Written Answers of 25 April 1996

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Kenya
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on refugees now living in that country; and what assistance is being made available for the welfare and health care of such refugees.[26308]

  Mr. Hanley
  Such topics are part of our normal ongoing bilateral discussions with the Government of Kenya. Our 1995–96 assistance to refugees in Kenya included £500,000 via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and nearly £83,000 through Christian Aid and CARE.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 April. [25311]

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

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the manner in which the licensing authority handled the matter relating to oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene.[26577]

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a small number of letters from doctors and members of the public in relation to this matter.

SCOTLAND

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to publish the reports of his advisory group on sustainable development. [25839]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 23 April 1996]: My right hon. Friend expects to publish a report on progress in sustainable development in Scotland later this year which will include an outline of the activities of his advisory group on sustainable development. He has no plans to publish the advice he receives from the group.

  Forest Enterprise Agency
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that the environmental targets established for the Forest Enterprise agency will not be compromised by actions taken to meet financial objectives and targets; and if he will make a statement.[26208]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The framework document for the Forest Enterprise agency sets out its environmental, financial and other objectives. Progress will be monitored against the performance measures which are also listed in the framework document.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for encouraging the improvement of Britain's woodlands. [27106]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am pleased to announce that the Forestry Commission will be giving support, under the woodland improvement grant, to two further projects aimed at improving Britain's woodlands.

  The woodland improvement grant was launched in 1995 as part of the woodland grant scheme. That first project is helping to provide for public access to woodlands and will run for a further two years. The woodland improvement grant will now also be available to improve the management of poor-quality woods and for work to enhance the biodiversity of woodlands.

  In the rural White Papers, we recognised the importance of bringing woods back into productive management. Now we can support landowners who wish to do restorative work in poor quality woodlands to return these areas to sustainable management. Many aspects of work will receive funding, including uneconomic felling, respacing, rhododendron control and protective work.

  Woodland improvement grant funds will also be available to help Britain's ancient semi-natural woodlands and to support work in woodlands to conserve rare species such as red squirrel, dormouse, capercaillie and various bats and butterflies. These are some of the most important habitats and threatened species identified in "Biodiversity, the UK Action Plan" which the Government published following on from the Rio and Helsinki conferences. We expect woodland improvement grant to grant aid work identified in agreed management plans, for example coppice management for rare butterflies and dormice, fence removal for capercaillie and the conservation of native woodlands in national parks and priority areas in Scotland.

  Within these two umbrella projects, we expect to see local partnerships develop which not only means that resources are used more effectively but allows such groups to come together and work towards one cause. Woodland improvement grant will normally fund around half the cost of the work but, subject to approval by the European Commission, we expect a number of local projects to be run as challenge funding where owners have the opportunity to compete for the available funds.

  Further information for those wishing to apply for these new grants is available from the Forestry Commission.

  Fisheries Protection Agency
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about performance targets for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 1996–97. [27108]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  For the financial year 1996–97 I have set the following targets:

  Aerial surveillance—per cent. of hours flown on task: 85 per cent.

  Aerial surveillance—cost per aircraft sighting: £88

  Marine surveillance—number of boardings at sea: 2, 600

  Marine surveillance—cost per boarding: £2, 590

  —utilisation of effective patrol days: 96 per cent.

  Sea Fisheries Inspectorate—cost per logsheet check: £64

  75 per cent. of cases for prosecution to be reported within six weeks of offence being detected and 90 per cent. within eight weeks

  Number of cases where court proceedings are taken as percentage of offences reported to prosecuting authorities: 75 per cent.

  In order to ensure that the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency uses its resources efficiently, I have set it a target to achieve cash releasing efficiency gains of 2 per cent. during 1996–97.

  The chief executive will be directly accountable to me for the achievement of these targets, which will be reported in the agency's annual report.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Royal Observatories
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the report of the review of the Royal Observatories; and if he will make a statement. [26724]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have received the report of the review steering committee chaired by Professor Ian Halliday of the university of Wales, Swansea. Its central recommendation is that the management of United Kingdom telescopes and the delivery of the instrumentation programme currently provided by the Royal Observatories should be subject to competitive tendering by all competent suppliers. I have accepted in full the review's conclusions and recommendations, which have been endorsed by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. I have asked PPARC to take forward implementation of the recommendations. I have today published the review steering committee's advice to me and have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom share of world trade in manufacturing exports for each year since 1979(a) by volume and (b) by value. [24781]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 16 April 1996]: The data requested is set out in the table, based on estimates derived from OECD data.
  220

  UK value and volume shares of world exports of manufactured goods 1979–94

  Year

  Volume share Per cent.

  Value share Per cent.

  1979

  6.9

  6.7

  1980

  6.7

  7.1

  1981

  6.1

  6.2

  1982

  6.2

  6.1

  1983

  5.9

  5.6

  1984

  5.8

  5.3

  1985

  5.9

  5.5

  1986

  5.9

  5.4

  1987

  6.0

  5.6

  1988

  5.8

  5.7

  1989

  5.8

  5.6

  1990

  6.0

  5.9

  1991

  5.8

  5.8

  1992

  5.7

  5.6

  1993

  5.5

  5.3

  1994

  5.5

  5.4

  Departmental Code of Practice
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what codes of practice operate in his Department to ensure that(a) individuals advising on financial assistance to companies and (b) those assenting to company applications on the DTI board do not themselves financially benefit from their decisions as, or subsequently to become, (i) directors and (ii) trading partners of the beneficiary companies; and if he will make a statement. [25301]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 18 April 1996]: The civil service code states that civil servants should not misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. This general principle applies to full, part-time or fee-paid employment in business or other bodies outside the civil service or the establishment of a consultancy within two years of leaving crown employment. With regard to external advisers to the Department, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 April 1996, Official Report, columns 313-14. Appointments to the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the regional industrial development boards are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office's guide to public appointments procedures which covers potential conflicts of interest. Registers of members' interests are also held. In this connection also, the Department is implementing the recommendations on regional industrial development boards referred to in its note on the collapse of ROM-Data, laid before Parliament in February.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Boards of Trade 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. [25952]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: From 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995, departmental records show that 13 appointments to nine separate public bodies were made from names supplied by the public appointments unit. A list of the appointments is as follows.

  221

  Copyright Tribunal

  Mrs. Dawn Baker

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission

  Mr. Richard Prosser

  Nuclear Electric Plc

  Mr. Patrick Macdougall

  Professor Roger Perry

  Coal Authority

  Mr. John Cunliffe

  Mr. Roy Lynk OBE

  Mr. Tom Slee

  National Consumer Council

  Mr. David Hatch, CBE JP

  Welsh Consumer Council

  Mr. Richard Thomas, MBE

  Gas Consumers' Council

  Ms Jenny Kirkpatrick

  Link Board

  Mrs. Susan Bird

  Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council

  Dr. Geoffrey Robinson

  Dr. Carole Jordan.

  Nickel Dust
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what level of nickel dust will be released by combustion for the purposes of electricity generation; and if the figure exceeds the action levels determined by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in 1995. [25627]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 23 April 1996]: The vast majority of UK electricity generation arising from fossil fuels is based on coal or natural gas combustion. Nickel features as a trace element in coal, with a typical concentration of 20 ppm covering a range from 0.5 to 50 ppm, and is also present in fuel oil.

  Nickel compounds, along with other trace elements which are released to air during electricity production, are generally associated with particulates. These are captured by particulate removal devices which, in large coal-fired generating plants, exhibit a typical removal efficiency greater than 99 per cent. Emission levels of nickel compounds arising from the combustion of fuel in power stations are not identified separately. Controls on these substances are applied indirectly through the regulation of particulate releases and there is little routine monitoring of such trace elements or reliable estimates of their release in the UK.

  Preliminary estimates provided by the power generators to the Environment Agency indicate that release rates are in the range 9x10-3 to 4x10-2 grams per second—g/s—for coal-fired stations and to 3 to 5 g/s for oil-fired stations. These levels are greater than the "significant release rate" of 8x10-3 g/s proposed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in 1995. The "significant release rate" provides guidance to operators on the level of release above which the substance should be considered in any environmental assessment submitted as part of an application for authorisation under integrated pollution control. The "significant release rate" supersedes but performs the same function as the "Action Level" proposed by HMIP in a consultation guidance document on best practical
  222
  environmental option—BPEO—assessment procedures in April 1994. Under typical operating conditions, releases of this magnitude might be expected to result in ambient air concentrations which are less than 2 per cent. of the environmental assessment level for nickel as an annual average.

  In view of the preliminary nature of these estimates, the Environment Agency has asked the major operators to provide a written response by 1 October 1996 to demonstrate how reliable annual estimates are to be provided for a number of trace substances, including nickel compounds.

  Inward Investment (Merseyside)
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 137, how many inward investment strategies for Merseyside have been produced by his Department since 1985. [26504]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No inward investment strategies for Merseyside have been developed since 1985, although a strategy is currently being developed with local partners.

  Mrs. Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 137, when he expects an inward investment strategy for Merseyside to be completed; and if he will publish that strategy.[26505]

  Mr. Taylor
  An outline strategy has been prepared involving all the relevant local agencies on Merseyside. It is set within the framework for inward investment support provided by the objective 1 single programming document. A decision on whether and when to publish the strategy will be taken by local partners in due course.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the objectives of process re-engineering as applied to the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement. [26616]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The objective of process re-engineering is the more effective delivery of services. That is also the criterion by which any specific proposals are judged.

  Single Market Programme
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many pieces of legislation have been enacted to implement the single market programme(a) in the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) in the United Kingdom affecting firms with fewer than 100 employees and (c) in each other EU country (i) as a whole and (ii) affecting firms with fewer than 100 employees. [26040]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: A table showing the number of measures in the Commission's 1985 White Paper on the single market transposed into national law by each member state as at December 1995 follows. The Department does not monitor the number of pieces of national legislation necessary to transpose the directives. The measures contained in the White Paper aim to benefit business generally and apply to all companies.
  223

  State of Implementation of the White Paper Measures 276 provisions in force/222 reqiring national implementing measures Breakdown of situation by Member State1

  (31 December 1995)

  Measures notified

  Not applicable

  Derogations

  Measures not notified

  Partial notification

  Infringement for non-conformity

  DK

  217

  3

  0

  1

  1

  0

  NL

  214

  2

  0

  5

  0

  1

  E

  211

  1

  2

  4

  1

  3

  S

  203

  4

  7

  7

  1

  0

  L

  207

  6

  0

  9

  0

  0

  P

  207

  3

  3

  7

  0

  2

  UK

  210

  2

  0

  3

  4

  3

  F

  209

  1

  0

  7

  3

  2

  FIN

  193

  6

  4

  10

  9

  0

  B

  200

  2

  0

  11

  2

  7

  I

  198

  4

  0

  15

  2

  3

  IRL

  198

  4

  0

  16

  2

  2

  EL

  193

  3

  3

  21

  1

  1

  D

  194

  3

  0

  11

  4

  10

  A

  184

  3

  7

  18

  10

  0

  1 The situation regarding transposition in the new Member States is being reviewed in the light of bilateral meetings in early 1996.

  Late Payments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96. [26110]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: This information is being collated by the Department and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was paid late to the private sector for goods and services by his Department in 1995–96. [26146]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: This information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Coalfield Communities (Recreational Sites)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the discussions between his Department and British Coal in regard to the retention and safeguarding of recreational sites in coalfield communities to be included; and if he will make it his policy that the future of these sites be safeguarded. [26354]

  Mr. Page
  The Government's objective remains that British Coal land in active use for sport and recreation will be retained for those purposes. Discussions continue with British Coal and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation as to how this can best be achieved. Those discussions will be concluded as soon as possible.

DEFENCE

  Works of Art
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost to public funds of the three paintings depicting the Army in Bosnia; [20840]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the procedures used within his Department to authorise the purchase of works of art with public funds; [20839]
  224
  (3) for what purposes his Department buy works of art; [20841]

  (4) how many works of art have been purchased by his Department since 1979 using public funds. [20838]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Works of art are purchased to enhance the working environment or to represent an aspect of the history of the Department. The three paintings representing events in Bosnia were purchased for the departmental art collection in January 1995 at a cost of £6,556.50, including VAT. The purchase was made because it was considered that the collection should include paintings depicting the Army's important contribution in Bosnia.

  Approval was given in the normal way within the civilian management area which is responsible for works of art. It complied with normal budgetary and accounting procedures.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the value of the equipment to be placed on the new type 23 frigates. [25780]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The estimated value of the major combat systems, including the command system, for the new type 23 frigates is about £115 million.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters his Department currently possesses; how many of these are currently up for sale; and how many are currently unoccupied. [25778]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As at 31 December 1995—the latest date for which figures are available—the married quarters stock of the Ministry of Defence numbered 71,016. Of these, 14,396 were unoccupied. Those currently available for sale include 58,371 in England and Wales offered in the sale of the married quarters estate and approximately 4,000 other surplus properties being disposed of by the MOD directly.
  225
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bids for the married quarters estate are(a) for the whole estate and (b) for selected parts. [25918]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  All the indicative bids for the married quarters estate are for the whole of the estate for sale.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of housing(a) are currently being sold from the married quarters estate and (b) are the subject of sale negotiations. [25919]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We intend to transfer ownership of the majority of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector. In addition, 3,322 quarters are currently in the process of disposal, separately from the overall sale of the estate.

  Admiralty Arch Residence
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he moved into a residence in Admiralty Arch; for how long he plans to retain the residence; how many rooms it possesses; if he is paying rent on it; and if he will make a statement. [25777]

  Mr. Portillo
  Like a number of my predecessors as Secretary of State for Defence, I obtained the Prime Minister's permission to use one of the three flats in Admiralty house which are within his gift. I have used the flat since August 1995, including for overnight accommodation between October 1995 and March 1996. In accordance with long-standing practice, the ministry of Defence makes a payment to the landlord—since 1 April 1996, the Cabinet Office—for its rent and maintenance costs. Council tax on the flat is paid direct to the City of Westminster. The flat has up to three bedrooms.

  Defence Estates Organisation
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Defence agency for the Defence Estates Organisation. [27292]

  Mr. Soames
  The Defence Estate Organisation was formed on 1 April 1995 from the Defence works service, Defence lands service and a central secretariat branch. The DEO provides a strategic overview of the defence estate and professional support to MOD budget holders and United States visiting forces for the management of the estate, including the contract provision of works services, maintenance of the rural estate, advice on planning issues and the disposal of surplus property. The organisation will now be considered for Defence agency status under the next steps procedures. The first stage of this process is a "prior options" study. This study will consider whether the work that the DEO does should be abolished, privatised or contractorised. An entry inviting comments from interested parties will appear tomorrow in the May 1996 edition of the "Government Opportunities Bulletin".

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26721]
  226
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department is currently considering a licence with the Copyright Licensing Agency. We are awaiting a reply to correspondence sent to the agency.

  Phoenix Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning current progress on the Phoenix unmanned surveillance aircraft; when he plans to make an announcement concerning its future; and what is the current estimated cost of the project. [25799]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Phoenix prime contractor, GEC-Marconi Avionics, has recently completed, at its own expense, the agreed programme of work described by my predecessor on 5 April 1995—Official Report, columns 1139-40. The results are now being assessed, and I hope to make an announcement about the future of the project before the summer recess. The estimated cost of procuring the system is £227 million at 1994–95 price levels.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Pupil Assessments
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 25 March,Official Report, columns 434-35, what evidence she has evaluated which shows that performance of a school pupil in respect of subjects and grades achieved in any public examination at the age of 16-plus years can be predicted on the basis of assessment made at the age of 11-plus years. [25852]

  Mr. Paice
  The school year 1999–2000 will be the first year when it will be possible to compare pupils' 1995 key stage 2 national curriculum assessment results at age 11 with the same pupils' public examination results at age 16.

  The majority of existing local schemes that I am aware of use GCSE examination results in any measurement of value added at secondary level. Measurement with other results, such as vocational qualifications, is made more difficult because the nature of the qualifications aimed for are often not directly comparable with the previous academic attainments of the pupils concerned.

  Teaching Agencies
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she published draft codes of conduct to regulate the activities of agencies supplying teachers for schools; and when she intends to publish a definitive code. [26768]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A draft circular giving advice to schools on the recruitment of supply teachers, and guidance notes for employment agencies, were sent to consultees on 17 November 1995. A wide range of comments has been received and is still under consideration. We plan to issue the final guidance later this term.

  Incapacity for Work
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people who have been found incapable of work since April 1995 have signed on as unemployed and receive(a) income support, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) both unemployment benefit and income support and (d) credits only; and how many people have joined the unemployment register as a result of being found capable of work or disallowed incapacity benefit, income support or severe disablement allowance. [26819]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Robert Home to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about how many people who have been found incapable of work since April 1995 have signed on as unemployed and what benefits they have received; and how many people have joined the unemployment register as a result of being found capable of work or disallowed Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or Severe Disablement Allowance.
  In answer to the first part of your question, people found incapable of work following the All Work Test can continue to receive Incapacity Benefit (IB) and would not therefore need to claim unemployment benefits.
  You also ask how many people have joined the unemployment register as a result of being found capable of work or disallowed IB. In the period April 1995 to March 1996 40,257 people disallowed IB following the All Work Test made a claim for unemployment benefits and thereby registered for employment. No figures are held for those who have joined the unemployment register, who previously claimed Income Support or Severe Disablement Allowance.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress her Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26720]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has been in correspondence with the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. and is awaiting a proposal directed at the Department for Education and Employment.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessments she has made of the performance of jobcentres in(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough measured against charter standards in the last 12 months; [26611]

  (2) how many complaints were received about the services provided by jobcentres in (a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough during the last 12 months; and what were the equivalent figures for the previous (i) 12, (ii) 24 and (iii) 36 months. [26612]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  228
  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the performance of Jobcentres in Doncaster and Mexborough in the last 12 months measured against Charter standards, and about the number of complaints received about the services provided by the above Jobcentres.
  Jobseeker's Charter standards are monitored throughout the Employment Service. The standards are agreed by the Citizens Charter Unit and Number 10 Policy Unit. The following standards can be expected by jobseekers under the Jobseeker's Charter:
  jobseekers should be seen on time if they have an appointment, if not they should be seen within 10 minutes of offered an appointment;
  telephone calls should be answered within 30 seconds;
  letters should be responded to within five days, jobseekers's questions should be answered in clear, plain language;
  vacancies on display should be up to date and available; and
  benefit payments should be for the right amount of money and on time.
  Table 1 and 2 attached show the standards achieved for the periods you requested in the Employment Service (ES) Districts in which Doncaster and Mexborough are located. Analysis would indicate that the standards, particularly on client waiting times, are lower in the Doncaster ES District compared to Barnsley and the Dearne. The main factor affecting the service to the public during the period was the introduction of a pilot system known as the Labour Market System (LMS). LMS is a computer based system designed to support the ES frontline, job-broking and client advisory processes. As with any major innovation of this size there have been a number of system and organisational problems to resolve. I am pleased to report that the majority of teething problems have been overcome and we are now starting to see real improvements for our clients. You will be interested to note that following the successful pilot of LMS in the Doncaster ES District a decision was taken to rollout LMS in all Jobcentre locations.
  As part of the Jobseeker's Charter we obtain feedback from our clients on the quality of our services. A formal suggestions and complaints system is in place at Jobseekers to monitor this. Table 3 shows the volume of complaints received by Doncaster and Mexborough offices. Suggestions by clients and employers are regularly monitored and where possible improvements are made to our services. For example, improved Back To Work Teams (BTWTs) are currently being introduced into Jobcentres following the 1995 local customer satisfaction surveys. BTWTs are groups of ES people who provide the full range of ES programmes and services to specific groups of clients. The teams can offer a continuity of service to clients, as well as ensuring all eligibility conditions for receipt of benefit are satisfied.
  In addition to the above quarterly monitoring of standards, information is gathered via local and national customer satisfaction surveys. The last local customer satisfaction survey in Mexborough was carried out in the two weeks commencing 18 March 1995 (published July 1995). Offices within the Doncaster ES District were excluded from the 1995 survey because of the LMS pilot. You will be interested to note that a survey of customer satisfaction within the Doncaster Jobcentres took place two weeks ago although the results are yet to be published and analysed.
  Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact my District Managers. Terry Allen is District Manager for Doncaster District and he can be contacted on Tel: (01302) 552101, and Paul Armstrong is District Manager for Barnsley and the Dearne—which covers Mexborough—and can be contacted on Tel: (01226) 263000.
  I hope this is helpful.
  229

  Table 1: Standards of service by Barnsley and the Dearne Employment Service District under the jobseeker's charter Barnsley and the Dearne Employment Service District comprises the Jobcentres in Barnsley, Goldthorpe, Hoyland, Mexborough and Wombwell.

  Percentage

  Quarter ending

  Waiting times (Seen within 10 minutes)

  Answering telephone (within 30 seconds)

  Reply to letters (within 5 working days)

  Up to date vacancies

  First payment within 13 days1

  Accuracy of payment by value2

  March 1996

  86

  97.3

  100

  96.6

  74.3

  398.4

  December 1995

  97.1

  96.9

  100

  95.2

  82.8

  498.1

  September 1995

  100

  99

  100

  95

  75.6

  597.7

  June 1995

  100

  98

  99

  96

  77.3

  699.4

  1 This indicator is compiled monthly and the figures for the month highlighted have been given.

  2 For this indicator the quarterly return dates differ.

  3 5.1.96.

  4 6.10.95.

  5 7.7.95.

  6 7.4.95.

  Table 2: Standards of Service by Doncaster Employment Service District under the Jobseeker's Charter Doncaster Employment Service District comprises the East Laith Gate, Queensgate Corner, Queensgate House, and Trafford Way Jobcentres in Doncaster and Thorne Jobcentre

  Percentage

  Quarter ending

  Waiting times (seen within 10 minutes)

  Answering telephone (with 30 seconds

  Reply to letters (within 5 working days)

  Up to date vacancies

  First payment within 12 day1

  Accuracy of payment by value2

  March 1996

  82

  100

  87.5

  91.1

  74.5

  396.8

  December 1995

  80.8

  100

  100

  89.7

  77.8

  498.2

  September 1995

  86.6

  100

  100

  83.9

  70.8

  592.5

  June 1995

  92.6

  100

  85.8

  82.7

  70.8

  697.0

  1 This indicator is compiled monthly and the figures for the month highlighted have been given.

  2 For this indicator the quarterly return dates differ.

  3 5.1.96.

  4 6.10.95.

  5 7.7.95.

  6 7.4.95.

  Table 3: Complaints received under the jobseeker's charter

  Number of complains received by Mexborough jobcentre

  Number of complains received by Doncaster jobcentres (excluding Thorne)

  Year ending March 1996

  7

  33

  Year ending March 1995

  2

  45

  Year ending March 1994

  0 (Records not available until quarter ending December 1993)

  Records not available

  Year ending March 19931

  Records not available

  Records not available

  1 Under the Jobseeker's Charter, there are no national guidelines on the length of time completed documents are retained and it is at the discretion of the District Manager as to how long information are kept on file.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements he has made to ensure that disabled people who wish to defend themselves without drawing upon the services of a solicitor and barrister, are able to do so in bankruptcy proceedings before the High Court; and if he will make a statement. [26801]
  230
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The question concerns as 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. Harry Barnes, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the ability of disabled people to defend bankruptcy proceedings in person.
  Under the Rules of the Supreme Court, any person under a mental disability may not defend proceedings themselves but must act through a next friend or guardian ad litem. The Rules also provide that a next friend must act by a solicitor. Physically disabled people are, of course, free to defend themselves in all proceedings, including bankruptcy.
  The Royal Courts of Justice has made a number of improvements to disabled access to its buildings over the last four years. Bankruptcy proceedings normally take place in the Thomas More Building. This is the most modern part of the complex and there is wheelchair access to all floors. Facilities are also available for the hard of hearing to have access to a hearing enhancement system. Blind court users are assisted through Braille indicators at strategic locations in the building, such as next to lift buttons, and space is also provided in courts and chambers should they wish to use Braille machines for transcription.
  There is also a Customer Service Officer in the Royal Courts of Justice who is permanently on hand to help with any problems that a disabled person may have.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the magistrates courts covering the Greater London area. [25577]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  There are presently 50 magistrates courts in the Greater London area. They are:

  Area

  Inner London

  (These courts deal with mainly adult business)

  Board of Green Cloth Verge of the Palaces (Special Jurisdiction: Gaming and Licensing)

  SW1

  Belmarsh

  SE28

  Bow Street

  WC2

  Camberwell Green

  SE5

  City of London

  EC4

  Clerkenwell

  WC1

  Greenwich

  SE10

  Hampstead

  NW3

  Highbury Corner

  N7

  Horseferry Road

  SW1

  Marlborough Street

  W1A

  Marylebone

  NW1

  Old Street

  EC1

  South Western

  SW11

  Thames

  E3

  Tower Bridge

  SE1

  Walton Street

  SW3

  West London

  W14

  Wells Street

  W1

  Woolwich

  SE18

  Outer London

  Acton

  W3

  Barking

  IG11

  Barnet

  EN5

  Bexley

  DA6

  Brent

  NW10

  Brentford

  TW8

  Bromley

  BR1

  Croydon

  CR9

  Ealing

  W13

  Enfield

  N17

  Feltham

  TW13

  Haringey

  N6

  Harrow

  HAl

  Havering

  RM1

  Hendon

  NW9

  Kingston upon Thames

  KTI

  Redbridge

  IG6

  Richmond upon Thames

  TW9

  Stratford

  E15

  Sutton

  SM6

  Uxbridge

  UB8

  Waltham Forest

  E17

  Wimbledon

  SW19

  Youth and family courts

  Camden and Islington

  N7

  City, Hackney and Tower Hamlets

  E3

  Greenwich

  SE10

  Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea

  W1

  Lambeth and Wandsworth

  SW17

  Lewisham and Southwark

  SE5

  Family court

  Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and

  Westminster

  NW1

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Bahrain
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Bahrain about human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement. [25836]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding reply 23 April 1996]: Bahrain is a friend and ally. We have followed recent developments there closely and have been concerned at the recent violence. We are aware of allegations of human rights abuses, and will speak to the Bahraini Government about them.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when Mr. Ghafoor Ahmed, born 1 January 1972 is to be interviewed at the post in Islamabad in connection with his application to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement; [26805]

  (2) when the explanatory statement into the refusal to grant entry clearance to Mr. Sajid Mahmood, (Ref. IMM/B9871) is to be (a) completed at the post in Islamabad and (b) despatched to the immigration appellate authorities in London; and if he will make a statement; [26803]

  (3) when the explanatory statement into the refusal to grant entry clearance to Mr. Mohammed Usman, (Ref. IMM/C6876) is to be (a) completed at the post in Islamabad and (b) despatched to the immigration appellate authorities in London; and if he will make a statement; [26804]

  (4) when a decision is to be taken on the application by Mrs. Salim Bibi (Ref: LB A/1081/95 and B548471) made to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [26777]

  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.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the copyright licensing agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26715]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Discussions between ourselves and the Copyright Licensing Agency are continuing. An issue of particular concern which remains to be resolved is whether CLA's jurisdiction extends to posts overseas. An agreement with CLA is not necessary to comply with United Kingdom copyright legislation.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26713]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department has been approached by Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. and is considering the terms of the photocopying licence proposed by the agency.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  National Audit Office
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if the Commission has appointed new auditors for the National Audit Office. [27162]

  Sir Peter Hordern
  Yes. The Commission has appointed the firm of Robson Rhodes. The appointment will be for a fixed term of three years from 1 April 1996. The appointment is renewable for a further two years at the discretion of the Commission.

TREASURY

  Capital Gains and Transfer Taxes
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the total receipts form(a) capital gains tax and (b) capital transfer tax for the last five financial years for which figures are available. [22992]

  Mr. Michael Jack
  The information requested is given in the table which follows. Inheritance tax replaced capital transfer tax in 1996.

  £ million

  Capital gains tax1

  Inheritance tax

  1990–91

  1,852

  1,262

  1991–92

  1,140

  1,299

  1992–93

  982

  1,211

  1993–94

  710

  1,333

  1994–95

  925

  1,411

  1995–96 (provisional estimate)

  800

  1,550

  1 Capital gains made by companies, including the gains of insurance companies attributable to policy holders, are chargeable to corporation tax and excluded from, the figures above.

  Self-assessment (Self-employed)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the income tax yield form the self-employed for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99 which will result from the change in the basis period of account under self-assessment. [26189]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 9 February, Official Report, column 388,
  234
  just over £700 million of the yield in 1998–99 from self-assessment, as shown in the table 5.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97", relates to income tax and class 4 national insurance contributions on the profits of trades, professions and vocations. The equivalent figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are a yield of about £50 million and a cost of about £100 million respectively.

  These estimates are particularly sensitive to assumptions about growth in income from these sources.

  Tax Reliefs
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the full-year yield of restricting income tax relief at each marginal rate; [24926]

  (2) if he will estimate the full-year yield from limiting (a) all tax reliefs claimed at the marginal rate and (b) the personal allowance to relief at (1) the basic rate and (2) the 20 per cent. rage giving in each case the number of taxpayers affected; [24934]

  (3) what was the cost of tax relief for the most recent year available for deductions and reliefs listed under each of the reference numbers 303 to 317 on form X of the Inland Revenue survey of personal incomes. [24931]

  Mr. Jack
  Estimated full year yields at 1996–97 income levels for personal allowances, pension contribution and other reliefs are as follows. These are based on readily available information from a projection of the 1993–94 survey of personal incomes and other survey data projected in line with assumptions in the Budget forecast. The figures do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such changes. If all allowances and reliefs were restricted the total yield would be greater than the sum of the individual figures.

  Restriction to

  Basic rate

  20 per cent.

  Effect of restricting

  £ million

  Numbers affected £ million

  £ million

  Numbers affected million

  Personal allowances

  1,600

  3.3

  5,000

  25.2

  Relief for pension contributions

  790

  2.0

  1,350

  11.7

  Other reliefs

  190

  0.8

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a—not available.

  Latest estimates of the costs of deductions and reliefs from information collected in the SPI are included in tables 1.6 and B1 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995". In some cases the SPI, which is based on administrative date, provides only some of the required information about a relief and other data sources are also used.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [25953]
  235
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: During 1994–95, there were 14 appointments from names supplied by the public appointments unit to bodies listed under HM Treasury in "Public Bodies":

  Name

  Public body

  Mr. W. D. Walker, OBE

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Mr. I. L. Rushton

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Mr. M. C. Mowat

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Mr. I. N. Mokhtar

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Ms M. S. Lai

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Mr. R. G. Burnett

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Ms M. E. Black

  Financial Services Tribunal

  Ms Ruth Lea

  Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine

  Mrs. Sheila Gleig

  Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine

  Mr. David Penton

  Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body

  Mrs. Elizabeth Drummond

  Schoolteachers' Review Body

  Mr. Guy Neely

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body

  Mrs. Yve Newbold

  Senior Salaries Review Body

  Mrs. Rosemary Day

  Senior Salaries Review Body

  Conceptions (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many conceptions occurred in each of the last five years for which figures are available in the Doncaster health authority.[26644]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The figures requested are shown in the table. They cover conceptions which led to maternities or to abortion under the 1967 Abortions Act. No information is available centrally about conceptions terminated by spontaneous miscarriages or illegal abortions.

  Conceptions recorded for Doncaster Health Authority

  Year

  Thousands

  1989

  5.1

  1990

  5.1

  1991

  5.0

  1992

  4.9

  1993

  4.7

ENVIRONMENT

  Human Organs (Disposal)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 169, if human organs subsequent to pathological examination should be classified as waste, and upon disposal require the completion of waste transfer notes under the duty of care regulations. [25776]

  Mr. Clappison
  The issues which need to be addressed in the circumstances described by the hon. Member are those which I set out in my answer of 2 April 1996,Official Report, column 169.
  236
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what organs or body parts of (i) Ronnie Kray and (ii) Frederick West(a) should have been, according to his Department's guidance, and (b) were recorded on a duty of care waste transfer note; and if he will make a statement. [25853]

  Mr. Clappison
  It is the responsibility of the producer or the person in possession of a substance to decide whether it is waste and, if so, to take the necessary action in relation to that waste. It is the responsibility of the person transferring controlled waste, and the person to whom such waste is being transferred, to take the action in relation to transfer notes which is required by the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991. The Department does not have a right of access to records kept under the 1991 regulations.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if human corpses are classified as waste; and if human corpses are subject to duty of care work transfer notes as controlled waste. [25775]

  Mr. Clappison
  The burial and cremation of human corpses are outside the scope of legislation on waste.

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

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department will consider any plans for commemorating this event in October 2005 a little nearer the time.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of funding to be made available to his Department through the private finance initiative in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [16170]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of the Environment and its sponsored bodies attracted over £4.5 billion in private investment in support of its programmes in 1994–95 and anticipates a similar outturn in 1995–96. Forecasts for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are for about £6 billion in private investment to be generated. The level of capital expenditure by the private sector on the Department's recently announced private finance initiative projects is forecast to be £0 million in 1995–96, £25 million 1996–97 and £47 million 1997–98.

  Cement Kilns
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the National Physical Laboratory monitoring of plume grounding at Castle Cement were sent to Lancashire county council; and for what reasons no request was made for observations or comments. [26007]
  237
  Mr. Clappison
  A copy of the National Physical Laboratory monitoring report was sent as received, for information, to the chief executive of Lancashire county council on the 23 January 1996.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the date when the Government will publish their response to the second report of the Environment Committee on "The Burning of Secondary Liquid Fuel in Cement Kilns", HC 497 of Session 1994–95. [26099]

  Mr. Clappison
  Our current estimate is that the response will be published by the end of May 1996.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of potential conflicts of interest arising from the appointment of a director of Ready Mix Concrete as a director of the Environment Agency in respect of decisions on the circumstances in which cement companies should be permitted to burn hazardous waste in cement kilns. [26100]

  Mr. Clappison
  Careful consideration was given to potential conflicts of interest presented by appointments to the agency board, including the appointment of a director of Ready Mixed Concrete. Appropriate arrangements exist for such conflicts to the be declared, and for board members to withdraw from discussions or decisions likely to affect those interests.

  Employment Department

  Expenditure outturn

  NE

  NW

  M

  YH

  WM

  EM

  ER

  SW

  SE

  L

  1993–94

  Training for work fees

  39.5

  38.5

  23.9

  47.5

  44.3

  36.7

  23.4

  28.6

  27.6

  59.6

  Youth programmes

  60.8

  74.7

  47.0

  80.1

  74.9

  57.6

  56.7

  55.6

  64.0

  58.4

  1994–95

  Employer Investment in People (£ million)

  4.2

  7.5

  2.4

  5.9

  5.8

  6.4

  5.0

  6.0

  7.2

  10.7

  Childcare Grants (£ million)

  0.8

  1.2

  0.4

  1.3

  1.2

  1.0

  0.9

  1.1

  1.6

  1.6

  Training for Work Fees (£ million)

  35.6

  36.6

  18.4

  43.6

  34.7

  34.4

  22.0

  25.9

  24.6

  54.7

  Youth Programmes (£ million)

  55.8

  91.3

  33.2

  71.9

  72.8

  60.5

  60.5

  53.1

  77.6

  60.4

  WRFE (£ million)

  5.0

  13.1

  3.8

  14.6

  11.9

  8.5

  10.2

  10.3

  15.7

  18.5

  Skill Choice (£ million)

  1.7

  1.0

  0.6

  n/a

  1.7

  1.3

  3.6

  1.0

  0.6

  0.6

  Workstart (£ thousand)

  376.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24.0

  —

  —

  Learning for Work (£ million)

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.3

  0.4

  0.7

  0.8

  Technical Vocational Education Initiative (£ million)

  2.6

  11.2

  4.5

  11.3

  4.6

  9.2

  5.3

  9.5

  9.5

  14.3

  Careers Service—Contracted (£ million)

  3.0

  4.5

  n/a

  2.8

  10.3

  3.3

  2.5

  5.7

  3.0

  n/a

  Careers Service—Directed (£ million)

  6.7

  13.1

  5.9

  13.7

  9.7

  8.4

  12.0

  8.6

  16.7

  22.2

  Employment Department/Department for Education and Employment: 1995–96

  Expenditure outturn

  NE

  NW

  M

  YH

  WM

  EM

  ER

  SW

  SE

  L

  Employer Investment in People (£ million)

  3.9

  7.8

  2.1

  5.2

  6.4

  5.9

  4.6

  4.0

  6.0

  10.2

  Skills for Small Businesses (£ million)

  0.4

  0.8

  0.2

  0.6

  0.8

  0.5

  0.8

  0.5

  0.6

  1.1

  Childcare Grants (£ million)

  1.0

  1.9

  0.5

  1.8

  2.0

  1.4

  1.9

  1.7

  2.5

  2.2

  238
  These arrangements are set out in schedule 1 to the Environment Act 1995, and in the Environment Agency's own internal guidance for board members. The latter requires details of interests to be held on a register which will be available for public inspection.

  Appointees to boards, such as the Environment Agency, are people with a track record of success in their chosen fields, who are likely to have a variety of outside commitments and interests. It would be wrong to exclude such people from public appointments as their skills and experience are essential to the board's success.

  Regional Offices
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his Department's responsibilities on which the integrated regional offices are required to advise him on the allocation of resources. [25934]

  Mr. Curry
  The Government offices for the regions are required to provide advice to the Secretary of State for the Environment on the allocation of resources for the housing investment programme, housing partnership fund, flats over shops programme, cash incentive scheme, the single regeneration budget challenge fund and the European regional development fund.

  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the annual expenditure for each integrated regional office on each programme in each of the last three years. [25933]

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is as follows:
  239

  Employment Department/Department for Education and Employment: 1995–96

  Expenditure outturn

  NE

  NW

  M

  YH

  WM

  EM

  ER

  SW

  SE

  L

  Training for Work Fees (£ million)

  28.7

  30.9

  16.6

  36.0

  33.6

  24.9

  18.5

  21.4

  21.8

  43.2

  Youth Training and Modern Apprenticeships (£ million)

  54.7

  94.1

  29.1

  74.0

  70.6

  60.7

  56.4

  53.3

  78.3

  59.7

  Accelerated Modern Apprenticeships (£ thousand)

  14.0

  2.0

  0.0

  20.0

  9.0

  8.0

  6.0

  3.0

  0.0

  2.0

  Work Experience (£ million)

  0.4

  0.4

  0.1

  0.3

  0.7

  0.3

  0.6

  0.4

  1.1

  0.4

  FECDF (£ million)

  1.7

  3.9

  1.0

  3.2

  3.9

  2.3

  3.0

  2.9

  4.5

  4.3

  Adult Information and Guidance (£ thousand)

  552.6

  403.8

  242.8

  926.5

  361.3

  0.0

  308.8

  61.6

  70.0

  426.0

  Skill Choice (£ thousand)

  246.7

  87.5

  76.6

  0.0

  79.4

  10.6

  600.3

  43.8

  63.8

  58.5

  Workstart (£ thousand)

  70.7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Jobmatch (£ million)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  —

  —

  —

  0.5

  Technical Vocational Education Initiative (£ million)

  1.1

  7.1

  3.9

  10.7

  1.9

  5.4

  1.3

  4.6

  1.8

  13.2

  Careers Libraries (£ thousand)

  82.2

  208.5

  45.9

  183.1

  167.1

  160.0

  193.2

  149.3

  257.0

  191.7

  Careers Guidance (£ million)

  0.0

  1.1

  1.2

  1.4

  1.3

  0.5

  1.1

  0.5

  2.6

  4.8

  Careers Service—Contracted (£ million)

  12.2

  17.7

  0.8

  15.2

  16.4

  13.8

  16.5

  16.5

  16.0

  0.3

  Careers Service—Directed (£ million)

  0.6

  6.1

  5.3

  6.6

  5.5

  2.4

  4.7

  2.4

  11.3

  21.7

  1. The tables identify the former Employment Department and DFEE programmes in whose administration and delivery Government Offices are involved. The programmes are mainly delivered through Training and Enterprise Councils, Local Education Authorities and Careers Services, under contract to the Department.

  2. The table for 1993–94 refers to programme expenditure by Employment Department Regional Offices, whose boundaries are in some instances different from those of Government Offices for the Regions, which were formed in April 1994. Breakdowns of all programme spend for 1993–94 are not available. However, spend on the two largest programmes run by the Department is given. The spend in the table may not align precisely with the outturn published in the Appropriation Accounts at national level.

  3. Final outturn for 1994–95, as published in the Appropriation Accounts, is available at national level only. The spend in the table for 1994–95 may not align precisely with outturn published in the Appropriation Accounts.

  4. Spend for 1995–96 is still provisional. Final outturn will not be available until the Appropriation Accounts are published in the Autumn and is available at national level only. The spend in the table therefore represents the most up to date information available but may not align precisely with spend to be published in the Appropriation Accounts.

  5. Training for Work spend excludes Allowances, not available at Government Office level.

  Department of Trade and Industry

  £ million

  1993–94 outturn

  1994–95 outturn

  1995–96 expected outturn

  Net

  Gross

  Net

  Gross

  Net

  Gross

  ERDF Payment to third parties

  18.0

  18.0

  29.3

  29.3

  29.2

  29.2

  Regional Selective Assistance

  95.1

  95.3

  112.9

  113.2

  111.7

  113.0

  Inward Investment

  8.8

  8.9

  10.5

  10.5

  12.5

  12.5

  Business Services Locally Delivered (including development of Business Links)

  83.8

  83.8

  48.2

  48.2

  86.2

  86.2

  Export Promotion Schemes and Services (excluding Trade Policy element (WTO subscription)

  39.5

  54.7

  45.6

  56.2

  54.2

  57.6

  SMART

  12.9

  12.9

  13.4

  13.4

  11.8

  11.8

  SPUR

  8.7

  8.7

  8.5

  8.5

  8.7

  8.7

  1. The table identifies the main DTI programmes in whose administration and delivery the Government Offices are involved. The GOs are not directly involved in administering or delivering the whole amount of the programme expenditure identified in the table. Regional breakdowns for DTI programmes are not available.

  2. Net figures are net of receipts.

  Department of Transport

  £ thousand

  Outturn

  NE

  NW

  M

  YH

  WM

  EM

  ER

  SW

  SE

  L

  1994–95

  Statutory Advertising

  54.1

  71.0

  23.5

  44.0

  36.6

  13.1

  23.7

  24.2

  6.7

  42.0

  Public Inquiry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Consultancy and Studies

  0

  17.0

  2.8

  0

  11.0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  80.0

  Woolwich Ferry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,768.0

  Transportation Studies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,089.0

  1995–96

  Statutory Advertising

  147.4

  53.0

  25.4

  42.0

  23.5

  20.4

  30.0

  18.7

  39.8

  45.6

  Public Inquiry

  0

  0

  1.7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  35.0

  0

  0

  240

  241

  Department of Transport

  £ thousand

  Outturn

  NE

  NW

  M

  YH

  WM

  EM

  ER

  SW

  SE

  L

  Consultancy and Studies

  0

  13.0

  12.1

  10.0

  18.4

  0

  0

  24.3

  40.0

  261.0

  Woolwich Ferry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,136.0

  Transportation Studies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,490.0

  1. Details of programme expenditure prior to the formation of Government Offices for the Regions in April 1994 are not available.

  Department of the Environment

  £ million

  Outturn1

  NE

  NW

  M

  YH

  WM

  EM

  ER

  SW

  SE

  L

  1993–94

  Housing Investment

  Programme

  83.0

  162.0

  53.8

  154.6

  194.7

  116.2

  142.4

  140.6

  187.5

  530.4

  Estate Action23

  28.7

  60.3

  39.6

  41.8

  46.1

  27

  5.9

  12.2

  3.8

  85.3

  Housing Partnership Fund

  3.6

  2.6

  0.7

  2.8

  3.4

  4.0

  3.9

  4.8

  3.1

  1.1

  Housing Action Trust2

  —

  —

  16.0

  26.5

  2.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30.6

  Flats Over Shops

  1.0

  0.8

  0.3

  1.0

  0.9

  0.9

  0.7

  1.0

  0.8

  1.9

  Energy Efficiency/Cash

  Incentive Scheme

  0.4

  0.6

  0.7

  0.8

  0.5

  0.7

  0.4

  0.5

  0.3

  0.3

  Derelict Land Grant4

  7.8

  27.5

  8.0

  23.9

  19.9

  8.7

  0.8

  3.3

  0.8

  3.6

  City Action Team2

  0.8

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  —

  —

  —

  0.5

  Task Forces2

  1.8

  1.0

  2.2

  2.3

  2.6

  2.3

  —

  0.6

  —

  5.0

  Urban Development

  Corporation2

  78.5

  37.1

  22.5

  16.7

  62.4

  —

  —

  20.7

  —

  105.4

  City Challenge1 5

  45.8

  31.8

  22.3

  27.8

  29.0

  21.2

  —

  —

  —

  52.3

  Manchester Regeneration

  —

  23.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Docklands Light Railway2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28.1

  Merseyside Special grant

  —

  —

  0.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  ERDF

  41.2

  28.2

  23.0

  32.6

  34.3

  10.4

  —

  2.4

  11.5

  —

  Coalfield Areas Fund6

  Total expenditure: 166.5

  Urban Programme2/UPF6

  Total expenditure: 2.3

  1994–95

  Housing Investment

  Programme

  78.1

  156.2

  63.3

  142.8

  172.2

  108.8

  112.9

  115.4

  137.7

  442.4

  Housing Partnership Fund

  1.5

  3.0

  0.7

  2.6

  2.9

  2.1

  2.4

  2.3

  3.0

  10.2

  Flats over Shops Programme

  1.0

  1.0

  0.2

  1.2

  0.9

  1.0

  0.4

  0.9

  0.8

  1.5

  Cash incentive Scheme

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.7

  —

  3.2

  2.0

  7.6

  16.3

  Single Regeneration Budget

  160.9

  148.8

  104.6

  161.5

  176.1

  75.6

  14.6

  42.7

  13.7

  320.8

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  0.2

  —

  —

  0.2

  0.4

  1.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Manchester Regeneration

  —

  30.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  ERDF

  53.9

  49.5

  32.5

  43.0

  70.1

  23.3

  —

  13.0

  2.7

  0.1

  1995–96

  Housing Investment

  Programme

  64.9

  134.4

  37.1

  119.7

  136.7

  84.3

  93.6

  97.8

  136.8

  367.0

  Housing Partnership Fund

  1.6

  2.8

  0.7

  2.7

  3.1

  1.9

  2.1

  2.8

  3.2

  9.7

  Cash incentive Scheme

  0.6

  1.9

  0.7

  0.3

  1.9

  1.5

  4.8

  2.6

  10.9

  34.6

  Specified Capital Grant for Private Sector Renewal

  12.6

  52.0

  13.5

  32.3

  49.1

  25.6

  24.4

  33.8

  43.6

  49.8

  Single Regeneration Budget

  152.6

  143.9

  102.7

  133.1

  147.9

  73.8

  9.6

  29.7

  9.4

  313.5

  ERDF

  28.8

  27.4

  29.2

  32.8

  27.6

  10.8

  0.2

  11.5

  1.3

  1.6

  1 The table above refers to programme expenditure by the Regional Offices of the Department of the Environment. Government Offices were established in April 1994.

  2 Subsumed within Single Regeneration Budget from April 1994.

  3 Estate Action figures exclude resources for Design Improvement Controlled Experiment (DICE).

  4 Transferred to English Partnerships from April 1994.

  5 City Challenge figures include City Challenge Housing Corporation expenditure in 1993–94 and exclude payments made in 1993–94 for expenditure actually incurred in 1992–93.

  6 Figures for the Urban Programme, Urban Partnership Fund (UPF) and Coalfield Areas Fund are not held centrally on a region by region basis. The Urban Programme was subsumed within the Single Regeneration Budget from April 1995.

  Whitley Incinerator, Coventry (Fire)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions have been reached by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's investigation into the fire at Whitley incinerator, Coventry, on 8 March; and if he will make a statement. [25922]
  242
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: The investigations into the incident at the Coventry and Solihull Waste Disposal Co. Ltd. incinerator on 8 March are still in progress. A detailed report from the operator is expected shortly, together with a report from Coventry Environmental Services, which has been investigating the health effects. These reports will be considered in order

  243
  to determine whether there are any actions required to prevent or minimise similar incidents in the future. The investigation is likely to be complete by the end of May.

  Shopping Development
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the response he has received to his draft planning guidance on out-of-town shopping development. [26530]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Over 500 responses were received.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue revised guidance on planning permission for out-of-town shopping development. [26529]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We hope to do so before the summer recess.

  Satellite Dishes
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which local authority districts in the south-west a satellite dish size of 90 cm is currently permitted without planning permission. [26339]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A general planning permission, without the need for a planning application to the local planning authority, is granted by the Town and County Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 for the installation of satellite antennas, subject to certain restrictions including size limits. In the south-west of England, the size limit for installation on dwellinghouses and other buildings under 15 m high is 90 cm in Devon and Cornwall. The size is necessary for good reception in those counties. Elsewhere in the south west the permitted limit is 70 cm. Our recent consultation paper, "Planning and Telecommunications", proposes that satellite antennas of up to 90 cm should be permitted throughout England.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if orimulsion will be included in the hazardous waste list. [25507]

  Mr. Clappison
  The list of hazardous waste was established by European Council Decision 94/904/EC. In the United Kingdom it is reproduced in the list set out in part I of schedule 2 to the Special Waste Regulations 1996 laid before Parliament on 1 April 1996. In my Department's view, orimulsion is not included in the list.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the functions of the toxic metals contained in orimulsion. [25508]

  Mr. Clappison
  Toxic metals contained in orimulsion have no function and are present as impurities.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each local authority's capital allocation, credit approvals and capital grants by(a) protective services, (b) single regeneration budget, (c) fire service, (d) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (e) European regional development fund, (f) personal
  244
  social services, (g) education, (h) housing, (i) transport, (j) other services and (k) total for the years 1996–97,1995–96,1994–95,1993–94, plus the bids made by local authorities for 1996–97. [26778]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A list has been placed in the Library of the House, giving annual capital guidelines and basic credit approvals for each local authority for the years 1993–94 to 1996–97, and total supplementary credit approvals and capital grants for each local authority for the years 1993–94 and 1994–95. The rest of the information requested is not available centrally; to collate it would be possible only at disproportionate cost.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26716]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department is undertaking a review to ensure compliance with copyright law. If necessary, a photocopying licence will then be sought.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will split band G of the council tax into narrower bands. [26781]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the council tax payable by a band D household for each local authority area in Essex, excluding parish council precepts. [26877]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The council tax payable by a band D household for each local authority area in Essex, excluding parish precepts is as listed.

  1996–97

  £

  Basildon

  651.96

  Braintree

  588.33

  Brentwood

  583.38

  Castle Point

  636.84

  Chelmsford

  591.70

  Colchester

  607.61

  Epping Forest

  573.82

  Harlow

  704.55

  Maldon

  561.96

  Rochford

  586.71

  Southend on Sea

  573.00

  Tendring

  583.94

  Thurrock

  605.34

  Uttlesford

  568.81

  Council Housing Transfers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce additions to the programme for housing transfers by councils in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [27241]
  245
  Mr. Curry
  I am pleased to announce that Cotswold district council has gained a place on the 1996 housing transfer programme. The authority aims, subject to the approval of its tenants, to transfer its stock of over 4,300 homes to Fosseway housing association by the end of March 1997.

  The Government are committed to a continuing programme of transfers as a means of generating private finance to repair and improve the condition of social housing and to increase diversity and choice for tenants.

  The inclusion of Cotswold raises the number of authorities on the 1996 programme to six, giving a revised programme of approximately 25,000 dwellings, valued at £223.6 million.

  The 1995 transfer programme has been completed. Eleven authorities transferred almost 45,000 homes to housing associations, raising a total of £963 million in private sector funds.

TRANSPORT

  Young Drivers (Accidents)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents occurred during(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995 involving drivers under 20 years of age; and if he will make a statement. [25159]

  Mr. Norris
  There were 428 fatal accidents in 1993 involving drivers under 20 years of age, and 426 in 1994. Information for 1995 will be available in July.

  Rail Investment
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what major investment schemes which have been assessed as not meeting the commercial criteria but having wider benefits to the north-west are included in Railtrack's network management statement; and if he will make a statement. [26417]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack's network management statement sets out an illustrative list of investment schemes which include infrastructure renewal works in the Manchester area and the west coast main line route modernisation scheme. As the statement explains, in the restructured railway, it is for the Franchising Director, in consultation with train operating companies and Railtrack, to assess whether an infrastructure investment scheme meets the service standards and other criteria to enable Railtrack to take the project forward.

  Union Railways
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list total payments to date made by Union Railways to(a) consultants, (b) outside organisations and (c) individuals, indicating the name of the body involved and the services provided. [22238]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 22 March 1996]: This information is not available in the form requested. The following is a list of consultants who have either undertaken studies on behalf of Union Railways, or seconded persons to work in house with UR on the
  246
  development of the CTRL project. The agencies that provided temporary draughtmens and general office staff.

  Engineering

  Mott MacDonald

  Sir William Halcrow and Partners

  Partners Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick

  Sir Alexander Gibb

  Eurorail Ltd.

  Ove Amp Engineering

  Faithful and Gould

  Kier Build Ltd.

  Knight Piesold and Partners

  WS Atkins

  Geotechnical Consulting Group

  TH Technology

  Environmental

  Ove Amp Environment

  Aspinwall and Company Ltd.

  Land Property and Town Planning

  Parkman Ltd.

  Terraquest Land Services Ltd.

  Symonds Travers Morgan Ltd.

  Tibalds Monro

  Peter Brett Associates

  Jones Lang Wooton

  Land Aspects Consultancy

  Montagu Evans

  Miscellaneous

  Laing Henry Ltd.

  Public Policy Unit

  WS Atkins

  TH Technology

  Grandfield

  McKenna and Company

  Freshfields

  Transmark Worldwide

  Environmental Resource Management

  Oxford Archaeological Unit

  Mott MacDonald

  Ashdown Environmental Ltd.

  Cobham Resource Consultants

  Reading Agricultural Consultants

  Rupert Taylor

  Shankland Cox

  PIDEA

  Michael Boddington Associates

  Kennedy and Donkin Transportation Ltd.

  SQ Design

  Cremer and Warner

  Arthur AnderRon and Co.

  C. Price

  SG Warburg and Co. Ltd.

  Bechtel Ltd.

  Buchanan and Partners

  Llewellyn Davies

  Newell and Sorrell Ltd.

  DCA Design Consultants

  247

  99 Productions

  Nick Derbyshire and Associates

  GH Nichols

  MAI Research Ltd.

  Hutchinson Lock and Munk

  Business Forecasting and Evaluation

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Oscar Faber TPA

  Hunt Analytics Inc.

  Michael H. Schabas

  Hague Consulting Group

  London Economics Ltd.

  Henley Centre for Forecasting Ltd.

  MVA Consultancy

  Sir Alexander Gibb

  Kleinwort Benson Ltd.

  Steer Davies and Gleave

  Marcial Echenique and Partners

  National Economic Research Association

  Derek Salkeld and Associates

  The total aggregate payments made to the listed companies since Union Railways' creation in 1992 is as follows.

  Aggregate payment excluding VAT

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  12.7

  1993–94

  20.5

  1994–95

  28.8

  1995–96 (to date)

  10.7

  Weighbridges
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many weighbridges in the United Kingdom are run by(a) his Department and (b) local authorities. [26772]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate executive agency to write to the hon. member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on the number of weighbridges run by a) the Department, and b) local authorities.
  The Vehicle Inspectorate is responsible for the maintenance and operation of 72 weighbridges throughout the UK. We do not have information on the number of weighbridges under local authority control.

  Car Accidents
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish figures relating to car accidents involving(a) private cars, (b) company cars and (c) rental cars by (i) vehicles and (ii) mileage travelled. [26773]

  Mr. Norris
  Some of the information requested is published in the report "Cars: Make and Model: The Risk of Driver Injury and Car Accident Rates in Great Britain: 1994".
  248
  The following table shows a summary of the available data which are contained in this report. Rental cars are included in the category of company-owned cars and it is not possible to identify rented vehicles from the available accident record.

  Injury accident involvement per 10,000 licensed vehicles in each group

  Privately owned

  Company owned

  Fatal or serious

  All

  Fatal or serious

  All

  Registered on or since 1 January 1992

  Standard

  performance

  23

  144

  30

  198

  High

  performance

  27

  143

  32

  216

  Registered before 1 January 1992

  Standard

  performance

  23

  150

  25

  156

  High

  performance

  31

  176

  27

  157

  Corresponding estimates of mileage travelled are not available. However, the following annual average mileage estimates have been drawn from the 1992–94 national travel survey and are included in the report.

  Estimated annual average mileage by age and ownership of car

  Age of vehicle

  Privately owned

  Company owned

  Up to 1 year old

  10,200

  22,000

  Over 1 and up to 2 years old

  10,000

  23,000

  Over 2 and up to 3 years old

  9,900

  21,200

  Over 3 years old

  8,100

  17,700

  All ages

  8,600

  20,800

  Serco Ltd.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contracts his Department and his agencies have with Serco Ltd.; what is the current cost; when each contract ends; what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [26688]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has the following contracts with Serco Ltd.:

  Description

  Termination date

  Software Services Agreement

  31 July 1996

  Maintenance of radar (call-off)

  31 March 1997

  Maintenance of Vessel tracking systems (call-off)

  31 March 1997

  The total cost of the contracts is £123,000. Individual contract costs are not provided as this information is commercial confidential.

  The cost to the Department of early termination of these contracts would be negotiable and depend on the individual circumstances and loss suffered by the

  249
  contractor. In any case, this amount, when taken together with any payments already made, should not exceed the total contract price.

  London Taxi Fares
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about London taxi fares and fees. [27293]

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State has made an order increasing London taxi fares by about 4.59 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday 27 April 1996. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum charge of £1.40—including a hire charge of £1—for the first 513 m—561.22 yds—or 111 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 256.5 m—280.61 yds— or 55.5 seconds up to six miles and 20p for each 171 m—187.07 yds—or 37 seconds thereafter. The charge for each additional passenger will be 40p.

  The Secretary of State has decided that there will be no increase this year in the fees for London taxi driver and vehicle licences, currently £87 and £78 respectively.

  Croydon Tramlink
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest position on Croydon Tramlink; and if he will make a statement. [27147]

  Mr. Norris
  I am glad to say that, following analysis of bids from four consortiums, London Transport has identified Tramtrack Croydon Ltd. as the preferred bidder for the concession to build and operate Croydon Tramlink. London Transport will therefore be taking forward discussion with Tramtrack Croydon Ltd., with the aim of completing the concession agreement with it. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will need to be satisfied with the final proposals before making grant available, but I welcome that further step forward for this private finance initiative scheme.

  This important public transport scheme should be seen alongside other projects. I know that many Croydon residents are keen that the Coulsdon inner relief road on the A23 should go ahead; and I am glad to be able to confirm that, despite the substantial reductions in roads spending announced in the last Budget, that particular scheme remains in the trunk road programme.

  National Transport Debate
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the Government's response to the national debate on transport. [27107]

  Sir George Young
  I am publishing today a Green Paper, providing the Government's response to the transport debate and setting out our vision for the future of transport policy. The Green Paper, "Transport: the Way Forward" draws together for the first time in nearly 20 years most of the key issues affecting transport policy.

  The Government issued last October a statement on transport priorities in Northern Ireland. The Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales intend to publish transport policy statements later.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will introduce regulations granting residents of mobile homes at Chesters croft, Cheadle Hulme, rights of compensation under the provisions of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. [26737]

  Mr. Watts
  I hope to introduce them as soon as practicable.

  Motorway Repairs (Lighting)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on accident levels of inappropriately sited(a) security lights and (b) lights used on motorways to illuminate repair work. [26779]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the assessment of the effects on accident levels of inappropriately sited security lighting and lighting used on motorways to illuminate repair works.
  I am not aware of any studies into the relationship between security lighting and road accidents. The Highways Agency has carried out a number of accident studies at roadworks over the years and the illumination of repair works has not been identified as causing a safety problem.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26709]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is revising the matter. Staff are told to comply with copyright provisions and checks are made to reduce the risk of infringement when photocopies are made.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the implementation of the second EC directive on driving licences. [26859]

  Sir George Young
  The changes being introduced as a result of the second directive are very complex. Some aspects have required clarification or negotiation with the commission, and some information from the commission is still awaited. We understand that a number of other member states do not expect to be in a position to implement the directive fully for some time.

  We now intend to implement the directive in two stages. The theory test for cars and motorcycles will be introduced as planned on 1 July 1996. However, other changes to the legislation will be introduced on 1 January 1997. They include the introduction of theory tests for other vehicles; the introduction of new categories of driving licence—in particular for new applicants for entitlement to drive minibus and light good vehicles—and changes to eyesight requirements for driving of lorries and buses.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery Charities Board
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if she will make a statement on her policy with regard to councillors serving on National Lottery Charities Board panels; [26313]

  (2) how many councillors have applied to serve on National Lottery Charities Board panels; [26311]

  (3) what measures she has taken to ensure that appointments procedures for National Lottery Charities Board panels are transparent and democratic. [26314]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the appointment of members to the National Lottery Charities Board currently lies with my right hon. and learned Friend, although responsibility is soon to pass to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage.

  The board itself is responsible for appointing members of its non-executive regional advisory panels. I have asked the chief executive of the board to write to the hon. Member on the points raised.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11392]

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 25 January 1996]: The total publicity expenditure incurred by this Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies, is as follows:-

  1989–90: £15,598,464

  1991–92: £17,546,566

  1993–94: £18,333,603

  1994–95: £20,654,914

  1995–96: £22,917,1731

  Of these figures, the amounts spend on advertising are as follows:

  1989–90: £5,343,986

  1991–92: £4,834,813

  1993–94: £5,964,988

  1994–95: £3,597,308

  1995–96: £6,383,4671

  1 Estimated figure to end of year.

  1. Detailed plans for 1996–97 expenditure are yet to be finalised.

  2. Information is not available prior to 1989–90. This Department was not in existence before 1988 and information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  3. The above figures are for publicity only. Press does not form part of publicity spending.

  4. This Department does not incur expense on Public Relations.

  Allowance Claimants
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants were in receipt of reduced earnings allowance and special hardship allowance at the end of February; and what was the average payment under each scheme. [25854]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  Reduced earnings allowance

  Frozen or restricted reduced earnings allowance

  Allowances current

  107,213

  35,583

  Average weekly payment

  £36.05

  £24.64

  1. Special Hardship Allowance was replaced by Reduced Earnings Allowance from October 1986.

  2. Figures shown are at 2 April 1994.

  3. Based on a 10 per cent. sample with an allowance for late returns.

  Income Support
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons were receiving income support on medical grounds at 31 March 1995. [25790]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  As of February 1995, 787,000 people were receiving income support because of disability or incapacity.

  Notes:

  1. Data are not available for March 1995.

  2. Figure has been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. The above figure includes those persons in receipt of the disability-premium and those receiving short term incapacity benefit, but excludes persons aged 60 and over, and those persons who would qualify for a lone parent and/or carer premium.

  4. Sample Size: 1 in 20.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Enquiry Febniary 1995.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons are currently receiving income support on medical grounds. [25791]

  Mr. Evans
  As of May 1995, the latest date for which information is available, 807,000 people were receiving income support because of disability or incapacity.

  Notes:

  1. Figures has been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. The above figure includes those persons in receipt of the disability premium and those receiving Short Term Incapacity Benefit, but excludes persons aged 60 and over, and those persons who would qualify for a lone parent and/or carer premium.

  3. Sample Size: 1 in 20.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Enquiry May 1995.

  Occupational Asthma
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the average level of award paid to sufferers of occupational asthma, from whom benefit was recovered by the compensation recovery unit in each of the last three financial years; [25784]
  253
  (2) how much was recovered from payments to sufferers of occupational asthma by the compensation recovery unit in each of the last three financial years; [25782]

  (3) from how many occupational asthma sufferers benefit was recovered by the compensation recovery unit in each of the three financial years. [25783]

  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. Ian McCartney, dated 24 April 1996:
  As Peter Mathison is away from the office an annual leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what was the average level of award paid to sufferers of occupational asthma, from whom benefit was recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU); how much was recovered from payments and from how many occupational asthma sufferers benefit was recovered by the CRU; for each of the last three financial years.
  The information requested is not available in the format requested. The average level of award paid to sufferers of occupational asthma is not available. Under the recoupment provisions, compensators are only required to notify CRU of a compensation claim if the award exceeds the Small Payment Limit of £2,500. Compensators are not required to provide information about either the level or composition of the award.
  Prior to May 1994 information about recovery from payments to occupational asthma sufferers is not available, as the data held on the CRU computer system did not specifically identify such cases. Information from May 1994 is provided in the table below:—

  Period

  Number of cases

  Total amount recovered1

  May 1994—March 1995

  3

  £7,161.06

  April 1995—March 1996

  27

  £211,510.18

  1 These figures include money recovered from both final and interim payments.

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Retirement Allowance
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if claimants over retirement age but not yet 70 years of age and not in full-time employment who are in receipt of invalidity benefit as well as reduce earnings allowance will be transferred to retirement allowance. [25856]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Yes. The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Regular Employment) Regulations 1990, as amended by the Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 with affect from 24 March 1996, provide for reduced earnings allowance recipients who are over pension age and in receipt of incapacity benefit, which replaced invalidity benefit, to be transferred to retirement allowance.
  254
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants over retirement age and not in full-time employment who receive reduced earnings allowance will be transferred to retirement allowance from April; and what will be the estimated average change in weekly income resulting from the change over. [25855]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  The Benefits Agency has identified about 20,000 reduced earnings allowance recipients over pension age, who are not being paid at a frozen or restricted rate. Of these, any not in regular employment will be transferred to retirement allowance under the amended legislation which came into force on 24 March. The average difference between reduced earnings allowance and retirement allowance is estimated to be around £29 a week. This may be offset by additional income related benefit entitlement for some retirement allowance recipients.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a claimant who is transferred from reduced earnings allowance to retirement allowance and is disadvantaged through his lost occupational pension entitlement will be compensated by extra retirement allowance. [25857]

  Mr. Evans
  Retirement allowance is paid in recognition that a reduction in earnings, due to an industrial accident or disease, during a person's working life could result in reduced pension entitlement. The rate payable can be no more than 25 per cent. of the rate of reduced earnings allowance.

  Small Farmers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to set up emergency procedures for income support for financially vulnerable small farmers by exempting them from the actively seeking work criteria. [26131]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Any claims from unemployed farmers would be subject to the normal benefit rules, including the actively seeking work rule. Farmers who continue to work may be entitled to in-work benefits depending upon their income and family circumstances.

  Disability Pension
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers benefiting financially if the housing benefit taper for people receiving a disability premium were reduced to 50 per cent. [26343]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated cost of reducing the housing benefit taper to 50 per cent. for claimants with a disability premium is £70 million; 245,000 existing claimants would gain, while a further 15,000 would be newly entitled to receive housing benefit.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on the family expenditure surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefit levels.

  2. Expenditure estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million, and caseloads to the nearest 5,000.

  Social Fund
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are his Department's plans for the future funding of(a) social fund money advice and (b) the Benefits Agency out-of-hours service, with particular reference to that provided by the London emergency office. [25630]

  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 Peter Mathison to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 24 April 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking what are his Department's plans for the future funding of (a) Social Fund money advice and (b) the Benefits Agency (BA) Out of Hours Service, with particular reference to that provided by the London Emergency Office.
  I recently outlined the BA's plans for the future delivery of social security benefits based on the BA vision of "right benefit money to the right person at the right time every time".
  The Agency will carry out a wide-ranging review of its activities as part of the Departmental Change Programme. Such a programme of change will cover all fundamental areas of the organisation's business and we are committed to achieve a 25% improvement in our productivity by 1998/99. In the first year it has been necessary to identify efficiencies and economies in excess of £200 million. All efficiencies and economies have been considered alongside the expenditure priorities the Agency has been set.
  It is against this background that the Agency decided to review the need for the Out Of Hours Service and the London Emergency Office which both provide a service to customers at night and weekends, and also the provision of Social Fund Money Advice.
  It was decided to end the funding for Social Fund Money Advice from 1 April 1996 because it was found that the service that could be provided by Social Fund Officers was very limited, there was a very low customer take up, and other outside bodies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux were able to provide a comprehensive service.
  The need for and the level of service provided by the Out of Hours Service and the London Emergency Office is currently being examined and a decision on it viability is expected later this year.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance targets apply for the operation of the Child Support Agency's computer system. [25629]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 24 April 1996.
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency Computer System (CSCS) performance targets.
  The performance targets for CSCS are set out in a Service Level Agreement between the Child Support Agency (CSA) and the Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA).
  The service level targets are as follows:

  Availability
  The target is for ITSA to provide the computer service to all CSA locations 95% of the planned service hours as laid down in the agreement.
  256
  Response Times
  There are two targets for the time it takes the computer to respond and display information to the user these are:
  an average response time of 5 seconds and for
  95% of all responses to be within 7 seconds

  Output Handling
  The target is for ITSA to accurately handle and despatch 95% of all computer outputs within one working day.

  Service Support
  The target is for ITSA to clear 95% of all incidents (problems) within agreed clearance times as laid down in the agreement.
  I am pleased to be able to tell you that all performance targets for CSCS have been consistently exceeded in 1995/96.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the annual running costs of the agency and the total to date. [26570]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 24 April 1996:
  I am replying to your parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency running costs.
  The running costs of the Agency for its first two years were published in our relevant Annual Reports and Accounts. The details for 1995–96 are not quite finalised yet. The most up to date figures therefore are:

  £ million

  1993–94

  139

  1994–95

  192

  1995–96

  1197

  Total

  528

  1 Forecast figure subject to end of year adjustment. I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of full assessments by the Child Support Agency by amount and as a proportion of cases cleared from 1 April 1995 to the present time in the same format as his answer of 25 October 1995,Official Report, column 802. [25765]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 24 April 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
  Data is currently available to 30 November 1995. A breakdown of the full maintenance assessments by amount and as a proportion of cases cleared from 1 April 1995 to 30 November 1995 is attached. Work is currently in progress to update this information and details should be available in July 1996.
  I hope this is helpful.
  257

  Full assessment by amount and as a proportion of cases cleared: 1 April 1995 to 30 November 1995

  Weekly maintenance

  Full assessments (000s)

  Percentage a proportion of cases cleared

  £0.00-£ 42.35

  34.3

  15.6

  £2.36-£4.99

  0.9

  0.4

  £5.00-£9.99

  1.4

  0.6

  £10.00-£19.99

  4.8

  2.2

  £20.00-£29.99

  5.7

  2.6

  £30.00-£39.99

  5.6

  2.6

  £40.00-£49.99

  7.0

  3.2

  £50.00-£59.99

  5.9

  2.7

  £60.00-£69.99

  5.5

  2.5

  £70.00-£79.99

  4.0

  1.8

  £80.00 +

  4.4

  2.0

  Total

  79.6

  36.3

  1. Data extracted from a 5 per cent. sample of cases as at 30 November 1995.

  2. Includes absent parents on Income Support.

  3. Figures do not sum due to rounding.

  Benefit Savings Achieved

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96 up to February 1996

  Total

  Maintenance collected (including AP IS deductions)

  30

  57

  67

  154

  Maintenance arranged

  177

  133

  117

  427

  Non-maintenance cessations

  138

  200

  169

  507

  Other elements

  73

  89

  101

  263

  Total

  418

  479

  454

  1,351

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Child Support Agency documents are available under the terms of the open government code. [25628]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 24 April 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency documents which are available under the Open Government Code.
  The attached list shows the principal Agency documents which are available to the public.
  This list is not exhaustive; each request under the Open Government Code is dealt with individually, and wherever it is possible to do so the information or documents requested are made available.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Available to the public

  CSA Annual Report/Accounts

  Business Plan

  Child Support Guide Vols. 1-3/Legislative Changes Handbook

  CSA Charter

  Field Operations Guide

  Child Support Adjudication Guide

  258
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much benefit savings have been achieved each year since April 1993; broken down into(a) maintenance collected, (b) maintenance arranged, (c) non-maintenance cessations and (d) in total for each of (a) to (c) since April 1993. [26569]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 24 April 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency benefit savings.
  The attached table shows the yearly breakdown of benefit savings achieved by the Agency since April 1993. Up to February 1996 the Agency has firmly recorded a total of £1, 351 million in benefit savings. The figures for March have yet to be finalised. They will include the annual reconciliation of components like family credit and housing benefit. This will certainly mean that the forecast of £510 million for 1995/96 will be achieved. It may even be an underestimate. On this basis the estimated forecast for the first three years is £1,407 million.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Child Support Act and Statutory Instruments

  Post Opening Handbook/Manual.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what number and proportion of persons who have failed the all work test for incapacity benefit have registered for employment; [25807]

  (2) how many and what proportion of persons who have failed the all work test for incapacity benefit have subsequently become entitled to unemployed benefit. [25808]

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Robert Horne to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 25 April 1996.
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your questions about the number and proportion of persons who have failed the All Work Test have registered for employment and subsequently been entitled to unemployment benefit.

  259
  In the period April 1995 to February 1996,84,518 people have been disallowed Incapacity Benefit (IB) following the All Work Test. In the same period, 33,454 (43%) disallowed IB following the All Work Test made a claim for unemployment benefits and thereby registered for employment. No figures are available as to whether these people proved to be entitled to unemployment benefit or whether they received Income Support instead.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Overpayments
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much is owed to his Department in overpayment of benefits; and how much his Department has had to write off in each of the last five years. [26799]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The amount owed to the Department due to the overpayment of benefits, as at the end of March 1996, is £462 million.

  The amounts written off in each of the last five years are set out in the list:

  1990–91: £51,573,000

  1991–92: £63,404,000

  1992–93: £77,914,000

  1993–94: £92,743,000

  1994–95: £107,887,000.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26717]

  Mr. Burt
  This Department is currently considering an approach from the copyright licensing agency to decide whether it is necessary to obtain a photocopying licence, and, if so, the basis for determining the fee payable.

  Capacity for Work Test
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people found capable of work have subsequently signed on as unemployed for(a) February and (b) March 1996.[26367]

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Robert Home to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 25 April 1996.
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about the number of people found capable of work under the All Work Test, who have subsequently signed on as unemployed in February and March 1996.
  In the months of February and March 1996,5,735 and 6,803 people respectively made a claim for unemployment benefits, having been disallowed Incapacity Benefit (IB) following the All Work Test.
  I hope this is helpful.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Operations Bumblebee and Eagle Eye
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about Operation Bumblebee and Operation Eagle Eye. [25050]

  Mr. Maclean
  Both operations are proving their worth. The commissioner tells me that the clear-up rate for domestic burglary has doubled and street robbery has fallen to 2,587, a drop of over 27 per cent.

  Sentencing (Consistency)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has undertaken into the consistency of sentencing across different courts. [25052]

  Mr. Maclean
  No specific research project has been undertaken on this topic. However, information on sentencing variations between courts is published annually and a new publication has recently been issued showing the variations graphically between magistrates' courts.

  Crime Prevention
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the partnership approach to crime prevention. [25053]

  Mr. Maclean
  Partnership in all its forms has made a significant contribution to the fight against crime in recent years. We remain firmly committed to the concept and will continue to do all we can to encourage it.

  Sentencing (Persistent Criminals)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to ensure that sentences passed on persistent criminals more accurately reflect the time actually served in prison. [25054]

  Mr. Maclean
  I believe that there should be greater honesty in sentencing. Accordingly, I propose that the present parole and early release arrangements should be abolished and the term served would match more closely the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.

  Fire Authorities (Budgets)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from fire authorities during the past two months on their budgets for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [25055]

  Mr. Sackville
  There has been a number of such representations. Responsibility for deciding what level of financial provision should be made available to fire brigades rests with the local fire authorities. They are obliged to set budgets which will enable them to comply with their statutory duties under the Fire Services Act 1947.

  Asylum and Immigration Bill
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the impact of the measures contained in the Asylum and Immigration Bill on charities dealing with the destitute and homeless. [25056]

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have received a number of representations expressing concern about the impact of the Bill's housing provisions. The Government consider it wrong that people who are present without valid leave or have been admitted on the basis that they will have no recourse to public funds should be able to claim housing assistance form local authorities. Clause 9 will enable that anomaly to be removed.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the impact on the employment of members of ethnic minorities of the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [25059]

  Miss Widdecombe
  We believe that the Asylum and Immigration Bill will improve the employment position of members of the ethnic minorities lawfully resident in the United Kingdom and entitled to work here. Illegal working damages them just as it does everyone else who is entitled to work here.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated as to the effectiveness of CCTV in combating crime. [25058]

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has published a number of research papers looking at various aspects of CCTV effectiveness as part of its series of crime prevention unit papers and the successor series of crime detection and prevention papers. The most recent of these—published on 29 December 1995—is paper number 68—"CCTV in Town Centres: Three Case Studies". Copies of all these papers are held in the Library.

  Robberies (Cambridgeshire)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secrtary of State for the Home Department how many robberies were recorded in Cambridgeshire(a) in 1979 and (b) in 1995. [25061]

  Mr. Maclean
  There were 46 offences of robbery recorded in Cambridgeshire in 1979 and 352 offences recorded in 1995.

  Recorded Crime
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trend in the incidence of recorded crime since 1993. [25062]

  Mr. Maclean
  Recorded crime in England and Wales has been falling since 1993, with recorded crime in 1995 down 468,000 offences on 1992 levels. The recent falls have been nationwide, with 35 out of 43 police forces recording falls in 1995. This demonstrates that the police, along with law-abiding members of the community, can make a real difference in helping to prevent crime.

  Policing (East Anglia)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet chief constables from East Anglia to discuss policing in rural areas. [25063]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so at present.

  Illegal Immigration (Profit)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to curb the activities of those bringing illegal immigrants into the United Kingdom for profit. [25064]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Immigration Service works closely with the police and other agencies in this country and abroad to gather, evaluate and disseminate intelligence about those engaged in facilitating illegal entry to this country; suspected areas of abuse are investigated and the Crown Prosecution Service instigates prosecutions in appropriate cases.

  The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 requires all air and sea carriers to ensure that they do not carry inadequately documented passengers. In addition, the Asylum and Immigration Bill seeks to create the new offences of facilitating for reward the entry of an asylum seeker and assisting a person to obtain leave to remain to which they have no entitlement.

  Police Forces (Revenue Finance)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much he plans to increase the revenue finance for police forces in England and Wales in each of the next three years in order to increase by 5,000 the number of police officers. [25065]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Bootle, (Mr. Benton).

  Persistent Burglars and Drug Dealers
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he proposes to take to deal with persistent burglars and drug dealers; and if he will make a statement. [25057]

  Mr. Maclean
  I propose that the courts should be required to impose stiff minimum prison sentences on persistent burglars and drug dealers. Full details of my proposals are set out in the White Paper "Protecting the Public: the Government's strategy on crime in England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) strength and (b) cost of the Metropolitan police force (i) in 1979 and (ii) currently; and if he will make a statement. [25310]

  Mr. Maclean
  At the end of March, Metropolitan police strength, excluding officers seconded from the Metropolitan police, for example to regional crime squads and central service, was 27,342. I understand that the latest estimate for net revenue expenditure for 1995 –96
  263
  is £1,688.493 million. These figures compare with police strength of 22,168 as at 31 March 1979 and net revenue expenditure of £381.673 million in 1979 –80.

  Criminal and Terrorist Activity
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the relationship with the Republic of Ireland(a) as a common migration zone and (b) regarding criminal and terrorist activity. [25352]

  Mr. Howard
  The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, along with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, form the common travel area. The CTA reflects the fact that, with the exception of a short period around the second world war, British and Irish nationals have always been free to reside in either country. Journeys within the CTA are normally exempt from, immigration, control, although journeys which start from, or extend beyond, it are still liable to border controls.

  Practical co-operation between the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Metropolitan police and the Garda continues at all levels. Security co-operation with the Irish Government, and between our respective security forces, remains of vital importance.

  Mrs. Audrey Grant
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when Mrs. Audrey Grant of Birmingham is to be deported to Jamaica; and what are the reasons for the deportation; [26844]

  (2) what plans he has to review the case of Mrs. Audrey Grant and the deportation order served against her; and how many representations he has had from people concerned about the deportation. [26846]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Mrs. Grant is not the subject of a deportation order. She has been given leave to move by the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to remove her to Jamaica as an illegal entrant. No action will be taken pending a decision by the court.

  We have received recent representations about the case from nine members of Parliament and from 11 members of the public or organisations.

  Deportees
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportees, over the last 12 months, have parents and children living legally in Britain. [26845]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  KPMG
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total value of contracts awarded to KPMG in each of the last three years for which information is available. [26283]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: Individual contract values cannot be given for reasons of commercial confidentiality. The number of contracts awarded to KPMG in each of the last three years and their total value is as follows:
  264

  Number of contracts

  £

  1993–94

  3

  153,000

  1994–95

  2

  60,000

  1995–96

  3

  117,000

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultancies have been let to KPMG by(a) the Forensic Science Service, (b) the probation training unit and (c) C6 division of the Home Office in the last three years. [25560]

  Mr. Howard
  Only one such contract has been awarded, by the probation training unit.

  Prison Escapes
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the procedures for informing(a) his Department and (b) the public when an escape has taken place from a prison. [26336]

  Miss Widdecome
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Doug Hoyle dated 25 April 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what are the procedures for informing (a) his Department and (b) the public when an escape has taken place from a prison.
  The procedures for informing Ministers are set in the Prison Service's Framework Document, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The Framework Document specifies that the Home Secretary will receive reports from the Director General on the escape of a category A prisoner. In addition to the stipulation contained in the Framework Document the Home Secretary receives reports on multiple escapes and escapes of notorious prisoners. Prison Service headquarters is informed immediately of any escape.
  There are no national arrangements for the notification of the general public of an escape from prison.

  Legal Actions (Costs)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to public funds of all the legal actions he has(a) lost and (b) settled since his appointment. [26012]

  Mr. Howard
  Records are not kept centrally in the form requested.

  Prisoners (Drug Use)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are available to his Department in respect of prisoners in England and Wales who are registered drug users. [26543]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  265
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what records are available to the Department in respect of prisoners in England and Wales who are registered drug users.
  The Home Office Addicts Index maintains records of notified drug misusers. Because of the confidential nature of the data, the only prison staff allowed access are Medical Officers, who also have access to the medical records of individual prisoners.

  British Steel
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total value of commercial orders placed by his Department with British Steel plc in each year from 1988 to 1995. [25816]

  Mr. Howard
  Information about the value of commercial orders placed with British Steel plc is not available before April 1993. The value of commercial orders placed since then is approximately £750, in financial year 1995–96.

  Training Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many empty places for inmates serving life sentences there were at training prisons in England and Wales on 15 April. [26305]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 25 April 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many empty places for inmates serving life sentences there were at training prisons in England and Wales on 15 April.
  There are currently 48 prisons with regime arrangements for life sentence prisoners. However, only Kingston prison, at Portsmouth, is an all-lifer prison. Lifer places in training prisons are not reserved and therefore the question of empty places for such prisoners does not arise.

  Police Finance Services
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his proposals for bringing competition to bear on police finance services. [27163]

  Mr. Maclean
  It is the Government's intention that compulsory competitive tendering should be introduced to police white collar support services as part of a rolling programme. Detailed consultation proposals for police finance services were issued on 27 July 1995. The Government have now considered the responses received from the police service, local authority associations and other interested bodies.

  The Government have decided that police authorities will be subject to the same CCT regime for finance services as other authorities defined under the Local Government Act 1988, except for a number of specific exemptions, and a reduction in the overall competition requirement. The exemptions take account of the
  266
  specialist nature of police work, and focus on the financial advice given in support of operational aspects of crime investigation.

  Racial Incidents (South Wales)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statistics for the number of reported racial incidents in south Wales since 1988, indicating the annual percentage changes; and if he will make a statement about Government policy on this matter. [26368]

  Mr. Maclean
  Figures for the total number of racially motivated incidents recorded by South Wales police since 1988 are shown in the table.

  A further report from the inter-department racial attack group is expected to be available by the summer.

  Racially motivated incidents1 recorded by South Wales police since 1988

  Year

  Number of incidents recorded

  Percentage change

  1988

  103

  —

  1989

  93

  -9.3

  19902

  308

  +231

  1991

  385

  +25

  1992

  311

  -19.3

  1993

  401

  +28.9

  1994

  501

  +24.9

  1995

  472

  -5.8

  1 A racial incident is defined by the Association of Chief Police Officers as any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation, or any incident in which an allegation of racial motivation is made by any person.

  2 Changes in monitoring and recording practices of racially motivated incidents were introduced in 1990 together with a campaign of awareness raising within ethnic minority communities in South Wales.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Race Relations Legislation
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to implement race relations legislation in Northern Ireland. [25462]

  Mr. Ancram
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to issue a draft legislative proposal for an Order in Council later this year.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of CAP fraud were reported in Northern Ireland in each year since 1993. [26220]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 22 April, Official Report, columns 50-51. It is not possible to give a full breakdown of these figures in respect of Northern Ireland because market-based irregularities are compiled by the Intervention Board on a UK-wide basis. The figures for
  267
  Northern Ireland for farm-based irregularities reported are:

  1993: 2

  1994: 5

  1995: 1

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of complaints taken up by the Fair Employment Tribunal in Northern Ireland since the implementation of the Fair Employment Act 1989 have concluded in a pre-trial settlement. [26234]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: This information is not available as applicants to the Fair Employment Tribunal are not legally obliged to state the reasons for the withdrawal of a complaint.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sites of special scientific interest there are in Northern Ireland. [26195]
  268
  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: Responsibility or this matter has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under the chief executive, Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 24 April 1996:
  Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your parliamentary question about the number of areas of special scientific interest (ASSI) in Northern Ireland.
  There are now 92 such areas covering approximately 75,800 hectares involving 2,787 landowners/occupiers.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26718]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Negotiations have not yet taken place with the Copyright Licensing Agency to determine the photocopying licence requirements of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments.

WALES

  Methane Gas
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy guideline in respect of methane gas drilling and extraction near residential communities. [26518]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Government policy on planning control over oil and gas operations is set out in Welsh Office circular 3/85—copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House—the annex to which makes clear that commercial and economic considerations are subject to the environmental acceptability of specific projects, as determined by the land use planning system and by other environmental controls.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take action to halt methane gas extraction at Cimla in Neath; and if he will make a statement. [26520]

  Mr. Jones
  No.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on drilling for methane gas near Resolven, Neath; and if he will make a statement. [26519]

  Mr. Jones
  None.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what environmental constraints he has placed upon Enron Oil in relation to its proposals to extract methane gas in neath. [26521]

  Mr. Jones
  The two appeals by Enron Oil determined in January 1996 were allowed with conditions. These conditions are intended to protect the environment and the amenity of residents. Copies of the decision letter, which sets out the conditions on which permission was given will be placed in the Library of the House. Enron Oil must also obtain a licence from the National Rivers Authority in respect of the disposal of water from its drilling operations.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has made to the Society of Chief Officers of Welsh Community Health Councils following its criticisms of the relevant consultations carried out by his Department about the transitional arrangements for community health councils consequent upon the changes in health authorities and local government. [26769]

  Mr. Richards
  Officials wrote to the secretary of the society of chief officers on 22 April. A copy of the reply has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many members he will appoint to each of the Welsh community health councils; how many he appointed before 1 April; and how many he has appointed to date. [26800]

  Mr. Richards
  Community health councils in Wales have between 16 and 20 members. My right hon. Friend is responsible for appointing two members to each council; none of these has yet been appointed. The balance of the appointments are filled by representatives of the voluntary sector and nominees of unitary authorities. Most of these members are in place.

  Radar Transmitter (Milford Haven)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the occasions in the last two years on which the radar transmitter on St. Ann's Head in Milford Haven was not operating effectively. [25766]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 13 March 1996, columns 607-08

  Sea Empress Incident
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the wild bird species affected by the Sea Empress disaster in south-west Wales indicating(a) total populations estimated in the area in 1995, (b) his latest estimate of casualties caused by the spillage and (c) the number of estimated casualties as a percentage of the 1995 populations; and if he will make a statement. [25767]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest estimated figures of wild bird species affected are shown in the following table. Only the largest colonies have been counted annually, and most of the breeding total figures were collated during the period 1987–95. The Countryside Council for Wales will be conducting surveys of breeding colonies this summer in order to assess the level of mortalities caused by the spill.

  Species

  Breeding total

  Number affected (individuals)

  Per cent.

  Black-h-gull

  n/k

  16

  —

  Black-t-diver

  n/k

  2

  —

  Cormorant

  254 pairs

  21

  4

  Common scoter

  n/k (10,000)

  4,704

  47

  Common gull

  n/k

  2

  —

  Curlew

  n/k

  2

  —

  Eider

  n/k

  9

  —

  Fulmar

  957 pairs

  2

  <1

  Gannet

  26,277 pairs

  3

  <1

  Great B-B gull

  229 pairs

  0

  0

  Great-c grebe

  n/k

  3

  —

  Great n diver

  n/k

  7

  —

  Grey heron

  n/k

  3

  —

  Guillemot

  22,270 pairs

  1,484

  3

  Herring gull

  3,473 pairs

  42

  <1

  L B-B gull

  19,378 pairs

  0

  0

  Kittiwake

  3,647 pairs

  8

  <1

  Mallard

  n/k

  1

  —

  Manx shearwater

  155,000 pairs

  0

  0

  Mute swan

  n/k

  25

  —

  Oystercatcher

  n/k

  32

  —

  Puffin

  13,393 pairs

  0

  0

  Razorbill

  6,841 pairs

  340

  3

  Red-b merganser

  n/k

  1

  —

  Red-n grebe

  n/k

  3

  —

  Red-t diver

  n/k

  62

  —

  Scaup

  n/k

  2

  —

  Shag

  84 pairs

  21

  13

  Shelduck

  n/k

  2

  —

  Storm petrel

  3,500 pairs

  0

  0

  Turnstone

  n/k

  1

  —

  Velvet scoter

  n/k

  3

  —

  Unidentified

  —

  130

  —

  n/k = not known (migratory).

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many complaints his Department received
  271
  alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 in each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction; [25895]

  (2) how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction as a result. [25901]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office received the following number of complaints alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988:

  1990–91: 6

  1991–92: 8

  1992–93: 19

  1993–94: 11

  1994–95: 4.

  Our records for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are incomplete. Consequently the figures for these years could be understated. The following numbers of notices and directions were issued in respect of apparent anti-competitive behaviour.

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  —

  —

  1 section 19A notices

  6 section 13 notices

  1 section 13 notices

  —

  —

  —

  2 section 14 directions

  2 section 14

  —

  —

  —

  1 section 19B direction

  —

  Section 19a notices and section 19b directions relate to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. Section 13 notices and section 14 directions relate to the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the running costs borne by his Department for the financial years 1991–92 and 1993–94 of the local government compulsory competitive tendering enforcement team. [25896]

  Mr. Jones
  The approximate running costs borne by the Department for the years in question are as follows:

  1991–92: £41,689

  1993–94: £53,070

  Costs are not available on a consistent basis over the period in question. The main distortion was caused by the introduction of superannuation charges in 1993–94.

  Local Authority DLOs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how may local authority direct labour and service organisations in Wales, operating contracts under the terms of(a) the Local Government (Planning and Land)
  272
  Act 1980 and (b) the Local Government Act 1980 have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95. [25897]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The required rate of return was achieved by 241 local authority direct labour and service organisations in 1992–93 and by 260 in 1993–94. The information requested for 1994–95 is not yet available as the Welsh Office has not yet completed its analysis of the reports submitted by local authorities for that year.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by service the local authorities in Wales that have been challenged by his Department under regulations under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client/contractor splits. [25898]

  Mr. Jones
  None.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by authority the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and (c) 1994–95 for (i) general highways work, (ii) construction and maintenance of sewers, (iii) works of new construction and (iv) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities direct labour or services organisations in Wales under the terms of (1) Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, and (2) the Local Government Act 1988; [25899]

  (2) if he will list by authority and service area, the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Wales that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990ߝ91 to 1994–95 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices. [25900]

  Mr. Jones
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Read Codes (NHS)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what pilot work has been carried out in Wales on the application of Read codes in the NHS; what independent evaluation has been carried out in the Read code's applicability; and by whom; [26840]

  (2) what pilot schemes have been carried out work on applying Read codes in the NHS; and what independent evaluation he proposes to carry out on the investment so far and by which body is it to be carried out. [26839]

  Mr. Hague
  Pilot work to test the utility and usability of Read codes is being undertaken at Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest. Further, independent evaluation of this particular work is still under consideration. Separately, the school of postgraduate studies in medical and health care at Morriston is undertaking a technical evaluation of the feasibility of incorporating Read codes into an operational clinical information system. Issues concerning pilot schemes and evaluations in England are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what public expenditure has been spent on the development of Read codes for application in the NHS in
  273
  Wales; when the expenditure was commenced; if expenditure was committed outside the main Loughborough development centre; if he has proposals to continue part-funding the centre; and if he will make a statement. [26841]

  Mr. Hague
  The costs of pilot work at Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest, and the technical evaluation at the school of postgraduate studies in medical and health care at Morriston, have been shared equally between the Welsh Office and the centre for coding and classification at the Department of Health. Costs to date to the Welsh Office, all incurred in 1994–1995 and 1995–96, amount to £69,000. The Welsh Office makes no contribution to the funding of the centre.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority to secure an independent evaluation of the bidding procedure for the materials management contract of the authority under market testing. [26837]

  Mr. Hague
  I have had no consultations with the chairman about the market testing exercise which is being carried out in line with established procedures.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress his Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26712]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  General Practice Beds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, columns 39-40 to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West on general practice beds, what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Llandough Hospitals trust, and the Bro Taf health authority and GP fundholding practices in the Vale of Glamorgan concerning the supervision of the GP beds at the Barry community hospital. [26838]

  Mr. Hague
  None. This is a matter for the Bro Taf health authority and the local NHS trusts.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20117]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: The information is as follows:
  274

  (a) None

  (b) The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  The Farm Animal Welfare Council

  The Food Advisory Committee

  (c) The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  The Farm Animal Welfare Council

  The Food Advisory Committee

  (d) The Consumer Panel and the Veterinary Products Committee publish a register of members' interests.

  The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Food Advisory Committee state members' interests in their annual reports.

  The interests of the members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee are made available each year via an arranged PQ.

  (e) The Consumer Panel, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and the Food Advisory Committee publish agendas for its meetings.

  (f) The Consumer Panel publishes the minutes of its meetings.

  There is no statutory requirement for any of the above.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [20104]

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

  The Advisory Committee on Pesticides

  The Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees

  The Consumers' Committee for Great Britain The Committee of Investigation for Great Britain

  The Committee on Agriculture Valuation

  The Hill Fanning Advisory Committee

  The Veterinary Products Committee

  (a) Advice to Government is published by:

  The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  The Consumer Panel

  The Farm Animal Welfare Council (majority of reports)

  The Food Advisory Committee

  Publication is carried out on a voluntary basis by these bodies:

  (b) Annual reports are published by:

  The Veterinary Products Committee under a statutory requirement; and on a voluntary basis by:

  The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  The Advisory Committee on Pesticides

  The Consumer Panel

  The Food Advisory Committee

  (c) An annual report is laid before Parliament by the Veterinary Products Committee under a statutory requirement.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the penalties for
  275
  contravening the regulations preventing specified bovine offal entering the food chain; and how many prosecutions there have been to date. [22942]

  Mrs. Browning
  The penalties which would apply on summary conviction for a contravention of the controls in the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995, as amended, which prevent SBO entering the food chain, are a fine of up to £5,000 and where appropriate a further fine of up to £1,000 for each 508 kg of SBO, beyond the initial 508 kg of SBO, in respect of which the offence is committed. Furthermore, a person who has been convicted for contravening the provisions of the SBO Order is liable in the court's discretion on a further conviction for a second or subsequent offence against the order to imprisonment for a term of up to one month in lieu of the applicable fine.

  To date, there is one case before the court. A number of other cases are under investigation.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce an eradication scheme for BSE. [23382]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: This Department has been taking steps to eradicate BSE since July 1988, when the ruminant feed ban was introduced. This has resulted in a substantial decline in the number of cases, which is now less than one third of the rate at the height of the epidemic.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the measures necessary to eradicate BSE. [23383]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: BSE is believed to have been caused by cattle consuming contaminated feed containing infected bovine or ovine material. Preventing the recycling of such material in feed should prevent cattle being exposed to the BSE agent and so becoming infected. A ban on the feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants was introduced in 1988. Unfortunately, some leakage in this ban has occurred and a number of measures have been taken over the past few years to strengthen the controls. The total prohibition on the inclusion of mammalian meat and bonemeal in all feed for farm animals and fertiliser for use on farms, which has just been introduced, should prevent any further infection of cattle by BSE material in feed, and eradicate BSE from the national herd.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he intends to make to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on measures to improve the methods used by other member states to detect BSE in their cattle herds. [23149]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: BSE is notifiable in all member states. Suspect cases are examined by a state veterinarian for clinical signs of the disease, and slaughtered and destroyed if BSE is believed to exist. The diagnosis is confirmed by examination of brain tissue after death, using protocols which are internationally agreed and validated.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the research commissioned by his Department into(a) maternal and (b) lateral transmission of BSE to be reported. [23201]
  276
  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: The detailed cohort study into the possibility of maternal transmission of BSE will not be complete until early 1997. Some information about this experiment has been published in the progress report on BSE laid in the Library of the House in November 1995, but the result cannot be interpreted until it is complete. A report of earlier experiments on maternal and lateral transmission of BSE was published in the "Veterinary Record", volume 136, pages 312-318 of 1 April 1995, details of which were given in the progress report laid in the Library of the House in May 1995.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the incidence if BSE in England and Wales by(a) type of herd, (b) age of herd and (c) region. [23363]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: As at 22 April 1996, 64.61 per cent. of all dairy herds had had at least one case of BSE and 15.95 per cent. of all beef herds.

  As at 22 April 1996, the proportion of herds in each region in England and Wales which had had at least one case of BSE was:

  Per cent.

  East Anglia

  40.3

  East midlands

  35.3

  North

  31.48

  North-west

  48.16

  South-east

  44.59

  South-west

  48.8

  West midlands

  40.74

  Yorks/Humberside

  35.99

  Wales

  30.06

  The information is not recorded by age of herd.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relationship of feed from scrapie sheep and BSE. [23367]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: The relevant research projects are:

  Project code

  Project title

  Status

  OC8964

  BSE Deactivation Studies

  Commissioned/evaluated

  SE0201

  BSE: Epidemiological Studies

  Commissioned/evaluated

  SE0209

  BSE: Epidemiological Studies

  Commissioned

  SE1404

  Susceptibility of BSE and Scrapie isolates

  Commissioned/evaluated

  SE1405

  Susceptibility of BSE agent to chemical and physical inactivation in the field/laboratory

  Commissioned/evaluated

  SE1413

  Strain typing of Scrapie agent in meat and bone meal

  Proposed—not yet approved

  SE1417

  The effect of PrPgenotype on the thermostability of scrapie agent

  Commissioned

  SE1421

  BSE and scrapie agent susceptibility to laboratory facsimilies of rendering practices (was SE1404)

  Commissioned

  277

  Project code

  Project title

  Status

  SE1422

  Practical aspects of inactivation of BSE and scrapie agents (was SE 1405)

  Commissioned

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the incidence of BSE in Scotland by(a) type of herd, (b) age of herd and (c) region. [23362]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March I996]: As at 22 April 1996, 37.5 per cent. of all dairy herds had had at least one case of BSE and 14.01 per cent. of all beef herds.

  As at 22 April, the proportion of herds in each region in Scotland which had had at least one case of BSE was:

  Region

  Incidence per cent.

  Borders

  26.97

  Central

  16.08

  Dumfries

  33.85

  Fife

  29.67

  Grampian

  22.24

  Highland

  8.24

  Lothian

  24.85

  Strathclyde

  20.95

  Tayside

  25.83

  Islands

  4.67

  The information is not recorded by age of herd.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now publish the papers discussed by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. [23839]

  Mrs. Browning
  Many of the papers discussed by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee contain interim reports on research, medical case reports and commercial information provided in confidence. It would not be appropriate to make such information publicly available. Indeed, to do so would harm the working of SEAC, as people would be unwilling to provide it with much important information.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the minutes and proceedings of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee since its inception in 1990. [23767]

  Mrs. Browning
  Much of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee's discussions, as recorded in the minutes, cover interim reports on research, medical case reports and commercial information. It would be inappropriate to make this information publicly available. To require this information to be published could make people reluctant to provide this committee with material, which could seriously harm its ability to make well judged and timely recommendations to the Government.

  The Government will continue to publish the statements made by SEAC outlining its advice to Government and the reasons for that advice.

  Beef Cattle Producers
  Miss Emma Micholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for differentiated compensation payments to provide market values to producers of beef cattle. [26133]

  Mrs. Browning
  In respect of animals coming to slaughter at 30 months or over, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 16 April that a market support measure would come into effect in the week beginning 29 April. The basic premium will be equivalent to the cull cow price, but a supplement in respect of steers and heifers will be available for six months. This will be set at no less that 25p/kg for the first four weeks of the scheme.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times officials of the State Veterinary Service have observed the killing of mink and arctic fox on fur farms during the last 12 months; and what method of killing was used in each case. [26429]

  Mrs. Browning
  Officers of the State Veterinary Service have monitored the slaughter of farmed mink on one occasion in the last 12 months. The method of slaughter used was exposure to carbon monoxide.

  There is no requirement to register fox farms. However, I am not aware of any in England and Wales.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Council of Ministers has to consider the option of limiting the number of days spent at sea by fishing vessels in the renegotiation of the EU common fisheries policy. [26500]

  Mr. Baldry
  The option of limiting days at sea already exists in the context of implementing member states' multi-annual guidance programmes for fleet capacity reduction. Negotiations on a further series of programmes will be taking place in the Council later this year, but the Commission has still to make proposals for this.

  Fishing (Scientific Teams)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funds his Department allocated to the scientific teams attached to the monitoring of fish stocks and the regulation of fishing quotas in(a) 1992, (b) 1993, (c) 1994 and (d) 1995. [26501]

  Mr. Baldry
  Expenditure by the Ministry's Directorate of Fisheries Research for these purposes was as follows:

  1992–93:£4.3 million

  1993–94: £4.4 million

  1994–95: £4.3 million

  1995–96: £4.5 million (forecast outturn).

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm animals have been exported, by species, from Britain for(a) further fattening and (b) slaughter in each year since 1989. [26431]
  279
  Mrs. Browning
  The table shows total recorded exports of live farm animals by species, as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. It is not possible to identify precisely whether the animals were exported for fattening or slaughter. However, the hon.

  1,000 head

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  19941

  19951

  Bovines

  330

  352

  400

  429

  445

  480

  429

  Sheep

  589

  584

  882

  1,422

  830

  915

  596

  Goats

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swine

  115

  108

  293

  379

  150

  176

  190

  Poultry

  13,555

  14,646

  21,058

  23,192

  21,132

  27,615

  25,341

  1 Data are provisional.

  Ostriches and Emus
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods are used to kill ostriches and emus in the United Kingdom; and which methods are approved by his Department. [26430]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 21 March 1996,Official Report, column 314.

  Aggressive and Disruptive Children
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department on the nutritional and dietary aspects of aggressive and disruptive behaviour in children. [26440]

  Mrs. Browning
  No work has been commissioned by my Department on the nutritional and dietary aspects of aggressive and disruptive behaviour. However, MAFF's food research requirements document 1997–98 invites research proposals in the following area:"To what extent can hyperactivity and other behavioural problems be traced to food and food ingredients."

  The Food Advisory Committee has also recently requested that a review of the scientific literature on links between hyperactivity and food or food additive intolerance be conducted. This work is being carried out by the Department of Health's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, the Environment and Consumer Products.

HEALTH

  Creutzfield-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possibility that CJD in humans is linked to scrapie in sheep; and if he will make a statement. [25463]

  Mr. Horam
  The possibility that scrapie in sheep might be a cause of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans was examined by the Southwood working party in 1989. The working party concluded that there was no evidence for this and, in particular, that"scrapie has been endemic in Great Britain for centuries without there being any evidence to show an incidence of CJD higher than the international average in the human population."
  Paragraph 3.7.
  280
  Member may wish to refer to "The Business Monitor" MA20 and MA21 series, available in the Library of the House, which provides more detail on recorded overseas trade statistics, within which live animal trade can be found.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the human CJD victims regularly ate lamb and mutton; and if he will make a statement. [25457]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest data on the meat-eating of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases was published in the fourth annual report of the National CJD surveillance unit, August 1995—page 16—copies of which are available in the Library.

  Broadmoor Hospitals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of(a) men and (b) women who were detained in Broadmoor hospital as at 30 March. [25574]

  Mr. Bowis
  A total of 374 men and 91 women were detained in Broadmoor hospital under powers in the Mental Health Act 1983 on 1 April 1996.

  British Steel
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total value of commercial orders placed by his Department with British Steel plc in each year from 1988 to 1995. [25814]

  Mr. Horam
  Commercial orders placed with British Steel plc by the Department of Health during the period 1988 to 1995 were as follows:

  1994–95: £56,400

  1995–96: £343,215

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his calculation of total costs in real terms and the total number of prescriptions for drugs issued in each of the past five years. [26281]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 22 April 1996]: The table shows the annual number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England between 1990–91 and 1994–95 and their total cost, including dispensing fees, in real terms.

  Year

  Total number of prescriptions dispensed (thousands)

  Total cost of drugs and appliances including dispensing fees (£ millions)

  1990–91

  396,580

  3,074

  1991–92

  415,370

  3,206

  1992–93

  432,370

  3,469

  1993–94

  455,320

  3,725

  281

  Year

  Total number of prescriptions dispensed (thousands)

  Total cost of drugs and appliances including dispensing fees (£ millions)

  1994–95

  467,790

  3,931

  1. The number of prescriptions are rounded to the nearest thousand and include items personally administered and prescriptions dispensed by chemists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors. It also includes prescriptions written by hospital doctors but dispensed in the community.

  2. The costs relate to gross pharmaceutical services expenditure (drugs, medicines, appliances and dispensing fees) and is rounded to the nearest £million.

  Tampons
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proposals he has to designate tampons as a sterile product similar to medical dressings; [26532]

  (2) what proposals he has to reintroduce the Tampon (Safety) Bill; [26522]

  (3) if he will bring forward proposals to improve the safety of tampons. [26531]

  Mr. Horam
  Since 1984, the Association of Sanitary Protection Manufacturers has operated a voluntary prior notification scheme for tampons. Under the scheme, all new products are submitted to the Department of Health for assessment of their safety. I have no proposals to introduce a tampon safety Bill.

  Complaints Procedures
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to publicise the new national health service complaints procedures among users of the service.
  [26362]

  Mr. Horam
  A supply of public information leaflets and posters was sent to all national health service trusts, family health service authorities, district health authorities, community health councils and family health services practitioners for use from 1 April when the new system was implemented. In addition, leaflets and posters have been supplied to all citizens advice bureaux, main public libraries and health information service outlets. The leaflet will also be available shortly in the 11 most commonly used ethnic minority languages.

  Children's Hospices
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children's hospices there are in the Greater London area; and what responsibility he has for the funding of such hospices. [26312]

  Mr. Bowis
  I understand that the first children's hospice to be based in the Greater London area is at an advanced stage of planning. Recurrent funding has been included in annual financial allocations to health authorities, to enable them to commission services from children's hospices to serve the needs of their resident populations.

  Management Cost Reductions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish, by health authority, the severance costs 282
  incurred in order to achieve the 1996–97 management cost reduction targets cost reduction targets. [26318]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Serco Ltd.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts his Department and his agencies have with Serco Ltd.; what is the current cost; when each contract ends; what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [26681]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no record of the Department of Health or its agencies having any current contracts with Serco Ltd.

  Carers (Recognition of Services) Act 1995
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources he estimates are required to meet the needs identified by the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995; and what plans he has to make such resources available. [26355]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. Wicks) on 1 March, columns 758-59.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Committee on Safety of Medicines had considered the safety of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene at its meetings subsequent to 13 October 1995. [26603]

  Mr. Malone
  Yes, important safety issues are kept under regular review by the committee.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whose staff drafted the letter of 18 October 1995 relating to oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene. [26600]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 March, column 428.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 184, if the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) consulted him before authorising the letter of 18 October 1995. [26604]

  Mr. Malone
  Disclosure of information such as that requested would be in breach of the long-established convention, observed by successive Governments, protecting the confidentiality of the internal decision-making process.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report column 184, on what date the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) authorised the issuing of the letter of 18 October 1995 relating to desogestrel and gestodene. [26605]

  Mr. Malone
  On 16 October 1995.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column

  283
  185, what external legal advice was sought prior to the referral to the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products on 11 October 1995. [26608]

  Mr. Malone
  No external legal advice was sought prior to the United Kingdom's request of 11 October 1995 for this issue to be discussed at the Committee of Proprietary Medicinal Products meeting of 17 to 18 October 1995.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a referral of matters relating to combined oral contraceptives containing desopestrel or gestodene was made to the Law Officers in terms of paragraphs 22(i) or 22(ii)(c) of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" of May 1992, prior to the issuing of the letter of 18 October 1995. [26607]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 April, column 185.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in 1995 travelling expenses for members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines were paid for travel to the United Kingdom from overseas. [26606]

  Mr. Malone
  Once.

  Paediatric Intensive Care Beds
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the number of refused admissions to paediatric intensive care beds in England between 1 January and 22 April. [26806]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the number of paediatric intensive care beds, excluding high dependency beds or coronary care beds, in England; [26807]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the number of admissions to paediatric intensive care beds in England between 1 January and 22 April. [26808]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the chief executive of the national health service to report to him on paediatric intensive care by the end of April. Information for this report is still being collated.

  Read Codes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the state of progress of the Read codes system development; how much has been spent on the Loughborough centre for the development of Read codes; and if he will list the different applications of the Read codes according to progress achieved. [26836]

  Mr. Horam
  A project to develop version 3 of Read codes, extending version 2 currently used in general practitioner practices to cover all national health service environments, particularly the acute sector, commenced in 1992. The two-year project to identify all new medical terms was completed in April 1994, that for professions allied to medicine in October 1994, and that for nursing terms in April 1995. This involved 55 working groups and over 2,000 clinicians at a total cost of £3.7 million.
  284
  A programme of projects has now commenced to pilot the new version 3 in a variety of environments including the acute sector. Previous versions, for example 4 Byte, version 2, continue to be fully supported by the Loughborough-based NHS centre for coding and classification and are in use in about 7,000 GP practices and about 170 NHS trusts.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place a copy in the Library of the independent inquiry into the departmental delay in instituting parliamentary authority for the payment of general practitioner fundholders' management allowances between 1 April 1991 and 1 April 1995; and if he will make a statement; [26843]

  (2) if he will specify the nature of the independent inquiry into the departmental delay in providing suitable parliamentary authority for the payment of management allowances for general practitioner fundholders between 1991 and 1995; who carried the inquiry; how the appointment was made; how much it cost; on what dates it commenced and was completed; and what disciplinary consequences flowed from it. [26842]

  Mr. Malone
  The internal inquiry into the events which led to the extra-statutory payment of management allowances to general practitioner fundholders between 1991–95 was established in June 1995. It was undertaken by Mr. Strachan Heppell, a former deputy secretary in the Department of Health. The terms of reference were:"To establish by studying all the relevant papers and by interviewing the relevant members of staff how management allowances came to be paid to GP Fundholders from 1991–95 without legal authority; to draw out any lessons that can be learned and need to e applied across the Department of Health; and to report."

  The report of the inquiry, which was conducted at no additional cost to the Department, was received in January 1996. Its conclusions and recommendations have been fully accepted and are being implemented.

  The report contains internal advice which it would not be appropriate to publish. I am arranging for a memorandum to be prepared setting out the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the report. I will send a copy to the hon. Member, and place a copy in the Library.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Leeds, Central can expect an answer to his question of 19 March on the companies involved in the purchase of the former headquarters of the Yorkshire regional health authority at Harrogate. [26760]

  Mr. Malone
  The reply was given on 23 April.

  Ambulance Call-outs (Kirklees and Wakefield)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of call-outs per week since the beginning of 1996 for ambulances operating out of each of the ambulance stations in Kirklees and Wakefield; and what was the average response time of these call-outs. [26761]
  285
  Mr. Horam
  West Yorkshire Metropolitan ambulance service national health service trust has consistently met and exceeded that national patients charter standard for ambulance response times. Figures for 1994–95 are set 286
  out in the NHS performance guide, copies of which are in the Library. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Alan Titterington, chairman of the trust, for further details.

  Works of Art: Transfer Abroad
  Works of Art: Transfer Abroad
  Woodland Improvement
  Woodland Improvement
  Ashford International Station: Continental Rolling Stock
  Ashford International Station: Continental Rolling Stock
  London Taxi Fares and Fees
  London Taxi Fares and Fees
  Transport Policy
  Transport Policy
  Medicines: Dosage Directions and Ingredient Labelling
  Medicines: Dosage Directions and Ingredient Labelling
  Children Act 1989 and Asylum Seekers
  Children Act 1989 and Asylum Seekers
  Radiotherapy Quality Assurance
  Radiotherapy Quality Assurance
  Housing Benefit: Payment in Arrears
  Housing Benefit: Payment in Arrears
  The Prison Ombudsman
  The Prison Ombudsman
  Prison Service Female Establishment Policy
  Prison Service Female Establishment Policy
  Holloway Prison
  Holloway Prison
  Mandatory Penalties: Deterrent Effect
  Mandatory Penalties: Deterrent Effect
  Murder and Manslaughter by Children
  Murder and Manslaughter by Children
  Fisheries Council, 22nd April
  Fisheries Council, 22nd April