Written Answers of 16 December 1996

ENVIRONMENT

  Battersea Power Station
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Battersea power station was closed as an electricity generating station. [8715]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I understand that operations ceased in 1982.

  Transport Schemes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations his Department has had concerning the regulations making utilities liable for 18 per cent. of the costs of diversionary works for major transport schemes. [9295]

  Mr. Clappison
  Discussions have taken place at official and ministerial level with the Department of Transport which has the main responsibility for the legislation in question and these are still continuing Consultations have also taken place with the national joint utilities group.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution he estimates the private finance initiative will make to the capital programme of local authorities. [7789]

  Mr. Curry
  We have announced support for up to £50 million of PFI investment in 1996–97, and £200 million in 1997–98. The public private partnerships programme has recently announced a series of PFI pathfinder projects which are expected to be signed during the next 18 months.

  Personal Social Services Funding
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the 1996–97 and 1997–98 standard spending assessment control totals for personal social services—PSS—by sub-block, putting the 1996–97 figures on the same basis as those for 1997–98, adjusted for changes in function and with the community care special transitional grant—STG—added to PSS control totals for 1996–97; what was the percentage change in each total so calculated; and if he will relate the above figures to the totals for funding for personal social services. [9046]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information on standard spending assessments is set out in the table. Funding for local authorities comes from specific and special grants and from the general revenues of the local authority. Specific and special grants for personal social services are proposed to be £453.9 million in 1997–98. Other forms 412
  of revenue funding are not hypothecated so it is not possible to determine their contribution to funding personal social services.

  Standard spending assessments for personal social services

  Adjusted 1996–97 (£ million)

  Provisional 1997–98 (£ million)

  Change (Percentage)

  Children's social services

  1,754.7

  1,754.7

  0.0

  Elderly residential social services

  2,557.5

  2,558.3

  0.0

  Elderly domiciliary social services

  1,599.9

  1,599.9

  0.0

  Other social services

  1,479.2

  1,479.2

  0.0

  Waste Management (Costs)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the on-cost to business of the implementation of the European initiated waste management strategy; and if he will make a statement. [8961]

  Mr. Clappison
  The European initiated waste strategy does not have any legal force and as such it has no direct cost implications for business. It is simply a review, largely summarising existing EU policies, which will provide a framework for future work.

  Any specific proposals which may arise as a result will of course require a compliance cost assessment to be undertaken before passing into United Kingdom law. We would also expect the Commission to produce a fiche d'impact. In negotiations for any future proposals, the UK will always take into consideration the important balance between the need to improve environmental standards and practices against the costs to industry.

  Care (Accommodation)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had regarding accommodation for young people with welfare agencies; [9205]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of care leavers who are at present seeking accommodation; [9209]

  (3) what proposals he has to assist care leavers to find accommodation; [9207]

  (4) if he will list the figures for care leavers in (a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands seeking accommodation; [9210]

  (5) what discussions he has had with charities with special reference to Barnardos and the Children's Society regarding accommodation for care leavers. [9208]

  Mr. Clappison
  Ministers and officials in the Department have contact with many organisations to discuss and seek views on a range of housing issues, including the housing needs of young people such as care leavers. For example, the views of Barnardos and the Children's Society were obtained to inform the drafting of the code of guidance on parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996. On 20 January 1997, section 179 of that Act will come into force, requiring local housing
  413
  authorities to ensure that advice and information about homelessness and the prevention of homelessness is available to anyone in their area, including care leavers.

  On 1 April 1997, provisions in the 1996 Act will come into force requiring local housing authorities to give reasonable preference in the allocation of social housing to people with a particular need for settled accommodation on welfare grounds, which can include care leavers and other young people at risk. These new measures complement social services authorities' duties and powers under the Children Act 1989 to assist care leavers, and housing authorities' duties under the homelessness legislation to ensure that vulnerable young people who become homeless unintentionally have access to suitable accommodation. My Department does not collect data on the numbers of care leavers seeking accommodation.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been conducted (a) by and (b) on behalf of his Department, on the impact of the uniform business rate on small businesses in (i) urban and (ii) rural settings; and if he will publish the findings. [9211]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Research into the impact of non-domestic rates costs on different types of business, conducted by IFF Research Ltd. on behalf of my Department, was published in February 1995.

  Housing Registers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the new code of practice for housing registers. [9206]

  Mr. Clappison
  The new code of guidance on the allocation of local authority housing and homelessness, issued under parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996, was published on 31 October. Copies have been sent to all local housing authorities in England.

  Telecommunications Antennae
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the results of his Department's consultation on amending the planning controls regarding the installations of telecommunications antennae. [9153]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Housing Resources
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an announcement about the distribution of housing resources for 1997–98. [9602]

  Mr. Curry
  I am today announcing decisions about the distribution of resources for housing in 1997–98.

  Councils will receive housing investment programme allocations totalling nearly £900 million for 1997–98. Under the competitive HIP process, we have again been able to direct funding to those councils which are best able to make use of them.
  414
  Within the HIP programme, £628 million is for general purpose allocations, or housing "annual capital guidelines". For the first time this year, these have been allocated on a fully competitive basis in line with the Government's move towards increased challenge and competitive funding as a means of improving the allocation of capital funding and the value for money obtained.

  In addition to these annual capital guidelines, £193 million has been allocated for private sector renewal and £56 million for disabled facilities grant. These have also been allocated on a fully competitive basis.

  As part of the assessment of its performance, each local authority is required to submit a housing strategy statement, setting out a comprehensive framework for housing programmes for at least the next three years, covering not only the plans of the local authority, but the contribution to be made by the private housing sector. The strategy is prepared in consultation with all those interested in the local housing scene, including the Housing Corporation, housing associations, tenants' groups and the private sector. Once again, there is a continuing improvement in the performance of the great majority of local authorities.

  I am depositing tables in the Library of the House listing each authority's annual capital guideline and allocations for private sector renewal and disabled facilities grants for 1997–98. Together these comprise the HIP allocation. In addition, I am depositing a list of the authorities whose performance is assessed as being well above the average for their region.

  Last month, the Government announced a new package of measures aimed at encouraging local authorities to transfer more of their stock to registered social landlords. Within the package of new measures, the estates renewal challenge fund will receive an additional £70 million over the next three years bringing spending to almost £500 million. Authorities will be granted a three year 'holiday' from the large-scale voluntary transfers receipts levy and the rules governing the use of LSVT receipts will come into line with those for right-to-buy transfers, making 25 per cent. of any receipt available to authorities to spend on housing. The limits on the size of a transfer to any one landlord will be increased from 5,000 to 12,000.

  We also propose to use the housing investment programme to encourage such stock transfers and we will be consulting on changes to the 1997 HIP round in the new year.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the shortlist of prospective purchasers of the Building Research Establishment. [9555]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Following our consideration of a number of indicative offers for the Building Research Establishment, we have decided to short list two bids, the Built Environment Research Foundation, formed by University College London, and the BRE management bid team. They have been invited to submit final bids by 20 January 1997, following which a preferred bidder will be chosen.

TRANSPORT

  London Transport Staff
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by London Transport in(a) managerial and (b) administrative posts; and, for each category, what is the annual cost. [9155]

  Mr. Bowis
  The total number of staff employed by London Transport at October 1996 was 19,424. The total staff cost for London Transport for the year ending 31 March 1997 is forecast to be £548.3 million. My Department does not have a detailed breakdown between managerial and administrative posts. This is an operational matter for London Transport.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Jubilee line extension to be completed; and what was the target date for completion. [9154]

  Mr. Bowis
  London Transport assure me that it is me still aiming for the original target opening date of 28 March 1998.

  Trans-European Transport
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the United Kingdom's share of funds available in 1996 for priority projects and other schemes under the European Community's financing programme for trans-European transport networks. [9638]

  Sir George Young
  Priority projects in the United Kingdom will receive some £27.6 million, which is over 16 per cent. of the total funds available for priority projects in 1996 and more than any other member state will receive from the EC fund, apart from Germany. A total of £20 million will go towards the Channel tunnel rail link, with £5.75 million for the west coast main line and £1.85 million for schemes along the Ireland-UK-Benelux road link. The UK will also receive almost £2 million for other schemes, of which £1.34 million is for four traffic management projects and £0.65 million for a development study of the great western line between Bristol and Penzance.

  Traffic Projections
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the traffic capacity of the M65; and what is the current traffic volume; [8196]

  (2) what is the traffic capacity of the A59 between Clitheroe and Skipton; and what is the current traffic volume; [8195]

  (3) what projections his Department has made of trans-Pennine traffic growth on the M62 over the next 20 years. [8194]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
  416
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about the M62 and M65 motorways and the A59 trunk road.
  M62 Motorway
  You asked what projections the Department has made of Trans-Pennine traffic growth on the M62 over the next 20 years. Based on National Traffic Growth Forecasts which were last updated in 1989, the forecast annual traffic growth on the M62 over the next 20 years ranges between 31% and 44% for cars and from 45% to 72% for heavy goods vehicles.
  M65 Motorway
  You asked about the traffic capacity of the M65 and the current traffic volume. A measure of capacity is the Congestion Reference Flow (CRF), which is derived from a number of factors including carriageway width, vertical and horizontal alignment, and the proportion of HGVs. Regional maps with explanatory notes have been deposited in the House of Commons library (Vol 282, Columns 1100–1101) which describe the relationship between CRFs, congestion and capacity.
  The CRF of the M65 ranges from 80,000 on the two lane section between Junctions 9 and 10, to 125,000 vehicles per day on the section between Junctions 7 and 8.
  The existing traffic flows on the M65 range from 35,000 to 45,000 vehicles per day.
  A59 Between Clitheroe and Skipton
  You asked about the traffic capacity of the A59 between Clitheroe and Skipton and the current traffic volume. The Congestion Reference Flow (CRF) of the A59 between Clitheroe and Skipton is within the range 18,000 to 22,000 vehicles per day subject to the varying standard of the route.
  Existing traffic flows on the A59 are 10,000 vehicles per day at Clitheroe dropping to 6,000 between Gisburn and the Lancashire/North Yorkshire county boundary, and rising to 14,300 between the A56 and Skipton.

  Road Projects
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which road projects(a) completed since 1991–92 and (b) not yet completed included private sector involvements. [6743]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking which road projects (a) completed since 1991/92 and (b) not yet completed, included private sector involvement.
  As part of the Department of Transport's response to the private finance initiative, a number of schemes in the roads programme are being developed as Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) projects. This is an innovative way to introduce private sector finance and expertise into scheme development and management of the network.
  Contracts awarded so far, including the major construction projects involved, are as follows:-

  Financial Year 1995/96
  A69 Carlisle to Newcastle (Haltwhistle Bypass)
  A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough
  A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester (A419/A417 Cirencester & Stratton Bypass, A417 North of Stratton to Nettleton Improvement and A419 Latton Bypass)
  M1-A1 Yorkshire Link (Lofthouse to Bramham Improvement)

  417
  Financial Year 1996/97
  A50 Stoke-Derby Link (A564 Doveridge Bypass)
  A30/A35 Exeter to Bere Regis (A35 Honiton to Exeter Improvement and A35 Tolpuddle to Puddletown Bypass)
  M40 Junctions 1–15 (Junctions 1A-3 Widening)
  A19 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel (Norton-Parkway Interchange Improvement).
  Clearly, it is too early for any of the major projects involved to have been completed yet.
  Added to these DBFO projects, the Secretary of State announced after the Budget statement that we are going ahead with seven more DBFO projects involving 33 separate major construction schemes. These are as follows:-

  M6 Extension Carlisle-Scottish Border
  incorporating:
  M6 Carlisle-Guardsmill Extension.
  This forms part of M6 DBFO project being taken forward by the Secretary of State for Scotland. The DBFO contract is in the final stages of negotiation and subject to bids being value for money, a contract could be awarded in the early part of next year.

  Cumbria to Bradford DBFO Project
  incorporating:

  A590 High and Low Newton Bypass

  A65 Hellifield and Long Preston Bypass

  A65 Gargrave Bypass

  A629 Skipton to Kildwick Improvement

  A650 Bingley Relief Road

  A650 Hard Ings Road Improvement.

  Weald and Downland DBFO Project
  incorporating:

  A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Pembury Bypass Dualling

  A21 Lamberhurst Bypass

  A27 Polegate Bypass

  A259 Pevensey to Bexhill Improvement

  A259 Bexhill and Hastings Western Bypass

  A259 Hastings Eastern Bypass.

  South Midlands Network DBFO Project
  incorporating:

  A6 Great Glen Bypass

  A6 Rothwell and Desborough Bypass

  A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass

  A6 Clapham Bypass

  A43 Silverstone Bypass

  A43 Whitfield Turn to Brackley Hatch Dualling

  A43 M40 to B4031 Improvement

  A428 Norse Road Link.

  Wessex Link DBFO Project
  incorporating:

  A36 Salisbury Bypass

  A303 Wylye to Stockton Wood Improvement

  A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Improvement

  A303 Ilminster Bypass Improvement

  A36 Codford to Heytesbury Improvement

  A303 Chicklade Bottom to Mere Improvement.

  A13 Thames Gateway DBFO Project
  incorporating:

  Al3 Ironbridge to Canning Town Improvement

  A13/A117 Woolwich Manor Way Junction Improvement

  A13 Movers Lane Junction Improvement

  A13/A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement.

  418
  West London Approach DBFO Project
  incorporating:

  A40 Gypsy Corner Improvement

  A40 Western Circus Improvement.

  Development of these new projects is going well and we would expect to award contract for the first three before the end of the next financial year. Contracts for the A13 and West London projects should be awarded Spring/Summer of 1998. The Wessex Link will be taken forward as soon as the post public inquiry assessments for Salisbury Bypass have been concluded.
  Outside the DBFO initiative, three major projects involve private finance. These are:
  Dartford Thurrock Crossing (completed in October 1991)
  Second Severn Crossing (completed earlier this year)
  Birmingham Northern Relief Road (still going through statutory processes).
  There are also many smaller schemes, including simple junction improvements, which are privately funded either wholly, or in part, under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980. This provision allows developers or private companies to finance improvements to trunk roads necessitated by development. Over the five year period from 1991/92 to 1995/96, agreements were reached to promote schemes totalling over £37m. Most of these schemes have been constructed, but a few have been delayed because they are linked to developments. Figures for 1996/97 are, of course, not yet available.

  Trunk Road Construction
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the schemes within the 1996 trunk road programme which are expected to commence construction between(a) 1 January 1997 and 31 March 1997, (b) 1 April 1997 and 30 June 1997, (c) 1 July 1997 and 30 September 1997, (d) 1 October 1997 and 31 December 1997 and 31 December 1997 and (e) 1 January 1996 and 31 March 1998. [8445]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list the schemes within the 1996 Trunk Road Programme which are expected to commence construction between (a) 1 January and 31 March 1997, (b) I April and 30 June 1997, (c) 1 July and 30 September 1997, (d) 1 October and 31 December 1997 and (e) 1 January and 31 March 1998.
  Contracts for two schemes on the Al2 (Hackney Wick-M11 Contracts 1 and 3) were let on 14 November 1996. It is likely that they will commence construction during one of the periods listed but I am not able to give a more precise date at the present time.
  Contracts have also been signed for eight Private Finance Initiative (PH) Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) projects during 1996. Construction has already started on nine of the eleven schemes included in these DBFO contracts, and the A19 Norton-Parkway Interchange Improvement and M40 Junctions 1A–3 Widening are both expected to start early next year.
  For all schemes included in a DBFO project, it is for the DBFO company to determine the construction programme. However, the shadow toll regime is structured to include strong incentives for early construction.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the Ministers in his
  419
  Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9381]

  Sir George Young
  Since 1 January, Transport Ministers have undertaken the following official ministerial visits:

  Secretary of State for Transport

  39 visits in the UK

  4 visits abroad (including one to the EC Transport Council).

  Minister for Railways, Roads and Local Transport

  55 visits in the UK

  2 visits abroad (both to the EC Transport Council).

  Minister for Transport in London and Road Safety

  28 visits in UK

  2 visits abroad.

  Minister for Aviation and Shipping

  14 visits in UK

  6 visits abroad (including two to the EC Transport Council).

  Management Objectives
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the annual management objectives for each of his Department's divisions. [8327]

  Sir George Young
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1996 Official Report column 103]: I have now agreed the following revised aims for my Department:

  Statement of Purpose
  To promote safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable transport for people and goods, responding to the individual's need for mobility and supporting economic growth.

  Aims
  The Department will seek to:
  Reduce transport-related deaths and injuries by promoting safety and security, providing rescue services and investigating accidents;
  Reduce the damaging effects of transport on the environment by promoting sustainable growth and greater use of public transport, and by preventing, reducing and dealing effectively with pollution;
  Improve choice, quality, value and accessibility for transport users by promoting competition wherever practicable and creating opportunities for transport providers, by investing in and making better use of existing infrastructure, and by encouraging transport providers to make their services accessible to all.
  In pursuing these aims and broader Government aims the Department will:
  Carry out tax-collecting, licensing, standard-setting, regulatory, enforcement, grant-payment, contingency planning and other functions efficiently and fairly, maintaining a high standard of service;
  Keep Parliament and the public informed about transport policies and developments, and monitor their impact;
  Promote effectively UK interests in the European Union and other international bodies and in bilateral relations;
  Work effectively with local authorities, law enforcement agencies, other Government Departments and other organisations in both the public and private sector;
  Create opportunities for all its staff and ensure they are equipped with the skills they need;
  Manage its resources efficiently and effectively.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Jobseeker's Allowance (Charities)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of the jobseeker's allowance on charities which previously relied on unemployed people working voluntarily. [8075]

  Mr. Forth
  We do not expect the replacement of unemployment benefit and income support with the jobseeker's allowance to have any adverse impact on charities which previously relied on unemployed people working voluntarily.

  As with unemployment benefit and income support for unemployed people, there is no limit on the hours a person may undertake voluntary work while in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, so long as they are actively seeking work and available for work at 48 hours' notice—rather than the normal requirement to be immediately available.

  Professorial Pay
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average level of professorial pay in the university sector currently; and what it was in 1980. [8941]

  Mr. Forth
  According to the new earnings survey, the average level of gross weekly earnings of full-time male "university and polytechnic teaching professionals" in April 1996 was £577. The average level of gross weekly pay for the closest comparator group—full-time male university academics—in 1980 was £250. This is the equivalent of £474 at 1996 prices.

  Truancy
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the total number of truancies in days per year for each of the last three years for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Sheffield; and if she will make a statement. [8919]

  Mr. Forth
  Regular school attendance is important for pupils' progress, but the data collected for the performance tables now published each autumn show that significant amounts of valuable learning time are lost due to unauthorised absence. Rates of unauthorised absence at maintained schools in Sheffield for the last three years were about twice the national average, as follows:

  Unauthorised absence in maintained primary schools

  percentage of half days missed

  average number of half days missed per absent pupil

  School year

  Sheffield LEA

  England average

  Sheffield LEA

  England average

  1993–94

  1.0

  0.5

  13

  11

  1994–95

  1.1

  0.5

  14

  10

  1995–96

  1.2

  0.5

  13

  10

  Source:

  DfEE National Pupil Absence Tables 1994, 1995 and 1996.
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  Unauthorised absence in maintained secondary schools

  Percentage of half days missed

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil

  School Year

  Sheffield LEA

  England average

  Sheffield LEA

  England average

  1993–94

  1.9

  0.9

  30

  22

  1994–95

  1.9

  1.0

  29

  22

  1995–96

  23

  1.0

  29

  21

  Source:

  DfEE National Pupil Absence Tables 1994, 1995 and 1996.

  Schools (Wiltshire)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when schools inspectors last visited(a) Fovant school; (b) Dinton school and (c) Barford St. Martin school in Wiltshire. [8900]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Fovant church of England first school was inspected under the statutory four-year cycle by Ofsted-registered inspectors between 3 and 5 October 1994, and Barford St. Martin's church of England first school between 19 and 21 September 1994. Dinton first church of England school is due to be inspected by Ofsted in February 1997.

  Members of Her Majesty's inspectorate visited Fovant school in April 1996 and Dinton school in connection with Wiltshire local education authority's proposals for Fovant and Dinton schools in October 1996.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in Wiltshire have been given grant-maintained status during 1996. [8901]

  Mr. Forth
  Four schools in the Wiltshire local education authority area have become grant maintained since 1 January 1996.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Wiltshire local education authority has expressed itself(a) in favour of closure of the Fovant school and (b) against grant-maintained status for the school. [8902]

  Mr. Squire
  Wiltshire local education authority published proposals to cease to maintain Fovant school on 16 May. The authority has made a statutory objection to the proposals for grant-maintained status published by the governing body of the school.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have made representations to her or to her Department(a) in favour and (b) against grant-maintained status for Fovant school in Wiltshire. [8903]

  Mr. Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received two statutory objections to the proposals for grant-maintained status for Fovant school, and one non-statutory objection.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have made representations to her or to her Department(a) in favour and (b) against closure of Fovant school in Wiltshire. [8904]
  422
  Mr. Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received 11 statutory objections to the proposals to close Fovant school, including one from the governing body of the school.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the original application for grant-maintained status from the governors of Fovant school in Wiltshire was dated; when it was recorded as received by her Department; and when she expects to reach a decision. [8905]

  Mr. Squire
  Proposals for the acquisition of grant-maintained status for Fovant schools were published on 29 February 1996, and a copy received in the Department on the same date. My right hon. Friend will reach a decision as soon as is compatible with full consideration of all the relevant issues, including the separate local education authority proposals to choose the school.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the target time scale for a decision on an application by a school for grant-maintained status. [8906]

  Mr. Squire
  We aim, so far as possible, to reach a decision on proposals for grant-maintained status where there are conflicting proposals by the local education authority, within five months; of publication of the authority's proposals.

  Training for Work
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the proportion of training for work leavers who six months after leaving were(a) in a full-time job with their work-experience employer, (b) in a full-time job with another employer, (c) employed in their own business, (d) in a part-time job, (e) in voluntary work, (f) on another Government training programme, (g) on a full-time education or training course, (h) unemployed and claiming benefit, (i) unemployed and not claiming benefit and (j) doing something else in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what was the proportion of training for work leavers who completed the training agreed in their initial action plan. [3928]

  Mr. Plaice
  [holding answer 20 November 1996]: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Table 1: Training for Work All leavers — outcome six months after leaving training

  England and Wales

  April 1995–February 1996. Per cent.

  In a full-time job with their work experience employer

  11

  In a full-time job with another employer

  16

  Self-employed

  3

  In a pan-time job

  10

  On another government training programme

  2

  On a full-time education or training course

  3

  Unemployed and claiming benefit

  42

  Unemployed and not claiming benefit

  5

  Voluntary work

  4

  Something else

  5

  Completed programme of agreed training

  69

  Source:

  TfW national follow-up survey

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7574]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: It is not possible to disaggregate this information except at disproportionate cost, although such costs are included in the running cost expenditure for this Department which is published in the annual report.

  Hospital Education Units
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many education units for school age in-patients there were in NHS trusts in England in each of the last five years. [8478]

  Mrs. Gillan
  This information is not held centrally. However, the following table shows the number of hospital schools in England in each of the last five years:

  1992: 42

  1993: 40

  1994: 38

  1995: 31

  1996: 27.

PRIME MINISTER

  Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his speech at the Lisbon summit of 2 December, if he will make a statement on the role of the parliamentary assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and in respect of the expansion of the activities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. [8647]

  The Prime Minister
  I represented the United Kingdom at the summit meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Lisbon on 2 and 3 December, accompanied by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary. The meeting adopted the Lisbon summit declaration and the Lisbon declaration on a common and comprehensive security model for Europe for the 21st century. Copies of these documents will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Lawyers

  Administrative staff

  Legal trainees

  Casual staff

  Total

  1 August 1986

  939.0

  1,031.0

  0

  n/a

  1,970.0

  1 January 1987

  1,234.5

  2,007.0

  0

  n/a

  3,241.5

  1 January 1988

  1,289.0

  2,529.0

  0

  n/a

  3,818.0

  1 January 1989

  1,410.0

  2,743.5

  0

  n/a

  4,153.5

  1 January 1990

  1,552.0

  3,189.5

  27

  181.5

  4,950.0

  1 January 1991

  1,690.0

  3,294.0

  111

  182.0

  5,277.0

  1 January 1992

  1,939.0

  3,724.0

  106

  138.5

  5,907.5

  1 January 1993

  2,141.0

  3,925.5

  130

  220.0

  6,416.5

  1 January 1994

  2,211.5

  3.974.0

  123

  235.0

  6,543.5

  1 January 1995

  2,241.5

  4,067.0

  101

  276.5

  6,686.0

  1 January 1996

  2,148.5

  3,963.0

  76

  234.0

  6,421.5

  1 December 1996

  2,019.0

  3,785.5

  57

  146

  6,007.5

  424
  The summit welcomed a separate decision on the mandate for negotiation next year on modernising the treaty on conventional forces in Europe.

  In the margins of the summit, I had discussions with several Heads of State and Government, including the Presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, Chancellor Kohl of Germany, Prime Minister Chernomyrdin of Russia and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel.

  Prospects for strengthening European security in the next century were the theme of many speeches to the summit and of my bilateral meetings. I explained to Prime Minister Chernomyrdin not only that enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union would be evolutionary transparent processes, but our strong conviction that European security for the future should be built in partnership with Russia.

  The declaration on the security model includes a decision to consider developing a charter on European security which can serve the needs of our peoples in the new century. The United Kingdom will contribute actively to this work. We shall emphasise the need for security organisations which adhere to OSCE commitments to work together, as in Bosnia, to defuse tension, prevent conflict, and build prosperous, democratic civil society throughout Europe.

  The Lisbon declaration draws attention to the OSCE's expanding role in conflict prevention, management and resolution, including particularly the high commissioner on national minorities and long-term missions in countries such as Moldavia and Georgia. The parliamentary assembly contributes to this effort particularly through its election monitoring programme. The Lisbon declaration confirmed moreover, that the OSCE would continue to play an important role in the consolidation of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1997.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Attorney-General how many(a) lawyers, (b) administrative staff and (c) others have been employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since its establishment. [8677]

  The Attorney-General
  In each year since its establishment, the Crown Prosecution Service has employed staff in the following numbers.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the individuals appointed by his Department to public positions in the last year were first identified by the public appointments unit. [8533]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: For these purposes, my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the individuals appointed by his Department to public positions in the last year were first identified by the public appointments unit. [8550]

  Mr. Bates
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: The Civil Service Appeals Board has made three new appointments and 10 reappointments during 1996. Of these, two of the new appointees and three of the reappointees were first identified by the public appointments unit.

  The deregulation task force has made two new appointments and the Security Commission has made two reappointments during 1996: none was identified by PAU.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what role his Department has in respect of applications for new nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [8463]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: Proposals for new power stations in England and Wales over 50 MWs in capacity require my Department's consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. All such applications are considered on their individual merits against the background of a policy that, as a general rule, matters such as the need for a generating station, its capacity, choice of fuel used and type of plant are commercial matters for the applicant.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Rogers (Rhondda)
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many claims have been settled under the coal industry pneumoconiosis compensation scheme in each year since its inception. [8351]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Radiation Experiments
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what radiation experiments on humans involving British volunteers the Atomic Energy Authority has conducted or is conducting. [8866]
  426
  Mr. Page
  Details are contained in AEA Technology's radiological protection research annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what involvement his Department currently has in radiation experiments on humans. [8865]

  Mr. Page
  None.

  Electrical Goods (Home Repairs)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to introduce legislation to provide consumer protection for repairs on electrical goods carried out in homes. [8843]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Under the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1982, traders who repair electrical goods, whether on their business premises or at consumers' homes, are required to do so with reasonable care and skill and within a reasonable time. Failure to do so amounts to a breach of contract for which the consumer may seek redress. We have no plans to introduce further legislation.

  Hawk Aircraft (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Hawk training aircraft destined for Indonesia are being converted into ground-attack aircraft in the United Kingdom. [5914]

  Mr. Lang
  As announced to the House on 21 November, an export licence has been issued for the supply of a further 16 Hawk aircraft to Indonesia. These aircraft, which are to be supplied for external defence, have a range of capabilities, including ground attack. This was taken into account when the export licence application was considered.

  Neither this case, nor in respect of the first consignment, has there been modification of trainer aircraft destined for Indonesia into ground attack aircraft in the United Kingdom.

  Crown Agents
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Crown Agents and its subsidiary companies require export licences when exporting or trans-shipping military, security, police or paramilitary equipment or services. [8656]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Crown Agents and its subsidiary companies are subject to the same licensing requirements as UK-registered companies.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Crown Agents and its subsidiary companies required export licences prior to privatisation when exporting or trans-shipping military, security, police or paramilitary equipment or services. [8657]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Crown Agents and its subsidiary companies are subject to the same licensing requirements as UK-registered companies. Privatisation will not affect this position.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if a British-based company is required to apply for an export licence for military, security, police or
  427
  paramilitary goods or equipment when the goods or equipment are to be exported or shipped by the Crown Agents. [8658]

  Mr. Nelson
  Where placing a contract and also arranging shipping, the Crown Agents would normally apply for any licence required. Where the Crown Agents act purely as a freight forwarder, the supplier of the goods concerned would have to apply for any necessary licence.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if a British-based company was required to apply for an export licence for military, security, police or paramilitary goods or equipment when the goods or equipment were exported or shipped by the Crown Agents prior to the privatisation of the Crown Agents. [8659]

  Mr. Nelson
  Where placing a contract and also arranging shipping, the Crown Agents would normally apply for any licence required. Where the Crown Agents act purely as a freight forwarder, the supplier of the goods concerned would have to apply for any necessary licence. Privatisation will not affect the licensing requirements.

  Personal Business Advisers
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring procedures are in place to ensure that there are adequate safeguards against personal business advisers recommending services solely to generate income for themselves. [8940]

  Mr. Page
  In order to become accredited, a business link must demonstrate to an independent assessor that the advice given by a personal business adviser and other advisers is both impartial and independent. To do this it must follow the guidelines on the independence of advice to customers set out in D47—D49 of the "Business Link Service Guide".

  This includes, among others:
  Outside their counselling and diagnostic role, PBAs and other advisers should have no personal interest in the supplier recommended or chosen.
  PBA targets should not include any that link a PBA's pay to performance measured by the volume of services taken up by customers, or to earning money for the business link or its partners. The same should also apply to others wholly or substantially involved in advising customers under the business link brand.

  Business Breakfasts
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the first two business breakfasts held on 11 November at Luton and Lincoln. [4294]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 November 1996]: The cost of catering, presentational materials and hire of venues for the two events including VAT, has now been confirmed as £8,780.

  Office of Science and Technology
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of commissioning the Coopers and Lybrand review of the dual support transfer for the Office of Science and Technology. [8889]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Excluding VAT, the Office of Science and Technology—OST—paid Coopers and Lybrand in total £81,862.16, comprising £76,650.00 consultant fees,428
  £4,022.16 for expenses and £1,190 for 700 copies of the final report. VAT amounted to £14,325.88. The associated administrative costs to OST is making and managing this contract were covered routinely within the office's running costs budget.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the role of Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C, whose names have been supplied to him, in the application for a regional selective assistance grant by Synex Ltd. [6234]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 November 1996]: In the application by Synex Ltd, Mr. A. provided independent accountancy advice under the terms of his contract with the Government Office for the South West. Further details are contained in my reply of 10 December 1996, Official Report, column 87–88.

  Mr. B. and Mr. C. were, at the time of the Synex application, both members of the South West industrial development board—SWIDB—which provides independent advice on applications for regional selective assistance. The board comprises senior business people with wide experience of commerce and industry who, like Mr. B. and Mr. C., voluntarily give their time freely in support of the important work that the SWIDB performs. Details of the attendance of Mr. B and Mr. C at board meetings which considered the Synex case are contained in my replies of 10 December 1996, Official Report, column 88.

  I understand that it is also the case that Mr. B and Mr. C had some private discussions with Synex Ltd. They were responsible for declaring any interests which may have arisen from these discussion and my replies of 10 December 1996, Official Report, column 88 reflect the outcome of this.

  The decision on the Synex case was taken by my Department on 19 May 1995. The company appealed against the decision on 31 May 1995 and Mr. C provided advice to the Government Office for the South West on 29 June 1995 as part of a further technical assessment. Although Mr. C had previously declared an interest in the case and had not participated in board discussions leading up to the decision, the Government office believed that he could properly make a contribution at this stage on the technical aspects alone. The Department's decision to reject the case was confirmed on 31 July 1995.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulations prevent members of an industrial development board from advising the DTI on the merits of an RSA application while giving paid advice to the same applicant. [6230]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 November 1996]: Appointments to the industrial development boards are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office's guide to public appointments procedures and the Treasury code of best practice for board members of public bodies. These cover avoidance of potential conflicts of interest and, among other things, prevent board members from offering advice on the merits of an RSA application on which they had received payment for advising the applicant. Members are required to provide the Government Offices with a list of current interest such as directorships and

  429
  registers of these interests are maintained and regularly updated. The registers are checked by officials before members are included in the consideration of any case.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the potential environmental impact of the burning of orimulsion in power stations; and if he will make a statement. [8527]

  Mr. Page
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is currently considering an application for consent to extend a power station in order to enable it to burn orimulsion. Environmental information has been submitted as part of that application and objections received to the proposal but no conclusions have yet been reached in relation to the application.

  National Fibre Optic Network
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure the United Kingdom has a national fibre optic network; and if he will make a statement. [7606]

  Mr. Taylor
  The provision of a stable regulatory environment has successfully encouraged the growth of competition in both telecommunications services and infrastructure. This has led to substantial investment in the sector, including rapid growth of optical fibre networks in the UK, to produce a network of seamlessly interconnecting networks. Prices have fallen by 40 per cent. in real terms, quality increased, and number of household covered risen to 93 per cent.

  Within the cable sector alone, investment is running at more than £2.5 billion a year, and some 45 per cent. of homes in the country already have the possibility of connection to cable operators.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Azad Kashmir (Prisoners)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the introduction of new laws by the Government of Azad Kashmir enabling prisoners to apply for bail if detained for up to two years without trial; how many prisoners have been granted bail under these laws; and if he will make a statement. [9203]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Since we have not received such reports, we have asked our high commission in Islamabad to obtain details. I shall arrange to pass these to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the current circumstances of Ghazanfer Ali recently granted bail after being detained in Mirpur prison; and if he will make a statement. [9279]

  Dr. Fox
  We understand that Gazanfer Ali, who is a Pakistani national, was released from Mirpur prison on bail on 30 November and that he was due to appear in court on 7 December.

  Sri Lanka Citizen (Medical Treatment)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will permit Sudarga de Silva, of Sri Lanka, to visit the United Kingdom to receive private medical treatment. [9134]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  It is policy on grounds of confidentiality for Ministers not to comment publicly on individual applications for entry clearance. I will therefore write separately to the hon. Member.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Treaties (Ponsonby Rule)
  Sir Roger Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be able to provide explanatory memoranda with treaties which are laid under the Ponsonby rule. [9430]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We accept that explanatory memoranda can usefully supplement the established Ponsonby procedures by bringing to the attention of Parliament the main features of the treaties with which they are laid. In future therefore every international agreement laid under the Ponsonby rule will be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum. This new procedure will apply to all international agreements signed after 1 January 1997 which are laid under the Pensonby rule, namely those agreements which are concluded subject to ratification, accession, acceptance or approval, and which are laid for a period of 21 sitting days after signature and before ratification or its equivalent.

  Arrangements will be made to lay copies of the note for Departments entitled "Guidelines on Explanatory Memoranda for Treaties" in the Libraries of both House.

  We should like to thank Lord Lester of Herne Hill, whose initiative led directly to the introduction of the new arrangements.

  Ghana
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana. [8912]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Our assessment is that these elections were free, fair and transparent. The Commonwealth and EU observers have issued statements indicating that they share this assessment. I am placing these in the Library of the House. I understand that other international observers have reached similar conclusions. We congratulate the Ghanaian people on this reaffirmation on democratic values.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Defence how many(a) soldiers, (b) sailors, (c) Air Force personnel and (d) medical personnel who were mobilised for Operation Granby in the Gulf war (1) served in (i) Saudi Arabia, (ii) Kuwait and (iii) Iraq and (2) were held in reserve at other locations. [9283]

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

  Expenditure
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of gross domestic product was spent on defence by(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) the United States of America in the last year for which figures are available. [9011]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested, for calendar year 1995, is as follows:

  (a) United Kingdom 3.1 per cent.

  (b) France 3.1 per cent.

  (c) United States 3.9 per cent.

  Future Offensive Air System
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the future offensive air system for the Royal Air Force. [9704]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Ministry of Defence has decided to carry out a feasibility study into a future offensive air system. The Tornado GR1—now being upgraded to GR4

  RN

  Army

  RAF

  Officers

  Ratings

  Officers

  ORs

  Officers

  ORs

  1991–92

  141

  2,140

  424

  9,525

  207

  1,834

  1992–93

  56

  1,667

  221

  6,810

  163

  1,241

  1993–94

  84

  1,396

  226

  5,628

  126

  1,149

  1994–95

  121

  1,691

  358

  6,499

  167

  1,456

  1995–96

  161

  2,639

  384

  5,591

  223

  2,149

  British Aerospace Companies
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he intends to take to support the Society of British Aerospace Companies' foresight action initiative. [9309]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The foresight action initiative proposed by the Society of British Aerospace Companies—SBAC—contains a number of very interesting projects, the aims of which are firmly supported by the MOD. My officials are now awaiting detailed submissions from SBAC before evaluating the potential of these projects and the scope for incorporation into MOD plans.

  Bowman Project
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Bowman project. [9316]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Bowman is a new combat radio system which will replace the Clansman family of radios. Work on the project definition stage of the programme is 432
  standard—provides a long-range power projection and air interdiction capability. The study will examine a range of options for maintaining this capability beyond the planned withdrawal date of the GR4 in the second decade of the new millennium.

  Study contracts to the value of £35 million are expected to be placed in the new year. Options to be examined include variants of the Eurofighter and other new design and off-the-shelf combat aircraft; unmanned air vehicles; and stand-off air-to-ground missiles launched from transport aircraft. Collaborative options will be pursued.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many industrial tribunals have considered cases brought against his Department in each of the last 10 years. [8791]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally, but at least 32 industrial tribunals in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have considered cases brought by civilian or service personnel against the Ministry of Defence.

  Premature Voluntary Release
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have applied for premature voluntary release in each of the services in each of the last five years. [8792]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of service personnel who have applied for premature voluntary release in each of the last five years are as follows:

  largely complete and equipment is being tested in field trials, which are due to end in May 1997. The MOD is currently examining the procurement options open to the Department for production, to determine the most cost-effective way forward. A decision on the way ahead will be taken as soon as possible.

TREASURY

  Unemployment Benefits (York)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for unemployment-related benefits have been made by people living in the York travel-to-work area since April 1992; and how many people living in the York travel-to-work area have made one or more new claims for unemployment-related benefits in the same period. [8532]

  Mrs Angela Knight
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  433
  Letter from Tina Holt to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many new claims for unemployment-related benefits have been made by claimants living in the York travel-to-work area, and how many claimants have made at least one new claim for unemployment-related benefits since April 1992.
  The database used to complete this analysis does not contain ward level data and therefore information can not be provided for true travel-to-work areas. However, information can be provided by jobcentre best-fit travel-to-work areas.
  Since 1 April 1992, an estimated 50,040 new claims for unemployment-related benefits have been made by claimants registering at York Clifford Street Employment Service Jobcentre or York Stonebow Employment Service Jobcentre.
  The estimated number of claimants who have experienced at least one new spell of claimant unemployment at both of these jobcentres, since 1 April 1992, is 28,580.

  Typical Family (Definition)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the definition of a typical family used by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [8247]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the definition of a typical family.
  The Office for National Statistics does not define a "typical family". In the General Household Survey (GHS), the source of most statistics on families, a family is defined as:

  (a) a married or opposite sex cohabiting couple on their own or

  (b) a married or opposite sex cohabiting couple/lone parent and their never-married children, provided these children have no children of their own.

  Persons who cannot be allocated to a family as defined above are said to be persons not in a family although they could be related to one or more family members.
  The type of family which is relatively most numerous depends on the classification of families which is used, but from the 1994 GHS, of all the families defined above (and where the family head was resident in Great Britain and aged under 60):

  21% were married couples with no children

  6% were opposite sex cohabiting couples with no children

  50% were married couples with children

  4% were opposite sex cohabiting couples with children

  18% were lone parents families with children

  (Due to rounding the percentages do not total to 100)
  An analysis of the trends, numbers and characteristics of families was recently published in an article entitled Population Review: (6) Families and households in Great Britain which appeared in Population Trends 85, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  "Financial Statement and Budget Report"
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer,434
  pursuant to his answer of 6 December, Official Report, columns 835–36, for what reason the Department of Natinal Heritage is excluded from the table. [8740]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 12 December 1996]: The Department of Natinal Heritage was excluded in error and an incorrect figure was inadvertently given for Legal Departments. The complete table should have read as follows:

  £ million

  1996–97

  Defence

  40

  FCO/ODA

  0

  Agriculture

  0

  DTI

  1—

  DfEE

  0

  Transport

  550

  Environment

  80

  Home Office

  120

  Legal (LCD)

  10

  National Heritage

  1—

  Health

  70

  Social Security

  130

  Scotland and Forestry Commission

  30

  Wales

  20

  Northern Ireland

  10

  Chancellor's departments

  30

  Local authorities

  50

  TOTAL

  1,130

  1 Less than £10 million.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the review of the Inland Revenue executive officers' framework documents is complete; and if he will make a statement. [9702]

  Mr. Jack
  Following completion of the next steps evaluation review of its executive office structure earlier this year, the Inland Revenue has now revised its executive offices' framework documents in line with the findings of that review.

  The department's internal services have been reorganised following the transfer of information technology functions to its strategic partner—Electronic Data Systems—and the department's senior management review. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of service executive offices. From 1 January 1997 the department will have 20 operational and four service executive offices.

  Copies of each of the executive offices' framework documents—which set out the statutory, policy and resources frameworks within which the offices operate—will be placed in the Libraries of the House shortly.

  Ecstasy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths that involved(a) ecstasy as the sole drug concerned and (b) alcohol poisoning, occurred after the victims consumed the substances (i) in clubs, (ii) in public houses, (iii) at raves and (iv) elsewhere, in each of the last five years. [6627]
  435
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 2 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many deaths resulted from ecstasy, or poisoning from alcohol after the victims consumed the substances in (i) clubs (ii) public houses (iii) raves and (iv) elsewhere, in each of the last five years.
  ONS do not hold this level of detail as to where the substance which caused the death was consumed. The information is not recorded on the death certificate nor by the coroner, and would be very difficult to record with any degree of accuracy. Alcohol, for example, may have been consumed in a number of different places.
  The following table shows, (a) the numbers of deaths where Ecstasy was the sole drug mentioned and (b) the numbers of deaths from alcohol poisoning, in England and Wales in the last five years.

  Year

  Deaths from ecstasy1

  Deaths from alcohol poisoning2

  1991

  6

  152

  1992

  5

  126

  1993

  12

  138

  Month of prosecution

  Vessel

  Offence

  Total fines £

  Country of Registration

  January

  NORINA

  Fishing logbook

  10,000

  United Kingdom

  LADY T. EMIEL

  Fishing logbook

  10,000

  UK

  LE DERBY

  Fishing in six-mile limit

  17,500

  France

  ANTAEUS

  Fishing in six-mile limit

  22,500

  France

  February

  CHRISTINA

  Fishing logbook and landing declaration

  27,500

  UK

  March

  NICOLA ANNE

  Quota and landing declaration

  11,000

  UK

  ZEEDUIVEL

  Gear and undersize fish offences

  9,000

  Belgium

  TIJL

  Fishing 12-mile limit

  7,500

  Belgium

  MARILYN JANE

  Fishing logbook

  5,500

  UK

  April

  BAFFIN BAY

  Unlicensed fishing

  5,000

  UK

  KVITSJOEN

  Quota

  5,000

  Norway

  FISKEBERG

  Quota

  6,000

  Norway

  VAN DIJCK

  Fishing logbook

  5,000

  Belgium

  May

  ATLANTIC C

  Quota

  9,500

  UK

  June

  AROSA

  Quota

  12,000

  UK

  July

  ITXAS

  Fishing logbook and undersize fish

  15,000

  UK

  MOUNT EDEN

  Quota

  67,500

  UK

  SOPHIE LOUISE

  Fishing logbook and landing declaration

  17,000

  UK

  August

  MERCURIUS

  Gear and undersize fish

  8,000

  Belgium

  September

  ROWNLEA

  quota

  8,000

  UK

  TITAN

  Quota

  8,000

  UK

  FLOURISH

  Fishing logbook

  11,000

  UK

  October

  ATLANTIC C

  Licensing and quota

  30,000

  UK

  November

  AMARADIA

  Transhipment licence and statutory declaration

  34,000

  Cyprus

  December

  ALMA C

  Fishing logbook and landing declaration

  10,000

  UK

  Cattle Cull
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 580, if he will list methods of disposal that are (a) permitted and (b) currently in operation for (i) condensate and (ii) wash water from the rendering of cattle slaughtered under the 30-month scheme. [8799]
  436

  Year

  Deaths from ecstasy1

  Deaths from alcohol poisoning2

  1994

  10

  123

  1995

  15

  130

  1 Deaths in which ecstasy was the only drug mentioned on the death certificate. None of these deaths included mention of alcohol.

  2 International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, code 980.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fisheries Offences (Prosecutions)
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the successful prosecutions for fisheries offences undertaken by his Department since 1 January which have resulted in fines of £5,000 or more, including details of the fishing vessels involved, country of registration and the offences committed. [9432]

  Mr. Baldry
  A list of the successful prosecutions and the details requested are set out in the following table. Where appropriate, the fines relate to the total fines against both the master and owner of the vessel. There are other prosecution cases, but these are the subject of an appeal and are not therefore included in the table.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 12 December 1996]: Most wash water and condensate from rendering plants is discharged to sewer. Such discharges are regulated by sewerage undertakers, who are empowered by the Water Industry Act 1991 to impose a wide range of conditions on the discharge consent issued to an individual plant.
  437
  A small number of rendering plants discharge wash water and condensate, after treatment, to controlled waters or to land. Discharges of this kind are subject to regulation by the Environment Agency, under the Water Resources Act 1991 or the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  The methods of disposal specified in consents and licences will vary according to the circumstances and full weight is always given in determining such consents and licences to the need to protect public health and the environment. Dischargers who fail to comply with relevant discharge consents or licence conditions are liable to prosecution and other regulatory action.

  All rendering plants involved in the scheme are approved under the Animal By-Products Order 1992, as amended, which implements EU rendering standards, and the Specified Bovine Material (No. 3) Order 1996.

  Beef Producers
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional assistance he has produced to beef producers during the last six months. [9040]

  Mr. Baldry
  United Kingdom farmers have received additional direct financial assistance totalling nearly £110 million. In addition, the advance payments under the suckler cow and beef special premium schemes have been paid at a rate of 80 per cent. rather than the normal 60 per cent. Market support measures, such as the expanded intervention coverage for beef and the calf processing scheme, have also served to enhance producers' income.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to amend the system of subsidies in respect of farmers who buy rather than breed beef animals. [8956]

  Mr. Baldry
  Producers who buy male cattle to fatten for slaughter are currently able to claim under the beef special premium scheme, subject to observance of scheme rules. Those who marketed adult cattle, including heifers, for slaughter for human consumption between 20 March and 30 June were able to claim additional subsidies worth £66.76 per head of cattle marketed. A second round of marketing payments is now available in respect of cattle marketed between 1 July and 30 September. Claims must be made before 8 January. The payment rate under this second phase in likely to be around £55 per head. I have no plans to alter this position or to seek any amendments to existing subsidy schemes for this category of producer.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the profit made on animals by beef producers during the last six months. [8957]

  Mr. Baldry
  Beef profitability varies widely and depends on the farm type and production system. Various estimates of annual profitability are published each March in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom".

  Fishing Regulations
  Mr. Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (1) pursuant to his answer of 438
  3 December, Official Report, column 625, on buying and selling fishing quotas and licences, when his Department first authorised the sale of fish quotas; [8954]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 3 December, Official Report, column 625, on buying and selling fishing quotas and licences, what rights of ownership over a fish quota are transferred when that quota is exchanged between fishermen's groups. [8955]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Ministry has not authorised the sale of fish quotas. Fishermen's groups are free to swap or transfer between themselves quota allocated to them annually subject to the approval of the Fisheries Departments. No one has ownership rights over United Kingdom quotas.

  Quota Hopping
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to sustain the present level of fishing effort in the period before the determination of the quota-hopping issue. [8958]

  Mr. Baldry
  Discussions are still taking place in the Fisheries Council on the need for reductions in fishing effort following the expiry of the current multi-annual guidance programme at the end of this year. We are also continuing to press for treaty changes in the intergovernmental conference to deal with the problem of quota hoppers. I have, however, made it clear that I am not prepared to contemplate any further compulsory capacity or effort controls on UK fishermen while these issues remain unresolved.

  Genetically Engineered Food
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the percentage of imported foodstuffs which will contain genetically engineered ingredients in(a) January 1997 and (b) January 1998; and if he will make a statement. [8960]

  Mr. Browning
  Of the 1996 USA soya bean harvest, about 2 per cent. has come from genetically modified plants, this is anticipated to rise to 10 per cent. in 1997. Of the 1996 USA maize harvest, approximately 0.6 per cent. comprised genetically modified plants and it is expected that in 1997 this will rise to 5 per cent.

  Other countries are planting genetically modified crops next year. The level of imports into the UK cannot be predicted with any accuracy at this time.

  Cattle Insemination
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers his Ministry has to require minimum standards of training, and permanent contract conditions, for inseminators for cattle AI programmes; and if he will make a statement. [9179]

  Mrs. Browning
  Provisions relating to the training and business status of inseminators for cattle AI are included in regulation 24(b) of the Artificial Insemination of Cattle (Animal Health) (England and Wales) Regulations 1985. Any breach of these regulations constitutes an offence under section 10(6) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made to ensure that lottery funds can be used for expenditure on items other than capital items. [7607]

  Mr. Sproat
  The National Lotteries Charities Board and the Millennium Commission have always been able to make revenue awards. In April, I announced changes to the policy directions to allow the Arts and Sports Councils to make revenue awards. The first arts and sports revenue programmes were announced in November. The National Heritage Bill will allow the heritage lottery fund the same flexibility.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to increase the percentage of national lottery funds directed to good causes. [7608]

  Mr. Sproat
  None. The Director General of the National Lottery appointed Camelot as the operator of the national lottery because over the course of the licence it offered the best return to good causes. The National Audit Office reviewed the evaluation process and supported the director general's decision. The percentage of funds going to the good causes could be increased only through a change to the licence, with Camelot's agreement.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will ensure that greater priority is given to projects benefiting children and young people in the distribution of lottery proceeds. [7609]

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  Young people and children are already benefiting greatly from the lottery. At least 1,500 awards, worth more than £175 million have already been made.

  I directed the distributing bodies specifically to take the needs of young people into account when I issued a new policy directions to them in April this year.

  The schemes launched last month by the Arts and Sports Councils under these directions will allow children and young people to benefit even further from the lottery.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total sum contributed by the national lottery to organisations, groups and charities in the borough of Southend-on-Sea. [7613]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  Twelve national lottery awards have been made in the borough of Southend-on-Sea with a total value of £2.3 million.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the role of the national lottery in preserving the nation's historic churches. [7614]

  Mr. Sproat
  The national lottery provides a tremendous opportunity for the preservation of historic churches and cathedrals in this country. To date, the heritage lottery fund has made 121 grants totalling £14.8 million to preserve our ecclesiastical heritage.
  440
  The heritage lottery fund and English Heritage have also worked together to produce a single procedure whereby churches and other places of worship can apply for funding from both sources through a single route; £20 million a year could be available through this joint scheme which will make it easier for congregations to apply for funding.

  Mr. Lull
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many grants the national lottery funding bodies have made to protect and conserve the nation's heritage since the inception of the lottery. [7619]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The heritage lottery fund, which has responsibility for allocating lottery proceeds specifically to projects concerned with the protection and conservation of the nation's heritage, has made 604 grants totalling £368 million.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received about the effect on smaller charities of the national lottery; and if she will make a statement. [7622]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The introduction of the national lottery has given charities and voluntary organisations of all sizes unparalleled opportunities to secure significant new funding for projects and initiatives across a wide range of activities. While I have received many representations about the effect of the national lottery on small charities, it is too early to say or to identify what other effects, if any, the national lottery is having on charities' incomes, and my Department is engaged in research into the matter. What is certain is that the lottery has led, and will lead, to hundreds of millions of pounds of additional money reaching charitable and voluntary organisations every year.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on national lottery awards to disadvantaged groups. [7612]

  Mr. Sproat
  The National Lottery Charities Board has made 5,160 awards, with a total value of £352 million to charitable, benevolent and philanthropic groups.

  Millennium Bids
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage in respect of which national lottery millennium bids decisions have been deferred until March 1997; and if she will give the reason for the delayed announcements. [7170]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many projects supported by Millennium Commission awards are currently being taken forward. [7610]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The Millennium Commission is taking forward into contract, construction and implementation 93 projects: 87 capital projects on 2,038 sites and six millennium award schemes. In addition, 58 first and second-round projects are under detailed consideration and 1,011 projects are at initial appraisal stage.

  Cross-channel Transport
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will commission a study of the different cross-channel transport modes as means of promoting tourism to the United Kingdom. [7611]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The British Tourist Authority continues to research opportunities in Europe and to work closely with the airlines, ferry companies and channel tunnel operators to promote Britain as a tourist destination.

  The growth in tourism from western Europe has been spectacular: it increased by 15 per cent. in 1995, and by 17 per cent. in the year to September 1996.

  English Poetry
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to fund further public readings of English poetry. [7615]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Arts Council of England and the regional arts boards will spend nearly £3 million on literary activity this year, including supporting organisations which give public poetry readings. In addition, my right hon. Friend has announced the establishment of the national reading initiative to encourage more children to read more books, and the advisory panel will be advising on ways to take the scheme forward. This may include public readings of literature, inlcuding poetry.

  Historic Buildings (London)
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the safety of the oldest buildings of national importance in the cities of London and Westminster. [7620]

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for the safety of old buildings of national importance lies principally with their owners. Where the buildings are in public use, or where the public has access, the local authority has responsibility for ensuring that the buildings meet current health and safety standards. Government Departments are individually responsible for the safety of those historic buildings which they occupy.

  Historic Churches (Basildon)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representation she has received concerning grants to historic churches in Basildon. [7621]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have received no such representations.

  Tourism
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the British tourism industry. [7617]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Last year, we reversed a 10-year trend by increasing our world market share of tourism, and we set a record for export earnings. We are set to break the record again in this year.
  442
  Tourism is forecast to create up to 1 million new jobs during the next 10 years. I am championing the importance of this key growth sector both within Government and more widely. I will launch the next phase of our tourism strategy in January.

  Buckinghamshire County Museum and Art Gallery
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to pay an official visit to the Buckinghamshire county museum and art gallery to discuss developments at the museum. [7618]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have no such plans currently.

  Volunteering
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to take forward the work of the "Make a Difference" initiative and for the promotion of volunteering. [9682]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clywd, North-West (Mr. Richards) earlier today.

  WRVS
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the proposed move of the head office of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service. [9683]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Women's Royal Voluntary Service is to move its head office from its present location in Stockwell road, Brixton, to the site of its new training centre, Milton Hill house in Oxfordshire. The cost of the new head office and the move are to be met by the WRVS trust. The surrender of the lease on the existing head office is to be financed by the use of £2 million accrued from the sale of other properties held in trust for the Crown by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.

  Parliamentary approval to this use of proceeds from the sale of other properties will be sought in supplementary estimates.

  Television Violence
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has for increasing the powers of(a) Broadcasting Standards Council and (b) the Independent Television Commission in relation to violence on television. [8928]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [13 December 1996]: The BSC and the ITC will be revising their codes relating to violence and other programming issues in 1997. Their existing statutory powers are sufficient to ensure that those revised codes are complied with.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what evidence her Department has recently evaluated on the amount of violence on television. [8930]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 December 1996]: The BBC, ITC and BSC recently provided me with wide-ranging reports on violence on television and action taken to protect vulnerable viewers. The main source of

  443
  evidence provided on the amount of violence on television was a study by Sheffield university, funded by the ITC, the BSC, the BBC and other broadcasters, which suggests that the amount of violence on terrestrial television has fallen in recent years. We shortly expect further results from that study, taking in a wider range of channels.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has for introducing legislation to reduce the amount of violence on television. [8929]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 December 1996]: Existing legislation, recently extended to new digital services by the Broadcasting Act 1996, sets a framework within which broadcasters and their regulators are responsible for the content and scheduling of programmes. There is no need to amend that legislation framework. I have recently agreed with the chairmen of the BBC, ITC and BSC a co-ordinated programme of action to meet public concern about levels of violence of television.

  Charity Collections
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what recent consultation her Department has had with local authorities and charities concerning public charitable collections; and if she will make a statement; [8733]

  (2) what plans she has to amend the Charities Act 1992 to introduce protection against fraudulent public charitable collections; and if she will make a statement; [8734]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the total money donated to fraudulent public charitable collections in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [8735]

  (4) when the regulations provided under part III of the Charities Act 1992 concerning public charity collections and referred to in the report, "Public Charitable Collections: Response to Consultation" will come into force; and if she will make a statement; [8887]

  (5) what plans she has to institute London-wide regulations on decisions to prosecute for offences related to conducting charity collections in the street without a licence; and if she will make a statement. [8883]

  Mr. Sproat
  Good progress has been made in implementing the Charities Acts 1992 and 1993, most recently with the commencement on 1 March this year of the statutory framework for charity accounts and reports. Against that programme it has been necessary to delay bringing into force the provisions in part III of the Charities Act 1992, dealing with public charitable collections. This sought to rationalise existing law which provides separately for the licensing of street collections under the Police, Factories Etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 and house to house collections under the House to House Collections Act 1939. Since this legislation is already in force, implementation of part III has been given lower priority than other parts of the 1992 and 1993 legislation, which introduced more substantial reforms.
  444
  A meeting on public charitable collections was held with practitioners from charities, local authorities and others on 28 February and my officials met with Westminster city council on 23 May. As indicated in the publication "Public Charitable Collections: Response to the Consultation", referred to by the hon. Member, the practical issues involved are complex and it is essential that these are fully considered in designing the regulations, guidance and accompanying practical arrangements before bringing part III into force.

  Estimates of the total amount of money donated to fraudulent collections in each of the last five years are not available. In general, however, the public should be vigilant in responding to appeals, as to the charitable status of the organisation to which they are making a donation and as to the bona fides of the collector. The Charity Commission has recently issued a press release to warn people to give carefully to charities, especially at Christmas.

  Part III of the Charities Act 1992 was amended by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to remove the maximum advance period for applications, in response to a recommendation of the deregulation task force on charities and voluntary organisations. There are no further plans to amend part III. It is already an offence to conduct an unlicensed street collection for charity in London, as it is in other areas for which local regulations have been made under the 1916 Act; in addition, criminal offences—for instance, obtaining property by deception—may be committed where collections take place falsely purporting to be for charity.

  Portable Antiquities
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action the Government intend to take in response to the discussion document on portable antiquities which her Department published in March. [9681]

  Mr. Sproat
  In the discussion document on portable antiquities published in February 1996, we sought views on proposals for a scheme for the recording of all archaeological finds, of which perhaps as many as 400,000 a year are currently being discovered, in the belief that there was an urgent need to improve the current arrangements. We received a total of 173 responses and I would like to pay tribute to the care which many of the respondents took with their replies. There is a great deal of invaluable advice in the responses which will guide us as we take the initiative forward. I would like in particular to single out the detailed statements from the standing conference on portable antiquities and the National Council for Metal Detecting. Copies of the responses have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Everyone who responded agreed on the importance of recording archaeological finds and on the need to improve the current arrangements, while the balance of opinion was strongly in favour of a voluntary rather than a compulsory system. This means that, for the first time, we have a broad consensus for the way in which this should be taken forward.

  In the light of these responses and following further consultation by my Department, I can now announce that we intend to establish a two-year programme of pilot

  445
  schemes to commence on 1 September 1997 and that we are making £50,000 available for the eight-month period that falls within the year 1997–98. The scheme will be co-ordinated directly by this Department and the funding will be channelled through the Museums and Galleries Commission. The aim of the pilot schemes will be to enable an accurate estimate to be made of the resources that would be needed to extend the scheme across the whole of England. The funding will be directed towards employing additional staff in three or four areas to record finds. Our first step will be to invite any suitable body—museums, but also perhaps county planning departments or other archaeological bodies—to express an interest in bidding for funding and we intend to do this early in the new year.

WALES

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the current median waiting periods for patients needing(a) cataract treatment and (b) hip replacement treatment at each hospital where this operation is provided for patients whose operations are purchased by Welsh health authorities, and for Wales as a whole and the equivalent waiting times in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [7467]

  Mr. Hague
  Information on the median waiting time for those patients who had the relevant treatment in each of the last three years is given in the following table. For each category only those hospitals where there is full information on waiting periods and more than 10 operations were performed have been included. The figures are for operations purchased by health authorities and GP fundholders in Wales.

  Median waiting times (days) for treatment received, by purchasing organisation.

  Hospital

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Cataract treatment

  Breconshire War Memorial

  8

  15

  39

  Bridgend General

  312

  165

  150

  Bronglais

  1—

  1—

  1—

  East Glamorgan

  211

  205

  79

  Glan Clwyd General Hospital

  103

  68

  72

  Llwynpia

  20

  19

  44

  Morriston

  2—

  1—

  1—

  Nevil Hall

  2—

  2—

  47

  Prince Charles

  115

  278

  366

  Prince Philip

  7

  7

  1—

  Princess of Wales

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Royal Gwent

  2—

  2—

  326

  St. Woolos

  195

  190

  2—

  Singleton

  76

  93

  194

  University Hospital of Wales

  81

  113

  109

  Withybush General Hospital

  31

  267

  1—

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  362

  388

  228

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  106

  210

  159

  Wales

  96

  94

  95

  Hip replacement treatment

  Aberdare

  2—

  1—

  1—

  Bronglais

  2

  40

  7

  Bridgend General

  2—

  1—

  2—

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary

  126

  115

  1—

  Caephilly District Miners

  76

  145

  23

  Cymla

  2—

  1—

  1—

  East Glamorgan

  1—

  2—

  1—

  Glan Clwyd General Hospital

  242

  193

  175

  Gorseinon

  2—

  2—

  1—

  Morriston

  186

  236

  1—

  446

  Median waiting times (days) for treatment received, by purchasing organisation.

  Hospital

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Neath

  59

  78

  1—

  Nevill Hall

  107

  114

  90

  Princess of Wales

  44

  39

  32

  Prince Charles

  355

  286

  167

  Prince Philip

  8

  11

  18

  Royal Gwent

  139

  139

  161

  Tredegar

  2—

  1—

  1—

  Withybush General Hospital

  463

  400

  286

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  160

  133

  167

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  124

  119

  96

  Wales

  84

  91

  85

  1 No operations performed or full waiting period data not available.

  2 Less than 10 operations performed.

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the change in the budget of Tai Cymru between 1996–97 and 1997–98(a) in real terms and (b) expressed as a percentage. [7762]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The reduction in net capital expenditure between the 1996–97 and 1997–98 financial years is(a) £27.2 million; and (b) 29.9 per cent.

  Sea Empress
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the study by Dr. Peter Dyrynda into the effects of the Sea Empress disaster; and if he will make a statement. [8043]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My right hon. Friend, established the Sea Empress environmental evaluation committee—SEEEC—to assess the environmental effects of the Sea Empress oil spill. Dr. Dyrynda's report, along with a number of others, is being considered by SEEEC whose final report is expected next year.

  Ambulance Paramedics
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether the objective that ambulance trusts in Wales will provide one qualified paramedic on each emergency medical service ambulance by 1 January 1997 will be achieved. [9343]

  Mr. Hague
  This is assessed annually at the end of March. The latest position is set out in the Welsh Affairs Committee, Session 1995–96, third report on the training of ambulance paramedics printed on 24 July 1996 and in the Government's response printed on 30 October 1996. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the final outturn figures for NHS expenditure in 1995–96 to be published. [9341]

  Mr. Hague
  Outturn figures for NHS expenditure in 1995–96 are in the appropriation account for Wales; and the summarised accounts of district health authorities, family health service authorities, the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, the Health Promotion Authority for Wales and NHS trusts in Wales. It is the
  447
  responsibility of the Comptroller and Auditor General to lay copies of these accounts before both Houses of Parliament.

  Care in the Community
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Welsh local government associations concerning the transfer arrangements for funding care in the community from 1 April 1997; how much additional money will be provided to each local authority; and if he will make a statement. [9344]

  Mr. Hague
  I have had the usual consultation with the Welsh Local Government Association on the local government revenue settlement and on the future distribution of mental handicap and mental illness strategy resources. I announced on 12 December the provisional standard spending assessments for local authorities in Wales. The following table shows each authority's provisional SSA and the amount included in the SSA in respect of community care and the mental handicap and mental illness strategies. In addition, each authority will receive direct grant under the mental handicap strategy in 1997–98. These grants will be announced shortly.

  Local government revenue settlement 1997–98 Amounts included in the 1997–98 SSAs to allow for community care responsibilities, the mental handicap strategy and the mental illness strategy

  Settlement: Provisional

  All amounts in £000

  County and County Borough Councils

  Total SSA

  Community care

  Mental handicap and mental illness strategies

  Blaenau Gwent

  65,375

  4,240

  747

  Bridgend

  109,937

  7,241

  1,361

  Caerphilly

  147,579

  9,148

  1,767

  Cardiff

  251,077

  15,991

  3,253

  Carmarthenshire

  152,073

  11,142

  1,701

  Ceredigion

  61,623

  4,258

  739

  Conwy

  93,113

  7,326

  1,071

  Denbighshire

  80,281

  5,901

  897

  Flintshire

  115,617

  7,257

  1,561

  Gwynedd

  109,679

  7,704

  1,201

  Ilse of Anglesey

  61,859

  3,987

  672

  Merthyr Tydfil

  56,665

  3,821

  594

  Monmouthshire

  66,144

  4,540

  892

  Neath Port Talbot

  122,454

  8,909

  1,418

  Newport

  118,887

  7,356

  1,410

  Pembrokeshire

  102,108

  6,353

  1,148

  Powys

  118,573

  7,548

  1,243

  448

  Local government revenue settlement 1997–98 Amounts included in the 1997–98 SSAs to allow for community care responsibilities, the mental handicap strategy and the mental illness strategy

  Settlement: Provisional

  All amounts in £000

  County and County Borough Councils

  Total SSA

  Community care

  Mental handicap and mental illness strategies

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  210,746

  15,553

  2,507

  Swansea

  196,484

  13,596

  2,388

  Torfaen

  78,568

  4,627

  932

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  96,003

  6,028

  1,215

  Wrexham

  100,795

  6,684

  1,284

  Total County and County Borough Councils

  2,515,641

  169,209

  30,000

  Treatment Centres
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the Welsh health authorities concerning the future of the treatment centres at Rhydlafar, Cardiff and Bridgend. [9342]

  Mr. Hague
  None. Health authorities, NHS trusts, GPs, community health councils and the centres themselves, were recently consulted by my Department on the future of the treatment centre initiative. The initiative will now continue in 1997–98 as originally planned.

  Welsh Language
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects his Department to have its Welsh language scheme approved by the Welsh Language Board and in place. [9703]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board on the 29 November 1996 and will be operational from 13 January 1997. The scheme specifies the measures my Department has taken and will be taking to give effect to the principle established by the Welsh Language Act 1993 that, in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a basis of equality. Printed copies of the scheme will be placed in the libraries in due course.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Court Proceedings (Juveniles)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Pigot report and other matters relating to the treatment of juveniles in court proceedings. [7625]

  Mr. Maclean
  The advisory group on video evidence, chaired by Judge Thomas Pigot QC, made a number of recommendations in its 1989 report on the treatment of child witnesses—and other witnesses—in criminal trials. The majority of these recommendations have been implemented.

  The Criminal Justice Act 1991 provided, in respect of sexual offences and offences involving violence or cruelty, for pre-trial video recordings to be used as a child's evidence-in-chief at court; for a prohibition on the defendant cross-examining a child witness in person; and for trials involving child witnesses to be transferred direct to the Crown Court without the need for a magistrates court to consider the case. The Act also provided that a child's evidence in criminal proceedings should be given unswom; abolished the presumption that children were not competent as witnesses; and raised the age limit governing a young person's eligibility to be cross-examined via a television link from under 14 to under 17. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 removed the requirement, in sexual offence cases, that the judge warn the jury about convicting on the uncorroborated evidence of the victim.

  In addition to the legislative changes, the Government have issued, or contributed towards the production of, a variety of documents and guidance notes to promote ways of assisting those children who become involved in the criminal justice system as witnesses. This includes guidance to magistrates courts on the use of screens, as recommended by the Pigot report, and a memorandum of good practice on video recorded interviews with child witnesses in criminal proceedings. In addition, in January, a video, funded by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Home Office, will be launched offering good practice advice of judges and barristers for handling cases including child witnesses. All these measures are consistent with the Government's policy of giving a high priority to the needs of victims of crime.

  The measures that we have implemented are subject to review and research to test their effectiveness. The Government will continue to make further changes where we consider that they will bring improvements to the operation of the justice system.

  State Opening of Parliament
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he received from the Metropolitan police concerning the question of 450
  20 November, Official Report, column 621, from the hon. Member for Newport, West on the cost of the state opening of Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [8021]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The Metropolitan police provided a rough estimate of £286,200 for the cost of policing the state opening of Parliament. This figure was, however, not a proper costing. It did not take into account the cost of the normal duties which the officers would otherwise have undertaken; it did not include pre-event planning or post-event debriefs and it was worked out on the basis of a complete eight hour tour of duty for all staff using average manpower cost figures and a ready reckoner. It also excluded the cost of permanent Palace of Westminster staff. It was not, therefore, an accurate reflection of the additional costs to the Metropolitan police nor of the total costs which had been incurred. The extent to which Metropolitan police officers are deployed to police a public order event is an operational decision for the commissioner.

  Economic Key Points
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who is responsible for the security of United Kingdom economic key points; [9042]

  (2) what measures he has taken to ensure that the security of economic key points is maintained and improved; and if he will make a statement; [9044]

  (3) if he will list the locations of economic key points within the United Kingdom; [9041]

  (4) who is responsible for financing the security of economic key points; and what is the total cost; [9043]

  (5) who is responsible for financing the security of (i) the national grid site in Wokingham and (ii) the chief reception sites for North sea gas; what measures are in place to ensure that the security of these sites is maintained and improved; and if he will make a statement. [9045]

  Mr. Howard
  Responsibility for the security of sites designated as economic key points—EKPs—including the cost of protection, rests with their owners. The Government, through the relevant Departments, promote and monitor protective measures and provide advice, guidance and support on security matters. It is not Government policy to disclose the location of EKPs or to detail their security arrangements.

  Roisin McAliskey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what reports he has received from the Director General of the Prison Service on the medical condition of Roisin McAliskey; and if he will make a statement. [8560]

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the conditions under which Ms Roisin McAliskey is held; and if he will make a statement. [8559]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated

  451
  to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Ms Roisin McAliskey.
  Throughout her time in custody Ms McAliskey has received regular medical attention. There are no specific medical concerns at present; but, as a precaution, following her complaint of stomach pains, Ms McAliskey was taken to Greenwich District hospital for a scan and a full examination by a consultant obstetrician.
  The obstetrician confirmed that Ms McAliskey was in good general health, that her 16 week pregnancy was progressing normally and there was no cause for concern. As a further precaution Ms McAliskey was returned to Holloway Prison where specialist ante-natal care is more readily available, should it become necessary.
  Representations have been received from some Members of Parliament, the organisation Catholic Justice and Peace and a person claiming to be a friend of the family.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the treatment of Roisin McAliskey; what visits she has been allowed from(a) her mother, (b) other relatives and friends, (c) legal advisers, (d) Irish Teachda D'ala and (e) British hon. Members; and if he will make a statement. [9174]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Roisin McAliskey.
  Representations have been received about the treatment of Ms McAliskey from some Members of Parliament, a local interest group and a person claiming to be a friend of the family. The Irish Embassy also enquired about a visit for her partner. This visit took place on 28 November.
  Ms McAliskey was visited by her mother on 6 December. Her partner has visited her on three occasions and she has also had visits from her father, sister, and from legal representatives. One Member of Parliament has also visited Ms McAliskey.

  Prisoners (Drug Dependency)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the most recent guidelines issued by him concerning the treatment of drug dependent prisoners in prison; and how many guidelines, or amendments to guidelines, have been issued since 1990. [9163]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about guidelines concerning the treatment of drug dependent prisoners.
  452
  There are three documents two of which are already in the Library: "Caring for drug users", issued in April 1991 and the current Prison Service Drugs Strategy, "Drug misuse in prison", issued in April last year. In the same month we also published Health Care Standard 8, "Clinical Services for Substance Misusers." I enclose a copy for your information, and I am arranging for a complete set of Health Care Standards to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9200]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about estimates of the number of drug dependent prisoners.
  Drug misuse is a covert activity which makes data on prevalence difficult to obtain and interpret. We do not have definitive information about the scale of drug misuse in prisons; but it is a significant problem. The matter has been the subject of some independent research. For example, a recent study (Maden et al 1995) of 995 males, male youths and females remanded in custody in England and Wales showed that upon psychiatric examination 26% had a harmful or dependant misuse of substances (adult males 23 %, male youths 23% and women 33%). These figures do not include alcohol or cannabis.
  When these subjects were questioned about their drug use prior to entering prison 32% had used cannabis, 14% had used opiates, 9% had used prescribed benzodiaezepines, 7% had used illicit benzodiazepines, 8% had used crack cocaine, 6% had used amphetamines and 2% had used cocaine.
  A previous study by the same researchers of 1751 sentenced male prisoners in England and Wales (1991) showed that before entering prison 43% had used cannabis, 9% had used opiates, 9% had used amphetamines and 5% had used cocaine.
  A major new source of information has also recently become available. Since April 1996 all English and Welsh prisons have introduced mandatory random drug testing. One important result from this development is that for the first time we are routinely assembling a database of the level and nature of drug use in our prisons. Eventually this will allow us to understand more, to follow trends, to manage and target our resources more effectively for tackling drug problems—and in time to be able to measure the impact of our policies.

  Prisons (Standing Orders)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the current prison standing orders which apply to prisons in England and Wales; and which public officials are denied access to prisons for inspection purposes under those standing orders. [9166]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about whether a copy of prison standing orders will be placed in the library of the House, and which public officials are denied access to prisons for inspection purposes under those standing orders.

  453
  Copies of the current standing orders have already been placed in the library of the House. There is nothing in those orders which deny access to public officials who duties legitimately necessitate visiting a prison for the purposes of inspection.

  Patrick Christopher Lynch
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when an application by Patrick Christopher Lynch detained at HMP Parkhurst to be repatriated to the Republic of Ireland was received; when the application was referred to the appropriate authorities in the Republic; what response has been received; when he expects a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement. [9175]

  Miss Widdecombe
  A request for repatriation to the Republic of Ireland, made by Christopher Lynch, was received at Prison Service headquarters on 17 April 1996. Requests are decided only after consideration of all relevant information by the two states concerned. An initial decision on whether to refer Mr. Lynch's repatriation request to the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Ireland will be made once all the relevant information requested has been received and considered.

  Prisoners (Needle Sharing)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received, in each of the last three years, and the current year to date, about the extent of needle sharing between HIV positive and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales. [9167]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about reports received in each of the last three years and the current year to date, about the extent of needle sharing between HIV positive and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales.
  There have been no reports of incidents of needle sharing between HIV prisoners and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales during the current year or the previous three years.

  Prison Medical Service
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the expenditure on the prison medical service for the current year; what is the projected expenditure over each of the next three years; and what proportion of such expenditure is devoted to the costs of drug treatment. [9169]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the expenditure on the Prison Medical Service for the current year; what is the projected expenditure over each of the next three years; and what proportion of such expenditure is devoted to the costs of drug treatment.
  454
  The delivery of the health care to prisoners in accordance with set standards has been devolved to prison establishments. Governors must therefore allocated appropriate resources from within their establishment budgets. For this reason it is not possible centrally to differentiate health care staff cost from the overall Prison Service budget, nor forecast precise future expenditure.
  The expenditure for specialist services and medical suppliers is however known, and for the last financial year is set out in the attached table.

  Health care expenditure 1995–96

  £ million

  Locums

  4.15

  Dentist

  1.90

  Opticians

  0.47

  Psychiatrists

  1.44

  Medical/pharmacy supplies

  4.45

  Total

  12.42

  For drug treatment and testing initiatives, the following money was secured from the 1995 Public Expenditure Survey.

  £million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1990–00

  Testing

  4,880

  6,090

  7,340

  7,340

  Treatment

  5,440

  5,571

  5,710

  5,710

  Total

  10,320

  11,661

  13,050

  13,050

  These monies are in addition to that already being spent by prisons on existing rehabilitation programmes.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Dr. Rosemary Wool's appointment as chief medical officer of the prison medical service ended; when Dr. Wool left the service; and if he will make a statement. [9204]

  Mr. Howard
  Dr. Wool was due to retire on her 60th birthday, the normal retirement age for Home Office employees. As arrangements to find a successor had not been completed by then, Dr. Wool was granted an eight month extension of service and retired on 31 March 1996. A permanent successor has yet to be appointed and the post is currently filled on a temporary basis.

  Prisoners (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the denial of(a) compassionate leave and (b) normal parole facilities to prisoners detained in Northern Ireland on temporary transfer. [9170]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Representations are received occasionally from various sources, including prisoners, legal representatives, hon. Members, Members of the European Parliament and the public, about applications from prisoners for compassionate temporary release and parole. Some of these concern prisoners temporarily transferred to prisons in Northern Ireland.

  Bradford Riots (Inquiry Evidence)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the evidence submitted by an official in his Department to the Bradford commission inquiring into matters in the aftermath of the Bradford riots. [9178]
  455
  Mr. Kirkhope
  Yes. A copy has now been placed in the Library.

  Category A Women Prisoners
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A women are in(a) Holloway and (b) Belmarsh prisons (i) on remand and (ii) after conviction; and how many ae pregnant. [9273]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Category A women in Holloway and Belmarsh prisons.
  On 12 December 1996 there were three Category A women in Holloway prison and none in Belmarsh prison. Of those in Holloway prison two were convicted and one unconvicted. The unconvicted prisoner is known to be pregnant.

  Category A Remandees
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A remandees have subsequently been granted bail before court hearings during the last five years. [9275]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of category A prisoners who have subsequently been granted bail before court hearings during the last five years.
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many office telephone taps have been authorised by chief constables in each of the constabularies in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement; [8858]

  (2) what is his policy in respect of decisions by chief constables to tap the office telephones of senior employees of police authorities. [8857]

  Mr. Howard
  The interception of a communication in the course of its transmission by a public telecommunications system requires a warrant issued by the Secretary of State under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. A decision by a chief constable to monitor calls on a private telephone system operated by the police is not covered by the 1985 Act; such a decision is an operational matter for the chief 456
  constable concerned. There is no central record of such authorisations and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department, what notification he received of the decision of the chief constable of Merseyside to tap the office telephone of Ms Alison Halford when employed by the Merseyside Police Authority; and if he will make a statement. [8856]

  Mr. Howard
  It is not the practice of the Government to confirm or deny allegations that interception has taken place in any particular case. Any decision by a chief constable to monitor calls on a private telecommunications system operated by the police is an operational matter which would not require notification to the Home Office.

  Ms Alison Halford
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Government Departments and public bodies involved in the proceedings relating to Ms Alison Halford before the European Commission and European Court of Human Rights, indicating the rank and names of the officials who will attend the court hearing in Strasbourg; and if he will make a statement. [8863]

  Mr. Howard
  The Departments involved are the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It has not yet been decided which officials will attend the hearing in Strasbourg.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) drivers and (b) passengers have been prosecuted for not wearing seat belts in the (i) front seats and (ii) back seats of vehicles in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [8206]

  (2) how many (a) drivers and (b) passengers have been prosecuted for not wearing seat belts in the (i) front seats and (ii) back seats of vehicles in Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8207]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 13 December,Official Report, column 404.

  European Union
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost in the last 12 months of sending Ministers and officials to meetings in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe in connection with his Department's handling of EU business. [4947]

  Mr. Howard
  I have placed a note in the Library setting out the readily available information, which relates to the cost of attending such meetings over the period April to October 1996. Statistics for the last 12 months couldbeobtainedonlyatdisproportionatecost.

  Television Licences
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many(a) men and (b) women

  457
  are currently held in prison in connection with charges or convictions relating to non-payment of the television licence. [7760]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Denis MacShane, dated 13 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many men and women are currently held in prison in connection with charges or convictions relating to non-payment of the television licence.
  Provisional information for 31 October 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, is that three males and no females were held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales in connection with non-payment of television licences

  Airguns
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many airguns are currently licensed. [7046]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 2 December 1996]: Higher-powered air weapons require a firearm certificate issued by the police. Information about how many are licensed is not recorded centrally and is not distinguished from other firearms in the total figure. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

  Paediatric Intensive Care Beds
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 20 November,Official Report, column 596, on paediatric intensive care beds, how many of the additional beds (a) are scheduled to open this year, (b) will open shortly, giving the timetable and location and (c) are now available, indicating their location. [6670]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 28 November 1996]: The report "Paediatric Intensive Care" (May 1996), copies of which are available in the Library, described plans to open 23 additional designated paediatric intensive care beds and seven high dependency beds in 1996–97. The current position is as shown in the table.

  Location

  Additional beds now open (November 1996)

  Additional beds planned to open 1996–97

  PIC

  HD

  PIC

  HD

  Trent

  2

  1

  2 March

  —

  North Thames

  1

  —

  1 December

  —

  1 January

  North West

  3

  4

  —

  —

  South and West

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Anglia and Oxford

  2

  3

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  2

  —

  1 January

  —

  Northern and Yorkshire

  3

  —

  1 January

  2 January

  South Thames

  2

  —

  2 by April

  —

  Total

  20

  8

  8

  2

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce changes in the membership of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [9680]

  Mr. Horam
  Further to my announcement on 7 November at columns 623–25, when I said that a further announcement would be made on one additional appointment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, I am pleased to announce that the following has been appointed as a member:Dr. Joan Kathleen Stringer, principal of Queen Margaret college, Edinburgh, and member of the Scottish standing committee of the national committee of inquiry into higher education.
  This appointment, in common with those announced previously, was made in accordance with guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments following the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life—the Nolan Report Cm 2850–1, May 1995.

  Junior Doctors' Hours
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Government are making in their target of reducing to 56 by 31 December the number of hours worked weekly by junior doctors. [8804]

  Mr. Malone
  Steady progress is being made in reaching the ceiling of 56 hours average weekly working hours for junior doctors. This target is contained in the "New Deal on Junior Doctors' Hours", copies of which area available in the Library. At 30 September 1996 regional task forces reported that 22,221 junior doctors, or 78.4 per cent. of all juniors, were complying in full with all the new deal hours limits, including the 56-hour ceiling.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals his Department has made to alter the target of 56 hours to be worked weekly by junior doctors by 31 December. [8805]

  Mr. Malone
  I have no proposals to change the target of 56 hours maximum average weekly hours of work contained in the "New Deal on Junior Doctors' Hours", copies of which are available in the Library. I have made it clear that the Government have a strong commitment to action to bring all junior doctors within this ceiling.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent NHS executive internal report on junior doctors' hours. [8807]

  Mr. Malone
  No. The report concerned is an internal discussion paper and as such is covered by exemption 2 part II of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Internal Advice)".

  Tuberculosis, Scurvy and Rickets
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of(a) tuberculosis, (b) scurvy and (c) rickets were reported (i) nationally and (ii) in each region in each year region in each year since 1980. [8806]

  Mr. Horam
  The numbers of notifications of tuberculosis to the Office for National Statistics for 1980 and provisional figures for 1995 are given in the table. Figures for the intervening years are given by standard
  459
  region in table 5 of the annual publications "Series MB2 Communicable Disease Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. Changes in the methods for recording numbers of notifications mean that total notification figures for 1980 and 1981 include cases of chemoprophylaxis but from 1982 totals excludes chemoprophylaxis are given. Cases of tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis are not cases of actual tuberculosis and most are therefore not notified. There was 458 cases of chemoprophylaxis in 1995.

  TB notifications

  Standard region

  1980 (including chemoprophylaxis)

  Provisional figures for 1995 (excluding chemoprophylaxis)

  North

  486

  194

  Yorkshire and

  884

  597

  Humberside

  East Midlands

  625

  413

  East Anglia

  146

  80

  South East

  3,767

  2,656

  South West

  355

  202

  West Midlands

  1,164

  654

  North West

  1,325

  630

  Wales

  390

  180

  England and Wales1

  9,142

  5,606

  1 Excluding Port Health Authorities.

  Data are not collected centrally on scurvy or rickets. National diet and nutrition surveys since 1980 do not show any evidence of the vitamin C deficiency which causes scurvy in the general population. There are occasional reports of rickets in young children, caused by vitamin D deficiency from insufficient exposure to sunlight. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy has established an expert sub-group on the nutritional aspects of bone health which is considering this.

  Practice Nurses (Pensions)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reasons practice nurses have not been allowed to transfer their contributions from the NHS pension fund to practice pension schemes; [8964]

  (2) for what reasons no explanation was given to practice nurses in respect of requirements made of them to remove their pensions from the NHS pension fund and to take out private pensions; [8966]

  (3) how many practice nurses have been advised to take out private pensions to date; [8962]

  (4) what factors underlay his decision to remove practice nurses from the NHS pension fund; [8963]

  (5) how many practice nurses came out of the NHS pension fund in (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991; [8965]

  (6) when he last had discussions with the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nurses about the removal of practice nurses' pensions from the NHS pension fund to private pension schemes. [8967]

  Mr. Malone
  There will be an announcement shortly on entry of general practitioner practice staff including practice nurses to the national health service pension scheme.

  Genetically Engineered Soya
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to protect public health regarding the increased use of imported soya which has been genetically engineered; and if he will make a statement. [8959]

  Mr. Horam
  Ministers are advised on the safety of foods and ingredients obtained from genetically modified—GM—organisms by an independent committee of experts, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. The ACNFP assessed the imported GM soya beans developed by Monsanto in 1994 and concluded that they were toxicologically and nutritionally equivalent to, and therefore as safe as, conventional soya beans.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of E.coli infection have been reported in east Lancashire since 1 December;[9223]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the source of the E.coli infection in east Lancashire. [9222]

  Mr. Horam
  E.coli infection has been isolated in clinical samples from 12 individuals, including one outside the area who has been linked to this outbreak. Of these, nine have been or are ill, but all are recovering. The outbreak is being investigated locally by a control team, which comprises medical, scientific and environmental health experts. Officials in the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are closely monitoring the progress of the local team and the action taken. Detailed epidemiological and microbiological investigations are continuing and precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that public health in the locality is not jeopardised.

  Social Services White Paper
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he(a) has had and (b) proposes to have with local authorities about his forthcoming White Paper on social services, with reference to the first paragraph of part D of the guidelines on central-local relations. [9317]

  Mr. Burns
  We expect to meet leaders of the social services authorities to discuss the proposed White Paper early in the new year.

SCOTLAND

  Potato Prices
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he collates about the current levels of potato prices; and if he will list the prices for the current year and each of the past five years. [8346]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Information about average wholesale market prices is collected for statistical purposes and published annually in the "Economics Report on Scottish Agriculture" by the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department and these are as follows for each of the last five years. Current year (1996) provisional figures should be amiable in February 1997.
  461

  Average price £/tonne

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  19951

  1st earlies

  104.88

  64.47

  93.87

  171.65

  113.18

  Ware

  78.48

  73.28

  57.96

  130.81

  206.79

  Seed

  107.93

  102.17

  78.12

  129.78

  145.41

  1 Provisional.

  Detailed price figures are also published by and may be obtained from the Potato Marketing Board.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what notification his Department received from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in respect of the fires in the D9833 wet silo at Dounreay; and what investigations have been conducted by the Scottish Environmental Protection agency. [8674]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Notification of incidents of this nature would be made by the authority to the nuclear installations inspectorate. Nevertheless, reports by HM industrial pollution inspectorate covering the period April 1988 to March 1996 refer to an incident in 1992 when a small fire occurred in a radioactive waste store as a result of the reaction of traces of sodium metal with moisture. The fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished. Monitoring undertaken in the vicinity at the time indicated no radioactive material had been released.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency was established on 1 April 1996. It has received no notification of any fires in the wet storage facility. The agency will continue to monitor closely operations at the site.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number and percentage of students in Scotland who received Scottish Education Department grants in 1990. [9082]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 13 December 1996]: In academic year 1990–91 70,742 students held awards from the Scottish Education Department. This represented 97.8 per cent. of the Scottish domiciled students undertaking full-time courses of higher education in Scotland.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost to public funds of student loans in Scotland in each year since their introduction. [9081]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 13 December 1996]: Expenditure by the Scottish Office on student loans, in each year since their introduction in academic year 1990–91, is as follows:

  Financial year

  Net total £

  1990–91

  8,005,194

  1991–92

  16,486,843

  1992–93

  24,446,864

  1993–94

  36,904,818

  462

  Financial year

  Net total £

  1994–95

  56,589,238

  1995–96

  78,321,353

  1996–971

  111,714,000

  332,372,310

  1 Estimated.

  Fishery Protection Orders
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list each protection order currently in place under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976; and if he will make a statement; [8968]

  (2) if he will list each amendment made to the River Tay protection order in each year since 1986; and if he will make a statement. [9039]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The following protection orders have been made under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976:-

  The Rivers Tweed and Eye Protection Order 1980;

  The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection Order 1982;

  The River Lunan Catchment Area Protection Order 1983;

  The River Tummel Catchment Area Protection Order 1983

  The River Tay Catchment Area Protection Order 1986;

  The West Strathclyde Protection Order 1988;

  The River Earn Catchment Area Protection Order 1990;

  The River Don Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1990;

  The Loch Morar and River Morar Protection Order 1992;

  The Loch Awe and Associated Waters Protection Order 1992;

  The River Clyde Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1994;

  The North West Sutherland Protection Order 1994;

  The River Arkaig, Loch Arkaig and Associated Waters Protection Order 1995.

  I have renewed the River Tay Protection Order in 1990 and 1993 to ensure its continuance. The order was varied earlier this year so that it now runs without limit of time. All other protection orders which previously required renewal have been varied in the same way.

  Prisoners (Drug Dependency)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [9202]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in Scotland.
  Drug misuse is an illegal activity which makes it difficult to obtain data on the number of prisoners dependent on drugs. Information is not collected centrally on the number of prisoners being treated by prison medical officers for drug dependence. A number of studies have produced data on the proportion of prisoners who misuse drugs, based on information provided anonymously by prisoners. In the 1994 Prison Survey 45% of

  463
  prisoners claimed to have used drugs at least once in the previous six months in prison (cannabis 40%, temgesic 22%, heroin 9%, other drugs 15%—some had used more than one drug). The injecting of drugs, however, might be a more useful measure of drug dependence. In the 1994 Prison Survey, 5% (191) of prisoners who responded said they had injected drugs during the previous six months in prison (heroin 4%, temgesic 3%, other drugs 2%—some had used more than one drug). In 2 studies this year, prisoners were asked if they had injected drugs at some time prior to imprisonment. In HMP Low Moss 113 out of 293 prisoners who responded had done so, while in HMP Aberdeen 53 out of 157 prisoners who responded had done so.
  Mandatory drug testing, which is being phased in across the Scottish Prison Service, will eventually provide accurate and objective information on the scale and trends of drug misuse. It complements the measures already in the SPS drugs strategy. That includes searching and surveillance to minimise the amount of drugs getting into prisons, closed circuit TV at visits, the use of sniffer dogs and a range of other measures. It also complements the constructive work that is being done in the context of reduction and detoxification. There are drug treatment programmes in 7 prisons, with more planned, and a new abstinence unit was opened at Low Moss prison earlier this year. Prisoners receive a comprehensive information and training programme on HIV, AIDS and drugs within 2 week of admission to prison. All prisons provide education and counselling. Extensive links have been established with community-based drug agencies to provide throughcare and continuing support for prisoners on release. Taken together all these measures represent a major commitment to reduce the drugs problem.

  Feudal Superiors
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward proposals to widen the remit of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland to cover all claims of unreasonable and oppressive behaviour by feudal superiors under feudal law. [4822]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 27 November 1996]: The present remit of the Lands Tribunal already allows it to vary or discharge land obligations which have become unreasonable or inappropriate, those which are unduly burdensome compared with any benefit resulting or which would result from performance of the obligation and those which impede some reasonable use of the land. I do not therefore propose to consider amendments to its remit until the Scottish Law Commission's proposals on a new system of land tenure to replace the present feudal system are available.

  Stone of Destiny
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what costs were incurred by his Department in respect of(a) transport, (b) security and (c) ceremonial functions in connection with the return of the Stone of Destiny. [7715]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 December 1996]: The costs incurred in relation to the return of the Stone of Destiny are still being collated.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total costs of the events at(a) Coldstream and (b) Edinburgh of the ceremonies involved in the return of the Stone of Destiny to Scotland; and from what budgets the costs are being met. [7922]
  464
  Mr. Forsyth
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: The costs incurred in relation to the return of the Stone of Destiny are still being collated.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the Law Society's proposals for the reform of legal aid with special reference to the control of the legal aid budget. [7632]

  Mr. Streeter
  All the proposals contained in the Law Society's paper, "Better Value Better Justice", have been carefully considered. Where possible, we are assessing and taking forward these proposals in consultation with the Law Society and other interested parties.

  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of recent representations to his Department about proposals for the reform of legal aid. [7633]

  Mr. Streeter
  I frequently receive representations on this matter from professional bodies and associations, pressure groups, advice services, individual lawyers, and members of the public. I have been encouraged by the response to date and look forward to further discussions and consultation as the reforms progress.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what new proposals he has to reduce the costs of legal aid with particular reference to solicitor's fees. [7635]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Government's long-term plans for legal aid are set out in the White Paper, "Striking the Balance" (Cm 3305 HMSO). In the short term, I propose to introduce standard fees for advocates in all civil cases and for litigators conducting family and domestic violence cases. Standard fees will provide a better means of controlling expenditure than hourly based payment systems, whilst at the same time providing a quicker more certain remuneration system for lawyers.

  Land Registry
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what investigations he is conducting into the operations of the Land Registry. [7634]

  Mr. Streeter
  None. However, the Lord Chancellor's Department's relationship with HM Land Registry is one of close and regular liaison. The Department regularly monitors the performance of the Land Registry against targets set by the Lord Chancellor.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about progress with the PFI for new magistrates courts buildings. [7637]
  465
  Mr. Streeter
  The pathfinder PFI project to provide managed court accommodation to meet the requirements of the Hereford and Worcester magistrates courts committee is proceeding on programme. Expressions of interest from prospective providers are at present being evaluated. A letter has been sent to all local authorities and MCCs informing them of my decision to allow a further four projects to go forward during the coming financial year. These projects are Derbyshire, Humberside, Manchester and Merseyside—Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens, Knowsley, and Wirral.

  Census Returns (Public Access)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to secure continuing public access to the census returns following the closure of the Public Record Office, Chancery lane. [7636]

  Mr. Streeter
  Public access to the census returns at the Public Record Office, Chancery lane is expected to continue until 7 March 1997. From 10 March 1997, public access will be provided at the new family records centre at Myddelton place, Myddleton street, London, EC1.

  Magistrates Courts (Wales)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts there were in Wales in 1978–79; and how many are currently operating. [7626]

  (A) Current promotional/public information campaigns

  Campaign

  Total cost (£000)

  Cost to department (£000)

  Who is carrying out promotion

  Duration

  Promotion of innovation and research and development

  275

  275

  Industrial Research and Technology Unit

  Ongoing

  Promotion of NI as a business location in US, Germany, GB, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong

  3,667

  3,667

  Industrial Development Board

  Ongoing

  Campaign to promote the launch and use of the NCVQ Belfast field office

  17.5

  17.5

  Training and Employment Agency, National Council for Vocational Qualifications

  September 1996 to March 1997

  Contribution to the UK campaign to promote the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

  50

  50

  Training and Employment Agency, Employers' Forum on Disability

  October 1996 to March 1997

  Revaluation of non-domestic properties

  178

  78

  Anderson Group Holdings (NI) Ltd.

  October 1996 to January 1997

  Crime prevention public awareness

  2—

  2—

  McCann Erickson, Advertising Consultants

  April 1996 to March 1997

  NSS organ donor register

  8.5

  8.5

  Department of Health and Social Services

  One year from 29 October 1996

  Healthy eating campaign 1996 (fibre promotion)

  21

  21

  Health Promotion Agency

  January to December 1996

  Immunisation

  27

  27

  Health Promotion Agency

  19 November 1996

  Sexual health campaign (convenience advertising)

  38

  38

  Health Promotion Agency

  April 1996 to March 1997

  World Aids Day 1996

  5

  5

  Health Promotion Agency

  1 December 1996

  Contraception education service

  20

  20

  Health Promotion Agency

  April 1996 to March 1997

  Historic monuments campaign to attract visitors

  5

  5

  Environment Heritage Service

  April to December 1996

  Driver licensing—information leaflet to promote road safety and freedom of movement throughout the EC

  1.1

  1.1

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency NI

  Ongoing—leaflet sent to each applicant for a provisional driving licence

  Anti-drink/drive campaign

  135

  135

  Department of the Environment NI

  4 December 1996 to 5 January 1997

  Driver Testing—Information to promote road safety and freedom of movement throughout the EC

  5

  5

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency NI

  December 1996 (One month)

  1 Includes costs not attributable to agency carrying out the work.

  2 Cost of campaign has not been disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

  466
  Mr. Streeter
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 October 1996,Official Report, column 655.

  That is, that there are at present 63 magistrates courts in Wales and that no accurate record exists for the number of courts in Wales in 1978.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Employment (Belfast, West)
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new jobs have been created in the constituency of Belfast, West since 31 August 1994. [5124]

  Mr. Ancram
  Net employment growth figures are not available at constituency level for the period requested. Although not a direct indicator of job growth, unemployment fell from 8,531 in August 1994 to 6,072 in October 1996.

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is(a) currently running and (b) planning to run during the next six months; and for each campaign (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7409]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is provided in the table:
  467

  (B) Campaigns planned to run during the next six months

  Campaign

  Total cost (£000)

  Cost to department (£000)

  Who is carrying out promotion

  Duration

  No Smoking day 1997

  14

  14

  Health Promotion Agency

  12 March 1997

  Health Eating Campaign 1997 (promotion on eating less fat)

  9

  9

  Health Promotion Agency

  January to December 1997

  Drugs campaign

  192

  192

  Health Promotion Agency

  January to March 1997

  Seat belts radio campaign

  6

  6

  Department of the Environment NI

  Three weeks in February 1997

  Information leaflets on complaints procedures for tenants of registered housing associations

  2.5

  2.5

  Department of the Environment NIOne day in March 1997

  Information on new housing regulations relating to assured tenancies

  0.5

  0.5

  Department of the Environment NI

  One day between January and March 1997

  Anti-speeding TV and radio campaign

  64

  64

  Department of the Environment NI

  One month April/May 1997

  Housing benefit promotion

  2

  2

  Rate Collection Agency

  Six weeks February/March 1997

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency awareness campaign

  0.25

  0.25

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

  One day between January/March 1997

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7578]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The Northern Ireland Departments plan to spend £31,267 for the Christmas and new year festivities.

  Within the Northern Ireland Office, there are a number of functions being hosted by my right hon. and learned Friend, ministerial colleagues and the office. The estimated costs are about £9,200. The cost of Christmas cards, including postage, is estimated at £2,250.

  Life Sentence Prisoners
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) loyalist and (b) republican life sentence prisoners are currently conforming with prison regulations and have received release dates. [8722]

  Sir John Wheeler
  There are currently 12 loyalist and four republican life sentence prisoners with provisional release dates. Provisional in this context means that a prisoner is required satisfactorily to complete a pre-release programme lasting normally around nine months before the Secretary of State will decide whether to release the individual on life licence. Life sentence prisoners are released within 15 days of the Secretary of State's having signed the life licence.

  Prisoners are not categorised into various groupings. However, the definitions requested in the question are recorded for purely management purposes and reflect the prisoners' perceived affiliations.

  None of the 16 prisoners with a provisional date for release have had the date varied or withdrawn because of a breach of prison regulations.

  Action for Community Employment Scheme
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many(a) 18 to 25-year-olds and (b) 25 to 60-year-olds long-term unemployed people have participated in the ACE scheme (i) in the current year and (ii) in each of the previous five years; [8709]

  (2) how many participants in the ACE scheme are working part-time; and what is the average number of hours per week they work; [8710]
  468
  (3) how many people are currently participating in (a) jobskills, (b) the ACE training scheme and (c) the community work programme; and how many places are available; [8711]

  (4) what was the average wage of an ACE participant (a) in the present year and (b) in each of the previous five years; [8712]

  (5) how many (a) people aged 40 years or above, (b) men, (c) women, (d) married men, (e) married women and (f) people aged 18 to 25 years have taken part in the ACE scheme in each of the last five years including the current year; and how many participants there were in total. [8714]

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

  Letter from Ian Walters to Ms Majorie Mowlam, dated 16 December 1996:
  Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2032
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (T&EA), to reply to your questions about the Action for Community Employment (ACE) scheme, Jobskills and the Community Work Programme (CWP).

  Parliamentary Question 2027 (Ref: 8709)
  The ACE scheme is targeted at the long term unemployed in the 18–64 year old age group. I regret that I am unable to provide you with a detailed breakdown of the two age groupings requested. The information is not readily available and could not be provided other than at a wholly disproportionate cost.

  Parliamentary Question 2028 (Ref: 8710)
  On 27 September 1996, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available, there was 2510 part-time participants on the ACE scheme.
  The information you requested regarding the average number of hours worked by part-time workers is not available. Part-time workers are employed by sponsoring organisations and the T&EA does not collect information on average hours worked from them. However, sponsoring organisations are required to employ part-time workers for a minimum of 16 hours and maximum of 30 hours per week.

  469
  Parliamentary Question 2079 (Ref: 8711)
  The number of participants on the dates indicated is as follows:

  A. Jobskills—at 8 November 1996: Training for 16,881 young people and adults is supported through the Jobskills programme, with a further 2,606 trainees similarly supported in the Agency's own Training Centres. All 16 and 17 year olds are guaranteed a training place but adult training numbers were capped when Jobskills reached full capacity in September 1996.

  B. ACE—at 29 November 1996: 8040 places were available of which 7228 were filled;

  C. CWEP—at 6 December 1996: 1190 places were available of which 1020 were filled.

  Parliamentary Question 2030 (Ref: 8713)
  The T&EA does not record information on the actual wage rates paid to ACE employees. Sponsoring organisations are paid £93 per week for each ACE worker employed. Of this up to £11 can be used to defray overhead expenses. The balance must be used as a contribution towards paying the local rate for the job being undertaken by the ACE employee. Any shortfall between Agency's funding and the local rate is met by the sponsors pay well in excess of the shortfall.

  Parliamentary Question 2032 (Ref: 8714)
  Much of the information you are seeking is not readily available and could only be provided immediately at a disproportionate cost. The following information is available:

  Year

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1996

  3,700

  4,005

  7,705

  1995

  5,117

  5,027

  10,144

  1994

  4,894

  4,582

  9,476

  1993

  n/a

  n/a

  9,690

  Information in respect of 1992 and 1991 is not available.

  I am sorry I am unable to be more helpful in reply to some of your questions but I hope you find the information I have supplied useful.

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made in Northern Ireland for the payment of compensation for the slaughter of young bulls aged between 24 and 30 months. [9583]

  Mr. Ancram
  A scheme was introduced to allow the eligible animals to be slaughtered. Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought in a spring supplementary estimate for the Northern Ireland agriculture, fisheries and forestry services and support vote, class 1 vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure totalling £3.25 million has been met by the way of a repayable advance from the contingency fund.

  Trials (Delays)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further progress has been made to reduce delays in coming to trial in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [9582]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Hon. Members will know that a system of administrative time limits has been operating since 1992, aimed at reducing the time defendants spend in custody awaiting trial on indictment.

  On 7 December last year, in another place, my noble Friend Baroness Denton in reply to a question from Lord Hylton, Official Report House of Lords, column 87, set out the results of the scheme's first three years. She also
  470
  announced that the scheme would continue until at least 30 June 1996 and that from 1 November 1995 the overall target for cases to move from first remand to arraignment would be reduced from 11 months to 10 months.

  I can now report on the scheme's first four years up to 30 June 1996. Over this period, 80 per cent. of defendants in custody awaiting trial for scheduled offences were arraigned within the set target. Over the past year, the average time to process such defendants has been maintained at 37 weeks. Ninety-five per cent. of non-scheduled defendants in custody also met the target, the average time again being maintained at 29 weeks. The latter is a particularly commendable achievement in the light of a substantial increase over the past year in the proportion of non-scheduled cases.

  Worthwhile improvements have also been recorded in the period between arraignment and start of trial. Comparing 1993 with performance over the past year, the average wait for scheduled defendants has fallen from 28 weeks to 11 weeks and for non-scheduled defendants from 11 weeks to nine weeks.

  The criminal justice agencies' efforts remain effective, whilst they also continue to explore other means of streamlining and accelerating procedures. In highlighting their effective progress in the operation of the scheme, I have decided to extend it until at least the end of June 1997.

  Travelling Community Sites
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently living at the travelling community site(a) on the Glen road and (b) at the Monagh bypass, in Belfast, West. [8891]

  Mr. Moss
  I am informed by Belfast city council, which has responsibility for the provision of sites for travellers, that the number of people currently living at the travellers' community sites(a) on the Glen road and (b) at the Monagh bypass, in Belfast, West are:

  Number of people

  (a) Glen road

  227

  (b) Monagh bypass

  74

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the planned completion date of the Monagh woods site for the travelling community, in Belfast, West. [8892]

  Mr. Moss
  The provision of accommodation sites for travellers in Belfast is a matter for Belfast city council. I understand that Belfast city council is carrying out an economic appraisal of the various options available to provide accommodation for the travellers currently on the Monagh bypass site.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children(a) under 11 and (b) under 16 years, are currently living in the travelling community sites (i) on the Glen road and (ii) at the Monagh bypass. [8893]
  471
  Mr. Moss
  I am informed by Belfast city council, which has responsibility for the provision of sites for travellers, that the number of children(a) under 11 and (b) under 16 years of age currently living at the travellers' community sites (i) on the Glen road and (ii) at the Monagh bypass are:

  (a) Under 11

  (b) Under 16 (including under 11s

  (a) Glen road

  86

  112

  (b) Monagh by-pass

  21

  40

  Race Relations Order
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to lay the draft race relations order for Northern Ireland before Parliament. [8894]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is my intention to lay this draft order before Parliament at the earliest possible date.

  £ million

  Figures announced 11 December 1995

  Figures announced 10 December 1996

  Percentage change1 2

  1997–98

  1998–993

  1997–98

  1998–993

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Northern Ireland Office

  Law, order, protective and miscellaneous services4

  858

  850

  934

  920

  4.7

  3.6

  Northern Ireland Departments

  Northern Ireland agriculture and forestry services and support

  149

  140

  148

  130

  -0.7

  -7.1

  Industry, trade, energy and employment

  539

  530

  550

  530

  2

  0

  Roads and transport

  174

  180

  172

  170

  -1.1

  -5.6

  Housing

  267

  270

  243

  240

  -9

  -11.1

  Environmental and miscellaneious services

  252

  220

  226

  190

  -10.3

  -13.6

  Law, order and protective services (fire service)

  44

  40

  44

  40

  0

  0.0

  Education, arts and libraries5

  1,431

  1,430

  1,376

  1,380

  -0.8

  -0.7

  Health and personal social services

  1,623

  1,630

  1,642

  1,670

  1.2

  2.5

  Social Security administraton

  158

  160

  158

  160

  0

  0

  Other public services

  60

  60

  59

  60

  -1.7

  0

  NI block (excluding social security benefits6)

  5,536

  5,510

  5,553

  5,500

  0.1

  -0.2

  Social security benefits

  2,479

  2,590

  2,494

  2,590

  0.6

  0

  NI Block6

  8,035

  8,100

  8,046

  8,090

  0.2

  -0.1

  National agriculture and fisheries support

  172

  170

  175

  170

  1.9

  0

  NI programme6

  8,207

  8,270

  8,222

  8,260

  0.3

  -0.1

  1 Since the comparisons are based on changes between 11 December 1995 and 10 December 1996 in the plans relating to 1997–98 and 1998–99, the cash and real terms percentage changes are the same.

  2 The 1997–98 changes are based on figures rounded to the nearest £1 million to ensure like for like comparisons with the figures published on 10 December 1996: 1998–99 changes are based on figures rounded to the nearest £10 million and comparisons need to be treated with greater caution.

  3 Rounded to nearest £10 million.

  4 For the purpose of like for like comparisons, the law and order percentage changes are adjusted for the technical adjustment to the PANI grant for accruing superannuation liability which was made in the 1996 survey.

  5 For the purpose of like for like comparisons, education, arts and libraries percentages are adjusted to exclude the effect of Northern Ireland's share of student loan debt sale receipts allocated in the 1996 survey.

  6 The overall block and programme percentage changes are adjusted to exlude the effects of the accruing superannuation liability and the student loan debt sale recipts.

  Melbourne Declaration on Injury
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8643]
  472
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provisions relating to the availability of living space for members of the travelling community in the district council areas will be included in the proposed draft race relations order. [8895]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are no specific provisions in the draft legislation relating to this matter.

  Public Expenditure Allocations
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list Northern Ireland Office expenditure for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99 broken down into the same categories as in his answer of 10 December,Official Report, column 130, to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) showing, for each category, the corresponding figures and the percentage real terms change from the projections published in his answer of 11 December 1995, Official Report, columns 538–39, to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans). [9015]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Moss
  [holding reply 6 December 1996]: The Melbourne declaration does not provide for formal endorsement by Government of its conclusions. Prevention of accidents and trauma is a key area in the Department of Health and Social Services' regional strategy for Northern Ireland. The Department of the

  473
  Environment for Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the Department of Health and Social Services also published a strategy in July 1995 to reduce fatal and serious road traffic accident casualties.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  National Insurance Contributions
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 November,Official Report, columns 591–21, on national insurance, how many employees paid (i) at and (ii) below the maximum national insurance contribution rates; and what was the total estimated employed population in each year from 1979–80 and 1995–96. [7933]

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

  Number of people who paid Class 1 national insurance contributions in each relevant year (Great Britain)

  000

  Earnings equal to or above the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL)

  Earnings below the UEL

  1979–80

  997

  22,004

  1980–81

  931

  21,313

  1981–82

  877

  20,361

  1982–83

  888

  19,932

  1983–84

  927

  19,830

  1984–85

  1,020

  19,855

  1985–86

  1,088

  20,104

  1986–87

  1,102

  20,315

  1987–88

  1,294

  20,679

  1988–89

  1,603

  20,930

  1989–90

  1,747

  21,113

  1990–91

  1,831

  21,005

  1991–92

  1,707

  20,364

  1992–93

  1,833

  19,791

  1993–94

  1,802

  19,710

  1994–95

  1,855

  19,782

  Source:

  Lifetime Labour Market Database, a 1 per cent. sample of national insurance records taken at February 1996.

  Notes:

  1. Data relates to whole tax years and includes people who were employed and paid contributions for any part of the year.

  2. Figures exclude women paying Reduced Rate Contracted-out National Insurance contributions, as they information is not available.

  Total estimated employed population—(Great Britain)

  000

  Employees

  1979–80

  1—

  1980–81

  21,405

  1981–82

  1—

  1982–83

  20,288

  1983–84

  20,515

  1984–85

  20,746

  1985–86

  20,852

  1986–87

  20,892

  1987–88

  21,601

  1988–89

  22,167

  1989–90

  22,388

  1990–91

  22,034

  474

  Total estimated employed population—(Great Britain)

  000

  Employees

  1991–92

  21,520

  1992–93

  21,313

  1993–94

  21,415

  1994–95

  21,675

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey historical supplement 1996.

  Notes:

  1 Figures for 1979 and 1981 are not available as the source survey was biennial prior to 1982.

  1. Figures taken in March of each tax year, and as such are point in time figures. They are not seasonally adjusted.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 November,Official Report, columns 597–8, what is his estimate, at 1995–96 prices and if present contribution rates continued to apply, of the gross value of national insurance contributions for (a) the employed, (b) the self-employed, (c) employers, (d) class 1A for cars and car fuel and (e) the total of (a) to (d), before deducting NHS charges or allowing for occupational and personal pension rebates, for the years (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2010–11, (iii) 2020–21, (iv) 2030–31, and (v) 1995–96. [8252]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is as follows:

  Great Britain (1995–96 prices)

  £ billion

  1995–96

  2000–01

  2010–11

  2020–21

  2030–31

  Employees

  21.00

  25.65

  29.40

  31.65

  32.30

  Self-employed

  1.45

  1.65

  1.90

  2.05

  2.10

  Employers Class 1 NICs

  27.65

  34.65

  42.30

  49.25

  55.05

  Employers Class lA NICs

  0.50

  0.50

  0.60

  0.70

  0.80

  Total

  50.60

  62.45

  74.20

  83.70

  90.25

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department

  Notes:

  1. Components may not sum to total due to rounding.

  Child Support Appeal Tribunals
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals which have been lodged with a child support appeal tribunal are currently pending; what is the average length of time between the lodging of an appeal to a child support appeal tribunal and its hearing; and in how many cases the child support officer's decision has been upheld. [8793]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  At the end of November 1996, there were 4,227 appeals pending with a child support appeal tribunal of which 524 had already been listed for a future session. The average length of time between lodgement and first hearing was 26 weeks. During November, 466 cases were determined: in 84 cases the child support officer's decision was upheld.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claims were made in the last
  475
  available year for war pensioner's mobility supplement; and how many of these were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful. [9338]

  Mr. Heald
  In the 12 months ending September 1996, the last period for which figures are available, there were 3,351 claims made in respect of war pensioner's mobility supplement. During the same period 4,435 decisions on claims for the supplement were made, of which 2,619 resulted in awards. The decisions made in any one period may not necessarily relate to the claims made during the same period.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals currently receive the war pensioner's mobility supplement; what is the average amount paid per recipient; and what is the total amount paid each year as a percentage of total social security expenditure. [9337]

  Mr. Heald
  As at 30 September 1996, the last date for which figures are available, 23,602 war pensioners were receiving mobility supplement. The current amount payable is a flat rate of £37.75 weekly. Expenditure on mobility supplement is estimated at £45 million in 1996–97. This amounts to 0.05 per cent. of total social security expenditure.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the expected savings from the proposed changes to war pensions(a) in total and (b) for each proposed change, indicating the percentage of total social security expenditure in each case. [9335]

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

  Programme savings (£ million cash prices)

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–20001

  War pensions mobility supplement 40 per cent, disablement gateway

  1 (0.001 per cent.)

  3 (0.003 per cent.)

  4

  Allowance for lowered standard 40 per cent. disablement gateway

  Unemployability supplement 80 per cent. disablement gateway

  1 (0.001 per cent.)

  3 (0.003 per cent.)

  5

  combined for all four options

  Unemployability supplement no claims from over age 65

  Widows rent allowance - no new claims

  negligible saving

  Cease reminders to return claim forms

  2 (0.002 per cent.)

  3 (0.003 per cent.)

  4

  No copy decisions to third parties

  not costed

  Abandon long-term assessment (LTA)

  0

  0

  0

  Require evidence to justify review

  + neg.

  0.5 (neg per cent.)

  1

  Backdating—new rules

  3 (0.003 per cent.)

  3 (0.003 per cent.)

  3

  Align payment start dates

  negligible cost

  Automatic War Widows Pension for 80 per cent. and Unemployability supplement cases. War Widows pension

  -1 (0.001 per cent.)

  -1 (0.001 per cent.

  1

  476

  Programme savings (£ million cash prices)

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–20001

  restoration for cohabitees

  negligible cost

  Abolition of gratuities on remarriage/cohabitation

  not yet costed

  Clothing allowance one rate (the higher)

  0.5 (neg per cent.

  0.5 (neg per cent.)

  -0.5

  Funeral grants for 80 per cent. and Unemployability supplement cases

  negligible cost

  Remove rank differentials for gratuities

  -0.5 (neg per cent.

  -0.5 (neg per cent.)

  -0.5

  Total

  5(0.006 per cent.)

  10 (0.012 per cent.

  15

  1 Expenditure figures are not available for 1999–2000.

  1. Negligible = Less than £250,000.

  2. All amounts are rounded to the nearest 0.001 per cent.

  3. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  4. A minus sign indicates a cost.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of war disablement pension failed to apply for a pension increase in the five most recent years for which figures are available; and how many increased awards were paid to recipients of war disablement pensions in each of those years. [9331]

  Mr. Heald
  A war disablement pension may be increased for a range of reasons; for example; as a result of uprating of age changes which are made automatically or because the pensioner's service-related disablement has increased. In the latter case, the war pensioner may ask the Secretary of State to review his assessment of the degree of disablement. Information on the number of war pensioners whose disablement has increased but who have not required such a review is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information in the table shows the number of awards increased following request for a review.

  1991–92: 13,699

  1992–93: 13,196

  1993–94: 14,204

  1994–95: 18,576

  1995–96: 14,514

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of war veterans who would cease to be entitled to the war pensioner's mobility supplement if the 20 per cent. disability threshold for entitlement were raised to 40 per cent. [9333]

  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated that, annually, 800 war pensioners with disablement assessments below 40 per cent. would no longer qualify.

  No one already in receipt of mobility supplement at the point of the proposed change would be affected.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of war veterans who would cease to be entitled to the unemployability supplement if the 20 per cent. disability threshold were raised to 80 per cent. [9332]
  477
  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated that about 400 new claims for unemployability supplement would not succeed if the threshold for disablement were raised to 80 per cent. No war pensioner currently receiving the allowance would be affected.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claims for war pensions were made in the last available year by(a) men and (b) women aged over 65 years. [9334]

  Mr. Heald
  In the period October 1995 to 30 September 1996, a total of 27,215 new claims for war disablement pension were made. The number of claims made by men and women aged over 65 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reminder notices for returning forms claiming pension increases were issued to war pensioners in each of the last five years. [9330]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if there will be a waiver of the seven-year rule for unconditional claiming of war pensions following discharge in the case of Gulf war veterans whose entitlements will not be determined until the conclusion of the studies he has commissioned into Gulf war illnesses; and if he will make a statement. [9173]

  Mr. Heald
  No. Such a waiver is unnecessary. Anyone who considers that disablement may be due to service in the Gulf may claim a war pension at any time. Where a claim is made within seven years of termination of service there is no onus on the claimant to show that disablement is due to service. Even where a claim is made more than seven years after termination of service, it is only necessary for there to be reliable evidence to create a reasonable doubt that disablement might be due to or aggravated by service. The benefit of that reasonable doubt is always given to the claimant.

  The Secretary of State may review a decision to reject a claim at any time and on any ground. Where a claim made within seven years of termination of service is later reviewed the same conditions which applied at the time the claim was made apply to the review.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will recalculate the figures in table 6, para 7.12 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age"(a) on the basis of current prices and (b) on the assumption that an individual reverted to the full basic state pension at 70 years of age. [9162]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the tables:

  Table 6, paragraph 7.12 of options for equality in state pension age: recalculated on the basis of 1996–97 benefit rates

  Basic pension available at different ages 1996–97 prices

  Age 63 "pivot"1

  Age 65 "pivot"1

  60

  49

  42

  61

  53

  45

  62

  56

  48

  63

  61

  53

  64

  66

  56

  478

  Table 6, paragraph 7.12 of options for equality in state pension age: recalculated on the basis of 1996–97 benefit rates

  Basic pension available at different ages 1996–97 prices

  Age 63 "pivot"1

  Age 65 "pivot"1

  65

  72

  61

  66

  77

  66

  67

  84

  72

  68

  92

  79

  69

  101

  86

  70

  110

  95

  Table 6, paragraph 7.12 of options for equality in state pension age: recalculated on the basis of 1996–97 benefit rates assuming pension increases to full basic pension at age 70 for those retiring before the pivot

  Basic pension available at different ages

  Age 63 "pivot"1

  Age 65 "pivot"1

  60

  40

  27

  61

  45

  31

  62

  52

  35

  63

  61

  41

  64

  66

  49

  65

  72

  61

  66

  77

  66

  67

  84

  72

  68

  92

  79

  69

  101

  86

  70

  110

  95

  Note:

  In the second table, it has been assumed that where someone retired before the pivot age then their reduced pension will be increased to the full basic rate when they get to 70. For those that retire after the pivot age, and thus receive a higher initial pension, it has been assumed that this higher rate of pension will continue to be paid after age 70.

  1 Pounds per week at 1996–97 prices.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Disability Allowance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding recent changes in disability allowance; and if he will list the organisations concerned. [9307]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not yet available in the format requested. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of representations. The organisations which have written since the beginning of October are: Mencap, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, Disabled Drivers Association, the Society for the Mentally Handicapped, the Patients Council, the Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults, the Robert Ferguson Unit and Escape.

  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible with the outstanding information.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have had their disability allowance(a) reduced and (b) discontinued since the introduction of the benefit. [9305]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. Information on attendance allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit, the pneumoconiosis,
  479
  byssinosis and miscellaneous diseases benefit scheme, the workmen's compensation supplementation scheme and war disablement pensions is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Disability living allowance awards reduced and discontinued—6 April 1992 to 30 November 1996

  Numbers (thousands)

  Award reduced1

  51

  Benefit discontinued2

  450

  Source:

  Analytical services division.

  Notes:

  1 Awards reduced relate to decisions made on renewal claims, reviews and appeals.

  2 Includes termination of award due to death, no renewal of award and other reasons e.g. disallowances.

  Hearing Loss
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent medical evidence has been evaluated by his Department in respect of the link between hearing loss and military service; and if he will publish the evidence. [9336]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Davyhulme (Mr. Churchill) on 12 December 1996,Official Report, column 360.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) hospitals and (b) community homes in the NHS have had their mobility allowance withdrawn or reduced since the introduction of the benefit. [9306]
  480
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Prior to the changes to legislation governing payment of the mobility component of disability living allowance to people in hospital, the mobility component was not affected by admittance to hospital or similar institutions.

  Some 7,000 people were affected by the withdrawal of mobility component of disability living allowance when the changes were introduced on 31 July. It is not possible to identify separately those in hospital and similar institutions.

  Information regarding the numbers subsequently affected by withdrawal of the mobility component is not yet available.

  War Widows' Rent Allowance
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list(a) the number of widows who currently receive the war widows' rent allowance, (b) the average amount paid per recipient and (c) the total amount paid in each of the last five years as a percentage of total social security expenditure; [9339]

  (2) how many new claims were made in the last available year for the war widows' rent allowance, indicating the number of these that were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful. [9340]

  Mr. Heald
  As at 30 September 1996, the last date for which figures are available, 1,060 widows were in receipt of rent allowance. The current maximum amount payable is £30 a week. The average amount paid per recipient is estimated at £23 per week. During the period January 1996 to September 1996, the only period for which figures are available, 491 new claims were received. During the same period, 447 decisions were made, of which 50 resulted in awards. The decisions made in any one period may not necessarily relate to the claims made during the same period.

  The total amount paid by way of rent allowance over the last five years is not available. Expenditure for 1996–97 is estimated at about £1 million. This is 0.0014 per cent. of total social security expenditure.

  The Ponsonby Rule: Explanatory Memoranda
  The Ponsonby Rule: Explanatory Memoranda
  Cyprus
  Cyprus
  Portable Antiquities
  Portable Antiquities
  Heroin and Cocaine Seizures
  Heroin and Cocaine Seizures
  Organophosphates: Use in Gulf War
  Organophosphates: Use in Gulf War
  Civil Service Recruitment: Equal Opportunities Policy
  Civil Service Recruitment: Equal Opportunities Policy
  RAF Future Offensive Air System
  RAF Future Offensive Air System
  Northern Ireland: Young Bull Slaughter Payments
  Northern Ireland: Young Bull Slaughter Payments
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Membership
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Membership
  Judicial Costs and Court Fees
  Judicial Costs and Court Fees
  Judicial Independence
  Judicial Independence
  Litigants in Person
  Litigants in Person
  University Museums, Galleries and Collections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  University Museums, Galleries and Collections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  University Museums, Galleries and Collections: HEFC Funding
  University Museums, Galleries and Collections: HEFC Funding