Written Answers of 12 February 1996

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Ordtech
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what documents were given by the Law Officers' Departments to(a) the prosecuting authorities, (b) the defence counsel and (c) the judge in the recent appeal case of Ordtech; and if he will make a statement. [14206]

  The Attorney-General
  The Ordtech case is a matter falling within the scope of Sir Richard Scott's inquiry. The Government do not propose to comment on such matters until it has considered Sir Richard Scott's report.

ENVIRONMENT

  House Renovation Grant
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) pensioner households, (b) men aged over 65 years and (c) women aged over 60 years received a house renovation grant in the latest year for which figures are available. [13783]

  Mr. Curry
  The Department does not routinely collect information on the age and sex of applicants whose grant application is approved by local housing authorities. Reseach commissioned by the Department estimated, from data collected during 1990–91, the percentage of approvals in England for each type of grant under the current renovation grant system where the applicant was aged 60 or over. Applying these percentages would provide the following estimates for England in 1994, the last calendar year for which data are available:

  Estimates of approvals to applicants aged 60 or over

  Type of grant

  All approvals (mandatory and discretionary) Number (000s)

  Percentage

  Number (000s)

  Renovation

  40.3

  48

  19.3

  Disabled facilties

  23.7

  71

  16.8

  Minor works assistance

  32.5

  88

  28.6

  Research data are not available for common parts grants and HMSO grants; the latter is provided to landlords only.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pensioner households, men aged over 65 years and women aged over 60 years are currently on the house renovation grant waiting list. [13784]
  400
  Mr. Curry
  No information is available. The Department does not routinely collect information from local authorities on the status of grant inquiries received by it.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to take account of care for the disabled when deciding the revenue support grant settlement for local authorities; and what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of meeting the specific needs of disabled people. [14204]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Funding of services for disabled people is provided for through the standard spending assessments for personal social services. In 1993–94, based on figures provided by local authorities, the net cost of providing social services for physically disabled adults aged under 65 was some £350 million. Expenditure on services for disabled children or elderly people cannot be extracted from the figures available: 1993–94 is the latest year for which we have outturn figures.

  London Borough of Brent
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the London borough of Brent's procurement of a computer system by its social services department complied with EC procurement rules. [14099]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None. The London borough of Brent is responsible for making its own decisions in awarding public procurement contracts.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has given to the London borough of Brent as to competition policy. [14100]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department has issued guidance about compulsory competitive tendering to all local authorities specifically in Department circular 10/93.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department has given to local authorities as to EEC Council directive 77/62/EEC, as amended by directive 88/295/EEC; and if he will list the local authorities to which such advice was given. [14102]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department gave advice to all local authorities in circular 46/78 about the provisions of directive 77/62/EEC. This circular was overtaken by circular 6/89, which gave similar advice about directive 88/295/EEC. Further advice was given to authorities in circular 7/90 about avoiding national discrimination in tender documents for supply contracts. These circulars were made available to county councils and district councils in England, London borough councils, the council of the Isle of Scilly, and the City of London.

  British Coal Pumping Station, Ushaw Moor
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of environmental problems caused by the closure of
  401
  the British Coal pumping station at Ushaw Moor, Durham. [14515]

  Mr. Clappison
  Ushaw Moor pumping station, now under the control of the Coal Authority, has not been closed. Pumping was temporarily suspended in October 1995, as part of a controlled test programme designed to obtain more information about groundwater flows in the area, and has since been resumed. The National Rivers Authority is monitoring the situation, and I understand that no environmental problems have been identified.

  Environmental Services Association
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had and what plans he has to discuss with the Environmental Services Association its planning guidelines for waste management facilities. [14834]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My officials discussed the planning guidelines for waste management facilities produced by the Environmental Services Association with representatives of the association on Friday 26 January 1996. They also feature in on-going discussions between the Department and the association and others in connection with the Department's preparation of a planning policy guidance note on waste.

  Waste Management
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which have responded to the consultation paper on the development of a national waste classification scheme. [14494]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has received more than 200 responses to the consultation paper. I am therefore writing to the hon. Member with a list of those organisations that have responded to date.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the final system for the classification of waste substances. [14495]

  Mr. Clappison
  The precise timing of the publication of the final waste classification scheme will depend on the responses to the second stage, which we are assessing. We are, in any case, committed to a third stage of consultation, which we expect to issue after the responses to this stage have been taken into account.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations charged with the duty of determining the classification of different types of waste; and if there will be an appeals mechanism in respect of waste classification. [14496]

  Mr. Clappison
  No organisation has been charged with the duty of determining the classification of different types of waste. However, the consultation paper issued on 15 December 1995 invited comments on the possibility of the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 being amended to provide that waste is identified on the duty of care transfer note by reference to the classification system. The responsibility under the duty of care rests with the parties completing the transfer note and an appeals mechanism is not required.

  Severe Weather Conditions
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra assistance his Department has the power to offer to Copeland borough council and Cumbria county council following the recent severe weather conditions. [14816]

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has powers to establish a Bellwin scheme, under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, to provide emergency financial assistance to local authorities. Such schemes are established and resources provided where, as a consequence of an emergency, an authority would otherwise incur an undue financial burden in providing relief and carrying out immediate works to safeguard life or property, or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience to affected communities.

  We have not, to date, received any request from either Copeland borough council or Cumbria county council for support under Bellwin for additional expenditure incurred as a consequence of the recent poor weather conditions. Were we to receive a request, we would, of course, consider it very carefully.

  Local Government Ombudsman
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the review of the local government ombudsman service; and if he will make a statement. [15016]

  Mr. Curry
  The first stage of the review, in which the need for a local ombudsman service was examined, has been completed. On 30 November 1995, the reviewer— Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield—presented his report to my right hon. Friend and to the chairman of the Commission for Local Administration in England, and today I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Sir Geoffrey has concluded that the present centralised investigation and review processes of the CLA would not be able to handle effectively the increasing volume of complaints, which he foresaw with the growth of citizens' awareness of their rights and remedies. He has proposed, therefore, a new complaints regime, under which each local authority would be statutorily obliged to operate its own local complaints system, involving both internal review and an external reviewer or adjudicator. The role of any independent, central body, such as the CLA, would be limited to the validation and monitoring of each local authority's system; such a body would not have any role to investigate specific complaints.

  We have carefully considered Sir Geoffrey's report and the CLA's representations on it. We recognise the importance of all local authorities having their own effective local complaints systems, although we are not persuaded of the need to seek legislation imposing a new statutory duty on local authorities to establish and maintain such systems. Nor do we believe that the case has been made that there is at present no continued need for the CLA's role as a wholly independent body to investigate complaints of maladministration.

  We have concluded, therefore, that we should proceed with the second stage of the review, which will focus particularly on the efficiency and effectiveness of the

  403
  CLA's procedures as an investigatory body. I have today asked Andrew Whetnall, a senior official in my Department, to undertake this stage of the review. I propose that he should be assisted by the advisory group, including representatives of the local authority associations and citizens' advice bureaux, which we established for the first stage of the review. In parallel, I am inviting comments from local authorities and all interested parties on the wider issues raised in the review's first stage. In the light of these comments and the findings of the review's second stage, we intend to take our decisions on the CLA's future.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the top 10 companies that have been leading beneficiaries of export credits backing arms sales since 1979. [14866]

  Mr. Nelson
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information about commercial relations between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and individual companies unless the relevant parties have agreed to this.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the largest sum put up by Her Majesty's Government as a financial guarantee or collateral in respect of securing an arms deal; in what year; and with what country the deal was concerned. [14461]

  Mr. Lang
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose details of individual contracts unless the relevant parties have agreed to this. I am therefore unable to provide the information which the hon. Member requests.

  Late Payment
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy regarding the late payment of commercial debt. [14653]

  Mr. Page
  The Government recognise the problems that late payment can cause for smaller firms and are committed to tackling the issue. In the 1994 White Paper, "Competitiveness-Helping Business to Win", the Government announced a number of practical measures to tackle late payment, including support for the development, by business of a British standard on prompt payment, improvements to court procedures for debt recovery and a requirement for public companies to disclose their payment policies. In addition, we are helping small businesses to improve their cash-flow management.

  I also announced to the House on 11 January 1996, Official Report, columns 293, that I have agreed to look again at the arguments for statutory interest and will report the outcome in the summer.

  Rom Data Corporation
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade between which dates Mr. Holmes was employed in 404
  the Department of Trade and Industry south-west regional office; and what was the nature of his work. [8924]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: While he was not an employee of the DTI south-west regional office, Mr. Kenneth Holmes advised it on accountancy and financial issues on an external consultancy basis between 5 February 1991 and 15 April 1995.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 7 December,Official Report, column 335, when he expects to be able to report the findings of his Department's inquiries into the circumstances of the regional selective assistance for the Rom Data Corporation. [8924]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: No DTI south-west regional office employees or former employees are known to have subsequently acted as directors or been otherwise employed by the Rom Data Corporation. However, Mr. Kenneth Holmes, who advised the regional office on regional selective assistance applications on a consultancy basis, became a director and chairman of the Rom Data Corporation.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice was received by the Department of Trade and Industry south-west regional office from other DTI regional offices regarding Mr. John Dawson. [8926]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: None was sought or received.

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects the small business ministerial group to meet; and how frequently and on what dates it is expected to meet in the coming year. [14583]

  Mr. Page
  The small business ministerial group will meet twice a year. The next meeting has been arranged for 1 July 1996.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the remit of his review of the small firms loan guarantee scheme. [14584]

  Mr. Page
  The review of the small firms loan guarantee scheme rules was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his November 1994 Budget statement with a view to making the scheme simpler and more attractive.

  Regional Supply Network
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what system of monitoring he intends to establish to discover what level of use the regional supply network has had from(a) small and medium enterprises and (b) all businesses (i) in each region and (ii) in total. [14585]

  Mr. Page
  A system of monitoring regional supply network usage has been in place since offices opened in April 1995. Quarterly monitoring information reports are obtained from each regional supply office. These include information on the number of businesses that ask the RSN to find suppliers, the number of suppliers who meet the requirements of purchasers and the number of businesses gaining contracts as a result of these inquiries. These
  405
  figures are collected for each region and collated as national totals. Information on the size of businesses using the RSN services is not collected.

  Trade Union Ballots
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount has been paid to date in 1995–96 for the carrying out of ballots by trade unions. [14542]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: During the financial year 1995–96, £831,938 has been authorised for payment to trade unions by the certification office by 31 January 1996 in respect of the statutory funds for trade union ballots scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  International Criminal Tribunals
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to introduce legislation to enable co-operation with the international criminal tribunals for(a) the former republic of Yugoslavia and (b) Rwanda; and if he will make a statement. [14308]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Legislation to enable the United Kingdom to surrender those indicted by the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda will be presented to the Privy Council shortly.

  The UK has been co-operating informally with the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. We have made voluntary contributions of almost £450,000 to help fund the secondment of seven members of the police force and a military lawyer, and to buy computer and camera equipment. We have also provided a substantial quantity of information.

  United Nations Relief and Works Agency
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of UNRWA in the middle east peace process. [14554]

  Mr. Hanley
  We support UNRWA's valuable work the Palestinian refugees in the middle east and remain one of its largest donors. UNRWA has an important role to play in the context of a final settlement of the refugee issue.

  Bosnia (War Criminals)
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers NATO troops in Bosnia have to arrest individuals suspected of war crimes. [14738]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The North Atlantic Council has authorised IFOR to detain any individuals indicted by the tribunal with whom it comes into contact in the execution of its assigned tasks, and to transfer them to the tribunal. However, it is not part of IFOR's mandate to search for these individuals.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions in the last 406
  three years officials have vetoed draft EU legislation on the grounds that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13652]

  Mr. David Davis
  The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for EC legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

  European Courts
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to public funds of the United Kingdom's participation in the work of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice over the past three years for which figures are available. [14007]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 30 October 1995,Official Report, column 12, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 7 November 1995, Official Report, column 697.

  These provide costs to public funds relating to decisions of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights over a two year period from October 1993 to October 1995. These costs include counsels' fees, costs and damages. Wider costs, if any, arising from a particular decision are a matter for the relevant departmental Minister.

  The cost to public funds in respect of ECHR judgments for which figures are available including the remaining periods—February to October 1993 and October 1995 to February 1996—is £484,018.90.

  On costs to pubic funds for European Court of Justice judgments, and European Court of Human Rights counsels' fees for the two periods above, I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Treaty of Rarotonga
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to sign the protocols to the treaty of Rarotonga; and if he will make a statement. [14298]

  Mr. David Davis
  We announced in October last year that we would sign the relevant protocols to the treaty of Rarotonga in the first half of 1996. A firm date has yet to be fixed. But preparations are in hand and we expect to sign in the near future.

  Missiles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the maximum number of warheads that the United States Government intend to deploy on each of their Trident D5 missiles to comply with the START II restrictions will affect the maximum number of warheads which the United Kingdom Government intend to deploy on each of their D5 missiles. [14291]

  Mr. David Davis
  No.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq in regard to the loss reported on 30 January by the International Atomic Energy Agency of a high technology furnace ordered by Iraq for use in a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in 1990. [14855]

  Mr. David Davis
  We are not aware of any report form the IAEA relating to the loss of a high technology furnace ordered by Iraq for use in a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those magistrates courts that have been closed in each county in England and Wales since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [14275]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Decisions to close magistrates courts are made by the local magistrates courts committee. The Lord Chancellor is involved only when there is an appeal by a local authority against a proposed closure. Information on magistrates court closures where there has not been an appeal is not collected centrally.

  Solicitors Complaints Bureau
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what recent assessment he has made of the(a) effectiveness, (b) speed of delivery and (c) independence of the Solicitors Complaints Bureau; [13899]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the balance between solicitors, officials and lay people on an adjudication committee of the Solicitors Complaints Bureau; and if he will make it his policy to increase the number of lay people. [13892]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  None. These are matters for the Law Society, which has responsibility for maintaining standards of conduct among solicitors.

  However, the Government have established the legal services ombudsman to provide an independent check on the complaints handling procedures of the General Council of the Bar and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, as well as the SCB. Both in his reports in individual cases, and in his annual report to the Lord Chancellor, which is laid before Parliament, the ombudsman highlights areas of concern and makes recommendations to the professional bodies for improvements in their arrangements for investigating complaints.

  Legal Ombudsman
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases the legal ombudsman has(a) accepted and (b) finalised in 1995; and what is the average time between (a) and (b). [13889]
  408
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In 1995 the legal services ombudsman(a) accepted 1,436 cases for investigation and (b) finalised and issued reports in 1,041 cases. The average time between (a) and (b) in 1995 was six and a half months.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals by port-of-entry applicants for asylum were determined; and how many of such appeals succeeded wholly or in part in the last two years for which figures are available. [14490]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Over half the 2,440 appeals determined by adjudicators in 1994 had been made by people who had applied for asylum at ports of entry. Table 8.3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 15/95, provides the available information on the outcomes of asylum appeals to adjudicators and the tribunal. A copy of this publication is available in the Library. Figures for 1995 are not yet available.

  Spare Computer Capacity
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all cases where spare computer capacity has been sold to other Departments since 1987, giving the Department and value of each contract. [14088]

  Mr. Howard
  There are no records of spare computer capacity in my Department having been sold to other Departments since 1987.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14031]

  Mr. Howard
  The following manuals and guidance are now made public:

  Manuals and guidance issued by the United Kingdom Passport Agency.

  The Immigration Service complaints handbook.

  The Immigration and Nationality Department complaints staff instruction.

  74 handouts issued to trainee immigration officers.

  Home Office Criminal Statistics:

  Volume I Counting Rules for Notifiable Offence.

  Volume II Codes for classifying the offence.

  Manual on achieving the transfer of data on court ppearances direct from the magistrates' courts computer systems to the Home Office.

  Guidance for magistrates' court staff on how to produce accurate statistics for the Home Office from the ICL, EQUIS and UNISYS systems. Data interchange user guides for ICL, EQUIS and UNISYS systems.
  Crown Court Statistics Data Interchange Guide.
  The National Strategy for Police Information Systems.

  409
  Fire Service College:

  Safety Management Policy.

  Environment Policy.

  Quality Policy.

  Training Performance Indicators.

  Prison Service Standing Order 5—communications.
  Instructions to Governors 82/94—Victim Helpline.
  Procedures for Open Government.

  Guidance setting out the circumstances in which requests for privileged access to closed records may be granted.

  It is not possible to list the administrative manuals and internal guidance used in the Home Office which remain private, because there is no comprehensive list of these. However work is in hand in assessing whether more of this material could be made available in future. Current plans include the release of new guidance now being prepared on applying the 1951 United Nations convention on the status of refugees.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for such job. [13824]

  Mr. Howard
  The following information relates to those posts advertised in the Home Office, including its agencies, other than posts advertised by prison establishments. Information about the latter could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Grade

  Number of posts

  Applications

  Grade 5

  1

  152

  Grade 7

  1

  17

  Grade 7

  1

  31

  Senior Executive Officer

  1

  20

  Higher Executive Officer

  3

  62

  Executive Officer

  1

  75

  Administrative Officer

  15

  99

  Administrative Assistant

  40

  175

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  23

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  45

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  10

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  10

  Administrative Assistant (casuals)

  269

  1,058

  Typist

  1

  4

  Typist

  2

  6

  Chaplain

  1

  2

  Chaplains

  1

  11

  Catering Manager

  1

  9

  Medical Officer

  1

  7

  Medical Officer

  1

  9

  Support Grade

  1

  25

  Support Grade

  2

  18

  Scientists

  3

  83

  Stores Attendant

  2

  33

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft, EC legislation on the 410
  grounds that a fiche d'imapct had not been correctly prepared. [13651]

  Mr. Howard
  The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for European Community legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the relative cost, at the latest estimate, of keeping a prisoner in(a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments. [14002]

  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 Alan Walker to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the relative cost of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments.
  In 1994–95 the average annual net operating cost per place for open establishments was £13,662, and for secure establishments it was £20,813.

  "Haven't They Suffered Enough"
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what aid and assistance his Department proposes to give to the Refugee Council's appeal, "Haven't They Suffered Enough"; and if he will make a statement. [14244]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have no plans to provide assistance to the appeal.

  Asylum Seekers and Refugees
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department issues on provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees(a) to landlords and (b) to other bodies; and if he will make a statement. [14246]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No guidelines on such matters are issued by the Home Office.

  Wood Green Crown Court
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received regarding the quality of meals provided by Securicor at Wood Green Crown court; and what response his Department has made. [14582]

  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.
  411
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mrs. Barabara Roche, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the provision of meals by Securicor Custodial Services at Wood Green Crown Court.
  No representations have been received about the quality of meals provided by Securicor at Wood Green Crown Court.

  Duchess of York
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during each of the last three years police officers have travelled abroad as part of their duties in connection with the Duchess of York and her family. [14813]

  Mr. Howard
  For security reasons, it is not the practice to give details of the measures taken to protect the Duchess of York and her family.

  Home Country Reports
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of all home country reports currently available; if he will undertake to place in the Library all such reports relating to countries designated as safe; and if he will place in the Library the home country report on Pakistan used by a Home Office presenting officer at an immigration appeal hearing in Leeds during 1995. [14120]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 8 February 1996]: Two country assessments—on Ghana and on Nigeria—have been completed and have been placed in the Library. Assessments on other countries, including Pakistan, are in preparation and will also be placed in the Library when they have been finalised.

PRIME MINISTER

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask Lord Justice Scott to disclose the names of journalists to be briefed and the dates of briefings in relation to the forthcoming report and the progress of the inquiry. [14269]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Rail Privatisation (Directorships)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he is giving retiring members or former members of his Administration or hon. Members in respect of their accepting directorships in privatised rail companies. [14144]

  The Prime Minister
  From the start of the current session of Parliament, Ministers who leave office will be expected to ask the independent advisory committee on business appointments about any appointment outside Government which they wish to take up within two years.

  Senior Salaries Review Body
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the average of the pay increases recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body in the past year. [14617]
  412
  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Sir M. Shersby) on 8 February,Official Report, columns 294–96.

TRANSPORT

  Crash Barriers
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used when deciding if crash barriers should be installed. [13033]

  Mr. Watts
  The criteria for the provision of crash barriers are contained in the Highway Agency's departmental standard TD 19/85. "Safety Fences and Barriers" and TD 32/93 "Wire Rope Safety Fences". Copies are lodged in the Libraries.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet representatives of the regional rail users consultative committees to discuss disabled persons' access to(a) railway stations and (b) trains. [13038]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend meets members of the Rail Users' Consultative Committee from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Rail Regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [13043]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Rail Regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [13045]

  Mr. Watts
  The Secretary of State meets the Rail Regulator on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of Rail Transport. His next meeting will be on Thursday 22 February.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss disabled persons' access to, and safety on, air transport. [13046]

  Mr. Norris
  I have no plans to do so.

  The Civil Aviation Authority is represented on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee— DPTAC—working group on airports and on the Access to the Skies Committee.

  Both these committees, on which my Department is also represented, are concerned with disabled persons' access to, and safety on, air transport.

  A540
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the delayed start of the A540 Ormskirk bypass. [13040]

  Mr. Watts
  I met a delegation from Ormskirk in September 1995. I visited Ormskirk and the bypass route in October 1995. I answered a question from my
  413
  hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 9 January. Following the review of the trunk road programme, the Ormskirk bypass remains in the main programme.

  Gospel Oak-Barking Line
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had recently with local authorities regarding infrastructure improvements on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. [13042]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Public Transport Investment
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the level of investment in public transport. [13044]

  Mr. Norris
  Funding for public transport was given priority in allocating the Department's resources in the last public expenditure round, and we are pressing forward with the policies we have announced for privatising and deregulating the transport market, so giving the private sector the chance to respond to passengers' demands for efficient, modern transport services.

  Safe Town Initiative
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the first results of his Department's safe town initiative will be available. [13047]

  Mr. Norris
  The initiative will be closely monitored by the Transport Research Laboratory in conjunction with Gloucester city and county councils to ensure the maximum road safety benefits are obtained. Although full results will not be available until some time after the project is completed in 2001, interim results relating to some of the measures should become available in two to three years.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when consultation work will start on the modernisation of the west coast main line. [14252]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack consulted extensively with local authorities and other parties during the feasibility study. Railtrack continues to communicate with, and inform, those people likely to be affected by the modernisation and will be considering their views at each stage of the modernisation project.

  Rail Safety
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail vehicles are being prevented from entering service awaiting completion of Railtrack's safety procedure; what is the total value of these vehicles; and what charge is being made by Railtrack for their safety assessment. [14487]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack has advised me that it is not preventing any rail vehicle from entering service. I understand that the relevant safety work is being carried out by the train manufacturers and operators, who are preparing their own safety assessments. Railtrack is 414
  working with the manufacturers and operators in accepting these safety assessments. Railtrack does not charge for the acceptance procedure.

  Railtrack has appointed a panel of independent experts to review the safety appraisal process for new rolling stock, and to recommend areas for improvement while safeguarding safety.

  Driver Licensing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on(a) the progress of the implementation of the second EC directive on driver licensing and (b) how the Driving Standards Agency intends to comply with the directive with regard to large goods vehicles. [14434]

  Mr. Norris
  Work on preparation of the regulations and the operational arrangements to implement the directive is in hand. Last November, the Driving Standards Agency wrote to some 600 interested parties announcing the detailed plans for implementing the directive with regard to driving tests for large goods vehicles, and I have arranged for a copy of that letter to be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he intends to make available to the Driving Standards Agency for compliance with the second EC directive on driver licensing by July 1996. [14437]

  Mr. Norris
  The Driving Standards Agency is an on vote non-statutory trading body whose expenditure is fully recovered by the income it receives in fees and charges. Its resources are planned in accordance with expected levels of demand for tests within unit cost targets at agreed service levels. The agency's business plan for 1996–97 is in preparation and will be deposited in the House Libraries, when completed, in accordance with our usual practice.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many large goods vehicle driving tests were conducted by delegated examiners in each of the last three years; and what were the results of those tests; [14433]

  (2) if he will list the number of delegated driving examiners employed on large goods vehicle tests by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the arrangements in place for the supervision of such examinations by the Driving Standards Agency. [14438]

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State for Transport has not appointed any delegated driving examiners to undertake large goods vehicle tests.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles were(a) inspected and (b) found defective in the last year for which figures are available. [14489]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency to write to the hon. Member.
  415
  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State had asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of heavy goods vehicles inspected and found defective in the last year for which figures are available.
  The number of vehicles inspected for their roadworthiness during the year April 1994—March 1995, and found with defects serious enough to warrant a prohibition being issued, is shown below.

  Number of prohibitions

  Total number inspected

  Immediate

  Delayed

  Fleet checks

  50,942

  1,813

  1,416

  Roadside checks

  115,157

  9,633

  9,971

  Special checks (smoke checks and lighting checks)

  14,878

  70

  401

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the maximum driving hours within which HGV drivers must operate in the United Kingdom. [14521]

  Mr. Norris
  Drivers of HGVs over 3.5 tonnes, with the exception of vehicles used for certain purposes, are subject to European Union rules on drivers' hour. They may drive for not more than 90 hours in any fortnight, 56 hours between weekly rest periods, and nine hours between daily rest periods, extendable to 10 hours twice a week. They must also take a break of at least 45 minutes for every four and a half hours of driving.

  Certain categories of HGV which are exempt from the EU rules are subject to United Kingdom national rules on drivers' hours which restrict daily driving to 10 hours and daily duty to 11 hours.

  Driving Instructors
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the risk assessment of the operational aspects of the duties of the senior examiner (approved driving instructor) grade within his Department to be completed; and if he intends to place a copy of the results in the Library. [14435]

  Mr. Norris
  The working practices of supervising examiners—approved driving instructor—are covered by several existing generic risk assessments. I will have these placed in the Library.

  Peakes Parkway
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when funds from his Department will be released to enable Humberside county council and its successor authorities to construct phase 3 of the Peakes parkway; and if he will make a statement. [14325]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is supporting stage 3 of the Peakes parkway with a supplementary credit approval of £2.55 million in 1995–96. This has enabled Humberside country council to carry out works in advance of the main contract. North East Lincolnshire district council has been allocated funds of £1 million to continue work on the scheme 1996–97. It is expected that this will enable the start to be made on the main contract. Subject to satisfactory progress, we expect to continue support for the scheme until its completion.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14025]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is reviewing its manuals and guidance. The aim is to make information available to staff and the public in a clear and accessible form. Material may be kept private for security, commercial or legal reasons. The following material is either published by the Department or may be seen on request:Central Transport Group

  "PSV Operators Licensing Handbook";

  "Local Bus Service Registrations";

  "A Guide to London Local Services Licensing";

  "Guidance to Customers on Management of Research Projects";

  "Strategy Document";

  "Intellectual Property Rights";

  "Building to the Transport Road Network";

  "Guidance to Using Call-off Contracts";

  "Tachograph Centre Manual";

  "Tachograph Calibration Manual";

  "Code of Practice for Traffic Area Offices";

  "Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing-London A Guide for Operators";

  "Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing—A Guide for Making Representation";

  "Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing—Guide for Maintaining Roadworthiness";

  "Goods Vehicles—Customer Service Guide";

  "Buses—Customer Service Guide";

  "Traffic Policy and the Environment";

  "Performance Management, Development and Appraisal— Guidance Pack";

  "Brussels: An Officials Guide";

  "Parliamentary Questions: A General Guide".

  Coastguard Agency:

  "United Kingdom Maritime Search and Rescue Handbook";

  "Oil Spill Clean-Up of the Coastline—Technical Manual".

  Highways Agency:

  "Trunk Road Maintenance Manual Vols 1–3";

  "Routine Maintenance Management System";

  "Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Work";

  "Design Manual for Roads and Bridges".

  Vehicle Certification Agency:

  "Type Approval Handbook";

  "A Guide to European Whole Vehicle Approval".

  Vehicle Inspectorate:

  "MOT Inspection Manual";

  "HGV Inspection Manual";

  "PSV Inspection Manual";

  "Motorcycle Inspection Manual";

  "Guidance Notes for Plating Goods vehicles";

  "How Safe is Your Motorcycle?";

  "Categorisation of Defects";

  "HGV Inspection Manual Amplification Notes";

  "PSV Inspection Manual Amplification Notes";

  "MOT Vehicle Test Regulations 1981";

  "MOT Vehicle Testing Guide—4th Edition";

  417

  "How Safe is Your Car?";

  "Vehicle Safety Recalls Response rate Bulletin—January 1993";

  "Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness";

  "Guide to ADR";

  "Guide to TIR";

  "MOT Inspection Manual Private Bus Testing";

  "MOT Inspection Checklist";

  "PSV Certificate Manual".

  VIDEOS

  "MOT Testing—Cars and Light Goods Vehicles";

  "MOT Testing—Motorcycles";

  "Diesel Testing".

  Sugar Beet Transportation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to enforce the requirement to net open loads of sugar beet in heavy goods vehicles on public roads. [14449]

  Mr. Norris
  The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations require loads carried on vehicles to be secured at all times so that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused by reason of the load falling from the vehicle. These requirements are amplified in the Department's code of practice on load security which advises that loose loads should be covered. The requirements are enforced by the police and the vehicle inspectorate as part of their general duties.

  Workplace Regulations
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each agency within his Department the date of completion of the risk assessments required(a) by the display screen equipment regulations and (b) by the workplace regulations. [14436]

  Mr. Norris
  Where major programmes of risk assessment have been completed or have a planned completion date that is given in the table. However, the requirement to undertake risk assessments is ongoing, for example, where there are changes in staff and in the workplace, as shown in the table.

  Agency

  (a) Display screen equipment

  (b) Workplace regulations

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency

  April 1995

  HQ completed October 1995; local office network to be completed by May 1996

  Driving Standards Agency

  Ongoing

  Ongoing

  Highways Agency

  To be completed by March 1996

  Inspections completed by January 1996

  Marine Safety Agency

  September 1995

  September 1995

  The Coastguard Agency

  Ongoing

  Ongoing

  Transport Research Laboratory

  August 1993

  February 1996

  418

  Agency

  (a) Display screen equipment

  (b) Workplace regulations

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  January 1993

  November 1995

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  To be completed by December 1996

  To be completed by December 1996

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office the dates on which the risk assessment required by the display screen equipment regulations was carried out. [14441]

  Mr. Norris
  Information is not readily available on the exact dates of the initiation or completion of the risk assessments. But assessments of workstations already in place before the regulations came into force were carried out during 1994 and 1995 in all offices except the South Eastern and Metropolitan office, where the assessment is expected to be completed shortly.

  Assessments of new workstations normally take place as and when the latter are installed.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13826]

  Mr. Norris
  Details of the number of jobs advertised in each grade in the Department and its agencies in the last three months—November and December 1995 and January 1996—are set out in the following table.

  Central transport group figures

  Grade

  Number of jobs advertised in the last 3 months i.e. November 1995, December 1995 and January 1996

  Number of applicants who applied

  Estates surveyor

  1

  166

  Administrative officer

  6

  170

  1

  159

  1

  43

  Administrative

  3

  64

  assistant

  1

  56

  1

  12

  Total

  14

  670

  Executive agency figures

  Agency/Grade

  Number of jobs advertised in the last 3 months i.e. November 1995, December 1995 and January 1996

  Number of applicants who applied

  Coastguard (TCA)

  Chief Coastguard (Grade 5 level)

  1

  closing date 16/2/92-not in a position to say how many applications there have been.

  Grade 6 level

  1

  Same as above.

  Coastguard Officer

  6

  50

  419

  Executive agency figures

  Agency/Grade

  Number of jobs advertised in the last 3 months i.e. November 1995, December 1995 and January 1996

  Number of applicants who applied

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  71—closing date 12/2/96.

  Driving Standards Agency (DSA)

  IT Programme Manager (Grade 7 level)

  1

  25

  Communications Manager (SEO level)

  1

  44

  Communications Executive (HEO level)

  1

  59

  Support Grade Band 2

  1

  25

  Driver Vehicle & Licensing Agency (DVLA) Administrative Officer

  3

  8

  Administrative Officer (Inquiry)

  1

  13

  Administrative

  2

  8

  Assistant

  2

  14

  4

  9

  of which two jobs were re-advertised.

  of which 304 applicants (to date) applied when the 2 remaining posts were re-advertised.

  Highways Agency (HA)

  Senior Information Officer

  3

  37

  Information Officer

  2

  98

  Marine Safety Agency (MSA)

  Administrative Officer

  1

  18

  Administrative

  3

  20

  Assistant

  2

  11—closing date 9/2/96.

  Transport Research Laboratory (TRL)

  Senior Scientific Officer

  1

  17

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1

  19

  Scientific Officer

  2

  84

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  1

  11

  Support Grade Band 2

  1

  2

  Vehicle Inspectorate (VI)

  Senior Professional & Technology Officer

  1

  25

  Higher Professional & Technology Officer

  1

  6

  Professional Technology Officer

  3

  12

  Support Grade Band 2

  1

  3

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  None advertised.

  —

  Total

  48

  993

  Road Traffic Act 1988
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Department of Health about repealing section 157 of the Road Traffic Act 1988(a) in total and (b) for pensioners only. [14307]

  Mr. Norris
  None. This is a matter for which the Secretary of State for Health has policy responsibility.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EC legislation on the grounds that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13650]

  Mr. Watts
  The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for EC legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

  Traffic Lights
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to speed up the installation of traffic lights at roundabouts at appropriate locations; and if he will make a statement. [13223]

  Mr. Norris
  It is for the highway authority concerned to decide whether to instal traffic signals at particular roundabouts, normally for reasons of safety or capacity.

  Roadside Checks
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the results of the roadside survey of illegal operators undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate in October 1995. [15167]

  Mr. Norris
  The preliminary results of the survey indicate that, of the total heavy goods vehicle mileage travelled in Great Britain, around 1.6 per cent. is by vehicles operated without an operator's licence where one should be held. The survey also indicate that vehicles operating without a licence are disproportionately likely to have roadworthiness defects and to be involved in other traffic offences such as drivers' hours and driver licensing offences. A number of more minor operator licensing offences were also found, for example involving vehicles operating outside the terms of the licence of their operator. A detailed report on the survey will be published shortly, once all the figures have been fully checked.

  Severe Weather Conditions
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra assistance his Department has the power to offer to Copeland borough council and Cumbria county council following the recent severe weather conditions. [14817]

  Mr. Norris
  The winter maintenance of local authority roads is funded through revenue support grant. Emergency assistance to local authorities is covered by the Bellwin scheme, which may be activated by my right
  421
  hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment under powers in section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the costs arising from the provisions of the Street Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulations 1992 to(a) gas, (b) electricity, (c) water and sewerage and (d) telecommunications industries associated with the planned rapid transit schemes known as (i) Docklands light railway extension, (ii) Rochdale to Manchester/Oldham extension to Metrolink, (iii) Reading bus lane construction and (iv) Greater Nottingham rapid transit; and if he will make a statement; [14627]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the costs to (a) the gas, (b) the electricity, (c) the water and sewerage and (d) the telecommunications industries associated with the planned rapid transit schemes known as (i) Croydon Tramlink, (ii) Birmingham Metrolink, (iii) Leeds Supertram and (iv) the channel tunnel rail link under the provisions of the Street Works (Sharing of Costs and Works) regulations 1992; and if he will make a statement. [14469]

  Mr. Norris
  The regulations provide for the utilities to bear 18 per cent. of the allowable costs of diversionary works, the remaining 82 per cent. being borne by the promoter. Estimates of scheme costs, including diversionary works costs, are a matter for the promoter in the first instance.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many written parliamentary questions were passed for answer to executive agencies and non-governmental departments in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14991]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is a matter of public record.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Alan Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet representatives of the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee to discuss access to public transport. [13031]

  Sir George Young
  My Department has regular meetings with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the transport needs of disabled people. I will be seeing the Chairman on the day of the June quarterly meeting.

  Public Records Office
  Mr. Tam Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 57, in what circumstances he is able to release official files other than at the appropriate time under the procedures and criteria set down by the Public Records Office. [13032]

  Sir George Young
  My Department may grant "privileged" access to official files earlier than their normal review date. The decision to give such access, and 422
  the conditions which are imposed with it, are at the discretion of the Department, in line with the criteria set down by the Public Records Office.

TREASURY

  VAT (Computer Equipment)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations led Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to begin to collect VAT on computer equipment for the blind and partially sighted; and if he will publish the directive ordering the change. [14526]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 31 January 1996,Official Report, column 754.

  Trusts
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of money held in trust(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom by United Kingdom residents. [14260]

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Housing Investment Trusts
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of tax relief provided to the proposed housing investment trusts in the first full year; and how many properties he anticipates will be made available for rent under the scheme in a full year. [14258]

  Mr. Jack
  We estimate the cost of tax relief in the first full year to be negligible. We have made no estimate of the number of properties that will be made available for rent through housing investment trusts. That will depend on how promoters and prospective investors respond to the new opportunity.

  Cross-channel Shopping
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the loss of revenue from cross-channel shopping; if he will make a statement on his underlying assumptions in formulating this estimate; and what estimate he has made of the number of cross-channel trips made annually for the primary purpose of avoiding excise duties. [14261]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise's latest estimate of the loss of revenue cross channel shopping is as follows:

  Total revenue losses

  £ million

  12 Months to June 1995

  Excise duty

  VAT

  Total

  Alcoholic drinks

  160

  60

  220

  Tobacco products

  120

  30

  150

  Total

  280

  90

  370

  Source:

  OPCS Omnibus Survey.
  423
  The estimate of revenue loss assumes that only 50 per cent. of cross-border purchases of alcohol represent a loss of UK sales and duty; the other 50 per cent., is assumed to be additional spending associated with the lower prices on the continent. For tobacco, it is assumed that all cross-border shopping replaces UK sales. The calculation also requires assumptions about the average strength of alcohol purchased abroad and the average prices at which this alcohol or tobacco would have been sold in the UK.

  The omnibus survey does not identify how many trips are made for the primary purpose of purchasing alcohol or tobacco abroad.

  Public Supply Contracts
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to seek to raise the limit on the value of public supply contracts in excess of which EC directive 77/62/EEC as amended by 88/295/EEC applies. [14103]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Council directive 77/62/EEC, as subsequently amended, on the award of public supply contracts, has been replaced by Council directive 93/36/EEC. The Commission has proposed a marginal increase to align the threshold at which the directive applies with the multilateral Government procurement agreement under the World Trade Organisation that came into effect on 1 January 1996. My Department has no plans to seek a further increase but will wish to consider an impact assessment being undertaken for the Commission.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13836]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In the period from November 1995 to January 1996 there were two advertisements to recruit staff. One is to fill the post of head of internal audit, which may be filled at grade 5, 6 or 7 and the application process is currently on-going. The other was to fill economic adviser posts in a number of departments, including two Treasury grade 7 economist posts, for which there were 33 applications.

  European Monetary Institute
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the capital cost provided by the Bank of England toward the funding of the EMI, in total and annually including projected contributions to 2000; and if this will be refunded if a European central bank is created but Britain does not participate in a single currency. [13439]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Article 16 of the protocol on the statute of the European Monetary Institute, annexed to the EC treaty, provides for member states' central banks to make contributions towards the capital resources of the EMI. The Bank of England has contributed 94.5 million ecu—equivalent to £74.7 million at the time—towards the capital of the EMI. The Bank of England made its contributions to the EMI from its own resources and its share of the EMI's capital is one of its own assets.
  424
  Article 1091 of the treaty states that the EMI shall go into liquidation upon the establishment of the ECB— European central bank. The proceeds of the liquidation will be distributed to national central banks in the same proportion as capital was provided, under the terms of article 23 of the protocol. This procedure will apply whether or not the United Kingdom participates in the single currency.

  Suppliers Charter
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish a suppliers charter to ensure that(a) all suppliers and (b) small and medium enterprises have the opportunity to compete for the provision of goods and services in open competition. [14586]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury follows the good customer practice for Government relationships with suppliers. This is set out on page 41 of the White Paper "Setting New Standards, A Strategy for Government Procurement", published by HMSO in May 1995.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual limits below which no tax is paid on contributions for(a) employers' contributions and (b) employees' contributions to (i) executive pension plans, (ii) personal pension plans and (iii) small self-administered pension schemes. [14667]

  Mr. Jack
  In occupational pension schemes, which includes executive pension plans and small self-administered pension schemes, employee members may annually contribute up to 15 per cent. of their salary with tax relief. There is no specific limit on employer contributions, but they should not exceed the amount required to provide the benefits promised by the scheme.

  In personal pension plans, employee members may annually pay a percentage of their salary as follows:

  Age of member on first day of tax year

  Maximum percentage of salary payable

  35 or less

  17.5

  36–45

  20

  46–50

  25

  51–55

  30

  56–60

  35

  61–74

  40

  These annual limits for personal pension schemes may be increased by unused contributions relief from past tax years. Any employer contributions to personal pensions must, when aggregate with the employee's contribution fall within the above limits.

  Government Bonds (Payment)
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that a present purchaser of Her Majesty's Government's bonds with a redemption date after 1999 will receive payment in pound sterling. [13615]
  425
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The presidency conclusion from the European Council on 15 to 16 December 1995 in Madrid state that, on the assumption that the third stage of EMU starts on 1 January 1999, in participating member states,"by 1 January 2002 at the latest, public debt denominated in the former national currencies will be redeemable only in the single currency".
  426
  Protocol No. 11 annexed to the EC treaty means that the United Kingdom shall not be obliged or committed to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. We will agree to take part in the single currency only if it is in our national interest to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Visitors' Facilities
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission what new proposals he has to improve facilities for visitors to the House. [13049]

  Mr. Beith
  On 12 July 1994, the House approved a recommendation from the Catering Committee that the area currently occupied by the Westminster Hall cafeteria should be converted into a visitors' centre.

  Cleaning Contracts
  Mr. Key
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission which company holds the cleaning contract in respect of common areas, kitchens and men's and women's lavatories, and rooms other than Members and Members' staff rooms, at 7 Millbank; when it commenced; when it will terminate; what is its value; and if it was awarded by competitive tender. [14467]

  Mr. Beith
  The cleaning contract for the parliamentary estate, including 7 Millbank is held by ISS London Ltd. The contract commenced in August 1992 and will terminate in August 1997. The value of the contract is subject to commercial confidentiality, but the annual cost of contract cleaning at 7 Millbank, excluding the rooms of Members and their staff, is £190,000. The contract was awarded by competitive tender.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in each Department of the House during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have been applied for each such job. [13894]

  Mr. Beith
  In the three months ending 31 January 1996 details of recruitment exercises held to fill vacancies in Departments of the House, together with the number of applicants for each, are as follows:

  Vacancy

  Department

  Number of applications

  Legal Assistant (Grade 8–10)

  Clerk's

  48

  Secretary (Grade 3)

  Serjeant at Arms

  33

  Network Planning Officer (Grade 7)

  Serjeant at Arms

  24

  Doorkeeper (Grade 12)

  Serjeant at Arms

  1,002

  Word Processing Assistant (Grade 13)

  Official Report

  66

  Foreman (DELI)

  Parliamentary Works Directorate

  6

  Fitter (DEL3)

  Parliamentary Works Directorate

  18

  Storekeeper (DEL4)

  Parliamentary Works Directorate

  14

  Craft Auxiliary (DEL6)

  Parliamentary Works Directorate

  5

  Heating Attendant (DEL6)

  Parliamentary Works Directorate

  19

  Assistant Financial Controller (Grade 10)

  Refreshment

  13

  Income Control Clerk (Grade 13)

  Refreshment

  5

  428

  Vacancy

  Department

  Number of applications

  Food and Beverage Control Clerk (Grade 13)

  Refreshment

  14

  Chefs (7 vacancies)

  Refreshment

  28

  Westminster Hall (Media Use)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will assess the advantages of allowing live media use of Westminster Hall. [13054]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The authorities controlling Westminster Hall have already agreed that permission may be granted to film interviews in the Hall before 9.30 am on sitting Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and during recesses.

  Filming is also permitted in any of the six interview rooms off the Hall, and in the Jubilee Room.

  Photocopiers
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what are the rules governing the use of photocopiers owned and maintained by the House authorities; what assessment he has made of the extent to which photocopiers are being used to excess; and what measures are being pursued to prevent such abuses. [13051]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Photocopiers owned and maintained by the House are intended for use by hon. Members in connection with their parliamentary duties. They are not intended to be used for work in connection with hon. Members' party political or non-parliamentary work outside Parliament. Detailed guidance on their use is given in a notice adjacent to each photocopier.

  As a result of a recent study into control systems to prevent abuse of photocopying facilities, the Administration Committee approved a trial of overprinted photocopy paper in 7 Millbank, to run from the return of the House from the Christmas adjournment, until its rise for the Easter adjournment. The results will then be considered in order to establish what effect the introduction of this paper has had on consumption, and will enable the Committee to decide on any further action.

  Catering Facilities
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what plans he has to upgrade catering facilities for visitors to the Palace of Westminster. [13052]

  Sir Colin Shepherd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 15 January,Official Report, column 350.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what additional provision he plans to make for additional catering facilities at the House of Commons in the next financial year. [13056]

  Sir Colin Shepherd
  There are no additional catering facilities planned in the next financial year.
  429
  However, the refurbishment of existing outlets will continue, which will update and improve the facilities currently available to hon. Members and all others who work in the Palace.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will make a statement on the measures taken to combat the presence of Legionnaires' disease. [13060]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave on 15 January,Official Report column 350.

  EU Decision Making
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to improve parliamentary scrutiny of European Union decision making; and if he will make a statement. [13064]

  Mr. Newton
  Scrutiny procedures are kept under review, but I have no specific plans for change at present. Careful consideration will be given to any proposals emerging from the Select Committee on European Legislation intergovernmental conference inquiry.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 15 January,Official Report column 365, what factors preclude him from setting up a Select Committee on the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [13063]

  Mr. Newton
  There have already been a number of investigations and inquiries including the fatal accident inquiry, the Transport Select Committee and the US presidential commission. It is difficult to see what further areas a Select Committee on the destruction of Pan Am 103 could look at without encroaching on evidence which can properly be addressed only in the context of a criminal trial of the two Libyans accused.

  All-night Sittings
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many all-night sittings there have been in the period since the Jopling report recommendations were introduced. [13062]

  Mr. Newton
  None.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which is his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14037]

  Mr. Boswell
  In accordance with paragraph 3(ii) of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", we have already made available the great majority of the Ministry's administrative guidelines on our dealings with the public. These are as listed. The remainder, some 430
  chapters in the "Instructions for Regional Service Centres and Instructions for Veterinary Officers", will be made available as soon as possible.

  Where guidance contains information which should properly be kept confidential under the code, relevant sections have been removed and each has been marked to this effect.

  Guidelines released to date:

  Instruction on period to be allowed for public consultation exercises.

  Aide-Memoire on open government.

  Control manuals for the UKROFS certification system.

  Operating manual for the UKROFS certification scheme for organic food production.

  Guidance for dealing with complaints received by the MAFF consumer helpline.

  Checklist for dealing with applications for export certificates for food additives.

  Desk instructions for processing applications for certificates for exports of animal feedingstuffs, feed additives, fertilisers and related products.

  Desk instructions on the fishing vessels decommissioning scheme 1994.

  Desk instructions for handling harbours legislation.

  Instructions for dealing with the fishing vessel safety improvements grants scheme 1993.

  Classification of shellfish production and relaying areas.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act licensing.

  Internal instructions for dealing with the monitoring for algal toxins.

  Several regulating orders.

  Instructions (for the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate) for dealing with sea fish licensing in "Community" waters.

  Handbook for nuclear accident response.

  HMI instruction manual for dealing with quality standards for fruit and vegetables.

  Library procedures manual.

  D3/94: "Library Visitors".

  D2/94: "Handling Enquiries from the Public".

  Land use planning handbook.

  Desk instructions for dealing with the processing of licences for deposits at sea including burial under Food and Environment Protection Act.

  Guide for enforcement of the Dumping at Sea Act 1974—version 2 (January 1985).

  Divisional desk instructions for dealing with the marketing development scheme.

  Desk instructions for dealing with the processing and marketing grant scheme.

  Instructions on the operating of the egg marketing regulation.

  Instructions on the operation of the hatching eggs and chicks regulation.

  Desk instructions for issuing of licences to import and/or retain prohibited plant material etc. under the provisions of the Plant Health (GB) Order 1993.

  Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate (PHSI) handbook.

  Desk instructions for issuing phystosanitary certificates for export of plant products to third countries.

  Desk instructions on the handling of applications for plant breeders' rights and national listing.

  Desk instructions for processing applications under the postgraduate agricultural and food studentship scheme.

  431

  The introduction of fish from other member states, the licensing of live fish imports from third countries and movements of dead fish and fish viscera.

  Desk instructions on licensing live fish and shellfish imports from third countries.

  Assessment handbook: "Methods for the Assessment of the potential Impact of Authorised Disposal of Radioactive Waste into the Atmosphere".

  Food and agriculture radioactivity monitoring programme 1995 (FARM) 1995—analytical requirements.

  Radioactivity monitoring: TRAMP and FARM sampling requirements 1995.

  Terrestrial Radiological monitoring programme (TRAMP) procedures document.

  Instructions for veterinary officers and local veterinary inspectors (part released).

  Regional service centre instructions relating to:

  Misuse of pesticides (ENV 15).

  Destruction of moles by Strychnine (ENV 11).

  Agricultural wages enforcement (GEN 5).

  Apple orchard grubbing up scheme (GRA 21).

  IACS (GEN 19).

  Habitat scheme (GRA 30).

  Beef special premium scheme (LIV 12).

  ALT land drainage cases (GEN 14).

  Terrestrial radioactivity monitoring programme (TRAMP) (ENV 16).

  Agricultural wages committees (GEN 4).

  Agricultural dwelling house advisory committees (GEN 9).

  Environmentally sensitive areas (GRA 8).

  Environmental pollution (ENV 5).

  (New) Nitrate sensitive areas (GRA 29).

  Pilot nitrate sensitive areas (GRA 20).

  Sheep annual premium scheme (LIV 1).

  Hill livestock compensatory allowances (HLCS's) 1988–93 (LIV 2).

  Hill livestock compensatory allowances 1994 (LIV 11).

  Suckler cow premium scheme (LIV 8).

  Refund on starch used in the manufacture of approved products (IB 38).

  The declared stocks scheme for barley and malt (IB 8).

  Support buying and sale of cereals (IB 1).

  Farm woodland premium scheme (GRA 24).

  Agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme (AHCS) (GRA 5).

  Aid for concentrated grape must: Sampling and testing procedures (IB 29).

  Certification scheme for hops and hop products.

  Apple orchard grubbing up scheme 1994–95 (GRA 33).

  Intervention arrangements—fresh fruit and vegetables (IB 2).

  Short term lettings and licences (GEN 10).

  Infestation control mammals and birds: badgers—licensing arrangements (ENV 17).

  Rabbits (ENV 12).

  Non-indigenous species (ENV 14).

  Licensing procedures for the killing or taking of wild birds (ENV 10).

  Infestation control mammals and birds: legislation (ENV 9).

  Infestation control mammals and birds: introduction (ENV 8).

  Infestation control mammals and birds: deer (ENV 13).

  SLOM II (LIV 7).

  432

  Aid for Liquid Skimmed Milk, Buttermilk for use as stockfeed (IB 15).

  Milk supplementary levy (IB 33).

  SLOM III (LIV 9).

  Milk supplementary levy: temporary reallocation of quota arising from herd movements restrictions (MIL 8).

  SLOM compensation (LIV 10).

  Statistics: Agricultural censuses and surveys (GEN 6).

  Dehydrated fodder (IB 5).

  Aid for refining raw cane sugar (IB 41).

  Olive oil consumption aid (IB 32).

  Flax and hemp subsidy (IB 7).

  Isoglucose production levy (IB 30).

  Consultants (Expenditure)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 for the use of consultants in each of these years. [11351]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 25 January 1996]: Expenditure on consultants in the financial year 1979–80 could be provided only at disproportionate expense. Expenditure in each of the other years concerned was as follows:

  Financial year

  Expenditure (£)

  1989–90

  2,972,150

  1991–92

  5,374,284

  1993–94

  13,071,785

  1994–95

  12,259,782

  1995–96 (to date)

  10,245,969

  1995–96 (whole year estimated)

  14,736,635

  1996–97 (estimated)

  11,328,389

  These figures exclude the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Meat Hygiene Service, which will be submitting separate replies.

  It is not possible to quantify savings accruing from this expenditure, since most of the benefits derive from new systems and working methods, and from the consultants' expertise in certain fields, in which permanent staff do not have the necessary knowledge and experience.

  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 26 January 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about expenditure on external consultants by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for 1979–80 and each year since 1989–90, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  The Directorate was established as a Next Steps Agency on 2 April 1990 and did not maintain its own accounts until 1991–92.
  433
  Details of expenditure on external consultants since that date are as follows:

  1991–92: £ 5,869

  1992–93: £ 41,272

  1993–94: £ 34,281

  1994–95: £ 12,705

  1995–96: £ 4,042 (to date)

  1995–96: £ 5,500 (Forecast)

  1996–97: £ 6,000 (Forecast)

  It is not possible to quantify savings accruing from this expenditure, since most of the benefits derive from new systems and working methods and from the consultants expertise in certain fields, in which permanent staff do not have the necessary knowledge and experience.

  Number imported

  Dead on arrival

  Percentage

  Dead in quarantine

  Percentage

  1988

  184,577

  4,732

  2.56

  20,619

  11.17

  1989

  184,601

  4,015

  2.17

  19,471

  10.55

  1990

  175,967

  3,543

  2.01

  18,138

  10.31

  1991

  129,490

  3,444

  2.66

  15,734

  12.15

  1992

  94,927

  3,573

  3.76

  9,506

  10.01

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three

  Casual

  Permanent

  Grade

  Number of posts

  Number of applicants

  Number of posts

  Number of applicants

  Grade 6

  —

  —

  1

  16

  Higher Scientific Officer/Senior Scientific Officer

  —

  —

  4

  691

  Scientific Officer/Higher Scientific Officer

  —

  —

  2

  38

  Horticultural Marketing Inspector

  —

  —

  8

  146

  Animal Health Officer

  —

  —

  2

  172

  Scientific Officer

  —

  —

  1

  26

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  2

  123

  —

  —

  Technical Grade II

  —

  —

  1

  7

  Administrative Officer

  6

  367

  1

  12

  Administrative Assistant

  236

  840

  4

  202

  Typist

  5

  17

  —

  —

  Support Grade Band I

  1

  11

  4

  31

  Support Grade Band II

  23

  101

  1

  4

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13829]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information in respect of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments is in the table.

  1. Permanent non-industrial staff, figures for October-December 1995

  Grade

  Number of posts advertised

  Number of applicants

  Grade 5: Chief Executive, Business Development Service

  1

  31

  Imported Animals and Birds
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list mortalities amongst wild birds imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1989. [8776]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: Mortality statistics for wild birds imported into the UK have been published for the years 1988 and 1992 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. A summary of the results is set out. Statistics for 1993 and 1994 are in preparation and these will also be placed in the Library as soon as they are published.

  months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13834]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of jobs advertised by his Department by grade during the last three months, and the number of applicants for each job, is as follows:

  1. Permanent non-industrial staff, figures for October-December 1995

  Grade

  Number of posts advertised

  Number of applicants

  Grade 6/5: Business Co-operation Manager

  1

  90

  Grade 6: Divisional Water Manager

  1

  28

  Grade 7: Accountant

  1

  18

  Grade 7: Corporate Finance Director

  3

  30

  DP: Assistant Corporate Finance Executive

  3

  26

  DP: Accountant

  1

  18

  SO: Accountant

  2

  2

  Senior Scientific Officer: Ruminant Nutrition Research

  1

  15

  Senior Scientific Officer: Pig Production Research

  1

  10

  Higher Scientific Officer: Food Chemistry

  1

  14

  435

  1. Permanent non-industrial staff, figures for October-December 1995

  Grade

  Number of posts advertised

  Number of applicants

  Scientific Officer: Information and Library

  1

  42

  Scientific Officer: Marine Biologist

  1

  120

  Lecturer in Equine Studies

  1

  26

  Legal Assistant

  1

  39

  Law Clerk

  1

  46

  Graduate Trainee Civil Engineer

  4

  165

  Graduate Trainee Electrical Engineer

  1

  37

  Stores Officer Grade C

  1

  46

  Management Trainee

  Up to 20

  1,964

  Support Grade Band 2: Laboratory Attendant

  2

  42

  2. Casual and Industrial Staff, figures for November 1995-January 1996

  Grade

  Number of posts advertised

  Number of applicants

  Casual Administrative Assistant

  55

  499

  Casual Administrative Assistant

  1Not specified

  1,028

  Casual Assistant Scientific Officer

  4

  33

  Casual Support Grade Band 2: Laboratory Attendant

  12

  25

  Casual Support Grade Band 2

  1Not specified

  221

  Casual Inspector Group 1

  15

  27

  Casual Inspector Grade III/IV

  9

  66

  Temporary Instructional Officer

  1

  5

  Part-time Medical Referee

  1Not specified

  51

  Sessional Inspector

  1Not specified

  20

  Sessional Health Education Nurse:

  Grade D

  1Not specified

  41

  Casual Typist

  1Not specified

  24

  Casual Contractor

  1Not specified

  54

  Miscellaneous Industrial Posts

  32 Permanent

  12 Casual

  301

  Casual Typist

  2

  16

  Ranger

  1

  3

  Water Operator

  3

  6

  Road Worker

  5

  79

  Motor Mechanic

  2

  2

  Fitter

  1

  4

  1DHSS and NIO advertised periodically to create a pool of suitable candidates.

  Water Leakage
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made over the last five years of leakage from the public water supply on a comparable basis with those figures that have been produced by the privatised water companies in England and Wales. [13422]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 6 February 1996]: Losses from the public water distribution system in Northern Ireland are currently estimated to be 9.5 cu m per kilometre of main per day. This is in the mid range of figures issued by Ofwat for England and Wales. Earlier leakage assessments for Northern Ireland were not made on the comparative basis issued by Ofwat.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [11426]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information on all travel, accommodation and other associated expenses of Northern Ireland Departments is listed.

  £000s

  1979–80: n/a

  1989–90: 8,7581

  1991–92: 13,744

  1993–94: 15,207

  1994–95: 14,204

  1995–96: 15,798

  1996–97: 4,6572

  Note:

  1 Information not available in DHSS and DANI.

  2 Excludes DED, DOE and DHSS as budgets have not yet been agreed.

  Information on the Northern Ireland Office is not included.

  Information on non-departmental public bodies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  River Maine (Pollution)
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what attempts have been made by the fishery division to investigate the damage inflicted on the River Maine system by pollution. [13203]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 5 February 1996]: The statutory responsibility for investigating damage inflicted on water courses by pollution incidents lies with the Department of the Environment. The Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland, acting as agents for the DOE, investigated a total of 29 reported incidents of pollution in the River Maine and its tributaries in 1995. As a result five prosecutions are pending and 12 warning letters were issued.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the expenditure on regional selective assistance offers accepted by companies in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94 and (d) 1994–95, the proportion of regional selective assistance expenditure on foreign-owned firms and regional selective assistance expenditure per employee in manufacturing. [12701]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: In Northern Ireland selective financial assistance is administered by the Industrial Development Board and the local enterprise development unit. The information set out in the following tables shows the value of SFA offers

  437
  accepted, total expenditure to date under such offers, the proportion paid to foreign-owned firms, and expenditure per employee in manufacturing industry.

  Selective financial assistance

  Industrial Development Board

  Value of SFA offers accepted in each year (£ million)

  Payments to date under those offers (£ million)

  Percentage of payments by value made to foreign owned firms

  1991–92

  64.34

  30.29

  37

  1992–93

  95.12

  46.74

  63

  1993–94

  127.08

  64.23

  49

  1994–95

  102.14

  26.26

  36

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  Value of SFA offers accepted in each year (£ million)

  Payments to date under those offers (£ million)

  payments by value made to foreign owned firms

  1991–92

  not available

  not available

  nil

  1992–93

  not available

  not available

  nil

  1993–94

  19.54

  10.58

  nil

  1994–95

  21.93

  10.62

  nil

  Foreign-owned firms are those whose country of ownership is outside the United Kingdom.

  The average selective financial assistance expenditure to date per employee in manufacturing was £732 in respect of the 1993–94 offers and £355 in respect of the 1994–95 offers.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Student Funding (North Yorkshire)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students received funding from the North Yorkshire county council for courses outside the county in 1994 and 1995. [14238]

  Mr. Forth
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  In the academic year 1993–94, the latest year for which data are available, North Yorkshire local education authority made 12,380 mandatory awards and 230 discretionary awards to higher education students and 5,880 discretionary awards to students on courses of further education. Information on the place of study is not collected by the Department for these award holders.

  Information Technology
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 285, if the current survey into IT provision will list information relating to (a) the number of schools and pupils with access to the Internet, (b) the number of schools with a local area network, (c) the number of CD-ROM machines in each school and (d) the number and type of computers available to pupils in their home. [14197]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The survey will collect information on access to the Internet, the number of computers linked by internal networks and the number of computers with 438
  CD-ROM drives. No information is being collected on computers used by pupils at home. Information on the number of households with home computers is collected by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on the general household survey and published in "Social Trends".

  Benefit Agency Staff (Safety)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will carry out an audit of safety for staff working in Government benefit agencies throughout the country. [14050]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Ms Joan Walley, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about safety for staff working in government benefit agencies.
  I can confirm that all of our offices carry out regular risk assessments that take account of all known risks that arise out of our work. These include customer aggression, general office hazards and use of display screen equipment.
  All assessments are reviewed regularly through our normal safety inspection procedures.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Education Funding (Warwickshire)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment pursuant to her answer of 2 February,Official Report, columns 982–83, (1) what proportion of the figure of £52,239,000 is apportioned to schools in Warwickshire; [14265]

  (2) how much is spent by Warwickshire local education authority in administration; and if this is additional to the figure of £52,239,000. [14266]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The figure of £52,239,000 quoted in my answer of 2 February,Official Report, columns 982–83, is taken from the authority's 1995–96 local management of schools budget statement and, as such, relates wholly to schools covered by the authority's LMS scheme. Within that total the budget head "management and administration" accounts for £2,924,000.

  Figures for expenditure on administration outside the general schools budget for 1995–96 are not yet available.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy that jobcentres should identify to hon. Members companies using the jobcentre services. [14090]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from. Mike Fogden to Mr. Denis McShane, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking if she will make it her policy that Jobcentres should disclose to honourable Members the companies using the Jobcentre services.

  439
  The Employment Service treats information provided by companies using our services as confidential and will only use such information for the purpose it was provided. In the case of vacancies, the information is used in discussion with interested applicants. The Employment Service will not disclose information from companies for other purposes without informing them of the nature of any request and obtaining their permission.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the estimated cost(a) to each local education authority in England and (b) nationally of a 3.8 per cent. increase in teachers' pay in 1996–97. [14480]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total estimated cost in England of a teachers' pay increase in 1996–97 of 3.8 per cent. is around £395 million. The following table illustrates the cost of such an award by updating the 1993–94 expenditure recorded by local education authorities in England for teaching staff salaries in nursery, primary, secondary and special schools by the teachers' pay awards of 2.9 per cent. in 1994–95 and 2.7 per cent. in 1995–96 and an increase of 3.8 per cent. in 1996–97. The 1993–94 expenditure figures are the latest available for local education authority maintained schools in England. The figures in the table take no account of changes in teacher numbers or other factors that affect the teachers' pay bill.

  LEA expenditure on teachers' salaries

  Per-Primary and Primary, Secondary and Special Schools

  1993–94 (actual) £000

  1994–95 increase (2.9 per cent.) £000

  1995–96 increase (2.7 per cent.) £000

  1996–97 increase (3.8 per cent.) £000

  Corporation of London

  378

  11

  11

  15

  Camden

  37,774

  1,095

  1,049

  1,517

  Greenwich

  53,751

  1,559

  1,493

  2,159

  Hackney

  41,871

  1,214

  1,163

  1,681

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  25,087

  728

  697

  1,007

  Islington

  37,294

  1,082

  1,036

  1,498

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15,922

  462

  442

  639

  Lambeth

  39,698

  1,151

  1,103

  1,594

  Lewisham

  43,235

  1,254

  1,201

  1,736

  Southwark

  38,056

  1,104

  1,057

  1,528

  Tower Hamlets

  58,012

  1,682

  1,612

  2,330

  Wandsworth

  31,532

  914

  876

  1,266

  City of Westminster

  30,151

  874

  838

  1,211

  Barking

  34,487

  1,000

  958

  1,385

  Barnet

  55,491

  1,609

  1,542

  2,228

  Bexley

  40,962

  1,188

  1,138

  1,645

  Brent

  39,613

  1,149

  1,101

  1,591

  Bromley

  35,283

  1,023

  980

  1,417

  Croydon

  51,278

  1,487

  1,425

  2,059

  Ealing

  46,119

  1,337

  1,281

  1,852

  Enfield

  51,873

  1,504

  1,441

  2,083

  Haringey

  48,595

  1,409

  1,350

  1,951

  Harrow

  38,702

  1,122

  1,075

  1,554

  Havering

  41,677

  1,209

  1,158

  1,674

  Hillingdon

  26,648

  773

  740

  1,070

  Hounslow

  46,927

  1,361

  1,304

  1,884

  Kingston Upon Thames

  21,879

  634

  608

  879

  Merton

  33,279

  965

  925

  1,336

  Newham

  54,533

  1,581

  1,515

  2,190

  Redbridge

  49,548

  1,437

  1,377

  1,990

  Richmond Upon Thames

  25,724

  746

  715

  1,033

  440

  LEA expenditure on teachers' salaries

  Per-Primary and Primary, Secondary and Special Schools

  1993–94 (actual) £000

  1994–95 increase (2.9 per cent.) £000

  1995–96 increase (2.7 per cent.) £000

  1996–97 increase (3.8 per cent.) £000

  Sutton

  22,531

  653

  626

  905

  Waltham Forest

  46,867

  1,359

  1,302

  1,882

  Birmingham

  211,785

  6,142

  5,884

  8,505

  Coventry

  69,840

  2,025

  1,940

  2,805

  Dudley

  55,540

  1,611

  1,543

  2,230

  Sandwell

  66,061

  1,916

  1,835

  2,653

  Solihull

  41,921

  1,216

  1,165

  1,683

  Walsall

  55,669

  1,614

  1,547

  2,236

  Wolverhampton

  53,635

  1,555

  1,490

  2,154

  Knowsley

  34,935

  1,013

  971

  1,403

  Liverpool

  104,939

  3,043

  2,916

  4,214

  St. Helens

  39,149

  1,135

  1,088

  1,572

  Sefton

  57,370

  1,664

  1,594

  2,304

  Wirral

  69,278

  2,009

  1,925

  2,782

  Bolton

  54,728

  1,587

  1,521

  2,198

  Bury

  33,505

  972

  931

  1,345

  Manchester

  91,541

  2,655

  2,543

  3,676

  Oldham

  56,483

  1,638

  1,569

  2,268

  Rochdale

  39,389

  1,142

  1,094

  1,582

  Salford

  47,641

  1,382

  1,324

  1,913

  Stockport

  53,551

  1,553

  1,488

  2,150

  Tameside

  39,501

  1,146

  1,097

  1,586

  Trafford

  36,262

  1,052

  1,007

  1,456

  Wigan

  66,655

  1,933

  1,852

  2,677

  Barnsley

  41,363

  1,200

  1,149

  1,661

  Doncaster

  62,198

  1,804

  1,728

  2,498

  Rotherham

  58,540

  1,698

  1,626

  2,351

  Sheffield

  92,046

  2,669

  2,557

  3,696

  Bradford

  109,072

  3,163

  3,030

  4,380

  Calderdale

  37,935

  1,100

  1,054

  1,523

  Kirklees

  81,076

  2,351

  2,253

  3,256

  Leeds

  146,072

  4,236

  4,058

  5,866

  Wakefield

  63,131

  1,831

  1,754

  2,535

  Gateshead

  40,458

  1,173

  1,124

  1,625

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  53,518

  1,552

  1,487

  2,149

  North Tyneside

  40,501

  1,175

  1,125

  1,626

  South Tyneside

  31,493

  913

  875

  1,265

  Sunderland

  65,654

  1,904

  1,824

  2,637

  Isles of Scilly

  608

  18

  17

  24

  Avon

  177,289

  5,141

  4,926

  7,120

  Bedfordshire

  105,301

  3,054

  2,926

  4,229

  Berkshire

  135,540

  3,931

  3,766

  5,443

  Buckinghamshire

  112,209

  3,254

  3,118

  4,506

  Cambridgeshire

  103,041

  2,988

  2,863

  4,138

  Cheshire

  185,457

  5,378

  5,153

  7,448

  Cleveland

  124,442

  3,609

  3,457

  4,997

  Cornwall

  86,653

  2,513

  2,407

  3,480

  Cumbria

  88,947

  2,579

  2,471

  3,572

  Derbyshire

  168,175

  4,877

  4,672

  6,754

  Devon

  175,999

  5,104

  4,890

  7,068

  Dorset

  98,186

  2,847

  2,278

  3,943

  Durham

  120,743

  3,502

  3,355

  4,849

  East Sussex

  116,123

  3,368

  3,226

  4,663

  Essex

  211,358

  6,129

  5,872

  8,488

  Gloucestershire

  74,050

  2,147

  2,057

  2,974

  Hampshire

  256,960

  7,452

  7,139

  10,319

  Hereford and Worcester

  128,339

  3,722

  3,566

  5,154

  Hertfordshire

  186,227

  5,401

  5,174

  7,487

  Humberside

  177,122

  5,137

  4,921

  7,113

  Isle of Wight

  24,264

  704

  674

  974

  Kent

  227,895

  6,609

  6,332

  9,152

  Lancashire

  294,517

  8,541

  8,183

  11,827

  Leicestershire

  18,004

  5,365

  5,140

  7,429

  Lincolnshire

  88,099

  2,555

  2,448

  3,538

  441

  LEA expenditure on teachers' salaries

  Per-Primary and Primary, Secondary and Special Schools

  1993–94 (actual) £000

  1994–95 increase (2.9 per cent.) £000

  1995–96 increase (2.7 per cent.) £000

  1996–97 increase (3.8 per cent.) £000

  Norfolk

  124,807

  3,619

  3,468

  5,012

  North Yorkshire

  138,958

  4,030

  3,861

  5,580

  Northamptonshire

  109,086

  3,163

  3,031

  4,381

  Northumberland

  62,398

  1,810

  1,734

  2,506

  Nottinghamshire

  204,137

  5,920

  5,672

  8,198

  Oxfordshire

  105,430

  3,057

  2,929

  4,234

  Shropshire

  79,422

  2,303

  2,207

  3,189

  Somerset

  84,749

  2,458

  2.355

  3,403

  Staffordshire

  193,818

  5,621

  5,385

  7,783

  Suffolk

  130,118

  3,773

  3,615

  5,225

  Surrey

  143,690

  4,167

  3,992

  5,770

  Warwickshire

  90,965

  2,638

  2,527

  3,653

  West Sussex

  128,568

  3,728

  3,572

  5,163

  Wiltshire

  96,340

  2,794

  2,677

  3,869

  Teachers' Pensions
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was the total amount paid in pension contributions(a) by employers of teachers in the public sector and (b) by teachers; [14810]

  (2) if she will estimate the cost of the pensions of teachers in the public sector for the current year. [14790]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total amounts paid in pension contributions to the teachers' superannuation scheme during 1994–95 were £971,009,000 by teachers' employers and £687,743,000 by teachers. The cost of pensions for teachers in the teachers' superannuation scheme, as measured by the most recent approved estimate for gross expenditure for 1995–96 on the teachers' superannuation vote is £2,952,145,000.

  Access to Work
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has had on the decision to limit the access to work scheme announced in her answer on 14 December,Official Report, column 738; and if she will make a statement. [14137]

  Mr. Paice
  Since the announcement about access to work, made on 14 December by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, we have received requests for further clarification of the announcement; expressions of concern about the immediate measures taken and about the level of planned expenditure for 1996–97 and requests for information about the review of the programme and its future operation.

  Nursery Inspectors
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for nursery inspectors to be required to undergo police checks. [14771]
  442
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Subject to parliamentary approval, it will be for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools to recruit, train and register funded nursery education inspectors. This Department will agree with the chief inspector general criteria relating to suitability.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what instructions jobcentre staff receive about reporting employers to the Equal Opportunities Commission when there has been no complaint of sex discrimination. [14501]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Barry Field, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what instructions Jobcentre staff receive about reporting employers to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) when there has been no complaint of sex discrimination.
  It may be helpful if I begin by explaining that both employers and the Employment Service (ES) are required to operate within the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Acts 1975 and 1986. Whilst doing all we can to help employers fill their vacancies, the ES is required to challenge any indication that an employer may be seeking to recruit unlawfully. In the first instance, my people would attempt to resolve the matter by explaining what the law requires and asking the employer to reconsider their recruitment practices. Where instances of this sort cannot be resolved by the ES in that way, details are referred to the EOC for their consideration.
  I should also stress that my people at Jobcentres run the risk of being a party to discrimination if they display a vacancy for an employer who has indicated they intend unlawfully to discriminate against a job applicant. This position is not affected by the absence of a complaint by a jobseeker.
  I hope this helps to clarify the position.

DEFENCE

  Joint Service Command and Staff College
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what(a) was his original estimate and (b) is his current estimate of the total cost of locating the new joint service command and staff college at Camberley; [14421]

  (2) when his Department concluded that the works programme for the new joint service command and staff college would be delayed; and what reasons were given; [14422]

  (3) what studies his Department has commissioned to investigate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of locating the new joint service command and staff college at Camberley; from whom; and at what cost; [14423]

  (4) if he has commissioned studies investigating the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of locating the new joint service command and staff college elsewhere than Camberley; from whom; and at what cost; [14424]
  443
  (5) what is his estimate of the financial involvement expected from the private sector in the provision of accommodation and services for the new joint service command and staff college; [14425]

  (6) what sites in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales he has examined as possible locations for the joint service command and staff college; [14426]

  (7) how many proposals he has received for alternative locations for the joint service command and staff college; [14427]

  (8) what is his estimate of the financial cost of the delay to the works programme for the new joint service command and staff college. [14428]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: My Department has examined in detail the Royal Naval college Greenwich, the Army staff college at Camberley and RAF Bracknell as potential locations for the joint service command and staff college.

  The estimated cost of establishing a JSCSC at Camberley, which I placed in the Library of the House on 31 March 1995 following the consultation period, was £208 million over 25 years at net present value. Our current estimate of the costs, on a comparable basis, is some £239 million.

  The increase in estimated cost is principally me result of an increase in student numbers—from 312 to 367 on the main course—IT and academic support. These changes would be applicable to the JSCSC irrespective of its location, so the conclusion that Camberley is the most cost-effective and appropriate of the sites examined remains robust.

  By bringing to the project private sector skills and disciplines, we expect to make significant savings over the current estimate. No proposals exploring the feasibility of alternative locations for the JSCSC have yet been received, nor will we be able to estimate the financial involvement from the private sector until we have received expressions of interest, for which we will advertise shortly.

  In September 1995, we received the initial report from the works project manager and subsequently concluded that the works programme for the JSCSC buildings could not realistically be completed by September 1997.

  We have since commissioned work to examine how staff training would best be delivered until the main works programme is complete. We have examined Queen Elizabeth Park barracks at Guildford and the royal military academy Sandhurst as possible options for an interim site for the JSCSC as well as split site options, but work to date indicates that RAF Bracknell is likely to be the most appropriate and cost-effective temporary site.

  There will be some additional costs in establishing the JSCSC at an interim site and I will publish these once the formal appraisal of the options is complete. It will, however, enable us to avoid delay in introducing this key change to officer training, and, on current evidence, is also likely to be significantly cheaper than running on the existing staff colleges.
  444
  Details of the studies into the JSCSC are as follows:

  £ thousand

  Subject

  Consultant

  Cost

  JSCSC options study locations for JSCSC

  Building design partnership

  43

  Further investigations of Camberley site

  Building design partnership

  10

  Detailed work to develop JSCSC proposals at Camberley

  White Young (works project manager)

  328

  Site options within Camberley for junior college

  Cecil Denny Heighton

  12

  Options for interim sites (not yet complete)

  Campbell Reith Hill

  115

  1 Estimate.

  Royal Flights
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of the sum spent by his Department on royal flights in civil aircraft in 1994–95. [14894]

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry of Defence arranges commercial air travel for certain members of the royal family where such travel is made on official business and where a commercial aircraft would provide a more appropriate form of transport than a military aircraft. The details for 1994–95 are:

  Destination

  Cost £

  Member of the Royal Family

  Brasilia

  127,545

  HRH The Prince of Wales

  Zimbabwe

  23,245

  HRH The Princess of Wales

  Geneva

  21,445

  HRH The Princess of Wales

  Los Angeles and Hong Kong

  82,410

  HRH The Prince of Wales

  Japan

  324,906

  HRH The Prince of Wales

  Total

  4160,000

  HRH The Princess of Wales

  1 Relates to a visit made in an earlier financial year.

  2 Amount covers 2 separate visits.

  3 Amount covers the outward leg of the journey only. Payment for the return leg will fall in financial year 1995–96.

  4 Rounded to nearest £ thousand

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which members of the Government used the services of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron in 1994–95 and the Queen's Flight in 1993–94. [14812]

  Mr. Soames
  The following members of the Government used the services of the Queen's Flight in financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95:

  1993–94

  Prime Minister;

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs;

  Secretary of State for Defence;

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;

  Minister of State for Defence Procurement;

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence.

  445

  1994–95

  Prime Minister;

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs;

  Secretary of State for Defence;

  Secretary of state for Northern Ireland;

  Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

  No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron was not formed until 1 April 1995.

  Munitions Exports (Form F680)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature and number of missiles and munitions involved and their destination country, together with the country named as an end user on each occasion Ministers or officials in his Department signed form F680 since 1985 covering the export of munitions or missiles having either a nuclear conversion capability or a nuclear engineered version. [14856]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 7 February,Official Report, columns 247–48.

  Unexploded Bombs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the procedures to be followed by construction companies on(a) private sector building contracts and (b) Government contracts, when they discover unexploded bombs and other ordnance material in the course of excavation or other work; and if he will make a statement. [14303]

  Mr. Soames
  Any building contractor discovering a suspected piece of unexploded ordnance should immediately contact the local police, who, after conducting a risk assessment, will request assistance from the joint services EOD operations centre at Didcot. A service explosive ordnance team will be tasked to deal with the item.

  International Criminal Tribunal
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops serving with the implementation force are under orders to co-operate with the international criminal tribunal; if this co-operation extends to(a) searching for, (b) reporting, (c) detaining and (d) handing over any persons suspected of committing crimes within the jurisdiction of the tribunal; and if he will make a statement. [14315]

  Mr. Soames
  NATO and IFOR fully support the efforts of the United Nations tribunal, which is responsible for investigating war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and bringing to justice those individuals indicted by the tribunal. IFOR has clear instructions to pass on to the tribunal any information it acquires about indicted war criminals, to detain any such individuals encountered during operations and to transfer them immediately to the tribunal. It is not part of IFOR's mandate to search for these individuals. The chief prosecutor of the tribunal has said that he is satisfied with the level of support offered by IFOR and has agreed that this should be provided within the limits of its mandate and available resources.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what countries(a) the Ranger or (b) the Barmine mine systems have been exported. [14556]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It remains Government policy normally not to reveal details of specific exports. However, we have not exported land mines for over a decade.

  Asbestos
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to expedite the processing of compensation claims relating to asbestos injuries relating to the work of his Department. [14349]

  Mr. Soames
  Claims for compensation from MOD civilian employees, both past and present, for asbestos-related illness are dealt with on our behalf by an insurance company. Neither the company nor the Ministry of Defence is aware of any unwarranted delay in settling these claims. However, if the hon. Member has specific cases in mind I should be glad to take them up.

  Bosnia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the costs incurred by his Department in chartering merchant vessels to transport British troops and equipment to the IFOR operation in Bosnia. [14602]

  Mr. Soames
  The cost of chartering merchant vessels for the IFOR operation is £483,599.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by name of vessel and flag of registration the merchant vessels chartered by his Department to transport British troops and equipment to the IFOR operation in Bosnia. [14603]

  Mr. Soames
  The names and flags of registration of merchant vessels chartered for the IFOR operation are as follows:

  Yuriy Maksaryov: Ukrainian

  Elein K: Cypriot

  Women Officers (Pregnancy)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost to public funds to date of compensating serving women who lost their service careers through pregnancy. [14008]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 5 February 1996, £5,704,197 has been paid to 342 officers discharged on grounds of pregnancy between 1978 and 1990—an average of £16,678 each.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, column 985, what is (a) the full complement deployment of the two Trident submarines currently operational and (b) the full potential complement for HMS Victorious; for what reason there is a difference between these figures and the number of missiles collected by his Department

  447
  for deployment on (i) the two submarines and (ii) HMS Victorious. [14292]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Each of our Trident submarines is capable of carrying 16 missiles. To date, we have collected 32 missiles from the US, of which four have been test fired. I am not prepared to give details of missile deployment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 18 December,Official Report, column 985, if HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance will each need to conduct two test firings of Trident missiles before entering operational service. [14290]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is the norm for each strategic submarine ballistic nuclear to conduct at least one test firing, as part of its demonstration and shakedown operation, before its entry into operational service. The actual number fired will depend on a variety of factors, including the requirement to gather launch data for various modelling purposes.

  Aircraft Sales (Indonesia and Nigeria)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current policy on the sale of(a) aircraft and (b) other armaments to Indonesia and Nigeria. [14345]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is the Government's policy to support the sale of British defence equipment overseas where this is compatible with our political, strategic and security interests. All licence applications for the export of defence equipment are considered on a case-by-case basis in the light of established criteria, including the international guidelines to which we are committed. In particular, we do not export defence equipment that is likely to be used for internal repression.

  In the case of Nigeria, the Prime Minister announced a full UK arms embargo against the Nigerian military on 11 November 1995. On 20 November 1995, the European Union adopted a full scope EU-wide arms embargo against the Nigerian regimes.

  Equerries
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 537, if he will list the differences between the stated duties of equerries and those of other staff responsible for visits, engagements and dealing with routine correspondence. [14888]

  Mr. Soames
  Equerries provide support across the full range of activities undertaken by members of the royal family but they have special responsibilities relating to the many ceremonies and military events in which the Queen, as head of the armed services, and other members of the royal family participate at home and abroad.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Deregulation
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consultation he is undertaking with small and medium enterprises regarding deregulation. [13058]
  448
  Mr. Freeman
  I have regular meetings with various representative bodies of small and medium businesses about deregulation. I have invited all businesses, including members of the Federation of Small Businesses, to write to me with details of those regulations which are unnecessarily hampering their business and have so far received over 400 replies. I am also responsible for implementing the small business litmus test, which requires all Government Departments to consult some typical small businesses to ensure they will not be disproportionately affected by proposed regulations.

  Fire Safety Legislation and Enforcement
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish his response to the recommendations made by the interdepartmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement. [14670]

  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will announce his response to the interdepartmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement. [14595]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish the response of the Government to the recommendations contained in the report of the interdepartmental review team into fire safety legislation and enforcement. [14846]

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to respond to the recommendations of the interdepartmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement in the United Kingdom. [14796]

  Mr. Willets
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 8 February, 1996,Official Report, column 283.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14020]

  Mr. Willetts
  The Cabinet Office and Office of Public Service make available internal guidance and administrative manuals in line with the Government's code of practice on access to Government information. A significant number of such documents have been published, including:

  Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

  Code of Practice on Access to Government Information: Guidance on Interpretation.

  Civil Service Code.

  Civil Service Management Code.

  Departmental Report.

  NDPBs: A Guide to Departments.

  The Ombudsman in Your Files.

  The Governments Guide to Market Testing.

  Efficiency plans: Guidance for Development and Use.

  Efficiency Scrutinies: Guidance for Ministers and Managers, Action Managers and Scrutiny Teams.

  CCTA's Total Acquisition Process Guidance.

  A Guide on Public Appointments Procedures.

  A Review of Guidance on Public Appointments.

  449

  Dear Publisher Letter.

  Dear Librarian Letter.

  Dear Establishment Officer Letter.

  Copyright: A brief guide for Government Departments.

  HMSO catalogues.

  Agencies' annual reports.

  Agencies' framework documents.

  This is not a complete list, as there is no central record of manuals made public, nor of those where disclosure is not in the public interest.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department and his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and other associated expenses for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [11507]

  Mr. Willetts
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1996, c. 203–04]: I regret that the figure quoted on total expenditure by the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's office and the Office of Public Service, and its executive agencies, excluding HMSO and the Buying Agency, on overseas travel, overseas accommodation and other associated expenses of £1,178,000 in 1993–94 was incorrect. The correct figure should have been £1,850,000.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  "Tackling Drugs Together"
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what recent consultations he has had with ministerial colleagues about the implementation of "Tackling Drugs Together"; and if he will make a statement. [13065]

  Mr. Newton
  I have received regular progress reports on the implementation of "Tackling Drugs Together" from ministerial colleagues. I am pleased to say that all Departments are on track with their major White Paper commitments. For example, the Department of Health has launched a £5 million per annum publicity strategy, run by the Health Education Authority; the Department for Education and Employment has disseminated guidance on drugs issues to all schools; and all criminal justice agencies have completed their operational reviews and are on track to produce their drug strategies in line with the White Paper. In addition, 105 drug action teams have been set up across England to tackle the drugs problem at local level, and have submitted their first plans.

SCOTLAND

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on official hospitality by agencies associated with his Department in 1993–94, 1994–95 and projected for 1995–96. [9091]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table.450

  Agency

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Projected budget 1995–96 £

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  2,232

  628

  1,000

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  700

  1,015

  1,015

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  6,341

  4,973

  3,889

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  —

  332

  215

  Historic Scotland

  4,687

  8,538

  4,500

  Scottish Courts Service

  —

  —

  2,100

  Scottish Prison Service

  4,000

  6,000

  8,000

  Scottish Record Office

  185

  117

  1,166

  Registers of Scotland

  6,000

  7,000

  7,250

  Total

  24,145

  28,603

  29,135

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 December,Official Report, column 817, if the figures for hospitality spending in 1994–95 and 1995–96 included expenditure by his Department's agencies. [9092]

  Mr. Forsyth
  No. Moreover, it has come to my attention that the information provided in my answer of 14 December was in other respects incomplete. This arose from a misunderstanding of the implications of a change made in the financial year 1990–91 to the arrangements for recording hospitality expenditure by my Department.

  The corrected information is as follows:

  1994–95: £79,510

  1995–96: £89,868 (Projected outturn)1

  Note:

  1 In addition, in 1995–96, the Scottish Office spent £34,680 on hospitality as part of the Government's contribution to the VE-day and VJ-day commemorations.

  I regret that, for the same reason, information previously provided to hon. Members on hospitality expenditure for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 was similarly incomplete. The correct information for these years is as follows:

  1991–92: £83,836

  1992–93: £125,118

  1993–94: £76,088

  Farm Holdings
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of farm holdings in Scotland, the number of(a) self-employed and (b) employed people working in Scottish agriculture, and the number of people employed in agricultural contract work (i) in 1978 and (ii) in the most recent year for which figures are available. [11967]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information required is shown in the table. The data on farm holdings and the farm work force are from the June agricultural census of main holdings and the information on agricultural contractors' employees is drawn from the March 1980—the nearest date to 1978—machinery census and the April 1994 survey of agricultural contractors.
  451

  1978

  1995

  Number of holdings

  31,090

  32,800

  Occupiers

  23,600

  21,700

  Spouses

  8,000

  12,000

  Employees

  40,600

  25,600

  Figures rounded to nearest 100.

  1980

  1994

  Contractors' employees

  960

  1,090

  Figures rounded to nearest 10.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of expenditure on all forms of hospitality and entertainment by(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97. [11408]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: Following is the information:

  Year

  The Scottish Office £

  Scottish Office Agencies £

  1979–80

  15,283

  Not applicable

  1989–90

  60,173

  Not applicable

  1919–92

  83,836

  5,700

  1993–94

  76,088

  24,145

  1994–95

  79,510

  28,603

  1995–96 (estimate)

  189,868

  29,135

  1996–97 (estimate)

  86,400

  26,825

  1 In addition, in 1995–96, the Scottish Office spent £34,680 on hospitality as part of the Government's contribution to the VE-day and VJ-day commemorations.

  Information on hospitality spending by non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost

  Prison Service
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of the prison population in Scotland is currently held in(a) secure prisons and (b) open prisons and related units; [14004]

  (2) how many prisoners are currently held in open prisons and related units in Scotland. [14006]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your two Questions relating to the current prison population in Scotland.
  The information as at Friday 2 February 1996 is given in the table.
  452

  Number of prisoners

  Percentage1

  Secure establishments

  Aberdeen

  173

  3

  Barlinnie

  1,070

  20

  Cornton Vale

  171

  3

  Dumfries

  135

  2

  Edinburgh

  593

  11

  Friarton

  65

  1

  Glenochil

  531

  10

  Greenock

  230

  4

  Inverness

  122

  2

  Longriggend

  155

  3

  Low Moss

  319

  6

  Perth

  456

  8

  Peterhead

  194

  4

  Peterhead Unit

  4

  2

  Polmont

  415

  8

  Shotts

  448

  8

  Shotts Unit

  9

  2

  National Induction Centre, Shotts

  27

  2

  Sub-total

  5,117

  93

  Open establishments

  Castle Huntly

  105

  2

  Dungavel

  89

  2

  Noranside

  114

  2

  Penninghame

  59

  1

  Sub-total

  367

  7

  Total

  5,484

  100

  1 Components may not add to totals due to rounding.

  2 Less than 0.5.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the relative cost and latest estimate of keeping a prisoner in(a) secure prisons establishments and (b) open prisons and related units. [14005]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the relative cost and latest estimate of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related units.
  The average cost per prisoner place at HMP Prisons in Scotland in 1994–95 was £23,324 for secure prisons and £18,046 for open prisons and is estimated to be £23,217 and £18,150 respectively in 1995–96. This has been calculated as total net expenditure (excluding capital, Headquarters and other central costs) divided by the average number of places available.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources have been made available to the Scottish Prison Service in each of the last two financial years; what resources are proposed for the next financial year to support the drug reduction and rehabilitation programme; and if he will make a statement. [14581]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
  453
  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. James Wallace, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive, Mr Frizzell, to reply to your Question about resources made available to the Scottish Prison Service in each of the last two financial years and resources for drug reduction and rehabilitation programmes in 1996–97. I am replying to his absence from the office.
  The total net resources made available to the Scottish Prison Service was £162.5 million in 1994–95 (of which £15.4 million was capital) and £166.0 million in 1995–96 (of which £16.8 million was capital). The total net resources for 1996–97 is £173.9 million (of which £16.8 million is capital). Resources for 1996–97 will be allocated to governors of establishments on the basis of their strategic plans for all purposes: provision for drug reduction and rehabilitation programmes is not separately identified but is taken into account as appropriate in the budgets allocated for staffing, medical expenses etc.

  Health Boards (Administrative Costs)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the administrative costs of health boards expressed as a percentage of the total spend for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available. [14133]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is shown in the table. The figures have been calculated using audited annual accounts of health boards. From 1992–93 onwards, the percentage decreases relative to total spend are due to an increasing proportion of NHS administration costs being attributable to NHS trusts. The figures are not therefore directly comparable.

  1990–91: 7.6 per cent.

  1991–92: 7.4 per cent.

  1992–93: 8.0 per cent.

  1993–94: 6.0 per cent.

  1994–95: 3.4 per cent.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors determine the dates on which he(a) closes applications for financial assistance under the financial instrument for fisheries guidance and (b) announces the award of grant; and when he expects to give his decision in respect of applications for financial assistance under the financial instrument for fisheries guidance submitted for consideration in the current round. [14134]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The financial instrument for fisheries guidance—FIFG—schemes opened on 1 July 1994 and applications may be submitted at any time. However, to allow sufficient time to appraise, consult and select the best applications, only applications submitted earlier than three months prior to the planned announcement of awards are considered in that tranche. The timing of each tranche is determined by the number of applications and the total amount of grant sought, the quality of applications, and the availability of funds at the appropriate time to service successful projects.

  The present intention is that the next round of FIFG awards will be announced in June 1996.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been(a) the grant value and (b) the number of applications for financial assistance under the financial instrument for fisheries guidance currently
  454
  lodged with his Department which (i) have been received since the present round opened and (ii) have been carried over from an earlier round. [14136]

  Mr. Robertson
  There have been 42 applications seeking grant totalling £5,031,319 since the last tranche closed. In addition, there are 50 applicants carried over from previous rounds seeking grant of £7,765,172.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his oral answer of 5 February 1996,Official Report, Scottish Grand Committee, column 6, if he will relax his policy of non-disclosure in respect of the location and current possession of the timing device; and if he will make a statement. [14544]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has made it quite clear that he cannot discuss evidence in the case.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given to general practitioner fundholders via their health boards concerning the placing of contracts for their long waiting list patients with individual private consultants and the British United Provident Association; if he will place a copy of such guidance in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [14883]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No specific guidance on this matter has been issued to general practitioner fundholders.

  Glasgow Zoo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to which organisations CITES-listed animals from Glasgow zoo have been transferred; [14777]

  (2) if he will set up an inquiry into the transfer of ocelots, Geoffrey's cats and margay cats from Glasgow zoo to other organisations. [14776]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally and my right hon. Friend has no reason to set up an inquiry. The Department of the Environment has issued Glasgow zoo with sales exemptions in relation to several ocelots, geffroy cats and margay cats, all of which are CITES listed animals. These exemptions allow Glasgow zoo to sell the animals within the UK. There is no requirement for the zoo to specify the destination of the animals.

HEALTH

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the appeals procedure for members of the NHS pension scheme who have been refused pension benefits after submitting positive medical evidence that they can no longer follow their regular employment. [13568]
  455
  Mr. Malone
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
  There are no formal rights of appeal, but members of the NHS Pension Scheme have a number of avenues for challenging a decision affecting their pension rights. The NHS Pensions Agency operates it own internal procedures, involving reviews through senior officers not involved in the original decision. In ill-health retirement cases, where the Agency's medical advisors are unable to recommend acceptance of an application, they will at any time reconsider against further medical evidence.
  If in any case a member remains dissatisfied with the Agency's decision they can request a formal determination by the Secretary of State, under Regulation U2 of the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations 1995 [SI 1995 No. 300]. If the dispute relates to a divergence of medical opinion it would be usual to seek an independent specialist's report before making a determination. Determinations are handled outside the Agency, by the NHS Executive.
  If the member remains discontent they have the right to raise their complaint with the Occupational Pensions Advisory Board and the Pensions Ombudsman. The findings of the Ombudsman are binding upon the Scheme and may only be overturned by a High Court ruling.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the trustees of the NHS pension scheme. [13570]

  Mr. Malone
  The national health service pension scheme is a notionally funded statutory scheme set up under the provisions of sections 10 and 12 of the Superannuation Act 1972 and therefore does not have trustees.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the qualified medical advisors who advise on the payment of NHS pension benefits to NHS employees who are unable to continue their work because of illness. [13565]

  Mr. Malone
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
  The NHS Pensions Agency receives independent medical advice under an agreement from BA Medical Services, part of the Department of Social Security. BAMS employ only registered full-time and sessional doctors to co-ordinate and provide advice to the NHS Pensions Agency. In doing so they may seek views of professional colleagues both inside and externally in order to reach consensus medical opinion on advice appropriate to each case.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the NHS pension scheme who have had their application for retirement pension payment on ill health grounds turned down by his Department or the NHS executive have been the subject of an 456
  independent specialist medical report; and if he will make a statement. [13569]

  Mr. Malone
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
  I am afraid I cannot provide information in the form requested except at disproportionate cost, because it would require a review of the files of the individuals concerned.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the procedure for applicants who apply for pension rights under the NHS pension scheme for a medical examination by the medical advisers appointed by his Department. [13567]

  Mr. Malone
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 12 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
  In order to approve the award of an ill-health pension the NHS Pensions Agency must be satisfied that the illness will permanently prevent the member continuing in their employment. Applications must, therefore be supported by medical evidence. The type of evidence is not currently prescribed, but in all cases the Agency will seek advice upon it from its independent medical advisers, the Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS). Where it is appropriate, BAMS may seek a specialists report to augment the initial evidence. If BAMS cannot advise that the illness will permanently prevent the member continuing in their employment the Agency will usually reject the application, but procedures currently allow for the submission of further medical evidence at any time. This always leads reconsideration of the case by BAMS. I should add that once an ill-health pension is awarded, the Agency has no powers to withdraw it.

  Northern RHA Headquarters
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on repairs, maintenance and improvement of the former Northern regional health authority headquarters at Benfield road, Newcastle, since January 1986; who owns the building; when it will be vacated; and what receipts from the sale of the lease or freehold of this building will be released. [13731]

  Mr. Malone
  Capital expenditure on repairs, maintenance and improvement of the former Northern regional health authority headquarters at Benfield road, Newcastle since 1986 totals £896,500, mostly before 1992. The building is owned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Following the move of the staff from Benfield road to Durham in Spring 1996, the building will be occupied by Newcastle and North Tyneside district health authority, and North Tyneside family health services authority— Newcastle and North Tyneside health authority from 1 April 1996—who had previously occupied four separate

  457
  buildings in Newcastle and north Tyneside. As the property will remain in use for health service accommodation, there will be no receipts for the sale of the freehold.

  Waiting List Helplines
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding was given to waiting list helplines in each of the last five years. [14055]

  Mr. Horam
  In 1992–93, the College of Health received £25,600 in support of the development of a national waiting list clearing house which encompassed a telephone helpline. A further £109,750 was allocated to the project in 1993–94.

  Waiting times information is now available to the public on a freephone telephone link—0800 66 55 44— through the health information services which were established in 1993. For details of the funding for health information services, which is the responsibility of regional health authorities, I refer the hon. Member to thereply I gave the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 25 January, Official Report, column 377.

  Patient Referrals
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what differences apply in relation to the options available to(a) fundholders and (b) non-fundholders when referring patients for treatment. [14063]

  Mr. Malone
  The difference between fundholding and non-fundholding general practitioners is the freedom fundholders have to manage resources and directly to purchase the care they judge best on their patients' behalf.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will be making a statement on the content of the executive letter to the national health service in November concerning new drugs for multiple sclerosis. [14093]

  (2) if he will set out the guidelines which has been issued to authorities regarding the prescription of interferon-beta-lb for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. [14091]

  Mr. Malone
  Executive letter EL(95)97 about the introduction of beta-interferon drugs for multiple sclerosis was issued on 15 November 1995. It suggested that beta-interferon should be prescribed by hospital neurologists where clinically appropriate. The guidance was accompanied by clinical advice from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

  Hospices
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his policy on the provision of health authority funds to hospices; and if he will make a statement; [14109]

  (2) what regulations or agreements cover the provision of NHS funds to assist in the running costs of hospices. [14108]
  458
  Mr. Horam
  As with other services, health authorities have a duty to ensure that specialist palliative care services, including hospice care, are in line with the assessed health needs of their populations. Since 1994–95, funding for specialist palliative care has been built into health authorities' general funding allocations. Those providing the care, including hospices, receive funding from health authorities according to their contracts. The level and form of financial support is a matter for local negotiation.

  Accident and Emergency Services (Private Hospitals)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of private hospitals provide full accident and emergency services. [14107]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected.

  Drugs (Side-effects)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance he has issued in respect of side-effect warnings for(a) doctor-prescribed drugs and (b) drugs bought across the counter. [14057]

  Mr. Malone
  No guidelines have been issued. However all medicines have data sheets which give details of side-effect. New medicines now have patient information leaflets which also give this information, and all other medicines will have such a leaflet by 1998. Information on side-effects of medicines is also available in the "British National Formulary", which is provided free to all doctors by the Department of Health.

  In addition, all health professionals are sent the bulletin from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance", four times a year and the bulletin "Update" from the Chief Medical Officer, which contain information on the safe use of medicines whether they are prescribed by a doctor or brought over-the-counter. Both the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Chief Medical Officer may also send out letters of advice to health professionals on specific issues as they arise.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duty a doctor has in relation to informing patients about the side-effects. of drugs. [14058]

  Mr. Malone
  Doctors have an ethical responsibility to inform patients about the treatment proposed, including the effects of prescribed medicines.

  Renal Services
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place a copy of the review of renal services commissioned by his Department in the Library; [14562]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the review of renal services; and if he will make a statement. [14563]

  Mr. Horam
  We are still considering the review of renal services, including the question of publication, and intend to issue purchasing guidelines in time for the next contracting round.

  Steroid Treatment (Deaths)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have died as a result of steroid treatment in each of the last five years. [14059]

  Mr. Horam
  Deaths in England and Wales due to adrenal cortical steroids—ICD1 E932.0—causing adverse effects in therapeutic use, as an underlying or secondary cause of death2

  Underlying cause

  Secondary cause

  Total

  1988

  0

  9

  9

  1989

  0

  9

  9

  1990

  1

  9

  10

  1991

  1

  7

  8

  1992

  0

  5

  5

  1 International Classification of diseases, 9th Revision.

  2 Does not include adverse effects from androgens and anabolic congeners (ICD E932.1) or ovarian hormones

  Drugs Prescription
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if a drug which has been given market authorisation to be prescribed can be prevented from being administered to patients if the national health service executive so wishes; [14094]

  (2) in what circumstances the national health service executive can restrict the prescription of a drug which has received market authorisation. [14092]

  Mr. Malone
  Doctors have the clinical freedom to prescribe the drugs their patients need, whether or not the product has a marketing authorisation or product licence. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has powers under the National Health Service Act 1977 to list in schedules 10 and 11 of the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 drugs or other substances which are not to be prescribed, or which are to be prescribed only in certain circumstances, by general practitioners under the NHS. Drugs or other substances can be included in these schedules on the advice of the Advisory Committee for NHS Drugs and the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances.

  Doctor Recruitment
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount of money paid by NHS trusts to agencies for the purpose of recruiting doctors in each year since 1985. [14106]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of trusts at local level to decide whether or not they wish to use an employment agency for the purpose of recruiting doctors.

  Hospital staff in England—as at 30 September 1994 Paediatrics—vacant consultant posts

  All vacant posts

  Locum occupied

  Unoccupied

  Consultants

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  Paediatrics

  21

  20.6

  5

  5.0

  16

  15.6

  Paediatric neurology

  1

  1.0

  1

  1.0

  —

  —

  Total

  22

  21.6

  6

  6.0

  16

  15.6

  WTE = whole time equivalents.

  Accident and Emergency Units (Doctors)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trusts which in the past 12 months used recruitment agencies to hire doctors on short-term contracts to work in accident and emergency units. [14104]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of trusts at local level to decide whether or not they wish to use an employment agency.

  Social Services Information
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has given local authorities advice on the purchase of social service information database systems. [14098]

  Mr. Bowis
  My Department has issued in various contexts advice on the importance of soundly based local information systems, and has provided nearly £50 million of supplementary credit approvals in cash terms over the period 1991–92 to 1995–96 for the purchase of computers and systems as part of the implementation of "Caring of People". The Department has also from time to time supported projects to develop information systems of use to social services departments, but in all cases decision to purchase a system is one for individual authorities to take.

  Empty Buildings
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many empty buildings his Department currently owns; what is the cost of insuring and securing these buildings; how many were designed as residential properties; and what was the total amount spent by his Department on empty property taxes in each of the last five years. [14572]

  Mr. Horam
  The buildings occupied by the Department of Health are part of the Government common user estate. Vacant buildings on the common user estate are the responsibility of Property Holdings. Over the last five years, the Department of Health has not incurred any costs in respect of empty taxes on the common user estate.

  Paediatric Consultant Posts
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS paediatric consultant posts are(a) currently unfilled or (b) filled by a locum; and how many of the vacant posts have been unfilled for (i) six months, (ii) 12 months, (iii) 18 months and (iv) 24 months. [14525]

  Mr. Malone
  Data are not available in the form requested. The available information is shown in the table.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he ensures that the negotiating brief for his officials discussing EU legislation takes fully into account the need to minimise the burdens on United Kingdom business. [13715]

  Mr. Horam
  Guidance on how officials are to apply deregulatory principles when negotiating EC regulations is contained in the booklet "Getting a Good Deal in Europe". This guidance has been supplemented by the recent publication of guidance on the preparation of compliance cost assessments, which stresses that the likely burdens on business highlighted by United Kingdom compliance cost assessment of EC proposals should be integral to the UK's negotiating strategy. Copies of both pieces of guidance are in the Library.

  Unsafe Medicines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory responsibility applies to the licensing authority in respect of the protection of public health from unsafe medicines. [14296]

  Mr. Malone
  Functions of the competent authorities of member states in respect of the licensing of medicinal products for human use are laid down in directive 65/65/EEC and subsequent EC legislation. For the United Kingdom, these functions fall to the licensing authority and these obligations and licensing requirements are set out in SI 1994/3144, the Medicines Acts and other relevant subordinate legislation. The requirements are intended to ensure that unsafe medicines are not marketed, and to safeguard public health.

  Refugee and Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the services of(a) NHS general practitioners and (b) health visitors are available to refugee and asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [14492]

  Mr. Malone
  Refugees and asylum seekers have access to any NHS services which are immediately required.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the risks posed by(a) second and (b) third generation oral contraceptives. [14293]

  Mr. Malone
  The safety of second and third generation combined oral contraceptives has been assessed according to normal procedures over a period of many years since they were first marketed. In October 1995, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, an independent expert advisory committee which advises the licensing authority, reviewed the safety of these oral contraceptives after new evidence about the cardiovascular risks associated with them became available. I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made in the House on 23 October 1995,Official Report, columns 701–02.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the licensing authority will vary the product licences of combined oral contraceptives containing desogestrel and gestodene. [14295]
  462
  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1149.

  Paracetamol Deaths
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths attributable to paracetamol were reported via the yellow card system for each year from 1990 to 1995; and what proportion of fatal reports received these deaths represented for each year. [14294]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Suspected adverse reaction reports to the Committee on Safety of Medicines from 1990–1995 related to the use of paracetamol and all drugs in the United Kingdom

  Year received

  Reports with a fatal outcome where paracetamol is a suspect drug (percentage of all fatal)

  All reports where paracetamol is a suspect drug

  Total number of reports to all human medicinal products with a fatal outcome

  Total number of reports

  1990

  3(0.91)

  65

  328

  17,963

  1991

  2(0.43)

  56

  467

  19,492

  1992

  1(0.22)

  60

  455

  20,184

  1993

  3(0.64)

  60

  471

  18,082

  1994

  1(0.25)

  43

  408

  17,566

  1995

  3(0.63)

  49

  476

  17,749

  The table provides information on the numbers of reports of suspected adverse drug reactions received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines from health professionals over the period 1990–1995. This includes the number of reports associated with paracetamol and with all drugs and the number associated with a fatal outcome. A report does not necessarily mean that the reaction was caused by the drug. Many factors influence reporting rate, comparisons across drugs may therefore be misleading.

  Bradford Health Commission
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the name of the chairman of the Bradford health commission. [14468]

  Mr. Horam
  Mrs. Zahida Manzoor was named as chairman of the proposed Bradford health authority in a press release issued by the Northern and Yorkshire regional office of the NHS executive on 21 December 1995.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 810, when information on GP fundholding savings will be available. [14890]

  Mr. Malone
  Information about fundholder efficiency savings for 1994–95 will not be available until final audits are completed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to general practitioner fundholders via their family health service authorities concerning the placing of contracts for their long waiting list patients with individual private consultants and
  463
  BUPA; and if he will place a copy of such guidance notes in the Library. [14884]

  Mr. Malone
  The 1994 review of contracting guidance, which was issued to general practitioner fundholders, as well as district health authorities, encourages them to secure the best quality and value for money services possible from either NHS or independent sector providers. A copy of the guidance, EL(93)103, is in the Library.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average cost of a psychiatric bed in each year since 1980. [14876]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is shown in the table.

  Average cost of a psychiatric bed in the Hospital and Community Health Services in each year since 1980.

  Year

  Unit cost £

  1980–81

  16,600

  1981–82

  17,000

  1982–83

  17,000

  1983–84

  17,500

  1984–85

  18,300

  1985–86

  18,800

  1986–87

  20,500

  1987–88

  24,000

  1988–89

  26,300

  1989–90

  27,500

  1990–91

  28,700

  1991–92

  36,200

  1992–93

  38,500

  1993–94

  39,500

  1. All figures are rounded to the nearest £100 and are expressed in real terms at 1993–94 prices using the gross domestic product deflators issued by Treasury on 20 November 1995.

  2. Unit costs are calculated by dividing expenditure by available beds in the mental health sector of Hospital and Community Services.

  3. Figures for 1991–92 onwards cannot be compared with those for earlier years due to changes in accounting practices following the NHS reforms.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he estimates the level of savings to be from psychiatric bed closures since 1986. [14877]

  Mr. Bowis
  The reprovision programme for mental health has been geared to improved care and treatment of mentally ill patients. Closure or adaptations of old-style long-stay hospitals have resulted in resources being available for the provision of a spectrum of care, including new long-stay beds, hospitals, hostel and supported accommodation and services to support patients in home and homely settings. It is not possible to estimate an exact figure for this.

  Clinical Negligence Scheme
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those trusts which(a) are and (b) are not members of the clinical negligence scheme in each region. [14774]

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

  Psychiatric Care
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people his Department estimates need access to medium-secure psychiatric care; and how many beds are available in each region. [14878]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Glancy committee in 1974 recommended a total of 1,000 medium secure beds. By 1979, there were none provided. We are now on target to reach a total of 1,200 places in medium-secure units by the end of this year. A further 300 secure places are being developed from the mainstream NHS capital programme. In addition, there are about 450 places in other secure units and some 400 NHS-purchased places in the independent sector.

  Assessment of further local needs is the responsibilities of the health authorities concerned.

  For the number of beds in each NHS region, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 5 February, Official Report, columns 19–20.

  Registered Homes (Police Checks)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that owners, managers and staff of registered homes for the elderly are subject to police checks. [14874]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Registered Homes Act 1984 requires local and health authorities to ensure that anyone running or intending to run a residential care or nursing home is suitable to do so. Departmental guidance has been issued about procedures for making criminal checks on applicants for registration as owners or managers of homes. Regulations under the Act require anyone running a home to provide adequate and suitable staff, and it is for employers to ensure that procedures are in place for vetting prospective employees.

  Special Transitional Grant
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 531, when he will make available the special transitional grant figures. [14892]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Audit Commission is following up the outstanding audited returns for the 1994–95 special transitional grant. Final figures will not be available until all returns have been received and any queries raised by the auditors resolved with the local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish indicative budgets for the special transitional grant in 1996–97; and what conditions will be applied to it. [14875]

  Mr. Bowis
  Indicative allocations of the special transitional grant for 1996–97 were issued to local authorities on 30 November. The conditions to be attached to the special transitional grant for 1996–97 will be announced shortly.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review his policy that, in the
  465
  event of a doctor being instructed by a local authority to carry out the examination of a child for signs of sexual abuse, the doctor does not owe a duty of care to the child or parents; and if he will make a statement. [14724]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is a matter of law, not policy, as set out in the judgment in the House of Lords in the case of M(A minor) and Another v. Newham London borough council that the doctor's duties in such cases are to the local authority by whom he is instructed.

  Consultants Complaints Procedure
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review his policy that, under the hospital consultants complaints procedure, a complaint to the health service commissioner about a consultant's clinical judgment cannot progress to stage 3 if the consultant in question does not agree to co-operate; and if he will make a statement. [14725]

  Mr. Horam
  Under the existing legislation, the Health Service Commissioner may not investigate a complaint about action arising solely from the exercise of clinical judgment. The Government have introduced a Bill to extend the commissioner's jurisdiction to cover complaints about clinical judgment, and this is being considered currently by Parliament. The commissioner has wide-ranging powers to require co-operation with his investigations where necessary. There are no plans to change this.

  Mental Health Services
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 January,Official Report, column 373, what has been the annual expenditure on mental health services in each year since 1988–89 in each region. [14889]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bolton Hospitals
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) administrative and (b) medical staff were on the staff of each Bolton hospital in each of the last five years. [10465]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The number of staff in each Bolton hospital is not available centrally.

  Bolton Hospitals national health service trust attained trust attained trust status in April 1994. The only year for which administrative and clerical staff figures are available is 1994. Before then, administrative and clerical staff at the district health authority provided some services to directly managed units and so comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  The number of administrative and clerical staff is collected by the Department of Health's non-medical work force census. The census results are published at national level in a statistical bulletin, copies of which are available in the Library. Regional tables for the 1994 census will also be placed in the Library shortly. Results are not normally published below regional level but are
  466
  available on request for 1994 at health authority, trust or directly managed unit level. Only limited detailed figures are available for earlier years.

  Figures for medical staff are collected by the Department of Health's medical and dental work force census. Since some medical staff are reported at regional level rather than by the individual organisations for which they work it is not possible to identify all medical staff in individual organisations. The results of the medical and dental work force census are available at national and regional level in the Library.
  References:

  DH Statistical Bulletin Non-medical Workforce Census: 95/18;

  DH Statistical Bulletin Non-medical Workforce Census: 1994/11;

  DH Statistical Bulletin Non-medical Workforce Census: 13/93;

  DH Statistical Bulletin Non-medical Workforce Census: 1/93;

  DH Statistical Bulletin 1995/14: Medical and Dental Workforce Census 1984–1994;

  DH Hospital Medical Staff—England and Wales Regional Tables 30 September 1994.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Payment Card
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will name the consortia bidding to act as prime contractors for the automated benefit payment scheme; when he will make a final decision on the contract; who will be the first group to receive the card; and when the system will become fully operational. [11752]

  Mr. Heald
  The final three shortlisted service providers are; Cardlink, UK, IBM and Pathway. Subject to a successful completion of the procurement process, we expect to award a contract by late spring. Our current planning assumption is that the first group to be issued with a benefit payment card will be child benefit customers, although this may be subject to change. It is expected that the first payments by card will be made in the autumn with full roll-out taking up to three years from that date.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the proposed social security smart card will bear a photograph of the claimant and have a memory capacity. [14862]

  Mr. Heald
  The card technology and security features are a matter for the supplier under the private finance initiative.

  Decisions will not be finalised until a successful supplier is chosen. It is not mandatory for the initial version to be a smart card, but there will be provision to migrate to a smart card technology in the future if required.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what effect the possession of a nursery voucher will have(a) on a claimant's entitlement to income-related benefits and (b) on the child care disregard under family credit and disability working allowance. [13094]
  467
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Possession of nursery education vouchers will not generally affect entitlement to income-related benefits. In family credit and disability working allowance, parents will continue to be eligible for help with the child care charges for which they pay, subject to the normal qualifying conditions.

  Office Thefts
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the number and (b) the value of items of equipment and furniture that have been (i) stolen and (ii) are otherwise unaccounted for from (1) DSS offices and (2) executive agency offices in each region, for each of the last five years; and if he will list by name those items valued at £5,000 or more. [13088]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. The Department of Social Security does not separately maintain centralised records of individual items stolen. Losses due to theft, fraud, arson or sabotage are recorded in a single category. The number of individual losses recorded within this category, and the total value for each of the last five years is in the table:

  Financial year

  Number of individual cases

  Total value £

  1990–91

  364

  89,799

  1991–92

  411

  72,315

  1992–93

  94

  84,500

  1993–94

  192

  222,382

  1994–95

  360

  851,020

  The estimated total value of the Department's tangible fixed assets, excluding land and buildings, is approximately £330 million for 1994–95.

  Benefits Agency Medical Service
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the savings to his Department resulting from the contracting out of the Benefits Agency medical service. [14769]

  Mr. Burt
  It is not possible at this stage to estimate the precise level of savings. However, experience of similar exercises within the Department has identified that both savings and a better service for customers are achieved by competitively tendering the service.

  Income Support
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support payable with a disability premium also receive housing benefit; and what is the average amount payable. [14775]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  A total of 460,000 recipients of income support payable with a disability premium were also receiving housing benefit at an average weekly rate of £39.02 in May 1994, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Source:

  Housing benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample inquiry, taken May 1994.
  468
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support receive housing benefit; and what is the average amount payable. [14772]

  Mr. Evans
  In August 1995, the latest date for which information is available, 3.1 million income support recipients were receiving housing benefit, at an average weekly rate of £45.14.

  Source:

  Housing benefit management information system 100 per cent. quarterly caseload count taken August 1995.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently claiming family credit; and what are(a) the total administration costs and (b) the average weekly administration cost per beneficiary. [14773]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  As at 30 April 1995, 606,000 families were receiving family credit. The estimated total administration costs for 1993–94, the latest date for which information is available, was £53 million, an estimated weekly average cost of £1.90 per beneficiary.

  Note:

  Administration costs include an apportionment of DSS general and central administrative costs not related to specific benefits.

  Sources:

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry April 1995. 1995 Social Security departmental report.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time it currently takes to process(a) a new claim for family credit and (b) a claim renewal. [13177]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 9 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the average time it currently takes to process (a) a new claim for Family Credit (FC) and (b) a claim renewal.
  Statistics are produced on a monthly basis and the latest details available are for December 1995. These show the average clearance times to be as follows:
  New Claims: 11.87 working days
  Renewal Claims: 10.90 working days
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has set a target for the clearance of claims to FC. This is that 60% of claims be processed within 13 working days and that 95% be processed within 42 working days. As at 31 December 1995, the FC unit had cleared 70.4% within 13 working days and 98.3% within 42 working days.
  The FC Unit also operates a Fast Track system for processing claims from the newly employed through the Employment Service. Information required for the assessment is provided by the customer's Client Adviser which enables the unit to assess the claim more quickly. Figures for the month ending 31 December 1995 show that 97.2% of customers using the Fast Track system had their claim decided in 5 working days.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants there are of invalidity
  469
  benefit; what is the annual cost; and what were the equivalent figures for (a) 1985 and (b) 1975. [14880]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  1975–76

  1985–86

  1995–96

  Number of claimants

  1450,000

  1849,000

  31,700,000

  Expenditure2 (£ million)

  1,925

  3,743

  47,713

  1 Figure for end November 1995, taken from a 5 per cent. sample of claims; excludes a small number of cases paid clerically.

  2 At 1995–96 prices.

  3 Taken from a 1 per cent. sample of claims. 1975–76 figures as at 31 May 1975.

  4 Latest estimate.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reform child benefit. [14860]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Two reforms of child benefit are planned:

  (i) Draft regulations are currently the subject of statutory consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authorities. These restructure child and one-parent benefit to provide a more flexible mechanism for considering the relative level of support provided to lone parents as against that for two-parent families with children.

  (ii) Clause 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill provides that persons who require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom shall not be entitled to child benefit except under such conditions as may be prescribed in regulations. The intention is to bring child benefit into line with other social security benefits.

  Benefit Claims
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time for a claim renewal. [13174]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 9 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the average time for a claim renewal.
  The benefits that require renewal claims are Family Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
  Statistics for the average clearance time of a renewal claim are produced on a monthly basis and the figures below show the year to date achievement between April 1995 and December 1995:-
  Family Credit: 11.7 days
  Disability Working Allowance: 18.5 days
  Disability Living Allowance: 23.0 days
  Information about Attendance Allowance could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Official Documents (Braille)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is available in braille. [13446]
  470
  Mr. Burt
  Yes. Braille copies of the Act can be obtained from the Department's information division. The Department has sent out a number of braille copies to individuals.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the types of disability for which information is available for the numbers of(a) applications for, and (b) awards of, disability living allowance. [13561]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Information about a person's main disabling condition is recorded only where an award of disability living allowance is made. The table sets out the different types of disability and the numbers of first awards arising from initial, review or appeal decisions. Where there is more than one disabling condition, only the main condition is recorded.

  Awards of Disability Living Allowance between 1 March 1993 and November 1995123

  Main disabling condition

  Numbers (000s)

  Arthritis—including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis

  131

  Malignant disease—including cancer, carcinoma and leukaemia

  63

  Heart disease—including coronary, ischaemic, myocardial or heart attack

  52

  Disease of the muscles, bones or joints

  47

  Mental subnormality

  43

  Psychosis—including schizophrenia and manic depression

  42

  Spondylosis—including disc disease, cervical/lumbar etc

  38

  Chest disease—including bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive airways disease and bronchiectasis

  31

  Cerebrovascular disease—including stroke, cerebral vascular accident and hemiplegia

  27

  Back pain—not specified

  26

  Asthma

  23

  Psychoneurosis—including anxiety, depression, phobia and hysteria

  21

  Epilepsy

  18

  Neurological diseases—not specified

  17

  Blindness

  17

  Trauma to limbs—loss of fingers/toes/amputation

  15

  Diabetes mellitus

  14

  Behavioral disorder—including enuresis and hyperactivity

  10

  Peripheral vascular disease including thrombosis and claudication

  10

  Multiple sclerosis

  9

  Major trauma other than traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia

  6

  Renal disorders—including dialysis (not deemed)

  5

  Skin disease—including eczema and psoriasis

  5

  Deafness

  5

  Acquired immune deficiency syndrome—including human immune deficiency virus infection

  4

  Chronic fatigue syndromes—including myalgic encephalomyelitis post viral

  4

  Parkinson's disease

  4

  Dementia—including senile, pre-senile, Alzheimer's and traumatic

  4

  Bowel and stomach disease—including ulcer, constipation and not stated

  4

  Personality disorder

  2

  Blood disorders—including anaemia, clotting disorder and not specified

  2

  471

  Awards of Disability Living Allowance between 1 March 1993 and November 1995123

  Main disabling condition

  Numbers (000s)

  Multi system disorders, ie sarcoidosis, systemic and disseminated lupus erythematosus and scleroderma

  2

  Alcohol abuse

  2

  Metabolic disease—including phenylketonuria

  2

  Inflammatory bowel disease—including Crohn's ulcerative and colitis

  2

  Cystic fibrosis

  2

  Traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia

  2

  Motor Neuron disease

  1

  Frailty—including senility/not specified

  1

  Severely mentally impaired

  1

  Haemophilia

  —

  Total parenteral nutrition—any cause

  —

  Haemodialysis

  —

  Multiple allergy syndrome

  —

  Double amputee

  —

  Hyperkinetic syndrome

  —

  Deaf/blind

  —

  Other unspecified conditions

  429

  All conditions

  742

  Notes:

  1 Include first awards made on initial claims, on review and on appeal.

  2 Numbers do not sum owing to rounding.

  3 '—' Means nil or negligible.

  4 This data is not capable of being further broken down.

  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division)—5 per cent. data.

  Fraud, Northumberland
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of social security fraud in(a) Blyth Valley and (b) south-east Northumberland. [13489]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics for individual fraud cases investigated by the Benefits Agency are collected for the Northumberland area, which covers Ashington, Berwick-on-Tweed, Blyth and Hexham, and are given in the table. Figures for organised fraud investigations are not available locally.

  Number of cases where fraud established

  Benefit savings £

  Prosecutions

  1994–95

  1,484

  3,046,542

  37

  1995 to 31 October

  1996

  1,397

  3,024,750

  29

  State Earnings-related Pension Scheme
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the SERPS pension that would be paid, on retirement, under current regulations to a person with an annual income of(a) £5,000, (b) £7,500 and (c) £10,000 and (i) 45 years contribution record and (ii) 30 years contribution record and no contributions in other years. [13767]
  472
  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.

  Additional Pension £pw 1996–97 prices

  Annual gross income

  5,000

  7,500

  10,000

  45 years contributions

  28.50

  51.80

  71.50

  30 years contributions

  20.10

  35.80

  48.90

  1. It is assumed that the annual gross income was the same in all years at either £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000, i.e. that the gross income was at these levels in 1978 and was not increased in line with increases in prices or earnings.

  2. It is assumed the individual retires at SPA in 2023 after a working life of 45 years. Where the individual has made just 30 years of contributions it is assumed that their working life was also 45 years, but that they did not contribute in every third year.

  3. In the calculation of additional pension, earnings have been revalued on the basis of historical data from the Average Earnings Index: all employees and on the assumption of constant future real terms earnings growth of 2 per cent. per annum.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his yield from employers class 1A national insurance contributions on(a) company cars and (b) fuel for the year 1996–97. [13773]

  Mr. Heald
  The latest estimate for the total class 1A receipts to the national insurance fund in 1996–97 from both company cars and fuel is £439 million. Of that total £379 million is attributable to cars and £60 million to fuel.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees fell(a) below the lower earnings limit and (b) above the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions in each year since 1978. [14628]

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

  The estimated number of employees who fell below the lower earnings limit at April 1994 is 2.7 million1.

  Information regarding the number of employees earning at the upper earnings limit and above for every week in the tax years from 1986–87 to 1992–93 is in the table.

  Tax year

  Number of employees (millions)2

  1986–87

  1.09

  1987–88

  1.27

  1988–89

  1.59

  1989–90

  1.74

  1990–91

  1.82

  1991–92

  1.70

  1992–93

  1.84

  Source:

  1New Earnings Survey and Labour Force Survey.

  21 per cent. sample of national insurance records.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the amounts paid out on benefit claims from political refugees and asylum seekers
  473
  in the United Kingdom over the last five years for which figures are available. [14010]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information about benefit expenditure in relation to political refugees is not available because they are not identified separately in departmental records. Information about asylum seekers has been recorded only for income support purposes from May 1993. Estimated annual expenditure is set out in the table.

  Asylum seekers claiming income support: estimated annual expenditure

  Enquiry data

  Estimated annual expenditure (£ millions)

  May 1993

  105

  May 1994

  124

  February 1995

  125

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest million.

  2. Estimated annual expenditure has been calculated by multiplying the number of cases by the average weekly income support paid, then by multiplying the resulting figure by 52.

  3. Figures given relate to Great Britain. No data are available in this format for Northern Ireland.

  4. Data was not collected prior to 1993.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Enquiries May 1994 and February 1995.

  Income Support Annual Enquiry 1993.

  One-parent Benefit
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those currently claiming one-parent benefit are(a) single, (b) divorced, (c) widowed, (d) legally separated and (e) living apart. [14011]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents under the age of 25 years are currently in receipt of one-parent benefit. [14012]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  It is estimated that there are 107,500 parents aged under 25 who are in receipt of one-parent benefit.

  Retirement Pensioners
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total sum of the social security budget for the financial year 1996–97 which will be devoted to benefits, pensions and other payments made to people over retirement age. [14013]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is set out in table 5 of the 1995 social security departmental report (Cm 2813), a copy of which is in the Library.

  The 1996 departmental report, to be published at the end of March, will include updated figures. Copies of the report will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total cost of increasing the state retirement pension level by £1 for every entitled pensioner in the financial year 1996–97. [14014]
  474
  Mr. Heald
  The gross cost of giving all pensioner who receive some basic retirement pension a flat £1 per week increase in their pension is £540 million in the 1996–97 financial year. This cost includes giving £1 per week to the small number of pensioners receiving non-contribution retirement pensions.

  The total cost, net of income related benefits is estimated at £400 million.

  Note: All costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the change in income in real terms of the average pensioner since 1979; and how this is made up between(a) state retirement pension, (b) state earnings-related pension scheme and (c) personal or occupational pension. [14859]

  Mr. Heald
  Pensioners' average gross incomes increased by 50 per cent. in real terms between 1979 and 1993, the latest available information—a rise of £56.80 per week. It is not possible to provide separate figures for basic retirement pension and SERPS but taken together they account for approximately a quarter of the increase, while occupational pensions account for about two-fifths. No separate information on personal pensions is available.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Surveys 1979 and 1993.

  Note:

  The information contained in this reply is based upon pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age or a couple where the head of the household, or husband, is over state pension age.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons of pensionable age are in receipt of(a) occupational pension, (b) personal pension and (c) state earnings-related pension scheme. [14870]

  Mr. Heald
  The latest information available shows that 6.5 million people were in receipt of an occupational pension in 1991, and that an estimated 60 per cent. of occupational pensioners are over state pension age1. A total of 4.2 million people were in receipt of a SERPS pension in March 1995. It is estimated that in 1993–94, around 150,000 taxpayers over state pension age were in receipt of income from a personal pension2.

  Source:

  1. GAD Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes 1991 and DSS statistics.

  2. Inland Revenue. This figure relates to taxpayers only. There will also be non-taxpayers in receipt of a personal pension, but no data is available on this group.

  Private Pensions
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total sum invested in funded private pensions in the United Kingdom; and what are the equivalent figures for(a) each country in the European Union and (b) each country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. [14861]
  475
  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  £ billion cash prices

  Estimated fund

  UK

  600

  Germany

  157

  Netherlands

  138

  Sweden

  53

  Denmark

  38

  France

  33

  Finland

  20

  Belgium

  12

  Spain

  11

  Ireland

  9

  Italy

  5

  Portugal.

  4

  Greece

  1

  Austria

  1

  Luxembourg

  Negligible

  sources:

  1. Finnish and Swedish data relate to 1993 and are from Finnish Central Pensions Institute.

  2. UK data from DSS estimate, and relates to 1993.

  3. Austrian data from Austrian Government, and relate to 1994.

  4. Other data from "Supplementary Pensions in the European Union"; 1994. Data for Greece relate to 1989; for Italy, Belgium and Denmark to 1991; for france to 1991/92; for Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Ireland to 1992; and for Portugal to 1992–93.

  Note:

  Information on the level of pension funds in OECD countries, other than for those countries which are members of the EU, is not available.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effects of reduced equity investment yields on the incomes to beneficiaries of occupational and personal pensions. [14873]

  Mr. Heald
  All things being equal, any reduction in yield would mean that members of occupational and personal pension schemes would retire with lower pensions or that they and their employers would have to contribute more.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of contributors to occupational pension schemes in(a) 1966, (b) 1975, (c) 1985 and (d) 1995. [14868]

  Mr. Heald
  Information on the number of active members of occupational pension schemes, some of whom will be in non-contributory schemes, is given by the "Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes" by the Government Actuary's Department. This is conducted every four years. The available information is in the table. Data for 1995 are not yet available.

  Year

  Active members of occupational pension schemes (millions)

  1967

  12.2

  1975

  11.4

  1983

  11.1

  1987

  10.6

  1991

  10.7

  476
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retired persons were in receipt of occupational private pensions in(a) 1979 and (b) 1995. [14863]

  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated mat around 6.5 million people were in receipt of an occupational pension in 1991, the latest year for which information is available. Some of these people received more than one pension. The total number of occupational pensions in payment was 7 million. In 1979, there were 3.7 million occupational pensions in payment; information on the number of people receiving these pensions is not available.

  Source:

  GAD Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes 1991.

  Long-term Sick and Disabled People
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the current total spending on long-term sick and disabled people and their carers; and what were the equivalent figures for 1979, 1985 and 1990. [14869]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in me table.

  £ million

  Year

  Long-term sick and disabled

  1978–79

  1,770

  1985–86

  5,220

  1989–90

  8,420

  1994–95

  19,600

  Figures include payments to carers.

WALES

  Cardiff Bay Land Sales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average price per acre of land sold for(a) industrial, (b) housing and (c) office development by the Cardiff Bay development corporation in each year since 1989. [14304]

  Mr. Hague
  I have asked the chief executive of the Cardiff Bay development corporation to write to the hon. Member and will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  EU Funding
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was for each county and for Wales in constant prices for each of the last four years for which figures are available(a) the total amount and (b) the amount per 100,000 population in pounds sterling of money received in grants from the European Union, indicating for each year the percentage change for each category. [13395]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The figures are not readily available by county. For Wales, the information is as follows for each structural fund.
  477

  European Regional Development Fund1

  £ million at 1995 prices

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Total amount2

  73.664

  46.129

  51.141

  52.519

  Amount/100,000 population3

  2.548

  1.591

  1.760

  1.803

  Percentage change

  —

  4–38

  +11

  +2

  1Figures relate to payments made in the financial years specified.

  2Using GDP deflator at 1 December 1995.

  3Population figures based on the Registrar General's mid-year estimates office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  4The decrease in European regional development fund payments made during 1992–93 was a result of the delayed approval of the 1992–93 operational programmes.

  European Social Fund1

  £ million at 1995 prices

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Total amounts2

  20.882

  19.809

  38.087

  37.481

  Amount/100,000 population3

  0.722

  0.683

  1.310

  1.287

  Percentage change

  —

  -5

  +92

  -2

  1 Figures relate to expenditure in a calendar year; the information is not available by financial year.

  2Using GDP deflator at 1 December 1995.

  3Population figures based on the Registrar General's mid-year estimates—office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund1

  £ million at 1995 prices

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Total amount2

  108.639

  121.707

  171.339

  167.368

  Amount/100,000 population3

  3.757

  4.199

  5.895

  5.745

  Percentage change

  —

  +12

  +40

  –3

  1 Figures relate to receipts from the EC.

  2 Using GDP deflator at 1 December 1995.

  3 Population figures based on the Registrar General's mid-year estimates—office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 5 February 1996,Official Report, column 58, what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the increase in numbers in Wales classified as NVQ sub-level 1 and the decrease in the
  478
  numbers classified as NVQ level 2 between 1993–94 and 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [14908]

  Mr. Hague
  NVQ sub-level 1 relates to basic skills training in literacy and numeracy. My Department has encouraged training and enterprise councils in Wales to do more to promote these qualifications as a means of helping unemployed people who need to improve their basic skills to find work. I am very encouraged by the improvement in the number of trainees achieving these qualifications.

  There is no obvious explanation for the decrease in the number of level 2 NVQs achieved, but is more than compensated for by the increase in the attainment of the other levels.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of his recent departmental letter of guidance to the South Glamorgan family health services authority encouraging the use of individual private consultants and the British United Provident Association by general practitioner fundholders to obtain out-patient and in-patient access to consultants for their long waiting list patients; [14882]

  (2) if the recent departmental letter of guidance to the South Glamorgan family health services authority on the placing of contracts by general practitioner fundholders for their long waiting list patients with individual private consultants and BUPA has been copied to the other family health service authorities; what representations he has received on its contents; and if he will make a statement. [14885]

  Mr. Hague
  I have arranged for a copy of the correspondence with South Glamorgan family health services authority to be placed in the Library of the House. It has not been copied to other health authorities.

  The letter neither encourages nor discourages the use of private consultants or hospitals. It is the duty of all commissioners, whether health authorities or fundholders, to provide the best possible care for the patient, having regard to value for money and the patient's best interests. If earlier treatment can be obtained in the private sector, I expect commissioners to consider this option rather than allow a patient to suffer unnecessarily.

  Russian Federation: Council of Europe Membership
  Russian Federation: Council of Europe Membership
  Hong Kong and Beijing: Foreign Secretary's Visit
  Hong Kong and Beijing: Foreign Secretary's Visit
  Turkey: Alleged Human Rights Abuses
  Turkey: Alleged Human Rights Abuses
  Sudan: Release of Political Prisoners
  Sudan: Release of Political Prisoners
  ABM Treaty
  ABM Treaty
  Magistrates: Resignations
  Magistrates: Resignations
  Abortions
  Abortions
  Nursery Education and Corporal Punishment
  Nursery Education and Corporal Punishment
  Local Government Ombudsman Service: Review
  Local Government Ombudsman Service: Review
  Crown Copyright
  Crown Copyright
  Asylum Seekers: Representation at Hearings
  Asylum Seekers: Representation at Hearings
  Firearms Consultative Committee: Recommendations
  Firearms Consultative Committee: Recommendations
  South West Trains Franchise Agreement
  South West Trains Franchise Agreement
  Office of Passenger Rail Franchising: Running Costs
  Office of Passenger Rail Franchising: Running Costs