professions, including the Royal College of Nursing, on 21 December 1995 to consider a range of issues relating to emergency care. In addition, officials are in regular contact with representatives of the college.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of CJD there have been in the United Kingdom over the last four years; and how many cases there have been in(a) France and (b) Germany. [23479]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest available data from the national CJD surveillance unit relates only to the years 1993 and 1994.

  In 1993, there were 41 definite and probable cases of CJD in the United Kingdom compared with 41 in France and 21 in Germany—the latter referring to July to December only.

  In 1994 the figures were: UK 54, France 47, Germany 58.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee to place in the Library all the research evidence on which the committee based its statement of 24 March. [24526]

  Mr. Horam
  The findings of the national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit about a previously unrecognised form of CJD will be published
  471
  by the researchers in a scientific journal as soon as practicable. I will arrange for a copy of this to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made as to whether the provisional conclusions of the research commissioned by Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee about links between BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were(a) illegally and (b) prematurely disclosed to the Daily Mirror. [24666]

  Mr. Horam
  We have always said that we would inform the public immediately of any change in the scientific evidence for a link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It is clear that the Daily Mirror became aware that some form of public announcement was imminent some hours before the event. I have no evidence to suggest that there was an illegal disclosure of information.

  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if vaccinations over the last 10 years have used(a) calf lymph and (b) other substances susceptible to BSE contamination. [24705]

  Mr. Horam
  We are not aware of calf lymph having been used in the manufacture of any United Kingdom licensed vaccines during the past 10 years.

  All bovine materials currently used in the manufacture of UK licensed vaccines and used during the past 10 years belong to category IV in the guidelines produced by the European committee on proprietary medicinal products, "The rules governing medicinal products in the European Union", volume 3, addendum 2 "Minimising the risk of transmission of agents causing spongiform encephalopathies via medicinal products". Copies of the guidelines are available in the Library.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died in each of the last three years(a) from smoking or smoking-related illnesses, (b) from CJD, (c) from road accidents and (d) from conditions related to illegal drug use. [23660]

  Mr. Horam
  The UK figures for the latest three years available for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, motor vehicle accidents and drug abuse are shown in the table.

  Year1

  Deaths from drug abuse2

  Death from vehicle accidents

  CJD deaths

  1992

  2,485

  4,681

  51

  1993

  2,458

  3,924

  45

  1994

  2,713

  3,833

  59

  1For England and Wales, deaths for 1992 represent the number of deaths registered in that year, while deaths from 1993 are deaths which occurred in each year. Also, new procedures for coding cause of death from 1993, and the absence of medical enquiries, mean that figures for 1993 onwards may not be exactly comparable with earlier years. For most conditions, however these effects are small. More details may be found in OPCS Series DH2 for 1993, published in October 1995; copies are available in the Library.

  2It is not possible to differentiate illegal drugs. International Classification of diseases 9th revision codes 304 (drug dependence) 305.2-305.9 (non-dependent use of drugs), 960-979 (poisoned by drugs, medicaments and biological substances).

  It is estimated that in the United Kingdom about 110,000 deaths each year are smoking related.
  472
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died in each of the last three years; and what proportion have died from(a) smoking-related conditions and (b) CJD. [23661]

  Mr. Horam
  The information for the United Kingdom for the latest three years available is shown in the table.

  Year

  Deaths1

  Proportion of deaths from smoking related illness 2 Per cent.

  Proportion of CJD deaths Per cent.

  1992

  634,238

  17

  0.008

  1993

  658,481

  17

  0.007

  1994

  627,636

  18

  0.009

  1Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are registered deaths as are the 1992 figures for England and Wales. Later figures for England and Wales are deaths which occurred in that year.

  2 The figure is based on 110,000, which is the estimated number of smoking-related deaths.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research conducted overseas into BSE-CJD type diseases his Department has evaluated; what assessment he has made of this research; and if he will make a statement. [23480]

  Mr. Horam
  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory committee provides the Government with expert scientific advice on BSE and CJD. This advice takes account of research in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will next be meeting the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee to discuss BSE. [23468]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met the chairman of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on a number of occasions over recent weeks. He will meet the chairman again when necessary to discuss the committee's advice.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the dangers to the health of children of eating dog or cat food; [23325]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the risks to the health of humans from handling pet foods containing mammalian meats and bonemeal. [23324]

  Mr. Horam
  Specified bovine materials are banned from entering the human and animal food chains, and therefore, do not enter pet food. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee concluded that children were not at any greater risk of any possible bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection then adults.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has undertaken into the future provision of accident and emergency departments. [23481]

  Mr. Horam
  Following my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 6 March,Official Report, columns 356–68, we expect widespread consultation to be held at local level about the provision of accident and emergency services.
  473
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has received to his recent guidance to health authorities on the provision of accident and emergency services in the north-east Thames region. [23488]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the chief executive of the national health service, Mr. Alan Langlands, to report to him at the end of June, and again at the end of September on health authorities' plans for emergency services. Responses from individual health authorities and NHS trusts are being co-ordinated by the regional offices of the NHS executive.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the NHS executive to investigate the comparative rates of admission into the accident and emergency departments at(a) Oldchurch hospital, Romford and (b) King George hospital, Goodmayes. [24789]

  Mr. Horam
  This would be a matter for the Barking and Havering and the Redbridge and Waltham Forest health authorities.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of accident and emergency admissions at(a) Oldchurch hospital, Romford and (b) King George hospital, Goodmayes, took place within two hours of arrival, in the last year for which figures are available. [24788]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Geoffrey Jennings OBE and Mr. Michael J. Smith, respectively, the chairmen of Havering Hospitals NHS trust and Redbridge Healthcare NHS trust for further information.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the range of accident and emergency facilities available to the public in NHS hospitals located in the outer London boroughs, subsequent to the changes planned for April 1997. [23810]

  Mr. Horam
  It is the responsibility of local health authorities, working together with local national health service trusts, to ensure that adequate facilities and services are in place to meet the accident and emergency needs of the local populace.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he is currently undertaking about the market testing programme. [23482]

  Mr. Horam
  I am in regular contact with a wide range of people in the national health service, the commercial sector and voluntary sector about ways to improve NHS services for the benefit of patients.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors in Buckinghamshire are now fundholders, and what proportion of the population of Buckinghamshire are now served by these doctors. [23483]

  Mr. Malone
  There are currently 249 general practitioners who are fundholders in Buckinghamshire serving approximately 71 per cent. of the population.
  474
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fundholding GPs there are in Redbridge and Waltham Forest; and what that figure represents as a percentage of GPs in the area. [23487]

  Mr. Malone
  There are currently 116 general practitioners who are fundholders in Redbridge and Waltham Forest. This represents approximately 50 per cent. of the GPs in the area.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the purchasing policies of district health authorities. [23484]

  Mr. Malone
  Regional offices of the national health service executive assess health authority purchasing plans as part of their performance management responsibilities.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on personal social services(a) in 1990–91 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available. [23485]

  Mr. Bowls
  Local authority returns show gross expenditure on personal social services in England in 1990–91 was £4,698 million. In 1993–94, the latest year for which validated figures are available, gross expenditure was £6,278 million.

  Elderly People (Care)
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of carers to discuss the provision of care to elderly people. [23486]

  Mr. Bowis
  I meet frequently with organisations representing carers to discuss a range of matters, including care of the elderly.

  NHS Trusts
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consultations he has had concerning the relationship between NHS trust hospitals and social services departments. [23489]

  Mr. Bowis
  There have been no specific consultations, but regular meetings are held with representatives of the national health service and local authorities. We have emphasised the importance of good procedures and effective communications between local authorities, health authorities and NHS trusts about arrangements for community care.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from NHS trusts on proposals to expand their activities involving private finance. [23491]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) on 16 January 1996,Official Report, column 550.

  Since that reply, a further nine schemes with a capital value of more than £1 million have been approved, taking the total capital value of approved schemes to £0.5 billion.
  475
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the plans by NHS trusts to introduce private health plans. [23469]

  Mr. Dorrell
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Health recently set out the long-standing position. Trusts have wide-ranging powers to generate additional income, provided, among other things, that there is no unacceptable risk to public funds.

  I have, however, made it clear that I do not believe that private health insurance plans could in any circumstances satisfy that requirement. There are therefore no such schemes on offer from NHS trusts, nor do trusts have any plans to introduce such schemes.

  Community Care
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Helath what estimate he has made of the level of funds transferred from his Department to(a) other Government Departments and agencies and (b) local authorities for community care in 1996–97. [23490]

  Mr. Bowis
  For 1996–97, my Department transferred £647.6 million to the Department of Environment which was taken into account in the calculation of local authorities' entitlements to revenue support grant. In addition, a special transitional grant for community care services of £418 million will be paid to local authorities by my Department in 1996–97, together with a number of smaller special and specific grants.

  Dental Services
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the measures he has taken to ensure an adequate provision of NHS dentistry. [23492]

  Mr. Malone
  We are committed to an effective and accessible national health service dental service that is available to all who wish to make use of it. Our record bears this out:At 31 December 1995 there were 15,942 NHS dentists on the lists of family health services authorities in England, the highest December figure ever. This is 516 more dentists than at 30 June 1992 and 3,796 more dentists than at 30 September 1979.
  At 29 February there were 26.4 million patients registered. This is broadly in line with the position at 30 June 1992.
  In 1994–95 gross expenditure on general dental services in England was £1,279 million, an increase in real terms of 57 per cent. since 1978–79.
  In 1994–95 there were 3.7 million more adult dental examinations compared with 1979.

  In general, the former family health services authorities have not reported difficulties in achieving our aim. Where there are local problems, health authorities have a range of options, including use of salaried dentists and the community dental service to deal with these. There are 126 salaried dentists currently employed by the health authorities.

  In the short term, we are discussing with the dental profession a range of issues aimed to reform dental services. In the longer term, we aim to put in place a purchaser-provider system which will be sensitive to local needs. This needs primary legislation.
  476
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date dentists were first required to register their patients; and when his Department first received information on(a) total registrations with dentists and (b) total deregistrations by dentists from each family health service authority or equivalent body. [25132]

  Mr. Malone
  Dentists first registered patients on 1 October 1990, when the current dental contract was introduced.

  Information about total registrations of patients with general dental practitioners was first received in December 1990.

  Information about the number of deregistrations by general dental practitioners was first collected by the Department in July 1992.

  Deregistrations are not a meaningful measure of the availability of national health service dentistry. A dentist may deregister his patients in order to transfer them to another dentist working at the same practice address. These patients still have access to national health service dentistry, but are counted as deregistrations. The arrival of a new dentist to an area may resolve the availability problem in the area, but this will not be reflected in the deregistrations.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (i) children, (ii) adults and (iii) people in total were registered with dentists in each family health service authority in(a) February 1993, (b) July 1993, (c) February 1994, (d) July 1994, (e) February 1995, (f) July 1995 and (g) February 1996. [25133]

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

  Recruitment
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely difficulties in recruiting health service psychiatrists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the next financial year. [23351]

  Mr. Malone
  The Specialist Workforce Advisory Group has recommended a significant increase in training opportunities for doctors wishing to become consultants. As a result, we are providing additional funding of £5.7 million in 1996–97 which will be targeted at specialties which have the greatest need including psychiatry, old age psychiatry and forensic psychiatry.

  In August 1995, the national health service executive issued planning guidance (EL(95)96) recommending that education commissioners should take full account of factors affecting demand for physiotherapists and occupational therapists, including non-NHS demand. As a result, training commissions are planned to rise in 1996–97 by around 12 per cent. for physiotherapists and around 5 per cent. for occupational therapists.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority (Land Panel)
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each year between 1987 and 1993, the
  477
  members of the former Yorkshire regional health authority's land panel; and if he will make a statement on the role of the panel. [23683]

  Mr. Malone
  The land panel of the former Yorkshire regional health authority was set up in accordance with guidance issued by the Department of Health under the heading of Estatecode 1989. The aim embodied in the guidance was to provide advice to health authorities on general estates matters and specific transactions—particularly those involving complex or contentious issues. The land panel provided advice to the regional health authority. The panel has since been abolished. Details of individual membership of the former land panel are not available from public records.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issued on the remuneration of staff made redundant as a result of the abolition of regional health authorities. [24626]

  Mr. Malone
  Arrangements for redundancy for national health service staff employed in regional health authorities on national terms and conditions of service are set out in section 45 of the General Whitley Council handbook. Guidance on severance payments for general and senior managers on short term rolling contracts was issued in circular HSG(94)18. Copies of the documents are available in the Library.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, columns 746–47, how many cases of multi-drug resistant TB have been identified in (a) London and (b) England and Wales in each of the last five years; and what action has been taken to monitor and control this new strain. [24774]

  Mr. Horam
  For the most recent available figures for the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 2 April columns 181–82. Regional information was not routinely collected. A new system, started in 1994, should provide more detailed regional information.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, columns 746–47, how many TB cases have been identified; and how many TB-related deaths there have been in (i) London and (ii) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. [24772]

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the number of notifiable cases of TB in each year since 1975. [25258]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of notifications of tuberculosis for both Greater London and England and 478
  Wales are published in table 5 of the annual reference volume "MB2 Communicable Disease Statistics". Copies are available in the Library. The latest year published is 1993. Data for 1994 and 1995 are shown in the table:

  Number of notifications of tuberculosis(excluding chemoprophylaxis)

  1994

  19951

  Greater London

  2,077

  2,042

  England and Wales

  5,590

  5,606

  1Provisional.

  The number of deaths from tuberculosis of residents of England and Wales from 1985 to 1992 can be found in "Mortality statistics: area", series DH5, volumes 12 to 19, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for 1995 are not yet available. The figures for 1993 and 1994 are:

  1993

  1994

  Greater London

  86

  110

  England and Wales

  507

  497

  These figures include all forms of tuberculosis, including respiratory, pulmonary, and mediastinal and late effects from tuberculosis originally caught some years earlier.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, columns 746-47, (1) what assessment he has made of the risk of persons infected with TB entering the United Kingdom; to what extent that risk has changed in the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [24771]

  (2) what measures have been taken in the last 12 months to reduce the risk of carriers of TB from entering the country. [24773]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on how many people have tuberculosis when they arrive in the United Kingdom is not available. For details about the steps that we are taking to deal with the risk, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 2 April at columns 180-81.

  Heart Valves
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) agency and (b) department was responsible for the purchase by the national health service of Bjork Shiley heart valves between 1979 and 1986; where these valves were delivered and centrally stored when imported; what records were kept detailing serial numbers of the valves and to which hospital batches of valves were despatched; what procedures, including record keeping were followed by them on the occasions when the manufacturers or distributors recalled certain valves; and what is his policy for making this information available to next of kin or other relatives of national health service patients who received an implanted Bjork Shiley heart valve in this period and subsequently died. [24585]
  479
  Mr. Horam
  Responsibility for the purchase of medical devices, including heart valves, rested with local health authorities and hospitals. The delivery and storage of imported valves was a matter for the United Kingdom sales office of the manufacturer, Shiley Inc, and information is not available centrally. Responsibility for keeping records of valves delivered to hospitals, and for implementing appropriate recall procedures rests with the manufacturer involved. As part of Shiley's recall of Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave heart valves, they provided advice to relevant cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists, which included list of serial numbers for valves delivered to their hospitals. The Department provided further independent advice to health service professionals across the UK to assist them in making informed decisions about patient management. Our policy remains that clinicians are in the best place to provide advice to individual patients and their next of kin, in the light of personal circumstances.

  NHS-wide Network
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis AT and T Istel has been chosen to operate the NHS-wide network; on what basis its employees or managers will have access to personal data; and if he will make a statement [24628]

  Mr. Horam
  AT and T Istel was chosen to operate the NHS-wide clearing service—not the network—by competitive tender under the private finance initiative. Its managers and employees are contractually bound to main the confidentiality of data passing through the clearing service, and will have no access to it.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about proposed security arrangements for the NHS-wide network to avoid unauthorised access and the misuse of data from the network. [24635]

  Mr. Horam
  The arrangements to avoid unauthorised access to the NHS-wide network and prevent misuse of data are set out in the data networking security policy and codes of connection. These require any person or organisation seeking access to the network to sign a contractual undertaking to abide by proper security procedures, and to limit access to authorised users with acceptable national health service purposes. The documents were published with NHS executive letter (95) 108, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what links are proposed between the NHS-wide network and information technology elsewhere within Government; and if he will make a statement. [24630]

  Mr. Horam
  The NHS-wide network is separate from the Department of Health's network and from all other central Government networks. Access from anywhere outside the NHS, including from Government Departments, will be subject to the requirements of the 480
  security policy. Access is allowed only to those who use the network for approved NHS purposes.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now place in the Library the findings of the study by Zergo Consulting for the NHS information management group about the NHS-wide network; and if he will make a statement on his response. [24634]

  Mr. Horam
  The report on the study by Zergo Consulting entitled "The Use of Encryption and Related Services with the NHS net" was published on 11 April 1996. Copies are available in the Library.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions are proposed to the selling off of data from the NHS-wide network; and if he will make a statement. [24629]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no plans to sell any data from the NHS-wide network.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he consulted the Data Protection Registrar about arrangements for the NHS-wide network; and if he will make a statement. [24636]

  Mr. Horam
  The Data Protection Registrar has been consulted at all stages in the development of plans for the NHS-wide network and during its implementation.

  General Practitioners (Premises)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 781, what information his Department collates on the condition of general practitioners' premises in London. [24770]

  Mr. Malone
  Annual information is collected, by health authority, on premises below minimum standards.

  Osteoporosis
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women over the age of 55 years are estimated by his Department to suffer from osteoporosis; what percentage of women will contract the illness on current trends during their lifetime; and if he will make a statement. [24618]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the number of women suffering from osteoporosis is not available centrally. The report of the advisory group on osteoporosis suggested that 22 per cent. of women over 50 have low bone density-osteopenia. This can lead to the development of osteoporosis. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

  Paramedics
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified paramedics there are per head of population in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [24594]
  481
  Mr. Horam
  These figures are not routinely collected centrally, but an informal survey in England showed that there were 6,250 paramedics at 31 January 1996–1.28 per 10,000 population.

  Figures relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people died in each of the last five years from abuse of(a) legally prescribed drugs and (b) illegal drugs. [25152]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not possible to differentiate between legally prescribed drugs and illegal drugs. The number of deaths from drug misuse in England and Wales among those aged under 25 in the years 1990–92 are shown in the table.

  Year

  Deaths from drug misuse

  1990

  353

  1991

  362

  1992

  364

  Source:

  International Classification of Diseases 9th revision codes 304 (drug dependence), 305.2–305.9 (non-dependent abuse of drugs), 960–979 (poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances).

  Deaths for 1992 and earlier years represent the number of deaths registered in each year. New procedures for coding cause of death from 1993, and the absence of medical inquiries, mean that figures for 1993 onwards may not be comparable with earlier years. The figures for 1993 and 1994 were 387 and 433 respectively. More details may be found in OPCS series DH2 for 1993, which was published in October 1995; copies are available in the Library.

  Year

  Deaths1

  1990

  2,055

  1991

  2,068

  1992

  2,299

  1993

  2,272

  1994

  2,427

  1 This comprises International Classification of Diseases 9th revision codes 304 (drug dependence), 305.2–305.9 (non-dependent abuse of drugs), 960–979 (poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances).

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has evaluated into the mechanism by which Ecstasy killed each victim of the drug in each of the last five years. [24835]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health has not carried out a formal evaluation of research in this area, but maintains close contact with a number of experts on Ecstasy-related deaths. We are in the process of drawing up proposals for research on Ecstasy and its effects. The 482
  Advisory Council on the misuse of drugs held a meeting to discuss Ecstasy and its effects earlier this year and will advise the Home Department of its findings shortly.

  Domestic Accidents
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of accidents in the home necessitating hospital treatment for each year for which records are available; and if he will make a statement. [24900]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority area the number of accidents in the home which necessitated hospital treatment for each year for which records are available; and if he will make a statement. [24901]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on accidents by health authority area is not available. For information on the number of home accidents in general, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumer Affairs gave him today.

  Regional Health Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on furniture, fixtures and fittings by the Yorkshire regional health authority in each year since 1986; how these assets were disposed of; and how much money was raised for the NHS from their sale. [24972]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 29 January, column 528, which included the total spending on repair, maintenance and upgrading of the headquarters premises of the former Yorkshire regional health authority by year since 1986. The figures included expenditure on fixtures, fittings and furniture. It is not possible to identify expenditure separately under these headings as the definitions of fixtures, fittings and building fabric are not distinct, and no attempt was made to differentiate between them at the time the work was carried out.

  Because of the merger and then abolition of the former regional health authorities, some furniture and equipment did become surplus to requirements in Northern and Yorkshire. Any reusable items have been passed on to national health service trusts and health authorities in the area which could make use of them. Some unusable and obsolete furniture and equipment was sold, and produced £38,000 for NHS use.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on furniture, fixtures and fittings by the Northern regional health authority in each year since 1986; how these assets were disposed of; and how much money was raised for the NHS from their sale. [24967]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 12 February, columns 456–57, which included the total spending on repair, maintenance and upgrading of the headquarters premises of the former

  483
  Northern regional health authority since 1986, including expenditure on fixtures, fittings and furniture. It is not possible to identify expenditure separately under these headings.

  Because of the merger and then abolition of former regional health authorities, some furniture and equipment did become surplus to requirements in Northern and Yorkshire. All items proved suitable for reuse, and have been passed on the national health service trusts and health authorities in the area.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of furnishing, fitting out and decorating the board room at the Yorkshire regional health authority headquarters at Park parade, Harrogate; and how much of the cost has been recouped from the sale of surplus assets. [24973]

  Mr. Malone
  Work on the board room was carried out as part of the refurbishment of the Queen building at Park parade, Harrogate. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 29 January, column 528 in respect of overall expenditure on repair, maintenance and upgrading work on the Park parade site by year. It is not possible to identify separately expenditure either on a specific area of the building or on a particular sub-category of the work.

  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him today for information regarding the disposal process for any assets surplus to requirements following the merger and then abolition of regional health authorities. Any reusable assets have been passed to national health service trusts and health authorities in the area which could make use of them. Some obsolete and unusable items were sold,

  Removals from the waiting list—June 1992 to December 1995

  Region

  June 1992

  September 1992

  December 1992

  March 1993

  June 1993

  September 1993

  December 1993

  March 1994

  Northern

  2,418

  2,861

  3,704

  5,127

  3,635

  4,331

  4,956

  5,343

  Yorkshire

  4,877

  5,041

  8,348

  8,375

  8,725

  8,280

  8,973

  10,245

  Trent

  6,125

  5,884

  6,514

  7,599

  7,090

  7,893

  6,864

  7,473

  East Anglian

  3,975

  3,011

  4,377

  4,733

  3,280

  4,038

  4,033

  4,643

  North West Thames

  10,925

  8,489

  8,498

  8,356

  7,804

  10,206

  8,138

  10,071

  North East Thames

  9,836

  9,996

  9,506

  8,215

  9,008

  9,059

  9,725

  10,863

  South East Thames

  11,599

  12,352

  13,946

  15,461

  15,457

  13,024

  10,110

  11,723

  South West Thames

  5,802

  5,816

  5,704

  5,709

  5,124

  5,259

  5,381

  7,168

  Wessex

  3,974

  4,036

  4,555

  5,568

  4,543

  5,025

  5,432

  6,230

  Oxford

  4,681

  5,214

  5,378

  5,389

  4,389

  4,620

  4,463

  5,159

  South Western

  5,405

  5,514

  5,860

  7,046

  5,287

  6,068

  6,366

  7,895

  West Midlands

  10,525

  11,764

  10,302

  12,647

  11,609

  11,805

  14,459

  15,454

  Mersey

  4,970

  5,605

  6,360

  7,523

  6,973

  8,747

  8,280

  8,488

  North Western

  7,576

  9,146

  10,321

  10,935

  10,117

  10,568

  10,635

  11,043

  Special Health Authorities

  2,052

  2,250

  2,006

  2,518

  2,357

  2,427

  2,869

  2,329

  England

  94,740

  96,979

  105,379

  115,201

  105,398

  111,350

  110,684

  124,127

  Decisions to admit

  836,550

  858,452

  890,264

  895,002

  853,524

  869,617

  862,073

  916,501

  Region

  June 1994

  September 1994

  December 1994

  March 1995

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  Northern and Yorkshire

  12,987

  14,014

  15,238

  19,291

  14,314

  16,138

  16.905

  Trent

  7,910

  7,969

  7,915

  10,882

  8,678

  9,653

  9,916

  Anglia and Oxford

  10,806

  12,057

  10,763

  12,663

  11,184

  12,859

  11.709

  484
  yielding a total of £38,000 for the NHS. It is not possible to identify which, if any, of these items may have had some former link with the board room at Park parade.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money(a) has been spent and (b) will be spent on furniture, fixtures and fittings for the new Northern and Yorkshire regional offices of the NHS executive at Mountjoy science park. [24971]

  Mr. Malone
  It is not possible to differentiate expenditure on fixtures and fittings from that on building fabric. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 February at columns 919–20 for information on the total expenditure on the Durham offices of the national health service executive, Northern and Yorkshire, including fixtures and fittings.

  Total expenditure on furniture amounts to £2,000 for some smaller filing cabinets, necessary because of the reduced provision of space in the new accommodation compared with the former offices. All other furniture will be taken from that previously in use in the former Harrogate and Newcastle offices.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 April, at column 190, how many people have been removed from waiting lists by region in each quarter since 1992. [25241]

  Mr. Horam
  The table shows for each region, the special health authorities and England as a whole, the number of removals from waiting lists and—for England as a whole—the total number of decisions made to add patients to waiting lists in each quarter since 1992. Patients may be removed from waiting lists because they have already been treated, because treatment is no longer needed or because they have moved.
  485

  Region

  June 1994

  September 1994

  December 1994

  March 1995

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  North Thames

  20,132

  20,898

  20,711

  22,206

  20,899

  23,497

  24,099

  South Thames

  22,748

  20,191

  18,033

  19,520

  20,986

  22,379

  23,047

  South and West

  12,116

  12,314

  12,599

  14,183

  12,614

  13,795

  12,728

  West Midlands

  15,421

  14,972

  17,334

  21,361

  14,296

  15,126

  16,800

  North West

  19,937

  23,045

  22,960

  27,113

  21,086

  22,427

  22,131

  Special Health Authorities

  478

  207

  173

  173

  167

  140

  142

  England

  122,535

  125,667

  125,726

  147,392

  124,224

  136,014

  137,477

  Decisions to admit

  919,679

  924,721

  937,033

  983,974

  944,241

  967,048

  1,005,019

  Rev. Martin Symth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average length of the waiting lists for cardiac surgery in hospitals. [24184]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on numbers of people waiting for treatment by specialty and by national health service trust is contained in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the implications of the research by Aberdeen university in 1995 into dietary nitrate intake for the public health consequences of European Commission directives on nitrates in water supplies. [25024]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department has received an inquiry from one correspondent and two letters from hon. Members on behalf of another correspondent.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the latest research on the reasons why babies up to the age of three months are unable to be affected by infantile methaemoglobinaemia from nitrates in diet. [25239]

  Mr. Horam
  No such research appears to have been published.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 December,Official Report, column 177, what assessment he has made of the latest research into the effect of nitrates in diet and water (a) at, (b) below and (c) in excess of natural levels on human health. [25240]

  Mr. Horam
  Nitrate in diet and water is not known to be beneficial to health. It is a recognised contributory factor in the causation of infantile methaemoglobinaemia. The addition of nitrate to foods specially prepared for babies and young children is prohibited under the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1989. Concentrations in drinking-water are restricted under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. After consideration of the toxicological data, most recently in 1995, the Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation's joint expert committee on food additives and contaminants, and the European Commission's scientific committee for food, each proposed an acceptable daily intake of up to 3.7 mg of nitrate per kg body weight. This ADI is unchanged from 1992, when it was endorsed by the departmental expert Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.

  Adoption
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been adopted from each foreign country in each of the last five years. [25153]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Private Security Guards
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of private security guards in hospitals. [24937]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a local operational matter, subject to local specification of service requirements.

  Mixed-sex Wards
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made towards the establishment of a choice between single sex and mixed-sex wards for hospital patients; and if he will make a statement. [23790]

  Mr. Horam
  A voluntary survey of hospital accommodation in two national health service regions, commissioned by the NHS executive, has recently been completed and the results will be published shortly. A new health building note which will provide advice and guidance on new buildings in the NHS and advice and examples on how to upgrade existing premises to fulfil charter standards is being prepared by NHS Estates. We will be considering whether any further action is required.

  British Medical Association
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 463, if he will make a statement on the length of time his Department has taken to respond to the BMA's general medical services committee's letter dated 23 February 1994, and its reminders dated June 1984, August 1994, November 1994, December 1994, January 1995, April 1995, July 1995, September 1995 and December 1995, asking to see a redraft of his Department's guidance to health authorities on good practice in respect of the use of cash-limited funds. [24844]

  Mr. Malone
  Throughout the period covered by the general medical services committee's letters the use of cash- limited funds has been the subject of complex legal argument culminating in High Court action, Regina v. The Secretary of State for Health, ex parte Manchester Local Committee, heard on 27–28 March 1995.

  Following the judgment, advice on the proper use of cash-limited funds was given to health authorities on 16 May 1995 and reiterated in subsequent allocation

  487
  letters. We shall be considering whether further guidance would be helpful to new health authorities on this issue and, if so, we shall consult GMSC on the content.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 463, when the BMA's general medical services committee can expect a reply to its letter dated November 1991 in respect of considering the financial reimbursement for general practitioners who serve on, and give advice to, NHS purchasing authorities. [24843]

  Mr. Malone
  Correspondence with the British Medical Association's general medical services committee on this issue has been on-going since November 1991.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to initiate new research into the use of cannabis or its derivatives for medicinal use. [24838]

  Mr. Bowls
  None.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long the family planning experts on the Committee on Safety of Medicines were given before the committee's meeting on 13 October 1995 to review the data on third generation oral contraceptives. [24969]

  Mr. Malone
  The family planning experts who attended the meeting were sent the papers by express courier on 11 October for receipt by 10.30 am the following morning, with the exception of one expert who was aboard at the time and who was provided with a copy of the papers at the earliest opportunity.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and the British Medical Association on alternatives to the fax cascade system for alerting health professionals to urgent public health information; what is the expected timetable; and when he expects to have a new system in place. [24949]

  Mr. Horam
  The chief medical officer met the British Medical Association and other medical organisations on 28 February 1996 to discuss arrangements for transmitting urgent communications to doctors and how these might be improved. The current arrangements use an electronic system via telephone lines to transmit urgent messages to directors of public health who then cascade the message to relevant health professionals. Alternative methods were discussed but the profession's representatives did not consider any would improve the present arrangements until the Department is fully connected to the message handling application of the NHS—wide networking system. The technology is now in place for health authorities and other NHS institutions to connect to this system and this is being actively encouraged.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions(a) his Department, (b) the Committee on Safety of Medicines and (c) the Medicines Control Agency had with the product licence holders of the third generation
  488
  oral contraceptives which were the subject of the safety warning issued in October 1995, between 4 July and October 1995; and if he will make a statement. [24970]

  Mr. Malone
  Information about discussions held with pharmaceutical companies about their products is treated in confidence under the Medicines Act 1968.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent local authorities are reimbursed for costs arising from their obligations to the children of asylum seekers, under the terms of the Children Act 1989. [24975]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Austin-Walker) on 19 March at columns 191-92.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25274]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department produced six compliance cost assessments in 1995. Copies are available in the Library.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a study of(a) the additional paperwork required of general practitioners and their staffs by the introduction and operation of the internal market within the national health service and of means of simplifying and reducing their paper requirements; and if he will seek the co-operation of the principal professional organisations in this study. [25511]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department of Health has already conducted a study into paperwork in general practice and has acted upon the findings. The report of the efficiency scrutiny into bureaucracy in general practice, "Patients not Paper", published in July 1995, contains recommendations which when implemented will substantially reduce bureaucracy in general practice. About 17 million forms per year will be abolished from 1 July 1996, when some of the recommendations are implemented.

  Health Authority Contracts
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of district health authorities which are in dispute, or have not yet agreed, with any of their principal health trust providers contracts for the year 1996–97, within each case(a) the name of the providing trust, (b) the reason for the delay and (c) arrangements made for arbitration and its likely timetable; and what assessment he has made of the consequential effects on patients of (i) GP fundholders and (ii) GP non-fundholders in each case. [25510]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on health service contracts agreed by health authorities for 1996–97 is being collected and will be placed in the Library. Information by individual providers is not available centrally.
  489
  Patients come first and they will continue to be treated on the basis of clinical need. There is no question of patients not being treated or treatment being delayed because of the contracting process. Health
  490
  authorities and fundholders are charged with ensuring that the contracting process works to the best interest of patients locally.

  Brussels Treaty
  Brussels Treaty
  Drugs: Proposed World Conference
  Drugs: Proposed World Conference
  Chemical Weapons: Destruction
  Chemical Weapons: Destruction
  Gibraltar Airport Agreement
  Gibraltar Airport Agreement
  European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe: Separation of Powers
  European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe: Separation of Powers
  International Criminal Court Proposal
  International Criminal Court Proposal
  Mykonos Trial: Request for Documents
  Mykonos Trial: Request for Documents
  Extra-territorial Jurisdiction
  Extra-territorial Jurisdiction
  "La Lecture de Moliére" by de Troy
  "La Lecture de Moliére" by de Troy
  "The Holy Family" by Fra Bartolommeo
  "The Holy Family" by Fra Bartolommeo
  Vale of Clwyd: Channel 4 Programmes
  Vale of Clwyd: Channel 4 Programmes
  Royal Parks: Review Recommendations
  Royal Parks: Review Recommendations
  Electro-shock Therapy
  Electro-shock Therapy
  Child Support Agency
  Child Support Agency
  Goodwin v. United Kingdom: Implementation of Judgment
  Goodwin v. United Kingdom: Implementation of Judgment
  War Crimes Act 1991: Conclusion of Investigations
  War Crimes Act 1991: Conclusion of Investigations
  GCSE Subjects Studied in a Foreign Language: Performance Assessment
  GCSE Subjects Studied in a Foreign Language: Performance Assessment
  Bilingual Teaching Projects
  Bilingual Teaching Projects
  Education of 16 to 19 Year-olds: Review
  Education of 16 to 19 Year-olds: Review
  Polar, Antarctic and Arctic Research
  Polar, Antarctic and Arctic Research
  Comfrey Products: Sales Ban
  Comfrey Products: Sales Ban
  EC Directive 92/106: Combined Transport of Goods
  EC Directive 92/106: Combined Transport of Goods
  European Aviation Authority: Response to Working Paper
  European Aviation Authority: Response to Working Paper
  Northern Ireland Election Proposals
  Northern Ireland Election Proposals
  Prison Standing Orders: Internet Publication
  Prison Standing Orders: Internet Publication
  Sexual Exploitation of Children: UK Statement
  Sexual Exploitation of Children: UK Statement
  Entry Clearance and Extension Applications: Primary Purpose Rule Refusals
  Entry Clearance and Extension Applications: Primary Purpose Rule Refusals
  Defendants Aged Under 17: Remand Statistics
  Defendants Aged Under 17: Remand Statistics