Written Answers of 22 April 1996

ENVIRONMENT

  Vehicle Batteries
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many car and other vehicle batteries are recycled or safely reclaimed each year. [25751]

  Mr. Clappison
  Information on the precise number and weight of automotive—lead-acid—batteries recycled or reclaimed is not held centrally.

  However, it is known that the vast majority of used lead-acid batteries are recycled at three plants in the UK. The industry is committed to achieving a minimum 90 per cent. recycling target for lead batteries.

  Fluorescent Lighting Tubes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the method recommended by his Department for the safe disposal of fluorescent lighting tubes. [25747]

  Average unmeasured household water and sewerage bills for the ten privatised water companies

  1995–96 prices

  11996–97

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1991–92

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  Anglian

  285

  (3.6)

  276

  (2.0)

  270

  (5.9)

  255

  (5.4)

  242

  (6.0)

  228

  (5.4)

  Northumbrian

  204

  (2.1)

  200

  (4.1)

  192

  (8.1)

  178

  (6.2)

  167

  (5.0)

  159

  (6.5)

  North West

  196

  (4.4)

  188

  (0.6)

  187

  (5.9)

  176

  (6.1)

  166

  (4.2)

  159

  (4.5)

  Severn Trent

  187

  (0.3)

  186

  (0.9)

  184

  (8.6)

  170

  (4.2)

  163

  (5.2)

  155

  (4.3)

  Southern

  221

  (3.8)

  213

  (4.7)

  203

  (6.5)

  191

  (2.4)

  186

  (2.8)

  181

  (6.9)

  South West

  325

  (1.2)

  321

  (2.6)

  313

  (12.7)

  278

  (13.7)

  244

  (13.8)

  215

  (6.6)

  Thames

  176

  (2.1)

  172

  (3.2)

  167

  (5.4)

  158

  (5.4)

  150

  (4.0)

  144

  (4.4)

  Welsh

  257

  (–2.7)

  264

  (0.5)

  263

  (6.5)

  247

  (5.9)

  233

  (6.8)

  218

  (5.9)

  Wessex

  238

  (0.8)

  236

  (2.4)

  230

  (6.2)

  217

  (6.2)

  205

  (3.7)

  197

  (4.6)

  Yorkshire

  212

  (7.7)

  197

  (–0.2)

  198

  (6.4)

  186

  (4.7)

  177

  (2.5)

  173

  (3.9)

  11996–97 and 1995–96 figures take account of rebates provided by certain water and sewerage companies.

  Environment Protection Strategy and Europe Division
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the budget of the environment protection strategy and Europe division of his Department for the 1995–96 financial year. [25621]

  Mr. Clappison
  The division was established on 1 November 1995. It took on most of the work of what was the environment protection central division, EPC, and part of the work of what was the environment protection Europe division, EPEUR. It is not possible to separate the costs of those parts of EPC and EPEUR which are relevant to the work of the new division. For this reason, an expenditure figure for 1995–96 is not readily available. However, the 1996–97 budget for the net administrative expenditure of the division is £1,075,330.
  2
  Mr. Clappison
  Fluorescent tubes must be managed and disposed of in accordance with sections 33 and 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Department does not recommend a particular form of disposal, but the waste management licensing regime ensures that such activities are carried out in a manner that does not harm human health or cause environmental damage.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of safe disposal of a fluorescent lighting tube. [25744]

  Mr. Clappison
  The cost of disposal of fluorescent light tubes depends on the type of facility for disposal, the quantity that is disposed of at any one time and the distance they must be transported to reach the disposal facility. Central Government do not compile such information.

  Water Bills
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average water bill in each household by region for 1996–97; what were the equivalent figures in each of the last five years; and what have been the percentage changes in each case. [24928]

  Mr. Clappison
  The following table provides details of the average unmeasured household water and sewerage bill for the 10 privatised water and sewerage companies for 1996–97 and the equivalent figures for each year from 1991–92 to 1995–96. The figures in brackets show the annual percentage change.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are employed within the environment protection strategy and Europe division of his Department. [25625]

  Mr. Clappison
  The staff in post on 1 April 1996 within the environment protection strategy and Europe division was 27.

  County Museum Collections
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure the continued effectiveness of county museum collections affected by the local government review in the situations of(a) abolished authorities and (b) relinquished authorities. [25554]
  3
  Sir Paul Beresford
  How best to provide services for museum and records services is a matter for the authorities concerned. However, following discussions with the Museums and Galleries Commission, the Department of National Heritage has issued guidance on the provision of suitable museum services to all authorities involved in reorganisation.

  Waste Incinerators (Fires)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to conduct research into the environmental impact of fires at waste incinerators. [25923]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have no plans to conduct research into this matter.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to issue guidelines concerning fires at waste incinerators. [25924]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have no plans to issue guidelines on this matter.

  Housing Associations
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) minutes of meetings, (d) agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests are published by registered housing associations; and if in each case it is under a statutory requirement. [25966]

  Mr. Clappison
  Registered housing associations are required by statute to provide a copy of their audited annual accounts to the Housing Corporation which holds them available for inspection. All other requirements are non-statutory. The main ones are:The tenants guarantee which requires associations to keep their tenants informed about their housing management performance.
  Housing Corporation programme performance standards under which associations are required to conduct their affairs in an open and accountable way, disseminating widely information about their housing provision and activities.
  The National Federation of Housing Association's code of governance which requires board members to declare conflicts of interest and associations to maintain records of interests of board members and senior staff and to make them available for public inspection.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Life Sentence Prisoners
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving life sentences were released(a) when their tariff was reached, (b) up to and including 12 months after tariff, (c) up to and including 24 months after tariff and (d) longer than 24 months after tariff during each year since 1990. [25200]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information in the form requested is not recorded centrally. Figures for all the years from 1990 to 1994 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, a special exercise conducted in 1993 showed 4
  in regard to all life sentence prisoners first released on licence in 1992, 9 per cent. were released before, on, or within one month after, expiry of tariff and 36 per cent. were released before, on, or within 12 months of tariff.

  Examination of readily available information about the 60 mandatory life sentence prisoners released for the first time on licence in 1995 shows the following:

  Time of release in relation to tariff expiry

  Number and percentage

  Before, on, or within one month of tariff expiry

  8 (13 per cent.)

  1-12 months after tariff expiry

  23 (38 per cent.)

  13-24 months after tariff expiry

  3 (5 per cent.)

  Over 2 years after tariff expiry

  26 (43 per cent.)

  Total

  60

  Information about discretionary life sentence prisoners released in 1995 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Boards of Visitors
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisations were consulted about changes in the retirement age and the limitation to term of office of prison boards of visitors; for what reasons these proposals were not included in the recent review of the board of visitors system; and what representations he has received on this matter. [25220]

  Miss Widdecombe
  In deciding to amend the policy on appointments to boards of visitors, I noted that a number of members of boards felt that requiring all members to retire at the next triennial review following their 70th birthday did not reflect the fact that many people are well able to carry on voluntary work beyond their 70th birthday and are keen to do so.

  On the other hand, it would be inappropriate for any member to be able to serve indefinitely and thus prevent an influx of new members from time to time. It is generally the case in public appointments that reappointment is not automatic and should not be repeated an indefinite number of times. In particular, members of boards of visitors in Northern Ireland have a limit of 12 years on their length of service. However, in view of the larger scale and greater numbers involved in boards of visitors in England and Wales, it seemed reasonable to set a higher limit of 15 years. This limit thus replaces the retirement age which has been abolished.

  The review advisory group which considered and reported in May last year focused more on recruitment of new members and the day-to-day work of members of boards rather than on the question of length of service. Although my right hon. and learned Friend endorsed the recommendations of the report, this cannot prevent Ministers from considering other changes when and if it is deemed appropriate and necessary to do so.

  The new policy was first announced to the National Advisory Council for Boards of Visitors and, following representations from that committee, I agreed to phase the new measures in. I have received a number of letters from boards and individual members whose comments I have noted.

  Fire Services (London Docklands)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account he has taken, or will take, when considering the adequacy of fire appliance coverage in the area of and adjacent to that of the London Docklands development corporation of the planned industrial and business development up to the year 2000. [25542]

  Mr. Sackville
  Statutory responsibility for the provision of an efficient fire service is a matter for the fire authority concerned. Any fire authority wishing to reduce the operational capacity of its brigade, including the number of fire appliances, must seek the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947. His practice is to grant approval only where he is satisfied that the nationally recommended standards of fire cover will be maintained. The position would be considered by reference to the category of fire risk of the area as it stood at the time of the application. In the event of future property development, it would be up to the fire authority to take account of the new circumstances. Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire service monitors performance in meeting the standards of fire cover as part of the annual inspection process.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Criminal Cases Review Commission will be set up; and if he will make a statement. [25567]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected to start work later this year. The chairman designate is Sir Frederick Crawford and the posts of other members of the commission will be advertised shortly.

  General Election Campaigns
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new proposals he has to set limits on the spending on national campaigns by parties in general elections. [26277]

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no such proposals.

  Home Country Briefs
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to place completed home country briefs on(a) Somalia, (b) India and (c) Pakistan in the Library; and if he will make a statement; [26235]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of a home country brief on Somalia referred to by a Home Office presenting officer at a hearing in Manchester last year and which was shown to a representative attending the hearing; and if he will make a statement. [26243]

  Kirkhope
  As indicated previously, our aim is to finalise these reports as soon as is practicable. We will then make them available to those concerned with the asylum appeals system and place them in the Library.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25957]

  Mr. Howard
  The readily available information is as follows: in 1994–95, 13 appointments were made to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" from names supplied by the public appointments unit. These were:

  Number

  Parole Board

  4

  Metropolitan Police Committee

  5

  Advisory Board for Restricted Patients

  1

  Animal Procedures Committee

  1

  Police Complaints Authority

  2

  Prevention of Terrorism Legislation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of people held for(a) 48 hours or under and (b) over 48 hours under the provisions of the prevention of terrorism legislation for each year since 1974. [19069]

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1996, c. 200]An amended and extended table of the figures given for Northern Ireland is given.

  Amendment to table 2 of reply

  In Northern Ireland

  Under 48 hours

  Over 48 hours

  19741

  0

  0

  1975

  3

  5

  1976

  44

  202

  1977

  39

  123

  1978

  7

  144

  1979

  36

  126

  1980

  36

  186

  1981

  94

  401

  1982

  189

  639

  1983

  447

  728

  1984

  375

  533

  1985

  381

  557

  1986

  825

  484

  1987

  1, 008

  451

  1988

  1, 175

  542

  1989

  1, 053

  530

  1990

  1, 089

  460

  1991

  1, 109

  571

  1992

  1, 354

  441

  1993

  1, 186

  455

  1994

  1, 119

  384

  1995

  431

  12

  1From 29 November

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his
  7
  Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25951]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Two appointments were made to the Legal Aid Board during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit. They were:John Crosby: Appointed 5 April 1994
  Colin George: Appointed 3 May 1994.

  Divorce Leaflet
  Mr. Patten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many copies were printed and what was the cost of production of the leaflet entitled "I Want to Get a Divorce-What Do I Do" published by the Lord Chancellor's Department (D184), in the most recent year for which figures are available. [25980]

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

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. John Patten, dated 22 April 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the guidance leaflet entitled "I want to get a divorce-what do I do?".
  73,425 leaflets were printed and distributed to the courts in 1995 at a cost of approximately £10,495.

  Mr. Patten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish a companion leaflet to "I Want To Get a Divorce-What Do I Do?" entitled "I Want To Try To Stay Married-What Do I Do?" [26018]

  Mr. Evans
  My Department and the Court Service will be considering what information should be available in the light of the provisions of the Family Law Bill, particularly the proposed information meeting. This will include information about marriage counselling and marriage support services. Consideration of what information and services can best assist people who want to remain married also forms part of the work of the interdepartmental working party on marriage.

TREASURY

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will deduct from the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EU the cost of compensating the British farmers for measures to eradicate bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the event of the European Union not agreeing to pay such compensation. [24256]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Council of Ministers has agreed that a significant proportion of such costs will be financed from the European Community budget.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (i) in total and (ii) by sex in England by travel-to-work area are currently in(a) temporary employment, (b) part-time employment and (c) temporary and part-time employment. [24878]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information for travel-to-work areas is not available from the labour force survey. The available information for standard regions for autumn—September to November—1995 is shown in the table.

  (a) Temporary employees by standard region

  (Thousands—not seasonally adjusted)

  All

  Male

  Female

  England

  1, 377

  612

  765

  Northern

  95

  50

  45

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  133

  57

  76

  East Midlands

  106

  54

  52

  East Anglia

  67

  28

  39

  Greater London

  224

  103

  120

  Rest of South East

  324

  138

  186

  South West

  131

  49

  82

  West Midlands

  133

  57

  76

  North West

  163

  75

  88

  (b) Part-time temporary employees by standard region

  (Thousands—not seasonally adjusted)

  All

  Male

  Female

  England

  5, 426

  997

  4, 430

  Northern

  328

  59

  269

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  575

  91

  484

  East Midlands

  479

  73

  406

  East Anglia

  253

  45

  208

  Greater London

  651

  174

  478

  Rest of South East

  1,283

  230

  1,053

  South West

  611

  114

  497

  West Midlands

  588

  97

  491

  North West

  658

  113

  545

  (c) Part-time temporary employees by standard region

  (Thousands—not seasonally adjusted)

  All

  Male

  Female

  England

  624

  170

  455

  Northern

  37

  12

  25

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  56

  12

  43

  East Midlands

  50

  15

  35

  East Anglia

  34

  1—

  26

  Greater London

  95

  37

  58

  Rest of South East

  150

  38

  112

  South West

  70

  14

  55

  West Midlands

  64

  15

  49

  North West

  69

  19

  51

  1Estimate below 10, 000 not shown.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 April,Official Report, column 259, if the price of exports has increased faster than the price of imports. [25541]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The prices of imported and exported manufactured goods since 1992, measured on a unit value index basis, have increased by the same amount.

  Business Investment
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how business investment is calculated. [25549]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: Business investment is calculated by the Office of

  UK's gross and net contributions to the EC budget

  £ million

  Year

  Gross contribution before refunds or abatement

  Negotiated refunds

  Abatement

  Gross contribution after refunds and abatement

  Public sector receipts

  Net contribution after refunds, abatement and public sector receipts

  1973–74

  200

  —

  —

  200

  -104

  96

  1974–75

  197

  —

  —

  197

  -232

  -35

  1975–76

  370

  —

  —

  370

  -354

  16

  1976–77

  544

  —

  —

  544

  -320

  224

  1977–78

  941

  —

  —

  941

  -382

  559

  1978–79

  1,323

  —

  —

  1,323

  -555

  768

  1979–80

  1,665

  —

  —

  1,665

  -781

  884

  1980–81

  1,900

  -645

  —

  1,255

  -1,022

  233

  1981–82

  2,330

  -959

  —

  1,371

  -1,146

  225

  1982–83

  2,820

  -774

  —

  2,046

  -1,308

  737

  1983–84

  3,097

  -239

  —

  2,858

  -1,897

  961

  1984–85

  3,614

  -589

  —

  3,025

  -1,892

  1,133

  1985–86

  3,745

  —

  -823

  2,922

  -1,930

  992

  1986–87

  5,121

  —

  -1,343

  3,778

  -2,557

  1,221

  1987–88

  4,906

  —

  -1,137

  3,769

  -1,958

  1,811

  1988–89

  5,167

  —

  -1,600

  3,567

  -2,400

  1,166

  1989–90

  5,804

  —

  -1,317

  4,487

  -2,035

  2,452

  1990–91

  6,411

  —

  -1,838

  4,573

  -2,388

  2,185

  1991–92

  6,129

  —

  -2,428

  3,701

  -2,757

  943

  1992–93

  6,970

  —

  -1,993

  4,977

  -2,810

  2,168

  1993–94

  8,407

  —

  -2,350

  6,057

  -3,865

  2,192

  1994–95

  6,892

  —

  -1,648

  5,244

  -3,603

  1,641

  1995–96

  9,232

  —

  -1,564

  7,668

  -4,135

  3,533

  Inland Revenue (Computers)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings to be made from the privatisation of the Inland Revenue's computer system; what figure was provided for contingencies under the original agreement; and how much has been spent of this fund to date. [25883]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: In May 1994 savings were estimated at £225 million over 10 years. In January 1996 the last phase of work was transferred to the Inland Revenue's partner, EDS Ltd. Following that transfer, estimates of savings are being
  10
  National Statistics as the sum of all non-residential fixed investment by the private sector and public corporations—except national health trust hospitals—excluding investment in land and existing buildings. The data for business investment are available on the ONS central shared database, which can be accessed via the Library of the House.

  European Union
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the gross payment, receipts and net payment made by the United Kingdom to the European Union in each year since 1973. [25789]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government's estimates of the United Kingdom's gross contributions, receipts and net contributions to European Community institutions for the financial years 1973–74 to 1994–95, together with the latest estimate of our contribution in 1995–96, are set out in the table.

  updated but there is no expectation of any significant change. There is no specific amount allocated for contingencies under the contract with EDS.

  EDS Ltd.
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date EDS reached the maximum limit on its earned profit from its contract with Inland Revenue; if excess profits are now being paid back to the Inland Revenue; and if he will make a statement. [25884]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: The Inland Revenue contract with EDS includes an annual profit-sharing mechanism. At the end of its financial year,

  11
  EDS provides the department with a statement showing the revenue received from the contract and the costs as included in the company's audited accounts. Where the profit exceeds a percentage target level, calculated in accordance with the contract formula, this is shared between the department and EDS equally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Iron and Steel Employees Readaptation Benefits Scheme
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the Government's expenditure on the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme in each year between 1979 and 1994. [25825]

  Mr. Page
  The figures requested on the iron and steel employees readaptation benefit scheme are as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Total ISERBS expenditure

  Commission contribution

  1979–80

  22.0

  6.0

  1980–81

  40.0

  6.0

  1981–82

  112.0

  28.0

  1982–83

  106.0

  43.0

  1983–84

  47.6

  31.2

  1984–85

  31.6

  16.2

  1985–86

  22.7

  13.1

  1986–87

  19.6

  8.3

  1987–88

  17.7

  5.6

  1988–89

  5.7

  5.7

  1989–90

  5.2

  1.5

  1990–91

  12.6

  0.5

  1991–92

  31.8

  3.3

  1992–93

  51.1

  5.4

  1993–94

  28.7

  5.2

  In addition, the UK Government received European Coal and Steel Community aid from the European Commission as a contribution towards the expenditure. There is a time lag between ISERBS payments being made and receipt of the contribution for the European Commission.

  Fluorescent Lighting Tubes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many fluorescent tube lights were manufactured in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [25746]

  Mr. Page
  Accurate data are available on the number of fluorescent tubes manufactured in the UK, although total exports of linear and compact tubes are recorded at 23, 767, 365 for 1994.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many major companies in the United Kingdom produce fluorescent lighting tubes. [25749]

  Mr. Page
  Three major companies manufacture fluorescent lighting tubes in the United Kingdom.
  12
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many fluorescent lighting tubes were imported into this country in the last year for which figures are available. [25745]

  Mr. Page
  The information is published by the Office for National Statistics in "Business Monitors" MM20 and MQ20, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Fluorescent tubes are found in section 778.22 of the standard international trade classification.

  Vehicle Batteries
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure the safe reclamation and recycling of vehicle batteries [25750]

  Mr. Page
  A very high proportion of spent vehicle batteries has traditionally been recycled in the UK. Within the context of the Government's producer responsibility initiative, the industry has given a commitment to maintain a minimum 90 per cent. recycling rate.

  The recycling of lead-acid batteries is controlled under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This ensures that recycling activities are not carried out in a manner that harms human health, or cause pollution of the environment. In addition, the movement of lead-acid batteries is subject to separate controls under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to comply with European Union directives on the safe disposal and recycling of vehicle batteries. [25741]

  Mr. Page
  The GB Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous Substances) Regulations 1994, SI 1994 No. 232, implemented certain provisions of directives 91/157/EEC and 93/86/EEC, which relate to various battery types, including those normally used for starting, lighting and ignition in vehicles.

  A provision requiring the separate collection of batteries caught by the directives was not transposed into law, since recycling rates in excess of 90 per cent. have traditionally been achieved for lead-acid batteries, and the industry is committed to maintaining this performance.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was his Department's(a) contribution towards and (b) participation in the conference on "One Decade After Chernobyl: Summing up the Consequences of the Accident" summing up the radiological consequences, held in Vienna on 8 to 12 April; and if he will place the papers to, and conclusions from, the conference in the Library. [26265]

  Mr. Page
  The conference on "One Decade After Chernobyl: Summing up the Consequences of the Accident" was sponsored by the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organisation. It was mainly directed at technical specialists with the aim of consolidating scientific international consensus on the health and environmental effects of the Chernobyl accident. It also reviewed the social, economic and political aftermath and considered the improvements in nuclear safety which have followed. Of the issues covered by the conference, nuclear safety is
  13
  the only one which falls directly to my Department. The Government's expert representation on that issue was provided by the Health and Safety Executives nuclear installations inspectorate. The IAEA, on behalf of the sponsors, will publish the proceedings of the conference. I will arrange for a copy of the final conclusions to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as these are available.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what discussions British Nuclear Fuels has had recently with Japanese electrical utilities or Japanese nuclear fuel companies for the provision of mixed oxide fuel; [26269]

  (2) what proportion of the existing capacity at the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. at the Sellafield mixed oxide plant has been contracted for the next 10 years; which countries have placed contracts for the production of MOX fuel at the plant; and what is the total value of contracts placed to date for MOX fuel production. [26270]

  Mr. Page
  Commercial and operational matters are the responsibility of the board of British Nuclear Fuels.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on(a) the current status of materials accountancy and (b) the application of nuclear safeguards at the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Sellafield mixed oxide plant. [26259]

  Mr. Page
  The Sellafield MOX plants are subject to Euratom safeguards and the terms of the UK—Euratom—IAEA safeguards agreement. The MOX demonstration facility has been in operation since 1993 and is subject to Euratom safeguards, with regular materials accountancy reports being supplied in accordance with regulation 3227/76. The Sellafield MOX plant is currently under construction, necessary documentation has been provided to Euratom and discussions are in progress on the detailed safeguard arrangements.

  Trade (China)
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the figures for imports and exports and for invisible and visible trade between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China for each of the past 10 years. [25205]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on the UK's visible trade with the People's Republic of China between 1985 and 1994 is published by the Office for National Statistics in tables 12.5 and 12.6 of the "Annual Abstract of Statistics", 1996 edition. The same information for 1995 is published by the Office for National Statistics in table 2 of the most recent "Business Monitor", MM20. Copies of both the above publications are available in the Library of the House. Information on invisible trade between the UK and the People's Republic of China for 1994 will be published by the Office for National Statistics in the April 1996 issue of "Economic Trends". Information for previous years is not available.

  Social Chapter
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official
  14
  Report, columns 372-73, what proportion of the difference in unit labour costs between United Kingdom employees and other EU countries' employees is attributable to the effects of the adoption of directives under the social chapter. [25553]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: The impact of directives, individually and collectively, on costs will differ between countries depending on national regulations and practice before the adoption of the directives at a European level. To date, directives adopted under the Maastricht agreement on social policy have not been implemented in member states.

  European Works Council and Parental Leave Directives
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, columns 372-73, what is his Department's estimate of the effect on the number in employment if (a) the European works council directive and (b) the parental leave directive, were introduced; and if he will place in the Library the information upon which his estimates are based. [25552]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: Both the parental leave directive and the European works council directive would impose costs on business and reduce flexibility. This would result in the loss of jobs, both in the short and in the longer term. The number of jobs lost would depend on a range of factors—and, in particular, on how individual businesses respond to the additional cost. It is therefore not possible to make a reliable estimate of the effect the directives would have on employment.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Strangers Gallery Tickets
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what consultations he has had over facilitating the administration of Gallery tickets. [24748]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The Administration Committee, at its meeting on 27 June 1995, reviewed the current arrangements for the allocation of tickets to the Special Galleries and Members' parties on the Line of Route. However, my Committee did not support a proposal that a formal visits office should be established to administer the arrangements for these visits.

  Post Arrangements
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what changes are planned to the system of transfer of post from the letterboard in the Members' Lobby to the internal post; and if he will make a statement. [24750]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The Serjeant at Arms and Black Rod have commissioned a study into all aspects of the mail system for both Houses. This will include examination of the transfer of post which has not been collected from the Members' letterboard into the mail system.
  15
  I understand that the Serjeant at Arms will be writing to the hon. Member.

  Hours and Procedures
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he will set up an all-party review of the hours and procedures of the House. [24753]

  Mr. Newton
  The hours at which the House sits were reviewed by the Select Committee on Sittings of the House—the Jopling Committee—in 1992, and changes in procedure designed to reduce sitting hours were agreed to by the House last year. The procedures of the House are also kept under review by the Select Committee on Procedure, which is itself an all-party Committee.

  Oral Statements
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Government oral statements have been given in the Commons since January. [24755]

  Mr. Newton
  From 11 January until 3 April there were 26 oral statements given in the House of Commons.

  Private Members' Balloted Motions
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the number of private Members' balloted motions debated in each of the Sessions(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93 and (c) 1993–94. [24757]

  Mr. Newton
  The numbers of private Members' balloted motions debated in each of the specified Sessions are as follows:

  (a) 8

  (b) 14

  (c) 19.

  Heads of Government
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to permit Heads of foreign Governments to address the House from within the Chamber. [24754]

  Mr. Newton
  No. I believe that the present arrangements for Heads of State or Heads of Government to address both Houses in the Royal Gallery or in Westminster Hall are satisfactory.

  Legislation
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Henry VIII clauses have been contained in legislation each year since 1979; and if he will list the relevant clause, Act or statutory instrument in each case. [24528]

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he last reviewed the arrangements for dealing with urgent legislation in the House. [24756]

  Mr. Newton
  I have not undertaken such a review, but if the hon. Member has suggestions to make in the light of recent or current experience, I should be glad to consider them or to invite consideration by the Procedure Committee.

ATTORNY-GENERAL

  Anthony Duncan
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's application to Dublin district court for the extradition of Anthony Duncan. [25617]

  The Attorney-General
  Anthony Duncan was arrested in the Republic of Ireland on 11 April on domestic charges. He is wanted in this country to face charges in connection with bombs in Brighton and Bognor in August 1994. Extradition between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland takes place under the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 and the corresponding legislation of the Republic of Ireland. In accordance with the provision of that legislation and following my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General's decision to prosecute, the Metropolitan police delivered an arrest warrant for Duncan and supporting papers to their Irish counterparts on 12 April. The original arrest warrant, however, was not produced in the Irish court. There is a conflict of evidence as to how this came about, but a fresh warrant has now been delivered to the authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Entry Clearance (Indian sub-continent)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of entry clearance officers at British high commission offices in(a) Pakistan, (b) Sri Lanka, (c) India and (d) Bangladesh on 30 March. [25572]

  Mr. Hanley
  The numbers of entry clearance officers serving at the British high commission offices in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are as follows:

  (a) Pakistan:

  i. Islamabad: 28

  ii. Karachi: 5

  (b) Sri Lanka: 4 officers

  (c) India:

  i. Bombay: 10

  ii. Calcutta: 1

  iii. Madras: 2

  iv. New Delhi: 12

  (d) Bangladesh: 12

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current average target time set for the United Kingdom post in Islamabad to(a) prepare and (b) dispatch to the United Kingdom explanatory statements concerning refusal to grant entry clearance; what the target times were in each quarter over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [26237]

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 1989, the target times for the preparation and submission of appeal statements by the high commission in Islamabad have been one month for non-settlement appeals and three months for settlement appeals.

  British Steel
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total value of commercial orders placed by his Department with British Steel plc in each year from 1988 to 1995. [25815]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have no record of any order having been placed with British Steel.

  France (Middle East Visit)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place with the French Government before the visit by the French Foreign Minister to Israel, Syria and Lebanon; and if he will make a statement. [25568]

  Mr. Hanley
  France has kept us fully informed of the progress of the visit and negotiations.

  UN Peacekeeping Forces
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries in which the United Kingdom has United Nations peacekeeping forces; and what are the numbers of peacekeepers in each country. [25573]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Four hundred and twenty-two British troops are deployed as follows on United Nations peacekeeping operations:

  Cyprus (UNFICYP): 388

  Kuwait/Iraq (UNIKOM): 16

  Angola (UNAVEM): 3

  Croatia (UNPF, UNMOP, UNTAES): 5

  Georgia (UNOMIG): 10

  Lake Kojanovskoe, Russia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 3 April to the hon. Member for Linglithgow, what conclusions have been drawn about funding action to counter contamination of Lake Kojanovskoe. [25532]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  It is too early to consider what concrete assistance might be made available to counteract contamination of Lake Kojanovskoe. The conclusions of the EU-financed study are being considered and will be followed up with the Commission in due course.

  Liberia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the situation of British nationals remaining in Liberia. [25831]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our consular correspondent has reported that, of the 12 British nationals in Liberia, nine have elected to remain in Liberia and one is undecided. They are all well. The whereabouts and condition of the two other British nationals are unknown.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a18
  about the proposal for a second summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. [26279]

  Mr. David Davis
  We support the principle of a second summit. Such a summit might best be held in 1999 when the Council of Europe will, in any event, wish to mark its 50th anniversary.

  Mrs. Shazia Bi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decision has been taken on the application by Mrs. Shazia Bi, Ref: IMM/C7321, to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and on what date that decision was taken. [26244]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Sexual Exploitation of Children Congress
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister which Minister will attend the world congress against commercial sexual exploitation of children in Stockholm in August; and if he will make a statement. [26098]

  The Prime Minister
  The congress will be attended by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Kirkhope).

  Nuclear Safety and Security Summit
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the nuclear safety and security summit in Moscow. [26550]

  The Prime Minister
  I attended the Moscow summit on nuclear safety and security on 19 and 20 April. I have arranged for copies of the declaration and background documents to be placed in the Library of the House. The summit was chaired jointly by President Yeltsin and by President Chirac as the current chairman of the Group of Seven. Other G7 leaders attended, as did President Kuchma of Ukraine for the later part of the summit.

  There was unanimous agreement at the summit on the priority that needs to be given to ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants and the security of nuclear materials. We agreed that the convention on nuclear safety must be ratified and brought into force as soon as possible; the United Kingdom has already ratified the convention.
  19
  At the same time, the summit endorsed the importance of market-oriented reforms in the energy sector, and the contribution this can make to nuclear safety. Investment strategies should be based on least-cost planning, and energy efficiency and conservation have an important role to play.

  We also agreed on the need to work for the early adoption of a convention on the safety of radioactive waste management, which is currently under negotiation. The disposal of radioactive waste at sea is prohibited under the 1993 amendment to the London convention, which the UK and most other countries have accepted; at the summit, Russia gave a firm commitment to accept the amendment. We agreed to work together to identify strategies for the safe management and eventual disposal of fissile material no longer required for defence purposes.

  President Kuchma attended the summit for the discussion on Chernobyl. We welcomed his decision to close Chernobyl by the year 2000 in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the G7 and the Ukraine last year, and we confirmed our commitment to implement the memorandum.

  The summit also discussed the need to prevent any illicit trafficking in nuclear materials. We agreed on a programme to combat any such trafficking, and to increase co-operation to ensure the safe storage and protection of nuclear materials. Existing co-ordination between national agencies will be enhanced.

  The countries at the summit also committed themselves to conclude and sign a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty by September 1996.

  The summit also provided a timely opportunity to discuss the main international issues, particularly Lebanon and Bosnia. On Lebanon, we agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to end the present crisis and enable the wider peace process to resume. We endorsed current diplomatic efforts to bring this about. On Bosnia, we agreed that the deployment of the implementation force and implementation of the military part of the Dayton agreement had gone well, but that more rapid progress was needed on key issues such as elections, reconstruction and the return of refugees.

  Before the summit, I visited Prague and Kiev for discussions with the Governments of the Czech Republic and Ukraine. In Moscow I had meetings with President Yeltsin, Prime Minister Chernomydin and others. I also took the opportunity to have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Chretien and President Clinton and to discuss our problems with the European Union over beef exports informally with the other EU leaders present.

  In sum, therefore, the Moscow summit made a major contribution to nuclear safety, through agreements reached and endorsed. It was also an invaluable occasion to take forward other significant issues informally with my fellow Heads of State and Governments, and to reinforce with them. It was a success on all counts.

  Monarchy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce a measure to abolish the monarchy. [26282]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what response Her Majesty's Government are suggesting to the United Nations as a reply to the initiative to the United Nations from Libya to send an inspection team to the alleged chemical weapons site at Rabta in the Libyan desert; and if he will make a statement. [26287]

  The Prime Minister
  We believe that if Libya seriously wishes to dispel concerns about chemical weapons activities at this or any other site, she should accede to and comply fully with the provisions of the chemical weapons convention.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many advisers seconded by the British Government to sub-Saharan Africa are advising on the reorganisation of(a) health services and (b) education services; [25580]

  (2) how many advisers seconded by the British Government to sub-Saharan Africa are advising on the reorganisation of (a) police, (b) army and (c) civil service; [25579]

  (3) if he will list (a) the number of British advisers presently serving in sub-Saharan Africa, (b) their job description and (c) the length of their contracts. [25583]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA currently employs the following professional advisers in its overseas offices in sub-Saharan Africa:

  Professional discipline

  Number

  Health

  4

  Education

  1

  Government institutions, including the civil service and the police

  1

  Others

  27

  It also employs technical co-operation officers to work on specific programmes and projects. The number of such personnel currently engaged is:

  Professional discipline

  Number

  Health

  18

  Education

  24

  Government institutions, including the civil service and the police

  52

  Others

  91

  In addition to the above, there are 47 military and civilian personnel advising on a range of defence issues deployed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MOD on behalf of the British Government to sub-Saharan Africa.
  21
  Individual terms and job descriptions vary widely between discipline, location, programme and project and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The FCO and ODA also contract with consultancy services to provide advisers whose individual contract terms can also be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Liberia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the situation in Liberia. [25834]

  Mr. Hanley
  We condemn the recent fighting in Monrovia and call on all factions to re-establish the ceasefire and abide by the terms of the Abuja agreement. We support international efforts to restore order.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the humanitarian requirements of the population of Liberia; [25832]

  (2) what reports he has received about the withdrawal of aid agencies from Liberia. [25833]

  Mr. Hanley
  Latest UN reports indicate that nearly all aid agencies have withdrawn from Liberia and most are temporarily based in Abidjan and Freetown pending an improvement in the security situation. The UN hopes to carry out assessments very soon but, in the meantime, the World Food Programme is achieving a modest food distribution in Monrovia.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current political and security situation in Liberia. [25830]

  Mr. Hanley
  The fighting in Monrovia is a severe setback to the peace process. We welcome the efforts of the UN and the countries of the region to restore order.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) his EU counterparts, (b) the United States of America and (c) the UN regarding the situation in Liberia. [25829]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have participated in discussions in the UN Security Council and are in close touch with our EU partners and the US regarding the situation in Liberia.

  The Gambia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the timetable for the transition to democracy programme in The Gambia. [25828]

  Mr. Hanley
  We regret that the Gambian Government has been unable to meet have their own timetable for transition to democracy, despite help from the donor community. We have urged the regime to press ahead and to lift the ban on political activity and release or bring to trial all detainees.

HEALTH

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received on the health effects of the incineration of BSE-affected cattle; and how many suitable incinerators are available. [23840]

  Mr. Horam
  BSE—affected cattle are currently incinerated at nine incinerators authorised under part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for animal carcase incineration. The Act requires that conditions are included in authorisations to achieve the objective of ensuring that the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost are used to prevent, minimise and render harmless emissions.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department were listed incorrectly in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright) on 4 May 1995,Official Report, column 276. [26425]

  Mr. Horam
  I regret that the reply given by my predecessor contained two errors. The Standing Dental Advisory Committee was incorrectly listed as publishing its advice to Government as a statutory requirement; additionally, the Health Advisory Service was incorrectly listed as publishing an annual report as a statutory requirement. In neither case is there such a requirement.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25956]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 17 January 1995 at column 440.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which(a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20098]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: The following Department of Health advisory non-departmental public bodies have a statutory basis:

  Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee;

  Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products;

  British Pharmacopoeia Commission;

  Clinical Standards Advisory Group;

  Committee on the Safety of Medicines;

  Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation;

  Medicines Commission;

  Standing Dental Advisory Committee;

  Standing Medical Advisory Committee;

  23

  Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee;

  Standing Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee;

  Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority.

  The following Department of Health advisory non-departmental public bodies are required to:

  Publish their advice to the Government:

  (i) under a statutory requirement:

  None;

  (ii) voluntarily:

  Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy;

  Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee.

  Publish and annual report:

  (i) under a Statutory requirement:

  Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products;

  British Pharmacopoeia Commission;

  Committee on the Safety of Medicines;

  Medicines Commission.

  (ii) voluntarily:

  Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards;

  Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food;

  Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment;

  Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy;

  Committee on the Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment;

  Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment;

  Health Advisory Service.

  Lay an annual report before Parliament:

  (i) under a statutory requirement:

  Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products;

  British Pharmacopoeia Commission;

  Committee on the Safety of Medicines;

  Medicines Commission.

  (ii) Voluntarily:

  None.

  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of a possible link between the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and forceps deliveries of babies. [25203]

  Mr. Bowis
  Forceps deliveries have not been shown to be associated with the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children(a) in England as a whole and (b) in each standard planning region. [25204]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not available centrally. Recent research suggests that severe hyperkinetic disorder, which is one form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is found in about one in 200 children.

  Psychiatric Care (Minors)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric beds have been provided for children and adolescents by(a) the NHS and (b) the independent sector for each year since 1979. [26186]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the number of psychiatric beds provided for adolescents is not available.

  Data on the number of child psychiatric beds are contained in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library. The latest year for which data are available is 1994–95.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been admitted to psychiatric care for each year since 1979. [26187]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is shown in the table.

  Admission to psychiatric care in national health service hospitals: England 1979–1986, 1989–90 to 1994–95

  Age group

  Year

  0–14

  15–19

  1979

  1,910

  5,810

  1980

  2,040

  5,960

  1981

  1,990

  6,030

  1982

  1,890

  5,450

  1983

  1,890

  5,460

  1984

  1,870

  5,530

  1985

  1,900

  5,440

  1986

  1,780

  5,270

  1989–90

  2,600

  5,600

  1990–91

  2,600

  5,000

  1991–92

  2,300

  4,900

  1992–93

  2,900

  5,600

  1993–94

  3,100

  5,700

  1994–951

  3,100

  5,400

  1 Provisional figures

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1979 to 1986 are based on calendar years and are derived from the Mental Health Enquiry.

  2. Figures for 1989–90 to 1994–95 are estimabased on the number of hospital episodes in the financial year. The two sources are not consistent in their definition of admissions so there is some discontinuity in the data. Reliable data are not available for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Source:

  1979 to 1986 Mental Health Enquiry.

  1989–90 to 1994–95 Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the maximum number of beds permitted by his Department in(a) a nursing home and (b) a residential care home. [26188]

  Mr. Bowis
  We make no such prescription for either category of home.

  Prescription Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the percentages of fatal side-effects of prescription drugs which are not reported under the yellow card scheme. [26276]

  Mr. Malone
  Under the yellow card scheme, reports of suspected adverse reactions to licensed medicines are received from doctors, dentists and coroners. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily
  25
  mean that the reaction was caused by the drug. The scheme is voluntary and not all adverse reactions are reported. The percentage of all fatal adverse reactions which are not reported through the scheme is not known.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a quarterly analysis of the number of operations cancelled in each region since figures have been published. [19497]

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library figures by(a) district health authority and (b) regional health authority, of the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to hospital and the number of those patients not readmitted within a month for (i) the second and (b) and third quarter of 1995–96. [19471]

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 March 1996, c. 324]: I regret that my previous reply contained an error. The percentage of operations cancelled in 1994–95 should read less than 1 per cent., not 0.01 per cent.

DEFENCE

  Menwith Hill
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if(a) the squadron leader in charge and (b) other British employees at Menwith Hill have signed the US Official Secrets Act. [20631]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our policy to comment on specific security arrangements.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States personnel are under the command of the squadron leader in charge at Menwith Hill. [20627]

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Joint Rapid Deployment Force (Ferries)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the roll-on roll-off ferries that are to be bought for the joint rapid deployment force, announced on 26 March, will be manned by British seafarers; and if he will make a statement. [25479]

  Mr. Soames
  No decision has yet been reached on the most appropriate manning arrangements for the roll-on roll-off ferries to support the joint rapid deployment force. An announcement will be made in the summer, once all relevant factors have been properly weighed.

  RAF (Commitments)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the capacity of the RAF to meet its commitments. [25797]

  Mr. Soames
  I am fully confident that the RAF continues to have the capacity to meet its operational commitments.
  26
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has introduced to reduce overstretch in the RAF. [25798]

  Mr. Soames
  The Royal Air Force has introduced a number of temporary measures to minimise the burden on personnel during the current drawdown. These include provisions to postpone tactical and operational evaluations and scale down formal inspections and staff visits. Such measures are a sensible way of ensuring that operational capabilities are maintained over this transitional period.

  British Steel
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of commercial orders placed by his Department with British Steel plc in each year from 1988 to 1995. [25819]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In the years concerned, the value of the orders placed directly with British Steel plc by the Department was:

  £

  1988

  36,000

  1989

  836,000

  1990

  168,000

  1991

  80,000

  1992

  2,330,000

  1993

  297,000

  1994

  42,000

  1995

  37,000

  All figures are approximate.

  Most steel for the Ministry of Defence will be procured via MOD prime contractors for shipbuilding, tanks etcetera.

  NATO
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision by the Chief of the Air Staff to postpone tactical evaluations and operational evaluations on the United Kingdom's ability to fulfil its NATO obligations. [25587]

  Mr. Soames
  The planned postponement of Tacevals and Opevals in the period to March 1997 will have no detrimental impact on the UK's ability to fulfil its obligations to NATO.

  Oral Communication Classes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance he is giving Air Chief Marshall Sir Michael Graydon in implementing oral communication classes at the Royal Air Force's officer training school, Cranwell; what plans he has to recommend these classes to the other armed services training establishments; and if he will make a statement. [25565]

  Mr. Soames
  Oral communication is already taught at the officer training colleges of all three services. The syllabuses are kept under constant review and are subject to change as appropriate by the respective commanding officers. Contrary to recent reports in the press, there are no plans to change the existing oral communication syllabus at the RAF college, Cranwell.

  Beaufort's Dyke
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what explosions recorded by the British Geological Survey in the immediate vicinity of Beaufort's dyke in 1995 were related to his Ministry's activities. [25720]

  Mr. Soames
  From the data supplied by the British Geological Survey, one explosion in the immediate vicinity of Beaufort's dyke corresponds to the record of a controlled detonation of a second world war mine on 7 February 1995 on a beach in the West Freugh range area.

  Battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations his Department is making for the commemoration of the bicentenary of the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. [25915]

  Mr. Soames
  It is too early for any arrangements or plans to have been considered by my Department for this important event in October 2005.

  Trident Submarines
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the costs quoted in the original bid and what are the current estimated costs of(a) Project DI54 and (b) the nuclear refitting process for Trident strategic submarine ballistic nuclear; what are the reasons for the difference; and from what source additional expenditure will be met. [25616]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In respect of Project DI54, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 April 1996,Official Report, column 458. The financial projections which underpinned the 1993 decision to place nuclear work at Devonport took into account capital costs and total operating costs associated with conducting both nuclear and non-nuclear refitting work over a 15-year period. These amounted to some £5, 284 million for the option selected. The cost of the Trident refitting programme will be influenced by the outcome of negotiations on the sale of Devonport royal dockyard and the actual duration of refits. The information is not available in the form requested.

  Laser Weapons Protocol
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of(a) the practical interpretation and (b) the implications of the laser weapons protocol, with particular reference to intentional and unintentional blinding. [25206]

  Mr. Soames
  We welcome the adoption by the UN weaponry convention review conference in October 1995 of the protocol on blinding laser weapons. We believe that the protocol meets humanitarian concerns without adversely affecting normal military uses of lasers. Our interpretation is that it would prohibit the employment of laser weapons specifically designed, whether as their sole combat purpose or as one of their combat purposes, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision.

  As to the employment of other lasers, states parties are required to take feasible precautions to avoid the incidence of permanent blindness to unenhanced vision.
  28
  The user's intention—or lack of it—to cause blindness is not, as such, material. We are currently studying the implications of this protocol and will take a decision on whether to ratify it following the final session of the review conference.

  RAF St. Athan (Training Flights)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the times and the days that training flights have been undertaken from RAF St. Athan indicating the land bearings below the airspace used for training. [25418]

  Mr. Soames
  Three types of flying training are undertaken from RAF St. Athan:

  (a) Elementary flying training for the members of University of Wales university air squadron using Bulldog aircraft.

  (b) Air experience flying for air cadets using Bulldog aircraft.

  (c) Air experience and training for air cadets using gliders.

  The station is also used as a forward operating base for Hawk aircraft from RAF Valley using the Pembrey range for advanced fast jet training.

  Hawk aircraft flying takes place during the station's normal hours of operation which are 0830 to 1700 hours Monday to Thursday and 0830 to 1600 hours on Fridays. Bulldog aircraft and gliders also operate outside of these hours during the summer months and at weekends throughout the year.

  Training flights use much of the available airspace. Details of land bearings and the specific time and date for flights could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the international discussions aimed at outlawing the use of land mines. [9385]

  Mr. David Davis
  [pursuant to the answer, 17 January 1996, c. 579]: In order to make greater progress in achieving international agreement on effective measures to reduce the dangers to civilians from land mines, we have taken a series of national decisions following a review of our policy, as follows:
  The UK will work actively towards a total, world-wide ban on anti-personnel mines. Should such a ban be agreed, we would give up our anti-personnel land mine capability, and would destroy our stocks accordingly.
  All our current anti-personnel mines are non-self-destructing. We intend to destroy almost half our current stockpile as soon as practicable. Until a world-wide ban on all anti-personnel mines is agreed, we shall also pursue current procurement plans to replace our existing mines with self-destructing ones.
  We shall also pursue, as an interim step, early international agreement on the elimination of all non-self-destructing anti-personnel mines, which pose the greatest danger to civilians.
  The UK's armed forces do not currently use anti-personnel mines operationally, anywhere in the world. Nor will they use our current stocks of non-self-destructing anti-personnel mines in future operations unless, in exceptional circumstances, Ministers are satisfied that their use is essential to ensure that British troops are properly protected and there are no alternative ways of achieving that end.

  29
  In such exceptional circumstances, we would use non-self-destructing anti-personnel mines only in marked, fenced or monitored areas; would clear them as soon as feasible; and any use would be strictly in accordance with the laws of armed conflict, including the strengthened protocol II to the UN weaponry convention which we hope will be agreed shortly.
  We shall also, as a matter of priority, pursue the development of alternatives to anti-personnel mines. Should viable alternatives emerge—none has yet—we would cease to use all anti-personnel mines, of any type, and would destroy all our stocks.
  In addition, we shall with immediate effect extend the scope of our export moratorium, to prohibit the export of all types of anti-personnel mines to all destinations.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Lancashire received(a) income support and (b) housing benefit in each year from 1979 to 1996. [24879]

  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. Peter Pike, dated 19 April 1996:
  As Peter Mathison is away from the office on annual leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Lancashire received (a) Income Support (IS) and (b) Housing Benefit (HB) in each year from 1979 to 1996.
  The information is not available in the format requested. IS statistics are collated by Benefits Agency (BA) Districts and not for specific geographical areas. The areas covered by some Districts may fall outside of the County boundaries. Additionally, data prior to 1991 is only available on a national basis. Information has been provided for the BA Districts of Blackburn and Accrington; Blackpool; Bolton; Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale; Lancashire and South Cumbria; Preston; West Pennine; and South West Lancashire. Further breakdown of District information is not possible. Available IS statistics are in the attached Table 1.
  HB statistics are collated by Local Authority area. Information is only available from 1988. For 1988 and 1989 some information has been estimated as some Local Authorities did not provide statistical data. Information has been provided for the Local Authorities of Blackburn; Blackpool; Burnley; Chorley; Fylde; Hyndbum; Lancaster; Pendle; Preston; Ribble Valley; Rossendale; South Ribble; West Lancashire; and Wyre. HB statistics relate to claims from both IS and non-IS recipients. Available HB statistics are in the attached Table 2.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Table 1: Income Support Live Claims for Lancashire from 1991

  Income Support live claims

  May 1991

  212,329

  May 1992

  228,417

  May 1993

  248,700

  May 1994

  252,941

  May 1995

  251,972

  30

  Table 2: Housing benefit claims for Lancashire from 1988

  Housing benefit cases for Lancashire

  May 19881

  80,570

  May 19891

  77,550

  May 1990

  82,080

  May 1991

  81,240

  May 1992

  86,720

  May 1993

  88,840

  May 1994

  93,970

  May 1995

  96,880

  1Estimated figures.

  Information refers to the number of benefit units, which may be for a single person or a couple.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many persons were receiving sickness benefit and invalidity benefit on 31 March 1995; [25801]

  (2) how many persons are currently receiving incapacity benefit. [25802]

  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the table.

  Number (million)

  Persons receiving sickness and invalidity benefit at 12 April 19951

  21.88

  Persons receiving capacity benefit at 31 March 1996

  31.81

  1Information from the day before the introduction of incapacity benefit, the nearest date to the 31 March 1995 for which information is available.

  2From 1 per cent. sample of all claims in Great Britain.

  3100 Per cent. count of all claims in Great Britain. Excludes a small number of cases paid clerically.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have(a) passed and (b) failed the incapacity benefit all-work test in the City of Durham constituency since its introduction. [24917]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit 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. Gerry Steinberg, dated 19 April 1996:
  As Peter Mathison is away from the office on annual leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many people have (a) passed and (b) failed the Incapacity Benefit's all-work test in the City of Durham constituency since its introduction.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics are not kept which are specific to Parliamentary Constituencies, but are kept for Benefits Agency (BA) Districts. The BA District of North Durham comprises the BA Offices of Durham, Chester-Le-Street, Peterlee, Seaham and Stanley.
  31
  The information available for North Durham District is contained in the table below:

  Allowed following reference to BA Medical Services (BAMS) on the all work test

  Disallowed following reference o BAMS on the all work test

  7,512

  1,787

  Notes:

  1. The information is for the period 13 April 95 to 29 February 96.

  2. Data is only available for cases counted by computer system and therefore does not include details of any cases paid clerically, the numbers of which are very low.

  3. Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people who have been found capable for work under the all-work test of capacity have subsequently signed on as unemployed(a) in total and (b) for each month since April 1995; [25364]

  (2) how many people who have been found capable of work under the all-work test of capacity who have subsequently signed on as unemployed receive (a) unemployment benefit only, (b) income support only and (c) unemployment benefit and income support. [25365]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the period 1995 to February 1996, 33, 454 people who have been disallowed incapacity benefit following the all-work test have made a claim for unemployment-related benefits. A monthly breakdown is given in the table. No figures are available regarding the type of unemployment benefit that these claimants have received.

  April 1995 to February 1996

  Month

  Number of claimants

  Cumulative total

  April

  153

  153

  May

  275

  428

  June

  510

  938

  July

  1,448

  2,386

  August

  2,880

  5,266

  September

  3,708

  8,974

  October

  4,519

  13,493

  November

  5,059

  18,552

  December

  4,366

  22,918

  January

  4,801

  27,719

  February

  5,735

  33,454

  Equality Monitoring
  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what changes he has made to the funding of equality monitoring in his Department; for what reasons; and what representations he has received in respect of these changes; [25944]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of reduction in equality monitoring in his Department and its agencies on (a) promoting equal opportunities and (b) eliminating discrimination; [25946]

  (3) what factors underlay his decision to abandon ethnic origin re-survey exercises among staff in (a) the Child Support Agency and (b) the Contributions Agency. [25945]

  Mr. Burt
  There is no separate resource allocation for equality monitoring. The great majority of equal opportunities monitoring is carried out as an integral part 32
  of the wider monitoring of the Department's personnel policies and practices. This monitoring will continue in order to highlight both best practice and areas of concern, and to work to improve equality of opportunity for all staff.

  Along with other civil service Departments, this Department has been looking at ways of reducing costs and, as part of this wider review, has looked at its work plans for equal opportunities. We have decided not to undertake any ethnicity follow-up surveys within the Department or its agencies in the next three years. The Department already has a very good overall response rate of 86 per cent., and this action will not affect our ability to promote equal opportunities and eliminate discrimination in the workplace.

  Representations about changes to equality monitoring have been received from the trade union sides in DSS headquarters and the Contributions Agency.

  Benefits Agency Advice Line
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what date the review of the Benefits Agency's freeline benefit advice line service will be published; when he evaluated a preliminary draft of the report; and if he will make a statement on the future of this service; [26280]

  (2) on what date the review of the Benefits Agency's freeline benefit advice line service will be published; and what evaluation he has made of preliminary drafts of the report. [25440]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This 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. Frank Field, dated 22 April 1996:
  As Peter Mathison is away from the office on annual leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking on what date the review of the Benefits Agency's freeline benefit advice line service will be published; what evaluation he has made of preliminary drafts of the report; and if he will make a statement on the future of this service.
  This is an internal review, which is still continuing, and I cannot comment on any possible findings in advance of its completion. Once the review has been completed, the results will be evaluated in the context of the Agency's overall benefit advice services and running costs.
  hope you find this reply helpful.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for, Social Security how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25961]

  Mr. Burt
  There was one such appointment in the year ending 31 March 1995, Mrs. Nicole Davoud OBE, to the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues
  33
  in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of allowing families in receipt of family credit to claim a child care disregard for each dependent child. [18241]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 March 1996, c. 477]: The estimated cost of disregarding all child care expenses for recipients of family credit would be in the region of £40 million in the long run, without allowing for behavioural effects. If all such costs were disregarded, there would be a strong incentive for people not paying for child care at the moment, to declare some payment. There are around 100, 000 people on family credit who would be faced with such an incentive, which could lead to very substantial further costs.

  Notes:
  Estimates based on data 1991–92 and 1993 family expenditure surveys, and the 1994 annual statistical inquiry, uprated to 1996–97 and 1997–98 levels adjusted using data on child care in the 1993–94 family resources survey.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social security what has been the annual expenditure on cold weather payments for each of the last five years. [22779]

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

  Year

  Expenditure (£000s)

  1990–91

  8,600

  1991–92

  23,000

  1992–93

  15,000

  1993–94

  12,400

  1994–95

  77

  1995–961

  63,000

  1. Up to and including 19 March 1996.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Ministerial Duties
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proportion of his time is spent on(a) presiding at Cabinet Committees, (b) other Privy Council duties and (c) his duties as Leader of the House of Commons; and if he will make a statement. [24752]

  Mr. Newton
  As much time as the respective duties require.

  EDS Ltd.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what savings to date have been made by his Department as a result of outsourcing 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. [24234]

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle),Official Report, column 612.

TRANSPORT

  Railways (Safety)
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on safety arrangements for the railways. [24728]

  Mr. Watts
  We have implemented in full the Health and Safety Commission's recommendations for an enhanced safety regime. The independent Health and Safety Executive will continue to enforce health and safety requirements.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to increase freight traffic on the rail system. [24733]

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to increase rail freight. [24738]

  Sir George Young
  Privatisation and liberalisation are essential if rail is to attract and retain freight customers. British Rail's trainload freight subsidiaries and rail express systems have been sold; final bids for Freightliner are being evaluated. Two companies have set up own-account rail freight operations using powers in the Railways Act 1993. We continue to provide targeted support for the industry through the two freight grant schemes.

  Motorways (Repairs)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the state of repair of(a) the M4 and (b) other motorway routes. [24736]

  Mr. Watts
  Over the last 12 months there have been no representations on the state of repair of the M4 in England.

  On other motorway routes there have been a total of four representations, relating to the M11 in Cambridgeshire and near Bishop's Stortford, the M25 between junctions 2 and 3, the M69 in Leicestershire and the M42 in the west midlands.

  Rail Franchising
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on franchising passenger services in the south of England. [24737]

  Mr. Watts
  Franchises have been awarded for South West Trains, Great Western, Gatwick Express and Network SouthCentral. Grants will reduce from £243 million paid to British Rail in 1995–96 to £95 million in year seven for private operators.

  All franchises will operate at least the existing number of trains with some service enhancements. London and South Coast Railways, which has been awarded the Network SouthCentral franchise, intends to introduce new off-peak and Sunday services to south London.
  35
  Invitations to tender have been issued for other south of England franchises—South Eastern, Chiltern and South Wales and West—and LTS Rail has been re-tendered to previously shortlisted bidders.

  Road Fatalities
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the trend in the numbers of road fatalities in the past 10 years. [24740]

  Mr. Norris
  In the 10 years to 1994, fatalities have fallen by 35 per cent., from 5,599 in 1984 to 3,650 in 1994.

  Public Transport (Investment)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To the Secretary of State for Transport what increases in the level of investment in public transport have taken place following reductions in the roads budget within the last year. [24742]

  Mr. Norris
  Our priority, as far as possible, has been to maintain funding for public transport in the face of an overall reduction in the transport budget. Rail investment is expected to increase significantly above the £1 billion spent last year, following privatisation of Railtrack and other businesses, while investment in London Transport this year will be at around last year's historically high level of £1.1 billion. Details are set out in the Transport report 1996, CM 3206.

  Buses (Standing Passengers)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about standing passengers on buses. [24744]

  Mr. Norris
  I have received representations over the past 12 months which reflect concerns ranging from safety to the comfort of standing passengers. They have been in the context of both the current United Kingdom legislation and the effects of possible harmonisation of bus and coach construction requirements across the EU.

  East London Line
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has recently had with London Transport on the East London line; and if he will make a statement. [24745]

  Mr. Norris
  I often discuss the East London line with the chairman of London Transport at our regular meetings.

  Robin Hood Line
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet local authorities in the east midlands to discuss the completion of the Robin Hood line. [24741]

  Mr. Norris
  My officials are in regular contact with officers of Nottinghamshire county council and partner local authorities about the line. We currently await further information in support of the value for money case for stage 3. I would be happy to meet the local authorities myself if such a meeting would serve a useful purpose but have no current plans to do so.

  Supplementary Track Access Charges
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much additional subsidy has been made available to train operating companies and freight operating companies to cover the cost of supplementary track access charges. [24548]

  Mr. Watts
  The level of grant paid by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to passenger train operating companies takes into account all factors, including likely financial efforts of the introduction of the track access performance regime and the expected level of compensation payments from Railtrack.

  Overall the level of grant paid by Opraf to the first five franchises by year seven will be one third the current funding paid to BR.

  Crash Barriers
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what studies he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into (i) the need to erect a barrier fence to prevent vehicles coming into collision with mature trees planted on embankments and verges, (ii) hazards posed by the installation of an intermittent barrier, (iii) means to prevent the impact of vehicles with lighting columns installed on verges and embankments and (iv) the use of barriers to prevent vehicles coming into contact with adjacent roads, waterways and other hazards; [25144]

  (2) what his policy is on the installation of crash cushions; [25148]

  (3) what criteria determine whether the drop on verge side of a road or carriageway should be protected by a verge barrier; and when such criteria were last revised; [25142]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the effect of installation of crash cushions on (a) the Birmingham ring road, (b) the Aston expressway, (c) the Stourbridge ring road, (d) the black country route and (e) the Queen Elizabeth II bridge; [25150]

  (5) if he will commission a study to consider provision of a continuous verge barrier on roads, motorways and dual carriageways (i) with traffic flows of greater than 10, 000 vehicles per day and (ii) with an accident incidence rate of more than 1.5 times the average for that class of road. [25145]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Patrick Nicholls, dated 22 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about the use of crash cushions and safety fences and barriers at the roadside verge.
  Where a safety problem is identified on the highway it is the Agency's practice to consider what the range of options are for dealing with it. These options would embrace both measures that would help to avoid the risk occurring in the first place and those that would mitigate the effect of an accident should one occur. Thus, should a situation arise where the use of crash cushions was an option, then it would be considered alongside other possible options. It is difficult to generalise as to where and in what circumstances they would be used since this depends to a large extent on the local situation in terms of type of problem, highway layout and other local factors.

  37
  The Highways Agency has made no assessment of the crash cushions installed on the following roads since none of them form part of the trunk road network:

  (a) Birmingham Ring Road,

  (b) Aston Expressway,

  (c) Stourbridge Ring Road and

  (d) Black Country Route.

  Since 1991 the operator of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge has reported 9 incidents of vehicular impact with the crash cushions installed at the toll booth buffers.
  Regarding the use of vehicle restraint systems along the verges of highways, the criteria for their application, last revised in 1985, are given in the Highways Agency Standard TD19/85 "Safety Fences and Barriers". A copy is in the House of Commons Library. Prior to this revision a study was carried out into the need to protect vehicles from mature trees on the embankments or verges of highways as well as the need to protect adjacent roads, waterways and other hazards. The results of this study were incorporated into the advice given in TD19/85. This Standard is currently under review to see whether any changes are required to cater for example, intermittent safety fences and barriers and protection to lighting columns. In making the review we will be taking account of international best practice.
  Regarding your question on the use of continuous verge barriers, I would point out that nearly all trunk roads have traffic flows greater than 10,000 vehicles per day. The cost of providing continuous verge barriers on all motorways and trunk roads is estimated at over £500 million and unlikely to be cost effective. Where accident rates are above average along a stretch of road, or at a particular site or junction, they are investigated to determine if there is an identifiable cause that can be remedied. Verge barriers would be provided if that was the appropriate solution.
  The present policy of only providing vehicle protection at identified obstructions and hazards is well tested and considered to be cost effective. It is reviewed from time to time and amended in the light of changing circumstances if this was cost effective to do so. In the circumstances I see no need to commission a study to consider the provision of continuous verge barriers at the moment.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated value of each of the publicly owned assets which will be handed over to London and Continental Railways in respect of the channel tunnel rail link. [25594]

  Mr. Watts
  The two Government-owned companies, Union Railways and European Passenger Services, will be transferred to London and Continental Railways. The net assets of these companies are contained in their annual report and accounts, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Valuations of certain specific assets—including valuations for the King's Cross and Stratford railway lands and St. Pancras Station, which are to be leased or transferred to London and Continental but which do not form part of Union Railways—were given in answers to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 12 March 1996,Official Report, column 572, on 13 March 1996, columns 606-607 and on 14 March 1996, columns 720-21

  Parking
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of local government control of parking; and if he will make a statement. [25033]
  38
  Mr. Norris
  The enforcement of on-street parking restrictions by London boroughs since they assumed this responsibility in July 1994 has proved a success. Enforcement has been more effectively directed to support traffic management priorities, and traffic flow has improved as a result. Local authorities outside London have been invited to apply to the Secretary of State to assume this responsibility.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles on Department of Transport contracts in relation to(a) the second Severn crossing and (b) other contracts have been found to be in breach of transport regulations. [26278]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25962]

  Mr. Norris
  One such appointment was made—Mr. Kenneth Ashcroft, who was appointed to Trinity House lighthouse authority in April 1994.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the provision of rural bus services; and if he will make a statement. [24739]

  Mr. Norris
  The provision of rural bus services has been monitored and evaluated in an extensive programme of research undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory on behalf of the Department of Transport.

  Transportation Links (North-west)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from industry regarding improvement of transportation links to the north-west. [24731]

  Sir George Young
  I regularly receive representations from industry about the improvement of transportation links to the north west.

  Pollution
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to reduce(a) the number of vehicle journeys and (b) pollution from motor vehicles following the two most recent reports from the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants; and if he will make a statement. [24743]

  Mr. Norris
  Following the publication in November 1995 on "Non Biological Particles and Health" by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, the Government issued a preliminary response. The response set out policy measures from all sectors including road transport to abate emissions of particles to address both the findings of this report and the recommendation for an
  39
  air quality standard for particles from the expert panel of air quality standards published at the same time. The Government undertook to progress the matter in the context of the air quality strategy being prepared under the Environment Act 1995 which will be issued for consultation later this year.

  The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants report, "Asthma and Outdoor Pollution", was published in October 1995. The report found that the link between air pollution and asthma in the United Kingdom was much less definite than has been suggested. Further research will be carried out as a part of a programme of
  40
  work into air pollution and respiratory disease funded by the Department of Health, the Department of the Environment and the Medical Research Council.

  Network SouthCentral
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the levels of investment in Network SouthCentral. [24729]

  Mr. Watts
  Earlier this month, the Network SouthCentral rail franchise was awarded to London and South Coast Ltd. The company plans to invest some £10 million over the next three years, the bulk of it in rolling stock and stations.

WALES

  Neighbourhood Hospitals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which neighbourhood hospitals have general practice beds; on what terms; in what numbers; and if he will make a statement. [26242]

  Mr. Hague
  As there is no official definition of "neighbourhood hospital", all hospitals which had general practice beds during 1994–95 are listed in the following table. Information on the terms on which these beds are administered is not held centrally.

  Hospital

  GP beds1

  Aberbargoed

  6.5

  Aberdare

  3.7

  Abertillery

  16.2

  Amman Valley

  14.0

  Barry Community

  30.0

  Blaenavon Health Care Unit

  10.0

  Blaina and District

  17.2

  Breconshire War Memorial

  40.0

  Bridgend General

  10.1

  Broddyfi Community

  14.0

  Bronllys

  11.0

  Bronygarth

  10.2

  Bryn Beryl

  23.0

  Builth Wells Cottage

  23.0

  Cardigan and District

  30.0

  Chirk Community

  31.0

  Colwyn Bay Community

  42.0

  County

  17.7

  Deeside Community

  31.0

  Denbigh Community

  50.3

  Dewi Sant

  12.0

  Dollgellau and Barmouth

  20.6

  Ebbw Vale

  13.8

  Ffestiniog Memorial

  17.0

  Flint Community

  18.0

  Holywell Community

  19.0

  Knighton

  15.0

  Llandovery

  18.4

  Llandrindod Wells

  36.0

  Llangollen Community

  18.0

  Llanidloes and District War Memorial

  17.0

  Llwynypia

  2.7

  Maesgwyn

  10.0

  Maesteg General

  44.6

  Mold Community

  40.0

  Monmouth General

  15.0

  Montgomeryshire County Infirmary

  25.1

  Mount Pleasant, Gwent

  20.0

  Mountain Ash General

  35.8

  Mynydd Mawr

  0.3

  Nevill Hall

  6.8

  Prestatyn Community

  11.8

  Redwood Memorial

  11.0

  Royal Alexandra

  23.0

  Royal Gwent

  11.1

  Ruthin Community

  46.2

  South Pembrokeshire

  41.8

  Stanley Sailors

  16.0

  Tenby Cottage

  16.0

  Tredegar General

  9.5

  Treherbert

  33.0

  Tywyn and District War Memorial

  14.7

  Valley

  12.7

  Victoria Memorial

  23.0

  42

  Hospital

  GP beds1

  Withybush General

  7.9

  Ysbyty George Thomas

  10.1

  Ystradgynlais Community

  14.0

  1Average daily available.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Welsh NHS community health care trusts employ salaried dentists. [26288]

  Mr. Hague
  At 30 September 1995, the following Welsh NHS trusts employed community dental officers:

  Cardiff Community Healthcare

  Carmarthen and District

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  Clwydian Community Care

  Gwent Community

  Gwynedd Community

  Llandough

  Llanelli Dinefwr

  Pembrokeshire

  Powys Health Care

  University Dental hospital

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what(a) was the gross public spending for each year since 1990–91, in 1995–96 prices and (b) is the projected expenditure for each year to 1997–98, in 1995–96 prices, of training and enterprise councils. [25977]

  Mr. Richards
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. Expenditure by Departments on training and enterprise services delivered via TECs in Wales since their inception in 1990–91, together with planned expenditure on such programmes over the next two years, is given in the following table.

  £ thousand

  1990–911

  44,912

  1991–92 outturn

  112,199

  1992–93 outturn

  113,299

  1993–94 outturn

  106,564

  1994–95 outturn

  108,404

  1995–96 provisional outturn

  103,585

  1996–97 provision

  102,480

  1997–98 provision

  101,206

  All figures at 1995–96 prices. Figures exclude any EU funding claimed by TECs on their own behalf.

  1Development phase of TECs in Wales. Network completed in April 1991.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25963]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Of the appointments made by the Secretary of State during 1994–95, none was of a candidate whose name had been supplied by the public appointments unit.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Industrial Research and Technology Unit
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much money was spent on the Industrial Research and Technology Unit of the Department of Economic Development in each year since 1990–91; and what is the planned spending for(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; [26225]

  (2) how much money is spent on technical clubs established in the textile and food sectors to promote the level of environmental awareness; [26222]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the nature business of the technology development programme in the Department of Economic Development. [26224]

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Industrial Research and Technology Unit under its chief executive, Mr. Greg McConnell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from F. G. McConnell to Mr. Eric Insley, dated 22 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) to reply to your questions about expenditure on IRTU and on Technical Clubs in the textile and food sectors and about the nature and business of the Technology Development Programme.
  IRTU's total expenditure since its establishment in March 1992 and planned expenditure for future years is as follows:

  £ million

  1992–93

  14.3 (actual)

  1993–94

  18.2 (actual)

  1994–95

  18.2 (actual)

  1995–96

  16.9 (estimate)

  1996–97

  17.8 (planned)

  1997–98

  17.8 (planned)

  1898–99

  17.8 (planned)

  Expenditure on environmental awareness raising for industry and commerce as a whole in Northern Ireland was £29, 339 in 1994/95 and £44, 999 in 1995/96. Within this, the total expenditure on the textile and food Technical Clubs is small (£800 to date) and relates only to the administrative expenses of meetings.
  The Technology Development Programme (TDP) is administered by IRTU and funded through EU Structural Funds. The total allocation for TDP is £19.4 million for the period 1994–99. To date £11.4 million has been committed to 9 projects; a further £8 million will be committed in October 1996.
  The aim of TDP is to assist industry and the universities to develop their ability to undertake leading edge, industrially exploitable and commercially focused research. The programme concentrates on five main areas of activity—R&D Facilities, Demonstration Projects, Physical Infrastructure, Collaboration and Calibration, Testing and Standardisation.
  I hope you will find this reply useful.

  New Housing and Roads
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what mechanisms facilitate formal consultation between the various Departments in Northern Ireland regarding the building of(a) new stock by the Housing Executive and (b) new roads. [26196]
  44
  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T W. Stewart to Mr. Eric Risley, dated 22 April 1996:
  Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about what mechanisms facilitate formal consultations between various Departments in Northern Ireland regarding the building of (a) new stock by the Housing Executive and (b) new roads.
  All formal consultation on new developments including housing and roads proposals are dealt with through the normal planning procedure set out in the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. This involves a wide range of consultations with statutory and non-statutory bodies including local district councils, the Department of the Environment and its various Agencies (Roads, Water, Environment and Heritage), plus the public and interested community groups. There is also wide consultation at the inception stage through the Area Plan consultation process for each local district area.

  Community Projects
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons there is a planned decrease in spending on community projects within the Department of Economic Development in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [26203]

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to given.

  Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 22 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about the funding of community projects.
  The decision to reduce the budget allocated to the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme was taken against the background of the very encouraging performance of the Northern Ireland economy. With unemployment now at its lowest level for 14 years, employment opportunities increasing and with record numbers of job vacancies being notified by employers to Training and Employment Agency offices, the need to maintain community based temporary work programmes at former levels has diminished. Public Expenditure priorities have moved towards measures which will further encourage and sustain these very positive economic trends.
  This Agency recognises a continuing need to assist job seekers and, in addition to its many other services and programmes, still expects to spend £46 million this financial year to provide over 8000 places for the long term unemployed on community based projects funded under ACE and the pilot Community Work Programme. In addition, £2 million is available under the package of support for ACE schemes announced by Baroness Denton on 19 February 1996.
  I hope that you find this reply helpful.

  Out-of-town Retail Centres
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what formal public consultation is required in respect of plans to develop out-of-town retail centres. [26205]

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  45
  Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 22 April 1996:
  Mr Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about formal public consultations in respect of plans to develop out of town retail centres.
  Where an application for planning permission is made, except in certain minor cases, Article 21 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 requires that a notice of the application is published in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land to which the application site relates is situated. In addition, occupiers of land adjoining the application site are notified by means of a non statutory Neighbour Notification Scheme. The appropriate local District Council is also consulted on all applications.
  Certain major applications are subjected to special procedures under Article 31 of the 1991 Order which may involve the holding of a local public inquiry by the Planning Appeals Commission for the purpose of considering and reporting on representations made in respect of an application.

  Political Organisations
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the evidence he has collated about the existence of(a) the British Ulster Unionist party, (b) Democratic Partnership, (c) Independent Democratic Unionist party, (d) No Going Back, (e) the Northern Ireland party, (f) the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, (g) Ulster Christian Democrat party and (h) Ulster's Independent Voice; and which have functioned as political parties. [25979]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Each of these organisations responded to the consultation paper issued by the Government on 3 April, and made representations to be included on the list of political parties eligible to contest the forthcoming elections in Northern Ireland.

SCOTLAND

  Barlinnie Prison (Asbestos)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Scottish Prison Service chief executive received the report of the Institute of Occupational Medicine on residual asbestos remaining in Barlinnie prison. [24871]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. John McFall, dated 22 April 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question asking about the date on which I received the report of the Institute of Occupational Medicine (TOM) on residual asbestos remaining in Barlinnie Prison.
  The report was received in SPS HQ on 25 January and was passed to Barlinnie on 26 January. Subsequent tests which the IOM undertook on Barlinnie's behalf during March confirmed that asbestos levels were well within the safety limits. Tenders are now being sought for the immediate removal of what has been classified as "poor" quality asbestos. Other areas where asbestos is present but is classified as being either in a good or fair condition will be removed as part of an action plan being prepared by local management. In the meantime such areas will be monitored regularly at 3 monthly intervals, and where there are any signs of deterioration, arrangements will be made immediately for appropriate removal.

  Electricity Generating Plants
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the capacity utilisation of electricity generating plants in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [25315]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The total electricity generating capacity in Scotland is approximately 10 GW. This total excludes the oil-fired generating station at Inverkip which is presently under care and maintenance. Scotland's peak winter demand is about 6 GW.

  Gas-fired Generating Unit (Gartcosh)
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the consequences for the Scottish coal industry of the proposed gas-fired generating unit at Gartcosh. [25314]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  PowerGen's application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to build a gas-fired generating plant at Gartcosh is at present the subject of a consultation exercise. It would not be appropriate for me to make any assessment of the possible impact of PowerGen's proposals until the consultation exercise is complete. It may be appropriate to hold a public inquiry.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to make a decision on a public inquiry into the application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by Powergen to construct a gas-fired generating unit at Gartcosh. [25316]

  Mr. Forsyth
  The relevant planning authority has a statutory period of four months in which to submit a report to me on PowerGen's proposal to build a power station at Gartcosh. Once the report is received, I will consider it together with the advice of my consultees and any representations I may receive from other interested parties. I will then decide whether it is necessary to hold a public inquiry. Such an inquiry is mandatory if the planning authority formally objects to the proposals.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he plans to hold before reaching a decision on the application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 submitted to him by Powergen. [25317]

  Mr. Forsyth
  Before determining PowerGen's application, I shall follow the procedures set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1988, which entail giving due consideration to the views of the relevant planning authority. I shall also consult other interested parties, including Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It is open to interested parties to respond to the proposals. I shall take account of all representations received.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to make a decision on the application by PowerGen for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct a gas-fired generating unit at Gartcosh. [25318]

  Mr. Forsyth
  PowerGen's application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 was received in the Scottish Office on 5 March. It is not possible at this stage for me to give an idea as to when I will be in a position to reach a decision on the application.
  47
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the applications for consent he has received under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989; and what decisions he has made on those applications. [25319]

  Applicant

  Application date

  Proposals

  Decision date

  Decision

  Hydro-Electric

  4 March 1991

  Extension to Peterhead power station

  5 June 1991

  Approved

  Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

  1 may 1992

  Dry Store for spent fuel Storage, Torness, East Lothian

  Application withdrawn 10 May 1995

  —

  ScottishPower

  16 September 1992

  Extension to Valleyfied Ash Lagoons, Valleyfied, Fife

  12 May 1994

  Approved

  Global Energy Ltd.

  24 March 1993

  Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle power station (75mw) Westfield, Fife

  15 July 1993

  Approved

  Hydro-Electric

  6 April 1994

  Extension to Lerwick power station

  31 May 1994

  Approved

  Scottish Power

  1 July 1994

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation Plant at Longannet Power Station, Fife

  23 February 1995 Approved

  Norweb

  10 March 1995

  Hydro electricity generating scheme (3.2mw), Inverbroom, Wester Ross

  Under consideration

  —

  Highland Light and Power

  22 December 1995

  Hydro electricity generating scheme (2.1mw), Gairloch Estate, Wester Ross

  Under consideration

  —

  PowerGen

  1 March 1996

  Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power station (350mw x 2), Gartcosh, Near Coatbridge

  Under consideration

  —

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the present arrangements for the electricity interconnector between England and Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [25321]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The arrangements for the operation of the electricity interconnector between Scotland and England are a matter for its owners, those who have contracted to use it and the regulator.

  Charities
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what restrictions are placed on the activities of registered charities which bring financial benefit to private companies. [25450]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  If a Scottish charity that is a recognised body under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 were to apply its funds to bring financial benefit to a private company, the Inland Revenue would consider the extent to which its tax exemption would be restricted. In addition, the Scottish Charities Office has power to investigate any alleged misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of a Scottish charity.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many consultants have been engaged by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department to monitor the implementation and operation of environmentally sensitive area plans; and what is the cost of such monitoring operations; [23013]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the remit of consultants engaged by his Department to evaluate the existing management plans in environmentally sensitive areas; [23014]
  48
  Mr. Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table, which lists all section 36 applications received the Scottish Office since the Electricity 1989 was introduced.

  (3) steps have been taken by his Department to identify the extent to which locally based farmers or crofters may be employed by his Department for the purposes of monitoring and evaluating environmentally sensitive area plans. [23015]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 1 April 1996]: A 10-year contract for monitoring the environmentally sensitive area scheme was won in competition by a consortium comprising the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland and AOC Scotland Ltd. Their remit is to assess the impact of the scheme on the biological, landscape and archaeological interest within each area. The average annual cost is £300,000.

  To complement this work, local agricultural staff undertake an annual review of individual farm and croft conservation plans to ensure that the requirements of the scheme are being met and the conservation objectives achieved. I am satisfied that this co-ordinated approach represents the best value for money.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training Allowance
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much the present minimum weekly training allowance for youth training would be currently, if it had been uprated in line with inflation since 1990. [25443]

  Mr. Paice
  The present minimum weekly training allowance for youth training, which may be supplemented by employers, would be £37.93 for 16-year-olds and £45 for 17-year-olds and above if it had been uprated in line with inflation since 1990
  49
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give the number and percentage of young people in Sunderland who are participating in youth training and the percentage who are receiving more than the minimum allowance from employers or training provider. [25444]

  Mr. Paice
  Some 2, 100 young people in Sunderland are currently participating in youth training. Of the 16-year-old cohort eligible to leave school in the summer of 1995, 25 per cent. in Sunderland went into youth training. Information on those who are receiving more than the minimum allowance in Sunderland is not available.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to increase the minimum weekly training allowance for youth training. [25442]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no plans to increase the minimum weekly training allowance.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which TECs have set(a) higher minimum levels of training allowance non-employed trainees than the minimum permitted and (b) more than the 19.5 days per annum holiday. [25445]

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils are free to set allowances above the minimum. Information on TEC practice in this connection is not held centrally.

  British Steel
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total value of commercial orders placed by her Department, and by the Education and Employment Departments prior to merger, with British Steel plc in each year from 1988 to 1995. [25813]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the providers participating in phase 1 of the voucher scheme will be inspected(a) within three months, (b) within six months, (c) within nine months and (d) within 12 months of beginning to operate under the voucher scheme. [25605]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Inspections by registered nursery education inspectors cannot begin until after the Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill has received Royal Assent. The Office for Standards in Education's initial planning estimate is that all voluntary and private providers will be inspected within their first year of operation—that is, by April 1997.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many providers 50
  who have been given initial validation in respect of phase 1 of the voucher scheme will provide (a) one session a week, (b) two sessions a week, (c) three sessions a week, (d) four sessions a week and (e) five sessions a week; [25601]

  (2) what proportion of vouchers in phase 1 of the voucher scheme have been redeemed in respect of places (a) in the private sector, (b) in the voluntary sector and (c) in the maintained sector. [25598]

  Mr. Squire
  Information on where parents have chosen to redeem nursery education vouchers, and on the number of sessions provided, will be available once vouchers returned from providers have been analysed.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will set out the calculation which underlay the ministerial statement that under the scheme of vouchers for pre-school education a local authority will be better off if just one additional four-year-old is able to use its provisions. [25851]

  Mr. Squire
  In phase 2, the deduction from each local authority's budget will be the voucher value multiplied by the number of four-year-olds in maintained provision in that local education authority area in the 1995–96 academic year, taking into account the number of terms for which each child attends. If the LEA recruits the same number of four-year-olds in the same termly pattern, all this money will be recovered. If the local authority provides for an additional four-year-old, an additional voucher, or a portion of that sum, depending on the number of terms that child is in school, will pass to the LEA. The arrangements in phase 1 are similar, except for an adjustment to allow for four-year-old pupils resident outside the phase 1 areas and who therefore do not hold vouchers.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many institutions in the(a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) maintained sectors have applied for initial validation in phase 1 of the voucher scheme; and how many such institutions did not previously provide places for four-year-olds. [25604]

  Mr. Squire
  Six hundred and twenty-eight private and voluntary sector and 494 maintained sector providers have been initially validated to date. Forty of these did not have any four-year-olds on roll at the time of registration, but had capacity to provide for them.

  Implementation Group on Information Technology
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what were the total preparation and publication costs of the Follett report; [25596]

  (2) what have been the total operational costs of the Follett implementation group on information technology; and to whom that money was awarded. [25597]
  51
  Mr. Forth
  These are matters for the higher education funding bodies. I have asked the chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England to respond in writing to the hon. Member.

  Sight and Sound
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will investigate the award of contracts to Sight and Sound by the former South Thames training and enterprise council. [26285]

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils are private companies. The award of contracts by TECs to providers of training is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will investigate the quality of courses being operated by Sight and Sound through through training and enterprise council. [26284]

  Item

  Tax satisfied £

  Conditions as to destination

  Date of MGC recommendations

  George I pier glasses

  128,086.00

  Conditional

  20 January 1994

  Reynolds' Count Ugolino

  121,067.00

  Conditional

  15 December 1994

  Three Nicholson paintings, two Hepworth drawings and collection of miscellaneous

  225,400.00

  Conditional

  17 November 1994

  Chattels from Killerton

  206,816.65

  Conditional

  31 October 1994

  Two silver gilt steeple cups

  84,000.00

  Conditional

  6 September 1994

  Drais gold snuff box

  8,750.00

  Conditional

  1 June 1995

  Eddison collection of theatre material

  117,660.00

  Wish

  20 December 1994

  Paris Bordon "Return from the Flight to Egypt"

  430,794.00

  Conditional

  25 April 1995

  Luca Cambiaso "Christ brought before Pontius Pilate"

  70,000.00

  Unconditional

  29 August 1995

  Yves Tanguy "La Journée Bleue"

  280,000.00

  Conditional

  22 May 1995

  Lord Keeper's Cup

  47,985.15

  Unconditional

  27 April 1995

  Langford-Brooke Archive

  42,000.00

  Wish

  26 July 1995

  Aboriginal Bark paintings and prints

  12,201.00

  Unconditional

  15 August 1995

  Joseph Wright "Two Girls Dressing a Kitten"

  31,339.41

  Conditional

  1 March 1996

  Bottger Teapot

  35,000.00

  Unconditional

  20 April 1995

  German Stoneware

  140,000.00

  Unconditional

  1 June 1995

  Gell Family Papers

  79,359.79

  Wish

  7 March 1996

  Stubbs "Lemon and White Spaniel"

  840,000.00

  Wish

  28 July 1995

  French Furniture

  2,170,000.00

  Conditional

  18 July 1994

  Six works of art including paintings by Dubuffet, Hodgkin, and Caulfield and a sculpture by Brancusi

  4,336,500.00

  Wish

  27 April 1995

  The total expenditure in respect of the AIL scheme for the financial year 1995–96 was £9,406,959. Three offers, for which a total of £7,346,500 tax was forgone, and for which the DNH accordingly paid the Inland Revenue, were met by calls on the reserve.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Sir Jim Lester
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 1 April; and if he will make a statement. [24702]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 3 April 1996,Official Report, columns 405-408.
  52
  Mr. Paice
  This is for the training and enterprise councils to investigate under the "TEC Quality Assurance: Supplier Management" framework.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Acceptance in Lieu of Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the objects and property accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax during the financial year ended 31 March; and if she will specify(a) the amount of tax satisfied in each case, (b) which offers carried conditions as to destination, (c) the date in each case of the recommendations received by her from the Museums and Galleries Commission for the acceptance of objects, (d) the total for the financial year of the tax thus satisfied and (e) how much of this total was covered in the public accounts by means of resort to the reserve in accordance with Government policy as announced on 26 July 1985, Official Report, column 779. [25516]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is follows:

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was spent, under the common agricultural policy, on set-aside in the United Kingdom in 1995; and how much will be spent in 1996. [26230]

  Mr. Baldry
  Payments for set-aside in the UK in the 1995–96 financial year are estimated to total £214.6 million. The estimate for payments in 1996–97 is £226.3 million.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of CAP fraud were reported in each year since 1993, in Great Britain. [26216]

  Mr. Baldry
  Fraud is difficult to define, being a matter of criminal intention. However, the United Kingdom, along with all other member states, is required to report to the Commission cases of irregularity in CAP schemes,
  53
  exceeding 4, 000 ecu. An irregularity is an overclaim on the part of the claimant, either deliberately or through error. The information for the period in question for the United Kingdom is as follows:

  Number of cases

  Year

  Totals

  1993

  179

  1994

  228

  1995

  219

  Source:

  UK CAP scheme irregularities reported under Council regulation 595/91.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which(a) the Government are required to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) the Government are required to publish their response to advice supplied by them. [21852]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 21 March 1996]: Under section 62(3) of the Medicines Act 1968, Agriculture Ministers are required to consult the Veterinary Products Committee before making an order. There is no requirement to consult our other advisory non-departmental public bodies prior to legislative proposals nor to publish our response to advice supplied by them, or the Veterinary Products Committee.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25949]

  Mr. Willetts
  Seventeen new appointments were made in 1994–95 to the public bodies sponsored by the Departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible. None was as a result of information supplied by the public appointments unit.

  Public Appointments Unit
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people from each region appear on both the public appointments unit central and reserve lists. [25964]

  Mr. Willetts
  It is not possible to give fully accurate information as individuals may be counted as being in more one region if they live in one area and work in another, or if they have homes in different areas.

  Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also maintain their own central lists.

  The available information requested is as follows
  54

  Region

  Number of people on the public appointments unit list

  East Anglia

  708

  East Midlands

  258

  West Midlands

  315

  South East

  2,622

  Northern

  174

  North West

  282

  South West

  401

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  286

  Northern Ireland

  19

  Scotland

  1130

  Wales

  1106

  Elsewhere

  236

  Total

  5,327

  1Individuals in this category are those who are currently living or working overseas.

  2This figure is higher than the total number of people currently on the public appointments unit's list (5, 085 at 18 April 1996).

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the public appointments made in 1994–95 were public appointments unit nominees; and if he will list these appointments. [25947]

  Mr. Willetts
  The public appointments unit believes that 180 appointments were made following nomination by the unit during 1994–95. A list of these appointments is as follows:Nationalised Industries and Public Corporations:

  Commonwealth Development Corporation—1 appointment

  Independent Television Commission—1 appointment

  Radio Authority—4 appointments

  Executive Bodies:

  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council— 2 appointments

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe— 1 appointment

  Broadcasting Standards Council— 1 appointment

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (UK)—2 appointments

  Coal Authority—3 appointments

  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council—1 appointment

  Equal Opportunities Commission—1 appointment

  Gaming Board for Great Britain—1 appointment

  Home Grown Cereals Authority—1 appointment

  Housing Action Trust—1 appointment

  Legal Aid Board—2 appointments

  Marshal Aid Commemoration Commission—1 appointment

  Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council—3 appointments

  Police Complaints Authority—1 appointment

  Public Health Laboratory Services Board—1 appointment

  Regional Flood Defence Committees—3 appointments

  Remploy—1 appointment

  Royal Armouries Board of Trustees—1 appointment

  Sea Fish Industry Authority—1 appointment

  Teacher Training Agency—1 appointment

  Trinity House Lighthouse Board—1 appointment

  Water Customer Service Committee—1 appointment

  Welsh Consumer Council—1 appointment

  55
  Advisory Bodies:

  Advisory Board on Restricted Patients—1 appointment

  Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations—2 appointments

  Advisor Council on Public Records—1 appointment

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body—1 appointment

  Agricultural Marketing Act Committees of Investigation—1 appointment

  Animal Procedures Committee—1 appointment

  Business Advisory Committee on Telecommunications—1 appointment

  Committees for the Employment of People with Disabilities—10 appointments

  Council on Tribunals—1 appointment

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board—1 appointment

  Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body—2 appointments

  Electricity Consumer Committees—2 appointments

  English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications—1 appointment

  Nurses', Midwives' and other NHS Professions' Review Body—4 appointments

  Parole Board—1 appointment

  Race Relations Employment Advisory Group—4 appointments

  Schoolteachers' Review Body—1 appointment

  Senior Salaries Review Body—3 appointments

  Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical Education—1 appointment

  Transport Users' Consultative Committee—1 appointment

  Tribunals:

  Employment Appeal Tribunal— 3 appointments

  Financial Services Tribunal— 7 appointments

  Social Security Appeal Tribunals—1 appointment

  National Health Service Bodies:

  District Health Authority—1 appointment

  Family Health Service Authority—2 appointments

  National Health Service Trusts—6 appointments

  Special Health Authorities—2 appointments

  56
  Executive Agency and other Management Boards:

  CCTA Programme Management Advisory Board—3 appointments

  Driving Standards Advisory Board—1 appointment

  Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency—1 appointment

  Ordnance Survey Management Board—1 appointment

  MOD Disposal Sales Agency Management Board—1 appointment

  MOD Management Audit Board—1 appointment

  Pesticides Safety Directorate Ownership Board—1 appointment

  Prison Service Industries and Farms Management Board—1 appointment

  Security Facilities Executive Agency—1 appointment

  Services Sound and Vision Corporation Management Board—1 appointment

  Other Appointments:

  Advisory Group on Eco Management and Audit—1 appointment

  Assessment Panel for Construction Research—1 appointment

  British Coal Pension Scheme—1 appointment

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges Steering Committee—1 appointment

  Charity Commissioner (part—time)—1 appointment

  General Medical Council—1 appointment

  HM Inspectorate of Pollution Advisory Committee—1 appointment

  Insurance Brokers Registration Council—1 appointment

  MOD Review of Service Career and Manpower Structures and Terms and Conditions of Service—1 appointment

  National Theatre Board—1 appointment

  New Horizons for Women Event (Norwich)—1 appointment

  Office of Fair Trading Senior Management Review—1 appointment

  Police Authorities—15 appointments

  Police Authorities Selection Panels—39 appointments

  Public Works Loan Board—1 appointment

  Solicitors Complaints Bureau Adjudication and Appeals Committee—1 appointment

  Angola
  Angola
  Former Yugoslavia: Arms Control and Supply of Weapons
  Former Yugoslavia: Arms Control and Supply of Weapons
  European Aviation Authority: Response to Working Paper
  European Aviation Authority: Response to Working Paper
  Law of Murder
  Law of Murder
  Nuclear Safety and Security Summit Meeting, Moscow
  Nuclear Safety and Security Summit Meeting, Moscow