Written Answers of 9 December 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Offences (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested since 9 February, and are awaiting trial in Great Britain for offences which can be regarded as related to the situation in Northern Ireland. [6746]

  Mr. Howard
  Fourteen.

  Security Service
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the arrangements for co-ordinating the activities of the Security Service with those of police forces and other law enforcement agencies under section 1(2) of the Security Service Act 1989. [7171]

  Mr. Howard
  The arrangements, which were agreed between the Director General of the Security Service and the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, who was designated for this purpose, are set out in the annex to Home Office circular 46/1996 addressed to chief officers of police and others about the Security Service Act 1996. A copy of the circular is being placed in the Library.

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is(a) currently running and (b) planning to run during the next six months; and for each campaign (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7416]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department is currently running a campaign about the illegal carrying and use of knives. An information pack containing posters and background material has been sent to all schools and further education colleges in England and Wales, police crime prevention officers—CPOs—and local newspapers. A pre-recorded radio interview was sent to 110 local radio stations. Head teachers and college principals have been invited to display the posters and to consider using the support material in student project work. CPOs will invite local retailers and others to display the posters, and will work with local media to stimulate further cover.

  It is not possible to state an exact duration for the campaign because it does not use booked advertising space. Free site posters are displayed for varying lengths of time, but my Department's experience is that this can in some cases extend to several months. The total cost
  2
  of the campaign is £24,265. My Department funded the £20,289 production costs and the Department for Education and Employment and the Welsh Office spent between them £3,976 on distribution. Euro RSCG WNEK Gosper carried out studio work for the poster and the Central Office of Information produced and distributed the radio tape.

  My Department plans to run two campaigns between January and February next year. These are:
  Fire Safety
  A television commercial to encourage the installation and maintenance of domestic smoke detectors: from I to 14 January. The total cost is £420,000, all to my Department. The advertising agency is Euro RSCG WNEK Gosper and media buying is undertaken by the Central Office of Information.
  Special Constabulary Recruitment
  Television and local press and radio advertising to encourage volunteers: from 13 January to 8 February 1997. Total projected cost is £855,000, subject to variance of about £20,000, depending on the number of respondents requesting further information. The advertising agency is Leagas Shafron Davis and media buying is carried out by the Central Office of Information.

  A third campaign will run from approximately 24 to 72 hours after the announcement of the date of the next general election, depending on the period of notice given. It is designed to advise the public of absent voters' rights. The budget will depend on media mix and costs of media space at the time, but is forecast to be in the range of £457,000 to £687,000. All costs will fall to the Home Office. Duration is also dependent on the media mix, but will be no longer than three days. Electoral registration officers will carry out supporting activity to inform voters of their rights. The advertising agency is Euro RSCG WNEK Gosper, with media buying handled by the Central Office of Information.

  None of the three campaigns uses promotions.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7545]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department's spending on public information campaigns in each of the past five years and planned expenditure for the current year is set out in the table.

  Plans for publicity expenditure for 1997–98 have not yet been finalised and it is therefore not possible to provide estimates.

  Year

  Advertising (£)

  Other information material and services

  1991–92 Total

  7,275,940

  3,600,288

  1992–93 Total

  7,344,635

  5,638,982

  1993–94 Total

  9,090,222

  5,062,327

  3

  Year

  Advertising (£)

  Other information material and services

  1994–95 Total

  10,912,000

  3,190,358

  1995–96 Total

  7,609,227

  3,179,882

  1996–97 forecast total

  5,537,000

  3,317,000

  Prisons
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief executive of the Prison Service to discuss availability of prison places; and if he will make a statement. [7905]

  Mr. Howard
  I have regular meetings with the Director General of the Prison Service covering a wide range of issues. The availability of prison places is one of those issues.

  Persons aged 10 to 16 convicted at all courts by age and month, 1995 England and Wales, all types of offence

  Age

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  All aged 10 to 16

  January

  16

  37

  100

  291

  666

  1,093

  1,464

  3,667

  February

  4

  33

  97

  293

  631

  1,078

  1,464

  3,600

  March

  9

  28

  118

  279

  707

  1,184

  1,601

  3,926

  April

  1

  31

  78

  200

  491

  875

  1,280

  2,956

  May

  4

  40

  92

  224

  586

  1,010

  1,414

  3,370

  June

  4

  35

  107

  258

  611

  1,073

  1,431

  3,519

  July

  4

  26

  75

  235

  564

  1,015

  1,488

  3,407

  August

  2

  27

  81

  231

  566

  1,076

  1,490

  3,473

  September

  3

  29

  85

  245

  520

  909

  1,371

  3,162

  October

  3

  34

  75

  257

  609

  1,085

  1,519

  3,582

  November

  7

  19

  99

  233

  590

  1,154

  1,569

  3,671

  December

  8

  23

  82

  164

  443

  824

  1,244

  2,788

  Total

  65

  362

  1,089

  2,910

  6,984

  12,376

  17,335

  41,121

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of pilot schemes on the electronic tagging of adults; and if he will include a statistical breakdown of the results. [7504]

  Mr. Sackville
  The report of the Home Office's evaluation of the first year of trials of electronic monitoring is due to be published later this month. It will include the relevant statistics.

  Chahal Case
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if compensation is to be paid to those released from prison arising form the Chahal case. [8120]

  Mr. Howard
  No.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Chahal [8121]

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of(a) 10-year-olds, (b) 11-year-olds, (c) 12-year-olds, (d) 13-year-olds, (e) 14-year-olds, (f) 15-year-olds and (g) 16-year-olds who were found guilty of offences (i) in each of the last 12 months and (ii) in total which would have made them eligible for electronic tagging under the new proposals; and if he will make a statement. [7503]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on 10 to 16-year-olds found guilty of all offences in 1995 is given in the table. Information for 1996 will be available in the autumn of 1997.

  It is proposed that a curfew order, with electronic monitoring, will be available to the courts for use with juvenile offenders under the age of 16 convicted of any offence subject to the restrictions set out in section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. It will be for courts to decide whether to apply such an order in any particular case. It will be available initially on a pilot basis.

  Mr. Howard
  I have reviewed the cases affected by the judgment. I am considering what changes we might make to our appeals system to comply with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.

  Caddy Inquiry
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of the 14 cases, representatives of which have received notification that they are being reviewed as part of Professor Caddy's inquiry; and in which cases Mr. lan Feraday was a Crown witness. [7229]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 4 December 1996]: The representatives of the following individuals were advised that their cases would be examined by Professor Caddy as part of his inquiry.

  James Canning

  Derek Donerty

  Robert Fryers Patrick Hayes

  Hugh Jack Denis Kinsella

  5

  John Kinsella

  Ethel Lamb (deceased)

  Pairic MacFhloinn

  Sean McNulty

  Gerard Mackin

  Nicholas Mullen

  Jan Taylor

  Vincent Wood.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General will write to the hon. Member in relation to those cases in which Mr. Alan Feraday was a Crown witness.

  Judicial Reviews
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many, and in respect of which judicial review application, his Department has been deemed to have acted illegally since May 1993. [7313]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 4 December 1996]: Since May 1993, the Home Office has been involved in several thousand judicial review applications. It has been successful in over 90 per cent. of them. The detailed information requested is not readily available.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will publish a Government position paper on higher level vocational qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [8633]

  Mr. Paice
  A document which sets out the Government's current position on this matter is being published today. Copies are being placed in the Library. The document "Higher Level Vocational Qualifications—A Government Position Paper" invites those who have an interest in higher level vocational qualifications, in particular professional bodies and higher education institutions, to engage with the Department for Education and Employment, the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) and the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SCOTVEC) to bring all vocational qualifications into the national qualifications framework.

  Education and Training (Teenagers)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to improve education and training for 14 to 19-year-olds. 18634]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have today published a White Paper, "Learning to Compete: education and training for 14–19 year olds" (SO Cm 3486).

  "Learning to Compete" builds on the Government's achievements over the past decade in increasing choice, participation and attainment by young people in education and training in England. It sets out the Government's
  6
  vision for first-class education and training for the next century, based on the entitlement of all young people to learning, on the need for employability, and on the value of effective partnerships at national, regional and local level. It is designed to renew our drive towards the national targets for education and training, helping young people to play their part in a successful society, and Britain to strengthen its international competitiveness.

  The White Paper draws on extensive and invaluable consultations over the past year, in particular on the conclusions of Sir Ron Dearing's review of 16 to 19 qualifications. It proposes a wide-ranging programme of action for the Government and their key partners to improve young people's learning further, and to ensure their successful transition to employment and further learning throughout life. In particular, the White Paper:
  introduces from September 1997 a new learning credits entitlement for all young people aged 14 to 21 to career planning and learning opportunities up to level 3. This will improve young people's participation and attainment and encourage them to value their learning more. The Government have also published today a consultation document, "A Passport to Learning", on the detailed implementation of learning credits;
  enhances the breadth and rigour of the qualifications framework at key stage 4 and beyond, in particular by making part I GNVQs available from September 1998 to all schools who wish to provide them, strengthening GCE A-levels, GNVQs and NVQs, and promoting key skills throughout education and training;
  acts to make education for 14 to 19-year-olds more relevant to the world of work, by supporting innovative approaches to vocational study by 14 to 16-year-olds, introducing a new national record of achievement and encouraging more effective use of labour market information in making choices at 16;
  introduces a relaunch strategy—a new start for young people—to bring disaffected 14 to 19 year-olds back into learning with partnership projects at local level;
  introduces from September 1997 national traineeships to help 16 to 19-year-olds reach NVQ level 2 and acquire key skills with employers, taking forward the successful approach of modern apprenticeships;
  develops common principles to underpin the effective internal and external quality assurance of all 16 to 19 learning, including the introduction of an external inspection regime for work-based training providers and more consistent measures of performance;
  takes forward the application of common principles to the funding of learning in schools, colleges and work-based training, supporting good recruitment practice and effective teaching and training and rewarding successful achievement, in order to enhance choice, cost-effectiveness and fair competition; and
  introduces new funding arrangements from 1997–88 for training for young people, which are consistent with these principles and designed to reduce bureaucracy for training and enterprise councils and their providers.

  This programme of action demonstrates the enhanced capacity of my Department to make coherent policy in this key area. It will be supported by the expenditure plans for my Department set out in the Budget. The Government will work closely with their key partners and with providers to take it forward successfully.
  7
  Copies of the White Paper and the learning credits consultation document have been placed in the Library.

  GCSE Scores
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year since 1991, for all English secondary schools, on the same basis as her Department's annual school performance tables, the average GCSE point scores, in five percentile groups ranked by their 15-year-olds achievements. [6406]

  School performance tables 1996 Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving

  5 percentile group

  Average point score1

  5 A* to C (per cent.)

  5 A* to G (per cent.)

  1 A* to G (per cent.)

  Number schools

  1

  60.8

  98.8

  99.4

  99.6

  218

  2

  55.8

  93.6

  97.1

  98.1

  219

  3

  50.1

  83.5

  92.2

  95.1

  218

  4

  45.0

  70.3

  93.5

  95.9

  219

  5

  42.8

  62.1

  93.8

  96.3

  218

  6

  41.5

  57.2

  93.7

  96.5

  219

  7

  40.0

  53.3

  93.6

  96.6

  218

  8

  38.5

  49.5

  92.4

  96.2

  219

  9

  36.9

  46.3

  91.2

  95.8

  218

  10

  35.6

  42.9

  90.6

  95.3

  219

  11

  34.1

  39.7

  89.1

  94.5

  218

  12

  32.3

  36.1

  86.3

  93.3

  218

  13

  30.6

  32.6

  85.5

  92.6

  219

  14

  29.1

  28.9

  84.0

  92.0

  218

  15

  27.2

  25.0

  81.4

  90.6

  219

  16

  24.9

  21.0

  77.4

  88.1

  218

  17

  22.3

  16.0

  73.4

  86.1

  219

  18

  14.9

  6.5

  52.6

  76.8

  218

  19

  1.3

  0.0

  0.0

  27.1

  219

  20

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  218

  1 The average point score has been calculated by using A*=8, A=7, B=6, C=5, D=4, E=3, F=2 and G=l.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what proportion of consultees who responded to the section on extending the freedom of grant-maintained schools in the White Paper, "Self-Government for Schools" were in favour of the proposed extensions. [6925]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 28 November 1996]: We received 637 responses to the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools". More than three quarters were from LEAs and LEA-maintained schools. Less than 2 per cent. were from GM bodies and GM schools. The table gives the information requested.

  Proposal

  Number of responses commenting on the relevant proposal

  Number and percentage in favour

  To remove the requirement for GM schools to publish statutory proposals to:

  (a) open or close a nursery

  176

  7(4)

  (b) open or close a sixth form

  195

  6(3)

  (c) add or remove boarding provision

  152

  5(3)

  8
  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 28 November 1996]: The following list for 1996 shows the average GCSE point scores, in 5 per centile groups, ranked by their 15-year-old pupils' achievements. The figures are based on the school performance tables published in November and exclude data from the published schools that had fewer than 10 pupils aged 15. The averages quoted are simple averages, based on the sums of the percentages divided by the number of schools involved. Data for earlier years have been provided on a slightly different basis from those given in the reply to the hon. Member's questions of 7 November and 19 December 1995, Official Report, columns 960 and 1034 respectively.

  Proposal

  Number of responses commenting on the relevant proposal

  Number and percentage in favour

  (d) expand their capacity by up to 50 per cent.

  188

  5(3)

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will publish a breakdown of(a) the £830 million available for education in 1997–98, according to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) the £875 million quoted in the departmental press release and (c) the £633 million available for local education authorities, showing how the above figures are intended to be spent. [7470]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The £875 million is the increase in provision for schools, colleges and universities between 1996–97, after adjusting for in-year changes, and 1997–98. Of this, £830 million relates to schools. The £633 million is the increase in local authority education standard spending-total education standard spending assessments plus recurrent specific grants to local authorities related to education-as announced by
  9
  my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in his statement to the House on the local authority financial settlement on 27 November 1996.

  The breakdown of the £875 million increase is shown in the table:

  Increase in:

  £ million

  Education standard spending assessments1

  591

  New money for the nursery voucher scheme

  129

  Assisted places scheme

  22

  GEST

  22

  GM recurrent

  15

  OFSTED

  13

  Schools capital2

  9

  Specialist schools3

  7

  Other smaller items4

  22

  Sub total—schools

  830

  Further and higher education institutions

  45

  Total

  875

  1 After adjustments for changes in function and funding, in particular the national introduction of the nursery voucher scheme

  2 After allowing for contribution to LA challenge

  3 Includes an increase in capital provision of £3 million

  4 Including additional resources for ethnic minorities (section 11 grant), teacher training, changes to key stage 2/3 tests, the music and ballet scheme and literacy and numeracy centres.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when, by what mechanism and to which local authorities the £50 million in capital allowances announced in the Budget statement will be distributed. [7471]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I expect to make an announcement about the distribution of credit approvals to local education authorities and of grant to governors of voluntary-aided schools for 1997–98, including amounts over and above the previously announced baselines, later this month. A copy of the Department's letter setting out the basis on which these distributions will be made has been placed in the Library. Further support is also available through the specialist schools programme. The distribution of grant to the governors of grant-maintained schools is a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools.

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much she estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7542]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Total spending on advertising and publicity for the Department is as follows in financial years. Before the merger in July 1995, the Department operated separately funded programmes of publicity. This continued until the end of the financial year 1995–96.

  Department for Education:

  1991–92: £9.0 million

  1992–93: £8.0 million

  1993–94: £10.1 million

  1994–95: £9.4 million

  1995–96: £5.4 million.

  10
  Department of Employment:

  1991–92: £18.3 million

  1992–93: £7.2 million

  1993–94: £11.1 million

  1994–95: £11.1 million

  1995–96: £11.0 million.

  Current estimated spending for the Department for 1996–97 is £17.3 million. The budget for the next financial year is still under discussion, but is provisionally estimated as some £12.5 million.

  Personal Services Industry
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is her policy in respect of the continuing payment of jobseeker's allowance to people who have refused to take a job in the personal services industry; [7993]

  (2) if she will include in the next set of jobseeker's regulations an explicit provision that no jobseeker should have his or her benefit refused or reduced for refusing to take a job in the personal services industry. [7994]

  Mr. Forth
  I am satisfied that the legislation on refusal of employment already contains adequate safeguards. First a sanction can be imposed only when the opportunity of employment was notified to the jobseeker by a jobcentre adviser. Advisers will not suggest that people should apply for jobs that are obviously inappropriate, and Employment Service guidance is currently being strengthened to ensure that jobseekers are not submitted to undesirable or inappropriate vacancies. Secondly, no sanction is imposed if a jobseeker had good cause for refusing or failing to apply for an opportunity. Adjudication officers should take any relevant matter into account in deciding whether good cause was shown. Where appropriate, this must include the fact that the jobseeker refused the opportunity because of a sincerely held conscientious objection to the work concerned.

  Education and Community Values
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criterion was used by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority in determining who should receive the questionnaire with the consultation document in the consultation exercise on values in eduction and the community; and if she will make a statement. [8098]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority—SCAA—issued two separate questionnaires: one to a random sample of schools; the other to some 700 national and local organisations on SCAA's general mailing list. The questionnaires were designed simply to distinguish replies from these two samples. An independent research organisation is analysing the results. The consultation document remains available, although the consultation period ended on 29 November. SCAA will take account of all representations and will publish an analysis.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much money was raised by local education authorities in each year since
  11(a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [7698]

  (2) how much local education authorities are required to raise themselves for the years 1996 and 1997 (a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry; and what is the percentage change from the previous year in each case. [7699]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Local authorities have discretion in setting council taxes. The revenue income of local education authorities between 1993–94 and 1996–97 has come primarily from the following sources: the authority's entitlements to revenue support grant and other special and specific grants; the authority's share of the amounts distributed from the non-domestic rates pool;

  Council taxes 1993–94 to 1996–97

  1993–94 £ million

  1994–95 £ million

  Increase on previous year Per cent.

  1995–96 £ million

  Increase on previous year Per cent.

  1996–97 £ million

  Increase on previous year Per cent.

  England

  7,367.0

  7,709.0

  4.7

  7,999.0

  n/a

  8,630.0

  7.9

  West midlands

  401.0

  401.0

  0.1

  432.0

  7.8

  471.0

  8.9

  Coventry

  51.1

  56.8

  11.2

  60.1

  5.8

  61.7

  2.6

  The figure for English local education authorities for 1995–96 is not comparable with 1994–95 because police services were transferred from shire counties to police authorities on 1 April 1995.

  School Funding
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much money her Department provided for schools in each year since 1992(a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [7697]

  (2) how much money will be provided to schools for the years 1996 and 1997 (a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry; and what is the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [7700]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The great bulk of money is provided by local education authorities. Since central Government support to local authorities is not hypothecated, it is not possible to say how much of this

  (a) Education SSAs

  SSA £ million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–981

  Coventry

  122.987

  111.417

  113.295

  115.727

  119.872

  119.759

  West Midlands

  1,132.269

  1,023.929

  1,019.255

  1,024.585

  1,072.402

  1,065.994

  England

  18,352.700

  16,530.700

  16,826.000

  17,024.100

  17,764.24

  17,838.306

  1 1997–98 figures are provisional.

  (b) Underlying percentage changes over the previous year

  1992–93

  1993–94 Percentage change

  1994–95 Percentage change

  1995–96 Percentage change

  1996–97 Percentage change

  1997–981 Percentage change

  Coventry

  7.4

  1.7

  2.6

  2.0

  3.6

  3.3

  West

  6.2

  2.7

  0.4

  0.4

  4.7

  3.0

  Midlands England

  7.1

  2.9

  2.7

  1.2

  4.4

  3.4

  1 1997–98 figures are provisional.

  12
  council taxes raised by the authority itself, or by the relevant billing authorities in the case of county councils; and any revenue raised from sales, fees and charges, which in turn depend on the range of functions carried out by the authority. The table shows the council taxes calculated by local education authorities to support their revenue expenditure each year from 1993–94.

  It is not possible to provide a comparable figure for 1992–93, as arrangements for raising taxes were different under the community charge system. The figures for English local education authorities are not comparable with those for west midlands and Coventry city council because the England figures include shire counties and inner-London boroughs, which are responsible for a different range of services from other education authorities. Figures for 1997–98 will not be available until authorities have set their budgets in 1997.

  support has been deployed for schools. Central Government plan financial provision for local authorities on the basis of standard spending assessments. The table sets out the education standard spending assessments between 1992–93 and 1997–98, but local education authorities are free to decide how much to spend on schools and other services in allocating their overall budgets. Because of changes in local authority functions, such as the loss of responsibility for most further education in 1993–94, the reform of inter-authority recoupment in 1995–96, and the arrangements for nursery vouchers in 1997–98, the cash figures are not comparable year-by-year. The tables therefore show (a) the unadjusted education SSAs for Coventry, the west midlands and England from 1992–93 to 1997–98 and (b) the underlying percentage changes after local authority changes of function have been taken into account.

  Feversham College, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to receive an application by Feversham college in Bradford for voluntary aided status; when she refused an earlier application; what were the main grounds for refusal; what contacts there have been since that refusal between her officials, representatives of the college and representatives of Bradford local education authority about the latest application: when she expects to announce a decision on the latest application; and if she will make a statement. [8005]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A previous application from the college was rejected last year, but my right hon. Friend indicated that she was ready to consider a fresh application. For the reasons for rejection, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 23 February 1995,Official Report, column 294. I understand that consultation is under way in Bradford on a possible new application from Feversham college for voluntary aided status. The officials met representatives of the promoters and Bradford LEA on 15 May 1996 and have kept closely in touch since then. We have made it clear that we are willing to offer such advice and help as we can. If the promoters decide to publish fresh proposals, these will come to my right hon. Friend for decision and will be considered on their merits.

  Museums and Galleries
  Sir Patrick Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those museums and galleries which form part of universities in the United Kingdom and for which they have financial responsibility, direct or indirect, indicating the location, date of foundation, nature of governing body or bodies, name of the director, number of permanent staff, total annual running cost, number of visitor admissions per year, and any admission charge made, at the most recent convenient date. [8078]

  Mr. Forth
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England—HEFC—provides financial support for 23 museums, galleries and collections at 13 universities. In addition, it provides financial support for earth sciences collections at four of these institutions. The table lists the higher education museums, galleries and collections that receive support.

  "The Museums Yearbook", published by the Museums Association gives details of location, date of foundation, nature of governing body, name of director, permanent staff, number of visitor admissions each year and

  Pupils taking free school meals in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools by region in England 1991 to 1996

  Position in January each year

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  North

  88,703

  95,102

  99,500

  101,456

  100,589

  North West

  191,052

  207,690

  217,154

  218,516

  226,072

  East Anglia

  27,657

  33,369

  35,868

  36,607

  37,019

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  120,243

  130,571

  136,066

  137,382

  140,239

  West Midlands

  133,311

  148,944

  155,509

  154,062

  154,677

  East Anglia

  68,415

  78,212

  83,624

  85,763

  86,604

  Greater London

  169,787

  196,965

  219,229

  230,650

  241,705

  Other South East

  134,528

  167,783

  184,492

  185,469

  186,062

  South West

  68,272

  82,690

  85,684

  84,932

  87,459

  England

  1,001,968

  1,141,326

  1,217,126

  1,234,837

  1,260,426

  14
  admission charge made for museums and galleries across the UK. It is available in the Library. Details of the annual running costs are held by individual museums and galleries.

  Higher education museums, galleries and collections receiving HEFCE non-formula funding 1996–97

  Museum, gallery or collection

  Higher education institution

  Holburne Museum and Crafts Study Centre

  University of Bath

  Barber Institute of Fine Art

  University of Birmingham

  Earth Sciences Collection

  University of Birmingham

  Fitzwilliam Museum

  University of Cambridge

  Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

  University of Cambridge

  Whipple Museum of the History of Science

  University of Cambridge

  Earth Sciences Collection

  University of Cambridge

  Oriental Museum

  University of Durham

  Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

  University of East Anglia

  University of Leeds Art Collections and Gallery

  University of Leeds

  Courtauld Institute Galleries

  University of London

  SOAS—Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art

  University of London

  Witt and Conway Photographic Collection

  University of London

  College Art Collection

  University College London

  Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology

  University College London

  Manchester Museum

  University of Manchester

  Whitworth Art Gallery

  University of Manchester

  Earth Sciences Collection

  University of Manchester

  Silver Studio Collection

  University of Middlesex

  Museum of Antiquities

  University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  Hancock Museum

  University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology

  University of Oxford

  Pitt Rivers Museum

  University of Oxford

  Museum of the History of Science

  University of Oxford

  Oxford University Museum (Scientific Collections)

  University of Oxford

  Earth Sciences Collection

  University of Oxford

  Museum of English Rural Life

  University of Reading

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will update her answer of 11 December 1995,Official Report, columns 536–38, indicating the number of children in receipt of free school meals, by region, in each of the last five years. [8184]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Information on the take-up of free school meals in maintained schools in England in the years 1992 to 1996 is shown in the table.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Overnight Accommodation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will list the locations of the space set aside for overnight accommodation; what facilities are provided; what was the number of times the facilities have been used in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8299]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

DEFENCE

  Cyprus
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the units of British forces in Cyprus, indicating their combat capability. [7658]

  Mr. Soames
  The units of British Forces Cyprus are as listed. All are assessed as achieving a satisfactory level of combat capability.

  Headquarters British Forces Cyprus

  Headquarters Episkopi Garrison

  Headquarters Dhekelia Garrison

  62 Support Squadron Royal Engineers

  9 Signal Regiment

  259 Signal Squadron Royal Signals

  1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  1st Battalion The Kings Regiment

  16 Flight Army Air Corps

  Cyprus Logistic Unit

  The Princess Mary's Hospital

  Episkopi Garrison Medical Centre

  Medical Reception Centre Dhekelia Garrison

  RAF Akrotiri Medical Centre

  Joint Services Health Unit

  Cyprus Engineering Unit

  Dhekelia Garrison Workshop

  Command Pay Office

  Headquarters Education and Training Services

  54 Army Education Centre

  55 Army Education Centre

  Cyprus Defence Animals Support Unit

  Royal Military Police Cyprus

  11 Dental Group

  Cyprus Joint Security Unit

  Cyprus Joint Services Adventure Training Centre

  Troodos Station

  RAF Akrotiri

  12 Signals Unit RAF

  33 Signals Unit RAF

  84 Squadron RAF

  Provost and Security Services Cyprus

  Defence Fire Service

  Security Force Police.

  16
  Mr. McShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent contacts he has had with representatives of the Greek Cypriot Government in London. [7669]

  Mr. Soames
  During the course of this year, the Secretary of State for Defence has had discussions in London with President Glavkos Clerides, Foreign Minister Michaelides, and High Commissioner Markides.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what overseas visits he has made in an official capacity since June. [7670]

  Mr. Soames
  Since 1 June 1996, the Secretary of State for Defence has visited the following countries in his official capacity:

  Australia

  Belgium

  Bosnia and Herzegovina

  Bulgaria

  Croatia

  Denmark

  France

  Indonesia

  Kuwait

  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

  Malaysia

  Norway

  Oman

  Poland

  Qatar

  Romania

  Russia

  Singapore

  Slovenia

  United Arab Emirates

  USA.

  RAF Logistics Support Service
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Royal Air Force Logistics Support Service. [8296]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The RAF Logistic Support Services will become an agency from 9 December 1996.

  The agency will provide a comprehensive logistic service to a range of customers including all three services, the procurement executive and the aerospace industry. This will include policy advice; the introduction to service and in-service support of aircraft and associated equipments; logistics consultancy and information technology services. The agency will employ approximately 1,100 staff, comprising RN and RAF personnel and civil servants.

  The first chief executive will be Air Commodore Ian Sloss who will be afforded the powers, responsibility and flexibility to build on the current organisation's expertise and high performance standards. The chief executive will

  17
  be directly accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence and to Parliament for the conduct and performance of the agency.

  The agency has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:

  (1) To produce 95 per cent. of task reports, within aerospace maintenance development and support and information date management, by the target dates agreed with the sponsor and to acceptable quality.

  (2) To evaluate 95 per cent. of all tasks within 25 days of receipt of the initial tasking documentation.

  (3) The logistics computer centre will process 95 per cent. of all business system changes within the timescale agreed with the originator of the request and to acceptable quality.

  (4) To develop a task and resource accounting management system—TRAMS—by 31 March 1997 to measure the delivery of logistics support service in peace and for operations as specified by the customer.

  (5) To implement TRAMS across the agency by 31 March 1998.

  (6) To establish baseline management metrics by 31 March 1998.

  (7) To implement a personnel strategy plan from 31 March 1997 and to achieve accreditation to Investors in People by 31 March 1998.

  (8) To meet an efficiency target of 3 per cent. for the financial year 1996/97.

  (9) To meet a proposed efficiency target of 3 per cent. for the financial year 1997–98.

  (10) To undertake, starting in April 1997, the British Quality Foundations' business excellence model self-assessment and to have a numerical assessment upon which to base future high level benchmarking exercises by November 1997.

  (11) To achieve BS EN ISO 9001:1994 certification for all departments outstanding by 31 March 1997; and to maintain BS EN ISO 9001: 1994 certification for those departments already certified for the period 1997–98.

  Copies of the agency's framework document and corporate plan will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Combined Arms Tactical Trainer
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Army's requirement for a combined arms tactical trainer. [8449]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A contract has been awarded to Lockheed-Martin Information Systems for two combined arms tactical trainers—CATT—to meet the Army's requirement for a new training simulation system. Lockheed-Martin was selected as the prime contractor following a full evaluation of the procurement options. The company has gained considerable experience of such systems through its development of the US Army's close combat tactical trainer. The contract, supported by a memorandum of understanding between my Department and the US Department of Defence, provides for substantial UK industrial involvement in high-quality work. GEC Marconi has been selected by Lockheed-Martin as its lead United Kingdom partner. It is planned that the British company will take over as prime contractor from 2003. The award of the CATT contract will initially sustain or create about 90 jobs ma)inly at GEC Marconi at Donnibristle, Fife. Further jobs will be created in the United Kingdom when CATT enters its production phase.

  Discharged Personnel (Allergies)
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been medically discharged in each of the past 10 years because of allergic reactions. [6630]

  Mr. Soames
  This answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Low Flying
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the United States and Canadian Governments concerning low flying; and if he will make a statement. [7591]

  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. Friend has not recently discussed military low flying with representatives of the United States and Canadian Governments. My officials, however, have regular discussions with their counterparts from these countries on a wide range of topics including low flying.

  Proposed Force Reductions
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the scale of the proposed reduction in the size of(a) the Army, including the Gurkhas but excluding the Royal Irish Regiment, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy between (i) 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1999 and (ii) 1 April 1992 and 1 April 1999, under the Government's current plans; and if he will make a statement. [7590]

  Mr. Soames
  The total strength, trained and untrained, of the armed forces, including Gurkhas and other locally employed personnel, on 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1992 was:

  RN

  Army

  RAF

  1990

  63,500

  161,500

  89,700

  1992

  62,400

  154,100

  86,000

  Under current plans, the total intended strength of the armed forces, inclusive of LEPs, on 1 April 1999 will be:

  RN

  Army

  RAF

  44,000

  115,000

  55,500

  Army Strength
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total trained strength of the British Army at(a) 1 April 1990 and (b) 1 April 1992, including the Gurkhas but not including the Royal Irish Regiment. [7589]

  Mr. Soames
  The trained strength of the British Army including Gurkhas but excluding the Ulster Defence Regiment and locally employed personnel was 144,800 at 1 April 1990 and 140,800 at 1 April 1992.

PRIME MINISTER

  IRA
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions, and through what arrangement he or his office has had communications with the IRA since 1 September 1994. [7199]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by Department each occasion when Her Majesty's Government have entered a scrutiny reserve at Council of Minsters meetings, indicating the matter concerned. [7531]

  The Prime Minister
  Arrangements exist to prevent items coming forward for decision in the Council of Ministers where a member state's parliamentary scrutiny procedures have yet to be completed. The presidency may, nonetheless, occasionally place an item on a Council agenda for decision which is still subject to parliamentary scrutiny in a member state. Information on the occasions when the United Kingdom has as a consequence maintained a scrutiny reserve at the Council of Ministers is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Correspondence
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library(a) a copy of the letter recently sent to him by the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume); and (b) any documents which accompanied the letter or his reply. [7818]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: It is not my practice to reveal correspondence, either letters or accompanying documents, which are sent to me in confidence. As for my reply to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume), I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 28 November, Official Report, columns 460–61.

  President Mary Robinson
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if the present visit to Great Britain by President Mary Robinson is an official visit. [7817]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: No.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the oil-for-food deal between Iraq and the United Nations agreed in August to be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [7523]
  20
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  UN Security Council resolution 986 (1995) will come into operation when the UN Secretary-General believes that conditions for its effective implementation have been met. We believe that it might be as early as this week.

  West Indies Guardship
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made this year to countries in south America and the Caribbean about the anti-drug work of the West Indies guardship, its access to territorial waters and its powers to board vessels registered in these countries; and if he will make a statement. [7950]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have made no such representations regarding the West Indies guardship—WIGS. I have, however, made representations to the Venezuelan Government, following the refusal by the Venezuelan authorities to grant permission to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover, which operates in support of WIGS, for US law enforcement officers embarked on the RFA to board a Venezuelan flagged vessel suspected of drug trafficking. I made clear this Government's view that article 17 of the 1988 UN drugs convention, which the United Kingdom and Venezuela have ratified, provides the legal framework for maritime anti-narcotics co-operation.

  French Fishermen (Minquies)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU Ministers in respect of rescinding the concessions granted to French fishermen to fish in the Minquies. [7791]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  None.

  Afghanistan (National Museum)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the unauthorised sale of items formerly held by the national museum of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [8015]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We have received no such representations in recent years about the unauthorised sale of items formerly held by the national museum of Afghanistan. However, we regard the preservation of Afghanistan's cultural heritage as important.

  European Union (Government Policy)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote Government policy in support of the European Union. [6507]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Government are tireless in promoting their European policy in the House and in public. Their overall position was set out in a White Paper, "A Partnership of Nations", earlier this year.

  Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been allocated to clear land mines in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [6526]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The UK has contributed £428,000, including our share of EU assistance, to humanitarian mine clearance work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also seconded military personnel to assist in the establishment of the UN mine action centre in Sarajevo.

  High Commission Official (Bradford Visit)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by whom a senior official at the British high commission in Islamabad was recently invited to visit Bradford; what was the purpose of the visit; if he will list those with whom the official had meetings; and if he will make a statement. [8004]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  No official of the British high commission has recently visited Bradford. An official from this Department called on councillors, community centres and the Bradford racial equality council in August as part of his preparation for taking up a post in Islamabad.

  Government Communications Headquarters, Cheltenham
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to relocate which operational facilities from GCHQ Cheltenham; and to where. [7756]

  Mr. Rifkind
  None. However, GCHQ is currently undertaking a study into its requirements for future accommodation and related services. This study includes consideration of whether those requirements can be satisfied through the private finance initiative, and will include investigation of the possibility of collocating all the work currently carried out on the two Cheltenham sites.

  Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1994–95 in £s

  Local authority

  New construction over £50,000

  New construction under £50,000

  Building maintenance

  General highways work

  General water and sewerage work

  Aberdeen DC

  —

  —

  220,410

  —

  —

  Angus DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Argyll and Bute DC

  —

  —

  55,000

  —

  —

  Badenoch and Strathspey DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Banff and Buchan DC

  —

  —

  59,444

  —

  —

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Berwickshire DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Borders RC

  —

  —

  —

  337,000

  —

  EU General Affairs Council
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the European Union General Affairs Council on 25 November; and what decisions were taken. [8188]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes),Official Report, columns 461–63.

  Child Labour
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report "Helping Business to Help Stop Child Labour", produced by Anti-Slavery International; and what guidelines are provided to British Government employees working in, or visiting, foreign countries, with regard to the employment and treatment of children. [7246]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is Government policy that wherever British missions and British officials overseas employ local staff, it is done in complete accordance with local law.

SCOTLAND

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Scotland that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial year 1994–95 in both cash and constant prices; [7140]

  (2) if he will list, by authority and service area, the surplus achieved on trading accounts by local authorities' direct labour or services organisations in Scotland for those services covered under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial year 1994–95 in both cash and constant prices. [7141]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 2 December 1996]: A detailed list, taken from annual reports submitted by authorities, of the surpluses and deficits achieved by direct labour and direct service organisations of Scottish local authorities in 1994–95 is as follows:
  23 24

  Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1994–95 in £s

  Local authority

  New construction over £50,000

  New construction under £50,000

  Building maintenance

  General highways work

  General water and sewerage work

  Caithness DC

  —

  —

  27,933

  —

  —

  Central RC

  (-21,343)

  21,871

  57,071

  277,398

  60,579

  Clackmannan DC

  —

  —

  265,000

  —

  —

  Clydebank DC

  —

  —

  88,773

  —

  —

  Clydesdale DC

  —

  —

  40,599

  —

  —

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Doon Valley DC

  —

  —

  16,110

  —

  —

  Cunninghame DC

  —

  —

  740,000

  —

  —

  Dumbarton DC

  —

  —

  65,458

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  —

  —

  2,163

  282,935

  —

  Dundee DC

  56,899

  5,990

  315,013

  —

  —

  Dunfermline DC

  44,083

  37,737

  81,687

  —

  —

  East Kilbride DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Lothian DC

  —

  —

  363,821

  —

  —

  Eastwood DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Edinburgh DC

  (-25,781)

  —

  284,775

  —

  —

  Ettrick and Lauderdale DC

  —

  —

  121,882

  —

  —

  Falkirk DC

  —

  —

  182,000

  —

  —

  Fife RC

  81,000

  14,000

  173,000

  962,000

  34,000

  Glasgow DC

  12,892,110

  —

  11,695,268

  —

  —

  Gordon DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grampian RC

  —

  —

  —

  757,000

  175,000

  Hamilton DC

  —

  —

  82,647

  —

  —

  Highland RC

  —

  —

  —

  2,748,000

  —

  Inverclyde DC

  —

  —

  37,450

  —

  —

  Inverness DC

  —

  —

  181,442

  —

  —

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirkcaldy DC

  —

  —

  168,013

  —

  —

  Kyle and Carrick DC

  —

  —

  85,437

  —

  —

  Lochaber DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lothian RC

  —

  —

  201,268

  706,523

  142,786

  Midlothian DC

  —

  —

  58,000

  —

  —

  Monklands DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Moray DC

  —

  —

  95,560

  —

  —

  Motherwell DC

  —

  —

  335,782

  —

  —

  Nairn DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nithsdale DC

  —

  —

  (-22,822)

  —

  —

  North East Fife DC

  —

  —

  110,000

  —

  —

  Orkney IC

  (-46,000)

  —

  54,000

  304,000

  (-203,000)

  Perth and Kinross DC

  —

  —

  151,653

  —

  —

  Renfrew DC

  —

  —

  1,359,836

  —

  —

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  —

  —

  28,000

  —

  —

  Roxburgh DC

  —

  —

  14,000

  —

  —

  Shetland IC

  —

  —

  57,000

  340,000

  —

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stewartry DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stirling DC

  —

  —

  (-13,500)

  —

  —

  Strathclyde RC

  7,230

  1,242

  487,983

  537,129

  94,944

  Strathkelvin DC

  —

  —

  89,262

  —

  —

  Sutherland DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside RC

  —

  —

  16,000

  887,000

  —

  Western Isles IC

  —

  —

  36,000

  182,000

  —

  West Lothian DC

  —

  —

  178,410

  —

  —

  Wigtown DC

  —

  —

  173,469

  —

  —

  Local Government Act 1988 surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1994–95 in £s

  Local authority

  Refuse collection1

  Building cleaning

  Other cleaning1

  School and welfare catering

  Other catering

  Ground maintenance

  Vehicle maintenance

  Leisure management

  Aberdeen DC

  51,077

  63

  —

  —

  9,200

  101,804

  47,672

  546,163

  Angus DC

  218,515

  27,418

  78,523

  —

  —

  181,779

  25,067

  —

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  51,163

  —

  39,543

  —

  —

  27,921

  —

  29,189

  25

  Local Government Act 1988 surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1994–95 in £s

  Local authority

  Refuse collection1

  Building cleaning

  Other cleaning1

  School and welfare catering

  Other catering

  Ground maintenance

  Vehicle maintenance

  Leisure management

  Argyll and Bute DC

  42,000

  —

  6,000

  —

  —

  12,000

  23,000

  21,000

  Badenoch and Strathspey DC

  5,978

  —

  2,689

  —

  —

  19,110

  —

  —

  Banff and Buchan DC

  9,793

  —

  —

  —

  —

  161,794

  —

  —

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  —

  —

  70,478

  —

  —

  —

  44,299

  14,970

  Berwickshire DC

  52,117

  —

  —

  —

  —

  54,193

  —

  (-5,939)

  Borders RC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30,000

  —

  Caithness DC

  22,092

  —

  —

  —

  —

  18,162

  —

  32,201

  Central RC

  —

  5,561

  —

  36,409

  3,420

  —

  21,900

  —

  Clackmannan DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43,000

  10,000

  —

  Clydebank DC

  26,894

  —

  35,368

  —

  _

  118,449

  —

  34,328

  Clydesdale DC

  1,433

  —

  7,163

  —

  —

  18,497

  —

  56,811

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  9,002

  —

  6,243

  —

  —

  34,246

  14,468

  23,031

  Cumnock and Doon Valley DC

  50,981

  —

  16,912

  —

  —

  21,480

  —

  —

  Cunninghame DC

  30,262

  14,228

  19,465

  —

  —

  22,409

  45,014

  47,627

  Dumbarton DC

  30,452

  (-45,783)

  (-38,216)

  —

  —

  (-217,009)

  —

  139,968

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  —

  (-118,000)

  —

  16,000

  —

  51,000

  69,000

  —

  Dundee DC

  143,080

  25,065

  20,534

  —

  —

  188,363

  —

  133,000

  Dunfermline DC

  147,370

  23,000

  —

  —

  —

  53.437

  13,667

  43,000

  East Kilbride DC

  60,742

  —

  65,347

  —

  —

  37,345

  17,384

  194,370

  East Lothian DC

  —

  30,331

  89,787

  —

  —

  134,777

  —

  70,346

  Eastwood DC

  (-89,870)

  —

  (-11,600)

  —

  —

  19,610

  —

  (-13,385)

  Edinburgh DC

  82,811

  149,342

  59,369

  —

  (-76,040)

  268,433

  77,706

  8,118

  Ettrick and Lauderdale DC

  157,990

  —

  —

  —

  —

  136,758

  —

  60,229

  Falkirk DC

  87,000

  2,000

  183,000

  —

  25,000

  259,000

  14,000

  159,000

  Fife RC

  —

  2,000

  —

  28,000

  (-8,000)

  —

  165,000

  —

  Glasgow DC

  640,061

  196,996

  384,342

  —

  —

  941,187

  102,613

  211,969

  Gordon DC

  14,000

  —

  92,000

  —

  —

  48,000

  —

  —

  Grampian RC

  —

  (-351,000)

  —

  9,000

  111,000

  224,000

  532,000

  —

  Hamilton DC

  25,457

  —

  49,668

  —

  —

  133,057

  19,834

  231,746

  Highland RC

  —

  6,816

  —

  M3.229)

  —

  —

  211,976

  —

  Inverclyde DC

  105,355

  —

  112,311

  —

  —

  15,093

  46,073

  127.394

  Inverness DC

  159,911

  —

  118,784

  —

  —

  103,800

  6,214

  53,005

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC

  51,000

  3,000

  53,000

  —

  1,000

  32,000

  440,000

  1,000

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  2,943

  —

  45,565

  —

  —

  —

  —

  33,058

  Kirkcaldy DC

  283,805

  2,091

  170,357

  —

  —

  222,118

  152,397

  276,672

  Kyle and Carrick DC

  26,160

  16,187

  —

  —

  —

  17,784

  4,553

  37,028

  Lochaber DC

  13,259

  —

  5,532

  —

  —

  38,150

  —

  10,842

  Lothian RC

  —

  14,985

  —

  38,853

  17,243

  —

  84,989

  (-188,629)

  Midlothian DC

  47,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  143,000

  38,000

  170,000

  Monklands DC

  84,940

  6,017

  71,433

  —

  —

  103,956

  79,667

  68,797

  Moray DC

  50,816

  3,182

  77,562

  —

  —

  61,787

  53,024

  —

  Motherwell DC

  314,421

  8,489

  —

  —

  13,038

  —

  34,496

  71,108

  Nairn DC

  —

  —

  23,045

  —

  —

  10,690

  —

  970

  Nithsdale DC

  500

  —

  500

  —

  —

  26.573

  —

  13,159

  North East Fife DC

  83,000

  —

  85,000

  —

  —

  68,000

  —

  8,000

  Orkney IC

  19,000

  15,000

  —

  6,000

  —

  —

  58,000

  —

  Perth and Kinross DC

  52,449

  54,921

  15,051

  —

  —

  —

  22,050

  152,231

  Renfrew DC

  268,000

  17,000

  42,000

  —

  2,228

  314,000

  79,000

  129,000

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  22,296

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20,000

  —

  20,214

  Roxburgh DC

  19,954

  —

  27,445

  —

  —

  43,319

  8,798

  25,961

  Shetland IC

  134,000

  7,000

  7,000

  —

  84,000

  79,000

  42,000

  —

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  (-10,025)

  (-109)

  3,080

  —

  —

  (-6,700)

  —

  (-3,767)

  Stewartry DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43,179

  —

  —

  Stirling DC

  57,500

  12,200

  48,700

  —

  —

  69,700

  24,300

  32,800

  Strathclyde RC

  —

  691,106

  —

  101,652

  7,008

  27,129

  227,418

  —

  Strathkelvin DC

  237,061

  —

  —

  —

  —

  117,078

  —

  49,622

  Sutherland DC

  10,152

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12,078

  —.

  4,344

  Tayside RC

  —

  56,000

  —

  265,000

  —

  —

  101,000

  —

  Western Isles IC

  51,000

  47,000

  51,000

  M2,000)

  9,000

  10,000

  12,000

  —

  West Lothian DC

  —

  —

  77,830

  —

  —

  292,025

  921

  228,845

  Wigtown DC

  —

  —

  16,075

  —

  —

  94,887

  —

  34,874

  1 The accounts for refuse collection and other cleaning may have been combined by some authorities. The absence of an entry, therefore, does not necessarily indicate that the DSO has not carried out the activity in question.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the Budget statement on the projected programme for the construction of the M80 motorway between Stepps and Haggs; and if he will make a statement. [7832]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: My right hon. Friend will make a statement on these matters in the near future.

TREASURY

  Computers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Bank of England is taking to ensure the millennium compliance of its computer systems and those with which they are connected; what is its budget for this purpose; and if he will make a statement. [6665]
  27
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Bank of England has already begun to prepare its own computer systems for the millennium. It is also liaising with APACS—the Association for Payment Clearing Services—which oversees the payments systems, and with commercial banks. No separate budget has been set for this process, which will be accommodated within departmental software development budgets.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how much it currently costs to answer(a) an oral and (b) a written parliamentary question. [7642]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  A total of £249 and £107 respectively, as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) on 4 December 1996,Official Report, column 656.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast of those registered as unemployed on the claimant count in 1997–98 underlay his assumptions in respect of resources available for out-of-work benefits and related passported entitlements; and if he will list this forecast for changes in levels of claimant count unemployment in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [7477]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The assumptions for unemployment which underlie the public expenditure plans are given in table 5A.5 of the 1997–98 "Financial Statement and Budget Report."

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7587]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Such costs are included in the Department's running cost expenditure, which is published in the annual report.

  National Insurance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each source of taxation revenue and for national insurance, (i) the amounts received and what percentage that is of total revenue and (ii) the numbers of people paying in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1995. [3044]

  Mr. Jack
  Information on the amounts received is in the table. Figures for the numbers of people paying some of these taxes is contained in "Inland Revenue Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library. Information on the numbers of people paying other taxes is not available.

  Tax and national insurance receipts (on a cash basis) £ billions

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1995–96

  Income tax

  242.99

  353.58

  552.89

  680.72

  Corporation tax

  460.2

  103.80

  210.44

  235.69

  Value added tax

  109.68

  193.29

  309.91

  430.73

  Excise duties1

  889.8

  148.98

  199.36

  283.55

  28

  Tax and national insurance receipts (on a cash basis) £ billions

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1995–96

  Other taxes and royalties2

  225.70

  412.95

  407.02

  442.34

  Social security contributions

  140.57

  244.65

  354.10

  444.79

  Total

  853.94

  1,457.25

  2.033.72

  2,517.82

  1 Fuel, alcohol and tobacco duties and VED.2 Includes local taxes as well as other central government taxes.

  As a percentage of total

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1995–96

  Income tax

  28.5

  24.3

  27.2

  27.0

  Corporation tax

  5.4

  7.1

  10.3

  9.4

  Value added tax

  12.8

  13.3

  15.2

  17.1

  Excise duties1

  10.4

  10.2

  9.8

  11.3

  Other taxes and royalties2

  26.4

  28.3

  20.0

  17.6

  National insurance contributions

  16.5

  16.8

  17.4

  17.7

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1 Fuel, alcohol and tobacco duties and VED.2 Includes local taxes as well as other central government taxes.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those countries in the European Union where a minimum wage has been imposed following a directive from the European Commission. [7012]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There is no requirement for states in the European Union to introduce minimum wages. Arrangements for determining pay is a matter for individual member states—a fact recognised in the Commission's opinion on an equitable wage.

  Nuclear Materials (Accounting and Control)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what review his Department has conducted of its system of accounting and control of nuclear materials at nuclear plants and nuclear fuel cycle facilities. [6992]

  Mr. Nelson
  All civil nuclear material in the United Kingdom is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the UK-International Atomic Energy Authority-Euratom safeguards agreement. My Department liaises with the international inspectorates to ensure that these obligations are met. This includes reviews of the systems of nuclear material accounting and control at facilities. The United Kingdom will also continue to offer its full support to the development of a strengthened international safeguards system.

  Child Labour
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the report, "Helping Business to Help Stop Child Labour", produced by Anti-Slavery International; what action he is
  29
  taking to encourage British businesses abroad to adopt fair employment practices; and if he will make a statement. [7245]

  Mr. Nelson
  It is for British businesses to ensure that they are complying fully with their legal obligations and ethical standards. The Government encourage British businesses operating overseas to respect the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, which cover employment practices, among other things.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to encourage British companies overseas to act as model employers by taking action to avoid exploitative practices, particularly involving children. [7247]

  Mr. Nelson
  It is the responsibility of individual companies to satisfy themselves that they are complying with local law and acting in accordance with ethical standards. The Government encourage British businesses operating overseas to respect the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, which cover employment practices, among other things.

  EU Common External Tariff Level
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of the Board of Trade what is the 1996 average level of the common external tariff of the European Union; what was the average level in(a) 1966, (b) 1976 and (c) 1986; and what the common tariff level is planned to be when the Uruguay round is finally implemented. [7461]

  Mr. Nelson
  In 1966, 1976 and 1986, the average levels of the common external tariff of the European Union in the industrial sector were in the order of 12 per cent., 9.5 per cent. and 6.5 per cent. respectively. Precise figures are not available. Moreover, there are no equivalent figures for the agricultural sector in those years because chapters 1 to 24 of the common external tariff then contained many specific rates, for example by weight or by volume. The Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations was the first such round in which the ad valorem equivalents of specific rates were calculated, thus enabling inclusion of agricultural products in the average tariff level. The average level of the overall common external tariff in 1996 is 4 per cent. When the Uruguay round is fully implemented it will be 3.2 per cent.

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 December,Official Report, column 498, on small business statistics, if he will name the two independent sources. [8028]

  Mr. Page
  The information requested is in my answer of 2 December 1996,Official Report, column 498.

  Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about exports of armoured vehicles to Indonesia. [8636]

  Mr. Lang
  I have authorised the issue of licences to Alvis for the export of a further 50 armoured vehicles, and their associated equipment, to Indonesia. The decision 30
  has been made following consultation with the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in the light of the established and internationally agreed criteria for military exports.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the export of armoured vehicles to the Indonesian police force. [8635]

  Mr. Lang
  I have authorised the issue of an export licence to Procurement Services International Ltd. for a variety of police vehicles. The licence includes seven Tactica water cannon and associated equipment. This decision has been made following consultation with the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the light of the established and internationally agreed criteria for military exports.

  Energy Council
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of the Energy Council meeting on 3 December. [8632]

  Mr. Page
  The Council considered several issues and received reports from the Commission on matters of interest. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Energy represented the United Kingdom.

  A policy debate was held to discuss the way forward on a proposal to liberalise the gas market. The Council recognised the presidency's compromise proposals as an important step in the right direction and as a good basis for progress in further discussions. There was considerable convergence of views on the four key issues of public service obligations, unbundling and transparency of accounts, access to the system and take or pay contracts. The Council agreed that further work was required in order to ensure a rigid conclusion of this proposal under the Dutch presidency, due to end in June 1997.

  The Council discussed a proposal for a Council regulation establishing a multi-annual programme to promote international co-operation in the energy field—SYNERGY—and asked for work on this dossier to continue.

  A debate was also held on renewables following a Commission presentation on an EU strategy. Lord Fraser stressed that renewable forms of energy had to be both economically attractive and environmentally acceptable if they were successfully to penetrate the market.

  Council conclusions were agreed on a Committee report on oil supply, refining and markets in the Community. The conclusions welcomed the report and asked the Commission to undertake studies and continue to monitor and analyse the situation in close co-operation with member states.

  Conclusions were also agreed on the energy dimension of climate change. They recognised the contribution of energy policy to the climate change debate and asked for reports to be made on progress in this area including on the negotiations on a protocol in the framework of the UN convention on climate change.
  31
  On deregulation, the Council endorsed a report from the Commission on the review of Community energy legislation which will enable several legislative acts to be repealed.

  The Council reached a common position on a proposal for a Council and European Parliament decision amending the guidelines on trans-European energy networks, updating the list of projects of common interest.

  The Council agreed the decision on the conclusion of the energy charter treaty.

  The Commission gave a presentation on a proposal for a council decision on the organisation of co-operation around agreed Community energy objectives. The Commission also gave progress reports on the energy dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the proposed electricity liberalisation directive, the proposed decision on a multi-annual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community—SAVE II—and the proposed directive on rational planning techniques in the electricity and gas sectors, and gave information on the auto-oil programme.

  Private Utilities (Directors)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the directors of the private utilities regarding their pay and conditions. [6500]
  32
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The remuneration of directors at the privatised utilities is a matter for the companies and their shareholders.

  Electro-magnetic Compatibility Directive
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in securing modifications to the European Union's electro-magnetic compatibility directive to minimise the cost of compliance for British small businesses. [6510]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department continues to seek support from other member states for modifications to the directive, and we have requested the European Commission to review the directive in 1997 as part of the simpler legislation for the internal market—SLIM. The Government have also commissioned a consultant to study compliance problems concentrating on the problems faced by small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, the Department supplies guidance to business on how to minimise compliance costs.

  Competition Policy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress towards implementing the Government's manifesto commitments in respect of competition policy. [6511]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government are committed to the reform of competition law. In March of this year, my Department published a consultation document on the approach to reform, and in August we published a draft Competition Bill. We intend to introduce the Bill when parliamentary time allows.

TRANSPORT

  M1
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the capacity of the M1 between each junction from junction 1 to Luton, assuming typical flow composition, traffic speeds and weather; and what the current flows are for the hours of(a) 7 am to 10 am and (b) 4 pm to 7 pm as a percentage of that capacity between each junction; [6802]

  (2) what have been the accident rates in each of the past five years per mile of motorway (a) on the M1 between junction 1 and Luton and (b) on the motorway network as a whole. [6801]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 9 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about traffic flows and accident rates on the M1 between Junction 1 and Luton (Junction 10).
  There is no precise measure of road capacity which can be universally applied, even for motorways. The spacing of junctions and the volumes of traffic leaving and joining can have a significant impact on capacity for a typical motorway. The capacities used in calculating the percentages in the table below have assumed a maximum flow per lane per hour of 2,000 vehicles. At this level, the average speed will be significantly lower than the National speed limit. This is also the point at which stop/start conditions may be expected arising from traffic joining and leaving the motorway, incidents, poor driver behaviour or adverse weather conditions.

  Junction

  Vehicles southbound 7am -10am

  Vehicles northbound 7am -10am

  Vehicles southbound 4pm-7pm

  Vehicles northbound 4pm -7pm

  1–2 (3 lanes dual)

  10,000 (56 per cent.)

  4,500 (25 per cent.)

  5,100 (28 per cent.)

  9,100 (50 per cent.)

  2–4 (3 lanes dual)

  12,200 (68 per cent.)

  5,600 (31 per cent.)

  6.000 (33 per cent.)

  11,200 (62 per cent.)

  4–5 (3 lanes dual)

  13,700

  (76 per cent.)

  7,100 (39 per cent.)

  7,300 (41 per cent.)

  12,800 (71 per cent.)

  5–6 (3 lanes dual)

  11,000 (61 per cent.)

  6.200 (34 per cent.)

  7,200 (45 per cent.)

  11,200 (62 pier cent.)

  6–6a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  6a–7 (4 lanes N/B, 3 lanes S/B)

  15,00 (83 per cent.)

  11,5000 (48 per cent)

  12,000 (67 per cent)

  15,000 (63 per cent.)

  7–8 (4 lanes dual)

  17,800 (74 per cent.)

  14,100 (59 per cent.)

  14,600 (61 per cent.)

  18,100 (75 per cent.)

  8–9 (3 lanes dual)

  13,000 (72 per cent.)

  11,200 (62 per cent.)

  12,200 (68 per cent.)

  15,100 (84 per cent.)

  9–10 (4 lanes N/B, 3 lanes S/B)

  11,300 (63 per cent.)

  11,000 (46 per cent.)

  11,500 (64 per cent.)

  15,600 (65 per cent.)

  n/a = not available.

  Figures in percentages are the actual flows as a percentage of the capacity based on 2,000 vehicles per lane per hour.
  Details of the accident rates for the main carriageway of the M1 between Junction 1 and Junction 10, together with the national accident rates are set out in the table below. The rates are provided both in terms of the number of accidents per mile, and in terms of the number of accidents per 100 million vehicle miles travelled, the measure normally used when comparing safety records between different sections of road.
  34

  Year

  National rate (accidents/mile)

  M1(J1-J10) rate (accidents/mile)

  National rate (accidents/100 million vehicle miles)

  M1(J1-J10) rate (accidents/100 million vehicle miles)

  1991

  3.42

  7.48

  16.5

  14.8

  1992

  3.54

  8.21

  17.7

  16.3

  1993

  3.76

  8.85

  17.7

  17.6

  1994

  3.92

  7.69

  17.7

  15.3

  1995

  3.99

  9.57

  17.0

  19.0

  Motorway Cleaning
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) of 18 November,Official Report, column 410, on cleaning motorways, how many people are employed by the Highways Agency to inspect the state of cleanliness of motorways. [7282]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 9 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people are employed by the Highways Agency to inspect the state of cleanliness of motorways.
  The Highways Agency does not directly employ any staff to carry out this function. Management of motorway cleaning is delegated to Maintaining Agents, most of whom are local highway authorities. These Maintaining Agents employ sufficient staff to ensure that the Highways Agency's requirements, set out in its Code of Practice for Routine Maintenance, are met.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 266, if he will require Eurotunnel to publish the results of evacuation tests in the channel tunnel. [7647]

  Mr. Watts
  It is for Eurotunnel to decide whether the results of evacuation tests in the channel tunnel are published. My Department has no power to require publication.

  Rail Privatisation (Consultants)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultants employed by Samuel Montague in relation to rail privatisation were paid over £100 per hour. [7649]

  Mr. Watts
  The rates of pay of employees of consultants are a matter for their employers.

  Rail Service Information
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the provision of information on rail services by Rail Direct; and if he will make a statement. [8019]

  Mr. Watts
  Since April 1996, my Department has received 14 representations about the provision of
  35
  information on rail services by Rail Direct and other telephone inquiry bureaux.

  Rail Passenger Complaints
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average cost of dealing with a railway passenger's complaint under the former system in the last year in which it operated; and what procedures are now in place to deal with complaints. [7966]

  Mr. Watts
  The information requested on the average cost of dealing with railway passenger complaints is not available.

  All train operators have in place a complaints handling procedure which has been approved by the Rail Regulator and conforms to the guidelines issued by him. The procedures, among other matters, detail time limits for action so that complaints are kept informed of the progress in dealing with their complaint.

  Polystyrene (Fire Risks)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 418, if he will place in the Library copies of the research undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive into the fire and smoke hazards of polystyrene, together with its recommendations. [7775]

  Mr. Watts
  Copies of the reports "Assessment of fire hazard of materials: Report 1/8/88 to 1/11/88", G. Atkinson, HSE report and "The medium scale fire test facility: final report on commissioning trials", R. K. Wharton, HSE report 1985 have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Railway Claims
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to persuade private wagon owners to join the claims, handling and allocation arrangements operated by Railway Claims Ltd. [8084]

  Mr. Watts
  The Rail Regulator published a consultation document in August 1996, about insurance against third party liability, a copy of which was placed in the Library. He intends to initiate a group to explore the railway claims handling and third party liability issues raised by the operation of private wagons.

  Drivers (Eye Tests)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many police forces in the United Kingdom have instituted on-the-spot eye tests for drivers; and if he will make a statement. [8094]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have no information on the policies of individual police forces in respect of on-the-spot eye tests. In the event of a road traffic incident, the police make a judgment about whether eyesight may have been a factor, and act accordingly—using the number plate test as a quick check if necessary.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce on-the-spot eye tests for drivers; and if he will make a statement. [8095]
  36
  Mr. Bowis
  None. Drivers are reminded of the need to assure themselves regularly that they can still meet the requirements of the number plate test and of their statutory obligation, if they cannot do so, to cease driving and notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

  Rail Franchises
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the value of the performance bonds which could be called in by the franchising director in the event of the need to terminate each of the franchises so far awarded. [8079]

  Mr. Watts
  The information is available in respect of franchises which have commenced operation, and is set out in the table:

  Franchise

  Performance bond (£ million)

  Cardiff Railway Company

  0.90

  Chiltern Railway Company

  2.15

  Connex South Central

  14.50

  Connex South Eastern

  19.50

  Gatwick Express

  2.50

  Great North Eastern Railway

  17.75

  Great Western Trains

  16.50

  Island Lines

  0.15

  LTS Rail

  4.00

  Midland Main Line

  6.50

  South Wales and West

  5.00

  South West Trains

  21.00

  Thames Trains

  4.25

  Fatal Accidents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents there were per 1,000 miles of travel on British(a) railways, (b) motorways and (c) non-motorway roads in the last year for which figures are available. [7498]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  French Lorry Drivers' Strike
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress has been made in securing compensation from the French authorities for British lorry drivers who were stranded during the French lorry driver dispute; [8114]

  (2) how many compensation claims made by British lorry drivers who were stranded during the French lorry driver dispute have been met (a) in part and (b) in full by the French authorities to date; [8115]

  (3) what has been the average values of compensation paid to British lorry drivers by the French authorities in relation to claims resulting from the French lorry driver dispute; [8116]

  (4) how much has been paid in compensation by the French authorities to British lorry drivers stranded during the French lorry driver dispute; [8117]
  37
  (5) what action he has taken to ensure British lorry drivers' compensation claims resulting from the French lorry driver dispute are met in full by the French authorities. [8118]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend obtained firm assurances from the French Transport Minister that claims for damage to vehicles or loads and for loss of earnings will be considered, and as quickly as possible. We are seeking to clarify this week with the French authorities the procedures and administrative arrangements for submitting claims. Thereafter, we shall press the French for swift settlement.

  Shipping
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government plans to promote the environmental advantages of shipping as a means of transporting freight. [7839]

  Mr. Bowis
  It must be for industry to determine whether water can provide both a practical means to its transport needs and make good commercial sense.

  We encourage industry to consider the benefits of using shipping as an alternative to road transport where this is feasible.

  Freight facilities grants are available for inland waterway capital developments that can demonstrate environmental benefits saving lorry miles.

  Preserved County

  Year

  Conservative

  Labour

  Liberal/Democrat

  Plaid Cymru

  Independent

  Not known

  Total

  Clwyd

  1990

  5

  9

  5

  2

  2

  0

  23

  1991

  4

  8

  0

  2

  3

  0

  17

  1992

  18

  10

  9

  1

  1

  0

  39

  1993

  11

  6

  7

  0

  0

  0

  24

  1994

  9

  6

  5

  1

  0

  0

  21

  1995

  10

  10

  1

  1

  0

  0

  22

  1996

  3

  4

  0

  1

  0

  0

  8

  Dyfed

  1990

  3

  3

  4

  0

  0

  3

  13

  1991

  5

  6

  3

  3

  2

  0

  19

  1992

  6

  2

  3

  0

  5

  0

  16

  1993

  4

  7

  5

  3

  5

  0

  24

  1994

  1

  4

  2

  1

  4

  0

  12

  1995

  6

  8

  4

  8

  3

  3

  32

  1996

  0

  4

  0

  1

  0

  0

  5

  Mid Glamorgan

  1990

  6

  11

  0

  1

  0

  1

  19

  1991

  6

  13

  0

  0

  6

  0

  25

  1992

  3

  11

  1

  1

  0

  0

  16

  1993

  4

  5

  4

  1

  0

  0

  14

  1994

  3

  7

  2

  1

  3

  0

  16

  1995

  2

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  7

  1996

  1

  7

  0

  1

  0

  0

  9

  South Glamorgan

  1990

  7

  6

  6

  1

  4

  0

  23

  1991

  7

  2

  3

  2

  3

  0

  17

  1992

  9

  6

  6

  1

  0

  3

  25

  1993

  10

  9

  3

  1

  3

  0

  26

  1994

  6

  8

  2

  0

  5

  0

  21

  1995

  5

  7

  3

  0

  3

  0

  18

  1996

  6

  9

  4

  0

  1

  0

  20

  38
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to support the British-registered merchant navy. [7840]

  Mr. Bowis
  We recognise that shipping makes an important contribution to our nation's well-being. We have put in place a range of targeted measures, including simplified procedures, liberalised officer nationality requirements, substantial and effective financial assistance to seafarer training and tax incentives to replace aging tonnage.

  We have also taken tough action against sub-standard shipping and continue to urge other countries to exercise discipline in the use of market-distorting state aids.

  These measures are making a positive contribution to the industry's competitive position in increasingly competitive international markets, the attractiveness of the red ensign and career opportunities for British seafarers.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the perceived political loyalty of magistrates in each area of Wales, appointed in each of the past seven years. [7499]

  Mr. Streeter
  The stated political affiliation of magistrates in each preserved county in Wales appointed in each of the past seven years, is as follows:
  39

  Preserved County

  Year

  Conservative

  Labour

  Liberal/Democrat

  Plaid Cymru

  Independent

  Not known

  Total

  West Glamorgan

  1990

  9

  8

  4

  0

  2

  0

  23

  1991

  8

  6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  15

  1992

  8

  12

  5

  0

  0

  0

  25

  1993

  8

  5

  2

  1

  4

  0

  20

  1994

  1

  13

  7

  1

  1

  0

  23

  1995

  0

  9

  0

  0

  2

  0

  11

  1996

  1

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Gwent

  1990

  6

  3

  0

  0

  3

  0

  12

  1991

  6

  4

  3

  0

  0

  0

  13

  1992

  2

  6

  2

  0

  0

  0

  10

  1993

  3

  5

  1

  0

  1

  0

  12

  1994

  3

  12

  1

  0

  2

  0

  18

  1995

  3

  5

  0

  0

  2

  0

  10

  1996

  2

  3

  0

  0

  2

  0

  7

  Gwynedd

  1990

  5

  4

  1

  3

  4

  0

  17

  1991

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1992

  3

  2

  6

  3

  0

  0

  14

  1993

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  1994

  1

  0

  0

  4

  0

  0

  5

  1995

  2

  3

  1

  3

  0

  0

  9

  1996

  3

  1

  1

  2

  0

  0

  7

  Powys

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1991

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1992

  2

  0

  1

  1

  2

  0

  6

  1993

  2

  2

  3

  1

  1

  1

  10

  1994

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1995

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Reconciliation Services
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what sums will be allocated for reconciliation services as a result of the Family Law Act 1996; and if such funds will be used solely for reconciling the couple to remaining married. [8186]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Lord Chancellor announced on 6 November that he was inviting tenders for a programme of pilot projects in order to identify types of service with particular potential for reducing the incidence of marriage breakdown and its consequent cost. Tenders have been invited from marriage support organisations. All valid bids will be evaluated on merit after 17 January 1997. Funding under the programme will be available for a range of marriage support services, including marriage preparation. The sums allocated will depend on the number of bids received which meet the pilot programme objectives.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Emergency Relief
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consequences of the Chancellor's Budget statement for his Department's expenditure in respect of emergency relief. [6523]
  40
  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Chancellor's statement will have no direct or indirect effect on the capacity of the ODA to continue to provide overseas emergency relief.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of aid to Rwanda. [6525]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Since April 1994, the United Kingdom has committed over £137 million bilaterally and in support of European Union actions to help meet emergency and rehabilitation needs in Rwanda and those of Rwandan refugees.

  Lome Convention
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other EU countries regarding the future of the Lomé convention. [6524]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has discussed this topic in several recent meetings with her counterparts from other EU member states. Most recently, the topic was raised at the EU Development Council on 22 November, where Ministers had the opportunity for an initial exchange of views on the issue.

  Belarus
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what current financial
  41
  assistance is being committed for the assistance of the economy in the Republic of Belarus; and if he will make a statement. [6527]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Government are not providing financial assistance to Belarus. That country has benefited from a modest level of technical assistance from the know-how fund and from our contributions to the multilateral agencies.

  Bilateral Aid
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure, in 1996 prices, his Department has incurred on consultants, including management consultants, on the bilateral aid programme in 1995–96. [6976]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Expenditure on consultants, including management consultants, for 1995–96 was £171,770,000. This sum covers contracts with individuals, charitable agencies, universities and commercial companies.

ENVIRONMENT

  Town Centres
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for Government policy on town centres of his Department's decision to contribute towards the research by the Association of Town Centre Management into the feasibility of US-style town and city improvement zones. [7174]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This research is exploring the feasibility of a variety of approaches, based on voluntary participation, and is in line with our response to the Environment Committee to work with ATCM and others. I cannot prejudge the outcome of the research.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what external legal advice he has taken in respect of the Audit Commission's use of the powers set out in sections 28 and 29 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982; and if he will make a statement. [7644]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is for the Audit Commission to satisfy itself that it is acting fully within its powers under sections 28 and 29 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is to be yielded by national domestic rates in 1996–97; what percentage of that amount is allocated to local government and how much of that amount was held back by the Treasury in 1996–97; and what estimate he has made of the figures in each case for 1997–98. [7476]

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 27 November,Official Report, column 242–44.

  Because of the pooling arrangements, it is not possible to say what percentage of the non-domestic rates yield for any one year is allocated to local government in that year. Under paragraph 8 of schedule 8 to the Local Government
  42
  Finance Act 1998, the Secretary of State for the Environment is required to distribute to local authorities the total amount which he estimates will be paid into the pool, after adjusting for any deficit or surplus brought forward from the previous year.

  By the end of 1996–97, the amount distributed from the pool since 1990–91 to local authorities will total £81.476 billion, while the amounts paid into the pool are estimated to total £80.631 billion over the same period: the deficit on the pool at the end of 1996–97 is, therefore, estimated to be £0.845 billion. Taking account of estimated payments into the pool of £12.873 billion in 1997–98, the amount paid into the pool between 1990–91 and 1997–98 is estimated to total £93.503 billion, and will equal the amount distributed to local authorities over the same period.

  Self-employed (Deaths and Injuries)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the rate of(a) death and (b) major injury among the self-employed in each of the last 10 years. [7526]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The fatal and major injury incidence rates for self-employed people for all industry, as reported to health and safety enforcing authorities, were as follows:

  Year

  Fatal rate (per 100,000)

  Major injury rate (per 100,000)

  1986–87

  2.0

  26.9

  1987–88

  3.0

  31.0

  1988–89

  2.7

  39.4

  1989–90

  3.3

  41.2

  1990–91

  2.7

  41.2

  1991–92

  2.1

  33.1

  1992–93

  2.0

  35.8

  1993–94

  1.6

  40.6

  1994–95

  2.5

  40.4

  1995–961

  1.5

  35.9

  1 Provisional.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what proportion of England's shellfish waters have been designated as safe under the shellfish waters directive 79/923. [7683]

  Mr. Clappison
  The shellfish waters directive applies to coastal and brackish waters designated by member states and defines quality objectives to protect the development of shellfish populations from the principal sources of pollution. Seventeen such waters have been designated in England, and the Environment Agency monitoring results for 1995 showed that over 80 per cent. complied with the directive's requirements. None of the failures was considered by the competent authority to have harmful consequences for the development of shellfish colonies.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to restore
  43
  for areas of outstanding natural beauty the same primary purpose as that pertaining to national parks. [7758]

  Mr. Clappison
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the separation of the common primary purpose previously enjoyed by the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement. [7759]

  Mr. Clappison
  I am not aware of any such representations.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the prosecutions brought for breaching asbestos regulations since 1986 resulted in the imposition of a fine; and what was the average value of the fine imposed. [7903]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is available only for prosecutions brought by the Health and Safety Executive's field operations directorate for breaches of the Asbestos Regulations 1969, the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985, the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992, from 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1996.

  Not all prosecutions brought result in a conviction, and not all convictions result in the imposition of a fine. However, fines were imposed in 354 instances and the average fine imposed was £840.

  Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of delaying the rate of decommissioning of nuclear power stations. [8047]

  Mr. Clappison
  Environmental impact assessment—EIA—of the decommissioning of nuclear power stations will be a new requirement, included in the proposed directive to amend EC directive 85/337/EEC—"the EIA directive". The Government are considering how this and other new requirements should be implemented.

  Animals (Traditional Habitats)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reintroduce fish species into habitats from which they have disappeared because of industrial and farming pollution. [7495]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Agency identifies deficiencies in fish stocks through routine fishery surveys. Where the cause of such deficiencies is water pollution, the agency considers restocking as one of the options for restoring fisheries once the pollution has been remedied. In many cases, fish will recolonise naturally. More generally, the species recovery programme, which 44
  contributes to the UK biodiversity action plan, is concerned with the reintroduction of species of flora and fauna to traditional habitats.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reintroduce mammal species into traditional habitats in which they no longer occur. [7496]

  Mr. Clappison
  The species recovery programme—SRP—initiated in 1991 is a high priority for countryside agencies and makes an important contribution to the UK biodiversity action plan. The programme seeks to reintroduce species of flora and fauna to traditional habitats in which they no longer occur.

  In addition to established SRPs, work is being advanced for the reintroduction of the dormouse, red squirrel and the otter. These measures accord with objectives outlined in the Government-endorsed UK steering group report on biodiversity, which sets out action plans for mammals and includes objectives and targets for the reintroduction of some mammals to areas where they have been lost.

  Single Regeneration Budget (Bradford, West)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the Bradford, West SRB bid; and if he will make a statement. [8006]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Shortly.

  Departmental Staff (Education)
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of his staff at G5 and above were educated at(a) independent schools, (b) the university of Oxford or the university of Cambridge and (c) independent schools and the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. [7981]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No central record is kept of the status or type of school attended by members of the senior civil service in this Department. Thirty five-of-22 per cent. senior civil service officers attended the university of Oxford and 45–28 per cent.—attended the university of Cambridge. Therefore, 80–50 per cent.—attended the universities of Oxford or Cambridge.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in respect of the system of local air pollution control which was established under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. [8338]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government have today published a progress report on the implementation of the system of local air pollution control which was established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  The local air pollution control system specifies processes which are not to be operated without an authorisation from the relevant local authority. One of the main objectives of the system is to reduce industrial emissions and to improve local air quality.
  45
  The report show that, since 1991, business has submitted some 15,000 applications for authorisation. Local authorities have decided 92 per cent. of all applications. This is a considerable achievement, given the task which local authorities faced, not least in familiarising themselves with new legislation, procedure and technical information.

  The report also highlights the important role local air pollution control will play in the successful development of the new system of local air quality management, which was established under the Environment Act 1995.

  Local air pollution control should result in substantial improvements in air quality in locations where industry has been a significant air pollution source, helping us to achieve air quality targets and commitments.

  For example, a large number of industrial emitters of volatile organic compounds fall within local air pollution control. The Government's strategy to secure a 30 per cent. reduction in annual volatile organic compound emissions between 1988 and 1999 places considerable reliance on the reductions in emissions of volatile organic compounds which will result from local air pollution control. Present indications are that, by 1999, the reduction may be of the order of 40 per cent., reflecting a significant contribution by local air pollution control.

  One reason for the success of local air pollution control has been the adoption of a partnership approach. Central and local government, business and wider interests have been actively involved in the development of both policies and procedures.

  While local air pollution control now appears to be firmly established and is operating effectively, the next five years will involve new challenges, including a substantial amount of upgrading of existing processes over the next two years. The report, which we have published today, will help to develop a clear view of the issues which face local air pollution control in the next few years and the priorities which should guide its development.

  I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to begin consultations concerning the possibility of British Waterways becoming a statutory consultee within the planning process. [8333]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have today issued a consultation paper seeking views on a proposal that British Waterways should in future be consulted on planning applications that are likely to affect the canals, river navigation and reservoirs it owns or manages, and the associated canal feeders, watercourses and let-offs. Our concern at present is that British Waterways is not always being made aware of proposals that may affect the stability and integrity of the waterways for which it is responsible, with potential cost implications for all concerned. Copies of the paper have been placed in the House Libraries and distributed to local authorities and other interested organisations. We have asked for responses by 17 January 1997.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision other than supplementary credit approvals has been made by central Government for local authorities in respect of their responsibilities in relation to contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in each year since 1993; and what provision he expects to be made in this respect for future years. [7920]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Each year, the Government set a level of revenue spending—total standard spending, or TSS—which they consider appropriate for local authorities, in aggregate, to spend. TSS is made up from seven main service blocks. Provision for local authorities' existing expenditure on contaminated land under the statutory nuisance regime in part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 forms part of the other services block, as will revenue spending under the specific contaminated land regime in part IIA of that Act when those provisions are brought into force.

  In deciding on the appropriate level of TSS each year, the Government take account of all spending pressures faced by local authorities, as well as the scope for efficiency savings and what the country as a whole can afford. TSS, however, is the Government's assessment of the appropriate level of spending in total. It is not possible to identify how much has been included to meet individual burdens or pressures.

  Apart from the contaminated land supplementary credit approval programme, no specific provision is made by central Government for capital expenditure by local authorities in relation to their responsibilities for contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appointments to public bodies have been made on the recommendation of the Irish Government in each of the last 15 months. [6117]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Appointments are not made on the recommendation of the Irish Government. The Irish Government are entitled to propose candidates for consideration, alongside other candidates, for appointment to public bodies in Northern Ireland. The number of appointments made in each of the last 15 months of candidates proposed by the Irish Government is as follows:

  Month

  Number of appointments resulting from Irish Government proposals

  1995

  September

  0

  October

  0

  November

  0

  December

  0

  1996

  January

  2

  February

  1

  47

  Month

  Number of appointments resulting from Irish Government proposals

  March

  2

  April

  1

  May

  1

  June

  2

  July

  1

  August

  1

  September

  0

  October

  1

  November

  10

  Total

  12

  1 Up to 27 November.

  Six of the appointments made in 1996 resulted from proposals made in 1995.

  Inward Investment
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will(a) list those overseas companies which have chosen to locate or invest in Northern Ireland and (b) estimate the number of jobs created in Northern Ireland through inward investment in each of the last five years. [6371]

  Mr. Ancram
  A list of overseas companies which have been assisted by the Department of the Economic Development to locate or invest in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is as follows. The list also includes the names of those overseas owned companies in the retail sector who are known to have announced projects in the period of the question.

  Year

  Company name

  1991–92

  Vision Information Consulting Ltd.

  BWC Textiles Ltd.

  Arntz Belting Co. Ltd.

  Canyon Europe Ltd.

  Circuits and Systems Design Ltd.

  Henry Denny and Sons (NI) Ltd.

  Northern Ireland Spinners Ltd.

  Irlandus Circuits Ltd.

  Sonoco Ltd.

  Lummus Mackie Ltd.

  Spanboard Ltd.

  Richardsons Fertilisers Ltd.

  3M Industrial Tapes Ltd.

  1992–93

  Olmedo Ltd.

  Pan European Textiles Ltd.

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  United Technologies Automotive (UK) Ltd.

  Fruit of the Loom Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

  Unidare Environmental Ltd.

  European Components Corporation

  Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

  Crossbows Optical Ltd.

  NIRAD Ltd.

  Norfil

  1993–94

  CCA Electronic Ltd.

  BCO Technologies (NI) Ltd.

  Charles Bell (1963) Ltd.

  Valence Technology BV10

  MKF (UK) Ltd.

  Benelux Manufacturing (NI) Ltd.

  CIS Data Ltd.

  Michelin Tyre Plc

  ESS Automotive Ltd.

  Unidare Plastics Ltd.

  Spanboard Products Ltd.

  Schrader Electronics Ltd.

  48

  Year

  Company name

  Lee Apparel (UK) Ltd.

  DDL Incorporated

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  Daewoo Electronics (UK) Ltd.

  1994–95

  Daewoo Electro Components UK Ltd.

  Radix Telecom Ltd.

  Northern Bank Factors Ltd.

  Daehwa Metal (UK) Ltd.

  ABC Labs (Europe) Ltd.

  Daewoo Electronics UK Ltd.

  CV Apparel Ltd.

  Harris Labs Ltd.

  Northern Telecom (NI) Ltd.

  Michelin Tyre Plc

  Rusch Manf (UK) Ltd.

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  Real Software (NI) Ltd.

  Schrader Electronics Ltd.

  Webtech (NI) Ltd.

  Fujitsu Fulcrum Telecom Ltd.

  Polarcup Ltd.

  Perfecseal Ltd.

  Glen Mouldings Ltd.

  Lurgan Fibre Ltd.

  Nacco Materials Handling Co. (NI) Ltd.

  Polystar (Ireland) Ltd.

  Smurfit Corrugated Cases (Lurgan) Ltd.

  Goldenvale Plc

  Ford Motor Co. Ltd.

  1995–96

  Aldiscon (NI) Ltd.

  Burnside Hydraulic Cylinders Ltd.

  Plastofilm Ltd.

  Duromold Ltd.

  Stream International (NI) Ltd.

  Copeland Ltd.

  Europa Tool Co. Ltd.

  Fruit of the Loom Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

  BCO Technologies (NI) Ltd.

  Montupet (UK) Ltd.

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  Scansoft (NI) Ltd.

  Regal Processors Ltd.

  North of Ireland Tanners Ltd.

  Short Brothers Plc (2 projects)

  Delwyn Enterprises Ltd.

  Baker Hughes Ltd.

  Trouw UK Ltd.

  Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd.

  Nacco Materials Handling Ltd.

  Webtech (NI) Ltd.

  Coca Cola Bottlers Ltd.

  Oneida Ltd.

  Jury's Hotel Group

  Carlingnose (NI) Ltd.

  Tinto Engineering (NI) Ltd.

  Seinex

  Vischem

  The Gap

  Musgrave Group

  Disney Store

  These projects hold out the prospect of additional jobs, as follows:

  Year of project

  Jobs promoted

  1991–92

  489

  1992–93

  2,376

  1993–94

  2,475

  1994–95

  2,762

  1995–96

  3,971

  Targeting of Social Need Initiative
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what monitoring of deprivation levels in parliamentary constituencies has been undertaken by Government Departments in each year since the introduction of the targeting of social need initiative; and if he will list the results recorded; [6781]

  (2) what monitoring of deprivation levels in district council areas has been undertaken by Government Departments in each year since the introduction of the targeting of social need initiative; and if he will list the results recorded. [6785]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1994 Robson indicators—Department of Finance and Personnel, policy planning and research unit, occasional paper No. 28, "Relative Deprivation in Northern Ireland"—are used within Government to inform programmes which target social need and are available for local government districts, but not for parliamentary constituencies. This publication was placed in the House of Commons Library.

  The dependence of the Robson measures on data from the decennial census of population precludes their use for routine monitoring of deprivation levels. However, some of the indicators making up the deprivation index are measured routinely. Unemployment levels by local government district area and parliamentary constituency, for example, are published monthly by the Department of Economic Development in its unemployment press notice.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) full-time, (b) part-time, (c) male and (d) female jobs there were in Northern Ireland in October 1979 and in October of every succeeding year until the present time. [6391]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 2 December 1996]: The information requested is not available. However, data for September of each year are shown in the table:

  Employers in Employment1 in Northern Ireland

  At September of each year

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  303,380

  230.510

  533,890

  1980

  n/a

  n/a

  298,360

  229,870

  528,230

  1981

  403,320

  103,510

  281,930

  224,900

  506,830

  1982

  n/a

  n/a

  274,310

  224,690

  499,000

  1983

  n/a

  n/a

  270,170

  227,820

  498,000

  1984

  392,930

  107,520

  271,680

  228,770

  500,450

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  272,460

  232,760

  505,230

  1986

  n/a

  n/a

  267,700

  234,030

  501,730

  1987

  388,790

  118,520

  268,330

  238,980

  507,310

  1988

  n/a

  n/a

  273,230

  247,380

  520,610

  1989

  398,300

  129,930

  275,140

  253,100

  528,240

  1990

  n/a

  n/a

  281,030

  261,960

  542,990

  1991

  402,660

  139,830

  277,750

  264,740

  542,490

  1992

  n/a

  n/a

  276,530

  268,530

  545,060

  1993

  395,810

  154,680

  277,920

  272,570

  550,490

  1994

  398,710

  161,670

  281,170

  279,200

  560,370

  1995

  402,690

  169,670

  285,580

  286,780

  572,370

  19962

  396,900

  176,190

  284,930

  288,160

  573,090

  Notes:

  1 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2 The most recent figures available for 1996 are at June.

  n/a= Full-time/part-time split not available.

  September estimates will be published on 18 December 1996.

  Source:

  DED Census of Employment and Quarterly Employment Survey.

  Spring and Mineral Water
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the number of contracts between Department of the Environment Services and suppliers of spring or mineral water, (b) the quantities of water involved in the last year for which figures are available and (c) the cost of supplying such water to Department of the Environment offices. [7469]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland currently has 15 contracts with suppliers for the provision of spring and mineral water to its offices and a number of other premises within the Northern Ireland civil service general office estate. In 1995–96, the last full year for which figures are available, 11,715 litres of water were supplied at a cost to the Department of £5,928.97.

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7538]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following is the information:

  1991–92: £182,321

  1992–93: £509,013

  1993–94: £650,666

  1994–95: £1,021,292

  1995–96: £1,906,545

  1996–97: £140,000 (estimate)

  1997–98: £Nil (estimate)

  Drug Seizures
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on drug seizures in Northern Ireland in 1996. [7592]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Up to 30 November 1996, the RUC has seized 70,931 ecstasy tablets, 147 kgs of cannabis resin, 5,871 gms of herbal cannabis, 2,116 LSD tablets, 13 kgs of amphetamines, 237 gms of cocaine, 137.5 gms and 1,175 tablets of opiates, including heroin. During the same period, Customs and Excise has seized 4,295 tablets of ecstasy, 10,044 kgs of cannabis resin, 43 gms of herbal cannabis, 120 gms of cannabis resin—space cake—one cannabis joint, 200 tablets of LSD, three amphetamine wraps, 2 gms of heroin and 3 gms of psilocin—magic mushrooms.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department will spend on Christmas trees and decorations this year; how many Christmas trees will be bought for his Department's headquarters; and what are the type and country of origin of the trees. [7560]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments will spend £860 on 28 Christmas trees and various decorations. The trees will be of north American

  51
  large pole pines, Norway spruce, noble fir, silver fern and an artificial nordic spruce, originating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and China.

  Health and Social Services Information
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list current circulars issued by the Department of Health and Social Services Management Executive to health and social services boards and health and social services trusts; and if he will update them in line with the exercise undertaken by the Department of Health in its local authority social services letter issued in Britain in July. [7744]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: A list follows of the circulars issued by the Department of Health and Social Services executive to health and social services boards and health and social services trusts since 1 January 1996. Information about circulars issued prior to this date could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department does not currently have a central list of all extant guidance but as part of the development of is communication strategy consideration will be given to this issue.

  Number

  Date

  Title

  TC7 7/95

  8 January 1996

  PTB staff pay for 1995–96 for MTO's ATOs MLSOs support grades dental auxiliaries and estate officer grades

  TC7 8/95

  8 January 1996

  Part time hospital chaplains revised salaries for 1995–96

  HPSS (PPRD4) 2/96

  10 January 1996

  Performance Tables 1995–96

  TC1 1/96

  10 January 1996

  Nurses and midwives clinical grading Appeals—Revised Stage

  TC7 9/95

  12 January 1996

  Hospital Pharmacies revised salaries for 1995–96

  HSS(F)4/96

  15 January 1996

  External Financial Limited 1995–96 Brokerage

  HSS(F)5/96

  30 January 1996

  Registration and Inspection of Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes—Memorandum Trading Accounts

  HSS(F)8/96

  1 February 1996

  Retrospective Employers Liability Claims

  HSS(F)9/96

  2 February 1996

  Government loans to Health and Social Services (HSS)

  HSS(F)6/96

  7 February 1996

  Statement of accounts (RMPA) 1996

  HSS(F)ll/96

  11 February 1996

  Charges for meals services in the community

  HSS(F) 12/96

  12 February 1996

  Public dividend capital payments

  TC7 10/95

  14 February 1996

  Clinical Scientists and Hospital optometrists revised salaries for 1995–96

  HSS(F) 13/96

  19 February 1996

  Statement of accounts (CSA) for the year ended 31 March 1996

  TC6 2/96

  20 February 1996

  Taxation treatment of motor car allowances

  TC8 15/95

  20 February 1996

  Lodging charges for voluntary resident practitioners

  TC6 1/96

  21 February 1996

  Revised circular on subsistence allowances out of pocket expenses and meal charges for resident staff etc.

  HSS(F)l/96

  28 February 1996

  Statement of accounts (Trusts) for year ended 31 March 1996

  HSS(F)2/96

  28 February 1996

  Statement of accounts (Boards) for year ended 31 March 1996

  Supp 1

  28 February 1996

  HSS(F)3/96

  28 February 1996

  Statement of accounts (GPFHS) for year ended 31 March 1996

  TC7 11/95

  28 February 1996

  Speech and language therapists revised salaries for 1995–96

  TC7 2/96

  29 February 1996

  Clinical psychologists trainee clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists revised salaries for 1995–96

  52

  Number

  Date

  Title

  TC8 4/96

  4 March 1996

  Specialist registrar establishments

  HSS(F)7/96

  12 March 1996

  Statement of accounts for (NIBTS) 1996

  TC6 3/96

  12 March 1996

  Revised motor car allowances

  HSS(FHS)9/96

  19 March 1996

  Dental Charges (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 106)

  HSS(F)l4/96

  19 March 1996

  Statement of Accounts (PGMDE) for the year ended 31 March 1996

  TC8 6/96

  22 March 1996

  Implementing the reforms of specialist medical training

  PRSC(PR) 1/96

  25 March 1996

  Implementation of New Complaints Procedure: Final Guidance

  HSS(FHS)IO/96

  27 March 1996

  Health Service Low Income Scheme

  HSS(F) 15/96

  28 March 1996

  Practice on the Audit of Central Government Sector Accounts

  TC5 1/96

  28 March 1996

  Nurses and midwives pay for 1996–97

  HSS(FHS)6/96

  29 March 1996

  GP Fundholding: Management and Computer Allowances

  HSS9(FHS)7/96

  29 March 1996

  Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 124)

  TC7 3/96

  29 March 1996

  Professionals allied to medicine and related grades of staff pay for 1996–97

  HSS(F)14/96

  30 March 1996

  Supplement 1 statement of accounts (PGMDE) for the year end 31 March 1996

  HSS(FHS)ll/96

  2 April 1996

  General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 114)

  TC8 2A>6

  4 April 1996

  Revised arrangements for the management of the employment contracts of doctors in training guidelines etc

  HSS(FHS) 13/96

  5 April 1996

  Changes to the GP Terms of Service—Transfer of out of hours responsibility and practice complaints procedures.

  THR 1/96

  5 April 1996

  Supplement for teaching and research STAR 1996–97

  TC3 1/96

  15 April 1996

  Increases in the National Rates of pay for Upholsters from January 1996.

  TC7 3/96

  18 April 1996

  Corrigendum professions allied to medicine and related grades of staff pay for 1996–97

  TC8 1/96

  19 April 1996

  Pay and conditions of service remuneration of hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine and the community health service

  HSS(FHS)17/96

  22 April 1996

  GP Fundholding: Identification, Approval and use of savings.

  HSS(F)10/96

  24 April 1996

  Accounting for the cost of early retirement

  PRSC(PR) 2/96

  25 April 1996

  HPSS Complaints Procedure— Training Resource Pack

  TC1 2/96

  25 April 1996

  Offical Vehicle Users reimbursement of petrol costs

  TC8 5/96

  29 April 1996

  Emergency care services

  HSS(FHS) 14/96

  30 April 1996

  The Health and Personal Social Services (Amendment) (Northern Ireland Order 1995 (S.I. 1995 No.2704 (NI 14)

  TC8 3/96

  1 May 1996

  Terms and conditions of service for the specialist registrar grade

  THR2/96

  4 May 1996

  Management costs on NHS Trusts

  HSS(F) 16/96

  14 May 1996

  Report by the Comptroller and auditor general: Inquiry Commissioned by the NHS Chief Executive into matters concerning the former Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  HSS(FHS)22/96

  15 May 1996

  Health Service Low Income Scheme New Publicity Material

  TC4 1/96

  20 May 1996

  Ancillary staff pay and conditions of service

  TC3 2/96

  21 May 1996

  Pay settlement wef 1 April 1996 common grading structure staff, planner estimators and building trade operatives pay and conditions of service

  53

  Number

  Date

  Title

  TC6 4/96

  21 May 1996

  Revised rates of pay 1996 settlement for assistant directors of social services (protected) and all other social services staff up to principal social worker. Also increase to sleeping in and standby duty allowances.

  HSS(FHS)23/96

  23 May 1996

  The health and Personal Social Services (Fundholding Practices) Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

  TC7 5/96

  24 May 1996

  Speech and Language therapists and speech and language therapists assistants pay for 1996–97

  TC8 13/95

  28 May 1996

  Hospital Medical and Dental Staff: Category 1 and 2 work, treatment of earnings from work outside the principal contract of employment

  HSS(F)I8/96

  29 May 1996

  Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1996 (National Board)

  HSS(F)l8/96

  29 May 1996

  Supplement 1 changes to format of accounts

  HSS(FHS)25/96

  30 May 1996

  Local Pharmacy Budgets—1996–97

  TC2 1/96

  31 May 1996

  Administrative and Clerical Staff 1996 Pay Settlement

  HSS(F)6/96

  3 June 1996

  Supplement 1 statement of accounts (RMPA) for year ended 31 March 1996

  HSS(F)7/96

  3 June 1996

  Supplement 1 statement of accounts (NIBTS) for year ended 31 March 1996

  HSS(F) 14/96

  3 June 1996

  Supplement 2 statement of accounts (PGMDE) for year ended 31 March 1996

  HSS(F) 10/96

  4 June 1996

  Supplement I accounting for the cost of early retirement

  HSS(F) 10/96

  4 June 1996

  Supplement 2 accounting for the cost of early retirement

  HSS(F) 13/96

  10 June 1996

  Supplement 1 statement of accounts (CSA) for the year ended 31 March 1996

  TC1 3/96

  10 June 1996

  Official Vehicle Users reimbursement of petrol costs

  TC7 4/96

  10 June 1996

  PTB staff pay for 1996–97 for MTOs ATos MLSos support grade dental auxiliaries and estate officer grades

  HSS(FHS)2l/96

  12 June 1996

  GP Deprivation Payments Scheme

  HSS(F) 10/96

  12 June 1996

  Supplement 3 accounting for the cost of early retirement

  TC7 1/96

  12 June 1996

  Speech and language thereapists post qualification training and continuing professional development and the use of grade 3 posts

  HSS(F) 18/96

  13 June 1996

  Supplement 2 statement of accounts for the year ended 31 March

  HSS(FHS)16/96

  14 June 1996

  General Medical Services— Continuity of care for patients and financial arrangements for GPs during periods of suspension by direction of the tribunal

  HSS(F)7/96

  14 June 1996

  Supplement 2 statement of accounts (NIBTS) for year ended 31 March 1996

  TC7 6/96

  14 June 1996

  Clinical psychologists trainee clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists pay 1996–97

  THR3/96

  24 June 1996

  Public announcement

  TC7 7/96

  26 June 1996

  Hospitals Pharmacists Pay for 1996–97

  THR4/96

  27 June 1996

  HPSS (Residual liabilities 1 (NI) Order 1996

  HSS(SC)l/96

  28 June 1996

  The Commissioning and Provision of Maternity Services Policy Guidelines

  TC7 8/96

  1 July 1996

  Clinical Scientists and Hospital Optometrists Pay 1996–97

  TC4 2/96

  10 July 1996

  Pay Settlement 1996–97—Care Assistants. Home helps and Wardens

  54

  Number

  Date

  Title

  HSS(SC)2/96

  24 July 1996

  The developing of multiprofessional funding of audit projects

  TC1 4/96

  26 July 1996

  Official Vehicle Users reimbursement of petrol costs

  PRSC(PR)3/96

  30 July 1996

  Charter for Patients and Clients

  TC6 5/96

  9 August 1996

  Salary increases—directors of social services deputy director of social services (Eastern Board) and assistant directors of social services effective from 1 July 1996

  HSS(F)22/96

  15 August 1996

  Performance Assessment and Monitoring System

  HSS(FHS) 29/96

  16 August 1996

  Pharmacists Remuneration 1996–97

  PRSC1/96

  21 August 1996

  New Arrangements for Extra-Contractual Referrals to Providers in GB

  TC1 7/96

  21 August 1996

  Administrative and Clerical/professional and Technical revised stage III procedures

  TC7 10/96

  21 August 1996

  Part-time Hospital Chaplins

  PRSC2/96

  22 August 1996

  Establishing Area of Residence

  PRSC(PR) 4/96

  16 September 1996

  Charter for Maternity Services

  HSS(F) 19/96

  17 September 1996

  Management letters and internal control reports for Trusts 1994–95

  TC1 8/96

  17 September 1996

  Official vehicles users—reimbursement of petrol costs

  TC7 9/96

  18 September 1996

  National Framework Agreement PAMS Specific Issues

  HSS(F)23/96

  19 September 1996

  Management letters and internal control reports for Boards 1994–95

  METL1/96

  20 September 1996

  1996–97 contracts—service reductions

  TC1 9/96

  24 September 1996

  Official vehicle users— reimbursement of petrol costs

  HSS(F)20/96

  30 September 1996

  Use of management consultants

  HSS(F)24/96

  1 October 1996

  Interindebtcdness arrangements 1996–97

  HSS(FHS) 34/96

  4 October 1996

  Health Service Low Income Scheme

  TC1 10/96

  10 October 1996

  Official Vehicle Users—reimbursement of petrol costs

  THR5/96

  18 October 1996

  STAR/SUMDE 1996–97

  HSS(F)25/96

  23 October 1996

  Accounting cost of early retirement national board for nursing midwifery and health visiting Northern Ireland

  PRSC(PR)5/96

  25 October 1996

  Video on New Complaints Procedure

  HSSE(OCE)l/96

  31 October 1996

  Code of practice on openness in the HPSS

  HSS(SC)3/96

  1 November 1996

  Retention of Persona] Health Records

  THR6/96

  1 November 1996

  Disposal of vehicles withdrawn from service

  TC5 2/96

  12 November 1996

  Senior Nurses and midwives pay for 1995–96

  METL2/96

  26 November 1996

  Flying of flags

  TC1 5/96

  12 August 1997

  Official Vehicles users reimbursement of Petrol costs

  TC1 6/97

  2 September 1997

  Holiday in 1997

  Social Services (Assessment of Need)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by board and trade the number of assessments of need for non-residential social services support undertaken by health and social services trusts and health and social services boards in 1994 and 1995 under (i) section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, (ii) section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, (iii) relevant sections of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 and (iv) other relevant enactments governing assessment for non-residential social services support. [7750]
  55
  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Information on assessments is not available in the form requested.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Vicarages and Palaces (Security)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how much was spent on security of vicarages and bishops' palaces in each of the past three years in real terms; how many buildings were involved in each year; what were the principal measures involved; and if he will make a statement. [6532]

  Mr. Alison
  The provision of security measures for parsonage houses and suffragan bishops' houses is the responsibility of dioceses, which have done much in recent years to improve matters. The commissioners offer advice and this is currently under review.

  The commissioners are responsible for see houses and have put in hand security measures which are appropriate to the individual properties and the personal circumstances of the bishop, his family and staff. Such measures also meet the stringent requirements of the commissioners' insurers. Measures include the installation of integrated fire and intruder alarm systems. Detailed figures are not available, but I can assure my hon. Friend that this important work is properly funded.

  Property Holdings
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church Commissioners have had with the Charity Commission about the reduction in value of the Church Commission's property portfolio, and if he will make a statement. [6534]

  Mr. Alison
  In the three years to 1995, the commissioners' United Kingdom property portfolio achieved a total return of 17.9 per cent. per annum and they were the best performing fund of all those measured by the Investment Property Databank. In the 10 years to 1995, the return averaged 9.1 per cent which was slightly ahead of that recorded by the WM all-funds index.

  The Church Commissioners are not subject to control by the Charity Commission, although meetings are held from time to time on matters of mutual interest.

WALES

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of children educated at(a) primary and (b) secondary schools are in grant-maintained schools. [7237]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As at January 1996(a) 0.4 per cent. and (b) 4.9 per cent.

  Hospital and Ward Closures
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital and ward closures there have been in(a) Wales and (b) Clwyd between 1979 and 1995. [5557]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The available information is given in the following table:

  1979

  1994–95

  Clwyd

  In-patient cases

  47,741

  73,906

  Day cases

  7,966

  34,446

  In-patient and day cases

  55,707

  108,352

  New out-patients

  57,182

  83,165

  Hospitals1

  28

  20

  Wards2

  —

  —

  Wales

  In-patient cases

  349,695

  513,417

  Day cases

  31,179

  239,980

  In-patient and day cases

  380,874

  753,397

  New out-patients

  428,739

  638,275

  Hospitals1

  173

  143

  Wards2

  —

  —

  1 Hospitals are not directly comparable. 1994–95 figures include NHS trusts which comprise one or more hospitals that was previously counted separately.

  2 Information on wards is not collected centrally.

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children there are currently in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [7239]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As at January 1996, in local education authority maintained and grant maintained schools(a) 292,206 and (b) 198,503.

  Beaches
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of Sate for Wales if he will list those beaches which(a) passed and (b) failed the UK mandatory coliform standard for bathing waters in 1996. [7449]

  Mr. Hague
  Compliance in 1996 of bathing waters in Wales identified under the EC bathing water directive (76/160/EEC) with the directive's mandatory standards for total coliforms and faecal coliforms was as follows:

  Pass/Fail

  Jacksons Bay, Barry

  Fail

  Whitmore Bay, Barry

  Pass

  Cold Knap, Barry

  Pass

  Southemdown

  Pass

  Trecco Bay, Porthcawl

  Pass

  Sandy Bay, Porthcawl

  Pass

  Rest Bay, Porthcawl

  Pass

  Aberafan

  Pass

  Swansea Bay

  Fail

  Bracelet Bay

  Pass

  Limeslade Bay

  Pass

  Langland Bay

  Pass

  Caswell Bay

  Pass

  Oxwich Bay

  Pass

  Port Eynon Bay

  Pass

  57

  Pass/Fail

  Rhossili

  Pass

  Pembrey

  Pass

  Pendine

  Pass

  Amroth

  Pass

  Saundersfoot

  Pass

  Tenby North

  Pass

  Tenby South

  Pass

  Broadhaven

  Pass

  Newgale

  Pass

  Whitesands

  Pass

  Newport

  Pass

  Poppit Sands

  Pass

  Aberporth

  Pass

  Tresaith

  Pass

  Traeth Gwyn, New Quay

  Pass

  Aberyslwyth South

  Pass

  Aberystwyth North

  Pass

  Borth

  Pass

  Aberdyfi

  Fail

  Tywyn

  Pass

  Fairboume

  Pass

  Barmouth

  Pass

  Tal-y-bont

  Pass

  Dyffryn (Llanendwyn)

  Pass

  Llandanwg

  Pass

  Harlech

  Fail

  Morfa Bychan

  Pass

  Criccieth

  Pass

  Pwllheli

  Pass

  Abersoch

  Pass

  Morfa Dinlle

  Pass

  Rhosneigr

  Pass

  Trearddur Bay

  Pass

  Benllech

  Pass

  Penmaenmawr

  Pass

  Llandudno West Shore

  Pass

  Llandudno North Shore

  Pass

  Colwyn Bay

  Pass

  Kinmel Bay (Sandy Cove)

  Pass

  Rhyl

  Pass

  Prestatyn

  Pass

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those beaches in Wales which have been tested for enterovirus in 1996; and in each case if the beach passed the enterovirus standard in the EU bathing water directive. [7432]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is as follows:

  Waters sampled for enterovirus

  Pass/Fail EC Standard (of zero)

  Jacksons Bay, Barry

  Fail

  Swansea Bay

  Pass

  Aberdyfi

  Pass

  Borth

  Pass

  Harlech

  Pass

  Morfa Bychan

  Pass

  Benllech

  Pass

  Rhosneigr

  Pass

  Penmaenmawr

  Pass

  Llandudno West Shore

  Fail

  Colwyn Bay

  Fail

  Kinmel Bay (Sandy Cove)

  Pass

  Rhyl

  Pass

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is(a) currently running and (b) planning to
  58
  run during the next six months; and for each campaign (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7410]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department is currently running the following promotional and public information campaigns, which include advertising:

  Total cost to my Department £

  Agencies

  Duration

  Nursery Education Voucher Scheme1

  80,000

  COI Capita

  1996–97

  Christmas Drink Drive1

  21,500

  COI

  3–31 December 1996

  1 These campaigns will run concurrently with those promoted in England by the Department for Education and Employment, and the Department of Transport.

  I plan to run the following campaign in the next six months:

  Total cost to my Department £

  Agencies

  Duration

  Child Road Safety1

  19,000

  COI

  Approximately four weeks from 14 January 1997

  1 These campaigns will run concurrently with those promoted in England by the Department for Education and Employment, and the Department of Transport.

  Publicity plans for the 1997–98 financial year have not yet been finalised.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7537]

  Mr. Hague
  In the current financial year, I estimate my Department will spend £300,000 on promotional and public information campaigns which involve advertising.

  For previous financial years, comparable information is not readily available and can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Publicity plans for the 1997–98 financial year have not yet been finalised, and decisions about future years' activity will be considered thereafter.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) children, (b) adults and (c) people in total were registered with dentists in each health authority in Wales in (i) February 1993, (ii) July 1993, (iii) February 1994, (iv) July 1994, (v) February 1995, (vi) July 1995 and (vii) February 1996; and if he will make a statement. [7485]
  59
  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 19 April 1996,Official Report, column 634.

  Hospital Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the numbers of admissions into each hospital accident and emergency department in Wales; and what these figures are as a percentage of the busiest in the last year for which figures are available. [8014]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of new attendances at each accident and emergency department or casualty unit in Wales during 1995–96 and the percentage this represented of the attendances at the largest unit is given in the following table:

  Attendances in accident and emergency departments/casualty units, 1995–96

  NHS Trust and Hospital

  New attendances

  As a percentage of the largest unit1

  Bridgend and District

  Maesteg General

  571

  0.7

  Princess of Wales

  48,511

  56.7

  Carmarthen and District

  Llandovery

  1,264

  1.5

  West Wales General

  19,067

  22.3

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  Aberaeron

  396

  0.5

  Bronglais General

  12,929

  15.1

  Cardigan and District

  1,374

  1.6

  Tregaron

  153

  0.2

  Clwydian Community Care

  Colwyn Bay Community

  1,287

  1.5

  Denbigh Community

  2,930

  3.4

  Flint Community

  3,950

  4.6

  Holywell Community

  6,626

  7.7

  Llangollen Community

  1,363

  1.6

  Mold Community

  9,724

  11.4

  Royal Alexandra

  1,287

  1.5

  Ruthin Community

  1,953

  2.3

  Glan Clwyd Hospital

  H M Stanley

  2,966

  3.5

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  40,564

  47.4

  Glan Hafren

  Aberbargoed and District

  1,499

  1.8

  Caerphilly District Miners

  12,504

  14.6

  Chepstow Community

  3,971

  4.6

  County

  5,705

  6.7

  Redwood Memorial

  1,039

  1.2

  Royal Gwent

  66,652

  77.9

  Glan-y-Mor

  Neath General

  26,971

  31.5

  Gwynedd Community

  Bronygarth

  2,885

  3.4

  Bryn Beryl

  2,070

  2.4

  Dolgellau and Barmouth

  2,173

  2.5

  Ffestiniog Memorial

  2,017

  2.4

  Penrhos Stanley

  316

  0.4

  Tywyn and District

  2,400

  2.8

  Valley

  4,352

  5.1

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  Llandudno

  12,823

  15.0

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  27,118

  31.7

  60

  Attendances in accident and emergency departments/casualty units, 1995–96

  NHS Trust and Hospital

  New attendances

  As a percentage of the largest unit1

  East Glamorgan

  East Glamorgan General

  29,513

  34.5

  Llandough

  Barry Community

  1,501

  1.8

  The Barry Hospital

  4,157

  4.9

  LJanelli Dinefwr

  Prince Philip

  32,168

  37.6

  Morriston Hospital

  Morriston

  55,727

  65.2

  Nevill Hall and District

  Blaenavon Health Care

  1,696

  2.0

  Blaina and District

  987

  1.2

  Ebbw Vale

  1,891

  2.2

  Monmouth General

  1,389

  1.6

  Nevill Hall

  36,991

  43.3

  Tredegar General

  2,684

  3.1

  North Glamorgan

  Aberdare

  8,432

  9.9

  Mountain Ash

  6,103

  7.1

  Prince Charles

  40,068

  46.9

  Pembrokeshire

  South Pembrokeshire

  6,667

  7.8

  Tenby Cottage

  4,135

  4.8

  Withybush

  20,366

  23.8

  Powys Health Care

  Breconshire War Memorial

  7,965

  9.3

  Broddyfi Community

  2,192

  2.6

  Builth Wells Cottage

  3,260

  3.8

  Llandrindod Wells

  4,735

  5.5

  Llanidloes and District

  1,442

  1.7

  Montgomery County Infirmary

  4.320

  5.1

  Victoria Memorial

  3,968

  4.6

  Ystradgynlais Community

  2,646

  3.1

  Rhondda Health Care

  Llwynpia

  16,778

  19.6

  Swansea

  Singleton

  29,187

  34.1

  UHW Healthcare

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary

  85,524

  100.0

  University Hospital of Wales

  520

  0.6

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  Wrexham Maelor

  43,976

  51.4

  1 Largest in terms of the number of new attendances (Cardiff Royal Infirmary).

  South East Wales Ambulance Trust
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many single-manned journeys have been made by ambulance in 1996 in the South East Wales ambulance trust region; and if he will make a statement. [7726]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  NHS Trust Directors
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non-executive directors appointed to health service trusts in Wales at the time of their establishment are still in office. [7493]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Central Science Laboratory. [8649]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government have decided that, for the present, the Central Science Laboratory should remain as executive agency of MAFF. This will allow the CSL to consolidate its business following relocation to the new laboratory at Sand Hutton and to build on the links already established with the university of York and York bioscience initiative.

  CSL's food science laboratory is to remain at Norwich and will continue to develop its collaboration with other institutes on the Norwich research park and with the university of East Anglia.

  We must ensure that maximum value is obtained from the excellent new facilities at Sand Hutton. We will therefore be appointing specialists from the commercial sector to advise us on how best to achieve a secure future for CSL.

  Beef Imports
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce the same controls in respect of beef imports from non-EC countries as are placed on home produced beef. [6987]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 as amended, prohibit the sale for human consumption of any meat derived from bovine animals aged over 30 months and slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas. The only exceptions are for bovine meat from non-EC countries specified in the regulations where the Government are satisfied that we can import beef without risk, and from animals slaughtered for human consumption under the beef assurance scheme.

  Additionally, all consignments of fresh meat imported into the United Kingdom, whether from other member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EEC, as amended.

  As regards controls on specified bovine materials, the Commission has recently put a proposal for EU-wide controls on such material to the Standing Veterinary Committee. This would also place equivalent controls on imports from third countries. The proposal was only supported only by the UK and France and is now expected to be submitted to the Council of Agriculture Ministers for further consideration.

  Butter
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to protect the interests of consumers of spreadable butter; and what representations he has made to the European Commission on this matter. [7273]

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 19 November 1996,Official Report, column 474, and on 4 December 1996 Official Report, column 721.

  BSE
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the data on his Department's Internet site relating to the selective cull of cattle not over 30 months under the BSE eradication scheme. [8183]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department is conscious of the importance of having accurate information across its Internet site which has until recently been available on the CCTA Government Information Service. However, during the past month we have been phasing in a dedicated MAFF service on the Internet (http://www.inaff.gov.uk); this service is now fully available and contains fresh sources of information. We are also reviewing all MAFF's BSE documentation on the Internet with the aim of enhancing its content, currency and structure.

  Genetically Modified Products
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects of using genetically manipulated (i) soya beans and (ii) other products in food production; and if he will publish his Department's conclusions. [8185]

  Mrs Browning
  No research has been specifically commissioned on soya beans or other genetically manipulated food products although the Department funds generic work worth some £800,000 per year to underpin its safety assessment procedures. In the course of assessing individual foods, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes evaluates extensive safety data. The committee's findings are published in its annual report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Peanut Products
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made towards Euro-labelling standards for peanut products. [6631]

  Mrs. Browning
  The EC Scientific Committee for Food has reported on the subject of food intolerance. The Standing Committee for Foodstuffs and the Codex Committee on Food Labelling discussed the problem at meetings earlier this year. We expect a Commission working group to consider the outcome and any necessary labelling rules.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if an ovine animal with the attached ear tag F02873, was certified as fit to travel during the 24-hour period preceding the loading on to vehicles for a sailing on 22 November. [7735]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 5 December 1996]: It is not possible to tell. F02873 would be only part of the full identification mark applied to the ovine animal. The mark applied to exported sheep also includes an individual animal identification number.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of live sheep exported between 31 May and 1 November were destined for further fattening. [7737]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 5 December 1996]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) planned expenditure in 1996–97 following the 1995 expenditure settlement, (b) estimated outturn expenditure in 1996–97 and (c) planned expenditure in 1997–98 in respect of each of the environmentally sensitive areas. [7689]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 5 December 1996]: Estimated outturn expenditure for 1996–97 is as follows:

  £ million

  Pennine Dales

  3.166

  South Downs

  1.936

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  2.808

  Broads

  3.110

  West Penwith

  0.526

  Breckland

  0.812

  Suffolk River Valleys

  1.488

  Clun

  0.991

  North Peak

  1.458

  Test Valley

  0.145

  North Kent Marshes

  0.792

  Avon Valley

  0.179

  South Wessex Downs

  0.752

  Exmoor

  1.720

  South West Peak

  1.539

  Lake District

  5.730

  Blackdown Hills

  0.361

  Cotswold Hills

  2.068

  Dartmoor

  0.861

  Essex Coast

  0.350

  Shropshire Hills

  0.509

  Upper Thames Tributaries

  0.502

  Total

  31.803

  The financial provision for environmentally sensitive areas is as follows:

  1996–97(1995 PES provision): £37.02 million

  1997–98(1996 PES provision): £33.69 million

  The financial provision is not allocated between individual ESAs.
  All figures relate to payments to farmers in English ESAs.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7576]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: I estimate that my Department will be spending just under £3,000 on celebrating Christmas and the new year.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants (Impartiality)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent consultations he has had with the Cabinet Secretary concerning regulations protecting the political neutrality of the civil service during pre-election periods. [6502]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie).

  Deregulation (Competition)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what countries he has visited for the purpose of studying(a) deregulation and (b) competition policy. [6509]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have sought support for reducing the burden of European legislation from Ministers and business leaders in most EU member states. Working with our European partners for better EC legislation is vital for improving the competitiveness of UK business.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the impact of deregulation upon the competitive position of the British economy. [6516]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's commitment to fewer, better and simpler regulations is making a key contribution to the UK's competitiveness. Deregulation measures are now saving business hundreds of millions of pounds each year and helping to attract increasing investment from overseas.

  Deregulation (Safety Implications)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect on safety at work of deregulation. [6512]

  Mr. Freeman
  Changes are being made which will simplify and clarify the law without reducing necessary standards. These stem from the Health and Safety Commission's own review of regulation.

  Civil Servants (Numbers)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what percentage the number of civil servants has changed in the past five years. [6513]

  Mr. Willetts
  On 1 October 1991, there were 567,000 civil servants. There are now 487,000, a fall of 14 per cent.

  Government Policy
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the principal Government policy with which he was concerned in the week beginning 2 December. [6514]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have continued to work on a full range of those Government policies for which I am responsible.

  Policy Co-ordination
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the mechanisms for the co-ordination of Government (i) European, (ii) economic and (iii) education policy since his appointment. [6515]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The Cabinet Committee structure is regularly reviewed to ensure that it facilitates the successful co-ordination of Government business.

  Deregulation (Fiches d'impact)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations the deregulation unit at his Department has made to the Commission about the content of the fiches d'impact. [6517]

  Mr. Freeman
  It is vital that the European Commission accurately assesses the costs to business of European legislative proposals. On 29 October 1996, I wrote to the Secretary General of the Commission and to Commissioners setting out the improvements the UK wants to see in the fiche d'impact assessment system. A copy of the paper I sent has been placed in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing and Council Tax Benefits
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have received

  Claim pack alone1

  GP's factual report

  Examination medical officer's report

  Any other evidence

  Total

  1992–932

  Care component

  141,838

  55,107

  47,920

  7,165

  252,030

  Mobility component

  157,381

  64,092

  56,177

  8,932

  286,582

  1993–942

  Care component

  67,671

  48,841

  33,141

  6,323

  155,976

  Mobility component

  72,190

  55,203

  38,664

  6,729

  172,786

  1994–95

  Care component

  67,085

  60,841

  31,522

  9,325

  168,773

  Mobility component

  70,481

  68,919

  35,793

  9,633

  184,826

  1995–96

  Care component

  62,770

  70,083

  41,425

  11,430

  185,708

  Mobility component

  62,176

  78,331

  45,997

  11,075

  197,579

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent.

  Notes:

  1 Claims for disability living allowance, care and/or mobility components are decided in the light of all the evidence. The claim pack also invites a claimant to provide supporting statements from someone who knows how their disability affects their every day life e.g. from a doctor or social worker.

  2 Includes top-up awards.

  66
  extended housing benefit and (b) extended council tax benefit when leaving (i) income support and (ii) jobseeker's allowance; and what is his estimate of the cost in each case. [6729]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information concerning the number of people who have received an extended payment of housing benefit and council tax benefit will be available early next year. Information on the number of recipients who left income support or jobseeker's allowance and the cost in each case is not collected.

  Benefit Recipients
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) incapacity benefit, (b) disability living allowance and (c) the jobseeker's allowance, the 10 United Kingdom parliamentary constituencies with the highest number of recipients and the 10 with the lowest number, together with the two Northern Ireland constituencies with the highest number and the two with the lowest, stating for each constituency the percentage of the electorate who are recipients. [7204]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  For information on Northern Ireland constituencies, I refer the hon. and learned Member to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Norther Ireland.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many decisions on an initial award of(a) disability living allowance care component and (b) disability living allowance mobility component were made where the adjudication officer (i) required an examining medical officer's report, (ii) required a general practitioner's factual report, (iii) required other evidence and (iv) relied on the claim pack alone, in (1) 1992–93, (2) 1993–94, (3) 1994–95 and (4) 1995–96. [6723]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the table:
  67
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people during the past year have claimed the disability living allowance mobility component where the adjudication officer considered a claim for the higher rate; in how many cases claims were decided by(a) a general practitioner's factual report and (b) an examining practitioner's report; and how many claims have been refused. [6724]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Awards of higher rate mobility component

  GP's factual report

  Examining medical practitioner's report

  Any other evidence

  Total

  All refusal

  57,499

  39,746

  51,542

  148,787

  255,281

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent.

  Note:

  Claims for disability living allowance are considered for the whole benefit rather than for a particular component and rate of award, using all of the evidence.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for disability living allowance were received in(a) 1994–95 and 1995–96. [6736]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is in the table.

  Claims for disability living allowance

  Years

  Number (thousands)

  1994–95

  504

  1995–96

  511

  Source:

  Analytical Service Division: 100 per cent. data.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of disregarding in full a partner's(a) income and (b) capital, in the calculation of disability working allowance; how many people would benefit; and how many new claimants would be (i) men and (ii) women. [6728]

  Mr. Mitchell
  None. There is insufficient information on which to base a reliable estimate.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women receive disability living allowance but have no income maintenance benefit in payment. [6730]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Recipients of disability living allowance

  August 1996

  Number

  All persons

  1,768,000

  Men

  905,000

  Women

  863,000

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data.

  Note:

  Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Committees (Membership)
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members he has appointed to serve on(a) the Social Security Advisory Committee, (b) the Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee and (c) the Council on Tribunals; and how many are (i) woman, (ii) disabled and (iii) of ethnic minority origin. [6726]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is as follows:

  Social security advisory committee

  Women

  Disabled

  Of ethnic minority origin

  6

  2

  2

  Total members appointed = 22.

  Industrial injuries advisory council

  Women

  Disabled

  Of ethnic minority origin

  8

  Not available

  0

  Total members appointed = 24.

  Council on tribunals1

  Women

  Disabled

  Of ethnic minority origin

  1

  0

  0

  Notes:Total members appointed = 10.

  Figures are from 9 April 1992 to date.

  Source:

  1 Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Benefits Agency (Automatic Payments)
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what report he has received from the Benefits Agency on the consequences of the failure of its automatic credit transfer system to maintain payment of benefits. [6628]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Briefing as events occurred was received by Ministers.

  Cold Weather Payments Scheme
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received regarding the cold weather payments scheme. [7696]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Since 4 November, there have been four letters—all from hon. Members.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to his Department of the cold weather payments scheme in each year since it was introduced. [7695]

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

  Year

  Expenditure1 (£000s)

  1986–87

  10,200

  1987–88

  500

  1988–89

  3

  1989–90

  400

  1990–91

  8,600

  1991–92

  23,000

  1992–93

  15,000

  1993–94

  12,400

  69

  Year

  Expenditure1 (£000s)

  1994–95

  77,000

  1995–96

  62,000

  1996–972

  148,104

  1 Figures rounded to nearest thousand.

  2 From 4 November 1996.

  Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who opted out of(a) the state earnings-related

  Number of people with a minimum contribution in the first year of the APP but none in subsequent years

  United Kingdom

  Thousands

  Start year of APP

  Pension scheme type year before APP start

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Total

  16

  7

  37

  36

  30

  24

  16

  SERPS only

  13

  4

  26

  27

  22

  18

  12

  Occupational pension

  1

  1

  3

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Mixed: SERPS and occupational pension

  —

  —

  3

  2

  2

  1

  2

  Other APP

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Other

  2

  2

  5

  5

  4

  2

  2

  Source: I per cent. sample of national insurance records taken at February 1996.

  Notes:

  1. — = Nil or negligible.

  2. APP = Appropriate personal pension.

  3. Minimum contribution—a proportion of national insurance contributions paid into an APP by the DSS.

  4. Qualification for SERPS is defined as having earnings over the lower earnings limit in the year.

  5. "Other" will include those receiving NI credits, paying class 2 contributions, class 3 contributions, new entrants (i.e. at 16 years old), and any combinations of categories.

  6. Because all figures are rounded to the nearest thousand, the sum of the amounts in the individual columns may not agree with the amount shown against the total.

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those Organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development countries other than the United Kingdom which place geographical limitations on the payment of fully uprated retirement pensions to citizens who have contributed to a state contributory pension scheme. [8187]

  Mr. Heald
  On the basis of the information available to the Department, none.

  However, other forms of restriction on payment outside national territories are practised by some other OECD countries.

  Disability Access Rights Advice Service
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the introduction of the disability access rights advice service; and what is its estimated annual cost.[7757]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 6 November,Official Report, column 547.

  National Insurance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 November,Official Report, columns 598–600, on national insurance, what estimate he has made of the administrative costs additional to national insurance benefit expenditure for (a) flat-rate retirement pensions,
  70
  pension scheme and (b) occupational pension schemes in favour of private personal pension schemes and who have made no further contributions to the private schemes since the year in which they opted out. [7494]

  Mr. Heald
  The available information is in the table.

  The table indicates the number of people who had an appropriate personal pension scheme at the end of 199495, where the Department has made a minimum contribution payment into the individual's APP in the first year of the scheme, and then made no further payments. The figures are broken down into the previous type of pension scheme.

  (b) additional pensions and (c) other benefits for the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 2000–01, (iii) 2010–11, (iv) 2020–21 and (v) 2030–31 if the administrative costs incurred in 1995–96 applied proportionately in subsequent years. [7934]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  National insurance fund administration costs

  £ billion in 1994–95 benefit rate terms

  1994–95

  2000–01

  2010–11

  2020–21

  2030–31

  1.60

  1.46

  1.69

  1.96

  2.28

  Source:

  Government Actuary's report on the third quinquennial review under section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975 (HC 160).

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 November,Official Report, columns 519–21, what was the total contribution income at 1995–96 prices from (a) employees, (b) self-employed and (c) employers; and what were the sums (i) paid by the Treasury, (ii) from the national insurance surcharge and class IA for cars and fuel and (iii) from other sources, in (1) cash and (2) as a percentage of the total, in each year from 1979–80 to 1995–96. [7935]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  71

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  Total income

  44.83

  —

  45.71

  —

  44.31

  —

  45.07

  —

  Class 11: Employees

  11.06

  24.67

  11.45

  25.04

  12.84

  28.97

  15.35

  34.06

  Employers

  17.73

  39.56

  17.92

  39.20

  17.09

  38.57

  17.67

  39.21

  Class 1A

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Class 2/4 (self-employed)

  0.70

  1.55

  0.67

  1.46

  0.74

  1.66

  0.85

  1.89

  NI surcharge2

  7.60

  16.96

  7.61

  16.64

  7.25

  16.37

  4.98

  11.04

  Treasury payment

  6.03

  13.46

  6.32

  13.83

  4.83

  10.90

  4.81

  10.67

  Other sources3

  1.70

  3.80

  1.75

  3.83

  1.57

  3.54

  1.41

  3.13

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  Total income

  44.24

  —

  42.76

  —

  42.48

  —

  43.80

  —

  Class 11: Employees

  16.34

  36.94

  16.68

  39.01

  17.91

  42.15

  17.72

  40.44

  Employers

  18.35

  41.48

  18.65

  43.62

  19.63

  46.21

  20.85

  47.60

  Class 1A

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Class 2/4 (self-employed)

  0.98

  2.21

  1.05

  2.45

  1.05

  2.48

  1.08

  2.47

  NI surcharge2

  3.05

  6.90

  1.50

  3.51

  0.06

  0.15

  0.02

  0.04

  Treasury payment

  4.99

  11.27

  4.39

  10.26

  3.44

  8.11

  3.72

  8.50

  Other sources3

  0.53

  1.20

  0.49

  1.14

  0.38

  0.90

  0.42

  0.95

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  Total income

  45.08

  —

  46.41

  —

  44.77

  —

  44.49

  —

  Class 11: Employees

  18.66

  41.40

  19.49

  42.00

  18.69

  41.75

  16.90

  37.98

  Employers

  22.21

  49.27

  23.75

  51.18

  24.88

  55.57

  24.78

  55.70

  Class 1A

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Class 2/4 (self-employed)

  1.14

  2.54

  1.29

  2.78

  1.36

  3.05

  1.34

  3.01

  NI surcharge2

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Treasury payment

  3.18

  7.05

  2.31

  4.98

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Other sources3

  -0.12

  -0.26

  -0.43

  -0.94

  -0.17

  -0.38

  1.47

  3.30

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  £ billions

  Per cent.

  Total income

  44.16

  —

  44.00

  —

  52.76

  —

  52.34

  —

  Class 11: Employees

  16.88

  38.22

  16.65

  37.85

  16.93

  32.09

  18.63

  35.59

  Employers

  24.63

  55.76

  24.34

  55.32

  24.89

  47.18

  24.52

  46.84

  Class 1A

  0.00

  0.00

  0.48

  1.10

  0.45

  0.86

  0.50

  0.96

  Class 2/4 (self-employed)

  1.32

  3.00

  1.34

  3.04

  1.50

  2.84

  1.50

  2.87

  NI surcharge2

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Treasury payment

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  8.19

  15.52

  6.59

  12.59

  Other sources3

  1.33

  3.02

  1.18

  2.69

  0.80

  1.51

  0.60

  1.14

  1 Gross of statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay deductions.

  2 The NI surcharge was part of general taxation and not paid into the national insurance fund.

  3 Figures take into account deductions made by employers in respect of statutory sick pay (SSP) from April 1983 and statutory maternity pay (SMP) from April 1987. The combined SSP and SMP deductions between 1987–88 and 1989–90 exceed other sources of income. From April 1990 figures include amounts paid from the Consolidated Fund as compensation for SSP and SMP deductions.

  1. National Insurance contribution figures include the NHS element.

  2. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  3. Figures are in 1995–96 prices.

  Child Support
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inspectors have been appointed by him since 5 April to investigate child support cases involving self-employed absent parents. [8122]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic origin of parents with care against whom reduced benefit directions were issued in 1995–96. [8125]
  72
  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is not available.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Secuirty if he will update his answer of 19 December 1995,Official Report, columns 1118–19, giving the number of children in families who are (a) dependent on income support and (b) in receipt of family credit, by region. [8182]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.
  73

  Income support

  May 1995

  November 1995

  February 1996

  Great Britain

  2,958

  2,942

  2,956

  South East (excluding London)

  417

  420

  —

  London (inner and outer)

  519

  515

  —

  North

  184

  183

  —

  Wales

  171

  168

  —

  Scotland

  246

  246

  —

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  270

  265

  —

  East Midlands

  188

  187

  —

  East Anglia

  80

  81

  —

  South West

  179

  180

  —

  West Midlands

  304

  298

  —

  North West

  401

  400

  —

  Family credit

  May 1995

  November 1995

  February 1996

  Great Britain

  1,141

  1,219

  1,248

  Notes:

  1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand and are given in thousands.

  2. The regions shown are the Government Statistical Service standard regions.

  3. A Government Statistical Service regional breakdown is not yet available for family credit or for February 1996 income support.

  4. Children have been defined as being aged 15 or under.

  Sources:

  1. Income support statistics quarterly inquiries.

  2. Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

HEALTH

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is(a) currently running and (b) planning to run during the next six months; and for each campaign

  £ million

  Campaign description

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  11996–97

  AIDS Travel Safe

  —

  —

  0.64

  0.27

  —

  —

  Blood Donor Recruitment

  1.03

  0.98

  1.58

  1.15

  1.33

  1.29

  Children's Act

  0.73

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Care

  —

  1.29

  0.54

  —

  —

  —

  Cot Deaths

  1.61

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Drug and Solvent Abuse

  3.92

  4.97

  5.38

  4.44

  —

  —

  Elderly Health

  0.53

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Food Hygiene/Safety

  0.34

  0.43

  0.35

  —

  —

  —

  GP Out of Hours

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.86

  —

  Health of the Nation

  1.01

  2.66

  —

  —

  —

  —

  HOTN Mental Illness

  —

  —

  —

  0.60

  —

  —

  HOTN Unwanted Pregnancy

  —

  —

  0.41

  —

  0.67

  —

  Health Service Professions

  3.91

  0.96

  0.95

  1.32

  0.98

  1.95

  Immunisation

  —

  —

  0.22

  —

  —

  —

  Maternity

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.25

  Organ Donation

  —

  1.99

  1.31

  1.58

  1.68

  —

  Patient's Charter

  3.11

  0.81

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Women's Health

  0.51

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Unification of Prescription Charges

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.30

  —

  Patients not Paper

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.08

  0.08

  1 Estimated expenditure.

  74
  (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7406]

  Mr. Horam
  Promotional and public information campaigns run by the Department are described as multi-media campaigns containing national and/or regional advertising. The total estimated cost of these campaigns is £3,488,000 in 1996–97, of which £1,335,000 is for advertising. In addition, the Department runs a number of other publicity campaigns, for example health of the nation, overseas travel and help with health costs. These use a wide range of different media, including publications, videos, teleresponse lines and exhibitions. Decisions have not been made on the use of national and/or regional advertising for 1997–98. Other information requested for the current year is in the table.

  Campaign

  Advertising Agency

  Planned duration

  Maternity

  Ogilvy and Mather

  2 weeks

  Health services

  Media System Ltd.

  All year

  Professional recruitment

  Saatchi and Saatchi

  2 weeks

  National Blood publicity

  Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper

  2 × 3 weeks

  Mustoe Merrimann

  2 weeks

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7534]

  Mr. Horam
  Promotional and public information campaigns run by the Department are described as multi-media campaigns containing national and/or regional advertising. In addition, the Department runs a number of other publicity campaigns, for example, keep warm keep well, overseas travel and help with health costs. These use a wide range of different media including publications, videos, teleresponse lines and exhibitions. Decisions have not been made on the 1997–98 publicity programme. Other information for campaigns which include national and/or regional advertising is in the table.

  Polio Vaccinations
  Sir Julian Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of children presently being vaccinated against polio. [7492]

  Mr. Horam
  Approximately 600,000 children under the age of two in England are immunised against polio each year. Provisional figures for 1995–96 show that 96 per cent. of children in England were immunised against polio by their second birthday. The World Health Organisation has recognised the United Kingdom as one of the countries which have eliminated indigenous polio due to wild virus. The Government are now working to assemble the necessary data to earn a WHO certificate of eradication as part of the programme for the global eradication of polio by 2000.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the amounts (i) in cash term and (ii) in real terms and (b) the percentage changes in the funding for personal social services for each of the last five years and the projected figures for the next three years. [7478]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is set out:

  Cash (£ million)

  Annual percentage change

  Real terms (£ million at 1996–97 prices)

  1992–93

  4,850

  —

  5,320

  1993–94

  5,585

  +15.2

  5,954

  1994–95

  6,403

  +14.6

  6,706

  1995–96

  6,966

  +8.8

  7,123

  1996–97

  7,536

  +8.2

  7,536

  1997–98

  7,846

  +4.1

  7,692

  There are no projected figures for 1998–99 and 1999–2000.

  General Medical Services Practice Nurses
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general medical services practice nurses there were in(a) 1990 and (b) 1995 in (i) Sheffield, (ii) Barnsley, (iii) Doncaster and (iv) Rotherham. [8102]

  Mr. Malone
  The answer is shown in the table.

  Number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Practice Nurses at 1 October.

  FHSA1

  1990

  1995

  Barnsley

  26

  40

  Doncaster

  53

  60

  Rotherham

  34

  48

  Sheffield

  107

  117

  Source:

  GMS census.

  Notes:

  1 Practice nurse data are only available on a family health services authority basis.

  Latex Allergy
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations his Department is making into the incidence of latex allergy. [6629]
  76
  Mr. Horam
  The Medical Devices Agency—MDA—has a system for investigating adverse incidents associated with all medical devices, including those manufactured from natural rubber latex. In April 1996, the MDA published a device bulletin entitled "Latex Sensitisation in the Health Care Setting (Use of Latex Gloves)", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Peanut Allergy
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has prepared for environmental health officers on promoting awareness of the dangers of peanut allergy. [6632]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department is currently reconsidering its advice on peanut allergy, particularly in respect of consumption of peanuts or products containing peanuts by young children. To that end, we are commissioning work by an expert group who will convene in January 1997 and should be in a position to report by mid-1997.

  Paracetamol
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to publicise the inquiry into the labelling, prescribing and sale of products containing paracetamol; and if he will make a statement. [7501]

  Mr. Malone
  There has been wide publicity. On 22 November 1996, a press release was issued to announce the commencement of a public consultation exercise, seeking views on label warnings and pack sizes of paracetamol available without prescription. The announcement received prominent media coverage. The consultation letter giving details of proposals has been sent to 245 professional bodies, consumer organisations and marketing authorisation holders. Articles and commentaries have been carried by medical and pharmaceutical journals and the trades press as well as national newspapers.

  Anti-drugs Policies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of anti-drugs policies in reducing the consumption of(a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) medicinal drugs, (d) ecstasy, (e) ketamine, (f) heroin and (g) cannabis. [7502]

  Mr. Malone
  Concerning illegal drug misuse, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 13 May,Official Report, columns 341–42.

  The Government's policies to prevent the misuse of alcohol and reduce the consumption of tobacco are subject to continuing evaluation.

  The misuse of ketamine, which is not currently a controlled drug, is kept under review.

  Matters relating to the prescription of medicinal drugs are for clinicians, who are expected to follow the general guidance which is available, especially that in the British National Formulary, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Health Authority Expenditure
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority its distance from weighted capitation target for 1997–98. [7936]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply 1 gave my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) on 3 December 1996,Official Report, column 638.

  Challenge Fund Bids
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if those bids for centenary care challenge fund approval for 1996–97 will also receive funding in 1997–98. [7938]

  Mr. Burns
  Arrangements for the continuing care challenge fund are set out in EL(96)109, copies of which are available in the Library; £16 million is available to support continuing health care schemes in 1996–97 and £20 million, to be matched by £40 million from health and/or local authorities, will be available for 1997–98. Health authorities have been asked to submit, separately, bids for funds for 1996–97 by 13 December 1996 and by 24 January 1997 for further funds in 1997–98.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority will be given to health authorities over their weighted capitation target for mental health challenge fund money in 1997–98. [7940]

  Mr. Burns
  None. The criteria for assessing bids against the fund are set out in EL(96) 109 issued to chief executives of health authorities and NHS trusts on 29 November 1996.

  NHS Trust Finance
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the forecast(a) annual income (b) expenditure and (c) operational surplus or deficit at the end of 1996–97 for each NHS trust based on their 1996–97 second quarter returns to the NHS executive; and what is the forecast retained surplus or deficit for each trust at the end of 1996–97 based on these returns and taking account of (i) profit or loss on fixed assets, (ii) net interest receivable or payable and (iii) public dividend capital payable. [7957]

  Mr. Malone
  The 1996–97 financial information based on forecasts at quarter 2 will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 779, if he will list the name of the trust and value of the deficit of (a) each of the 16 NHS trusts which recorded real retained deficits in 1994–95, (b) each of the 10 of those NHS trusts which remained in real deficit in 1995–96 and (c) each of the five of those NHS trusts which are forecast to show a further deficit in 1996–97. [7959]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Trusts which recorded real deficits in 1994–95

  Trust

  Value of deficit £000

  Humberside Ambulance

  622

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  334

  Louth and District

  25

  78

  (a) Trusts which recorded real deficits in 1994–95

  Lincoln Hospitals

  257

  Sheffield Children's

  245

  East Anglian Ambulance

  68

  Mid Anglia Community

  44

  Royal National Orthopaedic

  3,436

  Royal National Throat Nose and Ear

  826

  Greenwich Healthcare

  2,888

  Crawley Horsham

  1,154

  Swindon and Marlborough

  522

  The Poole Hospital

  226

  Royal United Hospital Bath

  2,545

  Worcester Royal Infirmary

  944

  Wolverly

  155

  (b) Trusts which remained in real deficit in 1995–96

  Trust

  Value of deficit £000

  United Leeds Teaching

  6,988

  Lincoln Hospitals

  896

  East Anglian Ambulance

  998

  Mid Anglia Community

  119

  Royal National Orthopaedic

  907

  Royal National Throat Nose and Ear

  3,586

  Greenwich Healthcare

  4,000

  Crawley Horsham

  987

  Swindon and Marlborough

  1,029

  Royal United Hospital Bath

  586

  c) Trusts which are forecasting a further real deficit in 1996–97

  The information requested will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 779, if he will list (a) the name of each NHS trust which is currently forecast to show a deficit at the end of 1996–97 and (b) the values of the end of year deficit forecast for each of these trusts. [7961]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 779, if he will list (a) the name of each NHS trust which had a real retained deficit at the end of 1995–96 and (b) the value of the deficit recorded by each of these trusts in that year. [7960]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is as follows:

  Trust

  Value of deficit £000

  Crawley and Horsham

  987

  Derby City General Hospital

  2,171

  Dorset Community

  446

  East Anglian Ambulance

  998

  East Somerset Hospital

  291

  Forest Healthcare

  2,361

  Greenwich Healthcare

  4,000

  Harefield Hospital

  593

  Heathlands Mental Health

  788

  Horton General Hospital

  737

  Ipswich Hospital

  158

  Lincoln Hospitals

  896

  Mid Anglia Community Health

  119

  North Kent Healthcare

  730

  Northwick Park Hospital

  629

  79

  Trust

  Value of deficit £000

  Oxfordshire Learning Disabilities

  317

  Pinderfields Hospital

  3,161

  Royal Cornwall Hospital and West Cornwall Hospital

  485

  Royal Hospital of St. Baits, Royal London and London Chest Hospital

  5,938

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

  907

  Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital

  3,586

  Royal United Hospital, Bath

  586

  Scarborough and NE Yorks. Healthcare

  3,184

  South Devon Healthcare

  821

  South Manchester University Hospitals

  5,962

  Southend Community Care

  750

  St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead

  32

  St. James's and Seacroft University Hospital

  2,789

  St. Mary's Hospital

  1,024

  Swindon and Marlborough

  1,029

  The Royal Surrey County

  334

  The Royal West Sussex

  1,465

  United Leeds Teaching Hospital

  6,988

  Worthing and Southlands Hospitals

  2,964

  Contraception
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is available through the common information core element of the "The Health of the Nation" strategy monitoring programme of the NHS executive as to(a) the number of girls aged under 16 years contacting general medical practitioners for contraceptives and (b) the number of girls aged under 16 years contacting family planning clinics in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will give a breakdown of those figures by health authority. [7834]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested will be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether it remains his policy not to collect information centrally about contraception and teenage women; and what assessment he has made of the consistency of that policy with the terms of the letter from the NHS executive headquarters dated 12 November to Mrs. Victoria Gillick; [7835]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the statement in the letter from the NHS executive dated 12 November to Mrs. Victoria Gillick that common information core data relating to first contacts, including those involving conception rates and contraceptives, is collected as part of the NHS executive's performance management framework. [7836]

  Mr. Horam
  Some information is collected centrally about contraception and teenage women. I will write to my hon. Friend about this and the letter from the national health service executive headquarters dated 12 November to Mrs. Victoria Gillick.

  Bridge Child Care Development Scheme
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fund the Bridge child care development scheme for the next financial year. [7937]
  80
  Mr. Burns
  The Bridge child care consultancy service is, as its name implies, a consultancy management service which local authorities commission in the normal way. I have no plans to commission the Bridge to undertake any work for the Department of Health at present.

  Intensive and High Dependency Care
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if those bids for funding of adult intensive and high dependency care approved for 1996–97 will also receive funding in 1997–98. [7939]

  Mr. Horam
  Yes.

  North Yorkshire Ambulance Service
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when(a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department last met (i) the chairman and (ii) the chief executive of the North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS trust. [7956]

  Mr. Horam
  Ministers have had no recent meetings with the North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS trust, but the national health service executive continues to have regular meetings with the trust.

  Health Authority Finance
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the forecast annual(a) income and (b) expenditure at the end of the 1996–97 financial year for each health authority based on the 1996–97 second quarter statements of income and expenditure submitted to the NHS executive by these health authorities and trusts. [7958]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Asylum
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost to local authorities of changes in the rules governing asylum in the United Kingdom over the last year; and if he will make a statement. [7506]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Health Spending (North Kirklees)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the total expenditure per head of population in the north Kirklees area by Calderdale and Kirklees health authority, with particular reference to hospital community health services and general medical services; [8218]

  (2) What proportion of the £271 million he recently announced as the allocation for Calderdale and Kirklees area health authority will be spent on the population of north Kirklees. [8219]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not held centrally. I refer my hon. Friend to Mr. Allan Templeton, chairman of Calderdale and Kirklees health authority.

  Purchasing Authorities
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he gives to purchasing authorities in England
  81
  on how often they should check variations in their spending patterns so that they reflect variations in assessed need. [8217]

  Mr. Horam
  Health authorities are expected to develop and review purchasing plans to reflect the needs of their local populations within the national context set out in the NHS priorities and planning guidance. These plans are subject to public consultation before being agreed in corporate contracts with NHS executive regional offices.

  Learning Disabilities
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of the total budget for each health authority spent on services for people with learning disabilities for the latest available year. [4806]

  Mr. Burns
  [holding answer 20 November 1996]: The percentage of the total budget spent on services for people with learning disabilities for each health authority in 1995–96 will be placed in the Library.

  Treaty of the European Union
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  Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Health Authority: Psychotherapy Services
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