Written Answers of 20 February 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15600]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Department intends to carry out a survey of its existing suppliers by the end of February and, thereafter, to ask potential new suppliers if they will provide information about the number of employees.

  Wakefield Crown Court
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of occasions on which the former Wakefield Crown court building has been used for(a) judicial and (b) other purposes since its formal closure. [16052]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer, and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 20 February 1996:

  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about Wakefield Crown Court.

  Since its closure on 3 April 1993, the former Wakefield Crown Court has been used by Leeds County Court for judicial sittings on a total of 262 occasions.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will cause to be printed on the face of statutory instruments as an addition to the explanatory note the relevant compliance cost assessment where it is no greater than 10 per cent. of the length of the instrument itself. [15580]

  Mr. Roger Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government require a compliance cost assessment to accompany all statutory instruments having an impact on business, charities and voluntary organisations when they are presented to Parliament and for the explanatory note to contain a note that an assessment is available and where it can be obtained. I am satisfied that this is sufficient to ensure that compliance cost assessments on statutory instruments are generally available.
  54

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Collection of Contemporary Accounts
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage the establishment of a national collection of contemporary accounts on film and tape of people's memories, attitudes and experiences. [16382]

  Mr. Sproat
  This is an important idea. I am taking it forward. I have written to organisations with major holdings of such material to ask what material of this kind currently exists and for their views on the scope for establishing a national collection.

TREASURY

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what obligation the Inland Revenue has to provide taxpayers with(a) a copy of its charter and (b) a copy of its (i) working manual and (ii) other documents describing taxpayers' rights and expectations of service standards with particular reference to the valuation of premises for business rates. [15443]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The valuation of premises for business rates is carried out by the Valuation Office, an executive agency of the Inland Revenue. It has produced a charter standard statement, copies of which are available free of charge at the reception area in all its offices. In addition, a copy of the charter is sent to all taxpayers at the commencement of correspondence.

  The charter describes taxpayers' rights, sets out the standard of service they can expect and how to complain if they are dissatisfied.

  Working manuals are available to the public under the open government initiative. The Valuation Office has produced a leaflet entitled "Open Government", again freely available, which sets out details of how information can be obtained.

  Divorce
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 January, column 418, on pension splitting and divorce, if he will set out the basis of his calculation of the cost of pension splitting to unfunded public services schemes in 1997. [11042]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  If pensions were split with the scheme member's ex-spouse taking a transfer value out, this would bring forward pensions benefit costs and reduce future liabilities. The potential net costs to unfunded public service schemes given in the earlier answer relate to this change. They assume splitting of accrued pension rights equally and payment of a transfer value from the scheme at the time of divorce in all new divorce cases involving current, but not former, employees who are members of these schemes. They also assume divorce rates by age derived from information for the three years 1991 to 1993. The figures take no account of administration costs.
  55

  VAT (Domestic fuel)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate for the winter months this year and last year of(a) income to the Treasury from VAT on domestic fuel and (b) expenditure on cold weather payments. [15375]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: Estimated income from VAT on domestic fuel was about £700 million during the period October 1994 to March 1995. The figure for this winter is not yet available.

  So far this winter, 7.3 million cold weather payments totalling more than £62 million have been made.

  Financial Management
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is on the working party on financial management; how often it will meet; when its first meeting will be; and what is its remit. [15593]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The private sector-led group includes representatives of small firms organisations, accountancy bodies, banks and academia. The first meeting was held on 12 February and the group will meet as and when required in order to fulfil its remit. The group is considering whether it can identify ways of improving financial management in small firms.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions his Department has come to with regard to the financial management certificate following the consultation period. [15594]

  Mrs. Knight
  Almost all the respondents were of the view that financial management within small firms was a significant problem, but a majority of small firms' representatives expressed concerns that a financial management certificate could impose an additional burden on small businesses. There was, however, considerable support for the idea of having a working group to look at other solutions to the problem, and this has been set up.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the submissions his Department received on a financial management certificate. [15595]

  Mrs. Knight
  I have arranged for respondents to the consultation document to be contacted for their agreement to the publication of their replies.

  Exports (Cornwall)
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of exports by business enterprises located in Cornwall on the basis of figures compiled by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement. [15612]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The location of the business enterprise making an export is not held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; only the address registered for VAT purposes is available, which may be at a different location within the UK. Consequently, regional analyses of the trade statistics are not produced, and information relating to the value of exports by business enterprises located in Cornwall is not available.
  56

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15604]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury follows the good procurement practice laid down in the White Paper "Setting New Standards", Cm 2840, published in May 1995. The aim should always be to award contracts to the supplier who will provide the best value for money for any purchase.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 Tuesday. [14735]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 February. [14736]

  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.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will change Her Majesty's Government's policy of not commenting on detailed matters concerning individual defence exports. [14905]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 15 February 1996, Official Report, columns 1139–44.

  Honours Nominations
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Prime Minister how many nominations for honours have been received in the latest six month period for which figures are available compared with the last six months before the increased publicity was given to the system for public nomination. [16082]

  The Prime Minister
  In the last six months of 1995, 4,316 nominations were received. Statistics for the period leading up to my statement in march 1993 were not kept.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what were in each year from 1979 to 1994, in real terms,(a) the running costs of his private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff and (b) the running costs of the Department. [15358]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 February 1996]: Information on expenditure by my office is not available on a consistent basis for the years between

  57
  1979–80 and 1985–86. Expenditure since 1986–87, at 1994–95 prices is as follows:

  £ million

  Total expenditure

  Staff costs

  Other costs

  1986–87

  7.471

  2.514

  4.957

  1987–88

  7.744

  2.520

  5.224

  1988–89

  8.780

  2.551

  6.229

  1989–90

  9.603

  2.703

  6.900

  1990–91

  9.536

  2.386

  7.150

  1991–92

  9.454

  2.488

  6.966

  1992–93

  10.344

  3.043

  7.301

  1993–94

  9.395

  3.331

  6.064

  1994–951

  7.671

  3.217

  4.454

  Information on the running costs of the Cabinet Office is given in the annual report of the "Cabinet Office, Privy Council Office and Parliament", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  1 In 1994–95 spending of £0.718 million on communications was transferred from No.10 budget to the Cabinet Office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Foreign Diplomats (Expulsion)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign diplomats have been expelled from the United Kingdom since 1979 for carrying out nuclear technology procurement activities which were incompatible with their status. [15960]

  Mr. Hanley
  There have been no such expulsions of diplomats. However, one diplomatic mission was asked to terminate the functions of two locally-engaged members of staff for carrying out nuclear technology procurement activities. A further individual, a diplomat, was excluded from the UK. Since 1979, a total of 66 diplomats have been expelled from the UK.

  Jonathon Moyle
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 21 November,Official Report, column 69, what further developments have occurred in respect of the inquiry into the death of Jonathon Moyle. [15964]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The investigation by the Chilean authorities into the death of Mr. Moyle is continuing.

  The inquest being conducted by HM coroner for Exeter and East Devon has not been finalised.

  Consultants
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the size and the purpose of each contract between the diplomatic wing and management consultants for the year 1994–95 referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for 58
  Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 12 July 1995, Official Report, column 590. [15093]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: In the answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 12 July 1995, there was a printing error which distorted the figures. A correction was issued on 17 July 1995.

  The total cost of contracts with management consultants for the year 1994–95 was £76,887.

  The table sets out the size and purpose of each contract.

  1. Consultancy support for running and assessing new recruitment campaigns for executive assistants and grade 9s: £7,000.

  2. Assistance in drawing up and issuing the new Code of Management: £15,500.

  3. A review of Science and Technology work overseas (a joint exercise with the Department for Trade and Industry): £7,000.

  4. Consultancy support to Internal Audit Unit to achieve BSI accreditation to BS5750: £11,500.

  5 Review of Overseas Inspectorate for possible BSI accreditation to BS5750: £500.

  6. Revision of Diplomatic Service Procedure: £6,000.

  7. Annual assessment fees for BSI accreditation to BS5750 for Management Review Staff (Internal Consultancy service): £900.

  8. Consultancy support for an FCO Quality system: £2,000.

  9. Review of the training requirements of the Management Review Staff: £2,500.

  10. Consultancy support for interdepartmental benchmarking of the procurement of stationery and travel services: £5,000.

  11. Consultancy support for Market testing of the Home Security Services: £11,500.

  12. Presentation on contract management to the FCO Procurement unit: £300.

  14. Consultancy support for business unit development in the Diplomatic Service Language Centre: £7,000.

  Korean Peninsula
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the unification of the Korean peninsular; and if he will make a statement. [15680]

  Mr. Hanley
  The reunification of the Korean peninsula can be achieved only through meaningful dialogue between North and South Korea. We encourage such dialogue at every opportunity.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those items destroyed to date by the UN-supervised programme in Iraq, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 687 which contained technology originating in the United Kingdom. [15996]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency have reported on items destroyed from time to time in their periodic reports to the Security Council, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, but they do not release information on the origin of those items.
  59

ENVIRONMENT

  Construction Skills Certification Scheme
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been the total cost incurred to date on the construction skills certification scheme including(a) the setting-up costs, (b) advertising and promotional expenditure and (c) day-to-day administrative costs; [15391]

  (2) how many operatives have to date registered under the construction skills certification scheme; and what percentage this represents of all those employed in the construction industry and eligible to register. [15392]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Although my Department supports the objectives of the scheme, it has no responsibility for its administration or costs.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now provide figures for 1994 equivalent to those provided in respect of 1991 and 1993 in his answer of 19 July 1995,Official Report, columns 1414–16. [15389]

  Mr. Curry
  Estimates for numbers and proportions of owner-occupiers by age and household type in England in 1994–95 are now available and are given in the table. They are on a consistent basis with the earlier figures and exclude households which entered owner-occupation through purchase as a sitting tenant from a local authority.

  The proportions are drawn from the survey of English housing and are subject to sampling variability, as is the number of owner-occupiers based on them. Sampling variability is especially high for groups where the number of households are small and this is likely to cause some of the variation between age groups. These comments apply also to the figures for 1993–94 given in the earlier answer.

  All households, and owner-occupiers excluding those who entered owner occupation by purchase as a sitting tenant from a local authority, by household type and age of head of household 1994–95

  England

  Total households1

  Owner occupiers

  Thousands

  Thousands2

  Percentages3

  Married couple

  Under 25

  165

  88

  53

  25 to 29

  646

  472

  73

  30 to 34

  1,047

  792

  76

  35 to 39

  1,110

  837

  75

  40 to 44

  1,128

  859

  76

  45 to 49

  1,265

  980

  77

  50 to 54

  1,027

  770

  75

  55 and over

  4,031

  2,744

  68

  Total

  10,421

  7,546

  72

  Cohabiting couple

  Under 25

  232

  91

  39

  25 to 29

  332

  206

  62

  30 to 34

  257

  163

  63

  35 to 39

  158

  93

  58

  40 to 44

  113

  77

  68

  60

  All households, and owner-occupiers excluding those who entered owner occupation by purchase as a sitting tenant from a local authority, by household type and age of head of household 1994–95

  England

  Total households1

  Owner occupiers

  Thousands

  Thousands2

  Percentages3

  45 to 49

  92

  59

  65

  50 to 54

  53

  30

  56

  55 and over

  94

  53

  56

  Total

  1,332

  781

  59

  Lone parent with dependent children

  Under 25

  135

  4

  3

  25 to 29

  209

  23

  11

  30 to 34

  226

  66

  29

  35 to 39

  190

  67

  35

  40 to 44

  150

  67

  45

  45 to 49

  105

  60

  57

  50 to 54

  40

  24

  59

  55 and over

  23

  7

  30

  Total

  1,076

  314

  29

  Other multi-person

  Under 25

  95

  13

  14

  25 to 29

  142

  43

  30

  30 to 34

  109

  61

  56

  35 to 39

  79

  47

  59

  40 to 44

  98

  50

  51

  45 to 49

  136

  77

  57

  50 to 54

  130

  57

  44

  55 and over

  666

  339

  51

  Total

  1,455

  654

  45

  One person

  Under 25

  220

  48

  22

  25 to 29

  436

  243

  56

  30 to 34

  414

  273

  66

  35 to 39

  290

  180

  62

  40 to 44

  261

  142

  54

  45 to 49

  294

  152

  52

  50 to 54

  275

  139

  50

  55 and over

  3,346

  1,527

  46

  Total

  5,536

  2,690

  49

  Source:

  1 DOE household estimates.

  2 Derived by applying proportions from the 1994–95 survey of English housing (as in column 3 but before rounding) to the household numbers given in column 1.

  3 Survey of English housing 1994–95.

  Water Companies (Surplus Land)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the valuation of potential surplus land in respect of each water company at the time of privatisation; [15289]

  (2) what assumed proceeds, from the disposal of surplus land, were taken into account when original price limits were set in respect of each water company. [15290]

  Mr. Clappison
  Details for individual companies are commercially confidential. However, the total assumed proceeds which were included in the initial K setting process were some £300 million.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the actual proceeds, by water company, from the disposal of surplus land which were notified to the Director General of Water Services at the time of the 1994 periodic review. [15291]
  61
  Mr. Clappison
  Details for individual companies are commercially confidential. However, the actual proceeds taken into account in the periodic review were some £96 million less than that assumed in the initial K setting process.

  Mr. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by water company those disposals of surplus land for which approval has been sought under licence condition K of their instrument of appointment since 1992 which have had a value exceeding(a) £500,000, (b) £1 million and (c) £2 million or more; [15288]

  (2) if he will list, by water company, the number of transfers of land to associated companies for which approval has been sought under licence condition K since 1992 which have had a value (a) less than £500,000,(b) between £500,000 and £1 million, (c) over £1 million and (d) £2 million or more. [15292]

  Mr. Clappison
  This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. Details of disposals by customer service committee area are published each year in the Director General of Water Services' annual report, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

  Pollution (Incinerators)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to publish the levels of(a) chlorine and (b) dioxin emissions from all incinerators. [15654]

  Mr. Clappison
  All incinerators under the control of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—are required to meet emission limits for hydrochloric acid and dioxins from 1 December 1996. Monitoring results supplied to HMIP are normally placed on public registers. Monitoring information already obtained for dioxin emissions from municipal waste incinerators was published by HMIP on 25 September 1995.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is conducting into the emissions of(a) dioxins and (b) chlorine from incinerators; and at what cost. [15656]

  Mr. Clappison
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has funded a review of dioxin emissions to air, including those from incinerators, at a cost of £65,000 plus VAT. The resulting report was published on 25 September 1995, and placed in the House of Commons Library.

  HMIP has recently commissioned further research, at a cost of &£43,500 plus VAT, on dioxin releases to water and land. This work will cover industrial sources, including incinerators, and non-industrial sources, and is expected to be completed during the last quarter of 1996.

  Rents
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average rent in(a) privately rented, (b) housing association and council dwellings in (i) Leicester, (ii) Bradford, (iii) Normanton, (iv) Christchurch, (v) Birmingham, (vi) Sheffield, (vii) Stockport, (viii) Basildon, (ix) Leicestershire, (x) Southport, (xi) Norfolk,
  62
  (xii) Chester, (xiii) Cirencester and Tewkesbury, (xiv) Swindon, (xv) Skipton and Ripon, (xvi) Blackpool, (xvii) Gloucester, (xviii) Cardiff and (xix) Scarborough. [15619]

  Mr. Clappison
  Average weekly local authority and housing association rents at March 1994, the latest date for which figures are available for local authorities and housing associations, are in the table. Figures are available only for local authority districts or groups of districts, e.g., counties, regions, etc.

  £ per week

  Local authority1

  Housing association2

  Leicester

  29.16

  34.03

  Bradford

  29.04

  33.01

  Christchurch

  not applicable

  38.96

  Birmingham

  33.52

  34.01

  Sheffield

  26.55

  37.53

  Stockport

  26.54

  34.93

  Basildon

  35.66

  40.35

  Leicestershire

  28.55

  35.56

  Norfolk

  29.88

  39.19

  Chester

  25.44

  40.80

  Cotswold (Cirencester)

  39.70

  38.74

  Tewkesbury

  33.67

  39.58

  Thamesdown (Swindon)

  30.54

  38.73

  Craven (Skipton)

  31.92

  37.61

  Blackpool

  28.35

  36.48

  Gloucester

  37.83

  40.92

  Scarborough

  29.75

  39.72

  Sources:

  1 Local authorities—housing subsidy claim forms.

  2 Housing associations—HAR10/1 (not grossed for missing data).

  Note:

  The average rent figures are not directly comparable as they take no account of differences in the composition of stock. e.g., size and type of dwellings, their age and condition.

  Figures for average private sector rents are available only from sample surveys that are not large enough to produce reliable figures for individual local authorities.

  For information about Cardiff, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his targets for phasing out HCFCs over the next 25 years. [15653]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government's targets for phasing out the consumption of HCFCs—production plus imports minus exports—reflect the requirements of EC regulation 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer. HCFC consumption in the EU was frozen, by 1 January 1995, at 2.6 per cent. of CFC consumption plus total HCFC consumption in 1989. Thereafter, HCFC consumption will be reduced from this amount as follows:

  by 2004: 35 per cent. Reduction

  by 2007: 60 per cent. reduction

  by 2010: 80 per cent. reduction

  by 2013: 95 per cent. reduction

  by 2015: phaseout

  63
  The regulation also contains controls on the use of HCFCs which will ensure that they are used only in applications where they or CFCs have been used previously and where there is no acceptable alternative.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made of the costs to the environment(a) by way of reduced thermal efficiency of heating systems and (b) in respect of pollution levels arising from the withdrawal of the home energy efficiency grant scheme. [15447]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We remain committed to the home energy efficiency scheme—HEES—which will continue to help make the homes of people in the greatest need warmer and more energy efficient. Grants are towards the cost of basic energy efficiency measures, and so do not affect the thermal efficiency of heating systems. Reduced fuel consumption, and thus lower carbon emissions, are among the benefits of the scheme.

  Local Government Reorganisation, Devon
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he now plans to lay the orders for the reorganisation of local government in Devon. [15555]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Hereford (Sir C. Shepherd) on 13 February,Official Report, column 482–83.

  Methyl Bromide
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the levels of production of methyl bromide in each year since 1991. [15652]

  Mr. Clappison
  The UK does not produce methyl bromide.

  The United Nations environment programme has estimated that, in 1992, global sales of methyl bromide were about 75,625 tonnes.

  Pond Protection Orders
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations seeking legislation to introduce pond protection orders to assist the conservation of ponds as wildlife habitats; and if he will make a statement. [15435]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand that my Department has received one representation in recent years.

  Ponds have an important part to play as a habitat for wildlife. A survey published in 1994 showed that the number of ponds in Great Britain declined between 1984 and 1990, but that there was some evidence of new ponds being created more recently for farming and wildlife reasons. My Department is commissioning further research to look at more recent trends and to make a qualitative assessment of the national pond resource. The results should be available next year.
  64

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to undertake a compliance cost assessment for the establishment of the new United Kingdom Environment Agency. [15587]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: A compliance cost assessment for the establishment of the new environment agencies was prepared for the Environment Bill in 1995, as explained in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill. I have today sent a copy of the assessment to the hon. Member.

  Areas of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, when the consultation process will (a) begin and (b) end. [16038]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Wildlife Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) contains provision to extend the powers of the court to make restoration orders. It would not be appropriate for the Government to carry out consultations on their own proposals while the Bill is before Parliament.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings his Department has had with organisations representing small firms since May 1995 to review the scope for simplifying the tendering procedure. [15683]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department was represented at a meeting chaired by Treasury with small firm representatives on 27 November 1995, which explored the scope for simplification.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the outcome of his Department's review of measures taken to facilitate small firms' access to appropriate areas of Government procurement. [15684]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department's new computerised procurement order system will be used to identify suppliers by size as part of the supplier base analysis programme promoted by the White Paper "Setting New Standards". The Department's new procurement guide will also highlight its support for the DTI policy on promoting the use of small and medium enterprises.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions his Department has taken to improve awareness amongst procurement staff of the potential benefits and pitfalls of purchasing from small and medium-sized enterprises. [15682]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department has published details on the perceived advantages of using small firms in its purchasing guide, which has been issued to all its main procurement branches.

  A representative of the Department of Trade and Industry small firms unit has also recently given a presentation on small and medium enterprises to DoE procurement staff.
  65
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made regarding establishing a contact point with responsibility for liaison with relevant business support organisations and taking forward SME-related public procurement initiatives. [15640]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This Department's contact point is identified in the DTI booklet "Tendering for Government Contracts".

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work his Department has done to develop best practice on publication of departmental procurement guidance material relevant to small and medium-sized enterprise needs. [15681]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The DTI booklet "Think Big, Buy Small" has been advertised in procurement circulars which are distributed throughout my Department.

  Members of my Department's procurement staff also recently took part in the filming of a forthcoming DTI video, which will promote the small firms initiative.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15597]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This Department is developing an IT procurement order processing system with reporting packages that will be the basis of fuller management information on all its suppliers. That system will be available from this autumn.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15740]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend currently appoints board members to three regulatory bodies: the Health and Safety Commission, the National Rivers Authority and the Environment Agency.

  The Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 states that the Health and Safety Commission shall consist of a chairman and not less than six, and not more than nine, members, and that as to three of those members—30 per cent. of the full board—the Secretary of State shall consult organisations representing employers. The board is currently at full strength.

  Some 58 per cent. of the present members of the National Rivers Authority and 50 per cent. of the present members of the Environment Agency have past or present business interests, but they have been appointed in a personal capacity and not to represent those interests. The National Rivers Authority will cease operations on 31 March 1996.

  My right hon. Friend also appoints the Director General of Water Services. He is supported by the Office of Water Services, a non-ministerial Government Department which does not have an appointed board.
  66

  Thames Water
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Thames groundwater pumping scheme was included in the privatisation of Thames Water. [15874]

  Mr. Clappison
  The former Thames water authority's west Berkshire groundwater scheme, which includes assets such as pumping stations was transferred from the authority to the National Rivers Authority in accordance with an agreement made under schedule 2 to the Water Act 1989, which was approved by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment on 31 August 1989.

  Private Sector Housing
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support will be available towards local housing authorities' expenditure on private sector housing renewal following enactment of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill. [16385]

  Mr. Curry
  Clauses 91 and 134 of the Bill authorise the Secretary of State to make contributions to local housing authorities towards expenditure incurred by them under part I and clause 127 of the Bill.

  Resources will continue to be distributed to local housing authorities in England as part of their annual housing investment programme allocation. However, from 1 April 1997, the allocations for private sector renewal and disabled facilities grants will be made as two separate allocations.

  Disabled facilities grants will continue to be supported through specified capital grant to reimburse 60 per cent. actual eligible expenditure. A guideline allocation will be notified to local authorities and a supplementary credit approval up to the guideline allocation will also be provided.

  All other expenditure under these provisions will be supported by a specific capital grant to reimburse 60 per cent. of expenditure up to a cash limit notified to each authority.

  The Exchequer support for eligible expenditure incurred up to 31 March 1997 will be paid under the present arrangements.

  English Nature
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the current financial, management and policy review of English nature. [16386]

  Mr. Clappison
  In response to the Government's requirement that all executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies be subjected to regular and detailed scrutiny at least every five years, my Department is conducting a financial management and policy review of English Nature.

  The review will draw on work which has already been done on the study into the possible merger between English Nature and the Countryside Commission, the results of which were announced by my right hon. Friend

  67
  the Secretary of State on 7 October 1994. The current review will encompass English Nature's organisation and structure; general and financial management; and systems of financial control. The scope for further contractorisation of English Nature's work will be specifically addressed by the review.

  The review is due to be completed by mid-June 1996.

  Protection Advisory Committees
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the Environment Agency's proposals for the membership of its regional environment protection advisory committees. [16387]

  Mr. Clappison
  The agency has submitted, under section 12 of the Environment Act 1995, membership schemes for its regional environment protection advisory committees in England. At the same time, it has brought the schemes to the attention of persons likely to be interested in them, who may make representations or objections about the schemes to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment by 4 March. Any representations and objections received will be taken into account before a decision is taken on whether to approve the schemes.

  The agency has also submitted a scheme for its Welsh region to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Copies of the schemes have been placed in the Library of the House. The schemes include descriptions of bodies or persons with an interest in the agency's activities. Once schemes are approved, individual appointments are made by the agency itself after consultation.

  Environmental Statistics
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his policies for publishing environmental statistics. [16455]

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department publishes a wide range of environmental statistics every year, primarily in the annual "Digest of Environmental Statistics", the next edition of which is to be published in May. This is to be supplemented in 1996 by a new booklet giving key facts in graphical and tabular form, which we hope will be particularly useful for those wanting a pocket-sized summary and for schools. Key information from the digest is also to be made available through the Internet for the first time later this year.

  A more limited set of statistical information was given in the "Sustainable Development Strategy", published in 1994. It is planned that this will be updated in 1997, five years on from the earth summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In the meantime, the Government continue to publish annual White Papers reporting progress with the strategy. The next is due in March this year.

  A new report, presenting a preliminary set of "Indicators of Sustainable Development for the United Kingdom" will also be published in March. This follows a commitment given in the "Sustainable Development Strategy" to publish a set of indicators within two years. The United Kingdom will, we believe, be one of the first countries in the world to publish such indicators. The
  68
  indicators will be the subject of consultation and development, and will be updated on a regular basis, probably every two years.

  The new Environment Agency is to publish early in April 1996 a summary of the state of the environment in England and Wales. This will be made available through the Internet.

  In addition to the more technical "Digest of Environmental Statistics", my Department also published, in 1992, the first edition of a compendium statistical report "The UK Environment", aimed at schools and colleges. This was successful and we had planned to update it in 1997. However, in view of the wide range of statistical publications planned in the next few years which I have described, I have decided that it would be better to devote our resources to producing a special edition of "UK Environment" in 1999 to mark the beginning of the new millennium. My Department will discuss with the environment agencies what contribution they might make to the preparation of this report.

SCOTLAND

  Electro-convulsive Therapy
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Mental Welfare Commission has made to him for changing the conditions under which electro-convulsive therapy is administered. [15420]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received no such proposals from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for changes in the law about the control of electro-convulsive therapy treatment. [15421]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to change the law relating to electro-convulsive therapy. Consideration is, however, being given to the report of the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults, which covers this subject.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the desirability of two doctors being required to authorise electro-convulsive therapy treatment. [15418]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from members of the public, local authorities and Members of Parliament that a second medical opinion should be obtained in any case where electro-convulsive therapy is proposed as part of a patient's treatment plan.

  The report from the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults, which we are presently considering, also bears on this subject.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures are followed where a change is made to the conditions under which electro-convulsive therapy treatment is administered in Scottish hospitals. [15419]
  69
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: In such circumstances, guidance would normally be issued by the Scottish Office.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15609]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  From 1 April 1996 the Scottish Office intends to record this information on its computer payment system. This facility is not available at present, but information is currently being recorded in preparation for the system becoming operational.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each regulatory agency for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15734]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency are two of my right hon. Friend's executive agencies which carry out regulatory activities on his behalf. Neither agency has any non-executive directors.

  Among the non-departmental public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which becomes fully operational from 1 April 1996, has regulatory functions relating to environmental protection and Scottish Natural Heritage has powers in relation to the protection of Scotland's natural heritage. Of the 12 board members of SEPA, three are from the business sector and one from the farming sector. Of the 12 board members of SNH, four represent the farming sector and one manages a zoological park.

  Scottish Schools Equipment and Research Centre
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to close down the Scottish Schools Equipment and Research Centre. [16051]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  None.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients in Scotland have contracted hepatitis C virus as a result of NHS blood or plasma transfusions. [16087]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A UK-wide "look back" exercise was announced in January 1995 with a view to tracing, counselling and, where appropriate, treating those who may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus through blood donated before the introduction of testing in September 1991. The best current estimate is that there are around 350 individuals in Scotland infected in this way. It is not possible to give a more precise figure until work on this complex exercise has been completed.
  70

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of his Department's expenditure on newspapers and magazines in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96, to date; and if he will list the publications purchased for the latest year for which information is available. [11412]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 30 Janaury 1996]: Details of the total cost of newspapers and magazines purchased by the Scottish Office library and information service are as follows:

  1993–94: £186,461

  1994–95: £186,210

  1995–96: £109,497 (to end January)

  The Department purchaser or obtains free of charge a wide range of newspapers and periodical publications. A list of their titles has been placed in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15733]

  Mr. Hague
  One appointment is made to the board of the Environment Agency which does not assume executive functions until 1 April 1996. That person's occupation is shown as retired.

  New Dwellings
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the total number of dwellings completed by(a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) development corporations and (d) other public authorities, in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1979; [15070]

  (2) if he will list the total number of dwellings started by (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) development corporations and (d) other public authorities, in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1979. [15069]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In view of the large number of statistics requested, I shall place a copy of the relevant tables in the Library of the House.

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many payments were made in Wales in 1994–95 under the arable area payments scheme of between(a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000 (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000, (i) £100,001 and £150,000 and (j) £150,001 and over. [15323]
  71
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Payment band

  Number of payments

  £0–£5,000

  2,088

  £5,001–£10,000

  144

  £10,001–£15,000

  79

  £15,001–£20,000

  21

  £20,001–£25,000

  32

  £25,001–£50,000

  4

  £50,001–£75,000

  1

  £75,001–£100,000

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many payments he expects to be made in Wales in 1995–96 under the arable area payments scheme of between(a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000, (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000, (i) £100,001 and £150,000, (j) £150,001 and £200,000, (k) £200,001 and £250,000 and (l) £250,001 and over. [15324]

  Mr. Jones
  Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available, but I do not expect the number and distribution of payments to change significantly from 1994–95.

  Set-aside Payments
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many payments(a) were made in Wales in 1994–95 and (b) he expects to be made on 1995–96 for set-aside between (i) £0 and £5,000 (ii) £5,001 and £10,000, (iii) £10,001 and £15,000, (iv) £15,001 and £20,000, (v) £20,001 and £25,000 and (vi) over £25,001. [15339]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of payments

  Payment band

  1994–95

  1995–96 (Estimate)

  £0–£5,000

  331

  342

  £5,001–£10,000

  32

  44

  £10,001–£15,000

  6

  10

  £15,001–£20,000

  3

  1

  £20,001–£25,000

  1

  1

  £25,000+

  0

  1

  Nature Reserve, River Usk
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the policy of the European Commission in respect of the proposed nature reserve site east of the River Usk. [15576]

  Mr. Hague
  In relation to the loss of the Cardiff bay site of special scientific interest, the European Commission has accepted that the proposed Uskmouth-Goldcliff nature reserve will provide measures, which in addition to management plans for 31 estuaries in the United Kingdom, meet the requirements of article 6(4) of directive 79/0409/EEC on the protection of birds.
  72
  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the intended management agreements on the proposed nature reserve east of the River Usk are binding in perpetuity in the event of future transfers of ownership. [15574]

  Mr. Hague
  The Land Authority for Wales will secure any management agreements in accordance with the Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 1964, and such agreements will be registered and binding on the present owners and successors in title.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15602]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department already requests that suppliers identify their number of employees on submission of their tenders.

  South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an independent inquiry into the accounts, financial viability and geographical boundaries of the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS trust. [16194]

  Mr. Hague
  No.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the resignation of the chairman of the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS trust with effect from 15 February; and what the current financial position is as regards its contracts with(a) Powys health authority, (b) South Glamorgan health authority and (c) Gwent health authority. [16195]

  Mr. Hague
  A copy of the announcement I made on the 15 February has been placed in the Library of the House. Contracts between the trust and its purchasers are a matter for them.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Unit Labour Costs
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the change in unit labour costs for each year since 1979 in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America, (c) Japan, (d) Germany, (e) France, (f) Italy, (g) the Netherlands and (h) Sweden. [11820]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  The figures are affected by short-term exchange rate movements which can bear no relation to the strength of economic fundamentals.
  73

  Percentage change in unit labour costs in manufacturing industry since 1979 (in US$)

  Year

  United Kingdom

  United States of America

  Japan

  Germany

  France

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Sweden

  1979

  30.5

  11.2

  -5.8

  12.5

  14.5

  13.0

  10.2

  5.4

  1980

  33.6

  14.4

  -0.9

  11.4

  15.5

  8.8

  5.3

  10.9

  1981

  -3.9

  6.0

  5.0

  -16.0

  -12.7

  -11.3

  -18.8

  -7.7

  1982

  -9.8

  5.2

  -11.7

  -1.7

  -8.3

  -3.1

  -2.9

  -16.5

  1983

  -13.7

  0.5

  5.0

  -5.2

  -6.9

  -0.9

  -8.2

  -15.5

  1984

  -9.7

  1.9

  -2.0

  -9.1

  -6.9

  -9.7

  -15.9

  -3.9

  1985

  2.4

  1.8

  -2.7

  -1.7

  1.5

  -2.2

  -2.1

  4.4

  1986

  18.2

  1.5

  51.3

  40.3

  33.0

  31.9

  38.6

  28.3

  1987

  17.4

  -4.0

  10.1

  28.0

  17.4

  18.1

  23.9

  17.5

  1988

  9.8

  1.6

  8.5

  2.6

  -2.0

  1.2

  0.0

  8.6

  1989

  -2.7

  3.4

  -7.8

  -5.2

  -6.3

  1.2

  -9.3

  1.9

  1990

  11.2

  3.5

  -4.4

  19.5

  21.2

  22.5

  18.0

  18.4

  1991

  5.4

  3.0

  8.3

  0.2

  0.3

  3.5

  1.0

  5.7

  1992

  5.0

  2.0

  11.1

  13.5

  7.9

  2.9

  11.9

  3.2

  1993

  -12.8

  0.1

  16.9

  -0.2

  -4.5

  -21.0

  -3.8

  -30.9

  Source:

  Prepared by United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Productivity and Technology for 'Comparative manufacturing productivity and unit labour costs'

  Monthly Labour Review, February 1995.

  Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply information about British exports to(a) Portugal, (b) Thailand, (c) Greece, (d)

  Value of United Kingdom visible exports

  £ million, current prices

  Portugal

  Thailand

  Greece

  Cyprus

  Singapore

  Section/Description

  1971–80

  1981–90

  1971–80

  1981–90

  1971–80

  1981–90

  1971–80

  1981–90

  1971–80

  1981–90

  0 Food and live animals

  57.7

  160.4

  25.2

  62.7

  55.2

  197.1

  55.5

  178.3

  49.2

  137.2

  1 Beverages and tobacco

  21.6

  147.3

  10.5

  176.1

  44.8

  311.5

  32.3

  78.6

  49.5

  338.7

  2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels

  87.7

  220.8

  4.7

  25.8

  75.6

  142.3

  3.7

  11.3

  4.8

  36.6

  3 Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials

  120.8

  694.2

  4.0

  10.7

  36.1

  225.9

  8.5

  20.5

  13.6

  39.6

  4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes

  3.1

  2.6

  1.0

  1.0

  1.1

  1.7

  0.6

  1.3

  2.7

  3.3

  5 Chemicals and related products not elsewhere specified

  294.4

  864.5

  122.5

  461.9

  187.8

  671.3

  55.8

  174.8

  280.8

  976.0

  6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material

  431.6

  806.2

  80.7

  292.5

  289.7

  867.2

  134.8

  305.9

  275.8

  889.0

  7 Machinery and transport equipment

  1,041.5

  2,575.8

  283.7

  920.5

  748.9

  1,524.4

  335.1

  473.6

  883.8

  2,562.1

  8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles

  133.1

  424.4

  33.0

  109.2

  94.2

  460.6

  54.2

  188.1

  165.8

  823.9

  9 Commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified

  21.2

  53.3

  24.4

  64.1

  21.0

  58.7

  22.1

  40.3

  60.1

  190.5

  Totals

  2,212.8

  5,949.5

  621.8

  2,124.5

  1,554.4

  4,460.6

  702.5

  1,472.7

  1,786.0

  5,996.9

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Food and Drink Industry
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the contribution of food and drink wholesale and retail distribution to the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995(a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product; [15327]

  (2) what was the contribution of the food and drink industry in total to the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995 (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product; [15325]
  74
  Cyprus and (e) Singapore in the same form as that given in his answer of 14 June 1994, Official Report, column 419. [15178]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is provided in the table.

  (3) what was the contribution of catering to the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995 (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product. [15328]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The detailed information required to answer these questions is compiled only every five years. Latest available information is for 1990 and is published in the United Kingdom national accounts Central Statistical Office methodological paper No.1
  75
  "The measurement of output in the estimation of GDP", which is available in the Library of the House. Data for 1995 are not expected to be available before 1998.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the contribution of food and drink manufacturing to the gross domestic product of the United kingdom in 1995(a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product. [15326]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The latest available information is for 1994 and shows the contribution to GDP by food and drink manufacturing to be £16,749 million, 2.9 per cent. of total GDP. Information for 1995 will not be available until August 1996. It will be published in table 2.3 of the United Kingdom national accounts "The Blue Book", which is available in the Library of the House.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15741]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Office of Fair Trading, Office of Electricity Regulation, Office of Gas Supply and Office of Telecommunications are independent non-ministerial Government Departments. Statute creates the posts of director general and provides for him/her to have an office. There are no boards of management.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, columns 141–44, if he will list in each case (a) the value of the offer and (b) the name of the firm and the constituency in which it is located. [15626]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on accepted offers of regional selective assistance, over £75,000, is published in "Labour Market Trends", formerly the "Employment Gazette". This is given on the basis of travel-to-work areas.

  Iraq (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigation has been carried out by his Department's export control organisation into the sale of equipment and technology to Iraq by the Astra company since 1985. [15965]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The activities of Astra, insofar as they relate to the sale of equipment and technology to Iraq since 1985, are covered in Sir Richard Scott's report. The Trade and Industry Committee is examining the DTI's role in granting export licences to BMARC, a subsidiary of Astra Holdings plc from May 1988, for the export of naval guns to Singapore. BMARC was known as Astra Defence Systems Ltd. between June 1989 and April 1991. My Department has carried out investigations in order to assist both these inquiries.

  Economic Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the last figures for(a) United Kingdom and (b) EU average (i) inflation, (ii) industrial production and (iii) trade outside the EU. [11059]
  76
  Mr. Lang
  Data on UK and EU average inflation is regularly published by Central Statistical Office in its retail prices index first release. Indices of industrial production for the UK and EU average are regularly published in the OECD main economic indicators. Information on UK and EU trade outside the EU is regularly published by Eurostat in "External Trade", monthly statistics. Copies of all three publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Trade Balances
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the trade balance for each EU country with the rest of the EU. [11061]

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  EU Countries visible trade balance1 with the rest of the EU 1994

  £ billion

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  10.1

  Denmark

  1.7

  France

  -4.3

  Germany

  10.1

  Greece

  -5.7

  Ireland

  5.1

  Italy

  4.5

  Netherlands

  24.7

  Portugal

  -3.7

  Spain

  -4.4

  UK

  -4.6

  Note:

  1 Visible exports less visible imports.

  Source:

  Intra and Extra EU Trade, published by Eurostat.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the name of the applicant in respect of each piece of correspondence dealt with by his Department on export licensing dated 6 April 1988. [15719]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information is not held in this form.

  Nuclear Power
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, columns 146–47, what assessment he has made of whether the proposed sale of part of the nuclear power generation industry complies with EC rules; and if he will make a statement on the extent of Govnerment subsidy in respect of the sale of the nuclear power generation industry. [16209]

  Mr. Lang
  The proposed sale of part of the nuclear power generation industry will comply with EC rules. It is not the Government's intention to pay subsidy to British Energy plc.

  Waste Processing
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what liabilities the Government propose that British Energy carry for reprocessing waste; and if he will make a statement. [16193]
  77
  Mr. Lang
  The Government have made it clear that in the restructuring of the nuclear generators liabilities will follow assets. British Energy will therefore carry those liabilities associated with its assets.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 404, when he expects to announce the results of his review into the small firms loan guarantee scheme. [15687]

  Mr. Page
  I expect to be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Small Business Ministerial Group
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the benefits to small and medium-sized enterprises from the first meeting of the small business ministerial group. [15679]

  Mr. Page
  The first meeting of the small business ministerial group took place on Monday 30 October 1995. The group has already met its initial objective of providing a forum for co-ordinated and cohesive policy to help small firms.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15610]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department's standard form requesting tenders or quotations for routine purchases includes a "Statement of Size of Organisation", which asks for details on the number of employees and annual turnover.

  Press Officers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 17, how many press officers worked, and how much of the budget was spent, on small business issues for each year listed. [15635]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As fostering the creation and development of small and medium-sized businesses is one of the objectives of the DTI, it follows that a proportion of most departmental press officers' time is spent on small business issues.

  It is not possible to disaggregate the centrally managed budgets to show spend on small business issues separately.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EC legislation on the ground that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13647]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for EC
  78
  legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the UK's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

DEFENCE

  Bosnia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Britain's contribution to the Bosnian implementation force operation are reservists. [14579]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 9 February 1996]: Some 3.6 per cent. of Britain's contribution to the IFOR operation are reservists.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis the amount that the Royal Ordnance paid his Department for the services of the Ministry of Defence police is classified as commercially sensitive information; and if he will make a statement. [15212]

  Mr. Soames
  [Pursuant to his reply 17 January 1996, Official Report, column 580]: The financial aspects of contractual arrangements concerning the supply of goods or services to or from my Department are regarded as commercially confidential. Details of the amounts paid by Royal Ordnance plc for the services of the Ministry of Defence police are no exception.

  Offset Agreements
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department makes to monitor offset agreements and ensure compliance. [15947]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Companies with offset obligations are required to submit reports to my Department every six months, detailing relevant contracts awarded to UK defence industry during the reporting period. A full audit of these reports is conducted in order to establish the validity of the claims and to ensure that the companies are complying with the terms and conditions of their offset commitment.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the assessment made by his expert advisory group on whether export licences should have been granted to Matrix Churchill for equipment subject to examination by Lord Justice Scott's inquiry. [15966]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This matter is dealt with by Sir Richard Scott's report. Sir Richard intends to publish in due course copies of those documents that he considers are relevant to the text of his report.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on external legal advice for Ministers and civil servants in relation to the Scott inquiry and report since the period covered by his answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 734. [15901]
  79
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The value of legal services charged by the Treasury Solicitor's Department in respect of Ministers and officials since the period covered by my previous answer is £255.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations he will take into account in deciding whether to replace the royal yacht; and if he will make a statement. [15955]

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for considering a replacement for the royal yacht Britannia. [15899]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: The Government as a whole are considering the question of a replacement for Britannia. All relevant factors will be taken into account in reaching a final decision, including the role a replacement yacht might play in representing the nation overseas and in promoting British exports. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Unexploded Bombs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 445, if he will specify the sanctions and method for monitoring, follow-up and investigation of contractors not following such guidance. [15995]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has no procedures in respect of contractors failing to act as described in my earlier answer, a circumstance which I find hard to envisage.

  Munitions Shipments
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 13 May 1993,Official Report, column 527, relating to munitions shipments. [16007]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: I have nothing to add to the reply given on 13 May 1993.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15605]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have no plans to do so. As my answer on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1108, indicated, size is not a discriminatory factor when we award a contract. Collecting data from our suppliers on the number of staff they employed would place an unnecessary regulatory burden on companies while serving no useful purpose from my Department's point of view.

  Army Careers Information Offices
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the review of the number and location of Army careers information offices. [16383]
  80
  Mr. Soames
  The review of the requirement for Army careers information offices has now been completed. It has been decided that 36 offices that were due for closure during the current financial year should remain open. Additionally, five new offices will be opened in areas where recruiting has been buoyant in the past. These offices will remain open for a initial period of one year to allow time for the recruiting initiative with the jobcentres, launched last month, to settle down.

  Bett Review
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on his Department's consideration of the recommendations in the report of Sir Michael Bett's independent review of armed forces' career and manpower structures and terms and conditions of service. [16384]

  Mr. Soames
  In the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel on 26 June,Official Report, column 503, I described the detailed work set in train on Sir Michael Bett's report. Good progress is being made and it remains our intention to complete this work in time to make a definitive announcement in the summer.

  In some areas, we have already reached conclusions. To meet the first and fundamental recommendation that a services personnel board should be created, a management group chaired by the Chief of the Defence Staff, has been established. This group will include an external member with relevant experience. The group is developing a personal strategy which will help shape future terms and conditions of service. The group has endorsed guidelines to apply to individual areas of personnel policy, which are now being promulgated, and a copy of which is being placed in the Library.

  The initial stages of detailed work have concentrated on career and rank structures, the balance between mobility and stability, policies on accompanied and unaccompanied service and related issues. The rank structure must be driven by operational considerations, including the need for continuity of command in the face of casualties. Account also needs to be taken of the increasingly multinational nature of operations and the need therefore for the UK rank structure to fit together with that of other countries. In the light of these considerations, we have decided not to implement the full package of changes proposed. In the case of officers, promotions to five star rank in peacetime will cease and other minor changes will be made: for other ranks some streamlining is planned. In both cases, the possibility of further changes will be kept under review in the light of the introduction of new arrangements for job evaluation and pay. We agree on the importance of using the minimum number of ranks and layers in non-operational organisations.

  We endorse the proposals for a more flexible pay system based on pay ranges, underpinned by improved job evaluation arrangements and involving a looser coupling of rank and pay. This is a particularly complex area and much detailed design work is now required. We have also endorsed in principle the recommendation that a tri-service agency should be established to manage personnel administration and pay delivery systems.
  81
  We are giving detailed consideration to the independent reviews' recommendations on career incentives and pensions. We recognise that any new career structures must give us the best means to manage recruitment and retention of the right numbers and high-quality personnel the services of the next century will need. In terms of postings and turbulence, each of the services intends to offer greater predictability in career management and improved family stability for its personnel wherever possible. We shall also be pursuing the recommendations about the need to support greater individual choice in such matters as home ownership and accompanied service.

  Further study and development work are continuing. We expect changes introduced as a result of the review to be broadly neutral in cost terms—this is not a savings exercise. At the same time, we will be looking to achieve reductions in the longer term resource cost of manpower and increased value for money, as Sir Michael envisaged, through better management of our people. Service personnel are being kept informed of developments with this important work.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes he plans to make to the Central Office of Information cash limit. [16299]

  Mr. Willetts
  The cash limit of the Central Office of Information is to be reduced by £188,000 following the transfer of the media advisory service to the Home Office.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster what was the expenditure by non-departmental public bodies in(a) 1979–80 and (b) 1994–95 in (i) cash, (ii) real terms and (iii) as a percentage of gross national product. [14946]

  Mr. Willetts
  Information on expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is held centrally for executive bodies only; That for advisory bodies and tribunals could be produced only at disproportionate cost. For executive non-departmental public bodies, systematic central recording of costs did not begin until 1981–82. However, the Pliatzky "Report on Non-Departmental Public Bodies" in 1980 calculated executive non-departmental public body expenditure for the single year 1978–79. For that year, expenditure by executive non-departmental public bodies was £6,150 million—equivalent, in real terms, to £17,940 million at 1995 prices. This represents approximately 3.5 per cent. of gross national product in 1978–79. Expenditure by executive non-departmental public bodies in 1994–95 was £20,840 million; a figure equivalent to approximately 3.0 per cent. of GNP in the same year.

  Increases in total expenditure since 1979 reflect new arrangements for channelling funds and new areas of programme expenditure. The Funding Agency for Schools and the Legal Aid Board, for example, now undertake functions previously performed by local education
  82
  authorities and the Law Society respectively. Expenditure by these two bodies in 1994–95 totalled approximately £3,000 million.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15598]

  Mr. Willetts
  The requirement to seek information on the size of suppliers is covered in guidance issued to purchasing staff and it is planned to capture this information as part of the improvements to our procurement system to be introduced in 1996.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15601]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

  Competitiveness
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the promotion of sustainable development will be reflected in the implementation of the proposals contains in the White Paper, "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead." [15110]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The 1995 White Paper "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" outlined policy initiatives across the whole of government to help create the right framework and conditions for business to operate in a way that is both competitive and sustainable. In particular, it set out how the Government's tax and regulatory policies are being used to achieve environmental objectives.

  The Government have encouraged, and will continue to encourage, industry to respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. The White Paper set out how the Government are promoting to industry, and to small companies in particular, the benefits of positive environmental management and of best practice in the use of environmental technology and techniques.

  The importance of environmental issues will be discussed further in the next competitiveness White Paper due to be published later this year.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11374]
  83
  Mr. Willetts
  The estimated out-turn for 1995–96 is shown the following table:

  1995–96

  £

  Cabinet Office

  751,500

  Cabinet Office Agencies1

  539,650

  HMSO2

  1,413,000

  COI

  272,550

  1 SAFE and the Buying Agency became OPS Agencies as from 1 January 1996; their costs have been included.

  2 Calendar year data.

  The Cabinet Office has no executive non-departmental public bodies. Telephone costs for its advisory NDPBs are included in the figures above.

  Estimates for 1996–97 are still being prepared as part of the Department's normal budgeting round.

  Internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recently enacted legislation that he proposes to repeal by way of deregulation orders. [15886]

  Mr. Freeman
  The most recently enacted legislation proposed for repeal is the Rag, Flock and Other Fillings Materials Act 1953 and the most recently enacted legislation proposed for amendment is the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. These are, however, subject to the result of public consultation and scrutiny by Committees in both Houses.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Attorney-General how much has been spent on external legal advice for Ministers and civil servants in relation to the Scott inquiry since 15 January. [15927]

  The Attorney-General
  No external advice has been sought since 15 January on behalf of individual Ministers or officials in Departments for which I am responsible.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Attorney-General what age restrictions are currently in force for recruitment to the Crown Prosecution Service. [15296]

  The Attorney-General
  None.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people sought asylum in the 84
  United Kingdom in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of trends in these figures over the last 10 years. [14353]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The total number of asylum applications in 1995 was 43,965. Information on applications made in 1986 to 1994 is published in table 2.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  There has been a massive increase in the number of asylum applications received since 1988. The 1995 figure is nearly as high as the peak figure of 1991, which included a significant proportion of multiple applications made by individuals under different names. It represents a 34 per cent. increase on 1994 and is nearly double the figure for 1993. The upward trend underlines the need for the firm action the Government are taking to deter unfounded applications.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were refused and certified as being without foundation on the grounds that the asylum claim was frivolous or vexatious in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995. [15541]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Provisional estimates indicate that, in 1994, between 300 and 400 asylum applications were refused on the grounds that the claims were frivolous or vexatious. It is estimated that there were fewer than 100 such cases in 1995. These figures may exclude some port applications refused as frivolous or vexatious which were dealt with under fast track procedures.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total amount of liability incurred by all carriers under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987; how much of that total liability has been paid; how much has been waived; and how much is outstanding. [15531]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  A total of £89.604 million had been incurred to 31 January 1996. Of that sum, £53.327 million had been paid and £17.578 million waived following representations from carriers. A sum of £ 18.699 million remained outstanding.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the consequences for the applicant of an appeal to the Immigration Appellate Authority against a refusal under paragraph 345 of the immigration rules being(a) allowed and (b) referred back to the Secretary of State for reconsideration under paragraph 5 of schedule 2 to the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. [15542]

  Miss Widdecombe
  In either case, the consequences, including whether the claim was to be considered substantively, would depend on the circumstances, including whether further refusal under paragraph 345 was appropriate.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by(a) nationality, (b) gender, (c) place of detention, (d) length of detention and (e) immigration status at the time of application. [15551]
  85
  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the tables.

  Table 1: Number of people recorded as detained on 31 January 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status

  Port

  Illegal entrants

  Deport

  Total

  Male

  376

  263

  45

  684

  Female

  42

  5

  2

  49

  Total

  418

  268

  47

  733

  1 These figures include people detained for under a month, because of the amount of lag created by the amount of people detained and released in under a month these figures should be used with caution.

  Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 31 January 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by length of detention

  Length

  Total number detained

  0–1 month1

  194

  1–2 months

  133

  2–6 months

  296

  6–12 months

  97

  12 months +

  13

  Total

  733

  1 With the amount of detainees coming in and out of detention in under a month these figures should be treated as estimates.

  Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 31 January 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

  Nationality

  Total number detained

  Nigeria

  109

  India

  91

  Algeria

  71

  Gambia

  58

  China Peoples Republic of

  38

  Sri Lanka

  31

  Ghana

  30

  Turkey

  29

  Pakistan

  26

  Zaire

  23

  Bangladesh

  22

  Kenya

  19

  Angola

  13

  Romania

  12

  Ecuador

  10

  Former Yugoslavia

  10

  Iran

  8

  Lithuania

  8

  Somalia

  7

  Afghanistan

  6

  Jamaica

  6

  Poland

  6

  Sierra Leone

  6

  Albania

  5

  Niger

  5

  Sudan

  5

  Uganda

  5

  Czechoslovakia

  4

  Lebanon

  4

  Palestine

  4

  Tanzania

  4

  Ivory Coast

  4

  Columbia

  3

  Cyprus

  3

  Cuba

  3

  Ethiopia

  3

  Liberia

  3

  Morocco

  3

  86

  Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 31 January 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

  Nationality

  Total number detained

  Russia

  3

  Bulgaria

  2

  Congo

  2

  Eritrea

  2

  Moldova

  2

  Peru

  2

  South Africa

  2

  Togo

  2

  Others

  15

  Nationality Doubtful

  4

  Totals

  733

  1 These figures include people detained for under a month, because of the amount of lag created by the amount of people detained and released in under a month these figures should be used with caution.

  Table 4: Number of people recorded as detained on 31 January 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention

  Total number detained

  Prisons

  HMP Rochester

  136

  HMP Haslar

  90

  HMP Harmondsworth

  87

  HMP Winson Green

  41

  HMP Wormwood Scrubs

  12

  HMP Greenock

  10

  HMP Crumlin Road

  10

  HMP Brixton

  9

  HMP Wandsworth

  8

  HMP Armley

  3

  HMP Bristol

  2

  HMP Craiginchess

  2

  HMP Liverpool

  2

  HMP Doncaster

  2

  Others

  18

  Other places of detention

  Campsfield detention centre

  142

  Gatwick airport detention centre

  33

  Police cells

  33

  Queen's buildings

  17

  Dover harbour

  15

  Newhaven port

  15

  Stanstead airport detention centre

  15

  Port

  12

  Manchester airport detention centre

  6

  Birmingham airport detention centre

  3

  Others

  10

  Total

  733

  1 These figures include people detained for under a month, because of the amount of lag created by the amount of people detained and released in under a month these figures should be used with caution.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many substantive asylum appeals to Immigration Appellate Authority special adjudicators were(a) allowed, (b) dismissed and (c) withdrawn in each quarter of 1994 and 1995. [15540]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information on outcomes of substantive appeals to adjudicators in 1995 is given in the table. Information for 1994 is published in table 8.4 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Asylum Statistics
  87
  United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Outcome of substantive asylum appeals to the adjudicator, excluding dependants, by quarter 1995

  Percentage

  of which:

  Total substantive determinations

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  1995

  January-March

  1,070 (100)

  2

  82

  16

  April-June

  1,255 (100)

  4

  79

  18

  July-September

  1,770 (100)

  4

  82

  14

  October-December

  1,830 (100)

  2

  80

  18

  Total (January-December)

  5,920(100)

  3

  81

  16

  1 Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest 5.

  2 Includes cases withdrawn.

  3 Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15606]

  Mr. Howard
  The Home Office is taking forward a Treasury recommendation for measuring the volume of business placed with small to medium enterprises. We are planning for our financial systems to have the capacity to record the size of suppliers by the number of their employees. The first of these systems is being introduced on 1 April 1996. Consideration is being given to how information about company size can best be obtained from our suppliers.

  Immigration
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the 64 cases covered in his answer of 3 December 1987,Official Report, column 682. [15876]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Inquiries are being made and I shall write to my hon. Friend about the outcome.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) arrivals and (b) departures from the Indian sub-continent of overseas residents indicating the balance between the two for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [15843]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on arrivals in the United Kingdom of overseas residents from the Indian sub-continent in 1992–4 was given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 8 February,Official Report, column 304. Corresponding figures for 1990 and 1991 are 257,000 and 260,000 respectively. Data on overseas residents departing from the United Kingdom for the Indian sub-continent are not available.
  88

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15742]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department is responsible for the following regulatory bodies:

  The Commission for Racial Equality

  The Drugs Branch Inspectorate

  The Gaming Board for Great Britain

  Licensing and inspection under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar

  Sixty-seven per cent. of the commissioners on the Commission for Racial Equality and 40 per cent. of the members of the Gaming Board are business people.

  There are no boards for licensing and inspection under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act, the Drugs Branch Inspectorate or for the Office of the Data Protection Registrar.

  Drugs-related Crime
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition his Department uses for the term drug-related crime. [16053]

  Mr. Sackville
  Drug-related crime is defined in paragraph 2.2 of the White Paper, "Tackling Drugs Together", a copy of which is in the Library. It encompasses any criminal activity which is committed either to fund or as a consequence of drug misuse.

  Electronic Monitoring
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to extend the length of the electronic monitoring trials; and if he will make a statement. [16715]

  Mr. Howard
  Yes. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) in my answer of 7 November 1995,Official Report, columns 813–14, I have been considering a request from the Magistrates' Association to extend the length of the electronic monitoring trials into the next financial year. I agree with the association that it would be helpful to give courts more time to become used to the curfew order, and for it to find its place among other community sentences.

  The present trials are currently due to end in April this year and I am proposing to extend them until March 1997. We will also consult interested parties about increasing the number of courts in Greater Manchester and Berkshire, which will have the sentence available to them.

  Ponies (Research)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines govern the minimum animal welfare and research ethic standards to be applied to ponies used in research into(a) equine flu, (b) equine herpes and (c) surgery on broken limbs at the Animal Health Trust; and if he will make a statement. [14241]
  89
  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 8 February 1996]: General guidance on the 1986 Act has been published as "Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986" [1990: HC182].

  Pepper Sprays
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigation he is conducting into the possible use of pepper sprays by police in Britain. [15718]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office police scientific development branch keeps abreast of the results of all relevant research being undertaken into pepper spray. At this stage, my right hon. and learned Friend considers that not enough is known about the health effects of pepper spray for it to be used by the police in this country.

  Unified Incident Report and Alerting System
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the MI5 audit on the unified incident report and alerting system will be made public. [15406]

  Mr. Howard
  It is not Government policy to publish reports produced under the unified information technology incident reporting and alert scheme, UNIRAS. The scheme relates to the monitoring of incidents which may affect the secure operation of information technology systems handling Government information.

  Criminal Justice and Public Order 1994
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested; what charges have been brought against them; what convictions have been obtained; and what penalties have been imposed under each of the public order provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [15426]

  Mr. Maclean
  Separate statistics on arrests by offence groups are not available centrally. Information on court proceedings data under the public order provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will not be available until autumn 1996.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the public order provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [15427]

  Mr. Maclean
  Sections 61 to 69 of the 1994 Act and sections 14A to 14C of the Public Order Act 1986, as amended by sections 70 and 71 of the 1994 Act, provide the police with powers to deal with trespassers on land, certain types of raves, disruptive trespassers and trespassory assemblies. Officials are closely monitoring the effectiveness of these measures. It is too early to reach firm conclusions about how the powers are working in practice, although I have received some favourable reports.

  For the most part, offences under these sections are committed only where there is a failure to comply with a police direction to leave the land or where there is a failure to comply with a direction not to proceed to a rave
  90
  or a trespassory assembly. Statistics on court proceedings for offences under the relevant sections will not be available until autumn 1996.

  Terrorist Prisoners
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners convicted of crimes related to Northern Ireland terrorism are currently held in special security units in Britain; [14676]

  (2) if he will list (a) the number of prisoners convicted of crimes relating to Northern Irish terrorism currently in prison in Britain, (b) the length of the sentence of each of the prisoners and (c) how many years of their sentences each has already served. [14789]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 14 February 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. Tony Worthington, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the number of prisoners convicted of crimes relating to Northern Irish terrorism in prison in Britain; the length of sentence of each of the prisoners; how many years of their sentence each has already served; and the number currently held in Special Security Units in Britain.
  There are currently 24 prisoners serving sentences in prison in England and Wales for such offences, five of whom are held in a Special Security Unit.
  The attached table shows the date and length of sentence of these prisoners.
  Precise information about length of sentence served, the calculation of which needs to take account of time spent on remand, is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Date of sentence

  Length of sentence

  11 May 1976

  Life

  10 February 1977

  Life

  10 February 1977

  Life

  10 February 1977

  Life

  10 February 1977

  Life

  10 February 1977

  Life

  23 June 1986

  Life

  14 April 1987

  16 years

  27 October 1987

  25 years

  16 February 1988

  Life

  20 June 1988

  17 years

  8 June 1990

  30 years

  6 December 1990

  30 years

  30 March 1993

  Life

  30 March 1993

  18 years

  19 July 1993

  17 years

  10 February 1994

  16 years

  10 February 1994

  25 years

  10 February 1994

  35 years

  13 May 1994

  30 years

  13 May 1994

  30 years

  22 August 1994

  25 years

  21 October 1994

  25 years

  20 January 1995

  20 years

  91

  Mentally Ill Prisoners
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people classified or registered with prison doctors as suffering from mental illness are at present in Her Majesty's prisons. [15287]

  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. John Battle, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of people at present in prison who are mentally ill.
  This information is not available in the form requested. Certain information is collected centrally about prisoners with mental disorders, a term which includes, in addition to prisoners with mental illnesses, those suffering from mental impairment, severe mental impairment and psychopathic disorder.
  On 20 January, the most recent date for which such information is available, 163 prisoners were recorded as awaiting removal or transfer to a psychiatric hospital under provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983; 853 prisoners were recorded as being sufficiently mentally disordered to be occupying beds in prison health care centres; and 1,380 prisoners were recorded as requiring some form of mental health care but not transfer to hospital or in-patient treatment in a prison health care centre.

  Female Fine Defaulters
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been sentenced to prison for non-payment of(a) a fine (b) a debt to a statutory body or (c) a debt to a public utility in each of the last 10 years. [15329]

  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. Hugh Bayley, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many women have been sentenced to prison for non payment of (a) a fine, (b) a debt to a statutory body or (c) a debt to a public utility in each of the last 10 years.
  The available information on the number of female fine defaulters and non-criminal prisoners received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales from 1985–94 is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales 1994", Cm 3087, Tables 6.3 and 7.3, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
  Provisional information for 1995 shows that 1,401 female fine defaulters were received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. There were 85 receptions of females for non-criminal non payment offences, all for non payment of community charge, council tax or rates.
  Information relating to debt to a statutory body (apart from persons committed to custody for non payment of community charge, council tax or rates) and to a public utility is not separately identified and is included with "Other debts" in 1995; there were no female receptions under this category.

  Holloway Prison
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action was taken following the reports of insect infestation at the mother and baby unit, Holloway prison, last year. [15207]
  92
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 20 February, 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what action was taken following reports of insect infestation in the mother and baby unit at Holloway prison last year.
  Immediate action was taken by calling in pest control contractors who sprayed the identified areas with a safe residual pesticide.

HEALTH

  Nurses
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing staff were employed in Hartlepool, Sunderland and Durham hospitals in each of the last five years. [13216]

  Mr. Malone
  Comparable figures for the number of nursing staff employed in Hartlepool, Sunderland and Durham hospitals in each of the last five years are not centrally available.

  The latest nursing and midwifery figures available from the Department of Health are for 1994 and relate to the national health service trusts in these three towns which all attained trust status in April 1994. Between 1991 and 1993 the nursing and midwifery staff figures were collected for each of the directly managed units—DMUs—which, after some reconfiguration, went on to form the trusts established in April 1994. For 1990, the information is available only at district health authority level; individual DMUs are not separately identifiable.

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

  References:

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

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

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

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

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses and midwives there were(a) in 1979 and (b) in 1994. [13683]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not centrally available. I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting annual statistical reports, copies of which are available in the Library.
  93

  External Consultancies
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount in each of the last five years spent on external consultancies by(a) the Department of Health, (b) regional health authorities, (c) district health authorities and (d) NHS management executives. [14808]

  Mr. Horam
  Running cost expenditure on external consultancy by the Department of Health, its agencies and the national health service executive—formerly the NHS management executive—in each of the last five years is as shown.

  1990–91: £18,398,00011991–92: £24,258,0001

  1992–93: £18,399,0002

  1993–94: £15,933,0373

  1994–95: £18,479,4054

  Notes:

  1Expenditure by the NHS Executive in the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 cannot be disaggregated.

  2 Includes expenditure of £6,675,821 by the NHS Executive.

  3Includes expenditure of £4,975,579 by the NHS Executive.

  4Includes expenditure of £4,339,752 by the NHS Executive.

  Information about expenditure on external consultancy by regional and district health authorities is not available centrally.

  Zergo Consulting
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the findings of the study carried out by Zergo Consulting for the NHS information management group into the feasibility of encrypting data on the NHS-wide network; and what plans he has to publish the report; [14939]

  (2) what were the terms of reference for the study carried out by Zergo Consulting for the NHS information management group in to the feasibility of encrypting data on the NHS-wide network; [14938]

  (3) what was the cost of the study carried out by Zergo Consulting for the NHS information management group into the feasibility of encrypting data on the NHS-wide network. [14940]

  Mr. Horam
  The terms of reference of the study carried out by Zergo Consulting for the national health service information management group into the feasibility of encrypting data on the NHS-wide network were as follows:In order to ensure that the network architecture is appropriate to future needs a study is required which explores the practical issues of using the following security services: Digital Signatures to provide strong authentication and integrity checking; Trusted Third Party facilities for certifying encryption keys; encryption for confidentiality.

  The NHS executive seeks advice on the purposes for which these services can be used, the contexts and the extent to which they might be used in each context; the probable costs and benefits which would accrue in each context, and to which parties they would accrue; the most suitable standards and types of product to be used; the additional costs and implications of providing these services on a national NHS basis in such a fashion that they are available for use when those communicating NHS information think it appropriate.
  94
  The findings of the study will be published when the NHS executive and Ministers have had an opportunity to study them. A copy will be sent to the Library.

  The quotation for the cost of the study was provided by Zergo Consulting in competition with two other expert firms. All quotations are classified restricted—commercial.

  NHS Administrative Salaries
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total remuneration of NHS district health authorities' general managers for 1990. [15197]

  Mr. Malone
  The salaries and wages costs of general managers in district health authorities for 1990–91 was £11,363,000. This figure includes employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the running costs of the blood service in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; what is the estimated outturn for 1995–96; and how much they are forecast to be in the next three financial years. [15651]

  Mr. Horam
  The costs of 1994–95 are estimated to be £153 million. Details of the expected out-turn of the national blood service for the years 1995–96 to 1998–99 are set out in the document "Plans for the Future of the National Blood Service" of November 1995, copies of which are available in the Library. The figure for 1993–94 is not available because the costs of the blood service were not identified separately in NHS summarised accounts.

  Dioxin Emissions
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the relationship between the emissions of dioxins from incinerators with levels of (i) cancer and (ii) infertility. [15655]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health, with other Government Departments, funds the small area health statistics unit—SAHSU—located at the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine. The SAHSU has carried out a study of cancer incidence near municipal solid waste incinerators, although it did not include measures of exposure to dioxins. The report of this study will be published in the March 1996 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

  The health effects of dioxins are also regularly reviewed by expert committees which advise the Government. These include the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, and the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.

  Adrenoleukodystrophy
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines are currently issued by his Department to hospital trusts to ensure that blood relatives of persons diagnosed as suffering from adrenoleukodystrophy are informed and offered suitable advice; [15537]
  95
  (2) if he will issue guidelines to hospital trusts on the procedures for the notification of blood relatives when a case of genetic deficiency syndrome is first diagnosed. [15539]

  Mr. Horam
  Guidelines "Population Needs and Genetic Services" were issued to health authorities in June 1993 under the cover of a letter from the chief medical officer and chief nursing officer entitled "Services for Genetic Disorders". The guidelines set out the principles of good practice in respect of informing and offering suitable advice to relatives of persons diagnosed as suffering from heritable disorders such as adrenoleukodystrophy.

  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most common genetic deficiency conditions; what are the known numbers of(a) carriers and (b) sufferers from subsequent diseases; and in each case what percentage is (i) female and (ii) male. [15538]

  Mr. Horam
  The most common genetic deficiency disease—genetic disorder—in the United Kingdom is cystic fibrosis. The disease occurs in one in 2,000 children born, and approximately one in 25 of healthy adults carry a defective gene concerned with this condition.

  All other genetic disorders are rarer. There are some 4,000 different such disorders known. Those reported to have birth frequency of 1:5,000 or more, are:

  Huntington's disease

  Adult polycystic kidney disease

  Familial hypercholesterolaemia

  Neurofibromatosis

  Retinitis pigmentosa

  Sickle cell disease in Afro-Caribbeans

  Thalassaemia in those of Cypriot. Indian. Pakistani origin

  Fragile X syndrome

  Information on the number of carriers and sufferers from subsequent diseases, and on the percentage of female and male in these categories is not available centrally.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual cost to each local authority social services department of placing young offenders in secure accommodation for each year since 1988. [15438]

  Mr. Bowis
  Data for 1994–95 are not yet complete; corresponding information for earlier years was not collected centrally.

  High Voltage Power Lines (Cancer Risks)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he plans to make of the research and conclusions of Professor Denis Henshaw's study on the potential cancer risks of high voltage power lines; [15973]

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the report of Professor Denis Henshaw on the relationship between electromagnetic fields and cancers. [15844]

  Mr. Horam
  The National Radiological Protection Board—NRPB—considers that the suggested mechanism put forward in the report by which electromagnetic fields 96
  in interaction with radon leads to an increased risk of cancer is implausible. The board advises that the weight of the evidence would suggest that the presence of such fields would, if anything, slightly reduce human exposure to radon daughters. In addition, the board has advised that there is no convincing evidence that electromagnetic fields are a cause of cancer and that no biological mechanism has been established in support of this hypothesis.

  The NRPB currently has an active programme on the possible effects of electromagnetic fields and health and is funding experimental work in United Kingdom universities and supporting the UK childhood cancer study, which is examining a range of factors that may be implicated in childhood cancer, including the possible effect of electromagnetic fields. The Department will continue to monitor the results of emerging research closely, and to maintain its support for research in these areas, consulting NRPB and the committee on medical aspects of radiation in the environment as necessary.

  Dissolved NHS Trusts
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State forn Health what financial arrangements are being made for the NHS trusts dissolved on 1 April 1995. [16610]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Pursuant to the dissolution of eight national health service trusts on 1 April 1995, and their reconfiguration with parts, or all, of other trusts or directly managed units, I propose to create new originating debt for the five new trusts equal to the net assets transferred to them and therefore to remit the outstanding debt on seven dissolved trusts. The eighth dissolved trust has merged with another trust and the debt associated with that dissolved trust has been transferred to the trust with which it has merged. These operations involve no loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has today presented a minute to the House giving the particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission which it has approved in principle.

  Health Authority Chairmen
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments have been made of chairmen of the new health authorities; and what percentage of those appointments are women. [15575]

  Mr. Malone
  Chairmen have been identified for 99 of the 100 proposed health authorities. Forty-two per cent. of the chairmen are women.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that beta interferon is available on a consistent basis nationally; [15637]

  (2) what advice has been issued to health authorities about the prescribing of beta interferon; if he will place copies of correspondence on that advice in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [15636]

  Mr. Malone
  Executive letter (95)97 issued in November suggested that beta interferon should be prescribed by hospital neurologists to treat multiple sclerosis where clinically appropriate and within local agreements between health authorities and hospitals. The
  97
  guidance was accompanied by clinical advice from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of States for Health what extra resources he has made available to health authorities to enable beta interferon to be available to patients. [15638]

  Mr. Malone
  As with other hospital-prescribed drugs, the costs of prescribing beta interferon are expected to be met from within health authority general allocations, having regard to local priorities. These allocations take account of overall cost pressures and potential efficiency and other savings within the national health service.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of prescription items have a cost of less than £5.50. [15639]

  Mr. Malone
  In 1995–96, it is estimated that 58 per cent. of all prescription items dispensed in England will have a total cost of less than £5.50. In the same year we estimate the average total cost of a single item to the national health service to be £8.80.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15599]

  Mr. Horam
  None. The Department's policy is to achieve best value for money—VFM—from all its procurements. It agrees contracts with suppliers, irrespective of size, in order to achieve this objective. Recording this information would not help improve VFM or competitiveness and would add an unnecessary burden on suppliers.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15737]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is shown in the table.

  Regulatory body

  Percentage of business people on the board

  Medicines Control Agency

  50

  Medical Devices Agency

  40

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  19

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department maintains on the use of general practice fundholders' savings(a) by general practitioner fundholding practices and (b) by regional health authorities. [9034]
  98
  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 January c. 555]: The Department receives information from each family health services authority each year on the amount of savings used by general practitioner fundholders.

  Monitoring of the detailed use of savings is a local responsibility. Information about this is not routinely collected centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 555, if he will list (a) by family health service authority, and (b) by region, the total savings made by general practitioners and the level of savings spent in each year since the inception of fundholding. [11108]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 24 November 1994,Official Report, column 321–22, and on 14 March 1995, Official Report, column 545–46, which provide the available information on savings made by general practitioner fundholders.

  The available information on savings used by GP fundholders is given in the table.

  Savings used by GP Fundholders—1993–94

  FHSA name

  Amount used (£000)

  Northern Yorkshire

  Bradford

  262

  Calderdale

  2

  Cleveland

  131

  Cumbria

  0

  Durham

  171

  Gateshead

  52

  Humberside

  90

  Kirklees

  0

  Leeds

  265

  Newcastle

  27

  North Tyneside

  0

  North Yorkshire

  405

  Northumberland

  75

  South Tyneside

  5

  Sunderland

  0

  Wakefield

  638

  Trent

  Barnsley

  0

  Derbyshire

  168

  Doncaster

  27

  Leicestershire

  319

  Lincolnshire

  150

  Nottinghamshire

  159

  Rotherham

  6

  Sheffield

  39

  Anglia and Oxford

  Bedfordshire

  43

  Berkshire

  737

  Buckinghamshire

  1,009

  Cambridgeshire

  155

  Norfolk

  266

  Northamptonshire

  199

  Oxfordshire

  272

  Suffolk

  98

  North Thames

  Barking and Havering

  1

  Barnet

  49

  Brent and Harrow

  8

  Camden and Islington

  107

  99

  Savings used by GP Fundholders—1993–94

  FHSA name

  Amount used (£000)

  City and East London

  32

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  153

  Enfield and Haringey

  21

  Essex

  438

  Hertfordshire

  524

  Hillingdon

  104

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  140

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  7

  South Thames

  Bromley

  27

  Croydon

  24

  East Sussex

  47

  Greenwich and Bexley

  37

  Kent

  109

  Kingston and Richmond

  74

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  21

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  158

  Surrey

  78

  West Sussex

  148

  South and West

  Avon

  248

  Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

  267

  Devon

  299

  Dorset

  151

  Gloucestershire

  26

  Hampshire

  263

  Isle of Wight

  18

  Somerset

  123

  Wiltshire

  37

  100

  Savings used by GP Fundholders—1993–94

  FHSA name

  Amount used (£000)

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  468

  Coventry

  49

  Dudley

  0

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  676

  Sandwell

  228

  Shropshire

  203

  Solihull

  521

  Staffordshire

  522

  Walsall

  50

  Warwickshire

  23

  Wolverhampton

  0

  North-west

  Bolton

  0

  Bury

  0

  Cheshire

  649

  Lancashire

  89

  Liverpool

  304

  Manchester

  38

  Oldham

  913

  Rochdale

  39

  Salford

  0

  Sefton

  152

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  108

  Stockport

  0

  Tameside

  68

  Trafford

  0

  Wigan

  0

  Wirral

  148

  Source:

  Regional offices.
  101

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Department began its investigation into allegations of irregularities in payments made by training and enterprise councils to a national training provider; if the investigation is now complete; how many TECs are involved; and what was the total sum of money involved. [15085]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 13 February 1996]: The Department's investigation started in April 1994 and has been completed. The investigation focused primarily on claims on one training and enterprise council. There has been no financial loss to the Department. Close liaison with the National Audit Office and the police was maintained throughout, and police inquiries are continuing.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the total cost to her Department of the "Going GM" conference to be held on 13 March in Huddersfield. [15192]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The cost of the "Going GM" conference on 13 March will not be known until after the event, as it is dependent on the number of delegates who attend on the day. The average cost per delegate as "Going GM" conferences is about £115, which compares favourable with the cost of any training day.

  Schools (Outside Toilets)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools with outside toilets there are currently in each local education authority. [15571]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Handicapped Young People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many individuals between the ages of 16 and 18 years who(a) are disabled or, (b) have learning difficulties are currently in (i) full-time education, (ii) Government-funded training courses, (iii) employment and (iv) none of (i) to (iii). [15209]

  Mr. Paice
  The information available is in the following table:

  Principal activity of young people age 16–181 and whether they have a work limiting disability

  UK, thousand

  All

  With a work limiting disability2

  All age 16–181

  1,997

  130

  In full time education

  1,173

  72

  102

  Principal activity of young people age 16–181 and whether they have a work limiting disability

  UK, thousand

  All

  With a work limiting disability2

  In employment or Government supported training3

  605

  32

  None of the above

  219

  27

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey, winter 1994–95.

  1Age at previous 31 August.

  2People with a health problem or disability that affects the kind of paid work they can do.

  3The Labour Force Survey is known to under count the number of people in Government supported training and so in this table estimates are not shown separately from those in employment.

  Key Stage Results
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary for Education and Employment what representations she has had from(a) Somserset local education authority, (b) other local education authorities in the southern examination group and (c) other local education authorities alleging (i) inadequacies and (ii) errors in the discs supplied by her Department on key stage 2 and key stage 3 results. [15451]

  Mr. Paice
  Representations have been received from a number of local education authorities, including Somerset, concerning the discs supplied. The data supplied to LEAs were collected for national analysis and are reliable for that purpose. LEAs were sent school level data in response to pressure from LEAs themselves but were warned that some of the data for individual schools were incomplete or had not satisfied the relevant national checks. Data collection procedures for 1996 are being amended and will be fully robust and suitable for providing school-by-school information for school performance tables.

  Workstart
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many employers in the Margate travel-to-work area participate in the workstart scheme. [15830]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available for the town of Margate. Margate was included in the east Kent workstart pilot which ended in December 1994. It is estimated that over 400 employers had by then participated in east Kent.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many employers were involved in the north-east workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case; [15825]

  (2) how many employers were involved in the Devon and Cornwall workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case; [15826]
  103
  (3) how many employers were involved in the south London workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case; [15827]

  (4) how many employers were involved in the east Kent workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case. [15828]

  Mr. Forth
  The first workstart pilot took place in Devon and Cornwall, Kent, Tyneside and south west London between July 1993 and December 1994. Information on participating employees and employers at the end of September is as follows:

  Pilot

  Participants

  Employers

  Kent

  418

  380

  Devon and Cornwall

  475

  309

  Tyneside

  222

  130

  South West and South London

  210

  144

  By the end of December 1994, the total number of participating employees in the four pilots had reached 1,575, and it is estimated that over 1,000 employers had been involved. The total programme costs were £2.7 million. Savings to the Exchequer from any employment arise from long-term improvements in the functioning of the labour market and cannot be calculated in the terms requested.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the 16-hour limit for study under the jobseeker's agreement will apply to students on courses (i) funded by the European social fund and (ii) provided by the higher education sector; and if she will make a statement. [15572]

  Mr. Forth
  The 16 guided learning hours limit will apply only to courses which are funded or part-funded by the further education funding councils for England and Wales. The limit for courses of further education which are funded or part-funded by the Secretary of State for Scotland will be 16 hours of classroom-based or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff and additional hours using structured learning packages supported by teaching staff up to a combined total of 21 hours. For all other courses the rule continues to be that the course must be part time, not full time.

  Students (Social Fund)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the number of students on courses funded by the European social fund who studied for (i) up to 16 hours a week, (ii) 16 to 21 hours and (iii) 21 hours and above in the latest year for which information is available. [15573]

  Mr. Forth
  The information required is provided in the following table and has been taken from the 1994 final claims. It is provided in a format slightly different from 104
  that requested to prevent any student from being counted twice. Of approximately 1.6 million beneficiaries, the following breakdown is available.

  Hours studied

  Number of beneficiaries1

  Up to 16 hours per week

  400,600

  17–21 hours per week2

  67,100

  More than 21 hours per week3

  923,300

  1 Figures rounded to nearest 100.

  2 Category does not include those studying for 16 hours per week.

  3 Category does not include those studying for 21 hours per week.

  Approximately 200,000 beneficiaries are excluded from the table as the information on number of hours studied could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to ensure that her Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15608]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department for Education and Employment already identifies suppliers with fewer than 200 employees.

  Teachers' Pensions
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total amount paid in pension contributions(a) by employers of teachers in the public sector and (b) by teachers in Kirklees metropolitan council area. [15875]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total amounts paid in pension contributions to the teachers superannuation scheme during 1994–95 where £971,009,000 by teachers' employers in England and Wales and £4,166,542 by teachers in the Kirklees metropolitan borough council area.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list each regulatory body for which she is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15739]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not have responsibility for any regulatory bodies.

  Nursery Vouchers Scheme
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of Thursday 15 February Official Report, column 683, concerning tenders for management of phase 1 of the voucher scheme for early years education, if she will name the two unsuccessful tenderers, and by what amount each tender was above or below that of the successful tender. [16227]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The two unsuccessful tenderers were Childcare Vouchers Ltd. and Energy Action Grants Agency. The tender prices are commercially confidential.
  105

  Travel-to-interview Scheme
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to make changes to the travel-to-work interview scheme. [16300]

  Mr. Forth
  The Employment Service has completed a comprehensive review of the scheme and tested a number of beneficial rule changes. An evaluation has confirmed that the scheme is a cost-effective means of helping unemployed people.

  The main changes, which take effect from 1 April, are:

  the removal of the upper salary limit;

  help with second and subsequent interviews;

  a more realistic interpretation of the condition that the job must be expected to last for 12 months or more;

  help for the majority of self-employed jobs;

  the qualifying period will change from 4 to 13 weeks and people will need to show they are claiming benefit. This supports our aim under the jobseeker's allowance to encourage people still unemployed after this time to widen their job search activities.

  I am confident that the changes better target the scheme on those it is meant to help, making it fairer and simpler to administer.

  A copy of the evaluation report will be placed in the Library.

  Unemployment Statistics
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many times the method for calculating unemployment statistics has been changed since 1979; and what the current figure for unemployment would be if calculated by the method used in 1979. [14917]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  Like many other countries, the UK produces two official measures of unemployment—an administrative measure, referred to as the monthly claimant unemployment count, based on the system for claiming unemployment-related benefits and a survey measure based on the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definition.

  There have been nine changes affecting the coverage of the monthly unemployment claimant count which have been significant enough to warrant a recasting of the consistent seasonally adjusted series. Details are given in the November 1995 edition of "Labour Market Trends".

  The ILO measure of unemployment has been compiled and published on the same definition since 1984—annually 1984 to 1991; quarterly 1992 to date.

  Although the two measures of unemployment are different, they show broadly similar trends.

  Schools (Repairs and Improvements)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will give for 1995–96 the distribution of the moneys allocated for repairs and improvements to schools by education authority and opted-out schools; [15871]
  106
  (2) what amount (a) was made available in 1995–96 and (b) will be made available in 1996–97 to education authorities for repairs and improvements; and what this sum represents per pupil. [15870]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The amounts made available to authorities for improvement work not covered by other priority categories totalled £18.5 million in 1995–96 and £31 million in 1996–97. The 1995–96 amounts distributed by formula to each authority totalled £15 million and are given in the following table. In addition, almost £3.5 million has been allocated for specific projects by supplementary credit approval. For 1996–97, £10 million will be distributed by formula and at least a further £21 million will be available through the schools renewal challenge fund.

  These sums represent over £3 per pupil in 1995–96 and an estimated £5 per pupil in 1996–97 and are additional to the amounts available from capital receipts and other sources of funding at authorities' disposal.

  The distribution of moneys to opted-out schools is a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.

  1995–96 formula allocations for improvement work to local authorities

  £000

  Barking

  45

  Barnet

  53

  Bexley

  58

  Brent

  48

  Bromley

  60

  Croydon

  78

  Ealing

  298

  Enfield

  57

  Haringey

  111

  Harrow

  82

  Havering

  81

  Hillingdon

  56

  Hounslow

  79

  Kingston

  47

  Merton

  69

  Newham

  102

  Redbridge

  56

  Richmond

  47

  Sutton

  40

  Waltham Forest

  85

  City

  0

  Camden

  51

  Westminster

  13

  Greenwich

  96

  Hackney

  88

  Hammersmith

  32

  Islington

  80

  Kensington

  22

  Lambeth

  112

  Lewisham

  178

  South wark

  56

  Wandsworth

  61

  Tower Hamlets

  88

  Birmingham

  370

  Coventry

  59

  Dudley

  82

  Sandwell

  101

  Solihull

  40

  Walsall

  81

  Wolverhampton

  106

  Knowsley

  113

  Liverpool

  124

  107

  1995–96 formula allocations for improvement work to local authorities

  £000

  St. Helen's

  65

  Sefton

  47

  Wirral

  72

  Bolton

  66

  Bury

  37

  Manchester

  313

  Oldham

  76

  Rochdale

  89

  Salford

  127

  Stockport

  52

  Tameside

  44

  Trafford

  57

  Wigan

  72

  Barnsley

  49

  Doncaster

  63

  Rotherham

  64

  Sheffield

  398

  Bradford

  271

  Calderdale

  48

  Kirklees

  110

  Leeds

  308

  Wakefield

  161

  Gateshead

  45

  Newcastle

  179

  North Tyneside

  78

  South Tyneside

  61

  Sunderland

  65

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Avon

  226

  Bedfordshire

  109

  Berkshire

  158

  Buckinghamshire

  182

  Cambridgeshire

  174

  Cheshire

  291

  Cleveland

  132

  Cornwall

  152

  Cumbria

  190

  Derbyshire

  298

  Devon

  242

  Dorset

  190

  Durham

  394

  East Sussex

  149

  Essex

  734

  Gloucestershire

  331

  Hampshire

  353

  Hereford

  127

  Hertfordshire

  200

  Humberside

  279

  Isle of Wight

  52

  Kent

  425

  Lancashire

  383

  Leicestershire

  170

  Lincolnshire

  93

  Norfolk

  164

  North Yorkshire

  304

  Northamptonshire

  155

  Northumberland

  67

  Nottinghamshire

  271

  Oxfordshire

  233

  Shropshire

  80

  Somerset

  113

  Staffordshire

  336

  Suffolk

  181

  Surrey

  201

  Warwickshire

  84

  West Sussex

  157

  Wiltshire

  99

  108

TRANSPORT

  Selby By-pass
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he estimates contracts for site clearance and other relevant constructional phases for the projected Selby by-pass will be awarded. [16056]

  Mr. Watts
  The inspector's report on the inquiry into a side roads variation order and compulsory purchase order has been received recently and is under consideration. Once the scheme has completed the statutory procedures, it will be taken forward when funding is available for start of works.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include the projected Selby by-pass in the category of roads to be funded under the private finance for roads initiative. [16055]

  Mr. Watts
  The A63 Selby by-pass is not included in the design, build, finance and operate projects announced by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 28 February 1995. However, the programme is kept under review. Schemes are considered for inclusion in the programme when they have completed their statutory procedures.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the report of the inspector appointed in 1995 to inquire into the proposed compulsory purchase orders for land required for building the Selby by-pass; and if he will make a statement. [16054]

  Mr. Watts
  The inspector's report has been received and is being considered. I cannot say what the outcome will be.

  Public Transport (Privatisation)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects privatisation has had on public authority transport during the past three years. [15685]

  Mr. Norris
  In general, privatisation has led to a more efficient provision of public transport services, responsive through the marketplace to the needs of users.

  Public Transport, Merseyside
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list subsidies made to Merseytravel for the 101 bus service over the last two years; if he will make a statement on the current running of the service; and if he will make a statement. [15776]

  Mr. Norris
  The 101 bus service is fully subsidised by Merseyside passenger transport executive—Merseytravel. Subsidy arrangements, service details and performance on the route are all matters for the PTE, but I understand that the service has recently been re-tendered following previous operating difficulties.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to visit Merseyside to discuss the subject of bus services with Merseytravel; and if he will make a statement. [15777]
  109
  Mr. Norris
  I have no such plans at present. I will, however, be discussing bus issues, along with other transport matters, with the North West and Merseyside regional annual consultative committee on 4 March. I understand that Merseytravel will be represented at that meeting.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of bus services in(a) Liverpool (b) Merseyside at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [15744]

  Mr. Norris
  The provision of bus services in Liverpool and Merseyside is entirely a matter for bus operators acting commercially or Merseyside PTE—Merseytravel—using its subsidy powers. I believe that bus travellers there, as in the rest of the country, have benefited from the trend of more operators running more bus miles at lower cost, with new buses on many routes, and significantly less public subsidy than previously.

  A40 (Hangar Lane)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the works on the slipway from the east-bound A40 at Hangar lane are expected to be completed; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [16226]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Greenway, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about works on the slip road from the eastbound A40 to the Hangar Lane Gyratory Junction.
  The eastbound slip road to this junction has become very congested in the past three years and vehicles often queue back onto the main carriageway of the A40. The works are to widen the slip road from two lanes to three at the junction which will ease the traffic flow through the junction.
  Unexpected difficulties with the location and movement of electricity cables and works associated with gas mains have extended the duration of the works. To catch up time the contractor is now working sixteen hours a day. Night-time working is not viewed as a practical option as it would cause considerable noise and disturbance to local residents.
  Unfortunately it is not possible to operate two lanes of traffic on the slip road alongside the works because of the need to provide a safety zone between the traffic and the contractor's workforce. However two lanes have been maintained at the traffic signals during peak periods to ensure that almost the same number of vehicles continue to move through the junction.
  The estimated cost of the works is £80,000 and it is expected that the works will be completed on or very soon after the originally programmed date of 9 March.

  A650
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the implications for the A650 Bingley relief road of the withdrawal of the scheme for the A650 Saltaire relief road tunnel; [15919]

  (2) what is the timetable of the private finance initiative for the A650 Bingley relief road with particular reference to tendering, construction and completion dates; [15917]

  (3) what environmental conditions will attach to the contract for the A650 Bingley relief road; [15918]
  110
  (4) what savings he expects for his Department arising out of the A650 Bingley relief road falling under the private finance initiative. [15922]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions on the A650 Bingley Relief Road.
  You will have seen from the Secretary of State's announcement on the Road Programme on 28 November 1995 that this scheme has been included in the Private Finance Initiative as a further Design, Build, Finance and Operate project.
  Tenders are expected to be invited this Summer with a start on site during the 1997/98 financial year. Completion of the project will be approximately 3 years later.
  Although there are no funds available for the Saltaire Tunnel, the need to continue with the Bingley Relief Road is undiminished.
  All commitments about environmental conditions given in the Environmental Statement, which was published in February 1989, and again at subsequent Public Inquiries, will be included within the contract.
  Design, Build, Finance and Operate has thus far shown to offer value for money when compared with the public sector alternative. Private Finance and management expertise will enable this scheme to be provided more quickly and more efficiently than would have been possible if it had to wait its turn as a publicly financed scheme.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what options are available to property owners suffering blight from the aborted A650 Saltaire relief road tunnel. [15921]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: The threat of blight has been removed by the withdrawal of the scheme from the trunk road programme.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which road schemes under the private finance initiative are currently being constructed; and what was the time lag for each from offering for tender to commencement on site. [15923]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: No. Design, build, finance and operate road schemes are under construction. Tenders for the first four were invited in January 1995. Construction is expected to start this spring.

  Shipley Eastern Bypass
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to allocate funding for the Shipley eastern bypass. [15920]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: Following the recent review of the trunk road programme, this scheme has been placed in the longer-term programme. This category comprises those schemes, which, although required, are not of the highest priority nationally. They will be taken forward only as the main programme is completed.

  Cyclists (Reflective Belts)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require cyclists to wear Sam Brown reflective belts. [16049]
  111
  Mr. Norris
  My Department takes every opportunity to encourage cyclists to use conspicuity aids. However, I believe that their use should remain a matter of individual choice.

  YAK 42 Aircraft
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many YAK 42s are currently registered to fly into United Kingdom airports; and what was the date of manufacture of each of these aircraft. [16081]

  Mr. Norris
  No YAK 42 aircraft are currently covered by the operating permits granted by the Department to foreign airlines.

  Buses and Coaches
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of investment in new buses and coaches since deregulation and privatisation; and what was the number of new vehicles ordered each year. [15838]

  Mr. Norris
  Decisions on the level of investment in new vehicles are a matter for bus and coach companies themselves. Information on the number of orders for new vehicles is not available, but the number of buses and coaches registered for the first time is available from data recorded by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The list gives figures since 1985:Number of buses and coaches with nine or more passenger seats registered for the first time.1

  1985: 3,747

  1986: 5,479

  1987: 5,015

  1988: 4,970

  1989: 5,081

  1990: 4,547

  1991: 3,016

  1992: 3,051

  1993: 3,643

  1994: 4,202

  1995: 5,214

  1Up to end June 1995 vehicles are those in taxation class 35—Hackney. From 1 July 1995 vehicles are those in taxation class 34—Bus. Both these taxation classes cover the use of vehicles for public transportation.

  Rail Ticketing Agreement
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 14 February 1996,Official Report, column 574, how many young people are employed by Rail Settlement Plan Ltd. to police the ticketing and settlement agreement. [15909]

  Mr. Watts
  Rail Settlement Plan Ltd. employs the equivalent of 95 full-time staff, under contract from British Rail Business Systems, to provide independent auditing and monitoring of compliance with the terms of the ticketing and settlement agreement.

  Central Railway
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent consultations have taken place 112
  between his Department and Central Railway plc; and what evaluation his Department has undertaken of its proposals. [15832]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Central Railway plc on 17 January as part of a continuing dialogue between the company and the Department on procedural aspects of the Transport and Works Act 1992. The Department has undertaken no evaluation of the proposals, but has made comments on initial drafts provided by the company of certain application documents in the context of the statutory requirements.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the company Reliance employed by the Highways Agency for work on the Newbury bypass has carried out checks on staff for previous criminal convictions. [15295]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Mike Gapes, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if the company Reliance Security Services Limited employed by the Highways Agency for work on the Newbury Bypass has carried out checks on staff for previous criminal convictions.
  Reliance are not employed by the Highways Agency. They are employed by the site clearance contractor. It is a requirement of the Highways Agency that sub-contracted security companies are members of the British Security Industry Association and meet British Standard 7499 covering static guards and mobile patrols.
  I understand that to comply with these requirements, Reliance policy is to make detailed checks for criminal convictions going back five years before they employ someone. A further check going back 10 years is then made within three months of employment.

  Railway Franchises
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons are employed by the rail franchising director to check the bona fides of franchise applicants. [15161]

  Mr. Watts
  A number of staff at the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and merchant bank advisers employed by the franchising director check the bona fides of franchise applicants through various procedures at the pre-qualification stage and throughout the tendering process.

  Ashford Station (Wheelchairs)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that the operators of Ashford international railway station provide(a) a ticket office window at a height convenient for wheelchair using passengers and (b) means of independent access by wheelchair users to the carriages of trains using the station. [14454]

  Mr. Watts
  We have no powers to require European Passenger Services to make modifications to Ashford international or to the trains which serve it. In the longer term, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will enable
  113
  us to set access standards for new rail vehicles and to address the accessibility of railway stations. We have already begun discussions with the rail industry.

  In the meantime, I understand the EPS worked closely with disabled people and I think that is borne out by the generally high standard of access which is provided.

  The company took advice specifically on the design of the ticket counter and concluded that the particular design of desk provided met the needs of both wheelchair users and other passengers. The arrangements for access to the trains at Ashford are the same as those provided at Waterloo international and on other parts of the InterCity network. They have been shown, over a number of years, to work satisfactorily.

  Railway Group Safety Plan
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the Railway group safety plan for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [16240]

  Mr. Watts
  The Railtrack board has now submitted a 1996–97 safety plan for Britain's national railway network. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The plan sets out strategic safety objectives for 1996–97, reports safety performance by British Rail and Railtrack in 1995–96, and gives details of the arrangements for managing safety on the railway.

  All current train operators have had their railway safety cases accepted, a process which relies on an adequate demonstration of commitment and competence by the companies. New operators will need to satisfy the same rigorous scrutiny. The plan is an important companion to these safety cases. It sets a number of objectives designed to maintain safety performance and provide strategic direction to initiatives to improve safety.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which corporate bodies have been specified as a relevant body under article 3(3) of the Housing (NI) Order 1986. [15147]

  Mr. Moss
  None.

  Employment Tribunals
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases have been heard by fair employment tribunals. [15148]

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 203 cases have been heard up to 31 January 1996.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals there have been in respect of cases heard by fair employment tribunals. [15149]

  Mr. Ancram
  There have been 11 appeals up to 31 January 1996.
  114

  Agriculture Payments
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many payments he expects to be made in Northern Ireland in 1995–96 for set-aside between(a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000 and (f) over £25,001; [15319]

  (2) how many payments were made in Northern Ireland in 1994–95 under the arable area payments scheme (a) between £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000, (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000 and (i) £100,001 and over; [15337]

  (3) how many payments were made in Northern Ireland in 1994–95 for set-aside between (a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000 and (d) over £15,001; [15318]

  (4) how many payments he expects to be made in Northern Ireland in 1995–96 under the arable area payments scheme between (a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000, (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000, (i) £100,001 and £150,000, (j) £150,001 and £200,000, and (k) £200,001 and over. [15338]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Set-aside scheme—Northern Ireland

  Set-aside

  Arable-area payments

  £

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  0–5,000

  194

  184

  2,767

  2,828

  5,001–10,000

  16

  14

  96

  62

  10,000–15,000

  —

  1

  47

  55

  15,001–20,000

  —

  —

  10

  34

  20,001–25,000

  —

  —

  6

  22

  25,001–50,000

  —

  —

  8

  18

  50,001–75,000

  —

  —

  —

  2

  75,001–100,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100,000–150,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  150,001–200,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  200,001–and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Students
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many higher education students who have temporarily withdrawn from their courses due to ill health have benefited from the revised guidelines issued by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland to the education and library boards in July 1995. [15293]

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15603]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The majority of suppliers in Northern Ireland are small and medium-sized enterprises.
  115
  However, any supplier seeking business through the Government purchasing service is asked to complete a supplier questionnaire as part of the tendering process. One of the requirements of the questionnaire is that all firms give details of the average annual manpower and number of managerial staff employed over the past three years.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what strain typing studies his Department is currently funding into BSE cases; and what plans he has to extend them to cover cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. [7214]

  Mrs. Browning
  This Department is currently funding the following strain typing study of BSE, at the neuropathogenisis unit, Edinburgh:"Strain typing of BSE pathogen in mice and comparison with strains from natural sheep scrapie".

  Responsibility for funding research into cases of CJD falls to the Department of Health.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the possibility of domesticated animals other than bovines developing spongiform encephalopathy. [7233]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Department has commissioned a number of pieces of work to look at the transmission of BSE to other domesticated species; work has also been done independently. This work has shown that sheep, goats and mink develop spongiform encephalopathy when fed with brain from cattle clinically affected with BSE.

  (1) Cash (mecu1)

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1995

  (i) Export refunds

  5,695

  6,716

  7,798

  7,803

  (ii) Intervention buying and storage

  1,631

  4,440

  5,477

  338

  (iii) Arable area payment schemes

  1,252

  3,694

  9,038

  (13,491)

  (iv) Other direct payments2(to farmers)

  23,009(8,409)

  (v) Production aids (paid via processors)

  (1,109)

  (vi) Removing produce from the market (withdrawals and similar operations)

  298

  894

  648

  564

  Notes:

  For expenditure prior to the CAP Reform of 1992, there is no breakdown of arable area scheme; payments, other direct payments and production aids and these have been group together.

  1 1980 expenditure is in millions of European Units of Account.

  2 Excludes some direct payments to farmers which are subsumed under CAP programmes for remote regions.

  Sources:

  1980, 1985, 1990 Annual FEOGA Financial Reports, 1995 Commission Working document VI/72/95 (12 December 95).

  1996 Prices calculated using deflator of private consumption. Source: European Economy—Annual Economic Report.

  1995 No. 59 and European Economy (Supplement A) Economic trends No. 12 December 1995.

  (2) At 1996 Prices (mecu1)

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1995

  (i) Export refunds

  13,463

  10,363

  9,810

  8,037

  (ii) Intervention buying and storage

  3,856

  6,851

  6,890

  348

  (iii) Arable area payment schemes

  —

  —

  —

  (13,896)

  (iv) Other direct payments2(to farmers)

  2,960

  5,700

  11,370

  23,699 (8,661)

  (v) Production aids (paid via processors)

  —

  —

  —

  (1,142)

  116
  Pigs have succumbed when BSE infected brain has been injected intra-cerebrally but not when fed infected brain. The only domesticated species in which BSE type disease has occurred naturally, rather than being experimentally induced, is the cat.

  All species of animals and poultry are protected against the risk of infection with BSE by the ban on the use of specified bovine offals in feed, which was introduced in September 1990.

  Animal Health Officers
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animal health officers are paid for by his Department; what is their cost; and what was the equivalent figure in 1990. [15745]

  Mrs. Browning
  At 1 January 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food employed 137.1 animal health officers and 29 senior animal health officers. Based on 1995–96 standard salary costs, this amounted to a total cost of £3,463,002 per annum.

  At 1 January 1990, there were 135.5 animal health officers and 46 senior animal health officers. Applying Treasury GDP deflator dated November 1993 to the 1995–96 standard salary costs, this amounts to a total cost of £3,052,032 per annum.

  Common Agricultural Policy Budget
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the total(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1995 CAP budgets in ecus was spent on (i) export refunds, (ii) intervention buying and storage, (iii) arable area payment schemes, (iv) other direct payments, (v) production aids and (vi) removing produce from the market (1) in cash, (2) at 1996 prices and (3) as a percentage of the total CAP budget. [15341]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:
  117

  (2) At 1996 Prices (mecu1)

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1995

  (vi) Removing produce from the market (withdrawals and similar operations)

  704

  1,379

  815

  581

  Notes:

  For expenditure prior to the CAP Reform of 1992, there is no breakdown of arable area scheme; payments, other direct payments and production aids and these have been group together.

  1 1980 expenditure is in millions of European Units of Account.

  2 Excludes some direct payments to farmers which are subsumed under CAP programmes for remote regions.

  Sources:

  1980, 1985, 1990 Annual FEOGA Financial Reports, 1995 Commission Working document VI/72/95 (12 December 95).

  1996 Prices calculated using deflator of private consumption. Source: European Economy—Annual Economic Report.

  1995 No. 59 and European Economy (Supplement A) Economic trends No. 12 December 1995.

  (3) As percentage of total CAP expenditure

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1995

  (i) Export refunds

  50.3

  34.0

  28.8

  22.6

  (ii) Intervention buying and storage

  14.4

  22.5

  20.3

  1.0

  (iii) Arable area payment schemes

  —

  —

  —

  (39.1)

  (iv) Other direct payments1 (to farmers)

  11.1

  18.7

  33.4

  66.7 (24.4)

  (v) Production aids (paid via processors)

  —

  —

  —

  (3.2)

  (vi) Removing produce from the market (withdrawals and similar operations)

  2.6

  4.5

  2.4

  1.8

  Notes:

  For expenditure prior to the CAP Reform of 1992, there is no breakdown of arable area scheme; payments, other direct payments and production aids and these have been group together.

  1 Excludes some direct payments to farmers which are subsumed under CAP programmes for remote regions.

  Sources:

  1980, 1985, 1990 Annual FEOGA Financial Reports, 1995 Commission Working document VI/72/95 (12 December 95).

  1996 Prices calculated using deflator of private consumption. Source: European Economy—Annual Economic Report.

  1995 No. 59 and European Economy (Supplement A) Economic trends No. 12 December 1995.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the total 1996 CAP budget, in ecus, will be spent on(a) export refunds, (b) intervention buying and storage, (c) arable area payment schemes, (d) other direct payments, (e) production aids and (f) removing produce from the market (i) in cash and (ii) as a percentage of the total CAP budget. [15340]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The 1996 budget provisions are as follows:

  1996

  (i) mecu

  (ii) As percentage of total CAP budget

  (a) Export refunds

  7,182

  17.4

  (b) Intervention buying and storage

  1,278

  3.1

  (c) Arable area payments

  15,545

  37.6

  (d) Other direct payments1 (to farmers)

  11,983

  29.3

  (e) Production aids (paid via processors)

  1,139

  2.8

  (f) Removing produce from the market (withdrawals and similar operations)

  790

  1.9

  Note:1 Excludes some direct payments to farmers which are ubsumed under CAP programmes for remote regions.

  Source:

  1996 Adopted Budget of the European Union, (Official Journal L22, Volume 39 of 29 January 1996).

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments(a) were made in England in 1994–95 and (b) he expects to be made in 1995–96 under the arable area payments scheme between (i) £0 and £5,000, (ii) £5,001 and £10,000, (iii) £10,001
  118
  and £15,000, (iv) £15,001 and £20,000, (v) £20,001 and £25,000, (vi) £25,001 and £50,000, (vii) £50,001 and £75,000, (viii) £75,001 and £100,000, (xi) £100,001 and £150,000, (x) £150,001 and £200,000, (xi) £200,001 and £250,000, (xii) £250,001 and £300,000, (xiii) £300,001 and £350,000, (xiv) £350.001 and £400,000, (xv) £400,001 and £450,000, (xvi) £450,001 and £500,000, (xvii) £500,000 and £999,999 and (xviii) £1 million and over. [15320]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The distribution by size of total payments made against claims in 1994–95 under the arable area payments scheme is as follows. Similar figures are not yet available for 1995–96 as the final oilseeds payments and some payments on non-food set-aside for the year have not yet been made.

  Total payments in England banded by size of payment

  Size band

  Number of payments

  £0 and £5,000

  19,078

  £5,001 and £10,000

  6,140

  £10,001 and £15,000

  4,761

  £15,001 and £20,000

  3,432

  £20,001 and £25,000

  2,496

  £25,001 and £50,000

  6,289

  £50,001 and £75,000

  2,200

  £75,001 and £100,000

  978

  £100,001 and £150,000

  694

  £150,001 and £200,000

  223

  £200,001 and £250,000

  95

  £250,001 and £300,000

  32

  £300,001 and £350,000

  15

  £350,001 and £400,000

  9

  £400,001 and £450,000

  12

  £450,001 and £500,000

  3

  £500,000 and over

  113

  1 It is not possible to identify separately the number of payments above £1,000,000 for reasons of confidentiality.

  119

  Set-aside Payments
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments(a) were made in England in 1994–95 and (b) he expects to be made in England in 1995–96 for set-aside of between (i) £0 and £5,000, (ii) £5,001 and £10,000, (iii) £10,001 and £15,000, (iv) £15,001 and £20,000, (v) £20,001 and £25,000, (vi) £25,001 and £50,000, (vii) £50,001 and £75,000, (viii) £75,001 and £100,000, (ix) £100,001 and £150,000, (x) £150,001 and £200,000, (xi) £200,001 and £250,000, (xii) £250,001 and £300,000, (xiii) £300,001 and £350,000, (xiv) £350,001 and £400,000, (xv) £400,001 and £450,000, (xvi) £450,001 and £500,000 and (xvii) over £500,000. [15334]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The distribution by size of payments made against claims in 1994–95 for set-aside is as follows. Similar figures are not yet available for 1995–96 as not all payments have been made where non-food crops have been grown on set-aside land.

  Total payments in England banded by size of payment

  Size band

  Number of payments

  (i) £0 and £5000

  17,738

  (ii) £5,001 and £10,000

  6,708

  (iii) £10,001 and £15,000

  2,284

  (iv) £15,001 and £20,000

  1,040

  (v) £20,001 and £25,000

  467

  (vi) £25,001 and £50,000

  564

  (vii) £50,001 and £75,000

  62

  (viii) £75,001 and £100,000

  24

  (ix) £100,000 and over

  18

  1 It is not possible to identify separately the number of payments above £150,000 for reasons of confidentiality.

  Sheep and Goats
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the number of eartags on sheep which are likely to(a) become illegible and (b) be lost in the space of a 12 month period. [15579]

  Mrs. Browning
  None. There was no need for such an estimate given our intention only to require sheep that are consigned for transport outside Great Britain to be either eartagged or tattooed.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of sheep in the United Kingdom that are tattooed. [15577]

  Mrs. Browning
  None.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the number of people who keep(a) sheep and (b) goats. [15622]

  Mrs. Browning
  We estimated that there are 92,398 sheep holdings and 7,730 goat holdings in England and Wales. This information is contained in the compliance cost assessment and is based on information contained in "The Digest of Agricultural Census Statistics" in 1992.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultation he had with local authorities concerning the staffing and other resources that 120
  will have to be committed by them to enforce the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996. [15582]

  Mrs. Browning
  A representative from the national animal health and welfare panel of the local authorities sits on the specially formed industry/Government working group which considered the proposals for the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations have taken place with organisations representing sheep and goat farmers about the assumptions his Department made in respect of the likely costs of complying with the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996. [15757]

  Mrs. Browning
  We consulted the industry regularly on our proposals for the implementation of EC directive 92/102, including for sheep and goats. Views were specifically sought in June 1994 on a draft of the compliance cost assessment.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the statistical information used in the compliance costs assessment for the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996 was drawn from 1992 publications. [15756]

  Mrs. Browning
  A draft compliance cost assessment was issued for comment in 1994 based on the latest complete statistical information available. It was not felt that circumstances had changed to such an extent that a revised CCA based on later figures would be justified.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his veterinary officers and technical assistants were involved on(a) 13 February and (b) 14 February in lairages near Dover in inspecting animals to ensure that they were fit to travel under the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994 and to deal with other related matters. [16155]

  Mrs. Browning
  On 13 February there were three veterinary officers, one temporary veterinary inspector and eight technical staff present.

  On 14 February there were five veterinary officers, one temporary veterinary inspector and nine technical staff present.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments on 13 and 14 February were inspected by his veterinary officers and technical assistants; how many(a) sheep and (b) calves were inspected; how many hours were spent in carrying out the inspections; and if he will make a statement. [16156]

  Mrs. Browning
  On 13 February there were five consignments of sheep totalling 1,805 sheep and seven consignments of calves totalling 828 calves. Ministry staff were present at Dover lairages from 0900 on 13 February until 0130 on 14 February.
  121
  On 14 February there was one consignment of sheep totalling 405 sheep and eight consignments of calves totalling 1,165 calves. Ministry staff were present at lairages from 0730 on 14 February until 1700 on 14 February.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Private Pensions
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people now have the rights to a private pension. [14363]

  Mr. Heald
  The latest estimates are that there are more than 20 million people in the country with rights to an occupational pension, and more than 8 million personal pensions. In 1993, the total value of funds in occupational and personal pensions was approaching £600 billion.

  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total sum invested in funded private pensions in the United Kingdom; and what are the equivalent figures in other EU member states. [14369]

  Mr. Heald
  In 1993, the total value of funds in funded pension schemes in the United Kingdom was nearly £600 billion. This is substantially more than the latest estimate of £480 billion for all the other countries in the European Union.

  Table B: Rebates to appropriate personal pension schemes from 1988–89 to 1993–94

  £ million

  Amount of rebate

  Year

  Primary (Employee)

  Secondary (Employer)

  Total

  Cumulative total

  1988–89

  99

  190

  289

  289

  1989–90

  587

  1,116

  1,703

  1,992

  1990–91

  504

  958

  1,462

  3,454

  1991–92

  600

  1,139

  1,739

  5,193

  1992–93

  654

  1,243

  1,897

  7,090

  1993–94

  707

  1,344

  2,051

  9,141

  Notes:

  1. 1993–94 is the latest year for which published audited accounts are available.

  2. The table shows the cost of providing relief (rebates) from employers' national insurance contributions and for completeness, the cost of providing rebates on the employees' contribution as well as the overall total cost.

  3. The figures showing the "Total" cost are taken from the published audited accounts of the national insurance fund, and show the amount of rebates paid over to providers of APPs in each of the relevant tax years up to and including 1993–94. The breakdown between the "Employee" and the "Employer" has been estimated by the Government Actuary's Department.

  4. These rebates (along with any income tax relief, incentives and appropriate additions) are paid over to the pension providers in arrears following the end of the tax year in which the relevant earnings were paid.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department based on national insurance fund accounts.

  Occupational and Private Pensions
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect that reduced equity investment yields would have on occupational and private pensions. [14364]

  Mr. Heald
  Around three fifths of the £600 billion invested in UK pension funds is held in domestic equities. The yield on those investments has been, on average, 10 per cent. in real terms since 1980. All things being equal,
  122
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of(a) the savings to the Exchequer from the take-up of personal pension schemes and (b) the cost to the Exchequer of providing relief from employers' national insurance on contributions made by employers to pension schemes for their work force. [14668]

  Mr. Heald
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: The information is in the tables:

  Table A: Estimated savings in SERPS expenditure in respect of appropriate personal pension scheme rebates for 1987–88 to 1992–93

  £ million

  Decade

  Savings

  Cumulative savings

  2002–09

  250

  250

  2010–19

  2,350

  2,600

  2020–29

  5,300

  7,900

  2030–39

  7,200

  15,100

  2040–49

  4,500

  19,600

  2050–59

  1,900

  21,500

  2060–69

  500

  22,000

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Notes:

  1. The estimated savings are expressed in 1993–94 price terms.

  2. Appropriate personal pension—APPs—have been available since April 1988, but earners were allowed to backdate their minimum contributions based on earnings for the previous tax year, as 1987–88. The estimated savings in the table relate to the SERPS that would have become payable in respect of earnings between April 1988 and March 1993, if those who took out an APP between those dates had not done so.

  3. An increase in real earnings of 1½ per cent. has been assumed in these calculations.

  any reduction in yield would mean that members would retire with lower pensions or that they and their employers would have to contribute more.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the proposed Social Security identity card will bear a photograph of the owner and have a memory capacity. [14365]
  123
  Mr. Lilley
  The social security benefit payment card will replace order books and girocheques.

  We are still in the process of deciding which of the systems proposed by the shortlisted suppliers offers the best security and other features. It is unlikely that a photograph will be used since other features offer more satisfactory means of identification. The initial version of the card may not use microchip technology, but the service provider must provide for upgrading to smart cards in the future, if that is required.

  Disabled People
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received about the Government's policies for disabled people. [14366]

  Mr. Burt
  I have received many representations by and on behalf of disabled people, particularly about the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. I recently received about 180 nominations for membership of the National Disability Council and I am indebted to a variety of individuals, as well as voluntary and business organisations, for providing such an impressive selection of candidates.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were made in January. [14367]

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on cold weather payments. [14368]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  More than 2 million payments were made in January. So far this winter, more than 7 million payments, worth more than £62 million, have been made.

  The current arrangements are responsive and focused on the most vulnerable groups, with automatic payments when there is a sustained period of very cold weather.

  In consultation with the Meteorological Office, postcode areas are linked to one of 55 weather stations throughout the country which are best judged to represent the local climate. The effectiveness of the weather station links are reviewed annually and changes made where appropriate.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from local authority associations regarding proposals to remove benefits from asylum applicants. [14370]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The local authority associations were consulted about the benefit changes affecting asylum seekers. Responses were received from the Association of District Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of London Government.

  Campbell's Soups
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what data the Department retains 124
  as to the take up of benefits payable to claimants in Maryport arising out of the closure of the Campbell's Soups Homepride plant. [14372]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None.

  Housing Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to tackle housing benefit fraud. [14373]

  Mr. Heald
  Later this year, I will introduce a central computer record to cross-check claims. I have earmarked £8 million for challenge funding to encourage innovation in fighting fraud, and in April I will strengthen the financial incentives for local authorities to pursue fraud. I have work in hand on a strategy to stop fraud getting into the system. We are already working with the Audit Commission on better checking of housing benefit applications.

  Benefit Reforms
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reforms of the benefit system he is planning in order to help unemployed people back to work. [14374]

  Mr. Evans
  We are introducing three measures in April: a four-week extension of housing benefit to smooth the transition into work; a "holiday" from national insurance contributions for employers taking on those who have been unemployed for more than two years; and an increase in the childcare disregard in family credit and disability working allowance from £40 to £60 per week.

  From October, the back-to-work bonus will provide a lump sum payment for those leaving job seekers allowance or income support who have worked part-time and we will be piloting the earnings top-up scheme to help those without dependent children.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to reform child benefit. [14375]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I have no plans to reform child benefit other than through legislation already announced in clause 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill, and in draft regulations to restructure child and one-parent benefit. The regulations are currently the subject of consultation. I would expect these proposals to become law later this year, subject to parliamentary approval.

  Benefit Claims
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of how(a) income support and (b) other claims are assessed. [14377]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There are many ways in which the handling of benefit claims are assessed for accuracy, quality and timeousness. The Secretary of State sets the
  125
  Benefits Agency targets for accuracy and speed of assessment which are reported annually in the agency business plan and accounts. There is independent monitoring of accuracy by the National Audit Office and of adjudication standards by the chief adjudication officer.

  Child Support
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women currently receive less in child support than their husband or partners pay to the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [14379]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Payments of child maintenance made by absent parents to the Child Support Agency are passed on to parents with care unless retained to be offset against current or past payments of income support to the parent with care. Information on the total number of cases where payments are retained could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision is made to ensure that absent parents who have incurred a deduction from earnings order from the Child Support Agency are left with sufficient income on which to live. [14914]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The deduction from earnings order sent to an employer, in cases where there is either a full or an interim maintenance assessment, includes an amount below which earnings should not be reduced because of the child support payment.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people with(a) learning disabilities and (b) mental health problems are expected to have their disability living allowance mobility component (i) reduced or (ii) withdrawn when in hospital in (x) 1996–97, (y) 1997–98 and (z) 1998–99. [11997]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  [holding answer 26 January 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. It is estimated that, between 1996 and 1999, some 20,000 to 25,000 people with a learning disability or mental health problem will have their disability living allowance mobility component reduced or withdrawn when in hospital.

  Note:

  These estimates are provisional and subject to change.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of his proposal for the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance on the ability of long-stay patients in hospitals and homes for the mentally ill to re-establish themselves in the community; and if he will make a statement. [14072]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The proposals concern payability of, rather than entitlement to, the mobility component of disability living allowance. Provided the conditions of entitlement continued to be met, payment would be reinstated on a person's discharge from hospital. Payments would also be made at a daily rate for short periods of hospital leave.
  126

  Pension Miscalculations
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women he estimates will have their pension payments reduced as a result of the miscalculation of their entitlement to their deceased husband's private and state earnings-related pension; what estimate he has made of the overpayment to date; and if he will make a statement. [14754]

  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated that around 12,000 widows will have their benefits reduced. The total overpayment is estimated at £7.5 million. The exact figures will be known only when the examination of all cases is completed at the end of March.

  We will not be seeking to recover the overpayment.

  Note:

  The estimates are derived from a 1 per cent. sample of the national insurance recording system database.

  Income Support
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many men aged 55 to 64 years received income support at the present time; and what was the equivalent figure for supplementary benefit in 1979. [14348]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The latest information shows that 334,000 men aged 55 to 64 receive income support. The equivalent figure for 1979 was 116,000.

  Notes:

  1. Source: Supplementary benefit annual statistical inquiry 1979 and the February 1995 income support quarterly inquiry.

  2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Pensioner Couples
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help from public funds is available to a pensioner couple with no outside income; and if he will make a statement. [14376]

  Mr. Heald
  We have a comprehensive structure of benefits to support pensioner couples. This ensures that they have access to an income of more than £100 a week.

  We have comprehensive structure of benefits to support pensioner couples. It includes the state retirement pension, an attendance allowance for disabled pensioners and income-related benefits such as income support and housing benefit for pensioners on a low income. Our measures ensure that pensioner couples have access to income of more than £100 a week.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15596]

  Mr. Burt
  The Department of Social Security's procedural guidelines on procurement require that potential suppliers to the Department are asked to provide information about the size of their work force.
  127

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15738]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Department of Social Security has responsibility for only one regulatory authority—the 128
  Occupational Pensions Board, OPB. Under the terms of the Pension Schemes Act 1993, the OPB is required to consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and not fewer than eight nor more than 12 other members, one of whom is required to be appointed after consultation with organisations representative of employers. Of the current total membership of 14, 12–85 per cent.—are business people.

  Libya: Sanctions
  Libya: Sanctions
  Libya: Lockerbie Disaster Suspects
  Libya: Lockerbie Disaster Suspects
  Iraq: Sanctions
  Iraq: Sanctions
  Bett Review
  Bett Review
  Army Careers Information Offices
  Army Careers Information Offices
  Environmental Statistics: Publication Policy
  Environmental Statistics: Publication Policy
  Private Sector Housing Renewal: Funding
  Private Sector Housing Renewal: Funding
  English Nature: Review
  English Nature: Review
  Environment Agency: Committee Membership
  Environment Agency: Committee Membership
  Northern Ireland: Inquiries and Reviews
  Northern Ireland: Inquiries and Reviews
  AIDS-related Expenditure
  AIDS-related Expenditure
  AIDS Research: Use of Animals
  AIDS Research: Use of Animals
  DSS Efficiency Savings and Staff Numbers
  DSS Efficiency Savings and Staff Numbers
  Electronic Monitoring
  Electronic Monitoring
  Shipping Industry: Training Programmes
  Shipping Industry: Training Programmes