Written Answers of 13 February 1996

ENVIRONMENT

  Empty Buildings
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [14574]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Property Holdings is responsible for the whole of the Government civil office estate known as the common user (office) estate in which Government Departments and their agencies are housed. At 31 December 1995 there were 195 empty buildings on the CUE, 38 owned by the Government and the remainder held on lease.

  As a general rule, the Government carry their own insurance risk. Where premises are leasehold, some landlords require formal insurance cover. This invariably forms part of the service charges. The security and insurance elements within such charges cannot readily be disaggregated and consolidated without disproportionate cost.

  Until vacation the empty properties on the CUE have been used by the Government as business premises. An assessment of their original design criteria is not available centrally.

  The Government make a contribution in lieu of rates on their CUE properties. The figures for payments of CILOR made by Property Holdings on its vacant space, leased and owned, are as follows:

  1991–92: £16.0 million

  1992–93: £18.0 million

  1993–94: £17.2 million

  1994–95: £15.0 million

  1995–96: £24.6 million (estimate)

  Sewage Outfalls (Solent)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the length of the sewage outfall pipe at Norton for which the National Rivers Authority gave its discharge consent; and what is the actual length of the pipe as it now exists; [14335]

  (2) if he will list those outfall pipes that (a) have been and (b) have not been measured for length by the National Rivers Authority for which it has discharge consent; [14323]

  (3) when the National Rivers Authority measured the outfall pipes for which it has given consents. [14341]
  480
  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that the National Rivers Authority does not usually measure the length of outfalls, but does verify locations of the discharge positions. The consent for the discharge at Norton, which pre-dates the establishment of the NRA, does not specify a pipe length but does specify the discharge location by national grid reference.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment the National Rivers Authority has made of the advantages of introducing a computer model of the tidal flow off the Norton outfall; [14339]

  (2) when the National Rivers Authority expects to have a model for the flow of dispersal off the Norton outfall. [14340]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that the National Rivers Authority already has a model which can be applied to any discharge to the Solent.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the National Rivers Authority gave permission for the discharge of sewage on the flood tide at Norton. [14337]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that, since its establishment in 1989, the National Rivers Authority has not altered the discharge consent for the Norton outfall.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what enforcement action the National Rivers Authority intends to take for non-compliance with its consents at the Norton outfall. [14336]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that the National Rivers Authority is not aware of any current breaches of the consent for the Norton outfall.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the National Rivers Authority's response to the imposition of tertiary treatment plants for Solent outfalls. [14324]

  Mr. Clappison
  There is no requirement for tertiary treatment in the Solent.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies the NRA has made of the closure of the Totland outfall and the consequential effects on outflow at Norton; and what studies were made by the NRA of increasing the volume of discharge inside the Solent as opposed to outside it. [14408]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that the National Rivers Authority has carried out monitoring at Totland for bathing water directive and other purposes. Bacteriological quality at Norton foreshore has also been monitored by the NRA and has shown an improvement since 1993.

  Detailed studies of the dispersion characteristics of the Solent for the purposes of the urban waste water treatment directive have resulted in a requirement for full secondary biological treatment for all significant sewage discharges into these waters.

  Solent Shellfish Beds
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to designate the Solent's
  481
  native oyster beds under the biodiversity plan; and what other bi-valve oyster beds and eco-systems in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the EU are of similar ecological importance. [14409]

  Mr. Clappison
  "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report", published on 13 December 1995, contains no plans to designate the Solent's native oyster beds. The report does recommend that the native or European oyster,Ostrea edulis, be among 1,253 species whose conservation status should be monitored. The Government expect to publish their response to the report in spring of 1996.

  Important native oyster beds are found in the Fal and Helford estuaries, River Tamar, River Lynher, the Crouch, Blackwater, Roach and West Mersea estuaries in England; Loch Ryan in Scotland and Milford Haven and Swansea bay in Wales. In the European Union important native oyster beds include Oosterscheldte in the Netherlands and the north Brittany coast around St. Malo in France.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment the National Rivers Authority has made of the advantages of monitoring the Solent under the shellfish waters directive. [14334]

  Mr. Clappison
  The National Rivers Authority is the competent authority for reporting compliance with and enforcing the shellfish waters directive. It is required to monitor all the areas of the Solent designated under the directive.

  Areas of Special Scientific Interests
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on(a) restoration orders for areas of special scientific interest and (b) the consultations he has had about extending his powers under section 31 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [14591]

  Mr. Clappison
  We have agreed in principle to consult on the extension of the powers of the court to make an order requiring restoration when the special interest of such a site is damaged.

  Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of finance for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14606]

  Mr. Clappison
  The budget allocated to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee by English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales over the past five years has been:

  1991–92: £3.955 million

  1992–93: £5.050 million

  1993–94: £4.900 million

  1994–95: £5.008 million

  1995–96: £4.735 million

  This funding has enabled the country agencies to carry out those special functions relating to nature conservation in Great Britain as a whole and beyond Great Britain which are exercised through the joint committee.
  482

  River Humber
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what account he takes of topography and salinity when deciding the outer estuarine boundary of the River Humber; [14955]

  (2) if he will now receive the outer estuarine limit of the Humber under the urban waste water directive taking account only of objective criteria. [14956]

  Mr. Clappison
  The National Rivers Authority has been asked to review the basis for establishing estuary boundaries for the purposes of the urban waste water treatment directive, including the relevance of salinity and topography, and to advise my Department accordingly.

  Global Temperature Increases
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to monitor global temperature rises. [14928]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department receives regular reports from the Meterological Office about global temperatures.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EU legislation on the grounds that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13654]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Since the implementation of the Maastricht treaty all EC environmental legislation has been adopted under qualified majority voting and a veto cannot apply. 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 UK's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

  Supplementary Credit Approval, Hull
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his response to the revised bid of the City of Hull for SCA 1996–97. [14965]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  An announcement will be made in the near future.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Sir Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he intends to be the implementation date of the reorganisation of local government in areas for which orders have not yet been made. [15380]

  Mr. Gummer
  As I said in my statement on 30 November 1995,Official Report, columns 1333–52, we envisage staging the implementation of reorganisation in England to take account of the resources available. We also needed to allow time to receive and consider representations on the Local Government Commission's final report which was submitted on 19 December, and, where we accept recommendations for change, to consult on draft orders. With these considerations in mind we have reluctantly concluded that implementation of reorganisation in the remaining areas for which we have

  483
  not already laid orders cannot take place in 1997. I intend to make a further announcement setting out our decisions on the recommendations in the commission's final report, and the timing of the remaining orders, as soon as possible.

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in conducting the market test of the management of the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre. [15381]

  Mr. Gummer
  I have now decided to award a five-year service level agreement to the in-house team, based on the existing executive agency for the conference centre. It will take effect from 1 April 1996. Having considered the advice of a steering group and of consultants, KPMG, I am satisfied that the bid submitted by this team offers better value for money than those received from elsewhere. It also satisfies the quality and security requirements set for the test.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Duchy Benevolent Fund
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the grants distributed from the Duchy benevolent fund in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [14945]

  Mr. Freeman
  Lists of grants distributed from the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund for the last three years would run to several hundred items. A list of donations made to charitable causes in the County Palatine in 1993, before the fund became a registered charity, was placed in the Library on 2 February 1994.

  I am not a trustee of the fund. As a properly constituted charity, the trustees produce an annual report and accounts to the Charity Commissioners which is open to public scrutiny. The accounts show all donations except the many grants below £1,000 which are made on behalf of the trustees by the lords lieutenants of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside who are all trustees of the fund.

  If the hon. Member would like details of donations made to organisations or individuals in his local area, I shall arrange for the secretary of the fund to provide the information.

  Parliamentary Commissioner
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to change the 1995–96 cash limit for the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner and health service commissioners. [15285]

  Mr. Freeman
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner and health service commissioners—class XIX vote 4—will be increased by £702,000 from £9,000,000 to £9,702,000.
  484
  The increase is in response to growth in the work load of the office and to prepare for the work which will be generated by the Health Service Commissioners (Amendment) Bill, which was debated in another place last night.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to support the President of the European Commission's policy of less but better legislation and to improve the operation of the fiche d'impact procedures. [13656]

  Mr. Freeman
  Through my contacts with the Commission and with Ministers in other member states I have been pressing for improved regulatory systems at the European level, a rolling programme of regulatory reviews and action on a number of specific burdensome directives. At the informal meeting of the Internal Market Council to be held later this month, I shall share our experience of compliance cost assessment as a contribution to the current review of the Commission's impact assessment systems.

TRANSPORT

  Swapbody Freight Containers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total amount of investment(a) estimated to be required to make lines suitable for the passage of European swapbody freight containers and (b) which has already taken place for such conversion, indicating the location, in respect of each main rail route and for Great Britain; and if he will make a statement. [14234]

  Mr. Watts
  BR has upgraded existing railway infrastructure at a cost of some £26 million to facilitate the carriage of standard European swapbodies and containers between the channel tunnel and terminal sites at Glasgow Mossend, Liverpool Seaforth, Manchester Trafford Park, Wakefield Normanton, Birmingham Landor Street and London Willesden. It will be for Railtrack to consider the commercial case for undertaking further loading gauge clearance work in the light of demand for freight services.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to personnel management staff within the Driving Standards Agency concerning retraining following a formal complaint under chapter 17 of his Department's staff handbook. [14440]

  Mr. Norris
  The Driving Standards Agency is producing a revised course on new desk instructions.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each agency within his Department his plans for changes to annual staff reporting and promotion procedures. [14432]
  485
  Mr. Norris
  I have none. However, where the chief executives of my Department's agencies have such plans, these are shown:DRIVER AND VEHICLE LICENSING AGENCY
  Promotion
  Planning to introduce changes to the internal job application and promotion procedures. A new application form covering both procedures will support more objective assessments of the skills required for the advertised post and the applicant's suitability for it.
  DRIVING STANDARDS AGENCY
  Planning to review the current staff repotting and promotion procedures.
  HIGHWAYS AGENCY
  Annual staff reporting
  Will pilot a new staff appraisal system in 1996–97 with a view to introducing it in 1997–98. The new system aims to improve the accuracy and consistency of reporting standards, provide a more effective means for staff and their managers to identify development needs and to encourage a frequent and constructive dialogue on performance.
  THE COASTGUARD AGENCY
  Annual staff reporting
  Aiming to introduce changes from November 1996.
  VEHICLE CERTIFICATION AGENCY
  Annual staff reporting
  Planning to introduce new appraisal and reporting procedures in 1997–98.
  VEHICLE INSPECTORATE
  Promotion
  Developing arrangements for selecting the most suitable applicants for posts by means of assessment centres.

  Disciplinary Procedures
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has issued to staff in the personnel management section of the Driving Standards Agency on the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service guidance on disciplinary procedures. [14444]

  Mr. Norris
  The Driving Standards Agency follows the Department of Transport's disciplinary procedures. They are aware of the ACAS guidance and the Department of Transport is reviewing its disciplinary procedures.

  Railway Contracts
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contracts have been awarded by Railtrack to Hall and Tawse; and what work under these contracts has been subcontracted to British Rail maintenance departments. [14486]

  Mr. Watts
  I understand that Railtrack plc has awarded contracts to Hall and Tawse for rapid response and planned maintenance work. Hall and Tawse have subcontracted two small specialised work packages (about 1 per cent. of total contract value) covering professional inspection and track possession management advice to BR infrastructure maintenance companies.

  Chingford-Liverpool Street Train Crash
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the causes of the Chingford-Liverpool Street train crash on 19 September 1995 and the remedial action that has been taken. [14301]
  486
  Mr. Watts
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has conducted its investigation into this accident and is now considering what further action to take. It would be inappropriate to comment on the cause pending that decision.

  Staff Clothing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which offices of his Department have dress codes for administrative staff; [14413]

  (2) if male staff in his Department are allowed to wear earrings; [142395]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the factors which led to the decision not to include staff at grade 7 and above in the dress guidelines issued to staff of the north eastern traffic area office on 29 January; [14400]

  (4) what are the requirements on female staff in the dress guidelines issued to staff of the north eastern traffic area office on 29 January; [14396]

  (5) what representations he has received in the last 12 months from members of the public with regard to the dress and appearance of staff of the north eastern traffic area office; [14443]

  (6) what plans his Department has to introduce a dress code for the administrative staff employed in the north eastern traffic area office; [14414]

  (7) if female staff of the north eastern traffic area office are allowed to wear leggings; and if he will make a statement; [14398]

  (8) which traffic area officers were visited by the clerk of the north eastern traffic area office in his assessment of the dress guidelines issued on 29 January; [14399]

  (9) what instructions he has given to the clerk of the north eastern traffic area office on the matter of a dress code for staff below grade 7 in that office; [14442]

  (10) what financial assistance he plans to make available to staff of the north eastern traffic area office to meet the costs of appropriate clothing set out in the dress guidelines issued on 29 January. [14397]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department's position on dress code is that staff who are required to wear a uniform while on official duty are provided with such uniforms. For other staff, there is no formal dress code nor instructions as to male earrings or leggings for females. This is left as a matter for discussion between local management and the individuals concerned.

  The dress guidelines for clerical staff in the North Eastern traffic area office have been suspended pending discussions with the trade union side. There are separate guidelines for staff in the management grades, which include the grade 7 clerk, agreed with the Public Services, Tax and Commerce Union locally.

  The dress guidelines had been prepared to give staff an indication of what is considered suitable in the light of the TAO's wish to improve the image and service that it presents to the public. There are no plans to provide additional financial support.
  487

  Rail Services, Greater Manchester
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of state for Transport how much will be paid by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to the British Railways Board for the operation and marketing of passenger rail services in Greater Manchester in 1996–97; and how much in 1996–97 prices was paid by Greater Manchester passenger transport executive in 1995–96. [14614]

  Mr. Watts
  The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising is currently negotiating a contract with the British Railways Board for the provision of passenger rail services including those currently supported by Greater Manchester PTE for 1996–97. When this is completed it will be possible to indicate only the amount of support paid for each train operating company, not the amounts paid for specific areas. The amount paid by Greater Manchester PTE is a matter for it or for the British Railways Board.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisation will become responsible from 1 April for the services for the(a) marketing, (b) promotion and (c) provision of information about passenger rail services currently provided by Greater Manchester passenger transport executive; and what sums will be allocated for these purposes in 1996–97. [14615]

  Mr. Watts
  From 1 April 1996, the train operating company, North West Regional Railways, will be responsible for these activities, and for funding them.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations will be responsible for the compilation of timetable information for Greater Manchester passenger rail services after 1 April. [14613]

  Mr. Watts
  From 1 April 1996 North West Regional Railways and Railtrack will become responsible for the compilation of timetable information on local rail services formerly supported by Greater Manchester passenger transport executive.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in the responsibilities of the British Railways Board and North West Regional Railways for the provision of passenger rail services in Greater Manchester are planned to be introduced from 1 April. [14612]

  Mr. Watts
  From 1 April 1996 the franchising director will assume responsibility for the financial support of local rail services in the Greater Manchester area. The franchising director will also become responsible for determining the future level of services formerly secured by the Greater Manchester PTE.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising has to enforce the contract held by North West Regional Railways, for providing Greater Manchester passenger rail services from 1 April. [14616]

  Mr. Watts
  The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising will have a legally enforceable contract with the British Railways Board for 1996–97 which will include the timetable for Greater Manchester services to be operated by North West Regional Railways.
  488

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the introduction of the piggyback principle for freight to the west coast main line. [14742]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack is examining costs and technical feasibility.

  Great Central Railway
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the re-opening of the Great Central Railway; and how many were opposed to it. [14740]

  Mr. Watts
  Up to Friday 9 February, we have received 465 letters from Members of Parliament, local authorities, other outside organisations and the general public about the project being promoted by Central Railway plc, including letters about the recent waiver applications. All but five of these letters expressed opposition to, or reservations about, the scheme in whole or in part, or opposition to waivers.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what surveys his Department has undertaken into the number of homes and businesses that would be affected by the resurrection of the Great Central Railway. [14743]

  Mr. Watts
  None. The promoters of the project, Central Railway plc, are required under the Transport and Works Act procedures to survey all land that would be compulsorily acquired, for the purpose of listing all affected owners and occupiers in a book of reference. The book of reference must be provided with the application.

  Rail Freight Facilities
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail facilities which received freight facilities grant since the inception of the grant are now no longer in operation. [15005]

  Mr. Watts
  More than 200 grants have been made since the scheme started in 1975. The Department undertakes monitoring of the tonnage moved through a grant-aided facility for a period equal to the commitment made by the grant applicant to move goods through that facility. This period is normally in the region of five to 10 years. Information on the current use of the relevant facilities is not held centrally.

  Freight Costs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the costs of transporting low value, high bulk goods over long distances(a) by road and (b) by rail. [14981]

  Mr. Watts
  My Department makes such estimates when assessing applications for the grants which are available to encourage freight to be moved by rail rather than road transport.
  489

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many pages of evidence were provided by his Department to the Scott inquiry. [14835]

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 16,234.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department provided all documents requested by Lord Justice Scott in the furtherance of his inquiry. [14838]

  Mr. Hanley
  All documents requested by Sir Richard Scott and in our possession were provided to his inquiry.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official ministerial visits have been paid to the Republic of Cyprus in each of the last five years; and what further such visits are planned. [14764]

  Mr. David Davis
  Since 1991. there have been five such visits: two in 1992 and three in 1993. These visits all took place in a multilateral context. There are no present plans for further visits.

  Mr. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to support current proposals for the demilitarisation of the island of Cyprus. [14763]

  Mr. Davis
  Moves by both sides to reduce deployment of troops and levels of military equipment on the island can only help to improve the climate for a settlement. This is an issue that we discuss regularly with both communities in Cyprus.

  Imia
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 321, if he will set out the authority for his statement that the question of sovereignty over the island of Imia is not determined. [15083]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Sir N. Bonsor) observed in his oral answer on 7 February 1996,Official Report, columns 321–23, that the Greek and Turkish Governments take different positions on sovereignty over the island of Imia. We warmly welcome expressions by both sides of determination to deal with the issue by peaceful means. This must be right. It is important that it is done in accordance with international law.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Malaysian Government regarding Lim Guan Eng; and if he will make a statement. [14545]
  490
  Mr. Hanley
  We are following Mr. Lim Guan Eng's case, which is before the Malaysian courts. We have not made any representations.

  South Africa
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his officials have made to the South African authorities in the case of Paul Grecian. [15104]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are in regular contact with the South African prison authorities in the course of giving Mr. Grecian full consular support.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the legal procedures which have been followed in the case of Paul Grecian, at present in prison in South Africa. [15103]

  Mr. Hanley
  Mr. Grecian has his own lawyer in South Africa who is able to advise on the legal procedures in his case.

  EU Treaties
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to publish as a Command Paper the current provisions of the treaty on European Union and the treaty establishing the European Community. [15313]

  Mr. David Davis
  Such a Command Paper has now been published and has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

DEFENCE

  Aircrew Standards Evaluation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are employed in aircrew standards evaluation duties in the Royal Air Force; and what is the minimum frequency of standards evaluation reviews of flying units. [13210]

  Mr. Soames
  The RAF is committed to ensuring that its aircrews maintain the very highest standards in all aspects of military flying. In addition to the continuous process of maintaining standards within units, all aircrew are regularly subjected to formal standards evaluation reviews every 12 to 24 months, depending on units' roles and operational commitments. Currently, 115 service personnel directly support the standards evaluation process.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints in respect of low flying have been received by his Department from addresses in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each month since September 1995. [14232]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of inquiries and complaints about military low flying received by my Department since September 1995 from addresses in England, Wales and Scotland are in the table.
  491

  Month

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  1995

  October

  375

  52

  116

  November

  364

  80

  69

  December

  150

  61

  87

  1996

  January

  141

  44

  87

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the fine weather in the summer of 1995 on the rate of public complaints to his Department concerning low-flying aircraft. [14233]

  Mr. Soames
  It is our experience that the rate at which complaints about military low flying are received by my Department increases when the weather is fine, as people are more likely to be outdoors or to have windows open and noise of any sort is more intrusive. We believe that the prolonged period of fine weather in the summer of 1995 was a significant factor in the increase in complaints during that year, but we are not able to quantify the effect.

  Empty Buildings
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [14575]

  Mr. Soames
  No central record is maintained of the number of buildings which may be empty at any given time and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Army Apprentices College, Harrogate
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to find alternative uses for the Army apprentices college, Harrogate,(a) within his Department, (b) in conjunction with other Government Departments and (c) by selling the property on the open market. [14143]

  Mr. Soames
  Since the announcement in December 1992 of the decision to close the Army apprentices college, Harrogate, my Department has considered the property for a number of other defence uses, none of which was found to be suitable. While the scope for alternative defence use is still being explored, we have, in parallel, conducted a without commitment "Expressions of Interest" advertising campaign through consultants to identify possible commercial interest in the site. The results of this advertising campaign are being assessed. A regular dialogue is maintained with the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Commissioned Officers
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many commissioned officers(a) in the Royal Air Force under Queen's Regulation 2905(3), (b) in (i) the
  492
  Royal Navy and (ii) the Army under the equivalent Queen's Regulations have been required to retire, relinquish or resign their commissions in each of the last 10 years. [14555]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of commissioned officers who have been required to retire, relinquish or resign their commissions under Queen's Regulation (RAF) 2905(3) or equivalent regulations in the Royal Navy and the Army over the past 10 years are:

  Year

  Royal Navy

  Army

  RAF

  1986

  3

  1

  1—

  1987

  5

  3

  1—

  1988

  10

  3

  1—

  1989

  8

  1

  1—

  1990

  7

  7

  5

  1991

  5

  2

  2

  1992

  7

  3

  6

  1993

  3

  1

  6

  1994

  6

  6

  0

  1995

  10

  6

  8

  1 Figures are not available for these years.

  Nuclear Test Simulation
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the United Kingdom has the super-computing capability for nuclear test simulation. [14393]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A number of techniques and facilities, including super-computers, which will help to maintain the capabilities and expertise necessary for the stewardship of our nuclear weapons in the absence of underground testing are being developed. As regards the acquisition of super-computing equipment, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) on 26 January 1996,Official Report, column 466.

  Empty Dwellings, North Yorkshire
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many empty Ministry of Defence domestic dwellings there are in North Yorkshire; and how many are for sale. [14196]

  Mr. Soames
  There are 491 empty MOD domestic dwellings in North Yorkshire, of which eight are currently being sold under the joint services discount scheme. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 30 November 1995,Official Report, columns 810–11, we intend to transfer ownership of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector.

  RAF Valley
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement for the contract to operate maintenance services at RAF Valley; and what requirements for on-going training commitments have been written into the specification. [14762]
  493
  Mr. Soames
  Tenders for the maintenance work at RAF Valley are currently being evaluated. I expect to be in a position to announce the award of the contract in April. The contract will specify the qualifications and experience levels required by personnel undertaking maintenance work rather than the training needed to achieve those qualifications which will be a matter for the contractor.

  Buy American Act
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December,Official Report, column 1176, what was the response of the US Government when he raised the question of "Buy American" clauses. [14805]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence raised Her Majesty's Government's concerns over "Buy American" restrictions during his recent visit to Washington. The US Department of Defense has begun to remove such restrictions where they are not required for national security reasons or mandated by law, and is urging the US Congress to follow suit. Regrettably, Congress voted to retain several old restrictions and to introduce a number of new ones in this year's defence legislation. Her Majesty's Government will continue to press for the reversal of these damaging provisions.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1 January 1995(a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) offficials in his Department have had contact with Lord Howe concerning his correspondence with the Scott inquiry. [14820]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence have had no such contacts with Lord Howe.

  Service Men, Bosnia
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to introduce a system of compensation or ex-gratia payments for service men injured in Bosnia, comparable to those available in Germany and Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [14921]

  Mr. Soames
  Where an injury resulting in the death or invaliding of a service man or woman is attributable to service in Bosnia, benefits are paid both from the armed forces pensions scheme and from the Department of Social Security war pensions scheme. My Department also operates a scheme for criminal injuries compensation for members of the armed forces and their dependants who are victims of crimes of violence while serving overseas. Such compensation, however, is not payable where the injury to, or death of, a service man or woman was a result of war operations or, as in Bosnia, military activity by warring factions.
  494
  A review of death and invaliding benefits for service personnel, and the criteria for their award, is currently being undertaken as part of the detailed study of the pensions recommendations made by Sir Michael Bett's independent review of the armed forces' manpower, career and remuneration structures.

  Air Squadrons, Northern Ireland
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of university air squadrons and air experience flights in Northern Ireland. [15283]

  Mr. Soames
  The primary role of the university air squadrons is to attract new recruits of good quality and education into the Royal Air Force. The defence costs study "Front Line First" recognised the university air squadrons as a source of high calibre pilots for the RAF, but identified scope for rationalisation in the organisation as a whole. As part of rationalisation, it was proposed that the Queen's university air squadron— QUAS—being the least successful squadron in terms of providing pilot recruits for the RAF, should close. A consultative document covering this proposal was issued on 5 September 1995, recommending the closure of QUAS and, as a consequence, the closure of No. 13 Air Experience Flight based at Belfast.

  My Department received a number of representations from Members of Parliament and other interested parties. The consultation included the trades unions and local authorities and full and careful consideration has been given to the representations received. Following this work, I am satisfied that no issues have been raised which call into question the viability of the proposals.

  I have therefore decided with regret that QUAS and No. 13 Air Experience Flight should close at the end of this academic year. Air experience flying for air cadets will be provided by offering them places at summer camps on the mainland. We also propose to reactivate No. 664 Volunteer Gliding School at Belfast with immediate effect.

  Munitions Exports (form F680)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those officials in his Department who were authorised to sign F680 forms in the period June to December 1986. [14857]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: No.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. George
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Government responses to Select Committee reports have been made more than six months after the publication of the Committee's report in each parliamentary session since 1990. [15086]

  Mr. Newton
  I shall write to the hon. Member with the information that he requests.
  495

WALES

  Health Trust Costs
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for each health trust

  11993–94

  21994–95

  NHS trust

  Management costs £000

  Per cent. of total income

  Management costs £000

  Per cent. of total income

  NHS trust operational 1 April 1992:

  Pembrokeshire

  2,053

  4.95

  1,873

  4.46

  NHS trusts operational with effect from 1 April 1993:

  Glan Clwyd General Hospital

  1,865

  3.37

  1,702

  2.94

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  1,664

  3.39

  1,881

  3.50

  Gofal Cymuned Clwydian Community Care

  3,205

  5.27

  2,385

  3.72

  Powys Health Care

  2,301

  5.50

  1,882

  4.90

  Glan Hafren

  2,824

  3.10

  2,633

  2.82

  Gwent Community

  2,567

  4.57

  2,699

  4.70

  Llandough Hospital

  2,698

  5.89

  2,520

  5.00

  Bridgend and District

  1,635

  2.69

  1,558

  2.43

  Swansea

  1,426

  2.73

  1,233

  2.27

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  1,024

  3.38

  812

  2.62

  Carmarthen and District

  1,133

  3.06

  1,207

  3.19

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  790

  3.48

  831

  3.59

  South and East Wales Ambulance

  661

  4.11

  1,054

  6.00

  NHS trusts operational with effect from 1 April 1994:

  North Wales Ambulance

  —

  —

  516

  420

  Derwen

  —

  —

  955

  4.25

  Nevil Hall

  —

  —

  1,463

  3.59

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  —

  —

  1,982

  3.28

  Gwynedd Community

  —

  —

  1,636

  3.42

  Rhondda Healthcare

  —

  —

  993

  3.40

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance

  —

  —

  1,002

  12.86

  Velindre Hospital

  —

  —

  619

  5.85

  East Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1,678

  3.54

  Morriston Hospital

  —

  —

  1,609

  2.59

  Sources:

  1 Welsh Office Management Costs Savings exercise—Audited data provided by the service.

  2 NHS Trusts Annual Accounts—management costs data were not recorded in annual accounts prior to 1994–95.

  Hospital Beds
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many beds there were in Welsh hospitals in each year since 1979. [14803]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is given in the table.

  Almost 60 per cent. of the reduction in NHS hospital beds over the period is associated with better care for people with mental illnesses or learning disabilities away from the hospital environment. Reductions in the acute sector have been made possible through advances in medical technology and practice, including day case surgery. Since 1979, the total number of people treated as in-patients or day cases in Welsh hospitals has almost doubled.

  Average daily available beds in Welsh NHS hospitals

  Number

  1979

  23,456

  1980

  23,203

  1981

  22,940

  1982

  22,441

  1983–84

  22,412

  1984–85

  22,295

  496
  in Wales in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of the total budget. [14453]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  Average daily available beds in Welsh NHS hospitals

  Number

  1985–86

  21,999

  1986–87

  21,565

  1987–88

  21,103

  1988–89

  20,504

  1989–90

  19,855

  1990–91

  19,414

  1991–92

  18,640

  1992–93

  18,078

  1993–94

  17,475

  1994–95

  16,834

  Schools Inspections
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of a school inspection per day for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wales. [14530]

  Mr. Richards
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales. I have asked Mr. Roy James to write to the hon. Member and will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.
  497

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14026]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office issues guidance as appropriate to assist members of the public and others using Welsh Office services.

  Empty Dwellings
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many empty dwellings owned by Government Departments there were in Wales for the latest available year; and if he will make a statement. [15105]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister responsible for housing on 23 November 1995,Official Report, column 238. Separate information is not available for other Government Departments in Wales.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the annual average cost of prescription items per patient prescribed by(a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholding general practitioners for each year since the introduction of fundholding for which statistics are available for (i) Wales and (ii) each family health services authority. [14964]

  Mr. Hague
  The 1994–95 figures are as follows. We do not hold data for earlier years.

  March 1994–April 1995

  Fundholding cost per person £

  Non-funding cost per person £

  Clwyd

  77.74

  92.28

  Dyfed

  78.18

  93.43

  Gwent

  68.19

  86.86

  Gwynedd

  73.21

  97.01

  Mid Glamorgan

  70.67

  90.63

  Powys

  62.91

  84.47

  South Glamorgan

  64.67

  80.09

  West Glamorgan

  80.01

  91.43

  Wales

  73.24

  89.40

TREASURY

  OECD Statistics
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the average unemployment rate over the period 1979 to 1994 for each OECD country; [13913]

  (2) what was the average annual rate of export growth in real terms for each of the OECD countries over the period 1979 to 1994; [13921]

  (3) what was the value of total investment per capita converted at current purchasing power parities for each OECD country in 1979 and 1994; [13912]
  498
  (4) what was the average annual rate of growth in real terms of gross domestic product for each OECD country over the period 1979 to 1994; [13920]

  (5) what was the average annual rate of interest for each of the EU and G7 countries over the period 1979 to 1994; [13918]

  (6) what was the percentage change in civilian employment excluding those on work-related Government training programmes over the period 1979 to 1994 for each OECD country. [13914]

  (7) what was the average ratio over the period 1979 to 1994 in current prices of investment to gross domestic product for each OECD country; [13922]

  (8) what was the value of gross domestic product per capita converted at current purchasing power parities for each OECD country in 1979 and 1994; [13916]

  (9) what was the ratio of the balance of trade to gross domestic product for each OECD country in 1979 and 1994; [13911]

  (10) what was the average annual rate of inflation for each of the EU and G7 countries over the period 1979 to 1994; [13919]

  (11) what was the increase in the volume of manufacturing output over the period 1979 to 1994 for each OECD country; [13915]

  (12) what was the average ratio over the period 1979 to 1994 in current prices of imports to gross domestic product for each OECD country; [13923]

  (13) what was the average ratio over the period 1979 to 1994 in current prices of Government investment to gross domestic product for each OECD country. [13917]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The data requested can be found in the following OECD publications:

  Economic Outlook

  Labour Force Statistics

  Quarterly National Accounts

  National Accounts, Main Aggregates Volume 1.

  OECD civilian employment figures excluding those on work-related Government schemes are not available.

  These publications are all available in the House of Commons Library.

  European Union Budget
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on United Kingdom Government contributions to European Union budget line B3–4004; and if he will make a statement. [13765]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The budgetary commentary to line B3–4004 of the general budget of the European Communities cites as its legal base the agreement on social policy annexed to the social policy protocol to the treaty on European union, and in particular the European works council directive adopted under that agreement. Article 2 of the social policy protocol states that for acts adopted by the Council under this agreement:"any financial consequences other than administrative costs entailed for institutions shall not be applicable to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
  499

  Capital Gains Tax
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children currently make use of their annual capital gains tax allowance. [14259]

  Mr. Jack
  I regret that precise estimates are not possible for the number of individuals with net gains below the capital gains tax annual exempt amount. Details of gains are not required on tax returns where chargeable gains do not exceed the annual exempt amount and aggregate proceeds from disposals of all assets do not exceed twice the annual exempt amount.

  Empty Buildings
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [14566]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury does not own any property. All buildings occupied by the Treasury form part of the Government common user estate. Information relating to the CUE was given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 30 January 1996,Official Report, columns 648–49.

  European Communities (Unemployment)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average rate of unemployment in the member states of the European Community in each of the years 1972, 1982 and 1992. [14527]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Comparisons between the UK and other EU countries of unemployment on the internationally standard international labour organisation basis are available only from 1984. The table shows the extent of the available information.

  Unemployment rates in EU countries

  1984

  1992

  Belgium

  11.9

  6.7

  Denmark

  8.9

  9.0

  France

  9.5

  10.2

  Germany1

  6.7

  6.3

  Greece

  8.1

  7.8

  Ireland

  16.5

  15.0

  Italy

  9.5

  9.4

  Luxembourg

  2.7

  2.0

  Netherlands

  12.4

  5.6

  Portugal2

  —

  4.0

  Spain2

  —

  17.7

  UK

  10.9

  9.7

  EC average3

  9.4

  9.2

  Notes:

  1 Rate relates to the former West Germany.

  2Not available.

  3Rates relate to EU10 in 1984 and EU12 in 1992.

  Source:

  Statistical Office of the European Community Labour Force Survey results. Figures refer to the results of the Spring Labour Force Survey in the listed countries for the specified years.
  500

  Offshore Single Pension Bonds
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax forgone as a result of the use of offshore single pension bonds. [14262]

  Mr. Jack
  We are not able to identify an offshore single pensions bond and, as a consequence, regretfully are not able to answer the hon. Member's questions.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pages of evidence were provided by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to the Scott inquiry. [14837]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have provided 15,381 pages of evidence to the Scott inquiry. This figure does not include correspondence between the Department and the inquiry or evidence supplied to the inquiry by individual witnesses.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [14988]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Since October 1992, when arrangements were introduced for enabling agency chief executives to answer parliamentary questions, chief executives responsible to Treasury Ministers have replied to seven questions:

  1992: 3

  1993: —

  1994: —

  1995: 2

  1996: 2

  Griffin House VAT and Excise Office
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he intends to pay off the lease on the VAT and Excise office at Griffin house, 161 Hammersmith road; [13600]

  (2) what considerations led to the decision to close the VAT and Excise office in Hammersmith road; and what consideration has been given to the future of the lease on the property; [13601]

  (3) what is the nearest alternative office to the VAT office at 161 Hammersmith road at which people can get advice on VAT and excise; [13602]

  (4) what is the cost of closing the VAT and Excise office at 161 Hammersmith road; and what is the cost of buying the lease; [13603]

  (5) if his plans for staff at the VAT and Excise office in Hammersmith road include compulsory redundancy; [13604]

  (6) what is the annual rental on his Department's VAT and Excise office at Griffin house, 161 Hammersmith road; [13605]
  501
  (7) what consultation exercise his Department has initiated with customers of the VAT and Excise office at 161 Hammersmith road about its proposed closure. [13606]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise recently completed a fundamental expenditure review which has resulted in planned changes in working practices, with reductions in staff numbers and the need for accommodation. The regional collection responsible for the Hammersmith office, Thames Valley, decided to close the office as part of the consequential rationalisation of its operations, based on a detailed business case which took account of value for money for the taxpayer.

  There are no plans to "buy out" of the existing lease. When the property is vacated it will be in the first instance offered to other Government Departments in the locality. If they do not take up the additional accommodation it will be let on the open market. The annual rent is £511,988 with rates of £134,534 and landlord's service charge of £110,580.

  The cost of closing Griffin house will be some £400,000, which covers alterations to two nearby offices to house the additional staff who will be located there.

  Set against this are the reductions in running costs, a significant portion of which will start to accrue from the moment the building is vacated.

  There are no plans to make any of the existing staff at Griffin house compulsorily redundant.

  It is not departmental policy to conduct formal consultation exercises about the location of offices. However, the needs of traders and the public are always taken into account before a decision about the closure of an office is taken. In the case of Hammersmith, as it covers a small geographical area coupled with satisfactory transport links, it was felt that the public and the trading community would not be unduly inconvenienced by visiting another local office. In addition, at our adjacent offices vehicle access is generally easier and there are better parking facilities.

  The nearest offices are as follows:

  To the north:

  Wembley LVO

  Valiant house

  356 High road

  Wembley

  MIDDLESEX HP9 6AY

  To the west:

  Uxbridge business centre

  1 Park road

  Uxbridge

  MIDDLESEX UB8 1RW

  Staines business centre

  14 Thames street

  Staines

  MIDDLESEX TW18 UD

  To the east:

  Westminster and west end

  Dorset house

  Stamford street

  London SE1 9PY

  502

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 118, if the figures covering the Isle of Wight include taxpayers on the island whose tax affairs are handled by other districts. [15077]

  Mr. Jack
  The figures are derived from the survey of personal incomes where taxpayers are allocated to counties according to their place of residence or to their business address if self-employed, regardless of where their tax affairs are handled.

  Employment Growth
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage rate of employment growth over the period 1979–95 in respect of(a) each EU state, (b) USA, (c) Japan, (d) Australia, (e) Canada and (f) New Zealand. [14972]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The latest available information showing the most up to date comparisons is provided in the table.

  Civilian employment, change 1979 to 19941 (per cent.)

  Percentage

  Austria

  17

  Belgium

  2

  Denmark

  5

  Finland

  -10

  France

  2

  Germany

  7

  Greece

  12

  Ireland

  -1

  Italy

  6

  Luxembourg

  4

  Netherlands

  36

  Portugal

  9

  Spain

  -1

  Sweden

  -6

  United Kingdom

  1

  United States

  21

  Japan

  18

  Australia

  30

  Canada

  28

  New Zealand

  24

  Note:

  1 Ireland, Luxembourg 1979 to 1991; Belgium, Italy 1979 to 1992; Austria, Denmark, Greece and USA 1979 to 1993; UK 1979 to 1995; Germany (West) 1979 to 1990, (unified Germany 1991 to 1994 = 0 per cent.).

  Source:

  OECD Labour Force Statistics 1979–1993, Quarterly Labour Force Statistics, No. 4, 1995 and CSO (UK).

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers are in small self-administered pension schemes; and what is the annual cost to the Revenue of tax relief on contributions under such schemes. [14666]
  503
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: Information is not available concerning the actual number of taxpayers who are members of small self-administered pension schemes.

  The estimated cost of tax relief for contributions to occupational pension schemes is published in table 7.10 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995", a copy of which is in the Library. It is not possible to separate these estimates between small self-administered schemes and other occupational pension schemes.

  £ million

  Lender

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–961

  Barclays

  14.389

  13.790

  12.825

  42.198

  61.916

  29.185

  National Westminster

  38.169

  32.916

  12.704

  26.775

  50.731

  27.824

  Lloyds

  4.161

  2.417

  2.155

  25.865

  51.113

  24.668

  Midland

  15.517

  8.744

  13.495

  24.639

  42.260

  27.303

  Bank of Scotland

  1.385

  2.464

  2.018

  6.232

  10.259

  5.816

  Royal Bank of Scotland

  1.939

  1.018

  0.425

  6.608

  8.492

  6.719

  Clydesdale

  0.490

  0.559

  0.897

  2.439

  2.217

  1.281

  3i

  4.091

  4.631

  4.170

  7.567

  6.461

  2.523

  Co-operative

  0.295

  0.101

  0.025

  0.335

  1.048

  0.406

  Hill Samuel2

  0.190

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  Yorkshire

  0.069

  0.110

  0.000

  1.741

  2.318

  1.284

  Bank of Ireland

  0.179

  0.070

  0.000

  1.420

  1.117

  0.787

  Northern

  0.583

  0.265

  0.205

  0.322

  0.529

  0.430

  Ulster

  0.288

  0.046

  0.219

  0.214

  0.412

  0.230

  First Trust

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.250

  0.856

  0.550

  TSB

  0.632

  0.082

  0.000

  0.303

  2.656

  0.860

  Bank of Wales2

  0.000

  0.030

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  Northern Venture Managers

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.270

  0.325

  0.000

  Yorkshire Enterprise

  0.025

  0.250

  0.225

  0.465

  0.528

  0.302

  DonBAC

  0.087

  0.052

  0.218

  0.425

  0.331

  0.050

  Lenta

  0.000

  0.035

  0.013

  0.005

  0.010

  0.000

  Equatorial2

  0.025

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  Ulster Development Capital

  0.057

  0.105

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  0.000

  Total

  82.571

  67.685

  49.594

  148.073

  243.579

  130.218

  1 To 30 September.

  2 No longer a lender.

  These figures may differ from ones quoted previously. They take account of loans guaranteed but subsequently withdrawn before the loan is taken out.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will describe the baseline between Skegness and Great Yarmouth for the purposes of the common fisheries policy. [14649]

  Mr. Baldry
  The territorial sea baseline is drawn in accordance with the Territorial Waters Order in Council 1964, as amended by the Territorial Waters Order (Amendment) Order 1979. The base points are held and maintained by the territorial waters officer of the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he ensures that the negotiating
  504

  Small Firms (Loan Guarantees)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been committed each year since 1990–91, and by which banks, under the small firms loan guarantee scheme. [14644]

  Mr. Page
  I have been asked to reply.

  The value of loans guaranteed under the small firms loan guarantee scheme since 1990–91, by lender, is as follows:

  brief for his officials discussing EU legislation takes fully into account the need to minimise the burdens on United Kingdom business. [13716]

  Mr. Boswell
  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 UK compliance cost assessments of EC proposals should be integral to the UK's negotiating strategy. Copies of both pieces of guidance are in the Library of the House.

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is(a) the highest and (b) the lowest hourly rate charged to abattoirs by the Meat Hygiene Service for the services of official veterinary surgeons. [15087]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 30 January to his previous question on the subject of official veterinary surgeons' hourly rates,Official Report, column 694.
  505

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Record Office
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has for the future of the site and building of the Public Record Office, Chancery lane. [10891]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The efficiency scrutiny of the Public Record Office concluded that operations should be transferred to new premises at Kew. This transfer should be completed by the end of 1996. Other Government Departments have been widely canvassed, but there is no serious interest in re-use of the existing premises at Chancery lane. They will become surplus to requirements and will be disposed of on the open market by Property Holdings.

  Complex Fraud Cases
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to introduce measures to allow complex fraud cases to be heard by expert juries. [13890]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Not at present. This is only one of a number of possible approaches which would require careful consideration before any alternative to the current jury system was adopted.

  Anonymity Orders
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 1996,Official Report, column 749, if the anonymity order by Mr. Justice Johnson continues indefinitely; and if he will make it Government policy that no dead person's identity can be kept secret. [14040]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  A judgment by the president of the family division on 8 December 1995 confirmed that the order made by Mr. Justice Johnson regarding the anonymity of patient C and other individuals connected with the proceedings should continue beyond patient C's death. The text of the president's two judgments and that of Mr. Justice Johnson in this case are available in the Library of the House.

  Questions relating to the anonymity of those involved in proceedings are matters for the court. The court will make its decision based on all the circumstances of the case.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14028]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Department produces a wide range of administrative manuals and internal guidance: 13 are in the public domain and a further 84 are available for public inspection or could be provided 506
  on request. A list of these will be made available in the Libraries of both Houses. Guidance on security matters is not available to the public.

  Information on the full range of documents used for internal guidance could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  In accordance with the code of practice on access to Govnerment information a charge may be made to cover any additional costs of copies requested for retention.

PRIME MINISTER

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14036]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 12 February 1996.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the final date on which(a) a Minister and (b) a civil servant delivered information to Lord Justice Scott for his inquiry. [14833]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have been in correspondence with Sir Richard Scott's team throughout the period of the inquiry. The Cabinet Office was last asked to provide documents and information to the inquiry on 22 January.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made for civil servants whose actions are discussed by Lord justice Scott to receive copies of his report before its official publications on 15 February. [14840]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are in discussion with the inquiry about this.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister how many pages of evidence were provided by his office to the Scott inquiry. [14836]

  The Prime Minister
  My office and the Cabinet Office have provided 6,197 pages of evidence to the Scott inquiry. This figure does not include correspondence between my office or the Cabinet Office and the inquiry or evidence supplied to the inquiry by individual witnesses.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister if he(a) has discussed and (b) has authorised his Ministers to discuss media presentation of the Scott inquiry report with (i) newspaper proprietors, (ii) newspaper editors and (iii) governors of the BBC. [13993]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 February 1996]: The arrangements agreed by the Government with Sir Richard Scott do not permit anyone outside Government to have access to the report before publication, nor to have the contents of the report disclosed to them. I have made it clear that those

  507
  arrangements must be adhered to. The only exception at present agreed is that the spokesmen of the leading Opposition parties should have access to the report some hours before publication in accordance with the precedents for weighty reports of this nature. The preparation of the Government's response to the report has been and will be conducted in accordance with those arrangements. Any changes would be made only after consultation with Sir Richard Scott.

  Higher Education Institutions
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each occasion on which he has visited(a) a British university, and (b) another institution of higher education in each of the last five years; and what was the purpose of the visit in each case. [14961]

  The Prime Minister
  I have visited a range of education establishments and discussed a variety of issues over the past five years.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 February. [13608]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 February. [13609]

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

  Munitions Dumping
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department has responsibility for responding to accidents caused by the dumping of munitions in the Beaufort's dyke area. [14920]

  The Prime Minister
  The response to any particular incident would, in the first instance, be a matter for the relevant emergency services. Any associated departmental responsibility would be determined by the circumstances of the particular incident.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of municipal CCTV systems in fighting crime. [14224]

  Mr. Maclean
  The reports we have received from the police and closed circuit television—CCTV —operators confirm that there has been significant reductions in crime and the fear of crime in the areas where CCTV has been introduced. The reductions demonstrate the value of CCTV as a crime prevention measure. The evaluation of the cost effectiveness of individual CCTV schemes is a matter for the system operators.
  508
  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his criteria for (i) accepting and (ii) rejecting applications from local authorities for matching funding for CCTV systems. [14142]

  Mr. Maclean
  Bids to the second Home Office closed circuit television—CCTV—challenge competition will be judged against the criteria set out in the bidding guidance which was issued on 22 November 1995. Copies of the bidding guidance have been placed in the Library.

  Blackmail
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions cases of alleged blackmail serious enough to involve arrests by Serious Crime Squad detectives have not led to charges in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [14250]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the divisions of the Metropolitan police by borough with the number of officers per division and population per borough, in the same format as in his answer of 26 March 1993,Official Report, column 763. [14565]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information in respect of the London boroughs is as follows:

  London borough

  Number of police officers (full-time equivalent at 8 January 1996)

  Population of borough (OPCS mid-1994 estimates)

  Barking and Dagenham

  155,018

  Dagenham

  281.60

  Barnet and Hertsmere

  308,192

  Barnet and Hertsmere

  280.70

  Golders Green

  190.90

  West Hendon

  225.35

  Bexley

  220,414

  Bexleyheath

  270.50

  Brent

  244,467

  Kilburn

  325.14

  Wembley

  238.60

  Bromley

  292,970

  Bromley and Orpington

  452.44

  Camden

  182,484

  Hampstead

  195.00

  Holborn

  187.90

  Kentish Town

  251.86

  City of Westminster

  190,147

  Belgravia

  308.15

  Charing Cross

  398.10

  Marylebone

  335.70

  Paddington

  356.60

  West End Central

  316.00

  509

  London borough

  Number of police officers (full-time equivalent at 8 January 1996)

  Population of borough (OPCS mid-1994 estimates)

  Croydon

  326,757

  Croydon

  267.30

  South Norwood

  317.58

  Ealing

  289,783

  Ealing

  332.93

  Southall

  270.96

  Enfield

  259,765

  Edmonton

  237.38

  Enfield

  255.50

  Greenwich

  212,201

  Greenwich

  264.36

  Plumstead

  311.95

  Hackney

  192,479

  Stoke Newington

  305.94

  Shoreditch and

  297.60

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  156,550

  Fulham

  216.73

  Hammersmith

  316.40

  Haringey

  212,328

  Hornsey

  254.60

  Tottenham

  244.00

  Harrow

  210,266

  Harrow

  272.80

  Havering

  231,693

  Havering

  335.79

  Hillingdon

  242,968

  Hillingdon

  403.90

  Hounslow

  202,723

  Chiswick

  187.50

  Hounslow

  254.70

  Islington

  175,194

  Holloway

  246.90

  Islington

  264.10

  Kensington and Chelsea

  151,476

  Brompton

  375.40

  Notting Hill

  229.00

  Kingston upon

  138,486

  Thames

  Kingston

  360.34

  Lambeth

  260,677

  Brixton

  287.10

  Streatham

  254.01

  Vauxhall

  342.25

  Lewisham

  242,411

  Catford

  269.80

  Lewisham

  314.80

  Merton

  177,246

  Merton

  306.85

  510

  London borough

  Number of police officers (full-time equivalent at 8 January 1996)

  Population of borough (OPCS mid-1994 estimates)

  Newham

  226,842

  Forest Gate

  288.00

  Plaistow

  289.00

  Redbridge

  225,090

  Ilford

  231.40

  Richmond upon Thames

  172,011

  Richmond upon

  294.40

  Thames

  Southwark

  228,762

  Peckham

  288.38

  Southwark

  282.08

  Walworth

  259.40

  Sutton

  173,351

  Epson and Sutton

  402.38

  Tower Hamlets

  170,523

  Limehouse

  259.00

  Whitechapel

  307.70

  Waltham Forest

  221,779

  Chingford

  213.30

  Leyton

  208.00

  Wandsworth

  266,554

  Battersea

  257.80

  Wandsworth

  318.38

  Mary Druhan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on Mary Druhan's appeal application. [14590]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We are working urgently towards reaching a decision in this case.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in the last three years from Justice on the case of Mary Druhan; and what response he has made. [14559]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Representations from Justice were received in August 1993, and it has written occasionally with further points since then. In response, we commissioned inquiries by the Metropolitan police, whose report we are now considering.

  Prisons
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account is taken of the cost of Home Office controllers when cost comparisons are made between private and public managed prisons. [14448]

  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.
  511
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what account is taken of the cost of Home Office controllers when cost comparisons are made between private and public managed prisons.
  At each privately managed prison there is a controller, deputy controller and secretary. Their costs are included in the Prison Service annual report figures for cost per place and cost per prisoner at each private prison. They were not included in the analysis of comparative costs between private and public managed prisons carried out on 1993–94 figures. They are being included in the re-analysis being carried out in 1994–95 figures.

  Smoke Detectors
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on smoke detectors in homes. [14317]

  Mr. Sackville
  Our policy is to ensure that people are aware of the potentially life saving benefits of smoke alarms and to encourage them to install smoke alarms in their homes and to maintain and test them regularly. Our efforts, and those of fire brigades, have been very successful. Ownership has increased from 9 per cent. in 1987 to its present figure of 74 per cent. of all households.

  Police Officers (Bosnia)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to protect the position of police officers who volunteer for military duty in Bosnia through their membership of the Territorial Army, with particular reference to pensions, pay increments, annual leave, injury pensions and lump sum payments and death gratuities. [142394]

  Mr. Maclean
  It is for chief constables to decide whether to allow officers leave of absence to volunteer for military duty in Bosnia.

  Police officers who are members of Her Majesty's reserve forces and who are compulsorily called up for military service would be able to count such military service towards pension, pay increments and annual leave. They would also be eligible to have any shortfall in their military pay relative to their police pay made up and, provided they are members of the police pensions scheme, they would be covered by the "service men" provision— part I—of the police pension regulations.

  Police officers who are members of the reserve forces and who volunteer for military duty need first to obtain the permission of their chief constable and, depending on the terms under which any leave of absence is approved, may be able to count the military service towards pension, pay increments and annual leave. Officers who are given approval to volunteer for military service, like those who might be compulsorily called up, are covered by the "service men" provisions of the police pensions regulations.

  London Fire Brigade
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the expected average additional time that will elapse prior to the arrival of an appliance of the London fire brigade at a512
  fire if he accepts the proposals for reduced fire cover in London. [14332]

  Mr. Sackville
  No requests have been received by the Home Office from the London fire and civil defence authority to reduce levels of fire cover and therefore there is no basis on which to make such an estimate.

  Overloaded Lorries
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the levels of fines applicable to lorry operators convicted of overloading their vehicles; and when the levels were last reviewed. [14447]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are satisfied that the penalties for offences relating to overloaded goods vehicles are adequate. Driving an overloaded goods vehicle carries a maximum sentence of a £5,000 fine. This level of fine was set in 1991 and has not been reviewed since because there is no evidence that the courts have found it too low.

  Fire Service
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time fire appliances currently take to reach household fires in Hendon NW4. [14756]

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

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many entry clearance applications by husbands, wives or fiancé(e)s were refused (a) partly and (b) wholly on primary purpose grounds in 1994. [14799]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information for the Indian sub-continent—ISC—is given in the table. Corresponding information for non-ISC posts is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Initial refusals of entry clearance on primary purpose grounds for spouses and fiance(e)s in the Indian sub-continent 1994

  Numbers1

  Solely on primary purpose grounds

  Partly on primary purpose grounds

  Husbands

  750

  940

  Wives

  270

  180

  Male fiances

  90

  60

  Female fiancees

  60

  20

  Terrorist Groups
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards United Kingdom-based groups which issue statements of support for middle east terrorist organisations. [14650]

  Mr. Howard
  The Government deplore all statements of support for terrorist organisations. The police and the Security Service attach a high priority to countering any active support in the United Kingdom for terrorist groups.
  513
  Where there is evidence of involvement in terrorist, action will be taken against individuals, either under the criminal law, supported as necessary by the prevention of terrorism legislation, or under immigration Act powers.

  Secure Training Centres
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the first secure training centres to be opened for young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [14651]

  Mr. Maclean
  Tender proposals for the provision of the first two secure training centres at Gringley, Nottinghamshire and Cookham wood, Kent, were received on 12 June 1995. Negotiations are continuing with the tenderers and as part of this process tenderers are being asked to revise certain aspects of their bids prior to the final assessment and selection of preferred bidders. Contracts will be signed as soon as possible once the terms of the contractual agreement have been finalised. The opening dates have not yet been settled: they will be specified in the signed contract.

  Gaming Act 1968
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he is proposing to complete his review of the workings of the Gaming Act 1968; and if he will make a statement. [14932]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Howarth) on 26 January,Official Report, column 470.

  Prisoners (Visits)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a visit to a prisoner by a person whose name appears on a correct visiting order(a) may be disallowed and (b) may be considered a threat to security at the prison; and if he will make a statement. [14497]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the refusal of visits to prisoners.
  In general, providing the prisoner is still in that prison and able and willing to receive visitors, bona fide visitors appearing during visiting hours on the day specified will only be denied access for the reasons set out in Standing Order 5A or section 40 and 69 of the Prison Service Manual on Security, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
  A visitor would be considered a threat to security if it was thought they were planning to procure the escape of any prisoner or to supply weapons or equipment to assist in an escape. They would be considered a threat to good order and disciple if, for example, it was thought they were trying to smuggle drugs or other illicit items into the prison.

  Prosecutions of Police Officers
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private prosecutions against 514
  police officers have been brought in each year since 1970; how many of these cases each year the police officers (a) won and (b) lost; how many they settled out of court; and how much they paid out each year (i) in damages and (ii) in legal costs. [14962]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Private Security Industry
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish the response to the first report of the Home Affairs Committee of Session 1994–95, HC17, on the private security industry. [15134]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have responded to many of the recommendations made by the Select Committee; a copy of my right hon. and learned Friend's reply has been placed in the Library. We will answer the Committee's recommendations on regulation for part of the industry as soon as possible.

  Immigration
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend to the Immigration Service decisions regarding the removal of illegal entrants. [15311]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  At present, designated senior officers in the immigration service may authorise the removal of certain categories of people who have entered the United Kingdom illegally while other cases are referred to Ministers for authority to remove. In future, designated senior officers will be responsible for authorising removal in all cases other than those in which special features, such as Parliamentary interest or a high level of public concern about a case, indicate that they should be referred to Ministers for decision.

  The existing arrangements under which Ministers personally authorise and sign orders requiring a person's deportation from the United Kingdom are unaffected by these changes.

  Pregnant Women Prisoners
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the professional bodies consulted by(a) Ministers, (b) officials in his Department and (c) officers of the Prison Service in respect of its rules and practices concerning use of chains and similar equipment for (i) pregnant women, (ii) those in or approaching labour and (iii) those giving birth that applied prior to his oral statement of 18 January; and if he will place a copy of those rules in the Library. [11543]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Nigel Spearing, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about handcuffing of women.

  515
  The instructions which applied before the Home Secretary's announcement on 18 January are contained in sections 53 and 60 of the Manual on Security, copies of which are already held in the Library of the House. They were last amended in April 1995.
  No formal external consultation took place prior to the drawing up of the April 1995 instructions. In the context of the changes made and announced on 18 January I had extensive consultation with the Royal College of Midwives.
  On the basis of their advice, and after consultation with Ministers, I made the changes which were announced by the Home Secretary on 18 January.

  Prisons (Staffing)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give staff figures for each prison establishment showing the number of(a) unified grade staff, (b) governor grade staff, (c) auxiliary grades and (d) civilian staff. [12767]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the grade breakdown of staff in each prison establishment.
  The information requested, as at 26 January 1996 is shown in the attached table. Prison Service staff at privately managed prisons have been included. Unified grade totals include officers working within the various specialisms, for example healthcare. Auxiliary grades include night patrols, prison auxiliaries and temporary officers. Civilian grades include all other staff working in establishments.

  Prison establishment staffing: grade breakdown

  Establishment

  Officer grades

  Governor grades

  Auxiliary grades

  Civilian grades

  Acklington

  269

  7

  39

  34

  Albany

  250

  8

  16

  30

  Aldington

  57

  2

  4

  16

  Ashwell

  119

  6

  23

  48

  Askham Grange

  46

  2

  13

  12

  Aylesbury

  175

  7

  22

  56

  Bedford

  219

  4

  24

  31

  Belmarsh

  650

  9

  75

  81

  Birmingham

  503

  12

  44

  60

  Blakenhurst1

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Blantyre House

  43

  3

  9

  8

  Blundeston

  218

  7

  23

  26

  Brinsford

  228

  7

  29

  66

  Bristol

  384

  9

  36

  —

  Brixton

  553

  11

  58

  —

  Brockhill

  68

  3

  6

  23

  Buckley Hall1

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Bullingdon/Oxford

  416

  10

  55

  50

  Bullwood Hall

  86

  4

  6

  515

  Camp Hill

  213

  7

  26

  —

  Canterbury

  177

  3

  11

  —

  Cardiff

  248

  6

  33

  81

  Castington

  145

  4

  20

  24

  Channings Wood

  202

  10

  23

  32

  Chelmsford

  269

  6

  14

  33

  Coldingly

  176

  8

  23

  23

  Cookham Wood

  74

  3

  10

  3

  Dartmoor

  314

  8

  21

  36

  Deerbolt

  185

  4

  25

  61

  Doncaster1

  —

  2

  1

  2

  Dorchester

  123

  3

  4

  19

  Dover

  141

  4

  18

  47

  Downview

  153

  4

  18

  25

  516

  Prison establishment staffing: grade breakdown

  Establishment

  Officer grades

  Governor grades

  Auxiliary grades

  Civilian grades

  Drake Hall

  70

  3

  17

  46

  Durham

  477

  11

  44

  61

  East Sutton Park

  27

  2

  6

  26

  Eastwood Park

  7

  1

  3

  10

  Elmley

  362

  9

  45

  42

  Erlestoke House

  151

  3

  20

  23

  Everthorpe

  186

  5

  19

  28

  Exeter

  229

  7

  17

  74

  Featherstone

  268

  4

  25

  39

  Feltham

  392

  11

  56

  97

  Ford

  136

  5

  19

  34

  Frankland

  523

  13

  50

  35

  Full Sutton

  647

  16

  47

  53

  Garth

  302

  10

  19

  34

  Gartree

  229

  10

  26

  29

  Glen Parva

  359

  12

  42

  95

  Gloucester

  179

  4

  11

  30

  Grendon/Springhill

  182

  8

  26

  73

  Guys Marsh

  109

  7

  23

  55

  Haslar

  64

  2

  7

  11

  Hatfield

  67

  4

  13

  54

  Haverigg

  205

  6

  25

  32

  Hewell Grange

  68

  6

  12

  55

  High Down

  367

  11

  35

  44

  Highpoint

  295

  7

  31

  49

  Hindley

  221

  6

  23

  32

  Hollesley Bay Colony

  183

  7

  20

  131

  Holloway

  405

  14

  36

  42

  Holme House

  348

  7

  25

  38

  Hull

  340

  7

  31

  39

  Huntercombe/Finnamore Wood

  109

  4

  9

  44

  Kingston

  99

  1

  4

  16

  Kirkham

  153

  6

  18

  36

  Kirklevington

  50

  2

  10

  10

  Lancaster

  108

  5

  5

  13

  Lancaster Farms

  160

  6

  24

  75

  Latchmere House

  51

  4

  5

  19

  Leeds

  560

  18

  42

  72

  Leicester

  278

  5

  26

  35

  Lewes

  257

  5

  22

  30

  Leyhill

  130

  5

  14

  27

  Lincoln

  300

  9

  26

  41

  Lindholme

  298

  9

  48

  42

  Littlehey

  219

  7

  22

  38

  Liverpool

  647

  22

  42

  70

  Long Lartin

  508

  13

  35

  44

  Low Newton

  119

  4

  21

  36

  Maidstone

  285

  9

  22

  34

  Manchester

  562

  12

  79

  64

  Moorland

  280

  9

  30

  86

  Morton Hall

  32

  3

  9

  34

  Mount

  177

  8

  25

  48

  New Hall

  112

  4

  13

  56

  Northallerton

  106

  4

  13

  40

  North Sea Camp

  36

  3

  11

  59

  Norwich

  221

  5

  35

  134

  Nottingham

  139

  7

  14

  47

  Onley

  206

  6

  20

  57

  Parkhurst

  397

  15

  11

  89

  Pentonville

  381

  13

  30

  135

  Portland

  168

  6

  33

  70

  Preston

  337

  11

  17

  54

  Pucklechurch

  56

  5

  6

  38

  Ranby

  176

  5

  32

  65

  Reading

  142

  3

  5

  41

  Risley

  352

  15

  37

  126

  Rochester

  188

  6

  25

  79

  Send

  51

  3

  5

  22

  Shepton Mallet

  89

  4

  6

  45

  Shrewsbury

  154

  5

  10

  51

  Stafford

  249

  6

  32

  72

  Standford Hill

  88

  6

  10

  81

  Stocken

  134

  6

  19

  67

  Stoke Heath

  147

  5

  29

  58

  Styal

  135

  3

  8

  70

  517

  Prison establishment staffing: grade breakdown

  Establishment

  Officer grades

  Governor grades

  Auxiliary grades

  Civilian grades

  Sudbury/Foston Hall

  82

  7

  18

  89

  Swaleside

  257

  7

  11

  90

  Swansea

  145

  5

  11

  61

  Swinfen Hall

  96

  3

  16

  49

  Thorn Cross

  82

  8

  19

  52

  Usk/Prescoed

  104

  4

  15

  61

  Verne

  166

  6

  29

  100

  Wakefield

  492

  13

  21

  105

  Wandsworth

  511

  15

  55

  158

  Wayland

  176

  9

  18

  73

  Wealstun

  181

  11

  12

  80

  Wellingborough

  134

  7

  25

  48

  Werrington

  46

  2

  10

  26

  Wetherby

  78

  6

  13

  43

  Whatton

  78

  4

  11

  35

  Whitemoor

  494

  17

  41

  89

  Winchester

  345

  7

  22

  78

  Wolds1

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Woodhill

  333

  10

  49

  96

  Wormwood Scrubs

  503

  16

  31

  114

  Wymott

  223

  8

  36

  78

  1 Privately managed prison/remand centre: Prison Service staff monitor the contract.

  Fire Service College
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his reasons to the report on the future of the Fire Service College. [14669]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]The Fire Service College will continue as a next steps agency operating as a trading fund. A review of possible alternative options for the college's future status and financial structure was completed in June 1995. Since then, further work has been commissioned. An announcement will be made when this work has been completed and considered.

  Secure Training Centres
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 114, how much money he has allocated to build the first two secure training centres. [14825]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]Secure training centres will be provided under the terms of the Government's private finance initiative. The capital costs of construction will be met by the private sector contractor. Contract payments made by the Home Office will allow private sector providers to meet the operating and maintenance costs and capital financing costs as well as provide a return on their investment. For each centre, contract payments will begin when all available places are ready for use. The precise level of payments will depend on the results of the competitive tendering exercise.

  Addict Index
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current annual cost to his Department of the addict index; what other drug databases his Department operates; what plans he has to ensure the continuing viability of the addict index; and if he will make a statement. [14243]
  518
  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]The estimated cost of the addicts index for 1995–96 is approximately £282,000. The Home Office collates information on police and customs drug seizures and court proceedings for drug-related offences from the drugs self-report component of the British crime survey—being developed as a new indicator of the prevalence of drug misuse—and on companies licensed to trade in drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

  Crime Victims
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department issues concerning police relations with victims of crime from vulnerable groups; and if he will make a statement. [14245]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: Guidance has been issued to the police on the treatment of a wide range of victims of crime, including victims of sexual offences, child abuse and domestic violence.

  The victim's charter, published in 1990, sets some 17 standards for the police to aim for in their treatment of victims of crime. We aim to publish a new victim's charter in April, which will define more clearly the minimum standards of service victims can expect from the police and the other criminal justice agencies.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the initiatives taken by police forces in England and Wales to provide protection for vulnerable victims of crime; and if he will make a statement. [14249]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: The police give a high priority to the protection and safeguarding of victims, witnesses, and other vulnerable persons. The police research group published a report on witness intimidation in 1994, and the crime committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers has encouraged its members to have regard to the report's recommendations. National performance indicators for the police service require forces to develop strategies for reducing repeat victimisation.

  Cleared-up Crime
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of a cleared-up crime for official statistical purposes; and what changes have been made to the definition over the last five years. [14247]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]An offence can be recorded as cleared up if any of the conditions listed are met. There have been no changes in the last five years.

  An offence is cleared up when:

  1. a person has been charged or summonsed for the offence, irrespective of any subsequent acquittal;

  2. the offence has been taken into consideration by the court or if the unequivocal consent of the offender is obtained by way of statement of admission and desire to have further offences taken into consideration;

  3. the offender has been proceeded against in another police force area for the offence;

  4. the offender dies before proceedings could be initiated or completed;

  519

  5. the offender has been cautioned by the police;

  6. the offender is ill and is unlikely to recover or is too senile or too mentally disturbed for proceedings to be taken;

  7. the complainant or an essential witness is dead and the proceedings cannot be pursued;

  8. the guilt of the offender is clear but the victim refuses, or is permanently unable, or if a juvenile is not permitted, to give evidence;

  9. the offender admits the offence but it is decided that no useful purpose would be served by proceeding with the charge;

  10. it is ascertained that an offence has been committed by a child under the age of criminal responsibility;

  11. an offence is admitted by a juvenile of the age of criminal responsibility and police take no action other than reporting the particulars to a local authority for action under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969;

  12. There is sufficient evidence to charge the offender but

  (a) The police prosecuting department, the Crown Prosecution Service or a senior police officer decides that no useful purpose would be served by proceeding with the charge; or

  (b) for summary offences of unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle or criminal damage value over £20 the time limit of six months for commencing prosecution has been exceeded.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of recorded crime(a) resulted in a conviction and (b) was cleared-up in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [14248]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: Information on the percentage of offenders committed which result in a conviction is published on page 25 of "Digest 3—Information on the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales". Information for other years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the percentage of recorded offences cleared up is published in table 2.8 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1994". Copies of both these publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) the number of convictions and (b) the number of cleared-up crimes, for each category of offence, for each of the last five years;and if he will make a statement. [14276]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: Information on the number of notifiable offences cleared up by offence groups and on the number of offenders found guilty for all types of offence by main offence group is published in tables 2.8 and 5.8 respectively of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1994", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Immigration Officers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulations relating to the scales for, and payment of, performance-related pay for immigration officers posted at United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement. [14493]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: Immigration Officers receive performance pay in accordance with the national 1992 pay agreements and subsequent pay settlements negotiated between the Treasury and the National Union of Civil and Public
  520
  Servants. The placing of these papers in the Library is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Certain discretionary arrangements were negotiated within my Department and published in a departmental notice, a copy of which I have arranged to place in the Library.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of the prison population in England and Wales is currently held in(a)secure prisons and (b) open prisons and related establishments; [14001]

  (2) how many prisoners are currently held in open prisons and related establishments. [14003]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answers 12 February 1996]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about how many prisoners are currently held in open prisons and related establishments; and what proportion of the prison population in England and Wales is currently held in (a) secure prisons and (b) open prisons and related establishments.
  On 7 February 1996 the prison population in England and Wales was 52,437. On that date 48,630 prisoners, representing 92.7% of the total population, were held in closed establishments and 3,807, 7.3% of the population, in open establishments.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Family Planning
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, columns 665–66, what were the criteria used for awarding grants to non-governmental organisations applying for funding for reproductive health projects in (a) 1994 and(b) 1995. [14801]

  Mr. Hanley
  Grants were awarded for activities which addressed reproductive health needs in the community. The criteria included (i) the innovative content of proposals and prospects for their replication, (ii) the capability and experience of the organisation seeking funds, (iii) the overall quality of the project design, (iv) relevance of the project to ODA's reproductive health aims, (v) the cost of the project in relation to anticipated achievement and (vi) availability of funds.

  Expenditure Review
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recommendations contained in the fundamental expenditure review of the Overseas Development Administration. [15312]

  Mr. Hanley
  The fundamental expenditure review of the ODA was thorough and wide ranging. It involved
  521
  consultation with many of our principal partners. We deposited the report in the Libraries of the House in December and it is available also from the ODA.

  The FER's conclusions were recommendations only. Many built on work already in progress. The Government have taken into account Members' views expressed in the debates on development on 30 January and 7 February. The Government's response to the key recommendations is as follows.

  First and foremost, the FER confirmed the continuing need for the UK to provide substantial flows of concessional aid; and recommended that the ODA should retain responsibility for bilateral and multilateral aid. The Government strongly endorse both recommendations, which underpin our commitment to remain a major donor.

  The review recommends clarification of the purpose of the aid programme by a better definition of its basic purpose and aims. The Government have agreed a revised mission statement which defines the ODA's overriding purpose, as well as the aims to be pursued.

  The new mission statement is as follows:
  ODA's purpose is to improve the quality of life of people in poorer countries by contributing to sustainable development and reducing poverty and suffering.
  To this end ODA will aim:

  to encourage sound development policies, efficient markets and good government;

  to help people achieve better education and health and to widen opportunities—particularly for women;

  to enhance productive capacity and to conserve the environment; and

  to promote international policies for sustainable development and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral development institutions.

  The FER recommended that ODA's country programme resources should be more concentrated in order to enhance impact. The Government agree with this principle. A larger proportion of our bilateral resources will be allocated to those countries which need it most, can use it effectively and where it will have a real impact. Account will also be taken of Britain's wider national interests. There will be no sudden change. Already the 20 largest recipients accounted for some 69 per cent. of planned country programme expenditure in the last financial year, and on current plans we expect this proportion to increase to some 73 per cent. by 1998–99. There is no specific target percentage nor will the list of the largest recipients necessarily be exactly the same from year to year—though concentration on the poorer countries in Africa and Asia will continue.

  The Government will continue to assist a wide variety of other countries through bilateral country aid programmes. At the same time we will increase the number of countries where a direct aid relationship is sustained through heads of mission schemes rather than a traditional bilateral country aid programme. In addition, we shall maintain worthwhile aid relationship through multilateral channels and through other non-country bilateral programmes, including research, scholarships, volunteers and our financial support for British non-governmental organisations.
  522
  At the same time, the ODA will sharpen its focus even further on activities which contribute directly to its aims. The FER made a number of sensible recommendations to enhance the strategic planning process within the ODA. Better corporate and business planning has begun, strengthening the important links in all cases between the objectives and the resources of all kinds used to achieve them.

  The United Kingdom makes an increasing contribution through multilateral aid. The FER recommended strengthening our role in multilateral organisations; improving linkages to our bilateral aid; and securing better value. The Government accept these recommendations. The ODA will continue to have lead policy and financial responsibility for those multilateral programmes which are a charge to the aid budget. We will reinforce our efforts to improve the quality and focus of programmes managed by multilateral organisations. This will include reform in the UN agencies as well as continuing work in Brussels. The ODA will play a still greater role in promoting international policies for sustainable development and enhancing the effectiveness of multilateral development institutions.

  The FER made a number of recommendations concerned essentially with internal management processes. All have a common purpose: to improve further the effectiveness of the ODA, to increase impact, and to obtain better value for money. The majority have been accepted and are now being implemented.

  Very few recommendations were not accepted. Notwithstanding the recommendations in the FER, the geographical Minister of State in the Foreign Office will continue to have formal responsibility for the joint assistance units managing programmes in the former Soviet Union and east and central Europe; and the ODA will continue to make a grant in aid to the British Council.

  The FER was followed and complemented by a senior management review. Changes recommended include a restructuring of responsibility at senior management level and the designation of a senior manager to promote each of the four aims.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Computer Networks
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all(a) Internet and (b) other computer network, sites or bulletin boards operated by his Department or containing information supplied by his Department, indicating for each site or bulletin board (i) the inaugural date, (ii) the timetable and policy in respect of updates, (iii) the Internet, or other network, address and (iv) to whom the site or board is currently made available and the criteria which must be fulfilled by applicants for access. [14228]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service makes press notices available to the public via the Internet using the Central Office of Information's service on the world wide web. The information requested is as follows:

  (i) 19 April 1995.

  523

  (ii) Press notices from the Crown Prosecution Service remain on the Internet until the information becomes out of date.

  (iii) http://www.coi.gov.uk/coi/depts/GCP/GCP.html.

  (iv) All subscribers to the Internet have access to the press notices.

  Spare Computer Capacity
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [14087]

  The Solicitor-General
  There have been no such sales by departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible.

  Harassment
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been prosecuted for stalking under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as it relates to crimes of intentional harassment. [14464]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on cautioning and court proceedings data for offences of "Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress" under section 154 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will not be available until autumn 1996.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) on how many occasions, in each year since 1966, Ministers have signed public interest immunity certificates in criminal trials; [15099]

  (2) on how many occasions, in each year since 1979, public interest has been claimed in the courts in criminal cases. [15100]

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is not collected centrally either by Government or by individual prosecuting authorities. My answer is therefore confined to the three prosecuting authorities for which I have ministerial responsibility. On the basis of the best information currently available, the number of criminal cases in which public interest immunity certificates are known to have been used is as follows:

  CPS1

  SFO1

  DPP(NI)

  1987

  1

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  2

  1

  —

  1990

  1

  1

  —

  1991

  —

  1

  —

  1992

  2

  —

  1

  1993

  4

  —

  —

  1994

  3

  1

  —

  1995

  5

  —

  1

  1 The Crown Prosecution Service became operational in 1986 and the Serious Fraud Office in 1988.

  The number of cases in which public interest immunity is claimed without ministerial certificate—for example, in relation to informants which is the regular practice—is not recorded centrally.
  524

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ulster-Scots Language
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make representations to the Arts Council to(a) accord the Ulster-Scots language the same recognition in future publications as it did to the Irish language on its final strategy report and (b) develop a similar approach to Ulster-Scots as it has to Irish in its strategy for the arts in Northern Ireland. [12825]

  Mr. Ancram
  No. The Arts Council for Northern Ireland is aware that the Government expect it to accord recognition to Ulster-Scots arts, just as the Scottish Arts Council does for work in the Scots language.

  Mitchell Commission
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the Mitchell Commission; and what percentage of this was paid by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the Irish Government. [14000]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for North Down (Mr. McCartney) on 5 February 1996,Official Report, column 75.

  Irish Language
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Irish Government or the European Commission to have the rules governing Irish language qualifications for teaching appointments rescinded. [14547]

  Mr. Ancram
  This has been the subject of occasional discussion between officials from each jurisdiction. I am pleased to note that Mrs. Bhreathnach recently announced new provisions which ease the requirement in certain circumstances.

  School Transport (Belfast)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will create a special beneficial home-to-school free transport category for Belfast city centre grammar schools whose catchment area necessarily includes Greater Belfast and North Down; and if he will make a statement. [14548]

  Mr. Ancram
  No. Following consultation on proposals for revising the school transport arrangements, I have decided that there should be no change in the present arrangements in the school year beginning next September. My Department will, however, be writing to education and library boards about the arrangements for taking forward further detailed consideration of the options for reducing expenditure on home-to-school transport, including consultation with schools and other interests.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applicants for student
  525
  awards for fees and maintenance payments have been recently turned down because parents do not meet the three-year residency rule; and if he will consider an alternative rule for United Kingdom citizens who have spent the majority of the previous two decades within the United Kingdom. [14549]

  Mr. Ancram
  In the 1995–96 academic year 36 applicants for mandatory and discretionary awards administered by the education and library boards were ineligible because of the residency rule. No applicants were ineligible on these grounds for the postgraduate awards made by the Department.

  There are no plans to change the residence requirements, which are common throughout the United Kingdom.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of

  Table 1: Unemployed persons

  Population by sex

  Total

  Roman Catholic

  Presbyterian Church of Ireland/ Methodist

  Other denominations

  None

  not stated

  Males

  Number

  77,326

  40,647

  23,068

  3,827

  3,376

  6,408

  Percentage

  100

  52.47

  29.83

  4.95

  4.37

  8.29

  Females

  Number

  29,744

  13,863

  10,086

  1,857

  1,337

  2,601

  Percentage

  100

  46.61

  33.91

  6.24

  4.50

  8.74

  Persons

  Number

  107,070

  54,510

  33,154

  5,684

  4,713

  9,009

  Percentage

  100

  50.91

  30.96

  5.31

  4.40

  8.41

  Table 2: Ratios of Roman Catholic unemployment rates1 to other groupings

  Population by sex

  Presbyterian/ Church of Ireland/ Methodist

  Other denominations

  None

  Not stated

  Males

  2.2:1

  2.5:1

  1.8:1

  1.3:1

  Females

  1.8:1

  1.8:1

  1.2:1

  1.1:1

  Persons

  2.1:1

  2.3:1

  1.6:1

  1.3:1

  1 The unemployment rates are calculated by expressing the number recorded as economically active out of employment as a percentage of the total economically active.

  Burglary
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police cautions for burglary have been given in the last five years. [14552]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I very much regret that the information is not at present available in the form requested. I am seeking to establish the means within the Royal Ulster Constabulary to ensure that it is available in future.
  526
  Unemployed persons are (a) Protestant, (b) Catholic and (c) other, what are the ratios between the categories; and what number and percentage of each were (i) male and (ii) female. [14550]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The 1991 census of population recorded information on the religion and employment status of individuals and results are available for the main denominations separately. Information is not presented on an amalgamated Protestant category as a specific question on this was not included in the census and the large number of small religions recorded make precise classification difficult. A comprehensive list of denominations included in the "other denominations" category is recorded on page xvi of the Northern Ireland census 1991 religion report. Requests for tables on amalgamations of individual religious denominations can be produced by the census office for Northern Ireland based on specifications supplied by users. Information on the main denominations and other groups approximating most closely that requested is provided in the table.

  Training and Employment Agency
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of the Training and Employment Agency. [15310]

  Mr. Ancram
  A prior options review and an evaluation of the Training and Employment Agency have been completed. On the basis of these Ministers concluded that the agency should continue as a next steps agency with the same operation responsibilities for a further five years. In November 1995, Ministers agreed a new framework document for the agency which, among other things,
  527
  commits the agency to seeking further involvement of the private sector in the delivery of programmes and services. The new framework document has now been printed and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Sport (Young People)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a replacement grant to the Northern Ireland Boys' Football Association in place of that withdrawn by the Sports Council; and if he will meet a delegation from the Sports Council to discuss its recent report on the organisational needs of ungranted non-school boys' football. [13803]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 8 February 1996]: The provision of grant is a matter for the Sports Council.

  The council has advised that it has not sought a meeting, nor has it produced a report.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the criteria used by Price Waterhouse to argue for the abolition of the team grant in its review of the junior sports club scheme. [13804]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 8 February 1996]: Decisions in the light of the Price Waterhouse report were a matter for the Sports Council, and were taken on the basis that the promotion of sport for young people could be undertaken more effectively and efficiently by other means. Support for youth football is being maintained, but has been refocused to increase effectiveness and value for money.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Ethical Investment Criteria
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, when the Church Commissioners decided that they would invest in companies producing armaments where armaments make up less than 30 per cent. of a company's portfolio; on what occasions in the last five years the cut-off point has been altered; and what it was previously. [14500]

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners do not operate this policy through the application of percentages. Those companies in which we invest and which derive a significant proportion of business from armaments or any of the other banned categories—tobacco, newspapers, gambling, brewing and distilling—are automatically put on the agenda for review by the ethical working group.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what talks the Church Commissioners have held with the General Electric Company; what was the subject of the talks; and what conclusions were reached. [14499]

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners met David Newlands, finance director of GEC, on 19 July 1995 to discuss the company's role in the defence industry and to gain a clearer understanding of its corporate strategy.
  528
  We were informed that GEC is a multi-product company employing 86,000 people and assured that all military equipment sales made by GEC were to the Her Majesty's Government or sponsored by Her Majesty's Government and that they were subject to rigorous controls. The equipment is used in the defence of our country, our NATO partners and allies. Its corporate governance standards were deemed to be high.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, which(a) armaments companies and (b) other companies the Church Commissioners have disinvested from, or decided not to invest in, because of their ethical policies in the last five years. [14498]

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners refrain from investing in any company whose main business is in armaments, newspapers, gambling, brewing and distilling.

  A number of companies with defence interests, such as Babcock International, British Aerospace, Cobham, Hunting, Racal Electronics, Rolls-Royce, Serco, Smiths Industries, Vickers, Vosper Thornycroft, are excluded from the portfolio for this reason. The commissioners have not disinvested over the last five years from any companies with defence interests held within the portfolio, and therefore are meeting the "main business" criterion, on ethical grounds.

  In answer to (b), the commissioners disinvested from British Sky Broadcasting in November 1995 following the company's decision to promote and broadcast the Playboy TV channel.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total amount of Government funding currently provided to the TECs. [14277]

  Mr. Paice
  The total amount of funding provided to training and enterprise councils by the Department in 1995–96 is £1.216 billion. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment also provide TECs with additional Government funding.

  The responsibility for TECs in Wales lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total annual cost to the Exchequer of the running of the training and enterprise councils. [14466]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department does not collect this information. Training and enterprise councils are private companies. The Department makes a contribution to the council's administration costs. In 1995–96 the contribution is £126 million.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to reach an agreement with training and enterprise councils about their operating agreement for 1996–97. [15081]
  529
  Mr. Paice
  The published agreement will be with training and enterprise councils by the third week of February. Negotiations with TECs on budgets and targets for 1996–97 are progressing. Officials from the Department expect to sign agreements with TECs by 25 March 1996, the start of the new contract year.

  School League Tables (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will set out the league tables of achievement for the schools in the Yorkshire counties. [14141]

  Mr. Paice
  The annual secondary school performance tables published by the Department list schools alphabetically rather than in order of achievement. Copies of the performance tables for the Yorkshire area are in the public domain and are available in the Library.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if new asylum seekers will qualify for the same concessionary fee status as asylum seekers in receipt of benefit under the new regulations; [14478]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the financial impact on further education colleges required to cease claiming recurrent funding from the Further Education Funding Council for those asylum seekers with concessionary fees who are no longer eligible for income support after 5 February; [14479]

  (3) how many asylum seekers are currently receiving concessionary fees and FEFC funding for part-time courses; and if these arrangements will continue when the new regulations come into force. [14477]

  Mr. Paice
  The FEFC has only recently begun to collect separate data on asylum seekers eligible for student fee remission, so it is not at present possible to give the number of those currently benefiting from fee remission.

  It is estimated that the number of students likely to be affected by the change in regulations will be very small. However, I understand that the FEFC has decided that if any further education colleges are seriously affected by the loss of recurrent funding from this source it will consider their cases sympathetically.

  Arrangements for fee remission for asylum seekers studying at FE colleges are a matter for the FEFC, and I am asking the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much each region has received from the FEFC each year since its formation; [14518]

  (2) how many colleges are funded by the FEFC in each region. [14519]
  530
  Mr. Paice
  Details of the allocation of funding to colleges, and the number of FEFC-funded colleges in each region are matters for the Further Education Funding Council. I am therefore asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much it costs annually to run the Further Education Funding Council. [14517]

  Mr. Paice
  The amounts paid to the council to cover running costs in each financial year from 1992–93 to 1994–5 are as follows:

  Financial Year

  1992–93: £4.3 million

  1993–94: £18.8 million

  1994–95: £23.7 million.

  In the current financial year there is provision of £24.2 million to cover the council's running costs.

  The council's running costs are expected to be lower in subsequent years. Estimated totals for 1996–97 to 1998–99 are as follows:

  Financial Year

  1996–97: £23.6 million

  1997–98: £23.0 million

  1998–99: £23.0 million.

  Pupils' Performance Tables
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to use value added criteria in her proposed performance tables for 11-year-olds. [14482]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have asked the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority to report on the potential of different models of value added at key stages 2 and 4. It expects to do so by December 1996. The possibility of including value added measures in primary school tables, at some point, will be addressed in the light of that report.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will publish the performance tables for 11-year-olds in national assessment tests; in what format the information will be published; and if she will make a statement. [14481]

  Mr. Squire
  I intend to publish this summer's assessment results for 11-year-olds in school performance tables early in 1997. I shall consult in due course on the format of the tables.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many cases the Equal Opportunities Commission have brought before a tribunal where there has been no formal complaint in each of the last five years. [14411]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Equal Opportunities Commission has no power to bring complaints to an industrial tribunal in its own name on behalf of an individual alleging sex discrimination.
  531
  The Equal Opportunities Commission has such power in respect of complaints about discriminatory advertising, instructions to discriminate and pressure to discriminate. The number of cases where proceedings in these categories have been instituted are shown in the following table:

  Year

  Number of cases

  1991

  4

  1992

  2

  1993

  0

  1994

  3

  1995

  6

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidelines have been issued to the Equal Opportunities Commission in respect of cases where job applicants have failed to comply with the jobseeker's scheme; [14412]

  (2) what guidelines have been issued to the Equal Opportunities Commission in respect of pursuing cases in the absence of a complaint (a) in general and (b) in respect of small businesses. [14410]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Equal Opportunities Commission is an independent body which decides what cases to pursue with reference to its statutory duties to work toward the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between men and women generally. The Government have not issued guidelines in respect of pursuing cases.

  Access to Work
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors led her to reduce her Department's expenditure for disbursement via the access to work scheme for disabled employees; and what estimate she has made of the number of persons in employment on account of this scheme whose employment will be terminated by the planned reductions. [14761]

  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. Nigel Spearing, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the expenditure on Access to Work; and for an estimate of the number of people, in employment on account of the programme, whose employment will consequently be terminated.
  The expenditure on Access to Work has not been reduced. The Secretary of State announced on 14 December that additional funds had been allocated to meet the demand made on the programme this year. You may know that by the end of December some 12,000 people had been helped—close to 2,000 more than for the whole of 1994/95.
  We are continuing to support people in employment to whom we have an existing commitment and I would not expect there to be any change to their employment position.
  I hope this is helpful.
  532

  Modern Apprenticeship Scheme
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are now on the modern apprenticeship scheme. [15080]

  Mr. Paice
  The number of modern apprentices in England and Wales is currently well over 15,000. Because the numbers are growing rapidly, it is not possible to give a precise up-to-the-minute figure.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what have been the costs to date of the advertising campaign to promote the modern apprenticeship scheme; and what is the estimate of the total cost. [15079]

  Mr. Paice
  There have been two phases of advertising promotion modern apprenticeships in the year 1995–96. The first phase ran from September to December 1995 at a cost of £2.425 million.

  The second phase runs throughout February this year. The estimated cost is £1.274 million.

  The estimate of the total costs is £3.699 million.

  Training for Work
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost incurred in carrying out the evaluation of training for work funding pilots. [15078]

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to him on 15 January 1996.Official Report, Column 475.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each of the areas of local education authorities for(a) Wandsworth, (b) Westminster, (c) Kensington and Chelsea and (d) Norfolk, (i) the number of three and four year olds, (ii) the number receiving nursery education in nursery schools or classes maintained by the authority, (iii) the number in nursery schools or classes not maintained by the education authority and (iv) (ii) and (iii) as a percentage of (i). [15101]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Provision of education for under five's—January 19951

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Kensingtson and Chelsea

  Norfolk

  Estimated population aged three and four as at 31 December 1994

  6,800

  4,000

  3,300

  18,300

  Nursery schools

  Pupils

  216

  190

  249

  404

  Percentage3

  3

  5

  8

  2

  Primary schools

  Nursery classes

  Pupils

  2,176

  993

  608

  857

  Percentage3

  32

  25

  18

  5

  Infant classes2

  Pupils

  1,624

  574

  385

  5,646

  Percentage3

  24

  14

  12

  31

  533

  Provision of education for under five's—January 19951

  Wandsworth

  West minster

  Kensingtson and Chelsea

  Norfolk

  Special schools

  Maintained

  Pupils

  11

  0

  0

  47

  Percentage3

  —

  0

  0

  —

  Non-maintained

  Pupils

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Percentage3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Independent schools

  Pupils

  897

  486

  836

  635

  Percentage3

  13

  12

  25

  3

  — negligible (i.e. less than 0.5 per cent.)

  1 Excludes pupils who became 5 years of age by 1 January 1995.

  2 Inludes reception and other classes.

  3 Pupils aged 3 and 4 years old expressed as a percentage of the 3 and 4 year old population at 31 December 1994.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of Thursday 8 February,Official Report, column 321, concerning responses to the advertised contract for administering the proposed voucher system, if she will place a list of the unsuccessful applicants in the Library. [15102]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A list has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Thefts
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that have been stolen or are otherwise unaccounted for from each region of the former Department of Employment in each of the past five years, listing by name such items valued at £5,000 or more. [13360]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 2 February 1996]: The Employment Department group kept site records of each incident of loss, which were subject to audit; these records included details of the numbers of items lost in each incident, and the nature of the loss—that is, theft or other hostile action, or other causes. However, the large majority of these records are retained regionally or locally. It would be disproportionately costly and time consuming to search these records to provide the information on a regional basis.

  Summary reports were made to the head offices of the former Employment Department and its agencies for central recording.

  These reports included a valuation of the loss, which was based on either the cost of the item at purchase or the estimated value at the time of the loss or the replacement cost; the measure chosen in each case was the one giving the most accurate picture of the loss to the Department. It was not always appropriate for the summaries to show the number and details of items of equipment involved in an incident.

  I am able to provide the following information about items of equipment stolen or unaccounted for in the last five financial years. One incident involving loss of
  534
  furniture is recorded. No items of equipment valued individually at £5,000 or more are recorded as lost. The following table gives the information available:

  Employment Department: Cost and number of items of equipment lost or incidents of loss of equipment

  Number of items (where recorded)

  Number of incidents (number of items not recorded)

  Total value (£)

  1991–92:

  ES (total for all regions)

  —

  2

  886

  ACAS

  0

  0

  —

  ED

  0

  0

  —

  HSE (total for all regions)

  34

  —

  51,405

  DE group total 1991–92

  34

  2

  52,291

  1992–93:

  ES (total for all regions)

  —

  24

  34,877

  ACAS

  0

  0

  —

  ED

  2

  —

  3,420

  HSE (total for all regions)

  86

  —

  197,362

  DE group total 1992–93

  88

  24

  235,659

  1993–94:

  ES (total for all regions)

  —

  34

  20,150

  ACAS

  3

  —

  14,400

  ED

  —

  3

  400

  HSE (total for all regions)

  275

  —

  507,518

  DE group total 1993–94

  278

  37

  542,468

  1994–95:

  ES (total for all regions)

  —

  70

  59,389

  ACAS

  21

  —

  16,200

  ED

  24

  —

  2,875

  HSE (total for all regions)

  22

  —

  25,760

  DE group total 1994–95

  67

  70

  104,224

  1995–96 (part-year):

  ES (total for all regions)

  —

  48

  84,928

  ACAS

  40

  —

  79,191

  ED

  517

  —

  285,570

  HSE (total for all regions)

  98

  —

  37,352

  DE group total 1995–96 (part-year)

  655

  48

  487,041

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 711, if he will make a statement on his Department's current policy in respect of regulation of the Internet and encryption. [12610]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Internet represents a significant range of commercial opportunities and it is important for the competitiveness of the UK economy that business take full advantage of it. It is crucial that the regulatory framework should not discourage this.
  535
  Although child pornography and obscenity are covered by the same laws on the Internet as in any other media— recent prosecutions have been encouraging—the Government recognise that there are legitimate concerns about the distribution of unsuitable material over the Internet. The Government consider that a voluntary approach is now most likely to be effective in addressing these issues further. Constructive discussions have been held with service providers to establish how action by them can help control access to undesirable material and this will be pursued over the coming months.

  On encryption, I described the consideration being given to the provision of encrypted services on public networks in the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 23 October 1995, Official Report, columns 421–22. Discussions within Government and within Europe are continuing.

  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 639, what further progress has been made in assessing the feasibility of regulating the content of material disseminated via the Internet; and if he will make a statement. [13402]

  Mr. Taylor
  DTI and Home Office officials have had a constructive meeting with Internet service providers to discuss concerns about the availability of pornographic material on the Internet, and ways of controlling access by children and young people to such material. The Government consider that a voluntary approach is most likely to be effective in addressing the problem and will be pursuing this with service providers over the coming months. There are service providers who will assist parents and schools in providing restricted access, but this is a matter for individuals to pursue.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14024]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The administrative manuals and internal guidance that my Department has already made available to the public are as listed. Material that has not been made public can be identified only at disproportionate cost. In line with the code of practice on access to Government information, it is my intention to make available progressively any remaining administrative manuals and internal guidance relating to our dealings with the public.

  Authorisation of insurers in the United Kingdom: a practical guide for assessing applications;

  Business Links: Guidelines for Officials;

  DTI Enquiry Unit guidelines;

  DTI Guide to Market Testing;

  DTI Procurement manual;

  EJS (Engineers to Japan Scheme) details;

  Export Control Compliance Unit: Compliance visit procedures;

  Export Control Organisation (ECO) Staff Handbook;

  Export Control Policy Unit procedures;

  Guidance notes of the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund;

  Iron and Steel Employees Re-adaptation Benefits Scheme;

  536

  Offshore Research and Development Programme (OSSCAR): Guidance notes for staff;

  Open Government (Minute to DTI Information Officers);

  Open government case file guidance, charging form, application form;

  Open government office notice;

  Open Government: dealings with the public (Laboratory of the Government Chemist);

  OSTEMS (Overseas Science Technology Expert Missions Scheme) details;

  OTIS (Overseas Technical Information Service) details;

  Procurement Guide: EC Services Directive;

  Procurement Guide: EC Supplies Directive and GATT GPA;

  Rules and procedures for Use of Technology Programme.

  Spare Computer Capacity
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [14077]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department has provided computer-related services to other Departments where they have represented best value for money for the Departments concerned. These arrangements are as follows: financial services for the Department of National Heritage, from 1993 to 1995, and to the Department of Energy, 1987 to 1992, of which computer support was one element. In addition, a number of other Departments and non-departmental public bodies continue to be provided with access to our specialist library systems. The latter services continue to be provided on a repayment basis at a current annual cost of £36,000.

  Other users of my Department's computer systems, together with recoverable costs where figures are available, have included;

  Year

  £

  Central Statistical Office

  1991–92

  30,723

  1992–93

  27,244

  1993–94

  20,218

  1994–95

  10,070

  National Audit Office

  1991–92

  17,896

  1992–93

  8,223

  1993–94

  1,775

  Scottish Office

  1991–92

  13,910

  1992–93

  16,847

  1993–94

  8,037

  1994–95

  5,074

  Sydney Olympics
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 866, what remuneration and expenses are payable to members of the Sydney Olympics United Kingdom business task force. [14446]
  537
  Mr. Nelson
  No remuneration is payable to the members of the task force. Any expenses which the chairman would normally have received will be paid to the British Paralympic Association.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the minimum levels of pay prescribed by each of the wages councils immediately before their abolition; and what were each of these levels of pay as a percentage of(a) average wages in the industry and (b) the national average wage at that time. [14320]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is contained in the table:

  Minimum monthly rate

  Minimum rates as percentage of:

  £

  Average wages in industry

  National average wage

  Aerated waters

  3.05

  —

  39

  Boot and shoe repairing

  3.02

  62.9

  38.6

  Button manufacturing

  2.66

  —

  34

  Clothing manufacturing

  2.7166

  65.6

  34.7

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  3.20

  —

  40.9

  Cotton waste reclamation

  2.78

  —

  35.5

  Fur

  2.85

  —

  36.4

  General waste materials reclamation

  2.675

  56.8

  34.2

  Hairdressing undertaking

  2.88

  67

  36.8

  Hat, cap and millinery

  2.76

  59.9

  35.3

  Laundry

  2.98

  65.1

  38.1

  Licensed non-residential establishment

  3.01

  57.3

  38.4

  Licensed residential establishment and licensed restaurant

  2.92

  53.9

  37.3

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  2.83

  75.3

  36.1

  Made-up textiles

  2.70

  61.5

  34.5

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  2.73

  —

  34.9

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  3.13

  —

  40

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  3.20

  61.3

  40.9

  Retail food and allied trades

  3.175

  59.7

  40.6

  Retail trades (non-food)

  3.155

  57.7

  40.3

  Rope twine and net

  2.755

  71.2

  35.2

  Sack and bag

  2.745

  —

  35.1

  Toy manufacturing

  2.71

  59.8

  34.6

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  2.99

  61.9

  38.2

  Average earnings figures are not available for certain of the smaller councils.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what account is taken of the level of commercial insurance in setting the nuclear industry's level of liability in respect of a nuclear accident; and what account is taken of inflation; [14560]
  538
  (2) at what intervals reviews are conducted on the level of nuclear industry liability in respect of a nuclear accident; and when the next review is planned to take place. [14561]

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department keeps the level of insurance required to be held by nuclear operators under review. There are no formal review intervals. The most recent increase was in April 1994. The key considerations were to meet the internationally agreed target limit for parties to the Paris convention and the level of commercial insurance then available. There has been no significant change in insurance capacity since that time.

  Second-hand Furniture
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that second-hand furniture may be sold only if it bears a "Fire Resistant" label. [14316]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I do not believe it is necessary specifically to require second-hand furniture to bear labels indicating fire resistance. Since 1 March 1993, the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended, have prohibited in the UK sale, in the course of a business, of second-hand furniture that does not meet the full requirements of this legislation. Trading standards departments have all the necessary powers to take action against traders who sell non-compliant items.

  The regulations also require permanent labels, indicating compliance, to be attached to all new furniture. Purchasers of second-hand furniture should look for these permanently affixed labels.

  Electro-magnetic Fields
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he, his Ministers or his civil servants have had about indemnifying the National Grid Company against potential claims relating to electro-magnetic fields and their impact upon communities after privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [14511]

  Mr. Page
  No discussions have been held or are planned on the question of indemnifying the National Grid Company against potential claims relating to electro-magnetic fields.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reports he has received on the representations made to the United Kingdom ambassador in Dublin by the Irish Minister for Energy, Transport and Communications during their meeting on 6 February to discuss Sellafield. [14844]

  Mr. Eggar
  The meeting was held at the ambassador's request. Mr. Stagg, the Irish Minister for Energy, Transport and Communications, expressed anxiety about the UK nuclear industry, including operations at Sellafield, following a minor incident there on 2 February. However, as Mr. Stagg recognised in his subsequent statement in the Dail on 8 February, the incident had no radiological or health implications for Ireland nor was there any release of radioactivity to the environment. Mr. Stagg and the ambassador agreed on the importance of
  539
  continued early notification to the Irish Government of incidents at UK nuclear installations which could affect the Irish environment.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his timetable for the closure of the Magnox nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [14758]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government are satisfied that it makes economic sense to continue to generate electricity from the Magnox stations. Decisions relating to closure of Magnox stations are a matter for the operator, subject to the views of the independent regulator, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate— NII. The safety of all UK Magnox nuclear power stations has been considered in detail by the NII under the long-term safety review—LTSR—programme. Subject to continuing satisfactory results from the routine tests and inspections required under licensing arrangements, and the outcome of periodic safety reviews, the NII has given its agreement for those Magnox stations currently operating to continue to operate.

  Medical Research Council
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what council funds have been earmarked for(a) "realising our potential" awards and (b) other schemes in each of the last 10 years (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a proportion of the Medical Research Council budget. [14721]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  (a) The following additional allocations have been made to the Medical Research Council—MRC—for the first year costs of new realising our potential awards, ROPA, grants:

  Cash terms (£ million)

  Proportion of MRC budget (per cent.)

  1996–97

  1.0

  0.4

  1995–96

  2.6

  0.9

  1994–95

  1.0

  0.4

  In 1996–97, the MRC's allocation includes £5.8 million for expenditure on new and on-going ROPA grants, 2.1 per cent. of its total allocation.

  (b) Information is not available in the form requested. Over the past 10 years, the MRC was allocated additional funds for the first-year costs of the following specific programmes:

  Year

  Programme

  Cash terms (£ million)

  Proportion of MRC budget (Per cent.)

  1996–97

  Equipment

  1.5

  0.5

  1995–96

  Equipment

  1.0

  0.4

  1994–95

  Genome and Immunology

  2.4

  0.9

  1993–94

  Genome Mapping Programme

  2.5

  1.0

  540

  Year

  Programme

  Cash terms (£ million)

  Proportion of MRC budget (Per cent.)

  1992–93

  Genetic basis of disease

  4.2

  1.9

  Neuroscience

  1.4

  0.6

  Clinical research

  1.3

  0.6

  1991–92

  None

  —

  —

  1990–91

  None

  —

  —

  1989–90

  Equipment at units and institutes

  2.9

  1.6

  LINK

  0.7

  0.4

  Human genome mapping

  2.3

  1.3

  AIDS strategic programme

  2.6

  1.5

  Macromolecular interaction

  2.0

  1.1

  Cell biology

  3.6

  2.0

  National Institute of Medical Research animal accommodation

  2.0

  1.1

  1988–89

  Interdisciplinary Research Centre in toxicology

  0.3

  0.2

  AIDS programme

  6.0

  4.1

  1987–88

  None

  —

  —

  In most years, there have in addition been allocations for less specific programmes, such as the support of studentships and responsive mode grants, and allowances for the ongoing costs of new initiatives started in previous years.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money the Medical Research Council has been allocated in each of the last 10 years. [14720]

  Mr. Taylor
  The allocations made to the Medical Research Council from the science budget over the last 10 years are as follows:

  1996–97: £281.9 million

  1995–96: £278.0 million

  1994–95: £269.2 million

  1993–94: £256.9 million

  1992–93: £227.6 million

  1991–92: £200.4 million

  1990–91: £185.7 million

  1989–90:£176.3 million

  1988–89: £146.7 million

  1987–88: £139.8 million.

  Electricité de France
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been paid to Electricité de France under the fossil fuel levy from its introduction to date. [14757]

  Mr. Page
  Electricité de France does not receive payments from the fossil fuel levy.
  541

  Research Funding
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on core research funding for the public sector research establishments. [14643]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Public sector research establishments provide a wide variety of scientific and technical services for their customers within Government, the research councils, academia and industry. These are supported by a varying mixture of "core funding" for a range of facilities or services, and funds for specific activities, often awarded on a competitive basis.

  The 1993 White Paper "Realising our Potential" made clear our intention that Government research contract should be awarded wherever possible by a competitive process, as a means to ensure an efficient and effective service is obtained. The progress of Departments and research councils in implementing this policy is reported annually in the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look".

  Fireworks
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the firework injury statistics relating to November 1995. [14913]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The fireworks injury statistics are collected from all hospital accident and emergency departments in Great Britain. As soon as all this information has been received, collated and checked, which should be some time in March, the figures will be published.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [14987]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested in respect of the DTI's executive agencies is set out in the list. The answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 357, explains the basis on which this information has been prepared.

  1991–92: 0

  1992–93: 4

  1993–94: 0

  1994–95: 2

  1995–96: 1 (Year to date).

  No parliamentary questions have been passed to the non-departmental public bodies for which the DTI is responsible.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what power stations have been closed by(a) National Power and (b) PowerGen since privatisation; and what proceeds have accrued to public funds as a result of each sale. [14937]
  542
  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Industry and Energy to his similar question of 5 February 1996,Official Report, column 18.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion the statutory minimum wage contributes to the average national wage in(a) each EU state, (b) USA, (c) Japan, (d) Australia, (e) Canada and (f) New Zealand. [14973]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Limited and somewhat dated evidence is available from the OECD jobs study, from which the table is taken.

  Minimum wages relative to average wages by age, education, occupation and gender minimum wage/average wage of the respective groups

  Men

  Women

  Both sexes

  Education

  Netherlands, 1989, lowest level, (adults)

  0.627

  0.777

  —

  Canada, 1988, 0–8 years of education

  0.356

  0.544

  —

  United States, 1987, 8–11 years of schooling

  0.362

  0.579

  —

  Occupation

  France, 1991:

  Blue-collar workers (ouvriers)

  0.657

  0.805

  0.685

  White-collar workers (employee)

  0.603

  0.667

  0.639

  Senior managers (cadres)

  0.246

  0.310

  0.257

  Age

  Netherlands, 1989:

  15–22, average youth MW

  0.538

  0.622

  —

  (15–22, adult minimum wage)

  (1.021)

  (1.182)

  —

  Canada, 1988:

  16–19

  0.565

  0.607

  0.583

  20–24

  0.443

  0.510

  0.470

  France, 1987:

  15–19

  —

  —

  1.164

  20–24

  —

  —

  0.747

  United States, 1987:

  16–24, workers paid hourly rates

  0.682

  0.794

  —

  16–19, full-time wage and salary earners

  0.697

  0.795

  —

  20–24, full-time wage and salary earners

  0.496

  0.564

  —

  Note:

  1. The youth minimum is estimated as the simple average of the seven specific youth rates.

  Sources:

  Netherlands: 1989 Wage Survey (submission from the Statistical Central Bureau);

  Canada: Market Activity Survey (submission from Statistics Canada);

  United States: Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Labour Force Statistics Derived From the Current Population Survey"

  1948–87. 1988 (for age) and tabulations from the CPS from Prof. L. Katz (for education).

  France: 1987, Declarations annuelles de donnees socials (DADS); 1991,

  "L'Evolution des salaries", Dossiers statistiques du travail et de I'emploi.

  No. 87, 1993.

  Taken from OECD Jobs Study (1994), table 5.26, page 49. OECD, Paris.
  543
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer given on 15 January,Official Report, columns 476–77, if he will list the figures for purchasing power parity on a common basis, indicating the figures per hour; and if he will give the equivalent figures for minimum wage levels and purchasing power parity exchange rates for (a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand and (d) those EU countries excluded from the answer. [14969]

  Mr. Taylor
  The table shows the minimum wage in a number of countries, calculated as an hourly rate, and translated into sterling using purchasing power parity exchange rates.

  Country

  Minimum wage level (hourly rate) Own currency

  At PPP1 exchange rates Sterling

  Belgium

  BF 249.9

  £4.32

  France

  FF 36.98

  £3.61

  Greece

  Dr 667.2

  £2.20

  Luxembourg

  LF 252.37

  £4.07

  Netherlands

  HfL 12.6

  £3.83

  Portugal

  Esc 300

  £1.64

  Spain

  Pts 374.54

  £1.99

  USA

  US$ 4.25

  £2.75

  Japan2

  Y 554

  £1.98

  Canada

  C$ 6.25

  £3.26

  New Zealand

  NZ$ 6.25

  £2.68

  All minimum wages converted to hourly rates, assuming a standard 40 hour week, 8 hour day.

  1 Wage Rates converted to UK equivalent using 1994 purchasing power parities from OECD National Accounts, 1996.

  2 The lowest regional rate.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the work force is covered by the minimum wage in respect of(a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand, (d) all EU countries, (e) USA and (f) Japan. [14970]

  Mr. Taylor
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Business Links (East Lancashire)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects there to be a business link one stop shop in East Lancashire; and if he will make a statement. [15157]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 22 January 1996,Official Report, column 4.

  Information Society
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the Government's plans for an information society initiative. [15282]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information society initiative— ISI—was launched by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade today. The initiative is a partnership between industry and Government to help improve the competitiveness of British business in the emerging information-based economy. It represents a coherent and extensive response to the challenge of information and 544
  communication technologies which will have a major impact on the way we do business and the way we lead our lives.

  The main aim of the ISI is to encourage British companies, particularly small and medium-sized companies, to take full advantage of information and communication technologies. It will help to explain how technology can solve problems for industry and help to win new business. Electronic networks, for example, can give smaller companies access to resources and markets previously only in the domain of large corporations.

  UK industries are well placed to take advantage of the information society. We have significant strengths in communications and multimedia which put us ahead of most other European countries, but considerably more needs to be done to apply our skills, to build on our strengths and to sustain competitiveness in a tough global market-place. The ISI, in which the DTI is to invest up to £35 million over the next four years, will play a key role in achieving these objectives.

  The ISI provides a comprehensive package of programmes and activities to help UK business into the information society—guidance, road shows, clubs, awards, local support centres, projects grants and technology programmes. It is based on close partnership between Government and industry, with many companies launching complementary programmes.

  The campaigns will be integrated with existing DTI services, such as business links. Our specific objective will be to raise awareness and understanding of: multimedia, communications, creativity, technology transfer and technology development. Methods highlighted will include use of the Internet, E-mail, electronic data interchange—EDI—video-conferencing, simultaneous remote access to a computer, CD-ROMS for information storage and marketing, electronic commerce, home shopping and telebanking.

  Further details are available at the ISI website, http://www.isis.gov.uk.

  Coal Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the Coal Authority's first report on the administration of the coal mining subsidence damage repair and compensation scheme. [15286]

  Mr. Page
  I have now received this report from the Coal Authority and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what account was taken of the costs relating to(a) their mainframe computer, (b) each separate on-line terminal, (c) the annual service fee for the mainframe computer and (d) the annual service charge for each on-line terminal in determining whether to allocate the contract to run the national lottery to Camelot; and what were the figures involved. [14255]
  545
  Mr. Sproat
  This is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. The Director General of the National Lottery has licensed Camelot to run the national lottery and he regulates their operations. I have therefore asked the director general to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.

  Library Services
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to extend compulsory competitive tendering into library services. [14514]

  Mr. Sproat
  I am currently considering a number of options for improving efficiency in public libraries, including the option of compulsory competitive tendering. My right hon. Friend will be making a more detailed statement in due course.

  Broadcast Sports Rights
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will include the fourth report of the National Heritage Select Committee of Session 1993–94, HC 289, "Sports Sponsorship and Television Coverage", as part of the evidence to her consultation document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate." [14318]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government are aware of the views expressed in the National Heritage Select Committee report and will take account of these and other views before making our position clear.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to which organisations had she sent copies of her document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate". [14313]

  Mr. Sproat
  In addition to copies deposited to both House Libraries, copies of the discussion paper have been sent directly to the following organisations:

  BBC

  ITVA

  Channel 4

  S4C

  Channel 5 Broadcasting

  BskyB

  Cable Communications Association

  Sports Councils for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

  Central Council for Physical Recreation

  British Sports Forum

  Institute of Sports Sponsorship

  Test and County Cricket Board

  Football Association

  The Premier League

  Scottish Football Association

  English Rugby Football Union

  Welsh Rugby Football Union

  Professional Golf Association

  Rugby League

  Lawn Tennis Association

  British Olympic Association

  British Athletics Federation

  British Paralympic Association

  Independent Television Commission

  546

  Radio Authority

  Office of Fair Trading

  Patent Office

  Consumers' Association

  National Consumers' Council

  Voice of the Listener and Viewer.

  The paper has also been widely publicised in the media and copies have been sent to any organisation requesting them. A record of these organisations has not been kept.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what is the closing date for the submission of evidence on her consultation document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate"; [14311]

  (2) when she plans to announce her conclusions on her consultation document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate". [14312]

  Mr. Sproat
  The paper is not a formal consultation document, but a discussion paper published to assist the public and parliamentary debate. There is, therefore, no formal end date to a consultation process. However, the Government will make their position clear on Report in the other place.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures she will take to assess the opinions of viewers and listeners on her document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate". [14314]

  Mr. Sproat
  Representatives from the National Consumers Council, the Consumers Association and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer will meet my officials, to discuss both the document and the general issue of broadcast sports rights. My Department has also received a large number of representations from members of the public on this issue.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. McMaster) of 18 January,Official Report, column 726, what are the qualifying criteria that sheltered accommodation must meet to be eligible for a concessionary television licence. [14592]

  Mr. Sproat
  In order for residents to qualify for concessionary television licences, sheltered accommodation must be provided or run by a local authority or housing association and must consist of a group of at least four dwellings:

  (a) which are provided for occupation by disabled persons, mentally disordered persons or retired persons of pensionable age;

  (b) which have been erected or converted for the purposes of such occupation;

  (c) for which there is a person whose function is to care for the needs of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) above and who either lives in one of the dwellings within the group or works in that group for at least 30 hours per week; and

  (d) which fall within a common and exclusive boundary.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 625, in which council tax band is

  547
  the accommodation occupied by the military knights of Windsor. [14538]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: The governor's residence is in band G, and the remaining residences are all in band E.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 693, what accommodation is occupied by each of the 13 military knights at Windsor. [14415]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: The accommodation occupied by the military knights is as follows:
  One has five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
  Eleven have three bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
  One has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen with dining area, a sitting room and study.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 625, if the £1,287 paid in water charges by the 13 military knights of Windsor is a collective charge. [14416]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: The water charge of £1,287 is a collective figure; each military knight pays approximately £99.

  Royal Residences
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 626, which members of the royal family occupy each of the royal residences listed. [14891]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: Members of the royal family have apartments or residences at each palace as follows:

  Buckingham Palace

  Her Majesty the Queen

  Kensington Palace

  The Princess of Wales

  The Princess Margaret

  The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

  The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

  St James's Palace

  The Prince of Wales

  The Duke and Duchess of Kent

  Princess Alexandra

  Clarence House

  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

  Windsor Castle

  Her Majesty the Queen.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) of 22 January,Official Report, column 105, if he will list the latest new earnings survey figure for the number of people working up to 29 hours a week earning less than each of the family
  548
  credit ceilings for households of different composition working between 16 and 29 hours per week; and if he will present similar data for those people working about 30 hours per week using the eligibility level for family credit which were applicable for the year during which the earnings survey was carried out. [12735]

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

  The "New Earnings Survey" contains no information on family composition and does not provide reliable estimates of the number of employees. The table shows the proportion of all employees in the "New Earnings Survey" who are working 16 to 29 hours and 30 hours or more and have earnings below the family credit thresholds indicated. Entitlement to family credit depends on household income as well as family size and it should therefore be noted that the information provided gives no indication of the proportion of employees who qualify for this benefit. Employees in the categories shown will include members of two-earner couples whose household income will be above the appropriate family credit threshold. The sample will also include employees with no dependant children who would have no entitlement to family credit irrespective of the level of earnings.

  Proportion of all employees with earnings below family credit thresholds

  Working 19–29 hours

  Working 30 hours or more

  Family type

  Family credit ceiling (£s per week gross)

  Percentage with earnings below threshold

  Family credit ceiling (£s per week gross)

  Percentage with earnings below threshold

  Family with one child under 5

  190.00

  79.4

  212.00

  27.7

  Family with two children under 11

  215.00

  82.4

  237.00

  36.1

  Family with two children 11–15

  248.00

  84.5

  270.00

  43.9

  Family with three children under 11

  240.00

  85.0

  262.00

  46.2

  Family with three children 11–15

  289.50

  87.6

  311.00

  57.5

  Family with two children under 11 and two 11–15

  298.00

  87.9

  320.00

  59.6

  Notes:

  1. Family credit ceilings are 1995–96 and are based on the highest amount of net earnings a family can have and still qualify for family credit at the minimum payment of 50p.

  2. Net family credit ceilings have been converted to gross earnings to allow comparison with New Earnings Survey data. In this conversion it has been assumed that tax allowances are equal to those of a married person.

  3. Percentages relate to all employees in the categories concerned, irrespective of household composition, whose pay for the survey period was unaffected by absence.

  Source:

  New Earnings Survey 1995 (GB).
  549

  Tribunals (Merthyr Tydfil)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the number of cases dealt with by local tribunals sitting in Merthyr Tydfil in 1995; [13370]

  (2) what estimate his Department has made of the travelling costs of staff and appellants to local tribunal hearings at Merthyr Tydfil in 1995; [13372]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of cases heard at local tribunals in Merthyr Tydfil in 1995 which required the presence of a member of staff from the local social security office; and in how many cases appellants were represented by the Merthyr citizens advice bureau. [13371]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information required is set out in the table.

  Cases heard 1995

  Average travelling costs for staff per session1 £

  Average traveling costs paid to appellants per session1£

  Hearings attended by DSS staff

  Appellants represented by Merthyr CAB

  293

  31.00—ITS 6.02—DSS

  14.48

  293

  49

  Abbreviations:

  ITS—Independent Tribunal Service.

  DSS—Department of Social Security.

  CAB—Citizens Advice Bureau.

  Notes:

  1 An average of five appeals are heard at each session.

  War Widows
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many war widows, widowed for a second time, divorced or legally separated(a) have had and (b) are waiting to have the pension restored to them; and what action he is taking to ensure that the restoration programme is being expeditiously implemented. [13578]

  Mr. Heald
  These are matters for Mr. Kevin Caldwell, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from K. C. Caldwell to Sir Dudley Smith, dated 13 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about restored War Widows Pensions.
  As at 2 February 1996, 12,430 claims have been received of which 7,394 have been notified and had payment arranged. To date 85 have been rejected and 4,951 remain to be decided.
  We have created a special section, and have recently allocated and trained an additional 12 staff (making a total of 57) to ensure that by the end of March we will have notified all those from whom we now have claims of the results of their claims and, where appropriate, made arrangements for payment.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Laryngectomy Patients
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for disability living and mobility allowance there have been from patients who have had laryngectomies; and what percentage of these applications have been successful. [14049]
  550
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The precise information requested is not available. Successful claims for disability living allowance are recorded by type of disability. Between March 1993 and November 1995, some 63,000 awards were recorded under the category of malignant diseases, some of which may have involved laryngectomies.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 835, on benefit savings due to parents with care ceasing to claim income support prior to 1993–94 what was the precise number of weeks used for the multiplier based on the average anticipated duration for benefit claims. [14268]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Twenty-one.

  Income Support
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of income support are currently having money deducted from their benefit to pay back loans from the social fund; and what is the average weekly repayment per borrower. [14516]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The latest available information is set out in the table.

  Date

  Number of income support claimants who have Social Fund repayments deducted

  Average weekly payment £

  February 1995

  1675,000

  6.43

  Note:

  1 The figure provided has been rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1995.

  Disability (Access Groups)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Minister for Disabled People or his predecessor last met(a) the Access Committee for England and (b) any of the 400 local access groups; what replies have been given to concerns raised at those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the committee's achievements. [14138]

  Mr. Burt
  My predecessor, now the Secretary of State for Wales, met the Access Committee for England on 14 June 1995.

  I and my colleagues in the Departments of the Environment and Health are considering the report of the working group which has been looking at the committee's future role and functions.

  We will announce our decisions in due course.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the number of employees covered by group personal pension schemes; [14780]
  551
  (2) what is the average number of employees of companies which currently offer group personal pension schemes; and what proportion of those entitled to participate do so; [14781]

  (3) what are the average earnings of members of group personal pension schemes; [14782]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the number of employers who contribute to group personal pension schemes; and what is the average annual contribution per employee. [14784]

  Mr. Heald
  A group personal pension, GPP, scheme is a grouping of individual personal pensions usually involving a single employer. Official data do not distinguish between personal pensions within a group arrangement and other personal pensions.

  Private sector research1 suggests that around half a million people are covered by upwards of 50,000 GPP arrangements. Some, but not all, of these people will have personal pensions contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme, SERPS.

  Preliminary results from the survey of employers' pensions provision2 show that among private sector organisations making some form of pension provision, GPPs were the main arrangement—accounting for the largest percentage of the work force—in just under 20 per cent. of organisations with fewer than 100 employees, falling to just 2 per cent. of organisations with over 500 employees. The survey also shows that 90 per cent. of employers who have arranged a GPP make contributions to their employees' pension.

  Information on the participation rates of employees who are offered a GPP arrangement, average earnings of GPP members and the average employer contribution is not available.

  Notes:

  1 Income Data Services (IDS) Pensions Bulletin—May 1994.

  2 The survey of employers' pension provision is a Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR)/Policy Studies Institute (PSI) survey of over 1,000 private sector organisations in Great Britain. It is expected that a final report will be published in summer 1996.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the regulatory obstacles to the promotion of group personal pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. [14783]

  Mr. Heald
  Regulation of the sale and marketing of group personal pension schemes, like all investment products, is governed by the Financial Services Act 1986—FSA.

  In response to concerns that employers would become liable under the FSA by offering group schemes, the Department of Social Security, in association with the Securities and Investments Board, produced leaflet PP4; "A guide to the Financial Services Act for employers", which makes it clear that provided they follow certain rules of thumb, employers should be able to offer a group scheme to their employees without infringing the FSA.

  Pension Incomes
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official
  552
  Report, column 51, on pension incomes, if he will give the same information for 1979. [14896]

  Mr. Heald
  The available information is in the tables.

  Table 1: Single male pensioners

  £ per week July 1993 prices

  Age

  65 to 74

  75+

  Mean

  108.50

  88.60

  Median

  81.80

  72.20

  Notes:

  1. Income figures are gross income before housing costs and are rounded to the nearest l0p.

  2. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the husband, or head is over SPA.

  3. Due to insufficient sample sizes reliable estimates of further age breakdowns for single male pensioners and pensioner couples are not available at tables 1 and 3.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey 1979.

  Table 2: Single female pensioners

  £ per week July 1993 prices

  Age

  65 to 69

  70 to 74

  75 to 79

  80+

  Mean

  80.60

  79.70

  78.60

  76.50

  Median

  70.00

  70.40

  71.10

  67.20

  Notes:

  1.Income figures are gross income before housing costs and are rounded to the nearest l0p.

  2. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the husband, or head, is over SPA.

  3. Due to insufficient sample sizes reliable estimates of further age breakdowns for single male pensioners and pensioner couples are not available at tables 1 and 3.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey 1979.

  Table 3: Pensioner couples

  £ per week July 1993 prices

  Age

  65 to 69

  70 to 74

  75+

  Mean

  187.70

  160.00

  138.30

  Median

  145.40

  125.70

  108.70

  Notes:

  1. Income figures are gross income before housing costs and are rounded to the nearest l0p.

  2. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the husband, or head, is over SPA.

  3. Due to insufficient sample sizes reliable estimates of further age breakdowns for single male pensioners and pensioner couples are not available at tables 1 and 3.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey 1979.

  Table 4: All pensioner units

  £ per week July 1993 prices

  Age

  60/65 to 74

  75+

  60/65+

  Mean

  124.80

  93.20

  113.40

  Median

  97.40

  75.30

  85.90

  Notes:

  1. Income figures are gross income before housing costs and rounded to the nearest l0p.

  2. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the husband, or head, is over SPA.

  3. Due to insufficient sample sizes reliable estimates of further age breakdowns for single male pensioners and pensioner couples are not available at tables 1 and 3.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey 1979.
  553

  Maxwell Pension Scheme
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 743, what safeguards are in place to protect the interests of the Exchequer in relation to any merger of a closed Maxwell pension scheme with another pension scheme. [14895]

  Mr. Heald
  The Secretary of State has indicated to each of the Maxwell pension schemes trustees on a scheme-by-scheme basis, the circumstances under which he is prepared to exercise discretion to defer the collection of state scheme premiums that are payable by them. He will review the position in the light of any proposal from trustees for a merger of a closed Maxwell scheme.

  There are detailed agreements with Maxwell pension scheme trustees setting out the conditions under which grants from the Government's £2.5 million emergency funding support package, made available in June 1992, are repayable.

HEALTH

  Paediatric Intensive Care Beds
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring he is undertaking of the availability of paediatric intensive care beds. [13317]

  Mr. Bowis
  For the period until 31 March 1996 we have arranged for Sheffield children's hospital to undertake a daily survey of the availability and occupancy of paediatric intensive care beds in hospitals in England.

  Accident and Emergency Provision, Liverpool
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received in respect of accident and emergency provision at hospitals in Liverpool. [13318]

  Mr. Horam
  I have received one letter in the last six months.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for altering the procedures for appointments to health authorities and NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement. [13319]

  Mr. Malone
  We have no plans to alter the appointment procedures which fully meet the recommendations for public appointments set out by the committee on standards in public life under its chairman, Lord Nolan.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications have been made for the position of chairmen of the new health authorities; and what percentage of those applicants are women. [14779]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available in the form requested.
  554

  Community Care
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring he has undertaken of community care provision. [13320]

  Mr. Bowis
  We monitor community care on a regular basis. This includes work by the social services inspectorate, the regular collection and publication of statistics and longer-term research to evaluate progress.

  There is clear evidence both from our own monitoring and from independent reports that community care is a success.

  Alternative and Complementary Medicine
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total NHS budget is spent on research and other matters related to alternative and complementary medicine. [13321]

  Mr. Horam
  The information available centrally does not identify national health service research into alternative and complementary medicine, nor the expenditure by the NHS on the provision of alternative and complementary medicine services.

  The Department is currently funding research on complementary therapies in primary care at the medical care research unit at the University of Sheffield, at a cost of around £100,000. This builds on their study published last November about access to complementary therapies through general practice.

  Hepatitis C
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to report on the departmental study on hepatitis C and its treatment. [13322]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no single departmental study. The standing group on health technology is taking forward, with the Medical Research Council, work on the effectiveness of alpha-interferon in the early treatment of hepatitis C. The Department is working on establishing a confidential national registry of HCV infection, drawing on information on cases of transfusion infection obtained from its "look back" exercise. It will shortly be seeking research proposals on establishing the prevalence, transmission routes and natural history of HCV infection.

  Private Sector Care
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS funding is now used to buy care in the private sector. [13323]

  Mr. Malone
  In 1994–95 health care purchased by the national health service from non-NHS providers amounted to about 1.6 per cent. of total NHS expenditure.

  Emergency Beds
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Royal College of Nursing to discuss the staffing for emergency beds. [13324]

  Mr. Malone
  I met representatives of the medical and nursing professions, including the Royal College of Nursing, on 21 December 1995 to consider a range of issues relating to emergency care.
  555
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the British Medical Association to discuss the availability of emergency beds. [13313]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with representatives of the BMA when a range of issues are discussed.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS capital projects to be funded through the private finance initiative. [13325]

  Mr. Horam
  Patients will benefit from private finance initiative projects which will bring improvements to national health service hospitals up and down the country. The NHS has so far seen schemes worth over £200 million approved. The momentum for PFI is increasing, pushing up the quality of patient care all the time.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many projects for new community hospitals have succeeded in attracting private capital under the private finance initiative; and how many projects for such hospitals are currently being held up awaiting a determination as to whether any such private finance may be available. [13330]

  Mr. Horam
  I have previously given information on private finance initiative projects which have been approved by the National Health Service Executive for England, and I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 343. If, under the PFI, the private sector can improve health care facilities for the benefit of NHS patients and make the NHS's procurement of facilities more cost-effective, then this possibility must be investigated. However, we do not hold centrally the information requested.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy concerning the future funding of beta-interferon for multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement. [13326]

  Mr. Malone
  Guidance issued recently EL(95)97 suggested that beta-interferon should be prescribed by hospital neurologists where clinically appropriate, and within local agreements between health authorities and hospitals. As with other hospital-prescribed drugs, the costs should be met from within health authority general allocations.

  A copy of EL(95)97 is available in the Library.

  NHS Building Projects
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many major NHS building projects have been completed since 1979. [13327]

  Mr. Horam
  A total of 842 major national health service
  building projects are reported as having been completed since 1 January 1980.
  556

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact the increase in the number of general practitioner fundholders from 1 April 1996 will have on health authority purchasing powers. [13328]

  Mr. Malone
  Health authorities will continue to have a significant role as purchasers of hospital and community health services from April 1996. The developing role of health authorities as general practitioner fundholding expands, has been set out in guidance EL(94)79, "Developing NHS Purchasing and GP Fundholding— Towards a Primary Care-Led NHS". A copy of this guidance is available in the Library.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has recently received in connection with fundholding general practitioners. [13329]

  Mr. Malone
  I have regular meetings with the medical profession to discuss a range of issues, including general practitioner fundholding.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients will be covered by general practitioner fundholding from April. [13331]

  Mr. Malone
  We expect that over 50 per cent. of the population will be served by a fundholding practitioner from April 1996.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors' practices in the Greater London area are fundholding; how many are not; what costs to public funds are involved in each case; and if he will make a statement. [13607]

  Mr. Malone
  A total of 325 general practitioner practices in Greater London are currently fundholders, serving more than a quarter of the population. A total of 1,438 general practitioner practices in Greater London are not currently fundholders. We expect the number of fundholders will rise to 578 practices serving 40 per cent. of the population of Greater London from next April.

  General practitioner fundholders receive allocations to purchase healthcare on their patients' behalf. Similarly, health authorities receive funds to purchase health care on behalf of non-fundholders' patients and for non-fundholding services for fundholders' patients. General practitioner fundholders receive a management allowance to support them in directly managing resources and providing care on their patient behalf.

  "The Health of the Nation"
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made towards achieving the targets set out in "The Health of the Nation". [13332]

  Mr. Horam
  Progress towards the targets set out in "The Health of the Nation" is described in "Fit for the Future", the second report on the strategy. This was published in July 1995 and copies are available in the Library.

  Northumberland Health Authority
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect on public sector manpower in Northumberland health
  557
  authority of the implementation of the Health Authorities Act 1995. [13559]

  Mr. Malone
  I have made no such estimate.

  Drugs (Side Effects)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who have died as a result of side effects of drugs in each of the last five years. [14060]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information on deaths recorded by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in England and Wales as a result of adverse effects of drugs, medicaments and biological substances is shown in the table.

  Deaths in England and Wales due to drugs, medicaments and biological substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use (ICD E930-E949) as underlying or secondary cause

  Year

  Number of deaths

  1990

  108

  1991

  84

  1992

  93

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new plans he has to reduce deaths and serious illnesses caused by medicines. [13303]

  Mr. Malone
  We already have in place well-established systems for licensing and monitoring the safety of all medicines available in the United Kingdom, which ensure that the benefits of medicines outweigh any risks and prevent users coming to unnecessary harm. These systems continue to be developed, in particular to take advantage of advancements in drug development and pharmacoepidemiology.

  Private Patient Activity
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the need to ensure that marginal cost contracts apply only to unplanned spare capacity in the internal market for the benefit of NHS patients and not to private activity. [14510]

  Mr. Malone
  National health service costing for contracting guidance already disallows marginal cost contracting other than where unplanned spare capacity arises. We see no reason, however, why in those circumstances a distinction should be drawn between NHS and private purchasers.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to external and internal auditors having a specific brief to audit private patient activity within the NHS and to set compliance with Treasury rules. [14502]

  Mr. Malone
  External auditors are independent and exercise their professional judgement about how they carry out their responsibilities. Internal auditors review areas on a cyclical basis with the frequency determined by taking account of risk and materiality. Private patient activity will be examined as part of this process.
  558
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to ensure that private patient activity in the NHS is not adversely affecting NHS patients and their healthcare. [14506]

  Mr. Malone
  This is primarily the responsibility of national health service trusts, which must comply with the provisions of section 5(9) and schedule 2, paragraph 14 of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. These prevent private patient activity being undertaken to the detriment of NHS patients.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make statements on the(a) change in volume, (b) costing, (c) pricing and (d) auditing of private patient activity in the NHS. [14508]

  Mr. Malone
  Accommodation and services are made available to private patients in national health service hospitals only when criteria set out in legislation are met. NHS gross income from private patient activity in England rose from £176.3 million in 1993–94 to £193.5 million in 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available. Guidance has been issued to the NHS on costing and pricing. The recent report by National Economic Research Associates concluded that NHS pay beds are managed in accordance with their statutory and financial obligations, and generate a sizeable profit for the NHS to use to improve services for all patients. The accounts of NHS bodies, including income and expenditure from private patient activity, are subject to statutory audit by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission. The National Audit Office also has access rights to audit the activities of NHS bodies.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to the need for NHS trusts to adhere to the six principles governing their pay bed and private patient activities. [14507]

  Mr. Malone
  The six principles were set out in the "Management of Private Practice in Health Service Hospitals in England and Wales", copies of which are available in the Library. This guidance remains in force.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether NHS trusts should produce audited accruals-based accounts according to generally accepted accounting practices for their private patient activity. [14505]

  Mr. Malone
  Guidance issued last year—FDL(95)01— reminds the national health service of the requirement to maintain memorandum trading accounts for income generation schemes. MTAs are accruals based, and available for scrutiny by internal and external auditors. The guidance does not explicitly refer to private patient activity, but it is accepted good practice to apply the guidance to these also.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the use of public assets for the development of private patient activity. [14509]

  Mr. Malone
  Subject to the responsibilities set out in section 5(9) and schedule 2, paragraph 14 of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, NHS trusts are free to undertake private patient activity and to capitalise it from any sources, with normal investment appraisal processes applying.
  559

  Surplus Land Sales
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the capital projects in the NHS funded by the sale of surplus land or buildings since 1992; and how much was realised by each sale. [14462]

  Mr. Horam
  The proceeds from the sale of surplus land and buildings are not assigned to fund specific developments. Receipts contribute to the overall national health service capital programme.

  Management Staff
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) chief executives and (b) senior managers of (i) NHS trusts and (ii) health authorities have been dismissed in each of the last three years; and how many have retired for reasons other than the normal retirement age. [14474]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues to NHS trusts regarding the remuneration packages of senior managers and the annual improvements in their pay and conditions. [14476]

  Mr. Malone
  National health service trust boards are accountable for the proper appointment, appraisal and remuneration of their senior executives and, as in all their functions, boards must have regard to the public service values of accountability, probity and openness enshrined in the codes of conduct and accountability issued to NHS boards in April 1994. The code of accountability requires all NHS boards to establish a remuneration and terms of service committee to exercise proper control of executive board members' remuneration.

  For those staff employed on the national terms and conditions for general and senior managers, guidance has been issued periodically on the changes in salary rates in a series of health service guidelines, health circulars and personnel memoranda, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers he has to remove NHS trust and health authority senior managers proceeded against (i) in the courts and (ii) by the health service commissioner for maladministration; and how often he has used these powers since 1990; [14475]

  (2) what measures he takes to ensure that NHS trust and health authority chief executives and senior managers who have been dismissed or have resigned after successful allegations of maladministration are not re-employed elsewhere in the NHS in a similar capacity. [14473]

  Mr. Malone
  Powers to dismiss senior national health service staff lie solely with individual NHS employers.

  It is for NHS employers to ensure the suitability of staff appointed. They are expected to have in place formal systems of recruitment and selection, which would include the taking up of references from former employers and the giving of proper consideration to the previous career history of candidates for employment.
  560

  Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the NHS executive annual planning guidance on nurses in training for each year since 1990. [14450]

  Mr. Horam
  In August 1995 the Department issued formal planning guidance for the first time: the non-medical education and training planning guidance for 1996–97 education commissioning, EL(95)96, copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Trust Hospitals
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to directing all NHS trust hospitals to conform to Treasury rules concerning commercial activities and returns on capital employed. [14503]

  Mr. Malone
  Trusts are bound by a requirement to fix charges for planned commercial activity, including private patient work, so that cross subsidy with NHS activity is avoided and an appropriate rate of return on capital employed is achieved.

  Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to parents of children who have been advised not to have the MMR vaccination because of contra-indications in other members of the same family; and what implications this guidance has for general practitioners in rural areas achieving their immunisation targets. [14445]

  Mr. Horam
  There are very few true contra-indications to immunisation; these are listed in the Heath Education Authority's leaflet, "A Guide to Childhood Immunisations", which is available to all parents.

  General practitioner immunisation target levels allow for the fact that immunisation is contra-indicated for some children.

  Probity Pledge
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the probity pledge proposed to NHS trust and health authorities by the NHS executive. [14522]

  Mr. Malone
  No new pledge on probity has been proposed by the national health service executive. On 26 April 1994 my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Health, announced in the House the publication of codes of conduct and accountability. These codes, which keep public values at the heart of the operation and management of the NHS, were to be adopted by the boards of all NHS authorities and trusts. They require that all matters in the NHS be conducted with due regard to the very highest standards of probity, accountability and openness.

  Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to take regarding executive managers from the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust
  561
  using an emergency ambulance to attend a coroners' court. [14639]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service National Health Service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Rosalie Monbiot OBE, chairman of the trust, for this information.

  Practising Doctors (European Union)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) practising doctors and (b) practising doctors per capita there are in each European Union country. [14907]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally. However, the second—1995—report of the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee, copies of which are in the Library, gives data on physicians per 1,000 population in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and United Kingdom.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average annual amount of study leave given to junior doctors in each of the last three years. [14851]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of junior doctors leaving the NHS each year. [14853]

  Mr. Malone
  Information is not available in the form requested. The Department supports studies by the medical careers research group the Oxford unit of healthcare epidemiology to examine wastage from the profession and other career patterns. Wastage rates appear to have declined recently. Of those who qualified in the mid-1970s, nearly 20 per cent. were not working in medicine in the United Kingdom 10 years later. Provisional data indicate that the comparable figure for those who qualified in the 1980s was around 15 per cent. Many of these doctors will be temporarily abroad, on a career break or in alternative medical employment and may well return to the NHS in the future.

  Patients (Complaints)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been made by patients in each of the last six years. [14767]

  Mr. Horam
  For the number of complaints received in each of the last five years I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 30 January 1996,Official Report, column 723. For hospital and community health services, the number of complaints in 1989–90 was 36,181. For family health services, the figure for 1989 was 1,927.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he is likely to announce recommendations arising from the consultation document "Moving Forward" to strengthen the legislation on the running and inspection of residential and nursing homes to protect vulnerable people. [13396]
  562
  Mr. Bowis
  We shall consider whether to bring forward legislative or other changes in the light of the report of the independent assessor for the review which we expect to receive later this year.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the consultation on "Moving Forward" to be completed; and if he will place a copy of the responses to date in the Library. [14778]

  Mr. Bowis
  Written responses to "Moving Forward" have been asked for by the end of this month. It will be for the independent assessor to decide whether further consultation is required before he reports to Ministers.

  We shall decide at that time what and in what form to publish. This might include the submissions of respondents if they are content for this to be done.

  Skin Diseases
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to speed up treatment of dermatologically related diseases. [13451]

  Mr. Horam
  The organisation of health services and the manner in which they are delivered are matters for health authorities in their role as purchasers of services for their populations.

  However, my Department is aware of a few commercial projects in their very early stages which use televisual means in an effort to help deal with the workload in dealing with skin conditions. I understand that the process involves the general practitioner sending an e-mail picture of the patient's skin condition to a consultant dermatologist along with clinical details. The consultant can review the pictures in his own time and either give advice to the GP on management with suitable protocols or suggest a live consultation.

  Prescription Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the annual average cost of prescriptions per patient prescribed by(a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholding general practitioners for each year since the introduction of fundholding for which the figures are available for (i) England, (ii) each regional health authority and (iii) each family health service authority. [14967]

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

  Prescribing costs (£ NIC/PU)—England

  GP fundholders

  Non GP fundholders

  1991–92

  9.23

  9.71

  1992–93

  10.35

  10.91

  1993–94

  11.47

  12.05

  1994–95

  12.56

  13.07

  1995–96 (to Q2)

  13.04

  13.62

  1. NIC/PU = net ingredient cost per prescribing unit.

  2. NIC is essentially the cost of prescriptions before allowing for pharmacists' discounts and container costs.

  3. PUs are a weighting used to adjust for the higher cost of drugs for older people. Each person counts as one PU for under 65-year-olds, three PUs for 65-year-olds and older.

  4. The two groups (fundholding GPs/non-fundholding GPs) are not exclusive—during the period, some non fundholders will have become fundholding and vice versa.

  563

  Patient De-registration
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been removed from registration with their local general practitioner in each of the past five years. [13450]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink) and to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 2 November 1995,Official Report, column 457.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports have been received via the yellow card system regarding women who have been switched from combined oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene since 18 October 1995; and what assessment the licensing authority has made of such reports. [12978]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 8 February 1996]: Ten reports of suspected adverse reactions have been received on yellow cards occurring in women who switched from oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene since 18 October 1995. These have been assessed by the Medicines Control Agency according to its normal procedures.

SCOTLAND

  EU Funding
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the total expenditure allocated to date from European Union objective 1 funding for the highlands and islands; and if he will make a statement; [11587]

  (2) if he will list the projects that have been approved for European Union objective 1 funding for the highlands and islands since January 1995 for (a) the European regional development fund and (b) the European social fund; what expenditure was approved for each project; and what was the total expenditure; [11585]

  (3) which successful applications for European Union objective 1 funding for the highlands and islands are located in Argyll and Bute; and what was the expenditure approved for each project. [11586]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The total expenditure committed up to the end of January 1996 is £164 million. This is made up by £129 million, ERDF; £30.5 million, ESF; and £4.5 million, EAGGF—European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund—and FIFO—financial instrument of fisheries guidance. As the information requested is somewhat lengthy, I have arranged for the details to be placed in the House Library.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects which have been approved for objective 1 funding in the highlands and islands, stating the amount in each case. [11607]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 1 February 1996]: The total expenditure committed up to the end of January 1996 is £164 million. This is made up by £129 million, ERDF;
  564
  £30.5 million, ESF; and £4.5 million, EAGGF and FIFG. As the information requested is somewhat lengthy I have arranged for the details to be placed in the House Library.

  Agriculture Department
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time members of staff are currently employed at each of the Scottish Office Agriculture Department's divisional offices. [12305]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of full-time staff employed in the agricultural divisions of the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department who are working at locations outwith Edinburgh is shown in the table, which reflects the position as at 1 January 1996.

  Full-time staff employed in agricultural division of the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department based outwith Edinburgh

  Position as at 1 January 1996

  Location

  Permanent

  Casual

  Total

  Ayr

  40

  2

  42

  Benbecula

  8

  —

  8

  Dumfries

  35

  2

  37

  Dundee

  28

  1

  29

  Elgin

  4

  —

  4

  Galashiels

  31

  3

  34

  Glasgow

  12

  —

  12

  Hamilton

  6

  2

  8

  Inverness

  50

  1

  51

  Kirkwall

  17

  —

  17

  Lairg

  5

  —

  5

  Lerwick

  11

  1

  12

  Oban

  22

  —

  22

  Perth

  32

  2

  34

  Portree

  9

  —

  0

  Stirling

  12

  3

  15

  Stornoway

  14

  3

  17

  Thainstone

  56

  3

  59

  Thurso

  16

  —

  16

  Totals

  408

  23

  431

  School Boards
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on the administration, promotion, support and establishment of school boards in Scotland in each academic year since their establishment. [12504]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  School boards were established for the first time during the financial year 1989–90. Departmental expenditure, by financial year, is as follows.

  Financial year

  Expenditure £

  1989–90

  1,737,000

  1990–91

  51,000

  1991–92

  308,000

  1992–93

  91,000

  1993–94

  157,000

  1994–95

  68,000

  1995–96

  140,000

  1 Expenditure to 31 January 1996.

  565

  Child Day-care Facilities
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will conduct a survey of all child day-care facilities with a view to determining whether registration and inspection criteria are being carried out by local authorities in any way which encourages provision of places; [14225]

  (2) if he will conduct a survey of child day-care facilities to ensure that local authorities are interpreting the registration and inspection duties laid on them in a reasonable way. [14226]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend does not have any plans for such surveys.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects to revise the guidance issued to local authorities in 1991 on regulation and review of childminding and day-care services for children under the Children Act 1989; [14278]

  (2) if he will update the bibliography referred to in section 3 of annex 4 in the guidance on child care issued to local authorities in 1991. [14279]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend intends to revise and update the guidance to take account of an amendment made to the Children Act 1989 by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and further amendments planned to the 1989 Act which relate to supervised activities and holiday play schemes.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extend parental consent to derogation from guideline standards for child care facilities will be taken into account in issuing local authority certificates of registration of day-care premises. [14227]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under the Children Act 1989, local authorities are under duty to register suitable providers of day-care for young children. Registration provides a framework to protect children and to ensure that services meet acceptable standards. It also reassures parents who arrange day-care for their children by others. In deciding whether to register applicants, local authorities are responsible for setting appropriate and consistent standards, taking account of central guidance. It would not be practicable to consult individual parents who may use different facilities from time to time about whether lower standards should be set in their facilities.

  Appeal Court
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have been referred back to the Appeal Court by the Scottish Secretary since 1966; and in how many such cases conviction was quashed. [14528]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1966, my right hon. Friend has referred nine cases to the High Court of Justiciary under section 263(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. Of these cases, five convictions were quashed and in one case a verdict of culpable homicide was substituted for that of murder.

  Spare Computer Capacity
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all cases where spare computer capacity has 566
  been sold to other Departments since 1987, giving the Department and value of each contract. [14079]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office has provided computer bureau and related services to a number of other Departments and public bodies. Charges for these services for the years since 1989–90 are as follows:

  Department

  Amount £

  National Gallery of Scotland

  39,6000

  National Library of Scotland

  55,500

  National Museums of Scotland

  27,600

  HM Customs and Excise

  11,800

  Holyrood Palace
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to his Department for the upkeep and maintenance of the palace of Holyrood house in each of the last three financial years. [14811]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend is responsible for the cost of the upkeep and maintenance of the fabric of the palace, for security and for the costs of utilities such as fuel and telephones. All other costs are met by the royal household.

  The information for the last three financial years is:

  Programme expenditure

  Historic Scotland employee costs

  Total £

  1992–93

  696,600

  338,530

  1,035,130

  1993–94

  693,215

  337,852

  1,031,067

  1994–95

  809,153

  345,124

  1,154,277

  These costs include all expenditure directly attributable to the palace but not professional and central administration.

  Mobile Communications Network
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the mobile communication, network supported by the Scottish Office in the highlands and islands will be capable of handling both digital and analogue calls. [14919]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The £46 million mobile telecommunications investment programme in the highlands and islands will extend coverage to some 95 per cent. of the region's population, including covering almost all major arterial transport routes. The networks will use global system for mobile communications— GSM—technology, which is the European-led standard for digital cellular networks now operating in more than 40 countries worldwide. GSM gives users improved speech quality and greater security over the older analogue technology and access to a range of added value services similar to those available on the digital fixed network. The new GSM networks will complement the highlands and islands fixed network, which is already substantially digital as a result of upgrading by BT in the early 1990s.
  567
  The existing analogue networks offered by Cellnet and Vodaphone in the highlands and islands will be maintained, but will not be extended further.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the annual average cost per patient of prescriptions prescribed by(a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholding general practitioners

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Health board

  Fundholding practices

  Non-fundholding practices

  Fundholding practices

  Non-fundholding practices

  Fundholding practices

  Non-fundholding practices

  Argyll and Clyde

  61.70

  71.66

  68.79

  79.20

  73.19

  87.07

  Ayrshire and Arran

  58.43

  73.06

  73.95

  79.53

  75.59

  87.62

  Borders

  0.00

  64.93

  71.49

  69.84

  73.32

  76.77

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0.00

  68.98

  0.00

  76.23

  81.83

  84.72

  Fife

  51.92

  62.66

  55.17

  70.22

  67.39

  78.23

  Forth Valley

  58.39

  67.88

  61.57

  74.78

  72.73

  84.21

  Grampian

  58.68

  55.37

  54.50

  70.39

  63.27

  73.54

  Greater Glasgow

  57.20

  62.92

  59.29

  69.57

  67.95

  77.94

  Highland

  50.97

  56.83

  74.82

  63.43

  79.12

  71.90

  Lanarkshire

  59.50

  73.00

  74.14

  79.71

  80.06

  89.26

  Lothian

  59.25

  56.67

  60.32

  62.93

  68.78

  70.21

  Orkney

  0.00

  53.50

  0.00

  57.37

  0.00

  62.25

  Shetland

  0.00

  47.13

  0.00

  55.07

  0.00

  60.33

  Tayside

  67.82

  71.03

  74.98

  78.64

  83.19

  88.16

  Western Isles

  0.00

  53.77

  0.00

  62.35

  0.00

  72.35

  Scotland

  58.39

  62.63

  66.27

  69.95

  73.87

  77.64

  Crofters
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what impact his initiative on crofting will have on the crofters of the Knoydart estate; and if he will make a statement. [15076]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The recently launched consultation paper is specifically concerned with the disposal of the crofting estates owned by my right hon. Friend. However, the issues it raises may be of interest to crofters and landlords elsewhere.

  Court Service
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those courts that have been closed in each county in Scotland since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [14274]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: There have been no closures of district courts or sheriff courts during the period in question.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11357]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 January 1996]: The average number of working days lost per staff year due to sickness in the Scottish Office is in the table.
  568
  for each year since the introduction of fundholding for which statistics are available for (i) Scotland and (ii) each health board. [14966]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information by health board and Scotland for the financial years 1992–93 to 1994–95 is set out in the table. The costs shown are the average cost per patient on GP lists and are based on the value of ingredients before the addition of dispensing fees or deduction of any discount or patient charges.

  Calender year

  The Scottish Office

  Scottish Prison Service

  1992

  8.9

  12.6

  1993

  10.3

  15.3

  1994

  8.2

  12.9

  Figures prior to 1992 are not available.

  Drug Reduction Programmes
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners were waiting for a place on the Edinburgh and Glenochil drug reduction programmes on(a) 1 February 1995 and (b) 1 February 1996. [14589]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. James Wallace, dated 13 February 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the number of prisoners waiting for a place on the Edinburgh and Glenochil drug reduction programmes on (a) 1 February 1995 and (b) 1 February 1996.
  As far as HMP Edinburgh is concerned there were no waiting lists in 1995 and 1996 and prisoners' needs are met by programmes provided by the prison authorities and/or community based agencies.
  Glenochil have adopted a multi-disciplinary approach and have been evolving and developing phased addiction programmes over the past 2 years which cover both drugs and alcohol. Prisoners receive both group and one-to-one counselling. There is no waiting list as such but currently 71 prisoners are awaiting completion of their programme.

  Immigration Service: Removal of Illegal Entrants
  Immigration Service: Removal of Illegal Entrants
  ODA Expenditure Review
  ODA Expenditure Review
  EU and EC Treaties: Command Paper
  EU and EC Treaties: Command Paper
  University Air Squadrons: Future
  University Air Squadrons: Future
  Prerogative Powers
  Prerogative Powers