Written Answers of 12 December 1996

TRANSPORT

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the(a) capital value and (b) expected start date of each of the private finance initiative schemes relating to transport which are summarised in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98" and which are expected to start in the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000. [8627]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: The information is as follows:

  Estimated capital value (£ million)

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road

  300

  CAA New Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre

  1200

  DBFO road schemes

  350

  London Transport Communications

  150–200

  1 Subject to review.

  Timing is subject to progress with negotiations and with approvals procedures, but most of these schemes are expected to start in 1997–98.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the estimated forward financial commitments for each signed PFI contract agreed by his Department or one of its agencies as summarised in table 5.6 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98". [8620]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: Details of individual contracts are commercially sensitive, but we estimate the average annual costs over the next three years to be around £100 million for signed design, build, finance and operate road contracts and a further £100 million for other agreed transport PFI schemes.

  Trunk Road Network
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to conduct the next general review of the trunk road network. [9013]

  Mr. Watts
  We have no plans at present for a further general review of the trunk road network.

  French Lorry Drivers Disputes
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications his Department has received(a) nationally and (b) from Devon and Cornwall for compensation from regular exporters of fish and fish products as a consequence of the recent French lorry drivers' dispute; and if he will make a statement. [8692]
  294
  Mr. Watts
  We have had two inquiries on behalf of fishing interests, neither specific to Devon or Cornwall, about eligibility for claiming compensation and the procedure. I am not aware of any claims having yet been submitted to the French authorities.

  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the criteria governing eligibility for compensation for exporters on a regular basis of United Kingdom products to the European Union following the recent lorry drivers' dispute in France; and if he will make a statement. [8708]

  Mr. Watts
  Any business which can demonstrate, with hard supporting evidence, that it has suffered financial loss as a direct result of the dispute is at liberty to submit a claim for compensation to the French authorities for their consideration. We shall publish shortly details of the arrangements for making claims.

  Road and Vehicle Safety Directorate
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current objectives of the road and vehicle safety directorate. [8328]

  Mr. Bowis
  The road and vehicle safety directorate contributes to my right hon. Friend's objectives set out in the "Transport Report 1966" and, in particular, to promoting transport safety by seeking to reduce the number of road accidents in which people are killed and injured and to reducing the adverse impact of transport on the environment through tighter vehicle standards and other measures.

  Lorries (Wheel Loss)
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road fatalities arising from the loss of road wheels from heavy commercial vehicles occurred in each of the last five years; how many wheel loss incidents there were; what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into this matter; what assessment he has made of the advantages of safety wheel nuts in reducing accidents; and if he will make a statement. [8706]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is estimated that each year there are approximately five to six fatal road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles in which wheel detachment occurs. As data on the causation of accidents are not routinely collected by my Department, figures on the number of fatalities arising from such accidents are not available.

  With regard to the number of incidents involving wheel loss each year the cases indicated by the analysis of the Vehicle Inspectorate database represent only those cases where the police have called upon an investigation to be carried out by the inspectorate.

  My Department has been represented for many years on the British Standards Committee for wheels and tyres who commissioned research by the Motor Industry Research Association—MIRA—into the problems of wheel loss from commercial vehicles. This research complemented work carried out by the University of Exeter on behalf of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers—IRTE—and the Department of Trade and Industry which contributed some £35,000 to the funding.
  295
  Results of the MIRA research showed that the basic cause of the problem of wheel loss is a relaxation of the tension in the wheel fixing and that this took place regardless of whether the vehicle was moving. The British Standard code of practice for the selection and care of tyres and wheels for commercial vehicles advises that wheel fixings should be rechecked for tightness after the vehicle has been standing for 30 minutes or has travelled between 30 or 40 km. Our assessment of the engineering principle of proprietary safety wheel nuts is that they do not address the problem of this initial loss of tension of the wheel fixing and therefore do not reduce the need for regular maintenance.

  Motorway Sound Barriers
  Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 52, on sound barriers on motorways, if he will now make a statement. [9182]

  Mr. Watts
  I have completed a review of the policy and have no changes to propose. Noise barriers have been provided on new roads and improvement schemes opened after 16 October 1969 where they offer an effective benefit to an appreciable number of properties which would otherwise have qualified for noise insulation under the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 (Statutory Instrument No 1763), and where the cost of providing the barriers did not exceed the cost of individual insulation. For the purpose of determining whether a property would qualify for noise insulation, changes in noise level are calculated on the basis of projected traffic growth 15 years from the date of opening of the scheme.

  It remains the Department's policy, subject to the availability of funds occasionally, and in exceptional circumstances, to exercise a discretionary power of

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Car or van drivers

  15

  149

  11

  134

  9

  146

  Car or van passengers

  24

  800

  15

  599

  10

  508

  Front seat car passengers

  2

  61

  3

  71

  4

  61

  Rear seat car passengers

  20

  696

  11

  509

  6

  420

  All van passengers

  2

  43

  1

  19

  0

  27

  It is not known how many of these casualties were as a direct result of not wearing a seat belt.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Polystyrene (Fire Risks)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Transport of 29 November,Official Report, column 418, if he will place in the Library copies of the research undertaken by the fire research and development group and the fire research station into the fire and smoke hazards of polystyrene, together with their findings.[7812]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have arranged for this information to be placed in the Library.
  296
  improvement to provide noise barriers alongside trunk roads and motorways which were opened to traffic on or before 16 October 1969, and have not been subject to further improvement.

  Subject to the availability of funds, noise barriers may be provided on such unimproved roads open to traffic on, or before, 16 October 1969 where the cost does not exceed the notional cost of insulating properties which would have qualified had the 1975 regulations applied on 16 October 1969. For these purposes qualifying properties are those which existed on 16 October 1969. The calculation of noise impact is to be based upon the assessed traffic flows at 16 October 1984. It must also be technically possible to provide effective barriers alongside the road.

  This ensures equitable treatment, with respect to noise barriers, between residents living near to roads opened before and after 16 October 1969.

  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 Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8233]

  Mr. Bowis
  Statistics for seat belt wearing are available only until 1993 and only for the occupants of cars and vans. Data on front and back seat passengers are available only for car passengers. The table shows the recorded number of drivers and passengers killed and injured in Wales whilst not wearing a seat belt whether or not one was fitted. The table does not include figures for casualties where the wearing of a belt was not reported—about a quarter of all accidents.

  Offenders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the(a) male and (b) female population over the age of 30 years has committed at least one (i) minor criminal offence and (ii) serious criminal offence; and if he will make a statement. [7509]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information available centrally on the percentage of the population with a criminal record relates to convictions for standard list offences only. Standard list offences include all indictable offences, including those triable either way, plus the more serious summary offences. All standard list offences are considered to be serious offences.

  Results from criminal histories of a sample of offenders born in 1953 indicate that 31 per cent. of males and 7 per cent. of females born in that year were convicted of at

  297
  least one standard list offence before the age of 30; and that 34 per cent of males and 8 per cent of females were convicted of at least one standard list offence before the age of 40.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report, "A Second Exile. The Mental Health Implications of Detention of Asylum Seekers in the United Kingdom", by C. K. Pourgourides, S. P. Sashidharan and P. J. Bracken at the North Birmingham Mental Health trust; and what plans he has to implement its recommendations. [8646]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Copies of this report have been forwarded to us. We cannot accept its main recommendation—that the policy of detaining asylum seekers should be abandoned—but we will take account of its detailed recommendations in taking forward detention policy.

  Detention under the powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 is used only as a last resort. Temporary admission is granted wherever possible. The primary consideration is whether a person is likely to comply with any restrictions upon him, including any arrangements for his removal from the country. Detention is unavoidable in a small number of cases if we are to retain an effective immigration control.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many retailers have been prosecuted for selling(a) lottery tickets and (b) scratch cards to children; and if she will make a statement; [8201]

  (2) how many retailers have been prosecuted for selling (a) lottery tickets and (b) scratch cards to children in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement; [8199]

  (3) how many retailers have been prosecuted for selling (a) lottery tickets and (b) scratch cards to children in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [8202]

  Mr. Sproat
  These are operational matters for Camelot Group plc. I have, therefore, asked the Director General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Library of the House.

  British Academy of Sport
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will announce the names of those bids to establish and run the British Academy of Sport that are going forward to the second stage of the evaluation process. [9136]
  298
  Mr. Sproat
  Thirteen of the 26 bids received to establish and run the British Academy of Sport are going forward to stage 2 of the evaluation process. The 13 bids are:

  The Athletes Bid (Hertfordshire)

  Bath

  Birmingham West Midlands

  Central Consortium (Loughborough, Nottingham, Lilleshall)

  De Montford University

  Houghton Grange (Huntingdon)

  Kent Thameside

  Manchester

  Merseyside

  Sheffield

  Sports City Foundation (Kettering)

  UK Academy 2000 (Yorkshire)

  Upper Heyford (Oxfordshire).

  We expect to reach a final decision in the early spring of next year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the United Nations to implement and monitor the oil for food deal in Iraq under the provisions of UN resolution 986. [8652]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We welcome UN Security Council resolution 986 (1995) which took effect on 10 December. Saddam Hussein's failure to agree to implement this humanitarian gesture for over 18 months has caused the Iraqi people much unnecessary suffering. The UN in New York will monitor contracts for the export of oil from Iraq. It has appointed inspectors to monitor the export of oil from Iraq and the import of humanitarian goods. The UN has also appointed observers to ensure that there is an equitable distribution of humanitarian goods once they are inside Iraq.

  European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the cost to United Kingdom public funds of the establishment of a European monitoring centre for racism and xenophobia. [8671]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Discussions are continuing about the form which the European monitoring centre for racism and xenophobia should take. It is too early to estimate its likely cost to United Kingdom public funds.

  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will veto plans to establish a European monitoring centre for racism and xenophobia. [8670]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No. Agreement was reached at the Florence European Council on 21 to 22 June 1996, on the principle of a European monitoring centre for racism and xenophobia.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British Government are taking to promote the safeguarding of human rights worldwide. [8788]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We participate actively in bodies dealing with human rights, including the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth. We raise human rights concerns with individual Governments bilaterally and with European Union partners.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British Government are taking in respect of the International Court of Justice ruling of 8 July 1996, relating to nuclear disarmament. [8789]

  Mr. David Davis
  We do not believe that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons gives rise to any new factors affecting the fundamental principles of United Kingdom and NATO defence policy, including the continuing importance of nuclear deterrence in maintaining peace and stability in Europe.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the outcome of the consultation on proposed changes to the farm woodland premium scheme; and what conclusions have been reached on payment rates. [9216]

  Mr. Baldry
  A wide range of organisations were consulted on the proposed changes to the FWPS announced to Parliament on 24 July,Official Report, column 624. Most organisations welcomed the proposed changes though there were a number of different, often conflicting views. In light of the consultation we will be making some minor modifications to our original proposals and a statutory instrument will be laid before Parliament early next year. Subject to approval by Parliament and the European Commission, it is intended that most of the proposals will be implemented with effect from 1 April 1997. A list of the changes is being placed in the Library of the House.

  The rates of payment to apply from 1 April 1996 will be as follows:

  FWPS £/hectare/year

  FWS £/hectare/year

  Land eligible for Arable Area payments

  Outside of the Less Favoured Areas

  300

  230

  Disadvantaged Areas of the Less Favoured Areas (DA)

  230

  180

  Severely Disadvantaged Areas of the Less Favoured Areas (SDA)

  160

  120

  Other Cropped Land and Improved Grassland

  Outside of the Less Favoured Areas

  260

  200

  DA

  200

  160

  SDA

  140

  110

  300

  FWPS £/hectare/year

  FWS £/hectare/year

  Unimproved Land

  Less Favoured Areas

  60

  30

  Where land is to count against the farmer's set-aside obligation, the payment rate will be restricted to the set-aside rate.

  The FWS was closed to new applicants in 1992.

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current throughput of carcase remains from the over-30-month slaughter programme; and how many weeks it will take to clear the backlog at this rate. [7739]

  Mr. Baldry
  The slaughter rate of cattle under the over-30-month scheme progressively increased through the autumn to around 60,000 animals per week by the middle of November. This rate would have cleared the backlog declared by farmers as at 2 November under the Government's registration system by Christmas, but animals are not being presented for slaughter at levels consistent with the number registered.

  Abattoirs have, therefore, been permitted to take both registered and unregistered OTMS animals provided priority is given to registered animals. In the week ending 8 December just over 40,000 OTMS animals were presented for slaughter against a disposal capacity of around 60,000 animals. Only half of these were registered as part of the backlog which is a good indicator that clearance has almost been achieved.

  Certified Herds
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the National Farmers Union to discuss certified herds; and when he expects to bring forward detailed proposals. [8213]

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food meets the NFU regularly. These meetings cover a range of topics including certified herds. Detailed proposals are currently being drawn up. However, the progress of a certified herds scheme is dependant on whether it is decided to proceed with the selective cull.

  Seafish Consumption (Seals)
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the annual consumption of seafish by seals in United Kingdom waters, expressed as a proportion of the total catch by British fishing vessels in the same waters over the same period. [8178]

  Mr. Baldry
  The estimated number of grey seals associated with breeding sites in the United Kingdom waters in 1995 was 115,000. The Ministry does not have comparable figures of common seals, but the present population is estimated to be 28,000. Scientific work indicates that a seal can eat between 1.4 and 1.8 tonnes of fish each year. Current seal numbers may thus have accounted for between 200,000 and 260,000 tonnes of fish. It is not possible to draw a direct comparison with landings from the United Kingdom fleet, since seals mostly eat species which are not consumed by humans.

TREASURY

  Bank of England (Archive Material)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the Bank of England releases all of its archived papers and documents for the year 1966 before the end of the year. [8353]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Although the Bank of England is not subject to the Public Records Acts, it has as a matter of policy released archived papers after 30 years. Papers relating to 1996 will be made available on 1 January 1997.

  Privatised Companies (Individual Shareholders)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of shares held by individuals in privatised companies(a) on privatisation and (b) as at the most recent date for which figures are available. [8215]

  Mr. Jack
  The following table gives the information requested in part(a) for major primary sales. The present size of share registers is a matter for the companies themselves and their registrars and may be found in individual companies' annual reports.

  Shares sold in the public offer (as a proportion of total shares sold in the offer)

  Offer

  Year

  Actual proportion allocated (per cent.)

  BT

  1984

  34

  British Gas

  1986

  64

  British Airways

  1987

  47

  Rolls Royce

  1987

  42

  BAA

  1987

  52

  British Steel

  1988

  42

  Water

  1989

  47

  Regional Electricity

  1990

  55

  Companies

  Generating

  1991

  49

  Companies

  Scottish Electricity

  1991

  58

  N. Ireland Electricity

  1993

  64

  Railtrack

  1996

  151

  British Energy

  1996

  152

  2 Includes Retail Tender.

  Long-term Care Insurance
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to consult on how to regulate the selling and marketing of long-term care insurance. [9135]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government's consultation document, "A new partnership for care in old age", published on 7 May, invited comments on a proposed partnership scheme to provide extra protection from the means test for residential care to people who took out a "partnership product" to meet some of the costs of long-term care. Views were also invited on whether the selling and marketing of partnership insurance products, and long-term care insurance more generally should be regulated under the Financial Services Act 1986.

  I informed the House on 24 July 1996, Official Report, column 549, that the responses to the consultation suggested a consensus in favour of regulation under the FSA, covering the marketing and selling of all long-term
  302
  care insurance products, but that before a decision was taken the Treasury would explore further the detailed question of how this should be achieved, and would issue a consultation document seeking the views of interested groups. The Treasury has today published a consultation document which fulfils that undertaking. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The document explains the Treasury's detailed proposals to regulate the selling and marketing of long-term care insurance under the FSA, and includes a draft statutory instrument which would achieve this. Comments are invited from anyone interested. The end of the consultation period will be announced in the new year when the Government's policy statement on other aspects of its plans to take forward the proposals in "A new partnership for care in old age" is made.

  Paymaster Agency
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report progress with the privatisation of the Paymaster agency. [9183]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Initial bids have been received and three bidders have just been short-listed. These are the management and employee buy-out team in partnership with ITNet, Capita Managed Services, and EDS/Hogg Robinson Financial Services Ltd. Final bids are due in by mid-January.

  European Union Budget
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Council of Ministers has adopted the letter of amendment No. 2 to the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union for 1997. [9184]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 5 December,Official Report, columns 744–46. The Council adopted the letter of amendment No. 2 to the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union for 1997 at its meeting on 19 November. It has now been passed to the European Parliament as the letter of amendment No. 2 to the draft general budget of the European Union for 1997.

  In agreeing this proposal I waived the United Kingdom's scrutiny reserve. I did so because the letter of amendment No. 2 formed an integral part of a package with which the Council aimed to secure the European Parliament's agreement to a budget for 1997 in which total payments would be frozen at 1996 levels in cash terms. Such an outcome would clearly be in the national interest.

  Self-assessment
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of taxpayers who will face penalties for late return of self-assessment forms; and what is the expected annual yield from such penalties in each of the next three years. [8275]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: The Inland Revenue's current working assumption is that 15 per cent. of taxpayers will file their self-assessment tax return later in the first year of the new system, reducing to 10 per cent. in the third year. These figures are based on current taxpayer behaviour, and do not take into

  303
  account the deterrent effect of late filing penalties or publicity around the filing dates. The automatic penalty for those who do not file by 31 January 1998 will be £100. No estimates have been made of the annual yield from late filing penalties.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria the United Kingdom will propose to govern the choice of the members of the board of the European Central Bank; and if he will take steps to ensure that the Nolan committee's recommendations relating to public appointment will apply to these appointments. [6807]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Article 11 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks-ESCB—annexed to the EC treaty states that the executive board of the European Central Bank—ECB—shall comprise the president and vice-president of the ECB and four other members. It states that the"President, the Vice-President and the other members of the Executive Board shall be appointed from among persons of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters",
  by common accord of Governments at the level of Heads of State or Government, on a recommendation from the Council after it has consulted the European Parliament and the Governing Council of the ECB. In accordance with article 43.3 of the statute and paragraph 8 of protocol No. 11, member states which do not participate in the single currency are not involved in this procedure and nationals of these countries may not be members of the executive board. Article 50 of the statute provides for some transitional procedural rules to govern the section of the executive board when it is established.

  The second paragraph of article 11.1 of the statute states that members of the executive board shall
  "perform their duties on a full-time basis. No member shall engage in any occupation, whether gainful or not, unless exception is exceptionally granted by the Governing Council".
  Article 7 of the statute provides that no member of the executive board, as a decision-making body of the ECB,
  "shall seek or take instructions from the Community institutions or bodies, from any government of a Member State or from any other body".
  Article 11.4 of the statute states that
  "If a member of the executive board no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he has been guilty of serious misconduct, the [European] Court of Justice may, on application by the Governing Council or the Executive Board, compulsorily retire him".

  If the United Kingdom were to participate in the single currency and were therefore involved in the selection of the executive board, the Government would want to be confident that members of the executive board would be able to meet the obligations imposed on them by the treaty, including the statute of the ESCB. The Nolan report relates to public life in the United Kingdom.

ENVIRONMENT

  Emission Targets
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the United Kingdom is taking to ensure that significant emission reduction targets are put forward at the Geneva intersessional conference on climate change in December. [8052]
  304
  Mr. Clappison
  The United Kingdom proposed, at the first conference of the parties to the climate change convention in Berlin in 1995, that developed countries should agree to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases to between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

  We expect this proposal to influence negotiations, including at the convention meeting taking place in Geneva this month, which will lead to an agreement on new commitments at the third conference of the parties in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997.

  Building Research Establishment Conservation Support Unit
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those recommendations produced by the consultants for BRECSU which were subsequently not published, indicating the factors underlying their non-publication. [8254]

  Mr. Clappison
  BRECSU is one of the Department of the Environment's managing contractors for its energy efficiency best practice programme. In this role, it has placed some 600 contracts with a range of organisations. The reports submitted by the contractors are used, together with other consensus knowledge and expertise, to produce a wide range of best practice publications in the buildings and related energy management fields.

  Radioactive Waste (Sellafield)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the attempts by the Environment Agency, as a successor to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, to secure the release of the safety reports relating to the proposed subterranean repository for radioactive waste near Sellafield; and if he will make a statement on the current working relationship between Nirex and the Environment Agency. [8610]

  Mr. Clappison
  Following my written answer to the hon. Member on 11 November,Official Report column 3 UK Nirex Ltd. has provided the Library with a list of its research reports. Until Nirex applies to the Environment Agency for authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to dispose of radioactive waste, there is no formal regulatory relationship between the company and the Environment Agency. However, discussions are currently taking place between the two organisations about their future working arrangements.

  Rent Rebates
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the additional rent rebate expenditure incurred by local authorities as a result of the application of his guideline rent increases for each year from 1990–91 to 1995–96. [8872]

  Mr. Clappison
  The guideline rent increases produced gross public expenditure savings which offset the additional cost of rent rebates. The estimated rent rebate expenditure if all authorities had increased their rents in line with the guideline rent increases for each year from 1990–91 to 1995–96 and the estimated gross savings from the extra rent income are:
  305

  £ million

  Additional rent rebate expenditure each year

  Additional rent income each year

  1990–91

  255

  420

  1991–92

  224

  364

  1992–93

  295

  462

  1993–94

  268

  401

  1994–95

  266

  405

  1995–96

  272

  405

  Estate Action
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of continuation funding in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 for each estate action scheme (i) in London and (ii) nationally. [8849]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Within the single regeneration budget planned provision nationally for the remaining estate action commitments is currently as follows:

  £ million

  1997–98

  170

  1998–99

  98

  1999–2000

  61

  SRB allocations to each region for 1997–98 for continuing programmes, including estate action, will be determined shortly, following last month's Budget statement. The Government offices in each region then

  Capital challenge—all bids—total bid cost and credit approvals bid for—by service and by region

  (£,000)

  Service

  North East

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  East Mids

  Eastern

  South East

  London

  South West

  West Mids

  North West

  Merseyside

  Totals

  Total bid cost—by service—all bids

  Education

  7,595

  35,639

  27,013

  36,964

  27,297

  76,819

  17,566

  57,493

  46,127

  19,909

  352,422

  Housing

  23,604

  60,145

  31,326

  40,156

  70,327

  170,478

  29,331

  159,947

  123,053

  4,940

  713,307

  Personal Social Services

  6,502

  4,370

  6,595

  11,397

  7,899

  14,865

  5,328

  6,915

  11,034

  3,216

  78,121

  Transport

  39,579

  182,490

  25,674

  92,584

  157,730

  77,605

  45,551

  114,162

  191,470

  79,422

  1,006,267

  Magistrates' Courts

  245

  7,727

  11,614

  6,126

  210

  23,596

  22,000

  2,516

  306

  0

  74,340

  Fire and Civil Defence

  3,360

  7,270

  1,310

  40

  5,120

  13,670

  12,296

  4,983

  7,700

  5,528

  61,277

  Probation Service

  0

  0

  75

  6

  90

  2,086

  4,976

  1,327

  0

  2,261

  10,821

  Coastal Prot'n, Flood Defence

  0

  0

  0

  550

  13,338

  0

  2,125

  1,040

  0

  0

  17,053

  Sport and Recreation

  34,180

  29,484

  34,225

  9,287

  220,802

  15,416

  25,868

  16,405

  65,183

  3,002

  453,852

  Other Services

  67,466

  29,843

  43,154

  76,319

  216,609

  228,222

  226,324

  193,422

  238,052

  24,032

  1,343,443

  Totals

  182,530

  356,968

  180,986

  273,429

  719,422

  622,757

  391,365

  558,210

  682,925

  142,310

  4,110,902

  Credit approvals bid for—by service—all bids

  Education

  7,005

  29,111

  21,886

  18,952

  16,306

  46,313

  10,181

  32,472

  28,385

  14,074

  224,685

  Housing

  8,820

  32,098

  8,381

  21,678

  10,897

  79,433

  11,222

  53,164

  39,628

  500

  265,821

  Personal Social Services

  3,215

  3,055

  3,835

  16,371

  3,132

  8,636

  3,997

  5,970

  8,024

  2,080

  58,315

  Transport

  26,756

  52,519

  29,021

  29,179

  90,751

  39,329

  34,403

  66,402

  48,448

  36,442

  453,250

  Magistrates' Courts

  245

  7,727

  11,614

  6,031

  210

  23,591

  7,200

  2,516

  306

  0

  59,440

  Fire and Civil Defence

  3,346

  7,270

  660

  20

  4,720

  13,545

  12,246

  4,698

  7,700

  5,527

  59,732

  Probation Service

  0

  0

  75

  6

  0

  1,776

  3,101

  1,327

  0

  2,261

  8,546

  Coastal Prot'n,

  0

  0

  0

  275

  0

  0

  1,000

  200

  0

  0

  1,475

  306
  manage their total SRB allocation and have flexibility to vire between programmes where necessary, in order to ensure that all existing estate action commitments continue to be honoured. Regional SRB allocations for subsequent years will be determined by the outcome of future public expenditure surveys.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment what allowance he made for inflation in determining estate action allocations in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994; and if he will make statement. [8850]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Local authorities were advised to make due allowance for inflation before submitting their bids for estate action support to the Department. The amounts available to fund new and continuing estate action schemes in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were determined by the public expenditure survey settlements.

  Capital Challenge
  Mr. Austin Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide(a) a breakdown for each region of the source of the resources to finance capital challenge and (b) a breakdown of the bids received from each region. [8851]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  (a) Each Government Department has contributed to capital challenge in proportion to their share of the Government's total provision for local authority capital expenditure. Since total provision is not sub-divided on a regional basis, it is not possible to break down each region's share in the manner requested.

  (b) For each service and region, the attached table shows the total value of all bids and the credit approvals sought.
  307

  Capital challenge—all bids—total bid cost and credit approvals bid for—by service and by region

  (£,000)

  Service

  North East

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  East Mids

  Eastern

  South East

  London

  South West

  West Mids

  North West

  Merseyside

  Totals

  Flood Defence

  Sport and Recreation

  2,769

  4,830

  6,993

  1,193

  21,870

  4,501

  1,512

  8,144

  7,218

  302

  59,332

  Other Services

  11,839

  20,740

  20,151

  18,151

  62,284

  65,071

  38,056

  39,473

  50,520

  5,117

  331,402

  Totals

  63,995

  157,351

  102,616

  111,856

  210,170

  282,195

  122,918

  214,366

  190,229

  66,303

  1,521,999

  Resource Allocation (London)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost compensation factor used in determining resource allocation for London in(a) the generalised needs index, (b) the single regeneration budget and (c) capital challenge; and what plans he has to amend the allocation. [8852]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  (a) The generalised needs index, which is used in the distribution of housing annual capital guidelines for local authorities in England, uses regional cost compensation factors to reflect the different costs of capital works in different parts of the country. There were separate factors for the new provision and renovation parts of the index.

  Relative cost compensation factors are calculated for each region and the factors are scaled so that the factors for the lowest regions equal 100. The cost compensation factors for London used in the GNI for 1996–97 were 155 (new provision) and 137 (renovation); the figures for other regions range between 100 to 130 and 100 to 114 respectively. The methodology underlying the cost compensation factors, which are updated annually, was reviewed in detail in 1995.

  (b) Cost compensation factors are not used in determining the indicative regional allocations for the single regeneration budget challenge fund. Individual bids for resources are based on forecast actual costs, and so should take account of any regional variations in prices.

  (c) The apportionment amongst regions of the sums available under the capital challenge pilot scheme is based on each region's share of the national total of local authorities' annual capital guidelines, supplementary credit approvals and capital grants for all services. It takes no account of a cost compensation factor except in so far as it is included in the housing ACG as discussed above.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Cameroon
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received with regard to the environmental impact of World bank-funded transport projects in the Cameroon. [8411]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Friends of the Earth wrote to my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker on 6 September expressing concern about the possible environmental impact of this programme. The ODA acknowledged the possible risks but pointed out that the 308
  World bank was working with the Government of Cameroon to ensure that environmental impact was considered when individual projects were being selected.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by Her Majesty's Government to enable the Save the Children Fund to enter northern Iraq. [8654]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We understand that two members of Save the Children Fund have recently entered northern Iraq.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British aid agencies are operating in(a) northern Iraq and (b) Iraq. [8653]

  Dr. Fox
  As far as we are aware there are eight British
  non-governmental organisations operating in northern Iraq and one in Baghdad-controlled Iraq.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British aid agencies are being denied access to northern Iraq. [8655]

  Dr. Fox
  The usual route for western NGOs carrying out humanitarian work in northern Iraq since 1991 has been via Turkey. The Turkish Government introduced new requirements in August, since when no British NGOs have been given authority to travel into northern Iraq from Turkey. We have raised this on several occasions with the Turkish Government, urging them to allow reputable British NGOs, who have complied with their new requirements, to enter northern Iraq.

  Zambia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of human rights in Zambia. [8737]

  Dr. Fox
  Our high commission closely monitors respect of human rights in Zambia. We welcomed the recent legislation establishing a human rights commission but we were concerned that two non-governmental organisations' leaders were questioned by police on 24 November following their reports on the recent elections.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received about the current internal political situation in Zambia. [8736]

  Dr. Fox
  We receive regular reports from our high commission at Lusaka. There have been no reports of any civil unrest since the presidential and parliamentary elections which were held on 18 November. The current internal political situation is stable.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the budget of the Immigration Appellate Authority in the financial year 1996–97; and what it was in financial years(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1994–95. [7793]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Doug Henderson, dated 12 December 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the budget of the Immigration Appellate Authority.
  In 1994/95 the Immigration Appellate Authority spent £6,965,344 and in 1995/96 this rose to £8,404,699. The current estimate of the expenditure for the financial year 1996/97 is £9,917,983.
  I can confirm that these figures include both tribunal staff and judicial salaries; they do not include any provision for accommodation expenditure.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time special adjudicators were employed by the Immigration Appellate Authority (i) at the latest available date, (ii) on 1 January 1995 and (iii) on 1 August 1993. [7785]

  Mr. Streeter
  At the latest available date, 6 December 1996, 29 full-time and 97 part-time immigration adjudicators were designated as special adjudicators by the Lord Chancellor. On 1 January 1995 there were 18 full-time and 44 part-time immigration adjudicators who were so designated. On 1 August 1993 there were 16 full-time and 15 part-time immigration adjudicators so designated.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against a refusal of asylum are currently outstanding; and what was the number on(a) 1 January 1996, (b) 1 January 1995 and (c) 1 January 1994. [7786]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Doug Henderson, dated 12 December 1996.
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of outstanding asylum appeals.
  As at the end of November 1996 there were 20,388 appeals outstanding. This compares with 11,691 at the beginning of 1996, approximately 3,400 in January 1995 and 1,069 in April 1994.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the eligibility for legal aid of young people who are suing local education authorities over their school education. [7779]
  310
  Mr. Streeter
  In addition to qualifying financially, an applicant must also show to the Legal Aid Board that he or she has reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to proceedings, and that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case for legal aid to be granted. However, I should make clear that, as yet, the Legal Aid Board has not yet received any applications for legal aid in the case relating to educational achievement, which was recently reported in the press.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has received from the Bar Council on the subject of reform of the legal aid budget; and if he will make a statement. [7915]

  Mr. Streeter
  I recently met the chairman of the Bar Council to discuss the reforms. I look forward to having further discussion and consultations with the Bar and other interested bodies as the reforms progress.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many certificates issued by the Legal Aid Board were revoked in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993, (iii) 1994 and (iv) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7907]

  Mr. Streeter
  The number of civil legal aid certificates revoked in each year was as follows:

  1992–93: 11,630

  1993–94: 19,503

  1994–95: 21,773

  1995–96: 25,032.

  The figure for 1992–93 represents revoked emergency certificates only because revoked substantive certificates were not recorded on the Legal Aid Board's case administration computer system until 1993–94. The 1993–94 figure does not include substantive revoked certificates for Cardiff as that office was not upgraded with the new computer system until August 1994.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases in the past six months claims for legal aid to pursue civil claims for compensation in cases involving(a) criminal harassment by landlords, (b) illegal eviction and (c) disrepair have been refused; and how many of these claims have been granted on appeal. [7800]

  Mr. Streeter
  The information requested is not available as the data gathered by the Legal Aid Board do not separately identify those categories of cases.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he last met the Law Society to discuss the provision and funding of legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [7916]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Lord Chancellor, I and officials in my Department regularly meet representatives of the Law Society to discuss a very wide range of issues relating to the provision and funding of legal aid.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the 20(a) solicitors firms and (b) barristers who have received the largest sums of money from the legal aid scheme for each year for which information is available. [8700]
  311
  Mr. Streeter
  In the time available it has not been possible to provide the information requested. I will reply as soon as possible.

  Molestation
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the advantages of statutory tort of molestation following the Court of Appeal judgment in the Burris v. Azadani case in July 1995. [7795]

  Mr. Streeter
  The consultation paper, "Stalking—the Solutions", which was published by the Home Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department in July 1996, discussed the question whether there should be a statutory tort of molestation or whether cases of molestation should be dealt with under the common law, in the light of recent cases. Its conclusion, that there should be a statutory tort, was supported on consultation and the Protection from Harassment Bill, which was introduced on 5 December, accordingly contains a statutory tort.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 12 December. [7453]

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

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now publish in the Official Report the ministerial correspondence and discussion papers that led to the change in rules for the award of war pensions for deafness and pension increases for further deterioration. [8728]

  The Prime Minister
  The texts of the address and the background note given to members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions about the change in medical opinion regarding the interaction between service-related noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss and subsequent hearing loss have been placed in the Library. Inter-ministerial correspondence and discussion papers leading up to a change are not normally published.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list(a) the planned timetable, (b) the planned number participating and (c) the estimated public expenditure for the introduction of modern apprenticeships in each Government Department. [8840]

  Mr. Freeman
  The use of modern apprenticeships is a decision taken by individual Government Departments.312
  Information on take-up in the civil service is not held centrally. Departments are actively encouraged to consider modern apprenticeships as part of their human resource strategies to develop future managers and encourage lifetime learning.

  Fire Safety
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what cost compliance assessment has been undertaken of the proposed Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations by the deregulation unit. [8345]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Earlier proposals for implementing the directives had significant costs associated with them which had led us to adopt a new approach, recognising the high standards of fire safety that already exist in workplaces. The Home Secretary undertook a further public consultation during the summer on a revised draft of these regulations, which, amongst other issues, specifically sought advice from business on compliance costs. The Home Office is currently preparing a compliance cost assessment which will accompany the proposed regulations.

  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the deregulation task force has made of the introduction of the proposed Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations; and what meetings he has had with business representatives to discuss their possible compliance costs. [8344]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The deregulation task force commented on the Government's proposed approach in its 1995–96 report. The Home Secretary undertook a public consultation during the summer on a draft of these regulations, and members of the task force have since provided views on the draft regulations. My noble Friend Baroness Blatch, Minister of State at the Home Office, and I are also discussing compliance costs for these regulations with the British Retail Consortium with whom yesterday we visited some premises.

  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the efficiency scrutiny report on the implementation and enforcement of EC law in the United Kingdom in respect of its fire safety provisions. [8343]

  Mr. Freeman
  The recommendations on fire safety issues were largely taken forward in the later fire safety scrutiny, the Government's response to which was announced on 21 May 1996,Official Report, column 100. The Government have also acted upon the two recommendations relating to examination by fire service inspectors of complaints about enforcement action and encourage of fire authority participation in local business partnerships.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 14 November,Official Report, column 342, if she will list individually those national vocational qualifications accredited at 30 June that (a) had not attracted full awards and (b) had attracted fewer than 100 awards. [6971]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is contained in a number of tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. As I said in my answer of 14 November, individual vocational qualifications are subject to accreditation at regular intervals and, given the time it takes after accreditation for awards to become available to centres, and individuals to train towards them, at any one time a considerable proportion of individual NVQs will have attracted few awards. Only about a quarter of the titles listed had an award accredited before 1994.

  Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP, 1984 to 1993

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  North America

  Canada

  7.2

  6.9

  7.0

  6.9

  6.8

  6.2

  6.2

  6.7

  7.2

  6.9

  Mexico

  3.9

  3.8

  3.5

  3.3

  3.3

  3.6

  4.0

  4.5

  4.9

  4.1

  United States

  4.6

  4.6

  4.8

  4.8

  4.9

  5.0

  5.2

  5.5

  5.4

  5.2

  Pacific Area

  Australia

  5.4

  5.4

  5.3

  5.1

  5.5

  n/a

  4.6

  4.7

  5.5

  5.6

  Japan

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  3.7

  3.6

  3.7

  3.6

  3.6

  New Zealand

  4.7

  5.1

  5.8

  5.9

  6.1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  6.5

  6.7

  European Union

  Austria

  5.8

  5.8

  6.0

  5.9

  5.6

  5.5

  5.4

  5.6

  5.8

  5.5

  Denmark

  n/a

  6.2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  6.3

  n/a

  n/a

  6.6

  Finland

  5.5

  5.7

  5.7

  5.8

  5.7

  5.7

  6.0

  6.1

  8.3

  7.9

  France

  5.7

  5.7

  5.7

  5.6

  5.5

  5.1

  5.1

  5.4

  5.5

  5.7

  Germany

  4.6

  4.6

  4.5

  4.4

  4.3

  4.2

  4.1

  4.1

  4.1

  4.8

  Greece

  3.8

  4.0

  3.8

  3.8

  3.4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  3.5

  Ireland

  6.0

  6.0

  6.3

  6.2

  5.4

  5.1

  5.0

  5.2

  5.5

  5.6

  Italy

  5.1

  5.0

  5.0

  4.8

  4.9

  5.0

  5.2

  n/a

  5.1

  5.1

  Netherlands

  6.6

  6.6

  6.7

  6.9

  6.1

  5.7

  5.7

  5.6

  5.6

  5.4

  Portugal

  4.0

  4.0

  4.3

  4.1

  4.2

  4.0

  4.3

  5.5

  n/a

  5.4

  Spain

  3.4

  3.6

  3.6

  3.7

  3.9

  4.2

  4.4

  4.5

  4.6

  4.7

  Sweden

  7.2

  7.0

  7.0

  6.9

  6.5

  5.4

  5.6

  6.5

  7.7

  7.7

  United Kingdom

  5.2

  4.9

  4.9

  4.8

  4.8

  4.8

  4.9

  5.3

  5.2

  5.1

  Other OECD countries

  Czech Republic

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4.2

  n/a

  n/a

  6.0

  Norway

  5.8

  5.6

  5.5

  5.6

  5.7

  7.0

  n/a

  6.8

  n/a

  9.0

  Switzerland

  5.2

  5.1

  5.2

  5.2

  5.0

  n/a

  5.2

  5.4

  5.7

  5.8

  Notes:

  Vertical bars indicate a break in the series.

  n/a = Data not available.

  Source:

  Data supplied to OECD by individual countries for the publication "Education at a Glance", OECD December 1996.

  Employment Schemes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people after attending (1) employment rehabilitation service, (2) Employment Service services, (3) employment training, (4) the employment transfer scheme, (5) the free forward fares scheme, (6) industrial training boards, (7) job clubs, (8) the job creation programme, (9) the jobfinder's grant, (10) the job interview guarantee, (11) the jobrnatch

  European Social Fund Bid
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will submit a programme under objective 4 of the European social fund for 1997 to 1999. [8552]

  Mr. Paice
  Yes.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the proportion of gross domestic product spent on education in each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country in the last 10 years. [8557]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested for those OECD countries for which data are available is shown in the table. The figures given are based on information provided by each country to OECD for its latest edition of "Education at a Glance", published on 9 December. Copies of "Education at a Glance" will shortly be available in the Library.

  scheme, (12) the jobplan workshop, (13) the job review, (14) the job release scheme, (15) job review workshops, (16) the job start scheme, (17) the jobseeker's allowance, (18) the job share programme, (19) the job splitting scheme, (20) the job training programme, (21) learning for work, (22) job seminars, (23) local enterprise agencies, (24) Manpower Services Commission, (25) non-advanced and work-related further education, (26) new job training scheme, (27) the national policy skills scheme and (28) national record of achievement (a) went into employment

  315
  and (b) went on to further schemes, including those who left before completion of the scheme, in each year of each scheme's operation; and what type and level of qualification each leaver obtained for each year to the latest available year for which data are available. [8738]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested can be provided only at a disproportionate costs.

  Liverpool Blue Coat School
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to announce confirmation of the schedule 5 enactment in respect of the grant-maintained status of the Liverpool Blue Coat school; and if she will make a statement. [8871]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Liverpool local education authority has requested that the Secretary of State declares void the ballot for grant-maintained status in respect of the Blue Coat school. No decision on grant-maintained status can be made until the investigation into the ballot complaint has been completed. That investigation will be completed shortly.

  Project Work
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress she has made on extending the project work pilots; and if she will make a statement. [9272]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In November I announced my plans to extend the project work approach to 28 new pilot areas across the country, covering up to 100,000 people, and to test a number of variations on the basic model. A list of the locations and start dates of the new pilots is contained in the following table.

  We will be piloting variations to the approach used in Hull and Medway and Maidstone to see whether we can improve its effectiveness. There will be an emphasis on literacy and numeracy in all the new pilots. Up to 10,000 people will have access to intensive help with literacy and numeracy. A further 9,000 people will be covered by pilots where we will be seeking increased involvement of the private sector. In pilots covering around 14,000 people, workstart will be replaced by jobmatch as an additional programme available to people in the pilot. Jobmatch offers grants to people who take part-time jobs as a stepping stone into full-time work. The results from the jobmatch pilots currently running have been encouraging, and we want to see whether jobmatch is a more cost-effective addition to the help available to project work participants than workstart. We will also test the added value of workstart by removing it altogether in some pilots. In other pilots we will be varying the length of the initial period of jobsearch help for around 13,000 people.

  Through these pilots, we will provide a package of specialist help and advice for people who have been out of work for a long time and face significant disadvantages. I believe that these pilots are an innovative and useful addition to the help that we already provide for unemployed people.
  316

  Type of pilot

  Starting date

  locations piloting this type

  Basic model

  February 1997

  Dudley and Sandwell Nottingham Bristol Bath Weston-super-Mare North East London Derby Hull Medway and Maidstone

  Intensive literacy and numeracy help

  April 1997

  Bradford Huddersfield Norwich Dundee Stoke

  Increased private sector involvement

  April 1997

  Hertford and Harlow Peterborough Edinburgh Portsmouth

  Differences in length and content of the intensive help prior to mandatory work experience

  February 1997 (full range of ES help excluding Workstart)

  Bolton and Bury Swansea Neath and Port Talbot Merthyr and Rhymney Preston Lanarkshire

  Variation including Jobmatch

  February 1997 (full range of ES help including Jobmatch)

  East London Wigan and St. Helens

  Variation with period A shortened to 8 weeks

  April 1997 (8 week period of intensive help)

  Brighton South Tyneside

  Variation with period A shortened to 4 weeks

  April 1997 (4 week period of intensive help)

  Leicester Grimsby Dunfermline

  Contract for Work
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress she has made on the contract for work pilot; and if she will make a statement. [9271]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In November I announced that the Department would be introducing pilots to explore ways in which the talent for innovation of the private sector might be used to help unemployed people back to work. The Chancellor announced in his Budget speech that these pilots would be called contract for work.

  The aim of the pilots will be to test the cost effectiveness of the private sector in getting long-term unemployed people back to work and to test specific approaches to that task. The pilots will have an incentive-based funding structure which rewards success.

  There will be two private sector contract for work pilots, each covering around 3,000 people. Another 6,000 people will be placed on programmes run by the Employment Service, to provide an additional measure against which the performance of the private sector can be judged. The pilots will last for 12 months and participants will be referred to them for a maximum of six months. The pilots will start in the spring and invitations to tender should be issued by mid-February.
  317
  On locations for the pilots, I have decided that the private sector interest should be explored across four major cities, including Manchester, London, Glasgow and Birmingham. A final decision will be made according to the quality of bids received. Before invitations to tender are issued, my officials will initiate a series of discussions with a range of organisations to draw on their expertise and experience in considering detailed design issues.

  Through these pilots we will provide an opportunity for the long-term unemployed to work directly with the private sector, an approach which I hope will be mutually beneficial. I believe that these pilots will be a welcome and necessary addition to the help that already exists for unemployed people.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the Government funding for the training and enterprise councils was represented by the salaries of their chief executives in the last year for which figures are available. [8424]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is not available. However, in line with other private companies, training and enterprise councils are required to provide information about their funding and about the remuneration of directors in their annual accounts. Copies of individual TEC accounts and of an amalgamated income and expenditure account for TECs in England are held in the Library.

HEALTH

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the onset times of the cases of the new variant of CJD by month; and if he will make a statement. [7948]

  Mr. Horam
  The month and year of onset for the 14 cases of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease confirmed by the national CJD surveillance unit up to the end of November 1996, listed in order of onset, are:

  1. January 1994

  2. February 1994

  3. March 1994

  4. June 1994

  5. July 1994

  6. August 1994

  7. December 1994

  8. January 1995

  9. January 1995

  10. January 1995

  11. March 1995

  12. July 1995

  13. August 1995

  14. January 1996

  Cases can be confirmed only by examination of brain pathology. Normally this is done post mortem, and in the rare cases where a positive brain biopsy is obtained this is not possible until fairly late in the course of the disease.
  318
  Therefore there is a long delay between the date of onset—the date of the first clinical symptoms related to CJD—and the date of confirmation. The median duration of illness in these cases is 14 months.

  In-patient Treatment
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the necessary period of in-patient treatment for a proper risk assessment to be carried out before a patient's discharge. [8262]

  Mr. Burns
  Guidance issued by the national health service executive in 1994 on the discharge of mentally disordered people requires a full risk assessment to be carried out before discharge of any patient who may present special risks. There is no set time limit for this task.

  Mental Health Services
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the assessments by NHS executive regional offices of individual area health authorities' performance in the provision of child and adolescent mental health services; and if he will make a statement. [8521]

  Mr. Burns
  At this stage there are no plans to publish information relating to the performance by health authorities on child and adolescent mental health services.

  Child Prostitution
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage health authorities to address the health risks arising from child prostitution. [8429]

  Mr. Burns
  Local authority social services have a duty to make inquiries where they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, and this would include information suggesting that a child may need protection from child prostitution. Following the introduction of mandatory children's services plans, the Department of Health is taking forward work to strengthen co-operation between social services and health and education and to encourage user participation in the planning process.

  "The Patient's Charter: Services for Children and Young People" details children's rights and expectations of the standards of service the national health service is aiming to achieve. Multidisciplinary teams in young offenders institutions provide a range of preventive health services relating to sexual health, HIV, hepatitis and safe sex. These teams, together where necessary with NHS specialists and outside agencies, also provide a range of counselling relevant to those most vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation on release.

  Sheffield Health Authority (Funding)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the total funding available for Sheffield health authority and (b) the increase in funding that has been allocated to Sheffield health authority for 1997–98; if he will express this in percentage terms above inflation; if this funding can be used for the city's hospital trusts; and if he will make a statement. [8298]
  319
  Mr. Horam
  In 1997–98 Sheffield health authority will receive an integrated allocation of £270.5 million, a cash increase of £9 million—3.45 per cent.—which represents a real terms growth of £3.7 million—1.42 per cent.

  In 1997–98 Sheffield health authority will receive a general allocation of £257.2 million, a cash increase of £8.4 million—3.38 per cent.—which represents a real terms growth of £3.4 million—1.35 per cent.

  This is indeed funding which can be used for Sheffield's hospital trusts. It is for individual health authorities to decide the level and type of services purchased, in partnership with general practitioners locally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between the duties of the new head of the private finance initiative and his responsibilities as a senior executive of Tarmac plc. [8431]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no possibility of a conflict of interest arising from the appointment of Mr. Robert Osborne as head of the private finance unit of the national health service executive. Approval of business cases for private finance initiative schemes is not part of Mr. Osborne's responsibilities. Nor will he have any advisory role in schemes in which Tarmac has an interest.

  NHS Executives
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what terms he approved the provision of a vehicle to Mr. John Greetham in his role as chair of the Yorkshire and North regional NHS executive; and how many other regional executive chairs receive a similar benefit. [8607]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 24 June at column 22.

  Overseas Adoption Helpline
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government funding has been made available to the overseas adoption helpline in each year since 1992; what Government funding is planned for 1998 to 2000; and if he will make a statement. [8520]

  Mr. Burns
  Financial support for the overseas adoption helpline since 1992 is as follows:

  1992–93: £80,834

  1993–94: £96,000

  1994–95: £96,000

  1995–96: £96,000

  1996–97: £50,000

  There are currently no plans to provide further funding after 31 March 1997.

  Computer Software
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the contract to supply computer software to the Chelsea and Westminster hospital was put out to tender. [8432]
  320
  Mr. Horam
  The Riverside acute unit, now known as the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS trust, issued the invitation to tender in December 1993 in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

  Renal Dialysis Machines
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many renal dialysis machines there are per health authority; and how many renal patients on dialysis there are in each health authority. [8500]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested. However, the number of haemodialysis stations in hospitals in each national health service region for 1993 is contained in the "National Review of Renal Services Part 11; Evidence for the Review". The number of renal patients on dialysis in each NHS region in 1993, by renal unit, is shown in the same document. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  Ambulance Services
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the size of the ambulance fleet by ambulance service in each of the last five years. [8504]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the second report of the Health Committee in Session 1994–95, copies of which are in the Library, contains some information on numbers of emergency ambulances.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on new ambulances by ambulance trust in each of the last five years. [8487]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Intensive Care Provision
  Mr. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) intensive care units, (b) intensive care beds, (c) paediatric intensive units and (d) paediatric intensive care beds there are by district health authority area. [8499]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the provision of adult intensive care provision is not collected in the form requested. Information on the average daily number of available beds by broad ward classification for each national health service trust is published annually in "Bed Availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information on the number of paediatric intensive care units and beds is not routinely collected at present. However a survey of paediatric intensive care provision was undertaken earlier this year and the results published in a report on 29 May. This report by the chief executive of the national health service executive is entitled, "Paediatric Intensive Care" and is available in the Library.

  Pay Beds
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pay beds there were by NHS executive region in each of the last five years. [8503]
  321
  Mr. Horam
  Pay beds have not been centrally authorised since 31 March 1991 and the Department has not collected information on pay bed numbers since then.

  General Practitioners
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices there are in each district health authority area. [8497]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Trusts (Wartime Huts)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts are using wartime huts for patient accommodation. [8501]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Speech Therapists
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech therapists per 100,000 population are currently provided for children in(a) Southwark, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Kingston, (e) Lewisham and (f) England. [8473]

  Mr. Burns
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  The number of speech therapists employed by the national health service hospital and community health services by health authority areas is available from the Department of Health's statistical tables, "NHS Hospital and Community Health Services staff by health authority areas, England 1995"—the latest year available—which are available in the Library. Information on the estimated 1995 population in health authorities is available from the Library in "Office for National Statistic Monitor for Population and Health: Mid-1995 population estimates for re-organised local and health authority areas in England and Wales".

  The number of speech therapists per head of population within health authorities should be interpreted with caution because in some cases the population served by the organisations in each authority may be greater than the population of the health authority itself.

  Nurses
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the shortfall of hospital nursing staff by NHS executive regional office in each year since 1990. [8474]

  Mr. Malone
  The national pay review body has considered all the evidence each year since 1990 and has concluded that there have been no general shortfalls of hospital nursing staff.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses(a) entered the profession and (b) ceased to practise in each year since 1990. [8475]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Departmental Staff (Travel Costs)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on staff travel costs between Richmond house, Whitehall and Quarry house, Leeds in each year since 1992. [8481]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Estimated costs of payments for travel between Leeds and London derived from special exercises for the first two periods are:

  £

  December 1993–November 1994

  860,000

  October 1994–September 1995

  560,000

  April 1995–March 1996

  680,000

  April 1996–November 1996

  280,000

  We cannot differentiate costs between Richmond house, Quarry house and other Department of Health buildings in London and Leeds.

  National Blood Authority
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was spent by the National Blood Authority in each of the last three years on(a) conference registration fees, (b) lease cars for senior management, (c) air travel, (d) hospitality and (e) business travel within the United Kingdom; [8483]

  (2) how much was spent by the bio products laboratory in each of the last three years on (a) conference registration fees, (b) lease cars for senior management, (c) air travel, (d) hospitality and (e) business travel within the United kingdom. [8484]

  Mr. Horam
  These are matters for the National Blood Authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Colin Walker OBE, chairman of the National Blood Authority.

  Neo-natal Cots
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neo-natal cots there were in each hospital trust in each of the last five years. [8489]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the average daily number of available beds by broad ward classification for each national health service trust is published annually in "Bed Availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Consultants
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consultants who practise in the NHS also undertake private work; and what proportion of their time is spent in that private work. [8493]

  (2) how many consultant sessions used for treating NHS patients are currently funded by academic institutions. [8480]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not available centrally.
  323
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent, by NHS regional office, on consultancy fees relating to the private finance initiative. [8506]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 26 November, at column 119.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants there were in(a) general medicine, (b) general surgery, (c) orthopaedics and (d) obstetrics and gynaecology in the last year. [8479]

  Mr. Malone
  The number of hospital consultants in general medicine, general surgery, traumatic and orthopaedic surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology last year is as follows:

  Hospital medical consultants in selected specialties in England at 30 September 1995 (whole-time equivalent)

  Number

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  880

  General surgical group

  3,540

  of which

  General surgery

  1,030

  Traumatic and orthopaedic surgery

  910

  General medicine group

  3,720

  of which

  General medicine

  240

  Acute and Community Hospitals
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the secretary of State for Health (1) how many acute hospitals there are in each district health authority area; [8495]

  (2) how many community hospitals there are in each district health authority area. [8496]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. The "Health and Social Services Yearbook", copies of which are available in the Library, details the addresses of all hospitals in each NHS trust and sets out the main trusts in contract with each health authority.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency units there are in England. [8498]

  Mr. Horam
  There are 211 national health service trusts with large accident and emergency departments on 1995–96 figures.

  This is different from the figures given in "Bed availability for England 1995–96" due to inconsistencies in data collection following the abolition of the regional health authorities earlier this year. This is being corrected.

  Creche Facilities
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts have crèche facilities for(a) staff, (b) relatives, (c) visitors and (d) patients. [8502]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Porters
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many porters were employed by acute hospital trusts in each of the last five years. [8476]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Patient Trolleys
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient trolleys were owned by the NHS in each district health authority area in each of the last five years. [8477]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  NHS Hospitality
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount spent on hospitality in the NHS in the last three years. [8507]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Care Programme
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social services departments had implemented the Government's care programme approach on 1 April. [8508]

  Mr. Burns
  There is no requirement for social services departments to implement the care programme approach as it is the responsibility of national health service trusts.

  NHS Staff Conference Fees
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health how much was spent on NHS staff conference registration fees in each of the last three years. [8482]

  Mr. Horam
  No central data are available which identify spending on national health service staff conference registration fees.

  Air Travel Costs
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on air travel to international conferences, seminars and business meetings in each of the last five years. [8486]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Life-support Machines
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many life-support machines there were in each hospital trust in each of the last five years. [8488]

  Mr. Horam
  An extremely wide range of equipment is used throughout national health service hospitals for the purpose of life support. The information requested is not, therefore, available centrally.

  Annual Reports (NHS Trusts)
  Mr. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by each NHS trust on the preparation and production of their annual report in each of the last four years. [8490]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on spending on the preparation and production of annual reports by national health service trusts is not available centrally.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals beds are currently available per 24-hour period by district health authority area. [8492]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not collected in the form requested. Information on the average daily number of available beds for each NHS trust is published annually in "Bed Availability for England" copies of which are available in the Library.

  Hospital Closures
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) acute hospitals, (b) community hospitals and (c) accident and emergency units have closed in each of the last five years; and how many are planned to close in the coming financial year. [8494]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally. A list of those substantial changes in service provision which have been contested by community health councils is available in the Library.

  Working Children
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his proposals to ensure that local authority byelaws are updated to protect working children against health and safety hazards in industrial and commercial premises. [8873]

  Mr. Burns
  Children are not permitted to be employed in industrial undertakings. Health and safety legislation, which is not contained in local authority byelaws, applies to all workers regardless of their age.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the maximum number of hours a child(a) under the age of 15 years and (b) aged 15 years will be legally permitted to work during school term time, following the implementation of the recommendation arising from his Department's recent consultation exercise. [8874]

  Mr. Burns
  The maximum permitted number of working hours for children will remain exactly as they are at present, that is 17 hours a week for those under the age of 15, and 20 hours a week for those aged 15 or over.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department last carried out a study to examine the effectiveness of local authority byelaws governing the employment of children, with particular reference to their implementation and enforcement; and if he will conduct a further study. [8794]

  Mr. Burns
  The last study in this area was reported in 1972. I have no plans at present to commission a further study.
  326
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in respect of implementing proposals to protect the health, safety and education of working children. [8796]

  Mr. Burns
  Officials have recently issued a paper outlining our plans to implement our proposals. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will liaise with the Department of the Environment to ensure that local authorities have adequate resources to enforce byelaws governing the employment of children. [8795]

  Mr. Burns
  It is for local authorities to determine their expenditure priorities.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many respondents to his Department's recent consultation exercise on the employment of children favoured(a) parliamentary legislation and (b) revision of local authority byelaws. [8797]

  Mr. Burns
  We did not seek views on the type of legislation to be used. Of the views expressed, the majority were in favour of the revision of byelaws.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many outbreaks of E. coli 0157 food poisoning have occurred in the Carlisle city council area in the last five years; and how many people were affected in each of the outbreaks; [7923]

  (2) how many cases of E. coli 0157 food poisoning have occurred; and how many people have died from the infection in the Carlisle city council area in the last five years. [7924]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: For information on the number of cases of E. coli 0157 in the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 2 December at column 551.

  There were no outbreaks of E. coli 0157 in the city of Carlisle between 1991 to date. Information about single E. coli 0157 cases in the city of Carlisle is given in the table:

  E. coli 0157 cases from the city of Carlisle

  Year

  Cases

  Deaths1

  19912

  0

  0

  1992

  5

  0

  1993

  4

  0

  1994

  3

  0

  1995

  10

  0

  1996

  3

  0

  Source:

  Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

  Notes:

  1 Confirmed with Office for National Statistics.

  2 PHLS (Carlisle) did not routinely test specimens for E. coli 0157 until October 1991.

  The higher number of E. coli 0157 cases in 1995 were investigated by North Cumbria health authority and found to be associated with the consumption of wild field mushrooms, picked from fields where cattle had been

  327
  grazing. The cases were dispersed over a wide area and no link was established with any particular field.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what insurance arrangements cover the clean-up, restoration and personal compensation payments that may arise from an accident at, or involving(a) a commercially operated nuclear power plant, (b) a nuclear fuel cycle manufacturing or processing installation and (c) nuclear materials in transit resulting in the release of radiation; and how the levels of liability have been calculated. [5729]

  Mr. Page
  Under United Kingdom law, where third party damage or injury is caused as a result of a nuclear incident at a nuclear site or involving nuclear materials in transit, the UK operator is liable to pay compensation up to a liability limit of £140 million. The limit, which is kept under review, is in line with the recommendation of the nuclear energy agency of the OECD and takes account of the level of commercial insurance cover available.

  As a result of the UK's membership of the Paris and Brussels conventions, further public funds and international funds are available, up to a maximum of 300 special drawing rights of the International Monetary Fund—approximately £280 million. If claims exceed this latter figure, additional compensation may be provided by Parliament to the extent that it shall determine.

  In line with the Paris convention, compensation is available for damage to persons and property. This would include the costs of environmental restoration and clean up, where there is damage to property, in accordance with normal UK civil law principles as to the assessment of damage.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received(a) by letter and (b) otherwise from opponents of arms sales, since 2 December. [8251]

  Mr. Nelson
  I regularly receive representations from opponents of arms sales. Those concerning aspects of policy for which my Department is not responsible are directed to the appropriate Department.

  World Trade Organisation Meeting (Singapore)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he will report back from the World Trade Organisation review in Singapore in December. [7895]

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will report to the House in due course on the outcome of the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting, which is taking place in Singapore from 9 to 13 December.

  Defence Companies (Corporate Governance)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the export provisions of the corporate governance material issued by British defence companies. [8612]

  Mr. Nelson
  No such representations have been received.

  Digital Broadcasting
  Mr. Renton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in finalising regulations to require BSkyB to license its decoder box and other associated digital technology to other broadcasters. [8319]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: The final consultation on the regulations which will apply when conditional access services for digital television start, late next year, was completed on 11 December. The draft regulations ensure that whoever establishes a population of set-top boxes, all broadcasters will be able to gain access on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. We will now make the final regulations available to Parliament for consideration before the recess. Subject to parliamentary approval, they will come into force within 21 calendar days.

  Regulations covering the licensing of industrial property for conditional access technology came into force on 23 August this year. These oblige companies who license one manufacturer to build set-up boxes to consider applications from other manufacturers for similar licensing of the same industrial property. Any decision not to permit such licensing would have to be based on fair and transparent grounds, and could be challenged directly in the courts. To go beyond this, to require compulsory licensing of intellectual property rights, would be an extreme step, which the United Kingdom would contemplate only if no other action to tackle anti-competitive behaviour was available. Given that the digital television market is still at a very early stage, with no services being offered before next year, it would be premature to reach such a conclusion.

SCOTLAND

  Gourock Ropeworks
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed the matters relating to the demolition of the Gourock ropeworks, Port Glasgow with representatives of(a) Historic Scotland and (b) Inverclyde council; and if he will make a statement. [7929]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Historic Scotland is an executive agency within the Scottish Office and reports to my right hon. Friend on built heritage matters. My right hon. Friend has not been in direct discussion with Inverclyde council about the Gourock ropeworks.

  An application for listed building consent to demolish the ropeworks was passed by Inverclyde district council to Historic Scotland in March of this year. Following careful consideration, my right hon. Friend decided not to call in the application for his own determination. Inverclyde council was informed on 30 August that it was thus free

  329
  to determine the application itself. I understand that listed building consent for demolition, subject to conditions, has now been issued by the council.

  Mental Illness Specific Grant
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 November,Official Report, column 162, who is carrying out the evaluation of the effectiveness of the mental illness specific grant and the advisability of alternative funding arrangements; when he expects to receive the report of this assessment; and if he will make a statement. [7941]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Nuffield centre for community care studies at Glasgow university was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the grant. The draft final report has been sent to the Scottish Office.330
  It is expected that the final report will be submitted early in 1997. Future arrangements will be considered in light of the findings of that study, the social work services inspectorate report on day services for people with mental illness, the views of the Scottish Affairs Committee on the closure of psychiatric hospitals in Scotland and analysis of monitoring returns from all projects.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many drivers have been prosecuted for allowing a child under 14 years to travel in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt or legal restraint in Scotland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8230]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him yesterday regarding the prosecution of seat belt offences.

WALES

  NHS Administration
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on administration in(a) 1988 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [8108]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The proportion of the NHS budget in Wales spent on administration in 1988–89 and 1995–96 was about 6 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total grant made by the Welsh Office to the Welsh Development Agency; and how much of this grant was spent in advertising in England to encourage companies to relocate in Wales, in the last year for which information is available. [8106]

  Mr. Hague
  Total central Government provision to the Welsh Development Agency in 1995–96 was £29.515 million.

  The guidelines covering the agency's inward investment function and marketing activity specifically state that it should not actively encourage relocations to Wales from any part of the United Kingdom. Where, however, companies approach the agency for help with relocation projects, the agency should seek to establish that such projects have the potential to provide net additional benefits for the United Kingdom economy and not just for Wales.

  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent numbers)1

  Administrative and clerical staff3

  Managers

  Region/Organisation2

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  North Wales

  Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust

  336

  330

  335

  343

  53

  54

  52

  56

  Glan Clwyd Hospital NHS Trust

  298

  297

  315

  347

  27

  29

  28

  31

  Gwynedd Community Health NHS Trust

  —

  256

  265

  281

  —

  23

  25

  30

  Gwynedd Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  296

  293

  284

  —

  14

  9

  8

  North Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  —

  34

  51

  55

  —

  6

  11

  13

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital NHS Trust

  260

  267

  275

  301

  27

  30

  32

  32

  Clwyd DHA/FHSA

  188

  159

  147

  —

  40

  35

  37

  —

  Gwynedd DHA/FHSA

  705

  87

  89

  —

  74

  28

  27

  —

  North Wales Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  168

  —

  —

  —

  56

  Total

  1,787

  1,727

  1,770

  1,779

  221

  218

  221

  225

  Mid and West Wales

  Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  216

  221

  225

  244

  21

  22

  24

  24

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

  123

  129

  134

  139

  16

  20

  21

  26

  Derwen NHS Trust

  —

  131

  132

  125

  —

  19

  20

  14

  Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust

  149

  142

  146

  146

  17

  19

  22

  21

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  275

  255

  256

  268

  21

  17

  17

  17

  Powys Healthcare NHS Trust

  233

  221

  195

  205

  37

  37

  31

  22

  332
  Expenditure on advertising is an operational matter for the agency under its acting chief executive. I have therefore asked the acting chief executive to write to the hon. Member with details of the agency's advertising expenditure in 1995–96. I shall arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Health Service Staff
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) general practitioners, (b) nurses and (c) auxiliary staff there are currently in Wales. [8173]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest available information is as follows:

  At 29 March 1996 there were 1,850 general practitioners in Wales, of which 1,726 were unrestricted principals.

  At 30 June 1996 there were 24,848 whole-time equivalent nursing and midwifery staff directly employed by health authorities and NHS trusts in Wales. In addition there were 622 whole-time equivalent nurses employed by general medical practitioners at 1 October 1995.

  At 30 June 1996 there were 5,832 whole-time equivalent ancillary staff directly employed by health authorities and NHS trusts in Wales.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the overall number of(a) administrative staff, (b) managerial staff, (c) nurses, (d) junior doctors and (e) other medical staff employed in each region in Wales for each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [7486]

  Mr. Hague
  As the information is not available on a consistent geographical basis for the years requested, figures are provided for each organisation in Wales. For convenience these organisations have been grouped into three broad areas as shown in the following table. Information for nurses is not available separately from midwifery staff.
  333

  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent numbers)1

  Administrative and clerical staff3

  Managers

  Region/Organisation2

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Dyfed DHA/FHSA

  303

  149

  136

  —

  48

  39

  36

  —

  Powys DHA/FHSA

  62

  58

  57

  —

  15

  16

  16

  —

  Dyfed Powys Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  139

  —

  —

  —

  48

  Total

  1,360

  1,307

  1,280

  1,268

  175

  189

  187

  172

  South Wales

  Bridgend and District NHS Trust

  336

  349

  362

  396

  32

  39

  40

  45

  Cardiff Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  429

  323

  343

  361

  36

  31

  45

  44

  East Glamorgan NHS Trust

  213

  240

  262

  286

  17

  20

  23

  26

  Glan Hafren NHS Trust

  586

  600

  614

  662

  56

  67

  61

  80

  Glan-y-Mor NHS Trust

  —

  —

  410

  411

  —

  —

  30

  33

  Gwent Community Health NHS Trust

  309

  309

  323

  301

  49

  58

  69

  58

  Llandough Hospital and Community NHS Trust

  338

  340

  357

  384

  72

  72

  78

  80

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance NHS Trust

  —

  49

  51

  55

  —

  32

  36

  36

  Morriston Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  282

  361

  365

  —

  22

  38

  32

  Nevill Hall and District NHS Trust

  202

  194

  196

  204

  18

  18

  20

  20

  North Glamorgan NHS Trust

  265

  273

  272

  327

  13

  20

  24

  36

  Rhondda Healthcare NHS Trust

  154

  166

  181

  200

  17

  20

  29

  31

  S and E Wales Ambulance NHS Trust7

  56

  52

  64

  58

  27

  25

  25

  38

  Swansea NHS Trust

  247

  249

  263

  275

  15

  17

  17

  22

  University Dental Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  44

  54

  53

  —

  4

  4

  2

  UHW Healthcare NHS Trust

  318

  910

  931

  947

  72

  93

  108

  98

  Velindre NHS Trust8

  —

  62

  67

  108

  —

  11

  12

  18

  West Wales Ambulance NHS Trust9

  —

  —

  57

  99

  —

  —

  6

  16

  Gwent DHA/FHSA

  165

  143

  123

  —

  30

  30

  30

  —

  Mid Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  327

  255

  201

  —

  53

  43

  40

  —

  South Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  317

  261

  202

  —

  52

  51

  43

  —

  West Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  920

  609

  137

  —

  78

  59

  24

  —

  Bro Taf Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  248

  —

  —

  —

  88

  Gwent Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  126

  —

  —

  —

  32

  lechyd Morgannwg Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  123

  —

  —

  —

  33

  Total

  5,683

  5,710

  5,831

  5,989

  636

  732

  802

  866

  Other Health Authorities10

  1,252

  1,161

  991

  734

  128

  153

  141

  116

  See notes in col. 337.

  Nursing and midwifery staff4

  Junior doctors5

  Region/Organisation2

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  North Wales

  Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust

  1,537

  1,523

  1,415

  1,443

  16

  17

  18

  —

  Glan Clwyd Hospital NHS Trust

  870

  881

  893

  928

  81

  87

  83

  —

  Gwynedd Community Health NHS Trust

  —

  1,111

  1,109

  1,140

  —

  9

  8

  —

  Gwynedd Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  857

  859

  856

  —

  90

  102

  —

  North Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital NHS Trust

  837

  861

  887

  927

  83

  82

  81

  —

  Clwyd DHA/FHSA

  83

  84

  65

  —

  2

  2

  1

  —

  Gwynedd DHA/FHSA

  2,049

  36

  26

  —

  104

  —

  1

  —

  North Wales Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  5,377

  5,353

  5,255

  5,304

  286

  286

  294

  —

  Mid and West Wales

  Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  581

  585

  582

  608

  47

  49

  46

  —

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

  419

  415

  398

  389

  22

  22

  21

  —

  Derwen NHS Trust

  —

  483

  457

  465

  —

  15

  14

  —

  Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust

  523

  533

  530

  530

  28

  26

  25

  —

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  760

  725

  701

  704

  44

  44

  47

  —

  Powys Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,009

  995

  914

  917

  5

  4

  2

  —

  Dyfed DHA/FHSA

  538

  7

  5

  —

  18

  2

  1

  —

  Powys DHA/FHSA

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Dyfed Powys Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  3,831

  3,743

  3,587

  3,614

  164

  163

  157

  —

  334 335

  Nursing and midwifery staff4

  Junior doctors5

  Region/Organisation2

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  South Wales

  Bridgend and District NHS Trust

  1,678

  1,726

  1,767

  1,751

  64

  72

  74

  —

  Cardiff Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,305

  1,160

  1,179

  1,182

  39

  36

  41

  —

  East Glamorgan NHS Trust

  716

  733

  747

  717

  72

  82

  74

  —

  Glan Hafren NHS Trust

  2,079

  1,875

  1,835

  1,907

  166

  156

  168

  —

  Glan-y-Mor NHS Trust

  —

  —

  1,496

  1,433

  —

  —

  63

  —

  Gwent Community Health NHS Trust

  1,273

  1,250

  1,216

  1,178

  19

  21

  21

  —

  Llandough Hospital and Community NHS Trust

  764

  781

  890

  928

  77

  82

  84

  —

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Morriston Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  1,006

  1,118

  1,180

  —

  99

  110

  —

  Nevill Hall and District NHS Trust

  743

  728

  735

  726

  52

  54

  59

  —

  North Glamorgan NHS Trust

  1,052

  1,045

  1,030

  1,082

  75

  71

  65

  —

  Rhondda Healthcare NHS Trust

  723

  713

  685

  727

  4

  6

  4

  —

  S and E Wales Ambulance NHS Trust7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Swansea NHS Trust

  809

  778

  815

  864

  68

  78

  89

  —

  University Dental Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  9

  8

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  UHW Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,154

  2,282

  2,076

  2,059

  331

  330

  342

  —

  Velindre NHS Trust8

  —

  86

  97

  103

  —

  10

  13

  —

  West Wales Ambulance NHS Trust9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent DHA/FHSA

  70

  66

  14

  —

  2

  3

  1

  —

  Mid Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  220

  162

  19

  —

  17

  4

  2

  —

  South Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  136

  99

  19

  —

  6

  3

  3

  —

  West Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  2,413

  1,551

  64

  —

  138

  68

  2

  —

  Bro Taf Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lyechyd Morgannwg Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  16,136

  16,050

  15,808

  15,864

  1,129

  1,175

  1,214

  —

  Other Health Authorities10

  77

  73

  79

  67

  —

  —

  —

  —

  See notes in col. 337.

  Other medical staff6

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Region/Organisation2

  North Wales

  Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust

  41

  43

  41

  —

  Glan Clwyd Hospital NHS Trust

  69

  73

  87

  —

  Gwynedd Community Health NHS Trust

  —

  32

  31

  —

  Gwynedd Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  75

  81

  —

  North Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital NHS Trust

  57

  59

  65

  —

  Clwyd DHA/FHSA

  4

  6

  6

  —

  Gwynedd DHA/FHSA

  107

  4

  6

  —

  North Wales Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  278

  292

  317

  —

  Mid and West Wales

  Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  46

  49

  55

  —

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

  29

  28

  32

  —

  Derwen NHS Trust

  —

  14

  11

  —

  Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust

  37

  38

  42

  —

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  49

  49

  48

  —

  Powys Healthcare NHS Trust

  35

  36

  36

  —

  Dyfed DHA/FHSA

  19

  5

  5

  —

  Powys DHA/FHSA

  3

  3

  3

  —

  Dyfed Powys Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  217

  223

  234

  —

  336

  Other medical staff6

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  South Wales

  Bridgend and District NHS Trust

  71

  73

  79

  —

  Cardiff Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  45

  34

  33

  —

  East Glamorgan NHS Trust

  51

  60

  61

  —

  Glan Hafren NHS Trust

  110

  124

  132

  —

  Glan-y-Mor NHS Trust

  —

  —

  62

  —

  Gwent Community Health NHS Trust

  42

  46

  45

  —

  Llandough Hospital and Community NHS Trust

  39

  39

  46

  —

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Morriston Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  69

  69

  —

  Nevill Hall and District NHS Trust

  42

  45

  48

  —

  North Glamorgan NHS Trust

  52

  51

  53

  —

  Rhondda Healthcare NHS Trust

  26

  29

  33

  —

  S and E Wales Ambulance NHS Trust7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Swansea NHS Trust

  56

  58

  67

  —

  University Dental Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  1

  1

  —

  UHW Healthcare NHS Trust

  157

  164

  160

  —

  Velindre NHS Trust8

  —

  9

  8

  —

  West Wales Ambulance NHS Trust9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent DHA/FHSA

  4

  4

  5

  —

  Mid Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  4

  4

  5

  —

  South Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  9

  7

  9

  —

  West Glamorgan DHA/FHSA

  136

  77

  5

  —

  Bro Taf Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  337

  Other medical staff6

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Gwent Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  843

  894

  920

  —

  Other Health Authorities

  14

  10

  10

  —

  1 At 30 September for 1993 to 1995 and 30 June 1996.

  2 Organisations are listed under the name they had at 30 June 1996. Organisational changes mean that figures for some individual organisations are not comparable over all the years given.

  3 Including managers (staff paid on manager payscales).

  4 Excludes pre-registration learners.

  5 Senior registrars, registrars, senior house officers and house officers working in the community or public health service.

  6 Consultants, staff grades, associate specialists, hospital practitioners and clinical assistants working in the community or public health service but excluding general medical practitioners.

  7 Includes staff formerly employed in the Powys ambulance service.

  8 Data for 1996 include staff employed by Breast Test Wales which was previously included with Welsh Health Common Services staff.

  9 Includes staff formerly employed in the East Dyfed ambulance service.

  10 Staff employed in Welsh Health Common Services Authority and Health Promotion Wales.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people have started accelerated modern apprenticeships in Wales, by local authority. [8525]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of young people who have started on accelerated modern apprenticeships in each of the training and enterprise council areas of Wales are detailed in the following table:

  Cumulative starts on accelerated modern apprenticeships by TEC area as at 10 November 1996

  Name of training and enterprise council

  Starts on accelerated modern apprenticeships

  Gwent

  192

  Mid Glamorgan

  135

  North-east Wales

  308

  North-west Wales

  94

  Powys

  37

  South Glamorgan

  161

  West Wales

  337

  Wales total

  1,264

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was his Department's initial forecast of the number of places available on accelerated modern apprenticeships in Wales. [8526]

  Mr. Evans
  The departmental report published in March 1995 estimated that 1,000 young people would enter accelerated modern apprenticeships in 1995–96, the first year of the programme. In the event, 850 places were contracted with the Welsh TECs for that year and 843 young people commenced training. Planning assumptions for 1996–7 and 1997–8 are for around 1,100 new starts in each year, but as indicated in the departmental report,338
  published in March 1996, in practice the balance between accelerated modern apprenticeships and modern apprenticeships will vary according to local demands.

  Cwmcarn Grant-maintained School
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many objections he received to proposals to establish a sixth form at Cwmcarn grant-maintained school; how many of those objectives were from(a) individuals and (b) organisations; and if he will list those organisations; [8347]

  (2) how many pupils are required at a school for it to be granted sixth form status; and what guidance on this his Department has issued; [8529]

  (3) what consultations he undertook before granting Cwmcarn grant-maintained school sixth form status. [8354]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Eight objections were received to the published proposal of 15 January 1996, all of which were from organisations. They were:

  The former Gwent local education authority

  Risca comprehensive school

  Blackwood comprehensive school

  Pontllanfraith comprehensive school

  Oakdale comprehensive school

  Newbridge comprehensive school

  Gwent tertiary college

  Further Education Funding Council for Wales.

  Each proposal is considered on its merits and in the light of guidance in Welsh Office circular 13/95, "The Supply of School Places", a copy of which is in the Library. No particular number of pupils is required for sixth form status. My. right hon. Friend is not required to undertake consultations on statutory proposals.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the audited accounts of Cwmcarn grant-maintained school. [8348]

  Mr. Evans
  My right hon. Friend does not publish the audited accounts of grant-maintained schools. It is for the schools' governing bodies to ensure that the accounts are available at the school for inspection by any member of the public.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of meningitis among Cardiff students have been reported since 28 September; and if he will list the location at which each sufferer was first diagnosed, indicating the date. [8727]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There have been seven cases of meningococcal infection, including both meningitis and septicaemia forms of the disease, reported amongst
  339
  Cardiff students since 28 September 1996. Details are given in the following table.

  Cases of meningococcal infection among Cardiff students

  Case number

  Hospital

  Date admitted

  Date diagnosed1

  1

  Royal Gwent, Newport

  16 October 1996

  16 October 1996

  2

  University Hospital of Wales

  16 November 1996

  16 November 1996

  3

  University Hospital of Wales

  26 November 1996

  28 December 1996

  4

  University Hospital of Wales

  28 November 1996

  28 December 1996

  5

  University Hospital of Wales

  27 November 1996

  29 November 1996

  6

  University Hospital of Wales

  29 November 1996

  29 November 1996

  7

  University Hospital of Wales

  2 December 1996

  25 December 1996

  1 Refers to the date of clinical diagnosis as cases may not be microbiologically confirmed until several days later.

  2 Admitted for observation and commenced on treatment as a precautionary measure from 2 December 1996.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of meningitis that have occurred in Wales since 20 September his Department assessed to have been(a) part of a cluster and (b) isolated instances. [8798]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There have been 44 notified cases of meningococcal infection, including both meningitis and septicaemia, reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre, Wales since 20 September 1996. There has been one reported cluster. This centred around the university halls, Penylan, Cardiff. A cluster is usually understood as more than one case reported, in a single setting, in a short period of time.

  Sea Empress
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent research his Department has evaluated into the effects in the(a) short, (b) medium and (c) long-term on the health and welfare of flora and fauna arising from the accident involving the discharge of oil from the Sea Empress tanker in February. [8800]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My right hon. Friend has established the Sea Empress environmental evaluation committee to assess the environmental consequences of the oil spill. A research programme is being taken forward and a final report is expected in 1997.

  Village Hall Repairs
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he has made to existing grant schemes to enable local groups to obtain funding for substantial repairs to village halls. [9282]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In order to fulfil the commitment given in the White Paper, "A Working Countryside for Wales", I have reconsidered the future of 340
  the £472,000 budget for the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres scheme and have decided to pass the management of it to the Wales Council for Voluntary Action—WCVA. Most of the money will be used towards the match funding of a £5.6 million grant the WCVA has secured from the Millennium Commission for its project, 21st century halls for Wales. The project will fund improvements to or the rebuilding of around 50 community halls which will then stand as beacons of good practice. A small proportion will be reserved to provide an advice service for all village and community hall committees.

DEFENCE

  Hawk Aircraft
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the licensing for export by United Kingdom manufacturers of Hawk(a) attack and (b) trainer aircraft; and what different provisions apply to the two types of Hawk. [8613]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department advises the Department of Trade and Industry on various aspects of export licensing. These include the legitimate defence requirements of the recipient, the effect on regional stability and the risk of use against United Kingdom forces. These provisions apply to all export licence applications referred to the MOD.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft types are permitted to carry out air-to-air refuelling at the lowest notified altitudes in areas 10 and 12. [8602]

  Mr. Soames
  RAF tankers Tristar, VC10K and VC10 C Mk1K and receiver aircraft VC10, Hercules, Tornado, Harrier, Sea Harrier, Jaguar, Nimrod and Sentry are permitted to carry out air-to-air refuelling exercises at the lowest notified altitudes in areas 10 and 12.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of breaches of low flying regulations in each year since 1992; and in each case what disciplinary action was taken against the aircrew responsible. [8522]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of breaches in 1992 are not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of breaches and disciplinary action taken for 1993 are given in the seventh report of the Defence Committee, HC 314, "Low Flying; Follow-up to the Fifth Report of Session 1989–90", Session 1993–94, on low flying, pages 35 to 36, and in the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 5 December 1994,Official Report, column 112. I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 22 November 1995, Official Report, column 1042 and to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 April 1996, Official Report, column 578, for 1994 and 1995. The following additional breaches of low flying regulations in 1995 have

  341
  been confirmed by RAF police investigations since the latter date and, unless stated otherwise, a lateral breach of the avoidance area listed occurred in each case.

  Date

  Location

  Numbers and types of A/C

  Nationality

  Nature of breach

  22 May

  Billinge, Lancs.

  1 × Tornado

  TTTE

  Unauthorised flight within LFA8 of the UKLFS

  21 September

  Full Sutton E. York.

  3 × Hercules

  Belgian Air Force

  Full Sutton Airfield avoidance area

  21 September

  Full Sutton

  3 × Hercules

  Belgian Air Force

  Unauthorised flight within LFA11 of the UKLFS

  21 November

  Bicester, Oxon

  1 × F15

  USAF

  Overflew Bicester, a town listed for avoidance

  20 December

  Caerlaverock, Dumfries and Galloway

  1 × Tornado

  RAF

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

  In the case where the nationality is shown as 711"1'E, the aircraft came from the tai-national Tornado training establishment at RAF Cottesmore which trains aircrew of the Royal Air Force, German air force and Italian air force using aircraft provided by all three nations.

  Formal disciplinary action under the service discipline Acts has been taken in one of the cases listed above. The pilot of the Tornado responsible for the breach at Billinge, Lancashire on 22 May was dealt with under summary procedures and pleaded guilty to one charge, contrary to section 69 of the Air Force Act 1955, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and Air Force discipline for which he was reprimanded and fined.

  In cases involving UK aircrew where formal disciplinary action is not appropriate, individuals may be interviewed by their station commander or other appropriate senior officer. Such action could be recorded on individual's career records and affect flying status and promotion prospects, but it is not our policy to release details of such action. It is also the responsibility of senior officers to ascertain what lessons can be learnt from such incidents. Central records are not maintained.

  Reports on breaches by foreign aircrew are passed to the relevant national authorities, with whom responsibility for any further action rests.

  Details of confirmed breaches for 1996 have yet to be collated.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the maximum manoeuvres permitted by a military aircraft which is subjected to(a) a pre-briefed and (b) an unbriefed interception by a fighter aircraft in the United Kingdom airspace while flying (i) in the military low flying system (ii) between 2,000 and 5,000 ft and (iii) above 5,000 ft. [8603]

  Mr. Soames
  The maximum manoeuvres permitted vary according to the type of military aircraft being flown.
  342
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to flow control in the low flying system in the area between Northampton and Sywell airfield; and what were the reasons for those changes. [8588]

  Mr. Soames
  Due to the urban expansion of Northampton north-eastwards towards Northampton/Sywell airfield, the area between these locations is no longer available for military low flying and the unidirectional flow has therefore been removed.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to flow control in the low flying system in the area between Doncaster and Sandtoft airfield; and what were the reasons for those changes. [8601]

  Mr. Soames
  Following the closure of the military air traffic zone around RAF Finningley on 1 October 1995, a north-north-westerly unidirectional flow was introduced in the gap between the Sheffield transit area and Sandtoft airfield to improve flight safety at low level.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are contained in the "UK Military Low Flying Handbook" concerning the use by aircrew transiting the gap between Newcastle and Spadeadam of an air traffic radar service from RAF Spadeadam. [8589]

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to flow control in the low flying system in the Bedford area; and what was the reasons for those changes. [8591]

  Mr. Soames
  Due to a reduction in the amount of controlled airspace around Bedford airfield, airspace to the north of Bedford town became available for military low flying. To improve flight safety at low level, a westerly unidirectional flow was introduced between these two locations.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to publish the results of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency study of the probability of mid-air collisions in the low-level airspace; and when. [8599]

  Mr. Soames
  We will respond to the air accidents investigation branch—AAIB—once we have received DERA's report and have had the opportunity to consider it fully. Our response to the AAIB will be a matter of public record.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of those accidents to Jaguar, Harrier and Tornado aircraft since 1990 which the subsequent inquiry concluded would have been prevented if ground proximity warning systems had been fitted to the aircraft. [8586]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not possible to report which accidents might have been avoided by installation of a ground proximity warning system as such hypothetical assessments fall outside the terms of reference of RAF boards of inquiry.
  343
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to the structure of the low flying system in the Salisbury plain area; and what were the reasons for those changes. [8592]

  Mr. Soames
  The previous boundaries of low flying areas 1A, 1B and IC used a mixture of geographic features and lines of latitude and longitude to delineate the areas. Changes were made in April and August 1996 so that significant line features such as the M4, A34, A41 (T) and other roads were adopted as boundaries to facilitate the management and conduct of low-level helicopter operations.

  Sea Harrier Collision
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the mid-air collision 19 September between a Royal Navy Sea Harrier and a Dutch F-16; and what plans he has to issue a summary of the inquiry report on this accident. [8598]

  Mr. Soames
  On 19 September 1996, a Royal Navy Sea Harrier and a Dutch F-16 touched in mid-air while conducting air combat training manoeuvres off Portland Bill. This resulted in damage to the nose of the Sea Harrier and to the tail of the F-16. Neither pilot sustained injuries, and both aircraft recovered safely to RNAS Yeovilton.

  A board of inquiry was convened to investigate the incident in conjunction with the Dutch authorities. Once this process is complete, a summary of the findings of the board of inquiry will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (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; [7569]

  (2) how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7584]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: About £1,300 is to be spent on official Christmas cards. There will also be some associated postage costs. There are otherwise no plans for official expenditure on Christmas and the new year.

  Overseas Police Training
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each year since 1980, those overseas countries in which police forces have received support for training from his budget. [8026]

  Mr. Soames
  Records of training provided in the UK were not held centrally before September 1993 and information before that date is incomplete. There is no record of UK training of civilian police forces being funded by my Department since that date, although training has been carried out, funded either by other Government Departments or the countries themselves.
  344
  Detailed records of training provided overseas are not maintained centrally. However, from the early 1980s until 30 June 1996, my Department did part-fund loan service personnel in the Caribbean who, among other duties, provided training for police special service units in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Caribbean Dependent Territories. Since June the training, though still conducted by members of the armed forces, has been wholly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Convicted Service Men (Cyprus)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the case of the three British service men convicted of manslaughter of the Danish tour guide in Cyprus. [8516]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 26 November 1996,Official Report, columns 199–200.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was his Department's total contribution to the defence costs of three British troops based in Cyprus who were convicted of the manslaughter of a Danish tour guide; and if he will make a statement; [8698]

  (2) if he will list what payments his Department is making to each of the three British service men who are at present serving a life sentence for the manslaughter of the Danish tour guide in Cyprus. [8724]

  Mr. Soames
  There has been no change in the position outlined in my answers of 20 May 1996,Official Report, column 52, and 4 June 1996, Official Report, column 334.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the terms of the discharge from the British Army that were given to the three British service men convicted of the manslaughter of the Danish tour guide in Cyprus. [8640]

  Mr. Soames
  The three individuals were discharged in April this year under paragraph 9.404 of Queen's Regulations for the Army for misconduct having been sentenced by a civil court to imprisonment.

  RAF Spadeadam
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if military aircraft inbound to the RAF Spadeadam range at low level from the east are permitted to cross the area of directional flow control west of Newcastle in a westerly direction(a) while receiving a radar advisory service from RAF Spadeadam and (b) when not in receipt of any air traffic service. [8587]

  Mr. Soames
  No. Compliance with flow arrows is mandatory for all low military aircraft, except helicopters flying below 250 feet above ground level, irrespective of whether they are receiving a radar advisory service.

  Canadian Forces Base, Goose Bay
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of deployment and units involved for each deployment of non-flying units to Canadian forces base, Goose bay in 1995 and 1996; and what plans he has for further non-flying unit training deployments to Goose bay. [8595]
  345
  Mr. Soames
  Dates of deployment and units involved for each deployment of non-flying units to Goose bay in 1995 and 1996 are as follows:26 January to 26 February 1995: Composite deployment from various RAF regiment units.
  14 January to 13 February 1996: Composite deployment from various RAF regiment units.

  Plans for further non-flying unit deployments to Goose bay are:
  4 January to 9 January 1997: Composite deployment from elements of 5 Airborne Brigade.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties were flown by each Royal Air Force aircraft type at Canadian forces base, Goose bay in 1996. [8593]

  Mr. Soames
  Royal Air Force aircraft have flown 800 training sorties at Goose bay in 1996; 782 of these were by Tornado GR I aircraft and 18 by Hercules aircraft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the squadrons which carried out training at Canadian forces base, Goose bay in 1996; and what were the deployment dates for each squadron. [8594]

  Mr. Soames
  The information on flying squadron deployments is as follows:

  Number 47 Squadron: 14 January to 20 January 1996

  Number IX Squadron: 12 April to 3 May 1996

  Number 617 Squadron: 3 May to 24 May 1996

  Number 17 Squadron: 24 May to 14 June 1996

  Number 11 (AC) Squadron: 24 August to 13 September 1996

  Number 14 Squadron: 13 September to 4 October 1996

  Number 13 Squadron: 4 October to 18 October 1996.

  Nimrod Aircrew
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes to training, procedures and regulations for Nimrod aircrew following the findings of the board of inquiry into the accident in September 1995. [8597]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Jaguar Aircraft (Accident)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident to Jaguar No. XZ396 in 1995; what was the damage category of the aircraft; at what location repairs were undertaken; and on what date the aircraft re-entered service. [8605]

  Mr. Soames
  As a result of an incident in 1995, Jaguar XZ396 received category 3 damage which was repaired at RAF Coltishall. The aircraft was returned to service on 23 April 1996.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the accident involving a Royal Air Force Jaguar in Alaska on 24 July. [8604]

  Mr. Soames
  The aircraft was participating in Cope Thunder, a major United States air force exercise designed to provide aircrew with the opportunity to develop 346
  advanced tactics and procedures in joint air operations, when it crashed some 40 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot ejected safely. An RAF board of inquiry has been convened to determine the cause of this accident and consider what action may be necessary to minimise the risk of recurrence.

  Joint Rapid Deployment Force
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of the JRDF to utilise current British Army communications systems. [8349]

  Mr. Soames
  Units drawn from all three services are assigned to ate joint rapid deployment force and are equipped and trained to use their own communications systems.

  RAF Boulmer
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the capability of RAF Boulmer to provide an air traffic radar service to military aircraft operating at low level over Northumberland. [8590]

  Mr. Soames
  As an air defence unit, RAF Boulmer is neither manned nor equipped to offer an air traffic radar service to military aircraft operating at low level over Northumberland.

  Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the deployment of Tornados from the 38 fighter-bomber wing, German air force, to RAF Coningsby during January 1996; how many sorties were flown; how many of these were at low level; and how many practice attacks were made on UK ranges. [8606]

  Mr. Soames
  The purpose of the deployment was to conduct a flight trial to test the compatibility of an electronic countermeasures system with the aircraft. A total of seven sorties were flown, none of which was at low level. No practice attacks were made on UK ranges.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on which United Kingdom airfield is to be the base for Royal Air Force Tornado squadrons relocating from Germany; and what is the planned date for relocation. [8600]

  Mr. Soames
  I hope to make an announcement in the new year about the redeployment of the Tornado squadrons from RAF Bruggen following its closure in 2002.

  Gulf War (Injections)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many injections classified as secret were given to each individual Gulf war service man; [8450]

  (2) how many service men in the Gulf war received injections which were classified as secret and were not listed on the medical documents of each service man; [8452]
  347
  (3) what medical conditions were to be met by the injections given to Gulf war service men and classified as secret. [8451]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the memorandum that I placed in the Library of the House on Tuesday 10 December, which gives details of the Government's vaccination policy during the Gulf conflict.

  Correspondence
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, South of 9 September regarding Mr. M. M. Doyle. [8699]

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member about his constituent's case.

  Land Access Booklet
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning his Department's booklet on access to Ministry of Defence land; how many copies of this booklet were produced; what was the total cost of production; for what reasons it was withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on his future plans for the booklet. [8790]

  Mr. Soames
  A booklet which encourages public access to the defence estate and highlights several walks was issued by my Department earlier this year; 250,000 copies were produced at a total cost of £66,000. It has since been discovered that the third map in the Longmoor section of the booklet incorrectly indicates that two footpaths are available to the public at all times. This is not the case, and in view of the potential implications for public safety the booklet has been withdrawn temporarily. Arrangements are in hand to amend all remaining stocks and to advise members of the public of this, providing amended copies of the booklet where appropriate. Action has also been taken to place additional warning signs at the site to advise members of the public of the correct position.

  Radiation Experiments
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has recently made of experiments in respect of the effects on human health of exposure to(a) strontium 85, (b) isotopes of radioactive iodine, (c) palladium 103, (d) chromium 51, (e) niobium 92M, (f) barium 133 and (g) plutonium, conducted by (i) his Department, (ii) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and (iii) the United States Government in conjunction with the United Kingdom Government, since 1956; and if he will make a statement on his Department's current evaluation of research on the effects of radiation exposure on human health; [8614]

  (2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the radiotoxicity of (i) methyliodide, (ii) polonium and (iii) calcium 45 and their effects on human health; and if he will set out the conclusions of such experimental research conducted to assess the risks of these radioactive materials. [8611]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Operation Purple Star
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British merchant vessels were chartered by Her Majesty's Government for Operation Purple Star; and if he will make a statement. [4333]

  Mr. Soames
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1996, c. 194]: I regret that due to a typographical error the word "No" was omitted from the start of my answer. Despite the rest of the answer it was not absolutely clear, therefore, that no British registered merchant vessels were chartered by my Department to take part in Operation Purple Star.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Peace Process
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Government to discuss the peace process in Northern Ireland. [7325]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I accompanied my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for part of his meeting with Mr. Bruton and Mr. Spring on 9 December.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent progress in the all-party talks. [7327]

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position in the peace process. [7331]

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the latest situation relating to the peace process. [7343]

  Mr. Ancram
  Having agreed the rules of procedure and agenda for the opening plenary the talks are now addressing the issue of decommissioning. We recognise the sensitivities of the issue for participants, but believe early agreement on this and the start of substantive discussions, are now urgent.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the use of referendums in the peace process. [7336]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The Government have given an undertaking to put the final outcome of the current negotiations to the people of Northern Ireland for approval in a referendum. The Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiations, etc.) Act 1996 includes provision for such a referendum.

  Farming Job Losses
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of jobs lost in the farming industry in Northern Ireland as a consequence of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis. [7326]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The industry provides the equivalent of 15,900 full-time jobs in beef cattle enterprises. There are a further 2,850 in beef and sheepmeat processing, and 2,000 to 3,000 in ancillary industries.
  349
  The export ban has had a greater effect on the Northern Ireland industry than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, because 55 per cent. by volume of Northern Ireland beef used to be exported outside the UK. It is not, however, as yet possible to estimate the jobs lost by this cause.

  Beef Production
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the value of beef production in Northern Ireland in 1995–96; and what percentage of this total was sold outside the United Kingdom. [7328]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  In 1995, the last full year for which figures are currently available, the farm-gate value, including subsidies, of beef cattle sold in Northern Ireland was £414.4 million. It is estimated that 56 per cent. of this total was sold outside the United Kingdom.

  Interrogation Procedures
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with(a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (b) the Lord Chief Justice on reforming interrogation procedures at Castlereagh; and if he will make a statement. [7330]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Officials in the Northern Ireland Office have been working with the RUC on producing a draft code of practice in connection with the silent video recording of interviews held with terrorist suspects, and we expect to go out to public consultation shortly.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken since 14 November to secure the removal of the ban on Northern Ireland beef exports. [7332]

  Mr. Ancram
  All Agriculture Departments have been working on the details of a certified herds scheme along with European Commission officials.

  BSE-free Herds
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce BSE-free certified herds in Northern Ireland. [7333]

  Mr. Ancram
  Certified herds are specifically referred to by the Florence agreement as a stage in the removal of the export ban. The Agriculture Departments are actively exploring possibilities for a UK-wide certified herds scheme with the Commission so that we can submit formal proposals shortly. We will be pressing for these to be discussed at the earliest opportunity.

  Time on waiting list for surgical specialties

  6 months

  6 to 11 months

  12 to 17 months

  18 to 23 months

  24 months+

  All durations

  General surgery

  2,603

  992

  415

  130

  22

  4,162

  Urology

  1,557

  480

  192

  73

  64

  2,366

  Trauma

  2,301

  1,583

  196

  33

  15

  4,128

  ENT

  2,085

  760

  82

  9

  10

  2,946

  Ophthalmology

  2,284

  1,057

  156

  9

  0

  3,506

  Security Situation
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation. [7334]

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the current security situation in the Province. [7341]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Sir I. Patnick) earlier today.

  Fish (Lough Neagh)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the redd count of migrating fish in the Lough Neagh catchment area for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96. [7335]

  Mr. Ancram
  The redd count for salmon in the Lough Neagh catchment area in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 was 42, 73 and 55 respectively. It is not possible to provide migratory trout (dollaghan) redd counts as these are indistinguishable from resident brown trout redds.

  Irish Language
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for improving the educational materials for use in teaching the Irish language. [7337]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 November 1996,Official Report, column 345.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about inward investment in Northern Ireland. [7338]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 14 November,Official Report, columns 342–43. There has been no significant change in the position and I remain confident about increasing interest shown in Northern Ireland as an investment location.

  Elective Surgery
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the current waiting times for elective surgery for patients in the Eastern health board area. [7340]

  Mr. Moss
  The following table records the number of those waiting for elective admission at 30 September 1996 in surgical specialties with trusts located in the Eastern health and social services board area together with the time spent on the waiting list at that date.
  351

  Time on waiting list for surgical specialties

  6 months

  6 to 11 months

  12 to 17 months

  18 to 23 months

  24 months+

  All durations

  Oral surgery

  337

  144

  49

  22

  12

  564

  Paediatric dentistry

  60

  8

  1

  2

  0

  71

  Neurosurgery

  123

  95

  47

  32

  50

  347

  Plastic surgery

  845

  769

  513

  289

  136

  2,552

  Cardiac surgery

  333

  157

  25

  6

  0

  521

  Paediatric surgery

  490

  334

  244

  132

  141

  1,341

  Thoracic surgery

  102

  46

  22

  13

  0

  183

  Anaesthetics

  301

  153

  57

  1

  3

  515

  Total waiters1

  13,421

  6,578

  1,999

  751

  453

  23,202

  Percentage of total waiters

  57.84

  28.35

  8.62

  3.24

  1.95

  100.00

  1 Includes a total of 351 cases who were awaiting elective admission to surgical specialties having previously self deferred.

  Water Leakages
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated current loss of water in the water supply system in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [7342]

  Mr. Moss
  Total losses of water in the water supply system in Northern Ireland are currently estimated to be 10.95 cu m per kilometre of main per day.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the capability of the Provisional IRA to mount a terrorist campaign. [7344]

  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the current level of IRA terrorist risk. [7329]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Our assessment is that the Provisional IRA is capable of mounting a sustained terrorist campaign both in Northern Ireland and elsewhere and that there is currently a high risk of attack from PIRA. The security forces remain vigilant to prevent such attacks, and have achieved a number of important recent successes.

  Sectarian Killings
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on sectarian killings which have taken place in the last 12 months. [7339]

  Sir John Wheeler
  There have been 17 murders in Northern Ireland between 10 December 1995 and 10 December 1996 arising from the security situation, of which two are believed to have had a purely sectarian motive. These, like all murders, are cruel crimes without any justification, and the Government condemn them unreservedly.

  Every effort will be made to bring those responsible for these and all other crimes to justice. To date, one person has been charged in connection with one of the sectarian murders.

  Traffic (Comber)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last traffic census was 352
  conducted on roads leading to Comber, County Down; and what is the volume of traffic on each road at Comber. [8336]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from G. P. Fraser to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 11 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to reply to your question about volumes of traffic on roads leading to Comber. In the Chief Executive's absence I am responding on his behalf.
  Roads Service has automatic traffic counters which constantly record traffic volumes on three roads leading to Comber. Traffic information from these counters for 1995 was as follows:-

  Location

  Average daily traffic flow

  A21 Newtownards Road

  14,550

  A22 Killyleagh Road

  6,640

  A22 Comber Road, Dundonald

  8,840

  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Manse Road, Castlereagh
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the arrangements for salting Manse road, Castlereagh; what account is taken of whether the road is used by school buses in making such arrangements; what was the cost of salting Manse road(a) in 1995–96 and (b) in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [8337]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from G. P. Fraser to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 11 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to reply to your question about arrangements for salting Manse Road, Castlereagh. In the Chief Executive's absence I am responding on his behalf.
  There are 2 Manse Roads in Castlereagh—the C369 which runs from the Four Winds roundabout to the Ballygowan Road, and the U193 which runs from the Clontonacally Road to the Saintfield Road. During periods of ice and snow the C369 is salted along its

  353
  entire length together with the section of the U 193 from Cadger Road to Saintfield Road. The recent review of the gritted network had no effect on either of these roads.
  While school bus routes are not automatically salted Roads Service applies a weighting factor for buses when assessing the traffic flow on each route. By way of illustration, a 40 seater bus is considered equivalent to 20 cars.
  The estimated cost of salting these roads was as follows:

  Financial year

  C369 £

  U193£

  1995–96

  1,000

  680

  1996–97 (to date)

  380

  260

  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Motor Cyclists
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on changes to driver licensing for motor cyclists in Northern Ireland. [8686]

  Mr. Moss
  Revised licensing arrangements for motor cyclists are being introduced under the second EC directive on the driving licence. The directive, which applies in Northern Ireland on the same basis as in the rest of the United Kingdom, except where required by existing differences in the two licensing systems, requires member states to have two motor cycle driving licence categories and associated tests. These will come into effect on 1 January 1997 by virtue of regulations made by the Department on 21 November 1996.

  The category A test will require a rider to take the driving test on a motor cycle over 120cc but not more than 125cc and capable of a speed of 100 km per hour. On passing the test, a rider will be restricted for two years to motor cycles with a power output of up to 25kW or a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW-kg. Thereafter the rider will have access to any size of machine. The existing category A test, which allows a person to take a test on a motor cycle up to 250cc, will continue until 30 June 1997. A rider passing his test on such a machine in this period will have immediate access to any size of machine.

  The sub-category Al test will permit a driving test to be taken on a motorcycle of at least 75cc but not more than 120cc and passing this test will confer entitlement to drive a motorcycle of up to 125cc with a power output not exceeding 11kW.

  A motor cyclist who passes the driving test on an automatic or semi-automatic machine will be restricted to similar machines. The minimum age for driving motorcycles will remain 17.

  Waiting Lists (Royal Victoria Hospital)
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are on the waiting lists for elective surgery at the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast. [7322]

  Mr. Moss
  At 30 September 1996, which is the latest date for which information is available, 7,036 patients were waiting for elective surgery at the Royal Victoria hospital. Of this number, only 226 or 3.2 per cent. had been waiting more than 18 months.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial year. [7533]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table

  Year

  Total spent £

  1991–92

  17,546,566

  1992–93

  19,510,968

  1993–94

  18,333,603

  1994–95

  20,054,914

  1995–96

  20,085,672

  1996–97

  20,209,043

  1 Estimate.

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to public funds of his Department's nationwide radio advertisement about the Child Support Agency. [7645]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The only nationwide radio advertisements about the Child Support Agency took place around the time of the agency's launch in April 1993. The cost was £107,746 in 1992–93 and £197,268 in 1993–94.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on the subject of the reduced earnings allowance; how many of these were in support of the allowance; and if he will make a statement. [7904]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  As at 30 November, the Department had received 263 letters from 155 hon. Members and approximately 300 from individual members of the public and organisations.

  The letters generally have expressed concern or sought clarification.

  National Insurance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the yield of an additional(a) 0.5 per cent. and (b) 1 per cent. on the top rates of national insurance contributions paid by (i) employees, (ii) employers and (iii) the self-employed, at 1995–96 prices and contribution rates, in the years (1) 2000–01, (2) 2010–11, (3) 2020–21 and (4) 2030–31. [8250]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table:

  Great Britain accruals £ billions in 1995–96 prices

  2000–01

  2010–11

  2010–21

  2030–31

  (a) 0.5 per cent NIC increase

  Employees

  1.20

  1.40

  1.50

  1.55

  Employers1

  1.55

  1.95

  2.35

  2.65

  355

  Great Britain accruals £ billions in 1995–96 prices

  2000–01

  2010–11

  2010–21

  2030–31

  Self-employed2

  0.10

  0.10

  0.10

  0.10

  (b) 1 per cent. NIC increase

  Employees

  2.45

  2.80

  3.05

  3.10

  Employers1

  3.15

  3.95

  4.70

  5.30

  Self-employed2

  0.15

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  Notes:

  1 Includes class 1A contributions paid by employers on cars and car fuel.

  2 Increase applies to self-employed class 4 national insurance contributions.

  Class 1 earnings limits and class 4 profits limits assumed to rise in line with prices.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of additional national insurance contribution revenue from employees and employers by 1995–96 if both the lower and upper earnings limits for contribution had been increased annually in relation to earnings since 1979–80. [7897]

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

  Great Britain (accruals)

  £ billions

  Loss in revenue

  1990–91

  -0.85

  1991–92

  -1.15

  1992–93

  -1.45

  1993–94

  -1.55

  1994–95

  -1.90

  1995–96

  -2.35

  Notes:

  1. Assumes that contracted-out rebates in respect of occupational pension schemes apply between the revised lower and upper earnings limits.

  2. Assumes that the three brackets for employers contributions increase in line with the rise in the revised lower earnings limits.

  3. The overall effect would have been a loss of revenue.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to monitor the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in relation to indirect discrimination in the provision of goods and services. [7891]

  Mr. Burt
  The Disability Discrimination Act addresses indirect discrimination in two ways. First, the Act states that discrimination occurs when a service provider, for a reason which relates to a disabled person's disability, treats him less favourably than he treats or would treat others to whom that reason does not or would not apply, and that treatment cannot justified.

  Secondly, the Act requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to make their services more accessible to disabled customers.
  356
  The Government will monitor the Disability Discrimination Act in order to assess its effectiveness in combating discrimination. The National Disability Council will also advise the Government on matters relevant to the elimination of discrimination and the operation of the Act.

  War Widows
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on his future plans for rent allowances for war widows; [8660]

  (2) how many war widows currently receive rent allowances. [8661]

  Mr. Heald
  The abolition of war widow's rent allowance for future claims has been proposed in a package of simplification measures. On 26 November 1996 a letter giving full details of the proposals was sent to all members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions who have until 17 January 1997 to respond. No decision will be taken on this proposal, or any other, until the views of the committee have been fully considered. Existing recipients of rent allowance will be unaffected by the proposal. At the end of September 1996, 1,060 war widows were receiving the allowance.

  War Pensioners
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many war pensioners have been affected by the changes in war pension entitlement to pensioners with less than 20 per cent. hearing impairment since 1993. [8664]

  Mr. Heald
  From April 1993, the date from which figures are first available, to the end of September 1996, a total of 57,176 claims have been received in which the assessment of disablement due to noise induced sensorineural hearing loss was assessed at less than 20 per cent.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of reports from the War Pensions Agency on the success rate of the Royal British Legion in its dealings with war pensioners; and what action he has taken on the basis of his assessment. [8731]

  Mr Heald
  The War Pensions Agency does not maintain records on the success rate of the Royal British Legion in its dealings with war pensioners.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now publish in full the revised medical opinion that determined the Government's proposals to alter in future the rules governing hearing loss deterioration in respect of war pension entitlement. [8732]

  Mr. Heald
  A copy of the texts of the medical advisor's address to the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and the medical references on which the change in medical opinion is based have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the changes he announced on 5 December to war disability pensions will be implemented. [8848]
  357
  Mr. Heald
  There are two entirely separate and unconnected war pensions changes. The first is a package of measures to simplify the administration of war pensions which, subject to consultation with the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions, will be introduced from 1 April 1997. The second is a change in medical opinion on the effect that noise induced sensorineural hearing loss has on a subsequent hearing loss due to other causes such as aging.

  Assessments made from 16 December 1996 will be based on the new medical opinion. Awards made prior to that date on the basis of the old medical advice will continue. The Secretary of State and my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary have decided to use the powers in the dispensing instruments to make awards on the old basis, where claims had been made before 1 March 1996, the date by which the departmental medical adviser considers medical opinion had conclusively changed.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what medical peer review procedures were applied to proposed changes to the rules for war disablement claims for deafness. [8729]

  Mr. Heald
  The previous war pensions approach to noise induced sensorineural hearing loss was exceptional in recognising the possibility of an increase in service-related hearing loss after removal from the service noise. To confirm or refute that approach, the scientific and medical basis of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss was investigated first by studying the scientific literature and then by consultation and discussion with some of the UK's leading clinicians and audiological scientists.

  Experts included departmental regional consultants appointed by the Department's chief medical adviser on the basis of their authority, and senior academics of the Medical Research Council Institutes of Hearing at Nottingham and Glasgow, and audiological scientists at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Southampton.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy not to introduce the new rules for war disablement claims until the peer review of the new medical opinion for deafness has been published. [3730]

  Mr. Heald
  Where medical matters need to be determined on a claim for, or application for review of, an award of a war disablement pension, the law requires that part of the claim to be determined by a medical officer appointed by the Secretary of State. The medical officer certifies whether the disablement is due to or aggravated by service in the armed forces, and the degree of disablement due to service. The Secretary of State is required to make payments of war disablement pension in accordance with the certified level of disablement.

  It was previously thought that a service-related noise-induced hearing loss could increase the effect of a subsequent hearing loss due to other causes such as aging. Authoritative medical opinion is now that such interaction does not occur and that the maximum effect of service-related hearing loss is at release from service. Medical officers must apply current medical opinion. For them to do otherwise would be unlawful.
  358
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of the medical evidence on which he has based his decision no longer to grant higher rates of the disability pension in respect of deafness to those already in receipt of war benefit. [8875]

  Mr. Heald
  A copy of the texts of the medical advisor's address to the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and the medical references on which the change in medical opinion is based have been placed in the Library.

  Housebuilding
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact on employment levels in the housebuilding sector of changes in the national insurance status of operatives; and if he will withdraw the booklet, "Are Your Workers Employed or Self-Employed?" [8325]

  Mr. Heald
  A wide range of representatives bodies from the construction industry, including from the housebuilding industry, were involved in joint consultations with officials from the Department and the Inland Revenue prior to publication of the booklet, which was at the request of the industry. We have continued to consult across the industry and, in response to the issues they raised, published on 19 November a joint Inland Revenue and Contributions Agency press release, copies of which are available in the Library. This detailed the further steps that were being taken to help the construction industry to review the employment status of their workers in line with the same general rules that apply to other industries. We have no plans to withdraw the booklet.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when next he intends to meet housebuilders to discuss the implications of the change in the status from self-employed to employed for national insurance purposes of operatives in the housebuilding industry; and what assessment he has made of the costs which this change will impose on the sector. [8324]

  Mr. Heald
  My hon. Friends the Members for Fylde (Mr. Jack) and for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) and I met representatives of the construction industry on 21 November. The housebuilders were invited to be present or to ensure that their views were represented. The further steps the Inland Revenue and the Contributions Agency are taking to help the construction industry review the employment status of their workers were discussed and welcomed. Departmental officials will continue to liaise with the industry and keep me advised.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average pensioner's income for each year since 1979 by decile group. [8802]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.
  359

  Median average net income before housing costs for each decile of the all pensioner units income distribution

  £ per week/July 1994 prices

  Year

  Decile 1

  Decile 2

  Decile 3

  Decile 4

  Decile 5

  Decile 6

  Decile 7

  Decile 8

  Decile 9

  Decile 10

  1979

  51.60

  57.60

  62.30

  65.70

  69.20

  73.20

  79.70

  92.40

  122.70

  209.30

  1981

  54.30

  62.10

  66.20

  69.00

  72.50

  77.20

  83.40

  97.40

  126.50

  229.60

  1987

  56.20

  65.50

  73.00

  77.30

  82.90

  88.80

  98.20

  119.60

  161.20

  294.90

  1988

  54.40

  64.50

  73.10

  76.90

  82.00

  88.20

  100.00

  124.40

  173.40

  323.50

  1989

  52.20

  63.30

  71.50

  76.60

  81.20

  87.00

  100.80

  126.70

  164.60

  304.50

  1990

  55.30

  64.50

  72.00

  76.80

  82.70

  89.40

  106.30

  130.80

  179.30

  329.10

  1990–91

  55.80

  65.50

  73.20

  78.70

  84.50

  93.80

  112.00

  138.90

  187.10

  346.10

  1992

  59.50

  70.40

  79.20

  84.30

  90.60

  101.30

  119.40

  144.80

  248.00

  365.20

  1993

  62.30

  72.20

  82.60

  88.70

  95.30

  104.50

  121.70

  149.70

  188.90

  358.30

  1994–95

  66.20

  75.60

  84.20

  92.50

  99.90

  110.40

  128.30

  150.00

  197.70

  373.10

  Notes:

  1. The estimates refer to all pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined to be either a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the head, assumed to be the man, is aged over state pension age.

  2. The deciles used are the 10 deciles of the before housing costs equivalised net income distribution for all pensioner units. The estimates of average income for each decile are estimates of the median before housing costs unequivalised net income of that decile. This methodology is that used to create table 5 of the Pensioners' Incomes Series publication. This methodology may create an anomaly as some pensioner units will be in a different equivalised decile from their unequivalised decile, thus making it possible, although unlikely, for a higher equivalised decile to have a lower median unequivalised income.

  3. Due to the use of estimates of unequivalised income, variations in the median income of deciles may reflect changes in the relative numbers of single pensioners and pensioner couples in that decile. As an example, the median income level of a decile may rise due to an increase in the relative numbers of pensioner couples in the decile rather than a general rise in income levels.

  4. Estimates for 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993 refer to that particular calendar year. The estimate for 1990–91 is an estimate based on data from both 1990 and 1991, as part of the 1991 data had to be omitted due to an error arising from the delayed issue of community charge bills. The estimate for 1994–95 refers to the financial year.

  5. Estimates from the pensioners' incomes series are subject to wide margins of error. In particular comparisons of estimates from different years may not give reliable results. It is therefore recommended that estimates are used to indicate trends over time and that year on year comparisons should be avoided.

  Source:

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95, which is based mainly on family expenditure survey data. All estimates are pounds per week in July 1994 prices, rounded to the nearest £0.10.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the real increase in pensioner income since 1979 broken down for each decile group. [8801]

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

  Decile of the before housing costs equivalised net income distribution for all pensioner units

  Real growth in median unequivalised income 1979 to 1994–95 (per cent.)

  1

  26

  2

  31

  3

  35

  4

  41

  5

  44

  6

  51

  7

  61

  8

  62

  9

  61

  10

  78

  Notes:

  1. The estimates refer to all pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined to be either a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the head, assumed to be the man, is aged over state pension age.

  2. The deciles used are the 10 deciles of the before housing costs equivalised net income distribution for all pensioner units. The growth rates for each decile are based on estimates in July 1994 prices for the calendar year 1979 and the financial year 1994–95 of the median before housing costs unequivalised net income of that decile. This methodology is that used to create table 5 of the
  360
  Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95 publication. This methodology mar create an anomaly as some pensioner units will be in a different equivalised decile from their unequivalised decile, thus making it possible, although unlikely, for a higher equivalised decile to have a lower median unequivalised income.

  3. Due to the use of estimates of unequivalised income, variations in the median income of deciles may reflect changes in the relative numbers of single pensioners and pensioner couples in that decile. As an example, the median income level of a decile may rise due to an increase in the relative numbers of pensioner couples in the decile rather than a general rise in income levels.

  Source:

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95, which is based mainly on family expenditure survey data. All estimates are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.

  Benefits Agency (Doctors)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change the criteria currently used for the recruitment of doctors employed by the Benefits Agency. [9137]

  Mr. Burt
  I have today approved proposals for the Benefits Agency to trial new arrangements for the recruitment of full-time medical advisers involved in dealing with claims for incapacity benefit. Operational experience so far has indicated that experience in particular areas of medicine is as important as more general clinical experience of the assessment of capacity for work. The initiative will provide the agency with the opportunity to test out the possibilities of operating some flexibility to ensure a continuing capability to recruit appropriate medical support.
  361
  The trial will take place in Newcastle and in the Manchester and Merseyside area, and involve the recruitment of up to 20 doctors. Applicants will be required to have three years post-registration experience, including at least one year in general practice and at least six months experience of psychiatry or rehabilitation-
  362
  occupational health medicine rather than the current five years general practice experience currently required. All doctors recruited under the trials will undergo the current rigorous training and approval process and receive additional monitoring as part of the evaluation of the trials.

  Treaty on European Union: Anti-Discrimination Proposal
  Treaty on European Union: Anti-Discrimination Proposal
  Israel and Iranian Nuclear Development Project
  Israel and Iranian Nuclear Development Project
  Turkey and Bosnia: Military Relations
  Turkey and Bosnia: Military Relations
  Turkey and NATO Enlargement
  Turkey and NATO Enlargement
  WEU Use of NATO Facilities: Turkish Veto
  WEU Use of NATO Facilities: Turkish Veto
  Civil Service: Male/Female Ratio
  Civil Service: Male/Female Ratio
  RUC: Recruitment of Roman Catholics
  RUC: Recruitment of Roman Catholics