Written Answers of 18 December 1996

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from the British Retail Consortium concerning the proposed Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations; and what estimate he has made of the cost to retailers, particularly small businesses, of the proposed regulations. [9138]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer to the reply given on 11 December,Official Report, columns 263–64, by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville), to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall).

  My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Blatch, Minister of State, Home Office, and I recently also had a meeting with representatives of the British Retail Consortium to discuss the possible implementation costs for the retail trade in complying with the proposed Workplace (Fire Precautions) Regulations. We visited two retail outlets with the British Retail Consortium, a fire service inspector and a fire prevention officer to assess at first hand possible implementation costs. I propose to visit further outlets in due course to gain further information for myself and colleagues. The Home Office will use the results, together with views from other businesses, in preparing a compliance cost assessment, which will accompany the proposed regulations.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Millennium Projects
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that submitted millennium projects which meet the Millennium Commission's published criteria are objectively assessed to determine their distinctiveness; and how she defines distinctive in relation to millennium projects; [7422]

  (2) which of the criteria for the proposal stage of the Millennium Commission's round 3 the Dreaming 2000 project failed to meet; and what differences there were between the criteria for the application stage of round 2 and the proposal stage of round 3; [7708]

  (3) how the Millennium Commission ensures that its criteria are applied consistently in decisions on bids; and if she will make a statement; [7710]

  (4) if she will make a statement on the factors underlying the Millennium Commission chief executive's rejection of the Dreaming 2000 project; [7705]
  590
  (5) what assessment she has made of the advantage of millennium proposals which involve schools taking responsibility for conservation projects; and if she will make a statement. [7707]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  These are matters for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission, and place copies of my replies in the Libraries of the House.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the latest date for a start on the millennium dome in order to ensure completion and fitting out before 31 December 1999. [9433]

  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.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Bernard Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress is being made on the restructuring of the Sports Council. [10425]

  Mr. Sproat
  Letters patent under the Great Seal granting royal charters of incorporation to the United Kingdom Sports Council and the English Sports Council were made on 19 September 1996. The United Kingdom Sports Council and the English Sports Council will become fully operational form 1 January 1997, subject to the legal transfer to the new bodies of the assets and liabilities of the Great Britain Sports Council. From that date, the United Kingdom Sports Council and the English Sports Council will receive a parliamentary grant from class X, vote I, to provide services and support for the benefit of sport and physical activities.

  The English Sports Council will become responsible from 1 January 1997 for the distribution in England of lottery proceeds for expenditure on or connected with sport.

  Television Relay Building Programme
  Sir James Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the conclusions of her review of the ultra-high frequency television relay building programme; and if she will make a statement. [10295]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The announcement made on 16 April 1991 by the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker),Official Report, column 131, explained that the Government had agreed with the BBC and Independent Television Commission that the programme of building 25 ultra-high frequency relay stations a year to extend UHF television coverage would be maintained until 1996 when its further continuation would be reconsidered. I have now undertaken that consideration in close consultation with the Independent Television Commission and the BBC, which have jointly administered the relay building programme to date.
  591
  I have decided, after careful consideration, in the knowledge that UHF television coverage now extends to 99.4 per cent. of the population, and in the light of plans for the introduction of digital terrestrial television that the formal programme of building 25 relay stations a year should cease. The self-help television scheme, established by the Government in 1980 to assist those communities not eligible for assistance under the relay programme, will remain. The BBC and ITC will continue to give free technical advice to those seeking to establish such schemes in the future. In addition, the BBC and Independent Television Commission will continue to promote improvements in the quality and range of television transmission. They will provide free technical advice to the public on television reception and will in exceptional circumstances consider constructing new television relays to extend terrestrial services.

  EU Culture Council
  Mr. Bernard Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the outcome of the Culture Council on 16 December. [10426]

  Mr. Sproat
  EU Ministers of culture met on 16 December 1996 in Brussels. Ministers agreed a resolution on the integration of cultural aspects into other Community actions. The purpose of this resolution is to give effect to article 128(4) of the treaty on European Union.

  Ministers held an exchange of views on the proposal for a directive amending the television without frontiers directive and on the proposal to establish a European guarantee fund to promote cinema and television production. The Council held an exchange of views on the development of new audiovisual services and adopted conclusions welcoming the European Commission's Green Paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in the audiovisual and information services. Ministers held an exchange of views on the issue of violence in the media.

  Ministers noted that the conciliation process with the European Parliament on the Ariane and Raphael programmes would now be convened under the Dutch presidency. An exchange of views was held on a number of further issues, including music, book pricing and the European cities of culture. Plovdiv was selected to host the Cultural Month 1999. Ministers also touched on the issues of cultural funding, authors' rights and cross-media ownership.

  Television Licence Fee
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement about the level of the television licence fee. [10478]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government have decided that changes in the licence fee for the five years commencing 1 April 1997 should be:

  Year one (1997–98): RPI

  Year two (1998–99): RPI plus 3 per cent.

  Year three (1999–2000): RPI plus 0.5 per cent.

  Year four (2000–01): RPI minus 1 per cent.

  Year five (2001–02): RPI minus 2.5 per cent.

  592
  This equates to a change in the level of the licence fee over the five-year period of retail prices index minus 0.08 per cent. The non-uniform pattern of annual changes reflects the need for expenditure on new digital services in the earlier years. This will be offset in 1997–98 by receipts from the sale of the BBC's transmission system, and in later years by increased efficiency savings and commercial income.

  The annual licence fee increase takes effect from each April. It is calculated on the basis of the annual increase in RPI in the 12 months to the preceding September. The RPI figure for September 1996 was 2.1 per cent., and this implies new fees from 1 April 1997 of £91.50 for a colour licence and £30.50 for a black and white licence. The necessary regulations will be laid before the House as part of new consolidated television licence fee regulations.

  Changes in the level of the television licence fee have been linked to movements in RPI since April 1988. Changes have been set at RPI for each year since then, except in 1991 when the settlement was held at RPI minus 3 per cent.

  On 12 August this year, I announced the appointment of independent consultants, Braxton Associates, to undertake a further review of the BBC's progress in achieving greater efficiency, reducing television licence fee evasion and exploiting additional sources of revenue, and to advise me on the level of the TV licence fee for the five years commencing 1 April 1997.

  Braxton Associates reported to me on 16 October, and a management summary of the report is being published tomorrow. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The consultants concluded that, while the BBC had made significant strides in improving efficiency in the last few years, there was nevertheless scope for further efficiency savings in the next five years. Their analysis of various assumptions about future developments suggested a range for the cumulative five-year settlement from RPI minus 1.9 per cent. to RPI plus 1.4 per cent. All their illustrative models showed a profile of real increases in years two and three, and real decreases in years four and five. This profile is reflected in the Government's decision.

  The BBC will now be able to pursue its plans for digital broadcasting and enhance its programme services. Television licence fee payers will be able to benefit from the BBC's planned services, but their licence fee increases over the next five years as a whole will be held just below inflation.

  Area Museums Councils
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she plans to announce the membership of the group which will consider the area museums councils. [5668]

  Mr. Sproat
  A working party has been appointed to review the AMCs and will include the following members:Mr. David Beeton (Chief Executive, Historic Royal Palaces Agency);
  Sir Neil Cossons OBE, (Director, Science Museum);

  593
  Dr. David Flemming (Director, Tyne and Wear Museum Service);
  Mr. Timothy Mason (Director, Museums and Galleries Commission);
  Miss Barbara Woroncow (Director, Yorkshire and Humberside Museums Council, and President of the Museums Association);
  Mr. Christopher Zeuner (Director of the Weald and Downland Museum, and a member of the Association of Independent Museums);

  I have asked for the consultation report by Monday 7 April 1997. Arrangements for the chairman/secretary will be announced in the new year.

  This review will involve wide consultations, both with the AMCs themselves and with the broad range of bodies which use the AMCs' services.

  National Reading Initiative
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the membership of the committee which will advise the Government on the national reading initiative under the chairmanship of Mrs. Ian Curteis. [3998]

  Mr. Sproat
  The membership of the panel for the national reading initiative under the chairmanship of Mrs. Ian Curteis (Joanna Trollope) is:

  Professor Ray Cowell—East Midlands Art Board

  Catherine Blanshard—Children's librarian, Hertfordshire CC

  Floella Benjamin—Children's broadcaster

  Timothy West—Actor

  Frances Booker—Primary school teacher, SCAA

  Vaughan Rees—ex DNH administrator

  Alan Judd—ex FCO administrator, and author

  Sue Blanshard—Folio Society

  The panel will take evidence widely, and produce its conclusions in spring next year.

  The panel wishes to encourage any individual or body that wishes to give evidence to be in touch with Mrs. Ian Curteis through DNH.

  Departmental Buildings (Electricity)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what capacity of electricity used in her Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans she has to increase that capacity. [9966]

  Mr. Sproat
  So far as my Department and its agencies are concerned there is no electricity generated in a combined heat and power plant CAP. However, one of the royal palaces—the Banqueting house—is connected to the Whitehall district heating scheme which will connect to a new CAP from next autumn, the overall capacity being 4,500 KW.

  In respect of other buildings, opportunities for CAP are limited but would be considered as part of the evaluation process for energy efficiency, particularly when replacing plant.

  Museums and Galleries
  Sir Timothy Sainsbury
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the current proportion of visitors to the museums and galleries supported by her Department who come from overseas. [8927]

  Mr. Sproat
  On the basis of recent surveys carried out by the museums and galleries sponsored by my Department, I estimate that one third of visits are made by overseas visitors.

  National Lottery
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultation was carried out(a) with individual football clubs and organisations representing football clubs and (b) with other bodies before the decision was taken to give approval to a second weekly national lottery. [10150]

  Mr. Sproat
  None.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to monitor the impact of the introduction of the mid-week national lottery draw on the future income(a) generated by football clubs' own lotteries and (b) raised by the Football Trust from pool betting duty and spot the ball competitions. [10149]

  Mr. Sproat
  I shall be meeting the Football Trust to discuss its funding position and related matters further, in the light of its survey of essential remaining safety work at league football clubs, when this is complete.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to introduce new outlets for the lottery, with the introduction of a mid-week lottery; and if she will make a statement. [9789]

  Mr. Sproat
  This is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked the Director General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member and to place copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what tenders her Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when she expects her department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9452]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage and its agencies will need to assess the impact that a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the millennium exhibition. [10477]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At its meeting on 11 December, the Millennium Commission confirmed its decision to proceed with the national exhibition at Greenwich in the year 2000. The commission is now finalising the means by which the exhibition will be delivered within an acceptable budget.

  Good progress has also been made on a number of other fronts: the planning application was submitted to the London borough of Greenwich as planned on 31 October and a decision is expected by the end of January. The Highways Agency announced on 15 November that the last two contracts for the M11-A12 link road have been awarded: the road will be completed in 1999 and will enable optimum use of the park-and-ride facilities planned for the exhibition. Work on the Jubilee line extension, which will provide easy access by underground from central London into the centre of the exhibition site, is progressing well, with the new line scheduled to open in 1998. On 22 November, English Partnerships announced that it had agreed terms with British Gas to acquire the Greenwich peninsula. Meanwhile, statutory decontamination works by British Gas are well under way.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Solicitors' Charges
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints have been made to the Law Society concerning solicitors' charges to clients between 1993 and 1996; and if he will make a statement. [9769]

  Mr. Streeter
  This is a matter for the Law Society.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many recipients of legal aid there have been; and how many applications have been refused in Darlington in each year since 1990. [9740]

  Mr. Streeter
  The total number of acts of assistance granted for civil and criminal legal aid was as follows:

  1990–91: 2,609,509

  1991–92: 3,045,456

  1992–93: 3,305,699

  1993–94: 3,500,402

  1994–95: 3,512,451

  1995–96: 3,469,368.

  It is not possible to identify separately applications for legal aid received from Darlington; these applications are dealt with by the Legal Aid Board area office in Newcastle, which covers the country from North Yorkshire to Northumberland and parts of Cumbria.
  596
  Figures for the total number of applications received and refused for civil legal aid by the Newcastle area office are available since 1992–93 only. These were as follows:

  Year

  Total applications

  Applications refused

  1992–93

  35,963

  9,042

  1993–94

  35,672

  9,563

  1994–95

  34,929

  10,578

  1995–96

  32,672

  9,821

  Total

  139,236

  39,004

  Applications for criminal legal aid are dealt with by the courts. Equivalent figures for applications made prior to 1992–93 and for criminal legal aid are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9626]

  Mr. Streeter
  The tables give details of the information requested for staff employed in the Lord Chancellor's Department headquarters and associated offices, and in the executive agencies for which the Lord Chancellor is accountable to Parliament.

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  LCD Headquarters and Associated Offices1

  1992

  1,088

  5

  1993

  1,162

  22

  1994

  1,207

  39

  1995

  867

  33

  1996

  864

  81

  Public Trust Office

  1992

  585

  0

  1993

  564

  0

  1994

  548

  1

  1995

  555

  1

  1996

  557

  13

  Court Service2

  1992

  11,033

  n/a

  1993

  10,911

  n/a

  1994

  10,639

  n/a

  1995

  10,612

  n/a

  1996

  10,077

  645

  Public Record Office3

  1992

  456

  3.5

  1993

  460

  31

  1994

  486

  32

  1995

  452

  27

  1996

  470

  27

  Land Registry

  1992

  9,850

  15

  1993

  9,503

  13

  1994

  9,145

  1

  1995

  8,816

  2

  1996

  8,539

  1

  597

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  1992

  660.5

  1

  1993

  675.5

  1

  1994

  681

  26

  1995

  656

  28

  1996

  643

  27.5

  1 All the figures given for non-permanent staff in LCD Headquarters and the Associated Offices include staff on renewable and unrenewable fixed term contracts. No central record of casual staff in this area was kept prior to 1996.

  2No central record of the number of non-permanent staff for the Court Service was kept prior to 1996.

  3Permanent figures for the Public Record Office include a small proportion—not exceeding 8 per cent.—of fixed-term jobs. Separate figures are not kept and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Ombudsman Service
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what plans he has to enhance the powers of the local government ombudsman to ensure that local authorities comply with the findings of the ombudsman; and if he will make a statement. 18916]

  Mr. Curry
  In his final report on the civil justice system in England and Wales, "Access to Justice", Lord Woolf proposed that the remedies recommended by ombudsmen should be enforceable through the courts. As I explained in the paper "Government Response to the Financial and Management and Policy Review of the Commission for Local Administration in England", which I announced in an answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Mr. Sykes) on 28 November 1996,Official Report, column 333, and placed in the Library, consideration of Lord Woolf's recommendations on ombudsmen is being postponed for the time being while my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor concentrates on implementing the major elements of Lord Woolf's proposals.

  Coal Mines (Accidents)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many major injuries occurred in United Kingdom coal mines during 1995–96; and if he will list the dates of the accidents and the mines they occurred in. [9297]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of major injuries reported to HM inspectorate of mines occurring in UK coal mines for 1 January 1995 to 27 November 1996 was 307.

  The information relating to the date of each injury and coal mine is as follows:

  Mine name

  Date

  Welbeck

  95.01.03

  Asfordby

  95.01.04

  Asfordby

  95.01.06

  Kellingley

  95.01.08

  New Daw Mill

  95.01.10

  Wistow

  95.01.17

  Clipstone

  95.01.17

  598

  Mine name

  Date

  Longannet

  95.01.17

  North Selby

  95.01.21

  Stillingfleet

  95.01.24

  Calverton

  95.01.24

  Prince of Wales

  95.01.25

  Riccall

  95.01.28

  Longannet

  95.02.02

  Harworth

  95.02.08

  Kellingley

  95.02.09

  Calverton

  95.02.13

  Pentreclwydau South

  95.02.13

  Prince of Wales

  95.02.14

  Maltby

  95.02.22

  Calverton

  95.02.23

  Maltby

  95.02.23

  Bilsthorpe

  95.03.03

  Markham Main

  95.03.06

  Riccall

  95.03.07

  Asfordby

  95.03.09

  Kellingley

  95.03.13

  Whittle

  95.03.14

  Dynant Fach No. 2 Mine

  95.03.14

  Longannet

  95.03.16

  Whittle

  95.03.16

  Thoresby

  95.03.20

  Harworth

  95.03.26

  Whitemoor

  95.04.02

  Clipstone

  95.04.04

  Longannett

  95.04.04

  Prince of Wales

  95.04.06

  Thoresby

  95.04.09

  Thoresby

  95.04.10

  North Selby

  95.04.12

  Kellingley

  95.04.13

  Kellingley

  95.04.14

  Longannett

  95.04.18

  Maltby

  95.04.22

  Wistow

  95.04.26

  Gascoigne Wood

  95.04.28

  Maltby

  95.04.29

  Whitemoor

  95.04.30

  New Point of Ayr

  95.05.01

  Maltby

  95.05.05

  Thoresby

  95.05.10

  Kellingley

  95.05.13

  Wistow

  95.05.17

  Clipstone

  95.05.18

  Prince of Wales

  95.05.19

  Backshot

  95.05.19

  Byrnant Varteg Mine

  95.05.19

  North Selby

  95.05.20

  Prince of Wales

  95.05.21

  Whitemoor

  95.05.22

  Markham Main

  95.05.24

  Cwmgwili Mine

  95.05.27

  Prince of Wales

  95.05.31

  Thoresby

  95.06.02

  Bilsthorpe

  95.06.05

  North Selby

  95.06.08

  New Point of Ayr

  95.06.08

  Bilsthorpe

  95.06.12

  Ellington Combine

  95.06.12

  Riccall

  95.06.13

  North Selby

  95.06.14

  Bilsthorpe

  95.06.21

  Riccall

  95.06.21

  New Point of Ayr

  95.06.21

  New Daw Mill

  95.06.23

  Riccall

  95.06.24

  Whitemoor

  95.06.25

  New Point of Ayr

  95.06.26

  Ellington Combine

  95.06.29

  New Daw Mill

  95.06.29

  Harworth

  95.07.03

  599

  Mine name

  Date

  Whittle

  95.07.03

  Hifynydd Mine

  95.07.04

  Clipstone

  95.07.07

  New Betws

  95.07.13

  Harworth

  95.07.13

  Bilsthorpe

  95.07.16

  Backshot

  95.07.24

  Stillingfleet

  95.07.24

  Whitemoor

  95.07.28

  Rossington

  95.07.30

  Blenkinsopp Castle

  95.07.31

  Gascoigne Wood

  95.08.06

  Maltby

  95.08.07

  Rossington

  95.08.18

  New Daw Mill

  95.08.19

  Wistow

  95.08.21

  Stillingfleet

  95.08.24

  Hatfield

  95.08.25

  Ellington Combine

  95.08.26

  Kellingley

  95.08.28

  Wistow

  95.08.29

  New Coventry

  95.09.01

  Ellington Combine

  95.09.05

  Thoresby

  95.09.06

  Riccall

  95.09.07

  Thoresby

  95.09.11

  Thoresby

  95.09.14

  Hatfield

  95.09.19

  Clipstone

  95.09.19

  Kellingley

  95.09.20

  Clipstone

  95.09.26

  New Point of Ayr

  95.10.01

  Whitemoor

  95.10.03

  Hatfield

  95.10.03

  New Point of Ayr

  95.10.03

  New Hem Heath

  95.10.09

  New Coventry

  95.10.11

  New Daw Mill

  95.10.13

  Harworth

  95.10.14

  New Coventry

  95.10.14

  North Selby

  95.10.17

  Stillingfleet

  95.10.17

  Harworth

  95.10.23

  Markham Main

  95.10.23

  Stillingfleet

  95.10.24

  Maltby

  95.10.24

  New Coventry

  95.10.30

  New Daw Mill

  95.11.01

  Annesley Bentinck

  95.11.03

  Prince of Wales

  95.11.09

  Maltby

  95.11.16

  Longannet

  95.11.16

  Calverton

  95.11.17

  Maltby

  95.11.17

  Maltby

  95.11.17

  Kellingley

  95.11.18

  Longannet

  95.11.20

  New Betws

  95.11.21

  North Selby

  95.11.28

  New Tower

  95.11.28

  Penllwyn Colliery

  95.11.30

  Kellingley

  95.12.03

  Clipstone

  95.12.04

  New Point of Ayr

  95.12.04

  Ellington Combine

  95.12.05

  Riccall

  95.12.09

  Ellington Combine

  95.12.18

  Markham Main

  95.12.19

  Markham Main

  95.12.19

  Asfordby

  95.12.21

  New Silverdale

  95.12.21

  Tyn Wern Mine

  95.12.22

  Riccall

  95.12.28

  New Daw Mill

  96.01.03

  600

  Mine name

  Date

  Whittle

  96.01.05

  Bilsthorpe

  96.01.05

  Markham Main

  96.01.06

  Thoresby

  96.01.06

  Bilsthorpe

  96.01.08

  New Silverdale

  96.01.11

  Prince of Wales

  96.01.12

  North Selby

  96.01.16

  Harworth

  96.01.17

  Ellington Combine

  96.01.19

  North Selby

  96.01.19

  North Selby

  96.01.23

  Longannet

  96.02.02

  New Hem Heath

  96.02.02

  Maltby

  96.02.11

  North Selby

  96.02.16

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.02.16

  New Daw Mill

  96.02.17

  North Selby

  96.02.19

  New Hem Heath

  96.02.20

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.02.21

  Stillingfleet

  96.02.22

  New Betws

  96.02.28

  Thoresby

  96.03.04

  New Daw Mill

  96.03.04

  New Coventry

  96.03.05

  Whitemoor

  96.03.09

  Calverton

  96.03.13

  Forest No. 3 Mine

  96.03.17

  Kellingley

  96.03.17

  Maltby

  96.03.18

  Maltby

  96.03.20

  Whitemoor

  96.03.21

  New Daw Mill

  96.03.21

  Wistow

  96.03.22

  Thoresby

  96.03.22

  New Silverdale

  96.03.26

  Park Drift

  96.04.01

  Thoresby

  96.04.02

  Harworth

  96.04.04

  Thoresby

  96.04.11

  North Selby

  96.04.12

  Maltby

  96.04.16

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.04.18

  Monktonhall LM

  96.04.18

  New Hem Heath

  96.04.18

  Whitemoor

  96.04.19

  Whitemoor

  96.04.21

  Wistow

  96.04.22

  North Selby

  96.04.23

  Kellingley

  96.04.24

  Stillingfleet

  96.04.26

  Clipstone

  96.04.27

  Stillingfleet

  96.05.05

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.05.07

  New Daw Mill

  96.05.07

  Tyne Wern Mine

  96.05.12

  Thoresby

  96.05.20

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.05.21

  Welbeck

  96.05.21

  Thoresby

  96.05.22

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.05.23

  Longannet

  96.05.24

  Monktonhall LM

  96.05.26

  Stillingfleet

  96.05.28

  North Selby

  96.05.28

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.06.01

  Calverton

  96.06.04

  Harworth

  96.06.05

  Ellington Combine

  96.06.05

  Welbeck

  96.06.06

  Hatfield

  96.06.10

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.06.10

  Stillingfleet

  96.06.11

  601

  Mine name

  Date

  Asfordby

  96.06.12

  Harworth

  96.06.14

  Harworth

  96.06.14

  New Hem Heath

  96.06.14

  Forest No. 3 Mine

  96.06.15

  Welbeck

  96.06.17

  Prince of Wales

  96.06.18

  New Point of Ayr

  96.06.20

  Bilsthorpe

  96.06.21

  Aberpergwm Mine

  96.06.21

  Prince of Wales

  96.06.25

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.06.27

  Monktonhall LM

  96.06.28

  Stillingfleet

  96.07.04

  Ellington Combine

  96.07.05

  Monktonhall LM

  96.07.07

  Thoresby

  96.07.08

  Clipstone

  96.07.11

  Harworth

  96.07.12

  Harworth

  96.07.13

  New Silverdale

  96.07.15

  Welbeck

  96.07.18

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.07.20

  Eckington

  96.07.25

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.07.25

  Thoresby

  96.07.28

  New Tower

  96.07.30

  Asfordby

  96.08.01

  Longannet

  96.08.14

  North Selby

  96.08.20

  Maltby

  96.08.25

  Ellington Combine

  96.08.27

  New Silverdale

  96.08.29

  New Daw Mill

  96.08.30

  Bilsthorpe

  96.09.03

  Rossington

  96.09.05

  Little Sheriff

  96.09.05

  New Daw Mill

  96.09.05

  Welbeck

  96.09.09

  Welbeck

  96.09.18

  Welbeck

  96.09.18

  North Selby

  96.09.18

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.09.21

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.09.23

  Maltby

  96.09.23

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.09.24

  Longannet

  96.09.24

  Monktonhall LM

  96.09.27

  Thoresby

  96.09.30

  New Daw Mill

  96.10.02

  Kellingley

  96.10.10

  Clipstone

  96.10.10

  New Daw Mill

  96.10.12

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.10.15

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.10.16

  Monktonhall LM

  96.10.16

  Pentreclwydau South

  96.10.16

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.10.18

  Thoresby

  96.10.22

  Longannet

  96.10.22

  North Selby

  96.10.23

  Kellingley

  96.10.26

  Prince of Wales

  96.10.31

  Rossington

  96.11.01

  Eckington

  96.11.05

  Welbeck

  96.11.07

  Pentreclwydau South

  96.11.08

  Thoresby

  96.11.10

  Maltby

  96.11.11

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.11.13

  New Tower

  96.11.14

  Longannet

  96.11.15

  North Selby

  96.11.18

  Hatfield

  96.11.20

  602

  Mine name

  Date

  Riccall/Whitemoor Co.

  96.11.20

  Wistow/Gascoigne Wood

  96.11.23

  Harworth

  96.11.27

  Thoresby

  96.11.27

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the major injuries reported under the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for United Kingdom coal mines for the year April 1995 to March 1996. [10151]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The list of major injuries reported to HM inspectorate of mines occurring in UK coal mines for 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 is as follows:

  Mine name

  Date

  Whitemoor

  95.04.02

  Clipstone

  95.04.04

  Longannet

  95.04.04

  Prince of Wales

  95.04.06

  Thoresby

  95.04.09

  Thoresby

  95.04.10

  North Selby

  95.04.12

  Kellingley

  95.04.13

  Kellingley

  95.04.14

  Longannet

  95.04.18

  Maltby

  95.04.22

  Wistow

  95.04.26

  Gascoigne Wood

  95.04.28

  Maltby

  95.04.29

  Whitemoor

  95.04.30

  New Point of Ayr

  95.05.01

  Maltby

  95.05.05

  Thoresby

  95.05.10

  Kellingley

  95.05.13

  Wistow

  95.05.17

  Clipstone

  95.05.18

  Prince of Wales

  95.05.19

  Backshot

  95.05.19

  Byrnant Varteg Mine

  95.05.19

  North Selby

  95.05.20

  Prince of Wales

  95.05.21

  Whitemoor

  95.05.22

  Markham Main

  95.05.24

  Cwmgwili Mine

  95.05.27

  Prince of Wales

  95.05.31

  Thoresby

  95.06.02

  Bilsthorpe

  95.06.05

  North Selby

  95.06.08

  New Point of Ayr

  95.06.08

  Bilsthorpe

  95.06.12

  Ellington Combine

  95.06.12

  Ricall

  95.06.13

  North Selby

  95.06.14

  Bilsthorpe

  95.06.21

  Riccall

  95.06.21

  New Point of Ayr

  95.06.21

  New Daw Mill

  95.06.23

  Riccall

  95.06.24

  Whitemoor

  95.06.25

  New Point of Ayr

  95.06.26

  Ellington Combine

  95.06.29

  New Daw Mill

  95.06.29

  Harworth

  95.07.03

  Whittle

  05.07.03

  Hirfynydd Mine

  95.07.04

  Clipstone

  95.07.07

  New Betws

  95.07.13

  Harworth

  95.07.13

  603

  Mine name

  Date

  Bilsthorpe

  95.07.16

  Backshot

  95.07.24

  Stillingfleet

  95.07.24

  Whitemoor

  95.07.28

  Rossington

  95.07.30

  Blenkinsopp Castle

  95.07.31

  Gascoigne Wood

  95.08.06

  Maltby

  95.08.07

  Rossington

  95.08.18

  New Daw Mill

  95.08.19

  Wistow

  95.08.21

  Stillingfleet

  95.08.24

  Hatfield

  95.08.25

  Ellington Combine

  95.08.26

  Kellingley

  95.08.28

  Wistow

  95.08.29

  New Coventry

  95.09.01

  Ellington Combine

  95.09.05

  Thoresby

  95.09.06

  Riccall

  95.09.07

  Thoresby

  95.09.11

  Thoresby

  95.09.14

  Hatfield

  95.09.19

  Clipstone

  95.09.19

  Kellingley

  95.09.20

  Clipstone

  95.09.26

  New Point of Ayr

  95.10.01

  Whitemoor

  95.10.03

  Hatfield

  95.10.03

  New Point of Ayr

  95.10.03

  New Hem Heath

  95.10.09

  New Coventry

  95.10.11

  New Daw Mill

  95.10.13

  Harworth

  95.10.14

  New Coventry

  95.10.14

  North Selby

  95.10.17

  Stillingfleet

  95.10.17

  Harworth

  95.10.23

  Markham Main

  95.10.23

  Stillingfleet

  95.10.24

  Maltby

  95.10.24

  New Coventry

  95.10.30

  New Daw Mill

  95.11.01

  Annlesley Bentinck

  95.11.03

  Prince of Wales

  95.11.09

  Maltby

  95.11.16

  Longannet

  95.11.16

  Calverton

  95.11.17

  Maltby

  95.11.17

  Maltby

  95.11.17

  Kellingley

  95.11.18

  Longannet

  95.11.20

  New Betws

  95.11.21

  North Selby

  95.11.28

  New Tower

  95.11.28

  Penllwyn Colliery

  95.11.30

  Kellingley

  95.12.03

  Clipstone

  95.12.04

  New Point of Ayr

  95.12.04

  Ellington Combine

  95.12.05

  Riccall

  95.12.09

  Ellington Combine

  95.12.18

  Markham Main

  95.12.19

  Markham Main

  95.12.19

  Asfordby

  95.12.21

  New Silverdale

  95.12.21

  Tyn Wern Mine

  95.12.22

  Riccall

  95.12.28

  New Daw Mill

  96.01.03

  Whittle

  96.01.05

  Bilsthorpe

  96.01.05

  Markham Main

  96.01.06

  Thoresby

  96.01.06

  Bilsthorpe

  96.01.08

  604

  Mine name

  Date

  New Silverdale

  96.01.11

  Prince of Wales

  96.01.12

  North Selby

  96.01.16

  Harworth

  96.01.17

  Ellington Combine

  96.01.19

  North Selby

  96.01.19

  North Selby

  96.01.23

  Longannet

  96.02.02

  New Hem Heath

  96.02.02

  Maltby

  96.02.11

  North Selby

  96.02.16

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.02.16

  New Daw Mill

  96.02.17

  North Selby

  96.02.19

  New Hem Heath

  96.02.20

  Annesley Bentinck

  96.02.21

  Stillingfleet

  96.02.22

  New Betws

  96.02.28

  Thoresby

  96.03.04

  New Daw Mill

  96.03.04

  New Coventry

  96.03.05

  Whitemoor

  96.03.09

  Calverton

  96.03.13

  Forest No. 3 Mine

  96.03.14

  Kellingley

  96.03.17

  Maltby

  96.03.18

  Maltby

  96.03.20

  Whitemoor

  96.03.21

  New Daw Mill

  96.03.21

  Wistow

  96.03.22

  Thoresby

  96.03.22

  New Silverdale

  96.03.26

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions are placed on the Health and Safety Executive in respect of providing information to local authorities on accidents at THORP without the consent of British Nuclear Fuels plc. [9146]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive may release such information to an officer of a local authority authorised to receive it, where HSE has acquired the information under statutory requirements. However, HSE would normally make the information available only if there was a health and safety purpose in doing so.

  Section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 contains restrictions on the release of information obtained under statutory requirements or in the exercise of inspectors' powers. Associations of local authorities, unlike individual local authorities, do not fall within the exemptions from these restrictions.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he made of the health and safety consequences of incidents(a) during the construction of THORP at Sellafield and (b) since it commenced operational activity. [91451

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Conditions attached to the Sellafield nuclear site licence require BNFL to have arrangements in place to investigate and report incidents at THORP to HSE's nuclear installations inspectorate. These apply throughout the lifetime of the plant, including the construction stage. Additional arrangements exist to comply with other regulations, such as the Reporting of
  605
  Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 relating to non-nuclear incident reporting.

  The HSE routinely monitors BNFL's arrangements including the conduct of its investigations, and carries out separate investigations where appropriate, which take into account the health and safety consequences of the particular incident. Significant incidents are reported in the HSE's quarterly statements of nuclear incidents.

  Radiation (Sellafield)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests British Nuclear Fuels plc has made to his Department for permission to increase the levels of radiation released into the atmosphere from its plant at Sellafield. [9143]

  Mr. Clappison
  No requests have been made to this Department. However, British Nuclear Fuels has applied to the Environment Agency for a variation to its current certificates of authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to dispose of waste gases, mists and dusts from premises on its Sellafield site.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what levels of radiation have been released into the atmosphere from the BNFL plant at Sellafield in each of the last five years; and what are the current levels. [9144]

  Mr. Clappison
  Information about air-borne discharges of radioactivity in past years from British Nuclear Fuels' Sellafield site is contained in the company's "Annual Report on Radioactive Discharges and Monitoring of the Environment", the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment" and the Department of the Environment's "Digest of Environmental Statistics". Copies of all these are available in the Library of the House.

  Details of current discharges are contained in public registers held by the Environment Agency and local authorities in the area. The information may be obtained from the Environment Agency at Mitre house, Church street, Lancaster, LA1 1BQ.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which appointments to the Health and Safety Commission lapse before 1 May 1997; on what dates; and if he will consult Her Majesty's Opposition before making the new appointments. [9571]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Two appointments to the commission lapse on 31 March 1997. Any new appointments will be made in accordance with the extensive consultation requirements set out in section 10(3)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974; and with the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Secretary of State has no plans to consult on the appointments beyond that.

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the
  606
  total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9492]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The figures for the Department of the Environment and its executive agencies are given in the table:

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Department of the Environment

  Full-time

  2,098

  1,414

  3,512

  Part-time

  30

  280

  310

  Total

  2,128

  1,694

  3,822

  The Planning Inspectorate

  Full-time

  429

  211

  640

  Part-time

  10

  30

  40

  Total

  439

  241

  680

  Building Research Establishment

  Full-time

  435

  182

  617

  Part-time

  5

  68

  73

  Total

  440

  250

  690

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  Full-time

  28

  27

  55

  Part-time

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  28

  27

  55

  Health and Safety Executive

  Full-time

  2,429

  1,599

  4,028

  Part-time

  21

  397

  418

  Total

  2,450

  1,996

  4,446

  The figures are taken from the Department of the Environment's Staff On-Line Information System (SOLIS) and the Health and Safety Executive's Personnel information database (PRIMA). Other figures were supplied by the relevant executive agencies. The figures show the actual numbers of staff-in-post for December 1996 except for Health and Safety Executive—these figures are for 1 April 1996.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9624]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I sent on 3 December 1996 in response to his previous named day question for Monday 25 November.

  The figures supplied in the annexe to that reply provide the following sub-totals:

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  1 April 1996

  Department of the Environment

  Permanent

  4,244

  4,599

  4,236

  3,973

  3,632

  Non-Permanent

  237

  223

  293

  300

  268

  Building Research Establishment

  Permanent

  654

  638

  646

  670

  622

  Non-Permanent

  34

  37

  31

  68

  107

  The Planning Inspectorate

  Permanent

  613

  608

  622

  612

  596

  Non-Permanent

  13

  6

  11

  7

  37

  607

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  1 April 1996

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution

  Permanent

  285

  347

  398

  403

  343

  Non-Permanent

  20

  19

  30

  25

  32

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  Permanent

  61

  55

  60

  49

  143

  Non-Permanent

  6

  6

  10

  11

  12

  The figures are taken from the Department of the Environment's Staff On-Line Information System (SOLIS), and show the actual numbers of staff-in-post employed as at 1 April 1992–1996.

  1This is a correction to the figures previously supplied.

  Health and Safety Executive

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  1 April 1996

  Permanent

  4,218

  4,441

  4,418

  4,233

  4,006

  Non permanent

  104

  97

  127

  158

  145

  The figures for the Health and Safety Executive were taken from their Personnel information database (PRIMA). These figures are for Full Time Equivalent Staff in Post.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9387]

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is as follows:

  Visits in the UK1

  Visits outside the UK

  John Gummer

  42

  17

  David Curry

  43

  4

  Robert B. Jones

  44

  5

  The Earl Ferrers

  30

  4

  Sir Paul Beresford

  52

  1

  James Clappison

  38

  3

  1A visit may incorporate travelling to more than one place.

  Housing Association Starts
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the number of new housing association starts(a) in total and (b) in the eastern region next year. [9440]

  Mr. Clappison
  In the month to 13 December we received a total of 41 letters from Members of Parliament enclosing letters from housing associations about new housing association starts, including seven from associations in the eastern region.

  Formaldehyde
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations are currently in force in respect of the protection of human health and the environment from formaldehyde fumes. [9565]
  608
  Mr. Clappison
  The following legislation relevant to the protection of human health and the environment from formaldehyde is in force:the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with respect to emissions from those industrial processes with the greatest potential for pollution, the range of pollutants controlled includes formaldehyde where appropriate;
  the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994; and
  the Building Regulations 1991, part D (toxic substances), with respect to the use of urea formaldehyde foam insulation in cavity walls.

  Housing (Single People)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many households living in accommodation matching the definition of the single room rent assessment figure for housing benefit purposes were identified in the census of 1991; [9418]

  (2) how many single people (a) aged under 25 years (b) aged 25 to 59 years and (c) aged 60 and over were identified as living in accommodation matching the definition of the single room rent assessment figure for housing benefit purposes in the census of 1991. [9416]

  Mr. Clappison
  The information available from the census is for households occupying a bedsitting room. This is a wider category than that defined as a single room by the Department of the Environment and used by the Department of Social Security for housing benefit purposes, as it includes households who shared only one of the facilities of a toilet, kitchen or bathroom.

  The relevant age breakdown in the census related to heads of households, and the "single, widowed, and divorced" category of heads of households and so included cohabiting couples and lone parents as well as people living by themselves, but excluded separated people living by themselves who were counted under the group "married heads of households".

  There were 136,498 households identified as living in bedsits in Great Britain in the 1991 census, and of these 117,120 were people living by themselves.

  The information by age available from the census was for the 121,355 single, widowed and divorced heads of household living in bedsits, as follows:

  Age

  Number

  16–29

  63,582

  30-pensionable age

  46,192

  Pensionable age and over

  11,581

  Source:

  1991 Census of population.

  More up-to-date information on those living in rented accommodation in England is available from the annual survey of English housing.

  Secondary Liquid Fuel
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the recommendations contained in the second report of the Environment Committee on the burning of secondary liquid fuel in cement kilns, HC497
  609
  of Session 1994–95 (a) have been implemented, (b) the Government have decided not to implement and (c) the Government are still considering. [8628]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Select Committee on the Environment is currently carrying out a further inquiry into the environmental impact of the cement manufacture. My Department's memorandum of evidence to the latest inquiry describes the extent to which the Committee's previous recommendations have been implemented. A copy of the memorandum has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the burning of secondary liquid fuels in kilns has been brought within the scope of the EU hazardous waste incineration directive; and if he will make a statement. [8629]

  Mr. Clappison
  The directive requires that the incineration of hazardous waste is subject to specified controls over pollution. Co-incineration plants, such as cement or lime kilns which burn hazardous waste, are within its scope.

  Cammell Laird Shipbuilding Yard
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of fatal accidents at Cammell Laird shipbuilding yard in each year from 1966 until 1995. [9614]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  One fatal accident at the Cammell Laird shipbuilding yard has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive during the period 1986 to 1995.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9460]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the specific spending pressures identified in the proposals of the local authority associations in the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance which have been recognised in his recent announcement on total spending for 1997–98. [9701]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend took into account all pressures on local government spending for 1997–98 as well as the scope for efficiencies. In forming his assessment of pressures, he had regard to the proposals which the local authority associations put to the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance. The provisional total standard spending announced by my right hon. Friend represents his view of the appropriate 610
  level of local authority spending in the round. It is not possible to identify how much has been included to meet individual burdens or pressures.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the provision for 1996–97 in respect of recycling supplementary credit approvals for local authorities; and what was the equivalent figure in the current year. [9787]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Planned provision for the recycling supplementary credit approval programme in 1997–98 is nearly £2.2 million, which we propose to devote to the promotion of home composting. The provision for 1996–97 is currently £10 million.

  The reduction in the resources available next year reflects the additional funding for recycling which is likely to be available from capital challenge allocations, landfill tax environment bodies, our initiatives on producer responsibility for packaging waste and newspapers, together with benefits arising from the private finance initiative.

  Air Pollution Control
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites in England and Wales are subject to local authority air pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990; how many have been granted authorisation; of these how many(a) have been visited and (b) have submitted a detailed upgrading plan to the enforcing authority within the required period; and how many authorisations have been granted to industrial sites after the relevant upgrading deadline date has passed. [9832]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Lady to the report on the first five years' successful operation of the local air pollution control system, which was published on 9 December and a copy sent to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson). The report contains a statistical overview of the operation of the system, including the latest available information on numbers of authorised processes, and the results of a survey on upgrading. Information on process visits is to be collected for 1996–97.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each occasion in the last five years when domestic drinking water was contaminated to an extent which was assessed by his Department as constituting a threat to public health; and if he will make a statement. [9775]

  Mr. Clappison
  There is a robust regulatory regime controlling drinking water quality administered by the drinking water inspectorate. Since 1990, there have been over 2,000 enforcement actions and some £2 billion of expenditure aimed at further improvements in drinking water quality. In 1995, the water companies in England and Wales carried out approximately 3.2 million tests on drinking water of which 99.5 per cent. showed that the relevant standards had been met.
  611
  Water companies in England and Wales are required to report all incidents in which drinking water quality might be affected. All incidents are investigated by the inspectorate. Most incidents are relatively minor happenings.

  In those cases in which the drinking water was chemically contaminated and where the inspectorate has completed its investigations, there is no evidence that the magnitude or duration of the contamination was such as to endanger public health.

  Most cases in which there is bacteriological contamination are trivial and often involve the notification of advice to boil water to a small number of consumers while tests are undertaken on the quality. In most cases, the advice is found to have been unnecessary, but consumers have been given protection rather than potentially left at risk.

  The most significant risk to drinking water quality is the presence of cryptosporidium oocysts. On cryptosporidium, the notification to the inspectorate can relate to either the detection of cryptosporidium oocysts in treated water, or to an increase of the illness cryptosporidiosis in the community or both. The transmission of the illness occurs in a number of ways and often through contact with animals. One recent outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was found to be associated with a failure of a milk pasteurisation plant.

  All incidents are investigated fully by the drinking water inspectorate. As cryptosporidiosis can be transmitted in many ways, the source of any outbreak has to be established through epidemiology. A case of South West Water Services Ltd. allegedly supplying water unfit for human consumption because of cryptosporidium is currently before the courts.

  Notifications of events involving cryptosporidium are listed in the table under four headings. It should be noted that not all notifications become confirmed as incidents.

  Cryptosporidium oocysts detected in treated water but no reported increase of cryptosporidiosis

  Water company area

  Date

  Location

  Yorkshire Water

  19 December 1991

  Redmires

  Southern Water

  19 March 1992

  Broadfields Water Treatment Works (WTW)

  Severn Trent Water

  20 August 1992

  Fairholmes WTW

  Southern Water

  8 September 1992

  Steyning WTW

  Southern Water

  22 October 1992

  Testwood WTW

  South West Water

  29 December 1992

  Broomhill WTW

  Yorkshire Water

  5 January 1995

  Huby WTW

  Yorkshire Water

  16 March 1995

  Fixby WTW

  Essex and Suffolk

  30 March 1995

  Ormsby WTW

  Yorkshire Water

  31 August 1995

  Cottingham adit

  Yorkshire Water

  13 September 1995

  Kepwick Springs WTW (in raw water)

  South West Water

  13 September 1995

  Parracombe WTW

  Yorkshire Water

  5 January 1996

  Elvington WTW

  Yorkshire Water

  10 January 1996

  Elvington WTW

  Yorkshire Water

  15 January 1996

  Kepwick Springs WTW

  South West Water

  29 May 1996

  Littlehempston

  Cambridge Water

  30 May 1996

  Duxford/Linton

  South West Water

  27 June 1996

  Crown Hill WTW

  Mid Kent Water

  3 July 1996

  Burham WTW

  Southern Water

  612

  An increase in cryptosporidiosis in the community but oocysts not detected in treated water

  Water company area

  Date

  Location

  Southern Water

  28 December 1990

  Thanet area

  North West Water

  5 May 1992

  West Cumbria

  North West Water

  27 March 1992

  Barrow in Furness

  North West Water

  14 December 1992

  Warrington

  Northumbrian

  15 June 1993

  Sherbum

  North West

  April 1994

  Chorley

  Both oocysts detected in treated water and an increase of cryptosporidiosis in the community

  Water company area

  Date

  Location

  Yorkshire Water

  13 November 1992

  Bingley and Shipley

  South West Water

  12 August 1995

  Torbay/Littlehempston

  Incidents still under investigation

  Water company area

  Date

  Location

  Wessex Water

  April 1993

  Poole

  Yorkshire Water

  11 June 1993

  Gilstead

  North East

  25 January 1996

  Sunderland

  Yorkshire Water

  21 March 1996

  Tophill

  North West Water

  29 April 1996

  The Wirral

  Yorkshire Water

  17 October 1996

  Elvington WTW

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds he plans to make available to authorities that have been or are to be reorganised on 1 April 1995,1996,1997 or 1998 for reorganisation costs incurred by them in 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [10336]

  Mr. Curry
  On 10 October, I invited authorities that have or are to be reorganised on or before 1 April 1998 to submit estimates of the amount of expenditure they expect to incur on transitional costs of reorganisation in 1997–98. On the basis, inter alia, of the information provided by the authorities, I have decided the maximum amounts to allocate towards such costs in 1997–98. I have given priority to authorities to be reorganised in 1997 and 1998. The majority of authorities to be reorganised in 1998 asked for allocations in respect of redundancy to be deferred until the mid-year review in October 1997. Accordingly, the allocations listed for authorities reorganising in 1998 are not intended to cover redundancy costs.

  Maximum amounts: £000 rounded

  Authority

  1997–98

  1996 reorganisations

  Hartlepool Borough Council

  1,200

  Redcar and Cleveland Council

  900

  Middlesbrough Borough Council

  1,300

  Stockton on Tees Borough Council

  800

  Bristol City Council

  900

  North Somerset Council

  800

  Bath and North East Somerset Council

  900

  South Gloucestershire Council

  1,000

  Kingston upon Hull Council

  700

  East Riding of Yorkshire Council

  2,500

  613

  Maximum amounts: £000 rounded

  Authority

  1997–98

  North Lincolnshire Council

  700

  North East Lincolnshire Council

  700

  York City Council

  800

  1997 reorganisations

  Bedfordshire County Council

  700

  Luton Borough Council

  3,300

  Milton Keynes Borough Council

  2,200

  Derbyshire County Council

  900

  Derby City Council

  2,600

  Dorset County Council

  400

  Bournemouth Borough Council

  2,700

  Poole Borough Council

  2,600

  Durham County Council

  400

  Darlington Borough Council

  1,660

  East Sussex County Council

  1,700

  Brighton and Hove Council

  4,000

  Hampshire County Council

  1,400

  Portsmouth City Council

  2,600

  Southampton City Council

  2,700

  Leicestershire County Council

  800

  Leicester City Council

  3,100

  Rutland District Council

  1,260

  Staffordshire County Council

  500

  Stoke-on-Trent City Council

  2,400

  Wiltshire County Council

  80

  Thamesdown Borough Council

  800

  1998 reorganisations

  Berkshire County Council

  1,100

  Bracknell Forest Borough Council

  2,100

  Newbury District Council

  2,400

  Reading Borough Council

  2,700

  Slough Borough Council

  1,900

  Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

  2,200

  Wokingham District Council

  2,900

  Hereford and Worcester County Council

  300

  Hereford City Council

  100

  Leominster District Council

  150

  Malvern Hills District Council

  200

  South Herefordshire District Council

  50

  Devon County Council

  1,000

  Plymouth City Council

  2,600

  Torbay Borough Council

  3,000

  Essex County Council

  500

  Southend on Sea Borough Council

  2,100

  Thurrock Borough Council

  2,400

  Nottinghamshire County Council

  400

  Nottingham City Council

  2,700

  Cheshire County Council

  500

  Halton Borough Council

  2,200

  Warrington Borough Council

  3,000

  Shropshire County Council

  300

  The Wrekin District Council

  2,400

  Kent County Council

  1,000

  Gillingham Borough Council

  200

  Rochester City Council

  400

  Cambridgeshire County Council

  400

  Peterborough City Council

  2,900

  Lancashire County Council

  800

  Blackburn Borough Council

  2,700

  Blackpool Borough Council

  2,700

  The Isle of Wight and Buckinghamshire county council did not submit bids. Initial allocations will be made to the new shadow authorities of Herefordshire, Worcester, East Malvern and Tenbury, and Rochester and Gillingham shortly after they are established in May 1997.

  Housing Allocations
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make regulations exempting further classes of people from the allocation provisions in part VI of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [10337]

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are committed to ensuring that the new allocations provisions in part VI of the 1996 Act do not compromise the present arrangements under which many local authorities accept a limited number of referrals from welfare agencies and hostels for homeless people. I have reflected carefully on whether it is necessary to make regulations in order to allow such arrangements to continue, and have concluded that it is not. There is sufficient flexibility inherent in part VI to allow local authorities to maintain such arrangements within the new allocation schemes they will be establishing, and I am issuing guidance to this effect.

  Packaging Waste Regulations
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the responses to the consultation paper he issued in July on the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [10475]

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with my colleagues, the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, I published proposals in July which aim to secure an effective business-led approach to meeting the environmental goal of a more sustainable approach to packaging waste. This followed a lengthy process of consultation with a wide range of business sectors and is based on the industry agreement on the shared approach achieved on 15 December 1995.

  The system we propose is based on four guiding principles:
  using the market to reflect the cost of dealing with waste in the price the consumer pays;
  a shared approach involving all parts of the packaging chain;
  the lightest regulatory approach giving the maximum scope for obligated businesses to self-certify and self-assess their obligations and to perform those obligations through business-run schemes, or individually subject to monitoring by the environment agencies.
  continuing industry involvement in monitoring, reviewing and proposing changes to the system through the Advisory Committee on Packaging.

  We have had a wide range of responses to the consultation paper including 100 from trade associations representing 53,000 member businesses and a further 348 from individual businesses and other interested organisations. Most respondents endorsed the overall framework and the basic provisions which flow from the 15 December agreement. However, the responses did raise specific concerns on issues such as the timetable, the level of interim targets, the cut-off threshold for small businesses, the wholesaler obligation and the scope and nature of exemptions. I have considered these and have sought the views of Sir Peter Parker and the Advisory Committee on Packaging and I am grateful to have their further comments which will be published separately.
  615
  I therefore intend to make the following modifications to the draft regulations which will be subject to parliamentary debate.

  To allow businesses sufficient time to assess the implications of the regulations for them and the merits of joining a collective business scheme such as VALPAK, I propose to delay the first requirement for registration and provision of data until the summer of 1997 and I will make a further announcement shortly. The date for the renewal of registration and the provision of data will, from 1998 onwards, be 1 April.

  A further concern raised related to the proposed interim targets for recovery and recycling which could place an unnecessarily high burden on some businesses and particularly on those who handle materials which are harder to recover. Many felt that a slower build-up to the full directive targets in 2001 targets would be more realistic. I therefore propose to revise the interim targets on individual businesses as follows:

  Minimum recycling target for each material

  Overall recovery target

  Recovery of UK packaging waste

  1998–99

  7

  38

  32

  2000

  11

  43

  40

  2001

  16

  152

  50

  1 Of which a minimum of 26 per cent. must be recycling.

  These targets will enable the UK to meet the recycling and recovery targets set out in the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste, 94/62 EC.

  I have also taken account of the representations that some sectors of industry will have greater difficulty in adapting to the proposed obligations than others, particularly in the case of small firms. I also consider that the most effective means of introducing the new system will be to take a staged approach starting with the largest businesses. I therefore propose to adopt a phased approach in relation to the following aspects:
  No business with a turnover of less than £5 million, or that handled less than 50 tonnes of packaging will have an obligation in the years 1997 to 1999, but from 1 January 2000 an eligible business with a turnover of £1 million or more and that handled more than 50 tonnes of packaging will be obligated. The proposed wholesaler obligation will apply from 1 January 2000.

  I am confident that a phased approach will allow these sectors additional time to prepare and work up methods for meeting recycling and recovery objectives in a form which meets their needs.

  I have considered also issues raised by those who handle packaging which is or is associated with special or hazardous waste. Where packaging is likely to become special waste, producers will not need to include it when calculating their recovery and recycling obligations, but they will need to provide data and indicate the steps taken to promote or increase its recovery. This amendment should assist those producers that handle packaging whose hazardous or contaminated nature require special disposal arrangements.
  616
  I also propose to place an obligation on production of reusable packaging but to exempt it when it is reused. Other more detailed changes will be set out in the published regulations.

  I also recognise that for many businesses a major concern is not the recycling and recovery effort itself but the means of gathering data. Some businesses already have good data systems while many trade associations and the Industry Council on Packaging and the Environment are already working to develop sector guides and assistance with definitions and other guidance. I intend to support this work and to make available, to help to start the system, a very simple ready reckoner which businesses can use to meet the initial requirement for a best estimate expressed in tonnes per annum.

  The environment agencies that will monitor and enforce the regulations will charge a fee to individual businesses and collective schemes to cover the costs of their functions. In the light of consultation, and taking account of the changes listed I propose to set the fee for individual businesses at £750 per annum and to offer schemes a rebate of up to 87 per cent. of this according to the size of their membership.

  The advisory committee is continuing its work on implementation of the system and is currently considering matters relating to evidence of compliance and recent representations it has received on the issue of equitable participation in household waste recovery. It is also preparing for its review of the system as a whole. On these and other issues, it will publish its findings as appropriate and I am fully committed to supporting its continuing role.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9829]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9828]

  Mr. Gummer
  As a Minister I am available 365 days of the year. If the hon. Member has issues that he needs to raise with me over the Christmas break or during the coming Easter or summer recesses, he is welcome to contact me at home or my office.

  Hemp
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies the Government have(a) undertaken and (b) commissioned on the use of hemp as an alternative source for paper manufacture; and what European Union (i) studies and (ii) support schemes have been established in respect of the use of hemp for paper making. [3925]

  Mr. Boswell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Hemp grown under licence in this country may be used for paper making. The Department is funding research into the structure of hemp fibres and the industrial potential of hemp, which will be relevant to its use in paper making.
  617
  In 1994 a European Union funded study looked at the increased application of domestically produced plant fibres. The agri-industrial research programme also funded a three-year study of the processing of short fibres. Both of these studies examined the use of hemp for paper making.

  A number of schemes exist under which support would be obtained to assist development of hemp for paper making and these include:

  1. the Agriculture and Fisheries (FAIR) Programme, which supports research of development projects;

  2. The EU's Fourth Framework Programme;

  3. projects in Objective 5b areas may be eligible under the Challenge for Agriculture Scheme.

  In addition, the common agriculture policy hemp regime provides for area payments to hemp growers.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase the monitoring of asbestos imports. [7899]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have been asked to reply.

  HM Customs and Excise is responsible for enforcing the statutory controls on imports of asbestos from third countries—the controls do not apply to intra-Community movements.

  Customs is not aware of any current circumstances which warrant an increase in the monitoring of asbestos imports. Any information indicating that there may be an enhanced risk of unauthorised imports of asbestos should be passed to customs.

PRIME MINISTER

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Prime Minister how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9620]
  618
  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes, my office forms part of the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the then Paymaster General on 10 December,Official Report, columns 83–84.

  Dublin Summit
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the(a) topics and (b) documents considered at the Heads of Government meeting at Dublin on 13 and 14 December on which he placed a United Kingdom scrutiny reserve. [9731]

  The Prime Minister
  The contents of the Economic and Finance Council report to the Dublin European Council on preparations for stage 3 of economic and monetary union are subject to a United Kingdom parliamentary scrutiny reserve. This point is reflected in the ECOFIN report itself and in the presidency conclusions of the European Council.

  Ministers (Severance Pay)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that the severance payment received by a Minister on resignation shall not be paid when that resignation followed criticism of the conduct of the Minister by a Select Committee of the House. [9712]

  The Prime Minister
  The terms under which a Minister is entitled to a severance payment are laid down in the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, which was approved by Parliament without any Divisions.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9823]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9822]

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers are required to be available for Government business at all times. Subject to this overall requirement they may take leave as and when Government business permits.

WALES

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9386]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is as follows:Secretary of State (Mr. William Hague): 174 visits of which 3 were abroad
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Gwilym Jones): 128 visits of which 7 were abroad
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Jonathan Evans): 89 visits of which 2 were abroad
  (Former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State) (Mr. Rod Richards): 52 visits of which 1 was abroad.

  Primary School Class Sizes
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each year group in maintained primary schools the class size figures as tabulated for all registered classes in maintained primary schools in table 3.6 of "Statistics of Educational Training in Wales: Schools No. 4, 1996". [9588]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information on class size is not collected by year group.

  Domestic Telephones
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what proportion of households in Wales in which state benefits are the main source of income do not have a telephone; [9358]

  (2) what proportion of households in Wales do not have a telephone; [9356]

  (3) what proportion of pensioner households in Wales do not have a telephone. [9357]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on telephone access in Wales is available from two different sample surveys; the Department of Social Security's family resources survey and the Office for National Statistics' family expenditure survey.

  Based on the former, 13 per cent. of households in Wales did not have a telephone in 1994–95. The corresponding figure for households where state benefits accounted for more than half of gross weekly household income was 23 per cent. For households where the head of household was over the state retirement age the figure was 12 per cent.

  From the latter, the estimate of the proportion of Welsh households without a telephone was 10 per cent. in 1995–96. This survey has a smaller sample size than the former and so these estimates are less reliable, particularly for smaller sub-groups.

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have
  620
  been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9617]

  Mr. Hague
  The numbers of permanent and non-permanent staff employed by my Department and its executive agency since 1992 are set out in the table:

  Welsh Office

  Cadw

  Permanent

  Non Permanent

  Permanent

  Non Permanent

  1 January 1992

  242.5

  125

  —

  —

  1 January 1993

  2159.5

  137.5

  262.5

  3

  1 January 1994

  2183

  230

  217

  9

  1 January 1995

  2070.5

  213.5

  222

  7.5

  1 December 1996

  1903.5

  177

  179.6

  7.3

  1. Cadw was established as an Executive Agency on 1 April 1992.

  2. The 1992 figures include OHMCI staff.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro-compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9458]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department and agency will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Housing Associations
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for changing the arrangements for paying tax relief grant to Welsh housing associations; and if he will make a statement. [10460]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Department received 11 responses in August following the publication of our consultation paper "Proposals for Changes to the Tax Relief Grant Arrangements for Housing Associations in Wales". Most respondents called for more time to plan for withdrawal of the grant and for greater certainty about future rates of payment and some also saw advantages in gearing transitional assistance towards smaller housing associations.

  I am pleased to respond to these concerns by setting out our intentions for future years with payments being set on a sliding scale. In 1997–98, claims will be met in full as originally proposed; in 1998–99, we plan to pay 75 per cent. of the first £50,000 of eligible claims, and 50 per cent of the rest; and in 1999–2000, we plan to pay 50 per cent. of the first £25,000 of eligible claims, and 25 per cent. of the rest.

  The Government do not believe that continued expenditure on tax relief grant represents the most

  621
  effective way of using the finite resources that are available to meet social housing need. We therefore remain committed to its abolition when an appropriate legislative opportunity arises. In the meantime, although the statutory discretion to pay tax relief grant will remain, the Government would normally expect that, following the planned reductions outlined, associations will plan to manage without tax relief grant payments.

  A list of respondents to the consultation paper has been placed in the Library of the House, and this contains a contact point in the Welsh Office for copies of individual responses.

  Departmental Activities
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's activities since April 1992. [214]

  Mr. Hague
  Details of the Department's activities since 1992 are set out in full in the Welsh Office departmental reports for the relevant years. The key achievements include the following.

  The Department has worked with local government to ensure a smooth transition to the new pattern of 22 unitary authorities. It is extending the influence of local government in Wales by cutting unnecessary central controls under its "redefining the relationship" initiative. It has exerted pressure on local authorities to secure value for money through the use of compulsory competitive tendering and associated financial targets. Council tax was successfully introduced on 1 April 1993.

  The Department has supported local authorities' responsibilities under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 for arranging community care services to meet individuals' needs. Through the mental handicap strategy it has helped to develop community-based support for individuals with a mental handicap and to improve the quality of care. The Department supports voluntary organisations which represent the interests of, and promote the development of services for, people with disabilities, older people, children and carers across Wales. It promotes volunteering through the "make a difference" initiative.

  The incidence of homelessness has been reduced. More people own their homes and more homes are available in the social rented sector, with over 16,000 additional dwellings provided by housing associations between 1992–93 and 1995–96. There has been substantial investment in the renovation of private sector homes, with over 64,000 grants being made to a value exceeding £709 million over the same period. Through estate partnership there has been additional expenditure of over £30 million to address the problems of the worst council estates. The publication of the housing White Paper, "Our Future Homes", in June 1995 and the subsequent legislation set the framework for the future.

  As part of the unique Welsh people and prosperity programme, "A Bright Future" is a comprehensive plan of action to raise educational standards and performance
  622
  for all pupils; the results of statutory tests, public examinations and the views of the independent office of Her Majesty's inspector of schools in Wales demonstrate that standards are now at record levels. The Government have increased parental choice and diversity of provision through continued support to voluntary-aided schools through a unique Welsh initiative which enables popular schools to expand doubling the number of children able to take up assisted places at good independent schools in Wales the option for schools to go grant-maintained and the introduction of nursery vouchers from next April. The Government have made possible record levels of participation in higher and further education. The charters for parents and students make clear their opportunities, rights and responsibilities.

  The Government have established an independent Arts Council of Wales. National lottery funding via the Arts Council of Wales and the Sports Council for Wales is providing an additional £15 million each year for the arts and for sport. Funding has been provided for new galleries in the main national museums and galleries building in Cardiff and a major extension of the national library of Wales. Support for the Welsh language has continued through record levels of grant and the implementation of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

  Since 1992, the structure of the NHS—the reforms were introduced in April 1991—has been developed by:
  completing the transfer of all hospital, community and ambulance service to NHS trust status;
  encouraging General Practitioners to become fundholders—currently 52 per cent. of patients have a fundholding GP;
  reorganising the 17 health authorities in Wales to five new health authorities with an eventual saving of £8 million per year.

  The quality of service has been greatly improved by the implementation of the patients charter for Wales. This set standards and guarantees for a wide variety of NHS activities including waiting times for hospital appointments and treatments which showed significant improvements. The results are published each year in performance tables of hospital improvements.

  The efficiency of the NHS has also greatly improved. Cumulative savings of £380 million have been achieved since 1992–93 enabling, for example, the number of in-patients treated to increase by 17 per cent.

  The Welsh Office Health Department has encouraged a wide variety of initiatives and developments to improve the service provided by the NHS, including research and development, health promotion and activities to improve the effectiveness of treatments.

  A report of the Welsh Office's chief medical officer on the health of the people of Wales has been published for each year from 1992 to 1995.

  In 1992–93, provision for the NHS in Wales was £1.877 billion. In 1996–97, the provision is £2.274 billion, which represents an increase of 21 per cent. in cash terms and 10.1 per cent. in real terms.

  Since 1992, the Welsh Office has played a full part in the development and implementation of the common agricultural and common fisheries policies, including the

  623
  introduction of the integrated administration and control system. The environmental dimension of support for agriculture in Wales has been expanded with the introduction of five environmentally sensitive areas and an agri-environment programme specific to Welsh needs has been steered through the process approved by the EU. Advice has been provided through the countryside advice information service and ADAS to help farmers take advantage of the support available to them and to encourage a cost-effective and efficient farming economy in Wales, while the new food strategy addresses the opportunities that exist for the marketing and development of Welsh food products. Between the beginning of 199293 and the end of 1996–97 the Department expects to have paid out over £1 billion in support to the agricultural and fishing industries in Wales.

  The Department completed the A55 dualling between Chester and Bangor in north Wales in October 1994. The total cost of this project, including the tunnels, was £700 million. In south Wales, completion of the M4 in December 1994 finalised a continuous motorway between London and west Wales, at a cost since 1979 of £230 million in Wales. The second Severn crossing, opened to traffic in June of this year, has more than doubled road capacity across the estuary.

  In April 1992, the Planning Inspectorate was established as an agency of the Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment. In 1996, the Department issued "Planning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy" and "Planning Guidance (Wales: Unitary Development Plans". The former presents, for the first time, integrated planning policy guidance for Wales; the latter provides guidance to local planning authorities on the preparation of their unitary development plans.

  The Welsh Office has continued working to protect the Welsh environment and promoting sustainable development. Important wildlife and habitats throughout Wales are being conserved through environmental designations—for example, 35 candidate special areas of conservation have been submitted to the EC and 910 locations in Wales have been designated as sites of special scientific interest. The Department has established three national parks in Wales as free-standing special purpose authorities; has instigated the Tir Cymen countryside stewardship scheme; has established an air quality forum and Wales biodiversity group; and, following the major oil spillage earlier this year, has established and funded the Sea Empress environmental evaluation committee.

  Over £2 billion has been committed for the economic, social and environmental development of Wales.

  The Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales, the Cardiff Bay development corporation, the Wales tourist board and the Land Authority for Wales have pursued gross programmes totalling £1.29 billion over this period. Projects valued at £295.7 million have been financed under my Department's strategic development scheme with a further £24.5 million approved under the urban investment grant. European programmes for industrial south and rural Wales, and various Community initiatives, have been negotiated, providing £359 million funding across the Principality. A new £178 million three-year programme for industrial south Wales will shortly be started.
  624
  This funding has helped support the objectives of the five-year programme for the valleys launched in 1993, promising £1 billion of public sector investment, and of the rural White Paper published in March 1996.

  There have been 725 inward investment projects with a capital investment of £5.7 billion, promising 37,600 new jobs and 24,362 safeguarded jobs.

  From January 1997, the newly formed Welsh European programme executive will take over most of the Department's responsibilities for structural funds management, and the Welsh Office will succeed the Department for Education and Employment in managing the European social fund in Wales. From April 1997, SDS funding totalling £38 million per annum after three years will be progressively delegated to local authorities and a new £20 million Welsh capital challenge will take effect.

  Since December 1992, peak seasonally adjusted unemployment in Wales has fallen by 38,900 or 29 per cent. to 94,800—a work force rate of 7.5 per cent. This is the lowest unemployment rate in Wales since January 1991.

  Manufacturing output in Wales in the quarters to Q2, 1996 was 18.1 per cent. higher than in the four quarters to Q1, 1992, compared with a rise of 8.3 per cent. for the UK as a whole.

  Over the period 1994–95 to 1996–97, the Welsh Office has contracted with the Welsh training and enterprise councils for 8,200 young people to start modern
  apprenticeships.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  South Africa
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount of aid to South Africa in each of the years 1991 to 1995 from(a) the European Community and (b) the United Kingdom, bilaterally. [9323]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The information is as follows:

  Net Bilateral Aid (ODA) to South Africa (£ millions)

  European

  United Kingdom

  1991

  —

  19.33

  1992

  —

  111.56

  1993

  55.01

  12.92

  1994

  45.34

  15.61

  1995

  37.38

  15.16

  1 The UK figures for 1991 and 1992 are those for the nearest corresponding financial year. EC aid to South Africa did not commence until 1993. Before the 1994 elections, all aid was channelled through non-governmental organisations, community groups or other institutions.

  UN Aid Target
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the timetable for achieving the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of gross national product of the Overseas Development Administration budget; and what progress has been made to date in achieving the target. [10146]
  625
  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Government remain committed to meeting the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of gross national product to be devoted to development assistance, but not to a timetable for reaching it. At 0.28 per cent. of GNP, the UK ratio remains above average for all donors-0.27 per cent. UK public and private flows to the developing world stood at 1.38 per cent. of GNP in 1995, well in excess of the 1 per cent. UN target, and second only to the Netherlands.

  Regional Summit, Nairobi
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the regional summit in Nairobi on 16 December. [9757]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We welcome the decision of the Nairobi summit on 16 and 17 December that Presidents Moi, Mugabe, Mandela and Biya should take steps to assist the ending of conflict in easter Zaire, and to promote peace and security in the great lakes region.

DEFENCE

  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional resources have been made availalble to the Atomic Weapons Establishment in respect of the promotion and operation of a comprehensive test ban treaty. [9635]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As there are currently no plans to involve AWE in the promotion and operation of CTBT, no additional resources have been allocated. The United Kingdom remains committed to an effective and verifiable comprehensive test ban treaty. My Department has made available additional funding for the United Kingdom's share of the international monitoring system, which is to be established by the CTBT organisation.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9462]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact that a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Young Service Personnel (Fatalities)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those under age 18 years in the United Kingdom armed forces have been killed in each of the last three years. [9298]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.
  626
  Letter from Fred Johnson to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 18 December 1996:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive on duty, I have been asked to reply to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the number of minors in the United Kingdom armed forces killed in each of the last three years, as this matter falls within the area of responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
  The figures are as follows:

  1993: 1

  1994: 0

  1995: 3

  1996 to date1: 1

  1 Information reported to DASA as at 12 December 1996.

  Notes:

  'Minors' comprise those aged 16 and 17.

  'Killed' has been taken to include all deaths of serving personnel either on duty or off duty.

  Extraterrestrial Phenomena
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to allocate resources to researching extraterrestrial phenomena. [9419]

  Mr. Soames
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 October 1996,Official Report, column 1082.

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9623]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 November 1996,Official Report, columns 27–28.

  Chilwell/Chetwynd Barracks
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which establishments his Department plans to be covered by the area policing team based at Chilwell/Chetwynd barracks; [9692]

  (2) what are the proposed authorised complements for his Department's area policing teams at (a) Dishforth, (b) Donnington and (c) Chilwell; [9696]

  (3) when the area policing team complements at (a) Dishforth, (b) Donnington and (c) Chilwell will be introduced; [9697]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the benefits of retaining an on-site Ministry of Defence Police presence at base ordnance depot Donnington and Chilwell/Chetwynd barracks until the area policing teams are fully established. [9698]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 18 December 1996:
  I am replying to your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Area Policing Teams of the Ministry of Defence as these matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive/Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police.

  627
  You asked when the APT complements for Dishforth, Donnington and Chilwell will be introduced. It is planned to introduce Area Policing Teams at Donnington and Chilwell in April 1997, and at Dishforth on a date in 1997 yet to be determined.
  You asked what assessment had been made of the benefits of retaining an on-site presence at BOD Donnington and Chetwynd Barracks until APTs are fully established. The requirement for Ministry of Defence Police is made by discussion between the Establishment, the budget holder and the Chief Constable, taking into account the views of specialist complementing teams. This procedure has been undertaken for BOD Donnington and Childwell/Chetwynd Barracks, amongst others, and considered the best and most economical means of meeting those requirements without lowering in any way the necessary security standards.
  You asked which establishments are to be covered by the APT to be based at Chilwell/Chetwynd Barracks. The Area Policing Team based there will cover those Ministry of Defence establishments within reasonable range of their base, and give assistance according to the assessed priorities on the calls on their time.
  You wished to know the authorised complements for the APTs proposed for Dishforth, Donnington and Chilwell. The APT complements at Donnington and Chilwell will each be II officers; and in addition 8 MDP officers will be retained at Donnington for policing duties. No decisions have yet been taken on Dishforth.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) from which budget holders the funding for(a) the Ministry of Defence Police area policing teams at Chilwell/Chetwynd barracks and (b) the Military Provost guard service at Chilwell/Chetwynd barracks will be provided in 1997–98; [9691]

  (2) what consent has been (i) sought and (ii) received from the chief constable of Nottinghamshire constabulary in respect of (a) armed and (b) unarmed off-base patrols by the Military Provost guard service at Chilwell/Chetwynd barracks; [9694]

  (3) what anti-terrorist patrols will be included in the off-base activities of the Military Provost guard service at Chilwell/Chetwynd barracks. [9695]

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

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of state for Defence what has been the total cost in each of the last five years of acquiring and operating nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. [9670]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The strategic nuclear deterrent is the UK's only dedicated nuclear weapon delivery system. I refer the hon. Member to the Trident procurement and Polaris and Trident operating costs for 1991–92 and 1992–93 given in answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 27 October 1993,Official Report, column 702, for 1994–95 given in answer to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 6 March 1996, Official Report, column 232, and for 1995–96 given in answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 26 November 1996, Official Report, column 193. The figure for 1993–94 is £1,082 million. The operating costs of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb and the Lance nuclear artillery system, which was withdrawn from service in 1992–93, are not recorded separately.

  Great Lakes Region
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral statement of 14 November,Official report, columns 487–89, what contribution United Kingdom forces have made to the resolution of the humanitarian crisis in the great lakes region; and if he will make a statement. [10399]

  Mr. Soames
  British forces deployed to the region have made an extremely valuable contribution to the action taken by the international community. The Canberra PR9 has flown 24 sorties, playing a pivotal role in determining the precise location and numbers of refugee groups in eastern Zaire. Our liaison personnel in Rwanda have provided unique information about the situation on the ground, and have assisted in the co-ordination of work in the area.

  Substantial numbers of refugees have returned home to Rwanda, and aid agencies now enjoy greater ease of access to eastern Zaire. In the light of the dramatic change in the humanitarian situation, the steering group overseeing the multinational mission to the region has recommended to the UN Secretary-General that the multinational force be withdrawn by 31 December. The focus now must be on efforts to obtain wider access for the aid agencies on the ground and to enable them to assess the scale and nature of humanitarian needs and how these can best be met.

  Our forces in the region will accordingly return to the UK this week. Our international partners are making similar plans for the withdrawal of their own forces.

  The UK will continue to lend full support to the humanitarian mission in the region and to regional efforts to find a lasting political solution. In that context we welcome the outcome of the Nairobi summit of 16 and 17 December.

  Convicted Soldiers (Cyprus)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Army pension payments will be made to each of the three soldiers convicted of the manslaughter of the Danish tour guide in Cyprus; when such payments will commence; and what is the current value of such pensions. [8639]

  Mr. Soames
  I can confirm that the three former soldiers had accrued sufficient military service to qualify for a preserved Army pension, which will be payable from their 60th birthday. Under the code of access to Government information, it is not our policy to release information relating to an individual's financial affairs on the grounds that to do so without that person's consent could facilitate an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

  Unidentified Craft
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of state for Defence if his Department will adopt a policy on the reporting of unidentified craft of releasing to the press details of (i) shape, flight pattern, colour and size of craft, (ii) where and when the craft was seen, (iii) what action his Department took and (iv) the radar profile of the craft. [9410]

  Mr. Soames
  No.
  629
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the incident on 16 October 1990 involving two unidentified craft in the vicinity of Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey; what estimate the intercepting helicopter pilots made of the departing speeds of the two unidentified craft; if they showed up on radar; and if he will make a statement. [9561]

  Mr. Soames
  None, so far as we can establish from existing records.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the two attempted interceptions of unidentified craft that occurred near Anglesey in September and November 1995; what other attempts have been made to intercept unidentified craft in this vicinity; and if he will make a statement [9562]

  Mr. Soames
  From records available, and from the limited information given in the question, we are unable to identify any incidents of this kind.

  Pindar Bunker
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many beds there are in the Pindar bunker; how many of these will be occupied over Christmas; and what is his Department's estimate of the cost of using the unoccupied beds to shelter the homeless; [9669]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the operating costs of the Pindar bunker in 1996–97. [9668]

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

  Training Facilities (Bahrain)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training facilities are provided for Bahrain defence force personnel in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [9737]

  Mr. Soames
  The Bahrain defence force is provided with access to a range of military training courses in the UK. Details of military assistance remain confidential between Governments.

  Military Provost Guard Service
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances his Department will arm patrols by the Military Provost guard service outside an establishment. [9693]

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

  Area Policing Teams
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the introduction of area policing teams at Chilwell and Donnington in the event of the annulment of the Army Terms of Service (Amendment) Regulations (S.I., No. 2973/96). [9699]

  Mr. Soames
  I hope that these will not be annulled. In the event that they were, the implications would be carefully considered at the time.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost of the anti-botulism toxin vaccine serum produced from October 1990 for use in the Gulf war, mentioned in the memorandum prepared by his Department issued in support of the ministerial statement on Gulf war illness on 10 December,Official Report, columns 119–23; [9632]

  (2) what quality control was applied to the purchase of propoxur and bendiocarb-based pesticides from suppliers in Riyadh in January 1991; [9595]

  (3) what was the cost of the anthrax vaccine ordered from the public health laboratory service in August 1990, to which reference is made in his Department's memorandum released in support of the statement made on Gulf war illness on 10 December, Official Report, columns 119–23. [9637]

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces of 10 December Official Report, column 120, on Gulf war syndrome, what steps he has taken to assist Professor Nicola Cherry and Dr. Patricia Doyle to visit Iraq in order to meet Dr. Mubarrak, Minister of Health. [9429]

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will include in the investigation being conducted by his Department's permanent under-secretary into the misleading of the House on the issue of organophosphate pesticide use the conclusions of the inquiry conducted by his Department's security official Mr. A. G. Rucker into the alleged theft of Gulf war syndrome documents, as reported to him by the hon. Member for South Shields in November 1995; [9727]

  (2) how many of the Gulf war veterans examined by the medical assessment programme have been found to be suffering from (i) kidney and liver damage, (ii) lung complications, (iii) osteoporosis, and (iv) neurological damage; [9723]

  (3) pursuant to his oral statement of 10 December, Official Report, column 121, on how many occasions information was provided in background material to parliamentary answers on the possible local purchase of organophosphate pesticides between October 1995 and September 1996; [9725]

  (4) how many medical records of those in his Department serving in the Gulf war are currently missing; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to recover them; [9722]

  (5) if he will name the staff undertaking clinical work for his Department as part of the medical assessment programme. [9724]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Members and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the terms of reference of the investigation being conducted by his Department's permanent under-secretary into the misleading of the House on the issue of organophosphate pesticide use during the Gulf war; and who will assist the permanent under-secretary in his investigation. [9719]
  631
  Mr. Soames
  The terms of reference of the investigation being conducted by my Department are to establish why proper and timely advice on the subject of organophosphate pesticide use during the Gulf war was not provided to MOD Ministers between July 1994 and September 1996. The permanent under-secretary will be assisted principally by members of the organophosphate pesticide investigation team.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of the inquiry which is being set in hand by his Department into the misleading of the House on the issue of organophosphate pesticide use during the Gulf war. [9721]

  Mr. Soames
  The investigation within my Department into the failures in providing proper and timely advice to Ministers about organophosphate pesticide use during the Gulf war is expected to be completed by February 1997. The findings of the investigation will be made available to the House at the earliest opportunity.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many parliamentary questions his Department answered between October 1995 and September 1996 on the use of organophosphate pesticides during the Gulf war. [9726]

  Mr. Soames
  Between October 1995 and September 1996 one parliamentary question was answered by my Department on the use of organophosphate pesticides during the Gulf war. This question was answered on 30 October 1995.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the investigation being conducted by his Department into the misleading of the House on the issue of organophosphate pesticide use during the Gulf war has commenced; and when he expects to report its findings to the House. [9720]

  Mr. Soames
  The investigation within my Department into the failures in providing proper and timely advice to Ministers about organophosphate pesticide use during the Gulf war commenced on 16 December 1996. I expect to be able to report the findings of the investigation to the House by February 1997.

  Tornado
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific reliability and ergonomic factors have led to the requirement for improved Tornado nose landing gear cable harness assembly as advertised as future purchase number SMC 11 aR/273 in MOD "Contracts Bulletin" Vol. 11, No. 7; and if continued use of existing assemblies is affecting serviceability of the Tornado fleet. [9592]

  Mr. Soames
  The Tornado nose landing gear cable harness assembly dates back to the original aircraft design. The assembly has been found to be susceptible to water and grit ingress which can give rise to false readings on the cockpit instruments and system unserviceability. There is no significant impact on aircraft availability and no adverse effect on airworthiness.

TREASURY

  European Union (Currency Support)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has received for a regulation of the European Community in pursuit of budgetary discipline and monetary stability to secure the obligations of members or institutions to support the currency of any one of its members, being a member of the exchange rate mechanism but not that of a common currency; and under what article of the treaty of European Union such regulation could be proposed. [7693]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The Florence European Council agreed that a new exchange rate mechanism will be established for stage 3 of economic and monetary union to link the euro with currencies of member states remaining outside the single currency. The new mechanism, like the existing one, will be an intergovernmental nature and outside the community, and EC treaty, framework. Membership will be voluntary.

  Proposals for how the mechanism may operate were set out by the European Monetary Institute in its paper of 7 October entitled "Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy Co-operation between the euro area and other EU countries", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. There are no draft legal texts at this stage.

  Administration Costs
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total administration costs of non-departmental public bodies in each year between 1991–92 and 1996–97. [8276]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: As part of the work for developing the expenditure plans published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", the Government collected information on the total administration costs of the larger executive non-departmental public bodies—those which (a) have 25 or more staff; and which (b) normally rely upon Government grant or grant in aid for 50 per cent. or more of their income or trade mainly with Government Departments. While the information was not complete, expenditure was estimated to have been about £1.9 billion in 1993–94, £2 billion in 1994–95 and £2.1 billion in 1995–96 and is expected to be £2.1 billion in 1996–97.

  Information relating to 1991–92 and 1992–93 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departments will be publishing information on the administration costs of each of their larger executive non-departmental public bodies and tribunals from 1993–94 to 1999–2000 in their annual reports in March 1997.

  Pensions (Public Sector Research Establishments)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decisions have been taken to finance the costs arising from the crystallisation of pensions liabilities of public sector research establishments; if he will list the establishments involved; and which Departments will bear the costs involved. [8888]
  633
  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Pension liabilities of public sector research establishments crystallise (a) when a pension entitlement becomes payable and (b) on the transfer of accrued rights out of unfunded schemes into funded schemes. The existing arrangements for financing these costs vary between Departments and between establishments—no decisions have been taken to change the current arrangements.

  Gifts in Kind
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his current policy on the tax treatment of donations of gifts in kind to charities and trusts so that employers are able to donate without tax consequences; and if he will make a statement. [9569]

  Mr. Jack
  Tax relief for donations to charity is aimed at straightforward donations of money. If relief were to be extended to gifts in kind, there would have to be special arrangements to value them, which would complicate the present system. I do not propose to extend tax relief to donations of gifts in kind.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9375]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My ministerial colleagues and I have made the following official ministerial visits:

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  29 December-12 January 1996: Argentina, Chile, Brazil

  19–20 January: Paris (G7)

  22 January: Brussels (ECOFIN)

  19 February: Aberdeen (Grand Committee)

  11 March: Brussels (ECOFIN)

  15–24 March: South Africa, Zimbabwe

  12–14 April: Verona (Informal ECOFIN)

  14–16 April Sofia (EBRD)

  20–23 April: Washington (IMF Spring Meetings)

  3 May: City of London (Trial of the Pyx)

  3 June: Luxembourg (ECOFIN)

  20–22 June: Florence (European Council)

  27–29 June: Lyon (G7 Summit)

  8 July Brussels (ECOFIN)

  15 July London (Inauguration of CREST)

  20–22 September: Dublin (Informal ECOFIN)

  24–26 September: Bermuda (Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting)

  27 September-3 October: IMF Autumn Meetings

  14 October: Luxembourg (ECOFIN)

  7–8 November: Bordeaux (Anglo-French Summit)

  11 November: Brussels (ECOFIN)

  2 December: Brussels (ECOFIN)

  12 December: Dublin (ECOFIN)

  13–14 December: Dublin (European Council)

  634
  Chief Secretary

  29 January: Bank of England

  1 April: France (G7 Jobs Summit)

  20 May: GCHQ visit

  10 June: London Underground

  29 July: British Library visit

  3 September. Bank of England

  24 September: Bankside Power Station visit

  27 September: Italy (Pontignano conference)

  Financial Secretary

  23 January: London (Inland Revenue office, Strand)

  15 April: Manchester (Castlefield Tax Office)

  22 April: Birmingham (Private Finance Initiative Roadshow event and Birmingham 5 Tax office)

  8 May: London (Adjudicator's Office, Haymarket)

  20 May: Wigan (Private Finance Initiative Roadshow)

  6 June: Leeds (Private Finance Initiative Roadshow and the Leeds Royal Armouries)

  25 June: Southampton (Private Finance Initiative Roadshow and a tax office)

  1 July: Telford (self assessment tax office)

  5 August: Manchester (tax office)

  12 September: Belfast (Private Finance Initiative Seminar)

  5 December: Newcastle (Private Finance Initiative Roadshow) and Longbenton (DSS office)

  6 December: Blackpool (Self Assessment Agents/Employer Programme workshop)

  Economic Secretary,

  9 January: Edinburgh (Small Firms)

  7 February: Birmingham (Small Firms)

  20 February: Nottingham (Small Firms Conference)

  15 April: Canada (British Invisibles Speech: City Issues)

  29 April: Leeds (Small Firms)

  1 May: Brighton (Small Firms)

  3 May: Durham (Visit to National Savings)

  14 May: Basingstoke and Fleet (Small Firms)

  20 May: OECD (Paris)

  3 June: Norwich (Small Firms)

  13 June: Dublin (Small Firms)

  17 June: Crewe (Small Firms)

  19 June: Plymouth (Small Firms)

  10 July: Newport (Visit to ONS)

  24 July: Edinburgh (Scottish Life Assurance Conference)

  16 September: Canada

  5 October: China

  9 December: Edinburgh (Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce)

  Exchequer Secretary
  24 October: Publicity Event at Heathrow Airport

  Paymaster General

  21 March: Brussels (Speech at CIPFA Conference)

  24 May: Greenock, Scotland (Opening Customs exhibition)

  1 July: Crawley (Paymaster Agency Presentation)

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union. [9858]
  635
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I represented the UK at the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Dublin on 12 December.

  The Council agreed, subject to a parliamentary scrutiny reserve by the UK, its report on progress towards economic and monetary union, for presentation to the European Council meeting commencing the following day. The report considers the new exchange rale mechanism, the stability and growth pact and the legal framework for the introduction of the euro.

  The Council also discussed new guarantee arrangements for the European Investment bank's lending and new regional lending mandates. Agreement was not reached, so the issue will be discussed again at a future ECOFIN meeting.

  Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority groups were established in the review of pension mis-selling; what were the definitions of the membership of each group; what initial deadlines were established for the completion of the review of each group; how many and what percentage of each group had their review completed by the relevant initial deadline; how many and what percentage of each group have now had their review completed; and by what date he expects the process to be complete. [9349]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In the Securities and Investments Board's guidance of October 1994 to self-regulating organisations and recognised professional bodies, five priority groups of personal pension holders were identified for automatic review. Any personal pension holder who wants his or her case reviewed can have it reviewed.

  The priority groups, the characteristics of people in each group, and the targets which were set in 1994 for completion of reviews are set out in the table.

  Priority groups

  Target date by which most cases ought to be reviewed

  Pension transfers, priority group 1

  31 December 1995

  men aged 55 or over at the time of the transfer women aged 50 or over at the time of transfer people who have retired spouses and dependants of people who have died

  Pension transfers, priority group 2

  31 December 1996

  men aged between 50 and 54 at the time of transfer women aged between 45 and 49 at the time of transfer

  Pension opt-outs, priority group 1

  31 December 1996

  people who are retired/spouses or dependants of people who have died people who left an employer's scheme, were aged 35 or over at the time they took out a personal pension, and who are still with the same employer

  Pension opt-outs, priority group 2

  30 June 1996

  people who did not join an employer's pension scheme, were aged 35 or over at the time they took out a personal pension, are paying their own money into a personal pension, and who are still with the same employer

  636

  Priority groups

  Target date by which most cases ought to be reviewed

  people who left an employer's pension scheme, were aged under 35 at the time they took out a personal pension, are paying their own money into a personal pension and who are still with the same employer

  Pension opt-outs, priority group 3

  31 December 1996

  people who left an employer's pension scheme, were aged 35 or over at the time they took out a personal pension and who are no longer with the same employer

  Data on the numbers of cases in each priority group that have been completed, and when, are not held centrally.

  To speed up progress with the reviews, the SIB issued new guidance on 13 November 1996. By using the new streamlined approach in the guidance, it should be possible for investment firms to conclude case reviews more quickly and thus put matters right for investors more quickly too. At this stage, it is not clear how fast cases can now be progressed. The SIB now looks to the front-line regulators to assess what can be achieved by their members using the new guidance, and then to set and monitor challenging but appropriate targets for completing the review process.

  Where suitable, personal pensions remain an excellent way for many people to secure income for their old age.

  Land Transactions
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there have been in the guidance given by HM Treasury to Government Departments and non-departmental public bodies on the disposal of land and buildings and other land transactions since "DAO (GEN) 13/92", dated 23 July 1992; and if he will make a statement. [10296]

  Mr. Jack
  "DAO (GEN) 13/92" has been replaced by new guidance issued as "DAO (GEN) 11/96", dated 9 July 1996. The main changes and additions are the adoption of a less prescriptive approach, fuller guidance on the position of former owners and the Crichel Down rules, guidance on the definition of market value and the removal of the requirement for prior Treasury approval for certain types of disposal. Most of the new guidance is advisory rather than mandatory; market value is defined as the best price which can reasonably by obtained; and it is recognised that there may occasionally be cases where it will be reasonable to consider wider issues and accept a lower amount than the market value. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Arms Supplies (Rwanda)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the letters of 30 November 1995, 18 December 1995 and 26 August 1996 from the chairman of the United Nations special commission on arms supplies to Rwanda to the
  637
  international liaison sector of United Kingdom Customs and Excise; and if he will include the replies to the letters. [7524]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  It is not the normal practice of the commissioners of Customs and Excise to disclose publicly information provided to them in connection with their enforcement and investigation responsibilities. The letters from the United Nations special commission contain details provided in confidence to the United Kingdom's customs. Customs has, however, obtained the permission of the commission to make public this material. I am arranging for copies of these letters to be placed in the House Library.

  When customs received copies of the letters dated 30 November 1995 and 18 December 1995, in November 1996, it found them to be requests relating to customs investigations which had already been the subject of discussions between customs investigators and commission officials on 10 January 1996. The letter of 26 August 1996 recalled the two earlier ones. Customs investigators have been in contact with commission officials and no further response to the commission letters is needed. The commission has expressed complete satisfaction with the co-operation received from the UK Government.

  It would be inappropriate to discuss the material provided by customs in confidence to the UN commission. It is not customs' general practice to make public information about the existence or nature of any investigation of individuals or companies not yet accused of criminal offences, since to do so could risk prejudicing any on-going inquiries or future criminal prosecutions.

  Tax and National Insurance Contributions
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are(a) paying tax but not national insurance contributions, (b) paying more tax than national insurance contributions and (c) paying less tax than national insurance contributions, breaking the figures down by employment category and wage bands. [8264]

  Mr. Jack
  The latest estimates for 1996–97 are given in the table. National insurance contributions include both employee and the corresponding employer contributions. The three employment categories shown in the table are based on the classification used in Inland Revenue administrative systems. Inland Revenue administrative practice is to manage a taxpayer's affairs according to the "main source" of his/her income. For nearly all taxpayers this is either employment (schedule E) or self-employment (schedule D) income. In a small number of cases, the "main source" may not reflect his/her principal source of income.

  Individuals paying income tax but not paying national insurance contributions (thousands)

  Total Income1 £ per year

  Main source2, 3 Schedule E employment income

  Main Source2 Schedule D self employment income

  Other sources4

  Total

  Under 5,000

  160

  30

  220

  410

  5,000–10,000

  320

  100

  1,890

  2,310

  10,000–15,000

  160

  50

  880

  1,090

  15,000–20,000

  70

  20

  390

  480

  638

  Individuals paying income tax but not paying national insurance contributions (thousands)

  Total Income1 £ per year

  Main source2,3 Schedule E employment income

  Main Source2 Schedule D self employment income

  Other sources4

  Total

  20,000–25,000

  30

  10

  180

  220

  25,000–30,000

  20

  10

  170

  100

  30,000–40,000

  20

  10

  70

  100

  Over 40,000

  30

  20

  60

  110

  Total

  810

  250

  3,760

  4,820

  1 Total income for tax purposes.

  2 The description 'main source income' follows Inland Revenue administrative practice and reflects the classification used in Inland Revenue Statistics.

  3 These figures include employees over the pension age (65 for men, 60 for women) who do not pay national insurance contributions. However, contributions are paid by their employers, where their earnings exceed the Class 1 lower earnings limit.

  4 Includes pensions and investment income.

  Individuals paying more income tax than national insurance contributions (thousands)

  Total income £ per year

  Main source1 Schedule E employment income

  Main source1 Schedule D self employment income

  Other sources2

  Total

  Under 5,000

  10

  —

  —

  10

  5,000–10,000

  730

  560

  30

  1,320

  10,000–15,000

  1,150

  650

  50

  1,850

  15,000–20,000

  1,820

  350

  50

  2,220

  20,000–25,000

  1,820

  190

  20

  2,030

  25,000–30,000

  1,110

  120

  20

  1,250

  30,000–40,000

  900

  130

  20

  1,050

  Over 40,000

  700

  220

  10

  930

  Total

  8,240

  2,220

  200

  10,660

  1 The description 'main source income' follows Inland Revenue administrative practice and reflects the classification used in Inland Revenue Statistics.

  2 Includes pensions and investment income.

  Individuals paying less income tax than national insurance contributions (thousands)

  Total income £ per year

  Main source1 Schedule E employment income

  Main source1 Schedule D self employment income

  Other sources2

  Total

  Under 5,000

  830

  110

  —

  940

  5,000–10,000

  3,810

  230

  10

  4,050

  10,000–15,000

  3,140

  —

  10

  3,150

  15,000–20,000

  1,440

  —

  —

  1,440

  20,000–25,000

  430

  —

  —

  430

  25,000–30,000

  70

  —

  —

  70

  30,000–40,000

  10

  —

  —

  10

  Over 40,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  9,730

  340

  20

  10,090

  1 The description "main source income" follows Inland Revenue administrative practice and reflects the classification used in Inland Revenue Statistics.

  2 Includes pensions and investment income.

  Petrol Duty
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what point in the supply process the tax point arises for duty levied on petrol refined in the United Kingdom, in the case of supply to(a) independent retailers and (b) supermarket petrol outlets; if he will make a statement on the reasons for any difference of treatment in the two cases; and what plans he has to review policy in this matter. [8519]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The duty point at which the duty charge arises in respect of UK-refined petrol is the same regardless of whether it is supplied to independent retailers or supermarket forecourts. In both cases, the duty is charged at the time the product is supplied from the refinery for delivery to the UK domestic market.

  Housebuilding
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he undertook with the housebuilding industry prior to the publication of the booklet "Are Your Workers Employed or Self-employed?"; what representations he has received from housebuilders since the publication; and if he will make a statement. [8320]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 12 December 1996]: A wide range of bodies representing the construction industry, including housebuilders, were involved in consultations on employment status with officials from the Inland Revenue and the Department of Social Security. Since the publication of leaflet IR 148/CA69, "Are Your Workers Employed or Self-employed?" in October 1995 a number of representations have been received from the construction industry. Industry representatives have asked for more information about when contractors should complete their reviews of the employment status of their workers and make necessary changes. They have requested more time to implement those changes and help in explaining to their workers what a change in employment status means. The industry also sought an assurance that, by a given date, all construction firms must have made any necessary changes in the employment status of their workers and the deducting pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions so that there is a level playing field when firms compete for contracts. A new leaflet and a poster to help construction workers will be available in the new year. Details of the help provided for the industry on employment status are set out in a joint Inland Revenue and Contributions Agency press release issued on 19 November 1996, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to treat construction operatives in the housebuilding sector as self-employed for taxation purposes until such time as he has consulted(a) the Housebuilders Federation, (b) the Manufacturing and Construction Industries Alliance and (c) other bodies representing the interests of housebuilders and their workers. [8323]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 12 December 1996]: No. The law on employment status applies in the housebuilding sector in the same way as it does in any other industries. A wide range of representative bodies
  640
  from the construction industry, including groups representing the housebuilding sector, have already been consulted on these issues. We shall continue to work closely with these representatives.

  Gold Reserves
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official Report, column 544, what proportion of British gold reserves are held outside the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the externally located gold reserves are held in western Europe. [3830]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 544. Because the number of appropriate locations is limited, for security reasons we do not disclose the amounts held at different sites. However, less than half the UK's gold reserves are physically located outside the United Kingdom. Of this, less than 1 per cent. of the total is located in western Europe.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government will assess the advantages of the redistribution of funds to the worst affected regions and countries along the lines proposed by the McDougal report to offset the effects of monetary union. [4753]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government do not accept the case for any increase in fiscal transfers as a result of economic and monetary union. There are no implications for the EC budget, except that the euro will replace the ecu as the unit of account.

  Incontinence Products
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to make adjustments to the NHS budget to compensate for extra expenses incurred as a result of the recent change in the regulations governing VAT on incontinence products; [9160]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the revenue which will be raised from the recent changes in the regulations governing VAT on incontinence products. [9161]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: There have been no changes to the regulations governing VAT on incontinence products. VAT has always been chargeable on incontinence products supplied to the NHS. The policy was confirmed in October 1995 following evidence of contrived tax avoidance schemes; but customs set guidelines to enable recovery of tax in cases where NHS trusts truly acted as agents for suppliers or patients. It later became clear that these arrangements did not reflect the normal position in the NHS, and they were withdrawn in August 1996. Few NHS trusts are thought to have used the guidelines, but details are not held centrally and so no reliable revenue estimates can be made. However, the NHS is in any case funded on the basis that its purchases of incontinence products are taxable.

  Incontinence products supplied directly to disabled people are zero-rated.

  Earned Income
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the average earned income in the most recent year for which figures are available for(a) the fifth percentile and (b) the 95th percentile of taxpayers. [9570]

  Mr. Jack
  Based on the estimation of earned income for taxpayers in 1997–98, the fifth percentile is about £4,200 and the 95th percentile is about £36,000.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to take further action against those involved in the illegal importation of cigarettes and tobacco; and if he will make a statement. [9655]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 December 19961: As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced as part of his Budget package, Customs and Excise is to deploy 70 additional front-line staff to combat single market smuggling of alcohol and tobacco. There will be increases in intelligence and investigation staff to deal with excise fraud and evasion.

  Registrations and deregistrations by calendar year

  Collection

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Registrations

  Northern Ireland

  4,226

  3,607

  3,674

  4,034

  3,652

  3,735

  Central England

  22,257

  18,239

  18,983

  17,735

  16,161

  16,216

  Anglia

  17,436

  15,347

  14,087

  14,350

  13,083

  10,744

  South-east England

  16,122

  13,562

  12,403

  12,689

  11,522

  7,019

  South England

  18,813

  15,544

  13,934

  14,295

  13,056

  13,348

  Thames Valley

  25,524

  21,723

  20,478

  20,956

  19,999

  19,362

  London Central

  15,840

  13,907

  14,194

  13,705

  12,468

  15,529

  London South and Thames

  9,303

  8,018

  7,519

  11,176

  10,171

  12,307

  East England

  22,923

  19,599

  17,559

  18,280

  16,665

  16,380

  North-west England

  20,574

  18,645

  17,326

  16,412

  15,174

  15,174

  North England

  19,180

  16,362

  15,374

  15,331

  14,081

  13,522

  Scotland

  15,350

  13,395

  12,792

  12,966

  11,985

  12,204

  Wales West and Borders

  25,381

  21,578

  20,066

  20,030

  18,621

  15,931

  Deregistrations

  Northern Ireland

  3,113

  3,783

  3,595

  3,176

  3,495

  3,099

  Central England

  16,799

  22,540

  22,082

  20,822

  17,979

  17,506

  Anglia

  13,851

  21,972

  19,977

  17,511

  16.303

  11,034

  South-east England

  11,648

  19,650

  18,342

  15,906

  14,317

  7,885

  South England

  14,782

  21,828

  20,813

  19,457

  16,422

  14,810

  Thames Valley

  17,943

  24,925

  25,509

  23,518

  21,162

  19,048

  London Central

  12,666

  15,779

  17,109

  14,818

  11,905

  12,991

  London South and Thames

  7,531

  9,247

  8,989

  10,546

  9,604

  12,187

  East England

  18,483

  24,212

  22,424

  21,145

  18,729

  17,727

  North-west England

  16,015

  21,486

  21420

  20,752

  18,600

  17,065

  North England

  16,154

  20,649

  18,904

  17,427

  16,955

  17,261

  Scotland

  12,619

  15,399

  13,790

  14,206

  12,877

  12,666

  Wales West and Borders

  20,773

  27,797

  25,691

  25,236

  23,346

  17,616

  Diesel Duty
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the levels of duty and VAT on diesel in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Germany and (d) Belgium. [9130]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is shown in the following table:

  Country

  Excise duty on diesel Pence per litre

  Duty plus VAT1 Pence per litre

  VAT rate on diesel Per cent.

  United Kingdom

  36.86

  43.31

  17.5

  France

  29.0

  34.97

  20.6

  Germany

  27.0

  31.05

  15

  Belgium

  24.8

  30.01

  21

  1 Because the amount of VAT depends on the retail price, the figure shown here is duty plus consequential VAT on the duty element of the price.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT (i) registrations and (ii) deregistrations there have been in each Customs and Excise area in each year since 1990–91. [9741]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Customs holds registration and deregistration information by local office and groups these offices to form collections. The information, by collection, is in the schedule.

  However, changes in collection boundaries over the years make year-on-year comparisons between them inappropriate in some cases.
  643

  Registrations and deregistrations by financial year

  Collection

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Registrations

  Northern Ireland

  4,195

  3,600

  3,759

  4,000

  3,666

  3,744

  Central England

  20,639

  17,968

  17,593

  16,685

  16,469

  16,362

  Anglia

  16,166

  12,695

  14,104

  14,230

  13,470

  10,481

  South-east England

  14,067

  10,682

  12,439

  12,405

  11,339

  6,946

  South England

  17,621

  14,956

  13,853

  13,984

  12,979

  13,485

  Thames Valley

  24,028

  21,201

  20,108

  20,899

  20,325

  19,476

  London Central

  15,197

  12,564

  13,946

  13,472

  12,456

  15,930

  London South and Thames

  8,349

  8,043

  8,328

  10,857

  9,588

  12,118

  East England

  21,492

  18,677

  17,919

  17,402

  17,028

  16,165

  North-west England

  20,752

  18,091

  17,003

  15,876

  15,064

  14,611

  North England

  18,350

  15,777

  15,382

  14,817

  13,795

  13,604

  Scotland

  15,020

  12,799

  12,891

  12,682

  12,103

  12,243

  Wales West and Borders

  23,605

  23,531

  19,993

  19,621

  17,771

  16,010

  Deregistrations

  Northern Ireland

  3,128

  3,934

  3,303

  3,417

  3,280

  3,160

  Central England

  17,007

  23,887

  21,698

  20,607

  17,593

  16,622

  Anglia

  14,443

  20,244

  19,332

  17,924

  15,283

  10,703

  South-east England

  11,544

  17,115

  17,600

  16,121

  13,193

  7,705

  South England

  15,185

  22,852

  20,675

  18,065

  16,687

  15,149

  Thames Valley

  18,641

  26,612

  24,822

  23,514

  20,130

  18,630

  London Central

  12,848

  15,905

  16,197

  14,222

  11,558

  12,767

  London South and Thames

  7,680

  9,610

  6,999

  11,151

  8,696

  11,701

  East England

  18,839

  25,010

  21,822

  21,197

  18,851

  17,651

  North-west England

  15,971

  23,017

  20,868

  21,104

  17,304

  16,750

  North England

  16,470

  21,289

  18,708

  17,030

  16,665

  16,759

  Scotland

  12,852

  15,777

  13,368

  14,458

  12,316

  12,664

  Wales West and Borders

  21,516

  29,357

  25,971

  25,396

  21,996

  17,163

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Southall Horse Market
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has in respect of the Southall horse market following the recent visit by his officials; and if he will make a statement. [8690]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Ministry has no proposals for Southall horse market. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 25 November,Official Report, column 102.

  Livestock (Medicinal Products)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what legislation governs the use of medicinal products in farm animals, including products described as for growth promotion or performance enhancement; and if he will make a statement; [9302]

  (2) if he will list the current legislation relating to the use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances in the feed of adult and breeding cattle, indicating the date such legislation came into force; and if he will make a statement. [9192]

  Mrs. Browning
  The legislation governing the use of medicinal products used for growth promotion or performance enhancement in farm animals and relating to the use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances in the feed of adult and breeding cattle is Council directive 70/524/EEC, which came into force on 23 November 1970.
  644
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the annual consumption of(a) pharmacy and merchants' list antibiotics and (b) other antimicrobial substances for each class of livestock since 1966; and if he will make a statement; [9191]

  (2) what was the annual consumption of prescription only medicine antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances for each class of livestock since 1966; and if he will make a statement; [9198]

  (3) what statistics he collates on the annual consumption of prescription-only medicine antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances for each class of livestock; and if he will make a statement; [9197]

  (4) what statistics his Department collates on the annual consumption of (a) pharmacy and merchants' list antibiotics and (b) other antimicrobial substances for each class of livestock; and if he will make a statement. [9199]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government do not hold information on the annual consumption of antibiotics of antimicrobial substances for use with livestock.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) antibiotics and (b) other antimicrobial substances currently licensed for use in the (i) feed and (ii) water of (x) dairy cows and (y) other lactating ruminants, indicating the date of licence; and if he will make a statement. [9193]
  645
  Mrs. Browning
  Information on antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances currently licensed for use in the feed and water of dairy cows and other lactating ruminants is listed.

  Active ingredient

  Date first licence issued

  Procaine Penicillin

  22 December 1971

  Amoxycillin

  6 February 1984

  Ampicillin

  11 June 1974

  Cefquinome

  8 November 1993

  Ceftiofur

  30 December 1991

  Cephalexin

  16 July 1991

  Cefoperazone

  5 June 1985

  Cefuroxime

  7 April 1987

  Cephacetrile Sodium

  20 October 1985

  Cloxacillin

  11 June 1974

  Cephalonium

  1 January 1992

  Chlortetracycline

  29 March 1985

  Oxytetracycline

  22 December 1971

  Apramycin

  2 September 1992

  Framycetin Sulphate

  24 September 1974

  Neomycin Sulphate

  8 November 1973

  Spectinomycin

  15 October 1992

  Streptomycin Sulphate

  6 August 1973

  Erythromycin

  29 March 1985

  Tilmicosin

  14 September 1988

  Tylosin

  31 August 1972

  Florfenicol

  13 December 1994

  Sulphadimidine

  6 June 1973

  Sulphamethoxypyridazine

  6 January 1989

  Enrofloxacin

  6 February 1991

  Danofloxacin mesylate

  22 January 1993

  Marbofloxacin

  10 February 1995

  Benzathine Penicillin/Procaine Penicillin

  4 April 1985

  Amoxycillin/Clavulanic Acid

  11 December 1986 (potassium cluvulante)

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Streptomycin

  1 September 1982

  Baquiloprim/Sulphadimidine

  20 November 1991

  Trimethoprim/Sulphadiazine

  30 September 1982

  Trimethoprim/Sulfadoxine

  23 April 1990

  Trimethoprim/Sulfatroxazole

  3 July 1989

  Trimethoprim/Sulphachlorpyridazine

  13 November 1988

  Neomycin/Streptomycin

  20 October 1983

  Procaine Penicillin/Dihydrostreptomycin

  29 March 1985

  Procaine Penicillin/Neomycin

  29 March 1985

  Ampicillin/Cloxacillin

  14 August 1980

  Chloretracycline HC1/Dihydrostreptomycin

  29 March 1985

  Chlortetracycline/Dihydrostreptomycin/Neomycin Sulphate

  29 March 1985

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Procaine Penicillin

  29 March 1985

  Framycetin/Dihydrostreptomycin

  29 March 1985

  Framycetin/Procaine Penicillin

  29 March 1985

  Novobiocin/Procaine Penicillin

  23 March 1979

  Benzyl Penicillin/Neomycin/Procaine Penicillin

  27 June 1991

  Benzyl Penicillin/Dihydrostreptomycin/Nafcillin

  26 August 1976

  Neomycin/Procaine Penicillin Streptomycin

  29 March 1985

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Neomycin/Novobiocin/Procaine Penicillin

  29 March 1985

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Nafcillin/Procaine Penicillin

  26 August 1976

  Neomycin/Procaine Penicillin

  29 March 1985

  Avoparcin

  9 October 1972

  Bacitracin Zinc

  1 September 1972

  Bambermycin

  29 April 1987

  Spiramycin

  1 September 1972

  Virginiamycin

  1 February 1983

  Monensin Sodium

  16 November 1973

  Active ingredient

  Cattle

  Sheep

  Other species

  Legal category

  Procaine Penicillin

  X

  X

  POM

  Amoxycillin

  X

  X

  POM

  Ampicillin

  X

  X

  POM

  Cefquinome

  X

  POM

  Ceftiofur

  X

  POM

  Cephalexin

  X

  X

  POM

  Cefoperazone

  X

  POM

  Cefuroxime

  X

  POM

  Cephacetrile Sodium

  X

  POM

  646

  Active ingredient

  Cattle

  Sheep

  Other species

  Legal category

  Cloxacillin

  X

  X

  POM

  Cephalonium

  X

  POM

  Chlortetracycline

  X

  POM

  Oxytetracycline

  X

  X

  Deer

  POM

  Apramycin

  X

  X

  POM

  Framycetin Sulphate

  X

  POM

  Neomycin Sulphate

  X

  X

  POM

  Spectinomycin

  X

  X

  POM

  Streptomycin Sulphate

  X

  X

  Goats

  POM

  Erythormycin

  X

  POM

  Tilmicosin

  X

  POM

  Tylosin

  X

  POM

  PML

  Florfenicol

  X

  POM

  Sulphadimidine

  X

  POM

  Sulphamethoxypyridazine

  X

  X

  POM

  Enrofloxacin

  X

  POM

  Danofloxacin mesylate

  X

  POM

  Marbofloxacin

  X

  POM

  Benzathine Penicillin/Procaine Penicillin

  X

  X

  POM

  Amoxycillin/Clavulanic Acid

  X

  POM

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Streptomycin

  X

  X

  POM

  Baquiloprim/Sulphadimidine

  X

  POM

  Trimethoprim/Sulphadiazine

  X

  X

  POM

  Trimethoprim Sulfadoxine

  X

  POM

  Trimethoprim/Sulfatroxazole

  X

  X

  POM

  Trimethoprim/Sulphachlorpyridazine

  X

  POM

  Neomycin/Streptomycin

  X

  POM

  Procaine

  X

  X

  POM

  Penicillin/Dihydrostreptomycin

  Procaine Penicillin/Neomycin

  X

  X

  POM

  Ampicillin/Cloxacillin

  X

  POM

  Chloretracycline

  X

  POM

  HC1/Dihydrostreptomycin

  Chlortetracycline/Dihydrostreptomycin/Neomycin Sulphate

  X

  POM

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Procaine Penicillin

  X

  POM

  Framycetin/Dihydrostreptomycin

  X

  POM

  Framycetin/Procaine Penicillin

  X

  POM

  Novobiocin/Procaine Penicillin

  X

  POM

  Benzyl Penicillin/Neomycin/Procaine

  X

  POM

  Penicillin

  Benzyl

  X

  POM

  Penicillin/Dihydrostreptomycin/Nafcillin Neomycin/Procaine Penicillin/Streptomycin

  X

  POM

  Dihydrostreptomycin/Neomycin/Novobiocin/Procain Penicillin

  X

  POM

  Dihydrostreptomycin/NafciHin/Procain Penicillin

  X

  POM

  Neomycin/Procaine Penicillin

  X

  X

  POM

  Avoparcin

  X

  X

  PML

  Bacitracin Zinc

  X

  X

  PML

  Bambermycin

  X

  PML

  Spiramycin

  X

  X

  Goats

  PML 2/POM/4

  Virginiamycin

  X

  PML

  Monensin Sodium

  X

  PML

  Correspondence
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the reasons for the time taken to reply to the letter of 24 June sent to him by the chairman of the consumers in Europe group concerning BSE; and when he expects to be able to send a reply. [9663]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I replied to the letter of 24 June from the chairman of the consumers in Europe group on 17 December 1996. As I explained in my reply, the letter was regrettably and inadvertently mislaid among the very substantial press of other correspondence on this issue.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9463]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department and its agencies will assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union. Where possible, such assessment will be made when preparing information technology systems for the change of millennium.

  Baby Milk (Labelling)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the labelling of baby milks with particular reference to the health risks of bottle feeding. [9736]

  Mrs. Browning
  The labelling of baby milks is controlled by the general requirements of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 and more specifically by controls in the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995. The latter require that infant formula is labelled with a statement concerning the superiority of breast feeding, a statement recommending that the product should be used only on the advice of a health care professional, instructions for appropriate preparation and a statement warning against the hazards of inappropriate preparation.

  The Government have at present no plans to change these requirements.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new proposals he has to increase the acreage devoted to organic farming. [9705]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government have introduced organic aid schemes throughout the United Kingdom to provide financial help to those converting to organic production. These will be kept under review. Last June, I was pleased to launch the organic conversion information service in England. The service offers a telephone "Helpline" and free advisory visits to farmers and has generated considerable interest; we hope that this will encourage more farmers to convert to organic production. Similar services are available in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Food Safety and Hygiene Prosecutions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many successful prosecutions have been brought since 1990 for infringements of the food safety and food hygiene regulations. [9709]
  648
  Mr. Boswell
  According to the statistical returns made to the Department by local authorities, the number of establishments convicted each year is as follows:

  1991: 1,267

  1992: 1,760

  1993: 1,278

  1994: 913

  1995: 572.

  No data are available for 1990.

  Sheep Scab
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of public consultation on control of sheep scab. [10457]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am pleased to say there was a positive reaction to the Government's proposals for new legislation to help farmers control the spread of sheep scab, which were issued for consultation in December 1995.

  Following comments, our original proposal making it a criminal offence to sell affected animals will be replaced with one to cover the movement of affected animals, except to slaughter. In addition, we propose to make the provisions to deal with sheep scab on commons more flexible. We will proceed with our plans to make failure to treat affected sheep a criminal offence.

  We will now circulate our updated proposals, and invite further comments on the draft regulations which we are currently preparing. We expect the new legislation to come into effect in late spring or early summer 1997.

  EU Agriculture Council
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 16 and 17 December. [10458]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council in Brussels on 17 December, accompanied by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office. My permanent secretary represented the United Kingdom on 16 December.

  I reported to the Agriculture Council the decision of the Government, which I had announced to this House on 16 December, to proceed with the selective cull of cattle at most risk of BSE. I also informed the Council of our progress in implementing the other conditions laid down in the Florence agreement and our intention to submit proposals for a certified herds scheme to the Commission early in the new year.

  The Council reached agreement by qualified majority on a Commission proposal, brought forward at UK instigation, to amend the directive laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. In the modified terms agreed by the Council, the amended directive will bring in significantly improved conditions for the housing of calves. Calves up to eight weeks old will have to be given enough space to turn round, and calves over eight weeks old will have to be housed in groups, with more space allowed as they grow in size. In addition, the Commission undertook to set rules requiring the inclusion

  649
  of a minimum of iron in calves' diet, and fibre for all calves over two weeks old. As to timing, the Council agreed that all new calf housing must conform with the revised rules with effect from January 1998, and that existing installations must meet the new rules by 31 December 2006. On the latter, I argued for a shorter transition period but received no support. This agreement will lead to significant improvements in the way veal calves are treated throughout the European Union. The proposals on which Italy voted against, and Spain abstained, will be formally adopted early in the new year.

  The Council reached agreement on a number of other veterinary and plant health measures, including the conclusion by qualified majority—Finland voting against—of a veterinary agreement on trade between the European Union and New Zealand in live animals and animal products. The Council considered, but failed to agree on, a proposal banning the use of specified risk materials in the manufacture of animal feed and food stuffs. The Commission undertook to consider making further proposals in this area in the light of advice from the EU Scientific Veterinary Committee.

  The United Kingdom welcomed the Commission's announcement of early proposals on the welfare of animals in transport, specifically in respect of staging points for animal journeys. The United Kingdom opposed proposals to modify the arable area payments scheme in ways which would have weakened the penalties falling on arable producers for excess production. In the beef sector, the Council held a wide-ranging discussion of the operation of the beef early marketing scheme and the calf processing scheme. The United Kingdom pressed the Commission to review the rates of aid payable under the latter so as to prevent undesirable distortion of the market.

  Rendering Industry
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will decide on the final arrangements for financial support for the rendering industry in 1996–97. [10459]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I announced in April that the Government would be providing temporary financial support to the rendering industry of up to £118 million this financial year. Since then, we have made payments of about £59 million on account pending final decisions on the form of this support. We have met our objective of ensuring through this support that the essential links in the meat supply chain are maintained.

  I am now pleased to announce that the Government have finalised support arrangements for 1996–97. These take the form of a non-statutory scheme and follow detailed consultation with representatives of the rendering industry. I am placing in the Library of the House copies of the scheme and the agreement which companies receiving support will have to sign.

  As with the payments on account support will be based on renderers' loss of income by comparison with 1995–96. However, support will be adjusted to take broad account of renderers' actual levels of throughput and costs this year. We have ensured in particular that the rendering industry does not receive support under this scheme in respect of material being processed under the over-30-month scheme. In devising the detailed
  650
  arrangements we have sought to strike a fair balance between the interests of renderers' and the taxpayer and between different renderers.

  Any differences between payments on account and entitlement under the scheme will be made up through adjustments to payments under the scheme. Depending on the level of sales income and throughput in the remainder of the year the final scheme is expected to cost the taxpayer in the region of £100 million to £110 million.

  As a condition of receiving support rendering companies will continue to be required to maintain their prices and charges to their suppliers at the levels applying before 20 March 1996.

  In order to assist them in devising support arrangements for the rendering industry, the Government engaged the services of Coopers and Lybrand. Its report to the Government on the rendering industry is being published and copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

  We have announced that up to a further £59 million support to the disposal chain will be available in 1997–98, as slaughterers and renderers adjust to the changed value of animal by-products. We are now opening discussions with the industries about what form this support should take.

  Intervention Board
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the corporate plan 1996–97 to 2000–01 for the Intervention Board executive agency. [10455]

  Mr. Baldry
  I am pleased to advise that the corporate plan 1996 to 2000–01 has been published and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Common Fisheries Policy Review Group
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government will respond to the report of the common fisheries policy review group. [10456]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government have carried out consultations on the report issued by the common fisheries policy review group in July. The results of the consultation have been taken into account in preparing the Government response, which is being placed in the Library today.

  I am very grateful to the members of the group for all the work they put into preparing a thorough and wide-ranging document.

  The group's overall conclusion was that the common fisheries policy has failings but that UK withdrawal would not address the fundamental problems facing the fishing industry. Where changes are needed, the CFP should therefore be improved from within. The Government agree with this approach as representing the only practicable way forward.

  Forty specific recommendations are included in the group's report. The Government's response covers each of these in turn.

  ADAS
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure that the benefits of his Department's future research and development carried out by ADAS continue to be made available to the industry as a whole following privatisation. [10464]

  Mr. Boswell
  We are well aware of the need to ensure that Department-funded research results continue to be properly exploited to the benefit of the industry as a whole. Where existing intellectual property rights are sold with ADAS business, we will attach appropriate conditions which may include a requirement on the purchaser to grant non-exclusive licences to third parties to exploit the intellectual property. Future contracts with the privatised company will specify the arrangements for ownership of the intellectual property rights and the conditions attached to such ownership.

  Mammalian Meat and Bonemeal (Transport)
  Mr. Martin Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received concerning potential cross-contamination from the transport of mammalian meat and bonemeal in vehicles that are also used to transport grain; and if he will make a statement. [7946]

  Mrs. Browning
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1996, c. 106]: I have been further advised by my officials that we are aware of two letters on this issue which have been received.

  "New Labour's Expenditure Plans"
  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what costs quoted in the document "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans" were prepared in his Department; what detailed assumptions and interpretations were provided to officials in his Department and to enable preparation of each cost; and what was the total cost to public funds of preparing each estimate. [6353]

  Mr. Hogg
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in conjunction with the Treasury, prepared the factual material relating to costings published in "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans" numbered 4, 5 and 6. The detailed assumptions and interpretations that were provided to officials are set out in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the right hon. Gentleman on 17 December 1996. It is not normal working practice to keep a record of the time spent in providing factual information to Ministers and it is not therefore possible to offer a reliable estimate of the costs involved.

  Frozen Meat
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the health risks from meat sold as fresh which has previously been frozen; [7361]
  652
  (2) how he ensures that the public are informed of health risks from meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen. [7364]

  Mrs. Browning
  The law currently requires the name of a food to include reference to its physical condition or treatment—for example, frozen—if omission of such information would mislead the consumer.

  The health risks associated with meat which has been previously frozen are no greater than those from meat which has not been previously frozen. Provided the meat is cooked thoroughly and kept free from cross-contamination after cooking, it will be safe to eat. The long-standing Government advice has been widely disseminated in Government publicity on food safety for many years.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received to restore the requirement that meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen should be clearly so labelled; [7365]

  (2) what are the legal requirements on meat retailers concerning the specific labelling of meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen; [7363]

  (3) what guidance he has issued to meat retailers concerning the labelling of meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen. [7366]

  Mrs. Browning
  Specific labelling requirements for meat and offal previously frozen were removed at the behest of the EC Commission as being at variance with harmonised EC labelling rules. No representations have been received seeking their restoration. None the less, the law currently requires the name of a food to include reference to its physical condition or treatment—for example, previously frozen—if omission of such information would mislead the purchaser. We shall be adding to the guidance notes on the food labelling regulations further advice on the way food processes and treatments should be indicated.

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his current estimate of the number of animals remaining to be culled in the over-30-month cull scheme; and if he will make a statement. [7913]

  Mr. Baldry
  The backlog of animals waiting to be slaughtered under the over-30-month scheme has now been eliminated in Great Britain and will very shortly be cleared in Northern Ireland. Cattle will therefore be able to be presented for the scheme at their normal point of slaughter, as originally intended.

  Animals (Identification)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of(a) farm and (b) domestic animals were (i) identified and (ii) newly identified by (1) a microchip and (2) a tattoo in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9654]
  653
  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: This information for farm animals is not collected centrally. Questions relating to domestic animals are a matter for the Home Department.

  Beef Exports (South Africa)
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much UK beef was exported to

  Beef exports to South Africa 1991–95

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  11995

  (a) Frozen beef

  tonnes

  1,722

  755

  3,123

  10,263

  27,011

  value (£'000s)

  1,617

  787

  3,929

  9,364

  23,744

  (b) + (c) Fresh and chiled beef2

  tonnes

  0

  21

  47

  61

  46

  value (£'000s)

  0

  28

  27

  75

  90

  (d) Beef prepared and preserved

  tonnes

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  value (£000s)

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Total Volume

  tonnes

  1,722

  776

  3,171

  10,324

  27,057

  Total Value

  value (£'000s)

  1,617

  815

  3,960

  9,439

  23,834

  1 Date provisional and subject to amendment.

  2 Exports of fresh and chilled beef are not separately available.

  Beef exports to South Africa 1996

  January1

  February1

  March1

  1996 Total1

  (a) Frozen beef

  tonnes

  879

  2,212

  1,893

  4,985

  value (£000s)

  965

  1,883

  1,513

  4,361

  (b) + (c) Fresh and chilled beef2

  tonnes

  0

  0

  0

  0

  value (£000s)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  (d) Beef prepared and preserved

  tonnes

  0

  0

  0

  0

  value (£000s)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total Volume

  tonnes

  879

  2,212

  1,893

  4,985

  Total Value

  value (£000s)

  965

  1,883

  1,513

  4,361

  1 Data provisional and subject to amendment.

  2 Exports of fresh and chilled beef are not separately available.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of the EC export refund given on beef exports to South Africa currently; and what it was in each of the years 1991 to 1995. [9226]

  Mr. Baldry
  There are 92 separate rates of export refund covering the export of beef and beef products from the EC to South Africa. However, when beef was exported from the UK to South Africa it tended to be in two categories: fresh chilled boneless cuts from the hindquarters of adult male bovines—special export refund beef; and other fresh chilled or frozen boneless cuts. These are set out with their current rate of export refund:SER beef: 274 ECU/100 kg
  Other fresh chilled or frozen boneless cuts: 145.5 ECU/100 kg.

  During the years 1991 to 1995 different rates applied at different times. A list of these is in the table, together with the agricultural conversion—green—rates which convert these into sterling.
  654
  South Africa in each of the years 1991 to 1995 and for each month in 1996 until the imposition of the EU export ban; and how much of this in each period was (a) frozen, (b) chilled, (c) fresh and (d) preserved or prepared. [9225]

  Mrs. Browning
  It is not possible separately to identify exports of beef of UK origin from those of non-UK origin. However, exports of beef from the UK to South Africa, as recorded in the overseas trade statistics, were as follows:

  ECU/100 kg

  Date

  Special export refund

  Other fresh/chilled and frozen

  16 July 1991

  312.00

  165.00

  31 July 1993

  296.00

  157.00

  27 November 1993

  281.50

  149.00

  29 January 1994

  267.50

  141.50

  4 August 1994

  267.50

  141.50

  26 November 1994

  254.00

  134.50

  1 February 1995

  306.71

  162.41

  17 February 1995

  306.50

  162.50

  21 September 1995

  296.00

  157.00

  14 October 1995

  281.00

  149.00

  11 November 1995

  267.00

  141.50

  18 November 1995

  200.00

  106.00

  13 December 1995

  227.00

  120.50

  11 February 1996

  244.00

  129.50

  1 May 1996

  274.00

  145.50

  655

  Green rate

  Ref wef date

  Value

  14 May 1990

  0.795232

  17 June 1991

  0.795423

  17 September 1992

  0.808227

  22 September 1992

  0.818896

  19 November 1992

  0.880533

  26 November 1992

  0.897525

  1 January 1993

  0.939052

  1 February 1993

  0.951031

  3 February 1993

  0.968391

  1 March 1993

  0.980715

  11 April 1993

  0.978559

  21 April 1993

  0.970726

  27 April 1993

  0.964017

  28 May 1993

  0.959111

  1 July 1993

  0.948645

  21 July 1993

  0.937041

  24 July 1993

  0.930787

  1 August 1993

  0.920969

  1 July 1994

  0.932453

  14 July 1994

  0.946550

  21 August 1994

  0.953575

  11 September 1994

  0.953575

  1 February 1995

  0.789704

  17 February 1995

  0.799794

  21 February 1995

  0.805837

  6 March 1995

  0.807419

  16 March 1995

  0.821220

  26 March 1995

  0.829882

  15 April 1995

  0.833125

  25 April 1995

  0.836385

  15 May 1995

  0.840997

  4 July 1995

  0.843954

  18 November 1995

  0.854276

  21 November 1995

  0.856563

  17 June 1996

  0.833821

  1 November 1996

  0.809915

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the quantity of beef exports to South Africa which has been re-exported to the EU from(a) Botswana, (b) Namibia, (c) Swaziland or (d) Lesotho since 1991. [9227]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is not available.

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9482]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of men and women employed on a full-time and part-time basis in the Department on 1 October 1996 was as follows:

  Number

  Full time

  Male

  3,518

  Female

  2,795

  Part time

  Male

  43

  Female

  516

  656

  Number

  Total

  Male

  5,561

  Female

  3,311

  Staff

  6,872

  The table does not include figures for the Department's executive agencies.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9621]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on the numbers of permanent and casual staff in the Department and its executive agencies in each year since 1992 can be found in the civil service staff in post summary tables, copies of which can be found in the Library of the House.

  Fishing Rights
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what classes of French fishing vessels are prohibited from fishing within the French 12-mile limit. [9573]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  In those areas where French vessels are permitted to fish within 12 miles of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, no distinction is made between classes of vessel.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the area agreement for French fishing vessels to fish inside the British fisheries limit of 12 miles around Guernsey and for British vessels to fish within the French 12-mile limit was not ratified by France. [9572]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  A temporary agreement with France covering these waters was recently terminated by the United Kingdom at the request of the Guernsey authorities, who did not think it operated in a way which was fair to the Bailiwick.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rights French fisherman currently have to fish within the Sark box. [9574]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The position in international law is disputed, and the matter is currently the subject of discussion with France.

TRANSPORT

  Transport Council
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 12 and 13 December. [10339]

  Sir George Young
  The Transport Council met in Brussels on 12 and 13 December. My noble Friend the minister for Aviation and Shipping represented the United Kingdom.
  657
  The Council agreed a common position on the Commission's proposals for a directive on road passenger cabotage—replacing directive 2454/92 which was annulled for technical reasons by the European Court of Justice. The UK said that it would vote against the text when formally adopted, because much of the original proposals for further liberalisation had been removed from the text. This was the only item on which the question of a vote arose.

  The Council also agreed a common position on a proposed amendment to Council regulation 684/92, on further liberalisation of international bus and coach services.

  The Council held orientation debates on the Commission's White Paper on the future of the Community's railways, and on proposals for the introduction of new digital tachograph technology to replace the mechanical recording devices currently required for buses and lorries.

  The Council agreed conclusions endorsing the Commission's proposals to take forward negotiations on a land transport agreement with Switzerland. It also discussed proposals for a replacement to directive 93/89—also annulled by the European Court of Justice on technical grounds—on taxation and road user charges for heavy goods vehicles. It was agreed that this issue would be taken forward under the Netherlands presidency of the EU in parallel with discussions on fuel excise duties.

  The Council held an orientation debate on air traffic management in the EU, and agreed conclusions noting the urgent need to adopt the new Eurocontrol convention. The Council agreed a common position on a proposed regulation increasing and harmonising the liability of Community air carriers in case of accident to passengers.

  The Commission reported to the Council on its negotiations on air transport relations with the United States, and gave a presentation on proposals for a mandate to negotiate Community membership of a new European Aviation Safety Authority.

  The Council reached political agreement on a proposed directive on safety standards for fishing vessels and on a proposed amendment to directive 93/75 on reporting requirements for ships carrying dangerous or polluting goods.

  The Council agreed a resolution promoting a maritime strategy for the Community. The UK opposed two elements of the strategy—on employment-related operating subsidies, and on restrictive manning practices—which were therefore excluded from the resolution itself and were covered separately by presidency conclusions supported by the Commission and the other delegations.

  The Council discussed the recent lorry blockades in France and Greece and the question of compensation.

  The Council discussed summer time, and received progress reports from the Commission on a number of other issues, which were not debated.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has undertaken an accident study of the pilot priority red route in north London since its introduction. [10471]

  Mr. Bowis
  The report "A Pilot Red Route Accident Study", commissioned by the Traffic Director for London, has been prepared by the consultants TecnEcon. The report analyses casualty data covering the three years since the pilot scheme was implemented and draws comparisons with the three yeas before the pilot scheme began. It covers the pilot scheme "rat runs" and other roads in the immediate area which were likely to be affected as a result of improvements in traffic flow on the pilot scheme and traffic calming measures. It concludes that the number of people injured in road accidents on or near London's pilot red route has fallen by 15.4 per cent. since the scheme became operational in 1993, and shows impressive reductions in the number of severe casualties—down 32.8 per cent.—and in the number of pedestrians injured—down 29.9 per cent. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Bus Working Group
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the members of the bus working group, (b) its terms of reference, (c) the number of meetings it has held and (d) the reports it has produced; and if he will place copies of its reports in the Library. [10271]

  Mr. Watts
  Under my chairmanship, the bus working group comprises representatives from the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the Joint Local Authority Associations and the National Federation of Bus Users. In addition to the senior traffic commissioner and officials from the Department of Transport and the Scottish and Welsh Offices, who also attend meetings of the group, the following attended the most recent meetings, held on 19 September:

  Local authority representatives

  Councillor M. Dowd

  Councillor J. Lingard

  Mr. D. Bannerman

  Mr. R. Bristowe

  Mr. J. Carr

  Mr. V. Christie

  Mr. B. Dobbs

  Ms A. Livesey

  Mr. K. Manton

  Mr. P. Morgan.

  Confederation of Passenger Transport

  Mr. T. Smallwood

  Mrs. V. Palmer

  Mr. D. Flower.

  National Federation of Bus Users

  Dr. C. Cahm

  Mr. J. Cartledge.

  The group has no formal terms of reference. Its remit is to examine ways of improving the provision of bus services within the privatised and deregulated framework.
  659
  The group has met five times since it was re-established in its present form last year. In addition, there have been a number of meetings of four sub-groups.

  My predecessor as chairman, the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris), reported on the group's work in a press statement on 8 January. More recently, the group has worked up a guide to good practice in the provision of passenger information, which was published by the Department in September. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library.

  Private Pilots' Licences
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many holders of (i) a United Kingdom private pilot's licence for(a) helicopters PPL (h) and (b) fixed-wing aeroplanes, (ii) an airline transport licence and (iii) a commercial pilot's licence for (A) helicopters and (B) gyroplanes have been prosecuted for exceeding the privileges of their licence since 24 July 1990; [8833]

  (2) how many alleged incidents of holders of (i) a private pilot's licence for (a) helicopters and (b) aeroplanes (ii) an airline transport licence and (iii) a commercial pilot's licence for (A) helicopters and (B) gyroplanes, exceeding the privileges of their licence have been investigated by investigating officers of the air safety enforcement section of the legal branch of the UK CAA since 24 July 1990. [8834]

  Mr. Bowis
  Records of prosecutions of pilots for exceeding the privileges of their licences do not specify what licences and/or ratings were held at the time, although they do distinguish between fixed-wing and helicopter incidents.

  Since 1 January 1991, there have been 22 successful prosecutions of pilots for exceeding the privileges of their licences, 16 involving pilots of fixed-wing aircraft and six involving helicopter pilots. All earlier records have been archived and the information from these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Records relating to investigations which do not lead to prosecutions are not retained.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many holders of a UK private pilot's licence and a UK private pilot's licence (helicopter) have been convicted for conducting public transport operations. [8835]

  Mr. Bowis
  Since 1 January 1991, there have been 18 successful prosecutions for illegal public transport operations, 12 involving fixed-wing aircraft and six involving helicopters. The records do no show the category of licence held by the pilots.

  A5 (Weeford to Fazeley)
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when and for what reasons the decision was taken to withdraw the scheme to improve the A5 from Weeford to Fazeley from the trunk road programme. [8821]

  Mr. Watts
  The A5 from Weeford to Fazeley was one of a number of longer—term schemes withdrawn from the programme following the Chancellor's Budget statement last November. These schemes had little chance of 660
  coming to fruition within a reasonable time scale and were withdrawn to remove uncertainty and the damaging effects of blight on individuals and neighbourhoods.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred in each of the last five years on the A5 between Weeford and Fazeley. [8820]

  Mr. Watts
  It is our policy to record only those accidents involving personal injury. The number of such accidents for the section of the A5 between Weeford and Fazeley, including the A5/A38 junction, for the last five years is as follows:

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1991

  0

  0

  9

  9

  1992

  1

  3

  12

  16

  1993

  0

  0

  3

  3

  1994

  1

  1

  6

  8

  1995

  1

  1

  7

  9

  1996 (to June)

  0

  1

  4

  5

  Total

  3

  6

  41

  50

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received(a) in support and (b) against the A5 Weeford to Fazeley improvement scheme; and if he will list them. [8824]

  Mr. Watts
  Some 90 per cent. of those members of the public who responded to the 1993 public consultation exercise supported an improvement to the A5 between Weeford and Fazeley.

  Twelve official bodies were also consulted. The results were as follows:

  Full support:

  Staffordshire County Council

  Borough of Tamworth

  Countryside Commission

  Cyclists Touring Club

  RAC Motoring Services

  Road Haulage Association

  Weeford Parish Council

  No objection in principle:

  Linchfield City Council

  National Rivers Authority

  Staffordshire Police

  Agreement in Principle:
  Hints with Canwell Parish Council

  Objection to the Scheme:
  Council for the Protection of Rural England.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To the Secretary of State for Transport what is the traffic capacity of the A5 from Weeford to Fazeley; and what is the current volume. [8819]

  Mr. Watts
  The congestion reference flow, which shows the level at which the road would be in the peak periods on an average day, is approximately 20,000 vehicles per day for the A5 between Weeford and Fazeley.

  The current traffic flow—1996—is some 16,000 vehicles per day, of which 20 per cent. are heavy goods vehicles.
  661
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to deal with the existing traffic problems on the A5 between the A38 junction and Fazeley. [8823]

  Mr. Watts
  Following the 1995 "Managing the Roads Programme" review, Staffordshire county council was commissioned to investigate what interim measures could be undertaken on that section of trunk road. Its report is expected the end of the year. With the scheme now withdrawn from the programme, we shall consider what measures, within current resources limitations, we can undertake to deal with existing traffic problems.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total expenditure in(a) design costs, (b) legal costs, (c) land and property acquisition and (d) other preparatory work for the A5 Weeford to Fazeley improvement scheme. [8822]

  Mr. Watts
  Total expenditure incurred to date amounts to £473,445. This comprises:

  £

  (a) Design costs

  349,562

  (b) Legal costs

  nil

  (c) Land and Property acquisition

  90,000

  (d) Other preparatory work

  33,883

  Civilian Pilots
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what training is provided to pilots of civilian aircraft on what to do in the event of encountering unidentified craft which do not show up on radar. [9563]

  Mr. Bowis
  Matters relating to the training of civil aircrew are the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. I have asked the chairman of that authority to write to the hon. Member.

  Ringway Airport
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the incident that occurred at 6.48 pm to flight 5061 on its descent into Ringway airport, Manchester on the night of 6 January 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9581]

  Mr. Bowis
  This incident was assessed by the joint airmiss working group, consisting of representatives from both civil and military aviation. The group found that both the degree of risk and the cause of the incident were unassessable. Full details are contained in joint airmiss working group report No. 1/95—January 1995 to April 1995, which is available from the Library.

  Flight Operations Inspectors
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the minimum professional qualifications for a person to be employed as a flight operations inspector (helicopters) in the flight operations inspectorate of the safety regulation group of the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority; [8829]

  (2) what are the professional qualifications and total helicopter and fixed-wing flying hours, of the most experienced flight operations inspector (helicopters) currently employed on flight operations inspectorate duties in the specialist helicopter section, FOI2, in the flight operations safety regulation group in the UK Civil Aviation Authority; and what were the equivalent data on 30 June 1990; [8830]

  (3) what are the professional qualifications, and total helicopter and fixed-wing flying hours, of the least experienced flight operations inspector (helicopters) currently employed on flight operations inspector (helicopters) duties in FOI2; and what were the equivalent data on 30 June 1990; [8831]

  (4) what are the average total flying hours, helicopter and fixed wing, of the flight operations inspector (helicopters) employed as flight operations inspectors in FOI2 in the safety regulation group of the UK Civil Aviation Authority. [8832]

  Mr. Bowis
  The minimum professional qualifications for a person to be employed as a flight operations inspector (helicopters) in the flight operations inspectorate of the Civil Aviation Authority is five years' experience in command of an appropriate helicopter and relevant experience in the UK industry. Inspectors are expected to retain a current airline transport pilot's licence (helicopters and gyroplanes).

  While individual inspectors keep a record of their flying hours in their personal flying log book, a record is not kept by the CAA. The CAA could require such information from its inspectors under article 68(4) of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995 but there is a statutory prohibition on the disclosure of information obtained in this way.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the timetable for, and funding of, the proposed Birmingham northern relief road. [9771]

  Mr. Watts
  The 16-month public inquiry ended in October last year. Many complex issues were raised and it is necessarily taking time for the inspector to complete his report. Once it is received, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport will consider it and issue a decision as soon as possible.

  The Birmingham northern relief road is the subject of a concession agreement with a private sector concessionaire, Midland Expressway Ltd., which is responsible for designing, building, financing and operating the road.

  Channel Tunnel (Safety)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the quantity of(a) polystyrene products and (b) packaging currently being transported via the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement. [9867]

  Mr. Watts
  No estimates of this kind have been made.

  Road Closures (Commercial Vehicles)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents during the past 12 months involving commercial vehicles which resulted in(a) total and (b) partial closures of (i) tunnels, (ii) bridges and (iii) motorways in England and Wales were notified to his Department; and how many prosecutions resulted. [9311]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many incidents during the past 12 months involving commercial vehicles which resulted in (a) total and (b) partial closures of (i) tunnels, (ii) bridges and (iii) motorways in England were notified to this Department; and how many prosecutions resulted.
  The Highways Agency is responsible for the management and operation of the motorway and trunk road network in England. There are occasions when the police will independently use their own powers to close a length of road because of an emergency. Where no damage to the road or roadside equipment is involved, and their impact is not great, these are unlikely to be reported to the Highways Agency. In view of this, I am unable to provide figures to cover all such incidents.
  At the Blackwall Tunnel we have over recent years kept statistics of total closures and partial or short term (approximately 15 minutes) closures and prosecutions. In the last 12 months we have recorded 1 total closure (southbound 10/12/96), 430 partial/short term closures and 260 prosecutions. Most of these closures relate to over-height vehicles attempting to enter the northbound tunnel. On the rest of the trunk road network the Agency is aware of 20 total closures, and 86 partial closures involving commercial vehicles. No prosecutions have been recorded.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of his Department's vulnerability to claims by highway authorities for damages if his allocations of transport supplementary grant were insufficient to enable highway authorities to meet their existing contractual financial commitments in relation to highway schemes approved for transport supplementary grant; [9448]

  (2) if it is his policy that the transport supplementary grant allocations to highway authorities should be sufficient to meet authorities' existing contractual financial commitments in relation to highway schemes approved for transport supplementary grant. [9449]

  Mr. Watts
  When local highway authorities submit their annual transport policies and programme proposals, the Department looks scrupulously at the bids for support for schemes accepted for transport supplementary grant in past rounds. The aim is to determine the extent to which estimated expenditure is eligible for grant, is consistent 664
  with published guidance, and is in line with previous advice to the bidding authority on affordability. The Department makes it clear that TSG is not necessarily intended to cover the entire costs of an accepted scheme. There may be elements of expenditure in a contract that are not eligible for the grant. The Department is therefore under no obligation to provide sufficient resources for an authority to meet its contractual commitments. Subject to those qualifications, the Department none the less aims in making its allocations to avoid the authority having artificially to delay schemes that have already started construction. No case has been recorded in which an authority has pursued a claim against the Department because of alleged failure to provide sufficient resources.

  Leaded Petrol Ban
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment regarding exemptions to the European leaded petrol ban; [9738]

  (2) what discussions he has had with his European partners regarding the exemption for classic car owners from the leaded petrol ban. [9739]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government endorse the need to sustain the continuing decline in leaded petrol sales but believe a total ban to be unnecessary. At the Environment Council on 15 October, my noble Friend the Lord Lindsay urged our European partners to adopt the UK approach of reducing sales through fiscal rather than regulatory means, thus allowing the owners of older or historic or classic vehicles to buy leaded petrol for as long as there is a market demand. Discussions are still at an early stage but there are signs that some of our European partners would share our approach.

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9619]

  Mr. Bowis
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information can be assembled and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles (Road Tax)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road tax charges for heavy goods vehicles in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Germany and (d) Belgium. [9129]

  Mr. Bowis
  In the United Kingdom, goods vehicles pay vehicle excise duty according to their revenue weight and their axle configuration. The following table summarises the main features of current rates after the Budget of 26 November 1996. In the Budget, the Chancellor also announced his intention to offer concessions to heavy goods vehicles with low emission levels meeting targets from 1988. Full details of rates are published by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on form V149 "Rates of Vehicle Excise Duty" available at post offices.
  665

  Goods vehicle type

  Revenue weight details

  Current annual fee £

  All types

  Over 3,500 kgs not over 7,500 kgs

  150

  All types

  Over 7,500 kgs not over 12,000 kgs

  290

  Rigid vehicles:

  2 axle

  Minimum: Over 12,000 kgs not over 13,000 kgs

  450

  Maximum: Over 1,500 kgs not over 17,000 kgs

  1,280

  3 axle

  Minimum: Over 1,2000 kgs not over 17,000 kgs

  470

  Maximum: Over 25,000 kgs not over 27,000 kgs

  2,260

  4 or more axle

  Minimum: Over 12,000 kgs not over 21,000 kgs

  340

  Maximum: Over 31,000 kgs not over 32,000 kgs

  4,250

  Articulated vehicles

  2 axle tractor

  Minimum: Over 12,000 kgs not over 16,000 kgs

  440

  1 (or more) axle trailer

  Maximum: Over 33,000 kgs not over 38,000 kgs

  5,000

  2 axle tractor

  Minimum: Over 12,000 kgs not over 28,000 kgs

  440

  3 axle trailer

  Maximum: Over 36,000 kgs not over 38,000 kgs

  3,100

  3 axle tractor

  Minimum: Over 12,000 kgs not over 23,000 kgs

  440

  1 (or more) axle trailer

  Maximum: Over 36,000 kgs not over 38,000 kgs

  2,730

  3 axle tractor

  Minimum: Over 12,000 kgs not over 33,000 kgs

  440

  3 axle trailer

  Maximum: Over 36,000 kgs not over 38,000 kgs

  1,240

  In France, goods vehicles not over 16 tonnes pay road tax as part of the graduated system that applies to ordinary motorcars. The tariff depends upon the power of the vehicle, its age and the area of the country or departement. Typically, vehicles in the lowest power bands pay FF200 to FF300, those in the highest power bands FF12,000 to FF14,000.

  Vehicles with a total permissible weight in excess of 16 tonnes are exempted from this graduated tax, but instead pay axle tax. The tariff is based upon both axle configuration and gross weight, and ranges from FF200 to FF14,400 per year, although vehicles may qualify for certain reductions in these rates depending upon how they are used and operated. An articulated vehicle with two-axle tractor, two-axle trailer and weighing between 37,501 kg to 38,000 kg would pay FF5,200.

  In Germany, taxes are based upon total permissible weight in kilogrammes. Standard rates for 1995 range from DM22 per 200 kg, for vehicles not over 2,000 kg, to DM124 per 200 kg for vehicles over 15,000 kg, up to a maximum of DM3,500. Vehicles meeting specified noise and pollution standards qualify for lower rates, which for the most environmentally friendly vehicles range from DM12.55 per 200 kg, for vehicles not over 2,000 kg, to DM30.85 per 200 kg for vehicles over 15,000 kg, up to a maximum of DM1,300. Trailers are surcharged according to total maximum weight, ranging from DM730 for those not exceeding 10 tonnes, to DM1,750 to those over 18 tonnes. Under those arrangements, a 38,000 kg articulated vehicle without environmental improvements would pay DM3,500.
  666
  In Belgium, vans, trucks, lorries and articulated goods vehicles pay road tax based upon the deadweight of the vehicle. The following rates were applicable between July 1995 and June 1996. Up to 1,000 kg deadweight, the basic charge is 150 Belgian francs per 100 kg, subject to a minimum tax of 888 Belgian francs. Over 1,000 kg deadweight, vehicles pay at a rate per 100 kg of 150 Belgian francs plus seven francs for every 100 kg over 1,000 kg, subject to a maximum rate of 346 francs per 100 kg.

  At deadweight 4,650 kg tax payable is 15,916 Belgium francs. Over 4,640 kg, a supplement of 346 francs is payable for each additional 100 kg. Some vehicles may be subject to additional municipal taxes. A reduction of 25 per cent. is permitted to vehicles over five years of age. A 38-tonne articulated vehicle, assumed to have deadweight of approximately 13 tonnes, would pay roughly 46,500 francs.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro-compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to he fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9455]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department and agencies will need to assess the impact that a single currency would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Coastguard Service
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what will be the proposed staffing arrangements at(a) Lerwick coastguard station and (b) Pentland coastguard station following the introduction of coastguard watch assistants; [8469]

  (2) what were the recommended levels of staffing at (a) Lerwick coastguard station and (b) Pentland coastguard station on 1 December 1996; [8468]

  (3) how many full-time and part-time coastguard officers, at each grade, were employed by HM Coastguard at (a) Lerwick and (b) Pentland on (i) 1 December 1990, (ii) 1 December 1995 and (iii) 1 December 1996. [8467]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. James Wallace, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions on staffing levels within the Coastguard Agency. The answers are as follows:

  PQ 636/96/97
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time and part-time coastguard officers, at each grade, were employed by HM Coastguard at (a) Lerwick and (b) Pentland on (i) 1 December 1990, (ii) 1 December 1995 and (iii) 1 December 1996.

  667

  District controller

  Station officer

  Senior watch officer

  Watch officer

  Sector officer

  Totals

  1 December 1990 Shetland

  1

  2

  4

  6

  2

  15

  1 December 1990 Pentland

  1

  2

  15

  5

  3

  16

  1 December 1995 Shetland

  1

  2

  4

  8

  2

  17

  1 December 1995 Pentland

  1

  1

  4

  7

  4

  17

  1 December 1996 Shetland

  1

  2

  4

  6

  2

  15

  1 December 1996 Pentland

  1

  1

  3

  7

  4

  16

  1One over complement due to overlapping transfer.

  District controller

  Deputy district controller

  Watch manager

  Watch officer

  Coastguard watch assistant

  Sector manager

  Totals

  Shetland (Lerwick)

  1

  1

  4

  5

  6

  2

  19

  Pentland (Kirkwall)

  1

  1

  4

  5

  6

  3

  20

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to pay a gratuity to those coastguard auxiliaries informed this year that their services were no longer required; and if he will list the numbers involved and lengths of service. [9577]

  Mr. Bowis
  The "focus for change" review recommended the replacement by permanent employees of the volunteer auxiliary service which supported Her Majesty's Coastguard's operations. There were approximately 360 auxiliary coastguards in the operations rooms with service varying between one and 20 years.

  As volunteers they are not eligible to receive severance payments but we would like to put on record our appreciation of the valuable service given by operations rooms auxiliaries over many years. More than 3,000 auxiliaries will continue to form the coast rescue companies around the coast, preserving the long tradition of voluntary service to the seagoing community within Her Majesty's Coastguard.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the privatisation of the Coastguard agency. [9764]

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has drawn from the Transport Research Laboratory's study of accidents involving bull bars; and if he will make a statement. [10279]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Transport Research Laboratory published yesterday a study of accident data which suggests that the number of additional deaths and injuries caused by bull bars is significantly lower than had previously been assumed. Nevertheless, we cannot accept
  668
  PQ 643/96/97
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what were the recommended levels of staffing at (a) Lerwick coastguard station and (b) Pentland coastguard station on 1 December 1996.

  District controller

  Station officer

  Senior watch officer

  Watch officer

  Sector officer

  Totals

  Shetland (Lerwick)

  1

  2

  4

  8

  2

  17

  Pentland (Kirkwall)

  1

  2

  4

  8

  4

  19

  PQ 637/96/97:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what will be the proposed staffing arrangements at (a) Lerwick Coastguard station and (b) Pentland Coastguard station following the introduction of Coastguard watch assistants. [8469]

  unnecessary deaths on the road, even if in single figures. We are still very much opposed to the fitting of aggressive bull bars and strongly support current European efforts to control their use. We shall also be studying the TRL report carefully to assess what further action is appropriate.

  A copy of the TRL study has been placed in the Library.

  Vehicle Fuel Tax
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the impact of a 5 per cent. annual increase in tax on vehicular fuel on road traffic. [10205]

  Mr. Bowis
  The impact depends on the price charged at the pump and the number of years over which the increase is imposed.

  North Sea Pollution
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many oil or chemical pollution incidents have been reported by each member state party to the Bonn agreement on pollution in the North sea in each year since it came into force; and if he will place in the Library copies of each submission made by the United Kingdom under the Bonn agreement. [8366]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Bonn agreement secretariat has informed the Department's marine pollution control unit that, between 1984 and 1996 to date, it received 36 pollution reports from contracting parties as in the table.
  669

  1984

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1995

  1996

  Total

  Belgium

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  6

  Denmark

  1

  2

  3

  France

  1

  1

  2

  Germany

  1

  1

  2

  Netherlands

  2

  2

  3

  2

  3

  1

  13

  Norway

  1

  1

  2

  Sweden

  1

  1

  2

  United

  Kingdom

  3

  1

  1

  5

  The secretariat has said that the Bonn agreement 1983, as amended by the decision of contracting parties of 22 September 1989, does not impose a formal duty on contracting parties to send copies of all pollution reports to the secretariat. In practice, all contracting parties resort to instant operational contacts with neighbouring parties from the start of an incident, often under the umbrella of bilateral arrangements.

  Since 1989, the marine pollution control unit has notified the Bonn agreement secretariat on five occasions of oil pollution or threatened oil pollution in the UK as shown in the table. The Bonn agreement does not require members to make submissions. Of the five UK incidents listed, reports of two—the Philips Oklahoma and the Braer—are available in the Library.

  Airline Ramp Checks
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those airlines identified by the Civil Aviation Authority as a cause for concern in relation to safety which has resulted in additional ramp checks being undertaken. [8441]

  Mr. Bowis
  Since January's announcement of a package of measures to increase the safety surveillance of foreign aircraft operating to the UK, the Department has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to carry out a number of ramp checks. Additional ramp checks have been necessary only in the case of Turkmenistan Airlines and Transarabian Air Transport. In neither case has there been evidence of on-going problems which suggest that these airlines are not operating in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's minimum standards.

  Motorways and Trunk Roads
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each motorway and trunk road, in which parliamentary constituency each junction is located, based on(a) the present boundaries and (b) the new boundaries which come into effect from 1997. [9158]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: The information in its entirety could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I can provide a list of the motorway junctions in England based on the current parliamentary boundaries. As the list is extensive, l will send it separately to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy in the Library.

  Iwade Queenborough Improvement Scheme
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the draft orders for 670
  the Iwade to Queenborough improvement scheme, including the second crossing of the Swale; and what arrangements are being made for a public exhibition. [9587]

  Mr. Watts
  We intend to publish the draft orders for this scheme on 23 January 1997. This will be followed as soon as possible by a local public exhibition of the proposals. At the exhibition, officials will be in attendance to explain the proposals and to answer any questions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9377]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Ministers carry out many visits in the course of their official duties. During the period in question, the number of official visits overseas by Ministers of this Department were as follows:my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary made 46 overseas visits, visiting 44 countries;
  the Minister for Overseas Development made 21 visits, visiting 26 countries;
  the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), made 12 overseas visits, visiting 28 countries;
  the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis), made 29 overseas visits, visiting 17 countries;
  the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), made four overseas visits, visiting seven countries;
  and I made 18 overseas visits, visiting 18 countries.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support within the intergovernmental conference the presidency's proposal for a new article 3d in respect of environmental protection and sustainable development. [9404]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Government support the objectives of environmental protection and sustainable development. There is already a treaty basis for EC environmental action. The Government are considering how this might be developed without extending Community competence or majority voting.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the Irish proposal to strengthen the nuclear safety provisions of the Euratom treaty at the intergovernmental conference. [9406]
  671
  Mr. Davis
  No. The proposal can be more appropriately dealt with in the context of wider international agreements in the nuclear area.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental proposals the United Kingdom Government plan to put forward at the intergovernmental conference. [9408]

  Mr. Davis
  The Government are still considering what, if any, environmental proposals to put to the intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support within the intergovernmental conference the proposal that the Committee of the Regions should be allowed to bring actions before the Court of Justice for the purpose of protecting its own prerogatives. [9402]

  Mr. Davis
  The Committee of the Regions has a valuable role to play, but the Government do not agree that giving an advisory body of this kind direct access to the European Court of Justice would be appropriate.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the environmental issues in respect of which the United Kingdom Government will be supporting an extension of qualified majority voting at the intergovernmental conference. [9405]

  Mr. Davis
  None. As explained in the "Partnership of Nations" White Paper, at a time when there is serious public concern about the centralisation of decision making, the case has not been made for making it easier to override the objections of member states in matters of particular sensitivity. The Government therefore oppose the further extension of qualified majority voting.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Danish proposals of 6 September to the intergovernmental conference concerning the environment. [9407]

  Mr. Davis
  The Government support effective environmental action at the European level which takes full account of the principle of subsidiarity. The Government do not, however, support the Danish suggestion that qualified majority voting should be used for decisions on environmental taxes.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support within the intergovernmental conference the proposal to amend article 3b in respect of the application of the principle of subsidiarity to regional and local levels. [9409]

  Mr. Davis
  No. As Heads of Government agreed in 1992 at the Birmingham European Council,"It is for each Member State to decide how its powers should be exercised domestically".

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed,
  672
  (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9488]

  Mr. Hanley
  As of 1 April 1996, the Department was employing the following:

  Number

  Total employees

  7,200

  Male

  4,571

  Female

  2,629

  Male full time

  4,545

  Female full time

  2,483

  Male part time

  26

  Female part time

  146

  These figures are for permanent staff only.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9625]

  Mr. Hanley
  The answer is as follows:

  FCO (DIP. WING + ODA)

  Wilton Park(agency) (since 1991)

  Natural Resources Institute (agency)

  1996

  Permanent

  6,863

  30

  307

  Non-permanent

  97

  0

  16

  1995

  Permanent

  7,106

  32

  386

  Non-permanent

  99

  0

  27

  1994

  Permanent

  7,511

  32

  421

  Non-permanent

  81

  0

  14

  1993

  Permanent

  7,798

  28

  441

  Non-permanent

  61

  0

  38

  1992

  Permanent

  7,933

  28

  469

  Non-permanent

  54

  0

  29

  EU Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support an extension of the list of areas about which the EU Committee of the Regions should be consulted. [9403]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Committee of the Regions is already consulted on a wide range of issues and is able to produce opinions on its own initiative on any other matters it considers appropriate. The Government do not believe that there is a need to expand its present role.

  Legislation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many items of legislation relating to his Department have been repealed
  673
  since January 1994; how many statutory instruments were introduced during the same period; and how many of the latter were (a) deregulatory and (b) fee orders. [9361]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General, Official Report, column 492.

  European Council (Business)
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for January; and if he will list the major EU events for the next six months. [9865]

  Mr. David Davis

  Monthly Forecast of Business for January 1997
  The following Councils are scheduled:

  January 7: Fisheries Council

  January 20: General Affairs Council

  January 20: Agriculture Council

  January 21: General Affairs Council

  January 21 Agriculture Council

  January 27: ECOFIN Council

  January 31: Transport Council (Informal)

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  January 7: Fisheries Council
  This Council will take place only if the December Council fails to agree on the following item:
  Total allowable catches and quotas.

  January 20–21: General Affairs Council
  Agenda not yet available.

  January 20–21: Agriculture Council

  Identification and registration of bovine animals (possible item).

  Durum wheat (possible item).

  Honey (possible item).

  Flax (possible item).

  BSE (possible item).

  Veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreement (possible item).

  January 27: ECOFIN Council

  Presentation of the Dutch presidency programme work

  Programme of the Commission.

  Structured dialogue with Ministers from central and eastern European countries and the Baltics.

  Follow-up to the Dublin European Council:

  Preparation of stage 3 of economic and monetary union; Employment.

  Sound and efficient Management-2000 (possible item).

  Macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine (possible item).

  Georgia, Armenia and Tadjikstan (possible item).

  Renewal of European Investment bank lending envelopes (possible item).

  Taxation (possible item).

  Appointment of EC Jury for coin competition (possible item).

  Other Business:

  Lunch: With Minister of Finance of the CEECs and the Baltics;

  Coffee: Briefing on intergovernmental conference

  January 31: Transport Council (informal)
  No formal agenda.
  674
  EUROPEAN CALENDAR: DECEMBER 1996—MAY 1997

  THIS CALENDAR IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH EUROPEAN UNION MATTERS, BUT CERTAIN OTHER RELEVANT EVENTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED. EVENTS AND DATES QUOTED ARE BASED ON THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE DATE OF ISSUE.

  Venue

  Event

  January 1997

  1

  Dutch presidency begins

  7

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  9–10

  The Hague

  Political Committee

  13–17

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  20–21

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  20–21

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  23–25

  Amsterdam

  Conference on Social Policy

  27

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council (t.b.c.)

  29–30

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  30–31

  The Hague

  Opening of "European Year Against Racism"

  31

  Amsterdam

  Transport Council (Informal)

  February 1997

  1

  Amsterdam

  Transport Council (Informal)

  1–2

  The Hague

  Economic Affairs Council (Informal)

  5–6

  Noordwijk

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  6

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  17

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  17

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  17

  Qatar

  EU/GCC Conference

  17–18

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17–21

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  24–25

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  26

  Brussels

  EU/San Jose Conference

  28

  Amsterdam

  Development Council (Informal)

  March 1997

  1–2

  Amsterdam

  Development Council (Informal)

  3

  Amsterdam

  Education Council (Informal)

  3–4

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  6

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  10

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  10–14

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  11–12

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  13

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  14–15

  Rotterdam

  Social Affairs Council (Informal)

  15–16

  Apeldoorn

  Gymnich (Informal)

  17

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  17–19

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  18–19

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  24–25

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  25

  Rome

  Informal IGC Ministerial

  April 1997

  4–6

  Noordwijk

  ECOFIN Council (Informal)

  6–8

  Maastricht

  Culture Council (Informal)

  7–8

  Noordwijk

  EU/Rio Group

  7–10

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  9–11

  The Hague

  Social Integration Conference

  10

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  10

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Council

  14–15

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  17

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  17–18

  Maastricht

  Ministerial Conference on EC aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries post-Lomé IV

  18–20

  Amsterdam

  Environment Council (Informal)

  21–22

  The Netherlands

  Political Committee

  21–22

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  23

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  24

  Luxembourg

  Industry Council

  24–25

  Luxembourg

  African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries/EU Ministerial Conference

  675

  Venue

  Event

  25

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  29–30

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  May 1997

  5

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

  6–7

  Strasbourg

  Council of Europe Ministerial

  12

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  12–13

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  12–13

  Paris

  WEU Ministerial

  12–16

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  14–15

  Brussels

  Research Council

  15

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  20

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  22

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  25–27

  Middelburg

  Agriculture Council (Informal)

  26

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  27–28

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  28–29

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  29

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  June 1997

  2–3

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  5

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  5

  Luxembourg

  Development Council

  8–10

  Noordwijk

  Environmental Planning Conference

  9

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  9–10

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  9–13

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  10

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

  12

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  16–17

  Amsterdam

  European Council

  17–18

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  19

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  19

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council (t.b.c.)

  23–24

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  25–26

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  26

  Luxembourg

  Education Council

  30

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  30

  Luxembourg

  Culture Council

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9459]

  Mr. Hanley
  None. This Department's information systems already handle transactions in many currencies. Whether or not the United Kingdom participates in the third stage of EMU, we will modify them accordingly, within the appropriate time frame. The costs cannot yet be determined.

  Bahrain
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will offer a financial contribution to the United Nations working group on arbitrary detentions to enable it to visit Bahrain to undertake investigations. [9734]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The working group on arbitrary detention has not requested a visit to Bahrain, but if such a request were made, we would expect it to be financed from within the working group's existing resources.
  676
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Bahrain concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement. [9713]

  Mr. Jeremy Hanley
  The Government deplore all abuses of human rights, wherever they take place. We have discussed human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain at ministerial and official levels on numerous occasions. During my visit to Bahrain in June 1996, I discussed human rights with the Amir, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to the Government of Bahrain on the need to bring the Bahrain legal code into line with international judicial norms, with special reference to adding the right to appeal against death sentences. [9717]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government of Bahrain are aware of our concern that, in accordance with international standards, those facing the death penalty should be guaranteed protection of certain rights, including the right of appeal to a court of higher jurisdiction. This is separate from any plea for clemency to the Amir which defendants may make.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Bahrain concerning the
  detention of women and children and the need to observe the UN convention on the rights of children. [9716]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer to my previous answer. Such discussions on human rights cover men, women and children.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Bahrain regarding the death sentences passed by the Bahrain state security court on Ali Ahmad Abed Al-Usfur, Yusif Hussein Abd Al-Baqi and Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Al-Katiab. [9718]

  Mr. Hanley
  Ali Ahmad Abed Al-Usfur, Yusif Hussein Abd Al-Baqi and Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Al-Katiab have been convicted of burning to death seven Bangladeshi nationals. Provided international standards are complied with, the decision whether to maintain and implement the death penalty is a matter for each state. I refer the hon. Member to my previous reply.

  Caribbean Dependent Territories
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future constitutional relationship between Her Majesty's Government and the five remaining Caribbean dependent territories; and if he will make a statement. [10297]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  In the light of recent experience, the Government have examined actual or potential problems in the five Caribbean dependent territories. Considerable improvements are being made in the administration of the territories and their good government. However, it has become clear that some extension of those powers which may be exercised by Her Majesty's Government may be needed. We will take this into account in our continuing discussions with each of
  677
  the five Governments concerned and make any changes if and when necessary. We attach importance to our continuing friendship and close co-operation with the territories in the interests of their well-being and future prosperity.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent adoption by the European Union of a common position on the supply of arms to Afghanistan. [10338]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  On 17 December, following a British initiative in support of the UN's efforts to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan, the EU adopted a common position concerning the imposition of an embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment on Afghanistan. The embargo covers contracts entered into prior to the adoption of the embargo. The EU will also make efforts to encourage other countries to adopt a similar policy of restraint. In accordance with the EU embargo, Her Majesty's Government will not normally issue a licence for the export of any item listed in part III of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended—military, security and para-military goods and arms, ammunition and related material—often described as the military list. We will continue to consider on a case-by-case basis all export licence applications. From time to time, the contents of the military list may change, for example, to reflect technological advances or continuing international efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

SCOTLAND

  Budget Balance
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of Scotland's budget balance over the planning period. [8145]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Health Board Finance
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairmen of the health boards in Scotland to discuss finance; and if he will make a statement. [8150]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend and I meet chairmen of health boards regularly to discuss matters of current interest, including finance.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children gained entrance to higher education courses in(a) the current year, (b) 1987 and (c) 1979; and if he will make a statement. [8151]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The number of young Scots entering higher education has more than doubled since 1979. The age participation index, a measure of the number of under-2l-year-old entrants as a proportion of 678
  the 17-year-old population, stood at 17.8 per cent in 1980–81, 20.5 per cent. in 1987–88 and 42.7 per cent. in 1994–95. Figures for later years are not yet available.

  Ministerial Visit (Hawick)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an official visit to Hawick to discuss the economic and social regeneration of the town; and if he will make a statement. [8152]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to make such a visit.

  Acute Hospitals (Glasgow)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional resources he plans to make available to Greater Glasgow health board to meet the demands faced by acute hospitals during the winter period. [8155]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend announced on 9 December that an extra £15 million is being distributed to health boards this year in part to help reduce pressures likely to arise over the winter. Of this total, Greater Glasgow health board will receive £2,863,000.

  Minister for Glasgow
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint a Minister for Glasgow with responsibilities for regeneration policies. [8156]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I am responsible to my right hon. Friend for regeneration policies in Scotland.

  Bellwin Scheme
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with respect to triggering of the Bellwin scheme for exceptional weather conditions in the borders region during the winter of 1995–96; and if payments will be forthcoming from the scheme relating to the claims submitted by Scottish Borders council. [8157]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Bellwin scheme was triggered for severe weather during December 1995 and January 1996 on 4 August. Claims from councils throughout Scotland, including those submitted by the Scottish Borders council on behalf of the former councils, are currently being assessed for eligibility under the scheme and, where appropriate, payments under the scheme will be made as soon as possible.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government finance. [8160]

  Mr. Kynoch
  On 17 January.

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the 1997–98 grant-aided expenditure figures for each Scottish local authority. [10454]
  679
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The 1997–98 grant-aided expenditure figure for each local authority is set out in the table. Each authority's allocation of the GAE total has been determined having regard to the client group methodology which is agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in the distribution committee of the working party on local government finance. The allocation also takes account of the phasing out of the self-financed transitional mismatch scheme which COSLA proposed and I agreed to last year in the light of local government reorganisation.

  The table excludes figures for the urban programme GAE which is not allocated to individual authorities. The addition of this amount—£56,894 million—brings the GAE total to the sum of £5,421 million which I announced on 26 November.

  In addition to each authority's 1997–98 GAE, the table shows the change as compared with the 1996–97 assessment in both cash and percentage terms after adjusting for the phasing out of local government reorganisation costs and the transfer of responsibility for funding nursery education—and also relative 1997–98 GAEs per head of population.

  Total GAE 1997–98 £000s

  Increase from £000s

  1996–97 Percentage

  GAE per head (indexed: 100 = lowest)

  Aberdeen City

  196,479

  -329

  -0.17

  100

  Aberdeenshire

  217,238

  9,019

  4.32

  107

  Angus

  110,602

  5,069

  4.79

  110

  Argyll and Bute

  104,691

  897

  0.86

  128

  Clackmannanshire

  48,958

  896

  1.86

  112

  Dumfries and Galloway

  155,190

  3,132

  2.06

  117

  Dundee City

  164,884

  631

  0.38

  122

  East Ayrshire

  128,665

  3,103

  2.47

  117

  East Dunbartonshire

  106,022

  4,266

  4.18

  106

  East Lothian

  82,715

  3,576

  4.51

  105

  East Renfrewshire

  84,735

  5,198

  6.52

  107

  Edinburgh

  416,537

  20,594

  5.19

  104

  Falkirk

  136,550

  4,348

  3.28

  107

  Fife

  346,740

  8,108

  2.39

  110

  Glasgow

  767,967

  -2,972

  -0.38

  138

  Highland

  234,363

  4457

  1.94

  125

  lnverclyde

  99,605

  869

  0.88

  125

  Midlothian

  79,656

  1,012

  1.28

  111

  Moray

  87,808

  1,210

  1.39

  112

  North Ayrshire

  145,461

  5,566

  3.97

  116

  North Lanarkshire

  337,924

  5,647

  1.70

  115

  Orkney Islands

  28,870

  -287

  -0.98

  162

  Perthshire and Kinross

  128,962

  4,608

  3.70

  108

  Renfrewshire

  184,227

  4,278

  2.37

  115

  Borders, Scottish

  110,986

  3,476

  3.23

  117

  Shetland Islands

  37,643

  7,815

  26.20

  182

  South Ayrshire

  115,976

  3,934

  3.50

  113

  South Lanarkshire

  311,049

  7,643

  2.51

  113

  Stirling

  86,670

  2,105

  2.48

  117

  West Dunbartonshire

  112,348

  -411

  -0.36

  130

  West Lothian

  151,343

  3,157

  2.13

  113

  Western Isles

  43,650

  399

  0.92

  168

  Scotland

  5,364,513

  Forestry Commission Exports
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland what is the value of Forestry Commission exports; and what are its principal markets. [8161]
  680
  Mr. Kynoch
  The Forestry Commission is not currently exporting any timber. It is the principal supplier to an expanding and world-competitive domestic wood processing industry.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives his Department has taken this year to promote energy efficiency in housing in Scotland. [8162]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 and the Energy Conservation Act 1996 were brought into effect in Scotland on 1 December 1996. Guidance on the legislation has been issued to all local authorities. In addition, the Scottish Office has published research reports on energy conservation and planning and the evaluation of energy efficiency initiatives.

  Economic Co-operation (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for closer economic o-operation between Scotland and Northern Ireland. [8163]

  Mr. Kynoch
  There are no specific measures to encourage economic co-operation between the constituent parts of the United Kingdom. Businesses in all parts of the United Kingdom will continue to prosper as a result of the success of the Government's economic policies.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss the impact of his decision on the proposed overland electricity transmission line in Ayrshire which forms part of the Northern Ireland—Scotland interconnector. [8164]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has had no request for a meeting from STUC on this matter.

  Social Work
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the financing of social work in Scotland. [8165]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The provision and financing of most social work is for local authorities to determine. Local authorities will have £1,010 million in grant-aided expenditure in 1997–98 for social work. This compares with £950 million in 1996–97 and £658 million in 1992–93.

  Government Expenditure and Tax Revenues
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the central estimate of the extent by which total government expenditure in Scotland exceeded tax revenues raised in Scotland in 1994–95. [8166]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Excluding North sea revenues and privatisation proceeds, in 1994–5 Government expenditure in Scotland was estimated to be £8.2 billion higher than tax revenues raised in Scotland.

  Structural Budget Deficit
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the extent to which Scotland has a structural budget deficit in the Government finances. [8167]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have received very few representations.

  Trunk Road Improvements
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for trunk road improvements in the next three years for Dumfries and Galloway. [8168]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In addition to the final phase of the upgrading of the A74 to motorway standard, we will undertake a major project on the A75 at the Glen. A route action plan will be carried out on the A75 to identify and prepare a programme of further improvements along the route. On the A77, traffic management and calming measures are currently being prepared for Maybole, Kirkoswald, Lendalfoot, Ballantrae and Stranraer. On the A76, a variety of schemes to improve visibility, junctions and access will be carried out over the next three years, including further improvements at Enterkinfoot, and traffic-calming measures in Thornhill and Sanquhar.

  Local Authority Borrowing
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of local authority borrowing in Scotland; and what is the equivalent borrowing in English local authorities. [8169]

  Mr. Kynoch
  At 31 March 1996, the total local authority loan debt outstanding was £9.7 billion. The comparable estimated figure for English local authorities was £37 billion.

  Governance
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from business regarding the future governance of Scotland. [8170]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The proposed tax-raising parliament has been denounced by the Scottish chambers of commerce, by the Institute of Directors, by the CBI Scotland and by 78 per cent. of Scotland's major companies surveyed by Scottish Business Insider magazine.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning a tax-raising Parliament for Scotland. [8158]

  Mr. Forsyth
  I have received many representation from throughout Scotland and England supporting the Government's commitment to the Union and expressing concern about the cost of a tartan tax-raising Scottish Parliament.

  Geriatric Patients
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase the transfer of geriatric patients from hospitals to residential or nursing homes in the community. [8153]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is a matter of clinical judgment whether or not an elderly in-patient should be discharged to a nursing or residential care home.

  Drift Netting
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the subject of drift netting. [8154]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I have no plans at present to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss this matter. As my hon. Friend is aware, there is no drift netting for salmon in Scottish waters.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has carried out to identify the reasons for changes in the number of food poisoning cases in Scotland over the last 10 years; and what the results of this research have been. [7430]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Food poisoning is caused by a number of different agents including bacteria and a wide range of research projects have been funded by the Scottish Office over the last 10 years into specific causes of food poisoning such as E. coli 0157, campylobacter and listeria.

  Details of projects funded are listed in the Scottish Office Department of Health's health bulletin and Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department's programme of commissioned research and development publication. Research grant holders are encouraged to disseminate research findings as appropriate.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he collates on the number of in-patients by health board of residence on waiting lists of(a) under one year and (b) one year and over, as at 30 September in each year from 1992 to 1996. [7997]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Information on the number of patients with patients charter guarantees on in-patient waiting lists at 30 September 1994 to 1996 is set out in the following table. Information prior to 1994 was not collected in the form requested.
  683

  Patients with guarantees on in-patient waiting lists as at 30 September1

  1994

  1995

  19962

  Number waiting less than one year

  Number waiting one year or over

  Number waiting less than one year

  Number waiting one year or over

  Number waiting less than one year

  Number waiting one year or over

  Argyll and Clyde

  4,655

  405

  4,020

  201

  4,027

  28

  Ayrshire and Arran

  3,489

  98

  3,268

  35

  3,301

  8

  Borders

  1,000

  4

  1,005

  2

  958

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,962

  68

  1,351

  29

  1,137

  —

  Fife

  3,403

  130

  3,024

  7

  3,034

  14

  Forth Valley

  2,276

  159

  1,857

  52

  1,643

  —

  Grampian

  4,122

  158

  4,243

  33

  4,418

  —

  Greater Glasgow

  9,408

  301

  9,369

  382

  8,818

  294

  Highland

  1,959

  64

  2,032

  38

  1,828

  26

  Lanarkshire

  5,275

  127

  5,975

  61

  5,174

  —

  Lothian

  7,327

  29

  6,591

  117

  —

  Orkney

  105

  2

  111

  —

  296

  —

  Shetland

  161

  1

  189

  —

  296

  —

  Tayside

  3,175

  120

  3,264

  16

  3,420

  —

  Western Isles

  299

  5

  299

  7

  319

  3

  All areas

  48,808

  1,679

  46,755

  868

  44,336

  374

  1 Patients on in-patient waiting list, with guarantees as outlined in the Patient's Charter. All figures exclude patients waiting for treatment outwith Scotland. The all areas figures include patients resident outwith Scotland and those whose area of residence was not recorded.

  2 Provisional.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he collates on the numbers of out-patients by health board of residence on waiting lists of(a) less than nine weeks and (b) nine weeks and over, as at 30 September in each year from 1992 to 1996. [7998]

  Number of outpatient referrals who waited less than 9 weeks/more than 9 weeks as at 30 September

  Health Board

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996 (Provisional)

  Waited less than nine weeks

  Waited more than nine weeks

  Waited less than nine weeks

  Waited more than nine weeks

  Waited less than nine weeks

  Waited more than nine weeks

  Waited less than nine weeks

  Waited more than nine weeks

  Argyll and Clyde

  20,325

  7,574

  19,485

  7,995

  19,303

  9,116

  16,701

  7,454

  Ayrshire and Arran

  15,013

  6,811

  16,918

  6,394

  15,851

  4,712

  13,236

  4,262

  Borders

  4,403

  1,301

  4,786

  1,061

  4,528

  1,214

  4,664

  1,610

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4,947

  2,191

  5,280

  2,152

  5,014

  2,323

  207

  78

  Fife

  14,217

  7,469

  14,940

  7,405

  15,998

  7,714

  15,436

  7,850

  Forth Valley

  11,002

  3,763

  10,965

  4,241

  11,148

  4,141

  8,919

  3,097

  Grampian

  19,010

  8,513

  17,900

  8,964

  16,880

  9,077

  7,488

  3,522

  Greater Glasgow

  44,528

  19,866

  39,930

  17,381

  42,242

  22,271

  40,170

  20,858

  Highland

  7,923

  2,957

  8,455

  2,780

  8,928

  2,523

  8,795

  3,114

  Lanarkshire

  24,539

  9,885

  24,006

  9,796

  24,822

  10,770

  22,746

  9,751

  Lothian

  33,613

  10,290

  33,836

  11,778

  34,181

  11,224

  20,446

  6,699

  Orkney

  688

  48

  666

  41

  611

  59

  8

  8

  Shetland

  1,001

  171

  901

  253

  972

  239

  841

  357

  Tayside

  21,300

  5,420

  21,401

  7,140

  22,850

  7,559

  21,721

  8,494

  Western Isles

  1,190

  251

  1,259

  508

  1,410

  301

  1,009

  455

  Scotland

  223,699

  86,510

  220,728

  87,889

  224,738

  93,243

  182,387

  77,609

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for his department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9486]
  684
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: There is no centrally held list of patients waiting for out-patient appointments. Information on the number of referrals where a patient waited less than nine weeks, or nine weeks or more, from the initial referral date by health board of residence is set out in the table.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of male and female full-time and part-time staff employed in the Scottish Office and it executive agencies at 1 April 1996 are shown in the table.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9618]
  685
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of full-time and part-time permanent and casual staff employed each year since 1992 are shown in the tables.

  All permanent staff employed in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April 1996

  Department

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Scottish Office core

  2,128

  13

  1,525

  270

  3,936

  Historic Scotland

  423

  6

  135

  21

  585

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  212

  1

  24

  6

  243

  All permanent staff in post in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April

  Department

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Scottish Office core

  5,012

  271

  4,779

  288

  4,691

  289

  4,054

  292

  3,653

  283

  Historic Scotland

  619

  23

  631

  22

  622

  28

  605

  37

  558

  27

  Scottish Fisheries

  Protection Agency

  215

  1

  226

  1

  246

  8

  235

  6

  236

  7

  Scottish Agricultural

  Science Agency

  135

  7

  137

  10

  132

  12

  136

  11

  125

  15

  Scottish Office

  Pensions Agency1

  2—

  2—

  161

  7

  171

  9

  156

  10

  164

  11

  Student Awards

  Agency for Scotland1

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  133

  4

  121

  4

  Scottish Office total (excl SPS)

  5,981

  302

  5,934

  328

  5,862

  346

  5,319

  360

  4857

  347

  Scottish Prison Service

  4,208

  41

  4,596

  58

  4,464

  141

  4,166

  139

  4,381

  158

  1These agencies were only established during the period shown. Prior to their creation date their staffing was counted under the SO Core.

  2Information not available.

  All casual staff in post in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Department

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Scottish Office core

  204

  38

  274

  48

  132

  22

  134

  19

  163

  26

  Historic Scotland

  64

  29

  52

  59

  21

  10

  33

  13

  95

  65

  Scottish Fisheries

  Protection Agency

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  18

  19

  20

  22

  12

  Scottish Agricultural

  Science Agency

  7

  2—

  12

  2—

  8

  2—

  10

  2—

  2

  1

  Scottish Office

  Pensions Agency

  3—

  3—

  6

  2—

  11

  2—

  23

  2—

  14

  2—

  Student Awards

  Agency for Scotland

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  10

  1

  5

  2—

  Scottish Office total (excl. SPS)

  275

  67

  344

  107

  179

  50

  229

  53

  301

  104

  Scottish Prison Service1

  8

  2—

  19

  2—

  14

  2—

  41

  2—

  2—

  46

  1 1992 data for the Scottish Prison Service is on a full-time equivalent basis. Thereafter it is on a headcount basis.

  2Information not available.

  3Nil return.

  Shared Parenting
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many divorce settlements have made use of the provision for shared parenting in Scotland since 1 November. [9414]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics on the number of divorce settlements involving shared parenting since 1 November are not available. Courts
  686

  All permanent staff employed in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April 1996

  Department

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  73

  —

  52

  15

  140

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  93

  —

  71

  11

  175

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  55

  —

  66

  4

  125

  Scottish Office total (excl SPS)

  2,984

  20

  1,873

  327

  5,204

  Scottish Prison Service

  3,797

  114

  584

  44

  4,539

  will make no order under part I of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 unless it is essential to do so, and what orders are made will be particular to the needs of each case. Raw data from the courts will therefore be of limited value. The Scottish Office will, however, evaluate the impact of the provisions of part I as part of a comprehensive research programme on the operation of the provisions of the whole Act.
  687
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines have been produced on the use of shared parenting in divorce in Scotland in relation to the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. [9415]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No guidelines as such on the use of shared parenting on divorce in Scotland have been produced by the Scottish Office. The interpretation of part I of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 is for the courts.

  Divorce Settlements
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what mechanism he has set up to monitor the effect of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on divorce settlements in Scotland. [9411]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office is planning to evaluate the effect of part I of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. I intend to announce details of a research programme on the impact of the Act on children and their families early in the new year.

  Hospital Admissions (Complications)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate(a) how many people and (b) the percentage of people who have been admitted to hospital as a direct result of complications after (i) surgery and (ii) medicinal treatment in Scotland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9641]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: The information requested is set out in the table.

  Discharges of patients from Scottish hospitals with any diagnosis of (a) complications following surgery or (b) adverse effects of drugs, medicaments or biological substances 1991–95

  Diagnosis

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Complications following surgery1

  Number

  10,304

  11,559

  12,516

  14,149

  16,526

  Percentage of all discharges

  1.1

  1.2

  1.2

  1.3

  1.5

  Adverse effects of drugs, medicaments or biological substances.2

  Number

  2,631

  2,601

  2,678

  3,032

  3,634

  Percentage of all discharges

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  1Surgical operation and other surgical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of patient, or of later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of operation.

  2Drugs, medicaments and biological substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use. This includes the "correct drug properly administered" and excludes accidents in dosage or administration. The figures include cases where the initial treatment was not in hospital.

  Electors
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of electors in each local authority area when the current electoral register was published on 16 February. [9399]
  688
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: The information is set out in the table.

  Parliamentary electorate

  Local Government electorate

  Scotland

  3,963,072

  3,971,203

  Aberdeen City

  171,619

  172,841

  Aberdeenshire

  170,725

  171,080

  Angus

  86,456

  86,532

  Argyll and Bute

  69,462

  69,594

  Clackmannanshire

  37,058

  37,087

  Dumfries and Galloway

  116,639

  116,815

  Dundee City

  116,054

  116,290

  East Ayrshire

  94,936

  94,983

  East Dunbartonshire

  84,194

  84,268

  East Lothian

  69,171

  69,242

  East Renfrewshire

  66,884

  66,923

  Edinburgh, City of

  356,439

  358,737

  Falkirk

  110,544

  110,584

  Fife

  274,585

  274,967

  Glasgow, City of

  469,791

  470,878

  Highland

  162,890

  163,154

  Inverclyde

  68,666

  68,694

  Midlothian

  61,131

  61,180

  Moray

  65,216

  65,351

  North Ayrshire

  106,098

  106,164

  North Lanarkshire

  246,114

  246,223

  Orkney Islands

  15,652

  15,678

  Perth and Kinross

  103,259

  103,442

  Renfrewshire

  138,178

  138,245

  Scottish Borders

  85,281

  85,386

  Shetland Islands

  16,983

  17,003

  South Ayrshire

  90,312

  90,417

  South Lanarkshire

  234,593

  234,800

  Stirling

  64,871

  65,255

  West Dunbartonshire

  72,449

  72,459

  West Lothian

  113,614

  113,705

  Western Isles

  23,208

  23,226

  Prednisolone
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people(a) have been prescribed and (b) took the steroid Prednisolone in Scotland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9640]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: This information is not available in the form requested. It is not possible to identify the number of people who were prescribed or took Prednisolone. Data collected cover the number of prescription items dispensed in Scotland.

  Non-custodial Penalties
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the introduction of stronger non-custodial penalties for convicted offenders. [8136]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill introduces electronic tagging so that hooligans can be confined to their homes, or within a very restricted area, and disqualification from driving will be available for all offences.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of those who have been appointed to serve on the Criminal Cases Review Commission, indicating those from Northern Ireland. [8707]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in response to a question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence).

  The member of the commission with knowledge and experience of the Northern Ireland criminal justice system is Mr. John Leckey, coroner for Belfast since 1992.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the percentage change in the number of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland between 1993–94 and 1994–95. [8713]

  Mr. Ancram
  Between 1993–94 and 1994–95, there was a decline of 15 per cent. in the number of all types of vocational awards—national vocational qualifications and general national vocational qualifications—made by the main awarding bodies to candidates in Northern Ireland.

  As regards GNVQs only, however, there was an increase in the number of students in schools and colleges in Northern Ireland gaining full qualifications. The percentage increases from 1993–94 to 1994–95 were as follows:

  Foundation level: 200

  Intermediate level: 28

  Advanced level: 316.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary (Equal Opportunities)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the RUC includes sexual orientation within the scope of its equal opportunities policy. [8914]

  Sir John Wheeler
  There is currently a working party within the RUC considering the concept of sexual orientation and its implications for the force, in terms both of service delivery and human resource management.

  Dundonald Training Centre
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the annual saving from the closure of Dundonald training centre; how many staff are employed at the centre; how many persons were trained in the centre in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [9276]

  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.
  690
  Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training & Employment Agency (T&EA), to reply to your question about the proposed closure of Dundonald Training Centre.
  The closure of Dundonald Training Centre will result in estimated programme expenditure savings of £1.2 million in a full financial year. This saving will be offset by the cost of providing Jobskills training for young people at other training organisations which will be in the region of £500,000 per year.
  At present, 40 staff are employed at Dundonald Training Centre. We will seek to avoid compulsory redundancies through re-deployment to other Agency Training Centres, voluntary premature retirement and natural wastage.
  In each of the past three years the number of people who enrolled for training at Dundonald Training Centre was as follows:

  Year

  Numbers of trainees

  1996–97

  1328

  1995–96

  327

  1994–95

  304

  1At 13 December 1996.

  The Agency will ensure that all trainees currently at Dundonald Training Centre are allowed to complete their agreed period of training at the Centre. Following the closure of the Centre, trainees who, in accordance with their training programme, are placed with employers for their further training will be supervised by staff from other parts of the Agency's Training Centre network.

  I hope you find this information useful.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9384]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Ministers have spent the following numbers of days out of the office, each of which may have involved more than one visit:

  Ministerial visits (days)

  Visits abroad (days)

  Sir P. Mayhew

  45

  5

  Mr. M. Ancram

  50

  9

  Sir J. Wheeler

  55

  9

  Baroness Denton

  156

  43

  Mr. M. Moss

  101

  4

  Prednisolone
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have(a) become crippled and (b) died from taking the steroid Prednisolone in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9603]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]:

  (a) The information requested is not available;

  (b) There have been no deaths recorded in Northern Ireland from the use of the steroid Prednisolone during the last five years 1991 to 1995.

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9510]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  (a) Total number of staff

  27,264

  (b)(i) Total number of male staff

  14,816

  (b)(ii) Total number of female staff

  12,448

  (c)(I)(1) Full-time male staff

  14,744

  (c)(I)(2) Part-time male staff

  72

  (c)(II)(1) Full-time female staff

  10,414

  (c)(I1)(2) Part-time female staff

  2,034

  Notes

  1. These figures show the position as at 29 October 1996.

  2. Part-time and job-sharing staff count as full units.

  3. Figures include information on the Northern Ireland Office, the six Departments of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and staff in the Police Authority for Northern Ireland (PANI) who are civil servants on secondment from the NICS.

  4. Casual staff are not included.

  5. Except for NICS staff seconded to PANI, staff currently on secondment outside the NICS are not included. The numbers involved, however, are small.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9622]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is to be found in the following table:

  NI Departments and NIO Non-permanent

  Executive agencies Non-permanent

  Permanent

  (casuals)

  Permanent

  (casuals)

  1996

  26,084

  2,068

  15,656

  1,513

  1995

  26,504

  1,531

  8,646

  890

  1994

  27,605

  1,056

  8,437

  1,089

  1993

  28,926

  968

  8,785

  461

  1992

  28,802

  1,144

  7,736

  1. The figures show the position at I October in each year.

  2. The figures in (i) include the figures in (ii).

  3. In (i), part-timers and job sharers count as half units. In (ii), part-timers and job sharers are counted as either half units or whole units, depending upon the source. Figures will differ depending upon the method of calculation.

  4. Disaggregated figures for staff in executive agencies in 1992 are not available.

  5. The figures include staff in the Northern Ireland Office and the six departments of the Northern Ireland civil service. Also included are staff on secondment from NICS to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

  6. Except for NICS staff seconded to PANI, staff on secondment outside the NICS are not included. The numbers, however, are small.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary (Suicides)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) RUC personnel and (b) RUC reservists have committed suicide in the last 25 years; and how many used legally held weapons. [9578]
  692
  Sir John Wheeler
  During the period 1970 to 1996, 39 regular RUC officers and 16 full-time reserves committed suicide. A personal protection firearm was used as a means of committing suicide in 47 cases.

  Civil Disturbances (Housing Vacated)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses have been vacated as a result of civil disturbances this year; how many Housing Executive dwellings so vacated are still empty; and if he will make a statement. [9579]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and its chief executive has advised me that information on vacant houses is not desegregated down to the level of reasons for vacancies. The number vacated due to civil disturbances is, therefore, not available. The chief executive has also advised me that approximately 100 Housing Executive dwellings are still vacant, as a result of civil disturbances.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what tenders his Department as put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro-compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9457]

  Sir John Wheeler
  My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Death Certificates
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy (i) to revise death certificate forms to include a space for national insurance number and (ii) for dates of death to be entered on birth certificates. [9615]

  Sir John Wheeler
  There are no plans to revise death and birth certificates in the manner described. Provision currently exists for information on deaths to be provided by the general register office to the Department of Social Security for the purpose of recording national insurance numbers. The inclusion of date of death on a birth certificate would be inconsistent with the statutory position of a birth certificate as an official extract of an original entry in the register book.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  The House Party (Board Game)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment his Department has made of the new board game The House Party; and what consideration it has given to prosecuting the manufacturers, distributors and financiers for incitement to experiment with illegal drugs and of minors to participate in homosexual acts. [9868]
  693
  The Attorney-General
  I understand that the hon. Member is asking the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to investigate whether the distribution of the board game to which he refers discloses any criminal offence. It will be open to the police to request legal advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during the course of their inquiries. The question of prosecution cannot be considered until there has been a criminal investigation.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Relaunch Strategy
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the planned expenditure on the relaunch strategy in each of the next three years; and how many partnership projects run by local consortiums this will support. [8842]

  Mr. Paice
  The relaunch strategy will concentrate all relevant funding on tackling disaffection among young people. That includes mainstream education and training budgets, which have been increased over future years: the Government have allocated an extra £128 million over the next three years for work-based training for young people delivered by training and enterprise councils and further education funding has been increased by £40 million next year.

  Partnership projects will make an important contribution to the formulation of the relaunch strategy and the Government are setting aside £10 million over the next three years to support them. Bids will be invited from local consortiums in spring 1997.

  The number and pattern of projects to be funded will depend on the nature of the bids received but the aim is to support at least one in each of the 10 Government regions.

  Construction Industry
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received about the impact of the Budget on job levels in the construction industry. [9441]

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to ensure that newly qualified teachers are able to identify and give appropriate teaching to children at risk of (i) specific learning difficulties and (ii) dyslexia. [9497]

  Mr. Forth
  There will be wide consultation on revised requirements for initial teacher training in the new year.

  The existing criteria for courses of initial teacher training require that newly qualified teachers should have acquired the necessary foundation to develop the ability to identify and provide for special educational needs and specific learning difficulties.

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for her 694
  Department (a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9494]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are 5,022 people employed in the Department, including those employed in Government Offices. The numbers of male and female staff working full-time or part-time hours are shown in the table.

  Number

  Men

  Full-time

  2,310

  Part-time

  36

  Total

  2,346

  Women

  Full-time

  2,232

  Part-time

  444

  Total

  2,676

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) her Department and (ii) executive agencies of her Department in each year since 1992. [9629]

  Mr. Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 25 November 1996,Official Report, column 15.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people after leaving the (1) action credit, (2) adult employment subsidy, (3) access to information technology, (4) adult training strategy, (5) business enterprise programme, (6) business enterprise training, (7) business growth training, (8) business start-up scheme, (9) back to work bonus, (10) community action, (11) career development loans, (12) compacts/education business partnerships/education initiatives/careers service partnerships, (13) community enterprise programme, (14) careers guidance review implementation, (15) community industry, (16) community programme, (17) careers service, (18) careers service strengthening, (19) direct training service, (20) employment action, (21) enterprise allowance scheme, (22) enterprise awareness in teacher education, (23) enterprise in higher education and (24) employer investment in people scheme,(a) went into employment and (b) went on to further schemes and became unemployed; how many started and how many finished each scheme, including those who left before completion of the scheme, in each year of each scheme's operation and what type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, for each year of the scheme's operation up to the latest available year for which data are available. [8630]

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

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people after attending (1) training and enterprise council—TEC—schemes, (2) TEC challenge schemes, (3) temporary employment
  695
  subsidy, (4) training and education support, (5) training for enterprise, (6) training for work, (7) the travel to interview scheme, (8) the training opportunities programme, (9) the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, (10) the technical and vocational education initiative, (11) the voluntary projects programme, (12) the working experience programme, (13) workstart pilots, (14) the wider opportunities training programme, (15) work trial, (16) work wise, (17) the youth enterprise initiative, (18) the youth employment service, (19) youth employment subsidy, (20) the youth opportunities programme, (21) youth credits, (22) modern apprenticeships and accelerated modern apprenticeships, (23) the youth training scheme and (24) the young workers scheme, (a) went into employment and (b) went on to further schemes including those who left before completion of the scheme, in each year of each scheme's operation; and what type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, for each year of the scheme's operation up to the latest available year for which data are available. [9131]

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

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what tenders her Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when she expects her Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9461]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department and agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Career Development Loans (Fraud)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what police investigations are presently being conducted into cases of fraud concerning the granting of career development loans; what sums of money are involved; and if she will make a statement. [9706]

  Mr. Paice
  The police have been asked to investigate eight individual applications for career development loans which are suspected of being fraudulent. The total amount loaned by the banks on these eight cases is £103,204.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce new safeguards to protect the career development loan scheme from fraudulent applications. [9707]

  Mr. Paice
  The career development loan scheme has stringent and effective fraud prevention measures built in. Currently, I have no plans to add to them.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of students in full-time higher education 696
  (a) received full maintenance grants and (b) received no maintenance grants at the latest date for which figures are available. [9749]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has figures available for holders of mandatory awards only. In the academic year 1994–95, of 761,000 mandatory award holders, excluding placement year sandwich students, 344,300–45 per cent.—received full maintenance grants and 175,400–23 per cent.—received a nil maintenance grant.

  European Union Programmes
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what European Union programmes are covered in the Europes adjustments to her Department's budget; what is the total amount involved in such adjustments; how that total is distributed between the Department's programmes; and how the individual programme adjustments are calculated for both 1996–97 and 1997–98. [9708]

  Mr. Paice
  Europes adjustments are made to the Department's budget in respect of European Union programmes in which the Department has a policy interest. These programmes are listed.

  Total adjustments made to departmental budgets in 1996 were £53 million, £3 million and £4 million for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 respectively. Reductions are distributed between departmental programmes broadly in proportion to their shares of the Department's total programme budget, taking into account specific circumstances which apply to particular programmes. This method was followed by the former Department for Education and the former Employment Department in 1996–97, and by the Department for Education and Employment in 1997–98.

  European Community Programmes covered in DfEE Europes adjustments

  General Education Measures

  Socrates

  Co-operation with 3rd Countries: USA etc.

  European Year of Lifelong Learning

  Youth for Europe

  European Volunteer Service

  General Measures for Vocational training and Guidance

  Leonardo

  CEDEFOP European Centre for Development of Vocational Training

  CEDEFOP relocation expenses

  Integration in Universities (Jean Monnet)

  Labour Market

  Third System and Employment

  EURES: European Employment Services

  Measures—Equality between women and men

  Customs Agents

  Measures to assist the elderly

  HELIOS: Integration of Disabled Persons

  Measures to combat poverty

  Measures to Assist Families

  Free Movement and Migrants, including Immigrants

  Refugees

  Combating Racism

  697

  Dublin Foundation: European Foundation for Improvement Living and Working Conditions

  Public Health

  Health Aspects of Drug Abuse

  Combating Drug Abuse

  European Monitoring Centre—Drugs/Drug Addiction

  Business Promotion (SMEs)

  Telecoms Trans-European Network (TENs)

  IDA Interchange of Data between Administrations

  Joint Research Centre (JRC)

  3rd Research and Development Framework

  Telematics

  Targeted Socio-Economic Research

  Training and Mobility of Researchers.

  Note:

  In the majority of cases DfEE shares responsibility with other Government Departments in proportion to the scale of policy interest in each programme.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Utilities (Transport Schemes)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [9294]

  Mr. Page
  My Department has been in discussions with the Department of Transport, which has the main responsibility for the regulations in question, and these continue. Consultations have also taken place with the national joint utilities group.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9454]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems irrespective of whether the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union. The Department's finance and pay systems have been outsourced, and changes to them will be the responsibility of the service providers. Other systems for the most part use commercial packages, and vendors can be expected to offer appropriate enhancements when market requirements become clear.

  Firearms
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received for export licences in respect of weapons which will be prohibited under the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [8017]
  698
  Mr. Nelson
  Firearms covered by the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill are included in headings ML I and PL5018 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. To disaggregate licences including firearms covered by the Bill from other export licences issued under these headings could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. I can say, however, that 303 export licences rated under those headings were issued between 1 November and 6 December. Coincidentally, a further 303 export licence applications rated under those headings were under consideration at close of business on 6 December. There were no new open individual export licences covering such goods issued during the period. However, six dealer-to-dealer licences, valid for a period of three years, were issued to registered firearms dealers enabling them to trade with counterparts in EU countries.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those categories of weapon which will be prohibited under the Firearms (Amendment) Bill which(a) may and (b) may not be exported without a licence. [8018]

  Mr. Nelson
  All categories of weapons covered by the Firearms (Amendment) Bill are controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Order and may not be exported without a valid export licence.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted for the export of firearms since the Firearms (Amendment) Bill was published; how many licence applications are currently under consideration; and what is his policy in respect of issuing such export licences. [5583]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 25 November 1996]: Firearms covered by the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill are included in headings ML I and PL5018 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994; 303 export licences rated under those headings were issued between 1 November and 6 December. Coincidentally, a further 303 export licence applications rated under those headings were under consideration at close of business on 6 December. There were no new open individual export licences covering such goods issued during the period. However, six dealer-to-dealer licences, valid for a period of three years, were issued to registered firearms dealers enabling them to trade with counterparts in EU countries.

  Firearms and most military equipment require an export licence before export, and all applications for such licences are considered case by case. Careful consideration is given to the political and military implications of allowing individual consignments overseas. The Government pay particular attention to proposed exports of military goods to countries with poor human rights record, where such goods might be used for internal repression, and to countries or regions where the export of arms might contribute to destabilisation of the area. In all, eight strict criteria for allowing arms sales were agreed by Ministers at Luxembourg and Lisbon European Councils in June 1991 and June 1992.

  Defence Exports (Bahrain)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all export licences that have been(a) granted and (b) refused for defence-related equipment bound for Bahrain. [9735]
  699
  Mr. Nelson
  No. My Department has placed in the Library of the House statistics of export licences issued for military, security and paramilitary goods and arms, ammunition and related material to all destinations. These statistics cover 1993, 1994 1995 and the first half of 1996. Statistics for the second half of 1996 will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are prepared early in 1997.

  Also placed in the Library of the House are similar statistics for such licences refused in the first half of 1996. Statistics for the second half of 1996 will be placed in the Library of the House early in 1997.

  The annual reports of the Export Control Organisation for 1993 and 1994, copies of which are in the Library of the House, contain details of licences refused in those years.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9383]

  Mr. Lang
  Official ministerial visits undertaken by my Ministers and me since 1 January 1996 are shown in the table, which also shows the number undertaken abroad.

  Total visits

  Visits abroad

  President of the Board of Trade

  37

  8

  Lord Fraser

  38

  12

  Mr. Nelson

  26

  24

  Mr. Knight

  14

  0

  Mr. Tim Eggar

  15

  3

  Mr. J. Taylor

  55

  4

  Mr. I. Taylor

  67

  17

  Mr. Page

  54

  2

  Mr. Oppenheim

  6

  3

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to his answers of 10 December,Official Report, columns 87–89, on what occasions his Department used the services of Dellcourts Ltd. (Totnes); and in relation to which applications for RSA; [9121]

  (2) pursuant to his answers of 10 December, Official Report, columns 87–89, if the contract for Mr. A's retention as an adviser to his Department was made through his companies. [9120]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answers 16 December 1996]: Dellcourts Ltd., a company owned and controlled by Mr. A, was contracted to provide accountancy advice to the Department's south-west regional office, later the Government Office for the south-west, from 1 February

  (a) Inward investment £ million

  (b) Outward investment £ million

  (c) Acquisitions in the UK £ million

  (d) Acquisitions overseas £ million

  (e) Percentage acquisitions in inward investment

  1979

  3,030

  5,889

  166

  1,384

  5.5

  1980

  4,355

  4,867

  797

  1,772

  18.3

  1981

  2,932

  6,005

  875

  2,403

  29.8

  1982

  3,027

  4,091

  249

  915

  8.2

  1983

  3,386

  5,417

  556

  1,919

  16.4

  700
  1993 to 15 April 1995. During that time, it assisted in the appraisal of 71 regional selective assistance cases, as well as advising on applications under SMART—small firms merit award for research and technology—and SPUR—support for products under research—technology services and on business links.

  Mr. A also advised on a further 49 regional selective assistance cases between 5 February 1991 and 31 January 1993 under the terms of a contract made directly with him which included provision for all remuneration to be paid to Dellcourts Ltd.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answers of 10 December,Official Report, columns 87–89, if it was acceptable practice within the terms of his contract for Mr. A to make direct written contact with applicants for RSA while he was retained as an adviser to his Department. [9122]

  Mr. Knight
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: External advisers assisting in regional assistance cases are free to correspond or otherwise communicate with applicants to clarify aspects of their appraisal.

  Business Links
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many business links have set up help desks and practice boards in each region, since October; and at what cost to his Department. [8936]

  Mr. Page
  Every business link partnership is required to provide an effective inquiry and information point as part of its service to its customers. The costs are met by contributions from a variety of sources, including local partners and the Department of Trade and Industry. Two business links have opened since October, bringing the total to 236.

  Investment
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for each year since 1979, what was the value of(a) inward investment, (b) outward investment, (c) acquisitions in the United Kingdom by overseas companies, (d) acquisitions overseas by United Kingdom companies and (e) the proportion of inward investment that is accounted for by acquisitions in the United Kingdom by overseas companies. [7829]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: The table shows the flows of direct investment in each year. Their volatility reflects the economic cycle and the peaks and troughs of acquisitions. They are, therefore, not a good indicator of the general trend of direct foreign investment.

  Since 1979, the total stock of inward investment into the UK has more than tripled, and the UK continues to be the number one location for Japanese, US and Korean investment in the EU.
  701

  (a) Inward investment £ million

  (b) Outward investment £ million

  (c) Acquisitions in the UK £ million

  (d) Acquisitions overseas £ million

  (e) Percentage acquisitions in inward investment

  1984

  -181

  6,042

  659

  2,685

  n/a

  1985

  4,504

  8,430

  677

  3,094

  15.0

  1986

  5,837

  11,649

  1,355

  6,521

  23.2

  1987

  9,449

  19,147

  2,999

  6,985

  31.7

  1988

  12,006

  20,863

  3,147

  7,665

  26.2

  1989

  18,567

  21,503

  5,889

  9,513

  31.7

  1990

  18,514

  10,490

  9,952

  7,198

  53.8

  1991

  9,058

  9,056

  4,781

  4,754

  52.8

  1992

  9,184

  10,850

  6,272

  5,037

  68.3

  1993

  10,298

  17,026

  5,309

  3,681

  51.6

  1994

  6,823

  18,363

  2,960

  6,667

  43.4

  1995

  20,480

  25,546

  12,304

  6,213

  60.1

  Note:

  Figures represent the flows of direct net investment. Investment includes investors' shares of the unremitted profits, their net acquisition of share and loan capital, changes in inter-company accounts and changes in branch/head office indebtedness. Inward investment includes property investments by overseas companies and investments made by individuals. Outward investment includes real estate transactions by non-bank financial institutions and persons. It also includes non-bank financial institutions' loans and mortgages to overseas residents.

  Source:

  "United Kingdom Balance of Payments, The Pink Book" 1990, 1994, 1996.

  Office for National Statistics.

  Road Haulage Firms (Liquidations)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many road haulage firms have gone into liquidation in each year from 1990 to 1995. [9128]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table shows company compulsory liquidations and individual bankruptcies for the road transport industry in England and Wales 1992 to 1995–1992 is the first complete year for which data are available.

  Insolvencies: road haulage industry

  (England and Wales)

  Year

  Company compulsory liquidations

  Individual bankruptcy orders

  1992

  397

  1,736

  1993

  294

  1,481

  1994

  235

  1,149

  1995

  204

  924

  Source:

  DTI.

  Confidential Payments to Individuals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the grants and other financial assistance within his responsibility which are paid to private individuals whose identity is kept confidential. 19710]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Unless information falls under one of the exemptions in the code of practice on access to Government information, the identity of recipients for grants and financial assistance paid to individuals is made publicly available.

  EU Third Framework Programme Grants
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names of each United Kingdom company
  702
  and institution which received grants under the European Union third framework programme between 1991 and 1994. [9048]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Full information on research projects funded in individual member states by the third framework programme is held only by the European Commission, and is not distributed to member states. UK researchers have, however, participated vigorously in the EU's framework programmes. Commission statistics show that 2,337 UK research teams participated in projects funded under the third framework—more than in any other member state.

  Mr. Radice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the total spending on research and development in the United Kingdom was under the European Union third framework programme between 1991 and 1994. [9047]

  Mr. Taylor
  The UK's notional contribution to the European Community research and development budget for the period of the third framework programme was:

  Financial year

  National UK contribution to EC budget £ million

  1990–91

  207.3

  1991–92

  189.3

  1992–93

  252.9

  1993–94

  285.0

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last discussed the sale of British Coal Enterprise with the chairman of British Coal; and what receipts have been achieved from the sale of British Coal Enterprise(a) outplacing and career counselling, (b) finance and business loan and (c) workshop activities. [9700]
  703
  Mr. Page
  My ministerial colleagues and I meet the chairman of British Coal as necessary to discuss a range of issues. Officials in my Department remain in close touch with British Coal about the sale of British Coal Enterprise, which is a matter for British Coal.

  Telephones
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on households' access to a telephone for access to emergency services; and if he will make a statement. [8448]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Access to emergency services for all those on the telephone is guaranteed by licence conditions. The number of households with a telephone has risen substantially from 78 per cent. in 1984 to 92.4 per cent. in 1995–96. Conditions in licences authorising the provision of payphones require the provision of free access from payphones to the emergency services.

  Riot Control Equipment
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what export licences have been granted for the export of(a) water cannons and (b) electro-shock batons to Indonesia in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [2482]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: Since 1991, when computerised records became readily available in respect of Indonesia, four individual export licences have been issued for water cannons. In addition to the export licence that was referred to in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 9 December 1996, Official Report, column 30, a licence for three water cannons was issued in 1994, and two further export licences, including three water cannons on each licence, were issued in 1995. In the same period, no individual export licences were issued in respect of electro-shock batons for Indonesia. To respond in respect of the earlier five years could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what trans-shipment licences the Government have granted for electro-shock batons since 1990; if he will list(a) the originating and (b) the recipient countries; and if he will make a statement. [2483]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: I apologise for not yet replying to the hon. Member. I will give a substantive answer in the new year.

  Delphi Packard
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Government office for the west midlands plans to reply to the letter sent by the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East regarding an inquiry into grants made to Delphi Packard on 8 November. [8453]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: I wrote to the hon. Member on Monday 16 December.

HEALTH

  Consultancies
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the consultancies awarded by(a) his Department, (b) the national health service executive and (c) the executive's regional offices in the last year. [8864]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the national health service in 1995 of providing hospital treatment to patients suffering from food poisoning resulting from(a) salmonella, (b) campylobacter, (c) listeria, (d) E. coli 0157 and (e) other causes; and if he will make a statement. [9140]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many E. coli 0157 outbreaks there were in each year since 1990. [9437]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is as follows:

  E. Coli 0157 outbreaks in England and Wales

  Year

  Number of outbreaks

  1990

  2

  1991

  5

  1992

  5

  1993

  8

  1994

  5

  19951

  11

  19961

  10

  Source:

  Public health laboratory service.

  1Provisional.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died from food poisoning in each year since 1990; and, in each case, what was the source of the infection. [9711]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the number of people who have died from food poisoning is provided in the following table:

  Deaths from food poisoning for England and Wales

  Year

  Number of outbreaks

  1990

  94

  1991

  82

  1992

  118

  1993

  109

  1994

  154

  1995

  203

  Notes:

  1. The data for 1990–92 represent registrations during the year.

  2. The data for 1993 onwards represent occurrences during the year.

  3. The introduction of a national case definition for food poisoning in 1992 may also have had the effect of increasing the range of infectious intestinal disease reported as food poisoning.

  Information on the source of the infection for each case is not available.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics—analysis of causes of death on death certificates.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each of the Ministers in her Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9379]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Total number of visits in UK

  Total number of visits abroad

  Secretary of State for Health

  23

  nil

  Minister of State for Health Mr. Malone

  58

  3

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Mr. Horam

  28

  nil

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Mr. Bowis OBE/ Mr. Burns

  51

  nil

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Baroness Cumberlege CBE

  64

  1

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9490]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is in the table.

  1 December 1996

  Total: 4,799

  Male: 2,119

  Female: 2,680

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  2,094

  25

  2,415

  265

  On 1 April 1996 the national health service regional office staff became part of the Department of Health.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9616]

  Mr. Horam
  The available information is set out in the table:

  Non-casual

  Casuals1

  1 April 1992

  Total DH

  4,649

  159

  Executive agencies

  412

  30

  1 April 1993

  Total DH

  4,716

  228

  Executive agencies

  889

  68

  1 April 1994

  Total DH

  4,525

  244

  Executive agencies

  954

  65

  1 April 1995

  Total DH

  4,282

  271

  Executive agencies

  985

  66

  706

  Non-casual

  Casuals1

  1 April 19962

  Total DH

  4,588

  271

  Executive agencies

  1,002

  56

  1Includes inward secondees and staff on fixed term appointments which can last up to a maximum of five years.

  2 On 1 April 1996 some 800 national health service regional office staff became part of the Department of Health.

  Peanut Allergy
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the expert group he is commissioning to report on peanut allergy. [9412]

  Mr. Horam
  Current membership of the peanut allergy working group, a sub-group of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, is as follows:

  Members:
  Professor H. F. Woods (Chair): Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield
  Professor J. 0 Warner: School of Medicine, Child Health, University of Southampton
  Professor S. Strobel: Institute of Child Health, London
  Dr. I Kimber: Zeneca Central Toxicology Laboratory, Cheshire
  Professor S. T. Holgate: School of Medicine, University of Southampton
  Ms V. Shaw: Dietetics Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

  Professor Caines
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the value for money provided by his Department's funding of Professor Caines' post at Nottingham. [9590]

  Mr. Horam
  The former Trent regional health authority and, from April 1996, the Trent regional office of the national health service executive have undertaken regular reviews with the centre for health services management at the university of Nottingham to ensure value for money from their funding.

  People with Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring has been conducted by or on behalf of his Department on, the implementation of the provisions of the guidance issued in 1992 to health and local authorities on the provision of residential accommodation and support for people with learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement on its effectiveness. [9498]

  Mr. Burns
  Implementation of the guidance is being monitored in the usual way including through the work of the social services inspectorate, and statistical returns. As envisaged in the guidance, services for people with learning disabilities are becoming increasingly responsive to individual needs. There is to be an SSI inspection of learning disability services in 1997.

  Mental Health Green Paper
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish his Green Paper on mental health. [9878]

  Mr. Burns
  We intend to publish the Green Paper in the new year.

  Domiciliary Care
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are contributing towards the cost of domiciliary care as a result of local authority means tests; and how many liability orders have been issued by local authorities on properties owned by those receiving residential care. [9348]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Partnership Insurance Legislation
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the draft Bill on partnership insurance and long-term care. [9346]

  Mr. Burns
  My. right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced on 24 October 1996 that the Government would publish a draft Bill for consultation in the new year.

  Care Service Charges
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions he made about the income which social service departments would recover from charges for care services in the current year and in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of people in receipt of such services in each year. [9347]

  Mr. Burns
  No such assumptions or estimates are made.

  Free Eye Examinations
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring free eye examinations to all those over the age of(a) 65, (b) 60 and (c) 55 years. [9664]

  Mr. Malone
  Our estimates of the cost per annum are:

  (a) £24 million

  (b) £32 million

  (c) £40 million.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9451]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department and its agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have 708
  on their information systems whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in England and Wales for each year since 1990. [9512]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the total number of cases of infection or colonisation with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is not collected centrally. Information on the numbers of people affected by MRSA incidents since 1992 is set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) on 3 December,Official Report, column 634.

  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds have been closed because of MRSA for each year since 1990. [9513]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Political Activity
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the political affiliation of those candidates appointed to public positions in the health service after July whose appointments fall within the guidance on declaration of political activity from the Commission for Public Appointments. [9511]

  Mr. Malone
  Work is currently under way on compiling the Department's second annual report of public appointments which will include information on the political activity of those appointed to serve on health bodies since April 1996.

  Refugees
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total expenditure by his Department on refugee children by each local authority since April 1994 within the terms of the Children Act 1989. [9715]

  Mr. Burns
  The Department has established special grants for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and children in families for 1996–97. Under the conditions of both grants, allocations and payments will be made in 1997 to individual authorities who qualify for support. In previous years the Department has not made separate financial provision to local authorities for asylum-seeking children.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings have been held with organisations representing refugees concerning the health needs of children and vulnerable adults. [9714]

  Mr. Burns
  Officials have held two meetings during 1996 with representatives of the Refugee Council to discuss the progress of a project which the department has funded with section 64 grants.

  A third meeting was held this month to discuss the aims of a potential new bid from the Refugee Council for more section 64 money that will address the health needs of refugees.

  Formaldehyde
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the carcinogenic properties of formaldehyde. [9567]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission reviewed the health effects and occupational exposure of formaldehyde for the purpose of setting an occupational exposure limit in 1984.

  In 1993, a study carried out for HSE by the Medical Research Council toxicology unit concluded that formaldehyde was not a carcinogen.

  There are no on-going research projects into the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the risk to human health from the inhalation of formaldehyde fumes. [9564]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission reviewed the health effects and occupational exposure of formaldehyde in 1984. HSC'S advisory committee on toxic substances agreed that the inhalation of formaldehyde fumes causes severe irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. However, there was no evidence that the inhalation of formaldehyde fumes causes occupational asthma and the evidence for causing nasal tumours was considered equivocal.

  The Department commissioned the Medical Research Council institute for environment and health to review the available data on exposure to formaldehyde in typical UK homes and assess the likely impacts on the health of occupants. This assessment was published by the institute in May 1996; the conclusions on health effects of formaldehyde were:

  1. The irritant effects reported in some of the US studies from the 1980s related to mobile homes and relatively high levels of formaldehyde exposure, and are not relevant to the current situation in the UK.

  2. Chamber studies with normal adults or those with pre-existing asthma have not demonstrated any dysfunction to mean formaldehyde levels currently found in UK homes by the Building Research Establishment study (0.020–0.025 mg/m3, 0.017–0.021 ppm) or even at levels several times higher.

  3. Epidemiological studies have not demonstrated any increase in respiratory symptoms or lung function at estimated current levels of formaldehyde in UK homes. However, there is a suggestion of an increase in asthma and chronic bronchitis among children living in homes with formaldehyde levels above 0.07 mg/m3 (0.06 ppm).

  4. There is no evidence to suggest that current domestic exposures to formaldehyde in the UK pose a carcinogenic risk.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department has collated on the incidence of accidents involving the release of formaldehyde into the environment from industrial premises. [9566]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have been asked to reply.
  710
  The Environment Agency regulates a number of companies which emit formaldehyde to the environment under the integrated pollution control regime. The agency's chemical release inventory, which is available for public access, provides details of formaldehyde emissions. I have placed in the House Library a copy of relevant extracts from the inventory. These show total recorded releases—in tonnes—as follows:

  England

  Wales

  1994

  194.700

  93.880

  1995

  215.200

  37.230

  I understand from the Environment Agency that none of the recorded releases was the result of an accident.

  Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Disorder
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had from the charity Miracles in relation to recognition of multiple chemical sensitivity disorder in the United Kingdom and other issues; what response he is making; what action he plans to take; and if he will make a statement. [9425]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: One letter has been received from the charity Miracles regarding multiple chemical sensitivity disorder in the United Kingdom. We will be responding in due course.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Animal Rights Extremists
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his letter of 2 December, Ref. POD/96 2/1/85 PO 13428/96, when he plans to announce his response to the recommendation made by Lord Lloyd that actions of animal rights extremists should be treated as terrorism. [8369]

  Mr. Howard
  The Government intend to respond in the new year to Lord Lloyd's report of his inquiry into legislation against terrorism, including his recommendation concerning the actions of animal rights extremists.

  Tagged Offenders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the 48 offenders who have been sentenced to a curfew order and tagged after conviction for theft, how many were persistent shoplifters and how many were first offenders. [8631]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is not yet available about the previous convictions of offenders who have only recently been given curfew orders. In the first full year of the trials, nobody sentenced to a curfew order for theft was a first offender.

  Central records do not allow shoplifting to be distinguished from other offences of theft. As a result, it is not possible to say how many of those receiving curfew orders have been persistent shoplifters.

  Television Licence Defaulters
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the correlation between statistics collected by his Department and those of the Lord Chancellor's Department concerning the number of people imprisoned for failure to pay fines imposed for the non-payment of television licences in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [8890]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: The statistics on the number of people imprisoned for failure to pay fines imposed for the non-payment of television licences are taken from the Prison Service receptions data. The latest figures were given in a reply to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley), Official Report, columns 385–86.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department does not have a separate source for this information and has written correcting information previously supplied to certain hon. Members.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many television licence fine defaulters were imprisoned in 1995; what was the average sentence they served; and what are the equivalent figures for 1996. [9325]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many television licence fine defaulters were imprisoned in 1995, what was the average sentence they served and what are the equivalent figures for 1996.
  Provisional information for January to October 1996 shows that 293 people were received into prison for defaulting on a fine after conviction for using a television without a licence. Information for 1995 is published in "Prison statistics England and Wales" (table 7.2 of the 1995 edition, Cm 3355, a copy of which is available in the library) and shows that 735 (500 males and 235 females) were received for this offence over the year. The average time served by fine defaulters is about one week.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average daily cost of imprisoning television licence fine defaulters in(a) 1996 and (b) 1995. [9324]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to respond to your recent Question about the average daily cost of imprisoning television licence fine defaulters in 1996 and 1995.
  We do not calculate the cost of imprisonment for television licence defaulters separately from other offenders. The average cost
  712
  per prisoner for the financial year 1995–96 was £24,233 (£66.4 per day). The average per prisoner for April to September 1996 was £63.5 per day, or £23,190 for a full year.

  Prisons (Disabled Visitor Access)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons have been adapted to enable visitors to have access with(a) a wheelchair and (b) physical disabilities not requiring a wheelchair; what adaptations have been made to the prisons; and if he will make a statement. [9125]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about which prisons have been adapted to enable visitors to have access with wheelchairs and other physical disabilities.
  Facilities for disabled visitors have generally been provided as a result of local minor work and we do not therefore have comprehensive central records of modifications made to buildings for this purpose. A survey carried out in 1995, however, revealed that the attached list of establishments have facilities for disabled visitors.
  Examples of the type of facilities provided include ramps, lifts, wide doors and specially adapted toilets. The establishments listed may have all or any of these.
  Our standard briefing guides for new buildings provide for access ramps, lifts, toilets, and for circulation routes to be made suitable for the passage of wheelchairs. Wherever practical these guides are also taken into account when existing facilities are refurbished.

  Acklington

  Albany

  Aldington

  Ashwell

  Askham Grange

  Aylesbury

  Bedford

  Belmarsh

  Birmingham

  Blakenhurst

  Blundeston

  Bristol

  Brixton

  Brockhill

  Bullingdon

  Camp Hill

  Canterbury

  Cardiff

  Channings Wood

  Coldingley

  Dartmoor

  Deerbolt

  Doncaster

  Dorchester

  Dover

  Downview

  Durham

  713

  East Sutton Park

  Eastwood Park

  Elmley

  Erlestoke

  Everthorpe

  Featherstone

  Feltham

  Ford

  Frankland

  Full Sutton

  Garth

  Gloucester

  Guys Marsh

  Haslar

  Haverigg

  Hewell Grange

  High Down

  Hollesley Bay

  Holloway

  Hull

  Huntercombe

  Kingston

  Kirkham

  Kirklevington

  Lancaster Farms

  Latchmere House

  Leeds

  Lewes

  Leyhill

  Lindholme

  Littlehey

  Low Newton

  Maidstone

  Manchester

  Moorland

  Morton Hall

  The Mount

  New Hall

  North Sea Camp

  Norwich

  Onley

  Pentonville

  Portland

  Preston

  Ranby

  Reading

  Send

  Shepton Mallet

  Shrewsbury

  Stafford

  Standford Hill

  Stocken

  Styal

  Sudbury

  Swaleside

  Swansea

  Thorn Cross

  714

  Usk and Prescoed

  Whitemoor

  Wakefield

  Wandsworth

  Wayland

  Wealstun

  Wellingborough

  Werrington

  Wetherby

  Whatton

  Whitemoor

  Winchester

  Woodhill

  Wormwood Scrubs.

  Prisoners (Learning Disabilities)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current Prison Service policy with regard to prisoners identified as having learning disabilities and dyslexia; and if he will make a statement; [9127]

  (2) how many prisoners have been identified as having (a) a learning disability and (b) dyslexia on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9126]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for these matters 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. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your two recent Questions about prisoners with learning disabilities and dyslexia.
  The policy of the Prisons Board towards prisoners who have any learning disabilities, including dyslexia, is that those who need to improve basic literacy and are prepared to attend education classes will be given every opportunity to do so. Contractors providing education to prisons are required to offer a basic skills screening test in numeracy and literacy to all prisoners. Basic literacy is included in the Prison Service's core education curriculum. A number of prisons are also trying to find better ways of giving basic skills training as part of vocational training and in the course of daily work in prison workshops. This work is being supported by the Basic Skills Agency, with whom the Prison Service works closely. The Unit has contracted Amersham and Wycombe College to provide a national support project to this end.
  The number of prisoners identified by the Basic Skills Screening test as having a learning disability is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Crime Victims (Young People)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the number of young people who were victims of crime in each of the last 17 years and of that number relative to the number of adult victims for each category of crime; and if he will make a statement; [9100]
  715
  (2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of young people who have been victims of violent crime; and if he will make a statement. [9095]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]Information on the age of victims of crime recorded by the police is not routinely collected by the Home Office. However, information from an ad hoc survey on violent crime shows the rates of recorded offences per 100,000 population by age and sex of victims for each of the violent crime offence categories. This information is published in table 2 of the Home Office statistical findings 1/96 "Victims of Violent Crime Recorded by the Police, 1990–94". A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  No estimate has been made of the percentage of young people who have been victims of overall violent crime. However, information from the youth life styles survey carried out by the Home Office in 1993, based on a sample of around 1,700 young people aged between 14 and 25, found that 17 per cent. of young people in this age group reported being a victim of a "violent act" in the previous 12 months. The term "violent act" is not the same as "violent crime". The youth life styles survey defined a "violent act" as being where the victim was
  "deliberately hit or kicked or had force used against them".

  Sexual offences are not included.

  Police (Secure Transport)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cost to public funds of(a) arrested but unconvicted persons by the Metropolitan police in relation to court proceedings, (b) costs incurred by (i) the Metropolitan police and (ii) the Home Office for secure transport of those convicted and (c) the total costs of transport for the years (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96, indicating the number of specialist vehicles and persons used by the providers in each year. [8808]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: The cost to public funds of arrested but unconvicted persons by the Metropolitan police in relation to court proceedings is not available in the form requested.

  Costs incurred by (i) the Metropolitan police and (ii) the Home Office for secure transport of those convicted are as follows:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Total cost to the Metropolitan police

  £3.9 million

  £1.4 million

  Recovery from the Home Office

  £1.5 million

  £0.8 million

  Net cost to Metropolitan police

  £2.4 million

  £0.6 million

  Cost to the Metropolitan police of vehicles (included in costs above)

  £505 thousand

  £127 thousand

  Costs to Home Office of vehicles (included in costs above)

  £426 thousand

  £235 thousand

  Number of vehicles

  52

  30

  Number of staff

  77

  26

  716
  The costs do not include the costs of special escort duties provided by the Metropolitan police or the Home Office in the conveyance of prisoners between Crown court and prison.

  In the years 1994–95 and 1995–96 the responsibility for the escort of prisoners in London, other than those in the highest security category, to and from court was in the process of being transferred from the police and the Prison Service to Securicor Custodial Services. This exercise was only completed in July 1995.

  The contract covers the full escort service, together with the responsibility for the custody of prisoners while at court. It is on a fixed-price basis and the component elements, such as transportation, are not costed separately. The requested information is not, therefore, available.

  In 1995–96, Securicor employed approximately 900 staff and 150 specialist vehicles on the contract. The total value is approximately £96 million over five years.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15-year-olds were being held in each young offender institution and remand centre, on the latest date for which figures are available; what percentage were held on (i) remand and (ii) under sentence; and if he will make a statement. [9124]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many 15 year olds were being held in each young offender institution and remand centre, on the latest date for which figures are available and what percentage were held on remand and under sentence.
  The information requested for 31 October 1996 is shown in the attached table. 31 per cent. of the 15 year olds were on remand, with 69 per cent held under sentence.

  15 year olds held in prison in England and Wales on 31 October 1996 by establishment

  Establishment

  Remand

  Sentenced

  Aylesbury

  —

  2

  Brinsford

  14

  5

  Bullwood Hall

  —

  2

  Cardiff

  2

  —

  Deerbolt

  1

  20

  Doncaster

  7

  4

  Exeter

  1

  —

  Feltham

  16

  42

  Glen Parva

  20

  3

  Hindley

  1

  6

  Hollesley Bay

  —

  1

  Hull

  4

  —

  Huntercombe

  —

  1

  Lancaster Farms

  —

  2

  Low Newton

  9

  2

  Moorland

  —

  1

  New Hall

  —

  1

  Northallerton

  3

  —

  Onley

  —

  16

  Portland

  —

  14

  Stoke Heath

  —

  15

  Styal

  —

  2

  717

  15 year olds held in prison in England and Wales on 31 October 1996 by establishment

  Establishment

  Remand

  Sentenced

  Swansea

  —

  1

  Thorn Cross

  4

  Weatherby

  —

  11

  Warrington

  —

  17

  Total

  78

  172

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales were holding girl's aged(a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years old on the latest date for which figures are available broken down by institution and age; and if he will make a statement. [9084]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, which prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales were holding girls aged 16, 17 and 18 years of age.
  The information requested for 31 October 1996 is given in the attached table.

  Institution

  Aged 16

  Aged 17

  Aged 18

  Askham Grange

  —

  2

  5

  Brockhill

  —

  1

  2

  Bullwood Hall

  5

  6

  10

  Drake Hall

  2

  3

  9

  East Sutton Park

  —

  —

  1

  Holloway

  2

  9

  7

  Low Newton

  —

  3

  2

  Newhall

  1

  7

  18

  Risky

  —

  4

  8

  Styal

  3

  9

  9

  Total

  13

  44

  71

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women aged(a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years were received into Prison Service custody in each year from 1990 and in 1996 to date; and if he will make a statement. [9085]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many women aged 16, 17 and 18 years were received into Prison Service custody in each year from 1990 and in 1996 to date.
  The available information is published in successive volumes of "Prison statistics, England and Wales". Table 3.10 of the 1995 edition, Cm 3355 and tables 3.9 for years 1992 and 1993. Information for years 1990 and 1991 only relates to sentenced inmates. Copies of these publications are available in the library. Provisional information for 1996 is given in the attached table.
  718

  Receptions of females aged 16, 17 and 18 years into prisons in England and Wales, January to October 19961 2

  Age

  Custody type

  16

  17

  18

  Untried

  2

  124

  133

  Convicted unsentenced

  4

  58

  73

  Sentenced

  52

  83

  124

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Total receptions cannot be calculated by adding together receptions in each category because there is double counting.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile offenders were imprisoned in each of the last five years; and what was the average length of juvenile sentence for each year; and if he will make a statement. [9090]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about juvenile offenders.
  The information requested is given in Tables 3.1 and 3.16 of the annual publication 'Prison statistics England and Wales'; the latest edition for 1995 has the reference CM3355. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.
  The information for prisoners aged under 18 is set out in the attached table.

  Sentenced receptions

  Prisoners aged under 18

  Males

  Females

  Year

  Number

  Average sentence length (months)

  Number

  Average sentence length (months)

  1991

  3,621

  6.5

  97

  7.5

  1992

  3,344

  9.2

  79

  8.1

  1993

  3,564

  8.6

  102

  6.9

  1994

  3,971

  8.5

  149

  8.2

  1995

  4,505

  9.6

  166

  10.0

  Includes some 14 year olds until 1992.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates of young offender institutions have(a) committed suicide, (b) attempted suicide and (c) been victims of violence, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9093]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about incidents involving young offenders.
  The information on self inflicted deaths, attempted suicides and assaults is given in the attached table. Information held centrally on assaults relates to the number of adjudications where an inmate has been found guilty of an assault upon another inmate.
  719

  Incidents occurring in young offender institutions: 1991–1996

  Self inflicted deaths

  Attempted suicide

  Assaults (proved at adjudication)

  1991

  4

  111

  642

  1992

  5

  119

  691

  1993

  2

  123

  651

  1994

  7

  102

  711

  1995

  5

  87

  801

  1996 (to 13 December 1996)

  3

  108

  879

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young men aged under 21 years have committed suicide or attempted suicide while awaiting trail on remand in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [9094]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about young men under the age of 21 on remand who have committed or attempted suicide in the last ten years.
  The information routinely collected from establishments about attempted suicides is not categorised by age and status of the prisoner and the details requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Further work is planned which will improve the level of detail available in coming years. The attached table lists the numbers of self-inflicted deaths amongst men under 21 during the last ten years whilst awaiting trail on remand.

  Year

  Number of self inflicted deaths

  1987

  4

  1988

  9

  1989

  11

  1990

  10

  1991

  5

  1992

  6

  1993

  3

  1994

  10

  1995

  9

  1996 (to 13 December 1996)

  6

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 21 years were in prison or other custody in(a) London and (b) England and Wales on 1 November in each of the last 17 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9097]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many young people under the age of 21 years were in prison or other custody in (a) London and (b) England and Wales on 1 November in each of the last 17 years for which figures are available.
  720
  The information for persons under the age of 21 held in Prison Service establishments, including all young offender institutions is given in the attached table.

  Population of persons aged under 21 years1 in prisons in London and England and Wales on 31 October 1980 to 1996.

  On 31 October

  London prisons

  England and Wales

  Total prison population aged under 21

  1980

  405

  11,140

  11,545

  1981

  233

  12,956

  13,189

  1982

  225

  12,872

  13,097

  1983

  263

  12,527

  12,790

  1984

  291

  12,054

  12,345

  1985

  246

  12,426

  12,672

  1986

  351

  12,039

  12,390

  1987

  458

  11,334

  11,792

  1988

  932

  10,091

  11,023

  1989

  788

  9,374

  10,162

  1990

  903

  8,134

  9,037

  1991

  865

  7,862

  8,727

  1992

  680

  6,782

  7,462

  1993

  837

  7,590

  8,427

  1994

  887

  7,594

  8,481

  1995

  911

  7,876

  8,787

  1996

  977

  9,384

  10,361

  1 Includes some young offenders aged 21 years.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people aged between 10 and 17 years were sent to adult prisons or remand centres to await trial in(a) London and (b) England and Wales during each of the past 17 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9098]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, asking, how many young people aged between 10 and 17 years were sent to adult prisons or remand centres to await trial in (a) London and (b) England and Wales during each of the last 17 years for which figures are available.
  The available information on the number of untried prisoners aged between 14 and 17 years is given in the attached table.

  Receptions of untried prisoners aged under 18 years into Prison Service establishments in London and England and Wales, 1992 to 1996

  Year

  London prisons

  England and Wales

  Adult prisons and remand centres

  1992

  775

  3,699

  1993

  740

  4,049

  1994

  842

  4,353

  1995

  933

  4,413

  January to October 19961

  836

  4,059

  1 Provisional figures.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were reoffending rates for young people leaving custody in each of the last 17 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9099]
  721
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: The available information relates to reconviction rates within two years for standard list offences and is given in the table.

  Reconviction rates are affected by differences in the age, sex, previous convictions and other characteristics of offenders receiving the sentences, as described in Home Office research study No. 136, "Explaining reconviction rates: a critical analysis".

  The rates prior to 1984 discharges have been derived from information contained in "Prison Statistics England and Wales, 1986", Cm 210. The information from 1984 onwards on rates for male young offenders is contained in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1994", Cm 3087.

  Percentage of sentenced young offenders discharged from custody who are reconvicted within two years of discharge by year of discharge

  Males

  Females

  Total

  19761

  67

  49

  67

  19771

  69

  48

  68

  19781

  65

  54

  65

  19791

  66

  47

  65

  1980

  69

  45

  68

  1981

  66

  46

  66

  1982

  68

  47

  67

  1983

  67

  44

  67

  1984

  65

  42

  65

  1985

  64

  44

  64

  1986

  63

  46

  62

  19872

  72

  52

  71

  19882

  70

  55

  70

  19892

  71

  57

  71

  19902

  72

  59

  72

  19912

  72

  52

  72

  Police officer and civilian strength 1992 to 1996

  Force

  31 October 19921

  31 October 19931

  31 October 19941

  30 September 19951

  30 September 19961

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Avon and Somerset

  3,068

  1,254

  3,048

  1,338

  3,025

  1,325

  2,986

  1,294

  3,004

  1,315

  Bedfordshire

  1,129

  420

  1,157

  439

  1,123

  477

  1,116

  519

  1,118

  528

  Cambridgeshire

  1,262

  491

  1,278

  488

  1,270

  488

  1,254

  546

  1,253

  597

  Cheshire

  1,888

  581

  1,858

  615

  1,913

  641

  1,951

  730

  2,016

  791

  City of London

  801

  378

  878

  384

  889

  332

  869

  338

  868

  335

  Cleveland

  1,490

  491

  1,430

  521

  1,442

  525

  1,430

  575

  1,444

  623

  Cumbria

  1,192

  446

  1,205

  459

  1,179

  484

  1,144

  462

  1,124

  457

  Derbyshire

  1,803

  635

  1,786

  657

  1,803

  670

  1,762

  751

  1,795

  737

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,918

  1,182

  2,917

  1,213

  2,885

  1,224

  2,872

  1,237

  2,876

  1,283

  Dorset

  1,317

  630

  1,302

  625

  1,287

  665

  1,272

  671

  1,262

  678

  Durham

  1,390

  563

  1,379

  560

  1,357

  508

  1,377

  526

  1,426

  563

  Dyfed Powys

  966

  287

  968

  304

  980

  311

  977

  335

  998

  354

  Essex

  2,963

  1,200

  2,964

  1,279

  2,909

  1,329

  2,897

  1,270

  2,927

  1,400

  Gloucestershire

  1,154

  411

  1,144

  420

  1,171

  425

  1,142

  464

  1,139

  460

  Greater Manchester

  7,084

  2,693

  7,075

  2,815

  6,980

  2,880

  7,026

  2,904

  6,961

  2,922

  Gwent

  1,008

  346

  996

  350

  1,004

  350

  1,006

  380

  1,231

  497

  Hampshire

  3,269

  1,169

  3,272

  1,212

  3,259

  1,317

  3,307

  1,409

  3,362

  1,429

  Hertfordshire

  1,690

  665

  1,693

  669

  1,691

  699

  1,704

  921

  1,721

  863

  Humberside

  2,027

  760

  2,029

  733

  2,038

  708

  2,025

  670

  2,042

  772

  Kent

  3,099

  1,230

  3,183

  1,228

  3,137

  1,181

  3,100

  1,290

  3,227

  1,332

  Lancashire

  3,203

  1,190

  3,149

  1,164

  3,196

  1,243

  3,195

  1,419

  3,203

  1,320

  Leicestershire

  1,846

  758

  1,829

  724

  1,835

  755

  1,860

  747

  1,933

  776

  Lincolnshire

  1,188

  509

  1,212

  516

  1,214

  528

  1,164

  452

  1,157

  513

  Merseyside

  4,687

  1,757

  4,690

  1,781

  4,688

  1,773

  4,536

  1,797

  4,271

  1,825

  Metropolitan

  27,804

  16,205

  27,695

  16.324

  27.627

  15.767

  27.395

  16.762

  27.049

  15,353

  Norfolk

  1,419

  499

  1,437

  531

  1,419

  548

  1,392

  553

  1,399

  616

  Northamptonshire

  1,197

  467

  1,190

  518

  1,171

  500

  1,161

  492

  1,186

  583

  Northumbria

  3,578

  1,381

  3,595

  1,330

  3,593

  1,397

  3,611

  1,402

  3,693

  1,332

  North Wales

  1,369

  491

  1,359

  507

  1,369

  484

  1,352

  472

  1,381

  554

  North Yorkshire

  1,411

  483

  1,349

  464

  1,323

  522

  1,311

  537

  1,334

  623

  Nottinghamshire

  2,343

  802

  2,360

  871

  2,345

  934

  2,314

  1,022

  2,339

  1,058

  722

  Percentage of sentenced young offenders discharged from custody who are reconvicted within two years of discharge by year of discharge

  Males

  Females

  Total

  19922

  72

  51

  71

  1 Rates for those discharged from custody only relate to those released from Detention Centres or Borstal Training.

  2 Figures for 1987 and after are not directly comparable with those for earlier years due to a change in methodology. If the old methodology had been followed it is estimated that the reconviction rates would be about 7 to 8 percentage points lower for the males and 5 to 6 percentage points for the females. This change is described in paragraphs 21 and 22 on page 6 of Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1994 (Cm 3087).

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the manpower of each police force in respect of(a) number of police officers and (b) number of civilian support staff on 1 November for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [8809]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Information on police strength was collected at the end of each month until April 1995. Data on police service strength are now collected twice a year, March and September. Information for the last five years is in the table.

  Between October 1992 and September 1996, the total number of constables in England and Wales increased by 1,692 to 98,017. This is a record high number of constables.
  723

  Police officer and civilian strength 1992 to 1996

  Force

  31 October 19921

  31 October 19931

  31 October 19941

  30 September 19951

  30 September 19961

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  Police

  Civilians

  South Wales

  3,182

  1,180

  3,159

  1,279

  3,048

  1,215

  2,954

  1,240

  2,913

  1,233

  South Yorkshire

  3,013

  986

  3,022

  1,211

  3,030

  1,283

  3,041

  1,292

  3,128

  1,398

  Staffordshire

  2,196

  781

  2,194

  773

  2,207

  763

  2,190

  800

  2,220

  794

  Suffolk

  1,240

  556

  1,224

  543

  1,209

  544

  1,158

  520

  1,159

  532

  Surrey

  1,684

  650

  1,663

  709

  1,673

  721

  1,656

  796

  1,652

  793

  Sussex

  3,007

  1,131

  2,977

  1,153

  2,949

  1,182

  3,020

  1,219

  3,097

  1,310

  Thames Valley

  3,843

  1,603

  3,886

  1,647

  3,887

  1,767

  3,760

  1,913

  3,682

  1,972

  Warwickshire

  1,007

  356

  1,031

  364

  1,038

  363

  983

  412

  948

  406

  West Mercia

  2,061

  967

  2,057

  969

  2,042

  995

  2,008

  1,038

  2,011

  1,002

  West Midlands

  6,935

  2,717

  6,961

  2,729

  6,991

  2,859

  7,078

  2,957

  7,203

  2,611

  West Yorkshire

  5,095

  2,034

  5,005

  2,032

  5,036

  2,092

  5,122

  2,149

  5,154

  2,224

  Wiltshire

  1,257

  523

  1,272

  516

  1,260

  501

  1,236

  521

  1,166

  514

  Total

  126,043

  53,858

  125,878

  54,953

  125,492

  55,275

  124,710

  57,790

  125,050

  57,278

  1 Strength information is collected on the last day of the month. Civilian strength includes traffic wardens.

  2 Since April 1995 information on police numbers is collected only twice a year (March and September).

  Disabled Prisoners
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many registered disabled prisoners were in each of Her Majesty's prisons on the last date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [9086]

  (2) if he will make a statement on his policy concerning disabled prisoners; [9087]

  (3) how many registered disabled offenders were received into custody during each year since 1990 and to date in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [9089]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for these matters 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. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the Prison Service's policy concerning disabled prisoners, the number of registered disabled offenders who were received into custody during each year since 1990 and to date in 1996, and the number of registered disabled prisoners who were in each of Her Majesty's prisons on the last day for which figures are available.
  On 20 November 1996 the Prison Service issued Instruction to Governors 79/1996, entitled "Disability Discrimination Act 1995: Disabled Prisoners and Visitors". This instruction outlines the Prison Service's policy with regard to the provision of goods, facilities and services for disabled prisoners and visitors to establishments. A copy of the instruction is enclosed and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.
  The Prison Service has not, historically, kept records of the number of prisoners who are registered disabled and could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost. We have recently put in hand a survey of the number of disabled prisoners in our custody, whether registered disabled or not. I shall be pleased to write to you again when we have analysed the results.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons have been adapted to hold(a) disabled prisoners who require wheelchair access and (b) other physically disabled prisoners; what adaptations have been made to the prisons; and if he will make a statement. [9088]
  724
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about which prisons have been adapted to hold (a) disabled prisoners who require wheelchair access and (b) other physically disabled prisoners.
  The practice of the Prison Service is for staff to ensure that the needs of prisoners with disabilities are met on an individual basis, from reception throughout their time in custody. Staff assess their requirements and seek to provide particular facilities depending on the nature of their disability. The construction of facilities for disabled prisoners is part of this process and local minor work e.g. cell modification, will cover most individual needs. For this reason we do not have comprehensive central records of all modifications made to buildings and it is not therefore possible to categorise prisons into those that do or do not have provision for disabled prisoners.
  Our standard briefing guides for new buildings provide for access ramps, lifts, toilets, and for circulation routes to be made suitable for the passage of wheelchairs. Wherever practical these guides are also taken into account when existing facilities are refurbished.

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9666]

  Mr. Howard
  The tables set out available information for the Home Office and its executive agencies. The information for the agencies has been provided by the chief executives of the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the Fire Service College, the Director General of the Forensic Science Service and the Director General of the Prison Service. The information for the non-Prison Service Home Office gives the position as at 20 November and that for the Prison Service gives the position as at 2 December. Non-permanent staff include casuals, certain industrial staff and those staff having neither an established nor a fixed-term employment status.
  725
  For the purpose of producing statistics on civil service staff, fixed-term appointees are regarded as permanent staff, and are, therefore, included in the figures for permanent staff given. Information under (b) for the years prior to 1996 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1: Home Office excluding agencies

  (a) Permanent staff

  (b) Non-permanent staff

  1996

  9,280

  373

  1995

  9,252

  —

  1994

  10,367

  —

  1993

  9,378

  —

  1992

  12,069

  —

  The 1992 figures predate the formation of the Forensic Science Service as an executive agency: staff who formed the agency on the 1 April 1992 are therefore included in these figures.

  Table 2: Forensic Science Service

  (a) Permanent staff

  (b) Non-permanent staff

  1996

  1,197

  8

  1995

  725

  —

  1994

  706

  —

  1993

  646

  —

  The 1996 figure includes staff joining the FSS from the Metropolitan Police Laboratory. Figures for 1993–95 are taken from MANDATE returns to Cabinet Office.

  Table 3: Fire Service College

  (a) Permanent staff

  (b) Non-permanent staff

  1996

  179

  9

  1995

  189

  5

  1994

  181

  5

  1993

  152

  —

  Figures for 1993 are taken from MANDATE returns to Cabinet Office.

  Area

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Home Office Main

  4,476

  43

  4,519

  3,616

  679

  4,295

  8,814

  Her Majesty's Prison Service

  30,219

  1,052

  31,271

  7,058

  1,425

  8,483

  39,754

  Forensic Science Service

  596

  3

  599

  516

  141

  657

  1,256

  Fire Service College

  109

  1

  110

  79

  8

  87

  197

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  520

  24

  544

  782

  234

  1,106

  1,560

  Total

  35,920

  1,123

  37,043

  12,051

  2,487

  14,628

  51,581

  Home Office figures are for permanent non-industrial staff.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9451]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed
  726

  Table 4: United Kingdom Passport Agency

  (a) Permanent staff

  (b) Non-permanent staff

  1996

  1,525

  465

  1995

  1,411

  315

  1994

  1,352

  201

  1993

  1,474

  116

  1992

  1,304

  92

  Table 5: Her Majesty's Prison Service

  (a) Permanent staff

  (b) Non-permanent staff

  1996

  140,505

  900

  1995

  39,275

  —

  1994

  38,964

  —

  1993

  38,008

  —

  1992

  33,606

  —

  1 The information has been taken from the Prison Service personnel information system which is currently being updated using a new computer system.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [7487]

  Mr. Howard
  The table sets out the available information for the Home Office and the executive agencies. The information for the agencies has been provided by the chief executives of the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the Fire Service College, the Director General of the Forensic Science Service, and the Director General of the Prison Service. This information gives the position as at 16 December. The Prison Service is in the process of transferring to a new establishment-based computer system for the provision of personnel information.

  to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Pregnant Prisoners
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what medical provision and supervision is available to pregnant category A women in Holloway prison. [9274]
  727
  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 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on medical provision and supervision available to pregnant category A women in Holloway prison.
  Holloway prison has a dedicated wing with specialist expertise and interest in caring for pregnant women. Admission to the unit is on a voluntary basis. Holloway, along with all prisons has the back up of the National Health Service, for both in-patient and out-patient facilities. In addition, consultants are contracted by the Prison Service to carry out clinics in the prisons themselves. Where necessary, prisoners are taken under escort to outside hospitals.

  Prisoners (Drug Dependency)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights prisoners detained in England and Wales have to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependent prisoners. [9164]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to respond to your recent Question about the rights of prisoners, detained in England and Wales prisons, to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependant prisoners.
  Neither unconvicted or convicted prisoners have an automatic right to seek a second medical opinion from NHS or private health care services. Where however, a second opinion is thought necessary by the prison medical officer, arrangements are made for the prisoner to be examined by a visiting NHS clinician, or transferred to a NHS hospital for examination or treatment.
  Notwithstanding the above, if an unconvicted prisoner wishes to secure a second medical opinion, he or she may be visited and treated in prison by a nominated doctor if the following conditions are met:

  The inmate is able and willing to pay the expenses incurred.

  The Governor is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for such a request.

  A convicted prisoner does not have this automatic right.

  In exceptional circumstances a prisoner, whether convicted or unconvicted, may receive in-patient treatment in a private hospital or clinic, or a private room in a National Health Service Hospital. For this to occur the medical officer must be satisfied that the following conditions are met:

  Hospital inpatient treatment is necessary.

  It is clinically advisable that the treatment is carried out during the period that the prisoner is in custody.

  The treatment cannot be carried out in a prison service health care centre and

  that the prisoner could be treated significantly earlier, privately in a hospital within reasonable distance of the prison than under NHS arrangements or

  They had an appointment for private in-patient treatment before they came into prison.

  The governor must also satisfy himself that:

  The inmate has sufficient funds or adequate private insurance to meet all costs, including the bedwatch.

  728

  These conditions apply to all medical and dental conditions, including the treatment of drug dependency.

  Prisons (Strip Cells)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip cells are currently in use in prisons in England and Wales. [9165]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many special cells are currently in use in prisons in England and Wales.
  The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Medical Service
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison medical officers are currently in post in prisons in England and Wales; how many posts are currently vacant; and what were the equivalent figures in each of the last five years. [9168]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of medical officers currently in post in prisons in England and Wales; the number of posts currently vacant; and the equivalent figures in each of the last five years.
  Information on vacancies is not currently held centrally. I will write to you again when the figures become available. Data on the number of medical officers in post in prisons is only available centrally for the current and previous years.
  The numbers of full-time and part-time doctors working in the Service at the end of March for the last two years are given in the attached table.

  Doctors employed in the Prison Service: 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Full time doctors

  Part time doctors

  Year

  Medical officer

  Senior Medical officer

  Total

  Medical officer

  Senior Medical officer

  Total

  1994–95

  96

  49

  145

  136

  0

  136

  1995–96

  91

  42

  133

  89

  3

  92

  The figures include doctors employed in privately managed prisons except Blakenhurst which did not submit any staffing information.

  Prisoners (Damages Claims)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of successful claims for damages by, and the amount of compensation that has been given to, prisoners who have sued the Home Office for being kept in prison too long, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9501]
  729
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of successful claims for damages by, and the amount of compensation that has been given to, prisoners who have sued the Home Office for being kept in prison too long, in each of the last five years.
  Information on individual compensation claim payments made by or on behalf of prison governors to prisoners is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total expenditure on compensation payments to prisoners for detention beyond the due date of release is:

  1991–92: £25,982

  1992–93: £13,510

  1993–94: £18,351

  1994–95: £53,009

  1995–96: £31,941

  Ms Alison Halford
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money(a) has been spent and (b) he estimates will be spent in respect of proceedings concerning Ms Alison Halford before (i) the Merseyside police authority, (ii) the industrial tribunal, (iii) the European Commission and (iv) the European Court of Human Rights, distinguishing in each case (1) solicitors' fees, (2) banisters' fees, (3) the cost of the time of other public officials and (4) the costs of the courts and tribunals in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [8862]

  Mr. Howard
  Part of the information requested is not available, and the rest is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept(a) by the Government and (b) by each individual police force concerning authorisations by senior police officers for the interception of telephone calls; how many such authorisations there have been by (i) Merseyside police and (ii) police forces in general in each year since 1984; what safeguards exist to prevent abuse; and how much manpower and cost they involve. [8853]

  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 constable concerned, who is also responsible for ensuring that monitoring is appropriate in the circumstances and is not misused.

  There is no central record of such authorisations by chief constables and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Costs
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average cost of a place in prison during the first six months of the current financial year; [9111]

  (2) what was the average cost of a place in each prison during the first six months of the current financial year. [9110]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the cost of prison places during the first six months of the current financial year.
  The annualised costs of a place in each establishment are set out in the attached table.
  The annualised average cost of a prison place in the first six months of the current financial year was £23,190. Spending, however, is not spread evenly across the year, and the additional funds provided this year to meet the rise in the population is not yet reflected in these half year figures.

  Establishment

  Cost per place

  Acklington

  14,703

  Albany

  19,182

  Aldington

  14,349

  Ashwell

  14,772

  Askham Grange

  18,362

  Aylesbury

  21,884

  Bedford

  22,358

  Belmarsh

  25,570

  Birmingham

  22,769

  Blakenhurst

  17,714

  Blantyre House

  18,257

  Blundeston

  19,526

  Brinsford

  18,703

  Bristol

  25,447

  Brixton

  24,207

  Brockhill

  22,279

  Buckley Hall

  15,631

  Bullingdon

  18,791

  Bullwood Hall

  28,525

  Camp Hill

  17,508

  Canterbury

  33,257

  Cardiff

  23,846

  Castington

  19,207

  Channings Wood

  14,753

  Chelmsford

  34,475

  Coldingley

  23,152

  Cookham Wood

  23,290

  Dartmoor

  19,679

  Deerbolt

  16,521

  Doncaster

  16,309

  Dorchester

  29,042

  Dover

  17,085

  Downview

  17,898

  Drake Hall

  12,909

  Durham

  25,991

  East Sutton Park

  15,986

  Eastwood Park

  26,320

  Elmley

  16,700

  Erlestoke

  18,594

  Everthorpe

  16,396

  Exeter

  33,040

  731

  Establishment

  Cost per place

  Featherstone

  17,354

  Feltham

  16,942

  Ford

  10,906

  Frankland

  39,262

  Full Sutton

  33,718

  Garth

  18,944

  Gartree

  22,560

  Glen Parva

  15,480

  Glocuester

  28,509

  Grendon

  18,274

  Guys Marsh

  17,632

  Haslar

  15,152

  Hatfield

  21,906

  Havering

  16,492

  Hewell Grange

  13,955

  Highdown

  18,342

  Highpoint

  14,486

  Hindley

  18,879

  Hollesley Bay

  21,978

  Holloway

  30,986

  Holme House

  17,078

  Hull

  28,502

  Huntercombe

  14,518

  Kingston

  20,718

  Kirkham

  13,581

  Kirklevington

  18,622

  Lancaster

  19,696

  Lancaster Farms

  22,085

  Latchmere House

  12,053

  Leeds

  17,207

  Leicester

  39,640

  Lewes

  19,224

  Leyhill

  16,120

  Lincoln

  24,130

  Lindholme

  17,587

  Littlehey

  14,685

  Liverpool

  17,915

  Long Lartin

  35,143

  Low Newton

  27,049

  Maidstone

  18,051

  Manchester

  20,496

  Moorland

  17,724

  Morton Hall

  12,427

  Mount

  12,704

  New Hall

  26,513

  North Sea Camp

  14,816

  Northallerton

  29,754

  Norwich

  35,505

  Nottingham

  26,462

  Onley

  14,310

  Parkhurst

  28,628

  Pentonville

  17,203

  Portland

  15,634

  Preston

  27,069

  Ranby

  17,181

  Reading

  25,026

  Risley

  16,639

  Rochester

  18,398

  Send

  15,782

  Shepton Mallet

  23,796

  Shrewsbury

  31,858

  Stafford

  22,001

  Standford Hill

  14,824

  Stocken

  16,544

  Stoke Heath

  16,963

  Styal

  22,418

  Sudbury

  15,053

  Swaleside

  17,682

  Swansea

  28,037

  Swinfen Hall

  22,899

  732

  Establishment

  Cost per place

  Thorn Cross

  17,017

  Usk

  20,479

  Verne

  15,213

  Wakefield

  23,785

  Wandsworth

  16,300

  Wayland

  13,588

  Wealstun Closed

  15,621

  Wellingborough

  15,900

  Werrington

  20,619

  Wetherby

  28,144

  Whatton

  17,709

  Whitemoor

  34,772

  Winchester

  25,042

  Wolds

  21,960

  Woodhill

  20,618

  Wormwood Scrubs

  17,163

  Wymott

  14,148

  Prison Population
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the overall(a) average base line certified normal accommodation, (b) average in use CNA and (c) average population for the Prison Service for each month this year; [9108]

  (2) if he will list the (a) average baseline certified normal accommodation, (b) average in use CNA and (c) average population by prison type for each month this year. [9107]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsbility for these matters 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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the total baseline CNA, average baseline CNA, average in use CNA and average population by prison type each month this year.
  Prison type is defined as the role of the prison, for example local prison, closed or open training prison, closed or open young offender institutions or juvenile institutions. Most prisons perform more than one role, which is recorded within the relevant prison type.
  Baseline CNA is the total number of uncrowded places in the prison estate, including those which are out of use due to refurbishment. Information on baseline CNA is not available in the form requested as it is not recorded by prison type. In use CNA represents the total number of uncrowded places estimated to be available in the estate.
  With the exception of baseline CNA the information contained in the attached tables is available monthly in a publication called "Occupation of prisons, remand centres, young offender institutions and police cells", which is available in the Library.
  733

  January 1996

  February 1996

  March 1996

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  October 1996

  IN USE CNA

  Female—female closed training prisons

  559

  559

  559

  559

  559

  564

  566

  566

  683

  683

  Female—female closed young offender institutions

  123

  123

  123

  123

  123

  123

  123

  123

  123

  123

  Female—local prisons

  926

  928

  1,007

  1,007

  1,007

  1,007

  1,005

  1,005

  1,005

  1,005

  Female—open prisons

  452

  452

  452

  452

  452

  452

  456

  456

  456

  452

  Female—open young offender institutions

  53

  53

  53

  53

  53

  53

  53

  53

  53

  53

  Female—remand centres

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Male—dispersal prisons

  —

  —

  —

  3,297

  3,297

  3,297

  3,297

  3,297

  3,109

  3,250

  Male—closed training prisons

  21,064

  21,024

  21,294

  18,857

  18,850

  19,293

  19,297

  19,336

  19,095

  19,191

  Male—other young offender institutions (closed)

  3,988

  3,988

  3,988

  3,995

  3,995

  4,145

  4,186

  4,114

  4,119

  4,116

  Male—juvenile institutions

  1,088

  1,088

  1,088

  1,088

  1,088

  1,088

  1,032

  1,032

  1,032

  1,077

  Male—local prisons

  15,989

  15,698

  15,657

  15,039

  15,039

  15,698

  15,931

  15,717

  15,818

  16,040

  Male open prisons

  3,816

  3,822

  3,822

  3,822

  3,846

  3,834

  3,884

  3,884

  3,791

  3,944

  Male—other young offender institutions (open)

  476

  476

  476

  476

  476

  552

  552

  552

  496

  496

  Male remand centres

  2,921

  2,915

  2,915

  2,915

  2,915

  3,041

  3,070

  3,070

  3,065

  3,065

  Total

  51,460

  51,131

  51,439

  51,688

  51,705

  53,152

  53,457

  53,210

  52,850

  53,500

  January 1996

  February 1996

  March 1996

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  October 1996

  Population

  Female—female closed training prisons

  549

  553

  548

  550

  554

  580

  610

  645

  663

  667

  Female—female closed young offender institutions

  104

  111

  127

  126

  134

  137

  135

  141

  139

  156

  Female—local prisons

  995

  997

  1,038

  1,076

  1,052

  1,098

  1,089

  1,056

  1,070

  1,113

  Female—open prisons

  355

  391

  386

  396

  452

  457

  461

  427

  412

  446

  Female—open young offender institutions

  22

  25

  24

  31

  29

  33

  32

  30

  33

  38

  Female—remand centres

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Male—dispersal prisons

  3,173

  3,165

  3,142

  3,282

  3,278

  3,287

  3,388

  Male—closed training prisons

  20,082

  20,334

  20,747

  18,290

  18,417

  18,551

  18,685

  18,469

  18,577

  18,705

  Male—other young offender institutions (closed)

  3,738

  3,850

  3,898

  3,944

  3,972

  3,943

  3,976

  3,921

  4,003

  4,045

  Male—juvenile institutions

  1,222

  1,289

  1,308

  1,295

  1,365

  1,417

  1,383

  1,367

  1,432

  1,446

  Male—local prisons

  18,548

  18,881

  18,817

  18,439

  18,540

  18,895

  19,179

  18,987

  19,621

  20,196

  Male open prisons

  3,186

  3,481

  3,583

  3,554

  3,576

  3,650

  3,749

  3,639

  3,677

  3,696

  Male—other young offender institutions (open)

  370

  377

  366

  357

  369

  354

  394

  389

  384

  408

  Male remand centres

  2,776

  2,889

  2,898

  2,971

  2,888

  2,999

  3,166

  3,188

  3,323

  3,460

  Total

  51,947

  53,178

  53,740

  54,202

  54,513

  55,256

  56,141

  55,537

  56,621

  57,764

  Total baseline CNA, in use CNA and population

  Baseline CNA

  In use CNA

  Population

  January 1996

  54,949

  51,460

  51,947

  February 1996

  54,979

  51,131

  53,178

  March 1996

  55,164

  51,439

  53,740

  April 1996

  51,688

  51,688

  54,202

  May 1996

  51,705

  51,705

  54,513

  June 1996

  53,152

  53,152

  55,256

  July 1996

  53,457

  53,457

  56,141

  August 1996

  53,210

  53,210

  55,537

  September 1996

  52,850

  52,850

  56,621

  October 1996

  56,835

  53,500

  57,764

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) average base line
  734
  certified normal accommodation, (b) average in use CNA and (c) average population of each prison for the first six months of the current financial year. [9106]

  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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average baseline CNA, in use CNA and population for each prison for the first six months of the current financial year.
  The information requested is given in the accompanying tables and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.
  735

  Baseline CNA

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Acklington

  662

  662

  662

  662

  662

  662

  Albany

  436

  436

  436

  436

  436

  436

  Aldington

  146

  146

  146

  146

  146

  146

  Ashwell

  404

  404

  404

  404

  404

  404

  Askham Grange

  126

  126

  126

  130

  130

  130

  Aylesbury

  297

  297

  297

  297

  297

  297

  Bedford

  309

  309

  309

  309

  309

  309

  Belmarsh

  841

  841

  841

  841

  841

  841

  Birmingham

  696

  696

  696

  696

  696

  717

  Blakenhurst

  649

  649

  649

  647

  647

  647

  Blantyre House

  106

  106

  106

  120

  120

  120

  Blundeston

  408

  408

  408

  408

  408

  408

  Brinsford

  473

  473

  473

  477

  477

  477

  Bristol

  493

  493

  493

  493

  493

  493

  Brixton

  720

  720

  720

  720

  720

  720

  Brockhill

  159

  159

  159

  159

  159

  159

  Buckley Hall

  350

  350

  350

  350

  350

  350

  Bullingdon

  644

  644

  644

  644

  644

  644

  Bullwood Hall

  125

  125

  125

  125

  125

  125

  Camp Hill

  470

  470

  470

  470

  470

  470

  Canterbury

  184

  184

  184

  184

  184

  184

  Cardiff

  327

  327

  327

  534

  534

  534

  Castington

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  Channings Wood

  594

  594

  594

  594

  594

  594

  Chelmsford

  248

  248

  248

  248

  248

  248

  Coldingley

  296

  296

  296

  296

  296

  296

  Cookham Wood

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  Dartmoor

  599

  599

  599

  599

  599

  599

  Deerbolt

  450

  450

  450

  450

  450

  450

  Doncaster

  771

  771

  771

  771

  771

  771

  Dorchester

  147

  147

  147

  147

  147

  147

  Dover

  316

  316

  316

  316

  316

  316

  Downview

  287

  287

  291

  291

  291

  291

  Drake Hall

  285

  285

  285

  285

  285

  285

  Durham

  651

  651

  646

  646

  646

  646

  East Sutton Park

  94

  94

  94

  94

  94

  94

  Eastwood Park

  135

  135

  135

  135

  135

  135

  Elmley

  637

  637

  637

  637

  640

  640

  Erlestoke

  270

  270

  270

  270

  270

  270

  Everthorpe

  438

  438

  438

  438

  438

  438

  Exeter

  261

  261

  261

  261

  261

  260

  Featherstone

  599

  599

  599

  599

  599

  599

  Feltham

  876

  876

  876

  876

  876

  876

  Finnamore Wood

  106

  106

  106

  106

  106

  0

  Ford

  533

  533

  533

  533

  533

  533

  Frankland

  447

  447

  447

  447

  447

  447

  Full Sutton

  602

  602

  602

  602

  602

  602

  Garth

  513

  513

  513

  513

  513

  513

  Gartree

  360

  360

  360

  360

  360

  360

  Glen Parva

  852

  852

  852

  852

  852

  852

  Gloucester

  211

  211

  211

  211

  211

  211

  Grendon

  455

  455

  455

  455

  455

  455

  Guy's Marsh

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  Haslar

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  Hatfield

  180

  180

  180

  180

  180

  180

  Haverigg

  454

  454

  450

  450

  450

  450

  Hewell Grange

  174

  174

  174

  200

  200

  200

  High Down

  649

  649

  649

  649

  649

  649

  Highpoint

  679

  679

  679

  679

  679

  679

  Hindley

  339

  339

  531

  531

  531

  531

  Hollesley Bay

  458

  458

  458

  458

  458

  458

  Holloway

  517

  517

  517

  517

  517

  517

  Holme House

  649

  649

  751

  751

  783

  783

  Hull

  362

  362

  404

  418

  438

  438

  Huntercombe

  240

  240

  240

  256

  256

  256

  Kingston

  155

  155

  155

  185

  185

  185

  Kirkham

  644

  644

  644

  644

  644

  644

  Kirklevington

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Lancaster Farms

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  Lancaster House

  378

  378

  438

  438

  438

  438

  Latchmere

  177

  177

  177

  177

  177

  177

  Leeds

  995

  995

  995

  995

  995

  1,141

  Leicester

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  736 737

  Baseline CNA

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Lewes

  443

  443

  443

  444

  444

  444

  Leyhill

  410

  410

  410

  410

  410

  410

  Lincoln

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  Lindholme

  670

  670

  670

  670

  670

  670

  Littlehey

  584

  584

  584

  584

  584

  584

  Liverpool

  1,158

  1,158

  1,158

  1,216

  1,216

  1,216

  Long Lartin

  446

  446

  446

  446

  446

  446

  Low Newton

  198

  198

  198

  198

  198

  198

  Maidstone

  539

  539

  539

  539

  539

  539

  Manchester

  967

  967

  967

  967

  967

  967

  Moorland

  620

  620

  620

  620

  620

  620

  Morton Hall

  168

  192

  192

  192

  192

  192

  Mount

  588

  588

  588

  588

  588

  588

  New Hall

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  North Sea Camp

  203

  203

  213

  213

  213

  213

  Northallerton

  152

  152

  152

  152

  152

  152

  Norwich

  319

  319

  319

  319

  319

  319

  Nottingham

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  Onley

  520

  520

  520

  520

  520

  520

  Oxford

  122

  122

  122

  122

  122

  0

  Parkhurst

  431

  431

  431

  430

  430

  430

  Pentonville

  924

  924

  924

  882

  882

  882

  Portland

  526

  526

  526

  526

  526

  526

  Preston

  407

  407

  407

  407

  407

  407

  Ranby

  516

  516

  517

  517

  517

  517

  Reading

  183

  183

  203

  203

  203

  203

  Risley

  826

  826

  826

  957

  957

  957

  Rochester

  424

  424

  424

  424

  424

  424

  Send

  151

  151

  151

  151

  151

  151

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  Shrewsbury

  176

  176

  176

  176

  176

  176

  Stafford

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  Standford Hill

  384

  384

  384

  384

  384

  384

  Stocken

  396

  396

  396

  396

  396

  396

  Stoke Heath

  372

  372

  382

  382

  382

  382

  Styal

  253

  253

  255

  257

  257

  257

  Sudbury

  517

  517

  517

  517

  517

  424

  Swaleside

  512

  512

  512

  512

  512

  512

  Swansea

  208

  208

  208

  208

  208

  208

  Swinfen Hall

  191

  191

  191

  191

  191

  196

  Thorn Cross

  300

  300

  316

  316

  316

  316

  Usk

  246

  246

  246

  246

  246

  246

  Verne

  552

  552

  552

  552

  552

  552

  Wakefield

  727

  727

  727

  727

  727

  715

  Wandsworth

  1,219

  1,219

  1,219

  1,219

  1,219

  1,219

  Wayland

  580

  580

  580

  580

  580

  580

  Wealstun

  573

  573

  573

  578

  578

  578

  Wellingborough

  352

  352

  352

  352

  352

  352

  Werrington

  114

  114

  114

  114

  114

  114

  Wetherby

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  Whatton

  217

  216

  216

  216

  216

  216

  Whitemoor

  534

  534

  534

  534

  534

  534

  Winchester

  462

  462

  462

  462

  462

  462

  Wolds

  320

  320

  320

  320

  320

  320

  Woodhill

  566

  566

  669

  669

  669

  669

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,158

  1,158

  1,176

  1,176

  1,168

  1,168

  Wymott

  816

  816

  816

  816

  826

  826

  In use CAN

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Acklington

  662

  662

  662

  662

  662

  662

  Albany

  436

  436

  436

  436

  436

  436

  Aldington

  146

  146

  146

  146

  146

  146

  Ashwell

  404

  404

  404

  404

  404

  404

  Askham Grange

  126

  126

  126

  130

  130

  130

  Aylesbury

  230

  230

  230

  230

  230

  230

  Bedford

  309

  309

  309

  309

  309

  309

  Belmarsh

  661

  661

  661

  661

  661

  661

  Birmingham

  653

  653

  653

  653

  653

  694

  738 739

  In use CAN

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Blakenhurst

  649

  649

  649

  647

  647

  647

  Blantyre House

  106

  106

  106

  120

  120

  120

  Blundeston

  408

  408

  408

  408

  408

  408

  Brinsford

  473

  473

  473

  477

  477

  477

  Bristol

  474

  474

  474

  474

  474

  474

  Brixton

  480

  480

  480

  480

  480

  480

  Brockhill

  159

  159

  159

  159

  159

  159

  Buckley Hall

  350

  350

  350

  350

  350

  350

  Bullingdon

  644

  644

  644

  644

  644

  644

  Bullwood Hall

  125

  125

  125

  125

  125

  125

  Camp Hill

  384

  384

  384

  384

  384

  384

  Canterbury

  184

  184

  184

  184

  184

  184

  Cardiff

  322

  322

  322

  534

  534

  534

  Castington

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  Channings Wood

  594

  594

  594

  594

  594

  594

  Chelmsford

  248

  248

  248

  248

  248

  248

  Coldingley

  288

  288

  288

  288

  288

  288

  Cookham Wood

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  Dartmoor

  599

  599

  599

  599

  599

  599

  Deerbolt

  420

  420

  420

  420

  420

  420

  Doncaster

  771

  771

  771

  771

  771

  771

  Dorchester

  147

  147

  147

  147

  147

  147

  Dover

  316

  316

  316

  316

  316

  316

  Downview

  287

  287

  291

  291

  291

  291

  Drake Hall

  285

  285

  285

  285

  285

  285

  Durham

  499

  499

  598

  598

  598

  598

  East Sutton Park

  94

  94

  94

  94

  94

  94

  Eastwood Park

  135

  135

  135

  135

  135

  135

  Elmley

  637

  637

  637

  637

  640

  640

  Erlestoke

  270

  270

  270

  270

  270

  270

  Everthorpe

  435

  435

  435

  435

  435

  433

  Exeter

  253

  253

  253

  253

  253

  260

  Featherstone

  564

  564

  564

  564

  564

  564

  Feltham

  845

  845

  845

  839

  839

  839

  Finnamore Wood

  56

  56

  56

  56

  56

  0

  Ford

  498

  498

  498

  498

  498

  498

  Frankland

  447

  447

  447

  447

  447

  447

  Full Sutton

  572

  572

  572

  572

  572

  572

  Garth

  513

  513

  513

  513

  513

  513

  Gartree

  350

  350

  360

  360

  360

  360

  Glen Parva

  792

  792

  792

  792

  720

  720

  Gloucester

  211

  211

  211

  211

  211

  211

  Grendon

  455

  455

  455

  455

  455

  455

  Guy's Marsh

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  Haslar

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  Hatfield

  180

  180

  180

  180

  180

  180

  Haverigg

  454

  454

  450

  450

  450

  450

  Hewell Grange

  174

  174

  174

  200

  200

  200

  High Down

  649

  649

  649

  649

  649

  649

  Highpoint

  679

  679

  679

  679

  679

  679

  Hindley

  339

  339

  531

  531

  531

  531

  Hollesley Bay

  397

  397

  397

  397

  397

  397

  Holloway

  517

  517

  517

  517

  517

  517

  Holme House

  649

  649

  714

  714

  764

  764

  Hull

  349

  349

  395

  395

  395

  395

  Huntercombe

  240

  240

  240

  256

  256

  256

  Kingston

  106

  106

  106

  129

  129

  129

  Kirkham

  644

  644

  622

  622

  622

  622

  Kirklevington

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Lancaster

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  Lancaster Farms

  378

  378

  438

  438

  438

  438

  Latchmere House

  177

  177

  177

  177

  177

  177

  Leeds

  824

  824

  824

  824

  824

  872

  Leicester

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  Lewes

  312

  312

  312

  303

  303

  303

  Leyhill

  386

  386

  386

  410

  410

  410

  Lincoln

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  Lindholme

  670

  670

  670

  670

  670

  670

  Littlehey

  584

  584

  584

  584

  584

  584

  Liverpool

  1,073

  1,073

  1,073

  1,105

  1,105

  1,105

  Long Lartin

  372

  372

  372

  372

  372

  372

  Low Newton

  198

  198

  192

  192

  192

  192

  Maidstone

  484

  484

  484

  539

  539

  539

  740 741

  In use can

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Manchester

  967

  967

  967

  967

  967

  967

  Moorland

  620

  620

  620

  620

  620

  620

  Morton Hall

  168

  192

  192

  192

  192

  192

  Mount

  588

  588

  588

  588

  588

  588

  New Hall

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  207

  North Sea Camp

  203

  203

  213

  213

  213

  213

  Northallerton

  152

  152

  152

  152

  152

  152

  Norwich

  319

  319

  319

  319

  319

  319

  Nottingham

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  218

  Onley

  520

  520

  520

  520

  520

  520

  Oxford

  122

  122

  122

  122

  122

  0

  Parkhurst

  378

  378

  378

  288

  288

  288

  Pentonville

  726

  726

  726

  726

  726

  726

  Portland

  526

  526

  526

  526

  526

  526

  Preston

  311

  311

  311

  311

  311

  311

  Ranby

  516

  516

  517

  517

  517

  517

  Reading

  183

  183

  203

  203

  203

  203

  Risley

  790

  790

  790

  785

  785

  785

  Rochester

  424

  424

  424

  424

  424

  424

  Send

  137

  137

  137

  137

  137

  137

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  158

  Shrewsbury

  172

  172

  172

  172

  176

  176

  Stafford

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  434

  Standford Hill

  384

  384

  384

  384

  384

  384

  Stocken

  396

  396

  396

  396

  396

  396

  Stoke Heath

  312

  312

  322

  322

  322

  322

  Styal

  239

  239

  241

  243

  243

  243

  Sudbury

  488

  488

  488

  488

  488

  395

  Swaleside

  512

  512

  512

  512

  512

  512

  Swansea

  151

  151

  151

  151

  151

  151

  Swinfen Hall

  191

  191

  191

  191

  191

  196

  Thorn Cross

  240

  240

  316

  316

  316

  316

  Usk

  246

  246

  246

  246

  246

  246

  Verne

  552

  552

  552

  552

  552

  552

  Wakefield

  727

  727

  727

  727

  727

  539

  Wandsworth

  804

  804

  804

  804

  804

  804

  Wayland

  580

  574

  547

  574

  574

  574

  Wealstun

  573

  573

  573

  578

  578

  578

  Wellingborough

  352

  352

  352

  352

  352

  352

  Werrington

  114

  114

  114

  114

  114

  114

  Wetherby

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  Whatton

  217

  216

  216

  216

  216

  216

  Whitemoor

  518

  518

  518

  518

  518

  518

  Winchester

  462

  462

  462

  462

  462

  462

  Wolds

  320

  320

  320

  320

  320

  320

  Woodhill

  566

  566

  669

  669

  669

  669

  Wormwood Scrubs

  715

  715

  1,129

  1,129

  948

  948

  Wymott

  432

  432

  799

  799

  748

  748

  Population

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Acklington

  656

  643

  644

  660

  629

  642

  Albany

  430

  421

  435

  427

  430

  432

  Aldington

  142

  141

  141

  143

  138

  139

  Ashwell

  389

  402

  395

  408

  399

  412

  Askham Grange

  119

  121

  127

  122

  124

  120

  Aylesbury

  229

  224

  226

  229

  226

  231

  Bedford

  346

  327

  352

  347

  339

  350

  Belmarsh

  588

  600

  615

  774

  790

  801

  Birmingham

  971

  974

  1,006

  994

  994

  1,007

  Blakenhurst

  619

  702

  721

  697

  717

  717

  Blantyre House

  105

  100

  113

  109

  116

  119

  Blundeston

  385

  396

  404

  401

  394

  399

  Brinsford

  466

  474

  469

  465

  481

  491

  Bristol

  521

  518

  515

  536

  515

  556

  Brixton

  581

  601

  588

  595

  580

  596

  Brockhill

  152

  123

  59

  70

  106

  129

  Buckley Hall

  342

  349

  343

  340

  342

  350

  Bullingdon

  642

  641

  635

  651

  632

  647

  742 743

  Population

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Bullwood Hall

  123

  122

  126

  121

  120

  121

  Camp Hill

  402

  402

  409

  422

  405

  413

  Canterbury

  285

  282

  262

  286

  271

  276

  Cardiff

  477

  452

  541

  630

  636

  702

  Castington

  292

  291

  287

  295

  296

  288

  Channings Wood

  575

  582

  579

  586

  573

  589

  Chelmsford

  402

  390

  411

  404

  404

  451

  Coldingley

  283

  285

  286

  282

  286

  287

  Cookham Wood

  129

  130

  134

  141

  148

  146

  Dartmoor

  585

  586

  579

  574

  571

  573

  Deerbolt

  401

  411

  410

  412

  399

  415

  Doncaster

  861

  866

  896

  893

  889

  924

  Dorchester

  211

  211

  226

  226

  209

  229

  Dover

  290

  310

  298

  307

  306

  307

  Downview

  284

  285

  283

  282

  284

  291

  Drake Hall

  218

  266

  268

  276

  240

  235

  Durham

  702

  726

  869

  895

  871

  874

  East Sutton Park

  90

  94

  95

  95

  93

  90

  Eastwood Park

  104

  122

  121

  129

  121

  122

  Elmley

  600

  621

  625

  620

  619

  624

  Erlestoke

  263

  269

  270

  265

  269

  269

  Everthorpe

  429

  418

  411

  440

  448

  456

  Exeter

  439

  434

  464

  453

  424

  453

  Featherstone

  559

  557

  549

  548

  557

  549

  Feltham

  835

  831

  860

  853

  823

  859

  Finnamore Wood

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ford

  440

  449

  443

  479

  459

  442

  Frankland

  422

  417

  410

  427

  427

  425

  Full Sutton

  560

  554

  547

  553

  547

  556

  Garth

  506

  513

  510

  517

  511

  518

  Gartree

  350

  352

  357

  362

  360

  357

  Glen Parva

  883

  815

  863

  872

  859

  878

  Gloucester

  256

  250

  246

  250

  219

  250

  Grendon

  416

  410

  418

  410

  420

  429

  Guy's Marsh

  298

  300

  299

  297

  298

  303

  Haslar

  152

  151

  154

  150

  146

  156

  Hatfield

  155

  175

  171

  177

  163

  167

  Haverigg

  429

  443

  430

  465

  453

  462

  Hewell Grange

  188

  193

  191

  192

  177

  184

  High Down

  625

  645

  639

  642

  624

  649

  Highpoint

  670

  665

  662

  672

  632

  567

  Hindley

  349

  408

  440

  504

  515

  536

  Hollesley Bay

  338

  347

  347

  378

  367

  388

  Holloway

  580

  573

  595

  590

  574

  572

  Holme House

  644

  679

  663

  706

  706

  756

  Hull

  399

  378

  365

  407

  402

  431

  Huntercombe

  234

  233

  235

  235

  234

  252

  Kingston

  99

  102

  103

  103

  106

  105

  Kirkham

  601

  616

  612

  615

  610

  597

  Kirklevington

  99

  99

  99

  99

  99

  98

  Lancaster

  215

  216

  217

  217

  203

  216

  Lancaster Farms

  378

  360

  428

  444

  446

  491

  Latchmere House

  153

  150

  154

  140

  151

  141

  Leeds

  893

  878

  888

  880

  879

  886

  Leicester

  345

  324

  345

  342

  336

  344

  Lewes

  297

  305

  305

  309

  292

  312

  Leyhill

  381

  369

  388

  386

  368

  383

  Lincoln

  648

  645

  645

  651

  651

  660

  Lindholme

  641

  647

  642

  654

  641

  646

  Littlehey

  563

  566

  559

  573

  577

  576

  Liverpool

  1,241

  1,268

  1,250

  1,249

  1,210

  1,213

  Long Lartin

  358

  357

  357

  362

  372

  374

  Low Newton

  297

  284

  277

  267

  266

  267

  Maidstone

  522

  530

  523

  529

  531

  528

  Manchester

  1,100

  1,081

  1,116

  1,099

  1,121

  1,086

  Moorland

  620

  622

  614

  644

  642

  651

  Morton Hall

  164

  188

  186

  184

  189

  187

  Mount

  578

  581

  577

  583

  584

  600

  New Hall

  220

  209

  208

  212

  208

  214

  North Sea Camp

  164

  149

  169

  209

  193

  197

  Northallerton

  212

  208

  215

  208

  216

  215

  Norwich

  380

  395

  393

  513

  562

  608

  Nottingham

  209

  212

  214

  206

  200

  201

  744 745

  Population

  Prison

  April 1996

  May 1996

  June 1996

  July 1996

  August 1996

  September 1996

  Onley

  492

  516

  509

  515

  515

  520

  Oxford

  95

  77

  71

  51

  3

  0

  Parkhurst

  276

  275

  279

  282

  284

  283

  Pentonville

  850

  864

  857

  863

  852

  887

  Portland

  521

  531

  516

  514

  524

  515

  Preston

  451

  431

  452

  441

  442

  453

  Ranby

  499

  500

  512

  522

  515

  522

  Reading

  195

  196

  224

  225

  230

  223

  Risley

  749

  737

  739

  743

  726

  745

  Rochester

  355

  356

  351

  355

  359

  385

  Send

  133

  136

  134

  139

  144

  145

  Shepton Mallet

  206

  205

  202

  200

  203

  208

  Shrewsbury

  300

  292

  306

  294

  307

  311

  Stafford

  585

  596

  590

  600

  604

  601

  Standford Hill

  369

  333

  379

  383

  364

  367

  Stocken

  399

  401

  393

  415

  405

  408

  Stoke Heath

  312

  311

  317

  308

  316

  322

  Styal

  245

  248

  249

  249

  249

  254

  Studbury

  464

  487

  474

  481

  451

  474

  Swaleside

  508

  516

  516

  513

  509

  509

  Swansea

  215

  231

  219

  211

  202

  224

  Swinfen Hall

  190

  189

  191

  191

  189

  195

  Thorn Cross

  220

  200

  186

  239

  241

  222

  Usk

  248

  265

  256

  258

  265

  259

  Verne

  545

  538

  546

  549

  543

  549

  Wakefield

  711

  703

  673

  630

  601

  596

  Wandsworth

  861

  861

  855

  877

  874

  880

  Wayland

  530

  559

  560

  554

  554

  563

  Wealstun

  535

  541

  551

  552

  554

  572

  Wellingborough

  314

  314

  316

  317

  315

  315

  Werrington

  111

  115

  114

  112

  113

  116

  Wetherby

  120

  114

  120

  120

  120

  120

  Whatton

  214

  216

  216

  216

  216

  222

  Whitemoor

  534

  534

  540

  536

  541

  535

  Winchester

  530

  519

  542

  553

  535

  552

  Wolds

  333

  323

  334

  346

  322

  357

  Woodhill

  605

  592

  585

  596

  606

  625

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,046

  1,051

  1,131

  1,084

  1,052

  1,095

  Wymott

  534

  629

  735

  741

  732

  737

  Prison Accommodation
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prisoners sharing three to a cell designed for one in each month this year. [9104]

  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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners sharing three to a cell designed for one this year.
  No prisoners have been required to share three to a cell designed for one this year. There have been no prisoners held three to a cell designed for one since March 1994.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prisoners sharing two to a cell designed for one in each month this year. [9102]
  746
  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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners sharing two to a cell designed for one in each month this year.
  The information is given in the attached table.

  Months

  Number of prisoners sharing two to a cell designed for one

  January 1996

  8,448

  February 1996

  9,256

  March 1996

  8,626

  April 1996

  8,324

  May 1996

  8,430

  June 1996

  9,202

  July 1996

  9,236

  August 1996

  8,726

  September 1996

  8,938

  October 1996

  10,120

  Shooting Clubs
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to publish guidance concerning the criteria which shooting clubs must meet to obtain licences under the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; [8907]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a draft of the criteria for the granting of licences to shooting clubs under the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; and if he will provide all shooting clubs with a copy of the draft criteria; [8917]

  (3) what period of time he intends to allow to shooting clubs to comply with section 16 of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; and what estimate he has made of the average period required to obtain planning and building regulation approvals for changes to club premises. [8918]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The requirements for the licensed pistol clubs envisaged by the Bill are being drafted. I will seek the views of the Firearms Consultative Committee and the British Shooting Sports Council on them, and will place the draft in the Library. My Department will publish the new requirements when they have been finalised and will also ensure that all existing shooting clubs that are approved under section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 are informed of them.

  A shooting club that wishes to have a licence under clause 16 of the Bill will be able to apply for that at any time after the Bill has come into force. The time it will take for clubs to obtain any necessary building consents will depend on individual circumstances.

  Prison Assaults
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average assault rate in each prison during the first six months of the current financial year. [9109]

  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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average assault rate in each prison during the first six months of the current financial year.
  Annualised assault rates for each prison for the period April to September 1996 are given in the attached table. The number of assaults has been annualised and then expressed as a proportion of the average population for that period.

  Establishment

  Assault rate Percentage

  Acklington

  3

  Albany

  1

  Aldington

  3

  Ashwell

  5

  Askham Grange

  2

  Aylesbury

  28

  Bedford

  6

  Belmarsh

  23

  Birmingham

  8

  Blakenhurst

  11

  Blantyre House

  0

  748

  Establishment

  Assault rate Percentage

  Blundeston

  9

  Brinsford

  23

  Bristol

  9

  Brixton

  12

  Brockhill

  0

  Buckley Hall

  4

  Bullingdon

  13

  Bullwood Hall

  49

  Camp Hill

  2

  Canterbury

  4

  Cardiff

  10

  Castington

  23

  Channings Wood

  2

  Chelmsford

  9

  Coldingley

  2

  Cookham Wood

  23

  Dartmoor

  6

  Deerbolt

  19

  Doncaster

  21

  Dorchester

  11

  Dover

  24

  Downview

  1

  Drake Hall

  1

  Durham

  6

  East Sutton Park

  0

  Eastwood Park

  39

  Elmley

  10

  Erlestoke

  4

  Everthorpe

  1

  Exeter

  9

  Featherstone

  5

  Feltham

  42

  Ford

  0

  Frankland

  11

  Full Sutton

  8

  Garth

  6

  Gartree

  2

  Glen Parva

  27

  Gloucester

  30

  Grendon

  1

  Guy's Marsh

  6

  Haslar

  1

  Hatfield

  5

  Haverigg

  0

  Hewell Grange

  0

  Highdown

  9

  Highpoint

  5

  Hindley

  26

  Hollesley Bay

  13

  Holloway

  25

  Holme House

  6

  Hull

  24

  Huntercombe

  15

  Kingston

  0

  Kirkham

  1

  Kirklevington

  0

  Lancaster

  3

  Lancaster Farms

  20

  Latchmere House

  0

  Leeds

  10

  Leicester

  14

  Lewes

  15

  Leyhill

  0

  Lincoln

  6

  Lindholme

  1

  Littlehey

  5

  Liverpool

  5

  Long Lartin

  9

  Low Newton

  28

  Maidstone

  0

  Manchester

  8

  Moorland

  17

  Morton Hall

  1

  749

  Establishment

  Assault rate Percentage

  Mount

  3

  New Hall

  25

  North Sea Camp

  0

  Northallerton

  15

  Norwich

  14

  Nottingham

  6

  Onley

  19

  Parkhurst

  9

  Pentonville

  10

  Portland

  10

  Preston

  9

  Ranby

  2

  Reading

  24

  Risley

  6

  Rochester

  11

  Send

  1

  Shepton Mallet

  5

  Shrewsbury

  1

  Stafford

  8

  Standford Hill

  1

  Stocken

  3

  Stoke Heath

  19

  Styal

  7

  Sudbury

  5

  Swaleside

  5

  Swansea

  10

  Swinfen Hall

  19

  Thorn Cross

  20

  Usk

  0

  Verne

  1

  Wakefield

  3

  Wandsworth

  6

  Wayland

  0

  Wealstun (Closed)

  2

  Wellingborough

  3

  Werrington

  88

  Wetherby

  13

  Whatton

  1

  Whitemoor

  18

  Winchester

  6

  Wolds

  14

  Woodhill

  9

  Wormwood Scrubs

  9

  Wymott

  1

  Contracting Out
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for the Home Department what is his policy for depositing in the Library documents concerning the contracting out of services; how many documents have been deposited in the Library since 1992 in the categories(a) invitation to tender, (b) draft contracts and (c) binding contracts signed by both parties; how many draft contracts contain performance targets for the contractor; and in how many cases a draft contract has been altered as a result of representations from hon. Members following deposition in the Library. [8915]

  Mr. Howard
  It is not general policy to deposit documents concerning the contracting out of services in the Library, but invitations to tender and contracts for both design, construction, management and finance schemes and the operation of prisons are placed in the Library, subject to the removal of pricing and other commercially sensitive details.

  Since 1992, four invitations to tender, relating to Her Majesty's prisons Wolds, Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall and Doncaster, and six contracts, relating to Her Majesty's
  750
  prisons Wolds, Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall, Doncaster, Bridgend and Fazakerley, have been deposited in the Library.

  All Home Office contracts specify the level of service required and, in appropriate cases, performance targets.

  No draft contracts have been deposited, or altered as a result of representation from hon. Members.

  Prisoner Transfers
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implementation of the recommendations of the interdepartmental working group chaired by Lord Ferrers in respect of the transfer of prisoners from prisons in Great Britain to similar institutions in Northern Ireland. [9688]

  Miss Widdecombe
  In his statement of 23 November 1992, the then Minister of State indicated that the Government had accepted in full the recommendations of the interdepartmental working group, and set out the arrangements which would apply to the transfer of prisoners between jurisdictions. These have worked satisfactorily and have been upheld in judicial review hearings. There is regular contact between officials in Great Britain and Northern Ireland about the implementation of the transfer arrangements, about which Ministers are kept fully informed. My right hon. and learned Friend has reviewed the current legal provisions relating to transfers and has made provision in the Crime (Sentences) Bill, currently before Parliament, for changes to these, as recommended by the interdepartmental working group.

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9376]

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total visits

  Visits abroad

  Mr. Michael Howard

  103

  10

  Baroness Blatch

  42

  1

  Ann Widdecombe

  123

  4

  Mr. David Maclean

  40

  0

  Mr. Timothy Kirkhope

  37

  6

  Mr. Tom Sackville

  39

  3

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Cases Review Commission will be established; if he will list the names of the people who will be appointed as members; and when the commission will start work. [10396]

  Mr. Howard
  The Criminal Cases Review Commission will be established on 1 January 1997. Its members will be:Sir Frederick Crawford (Chairman)

  751

  Miss Fiona King

  Mr. Laurence Elks

  Mr. David Kyle

  Mr. John Leckey

  Miss Jill Gort

  Mr. Baden Skitt

  Mr. John Knox

  Dr. James MacKeith

  Mr. Karamjit Singh

  Professor Leonard Leigh

  Mr. Edward Weiss

  Mr. Anthony Foster

  Mr. Barry Capon.

  The commission will need a period of time to appoint and train its staff, and to develop its working methods, before it takes on its caseworking responsibilities. It will take on responsibility for considering cases on 31 March 1997.

  Members of Parliament (Bribery)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to the recommendation from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, in its first report, that the law relating to bribery of hon. Members of Parliament should be clarified. [10397]

  Mr. Howard
  I have today published a paper on this subject, and have placed copies in the Library. I have also sent copies to the House of Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges, and the House of Lords Committee for Privileges.

  Criminal Investigations Code
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to lay before Parliament the code of practice prepared under part II of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996; and when it will come into effect. [10398]

  Mr. Maclean
  In view of the interest in the code of practice among criminal justice practitioners, I am laying it before Parliament today. This is to assist them in preparing for the implementation of parts I and II of the Act next year.

  Before the code can take effect, Parliament must approve an order bringing it into operation. I will lay an order seeking approval before Parliament as soon as
  752
  possible next year. I am not yet able to do so, because the disclosure scheme in part I, which the code supports, depends on a number of sets of rules of court. These are currently the subject of consultation with criminal justice practitioners, and it is too early to say exactly when they will be ready to be implemented.

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for reviewing the system of asylum and immigration appeals. [10474]

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and I intend to review the current system of asylum and immigration appeals, so as to establish, among other things, whether it provides adequate rights of appeal consistent with the costs to public funds and the impact upon the operation of the immigration control. We shall publish our conclusions in due course as a basis for consultation with interested parties.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Home Visits
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with the chief executive of the Benefits Agency concerning the ending of agency home visits; and if he will make a statement. [5905]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Benefits Agency has not stopped home visits to people claiming or in receipt of benefits. In July 1995, the agency introduced new criteria for determining when income support new claim visits and review visits should be made. This has improved customer service, accuracy, verification and validation of income support claims.

  The agency is undertaking a wide-ranging review of its activities, as part of the overall departmental change programme designed to make efficient use of public funds while maintaining high standards of customer service. As part of this review, from 1 April 1996, visits are made only to customers with particular difficulties of access and under the security control programme.

  Contracts
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many contracts have been made between his Department and(a) Andersens, (b) BMI, (c) Capita, (d) EDS and (e) Sema; and what is the nature of each service provided. [6734]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is as follows.EDS—Four projects with contracts with the Child Support Agency placed between 1992 and 1995; Operational accounting system; maintenance assessment; support to the live running of the system; a technical services agreement to

  753
  provide resources to develop the system. One project with the Information Technology Services Agency to outsource the Department's data centre services. This contract involves taking over the complete data centre services provision for the Department. A framework for computer and related services.
  ANDERSENS—Replacement of the national insurance recording system (NIRSI) with a new system (NIRS2). A framework for computer and related services. Framework for management consultancy. A framework for accountancy consultancy.
  BMI—Audiology services.
  SEMA—Small systems support. A framework for computer and related services. A framework for management consultancy.
  CAPITA—framework for management consultancy.

  Benefit Appeals Procedure
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to speed up the benefits appeals procedure. [7980]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We have done so. The benefits appeals procedure is constantly under review and l hold regular meetings with officials.

  The Independent Tribunal Service, through its change programme, continues to look for ways to improve clearance times.

  We introduced regulations, which came into force on 21 October, amending the appeals process which should help to reduce the time it takes to clear appeals. Among other changes they
  aim to reduce confusion by requiring a specified form to be used when appealing and specifying the information which has to be given by the appellant;
  streamline the administration of appeals by providing for oral hearings only at the request of an interested party or the chairman of a tribunal, otherwise paper hearings, and reducing the minimum notice of an oral hearing to seven days for all jurisdictions except child support;
  relieve the burden on tribunal chairman by allowing the clerk to the tribunal to make certain decisions, such as postponements, amend the circumstances in which an appeal may be struck

  Number of additional pensioners in receipt of income support, as a result of the basic retirement pension not being increased annually in accordance with earnings since 1980

  2000–01

  2010–11

  Additional pensioners in receipt of IS

  Additional cost to IS £ million

  Additional pensioners in receipt of IS

  Additional cost to IS £ million

  Basic retirement pension increasing in line with average earnings

  900,000

  600

  600,000

  400

  Basic retirement pension increasing in line with higher of average earnings and prices

  900,000

  600

  600,000

  400

  Estimated administration cost to nearest £1 million

  —

  32

  —

  21

  1. Pensioners are defined as those single aged at state pension age or above, or couples in which the husband is aged at state pension age or above.

  2.Caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Cost figures have been rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  3.Costs are at 1995–96 prices.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 316, what estimate he has made of the average weekly charge above preserved rights to income
  754
  out for want of prosecution and the circumstances in which these appeals may be reinstated, and allow for the issue of a summary decision, with a full decision available on request.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 18 November,Official Report, column 451, for the years (a) 2000–1 and (b) 2010–11, what is his estimate (i) of the number of additional pensioners eligible to claim income support as a result of the retirement pension not being increased annually in accordance with earnings, (ii) of the additional cost, at 1995–96 prices and (iii) of the additional cost of administration, assuming that the difference between the per capita costs of administering the basic retirement pension and income support in 1995–96 were applied to subsequent years, that the basic retirement pension continued to be price-indexed and that the number and amount of other sources of income remained as now. [8248]

  Mr. Heald
  Estimated numbers of additional pensioners in receipt of income support and the additional cost to income support as a result of the basic retirement pension not being uprated in accordance with earnings are given in the table. The table also contains estimates as a result of the basic retirement pension not being increased in accordance with the higher of prices and average earnings. Estimates have been made using Pensim, a dynamic simulation model that projects pensioners' incomes into the next century. Pensim estimates are based on a number of economic and behavioral assumptions, and in particular that average earnings increase by 1.5 per cent. per year above prices. Due to the reliance on assumptions and the time period covered, caseload estimates have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 and cost estimates to the nearest £100 million, and should be treated with caution. Further details of the methodology and assumptions used by Pensim are outlined in GES working paper No. 129 "Pensim: A Dynamic Simulation Model of Pensioner Incomes". Copies are available in the Library.

  support for (a) men and (b) women in (i) residential care and (ii) nursing homes. [9352]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table:
  755

  Income support (IS) recipients aged 65 and over with preserved rights to IS and with care charges above IS limits: average weekly amount above limit

  Residential care £

  Nursing homes £

  Male claimants

  36.80

  27.26

  Female claimants

  28.81

  23.94

  All claimants

  30.48

  24.54

  Notes:

  1. Amounts shown represent the average charge made in excess of the income support preserved rights limits.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1995.

  Pensions (Cohabitees)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the pension rights of unmarried co-habitating individuals whose partners have died, with particular reference to occupational pensions. [8181]

  Mr. Heald
  There is no legal obstacle to the payment of survivors' pensions to unmarried partners who are financially dependent on ex-members.

  Under Inland Revenue rules, payments on a member's death may be made by a scheme to a surviving spouse or someone who was financially dependent on the member. Any question as to whether or not a person is financially dependent and/or entitled to a survivor's benefit is a matter for schemes to decide for themselves and will depend on the provisions made by the rules of the scheme.

  Benefits (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Durham benefit area are currently in receipt of(a) family credit and (b) income support; and what is the total sum received. [8076]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. The family credit and income support computer systems record details of the total amount of benefit administered. It is not possible to give a breakdown to show the amount paid by individual benefit areas.

  Statistics are available which give the number of families in receipt of family credit and income support by Benefits Agency district. The Durham area is dealt with

  Programme savings (£ million cash prices)

  A minus sign indicates a cost

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  War pensions mobility supplement 40 per cent. disablement gateway

  1

  3

  4

  Allowance for lowered standard 40 per cent. disablement gateway

  1

  3

  5

  Unemployability Supplement 80 per cent. disablement gateway

  Combined for all four options

  Allowance for lowered standard no claims from over age 65

  Unemployability Supplement no claims from over age 65

  Widows rent allowance—no new claims

  negligible saving

  Cease reminders to return claim forms

  2

  3

  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

  1

  Backdating—new rules

  3

  3

  3

  Align payment start dates

  negligible cost

  756
  by Durham North district which includes offices at Durham, Stanley, Chester-le-Street, Peterlee and Seaham and Durham South district which includes offices at Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

  The most recent details available are for August 1996 and are as follows:

  Number of families in receipt of family credit

  Number of families in receipt of income support

  North Durham

  6,213

  28,547

  South Durham

  4,254

  21,228

  Total

  10,467

  49,775

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total cost of(a) income support and (b) family credit payments has been in each year since 1990 in Darlington. [9733]

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

  War Pensions
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many veterans have a disability assessed at more than 40 per cent. [8663]

  Mr. Heald
  Under the war pension scheme, awards may be made in respect of disablement due to service and in respect of disablement suffered by certain other groups, for example, by merchant seamen injured as a result of enemy action during the second world war. At the end of September 1996, the disablement of 106,572 war pensioners was assessed at 40 per cent. or more; 102,425 of these awards were in respect of disablement due to service in the armed forces.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what are the projected expenditure consequences arising from the implementation of each of the changes to war pensions outlined in the Budget; [8667]

  (2) what savings will be made by ending the sending out of reminders to veterans to return claim forms or to seek an increase in entitlement. [8669]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.
  757

  Programme savings (£ million cash prices)

  A minus sign indicates a cost

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Automatic War widow's pension for 80 per cent. and Unemployability supplement cases

  -1

  -1

  -1

  War widow's pension restoration for cohabitees

  negligible cost

  Abolition of gratuities on remarriage/cohabitation

  not yet costed

  Clothing allowance one rate (the higher)

  0.5

  0.5

  -0.5

  Funeral grants for 80 per cent. and Unemployability supplement cases

  negligible cost

  Remove rank differentials for gratuities

  -0.5

  -0.5

  -0.5

  Total

  5

  10

  15

  1. Estimates rounded to the nearest £0.5 million. Estimates of less than £0.25 million are given as negligible.

  2. Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding.

  3. All figures are estimates of savings and costs of the proposed changes designed to simplify and rationalise the war pensions scheme and which are subject to consultation with the Central Advisory Committee.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultation he held with(a) the Chief Medical Officer and (b) the Royal National Institute for the Deaf on the medical evidence in relation to hearing loss of war pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [8720]

  Mr. Heald
  A copy of the texts of the medical advisor's address to the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions which describes the consultation that has been held on this issue and gives the medical references on which the change in medical opinion has been based have been placed in the Library.

  Child Maintenance Bonus
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers expected to gain from the introduction of the child maintenance bonus. [8867]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  It is estimated that in the first year—1997–98—some 40,000 parents with care will qualify for a bonus at a cost of around £5 million.

  Benefit Changes
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of(a) the changes in Government expenditure and (b) the number of people who will be affected by the proposals to change (i) rules on backdating claims, (ii) waiting days for the jobseeker's allowance, (iii) rules for war pensioners, (iv) disability living allowance claims from people between 65 and 66 years, (v) housing benefit, (vi) council tax benefit, (vii) lone parents' benefits and (viii) increases to non-dependant deductions. [8868]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables:

  Changes to central Government expenditure

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  (i) Rules on back-dating claims

  -90

  -120

  -135

  (ii) Waiting days for jobseeker's allowance

  0

  0

  -65

  (iii) Rules for war pensioners

  -5

  -10

  -15

  (iv) Disability Living Allowance

  0

  -20

  -45

  (v) Housing benefit

  -10

  -60

  -90

  (vi) Council tax benefit

  0

  -15

  -15

  (vii) Lone parents' benefits

  0

  -60

  -135

  758

  Changes to central Government expenditure

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  (viii) Increases to non-dependent deductions

  -45

  -45

  -50

  1. Figures shown are net savings to social security expenditure.

  2. Savings are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  3. Savings from these measures included in Departmental plan.

  Numbers of people affected by the changes

  Thousand

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  (i) Rules on back-dating claims

  390

  435

  465

  (ii) Waiting days for jobseeker's allowance

  0

  0

  1,900

  (iii) Rules for war pensioners

  20

  20

  20

  (iv) Disability living allowance

  0

  10

  25

  (v) Housing benefit

  90

  275

  370

  (vii) Council tax benefit

  0

  65

  65

  (vii) Lone parents' benefits

  One parent benefit

  0

  80

  150

  Income support

  0

  270

  450

  Housing benefit

  0

  55

  105

  Council tax benefit

  0

  45

  85

  (viii) Increases to non-dependent deductions

  495

  495

  495

  Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5,000, except for jobseeker's allowance, where they are rounded to the nearest 100,000.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact of recent benefit changes on the workload of the Benefits Agency. [9308]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will make a statement on the impact of recent benefit changes on the workload of the Benefits Agency (BA).
  There have been three main priorities for the BA in 1996/97, the delivery of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and Incapacity Benefit (IB), continuing our main business of calculating and paying benefits to safeguard benefit spending, and beginning the process of restructuring our business for the future to meet the challenge of the Department's Change Programme.

  759
  The introduction of JSA and IB have been massive and complex undertakings requiring a great deal of planning and effort. The new benefits bring with them new computer systems, procedures, forms and regulations that have inevitably added to the Agency's workload. Since the introduction of JSA on 7 October 1996 the continued effort and commitment of my staff and those of our colleagues in Employment Services in bedding-in the changes and stabilising the benefit delivery processes has been considerable. Where it has proved necessary to ensure the successful delivery of these projects, additional resources have been made available.
  The BA vision still remains to pay the right benefit, to the right person, at the right time, every time. Service to the public and the delivery of all other benefits has been and will be maintained.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis the figures for cases and savings projected in his press release on proposed housing benefit and council tax benefit changes 96/265 were calculated; and what estimate he has made of the geographical distribution of(a) the single people under 60 years who are private sector housing benefit claimants and (b) the band F or higher council tax claimants. [8512]

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

  Geographical distribution of single housing benefit recipients aged under 60 without children

  Region

  Caseload (000s)

  North

  14

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25

  East Midlands

  19

  East Anglia

  11

  South East

  150

  Greater London

  93

  Rest of South East

  57

  South West

  38

  West Midlands

  19

  North West

  46

  Wales

  20

  Scotland

  25

  Total

  366

  Source:

  HBMIS annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries with and without income support taken at the end of May 1995.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand, therefore component parts may not sum.

  2. Information refers to deregulated tenants only.

  3. Estimates for Housing Benefit are based upon the May 1994 HBMIS and Rent Officer data for the first quarter of 1996.

  4. All figures have been uprated to the Public Expenditure Survey (PES) years using the Departmental Forecasting Report.

  Geographical distribution of band F or higher council tax claimants

  Region

  Caseloads (000s)

  Band F

  Band G

  Band H

  All

  North

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  0

  0

  1

  East Midlands

  1

  1

  0

  2

  East Anglia

  1

  0

  0

  2

  South East outside London

  10

  4

  0

  14

  Greater London

  16

  9

  1

  26

  South West

  4

  1

  0

  5

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  0

  2

  North West

  1

  1

  0

  2

  760

  Geographical distribution of band F or higher council tax claimants

  Region

  Caseloads (000s)

  Band F

  Band G

  Band H

  All

  Wales

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Scotland

  5

  2

  0

  7

  Total

  42

  20

  0

  63

  Source:

  HBMIS annual 1 per cent. enquiries with and without income support taken at the end of May 1995.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand, therefore component parts may not sum.

  2. A "O" does not necessarily indicate that there are no cases, merely that the rounding is to zero.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the(a) number and (b) value of cold weather payments paid out in each region of Scotland in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [9072]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is contained in the social fund statistical series "Cold Weather Payments by District Offices", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Benefit Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of calls to the national benefit fraud hotline are not pursued any further. [8922]

  Mr. Heald
  It is too early to give the number of successful or unsuccessful referrals generated by calls from the public to the hotline.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on advertising the freeline service in each year since 1992. [8925]

  Mr. Evans
  This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 17 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much was spent on advertising the Freeline Service in each year since 1992.
  Since its introduction in 1984 the Benefits Agency Freeline has not had a budget allocation for advertisement costs. The service and details of the telephone numbers were included in appropriate BA leaflets, claim packs and forms. The Benefits Agency Freeline closed in July of this year.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of removing the disability living allowance from those in hospital for more than four weeks; and how many representations he received in support of the changes. [9014]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The Government's policy is set out in Cm 3233, a copy of which is in the Library.
  761
  We have received a number of representations. It is not possible to identify separately the number which were supportive of the changes; however, the majority either expressed concern or sought clarification.

  National Disability Council
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the members of the National Disability Council and the terms of their appointments. [9147]

  Mr. Burt
  The members of the National Disability Council and the dates to which their appointments run are as follows:

  David Grayson: 31 December 1999

  Harry McConnell: 31 January 1998

  Alan Smith: 1 June 1997

  Doug Alker: 22 January 1998

  Ann Foster: 22 January 1998

  Colin Low: 22 January 1998

  David Mills: 22 January 1998

  David Roberts: 22 January 1998

  Christopher Brocksom: 22 January 1999

  Tanni Grey: 22 January 1999

  Jim McAllister: 22 January 1999

  Martin Reavley: 22 January 1999

  Kevin Shinkwin: 22 January 1999

  Alan Dickson: 22 January 2000

  David Jenkins: 22 January 2000

  Bert Massie: 22 January 2000

  Philippa Russell: 22 January 2000

  Jenny White: 22 January 2000

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of the total budget of the National Disability Council is accounted for by administrative costs and the remuneration of members; [9149]

  (2) what is the total annual budget for the National Disability Council. [9150]

  Mr. Burt
  The sum of £350,000 has been allocated to meet the expenditure associated with the National Disability Council during 1996–97. It is estimated that 48 per cent. of this amount will be spent on members' remuneration, travel and subsistence, meetings and the provision of the council's secretariat. The remaining 51 per cent. includes amounts for research and other non-administrative expenditure such as advisory and consultancy fees.

  Disabled Investors (Building Society Payments)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what meetings he has had with Ministers outside his Department to ensure that investors with severe disabilities, whose account is managed by a third party, will benefit from payments to long-standing members by building societies planning to convert to listed companies next year. [9196]

  Mr. Burt
  I have been in contact with my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary about this complex and difficult issue. In addition, departmental officials have had a762
  number of meetings with representatives of the various building societies that have announced their intention to convert to banks.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People expects to reply to the letter from the chairman of the National Disability Council concerning the council's meeting of 21 November on bonus shares and cash payments from building societies; and if he will place a copy of his reply in the Library. [9322]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social security if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter sent to the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People by the chairman of the National Disability Council following the meeting of the council on 21 November; and what reply he sent to the letter. [9195]

  Mr. Burt
  Yes. I will respond in due course to the letter and will arrange for it to be published in the Official Report.

  Following is the information:

  BUILDING SOCIFTIES
  The Council considered the issue of discrimination against disabled people in the distribution of bonus shares and cash payments on the floatation of building societies at its meeting on 21 November.
  It is of the view that the current proposals for the flotations would leave many disabled people, who are not first named on their accounts, at a considerable disadvantage over their first named counterparts. Notwithstanding the technical legal arguments, it considers these arrangements to be discriminatory and totally unacceptable.
  It believes that the Alliance and Leicester and Halifax Building Societies should be urged to reconsider their position and to put forward proposals which would have the effect that disabled people would not be worse off than other members of the building societies. If necessary, the Government should bring forward legislation to facilitate these changes and ensure that similar problems do not arise again.
  The Council is prepared to continue discussion with the societies concerned in order to identify a solution.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make all payments of housing benefit payable directly to the landlord of the property concerned. [9190]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes to housing benefit in the Budget on(a) single unemployed people who have inherited a tenancy from their parents and (b) unemployed people who are widowed or divorced and left with the tenancy of the house. [8571]

  Mr. Evans
  [holding answer 11 December 1996]: The proposed changes to the housing benefit scheme would apply only to tenants in the deregulated private rented sector. Generally, under such tenancies children do not have the right to succeed to an assured tenancy if the parent dies. We have no data to enable us to identify the status of the person who becomes responsible for the tenancy.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will consult on his proposals to let business pay national insurance contributions for minor expenses in a lump sum. [10461]

  Mr. Lilley
  I have today published a consultation document containing draft clauses on the alignment of national insurance contributions with tax under Inland Revenue PAYE settlement agreements. More than 200 organisations and individuals will receive a copy. The consultation period ends on 7 March 1997.

  My proposal is to introduce a simple employer-only charge for national insurance to work alongside the Inland Revenue's single lump sum tax charge on minor expense payments and benefits in kind. This will mean that employers can enjoy a reduced administrative burden for contributions similar to that provided by the new tax arrangements. This is part of our continuing commitment to ensure that the administration costs of national insurance for employers are kept to the minimum consistent with the overall objectives of the contributory system.

  I intend to include these changes in a Bill containing measures to simplify the national insurance system and improving compliance and administration of national insurance contributions for early introduction in the next Parliament.

  Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Library.

  Pensions Levy
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the proposed(a) rates of the general pensions levy and (b) maximum amounts of the pensions compensation levy payable in respect of occupational and personal pension schemes from April 1997. [10462]

  Mr. Heald
  The proposed rates of the general pensions levy are set out in the table. The proposed statutory maximum of the pensions compensation levy will be £0.23 for each scheme member. The general levy rates and the maximum compensation levy will be specified in the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Levy) Regulations 1997 which we intend to lay before the House by March 1997.

  General levy

  Proposed rate

  For occupational pension schemes with up to 11 members

  £8.75 per scheme

  For occupational pension schemes with 12 to 99 members

  £1.05 per member

  For occupational pension schemes with 100 to 999 member

  £0.75 per member, subject to a minimum of £105.00 per scheme

  For occupational pension schemes with 1,000 to 4,999 members

  £0.60 per member, subject to a minimum of £730.00 per scheme

  For occupational pension schemes with 5,000 to 9,999 members

  £0.45 per member, subject to a minimum of £3,000.00 per scheme

  For occupational pension schemes with 10,000 or more

  £0.30 per member, subject to a minimum of £4,500.00 per

  764

  General levy

  Proposed rate

  members

  scheme

  For personal pension schemes with up to 11 members

  £3.60 per scheme

  For personal pension schemes with 12 to 99 members

  £0.30 per member

  For personal pension schemes with 100 to 999 members

  £0.21 per member, subject to a minimum of £30.00 per scheme

  For personal pension schemes with 1,000 to 4,999 members

  £0.17 per member, subject to a minimum of £210.00 per scheme

  For personal pension schemes with 5,000 to 9,999 members

  £0.12 per member, subject to a minimum of £850.00 per scheme

  For personal pension schemes with 10,000 or more members

  £0.08 per member, subject to a minimum of £1,200.00 per scheme

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the level of(a) basic state pension or equivalent and (b) second state pension paid to (i) a single person and (ii) a couple in (1) the United Kingdom and (2) each other European Union country, expressed (A) in cash, and (B) as a percentage of average earnings. [9350]

  Mr. Heald
  The standard rate of retirement pension for a single pensioner in Great Britain is £61.15 per week, representing 17.4 per cent. of average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees. A couple, where the wife receives a standard rate pension based on her husband's contributions, currently receive £97.75 per week or 27.8 per cent. of average earnings. At 31 March 1996 it is estimated that the average gross weekly additional pension in payment was £18.14 per week or 5.2 per cent. of average earnings.

  Information on retirement pensions in EU member states is contained in MISSOC 1995, "Social protection in the Member States of the European Union", published by the European Commission, a copy of which is in the Library. Some details of levels of state pensions as a percentage of earnings are included in this publication; however, because of the diverse nature of state pension schemes in member states, many of which are based on earnings-related calculations, straightforward comparisons of benefit amounts are not possible.

  Source:

  Earnings figures obtained from the New Earnings Survey, April 1995 and April 1996.

  Average weekly net additional pension is obtained from the Retirement Pension Bi-Annual Enquiry, 31 March 1996.

  Notes:

  1. The 1996 Abstract of Statistics, published in October, shows a different figure for standard rate retirement pension as a percentage of average earnings. This is because the figure published in the 1996 edition of the Abstract of Statistics is based on the provisional level of earnings in April 1996, while this reply uses the final figure.

  2. The gross weekly additional pension is the notional amount before the deduction of a contracted out deduction (COD). A COD is deducted when a person has been contracted out of SERPS, the state earnings-related pension scheme, into a contracted-out pension scheme or an appropriate personal pension used in place of SERPS.
  765
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the income Df each quintile of the pensioner population, expressed in current values and as a percentage of the average earnings of the equivalent quintile of the working age population in(a) 1994 and (b) 2025. [9351]

  Mr. Heald
  Information is not available in the format requested. Estimated mean incomes for quintiles of the single pension and pensioner couple populations are given in the table for 1994 and 2025, at 1996 prices. Also shown in the table are estimates of the growth in mean income in each quintile between 1994 and 2025. All estimates have been made using Pensim, a dynamic simulation model that projects pensioners' incomes into the next century.

  Mean net before housing cost income by population quintile: single and couple pensioners 1994–2025, (1996 prices)

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Q5

  Mean

  Single pensioners

  1994

  £60

  £76

  £91

  £108

  £181

  £103

  2025

  £68

  £99

  £120

  £158

  £350

  £159

  Growth

  15 per cent.

  30 per cent.

  30 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  95 per cent.

  55 per cent.

  Pensioner couples

  1994

  £121

  £150

  £183

  £235

  £390

  £216

  2025

  £151

  £205

  £260

  £338

  £606

  £312

  Growth

  15 per cent.

  30 per cent.

  35 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  65 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  1. Estimates are based on uprated data from the 1988 Family Expenditure Survey, 1988 Retirement Survey and 1987 Social Change and Economic Life Initiative, in order to provide consistent estimates for 1994 and 2025. These estimates are not consistent with the 1994–95 Pensioners' Incomes Series, which is mainly based on data drawn from the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey.

  2. Pensioners are defined as those single aged at state pension age or above, or couples in which the husband is aged at state pension age or above.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 and 5 per cent.

  4. Quintiles for single pensioners and pensioner couples have been calculated separately—i.e. the bottom quintile of single pensioners represents those pensioners in the bottom 20 per cent. of the income distribution of single pensioners.

  Social Fund (Flood Damage Payments)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help is available from the social fund to people on income support who have suffered loss and damage as a result of the recent flooding in the Folkestone area; and if he will make a statement. [10298]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Disaster relief following any such crisis is essentially a matter for the relevant local authority. However, help is available through the social fund in the form of community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans. The particular circumstances of each application will determine which type of payment may be made. Access to crisis loans is not restricted to people on income support. Applications to the social fund are dealt with, as speedily as possible, by specially trained social fund officers who look carefully at the individual circumstances surrounding each application and use discretion and flexibility when forming their decisions.

  On 22 November, Channel district reported a total of 28 community care grant awards had been made to people most affected by the flooding, at a cost of £13,392. I have therefore agreed that an additional allocation of 13,392, should be made immediately to reimburse Channel's community care grant budget.
  766
  Although it is not possible to provide the estimates as a percentage of average earnings, Pensim estimates are based on a number of economic and behavioural assumptions, in particular that average earnings increase by 1.5 per cent. per year above prices. Real average earnings are therefore assumed to increase by almost 60 per cent. between 1994 and 2025. It is important to note, however, that earnings growth is likely to vary widely between quintiles of the working age population.

  Due to the reliance on assumptions and the time period covered, estimates should be treated with caution, and have been heavily rounded. Further details of the methodology and assumptions used by Pensim are outlined in GES working paper No. 129 "Pensim: A Dynamic Simulation Model of Pensioner Incomes". Copies are available in the Library.

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Independent Tribunal Service expects to respond to the letter of 14 June from the hon. Member for Aylesbury about appeal Ref. 2/01/95/12694, N1 ZY11 0634A. [8947]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 13 December 1996]: This is a matter for the President of the Independent Tribunal Service, Judge Bassingthwaighte, who will arrange for a written reply to be sent directly to the hon. Member.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro-compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9456]

  Mr. Burt
  This Department and its agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Staff
  Mr. Ham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies of his Department in each year since 1992. [9627]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables.

  Benefits agency

  Contributions agency

  Child support agency

  Information technology services agency

  Resettlement agency

  War pensions agency

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  1 April 1992

  62,764

  2,453

  8,307

  195

  —

  —

  4,072

  219

  462

  22

  —

  —

  1 April 1993

  64.056

  3,562

  9,370

  331

  2,937

  42

  4,069

  501

  359

  23

  —

  —

  1 April 1994

  63,897

  3,922

  9,821

  209

  4,752

  495

  3,998

  611

  276

  48

  1,495

  146

  1 April 1995

  66,687

  3,473

  8,889

  491

  5,974

  205

  3,540

  387

  133

  5

  1,295

  263

  1 April 1996

  71,627

  3,097

  7,463

  569

  6,528

  277

  1,954

  361

  —

  —

  1,226

  72

  1. Staff on a fixed term appointment are included as permanent staff.

  2. Numbers of staff are expressed as full-time equivalents.

  3. Child Support Agency was launched on 1 April 1993.

  4. War Pensions Agency was launched on 1 April 1994.

  5. Resettlement Agency ceased to exist on 31 March 1996.

  Benefits Inquiry Line
  Mr. Steinberg
  To as the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to reinstate the benefits inquiry line. [8074]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proposals he as to re-instate the Benefits Enquiry Line.
  I assume your question refers to the Benefits Agency Freeline which closed in July of this year. There are currently no plans to re-instate this service. However, the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) for people with disabilities remains open and continues to operate as normal.
  BEL is a confidential advice line providing general information about all Social Security benefits to people with disabilities, their carers and representatives. Help can also be given to complete some disability benefit claim forms.
  Customers who require help or advice can contact BEL by telephoning 0800 882200. Deaf or hearing impaired customers who have access to a textphone can call on 0800 243355.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 2 December,Official Report, column 501, how many new awards there were in each year since 1980 for (a) child benefit and (b) one-parent benefit; and what data are kept by his Department on the number of claims for these benefits which do not result in an award of benefit. [8192]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
  768

  Permanent

  Non-permanent

  1 April 1992

  78,277

  2,985

  1 April 1993

  84,825

  4,782

  1 April 1994

  87,134

  5,536

  1 April 1995

  89,496

  4,929

  1 April 1996

  91,536

  4,501

  New awards of CHB 1980–1995: number of children

  Thousands

  1980

  1,093

  1981

  968

  1982

  1,020

  1983

  1,009

  1985

  1,003

  1986

  1,022

  1987

  1,033

  1988

  1,041

  1989

  997

  1990

  1,062

  1991

  1,063

  1992

  1,025

  1993

  1,000

  1994

  992

  1995

  981

  1. Data is not available for 1984 due to industrial action in that year.

  2. The figures include claims made on the birth of a child, claims from families entering Great Britain and repeat claims following a period of disentitlement.

  3. Figures based on a 4 per cent. sample to and including March 1994, thereafter a 1 per cent. sample.

  4. There are no reliable data on the numbers of claims which do not result in award, and no information on the reasons for such disallowances.

  New awards of OPB 1988–1995: number of families

  Thousands

  1988

  136

  1989

  139

  1990

  155

  1991

  153

  1992

  156

  1993

  152

  1994

  146

  1995

  176

  1. Figures based on a 4 per cent. sample to and including March 1994, thereafter a 1 per cent. sample.

  2. Data on one-parent benefit awards is not available before 1988.
  769
  3. There are no reliable data on the numbers of claims which do not result in an award, and no information on the reasons for such disallowances.

  Income Support Computer System
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information is conveyed to claimants about their claim by the income support computer system used by the Benefits Agency; [9036]

  (2) what information is provided to claimants who are notified of a mortgage interest direct overpayment in respect of (i) why the overpayment occurred, (ii) how much was overpaid and (iii) when and how recovery will be effected; [9038]

  (3) on whose responsibility changes are made to the income support computer system; what plans there are for such changes; and, in each case, what is then-priority. [9037]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Andrew Smith, dated 16 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what information is conveyed to claimants about their claim by the Income Support Computer System (ISCS) used by the BA; what information is provided to claimants who are notified of a mortgage interest direct overpayment in respect of (i) why the overpayment occurred, (ii) how much was overpaid and (iii) when and how recovery will be effected; on whose responsibility changes are made to the ISCS; what plans there are for such changes; and in each case, what is their priority.
  The ISCS issues award notifications following an initial claim for benefit and on relevant changes of circumstances. These notifications inform the customer of the Adjudication Officer's decision, explain how the award has been calculated, the method of payment and their right of appeal.

  Income Support Appeals

  March 1995

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  Total number heard and decided

  11,674

  9,583

  10,720

  8,620

  Total number decided in appellants favour and percentage

  6,033

  3,777

  3,841

  3,057

  (51 percent.)

  (39 per cent.)

  (35 per cent.)

  (35 per cent.)

  Decision in appellants favour:

  Number decided

  1,159

  1,328

  1,424

  1,170

  appellant only attended

  Percentage success

  43

  45

  43

  43

  Decision in appellants favour:

  Number decided

  1,983

  480

  257

  209

  representative only attended

  Percentage success

  78

  66

  49

  48

  Decision in appellants favour:

  Number decided

  1,456

  1,473

  1,533

  1,156

  appellant and representative attended

  Percentage success

  68

  65

  65

  63

  Decision in appellants favour:

  Number decided

  1,435

  496

  627

  522

  no attendance

  Percentage success

  32

  12

  13

  14

  Source: "Quarterly Social Scurity Appeal Tribunal Statistics" published by Analytical Services Division.
  770
  The ISCS also notifies a customer when, on behalf of the Secretary of State, Income Support housing costs are to be deducted from the award, for direct payment to the mortgage lender, mortgage interest direct (MID).
  In the event of a MID overpayment of £25.00 or less the amount is recovered from the Lender by adjusting the subsequent MID payments. The ISCS automatically issues notifications to the customer and the lender. The customer notification details how the overpayment has occurred, the amount overpaid and how recovery will be made, example at Annex A. Procedural guidance is available in the Income Support Guide for Housing Costs. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.
  Overpayments of more than £25.00 are repaid by the lender in a lump sum. In these circumstances clerical notifications are issued to both the customer and the lender. Again, the customer notification details how the overpayment has occurred, the amount overpaid and how recovery will be made, example at Annex B.
  Decisions on whether to commission changes to the BA computer systems are my responsibility and that of my management team. These decisions are based on the business requirement and analysis of alternative solutions within the capacity available. Priority is normally given to enhancements in respect of legislative changes and other unavoidable and essential work.
  The ISCS work programme to the end of 1997 includes enhancements to allow payments of the new Child Maintenance Bonus; to transfer records of unemployed customers to the Jobseeker's Allowance Payment System; to introduce a payment card facility; to improve accounting data and to implement changes to One Parent Benefit and the Lone Parent Premium announced in the recent Budget. All these changes are regarded as essential.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Income Support Appeals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support appeals were heard by social security appeal tribunals in each of the last four quarters for which information is available; how many and what percentage were decided in the appellant's favour where the appellant(a) attended the hearing but was not represented, (b) was represented but did not attend, (c) attended and was represented and (d) did not attend and was not represented. [4801]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1996, c. 523–26.]: The information that I gave regarding the figure and percentage of heard and decided appeals for the December 1995 quarter was incorrect. The information is set out in the table. The correct information is as follows:

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