Written Answers of 21 February 1996

TRANSPORT

  Railtrack
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of W. S. Atkins's review of the investment needs of Railtrack. [15168]

  Mr. Watts
  W. S. Atkins has assisted Railtrack in the development of its asset maintenance plan for track and route structures to reflect the long-term maintenance that these assets require. The AMP forecasts expenditure requirements in respect of these assets over a 10-year period. An AMP charge representing a proportion of the forecast expenditure was reflected in Railtrack's accounts for 1994–95.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost of operating the royal train in 1995 per mile travelled with a member of the royal family on board. [15954]

  Mr. Watts
  The total cost to the Exchequer of royal travel by train in 1994–95 was £2.4 million, including train preparation, maintenance and British Transport police security. That sum includes payments in respect of some journeys made in 1993–94. The total cost for journeys made in 1995 is not yet available. The operating cost of the royal train during 1995, both when a member of the royal family was on board and for positioning journeys to and from the depot in Buckinghamshire, was £21.30 per mile in 1994–95 and a slightly lower rate of £20.36 per mile in 1995–96. This excludes costs of overheads, maintenance and security.

  Traffic Flow (Marks Tey)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures (1) he intends to introduce on the A121 between Hatfield Peverel and Marks Tey on the Al20 between Braintree and Marks Tey to ensure that traffic is kept freely flowing and safety standards are maintained; [16066]

  (2) what are (a) the latest traffic flow figures and (b) the latest accident statistics for (i) the Al2 between Hatfield Peverel and Marks Tey and (ii) the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey. [16065]

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

  Letter from Laurie Haynes to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 21 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about traffic flows, accident statistics and measures to keep traffic flowing freely and maintain safety standards on the A12 and A120.
  130
  The 1994 Annual Average Daily Traffic flow (AADT) for the A 12 between Hatfield Peverel and Marks Tey was about 67,400 vehicles north of Chelmsford and 54,600 vehicles south of Colchester. On the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey the 1994 AADT was about 15,000 vehicles.
  The latest accident statistics for the twelve months from January 1995 to December 1995 on the A 12 between Hatfield Peverel and Marks Tey are:

  Fatal: 0

  Seriously Injured: 19

  Slightly Injured: 52

  Total: 71
  and on the Al20 between Braintree and Marks Tey are:

  Fatal: 0

  Seriously Injured: 7

  Slightly Injured: 25

  Total: 32

  Responsibility for maintaining the free flow of traffic and safety standard on the present A12 and A120 lies with the Highways Agency's Network Management and Maintenance Directorate. They monitor traffic and accidents and where appropriate promote small Network Enhancement Projects to address particular congestion or accident problems. In the current financial year, three such schemes to address accident problems have been promoted on the A12: one was completed in December and the other two are expected to start next month. Any other improvements that are identified will be taken forward when funds become available.

  Land Compensation Act 1973
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount of compensation and in what category has been paid out to tenants since 1990 under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. [16039]

  Mr. Watts
  Where the Highways Agency, or its contractors, has taken entry on to land being compulsorily acquired, the agency has a statutory duty under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 to make, on receipt of a written application from a person or persons with a qualifying interest in the land, within the period specified in, and subject to the provisions of, that section of the Act, an advance payment equal to 90 per cent. of the agreed, or estimated, compensation payable. Information is not held separately on payments made to tenants under section 52.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appeals have been made against refusal of compensation claims under the Land Compensation Act 1973 in each of the last five years; and how many were successful. [16041]

  Mr. Watts
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of compensation claims under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 have been refused since 1990. [16040]

  Mr. Watts
  A decision to refuse advance payment of compensation under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 may be taken only when the provisions of section 52(6) apply. No separate record is kept of such decisions.

  Former Minelayer, MUL16
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to determine the ownership and current registration of the former minelayer, MUL16. [15556]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Rupert Allason, dated 20 February 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about the former Swedish minelayer MUL 16.
  As you know the ship was detained by surveyors from the Marine Safety Agency on 18 August 1995 at Poole Harbour. The ship was subsequently allowed to move to Southampton in order to rectify deficiencies. She remains under detention in Southampton. The ship will not be allowed to go to sea until the Agency is satisfied that it is safe to do so.
  You asked what steps have been taken to determine her ownership and current registration. In my letter to you of 29 November I explained that the MSA had attempted, unsuccessfully, to confirm registry so as to establish which maritime administration, if any, was responsible for the ship.
  An application has been made to register the vessel under the UK flag. The Registrar General of Seamen and Shipping is currently waiting for a number of documents, including proof of ownership, before proceeding. Checks will also be made to confirm that the vessel is not registered elsewhere.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) for what reasons compliance cost assessments are not prepared for regulations which concern the existing requirements of article 119 of the treaty of Rome in respect of equal treatment; [15953]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to prepare a compliance cost assessment for regulations which implement judgments of the European Court of Justice notwithstanding the fact that they concern existing requirements of article 119 of the treaty of Rome; [15952]

  (3) what categories of regulation do not require a compliance cost assessment to be prepared. [15951]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government require a compliance cost assessment to be prepared for all regulations that have an impact on business, charities and voluntary organisations including those which concern article 119 of the treaty of Rome. The only circumstances in which an assessment need not be prepared would he if the regulation has no impact on business, charities and voluntary organisations.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make his observations known on the report on the "Review of Fire Safety Legislation and Enforcement in the United Kingdom". [16036]

  Mr. Willetts
  The Government have been considering the findings of the review and the views expressed by interested parties, including the deregulation task force.
  132
  They have also been further considering the fire safety aspects of the EC framework and workplace directives. An announcement on both will be made soon.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the EC directives which have been subject to a United Kingdom compliance cost assessment for 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, together with the date each compliance cost assessment was completed and the date each directive was voted on by the Council of Ministers. [15613]

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of compliance cost assessments on EC directives, including the date on which each was issued, are set out in the following Command Papers:

  1 November 1993 to 30 June 1994: Cm 2719

  1 July 1994 to 31 December 1994: Cm 2881

  1 January 1995 to 30 June 1995: Cm 3075.

  Details of compliance cost assessments issued during the second half of 1995 and during 1996 will be included in further Command Papers which are published at approximately six-monthly intervals.

  Details of compliance cost assessments issued before November 1993 and information about the date on which each directive was agreed by the Council of Ministers are not centrally held.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  "Judicial Appointments"
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many copies of the information pack "Judicial Appointments" have been produced; and what was the total cost of this exercise. [15210]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Some 15,000 copies of the information package have been produced at a total cost for design, production and distribution of £47,869.70

  Judiciary (Ethnic Awareness Courses)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges, recorders and assistant recorders have attended ethnic minority awareness courses organised by his Department; and what has been the cost of these courses. [15211]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To date, 424 judges, 762 recorders and 345 assistant recorders have attended seminars on ethnic minority issues organised by the Judicial Studies Board. The cost of these seminars has been £645,000.

  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 in those instances where no compliances cost assessment has been made, the reasons no such assessment has been made. [15581]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.
  133
  The Government require a compliance cost assessment to accompany all statutory instruments that have an impact on business, charities and voluntary organisations when they are presented to Parliament. The only circumstances in which a compliance cost assessment is not required would be if the statutory instrument has no adverse impact on business, charities and voluntary organisations. I do not believe there is any necessity to state this in each case.

ENVIRONMENT

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people benefited from the home energy efficiency scheme in each parliamentary constituency or other area by which data are collected for the last years for which figures are available. [15863]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The numbers of grants paid under the home energy efficiency scheme by region of England and in Scotland and Wales for the last three financial years are as follows:

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96 (Up to 19 February 1996)

  East Midlands

  33,321

  53,399

  57,579

  London

  23,337

  52,829

  62,668

  North East

  21,821

  36,876

  36,807

  North West

  43,545

  80,475

  85,025

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  26,267

  41,977

  42,236

  South East

  30,713

  60,142

  71,764

  South West

  12,921

  25,197

  32,316

  West Midlands

  36,075

  54,722

  54,943

  Scotland

  29,566

  41,820

  45,848

  Wales

  11,582

  22,784

  26,319

  Total

  269,148

  470,221

  515,505

  Empty Buildings
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 479, if he will give the total cost to the common user (office) estate of service, security and other charges associated with empty Government buildings. [16003]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Property Holdings has kept a record of the overall costs of vacant accommodation on the common user estate since 1993–94. The figures are

  Estate Action Schemes—Newcastle

  (a) Number of dwelling units

  (b) Number of dwellings transferred

  Scheme

  Year Started

  (1) Cleared

  (2) Improved

  (3) Built

  (1) To Housing Association

  (1) To Other

  Leazes Estate

  1987–88

  0

  30

  0

  0

  0

  Rye Hill Central

  1987–88

  60

  70

  0

  0

  0

  N. Kenton Ph 3

  1988–89

  21

  21

  0

  0

  0

  E. Garth, Newbiggen Hall

  1988–89

  0

  80

  0

  64

  343

  Loadman St. Ph 2A

  1989–90

  0

  26

  0

  0

  0

  Dorrington Road

  1989–90

  0

  105

  0

  0

  220

  Cruddas Park Ph 1

  1989–90

  0

  450

  0

  0

  0

  Cruddas Park Ph 2

  1989–90

  0

  414

  0

  0

  0

  Buddie Road

  1989–90

  27

  366

  0

  0

  38

  134
  aggregate costs of vacant leasehold and freehold accommodation, excluding rents and contributions in lieu of rates. They will include service charges, fuel and utilities, maintenance, professional fees, and settlement of dilapidations claims.

  1993–94: £13.1 million

  1994–95: £19.7 million

  1995–96: £32.9 million (estimated).

  The increase in vacant space is due to the fall in the civil service numbers combined with rationalisation and relocation out of London.

  Housing (Newcastle)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources to date have been applied by his Department to(a) the Cowgate estate action scheme, Newcastle, (b) Y. V. Lovell plc, (c) North British Housing, (d) other housing associations in the area and (e) the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. [16084]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Since 1990, the Department has provided resources to a number of bodies involved in the renewal scheme at Cowgate estate, Newcastle upon Tyne as follows:

  (a) Estate Action: £4.500 million

  (b) Y.V. Lovell plc: £1.300 million (City Grant)

  (c) City of Newcastle: £3.200 million (Urban Programme)

  In addition, the Housing Corporation has provided the following housing association grant:

  (a) Anchor Housing: £1.500 million

  (b) North British: £3.700 million.

  There has also been some £6 million private investment in the Cowgate renewal scheme.

  Altogether, over 900 homes have been improved or created on the estate, together with significant environmental improvements.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the estate action schemes in the city of Newcastle and in the case of each show the(a) number of dwelling units (i) cleared, (ii) improved and (iii) built and (b) number of dwelling units transferred from the ownership of Newcastle upon Tyne city council to (i) housing association ownership and (ii) other owners. [16095]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is provided in the table.
  135

  Estate Action Schemes—Newcastle

  (a) Number of dwelling units

  (b) Number of dwellings transferred

  Scheme

  Year Started

  (1) Cleared

  (2) Improved

  (3) Built

  (1) To Housing Association

  (1) To Other

  Loadman St. Central Area

  1990–91

  92

  14

  0

  0

  0

  Loadman St. Ph 3

  1990–91

  0

  124

  0

  0

  0

  Cowgate Ph. 1,2,3

  1990–91

  61

  278

  96

  47

  81

  North Kenton Ph 4

  1991–92

  20

  140

  0

  60

  80

  Bentinck Road Ph 3

  1991–92

  0

  54

  0

  0

  0

  Rye Hill East

  1992–93

  51

  27

  0

  0

  0

  Newbiggen Hall

  1992–93

  0

  72

  0

  0

  75

  Cowgate Ph 4

  1992–93

  0

  371

  0

  0

  104

  Jubilee Estate

  1993–94

  0

  212

  0

  86

  0

  Ferquson Lane Ph 3

  1994–95

  32

  94

  100

  0

  0

  Newbiggin Hall Ph 2

  1994–95

  39

  141

  32

  21

  0

  Lower Scotswood Ph 2

  1994–95

  43

  243

  0

  0

  0

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the city of Newcastle upon Tyne applied under section 195 of the Housing Act 1988 for funds to support the purchase of properties in the Cowgate estate action area; and when he expects to give a decision. [16096]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  City of Newcastle upon Tyne council applied to the Secretary of State on 20 December 1995 for consent under section 129 of the Housing Act 1988 to run a cash incentive scheme for current council tenants buying owner-occupied properties on the Cowgate estate. The application is under consideration and a decision will be made shortly.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums were spent by Y. V. Lovell plc with estate action fund support on the purchase of land and buildings in the Cowgate estate action area; and how many housing units were so purchased. [16085]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Y. V. Lovell plc received no estate action fund support for the purchase of land and buildings in the Cowgate estate. It did, however, receive city grant of £1.3 million for the improvement of 192 former council houses for sale on the open market. Information about the purchase of land and buildings by Lovell plc from the city council is commercially confidential.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many processes are authorised for integrated pollution control by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under part A of the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991; how many are authorised for local authority air pollution under part B of the regulations; how many authorisations remain to be determined; and what is his estimate of the additional number of processes that will require authorisation under the requirements of the integrated pollution prevention and control directive. [15845]

  Mr. Clappison
  The number of IPC authorisations under regulation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons under part A of the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 is 1,863, as at 12 February 1996 and 17 part B authorisations are regulated by HMIP.
  136
  A further 246 applications have been received. Of these, 177 meet the requirements of the regulations and are in the process of determination. The remaining 69 have yet to be examined in detail.

  Under part B of the regulations up to 31 March 1994, 10,535 processes were authorised for local authority air pollution control and 1,726 were on hand to be determined.

  I estimate that the integrated pollution prevention and control directive will cover between 3,500 to 4,000 processes which are not covered by IPC. Of these, approximately 1,600 are already covered by local authority air pollution control. The remaining processes consist of between 1,000 and 1,500 intensive farms, a number of large food and drink processing plants, plus small numbers of other processes not covered by either IPC or LAAPC.

  Nitrogen Deposits
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will publish the critical load maps for nitrogen deposition in the United Kingdom. [15846]

  Mr. Clappison
  United Kingdom maps of critical loads for total acidity, to which nitrogen deposition contributes, have been published in the current digest of environmental statistics. Critical loads maps for nutrient nitrogen have been published in the INDITE report—impacts of nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems—which was published at the request of the Department in October 1994. Copies of both the digest and the INDITE report have been placed in the House of Commons Library. The nutrient nitrogen maps have recently undergone revision and copies are freely available from my Department on request.

  Non-carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish a progress report on the United Kingdom climate change programme relating to non-carbon dioxide emissions. [15847]

  Mr. Clappison
  An update of the United Kingdom climate change programme covering emissions of all greenhouse gases will be published in March 1997.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay before the House the orders for structural change for those local authorities for which he has decided to accord unitary status. [16092]

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

  Education Authority Funding
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are the total amounts of rate support grant, national non-domestic rates and standard spending assessment reduction grant and, as appropriate,

  PQ 15676

  £ million

  Notional 1995–96

  Actual 1996–97

  Local authority

  RSG

  NNDR

  1995–96 SSA reduction grant

  RSG

  NNDR

  SSA reduction grant

  1996–97 STG

  Total inner London boroughs including City

  1,899.599

  504.815

  86.284

  1,771.381

  566.587

  75.189

  33.942

  Total outer London boroughs

  1,861.229

  939.168

  42.759

  1,792.205

  1,054,969

  20.476

  39.273

  Total Metropolitan districts

  4,767.745

  2,334.076

  12.087

  4,603.092

  2,604.277

  2.978

  103.294

  Total Shire counties

  6,908.355

  5,050.302

  —

  6,534.490

  5,715.567

  —

  219.448

  Total Shire unitary authorities

  900.070

  585.944

  1.162

  861.611

  656.801

  —

  22.029

  Isles of Scilly

  1.805

  0.445

  —

  1.682

  0.486

  0.023

  0.014

  Total all education authorities

  16,338.804

  9,414.750

  142.292

  15,564.462

  10,598.687

  98.666

  418.000

  Total England

  18,986.076

  11,354.000

  261.417

  18,001.406

  12,736.000

  219.756

  418.000

  1. Notional figures for 1995–96 include as amounts of RSG community care special transitional grant and metropolitan rail grant estimated to be payable for that year. This takes account of changes in functions between years and local government reorganisation.

  2. For 1996–97 STG is payable in respect of responsibilities additional to those for which STG was payable for 1995–96.

  PQ 15675

  £ million

  Notional 1995–96

  Actual 1996–97

  Local authority

  RSG

  NNDR

  1995–96 SSA reduction grant

  RSG

  NNDR

  1996–97 SSA reduction grant

  Bath and North East Somerset

  40.650

  35.254

  —

  37.703

  39.549

  —

  Bristol

  126.487

  85.71

  —

  118.560

  96.151

  —

  South Gloucestershire

  49.897

  49.599

  0.221

  47.755

  55.990

  —

  North Somerset

  41.778

  39.265

  —

  39.358

  44.003

  —

  Hartlepool

  41.090

  19.829

  —

  39.599

  22.212

  —

  Middlesbrough

  72.988

  31.440

  —

  70.689

  35.386

  —

  Redcar and Cleveland

  59.989

  31.012

  —

  58.323

  34.390

  —

  Stockton-on-Tees

  70.292

  38.328

  —

  67.489

  42.907

  —

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  83.357

  65.068

  —

  77.313

  73.634

  —

  Kingston upon Hull

  119.690

  57.750

  0.941

  118.575

  64.819

  —

  North East Lincolnshire

  61.572

  34.924

  —

  60.160

  38.867

  —

  North Lincolnshire

  51.826

  32.934

  —

  49.609

  36.892

  —

  York City

  38.424

  37.931

  —

  36.598

  41.981

  —

  North Yorkshire CC

  127.422

  99.632

  —

  123.309

  113.378

  —

  Total—new/reorganised authorities

  985.463

  658.678

  1.162

  945.040

  740.160

  —

  Total England

  18,986.076

  11,354.000

  261.417

  18,001.406

  12,736.000

  219.756

  1. Notional figures for 1995–96 include as amounts of RSG community care special transitional grant and metropolitan rail grant estimated to be payable for that year. This takes account of changes in functions between years and local government reorganisation.

  2. For 1996–97 STG is payable in respect of responsibilities additional to those for which STG was payable for 1995–96.

  138
  community care and metropolitan rail grants provided in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1995–96 for each local authority responsible for education in 1996–97 (i) by class and (ii) in total allowing for changes in functions; [15676]

  (2) what are the total amounts of rate support grant, national non-domestic rates and standard spending assessment reduction grant, the 1995–96 notional calculation being consistent with the calculation of notional 1995–96 SSAs and council taxes set out in statutory instrument 1996/176 and including 1995–96 community care and metropolitan rail grants treated as part of RSG in 1996–97, and allowing for other changes in function provided in (a) 1996–97 and (b)1995–96 for new local authorities assuming responsibility for education in 1996–97 (i) for each authority and (ii) in total. [15675]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: The information is shown in the tables.

  Campbells Soups
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents of scalding at the Campbells Soups factory in King's Lynn have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years. [15360]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: HSE has obtained Campbells Soups' permission to provide the following date which would not otherwise have been released.

  Five incidents of scalding at the Campbells Soups factory in King's Lynn have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the five-year period between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents of scalding at the Campbells Soups factory in Stratford-on-Avon have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years. [15361]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: HSE has obtained Campbells Soups' permission to provide the following data which would not otherwise have been released.

  One incident of scalding at the Campbells Soups factory in Stratford-upon-Avon has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths have been notified to the Health and Safety Executive in respect of persons involved in food manufacturing in plants owned by Campbells Soups in the last five years. [15364]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: One fatal accident at Campbells Soups has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the consequences for the construction industry in the United Kingdom of(a) a minimum wage at a level of £4 an hour and (b) implementation of the social chapter. [15442]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The introduction of a statutory minimum wage and the implementation of the social chapter in the United Kingdom would impose substantial extra costs on British business, which, in turn, would destroy jobs. This would be a double disaster damaging employment and prosperity across the economy, including the construction industry.

TREASURY

  North Sea Oil (Tax Revenues)
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of extra tax revenues that Her Majesty's Treasury would have received from North sea oil companies if no changes had been made in 1983 to the tax regime. [14760]
  140
  Mr. Jack
  Estimated revenue effects of the changes to petroleum revenue tax in 1983–84 were given in table 4.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for that year. No separate estimates were made of the impact on North sea companies of the corporation tax changes in that year.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner,(b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [16025]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  There are no executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Treasury.

  Euro
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what budgetary allocations he is making for the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and(c) 1998–99 for preparations by the Royal Mint to produce coins and banknotes for circulation in the United Kingdom denominated in euros; [16058]

  (2) what expenditure he has approved to date for officials of the Royal Mint to attend meetings of European Commission working parties in Brussels to prepare for the introduction of a single European currency; and if he will continue to approve such expenditures for this purpose in the future. [16059]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No specific provision has been made for expenditure by Her Majesty's Treasury on preparations for single currency coins by the Royal Mint. The Royal Mint operates as a trading fund and takes budgeting decisions on a commercial basis. Preparations for single currency notes are the responsibility of the European Monetary Institute, and involve the national central banks of EU member states, including the Bank of England. The Government are committed to playing a full role in preparations for economic and monetary union, given the implications for the UK—including possible commercial opportunities for the Royal Mint—whether or not we participate in the single currency.

  Arms (Iraq)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what request Customs and Excise has received from the United States Customs Department since 1989 for assistance in information on involvement of United Kingdom companies with the Atlanta branch of the Banca Nationale del Lavoro in funding arms purchases for Iraq. [16006]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: Requests from the United States Customs Department to Customs and Excise are made under the basis of a memorandum of understanding dated 6 July 1989. Requests and information provided are confidential exchanges solely for the purpose of mutual assistance set out in the memorandum.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review Customs and Excise prosecution policy. [15987]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: In the light of lessons learnt from the super-gun, Matrix Churchill and other cases, Customs and Excise has already made improvements in the way in which it handles major prosecutions. Sir Richard Scott makes several further recommendations for improvement; these will be carefully considered as a part of the Government's response to the report.

  Value Added Tax
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax is collected annually from the national health service. [15907]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: Assuming that the hon. Lady is referring to the total cost to the NHS of VAT, HM Customs and Excise calculates from the data produced by the Central Statistical Office that it is about £1.5 billion.

  If the hon. Lady is referring to actual VAT collected from health authorities, output tax in the year ending 31 March 1995 was £69 million. This was offset by repayments of £381 million in respect of input tax and refunds relating to contracted-out services.

  VAT paid is taken into account in the allocation of funds to NHS trusts.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax is collected annually from the sale of pharmaceutical products to the national health service. [15902]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: The information requested is not available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on funding of secure accommodation for young offenders; and what plans he has to transfer responsibility for the funding to the Home Office; [15428]

  (2) what is the recidivism rate for young offenders who have been placed in secure accommodation for (a) one month, (b) three months, (c) six months and (d) one year and longer; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of secure accommodation placements; [15436]

  (3) what is the weekly cost of placement per young offender in each approved secure accommodation venue; and if he will make a statement. [15437]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  142
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Nigel Jones, dated 21 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the funding of secure accommodation for young offenders, the effectiveness of secure accommodation, and the cost of the various secure accommodation units.
  The Department of Health is responsible for the capital funding of secure accommodation and for its approval and inspection. However, revenue funding for the placement in secure accommodation of offenders convicted under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is a Home Office responsibility having been transferred from the Department of Health on 1 April 1995. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

  The information requested on recidivism rates is not available. Limited research on recidivism is contained in Home Office Research and Planning Unit Paper 66, "Juveniles sentenced for serious offences: a comparison of regimes in young offender institutions and local authority community homes", published by the Home Office in 1992. This small scale study found some evidence that section 53 offenders released from secure accommodation did better in terms of reconviction than section 53 offenders released from young offender institutions.

  The attached table shows the weekly charge per head for those secure accommodation units in which section 53 offenders have been detained since April 1995.

  Charge

  Unit

  £

  Amberdale

  2,198.00

  Atkinson Unit

  1,973.16

  Aycliffe

  2,289.00

  Barton Moss

  1,879.50

  Briars Hey

  1,873.55

  Dyson Hall

  2,151.31

  East Moor

  1,941.80

  Fairfield Lodge

  2.434.18

  Glenthorne

  2,530.01

  Market Street

  2,162.09

  Middlesex Lodge

  2,849.98

  Orchard Lodge

  2,919.98

  Red Bank

  2,177.00

  Red Sands

  1,974.00

  Salters

  2,177.00

  St. Johns, Birmingham

  2.359.00

  St. Catherines

  2.074.80

  Stamford House

  2,919.98

  Sutton Place

  2.197.30

  Stoke House

  2,419.97

  Vinney Green

  1,981.00

  Children Certificates
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has completed the review of the conditions being put on children certificates by magistrates; and if he will make a statement. [15717]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We are continuing to monitor the attaching of conditions to children certificates and expect shortly to be in a position to decide what action is required. I regret that it has not proved possible to move as quickly as originally hoped.

  Crime Statistics (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the clear-up rate in
  143
  Nottinghamshire for (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995 for (i) burglary, (ii) theft and (iii) crimes of violence. [15720]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is given in the table. Information for 1995 is not yet available.

  Clear-up rate for notifiable offences recorded in the Nottinghamshire police force area 1991–1994

  Percentages

  Year

  Burglary

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  Crimes of Violence1

  1991

  22

  24

  71

  1992

  22

  24

  68

  1993

  29

  26

  68

  1994

  29

  26

  67

  1 Offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.

  Detention Centres (Immigration)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently held in detention centres in respect of immigration. [16002]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information is available on all persons, excluding non-asylum cases in detention for less than a month, held in immigration service detention centres solely under Immigration Act powers. The number of such persons was 295 on 31 January 1996. This figure excludes persons detained in Prison Service establishments or police cells. Information on non-asylum cases in detention for less than a month is not available centrally.

  Carl Bridgewater
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment(a) he and (b) his predecessors made of the evidence of prison officer Kenneth Mann about statements alleged to have been made by Patrick Molloy while awaiting trial for the murder of Carl Bridgewater. [16075]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  A statement by this officer is one of a number of statements recording admissions by Mr. Molloy, which were taken into account both in the previous consideration of this case and in reaching the provisional conclusions notified on 7 December 1995.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will disclose to solicitors acting for the men convicted of murdering Carl Bridgewater, the statements of the education officer at HMP Gartree relating to Patrick Molloy. [16076]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  A statement made by a former education officer at Gartree prison was disclosed on 9 June 1995 to the convicted men's solicitor.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department between which dates Patrick Molloy was detained at HMP Winson Green while awaiting trial for the murder of Carl Bridgewater. [16074]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The statements of two witnesses indicate that Mr. Molloy was detained in Winson Green prison at some point while awaiting trail, but it has not been possible to find any prison records which confirm this, or to establish the dates.

  Political Refugees
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many political refugees from Nigeria are settled in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [15688]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available. However, between 1992 and 1994, three Nigerian nationals were granted settlement after having been in the United Kingdom for four years as refugees. During the same period two Nigerian nationals were recognised as refugees and granted asylum. They may apply for settlement after four years.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many political refugees have been accepted into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years at the latest date. [15689]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  During 1995, 1,295 asylum seekers were granted refugee status. Information on the number of grants of asylum in earlier years is given in table 3.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislative provisions the spouse of a United Kingdom subject working overseas on a permanent basis may satisfy the criteria for eligibility for naturalisation as a British citizen; and if he will make a statement. [15878]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The provisions governing naturalisation of the spouse of a British citizen are set out in sections 6(2) of and schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981. Applicants are required to be:

  aged 18 or over and not of unsound mind;

  of good character;

  married to a British citizen at the time of application;

  free of any time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom under the immigration laws on the date of application;

  and to meet certain conditions regarding residence.

  Except where the British citizen is in Crown or designated service, the spouse is required to have lived in the Untied Kingdom during the three years prior to application.

  Fire Service College
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the closure of the Fire Service College. [15855]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Fire Service College will continue as a next steps agency operating as a trading fund.

  Fire Brigades
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he proposes to take to ensure that fire brigades throughout the country are adequately funded in 1996–97. [15854]
  145
  Mr. Sackville
  It is up to each fire authority, in the light of the proposed criteria for council tax capping, to set a budget for 1996–97 which will enable it to comply with its statutory duties under the Fire Services Act 1947.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been conducted into the relative effectiveness of(a) prison education and (b) behaviour modification courses; and if he will make a statement. [16091]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 21 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about research conducted into the relative effectiveness of (a) prison education and (b) behaviour modification courses.The available research evidence indicates that programmes can be effective in reducing the risk of re-offending if they are: relevant to the offending of those involved; use methods to which offenders are responsive; provide enough treatment to produce sustained effects; are properly implemented and managed; and are reinforced by compatible work after release. Both prison education and behaviour modification programmes can meet these criteria.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [17034]

  Mr. Howard
  As police authority for the Metropolitan police district. I have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure of £1,716.995 million in 1996–97.

  The receiver for the Metropolitan police district is issuing, with my approval, a precept of £49.84 per property in band D of the council tax valuation band for Metropolitan police purposes.

  I have discussed the estimates for the Metropolitan police expenditure in 1996–97 with representatives of the London local authority associations.

  Mr. Paul Malone
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what authority records in the Home Office, relating to the case of Mr. Paul Malone between the years of 1982 and 1984, were destroyed; and if he will make a statement. [14770]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 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. Andrew Miller, dated 21 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about records relating to Mr. Paul Malone and under what authority they were destroyed.146 Generally Home Office files are selected for retention or destruction in accordance with criteria agreed with the Public Record Office. Papers which are needed on a long term basis for administrative purposes, or because they may be selected for permanent preservation in the Public Record Office, may be kept in the Department for up to 30 years; however in the interest of efficiency, papers which are likely to be of only ephemeral interest are destroyed when they are around 5 years old.Specific instructions about locally held prison records are set out in Circular Instructions 44/1978 and 23/1990, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many written parliamentary questions were passed for answer to executive agencies and non-governmental departments in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14994]

  Mr. Horam
  Parliamentary questions are not transferred to non-departmental public bodies. The Department's first agency was established on 1 April 1991.

  No parliamentary questions were referred to agencies in the 1991–92 parliamentary Session. Five were referred in the 1992–93 parliamentary Session, two in the 1993–94 Session and 17 in the 1994–95 Session.

  Six questions have been referred to date in the 1995–96 Session.

  Hospitals (Patient Deaths)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been reported in each health authority in each of the last five years of patients dying after hospital admission but before being found a bed. [15895]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available centrally.

  Senior Mangers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will investigate the extent of the practice of NHS trusts and health authorities raising senior management salaries before making them redundant; [15859]

  (2) if he will instruct NHS trusts and health authorities that managers on fixed-term contracts should not be made redundant for the purpose of management savings unless this can be done at nil cost. [15908]

  Mr. Malone
  These are local matters. All national health service boards are required to establish a remuneration and terms of service committee to exercise proper control of executive board members' remuneration. Trust boards are accountable for the proper appointment, appraisal and remuneration of their senior executives and, as in all their functions, boards must have regard to the public service values of accountability, probity and openness enshrined in the codes of conduct and accountability issued to all NHS boards in April 1994.
  147
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure the cost of management staff reductions at NHS health authorities does not exceed the annual savings. [15872]

  Mr. Malone
  It is for individual health authorities to keep their costs within agreed limits and so deliver their contribution to the overall planned savings.

  Patient Transfers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issues to health authorities regarding the transfer for treatment in another area of patients advised against treatment in one authority. [15893]

  Mr. Horam
  None. This is a clinical matter and it is for doctors to determine.

  NHS Trust Directors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will stop payments of salary to NHS trust directors for a calendar month during which they fail to attend any scheduled meetings; [15869]

  (2) what action he plans to take about NHS trust non-executive directors who claim the full salary while attending only a minority of meetings. [15860]

  Mr. Malone
  There are no plans to make any change to the circumstances in which remuneration is payable to non-executive directors of national health service trusts.

  Mr. Salya Narcein Bansal
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an independent inquiry into the death of Mr. Salya Narcein Bansal in Wythenshawe hospital. [15897]

  Mr. Horam
  South Manchester University Hospitals national health service trust has already investigated this case under the standard NHS complaints procedures.

  Children Act 1989 (Contact Orders)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collects centrally on the effects or operation of section 8 orders under the Children Act 1989. [15963]

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  Wansbeck NHS Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report in to the cost to Wansbeck NHS trust of terminating the services of its chief executive. [15864]

  Mr. Malone
  This is a matter for Cheviot and Wansbeck national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Baker, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Child Labour (Britain)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on child labour in Britain; and if he will make a statement. [14699]
  148
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on illegal child employment in the United Kingdom. [14706]

  Mr. Bowis
  A variety of views have been expressed in response to our recent consultation on proposals for some changes to the law on children's employment.

DEFENCE

  Asbestosis
  Sir Peter Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel(a) have been obliged to retire because of asbestos or allied conditions and (b) have developed asbestosis or allied conditions after leaving the services in the last 10 years. [16225]

  Mr. Soames
  Five service personnel—two Army, two Royal Navy and one RAF—have retired in the last 10 years because of asbestosis or allied conditions. Figures for those who have developed asbestosis or allied conditions after leaving the services are not available.

  Commanding Officers (Territorial Army)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many commanding officers of regiment and battalion sized units in the Territorial Army are(a) territorials and (b) regulars; and if he will break down the figures by (i) regiment, (ii) corps and (iii) officer training corps, indicating the equivalent figures for 1990. [15746]

  Mr. Soames
  See following table:

  Summary of TA Commanding Officers

  Arm or service

  Total TA Regt's

  TA CO

  Reg. CO

  RAC

  1990

  5

  3

  2

  Now (20 February 1996)

  7

  3

  4

  RA

  1990

  6

  3

  3

  Now

  6

  5

  1

  RE

  1990

  8

  3

  5

  Now

  9

  3

  6

  R Signals

  1990

  11

  3

  8

  Now

  11

  4

  7

  Infantry

  1990

  39

  10

  29

  Now

  36

  4

  32

  RAMC

  1990

  8

  5

  3

  Now

  8

  6

  2

  RLC

  1990

  8

  2

  6

  Now

  8

  3

  5

  REME

  1990

  1

  —

  1

  Now

  5

  2

  3

  149

  Summary of TA Commanding Officers

  Arm or service

  Total TA Regt's

  TA CO

  Reg. CO

  UOTC

  1990

  19

  5

  14

  Now

  19

  7

  12

  Totals

  1990

  105

  34

  71

  Now

  109

  37

  72

  HMY Britannia
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken to reduce the annual operating cost of Her Majesty's yacht, Britannia; and if he will make a statement. [16263]

  Mr. Soames
  The demands on Britannia, and hence her operating costs, have varied from year to year, depending on the number and location of countries she has been required to visit. A number of measures have, however, been taken to reduce operating costs. Over the last two years these have included a reduction of 5 per cent. in the size of the ship's complement, and the regrading of the commanding officer's post from rear admiral to commodore.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the timing of the announcement of the contract for type 23 frigates; and if he will make a statement. [15779]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Representations have been received from various Members of Parliament as well as from representatives of the management and the work force of both tenderers. An announcement will be made as soon as the decision has been taken.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Refugees (Rwanda and Zaire)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the situation of Rwandan refugees in Zaire. [16169]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are in regular contact with the Zairean and Rwandan Governments and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees about the situation of the Rwandan refugees. The assessment of UN agencies is that levels of food and other basic requirements for the refugees remain sufficient for the time being. Agencies have also made provision for the large-scale voluntary return of the refugees to Rwanda, which is important for the long-term stability of the Great Lakes region.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made and what discussions he has held with(a) the Zairean Government and (b) the UNHCR about the situation in refugee camps on the border between Rwanda and Zaire. [16170]
  150
  Mr. Hanley
  Our ambassador in Kinshasa has discussed the situation in the refugee camps with Zairean Ministers, reminding them of our opposition to the forcible repatriation of refugees. The ambassador visited the camps on 16 February, and discussed the situation with the local administration and UNHCR officials. Our mission to the UN in Geneva is also in regular contact with UNHCR headquarters staff about this.

  Burundi
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the stocks of arms available to different factions in Burundi. [16172]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have made no such assessment.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions representatives of Her Majesty's Government have had with the Burundian Government. [16191]

  Mr. Hanley
  The British ambassador in Kigali visited Bujumbura from 24 to 26 January, when she met a number of Minister and political leaders. Baroness Chalker is due to meet the Burundi Minister in London on 22 February.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held(a) bilaterally and (b) through the European Union regarding the situation in Burundi with (i) the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, (ii) the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity and (iii) the Secretary-General of the United Nations. [16173]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have maintained close contact with the UN Secretary-General about the situation in Burundi and have played an active part in discussions in the UN Security Council. We have also supported EU efforts, including the appointment of an EU special representative for the Great Lakes region, and a further visit to Burundi by the EU troika on 12 February. Additionally, we have kept in touch with the Organisation of African Unity secretariat, bilaterally and through the EU troika. There have been no recent discussions with the Commonwealth Secretary-General about Burundi, although we are in close touch with a number of Commonwealth leaders in the region who have an important role to play.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of and what steps he has taken to monitor the situation in Burundi. [16171]

  Mr. Hanley
  We continue to monitor closely the fragile situation in Burundi. We are giving full support to the efforts of the UN, OAU, regional leaders and the EU to promote political progress.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to ensure that the Overseas Development Administration identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15677]

  Mr. Hanley
  ODA and its procurement agents have instigated arrangements for asking suppliers bidding for work whether they have fewer than 200 employees.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Legislation (Complexity)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he is taking to eliminate unnecessary complexity in primary and secondary legislation. [15765]

  Mr. Newton
  It is the Government's settled policy that neither primary nor secondary legislation should contain unnecessary provisions, and that provisions should be drafted as simply as is consistent with certainty.

  Westminster Hall
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if the southern floor of Westminster Hall is sinking; and if he will make a statement. [15405]

  Mr. Ray Powell
  Over a period of years there has been some slight movement of the floor at the south end of Westminster Hall. A firm of structural engineers specialising in historic buildings has been appointed to investigate and is expected to produce an interim report in April 1996. Levels and other measurements are monitored regularly. Investigations already made over the Christmas period suggest that major work will not be required.

  Security Turnstiles
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee on what date the security turnstiles were installed at the subway entrance to the House; on how many days since repair and maintenance staff have had to be called to them; and what was the estimated cost to parliamentary funds of that maintenance. [13205]

  Mr. Ray Powell
  [holding answer 1 February 1996]: The security turnstiles were installed on 1 September 1993. It is not the practice to publish details of the costs of security measures which have been implemented. Maintenance staff were called out on 66 occasions between November 1993 and December 1995 and the cost of that was borne by the manufacturers of the turnstiles.

  Mr. Jaques Arnold
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what has been spent on the provision and maintenance of the turnstiles at the pedestrian entrance by Westminster bridge. [13053]

  Mr. Powell
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: The security turnstiles were installed on 1 September 1993. It is not the practice to publish details of the costs of security measures which have been implemented.
  152
  Maintenance staff were called out on 66 occasions between November 1993 and December 1995 and the cost of that was borne by the manufacturers of the turnstiles.

  Palace of Westminster Terrace
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what plans there are to restore the Terrace of the Palace of Westminster to its original level. [13048]

  Mr. Ray Powell
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: It would be feasible to restore the Terrace to its original level. When the 10-year rolling programme is next reviewed, the Accommodation and Works Committee will be able to consider whether it would be good value for money to do so.

  New Parliamentary Building
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee which company was awarded the roofing contract for the new parliamentary building; and what was the price at which it was awarded. [14673]

  Mr. Ray Powell
  [holding answer 14 February 1996]: I am pleased to announce that, after competitive tendering, the contract for the manufacture and erection of the roof has been awarded to Watson Steel Ltd., Bolton, but regret that it is not the practice to divulge commercially sensitive financial information.

PRIME MINISTER

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will support the setting up of an eminent persons group to seek to discuss a possible settlement to the conflict in Kashmir; and if he will make a settlement. [16035]

  The Prime Minister
  I am not aware of any plans to set up an eminent persons group. We continue to believe that the best way forward on Kashmir should involve simultaneous progress on dialogue between India and Pakistan; improvement in human rights in Kashmir and a genuine political process there; and a clear cessation of support for violence in Kashmir.

  Naturalisation
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in 1993 Government Whips submitted written statements or were consulted on individual applications for naturalisation as a British citizen; and if he will make a statement. [15563]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: In 1993, Home Office Ministers and officials in the immigration and nationality department received 10 letters from six hon. Members who were Government Whips about individual applications for naturalisation as a British citizen, all of which were constituency cases.
  153
  Correspondence from the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) cannot be located immediately. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  No Government Whips were consulted about any individual cases for naturalisation.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many civil servants have been assigned to work on the Government's response to the Scott report as of 13 February; [15704]

  (2) if he will list the grades and job titles of all civil servants who have worked on the preparation of the Government's response to the Scott report. [15706]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: The information is not held centrally and could therefore be assembled only at disproportionate cost. Access to the report itself prior to publication was, however, restricted to a small number of officials in the main Departments concerned.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his written statement and replies to written questions posed by Sir Richard Scott to the inquiry into trade with Iraq. [15694]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: I understand that Sir Richard Scott will be publishing these documents as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now list the titles of each of the papers his office made available to the Scott inquiry. [15701]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: I understand that Sir Richard Scott will be making available the source documents referred to in his report and responses to requests for written evidence as soon as possible.

  Iraq (Equipment Exports)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the companies or individuals which made the representations referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim) on 24 November 1992,Official Report, column 583. [15702]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: No. The names of companies or individuals who have corresponded with my Department is confidential unless they give their permission for this information to be disclosed.

  Chile (Armaments Production)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications(a) he and (b) other Ministers received from Dr. Carlos Cardoen of Chile since 1985 over the procurement of British machine tools for the production of armaments in Chile. [16000]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, we have no record of any such communications having been received from Dr. Carlos Cardoen.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Register of Conventional Arms Transfers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of compiling the latest United Kingdom submission to the United Nations register of conventional arms transfers; to whom it was circulated; and what responses he has received in respect of the submission. [15961]

  Mr. David Davis
  We strongly support the UN register of conventional arms which was set up following a personal initiative of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the European Council in April 1991, and are committed to its success.

  No study has ever been made into the cost of compiling the UK submission to the register.

  The UK's return for each calender year is submitted to the United Nations by 30 April of the following year. Copies are also made available to partners in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and placed in the Libraries of the House. Members of the public can also request copies of the UK return from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Ministry of Defence.

  No responses have been received, although independent studies have been made by universities and organisations such as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom security and intelligence services provided information to their United States counterparts in regard to Iraqi attempts to procure components towards the construction of nuclear weapons between 1987 and 1990. [15978]

  Mr. David Davis
  Intelligence reporting on Iraqi procurement intentions is covered in the report of Sir Richard Scott's inquiry. It is not our practice to comment on the intelligence relationship with a close ally.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now reconsider publication of the report received from the UN special commission on Iraq, listing the names of military and dual-use equipment suppliers to Iraq, given to UNSCOM by the Iraqi Government on 26 January 1993. [15972]

  Mr. Davis
  It is not our practice to comment on information passed to us by the UN special commission. We understand that no such list was passed by the Iraqi Government to the UN special commission on the date in question.

  Uranium Sales
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 389, regarding the selling of weapons-grade enriched uranium by Russia to Euratom for use in European research reactors, what countries this material is going to; what special security

  155
  arrangements are in place to avoid unauthorised diversions; what representations have been made about this sale by the United States authorities; and what was his response. [15980]

  Mr. David Davis
  Negotiations are still continuing between Euratom and Minatom over the possibility of acquiring highly enriched uranium—HEU—for use in European research reactors. It is for the countries concerned to comment on their own prospective involvement. The UK's role would be limited to possible processing of the HEU at Dounreay for use elsewhere in Europe. The material in question would be subject to Euratom and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to stringent security arrangements in line with international requirements and recommendations. The UK has not received any representations on this subject from the US authorities.

  Turkey
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place with Her Majesty's Government over the revised EC document COM(95) 389 final "The Implementation of a Special Financial Co-operation Measure for Turkey"; what agreement was reached regarding provisions for human rights and democracy in Turkey as part of the EU aid package for that Government; what reasons were given for not extending the consultation upon the revised document to the United Kingdom Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [16001]

  Mr. David Davis
  We welcome this financial co-operation measure, which supports the customs union with Turkey which came into force at the beginning of this year.

  The draft measure was subject to the usual procedures for parliamentary scrutiny in the UK. The UK has been fully involved in subsequent discussion of this measure in the Council and working groups. We do not believe that the final text, which we hope will be adopted in the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 February, was sufficiently different from the original draft to require further parliamentary scrutiny.

  Subject to:

  Investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner

  Scrutiny by Audit Commission

  Scrutiny by HAO

  Statutory provisions for open government

  Performance indicators

  Provisions under citizens charter

  British Council

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Britain-Russia Centre

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Commonwealth Institutes in London and Edinburgh

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Great Britain-China Centre

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  Yes

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  Crown Agent's Holding and Realisation Board

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  156
  The measure makes provision for the Council to take appropriate action if democratic principles, the rule of law and basic human rights are violated.

  East Timor
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make urgent representations to his French counterpart to retain discussion of the situation in East Timor on the agenda of the EU-Association of South-East Asian Nations meeting on south-east Asian affairs to be held in Bangkok. [15957]

  Mr. David Davis
  We remain in close touch with France, and our other EU partners, on the topics for discussion at the Asia-Europe meeting in Bangkok.

  South Africa
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 13 February,Official Report, column 490, if contact has been made between his Department and other authorities in South Africa (a) before and (b) since Mr. Grecian's departure for South Africa. [16152]

  Mr. David Davis
  Officials have frequent contacts with the South African authorities in the course of their duties. However, they had no contacts concerning Mr. Grecian prior to his arrival and arrest in South Africa. Since his arrest, officials have been in touch with the South African prison authorities and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the course of their consular duties.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office,(d) statutory provisions for open government,(e)
  performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [16014]

  (b) Mr. David Davis
  The information is in the table.
  157
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base and which(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntarily. [16032]

  Mr. Davis
  The information is in the following table:

  Name of body

  Statutory base

  Admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings

  Hold open meetings for the public

  Britain-Russia Centre

  Yes

  No

  No

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  Yes

  No

  No

  British Council

  No

  No

  No

  Commonwealth Institutes, London and Edinburgh

  Yes

  No

  No

  Great Britain-China Centre

  Yes

  No

  No

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  Yes

  No

  No

  Westminister Foundation for Democracy

  Yes

  No

  No

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  Yes

  No

  No

  Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board

  Yes

  No

  No

  Sex Tourism
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Commonwealth countries who suffer from the abuse of young children in their countries by sex tourists as to what help or advice his Department can give to such countries. [16045]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We regularly raise our concerns with Commonwealth and other countries where child prostitution is prevalent. We are always willing to co-operate with such countries in their efforts to eradicate the abhorrent practice of child sex tourism.

  Algeria
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards and what steps he is taking to promote trade between Algeria and the United Kingdom. [16158]

  Mr. David Davis
  Algeria is not one of the United Kingdom's top 80 export markets—UK exports were £64 million in 1995. Therefore, it has not been the subject of a sustained promotional campaign.

  The current security situation in Algeria has meant that our efforts have been modest. It is not realistic to encourage new exporters into a market which they cannot visit safely and whose potential is not easy to access. However, we are aware of the long-term promise of this market and follow developments there closely.
  158
  Mr. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much economic aid has been provided by the United Kingdom to Algeria in each of the last five years for which information is available. [16159]

  Mr. Davis
  Over the last five years, the UK has provided the following bilateral aid:

  1990–91: £399,000

  1991–92: £336,000

  1992–93: £377,000

  1993–94: £192,000

  1994–95: £140,000

  In addition, the latest figures for the estimated UK share of total multilateral disbursements of official development assistance are:

  1989: £2.5 million

  1990: £1.3 million

  1991: £1.8 million

  1992: £1.2 million

  1993: £5.7 million

  Mr. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since the general election of 1979 Ministers have(a) visited Algeria and (b) met (i) the Foreign Minister of Algeria and (ii) one of his deputies. [16160]

  Mr. Davis
  Although there was a visit to Algeria by the Minister for Industry and Energy, my right hon. Friend the member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar), a meeting with the Foreign Minister or one of his deputies was not part of the programme.

  There have been no visits to Algeria by Government Ministers since 1993.

  To ascertain whether there have been visits in the period 1979 to 1992 would require considerable research which would incur disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed democratic progress when he last met the Foreign Minister of Algeria. [16162]

  Mr. Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed democratic progress with the Algerian Foreign Minister when they met in October 1995.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 17 January,Official Report, column 589. [15925]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: £89,417.96 has been spent on external legal advice for Ministers and civil servants since the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), on 17 January, column 589. The total figure for this Department now stands at £407,583.42.

WALES

  Health Service (Management Costs)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for the Rhymney Valley health unit for each of the years from 1990 to 1995 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of total budget. [15529]

  Mr. Richards
  The cost for 1994–95 was £0.775 million, or 4.13 per cent. The information is not available centrally for earlier years.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for the Pembrokeshire NHS trust for the years(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and (c) 1994–95 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of total budget. [15527]

  Mr. Richards
  Pembrokeshire NHS trust became operational from 1 April 1992. Management cost information is not available centrally for 1992–93. The cost for 1993–94 and 1994–95 was £2.053 million, or 4.95 per cent., and £1.873 million, or 4.46 per cent. respectively.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for the Llanelli/Dinefwr NHS trust for the years(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and 1994–95 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of total budget. [15526]

  Mr. Richards
  Llanelli/Dinefwr NHS trust became operational on 1 April 1993. The management cost for 1993–94 and 1994–95 was £1.024 million or 3.38 per cent., and £0.812 million, or 2.62 per cent., respectively.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for the Merthyr and Cynon Valley health unit for the years(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93, (d) 1993–94 and (e) 1994–95 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of total budget. [15530]

  Mr. Richards
  The cost for 1994–95 was £1.478 million, or 2.62 per cent. The information is not available centrally for earlier years.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for the Heusol health unit for the years(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93, (d) 1993–94 and (e) 1994–95 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of total budget. [15528]

  Mr. Richards
  The cost for 1994–95 was £0.489 million or 3.51 per cent. The information is not available centrally for earlier years.

  Housing Starts
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of housing starts(a) by local authorities, (b) by housing associations and (c) in the private sector in each year from 1970. [15532]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The requested information has been published in table 5 of Welsh housing statistics No. 7 1987—pre—1975—and table 2.1 of Welsh housing statistics No. 15 1995, post-1975; copies of both are in the Library of the House.

  Business Link, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects there will be a business link one-stop shop in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement. [15763]

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend launched the new business connect service on 15 January. Businesses throughout Wales, including in Clwyd, can access the service through a single telephone number: 0345 96 97 98.

  Health Authority General Managers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total pay bill for NHS health authorities' general managers for 1994–95. [16188]

  Mr. Richards
  The total pay bill for NHS health authorities chief executives or general managers for 1994–95 amounted to £935,000.

  Welsh Language
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the projected funding by the Arts Council of Wales to support(a) Welsh language publications and (b) English language publications in the Principality in 1996–97; [16161]

  (2) if he will list, by individual publication, the average circulation figures for those Welsh language publications which received financial assistance from the Arts Council of Wales in each year since 1991; [16163]

  (3) if he will list, by individual publication, the average circulation figures for those English language publications which received financial assistance from the Arts Council of Wales in each year since 1991; [16164]

  (4) what was the total amount of Arts Council of Wales funding to English language publications in the Principality in each year since 1989; [16165]

  (5) what was the total amount of Arts Council of Wales funding to Welsh language publications in the Principality in each year since 1989. [16166]

  Mr. Richards
  This is an operational matter for the Arts Council of Wales and I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the information. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Controls
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 19 January 1994,Official Report, column 749, in regard to changes made in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989. [15624]

  Mr. Lang
  The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989 was amended seven times between its entry into force on 14 February 1990 and 31 December 1991, when it was replaced by the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1991, amended three times. Since then, two further Export of Goods (Control) Orders have been made—one in 1992, amended seven times, and its replacement in 1994, amended five times to date.
  161
  Following the implementation of Council regulation (EC) No. 3381/94 on the export of dual-use goods on 1 July 1995, the 1994 order was partially revoked in respect of dual-use goods and the Dual-Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulations 1995 introduced.

  It would not be possible other than at disproportionate cost to describe all the changes made by these orders, regulations and associated amendments. Changes introduced since 1989 have included relaxations of controls agreed by COCOM before its demise, the implementation of agreements reached in the three non-proliferation regimes referred to in the previous answer, the introduction of an end-use control and the implementation of a new EC regulation on the export of dual-use goods.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost during 1997 of industrial tribunal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [16080]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The average cost to public expenditure of an industrial tribunal application in 1994–95 was £377. Current estimates are that there will be some 3,000 claims per annum made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. On this basis, the cost during 1997 will be around £1,131,000.

  Energy Council
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names and status of those who attended an informal EU Energy Council held in February 1996; what references were made to the energy White Paper on the basis for the future framework of EU energy policy; who will represent Her Majesty's Government at the Energy Council set for 7 May; and if he will make a statement. [15778]

  Mr. Eggar
  I represented the United Kingdom at the informal Council in Bologna which was chaired by Professor Clo, the Italian Minister for Industry and Foreign Trade. Other member states were mostly represented at ministerial level and Commissioner Papoutsis also attended.

  Other diary commitments permitting, I also intend to represent the United Kingdom at the formal Council in May. As regards the discussion on the Commission's energy policy White Paper, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms Quin) on 19 February 1996, Official Report, columns 46–47.

  National Homecare Servicing and Warranties Company
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Director General of Fair Trading to report on the activities of the National Homecare Servicing and Warranties Company. [15423]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Insolvency Convention
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to consult interested parties in the United Kingdom on the EC convention on insolvency proceedings. [16896]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The EC convention on involvency proceedings aims to simplify the administration of insolvency cases which have cross-border aspects by providing a framework within which the different insolvency regimes of member states can interact with more predictable consequences and more efficiently and effectively than is currently the case. It would apply only in European Union member states and then only if a debtor's centre of main interests was situated in one of those states. It is not a harmonisation measure.

  The Government wish to ascertain the views of insolvency practitioners and other interested parties on the likely practical consequences if the convention were implemented in the United Kingdom. Therefore, I have today issued a consultative document on the convention and copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The closing date for the submission of comments is 12 April 1996.

  The convention was opened for signature on 23 November 1995 and 12 member states have already signed. It will remain open for signature until 23 May 1996.

  Digital Audio Broadcasting
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further plans he has to promote digital audio broadcasting. [16895]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The provisions in the Broadcasting Bill are designed to give terrestrial digital audio broadcasting its best chance of success. The Government are committed to play their full part by creating the most favourable environment for the rapid introduction of new digital broadcasting technologies and, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Sir M. Neubert) on 19 January 1994, at column 647, the Government announced that certain frequencies would be made available to allow the introduction of DAB services. However, the Government were unable at the time to give any commitment that DAB services would remain in this band once it became possible to free up spectrum in the FM band by closing down analogue services. I am pleased to announce that the frequencies 217.5 to 230 MHz will now be the long-term home for DAB. This removes a major uncertainty for the industry and will give broadcasters, multiplex operators and transmission providers the confidence to invest in new transmission networks and equipment in the knowledge that a move back to the FM band involving further costs will not be required.

  Together with the other measures we are taking, this will give further encouragement to the development of DAB which offers the prospect of high-quality reception, even in cars, more services, as well as novel data transmissions involving text, or even pictures, that will enhance the listening experience.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in the Official Report the titles of each of the papers his Department provided to the Scott inquiry. [15697]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: I have no plans to list the titles of the 28,290 pages of papers which my Department provided to the Scott inquiry. The inquiry will be publishing a substantial number of these documents in the annexe to the report.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent on external legal advice for Ministers and civil servants in relation to the Scott inquiry and report since 18 January. [15928]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: The amount paid since 18 January 1996 by my Department to external legal advisers for advice given to Ministers and civil servants in relation to the Scott inquiry and report is £64,066.

  Iraq (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the export of Cymbeline radar systems to Iraq prior to August 1990 complied with(a) stated export guidelines and (b) existing UN embargoes. [14903]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: Under the usual interdepartmental consultation procedures, applications for the export of Cymbeline mortar-detecting radar to Iraq were deemed to supply an insignificant enhancement of military capability. The supply of this equipment therefore complied with the stated guidelines and, accordingly, the applications were approved.

  There was no UN embargo affecting Iraq prior to August 1990.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for the periods(a) 1985 to 1988 and (b) 1989 to August 1990 the number of occasions his Department refused an export licence for military or defence equipment orders to Iraq. [14899]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 February 1996]: Volume V of Lord Justice Scott's report of his inquiry into the export of defence equipment and dual-use goods to Iraq and related prosecutions contains a schedule of export licence applications from 1984 to 1990, submitted by my Department. This schedule contains details of what goods export licences were applied for, who the goods were destined for, the value of the order and whether the licence was granted or refused.

  World Trade (UK Share)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1995.Official Report, column 1266, what was the United Kingdom's percentage share of world trade in manufactured goods for (a) the second half of 1974, (b) the second half of 1979 and (c) what was the latest available figure. [11058]
  164
  Mr. Lang
  According to estimates derived from OECD data, the UK share of world exports of manufactures was 7.2 per cent. in the second half of 1974, 7 per cent. in the second half of 1979 and 5.5 per cent. in the second half of 1994—the latest available period.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Environmental Assessment Regulations (Uncultivated Land)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Ministry will issue a consultation paper on the environmental assessment regulations for the use of uncultivated land. [15848]

  Mr. Boswell
  Consultations will be undertaken in due course.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the reason for the delay in issuing the consultation paper on the environmental assessment regulations for the use of uncultivated land. [15849]

  Mr. Boswell
  We need to ensure that the measures which we propose balance carefully the need to provide for environmental assessment in the small number of cases where this may be required by the EC directive with the minimum regulatory and administrative burden. Consultations will be undertaken when proposals have been developed further.

  Night Shooting Licences
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who is responsible for authorising and signing night shooting licences; what applications and for what areas have been(a) made and (b) granted since 1994; and if he will place a copy of the terms and conditions of the licences in the Library. [16157]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: Section 98 of the Agriculture Act 1947 provides the authority for the Minister to issue notices raquiring night shooting for the purposes of preventing damage to crops, pasture, animal or human foodstuffs, livestock, trees, hedges, banks or any works on land. Any such notices are authorised by and signed on behalf of the Minister.

  Since 1994, two applications for notices to shoot at night have been received. Both were for areas within the county of Somerset and both were issued. As requested, a copy of the terms and conditions of the notices has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15735]
  165
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: The information requested is as follows:

  Body

  Percentage of business people on board

  Agricultural Wages Board

  38

  UK Register of Organic Food Standards

  55

  Wine Standards Board

  67

  In addition, I am responsible for 101 appointments to 11 sea fisheries committees, 92 per cent. of whom are business people.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Royal Family (Private Law Rights)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) on what basis he concluded that the proposed publication of the memoir of a former employee of the royal household at Buckingham palace constituted a deliberate attempt to interfere with the administration of justice; and if he will make a statement; [15853]

  (2) in what circumstances he is able to act on behalf of members of the public in order to restrain newspapers from publishing reports or articles written by or relating to their former employees; [15857]

  (3) for what reasons he sought from the editor of The People an undertaking that the paper would not publish the memoir of a former employee of the Buckingham palace household; [15851]

  (4) what special responsibilities he has in relation to representing (a) Her Majesty the Queen and (b) other members of the royal family in matters relating to their private lives. [15852]

  The Attorney-General
  As Her Majesty's Attorney-General, I bring proceedings on behalf of Her Majesty in her private capacity to enforce her private law rights. This includes proceedings against employees or former employees of her household in respect of breach of confidence or breach of contract. I do not have the same function in respect of other members of the royal family or members of the public.

  It is a contempt of court for a person who is not a party to proceedings to take steps which are intended to interfere with or impede the administration of justice by subverting the purpose of the proceedings. The contempt is criminal in nature. I can take proceedings for criminal contempt against that person. I take them not on behalf of the Government or the parties to the original proceedings but in my capacity as guardian of the public interest.

  On 8 February it became apparent that The People intended to publish a story concerning a former employee of the royal household who was the subject of an injunction obtained from the High Court in 1983.

  The next day, a letter was sent to the newspaper and its publisher enclosing a copy of the injunction and seeking an undertaking not to publish material of the kind referred to in it. Such publication would have been a criminal contempt of court.
  166
  Having considered the response of the editor I concluded that, on the information that she had provided as to the scope of the proposed story, it was not clear that it contravened the terms of the injunction, and it would not be in the public interest to take criminal contempt proceedings against the editor or the publisher. The newspaper was so informed on 15 February.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions he has taken action to restrain(a) newspaper publishers and (b) other publishers from publishing details of the private lives of (i) members of the royal family and (ii) other individuals in the last three years. [15856]

  The Attorney-General
  There is no record of any proceedings brought by me in the last three years for these purposes.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Probation Work
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his assessment of the needs and circumstances in Northern Ireland that prevent his instructing the probation board from bringing policy into line with England and Wales by ending its rule of recruiting only those with a social work qualification for probation work. [12822]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my reply of 11 January to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor)Official Report, columns 298–99. Any change to the current Northern Ireland arrangements will be made in the light of experience in England and Wales, and after full consultation with all interested parties in Northern Ireland.

  Meningitis
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have contracted meningitis in the past 10 years; how many people in Northern Ireland have died of meningitis in the past 10 years; what programme the Government have in place to inform residents of Northern Ireland about the programmes on meningitis and its prevention; what is the financial cost of the programme in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [15180]

  Mr. Moss
  The information on notifications of and deaths from meningitis is given in the table. Vaccination of pre-school children against Hib meningitis was introduced in Northern Ireland from October 1992 with a campaign to inform professionals and the public. The campaign cost £50,000 and the cost of the vaccination programme is in excess of £600,000 per annum. A further public awareness campaign about meningitis was mounted in February 1994 at a cost of £1,000.

  Year

  Notifications1 2

  Deaths3

  1985

  150

  12

  1986

  167

  6

  1987

  104

  11

  1988

  156

  4

  1989

  131

  13

  1990

  160

  16

  167

  Year

  Notifications1 2

  Deaths3

  1991

  195

  14

  1992

  145

  13

  1993

  166

  11

  1994

  183

  10

  1995

  158

  n/a

  Source:

  1 Returns submitted by Health and Social Services Board.

  2Notifications since 1990 include meningococcal Septicaemia.

  3General Register Office Northern Ireland.

  n/a=Not yet available.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how his nursery voucher scheme will address the needs of the most deprived children in the most deprived areas; [15455]

  (2) what powers (a) the education and library boards and (b) the private sector will have to top up the value of nursery vouchers; [15453]

  (3) if he will make a statement about progress made on the introduction of the nursery voucher scheme in Northern Ireland and the time scale of the next steps to be taken; [15457]

  (4) what estimates he has made of the costs of introducing a nursery voucher scheme in Northern Ireland; [15452]

  (5) what discussions he has had with private providers of pre-school care about the nursery voucher scheme; and what was the outcome of those discussions; [15456]

  (6) what is (a) the cost of providing a full-time nursery education place in each of the education and library boards in Northern Ireland and (b) the intended value of a voucher; and what proposals he has to meet the difference between (a) and (b). [15454]

  Mr. Ancram
  Nursery vouchers will be introduced in Northern Ireland in 1997. The scheme will operate on similar lines to that in other UK regions, with all children being eligible for a voucher in the term after their fourth birthday. Details of the proposed arrangements in Northern Ireland will be made available for comment as soon as possible. New legislation will be required and this will be the subject of consultation later this year. The Government have provided an additional £8 million to meet the costs of the scheme in Northern Ireland, based on a voucher value of £1,100 for a full year.

  School Travel
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the relative costs of school travel in Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom. [15459]

  Mr. Ancram
  Comparative expenditure figures on school transport in Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom over the period 1989–90 to 1993–94 are provided in the table:

  £000

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  England

  229,046

  259,385

  283,382

  293,108

  288,411

  Scotland

  37,133

  39,119

  44,246

  47,996

  53,443

  168

  £000

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Wales

  25,100

  27,400

  31,700

  32,500

  34,500

  Northern Ireland

  20,602

  23,229

  27,447

  30,015

  32,199

  Free School Transport
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the costs of free school transport in real and constant price terms in each year since 1979. [15461]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Net expenditure

  Constant prices

  £

  £

  1979–80

  7,842,838

  19,238,236

  1980–81

  10,437,504

  21,638,179

  1981–82

  11,418,080

  21,583,266

  1982–83

  12,478,738

  22,020,061

  1983–84

  13,146,436

  22,170,014

  1984–85

  13,757,835

  22,090,944

  1985–86

  15,240,425

  23,308,242

  1986–87

  15,443,247

  22,923,740

  1987–88

  17,918,092

  25,138,700

  1988–89

  19,056,271

  25,058,616

  1989–90

  20,602,261

  25,323,091

  1990–91

  23,229,059

  26,432,779

  1991–92

  27,447,462

  29,397,769

  1992–93

  30,015,832

  30,891,680

  1993–94

  32,199,782

  32,804,032

  1994–951

  35,000,000

  35,000,000

  1 Estimate.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils have benefited from free school transport in each year since 1979; and if the pupils were in primary or secondary education. [15462]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is set out in the table. Details by school sector are available only from 1984–85:

  Primary

  Post primary

  Special

  Total

  1979–80

  —

  —

  —

  83,556

  1980–81

  —

  —

  —

  87,560

  1981–82

  —

  —

  —

  89,039

  1982–83

  —

  —

  —

  91,408

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  91,663

  1984–85

  22,038

  69,514

  —

  91,552

  1985–86

  22,307

  70,456

  —

  92,763

  1986–87

  22,627

  68,768

  —

  91,395

  1987–88

  22,930

  71,140

  494

  94,564

  1988–89

  22,896

  71,218

  1,278

  95,392

  1989–90

  23,215

  72,835

  1,281

  97,331

  1990–91

  22,261

  73,491

  3,737

  99,489

  1991–92

  20,958

  76,523

  4,619

  102,100

  1992–93

  23,569

  78,513

  4,951

  107,033

  1993–94

  24,683

  80,015

  5,015

  109,713

  1994–95

  25,445

  82,367

  5,556

  113,368

  1995–96

  25,931

  84,225

  5,799

  115,955

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what limits there are on the financial assistance that is given to parents for free school transport for their children. [15460]
  169
  Mr. Ancram
  Free home-to-home transport is currently provided where a pupil gains admission to a school outside statutory walking distance from home—defined as two miles for pupils under 11 and three miles for other pupils, measured by the nearest available route—and provided that a public or board transport service to or in the vicinity of the school is already available.

  Child Care
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contributions he is seeking from the European Union for the extension of pre-five child care in Northern Ireland. [15458]

  Mr. Moss
  The Government are not currently seeking funding from the European Union for the extension of pre-five child care in Northern Ireland. There is, however, scope under several of the European structural funds programmes already approved for Northern Ireland to support the extension of pre-five child care, most notably measure 2 of sub-programme 4 of the European Union special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. This measure aims to prevent the future social and labour market exclusion of children and young people by funding, for example, pre-school child care and education projects. The total European fund available under this measure is about £7 million over the period 1996 to 1999.

  Rate Collection Agency
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work has been contracted out to(a) public and (b) private sector employers by the Rate Collection Agency offices; what assessment he has made of the cost of contracting out; and if he will make a statement. [15710]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Rate Collection Agency under its chief executive, Mr. D. W. Gallagher. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D. W. Gallagher to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 16 February 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about contracting out of work by the Rate Collection Agency.
  The Agency contracts out all printing work, together with the handling procedures required to issue communications to ratepayers. There are 2 elements to this: the annual billing exercise and the daily round of revised rate accounts, refunds, Housing Benefit information, instalment reminders, etc.
  The annual billing exercise involves the issue of around 450,000 accounts at I April each year. It would be neither cost effective nor practicable for the RCA to be resourced in terms of staff and equipment to handle work volumes of this magnitude on a once a year basis. The task must of necessity be contracted out. After an open competition conducted under EC regulations, open to both public and private sectors, a 3 year contract has recently been awarded to a private sector firm. Costs are commercial in confidence, but I can assure you that value for money was an important factor in deciding the successful bidder.
  170
  Handling the daily round of output from the RCA requires sophisticated printing, collating, and enveloping machinery. Although the RCA could do this work internally, at roughly the same cost as the private sector, transfer of the risk associated with back up for the machinery, staffing, etc, swung the balance in favour of contracting out. This contract was also awarded through competition where value for money was a key factor. Again, costs are commercial in confidence. To date the contractors have proved more than satisfactory in service delivery.
  Like many businesses, the Agency has to deal with peaks and troughs of work. Recently, it was decided to seek outside help in opening 7,600 replies from ratepayers received as a result of a special exercise. As this proved cost-effective and allowed staff to concentrate on other duties the Agency will continue to examine how this sort of approach might be used to manage future workload peaks.
  The Rate Collection Agency is conscious that the cost of collecting the rates is ultimately borne by the ratepayers of Northern Ireland and will continue to seek the most cost effective means of carrying out its functions while at the same time providing a good quality service to its ratepayer customers.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of expenditure on all forms of hospitality and entertainment by(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97. [11423]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 30 January 1996]: The information is as follows:

  £ thousand

  Year

  NI Departments and NI Office

  Agencies

  1979–80

  211

  —

  1989–90

  335

  —

  1991–92

  476

  27

  1993–94

  512

  544

  1994–95

  461

  38

  1995–961

  515

  59

  1996–971

  4337

  622

  1 Estimated.

  2 Figures available for DHSS and DENI only.

  3 Figures not available for DFP.

  4 Budgets not yet decided in DED, DOE and DHSS.

  5 Figures not available for Valuation and Lands Agency.

  6 Figures available for VLA and NI Prison Service only.

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

  Housing Rents
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average rent for(a) privately rented, (b) council and (c) housing association housing in Belfast. [15578]

  Mr. Moss
  The present average rent paid by Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants in Belfast is £30.64 per week. Statistics on rental levels in the private housing sector are not collected. Statistics on rental levels in the housing associations are collected by each individual association but are not available by location.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Demonstration Sites
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she list the sites managed by her Department which she has permitted to be used for demonstrations and events for each of the last five years, together with the dates and the organisations involved. [14655]

  Mr. Sproat
  I am able to provide information for the last three years. The following demonstrations and events were held in Trafalgar Square:

  Date

  Organisation

  11/02/96

  AWAMI League UK Branch—Rally

  28/01/96

  Motorforce Group—Event

  23/01/96

  The Royal Veterinary College—Event

  21/01/96

  What a Circus Limited—Event

  20/01/96

  The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association—Vigil

  19/11/95

  Midlands Co-operative Society Ltd—Event

  18/11/95

  International Federation of Tamils—March/Rally

  11/11/95

  Asian Music Circuit—Event

  03–05/11/95

  The British Royal Legion—Event

  28/10/95

  World Kashmir Freedom Movement—March/Rally

  21/10/95

  Gospel Outreach Ministry—Religious Meeting

  14/10/95

  Cuba Solidarity Campaign—March/Rally

  24/09/95

  Bosnia Solidarity Campaign—Rally

  23/09/95

  United Evangelistic Mobile Units—Religious Meeting

  16/09/95

  Walk/Rally To Promote Walking—Event

  09/09/95

  Campaign for Rights for Survivors of Sexual Abuse—Rally

  03/09/95

  Taqaddal-Ul-Harmen Sharifen Movement of London—Rally

  02/09/95

  Hammersmith Morris Men—Event

  28/08/95

  The Scripture Text Carriers Association—Religious Meeting

  27/08/95

  Universal Pentecostal Church—Religious Meeting

  26/08/95

  SOFEL and TGWM—Religious Meeting

  18/08/95

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust—Dispersal after a march

  13/08/95

  Hizb ut-Tahrir—Rally

  12/08/95

  London City Mission—Religious Meeting

  06/08/95

  Workers Aid for Bosnia—March/Rally

  05/08/95

  Torchlight Vigil—No more Hiroshimas—Vigil

  29/07/95

  Jesus Fellowship Church—Religious Meeting

  23/07/95

  National Federation of Cypriots in Great Britain—March/Rally

  22/07/95

  United Tamils Organisation—Event

  16/07/95

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament—March/Rally

  15/07/95

  Club Europe Holiday Limited—Event

  08/07/95

  Respect for Animals—Rally

  02/07/95

  The Big Pink Adventure—Event

  20/06/95

  The Royal British Legion—Event

  17/06/95

  The Open Air Mission—Religious Meeting

  11/06/95

  Awareness UK—Demonstration

  10/06/95

  SOFEL and TGWM—Religious Meeting

  03/06/95

  United Evangelistic Mobile Unit—Religious Meeting

  28/05/95

  Fireman's Relief Aid—Rally

  27/05/95

  African Liberation Support Campaign—March/Rally

  21/05/95

  London Light House—Vigil

  21/05/95

  Turkish Youth Day Committee—Event

  20/05/95

  All Parties International Kashmir Coordinating Committee—March/Demo

  17/05/95

  Friends of the Finnish Forest—Event

  13–14/05/95

  DAY-MER (Turkish group)—Demonstration

  26/04/95

  National Cancer Alliance—Event

  22/04/95

  The Armenian Community Church Council of Great Britain—March/Rally

  17/04/95

  The Script Text Carriers Association—Religious Meeting

  16/04/95

  The UPC Youth Fellowship—Religious Meeting

  09/04/95

  Islamic Union of Iraqi Students and Youth—March/Rally

  02/04/95

  Guys Hospital—Event

  172

  Date

  Organisation

  01/04/95

  New Covenant (Pentecostal) Church—Religious Meeting

  25/03/95

  Democratic League of Kosova—Demonstration

  21/03/95

  Commission for Racial Equality—Event

  18/03/95

  Coalition Against Animal Exports—March/Demonstration

  12/03/95

  The Express Lift Co Ltd-Sponsored Wheel Chair Push—Event

  04/03/95

  The Coalition of Ethiopian Democratic Forces—Demonstration

  25/02/95

  The Muslim Parliament Of Great Britain—Rally

  11/02/95

  Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front—Rally

  10/02/95

  University College Rag Week—Event

  08/02/95

  Royal Veterinary College Rag Week—Event

  26/11/94

  Women Of Nigeria International—Human Rights Rally

  06/11/94 to 07/11/94

  The Royal British Legion—Event

  29/10/94

  Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament—March/Rally

  15/10/94

  ATD Fourth World—Rally

  01/10/94

  The New Covenant (Pentecostal) Church—Religious Meeting

  25/09/94

  IFWA (animal group)—Rally

  24/09/94

  Count Down On Spanner—March/Rally

  17/09/94

  SOFEL And TGWM—Religious Meeting

  11/09/94

  Campaign For Rights For Survivors Of Sexual Abuse—March/Rally

  10/09/94

  United Evangelistic Mobile Units—Religious Meeting

  04/09/94

  Anti Meat/Fish Peace Vigil—Event

  03/09/94

  Movement For Democracy In Nigeria—March/Rally

  29/08/94

  The Text Carriers Association Religious Meeting

  28/08/94

  Universal Pentecostal Church—Religious Meeting

  27/08/94

  International Sufism—Event

  20/08/94

  The United Day Project—March/Rally/Vigil

  13/08/94

  International Left-Handers Day—Event

  07/08/94

  London City Mission—Religious Meeting

  06/08/94

  National Anti-Hunt Campaign—March/Rally

  24/07/94

  The Coalition Against The Criminal Justice Bill—March/Rally

  23/07/94

  Motor Cycle Action Group—Meeting

  17/07/94

  National Federation of Cypriots In Great Britain March/Rally

  16/07/94

  Jesus Fellowship Church—Religious Meeting

  10/07/94

  Procession In Honour Of Our Lady—Religious Meeting

  09/07/94

  Rights Now Rally—Rally

  02/07/94

  The Fellowship Of Hackney Carriage Drivers—Event

  26/06/94

  Melodians Stell Orchestra (UK)—Event

  18/06/94

  SOFEL and TGWM—Religious Meeting

  11/06/94

  The Open-Air Mission—Religious Meeting

  04/06/94

  United Evangelistic Mobile Units—Religious Meeting

  30/05/94

  Mission West Evangelistic Association—Religious Meeting

  29/05/94

  Residents Action Group—March/Rally

  28/05/94

  Amnesty International—Rally

  27/05/94

  St. Martin In The Fields—Event

  22/05/94

  The Terrence Higgins Trust—Vigil

  19/05/94 to 20/05/94

  Break Through—Event

  14/05/94

  Westminster Morris Men—Event

  01/05/94

  Advance Party—March/Demonstration

  30/04/94

  Anti-Apartheid Movement—Event

  30/04/94

  Amnesty International—Rally

  23/04/94

  Blackhorse And Standard North West Morris Dancers—Event

  18/04/94 to 22/04/94

  The National Children's Charities Trust—Event

  17/04/94

  Appeals Office—Marathon Collection—Event

  10/04/94

  Palestine Solidarity Campaign—Rally

  09/04/94

  The Islamic Union Of Iraqi Students And Youth—March/Rally

  04/04/94

  The Scripture Text Carriers Association—Religious Meeting

  03/04/94

  UPC Youth Fellowship—Religious Meeting

  173

  Date

  Organisation

  02/04/94

  New Covenant (Pentecostal) Church—Religious Meeting

  27/03/94

  Kurdistan Information Centre—Rally/Vigil

  27/03/94

  Burson-Marsteller Ltd.—Event

  19/03/94

  The Solidarity With The Iraqi People—March/Rally

  13/03/94

  Democratic League Of Kosova—March/Rally

  05/03/94

  The Muslim Parliament Of Great Britain—March/Rally

  15/02/94

  Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital Fund—Event

  14/02/94

  Virgin Management Ltd.—Event

  12/02/94

  Alliance To Defend Bosnia-Herzegovina—Rally

  05/02/94

  Stonewall—Rally

  25/01/94

  Royal Veterinary College—Event

  21/11/93

  Newham Needs Campaign—Event

  20/11/93

  TUC—Rally

  06/11/93

  Inside Out—March/Rally

  30/10/93

  Countdown On Spanner—March/Rally

  24/10/93

  The Sea Cadets—Annual service

  23/10/93

  Unveiling Of Rebellion Statute—Event

  23/10/93

  Campaign For The Preservation of May Day—Rally

  17/10/93

  ATD Fourth World—Religious Meeting

  16/10/93

  Anti-Racist Alliance—Rally

  10/10/93

  And Meat/Fish Peace Vigil—Event

  09/10/93

  Free Reg Kray—March/Demonstration

  08/10/93

  XACT—Religious Meeting

  03/10/93

  Royal Marsden Hospital—Event

  02/10/93

  United Evangelistic Mobile Units—Religious Meeting

  02/10/93

  Children's Day Flag Day—Event

  30/09/93

  Satire—Rally

  25/09/93

  Bracknell Pentecostal Church—Religious Meeting

  18/09/93

  Jesus Fellowship Church—Religious Meeting

  11/09/93

  Campaign For Rights Of Survivors Of Sexual Abuse—Rally

  05/09/93

  Al-Shaika Sufi Mohammad Khan Mohessani—Rally

  04/09/93

  SOFEL And TGWM—Religious Meeting

  30/08/93

  The Scripture Text Carriers Association—Religious Meeting

  29/08/93

  Universal Pentecostal Church—Religious Meeting

  28/08/93

  Act-up—March/Rally

  21/08/93

  Nigerian Citizenship—March/Rally

  14/08/93

  Mission To London—Religious Meeting

  11/08/93

  Fiti-Tifi—Event

  08/08/93

  St. Peter's Independent School—Vigil

  07/08/93

  National Democratic Front Of Nigeria—Rally

  31/07/93

  Charity of Deprived Children—Event

  25/07/93

  Apostolic Church—Religious Meeting

  24/07/93

  International Federation of Tamils—March/Rally

  18/07/93

  National Federation of Cypriots—March/Rally

  11/07/93

  Our Lady's Procession Committee—Religious Meeting

  04/07/93

  Democratic League of Kosova—March/Rally

  03/07/93

  National Democratic Alliance—March/Rally

  29/06/93

  NSPCC—Event

  29/06/93

  Shaftesbury Society—Event

  27/06/93

  Melodians Steel Orchestra—Event

  26/06/93

  United Evangelistic Mobile Units—Religious Meeting

  20/06/93

  Anti-Apartheid Movement—Rally

  19/06/93

  SOFEL And TGWM—Religious Meeting

  12/06/93

  The Open Air Mission—Religious Meeting

  05/06/93

  John Grooms Charity Collection—Event

  04/06/93

  Campaign Against The Arms Trade—Rally

  01/06/93

  St. Martin's School Of Art—Event

  31/05/93

  The Scripture Text Carriers Association—Religious Meeting

  30/05/93

  Endangered Dogs Association—Rally

  29/05/93

  Kurdistan Workers Association—March/Rally

  27/05/93

  St. Martin's School Of Art—Event

  25/05/93

  International Run For World Peace—Meeting

  23/05/93

  The Terrence Higgins Trust—Vigil

  19/05/93

  Christian Aid—Event

  16/05/1993

  Methodist Association of Youth Clubs—Rally

  15/05/1993

  Jesus Fellowship Church—Religious Meeting

  09/05/1993

  Coalition for Peace in Bosnia—Rally

  08/05/1993

  N.O.W. Against Live Exports—Rally

  24/04/1993

  National Anti-Vivisection Society—Rally

  18/04/1993

  Guy's Hospital Charity Collection—Event

  14/04/1993

  Petrak Docksider Ltd.—Event

  174

  Date

  Organisation

  12/04/1993

  Bosnia Hertzegovina Information Centre—Rally

  11/04/1993

  UPC Youth Fellowship—Religious Meeting

  10/04/1993

  Bracknell Pentecostal Church—Religious Meeting

  03/04/1993

  Islamic Union of Iraqi Students—March/Rally

  31/03/1993

  British Red Cross—Event

  31/03/1993

  The Macmillan Nurse Appeal—Event

  23/03/1993

  NUPE—Demonstration

  23/03/1993

  Tour De France—Event

  21/03/1993

  World Circuit Arts/Kurdish Workers Association—Rally/Vigil

  13/03/1993

  Homeless Action Group—Rally

  07/03/1993

  Women Against War Crimes—Rally/Demonstration

  06/03/1993

  Coalition Against the Fur Trade—Rally/Demonstration

  03/03/1993

  St. Mary's Hospital Medical School—Event

  27/02/1993

  Union Pour La Democratic et Le Progres Social—Demonstration

  20/02/1993

  Kurdish Community in the UK—Rally

  24/01/1993

  Iraqi People Plight Campaign—Rally

  17/01/1993

  Campaign for a British Referendum—Demonstration

  The following major events were held at the sites managed by the Historic Royal Palaces agency:

  Date

  Organisation

  26/11/95

  London Grand Christmas Parade

  5/11/95

  RAC Veteran Car Run

  30/09/95

  Fight Against Education Cuts

  19–20/08/95

  VJ Day Event

  06/08/95

  Bosnia Solidarity Campaign

  05/08/95

  Justice for Joy Gardner Campaign

  29/07/95

  UNISON Health Care

  23/07/95

  National Federation of Cypriots in GB

  15/07/95

  Challenge Anneka

  24/07/95

  Lesbian and Gay Pride

  06,07,08/05/95

  VE Day Event

  23/03/95

  Fight Against Education Cuts

  18/03/95

  Coalition Against Animal Exports

  23/03/95

  The Muslim Parliament of GB

  27/11/94

  Grand Christmas Parade

  09/11/94

  National Union of Students

  06/11/94

  RAC Veteran Car Run

  05/11/94

  Network Against Child Support

  09/10/94

  Coalition Against Criminal Justice Bill

  28/08/94

  Network Against Child Support

  13/08/94

  25th Anniversary Committee—Troops Out

  06/08/94

  National Anti Hunt Campaign

  24/07/94

  Coalition Against Criminal Justice Bill

  17/07/94

  Cadbury's Strollerthon

  17/07/94

  National Federation of Cypriots

  25/06/94

  March for Jesus

  18/06/94

  Lesbian and Gay Pride

  4–5/06/94

  Names Project Quilt

  24/05/94

  Pensioners' Rights Campaign

  23/04/94

  National Anti-Vivisection Society

  17/04/94

  London Marathon

  13/04/94

  D Day Event—Grosvenor Square

  20–28/03/94

  Marble Arch Competition Exhibition

  29/01/94

  Committee for British Withdrawal

  07/11/93

  RAC Veteran Car Run

  10/10/93

  Crusaid Sponsored Walk

  26/09/93

  The National Fun Run

  04/09/93

  Scotland in Hyde Park

  18/07/93

  National Federation of Cypriots

  11/07/93

  Cadbury's Strollerthon

  20/06/93

  Anti-Apartheid Movement

  19/06/93

  Lesbian and Gay Pride

  23/05/93

  Muslim Solidarity Committee

  24/04/93

  National Anti-Vivisection Society

  18/04/93

  London Marathon

  There are, in addition many major events held in the royal parks on a regular basis.
  175
  The following major events were held at the sites managed by the Historic Royal Palaces agency:

  Event

  Each year:

  April

  London Marathon (Tower of London)

  June

  IMG Music Festival (Hampton Court)

  July

  Hampton Court Flower Show

  One-off events:

  August 1995

  VJ Day Event (Tower of London)

  1994

  National Lottery Launch (Tower of London)

  There are, in addition, many smaller events which do not impact on the operation of the historic royal palaces.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the United Kingdom's share of the world tourism market in each year since 1979. [15369]

  Mr. Sproat
  Complete figures for each year are not available, but the latest world tourism organisation yearbook shows that the UK share of the world total for international tourism receipts was 4.4 per cent. in 1993 and 6.7 per cent. in 1980. Provisional figures published by the British Tourist Authority show a 1994 UK share of 4.5 per cent. All these calculations are based on amounts converted into US dollars.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the number of people employed in the tourism industry; and how many of these workers are(a) full time, (b) part time and (c) women. [15368]

  Mr. Sproat
  There were 1,545,000 employees in employment in tourism-related industries in Great Britain in September 1995, and a further 186,000 self-employed. The latest available estimate is therefore total employment of 1,731,000.

  Of the employees in employment (a) 705,000 are full time, (b) 841,000 are part time and (c) 911,000 are women.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the United Kingdom's tourism balance of trade for each year since 1979. [15370]

  UK Balance of Payments: Travel Account

  £ million current prices

  Credits (earnings from overseas visitors to UK)

  Debits (expenditure by UK residents going abroad)

  Balance

  1979

  2,797

  2,109

  688

  1980

  2,961

  2,738

  223

  1981

  2,970

  3,272

  -302

  1982

  3,188

  3,640

  -452

  1983

  4,003

  4,090

  -87

  1984

  4,614

  4,663

  -49

  1985

  5,442

  4,871

  571

  1986

  5,553

  6,083

  -530

  1987

  6,260

  7,280

  -1,020

  176

  UK Balance of Payments: Travel Account

  £ million current prices

  Credits (earnings from overseas visitors to UK)

  Debits (expenditure by UK residents going abroad)

  Balance

  1988

  6,184

  8,216

  -2,032

  1989

  6,945

  9,357

  -2,412

  1990

  7,785

  9,916

  -2,131

  1991

  7,168

  9,834

  -2,666

  1992

  8,076

  11,283

  -3,207

  1993

  9,375

  12,707

  -3,332

  1994

  9,920

  14,500

  -4,580

  19951

  8,480

  11,507

  -3,027

  1 Q1-Q3 only; seasonally adjusted.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the most recent estimate she has made of the value of tourism to the United Kingdom's economy. [15371]

  Mr. Sproat
  Tourism makes a significant contribution to our economy. Spending by tourists in the UK was more than £36 billion in 1994, which is equivalent to more than 5 per cent. of total GDP. The number of jobs in tourism-related industries increased by nearly 4 per cent. in the year to last September, to reach nearly 1.75 million. The total economic and employment impact of travel and tourism is even greater than these figures show because of the indirect benefits of tourism spending across the economy.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [16011]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Bodies subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are listed in schedule 2 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, as amended. This includes:

  Arts Council of England

  British Film Institute

  British Library Board

  Crafts Council

  English Tourist Board

  English Heritage

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund

  Register of the Public Lending Right

  Sports Council.

  (b) None.

  (c) All of my Department's executive NDPBs are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General with the exception of the National Film Development Fund.

  177

  (d) None. But all bodies falling within the jurisdiction of the PCA are subject to the Code of Practice on Open Government. Lord Nolan's report on Standards in Public Life recommended that all executive NDPBs should develop their own codes of openness.

  (e) My Department monitors the performance of its NDPBs as part of the Corporate Planning process, through which targets and performance indicators are set.

  (f) The principles of the Citizen's Charter apply to all the Department's NDPBs.

  Public Service Broadcasters
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) on what basis she has not offered to all public service television broadcasters guaranteed capacity in the digital environment sufficient to enable them to provide new services; what steps she plans to take to ensure parity of treatment for such public service broadcasters; and if she will make a statement; [16167]

  (2) if she will make a statement on her policy on the role that additional and teletext services can play in stimulating consumer demand for digital broadcast services; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that adequate capacity is available to existing public service broadcasters to fulfil this role. [16168]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government judge that a quarter of a multiplex should be more than sufficient for a television broadcaster to reproduce an existing programme service to an acceptable level of picture quality in digital form. This minimum capacity will be offered to S4C and Channel 4 in Wales, so that both might have the widest possible coverage there. The BBC will be offered a whole multiplex, on which it would be required to broadcast its existing two channels. Channel 3, Channel 5 and, outside Wales, Channel 4 will be offered half a multiplex each; again, they would be required to broadcast their existing services on that capacity.

  Digital broadcasting also offers new opportunities for data and other additional services, including "super teletext" services, business information services and home shopping. The Government recognise that these services will be attractive to consumers and the Broadcasting Bill provides that such services may occupy up to 10 per cent. of the capacity of any multiplex.

  Teletext, holder of the public service teletext licence, has been offered capacity on the multiplex to be shared between Channel 3, Channel 4 and S4C. The Secretary of State recently met Teletext to discuss its digital service and is considering further its request for increased guaranteed capacity so that it, like the broadcasters mentioned, would have sufficient guaranteed capacity also to provide new services. No decision has yet been made on that request.

  Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
  Mr David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what correspondence she has received concerning the future of the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford. [14826]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 14 February 1996]: In addition to my right hon. Friend's own letters on the subject, correspondence has been received from my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor), the chairman
  178
  and members of the theatre's appeals committee and the theatre's director and a number of members of the public. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also received a large number of letters in a constituency capacity.

  Royal Fine Art Commission
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she will place a copy of Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield's report on the Royal Fine Art Commission in the Library. [15731]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: We are finalising with DOE some detailed points relating to planning guidance. We will place the report and our conclusions in the Library as soon as consultations within government have been completed.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much has been spent to date from public funds for the restoration of Windsor castle; and what is the expected timetable for completion of the restoration. [15926]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: By 31 March 1995 £5.7 million had been spent on the restoration from public funds; this is expected to increase to approximately £7.2 million by 31 March 1996.

  The restoration is expected to be complete by the spring of 1998.

  Gibraltarian Flag
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage in what circumstances the Gibraltarian flag may be flown at the Gibraltar Government office in London; and if he will make a statement. [15914]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: The Government guidelines issued by my Department cover only the flying of the Union flag on central Government buildings in the UK.

  Departmental Suppliers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to ensure that her Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15611]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: In view of the relatively small expenditure on goods and services by my Department and its two agencies, we have no plans to identify the size of suppliers by the number of their employees.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list each regulatory body for which she is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15732]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: The information is provided below. The figures exclude the Office of the National Lottery which is responsible for

  179
  regulating the national lottery but does not have board members.

  English Heritage: 33 per cent.

  Football Licensing Authority: 25 per cent.

  Independent Television Commission: 40 per cent.

  Radio Authority: 42 per cent.

  S4C: 42 per cent.

SCOTLAND

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the findings of the study of general practitioner fundholding commissioned by his Department and carried out by John Howie of the department of general practice at Edinburgh university during 1995. [13250]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The findings of the project were reported as follows:

  "SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS"

  In relation to prescribing

  1. Both holding a fund and being subject to the constraints of an indicative prescribing budget are associated with a reduced volume of prescribing;

  2. fund-holders may be more cautious than non fund-holders in introducing new and more expensive preparations to their repertoire. (This is not itself necessarily a 'quality' issue);

  3. the quality of prescribing has been maintained in that prescribing volume has risen in three clinical areas where this has been generally recommended by consensus thinking; and

  4. budgets should be set on a per capita rather than on an historical basis, and that research aiming to identify what that per capita basis should be needs to be based on more sensitive measures of volume (for example 'DDD's') and not simply on formulae derived from 'prescribed-items.'

  In relation to referral

  5. Fund-holding has been associated with a significant change in the pattern of use of hospital services; the downward trend in most areas of activity has been matched by an upward trend in the use of direct access services;

  6. the changes in waiting time and outcome have not been dramatic but are generally favourable; and

  7. development of the process of setting capitation-based allocations will be difficult.

  In relation to clinical care

  8. The clinical care of patients at consultations has remained generally stable; however,

  9. patients in some groups have done well in relation to others when consultation length and enablement are considered together. These include patients with angina, diabetes, chronic bronchitis and difficulties with seeing. They have in common that they are low prevalence problems, are associated with lower levels of social problems, affect older patients and (in the case of diabetes, angina and chronic bronchitis) belong to categories whose care has been subject to 'new contact' incentives.'

  10. Patients in the other eight clinical groups (we studied) have done less well in relation to the above in that they report falling enablement and generally higher levels of increase in social morbidity. In the three most prevalent categories (pain, skin disorders, digestive problems) the falls in satisfaction have reached statistical significance;

  180

  11. patients with social problems which they wish to discuss have done well (receiving generally longer consultations and reporting sustained and average levels of satisfaction); and

  12. patients with social problems they do not state they wish to discuss and who have high GHQ scores receive only average length consultations and report low enablement while those with low GHQ scores receive below average length consultations but report average enablement. Both these groups could be regarded as having done less well than others. Each is more prevalent than all but four of the clinical categories we studied.

  In relation to administration

  13. The process of negotiating the nature of specialist care between practitioners and specialists has been novel, has shifted ownership of care significantly and appropriately from secondary to primary care, and has been conceptually beneficial to general practitioners and patients; and

  14. that further thought needs to be given to the evolution of fund-setting both for the prescribing and hospital services components of funds.

  About perceptions of cost and benefit

  15. Patients are generally very satisfied with the quality of the services they receive from general practitioners and the level of satisfaction has been maintained over the period in the fund-holding practices we studied and;

  16. being the 'lead' doctors in a fund-holding practice has time and perhaps other costs which are higher than those experienced by other doctors. Their perceptions of benefits are also higher. Fund managers perceive higher costs than benefits. Non-lead doctors perceive both costs and benefits at a lower level than do the other groups.

  Amongst respondents from fund-holding practices in March 1994

  17. Sixty two per cent. are positive or very positive about fund-holding, 24 per cent. are neutral and 15 per cent. are negative; and more generally;

  18. the concept of centrally funded evaluative work by independent researchers has been a strength of the 'shadow' experiment; it has worked acceptably (probably on both sides), and it could be a repeatable model in the future.

  We finally conclude

  19. That discussion of the possible benefits which might follow if the investments in management and in information technology given to fund-holders were also given to non fund-holders should be encouraged".

  Lingerbay Inquiry
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to Scottish Natural Heritage of the Lingerbay inquiry. [14611]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Scottish Natural Heritage estimates that it has spent £530,985 on the inquiry to date. This excludes an estimate of staff time, which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14022]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My Department's record of making publicly available internal guidance documents and administrative manuals is extremely good. The following examples give a good indication of the wide range of information that is available or will be made available:
  181

  The Scottish Office Staff Handbook.

  Staff guidance: Implementation of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  The Coast Protection Act 1949: A summary guide to legislative powers, definitions and Grant Assistance.

  The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants (Scotland) Scheme Handbook (available from Spring 1996).

  The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme Guidance Notes for Area Office Staff (available from Spring 1996).

  Grants paid under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Desk instructions/procedure manual.

  NHS Employers Code of Procedure on the NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland).

  Confidentiality of Personal Health Information: Code of Practice.

  Access to Health Records Act 1990—A guide for the NHS.

  Teachers Employers Code of Practice on the Teachers Superannuation Scheme (Scotland).

  Departmental Instructions relating to changes in fisheries licensing arrangements and quota management.

  The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency: Code of Enforcement Practice.

  The Scottish Prison Service Operating Standards.

  Historic Scotland: Nature Conservation and Management Manual.

  Historic Scotland: Policy on the Preservation of Monuments in State Care.

  The following are examples of material which is not available for public inspection:

  The Scottish Office Security Handbook.

  Scottish Prison Service Security Manual.

  Departmental Instruments relating to fisheries enforcement matters.

  Village Shops
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total amount of rates currently payable by village shops in Scotland.[15073]

  Mr. Kynoch
  This information is not held centrally.

  Set-aside Payments
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many payments were made in Scotland in 1994–95 for set-aside of between(a) £0 and £5,000,(b)£5,001and £10,000,(c)£10,001 and £15,000,(d)£15,001and £20,000, (e)£20,001 and 25,000, (f)£25,001and £50,000, (g)£50,001 and £75,000 and (h) over £75,000. [15336]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Set-aside payments which have been made to farmers in Scotland under the 1994 arable area payments scheme are as follows:

  Number

  (a) £-£5,000

  3,090

  (b) £5,001-£10,000

  1,036

  (c) £10,001-£15,000

  275

  (d) £15,001-£20,000

  106

  (e) £20,001-£25,000

  41

  (f) £25,001 and over

  142

  1 It is not possible to identify separately the number of payments above £50,000 for reasons of confidentiality.

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many payments were made in Scotland in 1994–95 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 and (j) £150,001 and over. [15321]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Payments which have been made to farmers in Scotland under the 1994 arable area payments scheme are as follows:

  Number

  (a) £0-£5,000

  5,122

  (b) £5,001-£10,000

  1,090

  (c) £10,001-£15,000

  804

  (d) £15,001-£20,000

  653

  (e) £20,001-£25,000

  399

  (f) £25,001-£50,000

  990

  (g) £50,001-£75,000

  257

  (h) £75,001-£100,000

  96

  (i) £100,001-£150,000

  52

  (j) £150,001 and over

  17

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many electors were on the electoral register in each year since 1979 for each district council and island council; [15407]

  (2) how many electors were on the electoral register in each year since 1979 in each regional council and island council and in each sub-division in Strathclyde regional council. [15408]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information for 1979 and 1980 is not held centrally. The electorate figures for 1981 to 1984 are set out in the table. The figures for 1985 to 1994 are detailed in the electoral statistics publications, compiled annually by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which are available in the House of Commons Library. Figures for 1995 are also available in this series, although they refer to the new unitary authorities. Information on each sub-division within Strathclyde regional council is not held centrally.

  Area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  Borders Region

  78,878

  79,456

  79,686

  80,119

  Berwickshire

  14,246

  14,397

  14,424

  14,454

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  25,894

  26,085

  26,179

  26,252

  Roxburgh

  27,659

  27,749

  27,742

  27,975

  Tweeddale

  11,079

  11,225

  11,341

  11,438

  Central Region

  204,207

  206,392

  207,703

  209,056

  Clackmannan

  35,535

  35,980

  36,022

  36,254

  Falkirk

  108,082

  108,935

  109,331

  109,721

  Stirling

  60,590

  61,477

  62,350

  63,081

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  108,276

  109,534

  110,738

  111,961

  Annandale and Eskdale

  26,881

  27,274

  27,678

  27,950

  Nithsdale

  41,618

  42,133

  42,481

  42,910

  Stewartry

  17,587

  17,750

  17,997

  18,304

  Wigtown

  22,190

  22,377

  22,582

  22,797

  Fife Region

  254,545

  257,088

  259,816

  262,459

  Dunfermline

  91,813

  92,704

  93,993

  95,240

  Kirkcaldy

  112,942

  113,737

  114,820

  115,732

  183

  Area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  North-east Fife

  49,790

  50,647

  51,003

  51,487

  Grampian Region

  359,151

  365,445

  371,288

  376,890

  Aberdeen City

  162,825

  165,494

  167,085

  169,297

  Banff and Buchan

  59,404

  60,321

  61,191

  61,714

  Gordon

  46,004

  47,326

  48,804

  50,402

  Kincardine and Deeside

  30,969

  31,673

  32,556

  33,306

  Moray

  59,949

  60,631

  61,652

  62,171

  Highland Region

  140,922

  142,964

  144,332

  146,046

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  7,426

  7,547

  7,715

  7,756

  Caithness

  20,295

  20,434

  20,580

  20,696

  Inverness

  41,306

  42,043

  42,309

  42,957

  Lochaber

  14,186

  14,174

  14,292

  14,508

  Nairn

  7,449

  7,565

  7,702

  7,678

  Ross and Cromarty

  31,916

  32,649

  33,045

  33,623

  Skye and Lochalsh

  7,858

  7,948

  8,063

  8,261

  Sutherland

  10,486

  10,604

  10,625

  10,567

  Lothian Region

  580,283

  586,116

  591,445

  594,584

  East Lothian

  61,741

  62,599

  63,270

  63,874

  Edinburgh City

  361,022

  364,037

  366,664

  367,756

  Midlothian

  60,247

  60,664

  61,144

  61,180

  West Lothian

  97,273

  98,816

  100,367

  101,774

  Strathclyde Region

  1,809,773

  1,813,832

  1,814,780

  1,820,204

  Argyll and Bute

  47,743

  48,159

  48,066

  48,473

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  29,910

  30,400

  30,758

  31,163

  Clydebank

  39,296

  39,570

  39,583

  39,419

  Clydesdale

  42,472

  42,816

  43,182

  43,598

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  43,635

  43,996

  44,868

  45,255

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  33,757

  34,004

  34,060

  34,070

  Cunninghame

  101,641

  102,753

  103,237

  104,682

  Dumbarton

  57,439

  57,971

  58,092

  58,521

  East Kilbride

  61,656

  62,042

  62,456

  62,824

  Eastwood

  41,091

  41,510

  42,126

  42,495

  Glasgow City

  595,615

  590,606

  586,526

  584,472

  Table 1: Number of pupils taking school meals on census day: education authority schools

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  11986–87

  Scotland

  381,945

  329,667

  316,212

  311,370

  311,790

  318,924

  316,495

  329,385

  Borders

  7,968

  5,882

  5,508

  5,277

  5,198

  5,095

  4,701

  4,995

  Central

  18,626

  17,615

  17,691

  16,556

  15,976

  16,160

  14,859

  17,271

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13,623

  13,031

  11,807

  12,196

  12,077

  11,381

  11,683

  11,610

  Fife

  25,799

  23,551

  22,488

  21,484

  20,815

  21,862

  20,587

  22,430

  Grampian

  36,019

  29,429

  28,292

  28,462

  28,603

  29,193

  27,199

  27,944

  Highland

  17,170

  13,941

  14,832

  15,470

  16,202

  15,973

  16,133

  14,633

  Lothian

  49,783

  42,810

  44,094

  37,420

  38,365

  42,172

  43,122

  48,240

  Strathclyde

  177,508

  155,329

  143,657

  146,058

  145,174

  146,796

  149,940

  153,800

  Tayside

  26,867

  19,631

  20,042

  20,470

  21,448

  22,645

  20,833

  21,288

  Orkney

  2,035

  1,928

  1,597

  1,922

  1,895

  1,964

  1,706

  1,724

  Shetland

  2,965

  3,025

  2,925

  2,887

  2,778

  2,705

  2,788

  2,687

  Western Isles

  3,582

  3,495

  3,279

  3,168

  3,259

  2,978

  2,944

  2,763

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  5,838

  5,232

  5,232

  5,412

  5,359

  5,094

  5,510

  5,527

  Ayr

  33,819

  28,259

  23,901

  24,692

  25,178

  25,936

  25,314

  26,751

  Dunbarton

  22,487

  19,841

  19,718

  20,416

  21,464

  22,588

  24,361

  25,919

  Glasgow

  51,433

  47,744

  44,998

  46,072

  43,042

  42,956

  43,766

  43,380

  Lanark

  34,884

  30,046

  27,352

  27,011

  27,110

  26,885

  27,279

  27,861

  Renfrew

  29,047

  24,207

  22,456

  22,455

  23,021

  23,337

  23,710

  24,362

  1 Contains some estimated data.

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Scotland

  329,999

  328,688

  329,713

  332,293

  334,926

  346,202

  351,793

  352,683

  Borders

  5,328

  5,019

  5,116

  5,355

  5,545

  5,712

  5,024

  5,229

  Central

  16,446

  15,456

  16,758

  17,379

  17,777

  20,017

  19,533

  19,621

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11,724

  10,946

  11,982

  12,520

  11,814

  12,848

  13,000

  13,617

  Fife

  22,888

  22,060

  23,894

  25,800

  25,086

  26,842

  27,644

  28,579

  Grampian

  26,667

  27,766

  29,184

  31,243

  31,693

  33,194

  32,094

  31,634

  Highland

  14,674

  13,055

  12,821

  13,056

  14,278

  14,495

  14,360

  15,310

  184

  Area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  Hamilton

  79,622

  79,890

  80,261

  80,451

  Inverclyde

  76,193

  76,378

  76,626

  76,693

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  62,131

  62,289

  62,243

  62,555

  Kyle and Carrick

  87,422

  88,150

  88,540

  89,176

  Monklands

  79,742

  80,328

  80,145

  80,634

  Motherwell

  110,069

  110,512

  110,315

  111,328

  Renfrew

  158,679

  159,605

  160,147

  159,631

  Strathkelvin

  61,660

  62,853

  63,549

  64,764

  Tayside Region

  297,116

  299,708

  301,135

  302,241

  Angus

  69,040

  69,703

  69,865

  70,760

  Dundee City

  139,965

  140,295

  140,364

  139,507

  Perth and Kinross

  88,111

  89,710

  90,906

  91,974

  Orkney Islands Area

  14,142

  14,310

  14,507

  14,697

  Shetland Islands Area

  15,600

  15,835

  15,892

  16,057

  Western Isles Islands Area

  22,695

  22,830

  23,020

  23,076

  School Meals
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average number of students who took school meals in each academic year since and including 1979–80 in each education authority area in Scotland and in each sub-division in Strathclyde regional council; what percentage those taking school meals represented of the total number of pupils; how many students were in receipt of free school meals; and what percentage this represented of the total number of students taking school meals. [15409]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is given in the tables.
  185

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Lothian

  48,019

  43,265

  45,176

  43,793

  40,793

  42,892

  42,945

  42,358

  Strathclyde

  153,819

  162,911

  156,719

  153,924

  157,725

  159,151

  164,483

  164,764

  Tayside

  22,805

  20,872

  20,540

  21,997

  23,018

  23,496

  24,932

  23,864

  Orkney

  2,051

  1,891

  1,992

  1,942

  2,065

  2,244

  2,232

  2,177

  Shetland

  2,684

  2,899

  2,895

  2,733

  2,707

  2,777

  2,896

  3,040

  Western Isles

  2,894

  2,548

  2,636

  2,551

  2,425

  2,534

  2,650

  2,490

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  5,406

  5,781

  5,535

  5,395

  5,437

  5,768

  5,629

  5,668

  Ayr

  26,382

  26,019

  25,754

  25,213

  26,954

  26,830

  26,388

  26,754

  Dunbarton

  25,031

  28,839

  23,987

  23,354

  24,529

  24,275

  24,941

  24,283

  Glasgow

  44,380

  43,577

  42,889

  42,497

  43,144

  40,537

  44,801

  44,404

  Lanark

  28,201

  29,984

  29,724

  31,176

  30,366

  33,708

  34,997

  34,969

  Renfrew

  24,419

  28,711

  28,830

  26,289

  27,295

  28,033

  27,727

  28,686

  Table 2: Total number of pupils present on census day: education authority schools

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  11986–87

  Scotland

  876,816

  867,786

  823,646

  814,506

  756,735

  752,073

  735,543

  729,869

  Borders

  16,256

  16,063

  14,941

  15,005

  14,707

  14,060

  13,834

  13,768

  Central

  47,697

  47,857

  45,144

  44,494

  42,314

  41,643

  40,898

  41,200

  Dumfries and Galloway

  24,232

  23,925

  22,383

  22,553

  21,995

  20,809

  21,428

  20,074

  Fife

  60,168

  59,574

  57,290

  56,698

  52,425

  52,610

  52,911

  53,517

  Grampian

  79,318

  79,341

  74,608

  73,910

  72,821

  72,102

  71,000

  70,398

  Highland

  35,160

  34,578

  33,369

  33,482

  31,916

  32,410

  32,540

  30,882

  Lothian

  115,863

  114,149

  108,808

  106,588

  99,041

  99,931

  96,280

  96,063

  Strathclyde

  420,433

  414,295

  391,392

  386,914

  351,577

  348,738

  340,794

  339,673

  Tayside

  64,755

  64,928

  63,336

  62,070

  57,148

  57,388

  53,915

  52,382

  Orkney

  3,232

  3,163

  2,846

  3,273

  3,201

  3,124

  2,891

  3,043

  Shetland

  3,939

  4,089

  4,065

  4,044

  3,977

  3,926

  3,906

  3,891

  Western Isles

  5,763

  5,824

  5,464

  5,475

  5,613

  5,332

  5,146

  4,978

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  10,650

  10,584

  10,377

  10,233

  9,714

  9,624

  9,397

  9,220

  Ayr

  68,408

  66,537

  61,347

  62,767

  59,701

  57,611

  56,642

  56,576

  Dunbarton

  57,961

  56,890

  54,734

  53,873

  48,748

  52,011

  50,671

  51,626

  Glasgow

  121,049

  121,580

  113,796

  110,487

  96,488

  94,663

  92,961

  90,171

  Lanark

  96,668

  95,022

  90,451

  89,465

  82,119

  79,942

  77,028

  78,050

  Renfrew

  65,697

  63,682

  60,687

  60,089

  54,807

  54,887

  54,095

  54,030

  1 Contains some estimated data.

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Scotland

  729,505

  713,034

  704,357

  698,554

  695,201

  687,081

  727,101

  729,089

  Borders

  13,890

  13,643

  13,729

  13,717

  13,690

  13,814

  14,258

  14,700

  Central

  40,869

  38,747

  39,027

  38,198

  37,781

  38,130

  40,127

  39,602

  Dumfries and Galloway

  20,683

  19,895

  20,418

  20,196

  20,082

  20,401

  21,566

  21,441

  Fife

  52,749

  51,802

  51,036

  51,211

  51,389

  50,691

  53,401

  54,471

  Grampian

  72,044

  71,892

  77,143

  71,850

  69,346

  71,594

  73,923

  75,764

  Highland

  31,467

  30,569

  31,148

  30,805

  30,905

  31,287

  32,478

  32,748

  Lothian

  95,108

  94,183

  91,212

  90,369

  91,586

  90,802

  97,914

  96,956

  Strathclyde

  337,929

  328,610

  317,740

  318,507

  316,568

  305,428

  329,648

  325,988

  Tayside

  53,073

  52,553

  51,515

  52,245

  52,462

  53,491

  52,090

  55,587

  Orkney

  2,978

  2,933

  3,024

  2,977

  3,004

  3,214

  3,145

  3,349

  Shetland

  3,850

  3,801

  3,716

  3,883

  3,734

  3,822

  3,887

  4,006

  Western Isles

  4,865

  4,406

  4,649

  5,596

  4,654

  4,407

  4,664

  4,477

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  9,496

  9,171

  8,988

  9,093

  8,991

  8,505

  8,846

  8,978

  Ayr

  57,206

  55,055

  53,625

  53,895

  54,079

  50,520

  53,565

  53,184

  Dunbarton

  51,399

  50,455

  49,090

  47,906

  47,315

  48,582

  48,808

  48,640

  Glasgow

  89,301

  85,249

  81,637

  83,409

  83,551

  77,773

  88,041

  85,636

  Lanark

  77,406

  74,952

  72,932

  73,262

  71,601

  69,655

  76,190

  75,659

  Renfrew

  53,121

  53,728

  51,468

  50,942

  51,031

  50,393

  54,198

  53,891

  186 187

  Table 3: Number of pupils taking free school meals: education authority schools

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  11986–87

  Scotland

  122,618

  114,711

  124,547

  132,953

  129,335

  136,669

  136,627

  143,194

  Borders

  1,365

  773

  966

  1,097

  1,113

  1,136

  1,065

  1,203

  Central

  4,708

  5,084

  5,853

  6,584

  6,443

  7,311

  6,975

  8,046

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,851

  2,017

  2,265

  2,705

  2,718

  2,765

  2,950

  2,826

  Fife

  6,443

  6,146

  6,935

  7,263

  6,719

  8,639

  8,172

  9,025

  Grampian

  5,935

  3,225

  3,709

  4,117

  4,318

  4,704

  4,800

  5,593

  Highland

  3,674

  2,339

  2,813

  3,415

  3,438

  4,312

  4,355

  4,643

  Lothian

  14,655

  13,162

  14,145

  12,854

  12,413

  14,201

  13,711

  14,689

  Strathclyde

  72,881

  74,565

  79,406

  85,426

  82,348

  84,096

  84,659

  87,362

  Tayside

  8,208

  5,610

  6,597

  7,380

  7,702

  7,854

  8,154

  7,921

  Orkney

  385

  412

  389

  520

  512

  477

  429

  438

  Shetland

  155

  163

  189

  183

  236

  246

  232

  270

  Western Isles

  1,358

  1,215

  1,280

  1,409

  1,375

  928

  1,125

  1,178

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  1,497

  1,336

  1,443

  1,563

  1,525

  1,469

  1,510

  1,560

  Ayr

  10,592

  10,579

  10,801

  12,295

  12,690

  13,202

  12,540

  13,266

  Dunbarton

  5,734

  5,823

  6,838

  7,972

  7,385

  8,103

  8,622

  9,340

  Glasgow

  31,743

  32,913

  34,156

  36,045

  33,791

  33,947

  34,059

  34,671

  Lanark

  15,135

  15,885

  16,631

  17,172

  17,316

  16,959

  16,759

  16,823

  Renfrew

  8,180

  8,029

  9,537

  10,379

  9,641

  10,416

  11,169

  11,702

  1 Contains some estimated data.

  Session (at January)

  Education authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Scotland

  145,219

  105,232

  99,303

  101,915

  107,186

  107,709

  121,479

  121,123

  Borders

  1,184

  522

  779

  650

  751

  683

  721

  750

  Central

  7,740

  5,448

  4,985

  5,170

  5,402

  5,476

  5,931

  6,176

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,994

  1,755

  1,656

  1,769

  1,889

  2,017

  2,102

  2,155

  Fife

  8,927

  6,227

  6,123

  6,432

  7,017

  7,080

  8,065

  8,283

  Grampian

  5,967

  4,068

  4,099

  4,375

  5,177

  5,695

  5,721

  6,182

  Highland

  4,960

  3,395

  2,967

  2,881

  3,024

  3,270

  4,015

  3,918

  Lothian

  15,773

  12,219

  11,710

  12,330

  12,857

  13,551

  15,190

  15,358

  Strathclyde

  87,147

  63,905

  59,853

  61,169

  63,682

  62,436

  71,981

  70,595

  Tayside

  8,720

  6,562

  6,121

  6,199

  6,396

  6,520

  6,732

  6,723

  Orkney

  432

  193

  183

  179

  208

  201

  220

  232

  Shetland

  263

  146

  142

  160

  210

  226

  236

  250

  Western Isles

  1,112

  792

  685

  601

  573

  554

  565

  501

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  1,555

  950

  861

  869

  1,040

  1,150

  1,224

  1,210

  Ayr

  12,899

  8,718

  8,512

  8,887

  9,460

  9,942

  10,451

  10,016

  Dunbarton

  9,027

  6,806

  6,046

  6,184

  6,486

  6,477

  7,568

  7,595

  Glasgow

  35,337

  27,053

  25,188

  26,243

  27,093

  25,040

  29,948

  29,196

  Lanark

  16,585

  11,450

  10,865

  10,861

  11,137

  11,843

  13,663

  13,660

  Renfrew

  11,744

  8,928

  8,381

  8,098

  8,466

  7,984

  9,127

  8,918

  Table 4: Number of pupils taking free school meals as a percentage of total pupils taking school meals: education authority schools

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  11986–87

  Scotland

  32.1

  34.8

  39.4

  42.7

  41.5

  42.9

  43.2

  43.5

  Borders

  17.1

  13.1

  17.5

  20.8

  21.4

  22.3

  22.7

  24.1

  Central

  25.3

  28.9

  33.1

  39.8

  40.3

  45.2

  46.9

  46.6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  20.9

  15.5

  19.2

  22.2

  22.5

  24.3

  25.3

  24.3

  Fife

  25.0

  26.1

  30.8

  33.8

  32.3

  39.5

  39.7

  40.2

  Grampian

  16.5

  11.0

  13.1

  14.5

  15.1

  16.1

  17.6

  20.0

  Highland

  21.4

  16.8

  19.0

  22.1

  21.2

  27.0

  27.0

  31.7

  Lothian

  29.4

  30.7

  32.1

  34.4

  32.4

  33.7

  31.8

  30.4

  Strathclyde

  41.1

  48.0

  55.3

  58.5

  56.7

  57.3

  56.5

  56.8

  Tayside

  30.6

  28.6

  32.9

  36.1

  35.9

  34.7

  39.1

  37.2

  Orkney

  18.9

  21.4

  24.4

  27.1

  27.0

  24.3

  25.1

  25.4

  Shetland

  5.2

  5.4

  6.5

  6.3

  8.5

  9.1

  8.3

  10.0

  Western Isles

  37.9

  34.8

  39.0

  44.5

  42.2

  31.2

  38.2

  42.6

  188 189

  Table 4: Number of pupils taking free school meals as a percentage of total pupils taking school meals: education authority schools

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  21986–87

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  25.6

  25.5

  27.6

  28.9

  28.5

  28.8

  27.4

  28.2

  Ayr

  31.3

  37.4

  45.2

  49.8

  50.4

  50.9

  49.5

  49.6

  Dunbarton

  25.5

  29.3

  34.7

  39.0

  34.4

  35.9

  35.4

  36.0

  Glasgow

  61.7

  68.9

  75.9

  78.2

  78.5

  79.0

  77.8

  79.9

  Lanark

  43.4

  52.9

  60.8

  63.6

  63.9

  63.1

  61.4

  60.4

  Renfrew

  28.2

  33.2

  42.5

  46.2

  41.9

  44.6

  47.1

  48.0

  1 Contains some estimated data.

  Session (at January)

  Education authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Scotland

  44.0

  32.0

  30.1

  30.7

  32.0

  31.1

  34.5

  34.3

  Borders

  22.2

  10.4

  15.2

  12.1

  13.5

  12.0

  14.4

  14.3

  Central

  47.1

  35.2

  29.7

  29.7

  30.4

  27.4

  30.4

  31.5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  25.5

  16.0

  13.8

  14.1

  16.0

  15.7

  16.2

  15.8

  Fife

  39.0

  28.2

  25.6

  24.9

  28.0

  26.4

  29.2

  29.0

  Grampian

  22.4

  14.7

  14.0

  14.0

  16.3

  17.2

  17.8

  19.5

  Highland

  33.8

  26.0

  23.1

  22.1

  21.2

  22.6

  28.0

  25.6

  Lothian

  32.8

  28.2

  25.9

  28.2

  31.5

  31.6

  35.4

  36.3

  Strathclyde

  56.7

  39.2

  38.2

  39.7

  40.4

  39.2

  43.8

  42.8

  Tayside

  38.2

  31.4

  29.8

  28.2

  27.8

  27.7

  27.0

  28.2

  Orkney

  21.1

  10.2

  9.2

  9.2

  10.1

  9.0

  9.9

  10.7

  Shetland

  9.8

  5.0

  4.9

  5.9

  7.8

  8.1

  8.1

  8.2

  Western Isles

  38.4

  31.1

  26.0

  23.6

  23.6

  21.9

  21.3

  20.1

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  28.8

  16.4

  15.6

  16.6

  19.1

  19.9

  21.7

  21.3

  Ayr

  48.9

  33.5

  33.1

  35.2

  35.1

  37.1

  39.6

  37.4

  Dunbarton

  36.1

  23.6

  25.2

  26.5

  26.4

  26.7

  30.3

  31.3

  Glasgow

  79.6

  62.1

  58.7

  61.8

  62.8

  61.8

  66.8

  65.8

  Lanark

  58.8

  38.2

  36.6

  34.8

  36.7

  35.1

  39.0

  39.1

  Renfrew

  48.1

  31.1

  29.1

  30.8

  31.0

  28.5

  32.9

  31.1

  Table 5: Pupils taking school meals as a percentage of total pupils present: education authority schools

  Session (at January)

  Education Authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  11986–87

  Scotland

  43.6

  38.0

  38.4

  38.2

  41.2

  42.4

  43.0

  45.1

  Borders

  49.0

  36.6

  36.9

  35.2

  35.3

  36.2

  34.0

  36.3

  Central

  39.1

  36.8

  39.2

  37.2

  37.8

  38.8

  36.3

  41.9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  56.2

  54.5

  52.7

  54.1

  54.9

  54.7

  54.5

  57.8

  Fife

  42.9

  39.5

  39.3

  37.9

  39.7

  41.6

  38.9

  41.9

  Grampian

  45.4

  37.1

  37.9

  38.5

  39.3

  40.5

  38.3

  39.7

  Highland

  48.8

  40.3

  44.4

  46.2

  50.8

  49.3

  49.6

  47.4

  Lothian

  43

  37.5

  40.5

  35.1

  38.7

  42.2

  44.8

  50.2

  Strathclyde

  42.2

  37.5

  36.7

  37.7

  41.3

  42.1

  44

  45.3

  Tayside

  41.5

  30.2

  31.6

  33.0

  37.5

  39.5

  38.6

  40.6

  Orkney

  63.0

  61.0

  56.1

  58.7

  59.2

  62.9

  59.0

  56.7

  Shetland

  75.3

  74.0

  72.0

  71.4

  69.9

  68.9

  71.4

  69.1

  Western Isles

  62.2

  60.0

  60.0

  57.9

  58.1

  55.9

  57.2

  55.5

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  54.8

  49.4

  50.4

  52.9

  55.2

  52.9

  58.6

  59.9

  Ayr

  49.4

  42.5

  39.0

  39.3

  42.2

  45.0

  44.7

  47.3

  Dunbarton

  38.8

  34.9

  36.0

  37.9

  44.0

  43.4

  48.1

  50.2

  Glasgow

  42.5

  39.3

  39.5

  41.7

  44.6

  45.4

  47.1

  48.1

  Lanark

  36.1

  31.6

  30.2

  30.2

  33.0

  33.6

  35.4

  35.7

  Renfrew

  44.2

  38.0

  37.0

  37.4

  42.0

  42.5

  43.8

  45.1

  1 Contains some estimated data.

  190 191

  Session (at January)

  Education authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Scotland

  45.2

  46.1

  46.8

  47.6

  48.2

  50.4

  48.4

  48.4

  Borders

  38.4

  36.8

  37.3

  39.0

  40.5

  41.3

  35.2

  35.6

  Central

  40.2

  39.9

  42.9

  45.5

  47.1

  52.5

  48.7

  49.5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  56.7

  55.0

  58.7

  62.0

  58.8

  63.0

  60.3

  63.5

  Fife

  43.4

  42.6

  46.8

  50.4

  48.8

  53.0

  51.8

  52.5

  Grampian

  37.0

  38.6

  37.8

  43.5

  45.7

  46.4

  43.4

  41.8

  Highland

  46.6

  42.7

  41.2

  42.4

  46.2

  46.3

  44.2

  46.8

  Lothian

  50.5

  45.9

  49.5

  48.5

  44.5

  47.2

  43.9

  43.7

  Strathclyde

  45.5

  49.6

  49.3

  48.3

  49.8

  52.1

  49.9

  50.5

  Tayside

  43.0

  39.7

  39.9

  42.1

  43.9

  43.9

  47.9

  42.9

  Orkney

  68.9

  64.5

  65.9

  65.2

  68.7

  69.8

  71.0

  65.0

  Shetland

  69.7

  76.3

  77.9

  70.4

  72.5

  72.7

  74.5

  75.9

  Western Isles

  59.5

  57.8

  56.7

  55.5

  52.1

  57.5

  56.8

  55.6

  Strathclyde Divisions:

  Argyll and Bute

  56.9

  63.0

  61.6

  59.3

  60.5

  67.8

  63.6

  63.1

  Ayr

  46.1

  47.3

  48.0

  46.8

  49.8

  53.1

  49.3

  50.3

  Dunbarton

  48.7

  57.2

  48.9

  48.7

  51.8

  50.0

  51.1

  49.9

  Glasgow

  49.7

  51.1

  52.5

  51.0

  51.6

  52.1

  50.9

  51.9

  Lanark

  36.4

  40.0

  40.8

  42.6

  42.4

  48.4

  45.9

  46.2

  Renfrew

  46.0

  53.4

  56.0

  51.6

  53.5

  55.6

  51.2

  53.2

  Scottish Water Consumers Council
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those persons appointed or to be appointed to the Scottish Water Consumers Council, indicating their length of tenure of office and remuneration. [15958]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The names of the chairman, vice-chairman and members of the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council, their length of tenure of office and remuneration are as follows:

  Chairman: Dick Douglas, three years, £15,000 per annum

  Vice-Chairman: Professor Ian Percy, four years, £7,500 per annum

  Members: Professor Tom Anderson, Ann Calman, Councillor John Connolly, Councillor Lynn Groundwater, Bill Howatson, Councillor Rhona Kemp, Neil Menzies, Councillor Alexander Scott and Ian Stewart. The late Angus Macdonald was also a member. All members were appointed for four years and receive remuneration of £3,000 per annum. The three members who also serve as area committee Chairman, Professor Tom Anderson, Councillor John Connolly and Councillor Rhona Kemp receive additional remuneration of £2,000 per annum to reflect their additional duties and responsibilities. These posts are for a period of a year.

  Forestry Commission
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sources of land purchased in Scotland
  by the Forestry Commission between(a) 1966 and 1970, (b) 1971 and 1980 and (c) 1981 and 1990 identified as (i) land purchased from private estates, (ii) land which formed part of crofting township common grazings and (iii) other Government-owned land. [16262]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Forestry Commission does not maintain a central record of the sources of the land which 192
  it buys. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Morgan
  To as the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 1996,Official Report, columns 567–68, if he will give the total number of patients on general practitioners' lists in (a) fundholding and (b) non-fundholding practices in the area of each health board. [15974]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  1991

  Patients in 'live' fundholding practices1

  Patents in pilot and preparatory fundholding practices2

  Patients in non-fundholding practices3

  Scotland

  10,637

  102,560

  5,269,612

  Argyll and Clyde

  0

  9,144

  443,826

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0

  0

  391,438

  Borders

  0

  0

  105,864

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  152,069

  Fife

  0

  0

  349,971

  Forth Valley

  0

  0

  288,164

  Grampian

  0

  65,013

  452,935

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  0

  1,035,275

  Highland

  0

  0

  208,909

  Lanarkshire

  0

  0

  568,727

  Lothian

  10,637

  0

  802,220

  Orkney

  0

  0

  19,714

  Shetland

  0

  0

  22,699

  Tayside

  0

  28,403

  379,464

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  30,337

  1 All patients on the lists of 'live' standard fundholding practices and practices in the pilot phase of total purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  2 All patients on the lists of practices in the preparatory phase of standard fundholding, small practice pilots and practices in the pilot phase of primary care purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  3 All patients on the lists of practices which are not in any phase of fundholding, including those living outwilh the Health Board area.

  193

  1992

  Patients in 'live' fundholding practices1

  Patients in pilot and preparatory fundholding practices2

  Patients in non-fundholding practices3

  Scotland

  114,141

  309,616

  4,950,014

  Argyll and Clyde

  9,185

  28,377

  412,725

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0

  12,677

  378,587

  Borders

  0

  0

  106,474

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  152,377

  Fife

  0

  6,443

  343,920

  Forth Valley

  0

  11,727

  277,023

  Grampian

  65,656

  182,253

  277,277

  Greater Glasgow

  9,456

  10,915

  1,005,646

  Highland

  0

  4,296

  206,505

  Lanarkshire

  0

  10,985

  574,175

  Lothian

  10,649

  3,427

  791,736

  Orkney

  0

  0

  19,792

  Shetland

  0

  0

  22,808

  Tayside

  19,195

  38,516

  351,003

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  29,966

  1 All patients on the list of 'live' standard fundholding practices and practices in the pilot phase of total purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  2 All patients on the lists of practices in the preparatory phase of standard fundholding, small practice pilots and practices in the pilot phase of primary care purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  3 All patients on the lists of practices which are not in any phase of fundholding, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  1993

  Patients in 'live' fundholding practices1

  Patients in pilot and preparatory fundholding practices2

  Patients in non-fundholding practices3

  Scotland

  573,745

  288,259

  4,504,277

  Argyll and Clyde

  37,235

  0

  411,328

  Ayrshire and Arran

  25,308

  16,392

  348,997

  Borders

  7,058

  8,984

  90,988

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  7,185

  145,509

  Fife

  6,491

  24,693

  319,491

  Forth Valley

  12,428

  5,582

  271,587

  Grampian

  250,655

  70,021

  210,255

  Greater Glasgow

  20,054

  73,444

  922,019

  Highland

  12,346

  4,219

  195,191

  Lanarkshire

  70,686

  40,145

  473,440

  Lothian

  58,594

  37,594

  706,269

  Orkney

  0

  0

  19,970

  Shetland

  0

  0

  22,769

  Tayside

  72,892

  0

  336,586

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  29,908

  1 All patients on the list of 'live' standard fundholding practices and practices in the pilot phase of total purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  2 All patients on the lists of practices in the preparatory phase of standard fundholding, small practice pilots and practices in the pilot phase of primary care purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  3 All patients on the lists of practices which are not in any phase of fundholding, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  1994

  Patients in 'live' fundholding practices1

  Patients in pilot and preparatory fundholding practices2

  Patients in non-fundholding practices3

  Scotland

  971,965

  152,088

  4,240,934

  Argyll and Clyde

  36,508

  0

  408,100

  Ayrshire and Arran

  32,480

  0

  358,518

  Borders

  16,018

  0

  91,284

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7,148

  15,515

  130,421

  Fife

  31,274

  18,387

  302,722

  194

  1994

  Patients in 'live' fundholding practices1

  Patients in pilot and preparatory fundholding practices2

  Patients in non-fundholding practices3

  Forth Valley

  31,395

  5,614

  252,722

  Grampian

  328,835

  0

  207,061

  Greater Glasgow

  80,886

  69,111

  856,540

  Highland

  29,080

  0

  183,198

  Lanarkshire

  166,524

  7,527

  409,135

  Lothian

  127,788

  27,290

  651,196

  Orkney

  0

  0

  19,970

  Shetland

  0

  0

  22,730

  Tayside

  84,029

  8,644

  317,615

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  29,722

  1 All patients on the list of 'live' standard fundholding practices and practices in the pilot phase of total purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  2 All patients on the lists of practices in the preparatory phase of standard fundholding, small practice pilots and practices in the pilot phase of primary care purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  3 All patients on the lists of practices which are not in any phase of fundholding, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  1995

  Patients in 'live' fundholding practices1

  Patients in pilot and preparatory fundholding practices2

  Patients in non-fundholding practices3

  Scotland

  1,154,944

  534,997

  3,665,059

  Argyll and Clyde

  35,996

  57,403

  346,445

  Ayrshire and Arran

  34,773

  8,148

  348,557

  Borders

  15,984

  21,931

  69,723

  Dumfries and Galloway

  26,585

  18,608

  107,792

  Fife

  50,011

  68,666

  233,803

  Forth Valley

  31,392

  40,940

  217,928

  Grampian

  332,484

  21,271

  184,745

  Greater Glasgow

  148,557

  158,003

  690,222

  Highland

  25,354

  26,284

  161,186

  Lanarkshire

  174,059

  7,957

  401,509

  Lothian

  187,184

  41,879

  576,357

  Orkney

  0

  0

  20,009

  Shetland

  0

  0

  22,914

  Tayside

  92,565

  58,361

  259,731

  Western Isles

  0

  5,546

  24,138

  1 All patients on the list of 'live' standard fundholding practices and practices in the pilot phase of total purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  2 All patients on the lists of practices in the preparatory phase of standard fundholding, small practice pilots and practices in the pilot phase of primary care purchasing, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  3 All patients on the lists of practices which are not in any phase of fundholding, including those living outwith the Health Board area.

  Health Service Charges
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the revenue from NHS charges for(a) prescriptions, (b) eye tests and (c) dental services in Scotland in (i) 1978 and (ii) 1995. [15887]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested in respect of NHS prescriptions and NHS general dental services is set out in the table. There is no revenue in respect of NHS sight test fees paid to optometrists. Charges paid by patients in contribution towards the cost of their NHS prescriptions and general dental services are offset against total Government funding of these services.
  195

  Scotland: revenue from NHS prescription charges and general dental service charges

  Prescription charges1

  General Dental Service charges

  £

  £

  1978–79

  2,774,743

  6,037,684

  1994–952

  33,321,224

  42,266,539

  1 Includes charges for drugs, appliances and pre-payment certificates.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Toll Bridge Revenues
  Mr. Home Roberstson
  To ask Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total revenue from bridge tolls in Scotland in(a) 1978 and (b) 1995. [15888]

  Lored James Douglas- Hamilton
  Information on revenue and crossings in the years requested is set out in the table.

  £ thousands

  1977–78

  1994–95

  Tolls levied

  Crossings made

  Tolls levied at 1994–95 prices

  Tolls levied

  Crossings made

  Forth Road Bridge

  1,642

  9,374

  5,222

  8.143

  18,994

  Tay Road Bridge

  704

  4,786

  2,239

  2,291

  13,599

  Erskine Bridge

  525

  3,240

  1.670

  4,070

  6,865

  Totals

  2,871

  17,400

  9,131

  15,134

  29,458

  1 One-way tolling was introduced on the Tay Road Bridge on 1 June 1991.This figure therefore refers to southbound traffic only.

  Afforestation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when a consultation paper will be issued on the amended environmental assessment regulations for afforestation. [15850]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988 have to be amended to comply fully with Council directive 85/337/EEC. The amendments are technical in nature and will have limited practical effect. We shall decide on consultation when the revised regulations have been prepared.

  Renewables Orders
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of Scottish renewables orders allocated in the first round of applications; and if he will list the names, locations and values of the orders allocated. [15306]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: Thirty projects were awarded contracts in December 1994 under the first order made within the Scottish renewables obligation. Their names and locations are listed in the table.
  196
  The value of each contract is a matter for the contracting parties.

  Name

  Location

  Wind

  Gallow Rig Wind Farm

  Carsphairn, Kirkcudbrightshire

  West Garty Wind Farm

  Helmsdale, Sutherland

  Beinn Ghlas Wind Farm

  Taynuilt, Argyll

  Bendealt Wind Farm

  Evanton, Ross-shire

  Meall an Tuirc Wind Farm

  Evanton, Ross-shire

  Craigenlee Wind Farm

  Port Patrick. Wigtownshire

  Polwhat Rig Wind Farm

  Carsphairn, Kirkcudbrightshire

  Helmsdale Wind Farm

  Helmsdale, Sutherland

  Largie Wind Project

  Kintyre, Argyll

  Hagshaw Hill (S10) Wind Farm

  Hagshaw Hill, Ianark

  Hagshaw Hill (S15) Wind Farm

  Hagshaw Hill, Ianark

  Laggan, Windcluster

  Islay, Argyll

  Hydro

  Russell Burn

  Applecross, Wester Ross

  Loch Poll

  Assynt, Sutherland

  Sheildaig

  Gairloch, Ross-shire

  Inverbroom

  Ullapool, Ross & Cromarty

  Stanley Mills

  Stanley, Perthshire

  Stoneywood Mill

  Dyce, Aberdeenshire

  Antermony Loch

  Milton of Campsie, Stirlingshire

  Cuileig

  Braemore, Ross & Cromarty

  Novar

  Evanton, Ross-shire

  Ardtornish

  Morven, Oban, Argyll

  Auchtertyre

  Tyndrum, Perthshire

  Duror

  Lochgilphead, Argyll

  Garrogie

  Loch Mhor, Inverness-shire

  Garry Gualach

  Forth William, Lochaber

  Beochlich

  Loch Awe, Argyll

  Waste-to-Energy

  Greengairs Phase I (Landfill Gas)

  Nr Cumbernauld. Strathclyde

  Greengairs Phase II (Landfill Gas)

  Nr Cumbernauld, Strathclyde

  Biomass

  Westfield Biomass Power Station

  Westfield, Fife

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many small-scale hydro-development companies benefited from the first the first round of allocation of contracts under the Scottish renewables order. [15307]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: A total of 15 hydro projects from 12 individual companies were awarded contracts under the first order within the Scottish renewables obligation.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask Secretary of State for Scotland how many small-scale hydro-development companies have made application to the Scottish renewables order in the second round. [15308]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: Under the second round within the Scottish renewables obligation, prospective developers have until 5 June 1996 to submit proposals to the Office of Electricity Regulation.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total amount of moneys which have accrued to date to the electricity utilities as a result of levies raised by the Scottish renewables order. [15309]
  197
  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 19 February 1996]: To date no money has been collected in respect of levy arrangements linked to the Scottish renewables obligation.

  Water and Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many responses were received by his Department in response to the consultation document on local authority billing and collection of unmeasured domestic water and sewerage charges on behalf of the new water and sewerage authorities; [16088]

  (2) when he sent to consultees draft regulations under section 79 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 relating to the local authority billing and collection of unmeasured domestic water and sewerage charges; and if he will make a statement. [16089]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: The department received 44 responses to the consultation paper which set out the Government's proposals on the new billing and collection arrangements. Consultees were sent the draft order mirroring these proposals on 15 December 1995. Responses to the consultation exercise have been considered and the Water Services Charges (Billing and Collection) (Scotland) Order 1996 was laid before the House on 19 February 1996.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pension Miscalculations
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the total number of inaccuracies made in calculating(a) full and (b) partial retirement pensions in each of the last three years. [14749]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of retirement pension is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 20 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is his estimate of the total number of inaccuracies made in calculating (a) full and (b) partial Retirement Pensions (RP) in each of the last three years.The information is not available in the format requested. The Benefits Agency provides statistics on the accuracy, in percentage terms, of the total of RP claims. These include details of Widows Benefit (WB) claims. Figures for full and modified rates are not separated for accuracy purposes.The table below gives details of the accuracy achieved for RP and WB claims for the last three years.

  Percentage

  Year

  Accuracy

  1992–93

  98.6

  1993–94

  98.3

  1994–95

  98.1

  Figures are provisional and subject to change. I hope you find this reply useful.

  War Widows' Pensions
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the additional cost would be of allowing all claims currently received by his Department for the reinstatement of war widows' pensions to be backdated to 19 July 1995. [15440]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received since 1 January 1995 about delays in payment of severe disablement allowance; how many he received in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994; and if he will make a statement. [15450]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Fraud
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of progress on combating fraud. [14371]

  Mr. Heald
  Last July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced his five-year security strategy which gives new emphasis to the prevention and deterrence of benefit fraud while continuing to improve investigation and detection methods.

  We are pleased to announce that the new initiatives which include extra checks on claims and data matching, together with traditional fraud investigation methods, have so far saved in excess of £800 million this year and we are on target to save over £1 billion by the end of the year.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Building Repairs (West Yorkshire)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next intends to visit West Yorkshire to discuss repairs for school buildings. [14692]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no immediate plans to visit West Yorkshire.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applications for grant-maintained status are currently being considered. [14693]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Twenty three proposals are under consideration at the moment.
  199
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the relative performance of grant-maintained and local authority schools. [16716]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 1995 school performance tables show that nearly half the pupils in grant-maintained schools achieved five or more good GCSE passes, compared with 39 per cent. of pupils in local education authority schools. There was almost no difference in the performance of pupils in selective schools in the two sectors, but 45 per cent. of pupils in GM comprehensive schools achieved five or more good GCSE passes compared with 39 per cent. in LEA schools. Analysis of the GCSE performance tables over three years suggests that GM schools have made more progress than LEA schools in raising standards year on year. In the 1995

  1C: comprehensive schools only, banded by the percentage of pupils taking free school meals

  GCSE passes

  Percentage of pupils taking free school meals

  5+A*-C

  5+A*-G

  1+A*-G

  LEA comprehensives

  Less than 5

  54.9

  94.5

  97.2

  5–9

  45.8

  91.3

  95.7

  10–14

  36.7

  86.9

  93.4

  15–20

  30.0

  82.1

  90.5

  20 and over

  21.1

  73.9

  85.8

  Total

  38.7

  86.3

  92.9

  GM comprehensives

  Less than 5

  59.5

  95.7

  97.8

  5–9

  47.9

  93.3

  97.0

  10–14

  38.0

  88.4

  94.6

  15–20

  32.9

  85.3

  91.8

  20 and over

  27.7

  81.5

  91.0

  Total

  44.7

  90.7

  95.5

  Table 2: Percentage of seven-year-old pupils achieving national curriculum level 2 and above

  Key stage 1

  English

  Mathematics

  Science

  TA1

  Test1

  TA

  Test

  TA

  Test

  LEA schools

  81

  78 Re

  78

  79

  84

  —

  —

  80 Wr

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 Sp

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  78 Ha

  —

  —

  —

  —

  GM schools

  86

  85 re

  84

  84

  88

  —

  —

  85 Wr

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  73 sp

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  85 Ha

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 TA = teacher assessment, Test = national test. For English. KS1 national test results are given separately for Reading (RE), Writing (Wr), Spelling (Sp) and Handwriting (Ha).

  Table 5: time series comparison of LEA-maintained schools with schools which became grant maintained on or before September 1992

  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A-C GCSEs in 1992

  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A-C GCSEs in 1995

  Percentage point increase 1995 over 1992

  LEA maintained schools

  Selective

  89.4

  93.5

  4.1

  Comprehensive

  33.0

  37.7

  4.6

  Secondary modern

  19.0

  24.5

  5.5

  All

  33.9

  38.5

  4.7

  GM schools

  Selective

  89.3

  94.8

  5.6

  Comprehensive

  39.3

  45.5

  6.3

  Secondary modern

  19.4

  28.1

  8.7

  All

  48.8

  55.0

  6.3

  200
  national curriculum assessments for seven, 11 and 14-year-olds, a greater proportion of pupils in GM schools achieved higher levels of attainment at each key stage. Detail are set out in the tables.

  Table 1: Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving graded GCSE results in 1995

  1A: all schools

  GCSE passes

  5+ A*-C

  5+ A*-G

  1+ A-G

  LEA schools

  39.4 per cent.

  86.6 per cent.

  93.0 per cent.

  GM schools

  48.8 per cent.

  91.3 per cent.

  95.7 per cent.

  1B: comprehensive schools only

  GCSE passes

  5+ A*-C

  5+ A*-G

  1+A-G

  LEA comprehensives

  38.7 per cent.

  86.3 per cent.

  92.9 per cent.

  GM comprehensives

  44.7 per cent.

  90.7 per cent.

  95.5 per cent.

  Table 3: Percentage of 11-year-old pupils achieving national curriculum level 4 and above

  Key stage 2

  English

  Mathematics

  Science

  TA

  Test

  TA

  Test

  TA

  Test

  LEA schools

  57

  48

  54

  44

  64

  70

  GM Schools

  61

  54

  58

  50

  70

  76

  Table 4: Percentage of 14-year-olds pupils achieving national curriculum level 5 and above

  English

  Mathematics

  Science

  Key stage 3

  TA

  Test

  TA

  Test

  TA

  Test

  LEA schools

  63

  53

  60

  56

  59

  55

  GM schools

  70

  63

  68

  64

  66

  63

  School Inspections
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she last met representatives of the Office of Standards in Education to discuss school inspections. [14694]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Secretary of State met Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools on 8 February to discuss school inspections.

  Teacher Morale
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent assessment she has made of the morale of class teachers. [14695]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My colleagues and I keep in touch with teachers' morale through frequent visits to schools. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I believe that the great majority of teachers do a good job and take every opportunity to say so.

  Schools Capital Spending
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the level of capital spending in schools in the financial year 1996–97. [14696]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Capital expenditure on schools for 1996–97 cannot be projected at this stage. It will depend on the level of self-financed expenditure by local authorities. Planned central Government support for capital work in maintained schools is nearly £700 million—a 6.7 per cent. increase on 1995–96.

  Access to Work Scheme
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from organisations of and for disabled people in relation to the future of the access to work scheme. [14697]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department has received a number of representations from organisations of and for disabled people about the access to work programme.

  Overseas Football Players (Work Permits)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many work permits have been issued in each of the last three years in respect of overseas soccer players. [14698]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Information about the number of work permits issued in each of the last three years in respect of overseas soccer players is not available. The number of work permit applications for footballers received was 35 in 1993, 22 in 1994 and 65 in 1995.

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of 16-year-olds stay on in full-time education; and what were the figures in 1986. [14700]

  Mr. Paice
  Some 71.5 per cent. of 16-year-olds were in full-time education in 1994–95. This compares with 47.3 per cent. in 1985–86.

  Campbells Soups
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next intends to meet representatives of Cumbria training and enterprise council to discuss the implications of the closure of Homepride by Campbells Soups. [14701]

  Mr. Paice
  Cumbria TEC itself is well equipped to help Homepride employees. I know that the TEC is in regular contact with the company and is helping employees to retrain and to find new jobs. I therefore have no plans to meet its representatives.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received about the future of grammar schools; and if she will make a statement. [14702]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend regularly receives letters and other representations from hon. Members and members of the public about grammar schools and selection.

  English Language
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the aims of her campaign to improve the use of the English language. [14703]

  Mr. Paice
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher).

  School Standards
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the measures she is proposing to take to boost overall standards in schools. [14704]

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she is taking to raise standards in primary schools. [14713]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government have introduced a coherent programme of reforms designed to raise standards in all our schools, building on the national curriculum, regular inspection and the publication of performance information.

  Schools (Music)
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she is taking to promote the study of music in schools. [14705]

  Mr. Paice
  Music is a national curriculum subject and is compulsory for all pupils between the ages of five and 14 in maintained schools.

  Education Funding (Northumberland)
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to meet Northumberland county council to discuss education funding. [17707]
  203
  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to meet Northumberland county council to discuss what to do with the above average 5.5 per cent. increase in Northumberland's education standard spending assessment which the Government have provided for 1996–97.

  School Leavers
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people who have left school and taken up a training place in the last three years are currently classified as(a) unknown and (b) unemployed. [14708]

  Mr. Paice
  Some 14 per cent. of young people completing youth training in 1994–95 were unemployed six months later. This has fallen from 18 per cent. the previous year and 20 per cent. the year before that.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received about people who are currently working part time because they cannot find a full-time job. [14709]

  Mr. Forth
  No such representations have been made recently. People in Britain welcome the opportunities to choose between full-time and part time work. Only about 14 per cent. of people who work part time do so because they could not find a full-time job.

  Employment Prospects (Europe)
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next expects to meet her German counterpart to discuss employment prospects in Europe. [14710]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend expects to meet European Union Employment Ministers, including her German counterpart, at the next meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 29 March.

  Compulsory Schooling
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the period of compulsory schooling in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other European Union countries. [14711]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is as follows:

  Country

  Period (age) of compulsory schooling

  United Kingdom

  5–16

  Austria

  6–15

  Belgium

  6–15 full time.

  Compulsory part time to 18.

  Denmark

  7–16

  Finland

  7–17

  France

  6–16

  Germany

  6–16 full time.

  Compulsory part time to 18

  Greece

  5.5–14.5

  Ireland

  6–15

  Italy

  6–14

  204

  Country

  Period (age) of compulsory schooling

  Luxembourg

  4–15

  Netherlands

  5–16 Part-time to 18.

  Portugal

  6–15

  Spain

  6–16

  Sweden

  7–16

  Temporary Employment
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the number of people who are currently in temporary positions because they cannot find a permanent job. [14712]

  Mr. Forth
  Latest figures show that about 650,000 people were in temporary jobs because they could not find a permanent job. As the table shows, a smaller proportion of the working population in the UK are in temporary jobs than in any other major European country.

  Per cent.

  Country

  Proportion of temporary employees—1994

  UK

  6.3

  Italy

  7.3

  Germany

  10.2

  France

  10.9

  Spain

  33.6

  EU 12 Average

  10.9

  Independent Nursery Schools
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to review the criteria for the registration of independent nursery schools. [14714]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We have no plans to amend the provisions of the Education Act 1944 which define an independent school and the educational and other standards to be met for the purposes of registration. The registration under the Children Act 1989 of other independent nursery establishments is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the progress of nursery vouchers. [14715]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Phase 1 of the voucher scheme is progressing well. Nearly two thirds of parents have returned their application forms. Over three quarters of eligible providers have joined the scheme.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of her Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14034]
  205
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department and its agencies are fully committed to the Government's code of practice on access to Government information, and in particular to the provision of information in response to specific requests.

  In responding to such a request, in general, any information in an administrative manual or internal guide would be made available, unless it fell within the categories of exemption identified in the code.

  The Department and its agencies, in particular the Employment Service, produce a large number of administrative manuals and documents of internal guidance, covering both external and internal work. They range in size from a single page to multiple volumes, and in lifespan from a few days to many years. It would be disproportionately costly and time consuming to identify all such publications in order to list them and to determine which fall in whole or in part within the exempt categories.

  Handicapped Young People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps her Department has taken to ensure that adequate training opportunities exist for young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years who(a) are disabled or (b) have learning difficulties and who have left special education or local authority care. [15208]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils in England to provide training leading to a range of outcomes tailored to individuals' needs. Additional payments are made for those whose training plan states and intended outcome below national vocational qualification level 2. The Government guarantee at least one offer of a suitable training place to all 16 and 17-year-olds who want one and are not in full-time education or a job. The guarantee is extended to those over 18 who have been prevented from completing or taking up a training place for a variety of reasons including disability or as a result of a care order.

  Graduate Unemployment
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her oral answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 337, what are the raw statistics of numbers of employed and unemployed graduates on which she based her statement that unemployment among graduates has halved in the last year. [14828]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Pursuant to my oral answer, my statement should have read:"unemployment among graduates here was half that facing people without degrees last year."

  In 1995, some 152,000 graduates active in the UK labour force were recorded in the labour force survey as unemployed, out of a total of 3,656,000 economically active graduates. Of those without degrees, some 2,250,000 were recorded as unemployed out of a total of 23,866,000 economically active persons. At 4.2 per cent., unemployment among graduates last year was thus less than half that facing people without degrees, at 9.5 per
  206
  cent. It is clear from those figures that degree courses are a waste neither of students' time nor of the taxpayers' money invested in them.

  School Assemblies
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the quality of(a) school assemblies and (b) religious education in schools; and if she will make a statement. [15173]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools report for 1994–95, based on evidence from school inspections conducted during that academic year and published on 5 February 1996, provides an assessment of the quality of provision of religious education and collective worship in schools. Copies of the report are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Employment Service Procedures
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice she has given on the procedure that should be adopted by Employment Service officials where a claimant has left an employer within 26 weeks of the claim, in order to obtain better pay and conditions, but is then made redundant by the second, employer, in circumstances where redundancy could not have been foreseen. [16057]

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

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 21 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the procedures which should be adopted by Employment Service officials where a client has left an employer within 26 weeks of the claim, in order to obtain better pay and conditions but is then made redundant by the second employer, in circumstances where redundancy could not have been foreseen.
  Current guidance for my people is that where a client makes a claim for Unemployment Benefit (UB), enquiries should be made of all employers that the client has worked for in the last 6 months.
  When the replies are received, any doubts identified are referred to the independent adjudicating authorities for a decision. These authorities are, an adjudication officer who makes the decision, a Social Security Appeal Tribunal if the client wishes to appeal against the first decision and a Social Security Commissioner, if a further appeal is made on a point of law. The independence of these authorities prevent me from commenting on their decisions or intervening in the adjudication process.
  I hope this is helpful.

  School Budget Restrictions
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will receive a deputation to discuss the problems arising from school budget restrictions in the maintained schools sector in the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East. [15877]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is for Harrow council to decide how to make best use of the 3.7 per cent. increase in its education standards spending assessment which the Government have provided for 1996–97. My right hon.
  207
  Friend and her ministerial colleagues are always willing to consider requests to see deputations led by hon. Members.

  Further Education Colleges (Redundancies)
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of redundancies among college lecturers on the quality of education available in further education colleges. [15998]

  Mr. Paice
  The Further Education Funding Council inspectorate has found no evidence that redundancies have adversely affected the quality of education provided by further education colleges.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list by college and region the numbers of redundancies of lecturers announced by further education colleges in the last year together with the reason given for the redundancies in each case. [15997]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is not collected by the Department.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to publish information about the income and expenditure of training and enterprise councils in England for 1994–95. [16717]

  Mr. Paice
  A training and enterprise council income and expenditure account has been published today. This account replaces the information previously shown in the class V, vote 1, appropriation account, under the column headed "Expenditure ultimately disbursed by TECs and others".

  Opposed Legislation
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will publish a list of all the measures approved by Parliament since 1979 on standards of teaching and delivery of education in schools which were opposed by Her Majesty's Opposition(a) at Second or Third Reading, (b) in Committee and (c) on Report; and if she will make a statement; [13124]

  (2) if she will publish a list of all the measures on parental choice, powers to school governors and parents on school management, which were approved by Parliament since 1979 but were opposed by Her Majesty's Opposition (a) on Second or Third Reading, (b) in Committee and (c) on Report; and if she will make a statement. [13125]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 6 February 1996]: The list of measures which the Opposition have voted against on Second Reading includes:
  208
  the Education Act 1980, which gave parents the right to express a preference for their choice of school, and the right of appeal against non-admission; required authorities to publish information on schools and admission arrangements; established the assisted places scheme; and created governors in primary schools;
  the Education (No 2) Act 1986, which reformed school governing bodies and made provision for governors' annual reports to parents and annual parents' meetings;
  the Education Reform Act 1988, which introduced the national curriculum, established grant-maintained schools; and introduced the provision of more open enrolment, which requires schools to admit up to their standard number;
  the Education (Schools) Act 1992, which made provision for the inspection of schools and for information about schools and their pupils;
  the Education Act 1993, which included a wide variety of provisions including the right of parents of children with statements to express a preference for a particular school; and provision to establish new grant-maintained schools;
  the Education Act 1994, which established the Teacher Training Agency and made provision for schools to provide courses of initial teacher training.

  A full list of all the measures approved by Parliament since 1979 on education, and opposed on Second and Third Reading, in Committee or on Report by Her Majesty's Opposition, is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The details of votes cast in parliamentary Divisions are a matter of public record, published in the Official Report.

  Food and Drink Industry
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many people were employed in catering in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; [15317]

  (2) how many people were employed in the United Kingdom at the latest available date in (a) the manufacturing of food and drinks, (b) the wholesale distribution of food and drink, (c) the retail distribution of food and drink and (d) the food and drinks industry in total. [15316]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest available information showing the number of jobs is provided in the following table:

  Employees by industry in Great Britain: September 1995 (thousands) 1

  Number

  Standard industrial classification 1992 (SIC92)

  Manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco

  435

  Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco

  190

  Retail of food, beverages and tobacco

  861

  Restaurants

  338

  Bars

  389

  Canteens and catering

  187

  Total of above

  2,400

  Note:

  1Unadjusted.

  Source:

  Central Statistical Office.

  Development Education: ODA Programme
  Development Education: ODA Programme
  ABM Treaty and UK Nuclear Forces
  ABM Treaty and UK Nuclear Forces
  Pesticide Spraying: Advice to Farmers
  Pesticide Spraying: Advice to Farmers
  Organophosphorus Flea Collars: Adverse Reactions
  Organophosphorus Flea Collars: Adverse Reactions
  Veterinary Medicines: Human Adverse Reaction Reporting Arrangements
  Veterinary Medicines: Human Adverse Reaction Reporting Arrangements
  Veterinary Products Committee: Medical Members
  Veterinary Products Committee: Medical Members
  Teddington Hall
  Teddington Hall
  Local Government Structure
  Local Government Structure
  Fire Safety: Review
  Fire Safety: Review
  Public Interest Immunity: Judgments
  Public Interest Immunity: Judgments
  Mr. Kani Yilmaz
  Mr. Kani Yilmaz