Written Answers of 11 December 1996

TREASURY

  Computers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Bank of England is taking to ensure the single currency compliancy 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. [6661]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Bank of England's computer systems will be affected by the introduction of the euro whether or not the United Kingdom adopts the single currency. Work to assess the implications and to ensure preparedness started some time ago. The bank is also liaising with the Association for Payment Clearing Services, which oversees the banking payments systems, and with the commercial banks. No separate budget has yet been set for this process.

  Tax Law Rewrite
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will publish the document giving the plans and arrangements for the tax law rewrite, referred to in his 1996 Budget statement. [8931]

  Mr. Jack
  I am very pleased to be able to report on the good progress that has been made on the tax law rewrite. The Inland Revenue has today published a document which sets out the response to its consultations on this project to rewrite tax law in clearer and simpler language. I am placing copies in the Libraries of the House.

  This document takes full account of the comments received. It sets out the resulting plans and arrangements for taking the rewrite forward, so that the first rewrite Bill will be ready for enactment in the 1997–98 parliamentary Session.

  This is a very important and worthwhile project which will bring the benefits of clarity and certainty to businesses and ordinary taxpayers alike. We are committed to proceeding with it on the basis of full consultation.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will be the members of the tax law rewrite steering committee being chaired by the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC. [8932]

  Mr. Jack
  The steering committee will play a crucial role in the rewrite project. Under the chairmanship of the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC, the committee will guide the project through the challenges that lie ahead, while ensuring that it keeps to its objectives.
  190
  The committee combines the talents and experience of a wide range of members drawn from Parliament, the legal and accountancy professions, consumer interests and the private sector.

  I am delighted to announce today that the other members of the committee will be the right hon. Sir John Balcombe, Mr. Ian Barlow, Dr. John Avery Jones CBE, Mr. Steve Matheson CB, Dr. John Marek MP, Ms Sheila McKechnie OBE, Sir John Shaw and Mr. Tim Smith MP. I am sure that this important project will benefit greatly from their experience.

  Taxation
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) of 26 February,Official Report, columns 339–52, to take account of (a) changes made in the Budget, and to provide his latest estimates of the burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1997–98, (b) revisions to figures for earlier years and (c) separate figures for (i) VAT, (ii) other indirect taxes and (iii) the council tax. [5195]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 November 1996]: The tables show estimates of tax payments for the requested specimen households for the years 1994–95 to 1997–98.

  The main factors accounting for the increase in payments between years are growth in earnings and inflation. The figures for tax payments do not measure the effects of changes in tax rates, allowances, etcetera. A one-earner couple on average earnings with two children will pay £88 less in income tax and national insurance contributions next year than if these taxes had been left unchanged since 1991–92, apart from indexation.

  Real take-home pay for all these households will rise next year and will be substantially higher than in 1991–92. For the family on average earnings, the increase next year will be £370, bringing the total rise since 1991–92 to over £1,100. These increases take account of all taxes as well as earnings growth and inflation. Other factors are also boosting living standards, such as the lowest mortgage rates for 30 years and the rise in employment by ¾ million since 1992.

  The figures for tax payments are subject to important limitations. The estimates of indirect tax payments are very approximate. They are based on the assumption that these taxes are fully passed on in prices, which may not hold in practice. They also assume particular spending patterns by the households whereas in practice there are wide variations in spending on taxed goods, and hence in indirect tax payments, between households with similar incomes and compositions. Nor do the estimates include the effects of changes in tax on savings, particularly the reduction in the tax rate on savings income to 20 per cent. for basic rate payers or the growth in tax-free tax-exempt special savings accounts and personal equity plans, as the households specified have income only from earnings. The overall tax burden—total taxes and national insurance contributions as a percent of GDP—which includes the impact of all taxes is expected to be at the same level next year as in 1991–92.
  191

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1994–95

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single person

  £ per week

  Gross income

  184.55

  276.83

  369.10

  553.65

  738.20

  1,107.30

  1,476.40

  1,845.50

  2,583.70

  3,691.00

  7,382.00

  NICs

  13.90

  23.12

  32.35

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  Income tax

  26.69

  49.76

  72.83

  123.71

  197.53

  345.17

  492.81

  640.45

  935.73

  1,378.65

  2,855.05

  VAT

  14.84

  19.78

  30.29

  Other indirect taxes

  20.05

  25.53

  37.19

  Total excluding council tax

  107.78

  150.49

  229.63

  Council tax

  7.10

  7.34

  7.87

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  151.79

  215.02

  278.26

  412.77

  529.52

  763.01

  996.50

  1,230.00

  1,696.98

  2,397.46

  4,732.38

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.5

  8.4

  8.8

  6.9

  5.2

  3.5

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  14.5

  18.0

  19.7

  22.3

  26.8

  31.2

  33.4

  34.7

  36.2

  37.4

  38.7

  VAT

  5.4

  5.4

  5.5

  Other indirect taxes

  7.2

  6.9

  6.7

  Total excluding council tax

  38.9

  40.8

  41.5

  Council tax

  2.6

  2.0

  1.4

  Married couple, one earner: no children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  184.55

  276.83

  369.10

  553.65

  738.20

  1,107.30

  1,476.40

  1,845.50

  2,583.70

  3,691.00

  7,382.00

  NICs

  13.90

  23.12

  32.35

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  Income tax

  20.08

  43.14

  66.21

  117.09

  190.91

  338.55

  486.19

  633.83

  929.11

  1,372.03

  2,848.43

  VAT

  15.34

  20.84

  32.54

  Other indirect taxes

  21.47

  25.61

  34.43

  Total excluding council tax

  103.08

  145.01

  222.50

  Council tax

  9.36

  10.06

  11.54

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  158.76

  222.00

  285.24

  419.75

  536.49

  769.98

  1,003.48

  1,236.97

  1,703.%

  2,404.43

  4,739.36

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.5

  8.4

  8.8

  6.9

  5.2

  3.5

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  10.9

  15.6

  17.9

  21.1

  25.9

  30.6

  32.9

  34.3

  36.0

  37.2

  38.6

  VAT

  5.5

  5.6

  5.9

  Other indirect taxes

  7.8

  6.9

  6.2

  Total excluding council tax

  37.2

  39.3

  40.2

  Council tax

  3.4

  2.7

  2.1

  Married couple, one earner: 2 children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  184.55

  276.83

  369.10

  553.65

  738.20

  1,107.30

  1,476.40

  1,845.50

  2,583.70

  3,691.00

  7,382.00

  NICs

  13.90

  23.12

  32.35

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  38.44

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  1.63

  24.69

  47.76

  98.64

  172.46

  320.10

  467.74

  615.38

  910.66

  1,353.58

  2,829.98

  VAT

  15.33

  20.30

  30.88

  Other indirect taxes

  24.99

  28.01

  34.43

  Total excluding council tax

  88.13

  128.42

  202.40

  Council tax

  8.72

  9.21

  10.27

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  178.21

  241.45

  304.69

  439.20

  555.94

  789.44

  1,022.93

  1,256.42

  1,723.41

  2,423.89

  4,758.81

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.5

  8.4

  8.8

  6.9

  5.2

  3.5

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  0.9

  8.9

  12.9

  17.8

  23.4

  28.9

  31.7

  33.3

  35.2

  36.7

  38.3

  VAT

  5.5

  5.5

  5.6

  Other indirect taxes

  9.0

  7.6

  6.2

  Total excluding council tax

  31.8

  34.8

  36.6

  Council tax

  3.1

  2.5

  1.9

  Married couple, 2 earners: no children:

  Earnings split 60:40

  £ per week

  Gross income

  184.55

  276.83

  369.10

  553.65

  738.20

  1,107.30

  1,476.40

  1,845.50

  2,583.70

  3,691.00

  7,382.00

  NICs

  9.34

  18.56

  27.79

  46.25

  63.41

  76.88

  76.88

  76.88

  76.88

  76.88

  76.88

  Income tax

  3.79

  24.36

  46.77

  92.90

  139.04

  252.67

  388.44

  536.08

  831.36

  1274.28

  2750.68

  VAT

  16.67

  22.14

  32.98

  Other indirect taxes

  24.78

  29.92

  40.08

  Total excluding council tax

  84.37

  126.62

  212.20

  Council tax

  9.55

  9.74

  10.12

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  180.73

  246.61

  310.55

  437.02

  564.86

  820.01

  1,066.01

  1,299.50

  1,766.49

  2,466.97

  4,801.89

  192 193

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1994–95

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  5.1

  6.7

  7.5

  8.4

  8.6

  6.9

  5.2

  4.2

  3.0

  2.1

  1.0

  Income tax

  2.1

  8.8

  12.7

  16.8

  18.8

  22.8

  26.3

  29.0

  32.2

  34.5

  37.3

  VAT

  6.0

  6.0

  6.0

  Other indirect taxes

  9.0

  8.1

  7.2

  Total excluding council tax

  30.5

  34.3

  38.3

  Council tax

  3.5

  2.6

  1.8

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1995–96

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1000

  2000

  Single person

  £ per week

  Gross income

  190.60

  285.90

  381.20

  571.80

  762.40

  1,143.60

  1,524.80

  1,906.00

  2,668.40

  3,812.00

  7,624.00

  NICs

  14.42

  23.95

  33.48

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  Income tax

  27.63

  51.45

  75.28

  128.43

  204.67

  357.15

  509.63

  662.11

  967.07

  1,424.51

  2,949.31

  VAT

  15.06

  20.08

  30.75

  Other indirect taxes

  21.75

  27.66

  40.21

  Total excluding council tax

  112.20

  156.49

  238.76

  Council tax

  7.51

  7.77

  8.32

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  151.72

  214.99

  278.25

  412.62

  529.42

  763.02

  996.61

  1,230.21

  1,697.40

  2,398.19

  4,734.15

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.6

  8.4

  8.8

  6.9

  5.2

  3.4

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  14.5

  18.0

  19.7

  22.5

  26.8

  31.2

  33.4

  34.7

  36.2

  37.4

  38.7

  VAT

  5.3

  5.3

  5.4

  Other indirect taxes

  7.6

  7.3

  7.0

  Total excluding council taxes

  39.2

  41.1

  41.8

  Council tax

  2.6

  2.0

  1.5

  Married couple, one earner: no children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  190.60

  285.90

  381.20

  571.80

  762.40

  1,143.60

  1,524.80

  1,906.00

  2,668.40

  3,812.00

  7,624.00

  NICs

  14.42

  23.95

  33.48

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  Income tax

  22.66

  46.49

  70.31

  123.47

  199.71

  352.19

  504.67

  657.15

  962.11

  1,419.55

  2,944.35

  VAT

  15.37

  20.96

  32.83

  Other indirect taxes

  23.45

  27.87

  37.27

  Total excluding council tax

  109.26

  152.63

  232.93

  Council tax

  9.87

  10.60

  12.15

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  156.79

  220.05

  283.32

  417.69

  534.49

  768.08

  1001.68

  1235.28

  1702.47

  2403.26

  4739.22

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.6

  8.4

  8.8

  6.9

  5.2

  3.4

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  11.9

  16.3

  18.4

  21.6

  26.2

  30.8

  33.1

  34.5

  36.1

  37.2

  38.6

  VAT

  5.4

  5.5

  5.7

  Other indirect taxes

  8.2

  7.3

  6.5

  Total excluding council tax

  38.2

  40.0

  40.7

  Council tax

  3.5

  2.8

  2.1

  Married couple, one earner: 2 children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  190.60

  285.90

  381.20

  571.80

  762.40

  1,143.60

  1,524.80

  1,906.00

  2,668.40

  3,812.00

  7,624.00

  NICs

  14.42

  23.95

  33.48

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  39.36

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  3.81

  27.64

  51.46

  104.62

  180.86

  333.34

  485.82

  638.30

  943.26

  1,400.70

  2,925.50

  VAT

  15.36

  20.42

  31.16

  Other indirect taxes

  27.34

  30.60

  37.51

  Total excluding council tax

  94.29

  135.96

  212.64

  Council tax

  9.20

  9.72

  10.82

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  176.04

  239.31

  302.57

  436.94

  553.74

  787.33

  1,020.93

  1,254.53

  1,721.72

  2,422.51

  4,758.47

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.6

  8.4

  8.8

  6.9

  5.2

  3.4

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  2.0

  9.7

  13.5

  18.3

  23.7

  29.1

  31.9

  33.5

  35.3

  36.7

  38.4

  VAT

  5.4

  5.4

  5.4

  Other indirect taxes

  9.6

  8.0

  6.6

  Total excluding council tax

  33.0

  35.7

  37.2

  Council tax

  3.2

  2.5

  1.9

  194 195

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1995–96

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1000

  2000

  Married couple, 2 earners, no children:

  Earnings split 60:40

  £ per week

  Gross income

  190.60

  285.90

  381.20

  571.80

  762.40

  1,143.60

  1,524.80

  1,906.00

  2,668.40

  3,812.00

  7,624.00

  NICs

  9.78

  19.31

  28.84

  47.90

  65.22

  78.72

  78.72

  78.72

  78.72

  78.72

  78.72

  Income tax

  6.04

  27.21

  50.29

  97.94

  145.59

  263.55

  404.38

  556.86

  861.82

  1,319.26

  2,844.06

  VAT

  16.69

  22.27

  33.28

  Other indirect taxes

  26.94

  32.64

  43.93

  Total excluding council tax

  90.15

  134.04

  223.05

  Council tax

  10.11

  10.31

  10.71

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  178.50

  244.48

  308.51

  435.04

  563.35

  818.41

  1063.91

  1297.50

  1764.69

  2465.48

  4801.44

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  5.1

  6.8

  7.6

  8.4

  8.6

  6.9

  5.2

  4.1

  3.0

  2.1

  1.0

  Income tax

  3.2

  9.5

  13.2

  17.1

  19.1

  23.0

  26.5

  29.2

  32.3

  34.6

  37.3

  VAT

  5.8

  5.8

  5.8

  Other indirect taxes

  9.4

  8.6

  7.7

  Total excluding council tax

  31.5

  35.2

  39.0

  Council tax

  3.5

  2.7

  1.9

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1996–97

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1000

  2000

  Single person

  £ per week

  Gross income

  197.75

  296.63

  395.50

  593.25

  791.00

  1,186.50

  1,582.00

  1,977.50

  2,768.50

  3,955.00

  7,910.00

  NICs

  14.90

  24.78

  34.67

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  Income tax

  27.08

  50.81

  74.54

  126.88

  205.98

  364.18

  522.38

  680.58

  996.98

  1,471.58

  3,053.58

  VAT

  16.41

  21.91

  33.66

  Other indirect taxes

  23.27

  29.63

  43.23

  Total excluding council tax

  115.27

  160.75

  244.38

  Council tax

  7.74

  8.01

  8.57

  Real take-home pay Percentage of male average earnings (1996–97 prices)

  155.77

  221.03

  286.29

  425.75

  544.40

  781.70

  1,019.00

  1,256.30

  1,730.90

  2,442.80

  4,815.80

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.5

  8.4

  8.8

  6.8

  5.1

  3.4

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  13.7

  17.1

  18.8

  21.4

  26.0

  30.7

  33.0

  34.4

  36.0

  37.2

  38.6

  VAT

  5.5

  5.5

  5.7

  Other indirect taxes

  7.8

  7.5

  7.3

  Total excluding council tax

  38.9

  40.6

  41.2

  Council tax

  2.6

  2.0

  1.4

  Married couple, one earner: no children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  197.75

  296.63

  395.50

  593.25

  791.00

  1,186.50

  1.582.00

  1,977.50

  2,768.50

  3,955.00

  7,910.00

  NICs

  19.90

  24.78

  34.67

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  Income tax

  21.92

  45.65

  69.38

  121.71

  200.81

  359.01

  517.21

  675.41

  991.81

  1,466.41

  3,048.41

  VAT

  16.72

  22.84

  35.92

  Other indirect taxes

  25.07

  29.78

  39.85

  Total excluding council tax

  112.22

  156.67

  238.10

  Council tax

  10.15

  10.90

  12.51

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  160.94

  226.19

  291.45

  430.92

  549.57

  786.87

  1,024.87

  1,261.47

  1,736.07

  2,447.97

  4,820.97

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.5

  8.4

  8.8

  6.8

  5.1

  3.4

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  11.1

  15.4

  17.5

  20.5

  25.4

  30.3

  32.7

  34.2

  35.8

  37.1

  38.5

  VAT

  5.6

  5.8

  6.1

  Other indirect taxes

  8.5

  7.5

  6.7

  Total excluding council tax

  37.8

  39.6

  40.1

  Council tax

  3.4

  2.8

  2.1

  Married couple, one earner: 2 children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  197.75

  296.63

  395.50

  593.25

  791.00

  1,186.50

  1,582.00

  1,977.50

  2,768.50

  3,955.00

  7,910.00

  NICs

  14.90

  24.78

  34.67

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  40.62

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  2.32

  26.05

  49.78

  102.11

  181.21

  339.41

  497.61

  655.81

  972.21

  1,446.81

  3,028.81

  VAT

  16.70

  22.23

  34.07

  Other indirect taxes

  29.53

  33.00

  40.42

  196 197

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1996–97

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1000

  2000

  Total excluding council tax

  97.06

  139.68

  217.22

  Council tax

  9.47

  10.00

  11.14

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  180.54

  245.79

  311.05

  450.52

  569.17

  806.47

  1,043.77

  1,281.07

  1,755.67

  2,467.57

  4.840.57

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.5

  8.4

  8.8

  6.8

  5.1

  3.4

  2.6

  2.1

  1.5

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  1.2

  8.8

  12.6

  17.2

  22.9

  28.6

  31.5

  33.2

  35.1

  36.6

  38.3

  VAT

  5.6

  5.6

  5.7

  Other indirect taxes

  10.0

  8.3

  6.8

  Total excluding council tax

  32.7

  35.3

  36.6

  Council tax

  32.2

  2.5

  1.9

  Married couple, 2 earners, no children:

  Earnings split 60:40

  £ per week

  Gross income

  197.75

  296.63

  395.50

  593.25

  791.00

  1,186.50

  1,582.00

  1,977.50

  2,768.50

  3,955.00

  7.910.00

  NICs

  10.02

  19.90

  29.79

  49.57

  67.38

  81.24

  81.24

  81.24

  81.24

  81.24

  81.24

  Income tax

  5.42

  26.42

  49.00

  96.46

  143.92

  262.70

  406.79

  564.99

  881.39

  1,355.99

  2,937.99

  VAT

  18.07

  24.20

  36.26

  Other indirect taxes

  28.94

  34.98

  46.86

  Total excluding council tax

  93.34

  137.98

  229.15

  Council tax

  10.42

  10.63

  11.03

  Real take-home pay (1996–96 prices)

  182.31

  250.30

  317.71

  447.22

  579.70

  842.56

  1,093.97

  1,331.27

  1,805.87

  2,517.77

  4,890.77

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  5.1

  6.7

  7.5

  8.4

  8.5

  6.8

  5.1

  4.1

  2.9

  2.1

  1.0

  Income tax

  2.7

  8.9

  12.4

  16.3

  18.2

  22.1

  25.7

  28.6

  31.8

  34.3

  37.1

  VAT

  6.1

  6.1

  6.1

  Other indirect taxes

  9.8

  8.8

  7.9

  Total excluding council tax

  31.5

  34.9

  38.6

  Council tax

  3.5

  2.7

  1.9

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1997–98

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single person

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1,233.90

  1,645.20

  2,056.50

  2,879.10

  4,113.00

  8,226.00

  NICs

  15.61

  25.89

  36.17

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  Income tax

  27.04

  50.69

  74.34

  127.97

  210.23

  374.75

  539.27

  703.49

  1,032.83

  1,526.39

  3,171.59

  VAT

  17.19

  23.01

  35.39

  Other indirect taxes

  25.09

  32.07

  46.93

  Total excluding council tax

  118.86

  165.59

  251.83

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  156.06

  226.29

  293.51

  436.61

  557.02

  797.83

  1,038.64

  1,279.45

  1,761.07

  2,483.51

  4,891.61

  Increase since 1991– 92

  13.66

  19.25

  24.84

  34.13

  38.04

  54.73

  71.42

  88.11

  121.49

  171.56

  338.46

  Increase since 1996– 97

  3.29

  5.26

  7.22

  10.86

  12.62

  16.13

  19.64

  23.15

  30.17

  40.71

  75.81

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.6

  8.4

  8.8

  6.7

  5.0

  3.4

  2.5

  2.0

  1.4

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  13.1

  16.4

  18.1

  20.7

  25.6

  30.4

  32.8

  34.2

  35.9

  37.1

  38.6

  VAT

  5.6

  5.6

  5.7

  Other indirect taxes

  8.1

  7.8

  7.6

  Total excluding council tax

  38.5

  40.3

  40.8

  Married couple, one earner: no children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1,233.90

  1,645.20

  2,056.50

  2,879.00

  4,113.00

  8,226.00

  NICs

  15.61

  25.89

  36.17

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  Income tax

  21.76

  45.41

  69.06

  122.69

  204.95

  369.47

  533.99

  698.51

  1,027.55

  1,521.11

  3,166.31

  VAT

  17.47

  23.94

  37.71

  Other indirect taxes

  27.10

  32.20

  43.06

  Total excluding council tax

  115.87

  161.37

  245.01

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  164.21

  231.44

  298.66

  441.77

  562.17

  802.98

  1,043.79

  1,284.60

  1,766.23

  2,488.66

  4,896.77

  Increase since 1991– 92

  9.41

  15.01

  20.59

  29.90

  28.15

  44.84

  61.53

  78.22

  111.61

  161.68

  328.59

  198 199

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1997–98

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Increase since 1996–97

  3.27

  5.25

  7.21

  10.85

  12.60

  16.11

  19.62

  23.13

  30.16

  40.69

  75.80

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.6

  8.4

  8.8

  6.7

  5.0

  3.4

  2.5

  2.0

  1.4

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax

  10.6

  14.7

  16.8

  19.9

  24.9

  29.9

  32.5

  34.0

  35.7

  37.0

  38.5

  VAT

  5.7

  5.8

  6.1

  Other indirect taxes

  8.8

  7.8

  7.0

  Total excluding council tax

  37.6

  39.2

  39.7

  Married couple one earner: 2 children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1,233.90

  1,645.20

  2,056.50

  2.879.10

  4,113.00

  8,226.00

  NICs

  15.61

  25.89

  36.17

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  41.54

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  1.71

  25.36

  49.01

  102.64

  184.90

  349.42

  513.94

  678.46

  1,007.50

  1,501.06

  3,146.26

  VAT

  17.41

  23.26

  35.72

  Other indirect taxes

  31.92

  35.73

  43.84

  Total excluding council tax

  100.58

  144.17

  223.75

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  183.78

  251.00

  318.23

  461.33

  581.74

  822.55

  1,063.36

  1,304.17

  1,785.79

  2,508.22

  4,916.33

  Increase since 1991– 92

  10.65

  16.24

  21.83

  31.13

  29.40

  46.09

  62.78

  79.47

  112.85

  162.91

  329.82

  Increase since 1996– 97

  3.24

  5.21

  7.18

  10.81

  12.57

  16.08

  19.59

  23.10

  30.12

  40.65

  75.76

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  7.6

  8.4

  8.8

  6.7

  5.0

  3.4

  2.5

  2.0

  1.4

  1.0

  0.5

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  0.8

  8.2

  11.9

  16.6

  22.5

  28.3

  31.2

  33.0

  35.0

  36.5

  38.2

  VAT

  5.6

  5.7

  5.8

  Other indirect taxes

  10.3

  8.7

  7.1

  Total excluding council tax

  32.6

  35.1

  36.3

  Married couple, 2 earners, no children:

  Earnings split 60:-40

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1,233.90

  1,645.20

  2,056.50

  2,879.10

  4,113.00

  8,226.00

  NICs

  10.65

  20.93

  31.21

  51.78

  69.48

  83.08

  83.08

  83.08

  83.08

  83.08

  83.08

  Income tax

  4.74

  26.15

  48.81

  96.11

  143.41

  265.31

  415.19

  579.71

  908.75

  1,402.31

  3,047.51

  VAT

  18.78

  25.24

  37.99

  Other indirect taxes

  31.06

  37.64

  50.62

  Total excluding council tax

  96.92

  142.90

  236.49

  Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)

  185.67

  255.07

  323.27

  457.72

  594.96

  864.09

  1,119.19

  1,360.00

  1,841.62

  2,564.06

  4,972.16

  Increase since 1991– 92

  8.73

  16.50

  23.06

  34.25

  47.77

  56.46

  66.19

  82.88

  116.26

  166.34

  333.23

  Increase since 1996– 97

  3.36

  4.77

  6.56

  10.50

  15.26

  21.53

  25.22

  28.73

  35.75

  46.29

  81.39

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  5.2

  6.8

  7.6

  8.4

  8.4

  6.7

  5.0

  4.0

  2.9

  2.0

  1.0

  Income tax

  2.3

  8.5

  11.9

  15.6

  17.4

  21.5

  25.2

  28.2

  31.6

  34.1

  37.0

  VAT

  6.1

  6.1

  6.2

  Other indirect taxes

  10.1

  9.2

  8.2

  Total excluding council tax

  31.4

  34.7

  38.3

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings

  1991–92 indexed to 1997–98

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  100

  2000

  Single person

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1233.90

  1645.20

  2056.50

  2879.10

  4113.00

  8226.00

  NICs

  14.17

  23.42

  32.68

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  Income tax

  32.64

  58.34

  84.05

  135.68

  217.94

  382.46

  546.98

  711.50

  1040.54

  1534.10

  3179.30

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  6.9

  7.6

  7.9

  6.1

  4.6

  3.0

  2.3

  1.8

  1.3

  0.9

  0.5

  Income tax

  15.9

  18.9

  20.4

  22.0

  26.5

  31.0

  33.2

  34.6

  36.1

  37.3

  38.6

  Married couple, one earner: no children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.45

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1233.90

  1645.20

  2056.50

  2879.10

  4113.00

  8226.00

  NICs

  14.17

  23.42

  32.68

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  Income tax

  22.83

  48.54

  74.24

  125.66

  202.25

  366.77

  531.29

  695.81

  1024.85

  1518.41

  3163.61

  200 201

  Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings

  1991–92 indexed to 1997–98

  Percentage of male average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  100

  2000

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  6.9

  7.6

  7.9

  6.1

  4.6

  3.0

  2.3

  1.8

  1.3

  0.9

  0.5

  Income tax

  11.1

  15.7

  18.1

  20.4

  24.6

  29.7

  32.3

  33.8

  35.6

  36.9

  38.5

  Married couple, one earner: 2 children

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1233.90

  1645.20

  2056.30

  2879.10

  4113.00

  8226.00

  NICs

  14.17

  23.42

  32.68

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  37.51

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  2.78

  28.49

  54.19

  105.61

  182.20

  346.72

  511.24

  675.76

  1004.80

  1498.36

  3143.56

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  6.9

  7.6

  7.9

  6.1

  4.6

  3.0

  2.3

  1.8

  1.3

  0.9

  0.5

  Income tax (less child benefit)

  1.4

  9.2

  13.2

  17.1

  22.1

  28.1

  31.1

  32.9

  34.9

  36.4

  38.2

  Married couple, 2 earners, no children:

  Earnings split 60:40

  £ per week

  Gross income

  205.65

  308.48

  411.30

  616.95

  822.60

  1233.90

  1645.20

  2056.50

  2879.10

  4113.00

  8226.00

  NICs

  9.83

  19.08

  28.34

  46.85

  62.78

  75.02

  75.02

  75.02

  75.02

  75.02

  75.02

  Income tax

  4.06

  29.76

  55.47

  106.88

  158.29

  273.96

  420.20

  584.72

  913.76

  1407.32

  3052.52

  Percentage of earnings

  NICs

  4.8

  6.2

  6.9

  7.6

  7.6

  6.1

  4.6

  3.6

  2.6

  1.8

  0.9

  Income tax

  2.0

  9.6

  13.5

  17.3

  19.2

  22.2

  25.5

  28.4

  31.7

  34.2

  37.1

  Notes to Tables:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earner, including wives are assumed to pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate. Child benefit is deducted from income tax so as to provide comparability with figures for earlier years when support was partly given through child tax allowances.

  2. Earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. Estimates of earnings in 1996–97 and 1997–98 are based on earnings growth assumptions of 3 per cent. in 1996–97 and 4 per cent. in 1997–98 on line with the illustrative assumptions set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  3. The figures for an indexed 1991–92 tax system show the tax payments that would result if the 1991–92 income tax system had been indexed to 1997–98 using the increase in the Retail Prices Index between December 1990 and September 1996, and income tax and national insurance contributions rates had been kept at their 1991–92 levels.

  4. Real take-home pay includes earnings and child benefit less direct tax payments (income tax and national insurance contributions) deflated to 1996–97 prices using the Retail Prices Index. Indirect taxes and council tax are included in the Retail Prices Index and therefore in the inflation adjustment. Those on low earnings may be entitled to income-related benefits not included in these calculations.

  5. Figures for indirect taxes include estimates of the effects of the main intermediate taxes on households as well as the impact of taxes on final goods and services. Estimates of the impact of taxes on final goods and services assume that these taxes are fully incident on households. Estimates of the impact of intermediate taxes are based on the relation between intermediate production costs and final consumption derived using input-output techniques.

  6. Figures for indirect taxes and council tax are estimated from expenditure patterns in the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey uprated to later years using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. All estimates are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved.

  7. Estimates of indirect taxes are very approximate, even within the range for which figures are shown, because spending patterns vary widely between households with the same composition and income. The margin of error is even higher outside the range shown, and even illustrative estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between estimates obtained from Family Expenditure Surveys for different years, so reliable comparisons cannot be made between the estimates for different years.

  Beer Taxes
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the level of tax on beer in each year; since 1979 and (b) the percentage change between each year. [7254]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 3 December 1996]: Tax revenues—excise duty and VAT—for a pint of bitter in licensed premises were as follows:

  Tax in pence

  Percentage change

  1979

  12.2

  23.1

  1980

  14.8

  21.7

  1981

  19.3

  29.7

  1982

  21.7

  12.9

  1983

  23.1

  6.1

  1984

  26.2

  13.6

  202

  Tax in pence

  Percentage change

  1985

  28.3

  8.0

  1986

  28.8

  1.8

  1987

  29.2

  1.4

  1988

  30.8

  5.4

  1989

  31.6

  2.5

  1990

  34.5

  9.3

  1991

  40.6

  17.8

  1992

  43.1

  6.0

  1993

  45.2

  4.9

  1994

  44.5

  -1.5

  1995

  46.2

  3.9

  1996

  46.9

  1.6

  For 1979, price relates to July. For 1980 to 1993 prices relate to April/May and from 1994 onwards they relate to January.

  Tax on a pint of bitter in licensed premises is now the lowest proportion of the selling price in 30 years.

  European Union Budget
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net EU budget contributions for each member state in 1995 and their estimated contributions in 1996, indicating the sources of his figures. [7677]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 5 December 1996]: The table sets out indicative figures for 1995. These are drawn from the European Court of Auditors' information on member states' total financial contributions to and receipts from the Community budget published this November in the "Annual Report covering the financial year 1995". The net contribution figures show the balance from the two sides of the budget by deducting total receipts from the gross contribution for each member state. A minus sign therefore indicates that a member state received more from the budget in 1995 than it paid.

  Comparable information from the European Court of Auditors relating to 1996 will not be available until November 1997. The figure for the UK's net contribution for 1996 is therefore the Treasury's most recent forecast. This calculation is not directly comparable with that of the European Court of Auditors, but the Government are confident that the UK's net contribution in 1996 will be considerably lower than in 1995 as we recover excess payments relating to the 1995 underspend.

  Net contributions to the EU Budget in 1995

  Millions of ecu

  £ million

  Belgium

  311

  255

  Denmark

  -306

  -251

  Germany

  13,431

  10,999

  Greece

  -3,489

  -2,857

  Spain

  -7,218

  -5,911

  France

  1,727

  1,414

  Ireland

  -1,887

  -1,545

  Italy

  614

  503

  Luxembourg

  45

  37

  Netherlands

  2,005

  1,642

  Austria

  905

  741

  Portugal

  -2,381

  -1,950

  Finland

  165

  135

  Sweden

  937

  767

  UK (1995)

  4,720

  3,865

  UK (1996)

  1,892

  1,603

  Notes:

  1. These figures are net of the UK's abatement.

  2. Exchange rates used are 1.2211 ecu/£ for 1995 and 1.1803 ecu/E for 1996.

  3. These figures can only be indicative of net contributions because the Court of Auditors does not allocate all Community spending by member state. In particular, administrative spending is not fully attributed.

  4. Net contributions can vary significantly from year to year owing to adjustments in Own Resource payments and fluctuations in receipts. The UK's net contribution in 1995 was high because the Community Budget underspent in that year, leading to lower UK receipts than expected. The UK abatement in 1995 was also relatively lower than on average.

  Source:

  European Court of Auditors (UK 1996 figure HM Treasury, Cm 3350)

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department will spend on Christmas trees 204
  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. [7572]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Two Christmas trees of type Nordmanianna, grown in England, have been purchased at a cost of around £500.

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 9 June 1995,Official Report, columns 339–40, on economic statistics relating to exports, investments, imports and gross domestic product of EU and G7 countries, to cover the period 1979 to 1995. [7820]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: G7 and EC growth, investment, exports and imports data can be found in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publications "OECD Quarterly National Accounts" and the "OECD National Accounts, Vol. I", which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Average annual export volume growth 1979–95 Percentage

  Average annual GDP growth 1979–95 Percentage

  G7

  US

  6.1

  2.4

  Canada

  6.3

  2.4

  Japan

  5.6

  3.1

  France

  3.9

  1.9

  Italy

  4.5

  2.0

  UK

  3.6

  1.9

  West Germany

  5.3

  2.1

  Rest of EC

  Austria

  4.4

  2.2

  Belgium1

  4.2

  1.9

  Denmark

  4.5

  1.9

  Finland

  4.3

  2.0

  Greece1

  5.7

  1.4

  Ireland1

  8.8

  3.6

  Luxembourg1

  3.9

  3.0

  Netherlands

  4.2

  1.9

  Portugal1

  6.2

  2.5

  Spain

  6.7

  2.4

  Sweden

  4.6

  1.4

  1 Latest available year 1994.

  Investment to GDP average ratio 1979–95

  Imports to GDP average ratio 1979–95

  G7

  US

  18.5

  10.6

  Canada

  20.6

  26.7

  Japan

  29.4

  10.0

  France

  20.3

  21.9

  Italy

  20.3

  20.6

  UK

  17.1

  26.3

  West Germany1

  22.7

  30.2

  Rest of EC

  Austria

  24.1

  37.7

  Belgium1

  18.1

  69.6

  Denmark

  17.4

  32.0

  Finland

  22.7

  27.9

  205

  Investment to GDP average ratio 1979–95

  Imports to GDP average ratio 1979–95

  Greece1

  22.0

  26.8

  Ireland1

  20.7

  57.3

  Luxembourg1

  22.1

  91.8

  Netherlands

  20.1

  49.4

  Portugal1

  28.1

  37.2

  Spain

  21.4

  20.1

  Sweden

  18.4

  30.9

  1 Latest available year 1994.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average gross weekly income in 1995–96 by decile group for(a) all households, (b) one adult retired households mainly dependent on state pensions, (c) one adult retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions, (d) one adult non-retired households, (e) one adult households with children, (f) two adult

  Family Expenditure Survey 1995–96 Average Gross Normal Weekly Income by Decile Group

  Lowest ten per cent.

  Second decile group

  Third decile group

  Fourth decile group

  Fifth decile group

  Sixth decile group

  Seventh decile group

  Eighth decile group

  Ninth decile group

  Highest ten per cent.

  All households

  All households

  Number of households

  680

  679

  680

  680

  680

  679

  680

  680

  679

  680

  797

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  65.30

  102.00

  145.20

  201.20

  270.90

  342.80

  417.40

  514.20

  659.40

  1090.50

  380.90

  One adult retired households mainly dependent on state pensions

  Number of households

  51

  51

  50

  51

  51

  51

  51

  50

  51

  51

  508

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  61.20

  65.60

  67.70

  70.60

  72.30

  75.30

  82.40

  92.80

  110.30

  146.00

  84.40

  One adult retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions

  Number of households

  42

  42

  41

  42

  42

  42

  42

  41

  42

  42

  418

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  83.40

  99.60

  113.70

  125.20

  136.80

  152.80

  176.30

  209.70

  270.30

  528.30

  189.70

  One adult non-retired households

  Number of households

  90

  89

  90

  89

  90

  89

  90

  89

  90

  89

  895

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  44.40

  67.70

  103.80

  156.80

  201.80

  247.00

  292.90

  343.70

  422.10

  640.50

  251.80

  One adult households with children

  Number of households

  44

  44

  44

  44

  45

  44

  44

  44

  44

  44

  441

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  63.10

  77.80

  84.80

  93.50

  105.80

  122.00

  156.50

  211.30

  279.90

  493.30

  168.70

  Two adult households with children

  Number of household

  166

  167

  166

  167

  166

  166

  167

  166

  167

  166

  1,664

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  117.80

  210.70

  294.40

  356.00

  405.80

  459.00

  531.90

  625.40

  757.20

  1,187.10

  494.50

  One man one woman non-retired households

  Number of households

  134

  134

  134

  134

  134

  133

  134

  134

  134

  134

  1,339

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  113.80

  202.60

  276.90

  337.90

  390.50

  449.90

  517.30

  614.10

  748.60

  1,283.10

  493.50

  One man one woman retired households mainly dependent on state pensions

  Number of households

  24

  24

  23

  24

  24

  24

  24

  23

  24

  24

  238

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  90.00

  106.50

  111.90

  119.30

  125.70

  133.50

  144.90

  160.20

  177.10

  230.40

  140.00

  One man one woman retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions

  Number of households

  44

  44

  44

  44

  44

  43

  44

  44

  44

  44

  439

  Average gross normal weekly income (£)

  141.20

  168.70

  189.50

  213.70

  238.10

  269.60

  309.50

  364.00

  449.00

  780.90

  312.50

  Note:

  ONS, Family Spending 1995–96, Crown copyright 1996.
  206
  households with children, (g) one man, one woman non-retired households, (h) one man, one woman retired households mainly dependent on state pensions and (i) one man, one woman retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions. [7826]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 11 December 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the average gross weekly income in 1995–96 by decile group for certain household compositions.
  Estimates from the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) for average gross normal weekly income in 1995–96 by decile group for these household compositions are shown in the attached table. The figures are subject to sampling variations; have been rounded to the nearest 10 pence; are averages for each household composition and have not been adjusted to reflect household composition.

  Budget Effects
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his Department's estimates of the distributional impact of changes made in the Budget(a) by household income decile and (b) by region. [7267]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: Estimates of the impact of some of the main Budget tax measures on household income deciles are in the table. Estimates of the effects of other Budget measures and of the distributional impact by region are not available.

  The figures show the direct impact of the measures on households. They do not allow for the lasting prosperity, combining steady growth with low inflation, that has been secured by the Budget and is ensuring that living standards go on rising. A family on average earnings should be £370 better off next year than this, after earnings growth, tax and inflation, and over £1,100 a year better off than in 1991–92.

  Average impact (- loss/+ gain) of main Budget tax measures in 1997– 981 (as a percentage of net income)

  Household income decile2

  Tobacco

  Other measures

  Bottom

  -0.3

  -0.2

  2nd

  -0.2

  0.0

  3rd

  -0.2

  0.1

  4th

  -0.2

  0.3

  5th

  -0.1

  0.4

  6th

  -0.1

  0.6

  7th

  -0.1

  0.7

  8th

  -0.1

  0.7

  9th

  -0.1

  0.8

  Top

  0.0

  0.8

  1 Estimates based on 992–93 to 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey data, uprated to 1997–98 price and earnings levels. Because of the limitations of the Survey data the estimates are only approximate, particularly at the top and bottom of the distribution. The figures include the main tax measures directly affecting households—real rises of £200 in personal allowances; real rise of £100 in lower rate band; lp reduction in the basic rate of income tax; freeze on beer, wine and cider duties; 4 per cent, cut in spirits duty; 5 per cent, real rise in tobacco duty; 3 per cent, real rise in road fuel duties and the increase in insurance premium tax of 1.5 per cent. The figures show the effects relative to indexed tax allowances and duty rates.

  2 Household incomes are adjusted for differences in composition before allocating households to deciles.

  Tax Evasion
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of evasions of payments of(a) income tax and (b) other tax have been discovered in each of the last five years; and what has been the value of the revenue recovered in each category. [8306]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer which I gave him on 26 October 1995, Official Report, columns 727–28, which covered the years 1989–90 to 1994–95.

  The equivalent figures for 1995–96 are:

  Income tax investigations

  Other investigations

  Yield from counter-evasion work (£ million)

  57,211

  9,106

  1,309

  208
  Splitting the yield figures for each of the last five years between income tax and other taxes could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  Tax (Tobacco Products)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many representations he has received from members of the public calling for(a) maintaining present and (b) reducting rates of tax on tobacco products (i) since November 1995 and (ii) since September 1996; [6898]

  (2) how many representations he has received from hon. Members calling for (a) maintaining present and (b) reducting rates of tax on tobacco products since November 1995. [6920]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The precise information is not available, but the Prime Minister and Treasury Ministers have received many representations, in varying forms, from hon. Members, members of the public and health practitioners on many aspects of tobacco taxation. The Chancellor met hon. Members on 29 October, as did I on 30 October, to hear further representations on the subject of tobacco taxation.

  Airport Passenger Taxes
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the level of airport passenger taxes, where appropriate, in each of the OECD member states. [7450]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not available in the form requested because the structure of air passenger taxes throughout OECD member states is very varied and complex. It includes embarkation taxes, departure charges, passenger service charges and air transport taxes as well as VAT-type taxes. They also vary, within a single state, according to factors such as airport of departure, place of destination, ticket price and weight of aircraft.

  Prawns
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the verdict of the European Court on the duty liability of John and Celia Smith of Grimsby on prawns imported from the Faroe Islands with valid EUR 1 certificates, if he proposes to apply to the European Commission for a waiver on the duty. [7684]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The European Court of Justice has referred this matter back to the United Kingdom High Court for a decision as to duty liability. The judgment specifically stated that it is now for the national court to determine whether the conditions for waiver are met. It is the High Court which will decide this case, not the European Commission.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of retrospective duty was levied on German and Danish importers of prawns subsequently imported with valid EUR 1 certificates from Iceland and the Faroe Islands; and how many importers were affected. [7682]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  We have no information on amounts of duty demanded retrospectively in Germany and Denmark, or on the number of importers affected. However UK customs is aware that demands have been
  209
  issued in both countries and, as in the United Kingdom, appeals are working their way through the respectively legal systems.

  Zaire
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the allegations contained in the Cook report of June 1995 relating to arms transport to Zaire, a transcript of which has been sent to him. [7525]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The investigation and prosecution of any alleged breaches of UK legislation implementing arms embargoes is a matter for the commissioners of Customs and Excise. It is not customs' general practice to comment publicly about the existence or nature of any investigation of individuals or companies not yet accused of criminal offences since to do so could risk prejudicing any on-going inquiries or future criminal proceedings.

  I am, however, on this occasion able to tell the hon. Member that the allegations contained in the Cook report were taken into account in inquiries made by customs in 1995. These inquiries did not produce evidence to support any criminal proceedings.

  British Artists (Germany)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that British artists appearing in Germany should be able to recover or obtain credit for value added tax imposed in Germany on taxes withheld. [7660]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  When UK artists appear in Germany an element for VAT is included in the calculation of taxes withheld there. A deduction in respect of that element may be made by UK artists in computing their income for the purposes of UK income tax.

  Petrol and Diesel
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of total income to the Treasury resulting from an increase in petrol and diesel duties exclusive of value added tax of(a) 1p per litre, (b) 3p per litre and (c) 4.5p per litre. [7479]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Based on information in the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs," increasing the duty rate on petrol and diesel by 1p, 3p and 4.5p per litre would yield approximately £0.5 billion, £1.4 billion and £2.1 billion respectively in the first full year. Costings take account of the effects on behaviour where they are likely to have a significant effect on the yield and any consequential changes in receipts from related taxes including VAT; and they are measured against a non-indexed base.

  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]
  210
  Mr. Jack
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1996, c. 27–28]: There was a transcription error in the tables. I apologise for this mistake. The correct figures are given in the following tables.

  Information on the amounts of tax received is in table 1. Figures for the numbers of people paying income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax are in table 2. Information on the numbers of people paying other taxes is not available.

  Table 1: Tax and National Insurance Receipts (on a cash basis) £ billion

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1995–96

  Income tax

  24.3

  35.4

  55.3

  68.0

  Corporation tax

  4.6

  10.7

  21.5

  23.6

  Value added tax

  11.0

  19.3

  31.0

  43.1

  Excise duties1

  8.9

  14.9

  19.9

  28.4

  Other taxes and royalties2

  22.6

  41.3

  40.7

  44.2

  Social security contributions

  14.1

  24.5

  35.4

  44.5

  Total

  85.4

  146.0

  203.8

  251.8

  As a percentage of total

  Income tax

  28.4

  24.2

  27.1

  27.0

  Corporation tax

  5.4

  7.3

  10.5

  9.4

  Value added tax

  12.8

  13.2

  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.S

  16.8

  17.4

  17.7

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1 Fuel, alcohol and tobacco duties.

  2 Includes local taxes as well as other central government taxes.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics.

  Table 2: Taxpayer numbers (thousands)

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1995–96

  Income tax1

  24,900

  23,700

  26,100

  25,700

  Corporation tax2

  195

  275

  350

  450

  Capital gains tax

  155

  130

  110

  85

  Inheritance tax

  transfers on death

  21

  27

  21

  22

  lifetime transfers

  5

  10

  7

  3

  1 Husbands and wives are counted separately.

  2 Taxpayers are companies.

  Source:

  Inland Revenue.

  Private Finance Initiative (Universities)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many universities have made use of the private finance initiative to date; and what is the total expenditure involved. [8425]

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Higher Education Funding Council for England has an active programme for seeking private finance initiative "pathfinder" projects which can be used as exemplars of good practice for the sector as a whole. So far, 12 institutions have been awarded this status and are progressing projects to a capital value of some £120 million. The funding council has recently closed

  211
  round two of its "pathfinder" programme, and we expect announcements regarding additional successful projects early in the new year.

  Universities are autonomous institutions and make their own procurement decisions. It is therefore impossible to know the exact number of institutions which have procurement arrangements involving private finance. The Higher Education Funding Council for England estimates that total commercial funding in the sector to date exceeds £1.6 billion.

ENVIRONMENT

  Departmental Staff (Local Government)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many personnel in his Department work full time on local government matters; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [7773]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In the Department of the Environment, approximately 222 staff work full time on local government matters at a total administration cost of approximately £8.5 million.

  Leader Project
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Leader project; how much funding from European Community resources is available for the United Kingdom, and in which financial years; to what extent matching funding from Her Majesty's Government are required; and which areas of England qualified to receive Leader funding. [8066]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The purpose of the Leader II initiative is to permit those engaged in the rural economy to implement measures which will help develop their own potential within an overall policy for stimulating rural development.

  The United Kingdom has been allocated £62.64 million up to the end of 1999. Leader II will pay up to 50 per cent. of the eligible costs of a project. The remaining match funding must be found by the applicant, and may come from the Government and other public and private sector sources. The initiative is targeted at objective 5b areas and those eligible in England are parts of the northern uplands, midlands uplands, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, the south-west and the west midlands marches.

  Stockton City Challenge
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has reached on the application by Stockton city challenge to redevelop the north end of Stockton high street. [8069]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State received the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry on 3 June 1996, and is considering it. Following receipt of the report, he was asked to reopen the public inquiry by one of the non-statutory objectors to the compulsory purchase order, and this required some further consultation with the parties involved in the inquiry.
  212
  Those consultations are now complete and are also being considered. The decision will be issued as soon as it is practicable to do so.

  Rooms over Shops
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress with the Government's scheme to encourage shopkeepers to use rooms over the shop for private tenancies; what financial incentives are available; and how many units are estimated to have become available since the scheme began. [8067]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department ran a demonstration flats over shops programme providing £25 million between 1992–93 and 1994–95 to bring empty space above retail premises into residential use. This created some 1,500 additional housing units directly and many more indirectly. Capital funding for such schemes has continued under the Government's housing partnership fund which provided £30 million a year in 1995–96 and 1996–97 for innovative housing projects including the provision of flats over shops. We will be publishing a research report by the South Bank university early in the new year which evaluates the flats over shops programme and other similar initiatives.

  Battersea Power Station
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the London borough of Wandsworth last forwarded a report to his Department on the overall condition of(a) the structure and (b) the site of Battersea power station; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [8515]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have received no such reports. The building is regularly inspected by English Heritage. The last such inspection was on 5 December.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the state of the internal structure of Battersea power station. [8637]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No. The building is regularly inspected by English Heritage. The last such inspection was on 5 December and is a matter for the Secretary of State for National Heritage.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when officials from his Department last visited the site of Battersea power station; what reports were published on their visit; and where such reports can be obtained. [8638]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Officials visited Battersea power station on 3 December for a presentation of the proposals to redevelop the site. No reports have been published.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the acreage of the site of Battersea power station. [8514]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I understand that the site is some 30 acres—12 hectares.

  New Housing (Access)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has
  213
  commissioned on the additional building costs involved in extending part M of the Building Regulations to improve access to new housing; who will be consulted in the course of that research; and when he expects it to be completed. [8293]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has not yet commissioned any such research, but we have agreed to undertake a joint study with the House-Builders Federation on the additional building costs involved in extending part M of the Building Regulations to improve access to new housing. To this end, officials have written to eight local authorities to ask for their help in selecting suitable schemes for the study. Once all the authorities have replied, the Department will be in a position to commission the research and establish a date for its completion.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the (i) total standard spending assessment and police grant and (ii) total external support including revenue support grant, non-domestic rates, SSA reduction grant and police grants to be received by(a) all local authorities, (b) each class of local authority, (c) education authorities, (d) authorities other than police authorities and (e) all authorities, in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97 and for each the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for changed local authority functions and responsibilities, and the further transfer for responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; and if he will list each such adjustment and its monetary value; [8002]

  Table 1: Total Standard Spending and Aggregate External Finance for Education Authorities

  Adjusted 1996–97 (£ million)

  Provisional 1997–98 (£ million)

  Change (£ million)

  Change Percentage

  Total Standard Spending for Education Authorities

  35,198.8

  36,011.4

  812.6

  2.3

  Total Standard Spending for Education Authorities (adjusted for 1997–98 Community Care STG)

  35,517.5

  36,011.4

  494.0

  1.4

  Aggregate External Finance for Education Authorities

  27,426.3

  27,879.8

  453.5

  1.7

  Aggregate External Finance for Education Authorities (adjusted for 1997–98 Community Care STG)

  27,745.0

  27,879.8

  134.90.5

  Notes:

  1. The aggregates for TSS and AEF presented in the table include only those types of specific and special grants which are allocated solely to education authorities (whether or not the grant relates to education). Some £150 million of further specific grants are allocated both to some Education Authorities and to other classes of authority. These are housing benefit administration grant, council tax benefit administration grant, national parks grant and part of the ethnic minorities (s11) grant.

  2. The figures for adjusted TSS and AEF are derived from information about standard spending assessments for education authorities and total external support for education authorities set out in tables 3 and 4 of the information provided in the answer referred to above. The notes to those tables provide details of the derivation of the figures.

  3. All figures for TSS and AEF exclude 1997–98 reorganisation SCAs. They also exclude funding for specified bodies, the city offset and reorganisation: transitional reduction grant.
  214
  (2) what is the (i) total standard spending and (ii) total aggregate external finance for (a) all local authorities and (b) all local authorities other than police authorities in England in 1997–98 and 1996–97, and for each the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 totals for changed local authority functions and responsibilities, and the further transfer for responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; and if he will list each such adjustment and its monetary value. [8003]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: I have placed the information requested in the Library.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is (i) the total standard spending and (ii) the total aggregate external finance for(a) all local authorities and (b) all education authorities in England in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97; and in each case what was the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 totals for changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997–98, and the further transfer of responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; [8564]

  (2) what are (i) the total standard spending assessments and police grant external support and (ii) the total external support to be received by (a) all local authorities, (b) each class of authority, (c) education authorities, (d) all authorities other than policy authorities and (e) all authorities, in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97; and in each case what was the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997–98. [8565]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. The remaining information is contained in the table.

  Access to Information
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish his reply to the first report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities on freedom of access to information on the environment, HL9; and if he will make a statement. [8465]

  Mr. Clappison
  The recommendations in the report are being carefully considered. The Government's reply will be published in due course.

  Genetically Modified Food
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will suspend imports of genetically modified maize until a full assessment has been made of the hazards to human health and a proper labelling regime is in place. [8129]

  Mr. Clappison
  In accordance with Council directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms, an assessment on the risks posed to human health and the environment for the genetically modified maize has been carried out by member states. It is now up to the European Commission to take a decision on the importation and marketing of the genetically modified maize. This decision will be in accordance with the provisions of the directive, which include provisions for labelling.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the ministerial group on energy efficiency last met; and if he will reconvene it. [8695]

  Mr. Clappison
  The work of the former ministerial group on energy efficiency has been continued by Green Ministers, who met most recently on 28 October 1996.

  Coastal Byelaws
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the proposed discussion paper which reviews the byelaw-making powers for the coast. [8910]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department of the Environment has today published "Byelaw Powers for the Coast: A Discussion Paper". The paper sets out the main issues regarding current scope and use of the relevant powers in England, ways in which present arrangements might be improved and updated, and the relationship with broader management aims and initiatives. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and the paper will be widely distributed.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the UK round table on sustainable development. [9101]

  Mr. Gummer
  The round table was set up in January 1995 and is now approaching the end of its initial two-year term. The Government are encouraged by the progress that the round table has made during this period in developing its role as a body which can build consensus on priorities and actions to assist the UK's pursuit of 216
  sustainable development. The round table is providing an increasingly valuable and welcome contribution to the continuing debate about integrating economic development and environmental protection and enhancement. I am therefore pleased to announce that its life will be extended for a further two years until January 1999. I am considering, in consultation with my colleagues, what the round table's membership should be during that period, with a view to strengthening it in some areas.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Cameroons
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the major development projects in the Cameroons which have received a United Kingdom contribution. [8434]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  In the last decade we have funded the following major projects:In-service teacher education and training in the Anglophone provinces.
  Agricultural research.
  Forest management and regeneration.
  Community forestry development.
  Conservation and management of natural resources on Mount Cameroon.
  Rural development component of Korup national park conservation project.

  The last three project are on-going.

  World Bank (Environmental Impact Assessments)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to request the World bank to undertake an environmental impact assessment before approving funds for major development projects. [8410]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The World bank recently completed a report which took stock of the bank's progress in implementing its environmental assessment policy. We welcome the steps which the bank has taken to ensure that environmental concerns are properly reflected in its operations, and continue to press for further improvements.

  Great Lakes Region
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current humanitarian requirements of the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [8576]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  According to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs on 2 December, £52 million had so far been pledged by donors in response to the UN inter-agency appeal for the Great Lakes region. This does not include a commitment of £129 million agreed by the European Union on 6 December. The appeal covered total estimated requirements for food aid up to June 1997 and certain other requirements up to January 1997 estimated altogether at £155 million. The Government of Rwanda have also revised their programme to reintegrate returning
  217
  refugees and re-establish productive communities. On 20 November, my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a commitment of £10 million to address immediate needs in the Great Lakes region.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [8575]

  Dr. Fox
  The region remains unstable and afflicted by violence. The security situation in Burundi is of particular concern. We continue to support regional efforts to resolve the underlying political problems, and welcome President Moi's intention to convene a further regional summit on Nairobi on 16 December. We also look forward to the report of the UN special envoy to Zaire and the Great Lakes, Ambassador Chretien.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to facilitate the holding of an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region of Africa. [8579]

  Dr. Fox
  We are committed with our EU partners to early preparations for a conference in peace, security and development in the Great Lakes, under UN-Organisation of Africa Unity auspices. EU envoy Aldo Ajello continues to work to facilitate such a conference. We await the report of UN special envoy Ambassador Chretien, who has been tasked to consider next steps on the conference. We see an important role for regional summits such as that planned for Nairobi on 16 December in preparing the ground for a wider conference.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has recently held with representatives of the Governments of(a) Zaire, (b) Rwanda, (c) Burundi, (d) Uganda and (e) Tanzania. [8577]

  Dr. Fox
  My right hon. and learned Friend met His Excellency the President of Tanzania on 11 November. We are in regular contact with representatives of the Governments in the region in the search for lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current refugee situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa, with particular reference to(a) the numbers of refugees, (b) the geographical situation of the refugees and (c) the health of the refugees. [8578]

  Dr. Fox
  On numbers and location, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to Lord Judd in another place on 5 December,Official Report, House of Lords, column 61. The condition of refugees in camps in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda is generally good. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that substantial numbers of refugees remain beyond the current reach of aid agencies in eastern Zaire. Their condition is unknown but is a cause for concern. With the international community, we are pressing the parties to the conflict to allow access to those in need.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent Commonwealth ministerial action group mission to Nigeria. [8580]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Commonwealth ministerial action group visited Nigeria from 18 to 20 November. The CMAG met General Abacha, representatives of the National Electoral Commission and the transition committees, leaders of the recently registered political parties, traditional rulers and the chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission. The group welcomed the release of three human rights activists during the visit, but pressed for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Chief Abiola. The CMAG also urged Nigerians to resolve the case of the Ogoni 19, review prison conditions and restore accountable civilian government. My noble Friend Baroness Chalker also had bilateral discussions with human rights and pro-democracy groups. The group will meet again in the new year to consider next steps.

  United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the British Government have for continued participation in UNIDO; and what discussions he is currently having with representatives of UNIDO. [8688]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 10 December, at column 100.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [7543]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department's public relations activities are normally met in-house. During 1993–94, my Department spent £62,500 contracting a company to assist with a programme of events to mark the 50th anniversary of D day.

  Other than that, there have been no individual promotional or public information campaigns undertaken by the Department since its inception in 1992. There are at present no plans for any such campaigns in the future.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the eligibility of canal restoration schemes for funding from the national lottery funding bodies. [7949]
  219
  Mr. Sproat
  Canal restoration schemes are eligible to apply for funding from the national lottery. The distributing bodies make their funding decisions independently of Government, and against their published criteria.

  The Millennium Commission has awarded £11.9 million to the Rochdale canal trust to restore 32 miles of the Rochdale canal. The heritage lottery fund made its largest grant to date, £25.1 million, to British Waterways to secure the structure, operation, and environment of the 87-mile Kennet and Avon canal, making it accessible for the enjoyment of future generations.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will take steps to enable animal welfare groups to be eligible for lottery funding; and if she will make a statement. [7777]

  Mr. Sproat
  Any organisation established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes, including animal welfare charities, is eligible to apply to the National Lottery Charities Board. Animal welfare charities are, therefore, welcome to make appropriate applications. The board makes grants to charities and voluntary organisations according to the priorities set for each grants round; I understand that chief executives of several animal welfare charities have welcomed this approach and agreed that the most appropriate round in which to apply is that aimed at improving people's living environment; this round is due to be launched next year.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 589, how the shortlist for the job of chairman of the BBC Broadcasting Council for Wales was drawn up; on what dates the interviews took place; on what dates the unsuccessful candidates were told the news; what assessment was made of the recommendations of the Nolan committee; and what use was made of the public appointments unit in processing this appointment. [7986]

  Mr. Sproat
  In considering the appointment of the BBC national governor for Wales, who chairs the Broadcasting Council for Wales, we are applying the principles established by the Nolan committee as set out in guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Further information about the process can be made available once the appointment has been made by Her Majesty in Council.

  British Library Catalogue
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if all the books currently being transferred to the new British library have been catalogued. [8198]

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for transferring the books to the new British library building at St. Pancras falls to the British library. It has confirmed that all the books currently being transferred have been catalogued.

  Television Licences (Revenue)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total revenue from television licences over the last 12-month period for which figures are available in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [8011]

  Mr. Sproat
  Total television licence revenue in the United Kingdom for the financial year 1995–96 was £1,820 million, of which an estimated £156 million was collected in Scotland.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department will spend on Christmas trees and decorations this year; how many Christmas trees will be bought for her Department's headquarters; and what are the type and country of origin of the trees. [7564]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: A Christmas tree of British origin, Abis Nordmanniana, with decorations will be purchased at a total cost of £65 for one of my Department's HQ buildings.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the(a) cost and (b) percentage of the full television licence paid by (i) pensioners, (ii) registered blind people and (iii) registered deaf people; if she will make it her policy to reduce the cost of the television licence for each of these groups; and if she will make a statement. [7955]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Television licence fees are currently £89.50 for colour licences and £30 for black and white. Registered blind people are entitled to a reduction of £1.25 from the full licence fee. However, a sound-only television monitor, available from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, may be operated without a licence. Moreover, blind people can enjoy the full range of the BBC's radio services. There is no general concession for pensioners or for registered deaf people. However, pensioners and registered blind and deaf people living in qualifying accommodation can benefit from the concessionary television licence scheme, under which licences cost £5. If the Government introduced reduced-fee television licences for all pensioners and registered blind and deaf people, this would be very costly in terms of lost revenue for the BBC. it would lead to a significant rise in licence fees for all other viewers, irrespective of their means, which is why the Government have no such plans.

  The Government have encouraged the BBC to introduce a range of payment options to enable television

  221
  licence fee payers to spread the cost of their licence. However, the Government do not consider the television licence fee a proper instrument of social policy: the appropriate way to help those with special needs is through the pensions and benefits system.

  Mid-week Lottery
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions she has had with Office of the National Lottery on the numbers to be used by Camelot in the proposed mid-week lottery. [8041]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: None. Camelot applied to hold a mid-week draw using the numbers 1 to 49. The decision to approve the mid-week
  222
  draw was made by the Director General of the National Lottery who published a full statement of the reasons for his decision.

PRIME MINISTER

  The Union
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the strategic and economic interests which require the maintenance of the Union between Scotland and England and which do not apply to the Union with Northern Ireland. [7202]

  The Prime Minister
  I firmly believe that the maintenance of the Union is strongly in the interests of each part of the United Kingdom, as well as of the United Kingdom as a whole, but there are no strategic or economic interests which could override the democratic wishes of the people of each constituent part of the United Kingdom in relation to their place within it.

HEALTH

  Accident Prevention
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the recommendations of the accident prevention task force. [7983]

  Mr. Horam
  The accident prevention task force concentrated its efforts on identifying outstanding research and information needs in accident prevention. Its conclusions were published in the following reports which have been placed in the Library:Improving Information on Accidents (PHIS 19), DH 1995
  Agreeing an Accident Information Structure (PHIS 19B), DH 1996
  Health of the Nation Accident Reduction Targets - A Research Review: What Further Work is Needed? - Dr. Irene Higginson, DH June 1995.
  The Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent Accidental Injury to Young Persons Aged 15–24 Years - Prof. Jon Nicholl et al.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has abolished the accident prevention task force. [7982]

  Mr. Horam
  The accident prevention task force was disbanded in May 1996 on completion of its work.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his role on the interdepartmental group on accident prevention strategies; and if he will list the programme of work currently being undertaken by that group. [7984]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no such group.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists solely offered national health service treatment in(a) September 1992 and (b) September 1996. [7972]

  Mr. Malone
  Data on the number of dentists who offer solely national health service treatment are not collected centrally.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 November,Official Report, column 372, if he will list the number of national health service dentists for each health authority in England on (a) 30 September 1992 and (b) 30 September 1996. [7985]

  Mr. Malone
  Data on the number of general dental service dentists were collected by family health services authority before 1 April 1996 and by health authority thereafter. The data at 30 September 1992 and 30 September 1996 are set out in tables 1 and 2.

  Boundary changes have taken place and even where the authorities have the same name the authority areas may not be identical.

  Table 1: General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health services authority, at 30 September 1992

  England

  Family Health Services Authority

  Number of dentists

  England

  15,411

  Cleveland

  166

  224

  Table 1: General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health services authority, at 30 September 1992

  England

  Family Health Services Authority

  Number of dentists

  Cumbria

  143

  Durham

  142

  Northumberland

  83

  Gateshead

  64

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  96

  North Tyneside

  59

  South Tyneside

  45

  Sunderland

  70

  Humberside

  205

  North Yorkshire

  235

  Bradford

  144

  Calderdale

  56

  Kirklees

  116

  Leeds

  258

  Wakefield

  87

  Derbyshire

  257

  Leicestershire

  238

  Lincolnshire

  123

  Nottinghamshire

  272

  Barnsley

  62

  Doncaster

  85

  Rotherham

  62

  Sheffield

  165

  Cambridgeshire

  179

  Norfolk

  223

  Suffolk

  196

  Bedfordshire

  140

  Hertfordshire

  381

  Barnet

  139

  Brent and Harrow

  192

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  259

  Hillingdon

  80

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  209

  Essex

  438

  Barking and Havering

  99

  Camden and Islington

  175

  City and East London

  175

  Enfield and Haringey

  168

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  147

  East Sussex

  273

  Kent

  495

  Greenwich and Bexley

  150

  Bromley

  123

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  268

  Surrey

  455

  West Sussex

  283

  Croydon

  125

  Kingston and Richmond

  128

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  246

  Dorset

  229

  Hampshire

  512

  Wiltshire

  173

  Isle of Wight

  46

  Berkshire

  251

  Buckinghamshire

  243

  Northamptonshire

  140

  Oxfordshire

  191

  Avon

  360

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  141

  Devon

  366

  Gloucestershire

  204

  Somerset

  149

  Hereford and Worcester

  207

  Salop

  123

  Staffordshire

  237

  Warwickshire

  131

  225

  Table 1: General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health services authority, at 30 September 1992

  England

  Family Health Services Authority

  Number of dentists

  Birmingham

  300

  Coventry

  82

  Dudley

  74

  Sandwell

  71

  Solihull

  53

  Walsall

  59

  Wolverhampton

  64

  Cheshire

  331

  Liverpool

  146

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  89

  Sefton

  90

  Wirral

  112

  Lancashire

  421

  Bolton

  74

  Bury

  55

  Manchester

  177

  Oldham

  69

  Rochdale

  57

  Salford

  62

  Stockport

  107

  Tameside

  66

  Trafford

  85

  Wigan

  85

  1. The figures represent the number of dentists (principals) on the family health services authority/health authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees.

  2. Some dentists have a contract with a more than one FHSA/HA, these dentists are counted only once.

  3. The figures exclude salaried, hospital and community dentists.

  Table 2: General Dental Services: number of dentists, by health services authority, at 30 September 1996

  England

  Family Health Services Authority

  Number of dentists

  England

  16,336

  Bradford

  141

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  180

  East Riding

  143

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  122

  Leeds

  256

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  157

  North Cumbria

  107

  North Yorkshire

  264

  Northumberland

  96

  Sunderland

  74

  Tees

  183

  Wakefield

  92

  County Durham

  151

  Barnsley

  54

  South Humber

  72

  Doncaster

  92

  Leicestershire

  257

  Lincolnshire

  134

  North Derbyshire

  108

  North Nottinghamshire

  106

  Nottingham

  200

  Rotherham

  68

  Sheffield

  181

  South Derbyshire

  156

  Bedfordshire

  150

  Berkshire

  276

  Buckinghamshire

  238

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  121

  East Norfolk

  219

  226

  Table 2: General Dental Services: number of dentists, by health services authority, at 30 September 1996

  England

  Family Health Services Authority

  Number of dentists

  Northamptonshire

  158

  North West Anglia

  105

  Oxfordshire

  195

  Suffolk

  201

  Enfield and Haringey

  191

  East London and The City

  193

  Barking and Havering

  114

  South Essex

  210

  Brent and Harrow

  202

  North Essex

  266

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  316

  Camden and Islington

  185

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  203

  Redbridge and Waltham forest

  152

  Barnet

  141

  Hillingdon

  89

  West Hertfordshire

  214

  East and North Hertfordshire

  193

  Bexley and Greenwich

  146

  Bromley

  123

  Croydon

  134

  Kingston and Richmond

  139

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  253

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  276

  East Surrey

  195

  West Surrey

  271

  East Kent

  182

  West Kent

  358

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  289

  West Sussex

  295

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  149

  North and East Devon

  166

  South and West Devon

  224

  Somerset

  163

  Avon

  379

  Wiltshire

  177

  North and Mid Hampshire

  178

  Southampton and South-west Hampshire

  177

  Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire

  167

  Dorset

  240

  Isle of Wight

  43

  Gloucestershire

  201

  Herefordshire

  62

  Worcestershire

  173

  Shropshire

  126

  North Staffordshire

  108

  South Staffordshire

  152

  Warwickshire

  144

  Birmingham

  304

  Coventry

  77

  Dudley

  84

  Sandwell

  84

  Solihull

  59

  Walsall

  58

  Wolverhampton

  64

  Bury and Rochdale

  122

  East Lancashire

  157

  Liverpool

  150

  Manchester

  172

  Morecambe Bay

  103

  North Cheshire

  89

  North West Lancashire

  159

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  96

  Salford and Trafford

  152

  Sefton

  92

  South Cheshire

  244

  227

  Table 2: General Dental Services: number of dentists, by health services authority, at 30 September 1996

  England

  Family Health Services Authority

  Number of dentists

  South Lancashire

  83

  Stockport

  110

  Wigan and Bolton

  178

  Wirral

  129

  West Pennine

  154

  1. The figures represent the number of dentists (principals) on the family health services authority/health authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees.

  2. Some dentists have a contract with a more than one FHSA/HA, these dentists are counted only once.

  3. The figures exclude salaried, hospital and community dentists.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS executive's regional office network monitors the mental health services' implementation of the care programme approach; and if the results of the monitoring are publicly available. [8263]

  Mr. Burns
  Implementation of the care programme approach is monitored via quarterly returns made by health authorities to the national health service executive.

  The results of the monitoring are not routinely published.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official Report, columns 397–98, what was the average length of the previous stay in hospital of the 5,000 patients aged 16 to 64 years readmitted as emergencies within 90 days of discharge. [8259]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, column 197, what schemes for (i) residential and (ii) 24-hour nursed care accommodation for mentally ill patients under 65 years are currently being negotiated under the private finance initiative. [8257]

  Mr. Horam
  All capital schemes have to be tested for private finance. The table shows those schemes with a capital value of £1 million or more that are currently, or will be, tested for private finance and which are wholly or partly for 24-hour nursed care or residential accommodation for mentally ill patients under 65. Information on smaller schemes is not held centrally.

  Trust

  Scheme

  Addenbrooke's NHS Trust

  Mental Health Strategy Phase 2

  Aylesbury Vale Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Mental Health Intensive Care Unit

  Mid-Anglia Community Health NHS Trust

  Acute mental Health—Ward G8

  North West Anglia Healthcare NHS Trust

  Mental Health Reprovision

  Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust

  Medium Secure Unit

  228

  Trust

  Scheme

  South Bedfordshire Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Fairfield Reprovision

  Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust

  Integrated Acute Psychiatric Services

  Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Medium Secure Unit

  Calderstones NHS Trust

  Medium Secure Unit

  Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust

  Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Schemes

  Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust

  Inpatient Mental Health Scheme

  Black Country Mental Health NHS Trust

  Acute Psychiatric Unit

  Northern Birmingham Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  Reprovision of Community Based Facilities

  Walsgrave Hospitals NHS Trust

  Project 2002

  North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

  Reprovision of Mental Illness and Health Services

  BHB Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Long Stay mental Health Reprovision

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  Mental Health Reprovision

  Riverside Mental Health NHS Trust

  Long Stay Mental Health Reprovision

  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust

  Reprovision of Mental Health Services

  South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust

  New Acute Mental Health Facilities

  South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust

  25 Bed Facility with Treatment Suites

  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust

  Seacroft Mental Health Unit

  Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  Centralisation of Acute Hospital Services

  Community Healthcare: North Durham NHS Trust

  Facilities for Difficult to Place Patients

  Chichester Priority Services NHS Trust

  Graylingwell Reprovision

  Hastings and Rother NHS Trust

  Mental Health Reprovision

  North Downs Community Health NHS Trust

  Farnham Hospital Development

  Surrey Heartlands NHS Trust

  West Park Hospital Reprovision

  Worthing Priority Care NHS Trust

  Homefield Hospital Redevelopment

  North Kent Healthcare NHS Trust

  Sheppey Community Hospital

  Oxleas NHS Trust

  Bexley Hospital Reprovision

  Lewisham and Guys Mental Health NHS Trust

  Adolescent Psychiatry Unit

  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust

  Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to discuss with the Royal College of Psychiatrists the reasons for the readmission of 5,000 patients aged 16 to 64 years to hospitals as emergencies within 90 days of previous discharge between April and June 1996. [8261]

  Mr. Burns
  None.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients aged between 16 and 64 years who were discharged from hospital in the period from July to September were readmitted to hospital within 90 days of discharge or by the present date. [8260]

  Mr. Burns
  From the information collected centrally it is not possible to identify how many of the psychiatric patients aged 16 to 64 who were discharged during the period July to September have subsequently been readmitted as emergencies.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the link between over-prescribing of antibiotics and meningitis clusters. [8024]

  Mr. Horam
  We are aware of the recent publication of a scientific paper reporting on a study conducted by the Gloucester public health laboratory in 1987 which a Sunday newspaper reported as suggesting an association between meningitis and the high use of antibiotics. However, the scientific paper, which has produced some interesting observations, explores several possible explanations. Further work is necessary before any conclusions can be reached and the public health laboratory service's meningococcal committee is to consider recommendations on future work.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of each strain of meningitis have been reported in England and Wales in each year since 1990. [8025]

  Mr. Horam
  The numbers of laboratory confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis since 1990 are given in the table:

  Isolates of N Meningitidis received at the Public Health Laboratory Service's Meningococcal Reference Laboratory 1990–1996, England and Wales

  Group

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  19961

  A

  13

  6

  1

  2

  1

  0

  0

  B

  997

  959

  923

  929

  789

  921

  736

  C

  466

  394

  326

  319

  291

  468

  507

  Other groups

  24

  39

  45

  47

  48

  70

  62

  All groups

  1,500

  1,398

  1,301

  1,297

  1,129

  1,459

  1,305

  1 To 15 November 1996 only.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed as suffering from meningitis in each of the area health authorities in West Yorkshire in the past 12 months. [8092]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not available in the form requested. Notification data are routinely collected by local authority and district rather than health authority. Provisional numbers of cases of meningitis notified to the Office for National Statistics, and the notification rates per 100,000 population, for the county of West Yorkshire for the last 12 months are given in the table:

  Provisional numbers of meningitis notifications in West Yorkshire October 1995-September 1996.

  County-West Yorkshire

  Number of meningitis notifications1

  Annual notification rates per 100,000

  County District

  Bradford

  41

  8.5

  Calderdale

  9

  4.7

  Kirkless

  15

  3.9

  Leeds

  44

  6.1

  Wakefield

  6

  1.9

  West Yorkshire

  115

  5.5

  1 Notifications are made on the suspicion of clinical disease, not all of which will be confirmed cases of meningitis.

  Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has given or plans
  230
  to give to local health authorities in respect of a possible winter meningitis outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [8093]

  Mr. Horam
  Guidelines on the control of meningococcal infection have been issued by the public health laboratory service since 1989. These are regularly updated and published and copies are sent to all directors of public health and consultants in communicable disease control. The most recent guidelines on the control of meningococcal infection were issued on 8 December 1995 in the PHLS's communicable disease review.

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual total of recorded incidents of MRSA in England and Wales for each year since 1992 in(a) hospitals, (b) nursing homes and (c) other locations. [8029]

  Mr. Horam
  Data are not available in the form requested.

  The public health laboratory service publishes aggregate data on the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus from isolates voluntarily submitted by hospitals in England and Wales for specialist typing. The total numbers of incidents—three or more patients with the same strain of MRSA in a month from the same hospitals—since 1992 are as follows:

  1992: 339

  1993: 549

  1994: 1.073

  1995: 1,575

  19961: 1,764

  1 to 31 October.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fatalities have been recorded as due to MRSA in each year since 1990. [8031]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr Flynn) on 19 November at columns 532–33.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the threat of MRSA in hospitals; and what precautions are taken against its spread. [8032]

  Mr. Horam
  Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is no more likely to cause infection and no worse infection than methicillin-sensitive strains of the organism. Because, however, MRSA is more difficult to treat, it can pose a threat to certain vulnerable patients. Most experts therefore believe efforts to prevent its spread are worth while.

  All hospitals have specialist infection control teams whose function is to advise on the precautions necessary, in the individual circumstances of each hospital and according to the type of patient, to prevent the spread of infection. The Department issued guidance to the national health service in September 1994 on the control of MRSA and in March 1995 on the general control of infections in hospitals, copies of which are available in the Library.
  231
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on research into MRSA in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8237]

  Mr. Malone
  The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The council is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Trade and Industry. The council does not currently fund any research specifically into methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. However, the council does have a portfolio of research on staphylococcal bacteria in general, which underpins research into MRSA. This amounted to £200,000 in 1994–95 and £144,000 in 1995–96.

  In addition, two research projects have been funded at regional level, amounting to £47,706 in total.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of MRSA in 1995 occurred in(a) geriatric wards, (b) intensive care, (c) surgical wards, (d) general medical wards and (e) other wards. [8034]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlie the trend in reported incidents of MRSA in hospitals; and what evaluation he has made of the extent to which(a) standards of hygiene, (b) re-use of infected equipment and (c) patient turnover contribute to the spread of MRSA. [8037]

  Mr. Horam
  The trend in reported incidents of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus—three or more patients with the same strain of MRSA in a month from the same hospitals—reflects, in part, the emergence and spread, from the early 1990s, of two new strains of MRSA. Other factors include changes in medical practice, such as the transfer of more patients to specialist units in other hospitals.

  Good personal hygiene, such as thorough hand washing, is important in preventing the spread of all types of infections, including those caused by MRSA. The Department has made no evaluation of re-use of equipment and patient throughput on the spread of MRSA. These are matters for individual trusts and health authorities to consider.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy in respect of the practice of sending home patients with MRSA in order to prevent its spread in hospital. [8038]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department issued guidance to the national health service in September 1994 on the control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. MRSA does not pose a risk to healthy people.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of MRSA were reported during 1995 in (a) each member state of the European Community and (b) the United States of America. [8039]

  Mr. Horam
  We are not aware of any other country which routinely compiles national data on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the drugs currently being trialled in the United Kingdom aimed at alleviating the symptoms of MS. [8214]

  Mr. Malone
  Such information is confidential. Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 precludes the disclosure of confidential information received in pursuance of the Act.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom where there are MS clusters. [8197]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, respectively.

  General Practitioner Fundholders
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority the amount borrowed from the underspend by local general practitioner fundholders in each of the last five years; and how much of this amount has been repaid by each health authority to date. [8035]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not held centrally. We expect health authorities and fundholding general practitioners to work together to make the best use of resources in year.

  Repair and Maintenance Backlog
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the overall repair and maintenance backlog at NHS facilities within the areas controlled by each NHS executive regional office in each year since 1991. [8036]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 19 November 1996 at column 529.

  Disability Allowance
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department proposes to take to monitor the impact of the changes to the disability allowance mobility component for hospital patients with reference to the extent to which(a) the mobility opportunities for hospital patients are fully maintained, (b) patients leave hospital treatment prematurely to avoid the cut-off point for the mobility component and (c) the rehabilitation of hospital patients is hindered. [8211]

  Mr. Horam
  None. This is a matter for local decision by health authorities and trusts.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he is issuing to local authorities concerning the evaluation of alternative care options for people with learning difficulties. [8209]

  Mr. Burns
  I will write to all directors of social services and chief executives of health authorities about the second phase of the research project evaluating various types of residential support for people with learning disabilities before Christmas. I intend to make it clear in my letter that departmental guidance remains as set out in LAC(92)15, copies of which are available in the Library, and that therefore all forms of residential provision including village communities remain options to be considered by those planning and purchasing services.

  NHS Dentistry Contracts
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how long records relating to the payment of NHS dentistry contracts are retained. [8433]

  Mr. Malone
  The dental practice board retains dental claim forms in prior approval cases for 18 months and non-prior approval cases for 13 months. The dental payment schedules are retained on microfiche back to June 1989.

  Vitamin B12 Unit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timetable for the independent review of the vitamin B12 unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS trust; who are the members of the review body; and what are the terms of reference of the review. [8430]

  Mr. Horam
  The inquiry into the work of the vitamin B12 unit at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital is the responsibility of, and has been commissioned by, the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare national health service trust.

  The members of the inquiry are Professor Albert Aynsley-Green, Nuffield professor of child health, and Professor Brian Neville, professor of paediatric neurosciences at the institute of child health, university of London. It is intended that the inquiry will finish by March 1997 and report to the trust board in April.

  The terms of reference are:
  1. To review the process of the hospital's clinical management of the patients for whom the vitamin B12 unit has provided advice or resources for investigation from 1 April 1994 to date.

  Number and average waiting time for specified operations

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  Average waiting time

  Average waiting time

  Average waiting time

  Number

  (days)

  Number

  (days)

  Number

  (days)

  Hip replacements

  1,649

  161

  1,842

  152

  1,793

  138

  Hysterectomies

  3,487

  85

  3,427

  86

  3,542

  91

  Cataract extractions

  8,489

  170

  9,374

  138

  10,491

  145

  Tonsillectomies

  4,606

  171

  4,756

  197

  5,224

  167

  Kidney transplants

  9

  99

  8

  23

  10

  24

  Hernia operations

  3,748

  91

  3,918

  103

  3,975

  110

  1 Data for 1995–96 are not comparable to earlier years as records are not yet available for all hospitals.

  234

  2. In particular to advise whether reasonable steps have been taken by the trust to ensure the appropriate treatment of the patients according to the principles of evidence-based medicine and effective and safe healthcare.

  3. As necessary, to consider and review issues which may arise from an NHS point of view with regard to the management aspects of clinical research and the treatment associated with it.

  4. To advise on the future NHS management arrangements by the trust for patients whose neurodevelopmental diagnosis and/or treatment may involve the services of the vitamin B12 unit.

  Injury Prevention and Control
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8644]

  Mr. Horam
  The "Melbourne declaration" does not provide for formal endorsement by Government of its conclusions. The Government demonstrated their commitment to accident prevention by including it as a key area in their "The Health of the Nation" strategy launched in 1992.

WALES

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what actuarial reports have been carried out on the effect on the NHS pension scheme's overall liabilities of including general practitioners' staff in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the reports. [7482]

  Mr. Hague
  The Government are considering the case for allowing general practitioners' practice staff to enter the national health service pension scheme and a decision will be announced soon.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) hip replacements, (b) hysterectomies, (c) cataract extractions, (d) tonsillectomies, (e) kidney transplants and (f) hernia operations were carried out by the NHS in Wales in each of the last three years; what was the average waiting time for each operation in each year; and if he will make a statement. [7468]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is given in the following table:

  Dental Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new NHS registrations in Wales with a dental practitioner occurred in each six-month period between January 1990 and January 1994 and in each month since January 1994; how many of these are estimated to have been duplicate registrations; and if he will make a statement. [7491]

  Mr. Hague
  Information on the number of new registrations is given in the following table. It is not possible to identify how many of the registrations were for patients who re-registered after lapsing, were already registered with another dentist, or who were completely new registrations.

  Number of new NHS registrations with dentists in Wales

  Period

  Number

  Period

  Number

  October-December 19901

  449,989

  March 1995

  53,721

  January-June 1991

  640,040

  April 1995

  59,114

  July-December 1991

  386,458

  May 1995

  52,557

  January-June 1992

  385,586

  June 1995

  40,823

  July-December 1992

  350,665

  July 1995

  37,463

  January-June 1993

  350,340

  August 1995

  37,912

  July-December 1993

  285,074

  September 1995

  55,585

  January 1994

  36,814

  October 1995

  47,896

  February 1994

  71,366

  November 1995

  42,353

  March 1994

  57,521

  December 1995

  42,841

  April 1994

  46,531

  January 1996

  49,473

  May 1994

  56,672

  February 1996

  51,978

  June 1994

  52,790

  March 1996

  59,338

  July 1994

  52,585

  April 1996

  53,969

  August 1994

  44,855

  May 1996

  53,283

  September 1994

  45,615

  June 1996

  51,970

  October 1994

  45,527

  July 1996

  49,578

  November 1994

  61,153

  August 1996

  53,562

  December 1994

  50,976

  September 1996

  76,164

  January 1995

  40,295

  October 1996

  54,648

  February 1995

  78,188

  November 1996

  59,694

  1 There are no new registrations in October 1990, the first month of the new dental contract.

  Council House Repairs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts of cash were available for the modernisation and repair of council homes in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7772]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Credit approvals made available by the Department for capital expenditure on council housing can be supplemented by authorities' use of some capital receipts and revenue contributions. In addition, councils have some flexibility in the level of spending on revenue repairs within the housing revenue account. The following table, therefore, shows capital and revenue spending by Welsh councils in cash terms on modernisation and repair of council houses in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1995–96.

  £ million

  Revenue spending

  Capital spending

  Total

  1992–93

  112.4

  75.4

  187.8

  1993–94

  119.6

  84.6

  204.2

  1994–95

  126.3

  88.4

  214.7

  Physiotherapy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes to reduce the waiting times for those seeking physiotherapy after suffering accidents and injuries; and if he will make a statement. [7774]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of training places for occupational therapy and physiotherapy being contracted for by the NHS in Wales has increased from an intake of 25 in 1993–94 to 57 in 1996–97 for occupational therapists. The number of training places has also increased for physiotherapy from an intake of 36 in 1993–94 to 69 in 1996–97. This increased level of training will be maintained in 1997–98.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many re-appointments to non-departmental public boards in Wales there were in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7910]

  Mr. Hague
  I or my predecessor made 123 re-appointments to NDPBS or NHS bodies in Wales in 1995.

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount available to Tai Cymru in(a) 1992 and (b) the latest available year for new housing association homes in Wales. [7763]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The capital programme for housing associations, including private finance, in 199192 was £160.4 million. In the current financial year this is forecast to be £154.4 million.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many social housing lettings were made in(a) 1992 and (b) 1995. [7767]

  Mr. Evans
  In the financial years 1992–93 and 1995–96, there were 17,089 and 21,088 lettings, excluding transfer and exchanges. These data are a combination of local authority lettings figures from annual returns, together with a summary of housing association lettings from the continual recording of the lettings system.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of new homes required up to the year 2000. [7768]

  Mr. Evans
  Estimates of additional homes required were published in the 1992-based household projections, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This report expected the average number of additional homes each year, up to the year 2000, to be 8,800.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many private homes were built in(a) 1992 and (b) 1995. [7769]

  Mr. Evans
  This information is in table 2.3 of Welsh housing statistics 1996, which is in the Library of the House.
  237
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of(a) council and (b) housing association homes required in each of the years to 2000. [7770]

  Mr. Evans
  A breakdown in the form requested is not available. Our estimate for subsidised dwellings for each years is between 2,500 and 3,500.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the revenue costs of running his Department in (i) 1994 and (ii) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7911]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department's running costs were £77.4 million in 1994–95 and £74.9 million in 1995–96.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future role of the community health councils. [8172]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I envisage no change in the statutory roles and functions of community health councils in Wales.

  Graduate Unemployment
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many graduates are currently on the unemployed register in Wales. [8524]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The unemployment register does not hold details of the qualifications held by claimants so the information requested is not available.

  Injury Prevention and Control
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8642]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Melbourne declaration does not provide for formal endorsement by Government of its conclusions. Its main recommendations are, however, already being taken forward in Wales through implementation of the "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Injuries". Injury prevention and control is also identified as a health priority area in "Caring for the Future". Welsh mortality rates for injury are now among the lowest in Europe.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of spending on the NHS in Wales; and what it was in 1993. [8171]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The level of provision for the NHS in Wales in 1993–94 was £1,975 million and in 1996–97 is £2,275 million.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Part-time Working
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she plans to take to assist people who are currently working part time who want to find a full-time job. [7067]

  Mr. Forth
  We shall continue to oppose unnecessary regulations, such as the social chapter, the national minimum wage and the working time directive which would make it harder for employees to choose freely between full-time and part-time work.

  Clinical Staff Pay
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to ensure pay comparability between clinical academic staff and national health service staff. [7068]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has placed a condition of grant on the Higher Education Funding Council for England from 1997–98. This will require the council to enable universities and colleges to meet any additional costs for medical schools arising from any pay increase awarded by the Government to NHS clinicians.

  Education Budget (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the effect of the budget settlement on(a) class sizes and (b) education attainment in (i) Southwark and (ii) London local education authorities. [7070]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The effects of the settlement upon class sizes and the attainment of pupils will depend upon decisions taken by Southwark and other London LEAs. If they give priority to the chalk face and to improving teacher quality, there is no reason why class sizes should rise.

  Lifetime Learning
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to increase acceptance of the concept of a lifetime of learning. [7071]

  Mr. Paice
  We fully support the concept of lifetime learning. Copies of the Department's policy framework on lifetime learning published in June are available in the Library. Our most recent initiative to promote lifetime learning are learning line—a new free national telephone helpline on learning opportunities to be launched in September 1997—support for further development of local partnership activities, and our recently published strategic guidance "TECs Beyond 2000" which asks TECs to extend their work with employers and their other partners to create a culture for lifetime learning locally.

  Higher Education Vouchers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy to introduce a voucher system for higher education. [7072]
  239
  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to introduce a voucher system for higher education. She has set up an inquiry under Sir Ron Dearing to look at how our higher education system should develop to meet the needs of the UK over the next 20 years. We will consider carefully its recommendations on the future funding of higher education, when it reports next summer.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) grant-maintained and (b) local education authority schools are represented in the top 50 state schools measured by A-level results. [7073]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring).

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will next meet the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals to discuss the role of the private finance initiative. [7074]

  Mr. Forth
  There are no plans to do so at present.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her most recent assessment of the impact of the assisted places scheme on the feeder schools from which the assisted pupils are drawn. [7075]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The assisted places scheme gives able children from low-income families the opportunity of an excellent education at good independent schools.

  Job Creation
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to encourage the creation of more full-time jobs. [7076]

  Mr. Forth
  We shall continue to develop the policies and programmes which have reduced unemployment by nearly 1 million and increased employment by nearly three quarters of a million since 1993 and which have reduced unemployment in Scotland, Wales and every English region to below the average rate in the European Union.

  Corporal Punishment
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her policy in respect of corporal punishment in the independent school sector. [7079]

  Mr. Forth
  We do not support any change in the present law which prohibits the use of corporal punishment for publicly funded pupils in independent schools. It is, however, still permissable for parents of privately funded pupils in independent schools on grounds of parental freedom to choose a school with disciplinary 240
  arrangements of which they approve. But where it is administered, the law requires that such punishment must not be inhuman or degrading.

  Teachers (Payment for Extra Work)
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her policy with regard to the payment of teachers for out-of-hours and extra-curriculum work. [7080]

  Mr. Forth
  The statutory conditions of employment for teachers set rates of pay for the whole of a teacher's job. Within that framework, governing bodies can at their discretion pay teachers for a variety of extra-curricular professional activities that might take place out of school hours.

  Dyslexia
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what special provision she has made with respect to teaching pupils with dyslexia. [7081]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs emphasises the need for early identification of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and sets out guidance to local education authorities and schools on the assessment of a dyslexic child. In 1995–96 almost £1 million of expenditure under the grants for education support and training programme supported training for teachers of dyslexic pupils. The Department is supporting research into assessment and teaching strategies for dyslexia with grants of more than £200,000 over the period 1992 to 1998. The Government propose that there should be a particular focus on literacy in the new national curriculum for initial teacher training; the Teacher Training Agency will be consulting on this in the new year, when comments from organisations representing dyslexia will be welcome.

  Age Discrimination
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to reduce discrimination against potential employees on the grounds of age. [7082]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department promotes the Government's campaign for older workers which persuades employers to recruit, train and retain them on merit, disregarding age. Through the campaign, which is supported by complementary booklets, regional presentations to employers and media coverage, we offer help, advice and support to older people seeking work. There is sound evidence that the campaign is working; many employers are reviewing their practices and policies towards older workers.

  Education Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities increased the amount spent on administration and reduced the amount spent on schools in the last year for which information is available. [7084]
  241
  Mr. Robin Squire
  In 1994–95, 14 LEAs increased spending on central administration while reducing spending on schools, by comparison with the previous year.

  Primary School Standards
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new measures she is taking to monitor standards in the primary sector. [7085]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government's policies now enable the performance of children of primary age to be closely monitored at national, local, school and pupil level. The two main mechanisms are the assessment of performance of pupils against the national curriculum, and the regular independent inspection of all schools. We published last month the national results of the 1996 statutory assessments of all seven and 11-year-olds in English, mathematics and science, and in March we shall publish primary school performance tables. Some 7,000 primary schools have been independently inspected, with a summary of the report sent to each parent. These measures enable parents, schools and others to monitor children's progress at this vital stage in education.

  Project Work
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education and Employment what proportion of those participating in project work have gained permanent employment. [7086]

  Mr. Forth
  It is too early to make a proper assessment of the experience of those who leave project work, as the pilot has been running for only eight months. A full survey of those who leave project work is being carried out, and will include details of the jobs they have entered. Results of the survey will be published in 1997. Early indications, however, are that twice as many people leave project work to enter a job as leave a comparable group outside the pilot areas. There is no significant difference in the rates at which all those who leave project work, and those who leave a comparable group, return to the unemployment register.

  School Discipline
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking with regard to discipline in schools. [7089]

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Bill introduced on 30 October includes a package of measures to strengthen schools' ability to take action in the face of poor behaviour and discipline; to help ensure there is proper support for schools in dealing with pupils with behaviour problems; and to promote effective provision for such pupils out of school where necessary.

  Pupil Achievements (Gender Differences)
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to address the gap between the achievements of girls and boys at school. [7090]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government's policies are intended to raise standards for all pupils, and are doing so. The improvement of girls has been even more rapid 242
  than for boys at certain ages. While this rapid improvement is very welcome, Her Majesty's chief inspector has drawn attention to the low attainment of some boys, especially at key stages 3 and 4. It is primarily for schools to address gaps in performance of different groups of pupils. In setting its annual performance targets, each school should consider how best to develop the potential of every category of pupil.

  School Performance Tables
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she plans to publish value added performance tables. [7078]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority will be reporting on the development of value added measures in February 1997. Consideration will be given to the inclusion of such measures in school performance tables in the light of that report.

  Schools Access Initiative
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 426, what financial provision she proposes to make in respect of the schools access initiative. [8053]

  Mrs. Gillan
  We are today announcing an extension of the schools access initiative. We will provide support totalling £12 million over the next three years for projects to make more mainstream schools accessible to pupils with disabilities. We shall encourage local education authorities and schools to seek local partnership funding to maximise the value of projects to be undertaken under the initiative.

  Clinical Academic Salaries
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has received about changes in clinical academic salary levels. [8246]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received numerous representations on this matter. She announced at the time of the Budget statement that she has placed a new condition of grant on the Higher Education Funding Council for England from 1997–98 requiring the council to enable universities and colleges to meet any additional costs for medical schools arising from any pay increase awarded by the Government to NHS clinicians.

  Education and Community Values
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding the consultation exercise conducted by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on values in education and community; and if she will make a statement. [8292]
  243
  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend has received about 10 representations, mostly from people concerned that the distribution of questionnaires meant that the consultation was restricted. The questionnaires were distributed in accordance with prescribed samples. The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority has assured my right hon. Friend that it was at the same time open to anyone to ask for the consultation document and submit their views. SCAA will take account of all representations received to date.

  Secondary School Funding
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year from 1992 to 1996(a) the total standard spending assessment for secondary schools, (b) this figure expressed as an amount per secondary pupil, (c) the amount spent on secondary pupils and (d) this figure expressed as an amount per pupil for the London borough of Hounslow. [8297]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows for Hounslow local education authority secondary education(a) standard spending assessment and (b) SSA per pupil for the years 1992–93 to 1995–96; and (c) net institutional expenditure and (d) NIE per pupil in LEA schools for the years 1992–93 to 1994–95, the latest year for which outturn figures are available. All figures are in cash terms, and have not been adjusted for changes in function.

  Hounslow LEA secondary education

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) SSA (£m)

  33.006

  33.487

  35.249

  38.110

  (b) SSA per pupil (£)

  2,917

  3,122

  3,145

  3,128

  (c) NIE (£m)

  33.383

  29.530

  32.691

  n/a

  (d) NIE per pupil (£)

  2,419

  2,282

  2,582

  n/a

  Further Education Colleges (London)
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total allocation of funding from the Further Education Funding Council to colleges in the Greater London region in each year since 1993 in(a) cash prices and (b) current prices. [8412]

  Mr. Paice
  The total allocation of funding by the Further Education Funding Council to colleges in the Greater London region since 1993 is as follows:

  ITT target and actual intake in each subject area since 1993

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97 provisional

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  England

  Primary

  Target

  13,937

  12,990

  12,115

  11,500

  11,050

  10,900

  10,800

  Actual

  15,775

  13,743

  13,603

  12,470

  —

  —

  —

  13 per cent.

  6 per cent.

  12 per cent.

  8 per cent.

  Secondary

  Art

  Target

  725

  810

  825

  900

  950

  1,000

  1,000

  Actual

  703

  754

  818

  900

  —

  —

  —

  -3 per cent.

  -7 per cent.

  -1 per cent.

  0 per cent.

  History

  Target

  605

  790

  780

  850

  900

  900

  900

  Actual

  669

  927

  872

  900

  —

  —

  —

  11 per cent.

  17 per cent.

  12 per cent.

  6 per cent.

  244

  cash prices £ million

  current prices £ million

  1993–94

  377.9

  419.5

  1994–95

  396.7

  422.7

  1995–96

  429.1

  442.3

  1996–97

  427.1

  427.1

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the level of funding per full-time equivalent student from the Further Education Funding Council for colleges in the Greater London region in each year since 1993 in current prices. [8413]

  Mr. Paice
  The Further Education Funding Council no longer funds colleges on the basis of full-time equivalent students.

  Jobseeker's Allowance (Students)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if her Department will establish a review of students on part-time courses and their eligibility for the jobseeker's allowance. [8523]

  Mr. Forth
  During the passage of the Jobseekers Bill we said that we would collect more and better information on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the jobseeker's allowance rules on education and training. We are doing this. We are also considering this issue as part of the general JSA evaluation. In addition, on 6 November I announced the workskill pilots. These will evaluate new, more flexible arrangements for people to undertake employment-related education and training while receiving JSA. The pilots are due to start in April 1997 in four areas.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, for each year since 1993–94 and up to 2001, the target and actual intake for initial teacher training in total, for(a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) secondary by subject, showing the percentage change between the target and actual intake and the revised targets for 1997–98; and if she will make a statement. [8609]

  Mr. Forth
  The following table shows the actual and target intakes to initial teacher training courses in England from 1993–94 to 1996–97 with target intakes for 1997–98 to 1999–2000.
  245

  ITT target and actual intake in each subject area since 1993

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97 provisional

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  Music

  Target

  485

  580

  585

  600

  600

  600

  600

  Actual

  461

  490

  548

  510

  —

  —

  —

  -5 per cent.

  -16 per cent.

  -6 per cent.

  -15 per cent.

  RE

  Target

  421

  500

  510

  700

  700

  800

  850

  Actual

  367

  448

  494

  660

  —

  —

  —

  -13 per cent.

  -10 percent.

  -3 per cent.

  -6 per cent.

  English

  Target

  1,362

  1,710

  1,832

  2,100

  2,150

  2,150

  2,150

  Actual

  1,465

  1,829

  1,877

  2,080

  —

  —

  —

  8 per cent.

  7 per cent.

  2 per cent.

  -1 per cent.

  Modern Language

  Target

  1,665

  2,060

  2,092

  2,250

  2,650

  2,700

  2,700

  Actual

  1,542

  1,789

  1,790

  1,750

  —

  —

  —

  -7 per cent.

  -13 per cent.

  -14 per cent.

  -22 per cent.

  Geography

  Target

  560

  645

  700

  850

  900

  950

  1,000

  Actual

  599

  636

  696

  840

  —

  —

  —

  7 per cent.

  -1 per cent.

  -1 per cent.

  -1 per cent.

  Maths

  Target

  1,755

  2,230

  2,267

  2,550

  2,250

  1,950

  1,950

  Actual

  1,796

  1,950

  1,795

  1,680

  —

  —

  —

  1 per cent.

  -13 per cent.

  -21 per cent.

  -34 per cent.

  Science

  Target

  2,615

  3,200

  3,402

  3,700

  3,300

  3,000

  3,000

  Actual

  2,373

  2,918

  2,794

  2,930

  -9 per cent.

  -9 per cent.

  -18 per cent.

  -21 per cent.

  Technology

  Target

  2,119

  2,360

  2,312

  2,700

  3,200

  3,200

  3,200

  Actual

  1,991

  2,133

  1,854

  1,970

  —

  —

  —

  -6 per cent.

  -10 per cent.

  -20 per cent.

  -27 per cent.

  PE

  Target

  1,156

  1,255

  1,250

  1,300

  1,550

  1,550

  1,550

  Actual

  1,074

  1,309

  1,311

  1,380

  —

  —

  —

  -8 per cent.

  4 per cent.

  5 per cent.

  6 per cent.

  Other

  Target

  500

  460

  445

  400

  350

  350

  350

  Actual

  481

  327

  378

  380

  —

  —

  —

  -4 per cent.

  -29 per cent.

  -15 per cent.

  -5 per cent.

  All Secondary

  Target

  13,968

  16,600

  17,000

  18,900

  19,500

  19,150

  19,250

  Actual

  13,491

  15,510

  15,226

  15,980

  —

  —

  —

  -3 per cent.

  -7 per cent.

  -10 per cent.

  -15 per cent.

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  Target

  27,905

  29,590

  29,115

  30,550

  30,050

  30,050

  30,050

  Actual

  29,266

  29,253

  28,829

  28,450

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  All figures include School Centred Initial Teacher Training.

  English includes Drama.

  Technology includes Business Studies and Home Economics.

  "Other" includes Classics, Economics and Social Sciences.

  1996–97 actual figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest 10.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total Government expenditure on national vocational qualifications, including Scottish vocational qualifications, in each year of their existence; if she will make a statement on the aims and objectives of the qualifications; and what research she has commissioned to examine the kinds of employment gained by people who gain national vocational qualifications. [8223]

  Mr. Paice
  Expenditure through the Department's programmes on development costs of national vocational qualifications between 1988 and March 1996 is £106 million. This figure includes £83 million from the standards programme and £23 million grant in aid to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. For each year this is:

  (£ million)

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Standards Programme

  3

  7

  9

  12

  12

  12

  11

  17

  Grant in Aid

  3.8

  3

  2.6

  3.7

  3.9

  3.8

  1.9

  0

  Total

  6.8

  10

  11.6

  15.7

  15.9

  15.8

  12.9

  17

  246
  The Department does not hold the information for Scottish vocational qualifications; this is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland. However, the development of occupational standards through the standards programme serves both NVQs and SVQs.

  National vocational qualifications provide a clear system which defines employers' needs in terms of occupational competence, assesses that competence when it has been achieved, ensures individuals undertake relevant and meaningful training and enables employers to know who has met the standards.

  NVQs are gained by many different categories of individual, including those already in employment in firms as well as those entering the labour market and unemployed. Information on the employment destinations of those on youth training and training for work, many of whom gain NVQs during their training, is regularly published by the Department. Recent research published by the Department has indicated that 42 per cent. of employers using NVQs gave pay rewards to employees gaining NVQs and 58 per cent. gave greater opportunities in terms of further training, priority in promotion or work opportunities involving higher pay.

  GCSE League Tables (Error)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the costs incurred in correcting the programming error in respect of a number of local education authorities' entries in the recent GCSE league tables; and if she will make a statement. [8358]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: None. Fewer than 10 LEAs are affected and corrections are being made under existing errata procedures.

  School Rolls
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to ensure(a) the provision of new school places required by rising rolls and (b) the elimination of surplus places no longer required; and if she will make a statement. [7301]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Section 14 of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on each local education authority to secure sufficient school places for its area unless the Secretary of State has made an order under section 27 of that Act, in which case the responsibility for providing sufficient school places may be shared with or held solely by the Funding Agency for Schools.

  We look to local education authorities to take action to remove surplus places in the first instance. My right hon. Friend has powers under the Education Act 1996 to direct an authority to bring forward rationalisation proposals where numbers of surplus places appear excessive.

  Both the provision of new places in areas of population growth and the cost-effective removal of surplus places are among our priority categories for capital support.

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many working days were lost through sickness by(a) teachers in England, (b) staff in the local education service and (c) staff in her Department in each of the last five years. [8616]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department for Education and Employment does not collect the information requested at(a) and (b).

  The numbers of working days lost through sickness by staff in my Department from 1992 to 1995 are shown in the following table. Information prior to 1992 is not available.

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Former Department for Education (including Teachers' Pensions Agency)

  20,368

  20,966

  13,926

  —

  Former Employment Department (excluding Employment Service)

  71,953

  80,620

  62,266

  —

  DfEE

  —

  —

  —

  172,857

  1 Includes data covering all staff in the former ED and DfEE up to the merger on 5 July 1995; and in the DfEE for the remainder of the year.

  National Curriculum Publications
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many national curriculum publications have been sent by her Department to schools in England, in the academic years 1994–95 and 1995–96; if she will list them; which delivery service has been used; and what has been the cost. [8621]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The answer is confined to the national curriculum statutory documents which set out the mandatory programmes of study and attainment targets, since information on other documents bearing on the national curriculum could be assembled only at disproportionate cost. The figures include mailings to higher and further education establishments and local education authorities, as well as to schools, for which separate figures are not available. The great majority of mailings are to schools.

  All figures are to the nearest thousand.

  Academic year 1994–95
  3,000 documents containing programmes of study and attainment targets for the National Curriculum as it stood before the Dearing review were issued through Christians, a commercial mailing house. The documents were "English in the National Curriculum", "Mathematics in the National Curriculum", "Science in the National Curriculum", "Technology in the National Curriculum", "History in the National Curriculum", "Geography in the National Curriculum", "Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum", "Art in the National Curriculum", "Music in the National Curriculum", and "Physical Education in the National Curriculum".
  In January and February 1995, a total of 774,000 documents containing programmes of study and attainment targets for the revised national curriculum were issued to all schools, higher and further education establishments and local education authorities in England through Prolog, a commercial mailing house. Up to August 1995 Christians issued a further 149,000. The revised national curriculum documents are "The National Curriculum", (covering all subjects at all key stages), "Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum", "English in the National Curriculum", "Mathematics in the National Curriculum", "Science in the National Curriculum", "Design and Technology in the National Curriculum", "Information Technology in the National Curriculum", "History in the National Curriculum", "Geography in the National Curriculum", "Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum", "Art in the National Curriculum", "Music in the National Curriculum", and "Physical Education in the National Curriculum".
  Invoices for mailing house charges do not correspond exactly to the academic year. From June 1994 to August 1995 they totalled £298,000. The cost of printing revised national curriculum documents was £1,093,000.

  Academic year 1995–96
  Forty-five thousand documents for the revised national curriculum were issued through Christians. The total cost was £61,000 for mailing house charges only.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Defender Scheme
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will initiate a pilot public defender scheme in England. [7516]

  Mr. Streeter
  It is not our intention to pilot such a scheme.

  Rights of Audience
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to make an announcement about rights of audience of employed advocates. [7514]

  Mr. Streeter
  The application for rights of audience for employed solicitors in the higher courts is still being considered by the Lord Chancellor and the designated judges, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. They hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the new year.

  Legal Education and Conduct (Report)
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct plans to publish its fifth annual report. [9010]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct has today published its fifth annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drivers have been prosecuted for allowing a child aged under 14 years to travel in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt or legal restraint in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8226]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of persons proceeded against for carrying a child aged under 14 years without a seat belt are set out in the list:

  1991: 55

  1992: 55

  1993: 69

  1994: 87

  1995: 99.

  Computerisation of penalties other than prosecutions commenced late 1995. For the period 20 October 1995 to 7 October 1996 a total of 35,016 "advice and warnings" were given and 2,211 fixed penalty notices issued for various seat belt offences.

  Operation Road Safe has been running since March 1995 and included in its priorities is the wearing of seat belts in vehicles.
  250
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many(a) drivers, (b) front-seat passengers and (c) back-seat passengers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured as a result of not wearing a seat belt in a vehicle in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8228]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is set out in the following table:

  Drivers

  Front-seat passengers

  Back-seat passengers

  Year

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  1991

  14

  165

  5

  95

  8

  214

  1992

  10

  231

  4

  124

  4

  222

  1993

  10

  252

  2

  138

  3

  503

  1994

  10

  137

  1

  84

  9

  447

  1995

  6

  148

  3

  109

  7

  390

  These figures exclude fatalities and casualties where seat belt usage is not known.

  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the National Safety Council in Ireland, and with private sector sponsorship, launched a seat belt campaign on 14 October 1996 covering both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

  Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of schools in Northern Ireland by the percentages which they attract from each of the major traditions in Northern Ireland. [971]

  Mr. Ancram
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 November 1996, c. 473–74]: The breakdown of schools in Northern Ireland by the percentage which they attract from each of the major traditions is given in the tables.

  Table 1a: Controlled nursery schools (attended mainly by Protestant pupils)

  Percentage Catholic

  Number of schools

  0

  13

  .01–1

  0

  1.1–5

  11

  5.1–10

  7

  10.1–20

  4

  20.1–50

  12

  50.1+

  18

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

  Table 1b: Maintained nursery schools (attended mainly by Catholic pupils)

  Percentage Protestant

  Number of Schools

  0

  22

  .01–1

  0

  1.1–5

  2

  5.1–10

  0

  10.1–20

  1

  20.1–50

  1

  50.1+

  0

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.
  251

  Table 2a: Maintained primary schools (attended mainly by Catholic pupils)

  Percentage Protestant

  Number of schools

  0

  384

  .01–1

  26

  1.1–5

  19

  5.1–10

  1

  10.1–20

  3

  20.1–50

  3

  50.1+

  0

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

  Table 2b: Controlled/other maintained primary schools (attended mainly by Protestant pupils)

  Percentage Catholic

  Number of schools

  0

  278

  .01–1

  52

  1.1–5

  91

  5.1–10

  26

  10.1–20

  14

  20.1–50

  14

  50.1+

  11

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

  Table 3a: Controlled secondary/non-denominational voluntary grammar schools (attended mainly by Protestant pupils)

  Percentage Catholic

  Number of schools

  0

  28

  .01–1

  25

  1.1–5

  36

  5.1–10

  7

  10.1–20

  8

  20.1–50

  6

  50.1+

  1

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

  Table 3b: Maintained secondary schools/voluntary grammar schools under Roman Catholic management (attended mainly by Catholic pupils)

  Percentage Protestant

  Number of schools

  0

  83

  .01–1

  22

  1.1–5

  2

  5.1–10

  0

  10.1–20

  1

  20.1–50

  1

  50.1+

  0

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

  Table 4: Integrated Schools

  Percentage Catholic

  Number of schools

  0–20

  0

  21–30

  1

  31–40

  2

  41–50

  5

  51–60

  9

  61–70

  4

  71+

  7

  Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the value to the Northern Ireland economy of an electricity interconnector with Scotland. [6678]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 28 November 1996]: None. The proposed construction of an electricity interconnector is a matter for the private companies concerned, Northern Ireland Electricity plc and Scottish Power plc. I can say, however, that the interconnector of neighbouring electricity systems is in line with UK Government and EU policy and is a central feature of Northern Ireland's energy strategy.

TRANSPORT

  Motorway Service Stations
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to decide where service stations should be located on motorways; and which agency has responsibility for determining proposals for service stations. [8082]

  Mr. Watts
  Following a change of policy announced in 1992, it is now for the private sector rather than the Department of Transport to bring forward new motorway service areas. My Department's involvement is limited to ensuring that proposals are acceptable in spacing, safety and traffic terms, and that any MSA signed from the motorway provides a specified minimum range of facilities. MSAs remain subject to the same controls as any other development, and cannot proceed unless planning permission has been granted by the local planning authority or, in the event of an appeal, the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Aircraft Noise Limits
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to enforce the noise limits due to be imposed at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted from 1 January 1997. [8083]

  Mr. Bowis
  On 6 December, the High Court ordered a stay on the introduction of the daytime noise limit of 94 dBA Lmax and the night-time noise limit of 87 dBA Lmax at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports until the determination of an application by the International Association for judicial review of the decision announced by my noble Friend on 28 August. The decision to improve monitoring efficiency by resiting some of the existing monitors and adding new monitors and other matters in the announcement of 28 August are unaffected.

  Road Signs
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs to British industry of inadequate and poor road signing. [8416]

  Mr. Watts
  There have been no recent studies of the effects nationally of road signing on British industry.
  253
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made on the effect of poor and inadequate road signing on road safety. [8420]

  Mr. Bowis
  The need for particular signs to be provided to maintain safety on trunk roads in England is considered on a case by case basis. Maintenance of the signs is carried out in accordance with the Highways Agency's code of practice for routine maintenance. The provision and maintenance of adequate signing on other roads are matters for the relevant highway authorities.

  Aircraft Safety Standards
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those countries identified by the Federal Aviation Authority as not meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation standards. [8435]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) gave to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich on 26 March,Official Report, column 542.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for press releases listing countries not meeting Internatinal Civil Aviation Organisation standards issued by the Federal Aviation Authority to be placed in the Library. [8436]

  Mr. Bowis
  No, this is not a matter for my Department.

  Air Passenger Carriers' Liability
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those countries with an air passenger carriers' liability limit lower than the United Kingdom's. [8440]

  Mr. Bowis
  According to information provided by the European Commission, six European Union member states currently permit carriers licensed in their territory to operate international services with lower liability limits than the United Kingdom in respect of death or injury to their passengers: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain.

  Details of liability requirements in countries outside the Community are not currently available. However, the proposed EC regulation on air carrier liability in case of accidents would require a third country carrier operating to, from, or within the Community to provide passengers buying a ticket within a European Union member state with full details of its liability arrangements if these do not match the new Community standards.

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Car or van drivers

  209

  3,307

  199

  3,272

  151

  3,143

  Car or van passengers

  258

  13,269

  211

  10,983

  180

  9,322

  Front seat car passengers

  57

  1,367

  52

  1,428

  55

  1,379

  Rear seat car passengers

  176

  11,194

  142

  8,985

  119

  7,481

  All van passengers

  25

  708

  17

  570

  6

  462

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised safety guidance currently in place following the fire in the channel tunnel; [8439]

  (2) if he will publish the documents relating to the decision by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to relax the evacuation standard on the channel tunnel from 90 minutes to three hours; [8437]

  (3) if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between Eurotunnel and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority regarding the recent decision to reopen the channel tunnel. [8438]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 December,Official Report, columns 804–805. However, Eurotunnel issued a press notice on 9 December 1996 which summarises the main measures that were taken—both temporary and permanent—before a resumption of Eurostar and tourist shuttle services was authorised by the intergovernmental commission. I can confirm that the issues identified by Eurotunnel were those examined in detail by the safety authority. A copy of the press notice has been placed in the Library.

  North-west Traffic Area Office
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 5 December,Official Report, column 723, on the north-west traffic area office, what will be the amount of the payment to cover dilapidations. [8423]

  Mr. Bowis
  Negotiations on the amount of dilapidations are in progress between our agents and the landlord. To (late, no figure has been agreed.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate how many(a) drivers, (b) front-seat passengers and (c) back-seat passengers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured as a result of not wearing a seat belt in a vehicle in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8229]

  Mr. Bowis
  Statistics for seat belt wearing are available only until 1993 and only for the occupants of cars and vans. The position of front and back-seat passengers is available only for car passengers. The following table shows the recorded numbers of such drivers and passengers killed and injured in Great Britain while not wearing a seat belt whether or not one was fitted. The table does not include figures for the casualties where the wearing of a belt was not reported—about a quarter of all accidents.
  255
  It is known how many of these casualties were as a direct result of not wearing a seat belt, but it is estimated that 510 lives and 8,800 serious injuries have been saved each year as a result of seat belts being worn.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria have been altered to amend the decisions made in the 1995 review of the road programme in respect of the removal of schemes from the main programme and the promotion of schemes from the longer-term programme. [8617]

  Mr. Watts
  Since the review published in November 1995 as "Managing the Trunk Road Programme", the Government's Green Paper "Transport—The Way Forward", Cm 3234, has been published affecting the Government's view of priorities and there have been changes in the circumstances of individual schemes. In some cases, schemes have been reviewed to reduce their cost and scope; in some cases, costs and benefits have been updated; there has been public consultation on some schemes; some schemes have been taken forward as part of the design, build, finance and operate programme; and, in some cases, local circumstances have changed.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in respect of each of the schemes remaining in the road programme and for each scheme removed from the programme, what is the latest figure available on the ratio between current traffic and the critical traffic flow on that link and when the CTF ratio exceeded 100 per cent. or is forecast to exceed 100 per cent. [8619]

  Mr. Watts
  I will write to the hon. Member with details and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the appraisal methodology used to determine which trunk road improvements will(a) remain and (b) cease to be part of the road programme. [8368]

  Mr. Watts
  Decisions on which schemes should be included within the £6 billion road programme announced by my right hon. Friend on 26 November were taken in the light of a number of factors for each scheme, including the benefit to cost ratio, the environmental impact, the importance of the route on which the scheme was situated, the perceived importance of the scheme in the region, the actual or potential statutory or generalised blight generated by the scheme and the time at which the unimproved road was likely to experience substantial congestion. Longer-term schemes, for many of which little detailed information was yet available, were mostly withdrawn.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the regional priorities for road schemes given by the Government offices as part of the latest review of the road programme. [8365]

  Mr. Watts
  No. These were prepared for the purpose of the Department's internal consideration of policy options and were only one of a range of factors taken 256
  into account in reaching decisions on the content of the road programme.

  Traffic Cones and Road Signs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (i) traffic cones and (ii) road signs have been stolen in the last year; at what cost; what plans his Department has to try to reduce such figures; and if he will make a statement. [8316]

  Mr. Watts
  Traffic management at roadworks is provided under contract and it is the contractor's responsibility to take action to prevent theft of his equipment. No central record is kept of thefts of traffic cones or temporary road signs. We are not aware of any cases of theft of permanent road signs on the trunk road network. I understand that some local highway authorities have experienced problems and are dealing with them. This is a matter for the authorities concerned.

  A1
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact the decision to cease the upgrading of the Al south of Alconbury and north of Peterborough will have on the concession awarded for the upgrading by DBFO—design, build, finance and operate—of the Alconbury to Peterborough section; and what representations he has received from the concessionaires on the decision. [8367]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Roy Hughes, dated 11 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about changes made to the Government's trunk road programme following the Chancellor's Autumn Statement. You ask what implication there might be for the A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) scheme in the light of the decision taken to withdraw other A1(M) schemes from the programme.
  The A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough DBFO concession has been awarded as part of the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI). One of the key objectives for any contract awarded under the PH initiative is to achieve the optimal transfer of risk to the private sector in relation to the design, building, financing and operation of roads. For the tenderer, this means that he makes his own assessment of future traffic and accepts any associated risks. For the Department, this means that concessions will only proceed where the level of risk transferred is acceptable to the Government and represents good value for money. Any possible implications, therefore, for the A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough DBFO concession following changes to the trunk road programme, are entirely a matter for the DBFO Company.
  To date, no approach has been received from the DBFO Company on this matter.

  Cones Hotline
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what final estimate he has made of the(a) average daily and (b) total gross cost to all the Departments and agencies involved in the national cone hotline; and if he will make a statement. [8313]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 26 March 1996,Official Report, column 547,

  257
  and on 10 July 1995, Official Report, column 403, and to the letter the chief executive of the Highways Agency wrote to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 6 November 1995, Official Report, columns 759–60.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many calls to the national cone hotline(a) were made and (b) required remedial action to be taken; and if he will make a statement. [8314]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the letter the chief executive of the Highways Agency wrote to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 6 November 1995,Official Report, columns 759–60.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which other countries in the(a) EU and (b) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Department have begun operating a system similar to the national cone hotline (i) prior to, (ii) during and (iii) after the British initiative; and if he will make a statement. [8315]

  Mr. Watts
  In France, the Centre National d'Information Routiere operates an information line service, providing motorists with information on road conditions and the opportunity to make complaints relating to the road network. We do not have readily available details of the systems operating in other EU and OECD countries, or of the dates on which other countries' systems started.

  Injury Prevention and Control
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8645]

  Mr. Bowis
  No.

  Shipping
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many United Kingdom-owned and registered ships there were in each year since 1979.[7838]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: Information on United Kingdom-owned and registered ships alone was not available prior to 1986. The information that is available is as follows:

  United Kingdom owned and registered fleet (vessels of 500 gross tons and over)

  Number of vessels at end of year

  Registered in United Kingdom

  Registered in United Kingdom or Crown Dependencies

  Total

  Of which owned by UK companies

  Total

  Of which owned by UK companies

  Owned by United Kingdom companies

  1979

  —

  —

  1,305

  1,194

  —

  1980

  —

  —

  1,275

  1,143

  —

  1981

  —

  —

  1,118

  994

  —

  1982

  —

  —

  985

  868

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  866

  769

  —

  1984

  —

  —

  777

  690

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  693

  627

  —

  1986

  482

  454

  546

  496

  710

  1987

  410

  387

  506

  464

  657

  1988

  375

  350

  482

  437

  621

  258

  United Kingdom owned and registered fleet (vessels of 500 gross tons and over)

  Number of vessels at end of year

  Registered in United Kingdom

  Registered in United Kingdom or Crown Dependencies

  Total

  Of which owned by UK companies

  Total

  Of which owned by UK companies

  Owned by United Kingdom companies

  1989

  361

  336

  450

  407

  581

  1990

  337

  310

  427

  378

  581

  1991

  321

  303

  409

  370

  586

  1992

  291

  274

  363

  324

  555

  1993

  273

  258

  344

  305

  530

  1994

  282

  263

  360

  310

  532

  1995

  271

  251

  365

  301

  540

  19961

  257

  236

  369

  289

  509

  Note:

  1 At end of September.

  Source:

  Lloyds Maritime Information Service.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the markers associated with vehicle data stored on the police national computer indicating when such markers are used. [7554]

  Mr. Maclean
  Details of markers associated with vehicle data stored on the police national computer cannot be divulged since to do so may be prejudicial to the prevention and detection of crime and the security of the state.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the markers associated with criminal record data stored on the police national computer indicating when such markers are used. [7556]

  Mr. Howard
  The following types of marker may be held for subjects with criminal record data stored on the police national computer:

  Warning Signals

  Information Markers

  Local Cross-References.

  Warning signals contain information about the subject which should be immediately communicated to officers for the protection of themselves, the subject and others.

  Information markers contain useful and operationally important information about the subject.

  Local cross-references are used to identify the existence of information about a subject held on other police systems.
  259
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the data fields which are currently used in relation to vehicle information stored on the police national computer. [7553]

  Mr. Maclean
  The following data fields relating to the vehicles application are held on the police national computer:

  Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM);

  VRM previously allocated to the vehicle;

  The Vehicle Identification Number allocated by a manufacturer;

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) make/model/body/colour code;

  Engine serial number and capacity;

  Registered owner's name and address;

  Month and year of first registration in the United Kingdom and name of the Vehicle Registration Office;

  Number and layout of wheels;

  Vehicle history:

  permanently exported;

  scrapped or seriously damaged;

  previous owner has indicated they no longer own the vehicle;

  vehicle has been subject to a cherished transfer;

  local authority has disposed of a vehicle;

  vehicle is subject to direct/personal export regulations;

  lost/stolen/recovered date;

  date vehicle was scrapped;

  VRM has been transferred to another vehicle;

  date on which the registered keeper last changed;

  date when vehicle description details were last updated.

  An indicator to show that the vehicle details are as notified by the previous owner;
  An indicator to show that the contents of the DVLA record have been queried;
  An indicator to show that the vehicle excise licence has been expired for more than three months;
  An indicator to show that the vehicle owner is entitled to diplomatic privilege;
  An indicator to show whether foreign or Great Britain registered;
  Owner/creator of the vehicle details which have been entered by the police (used when no DVLA information is available).

  In addition, various reports may be added by the police service to a vehicle record for operational police use. The report types available are lost/stolen, found, information, restricted—so that information is not given out over the air, correction, seen and removed, into custody or from street to street.

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the data fields currently used in relation to criminal record information stored on the police national computer. [7555]

  Mr. Howard
  The following data fields are held for subjects with criminal record information stored on the police national computer.

  Subject-related details may contain the following:

  Name under which subject is filed;

  PNC Identification Number;

  Criminal Record Office Number;

  Date and place of birth and nationality;

  260

  Descriptive details;

  Occupations;

  Names, nicknames and dates of birth used;

  Warning signals;

  Information markers;

  Local cross-references;

  Locations of subject photographs and dates taken;

  Police circulation references;

  Police officers with detailed or special knowledge of subject:

  Passport detail;

  Other identity numbers (eg National Insurance Number, Aliens Registration Number);

  Internal cross references to other PNC subjects;

  Driver number issued by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA);

  Known associates;

  Special skills and knowledge;

  Organisations with which subject is involved and type of relationship;

  Addresses and telephone numbers;

  Places frequented;

  Other details (any other relevant information on the subject);

  For each case the following information may be held;

  Arrest details, including date and time, prosecuting agent, fingerprint status, officer dealing with case, persons co-charged;
  Offences with which charged, including date and time, location, method used and clothing worn, whether committed while on bail;
  How, when and where the case was dealt with, e.g., conviction at court, caution at police station;
  For offences dealt with at court, the plea entered, adjudication, number of offences taken into consideration, sentence imposed, result of appeal;
  Remand appearance information including location, date, result, bail conditions and breaches of bail;
  Periods in custody including dates, institution and release details including date, reason, return/recall dates, licence conditions and supervision arrangements.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for reporting back to the joint fire safety committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council by Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services on their involvement,(a) in those areas for which the fire and emergency planning department has a policy responsibility and (b) in liaison with other Government Departments, in the development of fire safety standards and tests. [7978]

  Mr. Sackville
  The joint fire safety committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council meets twice a year and on an ad hoc basis as necessary to discuss matters of particular concern to the committee. Issues affecting fire safety standards and fire testing are reported to the committee during these meetings.

  Asylum Division
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff and of what grades are employed in the Home Office asylum
  261
  division; and what were the figures (a) on 1 January 1996, (b) on 1 January 1993, (c) on 1 January 1990 and (d) on 1 January 1988. [7792]

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

  Grade

  1988

  1990

  1 January 1993

  1 January 1996

  30 November 1996

  5

  1—

  1

  1

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  7

  —

  —

  3

  5

  5

  Senior Executive Officer

  —

  —

  19

  22

  25

  Higher Executive Officer

  —

  —

  37

  76

  85

  Higher Executive Officer (Development)

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Executive Officer

  —

  —

  155

  268

  289

  Administrative Officer

  —

  —

  203

  227

  190

  Assistant Identification Officer

  0

  0

  0

  7

  0

  Administration Assistant

  —

  —

  120

  157

  150

  Personal Secretary

  —

  —

  3

  4

  4

  Total

  52

  86

  542

  770

  749

  1 Indicates figures not available.

  The asylum division, now directorate, was formed in April 1991. Before then, asylum determination staff were part of a division which also did other work, and the figures given for 1988 and 1990 represent the total number of staff dealing specifically with applications for asylum. No breakdown by grades of staff is available for those years.

  French Fishermen (Minquiers)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Dpearmtent under what statutory provision French fishermen are permitted to fish in the Minquiers. [7764]

  Mr. Sackville
  The waters around the Minquiers form part of the territorial sea of Jersey. The Sea Fisheries (Jersey) Law 1994 permits continued fishing by French vessels in this area, in conformity with long-standing agreements between the British and French Governments.

  CS Gas
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the value of the contingency fund that he has established to meet damages claims for injuries caused by CS gas to civilians and police officers. [8282]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not established such a fund.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to incorporate the guidelines established by the Himsworth committee into authorisations given to United Kingdom police forces relating to the use of CS gas; [8280]

  (2) what guidelines have been issued to United Kingdom police forces concerning the operational use of CS gas canisters; [8284]
  262
  (3) if the authorisation granted to United Kingdom police forces to use CS gas extends to members of the special constabulary; [8281]

  (4) if guidelines issued by his Department to local police forces regarding the use of CS gas are legally binding. [8285]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not issued guidelines on the use of CS spray. The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued operational guidance, which is not legally binding. Individual police officers must comply with the criminal law in relation to any use of force. The Himsworth report's conclusions and recommendations were fully taken into account in the decision to adopt CS spray, and are reflected in the operational guidance, and in guidance to chief officers on the purchase of CS equipment. It is open to chief officers to issue special constables with CS spray.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the strength of the CS gas used in the United Kingdom relative to that used in the United States of America. [8283]

  Mr. Maclean
  The weight to volume concentration of CS currently used by police forces in England and Wales is 5 per cent. the same as in France. I understand that some law enforcement agencies in the United States of America have used sprays with 1 to 2 per cent. concentrations, but because of concerns about its effectiveness, many have moved to pepper sprays.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many CS sprays are being acquired by United Kingdom police forces; what is the country of origin of these devices; and which companies manufacture them. [8279]

  Mr. Maclean
  The figure requested is not centrally available. A total of 3,800 officers carried CS spray canisters for the trials which took place in 16 forces in England and Wales between March and August this year. The canisters were manufactured by SAE Alsetex of France.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of each of the CCTV schemes cited in his letter to hon. Members of 4 January; and what has been the reduction in the number of crimes in each case since the introduction of each scheme. [8239]

  Mr. Maclean
  The closed circuit television schemes cited are those in Newcastle upon Tyne, Swansea, Northampton, Gloucester and Bedford. None of these schemes was funded by the Home Office and details of their costs are not recorded centrally.

  Local police forces have provided the following data:
  Newcastle upon Tyne: The scheme became operational in December 1992. In the year before its installation, there were 12,400 recorded in the area covered by the cameras. In 1996, it is estimated that 7,000 crimes will be recorded
  Swansea: The system was installed in December 1994. In the 15 weeks before the system became operational, there were 1,544 instances of vehicle crime. In the 15 weeks after, there were 1,382 instances.

  263
  Gloucester: The system became operational in May 1993. After the cameras were installed, there was an 80 per cent. reduction in crimes of violence, a 78 per cent. reduction in commercial burglary and autocrime was virtually eradicated in car parks covered by CCTV.
  Bedford: The system became operational in May 1994. In November 1993, there were 325 recorded crimes in the area covered by the cameras. In November 1996, there were 186.
  Northampton: CCTV cameras have completely eradicated car crime in a local car park.

  Child Abduction
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been arrested for attempted and actual baby snatching within the United Kingdom during the past two years in each region; and if he will make a statement; [8096]

  (2) how many attempted baby snatches there have been during the past two years in each region. [8097]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Department what estimate he has made of the number of overseas domestic workers who have entered and worked in this country legally since 1980. [8080]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Comprehensive information on domestic workers admitted to the United Kingdom is not available. The available information relates to persons granted entry clearance in 1995 by the 21 posts in the middle east and far east which are likely to deal with the vast majority of applications by domestic workers. In the whole of the year, there were some 14,000 entry clearances issued at these posts to domestic workers, the great majority to servants accompanying their employers on a visit to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of overseas domestic workers who have left their employers owing to abuse since 1980. [8081]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No such estimate is available.

  Green Goddesses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Green Goddesses his Department currently has; and what is the average age of the fleet. [8216]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department currently holds 1,085 Green Goddesses.

  The average age is about 42 years.

  Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he or his officials have had with representatives of the retail industry and other sectors to discuss costs which may result from the proposed Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations. [8414]
  264
  Mr. Sackville
  Officials met representatives of the British Retail Consortium on 1 August to discuss compliance costs associated with proposals for Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations. Since then, they have corresponded and spoken with representatives of that organisation on a number of occasions. Most recently, officials from the fire safety unit and Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate carried out cost assessment visits to workplaces with the BRC and Francis Maude, chairman of the Government's deregulation task force, on 26 November.

  Representatives of other sectors were consulted as part of the consultative exercise carried out between 21 May and 9 August this year.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement the Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations; and what compliance costs have been estimated by his Department. [8415]

  Mr. Sackville
  Following an extensive consultation process, we intend to make regulations shortly. A compliance cost assessment will accompany the regulations.

  Plastic Baton Rounds
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the police scientific development branch report, entitled "Plastic Baton Round Equipment for the Police", part 2, No. 6/90, is a classified document; and if he will place copies in the Library. [8650]

  Mr. Maclean
  This is a classified document and I will not place copies in the Library.

  Science and Technology Group
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to place copies of all Home Office science and technology group reports in the Library. [8651]

  Mr. Maclean
  Copies of reports published by the former police department science and technology group, and its successor units within the police policy directorate, are placed in the Library where it is considered appropriate to do so, having regard to their subject matter and whether they are classified.

  Bilingual Learners' Support
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding will be made available for bilingual learners' support in Hampshire after April 1997. [7087]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The main source of specific funding for additional education support for members of ethnic minorities is grants paid by the Home Office under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. Hampshire's grant allocation figure for 1996–97 is £527,554. I announced on 13 November,Official Report, column 242, that section 11 funding will continue at its present overall level until August 1998. We are currently in touch with Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton councils about detailed arrangements in the light of local government reorganisation from April 1997. In addition, the

  265
  Department for Education and Employment currently has under consideration bids for its 1997–98 grants for education support and training programme which includes grants for in-service training to equip mainstream teachers and classroom assistants with skills needed to promote ethnic minority pupils' attainment of English. The outcome will be announced before Christmas.

  Drug Dealers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to this answer of 2 December,Official Report, columns 471–72, (1) which three-month period of 1994 was used for his analysis; how many offenders were convicted of class A drug trafficking offences in each of the three months; how many of the offenders convicted in each month had one previous offence of class A drug trafficking; how many in each month had two previous offences of class A drug trafficking; and how many in each month had more than two offences; [7850]

  (2) if he will list for (i) the period of the study and (ii) the number of offenders convicted for (a) a first offence, (b) a second offence, (c) a third offence and (d) a fourth or subsequent offence of trafficking in class A drugs, and, against each category for each month, (1) the number who received a custodial sentence and (2) the average length of sentence given to those sentenced to custody. [7928]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 10 December,Official Report, columns 148–49.

  Wiltshire Constabulary
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of(a) police officers, (b) full-time civilian staff, (c) part-time civilian staff and (d) contractors' staff employed by Wiltshire constabulary in (i) 1978, (ii) 1983, (iii) 1987, (iv) 1992 and (v) 1996. [8130]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on numbers of contract staff is not held centrally. The numbers of police officers and civilians employed by Wiltshire constabulary are set out in the table:

  Number of Civilians

  Year1

  Number of Police Officers

  Part-Time

  Full-Time

  1978

  962

  227

  44

  1983

  1,029

  235

  51

  1987

  1,044

  311

  69

  1992

  1,221

  424

  83

  1996

  1,219

  414

  92

  1 All figures taken at end of March.

  Knives
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide the police with extra powers to arrest people found carrying a knife. [8364]

  Mr. Maclean
  Since 4 July 1996, the police have had the power to arrest a person found carrying a knife in a public place or on school premises. For the knife-carrying problem to be tackled effectively, we believe it is essential 266
  that the police have adequate powers to stop and search when they have reliable information that people are carrying knives. At present, a police officer may stop and search anyone if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that he will find stolen or prohibited articles, such as a knife. On 6 November, we announced our intention to amend the code of practice on stop and search powers, issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, to make it clear that reasonable suspicion includes intelligence that members of a group or gang habitually carry knives. We have also proposed that police powers should be extended so that they can stop and search anyone in a particular area if they reasonably believe that people are carrying knives in that area. Those powers would have to be authorised by an officer of at least inspector rank for a maximum period of 48 hours. The association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Superintendents Association and the Police Federation have all indicated that they would support the proposed new powers.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) 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; [7571]

  (2) how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7586]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answers 6 November 1996]: The full information requested is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  It is expected that Home Office expenditure on official Christmas cards will be in the region of £2,000.

  Most Christmas decorations are paid for privately by members of staff. One artificial tree has been purchased for the Home Office building in Queen Anne's Gate at a cost of £75. It is being used as a focal point for a Christmas challenge to members of the Home Office to undertake voluntary work in Westminster during the Christmas season.

  Metropolitan Police (Vauxhall)
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons the plan to construct a divisional headquarters in Grafton square, Vauxhall, was not proceeded with; [8329]

  (2) what plans the Metropolitan police have (a) to relocate and (b) to provide adequate modern accommodation on their present site for Vauxhall police division; [8330]

  (3) what consultation has taken place within the borough of Lambeth regarding the proposed use of Grafton square as a criminal justice facility. [8331]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a strategic review of the provision of police accommodation in Lambeth, particularly in Clapham and Streatham, indicated that to continue with plans for a divisional headquarters in Clapham would not represent the best use of public funds.
  267
  He considers a criminal justice facility would provide greater benefit to the area. The new criminal justice facility will free much-needed space in the other police stations within the borough of Lambeth, enabling local police managers to make better use of existing police buildings. I understand that Metropolitan police architects consulted the senior planning practitioner for the London borough of Lambeth. The plans were discussed at a meeting of the Clapham sector working group and details of the drawings and proposals were sent to three local councillors. A deputy assistant commissioner from the Metropolitan police also addressed a public meeting. The Commissioner tells me that the Metropolitan police have delayed their planning application to allow more time for residents to consider the proposals.

DEFENCE

  Army Radio System
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the cost of the Bowman project; and what was the original estimated cost. [8350]

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimated cost at today's prices of the Army's Bowman radio system; what is the current estimated cost of the Bowman system; what was the original in-service date; and what is the current estimated in-service date of the system; and if he will make a statement. [8464]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The original estimated cost of the Bowman project when the first stage of feasibility studies was approved in 1988 was £1.5 billion, which is equivalent to £2.1 billion at current prices. The current estimate of the cost of the Bowman project is £1.9 billion. The original estimated in-service date was December 1995. The current estimated in-service date is March 2002.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the Royal Air Force low flying strategy; and what were his conclusions. [8466]

  Mr. Soames
  The need for military low flying is kept under continual review. It remains our conclusion that low flying is an essential tactic for a modern air force and one of the most effective ways of penetrating hostile air defences.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation has been paid to(a) individuals and (b) organisations for damage resulting from flying activity in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years.[8470]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not possible to differentiate between compensation payments made to individuals and those made to organisations without disproportionate effort. However, the majority of payments made were to individuals.

  Information on the total amounts paid is readily available for the last eight financial years only. The amounts paid relating to activity in the United Kingdom, excluding operational flying in Northern Ireland, were:
  268

  1988–89: £432,000

  1989–90: £414,000

  1990–91: £427,000

  1991–92: £440,000

  1992–93: £506,000

  1993–94: £558,000

  1994–95: £703,000

  1995–96: £374,000.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints his Department received about low-flying aircraft in each month of each of the last four years and to date this year. [8471]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of inquiries and complaints received by my Department about military low flying by month between January 1992 and January 1996 have been provided in answers given to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 5 May 1993,Official Report, column 146, 16 February 1994, Official Report, column 818, 19 October 1995, Official Report, column 346, and 13 February 1996, Official Report, column 490. The numbers received from February 1996 onwards are as follows:

  Month

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  February

  210

  55

  79

  March

  198

  36

  98

  April

  236

  72

  92

  May

  372

  92

  162

  June

  411

  71

  100

  July

  614

  135

  148

  August

  714

  183

  167

  September

  470

  115

  119

  October

  453

  36

  141

  November

  297

  49

  76

  The figures exclude Northern Ireland, where most low flying is of an operational nature with only a limited number of training sorties. Complaints arising from this activity are dealt with locally, and no central record is available of the number received.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates on which military aircraft engaged in low flying exercises have crashed since January 1992. [8472]

  Mr. Soames
  The dates of all crashes involving British military aircraft engaged in low flying either in the UK or overseas during the period in question are listed in the table. Details of which of these aircraft were involved in exercises are not recorded separately.

  15 February 1992

  9 July 1992

  22 September 1992

  27 May 1993

  28 June 1993

  30 July 1993

  9 September 1993

  17 September 1993

  21 October 1993

  6 November 1993

  5 January 1994

  14 January 1994

  269

  23 March 1994

  20 May 1994

  2 June 1994

  7 June 1994

  8 July 1994

  1 September 1994

  19 September 1994

  1 June 1995

  20 August 1995

  2 September 1995

  5 October 1995

  11 January 1996

  23 February 1996

  24 July 1996.

  Nuclear Submarines (Disposal)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the disposal of the redundant nuclear submarine hulks berthed at Rosyth; what plans he has to dispose of them on land; what options he has evaluated for the dismantling and disposal of the radioactive reactors; and if he will make a statement. [8461]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) yesterday,Official Report, column 158.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the decisions taken on the deployment of nuclear weapons in new NATO states at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting in Lisbon on 2 December. [8291]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  No such decisions were taken at the Lisbon Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Law of the Sea Convention
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom plans to accede to the UN convention on the law of the sea. [8253]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  It is our intention that the United Kingdom will accede to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea in due course. Parliament will be told as soon as the Government have taken a decision.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom is required to accede to the UN convention on the law of the sea by the beginning of March in order to retain its right to a representative on the Commission on limits to the continental shelf. [8256]

  Dr. Fox
  Any state which has deposited an instrument of ratification or accession to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea on or before 5 February 270
  1997 may nominate a candidate for election to the Commission on the limits of the continental shelf. The UK has not done so. No state has the right to a representative.

  Gold Reserves (Hong Kong)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 308, what is the current value in pounds sterling of (a) the Hong Kong Government's gold reserves and (b) all other assets of the Hong Kong exchange fund. [8518]

  Mr. Hanley
  The current value of the Hong Kong Government gold reserves, held in the exchange fund, is about £15 million. The total assets of the exchange fund, excluding the gold reserves, as at end November 1996 amounted to about £39.5 billion.

  Ministerial Visit (Cyprus)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Cyprus; if he will meet the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders; where he will stay overnight; and if he will make a statement. [8334]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary will visit Cyprus on 16 and 17 December and will overnight in Nicosia. We cannot give further details for security reasons. During the visit he will meet President Clerides, Foreign Minister Michaelides and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr Rauf Denktash. Discussion will focus on the prospects of achieving a comprehensive, negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem in 1997, before European Union accession negotiations begin.

  Council of Ministers Working Group
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name all the working groups of the European Union Council of Ministers that deal with questions of security, defence and arms control; what is the specific remit of each group and how often they meet; and if he will list the work in progress in those groups, in which the British Government participates. [8618]

  Mr. David Davis
  A number of working groups deal with security, defence and arms control issues. They comprise: non-proliferation, covering nuclear, chemical and biological fields; conventional arms exports; armaments policy; global disarmament and arms control. They meet regularly to discuss topical issues and areas for co-operation including, for example, the recent joint action on anti-personnel land mines. The common foreign and security policy group and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe group also consider European security issues.

  Arms Embargoes
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the instances where(a) United Nations or (b) European Union

  271
  arms embargoes have not been immediately incorporated into the law of Britain's offshore dependencies; and what was the reason for that non-incorporation; [8624]

  (2) what arrangements currently exist for the incorporation of (a) United Nations arms embargoes and (b) European Union arms embargoes into the law of the United Nations offshore dependencies; [8623]

  (3) on what date the interdepartmental committee set up to examine the Government's procedures in relation to the trafficking of arms will complete its report; and when a full report will be presented to the House; [8625]

  (4) what measures he has taken to prevent United Kingdom nationals or companies from supplying arms and military equipment via a third country to a destination to which such exports are prohibited under (a) a United Nations and (b) a European Union arms embargo; [8626]

  (5) what arrangements currently exist for the incorporation of (a) United Nations arms embargoes and (b) European Union arms embargoes into United Kingdom national law. [8622]

  Mr. David Davis
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 27 November,Official Report, column 318, the Government have set up an interdepartmental committee to examine our procedures in relation to trafficking in arms and to determine whether there has been a gap in our controls and if so what action needs to be taken. The committee's terms of reference are as follows:
  To review Government controls and procedures relating to trafficking in arms from third countries to destinations subject to embargo by the UK, when this is arranged from the UK or is arranged overseas by UK nationals or by UK companies;
  To determine whether there are any gaps in controls and procedures, and if so, what action needs to be taken, and to consider whether the Government should have additional powers;
  For the proposes of the review, the UK shall be taken to include Crown Dependencies and Dependent Territories;
  To report by Thursday 19 December 1996.

  The committee is examining the scope and implementation of all current UN, OSCE, EU and national embargoes, including their application in the dependent territories and Crown dependencies. The committee will cover the issues raised by the hon. Member as fully as possible in the time available. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary will report to the House as early as possible.

  General Affairs Council
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council. [8723]

  Mr. David Davis
  All but three of the 25 A points in document 12425/96, which will be placed in the House as soon as it is available, were approved. The Dutch placed parliamentary scrutiny reserves on three items: stepping up the fight against organised crime; achievements in the field of justice and home affairs; and a draft report to the European Council on drugs. They expect to be able to lift all three of the reserves enabling them to be adopted before the European Council in Dublin on 13 and 14 December.
  272
  The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament listed in document 11428/96. A copy of the document will be placed in the House as soon as it is available. The presidency drew attention to a resolution changing the European Parliament's rules of procedure requiring the Council to express an opinion on the Commission's annual work programmed and the Parliament's subsequent resolution on priorities for the year ahead. The Council agreed that this encroached on the Council's competence and that the presidency should write to the European Parliament to restate the Council's position that it did not feel itself duty bound by an obligation imposed unilaterally by the parliament.

  The presidency informed the Council about the timing and agenda at the European Council in Dublin on 13 and 14 December.

  The Council discussed a presidency proposal on an approach for the future trade regime for the mid-term review of the Council decision on the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories—October. Ministers were unable to reach agreement. The Council concluded that OCT should be discussed further by the Committee of Permanent Representatives with a view to reaching agreement before the end of the year.

  The Council noted the approach outlined by the Commission in a short presentation given by Sir Leon Brittan on the upcoming EU-US summit which is being held in Washington on 16 December.

  After hearing a report from the Commission, the Council agreed conclusions on EU relations with Switzerland. It confirmed that considerable progress had been made in various sectors and in particular in regard to the free movement of persons. While recognising that a number of technical issues remain to be resolved at expert level, the Council expressed the view that it should now be possible to proceed to the finalisation of these negotiations. The Council also expressed the hope that a rapid conclusion of the land transport agreement based on a set of common principles could be achieved. The Council also underlined the importance of the global nature of the negotiations and the need for a balance between the different sectors and a parallel shouldering of commitments in accordance with the directives approved in 1994.

  The sixth EEA Council took place at the end of the morning and over lunch.

  The Commission outlined its humanitarian plan for the great lakes region in Zaire. The Council encouraged the Commission to present the plan as soon as possible. There was some discussion of the need for military intervention in the support of humanitarian activities. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs commented that the British Government remain committed to the humanitarian effort in the region, but until there is clear evidence to suggest that military intervention would help the humanitarian effort, the British Government remain unconvinced of the need for deployment of a full multi-national force.

  The Council had an exchange of views on Belarus, in the light of the troika's meeting with President Lukashenko in Lisbon on 3 December. The Council reiterated its deep concern about the democratic legitimacy and constitutionality of the Belarus referendum

  273
  and new constitution. It decided to propose to the Belarusian authorities the sending of a European Union fact-finding mission.

  Financial assistance to Turkey under the MEDA regulation was discussed over coffee.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs debriefed the Council, at the request of the presidency, on the London peace implementation conference. He noted that, while good progress had been made, the conference had realistically identified the huge amount still to be done. The Council welcomed the successful conclusion of the London peace implementation conference. It recognised the symbolic significance of the presence of all the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the conference. The Council reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to, and support for, the consolidation of peace, reconstruction and the return of refugees, notably through its regional approach. The Council expressed its deep concern at the current developments in the former republic of Yugoslavia and called for adherence to democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and democratic principles. The Council underlined that this would be a factor in the development of closer relations between the European Union and the former Republic of Yugoslavia in the context of the application of the regional approach.

  The Council welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Palestinians on a new interim association agreement as an important step in strengthening their relations with the European Union. It looked forward to the early signature following the planned initialling by the Commission on 10 December.

  The Commission proposed 20 mecu assistance for Bulgaria through the PHARE programme as part of a concerted international effort. Detailed proposals would be put to the PHARE management committee.

  Foreign Ministers held a conclave to discuss the intergovernmental conference. The Irish presidency presented the draft revised treaty outline, which the Florence European Council had requested and which was placed in the House Libraries on 5 December. Ministers were able to give their first reactions to the document in preparation for the Dublin European Council discussion on 13 and 14 December. The Foreign Ministers' meeting was preceded by the normal briefing session with the European Parliament.

  The conference of the representatives of the Governments of the member states agreed that the seat of the Community plant variety office will be in Angers, France.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the tonnage of food that is irradiated and available for sale in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [8020]

  Mrs. Browning
  Under the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990 a licence holder is required to keep a record of food treated by ionising radiation.
  274
  Returns received show that approximately 25 tonnes of herbs and spices have been irradiated in the UK since 1994. All this was indented for export.

  EU Fish Stocks
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if equal access for each member state to the EU's fish stocks will apply from 1 January 2003. [8301]

  Mr. Baldry
  At present member states do not enjoy equal access to EU fish stocks. There are restrictions on access within coastal waters and areas such as the Shetland box and Irish box. The principle of equal access is further overlaid in practice by other elements of the common fisheries policy including the operation of quotas under relative stability and the ceilings on effort in Western waters.

  Under Council regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92 the Council has to decide before 31 December 2002 on any necessary adjustments to be made to the present arrangements. The Government are committed to opposing changes to introduce equal access.

  Fishing (Poland)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on the United Kingdom fishing fleet of Poland joining the EU. [8302]

  Mr. Baldry
  Negotiations for the further enlargement of the European Union are not scheduled to start until after the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference. Any possible impact of Polish accession on the UK fishing fleet will depend on the accession terms proposed which will be discussed in full with the industry before the Government determined their fisheries objectives for the negotiations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  European Energy Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the European Energy Council on 3 December, indicating which items were subject to votes and how the United Kingdom voted; and if he will place in the Library copies of the documents tabled at the meeting. [8255]

  Mr. Page
  In answer to the hon. Gentleman's first question I refer to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconfield (Mr. Smith),Official Report, column 30. There were no formal votes taken at the Council. The majority of the proposals and reports have been deposited in the Library of both Houses and will appear in the Official Journal of the European Communities. These and other matters discussed at the Council are reported in a Council secretariat press release which is also placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to change the time scale over which nuclear power stations are to be decommissioned. [8050]

  Mr. Page
  Decommissioning of a nuclear power station is a matter for the operator, taking into account the requirements of the regulatory authorities. This includes details of timing.

  Period: 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  Region

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  Leeds

  London north

  London south

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Southampton

  Cases heard:

  total

  1,336

  1,227

  1,572

  1,369

  2,293

  2,734

  2,141

  3,005

  1,058

  1,181

  1,587

  Unfair dismissal:

  cases heard (total)

  701

  626

  737

  592

  1,077

  1,521

  1,166

  1,604

  548

  529

  835

  Unfair dismissal:

  successful

  300

  228

  251

  216

  420

  509

  411

  695

  228

  200

  345

  Unfair dismissal:

  percentage successful

  42.8

  36.4

  34

  36.5

  39

  33.5

  35.2

  43.3

  41.6

  37.8

  41.3

  Period: 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  Region

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  Leeds

  London North

  London South

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Southampton

  Cases heard:

  total

  1,586

  1,790

  1,201

  1,346

  1,827

  1,944

  2,249

  2,879

  1,078

  1,329

  1,870

  Unfair dismissal:

  cases heard (total)

  881

  888

  694

  664

  1,032

  1,613

  1,299

  1,645

  555

  652

  924

  Unfair dismissal:

  successful

  365

  346

  243

  194

  428

  509

  499

  729

  249

  271

  376

  Unfair dismissal: per cent.

  successful

  41.4

  39

  35

  30

  41.5

  31.6

  38.4

  44.3

  44.9

  41.6

  40.7

  Period: 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  Region

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  Leeds

  London North

  London South

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Southhampton

  Cases heard:

  total

  1,765

  2,014

  1,448

  1,442

  2,351

  1,817

  2.329

  3,261

  1,382

  1,619

  1,950

  Unfair dismissal:

  cases heard (total)

  1,049

  1,216

  803

  764

  1,162

  1,093

  1,525

  1,768

  751

  958

  1,042

  Unfair dismissal:

  successful

  504

  529

  381

  276

  490

  469

  703

  814

  379

  430

  455

  Unfair dismissal:

  percentage successful

  48.00

  43.5

  47.4

  36.1

  42.2

  42.9

  43.00

  46.00

  50.5

  44.9

  43.7

  Period: 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  Region

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  Leeds

  London North

  London South

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Southampton

  Cases heard:

  total

  1,136

  1,621

  1,254

  1,091

  1,727

  1,406

  1,720

  2,198

  1.047

  1,353

  1,365

  Unfair dismissal:

  cases heard (total)

  677

  918

  684

  593

  969

  853

  1,024

  1,335

  561

  722

  810

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of industrial tribunal cases heard, the number of unfair dismissal cases heard at industrial tribunals and the number and percentage of unfair dismissal cases that were successful, by region, in each of the last 10 years. [7954]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is in the table:
  277

  Period: 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  Region

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  Leeds

  London North

  London South

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Southampton

  Unfair dismissal:

  Successful

  337

  363

  304

  245

  460

  374

  439

  561

  262

  359

  351

  Unfair dismissal:

  percentage successful

  49.8

  39.5

  44.4

  41.3

  47.5

  43.8

  42.9

  42

  46.7

  49.7

  43.3

  Period: 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  Region

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  Leeds

  London North

  London South

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Southampton

  Cases heard:

  total

  859

  1,004

  1,033

  871

  1,631

  939

  1,548

  1,979

  445

  884

  1,132

  Unfair dismissal:

  cases heard (total)

  487

  561

  533

  488

  901

  546

  939

  947

  239

  453

  715

  Unfair dismissal:

  successful

  261

  258

  205

  191

  424

  251

  368

  428

  127

  200

  330

  Unfair dismissal:

  percentage successful

  53.6

  46

  38.5

  39.1

  47

  46

  39.1

  45.2

  53.1

  44.2

  46.2

  Offshore Oil and Gas Installations
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, column 184, on environmental inspections of oil rigs, what were the costs in each year of the oil installation inspections; and if he will place copies of the reports in the Library. [7931]

  Mr. Page
  As stated in that reply, figures for the numbers of inspections are not available disproportionate cost. Therefore, the costs result of carrying out these inspections available.

  As files are not available, and reports may contain commercially sensitive information, copies reports will not be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what type of oil spill containment and treatment is available, and within what time span, for spills or seepages that may occur near or at the North sea and north Atlantic oil and gas platforms and depots. [7893]

  Mr. Page
  All oil and gas operators are required to have an oil spill contingency plan approved by my Department. In areas which are within 25 miles of the coast or are otherwise environmentally sensitive a more stringent plan for each well may be required, as may be an environmental impact assessment. These requirements are the "essential elements" and form part of the licence conditions of certain blocks. Indicative conditions are available in the Library of the House.

  Telephones
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate for each of the last five years of(a) the number of households with a telephone and (b) those without by socio-economic category. [8447]
  278
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  We have made no such estimate. However, figures from the family expenditure survey suggest the following:

  in 1991 88.0 per cent. of households had a telephone;

  in 1992 88.4 per cent. of households had a telephone;

  in 1993 89.6 per cent. of households had a telephone;

  in 1994–95 91.1 per cent. of households had a telephone;

  in 1995–96 92.4 per cent. of households had a telephone.

  We do not have figures for each of the last five years on the number of houses without a phone by socio-economic category. However, the results of the general household survey 1994 "Living in Britain" revealed that for households, the head of which was economically active, the proportion without a phone was 7 per cent. For households with economically inactive heads 12 per cent. were without a phone. A breakdown of these figures into socio-economic sub-groups is given in the survey, which is available in the Library of the House and which reveals interesting spending priorities within the categories.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent assessment he has made of the consequences of the abolition of the wages councils for wages in those industries previously covered by them. [7083]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Changes in earnings in particular industries reflect the varying conditions in those industries and it is not possible to attribute such changes to any particular event. Between April 1994 and April 1995, average earnings of full-time workers covered by the main wages councils before their abolition in August 1993 rose at a comparable rate to those of workers employed in other industries.

  British Airways and American Airlines
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the President of the board of Trade what assessment he has made of the advantages and
  279
  disadvantages of the proposed British Airways-American Airlines alliance (a) for the United Kingdom and (b) for other United Kingdom carriers. [8180]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  On Friday 6 December my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced that he was seeking from the alliance undertakings in lieu of a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. He made it clear that without suitable undertakings the alliance would be likely to lead to a significant loss of actual and potential competition.

  The text of the competition analysis under European competition law is being made available to interested parties as from Friday 13 December 1996. I will arrange for a copy of this to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the non-oil balance of trade in goods for the United Kingdom with the European Union in each year since 1979. [7830]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The information is given in the table.

  UK non-oil trade with the EU15

  Year

  Crude balance of trade (£ billion)

  1979

  -5.2

  1980

  -3.4

  1981

  -5.2

  1982

  -7.7

  1983

  -11.4

  1984

  -13.3

  1985

  -14.0

  1986

  -16.0

  1987

  -16.9

  1988

  -20.3

  1989

  -21.8

  1990

  -16.7

  1991

  -7.4

  1992

  -10.2

  1993

  -9.2

  1994

  -10.3

  1995

  -8.9

  Fuel Prices
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average pump price per litre of(a) petrol and (b) diesel in each year since 1979–80. [7824]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The average pump price of four star petrol, premium unleaded petrol, and diesel fuel for the calendar years 1979 to 1995, and the first 10 months of 1996, including all taxes, is given in the table.
  280

  Average UK retail prices of four star petrol, premium unleaded petrol and diesel fuel for the years 1979 to 1996 in cash terms, including all taxes (pence per litre)

  Year

  Four star petrol

  Premium unleaded petrol

  Diesel fuel

  1979

  22.66

  n/a

  23.65

  1980

  28.32

  n/a

  29.67

  1981

  34.29

  n/a

  34.01

  1982

  36.62

  n/a

  35.86

  1983

  39.28

  n/a

  37.30

  1984

  40.62

  n/a

  38.33

  1985

  43.14

  n/a

  41.94

  1986

  37.35

  n/a

  35.60

  1987

  37.90

  n/a

  34.58

  1988

  37.38

  n/a

  33.99

  1989

  40.39

  38.29

  36.18

  1990

  44.87

  42.03

  40.48

  1991

  48.48

  45.07

  43.82

  1992

  50.28

  46.07

  45.01

  1993

  54.12

  49.44

  49.20

  1994

  56.87

  51.58

  51.53

  1995

  59.75

  53.77

  54.24

  19961

  60.90

  55.78

  56.90

  1 Average for 1996 relates to the period from January to October (inclusive) only.

  n/a denotes not applicable.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many of the individuals appointed by his Department to public positions in the last year were first identified by the public appointments unit. [8537]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: For appointments made during 1995 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright) on 25 April 1996, Official Report, column 219. From 1 January 1996 until 6 December 1996 departmental records show that five appointments to four separate bodies were made from names first supplied by the public appointments unit. A list of the appointments is as follows:

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Christopher Campbell

  Coal Authority
  Mr. John Cunliffe (reappointment)

  Copyright Appeals Tribunal
  Mrs. Angela Howorth (reappointment)
  Sir Michael Lickiss (reappointment)

  Human Genetics Advisory Commission
  Prof. Cairns Aitken.

SCOTLAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many appointments to non-departmental public bodies his Department has made in each of the last five financial years; [6366]

  (2) if he will list, for each of the non-departmental public bodies under the jurisdiction of his Department, how many appointments his Department is entitled to

  281
  make to these bodies; how many of these appointments will require to be made during the next (a) six and (b) 18 months; and of how many of its appointees his Department has extended the period of office during the last 12 months. [6367]

  Executive

  Number of Appointments

  Appointments Made

  Extensions

  Appointments to be Made

  Non-Departmental Public Body

  Entitled to be Made

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  January-December 1996

  January-June 1997

  January 97-June 98

  The Accounts Commission for Scotland

  15

  0

  3

  1

  5

  0

  1

  3

  6

  Agricultural Research and Biological Institutes:

  Hannah Research Institute

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Macaulay Research Institute

  25

  0

  2

  1

  3

  0

  5

  7

  10

  Moredun Research Institute

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Rowett Research Institute

  3

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  20

  1

  3

  0

  0

  2

  0

  8

  15

  Crofters' Commission

  9

  0

  2

  2

  0

  2

  3

  0

  0

  Dear Commission for Scotland

  13

  1

  7

  0

  0

  2

  11

  0

  0

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  11

  1

  0

  3

  0

  2

  0

  0

  4

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland

  10

  1

  0

  10

  1

  4

  0

  2

  2

  National Galleries of Scotland

  12

  2

  1

  0

  1

  1

  2

  5

  7

  National Museums of Scotland

  15

  3

  0

  3

  2

  3

  2

  2

  6

  New Town Development Corporations: Cumbernauld Development Corporation

  8

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Irvine Development Corporation

  8

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Livingston Development Corporation

  8

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Parole Board for Scotland

  16

  1

  1

  3

  6

  0

  2

  6

  8

  Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

  9

  0

  3

  0

  3

  0

  1

  4

  5

  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

  5

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Scottish Arts Council

  16

  0

  0

  0

  14

  0

  3

  10

  12

  Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  0

  0

  6

  Scottish Community Education Council

  10

  1

  0

  2

  2

  1

  3

  5

  7

  Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board

  10

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  0

  282
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is shown in the table. This excludes appointments to advisory NDPBs, tribunals, and so on, which it would not be possible to cover except at disproportionate cost.
  283

  Executive

  Number of Appointments

  Appointments Made

  Extensions

  Appointments to be Made

  Non-Departmental Public Body

  Entitled to be Made

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  January-December 1996

  January-June 1997

  January 97-June 98

  Scottish Council for Educational Technology

  4

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  4

  4

  Scottish Environment Protection Agency

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  0

  0

  Scottish Enterprise

  11

  2

  1

  3

  0

  3

  4

  0

  1

  Scottish Examination Board1

  38

  0

  8

  0

  17

  0

  10

  0

  0

  Scottish Film Council2

  8

  0

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scottish Further Education Unit

  7

  0

  0

  7

  0

  1

  0

  3

  3

  Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

  15

  1

  10

  1

  1

  4

  1

  4

  12

  Scottish Homes

  9

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1

  0

  3

  5

  Scottish Hospital Endownments Research Trust

  10

  0

  3

  0

  2

  0

  1

  2

  6

  Scottish Legal Aid Board

  13

  1

  4

  1

  4

  1

  3

  0

  6

  Scottish Medical Practices Committee

  6

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  5

  5

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  12

  1

  11

  0

  1

  3

  3

  3

  7

  Scottish Seed Potato Development Council

  17

  0

  1

  5

  0

  8

  9

  0

  0

  Scottish Sports Council

  25

  1

  0

  2

  2

  3

  1

  3

  6

  Scottish Tourist Board

  7

  1

  1

  2

  1

  3

  0

  2

  2

  Scottish Vocational Education Council1

  12

  1

  5

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  1

  1

  Notes:

  1 The functions of the Scottish Examination Board and the Scottish Vocational Education Council will be transferred on 1 April 1997 to the new Scottish Qualifications Authority. Up to 19 appointments will be made to the new body.

  2 The functions of the Scottish Film Council will be transferred on 1 April 1997 to the new Scottish Screen. Up to 12 appointments will be made to the new body.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the amount of landfill tax raised from waste collection authorities in Scotland for the fiscal years(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [6827]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Based on their returns of household waste sent to landfill in 1994, the most recent date for which statistics are available, Scottish local authorities might be expected to face a landfill tax liability for £17 million in 1997–98. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has offset the charge on business overall by the reduction in national insurance contributions announced in his Budget last year. Scottish local authorities will benefit from this reduction.

  It is not possible to estimate a figure of liability for the past year 1996–97.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the(a) West, (b) North and (c) East of Scotland water authorities spent during their shadow period. [7427]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Between 17 July 1995 and 31 March 1996, the Scottish water authorities received grant in aid totalling(a) £3.211 million in the west, (b) £3.486 million in the north, and (c) £3.270 million in the east.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between officers and Ministers of his Department and the West of Scotland water authority in relation to the construction of a sewage treatment works at Greenan; and what was the content of these discussions. [7426]

  Mr. Kynoch
  There have been no such discussions.

  Overseas Travel (Diseases)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of rare and tropical diseases related to overseas travel have been diagnosed in each of the last five years in each health board area in Scotland. [7528]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information is not collected routinely under the category of "rare and tropical diseases". The information given in the table relates to laboratory-confirmed cases of diseases known to be of tropical origin and to cases where the disease is likely to have been of tropical origin.

  Laboratory-confirmed cases1 of disease acquired (or likely to have been acquired) in tropical countries, by health board, 1991–1995

  Year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Argyll and Clyde

  2

  0

  0

  6

  0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1

  4

  1

  2

  0

  Borders

  3

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  2

  4

  2

  2

  Fife

  1

  3

  1

  6

  2

  Forth Valley

  9

  1

  1

  2

  0

  Grampian

  22

  24

  20

  23

  34

  Greater Glasgow

  29

  31

  20

  24

  46

  Highland

  7

  1

  3

  2

  3

  Lanarkshire

  4

  2

  4

  3

  1

  Lothian

  17

  23

  29

  40

  58

  Orkney

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tayside

  4

  2

  4

  4

  8

  Western Isles

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1 From Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. Figures relate to the health board to which notification was made, which may differ from patient's health board of residence.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) drivers and (b) passengers have been prosecuted for not wearing seat belts in the (i) front seats and (ii) back seats of vehicles in Scotland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8236]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information available in relation to the prosecution of seat belt offences is as follows:

  Number of prosecutions for seat belt offences, Scotland, 1990 to 1994

  Year

  Number of prosecutions

  1990

  1,892

  1991

  2,193

  1992

  2,689

  1993

  3,580

  1994

  4,022

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) cases and (b) deaths from MRSA have been recorded in (i) hospitals and (ii) the community in Scotland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8317]
  286
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of cases of MRSA reported to the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health by laboratories throughout Scotland for each year since 1991 is given in the following table. It is not possible to distinguish between cases identified in hospitals and in the community.

  Year

  Number of cases

  1991

  432

  1992

  464

  1993

  442

  1994

  464

  1995

  600

  Deaths due to MRSA do not have a distinct code within the revision of the international classification of diseases for encoding death registration data. Consequently, there are no centrally held statistics on deaths from MRSA.

  Injury Prevention and Control
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8641]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The authors of the Melbourne declaration have not sought the Government's endorsement, although it has been brought to my right hon. Friend's attention. Accident prevention was identified as a health priority in the policy statement "Scotland's Health—A Challenge To Us All", published in 1992.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the individuals appointed by his Department to public positions in the last year were first identified by the public appointments unit. [8546]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: The Scottish Office maintains its own public appointments list and therefore makes limited use of names from the public appointments unit. The Scottish Office public appointments list is used as a source of names of suitably qualified candidates for consideration for a wide range of appointments made by my right hon. Friend. From time to time, the public appointments unit passes names to the Scottish Office for the public appointments list, and vice versa. No central records are kept of the sources of names of those who are appointed to public bodies.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners' Incomes
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households there were in which three quarters or more of the total income was derived from national insurance retirement and similar pensions and housing and other benefits in supplement to or instead of such pensions in each of the last five financial years. [6589]
  287
  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.

  Calendar Year

  Number of Pensioners Units

  1988

  3,750,000

  1989

  3,750,000

  1990

  3,500,000

  1992

  3,500,000

  1993

  3,600,000

  Notes:

  1. The pensioners' incomes series gives estimates for pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as being either a single person over state pension age or a couple where the man is over state pension age (SPA).

  2. Income from state benefits has been calculated as income from national insurance benefits and all other benefits that may be received above SPA, such as income related benefits and disability benefits.

  Source:

  The source of these estimates is the pensioners' incomes series, which is based mainly on data from the family expenditure survey carried out over calendar years and covers the whole of the United Kingdom. The figures given are for the last five calendar years for which pensioners' incomes series data are available, and rounded to the nearest 50,000.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to publish new information on pensioners. [8933]

  Mr. Heald
  The "Pensioners' Income Series 1994/5" will be published by the Government Statistical Service at 9.30 am on 12 December. Copies will be available in the Library.

  Mortgage Interest Payments
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers gaining if the linking period for mortgage interest payments was extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. [6732]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No such estimate has been made and one could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 October,Official Report, columns 160–61, if he will give a breakdown of the illnesses and diseases for which the successful claimants received a war pension; and when his Department finished compiling the final report of this special exercise. [6975]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table and relates to cases reviewed under the special exercise.

  Information on the new claims made as a result of the press notice could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The special exercise was completed on 3 February 1987.
  288

  Bari Habour Exercise: Breakdown of Disablement or Causes of Death for which a War Pension was Awarded

  Nature of Disability/Cause of Death

  Number of Cases

  Burns

  18

  Psychoneurosis

  8

  Injuries to eyes

  8

  Conjunctivitis

  6

  Fractures to bones

  5

  Injuries to limbs and spine (other than fractures)

  5

  Pulmonary tuberculosis

  4

  Amputations of lower limbs

  4

  Nervous disabilities

  4

  Loss of finger or part of finger

  3

  Deafness

  3

  Otitis media

  2

  Effects of gas

  2

  Bronchitis

  2

  Exhaustion

  2

  Concussion

  1

  Shock

  1

  Prolapsed intervertebral disc

  1

  Injury to face

  1

  Ulcers both eyes

  1

  Pyloric ulcer

  1

  Gunshot wound

  1

  Asthma

  1

  Emphysema

  1

  Tuberculosis

  1

  Pneumonia

  1

  Arthritis

  1

  Dysentery

  1

  Note:

  In some instances awards of war pension were made to an individual in respect of more than one disability.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library the consultation papers presented to the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions. [8666]

  Mr. Heald
  A copy of the consultation letter of 26 November to the members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions has been placed in the Library. The letter gives full details of the proposed changes and invites comments from the committee by 17 January next year.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library the correspondence between himself and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury concerning proposals on war pensions. [8668]

  Mr. Heald
  Interministerial correspondence is not normally placed in the Library.

  Data Matching
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he made of data matching arrangements in other countries in formulating his recent legislative proposals. [7741]

  Mr. Heald
  The proposals set out in the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill for extending checks of relevant data are based on the success of the Department's generalised matching service in identifying fraud. This was developed with the help and expertise of civil servants seconded from the privacy, fraud and control
  289
  division of the Department of Social Security in Australia, with which there is continuing contact and co-operation.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the amount which will be saved as a result of the changes to housing benefit introduced in the Budget. [8573]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It is estimated that the proposed changes would save £8 million in 1997–98, £60 million in 1998–99 and £92 million in 1999–2000.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total housing benefit budget in each of the previous five years; [8567]

  (2) how much has been paid out in housing benefit for each of the previous five years. [8566]

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

  Housing benefit is a benefit based on legal entitlement and is not subject to a budget or cash limit.

  Year

  £ millions

  1990–91

  5,147

  1991–92

  6,482

  1992–93

  7,901

  1993–94

  9,218

  1994–95

  10,181

  Source:

  Table 3, departmental report 1996.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if new claims for housing benefit for single people will be subject to the new rules introduced in the Budget when that person has previously claimed housing benefit within the last year. [3569]

  Mr. Evans
  A single person who had his claim assessed under the local reference rent rules will be affected by the new rules if he renews his claim after the new rules come into force. Most people who have claimed in the last year who are exempt from the local reference rent rules will also be exempt from the new rules.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who will(a) be affected and (b) have their benefit reduced by the changes to housing benefit introduced in the Budget. [8574]

  Mr. Evans
  The number of people who are likely to be affected as a result of restricting housing benefit to the local reference rent is estimated as 370,000. Of these, 40,000 are likely to have reduced benefit in the first year with 133,000 and 214,000 having reduced benefit in subsequent years.

  The number of people who are likely to be affected as a result of restricting housing benefit for most single people under 60 years of age is estimated as 365,000. Of these, 72,000 are likely to have reduced benefit in the first year with 210,000 and 265,000 having reduced benefit, in subsequent years.

  However, the proposals will overlap and the numbers likely to have a reduction in their benefit over the next three years are 92,000, 275,000 and 370,000.
  290
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what safeguards exist in the changes to housing benefit in the budget to prevent unemployed people who are widowed or divorced and left with the tenancy of the house they previously shared with a partner from losing their homes. [8572]

  Mr. Evans
  There are special rules within the housing benefit regulations which give protection to those who lose their partner through death. There is also protection for those who lose their jobs. Generally, widows will be able to retain the level of benefit which was being paid before the late husband's death, for a period of 12 months. These special rules will continue to apply when the proposed changes are implemented even though claimants, over the age of 59, would not be affected by the single room rent proposals. There is no separate protection for divorced people. However, local authorities will continue to have discretion to pay up to the full rent to prevent exceptional hardship.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently claiming housing benefit in the United Kingdom. [8568]

  Mr. Evans
  At the end of May 1996, there were 4,779,000 housing benefit recipients in Great Britain.

  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland figure.
  Note:
  A recipient may he a single person or a couple.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single person households have been in receipt of housing benefit in each of the last five years. [8570]

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

  The information relates to housing benefit recipients in all tenure types, in Great Britain, who are single with no dependants in the household.

  Year

  Housing benefit recipients (000s)

  May 1991

  2,346

  May 1992

  2,411

  May 1993

  2,562

  May 1994

  2,645

  May 1995

  2,702

  Source:

  Housing benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries with and without income support, taken at the end of May in each year quoted.

  Residential Home Allowances
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances the Benefits Agency is able to pay residential allowance to clients in a residential programme not registered as a residential home or mental nursing home under the terms of the Registered Homes Act 1984. [8672]
  291
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Generally, income support residential allowance is payable only to persons in a registered residential care or nursing home. However, residential allowance may be paid to residents of unregistered homes, if the homes are managed or provided 292
  by a body incorporated by royal charter or constituted by Act of Parliament—other than a social services authority—and they provide both board and personal care to the customer.

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