Written Answers of 2 February 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Cash and Running Cost Limits
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes have been made to the cash limits for class IX, votes 1, 2 and 3. [13764]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class IX, vote 1 will be reduced by £1,850,000 from £783,014,000 to £781,164,000, and the running cost limit reduced by £150,000 from £439,329,000 to £439,179,000. This reduction has been made to offset extra provision required by the Northern Ireland Court Service for legal aid and by the Public Record Office for works to remove asbestos.

  The cash limit for class IX, vote 2 will be reduced by £2,300,000 from £28,794,000 to £26,494,000 partly to offset an increase of £4,000,000 in non-cash limited expenditure.

  The cash limit for class IX, vote 3 will be increased by £2,310,000 from £40,396,000 to £42,706,000 and the running cost limit increased by £310,000 from £26,945,000 to £27,225,000. Some £2,000,000 of the cash limit increase is covered by take up under the capital end year flexibility scheme and £160,000 of the running cost limit is similarly covered by the running cost end year flexibility scheme. The remaining £150,000 increase is offset by a reduction in LCD's running cost limit—class IX, vote 1.

  The increases will be offset by savings or charged to the reserve and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Land Transfers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 January, column 674, if he will seek reasons from the Law Commission and Land Registry, beyond those which appear in the Law Commission's report, No. 235, as to why they did not feel able to recommend the extension of section 123 of the Land Registration Act 1925 to conveyances which do not accompany a transfer of the beneficial interest in the land. [12333]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As referred to in my answer of 18 January, the recommendations made were informed by the responses to an earlier consultation document issued by the Land Registry. The consultation document was widely circulated and drew responses from a broad range of bodies and individuals, including local authorities, Government landowners, utilities, financial institutions, those requiring information about land, professionals advising those dealing with land and property, academic 952
  institutions and consumer bodies. The responses showed a consensus in favour of extending the application of section 123 of the Land Registration Act to other dispositions than those to which it currently applies.

  However, objections were raised to its possible extension to conveyances not accompanying a transfer of the beneficial interest by a significant number of respondents, particularly having regard to the cost likely to be incurred in preparing such applications for registration. It was not considered appropriate to recommend, as a priority, the adoption of proposals which lack sufficient support from those who would be affected by them. Instead, the Government have accepted the recommendation that the issue is one which it would be appropriate to consider further after a period of five years.

  Pensions (Divorce)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to introduce regulations on shared pensions on divorce under the Pensions Act 1995; what factors have prevented their introduction to date; and if he will make a statement. [12438]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government plan to introduce regulations under sections 166 and 167 of the Pensions Act 1995, concerning the courts' treatment of pensions on divorce, on 1 July 1996. The Government are concerned to ensure full consideration of the proposed regulations, which will bring these sections into force, and to allow consultees sufficient time to comment on the proposals.

SCOTLAND

  Legal Aid
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a Green Paper on legal aid in Scotland. [12090]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce a Green Paper on legal aid in Scotland.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has(a) to implement part V of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 and (b) to introduce non-solicitor legal aid franchising in Scotland. [12080]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend currently has no plans to implement part V of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 or to introduce non-solicitor legal aid franchising in Scotland.

  Conveyancing
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the estimated expenditure on the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board for 1996–97 relates to(a) Government guarantees in respect of the compensation fund to be established by the board and (b) any provision to secure that successful claims made against a conveyancer in connection with a provision of conveyancing services are satisfied. [12081]
  953
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None of the estimated expenditure relates to Government guarantees. The Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board will require to make payments to cover premiums and fees for the management of the compensation fund and the indemnity policy, with fees to the board's brokers. The brokers are still negotiating with the insurance industry and the level of these payments is not yet clear.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated annual subscription of practitioners under the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board to the compensation fund established by the board; and what is the estimated annual premium to be paid by(a) an independent qualified conveyancer, (b) a qualified conveyancer and (c) an executry practitioner in respect of indemnity insurance. [12082]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board's brokers have entered into negotiations with the insurance industry over the compensation fund and indemnity policy. It is not yet clear, however, what the cost of the subscription and annual premium will be to individual practitioners.

  Child Care
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to establish a presumption in the law on registration of day care and other provision for young children that registration should be granted unless there is some good reason not to. [12434]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A local authority may refuse to register providers of day care for children under eight except only on the specific grounds set out in section 71 of the Children Act 1989.

PRIME MINISTER

  Positive about Disabled People Symbol
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list for his Department and each of the agencies for which he is responsible if it uses the Employment Service's positive about disabled people symbol for(a) external recruitment and (b) internal recruitment and promotion. [11921]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 1 February.

  Honours (Public Nominations)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister how many persons have been(a) created knight or dame and (b) elevated to the peerage following nomination by members of the public since April 1992. [12385]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not normal practice to reveal the sources of nomination for particular levels of award. Overall, nearly a third of awards have been supported by members of the public. The bulk of the remainder are recommended from a variety of official sources, for example health and education authorities.

  Jewellery
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what items of jewellery given to previous Prime Ministers are kept on the official inventory at 10 Downing street. [13385]

  The Prime Minister
  Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedures for Ministers". The details are not made public.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11363]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 25 January 1996]: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 1 February Official Report, column 911.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of the annual cost to his Department and his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies of their empty and under-utilised properties for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (f) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97. [11455]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 1 February Official Report, column 912.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Efficiency Unit
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what studies the efficiency unit has undertaken since 1994; and if he will make a statement on its findings. [12603]

  Mr. Willetts
  Since 1994, the efficiency unit has undertaken two multi-departmental efficiency scrutinies: resource management systems and construction procurement by Government, and participated in the following single Department scrutinies:

  Department of Employment: Training Enterprise Councils;

  Department for Education: Burdens of Bureaucracy on Schools;

  Home Office: Burdens of Bureaucracy in the Context of the Criminal Justice System;

  Department of Health: Burdens of Bureaucracy in General Practice;

  Department of Transport: Traffic Area Offices;

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  Inland Revenue: Scrutiny on Charging;

  Overseas Development Administration: Delegated Authority for Bilateral Financial Commitments;

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Burdens of Bureaucracy on Farmers (in progress);

  Department of Health: Burdens of Bureaucracy on Hospital Trusts and Health Authorities (in progress).

  The unit is currently carrying out a review of the competing for quality initiative and a review of objective setting and monitoring in executive non-departmental public bodies. It is normal practice for scrutiny reports to be published.

  Individual members of the efficiency unit have also worked with officials from other Departments to contribute to a range of individual studies and reviews including fundamental expenditure reviews and senior management reviews.

  The efficiency unit's scrutiny programme continues to deliver value-for-money solutions across a wide range of issues. Since 1979, the scrutiny technique has proved its worth as a catalyst for improvement, resulting in better management, less bureaucracy and real cost savings. As an example, the first tranche of the burdens of bureaucracy scrutinies, whose reports were published in 1995, looked at paperwork imposed on the police and the courts, GPs and teachers. Recommendations from the reports will, on implementation, result in annual cost savings for the police of £30 million; 15 million fewer forms will need to be completed by busy GPs; and, teachers will receive 10 million fewer pieces of paper.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment how many countries had submitted national reports to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development for 1996 by 23 January 1996; and to whom Her Majesty's Government have made available the United Kingdom's report in addition to the UN commission. [13969]

  Mr. Gummer
  I understand that 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, had submitted reports to the UN Commission by 23 January 1996. Copies of the UK's report have been placed in the Library, and are being sent to all member countries of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and to other interested parties. Further copies are available from the Department of the Environment.

  Vacant Local Authority Dwellings
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for vacant local authority dwellings in England. [13968]

  Mr. Clappison
  At 1 April 1995, the total number of empty council homes in England stood at some 71,800—2 per cent. of council stock. This represents a slight increase on the 1994 figure—70,300—but follows nine successive years in which the number fell. The latest figure is nearly 40 per cent. lower than the total for 1985—116,500.
  956
  Within the overall total, "management vacants"—dwellings ready for occupation immediately or after minor repairs—accounted for around 41,000 of the vacants. I am placing in the House of Commons Library a list of local authorities ranked on the basis of the number of their management vacants at 1 April 1995.

  We want to see the best use made of existing council stock and I look to local authorities to continue their efforts to keep their own empty dwellings to a minimum. Most authorities have a good record on filling their vacant dwellings but there are still some where there is room for improvement.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of EU funding intended to help small and medium enterprises Her Majesty's Government cancelled in 1990 to 1993, expressed in ecus; what factors led to the decision to cancel; and what proportion of all such cancellations in the EU this figure represents according to figures produced by the Court of Auditors. [10836]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None of the EU funding which my Department is responsible for administering was cancelled in 1990 to 1993.

  British Workers Overseas
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many British citizens work for(a) British or (b) other companies in (i) Asia and (ii) Africa; [12243]

  (2) how many United Kingdom companies regularly employ expatriate staff in (a) Africa and (b) Asia. [12244]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bus Company Mergers
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bus company mergers or takeovers have been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year since 1985. [123835]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  1985,1986,1987

  none

  1988

  1

  1989

  none

  1990

  8

  1991,1992

  none

  1993

  1

  1994

  3

  1995

  4

  1996

  1none

  1To 31 January.

  957
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bus company mergers or takeovers his Department has been requested to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year since 1985. [12864]

  Mr. Taylor
  Under merger control procedures, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade receives advice from the Director General of Fair Trading about whether specific mergers would be referred to the MMC. Since 1985, in all merger cases involving bus companies, where the DGFT has recommended reference, my right hon. Friend and his predecessors have accepted the advice of the DGFT to refer to the MMC. In addition, from time to time my right hon. Friend and the DGFT receive requests from third parties for specific mergers—including those involving bus companies—to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It is not possible to quantify those requests except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the proposed sale of Pendle borough council's 50 per cent. stake in Burnley and Pendle Transport to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement. [12837]

  Mr. Taylor
  In the event that such a merger were announced, it would be for the Director General of Fair Trading to consider the matter in the first instance. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would then make his decision whether to refer the proposed merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission once he had the DGFT's advice.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions have been brought for insider dealing since 1 March 1994. [13129]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Since 1 March 1994, three prosecutions against four individuals have been commenced under insider dealing legislation. One individual was convicted in 1995. Proceedings against the remaining individuals have not yet been concluded.

  World Trade
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the United Kingdom's current share of world trade. [12929]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on the UK share of world trade is published by the World Trade Organisation in "International Trade, Trends and Statistics 1995", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Electricity Imports
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost of the importation of electricity from France for the years(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [13668]

  Mr. Page
  This is a commercial matter for the parties to the relevant contracts.

  Working Time
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library copies of all 958
  (a) relevant academic and departmental research papers relating to the impact of working time on health and safety at work on which the Government have based their response to the European directive on working time and (b) departmental studies he has commissioned with regard to working time and its effects on health and safety. [12774]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: The Government commissioned Professor J. M. Harrington of the university of Birmingham institute of occupational health to identify and evaluate pertinent medical and scientific literature relating to the effect, if any, of hours of work on employees' health. The study forms part of the Government's legal challenge to the working time directive, 93/104/EC. I have been advised that, in accordance with established practice, it should not be published now; I expect to be able to do so after the case has been concluded. No other studies have been commissioned with regard to working time and its effects on health and safety by this Department.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Cash and Running Cost Limits
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes she proposes to make to her Department's running costs and cash limits for 1995–96. [13763]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XI, vote 1 will be increased by £4,570,000 from £1,017,049,000 to £1,021,619,000. This is to increase provision for assets accepted in lieu of tax and to increase the gross running costs limit for the Department by £1,900,000 from £26,975,000 to £28,875,000. The increases will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10058]

  (2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10062]

  Mr. Ancram
  My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in Northern Ireland. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Shantallow RUC Station—Fort George Army Base
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of the joint Shantallow RUC station—Fort George Army base; and what plans the Government have for the property after 1 September. [12237]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Accommodation for the police is a matter for the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in line with the operational requirements of the Chief Constable.

  I understand that the RUC is currently examining its accommodation requirements to meet future policing needs in Londonderry. As the provision of new facilities at the Maydown complex nears completion, a number of options to rationalise existing accommodation are being considered, including the future of the Shantallow base. The army will consider the position with Fort George once the outcome of the RUC review is known.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9744]

  (2) what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public fund of each agreement. [9743]

  (3) what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9745]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: Within the Northern Ireland departments and agencies, the procurement of mobile equipment and car phones is carried out using normal Government procurement and accounting procedures, advised by the department of finance and personnel's telecommunication branch. It is normal practice to obtain three quotations for the instruments themselves and a quotation from each of the network providers in Northern Ireland. Quotations are normally obtained from among the following:

  British Telecom

  Cartec

  Motorola

  Netcom

  Vodac

  Communications Shop

  Mobile Communications Specialists

  CAB Phones

  Euromobile

  Cellularphones

  Hutchison Telecom

  Vodafone

  The Northern Ireland Office and its agencies have also obtained mobile and car phones, taking into account the cost and most suitable network.
  960
  Individual agreements are taken out for each mobile and car phone purchased within the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland departments and agencies. Agreements have been taken out with British Telecom, Hutchison Telecom, Vodafone, Netcom, Vodac, Cartec, Motorola, The Communication Shop, Mobile Comms Specialists, CAB phones, Euromobile and Cellularphones covering 533 phones at a total annual cost of £145,026 rental plus call charges.

  The normal duration for each agreement is one year plus a three-month cancellation period and the cost depends on the type of service required.

  The costs incurred by the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland departments and agencies withdrawing from such agreements has been £94. The company involved was British Telecom.

  Deportation
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review of practices related to deportation or refoulement he has carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations committee against torture. [12849]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have noted the Committee's recommendations. We are satisfied that our practices relating to deportation do not conflict with our international obligations, including those under the United Nations convention on torture, and do not plan to undertake a review of the kind proposed.

TRANSPORT

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the new en-route air traffic control centre at Swanwick will be on line to meet traffic demands; to what extent this is in accordance with the original time scales for the project; and what implications this has for the new Scottish centre. [12466]

  Mr. Norris
  The original target date set for the centre to enter operation was the end of 1996. The CAA has announced that, in view of problems that have arisen in integrating the software sub-systems of the air traffic management system, it has been decided to re-schedule the operational date to December 1997.

  There are no implications for the new Scottish centre.

  Road Schemes (Violence)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will instruct the Highways Authority to issue instructions to the security firms they have hired in relation to his Department's road schemes not to instigate violence against demonstrators; [12814]
  961
  (2) what reports have been received by the Highways Authority in respect of violent incidents involving private security firms at Newbury; and if he will make a statement. [12762]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about security firms in general and the security firm involved with the Newbury Bypass.
  There have been a number of media articles about violent incidents involving security guards at Newbury and we are aware of the incidents where protestors appear to have assaulted security guards. But we have received no formal substantiated reports of such incidents and none have been reported to us by the Police, who are present on site at all times when the security firm's staff are present.
  It is a requirement of the Highways Agency that sub-contracted security firms are members of the British Security Industry Association and that they conform to British Standard 7499 covering static guards and mobile patrols; they are instructed to work within the law.

  Table 1: Effect on recipients of means-tested benefits

  Number of recipients of:

  Family credit

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  Income support

  Tax allowance per child (under 16)

  No longer eligible (000)

  Taken1 out of tax (000)

  No longer eligible (000)

  Taken1 out of tax (000)

  No longer eligible (000)

  Taken1 out of tax (000)

  No longer eligible (000)

  Taken1 out of tax (000)

  £100

  2—

  10

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  £500

  10

  30

  10

  20

  2—

  20

  2—

  2—

  £1,000

  20

  60

  10

  30

  2—

  30

  2—

  2—

  1Husbands and wives treated separately.

  2Denotes estimates of less than 5,000.

  The total numbers of claimants no longer eligible for any means-tested benefit or taken out of tax cannot be obtained by adding together the estimates for each benefit. This is because claimants for one benefit are often also claiming one or more of the other benefits. It is only possible to provide figures for claimants of each benefit separately.

  These estimates are based on data drawn from the 1991 1992 and 1993 Family Expenditure Surveys uprated to 1995–96 price and benefits levels. Income related benefit cases have been calibrated to those contained in the 1995 DSS Departmental Report.

  Table 2: Effect on tax liabilities

  Tax allowance per child (under 16)

  Exchequer cost £ million

  Net cost1 £ million

  Married couples and single individuals taken out of tax (thousand)

  Average amount of unused child tax allowance2 £ per child

  £100

  250

  240

  50

  98

  £500

  1,200

  1,150

  200

  465

  £1,000

  2,300

  2,200

  350

  902

  1Tax revenue cost less reductions in means-tested benefits.

  2This is the average for those who have an unused allowance.

  These estimates are based on information projected from the 1993 Family Expenditure Survey and are therefore provisional.

  Unemployment
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made to the value of the economy of a reduction of unemployment by 100,000 assuming normal cost-benefit assumptions. [12600]

TREASURY

  Child Tax Allowance
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants(a) would cease to be eligible for family credit, housing benefit and other means tests if a child tax allowance was re-introduced and set each at multiple of £100 up to an including £1,000 and (b) would cease to pay tax at each charge; if he will estimate the cost in gross and net terms of such a charge; how many tax payers would not have a high enough income to use each of the tax allowances; and if he will estimate an average amount of unused allowances for each £100 median in child tax allowances. [9935]

  Mr. Jack
  Information for 1995–96 is given in the tables. It has been assumed that either partner of a married couple may use such a child tax allowance. Estimates in the tables have been produced for three of the multiples of £100. Estimates for all 10 multiples could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A fall of 100,000 in unemployment in the UK is a strong signal of the fundamental strength of the UK's economy, and unemployment in the UK has fallen by 741,600 since December 1992 as a result of Government policies.

  Estimating the overall numerical value of a reduction in unemployment of 100,000 requires several heroic assumptions. However, the Department of Social Security's departmental report shows that a variation in unemployment of 100,000, assuming the 100,000 have the same characteristics as the existing unemployed population, would change total expenditure on benefits paid to the unemployed by £385 million in 1995–96.

  Taxation
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of taxation taken in(a) direct and (b) indirect taxation in (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1985–86 and (iii) 1995–96. [11126]

  Mr. Jack
  The national accounts distinguish between taxes on income and capital, and taxes on expenditure. Social security contributions are identified separately. The
  963
  table presents the information requested on this basis. Rates and community charge/council tax are shown separately so as to avoid the distortion to the series

  Direct and indirect tax receipts as a percentage of total taxes and social security contributions

  Year

  Taxes on income1

  Taxes on expenditure2

  Taxes on capital

  Rates3 council tax, community charge

  Social security contributions

  1978–79

  40¼

  31

  1½

  10

  17½

  1979–80

  38

  34½

  1½

  9½

  16½

  1985–86

  39

  31½

  1¾

  10

  17¾

  1995–964

  37½

  35¼

  1

  8¾

  17½

  1 Excludes community charge and council tax.

  2 Excludes rates.

  3 Business rates from 1990.

  4 Budget forecast.

  Totals may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

  Employment (Year-on-year Change)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the year-on-year change in employment in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and the Netherlands for each year since 1987. [12599]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The latest available information is shown in the table. For Belgium, France and the Netherlands, it is for the period 1986 to 1993.

  Employment: year on year change 1987 to 1995 (thousands)1

  United Kingdom

  Belgium

  France

  Netherlands

  1986–87

  489

  -49

  -116

  554

  1987–88

  929

  10

  109

  59

  1988–89

  829

  103

  241

  120

  1989–90

  247

  39

  128

  244

  1990–91

  -536

  94

  241

  146

  1991–92

  -587

  51

  -94

  194

  1992–93

  -301

  -26

  -113

  26

  1993–94

  186

  —

  —

  —

  1994–95

  276

  —

  —

  —

  Note:

  1 Unadjusted.

  Source:

  UK (CSO, Labour Force Survey); Belgium, France and Netherlands (Eurostat).

  Reference period:

  Year on year changes for UK, Belgium and France based on spring employment figures and for Netherlands on average of January to June employment figures.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proceeds from privatisation indicating source and cash in real terms and constant value terms in each year since 1979. [12854]

  Mr. Jack
  Table 5.6 to the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" (HMSO Cm 2821) gives privatisation proceeds by source in cash terms. The table sets out the annual proceeds in cash and real terms at 1995–96 prices.
  964
  resulting from the 1990 switch from domestic rates to community charge. The table also shows equivalent figures for 1978–79

  Privatisation proceeds

  (£ billion)

  Year

  Cash

  Constant 1995–96 prices

  1979–80

  0.4

  1.0

  1980–81

  0.2

  0.5

  1981–82

  0.5

  1.0

  1982–83

  0.5

  0.8

  1983–84

  1.1

  2.0

  1984–85

  2.1

  3.4

  1985–86

  2.7

  4.3

  1986–87

  4.5

  6.9

  1987–88

  5.1

  7.5

  1988–89

  7.1

  9.7

  1989–90

  4.2

  5.4

  1990–91

  5.3

  6.4

  1991–92

  7.9

  8.9

  1992–93

  8.2

  8.8

  1993–94

  5.4

  5.7

  1994–95

  6.4

  6.6

  61.6

  78.9

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the golden shares held by Her Majesty's Government in the privatised industries, indicating when these lapse. [12853]

  Mr. Jack
  The remaining special or golden shares and their expiry dates, where applicable, are as follows:

  Company

  Expiry date

  Cable and Wireless

  —

  Sealink Stena Line

  —

  BT

  —

  British Aerospace

  —

  VSEL Consortium

  British Gas

  —

  Rolls-Royce

  —

  BAA

  —

  National Grid Group

  —

  National Power

  —

  PowerGen

  —

  Scottish Power

  —

  Scottish Hydro-Electric

  —

  965

  Company

  Expiry date

  British Technology Group

  31 March 1997

  British Technology Group International

  31 March 1997

  Northern Ireland Electricity

  —

  Belfast International Airport

  —

  Income Tax
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how much total tax revenue would be generated if the 1978–79 income tax regime were in place today assuming no behavioural change; and what would be(a) the total difference over the period and (b) the average yearly difference for taxpayers, broken down into the top 1 per cent. of tax payers and thereafter each 10 per cent. band of tax payers. [1483]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: Information on the reduction in income tax liability for 1995–96 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime is given in the table. This comparison is hypothetical since if an indexed version of the 1978–79 tax regime had prevailed over the last 17 years, the income base would not have grown as it has. The effect of changes in mortgage interest relief cannot be included in the analysis because most mortgage interest relief is given at source and therefore is not recorded on individual tax records.

  Table A

  Quantile group of taxpayers under the the 1978–79 indexed regime Per cent

  Reduction in tax £million

  Average reduction £

  Top 1

  9,900

  36,900

  2–10

  6,800

  2,800

  11–20

  4,100

  1,500

  21–30

  3,200

  1,200

  31–40

  2,600

  960

  41–50

  2,100

  770

  51–60

  1,600

  610

  61–70

  1,300

  470

  71–80

  890

  330

  81–90

  530

  200

  Bottom 10

  300

  110

  All taxpayers

  33,300

  1,240

  In contrast to these hypothetical figures, table B shows how the share of income tax actually paid by high income groups has risen since 1979, while the share of the income tax burden borne by low income tax payers has fallen.

  Table B: Calculations using the income base for each year

  Per cent.

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Share of income tax in: 1978–79

  1995–96

  Top 1

  11

  16

  Top 5

  24

  33

  Top 10

  35

  44

  Bottom 50

  18

  13

  All taxpayers

  100

  100

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Holloway Prison
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which the previous Director General of the Prison Service brought to his attention the conditions at Her Majesty's prison Holloway. [8129]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I had regular discussions with the previous Director General of the Prison Service on a wide range of matters. The conditions at Holloway were raised during our discussions.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints or reports have been received regarding insect infestation in Holloway's mother and baby unit in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [12312]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what complaints have been received about the Holloway Mother and Baby Unit in 1995.
  There were two reports about infestation in the Mother and Baby Unit at Holloway recorded in 1995.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of(a) male and (b) female officers employed at Her Majesty's prison Holloway for each year since 1990; what is the predicted staff complement for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [12267]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about male and female officers employed at Holloway prison.
  The total number of officer grades employed at Holloway since 1990 is recorded as:

  19901: 286

  19911: 289

  19921: 291

  9931: 295

  19941: 308

  1995: 324 (253 female/71 male)

  1Information on the breakdown of male and female officers before 1995 is not available.
  The predicted officer complement for 1996–97 is 336.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all(a) escapes and (b) other serious breaches of security at Her Majesty's prison Holloway for each year since 1990. [12269]
  967
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about escapes and other serious security breaches at Holloway prison since 1990.
  The information requested is given in the attached table.

  Escapes from Holloway since 1990

  Escapes from escort

  Escapes

  Number of prisoners

  Court

  Hospital

  Other

  1990

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1991

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1992

  1

  1

  —

  6

  —

  1993

  —

  —

  3

  2

  —

  1994

  1

  3

  —

  1

  3

  1995

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Serious breaches of security at Holloway since 1990

  Attempted escapes from prison

  Attempted escapes from Escort

  Other breaches of security

  Court

  Hospital

  Other

  1990

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1991

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1992

  3

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1993

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Key/Lock compromise

  1994

  1

  3

  3

  —

  —

  1995

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Key compromise

  Residential Estates (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what have been(a) the allocations and (b) the sums actually spent on maintenance on (i) the Camp Hill residential estate, (ii) Parkhurst residential estate and (iii) Albany residential estate on the Isle of Wight for the last five years. [11749]

  (2) what has been the annual budget for the last five years for (a) maintenance on prison officers residential estates and (b) for residential estates where the Home Office retains a liability. [11748]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Barry Field, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about expenditure on the maintenance of Prison Service and former Prison Service residential estates. In particular, the estates adjacent to Camp Hill, Parkhurst and Albany prisons on the Isle of Wight.
  Information on the annual expenditure by each establishment on the maintenance and repair of Prison Service residential quarters and estates is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, information is available on the expenditure over the last five years (1990–91 to 1995–96) for Camp
  968
  Hill, Parkhurst and Albany residential estates. Total expenditure during that period on maintenance and repair for roads, pavements, paths, sewers/drains, street lighting and verges has been as follows:-

  Camp Hill: £5,750 (including £4,300 in respect of street lighting supply and maintenance).

  Parkhurst: £55,680 (including £41,405 on maintenance of retained quarters).

  Albany: £7,370 (this was in respect of street lighting supply and maintenance).

  The average expenditure on maintenance is in the region of £750 per annum for each quarter, or about £1.5m per annum in total. Actual expenditure will vary between establishments and would include an element for improvements in many cases. Establishments do not have a formal allocation of funds for this purpose and expenditure is met from their local building and repair fund.
  With regard to former prison officers' quarters estates where there are unadopted roads and street lighting, most of the properties have been sold, either to prison officers or to private owner/occupiers. Owners are responsible for paying a fair proportion of any expenditure on repairs or maintenance of the private roads and footpaths and the cost of street lighting. The Prison Service has the same liability for the properties which are still owned.

  Fire Cover (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction in fire cover in the London fire brigade; and what representations he has received on these proposals from(a) insurance companies and (b) property policy holders in London. [12867]

  Mr. Sackville
  Statutory responsibility for the provision of the fire service rests with the fire authority—in this case the London fire and civil defence authority. Under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, my right hon. and learned Friend has to be notified of the fire authority's establishment—the number of fire stations, fire appliances and firefighting posts—as at 1 January each year. The fire authority may not reduce its establishment without his consent. He grants approval only where he is satisfied that the proposals have been sufficiently widely publicised, in sufficient detail and with adequate time, to enable any interested party to make representations; the representations have been considered by the fire authority; and that, after taking advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services, the nationally recommended standards of fire cover will be maintained.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no application from the fire authority for his approval. However, he has received a number of representations, some of which may well have come from holders of property insurance policies, but, as at 31 January, none from insurance companies. Should the authority decide to make an application to reduce fire cover, any representations made to the Secretary of State would be taken into account when that application is considered.

  Laboratory Animals
  Mr. Mellor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 with particular reference to its proposals for(a) reductions in the number of animals used in laboratories and (b) a reduction in the suffering of laboratory animals. [12820]
  969
  Mr. Sackville
  The animal procedures committee will review the working of the Act and offer advice to my right hon. and learned Friend. I expect that the review will consider the impact the Act has had both on the number of animals used in scientific procedures and on the extent of animal suffering.

  Amusement-with-prizes Machines
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the ages at which people may play on AWP machines in different categories of establishment; what representations he has received for standardisation of age; and if he will make a statement. [12852]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The playing of amusement-with-prizes machines in current use is not subject to any statutory age restriction. Amusement arcade operators who are members of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association—BACTA—operate a voluntary police whereby persons under 16 are not allowed in inland arcades and local school children of any age are not allowed in seaside arcades during school hours.

  The Government have received representations from the amusement arcades action group. United Kingdom forum on young people and gambling and Dr. Sue Fisher at the university of Plymouth that all AWP machines should be subject to a statutory age limit of 18; and from the National Council on Gambling that all AWP machines should be confined to adult premises.

  The draft Deregulation (Gaming Machines and Betting Office Facilities) Order provides for a machine with a £10 cash prize. Persons under 18 would not be allowed access to these machines in arcades. The machines would also be permitted in betting shops, where there is a statutory prohibition on access by persons under 18, and in liquor licensed premises and licensed bingo clubs, which are essentially adult environments.

  Women's Prisons
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women's prisons do not currently meet(a) fire compliance standards and (b) statutory and safety standards; and how much must be spent to bring each prison into compliance with those standards. [11494]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many womens' prisons do not currently meet (a) fire compliance standards and (b) statutory and safety standards; and how much must be spent to bring each prison into compliance with those standards.
  All prisons are subject to statutory standards set by the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Food Safety Act 1990. These Acts are enforced by the Crown Premises Inspection Group of HM Fire Service Inspectorate, the Health and Safety Executive and local authority environmental health departments.
  970
  Inspectors have the authority to inspect and issue Crown Improvement and Prohibition Notices should any failures be discovered which are deemed to be a risk to health, safety or hygiene. No such notices have been served on a women's prison within the last three years.
  In addition, all prisons are inspected by the Fire Safety Section of the Prison Service and the Home Office Health and Safety Services. Reports of the visits are sent to the governors and area managers concerned, who are required to deal promptly with any shortcomings discovered.
  All female prisons, except Drake Hall, have had a full fire inspection within the last three years. Recommendations for improvements were made at each establishment. Drake Hall has been visited during its rebuilding programme and recommendations have been incorporated into all the living accommodation.
  During the last two years, all the female prisons have been visited by the Home Office Health and Safety Service. In some cases minor faults were discovered in the fabric of the buildings, but in the majority of cases improvements to management systems were needed.
  The cost of making improvements to the fabric of a prison is normally contained within the prisons maintenance budgets and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the number of people involved in the illegal drugs market in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [12726]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 1 February 1996]: Since drug dealing is an illegal and, therefore, clandestine activity it is not possible to produce a reliable estimate of the number of people involved.

  The number of offenders found guilty, cautioned or dealt with by compounding for drug offences is contained in table 1.1 of "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders Dealt with, United Kingdom, 1994", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Parole Board
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons Paul Norney was not informed that he was required to appear before the Parole Board when his parole was last considered; for what reasons he was not asked to appear before the Parole Board in(a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland; when his parole is to be considered; and if he will make a statement. [12949]

  (2) what factors led to Brendan Bond being refused parole by the Parole Board; and if he will make a statement. [12951]

  (3) what factors led the Parole Board to require Stephen Nordone, Noel Gibson and Sean Kinsella to remain in Britain for three months after their release; and if he will make a statement. [12952]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 1 February 1996]: These matters are the responsibility of the Parole Board. I have asked the chairman of the Parole Board to write to the hon. Member and I will place a copy of his reply in the Library.

HEALTH

  Helplines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are(a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of

  Description

  Run by

  Number of calls

  Cost £

  Blood Donor Line

  Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health

  78,516 (April-December 1995)

  33,074

  Drinkline

  Drinkline (non-profit making limited company)

  44,000 (October 1993–January 1996)

  516,000 (DH funding for 1993–94—1995–96)

  Health Information Service

  NHS—regionally provided service

  920,136 (April 1992–December 1995)

  7,772,745 (April 1992–March 1996 Includes all costs associated with establishing the service and in initially publicising its availability)

  Health Literature Line (including the Organ Donor Line)

  Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health

  255,885 (April-December 1995)

  108,026

  National AIDS Helpline and National Drugs Helpline

  Network Scotland Ltd. (independent company contracted by the Department of Health)

  386,953 (April-December 1995)

  1,569,000 (estimated total 1995–96 cost)

  National AIDS Helpline

  Broadcasting Support Services and Network Scotland (contracted by the Department of Health)

  4,200,514 (January 1990–December 1994)

  6,038,000

  Sexwise Helpline

  Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health

  784,016 (April-December 1995)

  366,854

  Committee Safety Medicines Freephone

  Medicines Control Agency

  1,977 (January 1994–December 1995)

  7,510 (calls costs only)

  Details of other helpline services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  Details of the Helpline Numbers are listed as follow:

  Blood Donor Line: 0345 711 711

  Drinkline: 0345 32 02 02

  Health Information Service: 0800 66 55 44

  Health Literature Line: 0800 555 777

  National Drugs Helpline: 0800 77 66 00

  National AIDS Helpline: 0800 567 123

  Sexwise: 0800 28 29 30

  Committee Safety Medicines: Dial the operator and ask for Freephone CSM

  Dental Records
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his Department's policy regarding the transfer of patients' dental records when the patient is transferring from one NHS dentist to another. [12830]

  (2) what is his policy regarding transfer of a patients' dental records if a dental practice leaves the NHS. [12831]

  Mr. Malone
  It is a condition of dentists' terms of service that dentists should provide, within 28 days of a request from registered patients leaving to join another
  972
  his Department or (c) of another classification; however many calls each received in each of the last five years; and how much money each received from his Department in each of the last five years. [9800]

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1996 c.13–14]: I regret that there was an error in the table provided. A correct version is now listed.

  dentist, a summary of the care and treatment given to that patient. Local family health services authorities provide a form, FP26, for that purpose.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  International War Crimes Tribunal
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West of 29 September 1995 concerning the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, what further measures he now proposes as regards equipment, staff and funding to assist the tribunal in its work; what is the intended timetable for investigation, arrest, charging and trial; and if he will make a statement. [13397]

  Mr. Hanley
  The International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has announced indictments against 52 individuals. It has held preliminary hearings in the trial against Dusko Tadic, a guard at the Omarska Camp, the trial is due to start on 18 March.

  The tribunal does not disclose its operational timetable.
  973
  As concerns the level of our contribution to the tribunal this year, I shall arrange for the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Upminister (Sir N. Bonsor) to write to the hon. Gentleman with details shortly.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the grant in aid in each of the last five financial years, and in 1995–96 to date from his Department to the BBC World Service in constant prices. [12907]

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures are:

  BBC World Service grant in aid 1990–91 to 1995–96

  Actual grant

  At constant prices (1995–96)

  1990–91

  146

  174

  1991–92

  153

  172

  1992–93

  163

  176

  1993–94

  172

  180

  1994–95

  174

  179

  1995–96

  175

  175

  Figures are rounded up to the nearest million and do not include the Ministry of Defence's contribution to BBC World Service monitoring.

  European Council (Forthcoming Business)
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [13626]

  Mr. Hanley
  The answer is as follows:

  SUBJECT: MONTHLY FORECAST OF BUSINESS FOR FEBRUARY 1996

  1. The following Councils are scheduled:

  February 12: ECOFIN Council;

  February 26: FAC, Agriculture Council;

  February 27: FAC, Agriculture Council.

  2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  12 February: ECONFIN

  ECONFIN will decide on 22 January whether to go ahead with this meeting. The provisional agenda we have received is as follows:

  (possibly) Renewal of Community guarantees of EIB loans to Latin America;

  (possibly) Audiovisual guarantee fund;

  The fight against fraud—presentation of work for 1996;

  (possibly) Tax on savings;

  Carbon/energy tax.

  26 February: FAC
  Agenda not yet available.

  26–27 February: Agriculture Council

  Reform of the fruit and vegetable regime (possibly);

  Bananas (possibly);

  Reform of the wine regime (possibly);

  Price fixing (possibly);

  Hormones (possibly);

  Animal welfare (possibly);

  Inspection fees (possibly);

  Pesticides (possibly).

  Iraq (Food and Medicines Parcels)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Post Office authorities the returning to sender of food and medicines parcels posted to Iraq which have been clearly marked in accordance with his Department's instructions. [13284]

  Mr. Hanley
  UN sanctions prohibit the export to Iraq of goods other than food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies. These require an export licence obtained from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Post Office will not accept any items for Iraq that do not have the appropriate licence.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department, his department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and other associated expenses for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (f) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97. [11441]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 January 19961]: Diplomatic wing expenditure on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and related expenses is:

  1993–94: £28,792,720

  1994–95: £25,790,597

  The above includes expenditure on transfer journeys, medical journeys, local and regional travel, Queen's messenger travel, ministerial visits and subsistence, including accommodation costs. Figures for earlier years cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Estimated outturn figures for overseas expenditure for 1995–96 cannot be provided as the apportionment between UK and overseas expenditure can, under the present accounting system, be made only after such expenditure has been incurred. The allocation of funds for 1996–97 has not yet been determined.

  The aid wing does not hold the information in the form requested. The total spent on travel and subsistence—including UK travel, hotel and associated costs both in the UK and overseas—is as follows:

  1991–92: £1,066,000

  1993–94: £1,375,000

  1994–95: £1,374,000

  1995–96: £1,514,000 (projected)

  1996–97: £1,370,000 (estimate)

  Figures for other years cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
  975
  Expenditure by NDPBs and agencies is as follows:

  Natural Resources Institute

  1991–92: £166,000

  1993–94: £178,000

  1994–95: £112,000

  1995–96: £179,000 (to date)

  Wilton Park

  1991–92: £2,456

  1993–94: £7,834

  1994–95: £19,742

  1995–96: £15,000 (projected)

  1996–97: £15,000 (estimate)

  Britain-Russia Centre
  Not funded from grant in aid.

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
  Not funded from grant in aid.

  British Council
  The British Council does not hold this information in the form requested.

  Commonwealth Institute

  1993–94: £5,798

  1994–95: £7,114

  1195–96: £19,875 (projected)

  1996–97: £5,000 (estimate)

  Great Britain-China Centre

  1989–90: £1,813

  1991–92: £3,178

  1993–94: £7,580

  1994–95: £3,964

  1995–96: £2,655 (projected)

  1996–97: £4,000 (estimate)

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  1979–80: £2,070

  1989–90: £4,730

  1991–92: £5,350

  1993–94: £7,386

  1994–95: £16,920

  1995–96: £9,100 (projected)

  1996–97: £10,020 (estimate)

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  1993–94: £19,764

  1994–95: £29,814

  1995–96: £13,000 (projected)

  1996–97: not finalised

  Figures for other years could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

  The 1996 departmental report, due to be published in March, will provide details of FCO expenditure in recent years and expenditure plans for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99.

WALES

  Llanelli (Development)
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution was made by the Welsh Development Agency through the joint venture agreement between the agency and the Llanelli borough council to the development of south Llanelli in 1994–95; what is the 976
  estimated outturn for 1995–96; and what is the planned expenditure for 1996–97. [11829]

  Mr. Hague
  I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the right hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many redundancies were declared in 1995; and what percentage of those redundancies were in manufacturing. [12425]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The only information available is from the quarterly labour force survey, which estimates the number of people who were made redundant in the three months prior to the survey. In Wales, an estimated 15,000 people were made redundant in the three months prior to interview in the spring 1995 labour force survey. The corresponding figure for the summer 1995 survey was 10,000.

  The results from autumn 1995 and winter 1995 are not yet available. No reliable estimates relating to manufacturing can be made because of the relatively small sample size.

  Part-time Jobs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were in part-time jobs in Wales at the latest available date. [12424]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The labour force survey for summer 1995 estimated that 300,000 people in Wales aged 16 or over worked part-time in their main job.

  Agriculture Department Employees
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time members of staff are currently employed at each of the Welsh Office agricultural department divisional offices. [12309]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The following full-time members of staff, excluding short-term casual staff, are currently employed at each of the agricultural divisional offices—as at 26 January:

  Number

  Caernarfon

  141

  Carmarthen

  145

  Llandrindod Wells

  168

  Total

  454

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reductions he estimates will take place in current staffing levels within the agriculture group of the Welsh Office in 1996–97; and what assessment he has made of his Department's capacity to meet the standards set out in "Helping Farmers in Wales" following these reductions. [12307]

  Mr. Jones
  Final decisions on the 1996–97 running cost budgets for individual groups have not yet been made.
  977
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time members of staff are currently employed by the Welsh Office agricultural department in Cardiff; and at what grades. [12310]

  Mr. Jones
  There are the following full-time staff in the agriculture department in Cardiff—as at 26 January 1996:

  Number

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  Grade 7

  5

  SEO

  4

  HEO

  13

  EO

  18

  AO

  9

  AA

  9

  PS

  4

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current ratio of Welsh Office agricultural department staff to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Wales. [12308]

  Mr. Jones
  The ratio of current Welsh Office agricultural staff, excluding short-term casual staff, to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Wales is 1:63 (rounded).

  Temporary Jobs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people who are in temporary jobs because they are unable to find permanent work. [12423]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The labour force survey for summer 1995 estimated that the number of employees in Wales aged 16 or over who were in a temporary job, and who gave the reason as being that they could not find a permanent one, was 48,000.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the persistent environmental effects on Welsh farms of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident in 1986; and if he will make an assessment on the effect on the Welsh economy of the radioactive pollution. [12685]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In Wales radiocaesium contamination from the Chernobyl accident affects certain upland areas of sheep grazing, predominantly where there is a high peat content. While there is a general decline from year to year in the activity rate of radiocaesium, the actual rate of decline in these areas depends on the interaction of a number of factors such as soil type, vegetation, weather, drainage and sheep grazing preference. The variable interaction between these factors does not enable an accurate forecast to be made of the length of time sheep controls will be required.

  Regular monitoring of radiocaesium levels in sheep, and other relevant information, enables suitable areas to be identified for a comprehensive survey and assessment to determine the prospects for removing controls. Following such work, my right hon. Friend was able to
  978
  life controls from more than 65 sq km in the Snowdon area on 17 January 1996. This reduced the area originally affected by sheep controls from more than 4,000 sq km to approximately 580 sq km.

  It was recognised that the introduction of sheep controls would have some economic effect on part of the Welsh sheep industry. To mitigate this, the sheep compensation scheme was introduced in July 1986 to compensate farmers whose enterprises had been disrupted as a consequence of sheep controls. So far in Wales over £7,900,000 has been paid to farmers affected. This compensation has been paid primarily to recompense farmers for the inconvenience and disruption of sheep controls; payments for market losses as a result of the Chernobyl accident have been comparatively small.

  Fire Service Personnel
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors led to the decision to permit employees of the fire services to stand for election in local authority areas in their areas. [12561]

  Mr. Hague
  Employees of combined fire authorities can become members of unitary authorities, but cannot be representatives of their councils on the fire authority of which their council is a constituent.

  The Government consider that the responsibilities of combined fire authorities are such that membership of a constituent council would not present any conflict of interest for an employee of the combined fire authority provided that the employee is not a representative of the council on the combined fire authority.

  National Parks Employees
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors led to the decision not to permit employees of the national parks to stand for elections to local authorities in their areas. [12489]

  Mr. Hague
  The planning and development control responsibilities of national parks require them to take decisions which directly affect the interests of individual residents and businesses in the parks. People in the parks should be confident that there is no possible conflict between an individual's interest as an employee of a national park authority and his position as a member of a local authority. The Environment Act 1995 preserves this position by providing that an employee of a national park authority is not only disqualified from being a member of that authority, but from being a member of any local authority represented on that national park authority.

  Industry Acts Expenditure, Gywnedd
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much expenditure was incurred in the county of Gywnedd during the financial year 1994–95 under the Industry Acts; and how many new jobs have been facilitated by such expenditure. [12491]

  Mr. Hague
  In 1994–95, companies in Gywnedd accepted assistance worth £4,438.025 under regional selective assistance, RSA; regional enterprise grants; SMART, small firms merit
  award for research technology,
  979
  and SPUR, support for projects under research, schemes. Of these, only RSA is job-related, and 600 jobs were forecast to be created and/or safeguarded.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the grants paid by(a) the Welsh Office and (b) its NDPBs to supermarket chains in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994. [12520]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office offered Tesco a grant of £2 million in 1989 to encourage it to relocate its administration centre to Cardiff. In 1992, an offer of £3.8 million was made to encourage it to locate a distribution centre at Magor. Details of individual payments within these offers are commercially confidential, but payments on both projects have been made during the period 1992 to 1994. No other supermarket chains have received Welsh Office grant assistance and no supermarket chain has received grant from Welsh Office public bodies.

  Offa's Dyke
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has to preserve the section of Offa's Dyke at Rhostyllen, near Wrexham, Clwyd, currently offered for sale; and if he will make a statement. [12872]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy, to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question in which you asked about the Department's plans to preserve a section of Offa's Dyke at Rhostyllen which is currently offered for sale.
  Cadw's interest arises as the Agency has day to day responsibility for the Secretary of State's functions under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. These include our work related to ancient monuments scheduled—that is protected—under the provisions of the Act. Much of Offa's Dyke is scheduled—including the section to which you refer.
  Given the importance of the Dyke I can assure you that Cadw takes a close interest in the various sections which are routinely monitored by our Field Monument Wardens. In 1991 we commissioned a full field assessment of the Dyke which confirmed that the Welsh sections were appropriately scheduled including the section at Rhostyllen, currently offered for sale.
  I understand that it is owned by British Coal and has been offered for sale as part of the company's disposal of its non-mining assets. Its sale will not affect its scheduled status. I am told by our professional staff that this section of the Dyke is in good condition, and we will draw the monument's importance to the attention of any new owner.

  Housing Stock (Alyn and Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new moneys he plans to give to Alyn and Deeside district council to enable the authority to modernise more of its housing stock; if he will visit Alyn and Deeside district council and undertake a tour of inspection of the older council estates; and if he will make a statement. [12990]
  980
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have no plans to change Alyn and Deeside district council's housing capital allocations or to visit council estates in the area. It is for the local authority to determine capital spending priorities.

  Medical Treatment Centres
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many treatments are available at each treatment centre; and what guidelines he has issued on the provision of free transport to each treatment centre for(a) pre-operative, (b) surgery and (c) follow-up consultations. [12964]

  Mr. Hague
  In 1995–96, the number of procedures available at each treatment centre is:

  Number

  Surgical centre, Bridgend (hernia, varicose vein and some minor surgical procedures)

  1,080

  Ophthalmic centre, Bridgend (cataract procedures)

  1,060

  Orthopaedic centre, Rhydlafar (hip/knee replacement and joint revision procedures

  298

  Patient transport services are provided free of charge for all visits to and from treatment centres for those patients with medical need as determined by their doctor.

  Health Service Referrals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1996,Official Report, column 400, if he will list those Welsh health authorities which have stopped funding extra-contractual referrals until 1 April and in each case the estimated cost overrun of the health authority prior to the decision. [13016]

  Mr. Hague
  South Glamorgan and Dyfed health authorities have suspended funding of non-urgent extra-contractual referrals for the balance of the current financial year. The projected overruns when the decisions were made were £1.4 million and £1.5 million respectively.

  Health Service Materials Management
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the announcement of the award to Excel Logistics of the materials management contract under the market testing of the Welsh health common services authority, how the capital receipts for the disposal of Bridgend, Swansea and Whitchurch will be treated; and what undertakings have been given to NHS trusts concerning rebates or other financial consideration from the disposals in the price to be offered for materials management services. [13389]

  Mr. Hague
  NHS trusts have been told that capital receipts from the sale of existing stores will be available to contribute towards the restructuring of the procurement service following the award of the contract to Exel Logistics.

  Unexploded Bombs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a survey of the waters in Cardigan bay
  981
  and the Irish sea to identify unexploded bombs; and if he will make a statement. [12490]

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply.

  If left undisturbed, munitions on the sea bed present no significant risk to human health or to the marine environment. Accordingly, my Department has no plans to survey Cardigan bay or the Irish sea to identify munitions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fish Quotas
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the fish quotas for each EU country in(a) the current year and (b) each of the last five years; and what were the national fish catches in each of the last five years. [13089]

  Mr. Baldry
  Detailed tables are being placed in the Library of the House showing

  (i) the quotas allocated to each member state at the start of each of the years 1991 to 1995; and

  (ii) uptake by each member state over the period 1991 to 1995 against their end-of-year quota i.e. after quota exchanges have been taken into account.

  The quotas for each member state for the current year have not yet been published, but I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the enforcement of the requirements of article 4(1)(a) of Council directive 91/628: Ovine and Caprine Animals, in terms of identification and registration in accordance with the requirements of article 3(1)(c) of Council directive 90/425EEC. [12543]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 1 February 1996]: The Sheep and Goats (Registration, Identification and Movement) Order 1996, which implements the requirements on sheep and goats in Council directive 92/102.EEC on the registration and identification of livestock, came into effect on 1 February this year. The responsibility for enforcing this legislation falls to local authorities.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11353]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  However, selected aggregated data on sickness absence in respect of calendar years has been available since 1985 in the form of reports from HM Treasury and more recently the Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety
  982
  Agency (OHSA). Figures for the Department based on these data, which necessarily include some of the agencies in the period 1990 to 1994, are as follows:

  Year

  Average number of days sick absence per staff year

  19891

  6.3

  19902

  7.5

  1991

  8.7

  1992

  8.0

  1993

  8.4

  1994

  7.4

  1Figures are based on a 10 per cent. Sample

  2 Figures are based on a 20 per cent. sample.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Education Funding (Brent)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the standard spending assessment for Brent in the next financial year; and what is the actual projected spending; [12501]

  (2) if she will ask for a report on the resources being made available to schools in Brent. [12562]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Brent local education authority's final education standard spending assessment for 1996–97 is £109.69 million, which represents an increase of £3.37 million—3.2 per cent—from 1995–96. It is for Brent council to decide on spending for 1996–97, when it sets its budget, and to determine the level of funding for the schools for which it is responsible. The Funding Agency for Schools will calculate the budgets for grant-maintained schools.

  Pupil-teacher Ratios (Brent)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reports she has received about pupil-teacher ratios in schools in Brent over the last six years. [12563]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on national and local pupil-teacher ratios is collected via the school census which is conducted every January and published in the annual HMSO statistical volume "Statistics of Education: Schools in England".

  Free Transport (Schools and Colleges)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which local authorities in England provide free transport to schools and colleges for pupils beyond the compulsory school leaving age. [12895]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not available centrally.

  Education Funding (Warwickshire)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total amount of funds held back by Warwickshire local education authority. [13096]
  983
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The amount is £52,239,000. This figure is derived from the local management of schools budget statement for 1995–96 published by the local education authority under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988 and relates to all planned expenditure on mandatory and discretionary "excepted items". It does not include educational expenditure which falls outside the scope of the authority's general schools budget.

  Early Years Education
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what agreements her Department has entered into with(a) non-statutory bodies and (b) other persons, in connection with the administration of her proposed extensions to early years education; what advertisements for such services were issued; what (i) provisional arrangements and (ii) contracts have been entered into with which persons or bodies; and if she will place copies of relevant details and documents in the Library. [12908]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Following advertisements in The Guardian, Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Scotsman, The Herald in Scotland, The Economist, The Times Educational Supplement and "Government Opportunities", Capita Managed Services Ltd. was appointed through a competitive tender to administer the issue and redemption of nursery vouchers in phase 1 of the scheme. Copies of both the invitation to tender and the contract with Capita Managed Services Ltd. have been placed in the Library.

  Mill Hill County High School
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what decision has been reached on the proposals by Mill Hill county high school for partial selective entry commencing in September. [12544]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The proposals from Mill Hill county high grant-maintained school for partial selection in technology were approved on 1 February 1996.

  Administration and Education Spending
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list(a) outturn spending on management and administration, (b) outturn spending on education, excluding further education, (c) (a) as a percentage of (b) for each year, (d) number of pupils, (e) (a) divided by (d), (f) (b) divided by (f) and (g) (e) as a percentage of (f) for each year for each local education authority for the last two years for which figures are available. [12639]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The tables, which I have placed in the Library, show for 1992–93 and 1993–94, the latest years for which figures are available for all local education authorities,(a) total management and administration expenditure; (b) total education expenditure excluding further education colleges; (c) the percentage of management and administration within total education expenditure; (d) total pupil numbers of pre-primary and primary, secondary and special schools at January 1993 and January 1994; (e) management and
  984
  administration expenditure per pupil; (f) total education expenditure (excluding further education colleges) per pupil and (g) (e) as a percentage of (f).

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was the first-year cost to the teachers' superannuation scheme of early retirements on the grounds of(a) infirmity and (b) premature retirement in 1994–95; and what was the amount of expenditure borne by local education authorities for early retirements among teachers in 1994–95. [13387]

  (2) how many teachers were granted early retirement in 1994–95; and of these how many were on the grounds of (a) infirmity and (b) premature retirement. [13388]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The first-year costs to the teachers' superannuation scheme of early retirements on the grounds of(a) infirmity and (b) premature retirement in 1994–95 were £83.8 million and £49.8 million respectively. Information on the amount of expenditure borne by local education authorities for teachers' early retirements in 1994–95 is not yet available.

  The total number of teachers who were granted early retirement in 1994–95 in England and Wales was 16,682. Of these, 6,075 were on the grounds of infirmity and 10,608 on the grounds of premature retirement.

  Jobseekers (Project Work Scheme)
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 560, if she will identify the labour market data and pre-existing documents; and if this information is available to hon. Members in the Library. [13357]

  Mr. Forth
  My reply of 29 January explained the considerations that were taken into account when selecting the pilot areas. Information on claimant unemployment rates for travel-to-work areas is published in the Employment Gazette. Other information on claimant unemployment, such as small area statistics by duration, is available on the NOMIS database, to which the Library has access.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 560, if she will identify by name the other travel-to-work areas which were considered for the project work scheme; and what are the respective rates of unemployment and very long-term unemployment in these travel-to-work areas. [13358]

  Mr. Forth
  Officials considered all travel-to-work areas, according to the criteria explained in my reply of 29 January. The following list shows the travel-to-work areas which were under consideration as at October 1995, and from which the final two were
  chosen

  Birmingham

  Bolton and Bury

  Bournemouth

  Bradford

  Brighton

  Bristol

  Cardiff

  985

  Chesterfield

  Coventry and Hinkley

  Derby

  Doncaster

  Dudley and Sandwell

  Dundee

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  Hastings

  Heathrow

  Hertford and Harlow

  Hull

  Lanarkshire

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Mansfield

  Medway and Maidstone

  Middlesborugh

  Newcastle upon Type

  Newport

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Plymouth

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  Rotherham and Maxborough

  Sherffield

  Slough

  South Tyneside

  Southampton

  Southend

  Stockton on Tees

  Stoke

  Sunderland

  Swansea

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  Walsall

  Watford and Luton

  Wigan and St. Helens

  Wirral and Chester

  Wolverhampton

  Information on claimant unemployment rates for travel-to-work areas is published in the Employment Gazette. Other information on claimant unemployment, such as small area statistics by duration, is available on the NOMIS database, to which the Library has access.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 610, if she will publish details of correspondence and telephone calls received in support of the Medway Hull travel-to work areas being chosen to pilot the project work scheme. [13359]

  Mr. Forth
  There were none.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what factors underlie the decline in the current year in respect of the success rate for parents with care seeking exemption from the requirement to co-operate with the Child Support Agency on the grounds of harm or undue distress in the current year; [12782]

  (2) what is the CSA's success rate for tracing absent parents for each year since its establishment and how many specialist tracing action since April 1993 have been abandoned; and how many cases remain outstanding;. [12803]

  (3)what percentage of cases were cleared by individual CSA centres during the first half of 1995–96(a) under 13 weeks, (b)between 13 and 26 weeks and (c)in over 26 weeks; [12795]

  (4)how the CSA performed against its performance targets in the first nine month of 1995–96; [12812]

  (5)how many employees the CSA currently has in each of the CSA centres and in the field; how many of these staff are temporary contracts; and what plans there are to change the staff complement over the next financial year; [12791]

  (6)what proportion of CSA accounts are currently in arrears; how many have no payments; what is the average debt on a CSA account; what are the total arrears of child support maintenance; and if he will add this data to the CSA monthly statistics placed in the Library; [12809]

  (7) how many of the deductions from earnings orders issued by the CSA remain in force; how many have been challenged by appeals to court; and how many of these challenges were successful; [12804]

  (8) how many CSA cases involve self-employed absent parents; what proportion of these cases are subject to a dispute between the parents compared with employed cases; how many category C interim maintenance assessments have been issued since 18 April 1995; how many category A and D interim maintenance assessments relate to self-employed absent parents; and what proportion of the liability orders sought by the CSA relate to self-employed absent parents. [12792]

  (9) how many times inspectors have been appointed under section 15 of the Child Support Act 1991; how many charges have been brought under section 15(9) of the Act for non-co-operation with an inspector; and how many employees of the Child Support Agency have been charged under section 50 of the Act for unlawful disclosure of information. [12786]

  (10) what proportion of (a) all persons with care with CSA assessments, (b) persons with care on income support, and (c) persons with care on family credit have their child support maintenance collected by the CSA; and how many of each of these groups have had a request for collection via the CSA refused. [12810]

  (11) how much child support maintenance has been paid through the CSA for each quarter since April 1993. [12808]
  987
  (12) what are the results so far of the review being conducted by the Child Support agency into the requirement to co-operate with procedures begun a year ago; when the final report will be made available; what exercises are being undertaken as part of this review by his Department and the Child Support Agency; and in what capacity Benefits Agency staff have been involved. [12784]

  (13) what is the cost of DNA tests available via the CSA; and in how many cases DNA testing has been used before a paternity case has been referred to court. [12807]

  (14) how many absent parents whose cases were taken on by the CSA to date during 1995–96 are on income support; in how many of these cases the Benefits Agency is making deductions at £2.35 from income support in lieu of child maintenance; how many of the maintenance assessments calculated using the child support formula during 1995–96 are minimum assessments; and how many absent parents not on income support are exempt from paying the minimum. [12802]

  (15) how many assessments were reduced as a result of the 18 April 1995 changes to the child support formula; what was the average reduction; and what effect this will have had on the 1995–96 benefit savings. [12799]

  (16) what proportion of absent parents are assessed to pay child support maintenance by the CSA at a rate lower than the maintenance requirement. [12796]

  (17) how many of the persons with care sent maintenance application forms by the CSA to date during 1995–96 were (a) income support claimants, (b) family credit claimants and (c) private clients; [12805]

  (18) what factors led to the current level of outstanding applications at the CSA at the end of November 1995; and when he expects the state of 200,000 outstanding applications to be reached; [12811]

  (19) if he will give a breakdown of the cases cleared by the Child Support Agency without maintenance assessments in the current financial year; [12778]

  (20) how many outstanding CSA cases involved a paternity dispute; what is the average time that these pending paternity cases have been awaiting resolution; and how many cases have been abandoned because of the inability to prove paternity. [12806]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (1) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency operations.
  The trend changed with the introduction in late 1994, of a requirement to seek the PWC's authorisation to pursue maintenance. It increased awareness amongst PWCs that they did not have to co-operate with the Agency and led to an increase in the proportion of new cases seeking Good Cause. It is of note that whilst the number of cases where good cause has been turned down has gone up, the number accepted has remained fairly constant.
  Following the Social Security Select Committee's recommendation that a review of the Good Cause process should be conducted, the Government charged the Agency with carrying out
  988
  such a review. The report, to be published before the end of March 1996, will include detailed information about decision making by child support staff.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (2) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the success rate of specialist tracing of absent parents by the Child Support Agency.
  In 1993/94 the success rate was 85%; in 1994/95 it was 66% and at the end of November 1995 the success rate was 63%.
  Although the success rate is diminishing the actual number of absents parents that have been traced is increasing. In 1993/94 28,240 cases resulted in a successful trace, in 1994/95 this increased to 49,632 and in the first eight months of 1995/96 the Agency has been successful in 35,084 cases.
  Since August 1994 to the end of November 1995 23,420 cases have been abandoned/withdrawn by the Agency. Information is not available for the period prior to August 1994.
  At the end of November 1995 there were 17,145 cases that remained outstanding.
  You may be interested to know that information on specialist tracing action is included in the Child Support Agency Statistical Information that is placed in the House of Commons Library every month.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (3) I am replying to your parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the percentage of cases cleared by individual Child Support Agency centres.
  At the end of September 1995 159,041 cases had been cleared by the Agency. The percentage of these cases cleared by individual CSA centres during the first half of 1995/96 is shown in the table below for each of the categories required.

  Per cent.

  CSAC

  (a) under 13 weeks

  Clearances (b) between 13 and 26 weeks

  (c) in over 26 weeks

  Dudley

  4.15

  3.63

  8.98

  Hastings

  5.41

  4.06

  8.76

  Falkirk

  3.35

  2.52

  7.56

  Plymouth

  4.41

  3.84

  10.38

  Birkenhead

  6.45

  3.80

  7.48

  Belfast

  3.93

  3.75

  7.55

  Agency

  27.70

  21.60

  50.71

  Figures do not sum to 100 per cent due to rounding.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (4) I am replying to the Parliamentary Question requesting information on how the Child Support Agency performed against its performance targets in the first nine months of 1995/96.
  As December's information has not yet been published, the response covers the eighth months to the end of November.
  At that point, the Agency's overall performance continued to represent a significant improvement over both the first year's performance and the situation at the same stage in 1994/95.
  Details of performance against individual targets are as follows:
  "£300 million of maintenance to be collected, or arranged for direct payment from Absent Parent (AP) to Parent With Care (PWC), in 1995/96."
  This totalled £181.92 million for the year-to-date, with the total for the month continuing to increase. We are still on track to achieve this challenging target.

  989
  "90% of payments made to PWC to be made within 10 workings days of receipt from AP."
  These have been made within 10 working days in 97% of cases. November was the eight consecutive month in which the target was achieved.
  "To achieve rapid continuing improvement in accuracy, so that in at least 75% of cases checked during March 1996 the cash value
  will be for the correct cash amount."
  Maintenance assessments were accurate in 71% of cases checked during November.
  "Where a client is dissatisfied with a Child Support Officer's decision and requests a review, 50% to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80% within 26 weeks; and no more than 20% to be older than 26 weeks at 31 March 1996."
  —52% of second tier reviews were cleared within 13 weeks.
  —68% were cleared within 26 weeks.
  —23% were outstanding for more than 26 weeks.
  "60% of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks, and as at 31 March 1996 no more than 10% of all maintenance applications received by the Agency to be over 52 weeks old."
  —The year-to-date figure at the end of November was 39%.
  —Applications awaiting assessment for over 52 weeks stood at 14%.
  "To manage the Agency's resources to deliver its Business Plan within the gross vote (cash) budget allocation."
  The forecast outturn to the end of March 1996 continued to be in line with the budget.
  I hope this is helpful for the moment, I will update the figures when the December information is published very shortly.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (5) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about staffing within the Child Support Agency.
  The details you have requested regarding employees working within the six Child Support Agency Centres and in the field are shown in the attached table.
  The Agency is still assessing the impact which the Public Expenditure Survey 1995 will have on the 1996/97 staffing complement.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Permanent staff

  Temporary staff

  Total

  Birkenhead

  773.5

  13

  786.5

  Dudley

  705.3

  1

  706.3

  Hastings

  714.5

  48

  762.5

  Falkirk

  721.9

  4

  725.9

  Plymouth

  722.5

  67

  789.5

  Belfast CSAC1

  594

  110

  704

  Field

  1,910.1

  255.34

  2,165.44

  1. Staff shown as whole time equivalents.

  2. Temporary contract staff are staff employed either on a casual basis or for a fixed term of between one and five years.

  1Northern Ireland Civil Servants.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (6) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance.
  The total Maintenance Debt as of 30/11/95 was £793.9m. This includes the debt for both Full and Interim Maintenance Assessments and arrears that have been rescheduled for future payment. Around 65% (£516m) of the £793.9m is provisional debt as it relates to interim maintenance assessments. In a further 16%
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  (£130.3m) an agreement has been made with the absent parent for the maintenance to be paid either in instalments or at a future date; these cases are carefully monitored.
  Information on the proportion of Agency accounts currently in arrears and how many have not received a payment is not currently available. This information will be available from the Agency's Debt Management System which will be introduced during 1996/97.
  The average amount of debt on an Agency account is not currently available. The Financial Management System will provide this information from December 1995 when the number of cases with maintenance debt becomes available.
  When the information you require from the Debt Management and Financial Management System is available, I will consider including this data in the monthly statistics placed in the library.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (7) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Deduction of Earnings orders (DEOs).
  A scan of the Child Support Computer System which took place in January 1996 showed that there are just under 40,000 DEOs currently in force on regular payment accounts.
  Information is not available on the number of DEOs that have been challenged in court, or the number of such challenges that have been successful.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (8) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about absent parents who are self-employed.
  In August 1995 a computer scan of 5% of live cases on the Child Support Computer System showed that 3.9% of absent parents who have a full maintenance assessment were self-employed. I am unclear as to what is being referred to as "a dispute between the parents" and the Agency has no requirement to differentiate between the employed and self-employed until an assessment is calculated. Even if this phrase is taken to mean one or other parent has asked for a review or has appealed, we do not keep separate statistics on this basis.
  Records show that 5 category C interim maintenance assessments have been issued since April 1995.
  Finally, information is not held as to how many Category A and D interim maintenance assessments relate to self employed absent parents or the proportion of liability orders relating to self-employed absent parents. But in this last case, I can tell you that the great majority of liability orders relate to self-employed absent parents because the alternative of Deduction from Earnings Order would nearly always be appropriate for employees.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (9) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about sections of the Child Support Agency Act 1991.
  Precise information on the number of time inspectors have been appointed under Section 15 of the Child Support Act 1991 can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost; this is a very rare occurrence. The Departmental Solicitors Office has confirmed that charges under Section 15(9) of the Act for non-cooperation with an inspector have been brought in one case.
  It is a matter for the police to bring proceedings under Section 50 of the Act. I have no record of any Agency employee who has been charged under this section.
  I hope this is helpful.
  991
  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (10) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance.
  You asked about parents with care using the Agency collection service. Information is not available in the exact form you requested but it is hoped that the following may be of use to you. Figures on the attached table are based on a scan of the live cases on the Child Support Computer System which took place in November 1995.
  A breakdown of the proportions of each parent with care type using the collection service is not available.
  There are no precise figures available for these groups relating to a request for collection via the Agency being refused, but a refusal would be extremely rare.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Parents with Care

  Number

  Maintenance assessments

  Total number of assessments

  427,314

  Number of parents with care on Income Support

  347,337

  Number of parents with care on Family Credit

  49,582

  Assessment, collection and enforcement service

  Number of cases of all types where an account has been set up using the assessment, collection and enforcement service

  257,842

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (11) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on how much child support maintenance has been paid through the Child Support Agency.
  The table below gives a breakdown of maintenance paid through the CSA for each quarter, since information first became available

  Maintenance£Millions

  1993–94

  Q2

  0.31

  Q3

  1.47

  Q4

  6.94

  1994–95

  Q1

  9.09

  Q2

  16.61

  Q3

  19.39

  Q4

  30.67

  1995–96

  Q1

  26.46

  Q2

  28.56

  I hope this is helpful

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (12) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency review into the requirement to co-operate procedures.
  The Agency devised a detailed work programme to thoroughly examine all issues related to the requirement to co-operate procedures in order to address the concerns raised by the Social Security Select Committee. A number of special exercises were commissioned including the examination of client files, consultation with staff and consultation with external organisations.
  The Agency, with the aid of external researchers, is in the final stages of analysing the results of the various exercises and expects to publish a report before the end of March 1996. Throughout the
  992
  review the Agency liaised closely with all Departmental colleagues, including Benefit Agency staff who formed part of the working group established to take forward the review. This ensured a proper balance was maintained between protecting single parents and their children, and abuse of the Social Security benefit system.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (13) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about DNA tests.
  The discounted DNA scheme was introduced in July 1995. Normally there are three separate tests involved for each case ie the parent with care, the alleged absent parent and the child. The total cost for discounted DNA testing is £426.92. This figure is inclusive of VAT and doctors fees. One of the advantages of the scheme was that it would effectively eliminate the need for cases of disputed paternity to go through the court system. Up to the end of November 1995 we have completed 904 discounted DNA tests; I am not aware that any of these cases have been referred for court action.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (14) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency operations.
  You asked about absent parents (APs) maintenance and benefit status for 1995/96. The information is not available in exactly the form you requested but I hope the information contained within the attached table is helpful. The table does not show the number of APs with minimum assessments at 31/8/95, however 67,700 APs were paying between £0.01 and the current minimum amount of £2.35.
  Figures are based on a 5% scan of live cases on the Child Support Computer System on 31 August 1995. All figures relate to live fully assessed cases at that date.

  Details of absent parents as at 31 August 1995

  Number

  Absent parents on Income Support whose cases have been taken on by CSA

  96,300

  Absent parents on Income Support where the minimum amount (currently £2.35) is deducted

  37,500

  Absent parents not on Income Support paying between £0.01 and the minimum amount (currently £2.35)

  30,200

  Absent parents not on Income Support paying NIL

  27,300

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (15) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the effect of the April policy changes on child maintenance assessments.
  In April 1995 an exercise took place to consider all live cases on the Child Support Computer System and re-assess where applicable. Of the live cases re-assessed automatically by computer 33,000 resulted in a reduced maintenance liability averaging £8.33; of the cases requiring clerical re-assessment a further 7,000 saw a reduction in maintenance liability, but no information is held regarding the average reduced maintenance liability.
  In addition, just under 4,500 absent parents have benefitted from either the award of allowances for property and capital settlements or from the award of an allowance for travel to work costs.
  Figures relating to the impact of the April policy changes on benefit savings for 1995/96 are not yet available.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (16) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support maintenance.

  993
  The child maintenance requirement is a set amount based on the number of qualifying children which is the starting point of an assessment. An assessment is then made based on the full individual circumstances of both the absent parent and parent with care.
  Information on the number of assessments that fall below the child maintenance requirement is not available.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (17) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many persons with care sent maintenance application forms by the Child Support Agency to date during 1995/96 were (a) Income Support claimants, (b) Family Credit claimants, (c) private clients.
  At the end of November 1995 the Agency had issued the following Maintenance Assessments Forms (MAFs) for each of the above categories:

  (a) 155,442 MAFs were issued to Income Support claimants

  (b) 43,424 MAFs were issued to Family Credit claimants

  (c) 13,147 MAFs were issued to private clients

  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (18) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency applications.
  The factors that led to the current level of outstanding maintenance applications have been well documented, and include the combination of new legislation, new systems and new staff at the outset of the Child Support Agency.
  You asked when the Agency expects to reach a level of 200,000 outstanding applications. The Agency estimates that a normal head of work would be in the region of 200,000 to 250,000 cases in the process of maintenance assessment. The Agency currently has 392,000 cases at various stages in this process.
  I am unable to state categorically when we will reach a steady state of 200,000 to 250,000 cases, but we are progressing towards this. The Agency has not yet agreed with the Secretary of State the priorities and performance targets for 1996/97.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (19) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about cases cleared by the Agency.
  You asked for a breakdown of cases cleared in the current financial year without a maintenance assessment. I have based the reply on the first 8 months of the financial year, the period ending 30 November 1995.
  During this period, out of 219,596 which were cleared, 130,228 cases were cleared without an assessment. As we have no business need to record a more specific reason for such clearances, I cannot provide a more detailed breakdown of these cases.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 1 February 1996:
  (20) I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency paternity cases.
  At 30 November 1995 some 11,464 cases were outstanding in which paternity was disputed. There are a number of circumstances outside the control of the Agency which contribute to the delay in resolving the issue of paternity. The length of time taken to resolve a paternity dispute varies significantly with the complexity of the case, therefore no meaningful average can be given.
  You asked how many cases have been abandoned because of the inability to prove paternity.
  994
  If DNA testing proves that the alleged absent parent is not the father of the child, the Agency will re-open discussions with the parent with care and consider further appropriate action.
  If we think that there are reasonable grounds for an alleged absent parent to be judged the father of the child, even if he refuses DNA testing we will refer the case to a court for their judgement.
  If we are not satisfied there are reasonable grounds for paternity to be accepted by a court we will suspend further action, but such cases may be periodically reviewed.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Disregarded Funds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's undertaking in his Budget speech,Official Report, 28 November 1995, column 1067, when he expects to bring forward regulations to increase capital disregard maximum from £8,000 to £16,000; and from which date the new regulations will take effect. [13015]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Regulations to increase the capital disregard maximum from £8,000 to £16,000 are expected to be laid before the House no later than 10 March. They will take effect from 1 April for housing benefit and 8 April for income support.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of claimants declaring disregarded income; if he will list the amount of income disregarded; and if he will divide these data according to each category of claimant. [13363]

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

  Income Support recipients declaring disregarded income— February 1995

  Client group

  Number of cases

  Average weekly amount disregarded(£)

  Estimated annual amount of income disregarded (£ millions)

  Elderly

  455,000

  36.79

  870

  Sick or disabled

  249,000

  43.87

  568

  Lone parents

  74,000

  18.08

  70

  Unemployed

  44,000

  7.97

  18

  Other

  31,000

  21.53

  35

  Family Credit recipients declaring disregarded income—February 1995

  Client group

  Number of cases

  Average weekly amount disregarded(£)

  Estimated annual amount of income disregarded (£ millions)

  Lone parents

  76,000

  13.67

  54

  Couples

  13,000

  12,68

  8

  Housing Benefit/Council Tax benefit recipients declaring disregarded income—May 1994

  Client group

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  Elderly

  169,000

  264,000

  Sick or disabled

  57,000

  75,000

  995

  Housing Benefit/Council Tax benefit recipients declaring disregarded income—May 1994

  Client group

  Housing benefit

  Council benefit

  Lone parents

  96,000

  86,000

  Unemployed

  7,000

  12,000

  Other

  188,000

  184,000

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries May 1994 and February 1995.

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample without Income Support taken at the end of May 1994.

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, amount of income disregarded to the nearest million.

  2. A breakdown by category of claimant is not available for Family Credit.

  3. Disability Working Allowance data is not available in this form.

  4. The client Groups used are as follows:-

  "Elderly"—claimant or partner aged 60 or over.

  "Sick or Disabled"—claimant receives either the Disabled or Severe Disability Premium.

  "Lone Parent"—claimant receives the Lone Parent Premium.

  "Unemployed"—Income Support-claimant registers as unemployed.

  —Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit-claimant receives Unemployment Benefit.

  "Other"—all other cases with disregarded income.

  5. Figures refer to benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.

  6. There will be an overlap between the numbers on each benefit, as a person may receive one or more of the named benefits.

  7. Information on the amount of disregarded income is not collected for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

  8. For the purposes of disregarded income both benefit and other income are included.

  9. The annual amount of income disregarded has been estimated by multiplying the number of cases by the average weekly amount of income disregarded and multiplying by 52 to calculate an annual amount.

  Appeals Legislation
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend social security laws in respect of appeals to(a) tribunals and (b) the social security commissioners. [13217]

  Mr. Burt
  Regulations are being laid on 7 February which will amend the Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations 1986. The changes are to the provisions relating to appeals to tribunals made outside the normal time limits and the way in which chairmen record the proceedings of tribunals. Regulations relating to the procedures before the Social Security Commissioners are the responsibility of my noble friend the Lord Chancellor.

DEFENCE

  Army Headquarters
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the location of the headquarters of each Army(a) division and (b) brigade, indicating to which division each brigade reports and for each brigade which Regular and Territorial Army infantry battalions are under command. [12137]
  996
  Mr. Soames
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of carrying out an epidemiological survey to establish the existence of the alleged Gulf war syndrome. [12329]

  Mr. Saomes
  The costs of the epidemiological surveys, which I announced on Tuesday 30 January in my reply to the hon. Member for South Shields, (Dr. Clark),Official Report, column 607–08, have yet to be determined.

  Language Training
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) academic and (b) non-academic (i) part-time and (ii) full-time staff are employed in the defence school of languages. [12819]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of the staff employed at the defence school of languages are as follows:

  Number

  Military academic

  Full-time

  13

  Part-time

  0

  Military non-academic

  Full-time

  19

  Part-time

  0

  Total

  32

  Civilian academic

  Full-time

  19

  Part-time

  1

  Civilian non-academic

  Full-time

  32

  Part-time

  1

  Total

  52

  In addition to the above there are, at present, a further 22 civilian academic staf employed on a casual basis.

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of language training within the responsibility of his Department. [12818]

  Mr. Soames
  The MOD's requirement for language training is regularly reviewed. The defence school of languages is being restructured as part of the defence costs study. This will take effect on 1 April 1996. Changes include the creation of a European language wing teaching French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian; and the integration of the hitherto single service, individual language training organisations.

  RAF Deployments (Morocco)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts have been made to obtain authorisation from the Moroccan authorities for flights at less than 300 ft
  997
  about ground level during Royal Air Force deployments to that country. [12890]

  Mr. Soames
  I regret to advise that my answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 811, concerning the minimum permitted altitude of RAF training deployments to Morocco during 1995 was incorrectly stated as 300 ft above ground level. On further investigation it has been established that we received approval to carry out low flying training at a minimum height of 200 ft above ground level. In the event, though, the RAF only flew sorties down to 250 ft.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what weapons and electronic warfare range facilities are available to the Royal Air Force under the arrangements with the Moroccan authorities for bilateral exercises. [12888]

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, numbers and types of aircraft involved, numbers of sorties and minimum permitted altitudes for all Royal Air Force deployments to Morocco since November 1995; and what is the date of the next scheduled deployment. [12889]

  Mr. Soames
  There have been no RAF deployments to Morocco since November 1995. Further deployments remain under consideration, but none have yet been scheduled.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 811, which other nations participated in the training exercise in Morocco in April 1995; and what arrangements have been established with other air forces for co-ordination of future training deployments to Morocco. [12915]

  Mr. Soames
  The arrangements with Morocco referred to in my answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 811, are bilateral in nature. No other nations participated in the low flying training exercise held in Morocco in April 1995 and no arrangements have been made with other Governments to co-ordinate future training deployments to Morocco.

  Training Facilities (Morocco)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for provision of flying training facilities in the UK to the Moroccan air force. [12886]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no such plans.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities in the UK have been made available to the Moroccan authorities as a result of the 1993 military co-operation accord. [12887]

  Mr. Soames
  No facilities have been made available to the Moroccan authorities as a result of the 1993 accord, although we encourage the presence of Moroccan students on courses at UK military training establishments.

  Parachute Jumps
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military parachute jumps were made in each of the last five years; and how many injuries were sustained as a result. [12939]

  Mr. Soames
  The total number of military parachute jumps and injuries sustained requiring medical treatment in the years 1991 to 1995 were as follows:

  Year

  Jumps

  Injuries

  Percentage of injuries

  1991

  42,964

  65

  0.15

  1992

  42,957

  105

  0.24

  1993

  49,212

  92

  0.18

  1994

  48,608

  194

  0.19

  1995

  42,861

  149

  0.11

  1Includes one fatality.

  Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of(a) ex-service men and (b) ex-service women suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. [12904]

  Mr. Soames
  Records are not held by my Department for ex-service men and women suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder—PTSD—as the responsibility for their care lies with the national health service. Veterans from conflicts dating as far back as world war one may be suffering from PTSD, formerly known as battle shock. It is therefore not possible to give a meaningful estimate.

  Helicopter Flying School
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the defence helicopter flying school. [12273]

  Mr. Soames
  An invitation to tender for the provision of a commercially owned and maintained helicopter fleet for the defence helicopter school was issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 August 1995. Three responses were received on 14 December 1995. The bids, which include a number of support activities at RAF Shawbury and the school of army aviation at Middle Wallop, are now being evaluated.

  We expect to announce the winning bid in May this year.

  Mines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what weapons systems are deployed in the armed forces which can deliver mines from a land-based system from less than 500m. [12327]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The weapons systems which are currently in service with the United Kingdom armed forces which can deliver mines from a land-based system from less than 500m are Ranger and Barmine. Ranger projects mines over a short distance while Barmine lays them directly on, or under, the surface of the ground.