Written Answers of 27 February 1996

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past 12 months the Governor of Hong Kong has

  Name of body

  Publish annual reports

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish a register of members interests

  Britain-Russia Centre

  Yes (statutory)

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  British Association for Central and

  Yes (statutory)

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  Eastern Europe

  British Council

  Yes (non-statutory)

  Yes (non-statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  Commonwealth Institutes, London and Edinburgh

  Yes (statutory)

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  Great Britain-China Centre

  Yes (statutory)

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Westminister Foundation for Democracy

  Yes (statutory)

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Crown Agents Holding and

  Yes (statutory)

  Yes (statutory)

  No

  No

  No

  Realisation Board

DEFENCE

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Ministers approved the on-sale by Jordan of 29 British-supplied armoured recovery vehicles to Iraq. [16393]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In 1981, the Jordanian Government requested permission from the UK to supply to Iraq 29 armoured recovery vehicles planned to be exported to Jordan under a memorandum of understanding. Approval was given, as required by the memorandum, since the supply was consistent with Government policy at that time, which was that no lethal equipment would be exported to Iraq, the vehicles in question being classified as non-lethal. The arrangement was made before the establishment of the Iran-Iraq export guidelines in 1984.

  Procurement and Industrial Policy
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he plans to ensure that recommendations Nos. 18 and 19 of the first report from the Defence Select
  422
  met or invited to receptions, lunches or dinners David Tang, Jimmy Lai, Morris Nouraria, Stanley Ho and Li Kash Ing. [17814]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Governor has naturally met some of these people on a number of occasions in the course of his official duties.

  Public Bodies
  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 publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16822]

  Mr. Hanley
  The table covers the Foreign and Overseas Development Administration.

  Committee of Session 1995–96, HC 61, on aspects of defence procurement and industrial policy are implemented. [16456]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government memorandum in response to these and the other recommendations contained in the Defence and Trade and Industry Committees' joint report on "Aspects of Defence Procurement and Industrial Policy", was published by the Committees on 7 February 1996.

  RAF Institute for Aviation Medicine
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which non-NATO countries have received(a) advice, (b) training, (c) supplies and (d) support from the RAF Institute for Aviation Medicine since 1984. [16315]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Military Services and Training
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military services and training provided by his Department between 1974 and 1979 to(a) the middle east, (b) Iran and (c) Iraq; and what was the nature and value of those services. [16988]
  423
  Mr. Soames
  It is not our practice to comment on the policy of previous Governments.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16830]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information requested is as follows:

  There is a statutory right for the public to inspect the annual accounts of all the service museums, held by the Charities Commission; the National Army museum and the RAF museum publish their annual reports voluntarily. Statutory public access to the annual report and accounts of the Service Sound and Vision Corporation is available at Companies House. The Oil and Pipelines Agency's annual report and accounts are laid before each House of Parliament.

  None of the MOD's executive NDPBs publishes the agendas or minutes of meetings; and there is no statutory requirement to do so.

  Appointees to the OPA and SSVC are required to declare any personal interests and records are maintained. In the case of SSVC, any members' interest are also registered at Companies House.

  Aircraft Crashes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a substantive reply to the letter regarding aircraft crash pollution sent on 27 March 1995 by the general secretary of the Celtic League; if he will publish the text of his reply; and if he will make a statement. [17571]

  Mr. Soames
  My officials responded on 22 February this year. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sites and aircraft type involved in serious crash incidents in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Cornwall, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) the rest of England and (f) the United Kingdom since 1980, indicating (i) the incidents for which RAF post-crash management techniques have been implemented and (ii) the cases where toxic pollution was (1) measured and (2) recorded; and if he will make a statement. [17572]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Army Base Repair Organisation
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for the chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation for 1996–97. [18034]

  Mr. Soames
  The chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation has been set the following key targets for 1996–97.424

  1. To remain within ABRO's allocated budget.

  2. To deliver a responsive repair service, which both matches the needs of the customer in peace and for operations to the agreed timelines, quantity and quality criteria and offers value for money.

  3. To implement a comprehensive output based system to measure customer satisfaction.

  4. To submit to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces the results of the land command support market Test by 31 January 1997.

  5. To complete the transfer of all repair activities from ABRO Old Dalby and close the workshop by 31 December 1996.

  6. To reduce by 2 per cent. the 1996–97 ratio of labour costs to hours of production by 31 March 1997.

  7. To obtain tenders for the re-installation of the strategic test facilities for Challenger and Warrior transmission and steer units by 31 March 1997.

  Edzell Base
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 90, how often the Ministry of Defence joint working group has met since June 1995; and at how many of these meetings the subject of the Edzell base closure was on the agenda. [17407]

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry of Defence joint working party group was set up specifically to deal with the closure of RAF Edzell, and it has met three times.

TRANSPORT

  Whisper Concrete
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of Whisper concrete on the M18 and A50 and its future use in road building. [16711]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Tim Devlin, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the use of Whisper concrete.
  Trials of the concrete road surface, referred to as Whisper concrete, have been carried out on the M18 and A50. This surface differs from conventional concrete in that skid resistant aggregate is incorporated within the top layer and subsequently exposed to create a random texture. The objective is to provide both a safe and durable road surface but one less noisy than some conventional concrete roads.
  Preliminary assessment of the two trials is encouraging but evaluation of longer term performance is still continuing. It is hoped that a final assessment will be possible following this winter. Subject to performance proving satisfactory, consideration will then be given to permit wider use.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total expenditure by his Department on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95 broken down by category. [16777]

  Mr. Norris
  Expenditure of some £4.5 million which can be attributed to the Isle of Wight in 1994–95 is as follows:
  425

  £3 million paid to the Isle of Wight as part of the local transport capital settlement;

  £1.3 million paid to British Rail by the Franchising Director in support of passenger rail services on the Island line;

  £80.000 by the Driving Standards Agency;

  £35,000 on vehicle testing operations, including staff costs;

  and £74.000 by the Coastguard Agency.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles (Accidents)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of accidents involving HGVs attributable(a) in whole and (b) in part to the defective eyesight of the HGV driver for the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [16728]

  Mr. Norris
  No statistics are collected on the relationship between accidents and defective eyesight; it is practically impossible to link defective eyesight and accident liability. Even if tests of eyesight were routinely conducted after accidents, it could not be established that poor eyesight was responsible.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was his Department's budget for(a) consultants' fees and (b) all other costs associated with the public and press launch for the introduction of (i) the Great Western, (ii) South West Trains and (iii) London Tilbury Southend rail franchises. [17006]

  Mr. Watts
  The Great Western and South West Trains rail franchises were publicly launched with the assistance of officials from my Department and its marketing consultants—Shandwick Consultants Ltd. It is not possible to identify separately the costs associated with my Department's role in these events. Information about payments to individual contractors is commercially confidential.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given to the Rail Regulator regarding the introduction of competition for passenger rail services up to 31 December 1996; and what arrangements will apply after this date. [16983]

  Mr. Watts
  Guidance on competition for rail passenger services was included in the guidance given by the Secretary of State to the Rail Regulator on 31 March 1994. The regulator published a policy statement, "Competition for railway passenger services" in December 1994. Both of these documents are in the House Library.

  Rail (Speed Restrictions)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the sections of rail track currently subject to temporary speed restrictions due to the poor condition of the track; and in each case, when it is estimated that these speed restrictions will be lifted. [17035]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack informs me that this information is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  M62
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated relating to increasing the capacity of the M62 junctions 12 to 14 since the cancellation of the M62 relief road. [17095]

  Mr. Watts
  Work is at an early stage and options are still being identified. So far, we have commissioned work on traffic management and demand, and on possible minor improvements to the M62.

  We are also developing transport models in partnership with the Greater Manchester authorities. These will enable us to assess behavioural responses and to test alternatives.

  Evaluation will start when all the information has been gathered.

  We shall consult the public, and others, when we have identified effective and affordable alternatives.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safeguards will be put in place to guarantee the continued service of the royal train after privatisation. [17113]

  Mr. Watts
  Confidential contractual arrangements are being put in place to guarantee the continued service of the royal train after privatisation.

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to prevent young people from using high-powered motor cycles. [17552]

  Mr. Norris
  Implementation of the second EC directive on driving licences will restrict motor cycle riders under the age of 21 to machines with a power output of up to 33 brake horse power (25kW) for two years.

  Tug Coverage
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out by home port the coverage of tugs on the north and west coasts of Scotland(a) before and (b) since the publication of the Donaldson report on the Braer incident indicating whether it is year-round; and if he will make a statement. [17211]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the coverage of tugs in the North and West coasts of Scotland.
  To ensure that the Coastguard is able to provide details of tugs available in an emergency they are maintained on a database at each Coastguard Rescue Centre. Tug availability may vary from time to time. Additionally standing arrangements exist with tug brokers to ensure that the Coastguard can obtain up to date whereabouts and availability of all tugs.
  The Coastguard maintain a tug during the six month winter period in the Minches. The current vessel is the SMIT LLOYD SAFE.

  Mr. Martin Helm
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the value of all severance payments, and payments in kind, made by his Department to Mr. Martin Helm. [17239]

  Mr. Norris
  Mr. Martin Helm left the Department on 31 December 1995. He was paid a severance payment calculated in accordance with the rules of the civil service compensation scheme. Such payments are based on age, pay and length of service at the time of leaving. A payment of compensation in lieu of notice was also paid. It is not customary of divulge the value of payments made to individuals.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16816]

  Mr. Norris
  The following is a list of the answers for each of the Department of Transport's executive NDPBs.

  Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) and Northern Lights Board (NLB)

  (a) and (b) THLS and NLB prepare annual reports which are consolidated into the Annual Report and Accounts of the General Lighthouse Fund. The Accounts are laid before Parliament as required by statute.

  (c), (d) and (e) Neither THLS nor NLB publish minutes or agendas of meetings or a register or members' interests. There is no statutory requirement to do so.

  London Regional Passengers' Committee (LRPC)

  (a) LRPC publishes an annual report under statutory requirement.

  (b) (c) and (d) Annual accounts, minutes of meetings and agendas of meetings are published voluntarily.

  (e) A register of members' interests is not published. There is no statutory requirement to do so.

  Traffic Director for London

  (a) and (b) The Traffic Director publishes an annual report and accounts under statutory requirement.

  (c), (d) and (e) the Traffic Director is a Corporation Sole and does not have a board, hold formal board meetings or have a register of members' interests. Therefore there are no minutes, agendas or register to publish.

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what stage has been reached in the privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory. [18219]

  Mr. Norris
  Negotiations with the preferred bidder, the Transport Research Foundation, are continuing. I expect the sale to be completed by the middle of March.

  Thameslink 2000
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the Thameslink 2000 project. [18217]
  428
  Mr. Watts
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Road Tax Discs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle excise duty tax discs have been reported stolen; how many duplicate tax discs were issued to replace those stolen during the same period; and how much revenue has been generated by charging motorists for replacements in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available. [17246]

  Mr. Norris
  Statistics on stolen tax discs are not available. In 1995, 140,849 duplicate discs were issued to replace lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, illegible or faded discs. An administration fee of £7 is charged.

  Departmental Equipment and Furniture
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number and value of items, equipment and furniture,(a) stolen from and (b) otherwise unaccounted for within his Department and its agencies, by region, identifying all such items with a value above £5,000. [17240]

  Mr. Norris
  The answer is as follows:

  (a) Stolen

  (b) Unaccounted for

  Region

  Number

  Value £

  Number

  Value £

  Eastern

  3

  1,570

  3

  1,019

  North-east

  26

  13,245

  —

  —

  South-west

  3

  2,526

  3

  195

  Midlands

  14

  24,831

  —

  —

  London

  186

  120,404

  —

  —

  North-west

  1

  60

  —

  —

  Scotland and Northern Ireland

  1

  590

  9

  2,568

  Wales

  10

  2,189

  9

  684

  South and South-east

  16

  14,665

  7

  1,843

  No single item has a value above £5,000. The largest losses are due to theft of computer chips.

  Crossrail
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) consultants and (b) other employees are currently employed by the crossrail project team. [17237]

  Mr. Norris
  The crossrail project team currently employs 304 consultancy staff, of whom 243 are on short-term assignments, and 106 British Rail and London Underground staff.

  Ms Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list total payments made to date by his Department to(a) consultants, (b) outside organisations and (c) individuals for work on the crossrail scheme indicating the name of body involved and the services provided. [17236]
  429
  Mr. Norris
  Total payments made to date by the Department of Transport to consultants for work on the crossrail scheme amount to some £735,000. The consultants and services provided are as follows:

  Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick: Audit of estimated cost

  Bechtel Limited: Value engineering study

  S G Warburn and Co. Ltd.: Joint venture study

  Bovis/Sir Alexander Gibb: Study of cost-effectiveness

  Ove Arup and Partners: Small-scale alternatives study.

  No payments have been made by the Department to other outside organizations—apart from London Transport and British Rail—or individuals for work on the crossrail scheme.

  Ms Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the total payments made by his Department to the crossrail project team to date. [17238]

  Mr. Norris
  Payments made to date by the Department of Transport to London Transport and British Rail in respect of cross rail amount to some £144 million.

  Trunk Roads (Greater London)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the trunk road network within Greater London has a currently residual life of(a) less than 12 months, (b) between one and four years, (c) between five and nine years, (d) between 10 and 14 years, (e) between 15 and 19 years and (f) greater than 19 years; and if he will make a statement. [17250]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Glenda Jackson, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the residual life of the trunk road network in Greater London.
  430
  We do not keep residual life information in the form you have requested. This is because the form of construction of much of London's trunk road network is different to present day construction standards. Consequently the technical survey system we would normally use cannot reliably predict residual. Instead we assess the overall condition and life expectancy of the carriageways by taking into account other forms of surveys, underlying ground conditions, traffic volumes and any historical data we can muster.
  We continually monitor the condition of the trunk road network in London, bringing forward maintenance schemes as necessary. The priority and form of work for each is considered individually taking into account condition, cost and design life, as well as other special factors such as the scale of disruption caused by the alternative forms of works.

  Tyne and Wear Fire Authority
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents in which the fire service was called to road traffic accidents occurred in the Tyne and Wear fire authority area in the last three complete years; and how such incidents are taken account of in standard spending assessment calculation. [16094]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The following information about road traffic accidents in the area of the Tyne and Wear fire authority has been taken from annual returns provided by the fire authority (a financial year basis was adopted in 1993):

  1992: 545

  1993 (first quarter): 94

  1993–94: 414

  1994–95: 453.

  Road traffic accidents are covered in the fire calls indicator which is one of the factors in the fire standard spending assessment distributional formula. For 1996–97, this takes account of the average over the two years 1993 and 1994 of the number of fires, fire false alarm calls and special service calls attended by local authority fire brigades. For this purpose, the special service calls included are road traffic accidents, rail and air accidents, leaks and spills. The number of special service calls for 1994 relates to the financial year 1994–95.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Negative Resolution Orders
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many orders by negative resolution were laid between October 1994 and July 1995; of these how many were(a) brought into effect (i) immediately, (ii) within 10 days, (iii) within 20 days, (iv) within 30 days, (v) within 40 days and (vi) after more than 40 days (b) prayed against then granted debates (1) before being brought into effect and (2) after being brought into effect and (c) how many were rescinded or not brought into effect as a result of parliamentary scrutiny. [16073]

  Mr. Newton
  The number of negative statutory instruments laid between October 1994 and July 1995 was 1,078. Of these, 168 were prayed against and debates were granted on 28 of them—22 were debated in Standing Committee and six on the Floor of the House.

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

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  BMARC
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) of 26 January,Official Report, column 423, how many of the new total of applications had (a) full end user certificate or (b) purchaser orders for each of the years mentioned. [15176]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 16 February 1996,Official Report, columns 42–43. Of the export licence applications covered by that answer, one quarter were accompanied by copies of end user certificates, and around 45 per cent. had copies of purchase orders originating from either the agent or the intended consignee. There is some overlap between these figures, as some applications were supported by both types of documentation.

  Iraq (Military and Financial Credit)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will obtain from the United States Government records held by them on the military and financial credit support afforded to the Iraqi Government between August 1988 and August 1990 relating to United Kingdom-based banks as their subsidiaries. [15976]

  Mr. Nelson
  No.

  Iraq (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek information from the United States Senate Banking Committee relating to the Technology Development Group and the supply of military equipment to Iraq. [16008]

  Mr. Nelson
  No.

  Timber
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the contribution that home-produced timber makes to the balance of trade figures. [16086]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The standard international trade classification, under which UK trade is recorded, does not separately identify home-produced timber. The UK crude deficit in timber, wherever produced, was £1.4 billion to 1994 and £0.9 billion in January to September 1995.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the amount and monetary value of asbestos cement and asbestos friction materials imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [16617]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The answer is in the table:

  UK imports of asbestos cement and asbestos friction materials

  Asbestos cement

  Asbestos friction materials

  Year

  £ million

  Tonnes

  £ million

  Tonnes

  1991

  29

  88,178

  18

  4,099

  1992

  23

  71,210

  21

  5,706

  1993

  20

  61,816

  22

  3,668

  1994

  25

  74,154

  23

  4,643

  1995 (January-September)

  15

  47,024

  18

  3,672

  Notes:

  1. Asbestos cement is defined as heading 661.83 of the standard international trade classification (SITC) revision 3, and includes articles of cellulose fibre-cement.

  2. Asbestos friction materials are defined as heading 663.8 SITC revision 3.

  Source:

  "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom".

  Capita Managed Services Ltd.
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much work from his Department was allocated to Capita Managed Services before the resignation of Mr. J. Jasper as director. [16250]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This information is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors of Capita Managed Services at the time they were appointed to collect costs against disqualified directors have themselves been, or are, directors of companies which have been liquidated. [16274]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  As far as is known, no directors of Capita Managed Services Ltd. were, at the time the company was awarded the contract to collect costs from disqualified directors, themselves directors of companies which had been the subject of winding up proceedings.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions(a) the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales and (b) the Inspector General of the Insolvency Service or their representatives

  433
  met John Arthur Jasper; and what was the nature of these meetings. [16276]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Registrar of Companies and his staff have had several meetings with Mr. J. A. Jasper over a period of several years in connection with a computer services contract with Capita entered into in 1991 and with other possible contracts to provide services to Companies House. Neither the inspector general of the Insolvency Service nor his staff has had any meetings with Mr. Jasper.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions(a) he and (b) other members of his Department met or had contact with John Arthur Jasper; and if he will make a statement on these meetings. [16277]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Neither I nor other Ministers in my Department have met Mr. Jasper on official business. In respect of the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales and the inspector general of the Insolvency Service, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave today to his Order question 16276. Information on whether other of my officials have met or had contact with Mr. Jasper is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Official Receiver
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to announce the contracts for Official Receiver services to be contracted out; and which services(a) will and (b) will not be contracted out, indicating the considerations underlying each decision. [16412]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I hope to be able to make an announcement before the end of the month regarding the outcome of the contracting out exercise undertaken by the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what times the bidders for the work of the Official Receiver were allowed to change or adjust their bids; how many were(a) given and (b) not given this option; and if he will list the changes made to bids indicating their source. [16415]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None of the six bidders invited to tender for the work available to be contracted out were permitted to change or adjust their final bids. They were all, however, invited to clarify certain points contained in their proposals during the technical and financial evaluation. The three organisations offering the best possibility of value for money were invited to further clarify some details of their proposals but no adjustment to their original bids was permitted.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bids for the Official Receiver's work were not in the form demanded by the tender documentation. [16414]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  All bids received were in the form specified in the invitation to tender.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the impact on staff numbers if the work of the Official Receiver is transferred 434
  to the private sector; and when the trade unions will be notified of any redundancies. [16416]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Up to 812 staff could be covered by the application of TUPE in any contracting out of official receivers functions.

  No redundancies of staff in the Insolvency Service have been identified.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the postponement of the decision on the future of the Insolvency Service. [16272]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The planned announcement of the outcome of the contracting out exercise undertaken by the Insolvency Service was postponed to enable further discussions to be held with bidders appearing to offer the best prospect of value for money.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the running costs of the Insolvency Service for the year ended 31 January identifying the costs of(a) staff, (b) leases and office rentals, (c) stationery and office equipment and (d) other support services. [17465]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Insolvency Service year end is 31 March. Its running cost budget for the year to 31 March 1996 is £54,984,000, of which total pay costs are £36,689,000, accommodation costs £10,754,000, stationery and office machinery £825,000 and other running costs £6,716,000.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his officials last met the liquidators of BCC1. [17063]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My officials last met the joint liquidators on 31 March 1995.

  Single Market Legislation
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent each EU country has adopted single market legislation; and if he will make a statement. [16402]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The following are the European Commission's figures of 8 November 1995 for the percentage of single market measures in the 1985 Commission White Paper on the single market which have been transposed into national law by member states of the European Union.

  Per cent.

  Denmark

  99.1

  Luxembourg

  96.4

  Portugal

  96.4

  Netherlands

  95.5

  France

  95.0

  Sweden

  95.0

  United Kingdom

  93.7

  Spain

  93.7

  Italy

  91.9

  Belgium

  91.0

  Ireland

  91.0

  Greece

  89.6

  435

  Per cent.

  Finland

  89.6

  Germany

  88.2

  Austria

  77.8

  We are encouraging the Commission to ensure that member states catch up on delays, and, at least as importantly, to ensure single market measures are effectively and evenly enforced in each member state. We are also making efforts to ensure that the UK catches up on its backlog.

  Defence Jobs (Lancashire)
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the number of jobs in Lancashire which depend on the defence industry and its suppliers; and if he will make a statement. [16306]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The latest estimate for the number of defence-dependent jobs in Lancashire is 30,000. This is from a survey commissioned by Lancashire county council and represents some 25 per cent. of employment in manufacturing industry and about 5 per cent. of all employment in Lancashire.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the studies currently funded by the Medical Research Council into Alzheimer's disease and the amounts of money awarded for each study; and if he will make a statement; [16901]

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's funding for research into Alzheimer's disease. [16900]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The DTI's support for research into Alzheimer's disease is funded through the research councils from the science budget.

  Medical Research Council funding of research into Alzheimer's disease was £1.376 million in 1994–95, the last financial year for which complete information is available. The various research projects are listed, together with the corresponding amount of money:

  1. Research carried out at MRC establishments:

  MRC environmental epidemiology unit: Alzheimer's disease in relation to drinking water—£28,000.

  MRC laboratory of molecular biology: the molecular biology of Alzheimer's disease—£0536,000.

  MRC neurochemical pathology unit:

  Aluminium as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease—£320,00.

  Human brain peptidases involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease—£120,000.

  Transgenic models of cerebral amyloid deposition—£214,000.

  A neuropsychological comparison of Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease—£38,000.

  2. Grunt funded research:

  Ninewells hospital, Dundee—department of clinical pharmacology: the glycobiology of the amyloid precursor protein—£35,000.

  St. Mary's hospital, London: transgenesis as a mechanism to develop animal models of human disease—£22,000.

  436

  Institute of Psychiatry, London:

  A study of the association between Apo E e4 and Alzheimer's disease in a cohort of older hypertensive subjects—£27,000.

  Modelling of Alzheimer's disease in transgenic mice—£49,000.

  University of Cambridge—department of experimental psychology: immunotoxic lesions of primate cholinergic projections—£2,000.

  University of Sussex: development of neuronal cell lines from normal and Alzheimer's disease patients; £3,000.

  In addition, the MRC estimates that in 1994–95, a further £2.54 million was spent on research which was of some relevance to Alzheimer's disease.

  The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is also funding one research project related to Alzheimer's disease.
  Babraham Institute: Candidate neuronal genes in cognition and ageing—£95,250 over three years.

  Three other research councils, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council are also funding some research which is, or may prove to be, of relevance to Alzheimer's disease.

  Exports
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of exports to(a) the middle east, (b) Iraq and (c) Iran between 1974 and 1979. [16906]

  Mr. Nelson
  The available information is given in the following table:

  UK visible exports to the middle east1

  Year

  Middle east1

  Iraq

  Iran

  1974

  1,085.5

  59.8

  278.6

  1975

  1,767.8

  137.1

  494.7

  1976

  2,273.3

  151.8

  513.1

  1977

  3,068.7

  167.4

  658.4

  1978

  3,476.4

  216.7

  752.0

  1979

  3,081.7

  201.2

  231.8

  Note:

  1The middle east consists of: Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah etc., Oman, North Yemen, South Yemen, Iraq and Iran.

  Source:

  "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom."

  Machine Tools
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the levels of sales of machine tools to(a) the middle east, (b) Iraq and (c) Iran between 1974 and 1979. [16987]

  Mr. Nelson
  Information before 1979 is available only for those countries which accounted for a significant proportion of UK exports of machine tools or those for which machine tools formed a significant proportion of
  437
  total UK visible exports. The available information is given in the table:

  UK exports of machine tools1

  £ million, current prices

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  Cyprus

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.26

  Syria

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.43

  Lebanon

  n/a

  0.24

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.36

  Israel

  1.02

  1.79

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1.88

  Jordan

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.22

  Saudi Arabia

  n/a

  0.85

  2.52

  n/a

  n/a

  1.31

  Kuwait

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.59

  Bahrain

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.22

  Qatar

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.28

  Abu Dhabi

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.48

  Dubai

  n/a

  0.27

  n/a

  2.47

  n/a

  2.63

  Sharjah etc.

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.01

  Oman

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.45

  North Yemen

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.11

  South Yemen

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.04

  Iraq

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2.40

  Iran

  1.34

  2.46

  4.02

  9.53

  n/a

  1.68

  Middle east

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  13.34

  Notes:

  1Machine tools are defined as heading 715.1 in the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 1) until 1977 and as heading 736 of SITC (R2) from 1978.

  n/a = not available.

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Osmium-187
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of osmium-187 exist in the United Kingdom; what licensing arrangements cover its import and export; and what is the current market price per kilogramme of osmium-187. [16756]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Osmium 187 is a constituent of naturally occurring osmium—1.6 per cent. abundance. It is not subject to either export or import control.

  The price per gram is approximately £10.

  I am not aware that the 187 isotope is available in the UK in a separated form. Any inquiries to discover the quantities of Osmium 187 could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  Export Controls
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to publish a consultation paper with proposals for(a) new legislation in place of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939 and (b) export licensing procedures suitable for peacetime requirements. [17233]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government are currently considering Sir Richard Scott's recommendations and will be publishing a consultation paper.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total expenditure by his Department on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95 broken down by category. [16770]
  438
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Department has regional information on the following programmes in the Isle of Wight area:

  1994–95

  £

  Regional Selective Assistance

  159,634

  Business Enterprise Services Budget

  150,000

  Business Link Pump Priming Budget

  100,000

  Regional Enterprise Grants for Innovation Projects

  73,500

  There was other departmental expenditure on the Isle of Wight which cannot be broken down on an area basis or where the work necessary to do so would result in disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16881]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Each senior official and special adviser is required to make a declaration of his or her financial interests. This enables the Department to prevent potential conflicts of interest arising. In the case of other officials, conflicts of interest are dealt with by their line management. I have no plans to establish a central register.

  Tripod Engineering (Iraq)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the cover on the contract between Tripod Engineering and the Government of Iraq signed on 8 November 1988 was taken up and forms part of the ECGD outstanding claims with respect to the Government of Iraq. [16316]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Yes.

  Duke Power
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of whether Duke Power of North Carolina is a suitable potential buyer for nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom. [17532]

  Mr. Eggar
  No assessment has been made as the contact was a preliminary and indirect one.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on Duke Power's safety record and its experience of operating gas-cooled reactors. [17533]

  Mr. Eggar
  Duke Power does not own or operate any power stations in the UK. The advanced gas-cooled reactor power stations are unique to the UK. Any operator in the UK needs to satisfy the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate that it has the ability to meet the high standards of safety which the NII demands before it can be licensed to operate a nuclear installation.

  Bankruptcy Costs
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average cost of administering a bankruptcy in each of the last three years. [17469]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on unit costs remains confidential until the conclusion of, and announcement of a decision on, the proposal for contracting our official receivers' case administration work. I will write to the hon. Member when an announcement has been made.

  Directors' Disqualifications
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors were disqualified as a result of the work completed by the Insolvency Service; and how many directors were prosecuted for fraudulent trading as a result of work conducted by the Insolvency Service in the 12 months ended 31 January. [17464]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  During the 12 months ended 31 January 1996, 721 directors were disqualified and 26 directors were prosecuted for fraudulent trading.

  ROM-Data Corporation
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the findings of his Department's inquiry into the circumstances of the grant of regional selective assistance for the ROM-Data Corporation. [18075]

  Mr. Lang
  I have today placed a report summarising the outcome of my Department's inquiry in the Library of the House.

  Nigeria (Export Licences)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number and type of export licences that his Department has(a) issued for non-lethal equipment to Nigeria between 20 January 1995 and 20 November 1995 and (b) issued for dual use equipment since 20 November 1995. [14893]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 12 February 1996]: A statistical analysis of export licences granted for military, para-military and security equipment granted during 1995 will shortly be placed in the Library of the House. The analysis will include all countries of destination for which these licences were issued, including Nigeria. I shall write to the hon. Member when this is done. Fourteen licences were issued for dual-use equipment between 20 January 1995 and 8 February 1996, as follows:

  Number of licences

  Heading1

  9

  1C

  1

  2B

  3

  3A

  1

  5A2

  1 Headings under group 3 of part III of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 and subsequently schedule 1 to the Dual-Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulations 1995.

  Tandem plc
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all grants made by development agencies and other Government-funded bodies to Tandem and its subsidiaries, including British Eagle Cycles of Newtown; and if he will make a statement. [16207]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: The information requested is not collated. I have no record of my Department having made grants to either of these businesses.

  Company Grants
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the practice of relocation by companies in search of grants between areas where grants are available. [16224]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: The Government's regional policy aims to attract companies to the assisted areas. However, grants are not available simply for relocation to those areas. Any assistance must normally bring about a significant net increase in employment.

HEALTH

  Medium Secure Facilities
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will undertake research to establish whether the use by health authorities and NHS trusts of privately owned medium secure facilities for detained patients costs more than using equivalent provision in NHS units; [16785]

  (2) if the increased number of purpose-built medium secure beds is expected to eliminate the need for the use of privately owned medium secure facilities. [16786]

  Mr. Bowis
  The availability of medium secure places in the independent sector provides health authorities with a greater choice. Selection of suitable places is a matter for health authorities who are responsible for commissioning services in a way which makes the best use of available resources to meet the needs of their population.

  Beds and Staff
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage change there has been since 1979 in the number of(a) hospital beds in the NHS, (b) full-time equivalent nursing staff and (c) bureaucrats and administrative staff. [13248]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the average daily number of available beds in 1979 is published in the "Statistical Bulletin: NHS Hospital Activity Statistics 1979–1990/91". Information for 1994–95 is published in "Bed Availability for England: 1994–95". Copies of these documents are available in the Library.
  441
  Information on managers, administrative and clerical staff, nursing and midwifery staff is shown in the table.

  NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS) and general medical services (GMS) staff, England at September 1979 and 1994—whole-time equivalents

  1979

  1994

  Percentage change

  HCHS general and senior managers and administrative and clerical staff1

  102,960

  157,560

  53

  HCHS and GMS nursing and midwifery staff2

  3278,760

  346,700

  n/a

  Excluded from the nursing and midwifery figures above:

  Learners4

  76,650

  11,080

  —

  Project 2000 students4

  n/a

  32,000

  —

  Notes:

  1There were 41,270 GMS practice managers and other administrative staff in 1994; comparable figures are not available for 1979.

  2HCHS agency staff and "learners" are excluded.

  3Figure does not take into account the reduction in nurses standard working hours in 1980–81 from 40 to 37.5 hours a week, and is not directly comparable with the figure given for 1994.

  4Learners are nurses on traditional nurse training courses, spending the majority of their time on patient care, and are directly employed by the NHS HCHS. Project 2000 training was introduced in 1989 and has gradually replaced traditional pre-registration nurse training. Project 2000 students are funded by bursaries, they are supernumerary not employees, and are thus excluded from the WTE count of NHS HCHS nursing staff. Figures for Project 2000 students are headcounts and should not be added to other figures which are whole-time equivalents.

  HCHS figures are as at 30 September for each year. GMS figures are as at 1 October for each year. All figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Percentages are calculated using unrounded figures.

  n/a denotes not applicable. Source:

  Returns from SH3 and KHO3.

  Department of Health annual Non-Medical Workforce Census and bi-annual General Medical Practitioner Census.

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16880]

  Mr. Horam
  There is a requirement in the Department's conditions of service manual that staff faced with a conflict of business interest, which they may be able to further as a result of their official position, must declare this to their personnel section. They must comply with any subsequent instruction from the Department regarding such interests. I see no need for the establishment of a central register of officials' interests.

  Kidney Transplant Patients
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will exempt from prescription charges kidney transplant patients who have to take drugs on a lifelong basis. [16898]
  442
  Mr. Malone
  We have no plans to extend the medical exemption arrangements.

  Infertility Treatment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if(a) St. Thomas's hospital, (b) King's College hospital and (c) St. George's hospital, Tooting have a co-payment scheme for in vitro fertilisation treatment patients. [16737]

  Mr. Horam
  None of these hospitals has such a scheme.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if patients treated at the assisted conception unit at Chelsea and Westminster hospital are seen by NHS consultants in NHS time; [16740]

  (2) what charge is made to patients at the assisted conception unit at Chelsea and Westminster hospital; and what it covers; [16741]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the assisted conception unit at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. [16780]

  Mr. Horam
  The assisted conception unit at Chelsea and Westminster hospital opened in November 1995. Since opening, it has provided 11 cycles of in vitro fertilisation treatment to national health service patients and eight cycles to private patients.

  In 1996–97 the unit aims to undertake 600 cycles of IVF. At present, it has two contracts with health authorities to provide a total of 270 cycles to the NHS during 1996–97.

  Both NHS and private patients are seen by consultants working under the terms of their contracts with the Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust.

  At present private patients at the unit are charged £800 for each cycle of IVF treatment. Health authorities are charged an identical amount for NHS patients. This is projected to cover the trust's costs and deliver an appropriate return on capital during the first full year of operation—1996–97—and subsequently, if business plan projections are met.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has taken external legal advice about whether patients of the assisted conception unit at Chelsea and Westminster hospital are national health service patients or private patients. [16739]

  Mr. Horam
  No.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what revisions he expects to make to the 1991 census and when these will be announced; and what effect these changes will have on the statistics available for populations within county boundaries. [16742]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no plans to revise the population figures from the 1991 census. The Registrar General's current series of mid-year population estimates are based on the 1991 census and include adjustments for estimated under-coverage in the census as well as for births, deaths and registration since 1991. Census figures
  443
  for new local authority areas created under the Local Government Act 1992 will be published as each new area takes effect.

  Correspondence
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set target dates for replies to letters sent to his Department. [16783]

  Mr. Horam
  We aim to reply to all letters within 20 working days of receipt.

  Incontinence
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he is currently funding or planning to fund into the problems and treatment of incontinence. [16738]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department commissioned the social policy research unit of York university to research and produce a report on "The Role of the Continence Adviser in England and Wales". This was published in January 1994 and distributed to all health authorities, NHS trusts and continence advisers. Copies of the report will be placed in the Library.

  The Department has also commissioned three other research projects on incontinence:

  A feasibility study on costs, quality and effectiveness of continence services—social policy research unit, university of York.

  The development of methodologies to identify urinary incontinence and set targets for health gain—health and community care research unit, university of Liverpool.

  Evaluation of health interventions by continence services and primary health care teams on patient outcomes related to incontinence—department of public health and primary care, university of Oxford).

  These projects have just been completed and are subject to peer review.

  In addition to Department of Health funding, the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, has commissioned a large research programme costing about £5.5 million entitled "Incontinence: A population laboratory approach to the epidemiology and evaluation of care". The programme is based on five interlinked projects:

  Incontinence: prevalence needs and associated factors;

  Evaluation of services for incontinence;

  Evaluation of treatments for detrusor instability

  Evaluation of treatments for genuine stress incontinence;

  Incontinence: incidence, natural history and aetiological factors.

  The NHS centre for reviews and dissemination is currently carrying out a systematic review on interventions to manage enuresis.

  Research is being undertaken as part of the NHS research and development programme on:

  Development of an improved reusable incontinence bedpan;

  Treatment of urinary incontinence in stroke patients;

  The effect of oestrogen replacement therapy on urinary tract dysfunction and urogenital collagen structure on postmenopausal women with stress incontinence.

  444
  Following completion of each research programme, the Department will consider how best to encourage health care decision makers to act on the findings.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support he plans to give voluntary agencies concerned with the problem of incontinence(a) in 1995 and (b) in future years. [16757]

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1995–96, the Department is providing funding to voluntary organisations concerned with incontinence as follows:

  The Continence Foundation—£85,000 towards its helpline and administrative costs, as part of grant awards which began in 1993–94.

  InconTact—£25,000, as part of a three-year grant of £25,000 per year towards the costs of its project to develop a continence public awareness programme.

  The Enuresis Resource and Information Centre—£47,113, made up of £33,000 as part of a three-year grant towards its administrative costs, £5,000 as part of a two-year grant for its project to pilot training seminars for doctors and nurses on nocturnal enuresis and £9,113 for the translation of ERIC's guide for parents on bedwetting into five ethnic minority languages.

  In addition to the above amounts, the Department is providing £50,000 to support National Continence Day/Bedwetting Day which will be held on 19 and 20 March 1996.

  Sir John Hannan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the work of(a) his Department and (b) the NHS in the past year in respect of continence services. [16758]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health supports a number of initiatives.

  The organisation of continence services locally and the manner in which they are delivered, are matters for district health authorities and hospital and community trusts.

  Ear, Nose and Throat Operations
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many procedures were carried out on children aged up to 16 years in each of the last 10 years for(a) myringotomy, (b) adenoidectomy and (c) tonsillectomy. [16905]

  Mr. Horam
  The information available for National Health Service hospitals in England is shown in the table:

  Myringotomy

  Adenoidectomy

  Tonsillectomy

  1989–90

  5,173

  17,601

  45,645

  1990–91

  5,241

  16,577

  47,582

  1991–92

  7,040

  17,804

  51,597

  1992–93

  6,312

  17,532

  52,931

  1993–94

  3,971

  16,220

  54,578

  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics.

  The latest year for which information is available is 1993–94; prior to 1989–90, data to the level of detail requested was not available centrally.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure by his Department on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95 broken down by category. [16776]
  445
  Mr. Horam
  The information is as follows:

  Isle of Wight district health authority and family health services authority expenditure 1994–95

  Category of expenditure

  Amount £

  DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITY EXPENDITURE:

  Healthcare and related services purchased:

  Mental handicap

  2,679,000

  Mental illness

  5,247,000

  Maternity

  2,221,000

  General and acute

  26,945,000

  Accident and emergency

  1,417,000

  Primary care

  4,210,000

  Other contractual expenditure

  4,903,000

  Other

  1,627,000

  Total district health authority expenditure

  49,249,000

  Family health services authority expenditure:

  Primary

  9,480,000

  GP fundholding

  21,608,000

  Other

  934,000

  Total family health services authority expenditure

  32,022,000

  TOTAL ISLE OF WIGHT EXPENDITURE

  81,271,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures are provisional.

  2. "Other" relates to the authorities' administration and purchasing expenses, and other services.

  Source:

  1. Annual accounts and financial returns of the Isle of Wight DHA.

  2. Annual accounts of the Isle of Wight FHSA.

  Local authority centrally financed services expenditure on Isle of Wight 1994–95

  Category of expenditure

  Amount £

  Training support grant

  161,104

  Drugs and alcohol abusers

  26,214

  Special transitional grant

  1,981,465

  Guardian ad litem and reporting officers

  19,535

  Services for people with mental illness

  107,038

  Total

  2,295,356

  This does not include any expenditure on the Isle of Wight incurred by other health bodies but not separately identifiable

  Thalidomide
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how many patients and in which areas the drug thalidomide has been prescribed in the last five years. [17391]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued to hospital trusts about the purchasing of the drug thalidomide from abroad; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [17406]

  Mr. Malone
  There are no guidelines specifically relating to the purchase of the drug thalidomide from abroad. Decisions made by national health service trusts on the purchase of drugs to meet patients' needs and on the most appropriate source of supply, are made with the input of clinicians and pharmacists, in accordance with the Medicines Acts 1968 and 1971. "Guidance on thalidomide" was published by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Control Agency in the 446
  May 1994 issue of "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" a drug safety bulletin which is circulated to all doctors, dentists, pharmacists and coroners. This guidance note strongly advised all doctors considering the use of thalidomide to follow detailed external guidelines on the clinical use and distribution of thalidomide which were published in a widely available medical journal. A reminder was published in July 1995. Copies of both the May 1994 document and that of July 1995 are available in the Library.

  "Mental Health and Stress in the Work Place"
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the booklet "Mental Health and Stress in the Work Place" to be published. [17425]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is not a departmental publication.

  Nottingham Health Authority
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be announcing the new membership of Nottingham health authority. [17695]

  Mr. Malone
  The names of the non-executive members appointed to the proposed new health authorities will shortly be announced by the appropriate regional office of the national health service executive.

  South Birmingham Health Authority
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the amount of funding allocated to South Birmingham health authority in respect of VAT liability in the current financial year; and what it has been in each of the past three years. [17771]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no separate allocation of funds in respect of value added tax liability.

  Emergency Hospital Admissions (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were refused emergency medical admission to a hospital in the Greater London area during 1995. [17787]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available. Patients have the right to get emergency treatment from the national health service at any time.

  Continuing Health Care
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the key results of the NHS executive-social services inspectorate's monitoring of the implementation of the guidance on NHS responsibilities for meeting continuing health care; and if he will make a statement. [18076]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have recently written to health and local authorities outlining the key results of the monitoring work carried out by the national health service executive and social services inspectorate and highlighting recommendations for further action. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.

  The monitoring work suggests that the majority of health authorities have made good progress in preparing to implement the guidance. This has been effective where

  447
  health and local authorities have worked together closely. There are also issues on which progress in some parts of the country has been less encouraging. We have indicated our commitment to ensuring that these issues are addressed.

  Work on continuing health care will continue to be a priority for the NHS during 1996–97 and beyond to ensure the full implementation of the guidance. Health authorities, working closely with local authorities, will need to monitor closely the impact of their eligibility criteria and to develop further services to meet continuing health care needs. The letter highlights the key priorities for further work. The NHS executive and social services inspectorate will continue to monitor implementation closely and will make further reports on progress in due course.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16823]

  Mr. Horam
  The non-departmental public bodies which

  Publish annual reports are:

  (i) Under a statutory requirement:

  English National Board of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

  (ii) Voluntarily:

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work

  Medical Practices Committee

  National Biological Standards Board

  National Radiological Protection Board

  Public Health Laboratory Service Board.

  Publish annual accounts are:

  (i) Under a statutory requirement:

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  National Biological Standards Board

  National Radiological Protection Board

  Public Health Laboratory Service Board.

  (ii) Voluntarily:

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.

  Publish the minutes of meetings are:

  (i) Under a statutory requirement:

  None.

  (ii) Voluntarily:

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Publish the agendas of meetings are:

  (i) Under a statutory requirement:

  None.

  (ii) Voluntarily:

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work

  English National Board for Nursing. Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  448
  Publish a register of members' interests are:

  (i) Under a statutory requirement:

  None.

  (ii) and Voluntarily:

  English National Board for Nursing. Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Patient Admissions
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are his Department's guidelines for the admission of gynaecology and psychiatric patients through casualty units in hospitals where there is no registrar appointed for either of these specialities; and what recommendations are made by his Department for proper differential diagnosis to be made in such cases for admission or discharge of patients; [17404]

  (2) what guidelines exist for admitting patients where there is one registrar to deal with that patient's problems; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [17405]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no central guidance. Procedures for admitting patients to hospital are determined in accordance with local arrangements.

  Health Economics Consortiums
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health economics consortiums have been set up in the United Kingdom; what capital the Government have allocated to these units; what is their remit and to whom they are accountable; and how many district health authorities, or other public bodies, have commissioned reports on service provision from these units. [17403]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 7 February 1996,Official Report, column 270.

  NHS Charges
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the revenue from NHS charges for(a) prescriptions, (b) dental services, (c) dental examinations and (d) eye tests in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) 1995. [17823]

  Mr. Malone
  The information available for the last full year is given in the table:

  Revenue from national health service charges—£ million, cash terms

  Income from

  1978–79

  1994–95

  Prescription charges

  24.2

  287.2

  Dental charges (for general dental services)

  55.4

  1383.3

  Dental examinations

  20

  260.0

  NHS eye tests

  30

  30

  1 Includes patient charge income from dental examinations.2 No patient charges for dental examinations were levied before 1 January 1989. The figure for 1994–95 is an estimate, as patients pay charges on the basis of their whole course of treatment and the amount paid in respect of individual procedures is not separately recorded.

  3 There is no charge for the provision of NHS sight tests. Since April 1989 entitlement to NHS sight tests has been restricted to certain priority groups, including children and those on low income. People not entitled to an NHS test now pay for a private sight test.

ENVIRONMENT

  Owner-occupiers
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many owner-occupiers there were(a) at the latest available date and (b) in 1979. [15502]

  Mr. Curry
  The number of owner-occupied dwellings in Great Britain in 1979 was 11,348,000, and in December 1994 the number had grown to 15,807,000.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional measures he proposes to combat homelessness. [15503]

  Mr. Curry
  The Housing Bill includes measures to prevent homelessness by ensuring that housing advice is available and that long-term social housing tenancies are allocated to households with the greatest underlying need.

  Energy Conservation
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on the implementation of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [15504]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The implementation of the Act was discussed by the Central and Local Government Environment Forum on 6 December. The local authority associations were represented on the working group established to consider guidance on the Act. Guidance for England will be issued very shortly; all English district and metropolitan authorities, and many other interested bodies, had the opportunity to comment on a draft.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received to the publication of the rural White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [15505]

  Mr. Gummer
  We have received well over 500 written responses to the various policies and proposals in the rural White Paper. In addition, Ministers and officials have participated in a large number of conferences and seminars which have been arranged across England to discuss the White Paper.

  Air Quality
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding air quality. [15506]

  Mr. Clappison
  This year, my ministerial colleagues and I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament and the public concerning air quality.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement. [15507]
  450
  Sir Paul Beresford
  In 1994 and 1995, Parliament approved orders under the Local Government Act 1988 which added legal, construction and property, financial, personnel and information technology services to the compulsory competitive tendering regime. CCT for these services is being introduced under a implementation timetable which begins in 1996 and continues to 2000.

  Our priority, a present, is the successful implementation of CCT for the existing range of CCT activities and we currently have no proposals to add to the list of activities.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extra costs that local authorities will face as a result of his decision to delay local government reorganisation. [15508]

  Mr. Curry
  I do not expect that a delay in the date for any particular reorganisation should affect its cost.

  Housing Management Contracts
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance is available from his Department to local authorities when they are required to re-run the tender process for housing management contracts. [15509]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None.

  Negative Equity and Repossession
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of home owners who will(a) experience negative equity and (b) undergo repossession in 1996. [15510]

  Mr. Curry
  The Government do not make such forecasts. Home owners will continue to benefit from the Government's economic policies, which have made home ownership more affordable than for many years.

  Anti-social Tenants
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals to help local authorities deal more effectively with anti-social tenants. [15511]

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to help local authorities deal with anti-social tenants. [15498]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government have included in the Housing Bill a substantial package of measures to help local authorities to deal more effectively with anti-social tenants. That package will also assist housing associations and private landlords.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution he expects the private finance initiative to make to the capital programme of local authorities. [15512]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Government have created opportunities for local authorities to use the private finance initiative to achieve increased levels of investment in upgrading and developing the services that they offer.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of employees(a) in the National Rivers Authority at its disestablishment and (b) in the Environment Agency at its launch. [15513]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are 7,420 full-time equivalent posts in the National Rivers Authority. The equivalent number for the Environment Agency from 1 April 1996 is expected to be a little over 9,100—the agency will inherit the functions and staff of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution as well as those of the National Rivers Authority.

  Local Authority Services
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet representatives of the GMB union to discuss the provision of local authority services. [15514]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None.

  Rents-to-mortgages Scheme
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the take-up of the rents-to-mortgages scheme in 1996. [15515]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has made no estimate of future sales.

  Domestic Heating
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the local grant finance settlement for 1996–97 makes allowance for the differing amounts of fuel required to heat identical properties throughout Britain on the basis of the Building Research Establishment domestic energy model. [16063]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The main use of the Building Research Establishment domestic energy model is a design tool for comparing the energy consumption of different building designs. It would therefore be inappropriate to include it in the formulae for distributing revenue support grant.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of the housing corporations' budget is being earmarked for the(a) acquisition and (b) rehabilitation of properties belonging to the Ministry of Defence married quarters estate which are currently being offered for sale. [16390]

  Mr. Curry
  None of the budget is being earmarked. Housing associations will be entitled to bid competitively for funds to assist with the acquisition and rehabilitation of MOD property, on the same basis as for other property, if the schemes proposed meet the housing corporations' criteria.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many telecommunications masts were erected in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995 and (iv) to date. [16403]
  452
  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Thefts
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 533, what additional information is available in respect of the nature, number and value of items of Health and Safety Executive equipment lost in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1995–96 to date. [16712]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I am able to provide the following information about the nature, number and value of HSE equipment lost in 1993–94 and 1995–96 to date:

  Cost £ (purchase price)

  1993–94

  1995–96 to date

  Nature of equipment

  Amount stolen

  Amount unaccounted for

  Amount stolen

  Amount unaccounted for

  Computer equipment

  6,502

  43,860

  37,352

  0

  Scientific equipment

  6,277

  344,271

  0

  0

  Photographic equipment

  20,769

  526

  0

  0

  Other equipment

  6,163

  96,138

  0

  0

  Totals

  39,711

  484,795

  37,352

  0

  Photographic equipment later recovered

  17,036

  —

  —

  —

  During 1993 and 1994, the HSE mounted special exercises to verify the existence of its assets. These revealed that a number of items had been disposed of over preceding years, many at the end of their lives, without formal documentation, so could not be accounted for. At the time of the loss, these items had little, or no, historic net book value—so the loss suffered was much less than the purchase price shown.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the successful bids under round 2 of the single regeneration budget by region and value of grant. [17364]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested was placed in the Library of the House and circulated to hon. Members on 12 December 1995. I have sent further copies to the hon. Member.

  High-voltage Power Cables
  Mr. Williams O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue planning guidance notes to local authorities on building near to high-voltage power lines; and if he will make a statement. [17127]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The National Radiological Protection Board, which advises the Government, local authorities and industry on these matters, has already issued guidance on the known health effects of proximity to high-voltage cables and other sources of
  453
  electromagnetic fields. The board will not hesitate to give further advice on protection if the scientific evidence indicates that it is necessary.

  Cement Kilns (Pollution)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which member states of the European Union allow the burning of secondary liquid fuels in cement kilns with limits on the emission of particulates and other products of combustion more restrictive than those which apply in the United Kingdom. [17696]

  Mr. Clappison
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution wrote to member states in the European Union in 1994 requesting information on the emission regulations applicable to cement plants burning secondary liquid fuels. The response was poor and consequently this information is not available.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of housing association homes for rent which will be constructed in 1996–97; and what is his estimate for funding levels for 1996–97. [15484]

  Mr. Clappison
  Estimates of funding for housing associations and the number of homes that they will provide in 1996–97 have recently been published by the Housing Corporation as part of the approved development programme. Public funding for the ADP during the year will be £1,062.8 million, including £40 million receipts, of which some £786.7 million will be used to provide homes for rent. In addition, schemes funded through the ADP are expected to attract some £827 million of private finance.

  The ADP is expected to provide around 28,000 housing association homes for rent during 1996–97 through new build and rehabilitation. Funding from the ADP, local authorities and other sources is expected to provide a total of around 60,000 additional social lettings for rent or shared ownership in 1996–97.

  Cremations and Burials
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment if he will make a statement on his meeting on the re-use of graves and problems of cremation and burial with Reverend Dr. Peter Tupp, Lord Young of Dartington and other representatives of the National Funerals college. [15750]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State has not met representatives from the National Funerals college because policy responsibility for matters relating to burial and cremation rests with the Home Office. He did, however, meet the Rev. Dr. Peter Jupp on 5 February as part of a delegation representing the Churches' Group on Funeral Services at Cemeteries and Crematoria. The meeting was held to discuss issues relating to the potential sale of local authority crematoriums. The Secretary of State told the delegation that he hoped local authorities would consider the potential merits of transferring their crematoriums to the private sector and that he had provided time-limited financial measures to encourage authorities to review the position carefully. He confirmed, however, that these measures were enabling ones only,454
  and that local authorities will have the discretion either to retain or sell their crematoriums, according to their own assessment of local needs and circumstances. The delegation said that, in its view, such decisions should take into account whether transfer to the private sector would put funeral directing businesses and crematoriums in common ownership and should have regard to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission Report on Service Corporation International (CM20880). The meeting agreed that officials from the Department and from the Churches' group should continue to liaise on issues relating to Department of the Environment's area of responsibility.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will collate figures on the number of acres of playing fields on which development has been refused; and if he will make a statement. [15752]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department does not hold information on this basis. The Sports Council is compiling a register of sports pitches under threat from proposals for development, but even this would not answer the question.

  Local planning authorities have been advised, in planning policy guidance note 17(PPG17), to consider the longer-term need for playing fields, both by schools and the wider community. In addition, before allowing their development, authorities should consider proposals against policies in the local plan, including the need for public open space. Last July the Government published their sports White Paper, "Sport: Raising the Game", which makes it clear that the Government are concerned about the fate of all playing fields, not only those used by schools. The Government are currently consulting on a proposal that the Sports Council should be made a statutory consultee on planning proposals affecting all playing fields. This would ensure that local planning authorities are aware of any deficiency in playing field provision in making any decision on proposals to develop playing fields.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16821]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Details of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department are listed in the Cabinet Office publication"Public Bodies 1995". A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.

  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on Tuesday 25 April 1995,Official Report, column 474. The information contained in that answer—No. 20496—remains correct with the following exceptions: Letchworth Garden city corporation ceased to be a public body on 30 September 1995 and Leeds development corporation has been wound up. The registers of

  455
  members' interests of the British Board of Agreement and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee are now voluntarily available for public inspection.

  Two new executive NDPBs have been established since April 1995, the Local Government Residuary Body and the Environment Agency, and my Department has taken on responsibility for the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. The new bodies and the Health and Safety Commission and Executive are statutorily required to publish annual reports and accounts. None of the new bodies publishes agendas or minutes of meetings. The Environment Agency will, like the National Rivers Authority, be under a statutory requirement to make agendas and minutes of the regional committees available to the public.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had concerning the site of the millennium exhibition in his capacity as Minister for London; what advice he has given; and if he will make a statement. [17751]

  Mr. Gummer
  The case for Greenwich has been mentioned to me regularly by London organisations and individuals in the course of meetings on other issues. These are too numerous to list. Whenever the exhibition is raised, I explain that the decision is for the Millennium Commission and not for the Government.

  Waste Management Licensing
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to revise the fees and charges for waste management licensing; and if he will make a statement. [17877]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Wales and for Scotland have made the Waste Management Licensing (Fees and Charges) Scheme 1996 under section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The scheme has been made with the approval of the Treasury and comes into force on 1 April 1996.

  In line with the "polluter pays" principle, the financial objective of the charging scheme is full recovery of the costs of supervising sites licensed under section 35 of the 1990 Act; and the cost of considering licence applications. With the aim of fulfilling this objective, the 1996 charging scheme increases subsistence charges by 15 per cent. and application fees by 2.75 per cent.

  In order to reduce the effect of the introduction of charges on small businesses, we set some of them at 70 per cent. of our assessment of full cost recovery in 1994–95 and 1995–96. The abrupt ending of this transitional provision would have had a disproportionate impact on the businesses affected. We have therefore decided that the transitional provision should be retained for one year longer than was originally intended and should be set at 85 per cent. of our assessment of full cost recovery in 1996–97.

  As required by section 41 of the 1990 Act, a copy of the 1996 charging scheme is being laid before the House and placed in the Library of the House.
  456
  Subsequent charging schemes for waste manage licensing will be made under sections 41 and 42 of the Environment Act 1995 on the basis of proposals submitted by the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and they will reflect the costs incurred by the agencies in their operation of the licensing system.

  Landfill Tax
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the level of recycling credits to be paid by waste disposal authorities following the introduction of the landfill tax. [17923]

  Mr. Clappison
  Statutory payments, which are made by waste disposal and waste collection authorities to those who recycle waste, are commonly known as "recycling credits". These payments are made under section 52 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and associated regulations.

  Payments of credits are intended to reflect savings in the costs of waste collection and disposal which benefit collection and disposal authorities, as a direct result of the activities of recyclers. In particular, disposal credits, which are paid by waste disposal authorities, represent the net saving of expenditure on the disposal of waste, which arises because the waste has been recycled.

  Provisions to introduce the proposed landfill tax are contained in the Finance Bill, which is currently before Parliament. The aim of the new tax is to increase the cost of landfill disposal of waste, reflecting its environmental impact. This will make alternative waste management practices, such as recycling, more economic. The landfill tax supports the objectives set out in our White Paper on waste, "Making Waste Work".

  Waste disposal authorities should take their own legal advice if they are in doubt as to their position, as the interpretation of legislation is ultimately a matter for the courts. However, it is the aim of the recycling credits legislation that all expenditure on the disposal of waste should be included in the calculation of disposal credits. The amounts of disposal credits should therefore be increased to reflect the introduction, subject to parliamentary approval, of the landfill tax, where landfill is the most expensive disposal method as defined by the regulations.

  OECD Environment Ministers' Meeting
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the outcome of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Environment Ministers' meeting in Paris on 19 and 20 February; and if he will make a statement. [17924]

  Mr. Gummer
  I was elected to chair the meeting of OECD Environment Ministers in Paris on 19 and 20 February. This was in recognition of the UK's international environmental leadership, including our key role in last year's Berlin conference on climate change and Vienna conference on the ozone layer, and further acknowledged by the invitation to me from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to join the international advisory group of eminent persons preparing for this year's habitat II conference in Istanbul.
  457
  The meeting marked the 25th anniversary of the setting up of the OECD's environment policy committee and the first occasion that a British Minister had taken the chair. The meeting provided an opportunity both to review past performance and to decide the priorities for future action, particularly in the context of the 1997 special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations to follow up the 1992 Rio earth summit.

  There was acceptance at the meeting of the need for OECD countries to show leadership in resolving global environmental problems both through domestic action and by assisting developing and transition economies to take action themselves.

  The meeting endorsed OECD acts on the "greening" of Governments and the OECD itself, and on pollutant release and transfer registers. Ministers also adopted a declaration on lead risk reduction and supported the principle of opening up OECD instruments on the mutual acceptance of chemicals data to non-OECD countries.

  Ministers called for reports from the OECD, to be prepared over the next one to two years, on the relationship between globalisation and environmental policies, on the environmental effects of subsidies and tax disincentives, and on green tax reform.

  I was able to draw upon the UK's strong environmental performance. I pressed the importance of the annual environmental audit contained in the White Paper which we have published every year since the first comprehensive environmental strategy "This Common Inheritance" in 1990.

  The whole government machine is brought into process, not least through the Green Ministers machinery. This experience enabled the United Kingdom to be the first country to publish all the action plans called for at the 1992 Rio earth summit—a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development and action programmes for climate change, biodiversity and forests.

  This strategy included the setting up of the Government panel and the UK round table on sustainable development and the "Going for Green" campaign. We have now produced detailed strategies for waste and air quality, thus setting for the first time clear targets and providing effective monitoring. This radical approach has been carried through to our preparation of the world's first set of indicators of sustainable development and pioneering work on recommendations for costed biodiversity targets.

  The Environment Act 1995 set up environment agencies for England and Wales and for Scotland. The Government's commitment to work with the market to achieve environmental progress has been shown by various economic instruments such as the 1994 Budget introduction of a new landfill tax which shifts the burden of taxation to discourage harmful activities; our pledge to increase the duty on road fuels on average by at least 5 per cent. each year in real terms in future budgets; and the 15 per cent. reduction in the duty on road fuel gases made in the 1995 budget, bringing their price broadly into line with that of petrol and diesel. These are all examples of fiscal measures taken for environmental purposes.

  Our strategy also includes voluntary measures such as the EC eco-management and audit scheme, where the UK has become the first country to register sites. A major
  458
  review of radioactive waste management policy was completed last year and later this year we shall become one of the first countries in Europe to publish an Environmental health action plan. The environment White Paper to be published at the end of March will highlight major achievements in 1995 and identify key new initiatives for the coming year.

  By combining effective government machinery, detailed targets and monitoring, and clear strategies covering the whole environmental agenda, the United Kingdom is now widely recognised as one of the global leaders on sustainable development.

  Yorkshire Water
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when and by whom he was first informed that approval had been given to Yorkshire Water to increase charges; what subsequent representations he has made to the director general of Ofwat on this matter; what information he requested from the director as to the grounds on which he gave approval for the increase; and if he will make a statement. [16835]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Yorkshire Water's price limits, together with the price limits for all the water companies, were set by the Director General of Water Services in his thorough quinquennial review, the outcome of which was announced by the director general in July 1994. Two companies subsequently sought a referral of their new price limits to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. In its reports, the MMC largely endorsed the director general's approach and his determinations. I am satisfied therefore that the director general's review was properly and carefully carried out. Yorkshire Water's average charge increase from April 1996 is within the price limit set by the director-general.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make representations to those responsible for Yorkshire Water's commission of inquiry that its terms of reference should include Yorkshire Water's pricing policy. [16836]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Professor Uff has been asked by Yorkshire Water to conduct an inquiry into the water supply situation in Yorkshire. The terms of reference of the inquiry are a matter for Professor Uff.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when members of his Department met Professor John Uff, in respect of Yorkshire Water's commission of inquiry; and on what occasions pricing policy was discussed. [16798]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: I have met Professor John Uff. Professor Uff has also had contact with officials, who referred him to the framework of price regulation and the regulator's decisions in his quinquennial review in 1994.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met Professor Uff. This corrects the error in the answer my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary gave on 22 February, Official Report, column 282. I regret this error.
  459
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct the director general of Ofwat to withdraw his approval to Yorkshire Water increasing its charges pending the outcome of(a) his departmental review of Yorkshire Water and (b) Yorkshire Water's commission of inquiry. [16799]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The Director General of Water Services has responsibility for determining the limits on water companies' charge increases. Yorkshire Water's average charge increase of 5.6 per cent. from April 1996 is within the price limit set by the director general.

  My Department is not conducting a review of Yorkshire Water.

  Groundwater Levels, London
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the changes in groundwater levels in London; what assessment he has made of the implications for such changes for the London Underground and for buildings; and if he will make a statement; [16913]

  (2) what research his Department has commissioned into groundwater levels in London; if he will publish the results of such research; and what action he has taken as a result of such research; [16914]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the NRA Thames region report on rising groundwater levels in the chalk-basal sands aquifer of the central London basin as it affects possible flooding in London; and if he will make a statement; [16962]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the possible damage to buildings from rising groundwater levels in London; [16963]

  (5) what representations he has received from (a) London Underground Ltd. and (b) others regarding rising groundwater levels in London; [16964]

  (6) what estimate he has made of the costs of addressing rising groundwater levels in London by (a) regional control using purpose-built wells, (b) regional control using existing wells, (c) local control by building and landowners on an ad hoc basis and (d) structural modifications to prevent damage coupled with local control as in (c); and what estimate he has made of the costs of taking no such actions; [16965]

  (7) what action he has taken to ensure that the design and building of new structures in London takes account of possible future groundwater levels. [16966]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answers 26 February 1996]: A report, "The engineering implications of rising groundwater levels in the deep aquifer beneath London", was published by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association in May 1989, funded in part by the Department. It reported on groundwater levels in London, rates of change of groundwater levels, locations where problems with deep structures and buildings could occur, the time scale over which problems could arise and the cost implications of a range of control procedures.
  460
  The National Rivers Authority, at the request of the Department, has monitored groundwater levels in London since 1989, and reported annually. These reports have been distributed to many organisations including London Underground. Regular meetings are held between the National Rivers Authority, Thames Water Utilities, London Underground Ltd., the Loss Prevention Council and the Association of British Insurers and others to disseminate information. It is the responsibility of owners of existing and new structures to ensure the adequate protection of their assets.

  Water Meters
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many water meters were installed by water authorities and companies in domestic properties in(a) 1985, (b) 1990 and (c) 1995. [17365]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The number of water meters installed in domestic properties is as follows:

  Households

  1990–91

  1315,000

  1995–96

  21,404,000

  Source:

  1 Ofwat.

  2 Water company estimates.

  Information relating to 1985 is not available.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the officials in her Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if she will establish a register of officials' interests. [16894]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Staff of the Department must declare any conflict of interest between their work and outside interests so that senior management can determine how best to proceed. This requirement is set out in the handbooks of the former Education and Employment Departments and will be reflected in the guidance that is currently being produced for the new Department for Education and Employment.

  A central register is not kept. Staff who disclose relevant interests do so on the understanding that the declaration, like all employment matters, is confidential between them and their employer.

  Schools Expenditure (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in total on school education in Durham, in each year since 1979. [17210]
  461
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows in cash and 1995 prices gross expenditure for pre-primary, primary and secondary education by Durham local education authority from 1979–80 to 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available. These figures have not been adjusted for any changes of function.

  Gross expenditure on schools—Durham county council

  £ million

  Cash terms

  Real terms

  1979–80

  64,426

  161.000

  1980–81

  78.888

  166.613

  1981–82

  85.288

  164.243

  1982–83

  89.281

  160.502

  1983–84

  91.786

  157.692

  1984–85

  93.842

  153.510

  1985–86

  99.253

  153.924

  1986–87

  107.785

  162.261

  1987–88

  117.785

  168.611

  1988–89

  126.568

  169.558

  1989–90

  139.931

  175.223

  1990–91

  151.933

  176.132

  1991–92

  158.585

  173.041

  1992–93

  203.717

  213.596

  1993–94

  185,618

  189.101

  Staff-student Ratios (Universities)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the average staff-student ratios in(a) the arts, (b) social science, and (d) applied science departments in British universities. [17744]

  Mr. Forth
  Information for the higher education institutions formerly funded by the Universities Funding Council in Great Britain is contained in the publication "University Management Statistics and Performance Indicators in the UK" published by the Universities Statistical Record. Statistics for the higher education institutions formerly funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council for England have been

  Name of body

  Annual reports

  Annual accounts

  Minutes of meetings

  Agendas of meetings

  Register of interests

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes2

  No

  No

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  No

  Education Assets Board

  No

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  No

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  No

  Funding Agency for Schools

  Yes

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  Further Education Funding Council

  Yes

  Yes1

  No

  No

  No

  Higher Education Funding Council for England

  Yes

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  Investors in People UK

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  No

  National Council for Educational Technology

  Yes

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  No

  National Youth Agency

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  Remploy Ltd.

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  School Curriculum and Assessment Authority

  Yes

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  Teacher Training Agency

  Yes1

  Yes1

  No

  No

  Yes2

  1 Statutory.

  2 Available for inspection at the NDPB's offices.

  462
  published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in "Student Staff Ratios in polytechnics and colleges". Copies of both publications are in the House Library.

  Teachers (Kirklees)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total amount paid by Kirklees metropolitan council on behalf of its teachers to the teachers; superannuation scheme during 1994–95. [17604]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total amount paid in pension contributions to the teachers' superannuation scheme by Kirklees metropolitan borough council during 1994–95 was £5,566,102.

  Teachers' Pay
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what impact the teachers' pay settlement will have on education spending in the 1996–97 settlement. [15486]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The impact on the pay award will depend on the decisions made by local authorities when they determine their budgets for services, including education, for 1996–97.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16829]

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

  Nursery Provision (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many three-year-olds are currently receiving nursery education in Durham. [17184]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is shown in table 3, column (viii) of Statistical Bulletin 1/96: "Pupils Under Five Years of Age in Schools in England—January 1995", which is available in the Library.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent by each training and enterprise council on administration for the year 1994–95. [17746]

  Mr. Paice
  The "in year" administration costs of each of the English training and enterprise councils as stated in their annual statutory audited accounts for 1994–95 are given in the following table:

  TEC administration costs 1994–95

  £

  North-east

  County Durham

  2,844,998

  Northumberland

  2,170,801

  Teesside

  4,101,000

  Tyneside

  3,928,000

  Sunderland City (Wearside)

  1,589,414

  Total

  14,634,213

  Merseyside

  CEWTEC

  1,952,421

  Merseyside

  4,626,182

  QUALITEC

  990,569

  Total

  7,569,172

  North-west

  Bolton/Bury

  2,452,327

  Manchester

  2,973,860

  METROTEC

  2,173,116

  Oldham

  1,006,057

  Rochdale

  656,133

  South and East Cheshire

  1,051,417

  Stockport and High Peak

  898,243

  Cumbria

  2,439,495

  ELTEC

  2,681,903

  LAWTEC

  2,174,424

  NORMID

  1,203,943

  Total

  19,710,918

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  3,195,000

  Bradford and District

  1,514,564

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  2,348,460

  Humberside

  3,257,145

  Leeds

  2,392,053

  North Yorkshire

  1,481,000

  Rotherham

  1,406,127

  Sheffield

  1,679,000

  Wakefield

  1,188,133

  Total

  18,431,482

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  1,518,605

  CAMBSTEC

  1,103,244

  Essex

  3,156,151

  Greater Peterborough

  1,010,561

  Hertfordshire

  2,152,000

  464

  TEC administration costs 1994–95

  £

  Norfolk and Waveney

  2,841,000

  Suffolk

  1,148,694

  Total

  12,930,255

  East Midlands

  Greater Nottingham

  1,521,000

  Leicester

  2,293,012

  Lincolnshire

  2,596,050

  Northamptonshire

  1,237,785

  North Derbyshire

  1,935,855

  North Nottinghamshire

  1,364,870

  South Derbyshire

  1,561,000

  Total

  12,509,572

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  2,954,000

  Central England

  897,848

  Coventry/Warwick

  1,336,237

  Dudley

  1,273,292

  HAWTEC

  1,153,623

  Sandwell

  835,866

  Shropshire

  1,175,098

  Staffordshire

  2,995,000

  Walsall

  1,367,391

  Wolverhampton

  1,742,000

  Total

  15,730,355

  South-West

  WESTEC (Avon)

  2,950,000

  Devon/Cornwall

  6,405,000

  Dorset

  1,442,896

  Gloucester

  2,726,513

  Somerset

  1,822,761

  Wiltshire

  1,792,597

  Total

  17,139,767

  London

  AZTEC

  1,856,188

  CENTEC

  2,878,041

  CILNTEC

  3,116,232

  LETEC

  3,814,563

  North London

  2,587,420

  North West London

  1,141,113

  SOLOTEC

  2,684,946

  West London

  1,747,613

  Total

  19,826,116

  South-east

  Hampshire

  2,128,114

  Isle of Wight

  544,541

  Kent

  3,064,096

  Milton Keynes/North Buckinghamshire

  1,005,491

  Heart of England

  2,310,937

  Surrey

  2,365,167

  Sussex

  2,802,000

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  2,186,361

  Total

  16,406,707

  Grand total

  154,888,557

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many civil servants her Department employs to oversee and monitor the activities of the training and enterprise councils; and what is their annual cost. [17747]
  465
  Mr. Paice
  The Department currently employs 238 civil servants in Government offices whose work is principally about overseeing and monitoring the activities of training and enterprise councils. In 1995–96, the estimated cost of these staff is £6.4 million.

  Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each of the last five years(a) the total spent on consultants and (b) the work carried out by consultants. [17748]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  School Buildings
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to lay guidelines for the governors of maintained schools in respect of standard of premises not within the statute's requirements of the draft school building regulations laid on 22 February. [17816]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 22 February 1996,Official Report, column 245–46.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to what school regulations nursery schools or other under-fives provisions in(a) maintained, (b) voluntary and (c) private establishments (i) are now subject and (ii) will be subject if the draft schools regulations laid on 22 February are approved by Parliament. [17817]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes in the maintained sector are subject to the Education (School Premises) Regulation 1981 and, subject to the approval of Parliament, will become subject to the Education (Schools Premises) Regulations 1996 from 1 September 1996, when the 1981 regulations will be revoked.

  Nursery schools and other under-fives provision outside the maintained sector are subject to other legislation—in particular, the Children Act 1989. Such provision falls within the scope of neither the School Premises Regulations 1981, nor the new 1996 regulations.

  Special Educational Needs Tribunal
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applications there have been annually to the special educational needs tribunal since its establishment; and how many have been(a) accepted and (b) rejected. [17331]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: A total of 1,170 appeals were registered with the special educational needs tribunal between 1 September 1994 and 31 August 1995. The average time taken to dispose of these was within the tribunal's five-month target. A total of 242 appeals were disposed of by 31 August 1995. Of these, 112 were upheld, 85 were dismissed, 27 were dismissed or upheld in part, 11 were remitted to the local education authority for reconsideration and seven were struck out because they were outside the tribunal's jurisdiction.
  466
  Further details about the numbers of appeals for this period can be obtained from the SEN tribunal President's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  I have asked the President of the tribunal to write to the hon. Member with up-to-date figures for appeals.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the annual cost to public funds of the special educational needs tribunal. [17326]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding reply 26 February 1996]: The figure for the actual cost in the financial year ending 31 March 1996 is not yet available, but we estimate that expenditure in that year will be in the region of £1,400,000.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Prisons (Health Care)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what percentage of the total annual budget for prisons in Northern Ireland is designated for health care; [16708]

  (2) what provision is available to prisoners in Northern Ireland for therapeutic and psychological follow-up in the case of positive results in tests for transmissible diseases; [16692]

  (3) what policies the prison service in Northern Ireland has concerning the prevention of transmissible or contagious diseases (a) in general and (b) in respect of particular outbreaks; [16680]

  (4) what specific provisions are made of those prisoners in Northern Ireland known to be terminally ill; [16706]

  (5) how many nurses and doctors are employed in the prison service in Northern Ireland per 100 inmates; [16690]

  (6) how many prisoners in prisons in Northern Ireland are currently known to be terminally ill; and what are the causes of the terminal illnesses; [16705]

  (7) what regular medical checks prisoners in prison in Northern Ireland receive; and what systematic checks are carried out for transmissible diseases; [16689]

  (8) what steps are taken to prevent discrimination against prisoners in Northern Ireland with specific health problems; [16707]

  (9) how many prisoners died in prison in Northern Ireland in each year since 1992; and of these deaths how many were (a) self-inflicted, (b) accidental, (c) homicides, (d) due to disease, (e) due to AIDS, (f) due to tuberculosis (g) due to cancer and (h) due to vascular and heart diseases; [16679]

  (10) what steps are taken to ensure the confidentiality of medical checks on prisoners in Northern Ireland, including where a case of a transmissible disease is identified. [16691]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for reply to be given.
  467
  Letter from A. D. Shannon to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 26 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions in which you ask:

  (i) the percentage of the total annual budget for prisons in Northern Ireland that is designated for health care;

  (ii) the provision available to prisoners in Northern Ireland for therapeutic and psychological follow up in the case of positive results in tests for transmissible diseases;

  (iii) the policy of the Northern Ireland Prison Service in relation to the prevention of transmissible and contagious diseases;

  (iv) the provisions that are made for terminally ill prisoners in Northern Ireland;

  (v) the number of nurses and doctors employed within the Northern Ireland Prison Service per 100 inmates;

  (vi) the number of terminally ill prisoners in Northern Ireland and the cause of the illness;

  (vii) what regular medical checks prisons in Northern Ireland receive and what systematic checks are carried out for transmissible diseases;

  (viii) the steps taken to prevent discrimination against prisoners in Northern Ireland with specific health problems;

  (ix) the number of prisoners who have died in prison in Northern Ireland in each year since 1992 and the cause of death in each case;

  (x) the steps taken to ensure the confidentiality of medical checks on prisoners in Northern Ireland, including where a case of transmissible disease is identified.

  The health care element of the Prison Service budget in 1995/96 is £1.1 million, which is slightly less than 1% of he overall budget of £143 million.
  A prisoner diagnosed as suffering from a transmissible disease has access to a Consultant Physician with the required specialist. Where necessary, psychiatric and psychology services are provided by two part-time Consultant Psychiatrists and four full-time Psychologists.
  The policy on the management of transmissible or contagious diseases depends largely on the condition involved. There is a written policy for the management of patients with HIV or Hepatitis B infection. Prison Medical Officers would take advice on managing outbreaks of infectious diseases from Consultants in Communicable Disease Control within Health and Personal Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland.
  Prisoners who are diagnosed as having a terminal illness will have access to those provisions made available to members of the public by Health and Personal Social Services Boards.
  Health care facilities for prisoners are provided by five full-time and two part-time medical officers and nine full-time and two part-time nursing staff. In addition, General Practitioner Practices provide support at three prison establishments in Northern Ireland. All these are employed by the Department of Health and Social

  Department of Agriculture

  Name of body

  Publish annual report

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interest

  Livestock and Meat Commission

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Agricultural Wages Board

  Yes (S)1

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Agricultural Resource Institute

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Foyle Fisheries Commission

  Yes (S)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  No

  Fishery Harbour Authority

  Yes (V)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  No

  Fisheries Conservancy Board

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Notes:

  S = Statutory requirements

  V = Voluntary.

  1 Report is published biannually.

  468
  Services. Health care staff are supplemented by 44 prison grade hospital officers. On 22 February 1996 the prison population was 1593 prisoners.
  There are no terminally ill prisoners currently in prisons in Northern Ireland.
  Prisoners have access to a doctor on a daily basis. They are medically screened on admission to prison, before a court appearance, transfer, discharge and disciplinary hearing. Regular medical checks are carried out on those deemed to require further attention. There are no routine systematic checks carried out for transmissible diseases.
  All prisoners are integrated, where appropriate, into a normal location including those with specific health problems. Prison Rules in Northern Ireland permit Medical Officers to separate from other prisons any prisoner whose health makes such separation advisable in his own interest or that of other prisoners. Prisoners' medical conditions are treated as Medical in Confidence at all times.
  Medical Officers to separate from other prisoners any prisoner whose health makes such separation advisable in his own interest or that of other prisoners. Prisoners' medical conditions are treated as Medical in Confidence at all times.
  Nine prisoners have died in prison on Northern Ireland since 1992. Six of the deaths occurred in 1994—three were self-inflicted, two died from cancer and one from heart disease. Three deaths occurred in 1995—two were self-inflicted and one prisoner died from septicaemia.
  Prisoners' medical records are held in a confidential file within a secure cabinet in the prison health care centre: the same rules of confidentiality are applied as for the general public.

  Census Data
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the 1991 census data will be available on the basis of the new parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland. [16458]

  Sir John Wheeler
  On current plans, 1991 census data population counts for the new parliamentary constituencies will be available in September 1996.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16827]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:
  469

  Department of Economic Development

  Name of body

  Publish annual report

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interest

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Enterprise Ulster

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No1

  Fair Employment Commission

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No1

  General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Labour Relations Agency

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No1

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  Yes (S)

  Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No1

  Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd.

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  Yes (S)

  Notes:

  1 Maintain a Register of Members' interests, voluntarily, which are open for inspection at their offices upon request.

  S = Statutory requirements.

  Department of Education

  Name of body

  Publish annual report

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interest

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

  No

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Trustees of the Ulster Museum

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  Yes (V)

  No

  NO

  North-Eastern Education and Library Board

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  South-Eastern Education and Library Board

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  Southern Education and Library Board

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  Western Education Library Board

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment

  No

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Museums Council

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland

  Yes (V)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Notes

  S = Statutory requirements.

  V = Voluntary.

  Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland)

  Name of body

  Publish annual report

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interest

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Laganside Corporation

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Staff Commission

  Yes (V)

  Yes (V)

  No

  No

  No

  S = Statutory requirements.

  V = Voluntary.

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  The Department does not sponsor any executive non-departmental public bodies.
  470 471

  Department of Health and Social Security

  Name of body

  Publish annual report

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interest

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland

  Yes (S)

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland

  Yes (S)2

  Yes (S)

  No

  No

  No

  S = Statutory requirements.

  V = Voluntary.

  1Report is published biannually.

  2Report is published biennially.

  3Maintain a Register of Members' interests, voluntarily, which are open for inspection at their offices upon request.

  Promotional Events
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on promotional events will be funded. [18073]

  Mr. Moss
  During the year 1995–96, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has undertaken the lead role in funding work promoting the image of Northern Ireland, including certain events geared to that objective. Recently, the Department has concluded that the legislation under which this policy was hitherto considered to give vires to work implemented does not in fact support funding for every element of the programme, and hence some expenditure has been incurred without legislative cover. Parliamentary approval for the extra-statutory elements of the programme is being sought in a supplementary estimate for the environmental and other services vote (Department of the Environment, vote 4). Pending that approval, urgently needed expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the civil contingencies fund. As I wish this valuable work to continue, I am reviewing arrangements for implementing the programme and also examining the possibility of seeking Parliament's approval of new legislation which would specifically authorise such expenditure.

  Rate Collection Agency
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of the Rate Collection Agency. [18074]

  Mr. Moss
  Following the announcement on 22 June 1995 about the outcome of the Evaluation and Review of the agency, the revised framework document setting out the policy and resources framework within which the agency will operate, pending the market test of its functions, has now been approved. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  NNEB Courses
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many students at further education colleges studying Nursery Nurses Education Board courses have had a reduction in their grants in the current academic year; [16264]

  (2) if he will take steps to resolve outstanding problems in relation to the funding of NNEB courses at colleges of further education; [16265]
  472
  (3) if he will instruct education and library boards to honour their full maintenance and tuition grant commitment to students studying NNEB courses at further education colleges. [16266]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Some 56 students studying National Nursery Examination Board courses at further education colleges have had a reduction in their grants in the current academic year. On 20 February, my Department approved an amendment to the discretionary awards arrangements which will enable education and library boards to pay full grant to these students. I am not aware of any problems in relation to the funding of these courses at colleges.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure has been incurred by health authorities in Northern Ireland for the purchase of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in each of the last three years. [17012]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: None.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been provided with electrically powered indoor wheelchairs by health authorities in each of the last three years. [17017]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The numbers of people provided with such wheelchairs is as follows:

  1992–93: 143

  1993–94: 134

  1994–95: 305

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the most recent figure available for the cost of providing an individual with an electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair; [17014]

  (2) what is the most recent figure available for the cost of providing an individual with an electrically powered indoor wheelchair. [17185]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answers 26 February 1996]: The cost would depend on individual circumstances and the type of chair supplied.
  473
  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure has been incurred by health authorities for the purchase of electrically powered indoor wheelchairs in each of the last three years. [171891]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The information requested is as follows

  1992–93: £63,152

  1993–94: £23,225

  1994–95: £112.189

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been provided with electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs by health authorities in each of the last three years. [17194]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: None.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings,(d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16826]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  (a)

  Arts Council of England

  British Film Institute

  British Library1

  British Tourist Authority1

  Broadcasting Complaints Commission1

  Broadcasting Standards Council1

  Crafts Council

  English Tourist Board1

  Football Licensing Authority1

  Geffrye Museum1

  Horniman Museum1

  Millennium Commission1

  Museum of London22

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester1

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  National Gallery2

  National Portrait Gallery2

  National Heritage Memorial Fund1

  Public Lending Right1

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  Sports Council

  The following bodies are statutorily obliged to produce a triennial report:

  British Museum

  Natural History Museum

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  Tate Gallery

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  Wallace Collection

  474

  (b)

  Arts Council for England

  British Film Institute1

  British Library1

  British Museum1

  British Tourist Authority1

  Broadcasting Complaints Commission1

  Broadcasting Standards Council1

  Crafts Council

  English Tourist Board1

  Football Licensing Authority1

  Geffrye Museum1

  Horniman Museum1

  Imperial War Museum1

  Millennium Commission1

  Museum and Galleries Commission

  Museum of London1

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester1

  National Film and Television School1

  National Gallery1

  National Heritage Memorial Fund1

  National Maritime Museum1

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside1

  National Museum of Science and Industry1

  National Portrait Gallery1

  Natural History Museum1

  Public Lending Right1

  Sir John Soane's Museum1

  Sports Council

  Tate Gallery1

  Victoria and Albert Museum1

  Wallace Collection1

  (c)

  British Film Institute

  Sports Council

  (d)

  British Film Institute

  Sports Council

  (e)

  British Film Institute

  British Library

  All of DNH' s executive NDPBs are currently developing registers of members' interests. Many of these are already in place and are open to the public on request.
  1indicates where this is a statutory requirement.
  2indicates where an annual report is published by the organisation is only statutorily obliged to publish a triennial report.

WALES

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for(a) each Welsh county and (b) Wales the numbers of children receiving nursery school education and the proportion those children represent of the total number of children of pre-school age for each of the last three available years. [16287]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is in the tables.
  475

  Number of children receiving nursery education1

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Clwyd

  172

  4,757

  195

  4,542

  179

  4,718

  Dyfed

  222

  2,248

  191

  2,139

  213

  2,210

  Gwent

  913

  3,698

  915

  3,866

  864

  4,026

  Gwynedd

  —

  887

  —

  836

  —

  1,042

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,208

  4,831

  1,216

  4,285

  1,179

  4,323

  Powys

  —

  505

  —

  298

  —

  263

  South Glamorgan

  803

  2,748

  832

  2,850

  791

  2,940

  West Glamorgan

  236

  4,881

  230

  4,725

  224

  4,659

  Wales

  3,554

  24,555

  3,579

  23,541

  3,450

  24,181

  1 At January each year. Aged at 31 December (estimated). Data includes both full-time and part-time pupils in nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools. Pupils in ordinary classes in maintained primary schools, special and independent schools are excluded.

  Proportion of children receiving nursery education1

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Clwyd

  1.6

  45.0

  1.9

  43.5

  1.7

  43.8

  Dyfed

  2.6

  26.3

  2.3

  25.9

  2.5

  25.9

  Gwent

  7.2

  29.2

  7.4

  31.1

  6.8

  31.8

  Gwynedd

  —

  14.7

  —

  14.0

  —

  17.5

  Mid Glamorgan

  7.7

  30.8

  7.9

  28.0

  7.8

  28.6

  Powys

  —

  17.5

  —

  10.7

  —

  9.0

  South Glamorgan

  6.9

  23.5

  7.2

  24.5

  6.7

  25.0

  West Glamorgan

  2.5

  51.8

  2.5

  50.5

  2.4

  49.7

  Wales

  4.6

  31.7

  4.7

  30.9

  4.5

  31.4

  1 At January each year. Aged at 31 December (estimated). Data includes both full-time and part-time pupils in nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools as a proportion of the mid-year population estimates for children aged three and four-years-old. Pupils in ordinary classes in maintained primary schools, special and independent schools are excluded.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of children receiving nursery education and the corresponding proportion of those children as a percentage of the total number of children of pre-school age for each county and for Wales as a whole in consequence of the introduction of the proposed nursery voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement. [16288]

  Mr. Richards
  The voucher scheme is intended to enhance current levels of provision and stimulate greater choice for parents in the maintained, voluntary and private sectors. No estimate has been made of the actual number of four-year-olds who will take up places under the scheme—that will depend on parental choice and the availability of places; but numbers are expected to be no less than at present.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16819]

  Mr. Hague

  (a) All—under statue, charter or other controlling documents. The report of work by the Agricultural Wages Committee is included in the annual report of the Agricultural Wages Board;

  (b) all except the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales and the Agricultural Wages Committee—under statue or charter;

  476

  (c) none;

  (d) none;

  (e) all have adopted or are in the process of adopting a code of practice based on the code of best practice for board members of public bodies published by Her Majesty's Treasury in June 1994, and publish or will then publish or make available such a register.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the outturn cost of the Cardiff bay barrage. [17461]

  Mr. Hague
  I have asked the corporation to contain total expenditure on the barrage project within the cost figure announced to Parliament. The current estimated outturn cost is therefore £191 million.

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 February, at column 56, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the investigating team into the management and finances of the South East Wales ambulance trust. [17350]

  Mr. Hague
  I will make arrangements for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he proposes to announce(a) the appointment of new board and (b) the re-appointment of existing board members to the South East Wales ambulance trust. [17245]
  477
  Mr. Hague
  The appointment of executive directors is a matter for the trust. The terms of appointment of two non-executive directors are due to expire on 30 April 1996. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 February,Official Report, column 88, if he will give the dates on which his Department expressed concern to the South East Wales ambulance trust in relation to its financial problem; if the concern was expressed in writing; if he will place in the Library copies of any such expressions in writing; and if he will make a statement. [17351]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department has maintained close contact with the trust since its financial problems became apparent, including monthly monitoring of the trust's financial performance, meetings between officials and staff at the trust and frequent correspondence. The director of the Welsh Office Health Directorate met the former chairman of the trust on three separate occasions, 27 March 1995; 30 August 1995 and 7 December 1995. He attended a meeting of the trust board on 21 December 1995 to discuss its financial performance.

  Unspent Balances
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of unspent balances held by general practitioner fundholders or by family health service authorities on their behalf at the latest available date(a) in the whole of Wales and (b) by family health service authority separately. [17354]

  Mr. Hague
  The information, as at 31 March 1995, is as follows:

  FHSA

  £000

  Clwyd

  1,115

  Dyfed

  692

  Gwent

  2,753

  Gwynedd

  469

  Mid Glamorgan

  775

  Powys

  1,836

  South Glamorgan

  1,277

  West Glamorgan

  1,246

  Wales

  10,163

  Source

  FHSA annual accounts 1994–95.

  Ysbyty Gwynedd NHS Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he had had with the chairman of the Ysbyty Gwynedd NHS trust in relation to the suspension of the medical director. [17410]

  Mr. Hague
  None. The medical director has not been suspended.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reports he has had from the chairman of the Ysbyty Gwynedd NHS trust concerning allegations of fraud. [17409]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received no formal reports. The chairman of the trust is in contact with my officials about allegations of fraud.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he proposes to publish the departmental report for 1996–97. [17242]

  Mr. Hague
  The 1996 Welsh Office departmental report, covering the 1995–96 financial year, will be published on 25 March 1996. No date has been decided for the publication of next year's report.

  Emergency Medical Admissions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of his statement of 21 February on the priority for placement of emergency medical admissions and its impact on elective surgery bed availability. [17243]

  Mr. Richards
  My comments on the response of NHS trusts to the demand for emergency admissions were made at the launch of the 1996 patients charter.

  My main message was that hospitals should not refuse to admit emergency cases unless all beds, other than child and maternity beds, are full.

  This is in line with the recommendations of the emergency admissions action plan developed by senior health authority and trust staff.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the present Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan community health councils about the future separation of the administration of the two councils; and what advice he has given about the appointment procedures to be adopted for staff in the event of separate administrative arrangements being implemented. [17244]

  Mr. Hague
  Consultations with both councils have led to agreement in principle to the possible separation of administrative functions, provided no additional costs are involved.

  The Welsh Health Common Services Authority, the employing body, has asked existing staff from both councils whether they want to be considered for the possible chief officer posts.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he last requested figures from the Welsh training and enterprise councils as to the levels of their reserves and their latest estimate of year-end balances; and if he will make a statement on the estimated total figure for end-year unspent balances. [17355]

  Mr. Hague
  TECs in Wales provide my Department on a quarterly basis with current and projected year-end reserve levels. The latest figures, which reflect income and expenditure to 31 December 1995, were received in February.

  My officials are currently in discussion with Welsh TECs about the projected year-end position in the light of developments during the final quarter of the financial year.
  479
  I will write to the hon. Member when these discussions have been completed.

  Planning Department (Welsh Office)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each of the last three years the numbers of staff in each grade and in total employed in the planning department of his office. [17570]

  Mr. Hague
  The requested information can be seen in the table.

  The numbers of staff in each grade employed within the Planning Division for the last three years are as follows:

  1 February 1996

  1 February 1995

  1 February 1994

  G5

  1.00

  —

  1.00

  G6

  —

  1.00

  1.00

  G7

  2.00

  3.00

  2.00

  G7PRO

  0.81

  1.81

  1.81

  PPO

  2.00

  3.00

  3.50

  SEO

  2.00

  2.00

  1.00

  SMCO

  1.00

  1.00

  1.00

  SPO

  2.50

  2.50

  2.50

  SRO

  1.81

  1.81

  1.81

  HEO

  6.00

  8.40

  7.40

  HMCO

  2.00

  3.00

  3.00

  EO

  9.00

  10.00

  8.00

  MCO

  12.01

  13.01

  16.01

  AO

  6.00

  7.00

  5.00

  MCTG1

  0.99

  0.99

  0.99

  PS

  1.00

  1.00

  2.00

  AA

  3.45

  4.45

  4.45

  MCTG2

  1.00

  1.00

  —

  CAS/AA

  2.00

  —

  —

  Total

  56.57

  64.97

  62.47

  1. The figures include staff in the Drawing Office who provide a general service to the Department but who are attached to Planning Division.

  2. The figures do not include Planning Inspectorate staff in Wales.

  3. Work on National Parks and related areas was transferred to Planning Division in May 1994 and to Environment Division in December 1995.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16825]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992, when the Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the authorised practitioners scheme.
  480
  The Legal Aid Board publishes annual reports which are laid before Parliament. Annual accounts are included in that report, as is information about the background of board members. The board does not publish the agendas or minutes of meetings of the board or its committees. There are statutory requirements for the board to publish information as to the discharge of its functions in relation to legal aid and for the Lord Chancellor to lay before each House of Parliament a copy of every statement of accounts and report of the auditors sent to him in accordance with requirements under the Legal Aid Act 1988.

  Divorce Petitions
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many petitions for divorce have been filed(a) within one year of marriage and (b) in total in each of the last 10 years; and of those petitions how many relate to marriages where one party has lived in the United Kingdom for less than two years. [17749]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executives of the Court Service and the Northern Ireland Court Service are best placed to provide answers on the Lord Chancellor's behalf. I have accordingly asked the chief executives to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mrs. Teresa Gorman, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about Divorce Petitions.
  The total number of divorce petitions filed in the last ten years, for England and Wales is as follows:

  1986: 179,844

  1987: 182,934

  1988: 182,804

  1989: 184,610

  1990: 191,615

  1991: 179,103

  1992: 189,419

  1993: 184,471

  1994: 175,510

  1995: 173,966

  Information on the number of petitions tiled within one year of marriage is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. It is also not possible to say how many divorce petitions relate to marriages where one party has lived in the United Kingdom for less than two years.

  Letter from H. G. Thompson to Mrs. Teresa Gorman, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to write to you direct with figures extracted, in relation to Northern Ireland. on foot of the Parliamentary Question put down by you on 23 February 1996 and answered by him today.
  In view of the manner in which the records are kept, it has not been possible to extract all the figures requested. As the figure for 1995 is not yet available, I have covered the 10-year period 1985–94 and the total number of petitions filed for each year within that period are as follows.
  481

  Year

  Number of petitions

  1985

  2,007

  1986

  1,652

  1987

  1,784

  1988

  2,224

  1989

  2,407

  1990

  2,281

  1991

  2,619

  1992

  2,615

  1993

  2,716

  1994

  2,672

  Total

  22,987

  It is not possible to identify the number of these which related either to marriages of less than one year in duration or to marriages where one party has lived in the United Kingdom for less than two years.
  I am able to report that the number of Decrees Absolute granted in marriages of less than two years duration was a total of 96 over the same 10-year period.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Overseas Development Administration
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations were held with UN agencies before publication of the Overseas Development Administration's fundamental expenditure review and the senior management review. [16398]

  Mr. Hanley
  At the outset of the fundamental expenditure review exercise, a member of the FER team had discussions in New York with senior officials from the UNDP, UNICEF and with the UK Mission to the UN. Copies of the FER were passed to UN agencies on publication.

  No separate discussions with UN agencies took place at the time of the senior management review, but as the SMR followed shortly after the FER, it was able to take account of the discussions and conclusions of the FER.

  The FER conclusions are recommendations only. We are now considering how policies should be changed to respond to the recommendations. At present, we have no plans to withdraw from any multilateral agencies. In autumn 1996, we shall be reviewing progress of reform in UN development agencies and coming to conclusion about our future relationship with those agencies.

  Ogoni People (Nigeria)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of Start for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he had made to the UN Commission on Human Rights concerning the situation of the Ogoni people of Nigeria. [16611]

  Mr. Hanley
  The UK co-sponsored a resolution on the human rights situation in Nigeria at the UN General Assembly in December. The resolution, which was passed by a convincing majority condemned the arbitrary execution after a flawed judicial process of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight co-defendants and invited the Commission on Human Rights to give urgent attention to Nigeria at its forthcoming session in March-April.

  Pakistan (Afghan Refugees)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to the Pakistan Government to help Afghan refugees who now live in Pakistan; what form such aid has taken; and if he will make statement. [16311]

  Mr. Hanley
  HMG do not give bilateral aid to the Pakistan Government specifically to help Afghans resident there. However, Pakistan remains a major recipient of British aid, over £28 million in bilateral assistance having been provided in 1994–5. HMG have also provided considerable sums over the years via UN bodies and NGOs to assist the refugees.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been given in the current financial year by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Pakistan to provide schooling for the children of Afghan refugees now living in Pakistan. [17158]

  Mr. Hanley
  No funding is currently being provided to the Pakistan Government for education costs for Afghan children resident in Pakistan.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Councillor Norman Scuplak
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General what action the Director of Public Prosecutions has taken with regard to the detention of Councillor Norman Scuplak at Charles street police station on 11 January 1996; and if he will make a statement. [17569]

  The Attorney-General
  Following an allegation of theft made against him by a fellow councillor, Councillor Scuplak voluntarily attended Charles street police station where he was interviewed. The Leicestershire constabulary has its forwarded the results of its investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether or not to institute criminal proceedings.

PRIME MINISTER

  Departmental Officials (Interest)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirement are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16883]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

  Ministerial Accountability
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to paragraph K8.1 of the Scott report relating to ministerial accountability, what additional measures he proposes to ensure his Department's compliance with paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". [17305]
  483
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February 1996, Official Report, columns 589–604.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those contracts his Department currently holds with EDS Ltd., indicating for each the(a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17453]

  The Prime Minister
  For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

  Cabinet Working Group on Iraqi Procurement
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all members of the Cabinet working group on Iraqi procurement between 25 May 1989 and 25 February 1990. [17230]

  The Prime Minister
  The members of the working group on Iraqi procurement were officials drawn from the Departments concerned. It is not the practice to publish the membership of official committees.

  Ministerial Duties
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that conventions regulating ministerial duties are codified by legislation. [17781]

  The Prime Minister
  No. I believe that ministerial duties to Parliament should be supervised by Parliament.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 27 February. [15751]

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

  Live Animal Exports
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Agriculture to the annual general meeting of the Devon members of the National Farmers' Union on the export of live animals represents Government policy. [17241]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Minister set out his views on the export of live animals very clearly in his speech on 15 January. They are consistent with the views expressed in the House on previous occasions.

  2001 Census
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister how many representations his office received(a) in favour of and (b) against the setting up of a census office for Wales (i) in respect of the 1991 census and (ii) in respect of the 2001 census; and if he will make a statement. [15884]
  484
  The Prime Minister
  So far as I am aware, none. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 23 January 1996,Official Report, column 141.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to ensure that the format of the 2001 census forms conform with the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993; if he will make it his policy to consult the Welsh Language Board in preparing census forms; and if he will make a statement. [15883]

  The Prime Minister
  The content and format of the 2001 census form are not yet decided. However, the Registrar General will ensure that the forms conform with the Welsh Language Act 1993, consulting other bodies as required.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to include in the 2001 census a question to discover how many people throughout the United Kingdom can understand, read and write the Welsh language. [17534]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 23 January 1996,Official Report, column 141.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet David Tang, Jimmy Lai, Morris Nourari, Stanley Ho and Li Kash Ing during his forthcoming visit to Hong Kong. [17813]

  The Prime Minister
  I naturally hope to meet a broad range of business men, politicians and other opinion formers.

TREASURY

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16878]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Staff are required to inform their line manager in writing of any relevant private financial interest where this might give rise to a conflict of interest with their official dealings in their current post. These records are held by the relevant team leader while the individual is in that post. No central record is held and the Treasury does not propose to establish a central register.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure by his Department on(a) staff, (b) services, (c) offices and (d) other categories on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95. [16767]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Expenditure on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95 for all categories was nil.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those contracts his Department currently holds with EDS Ltd., indicating for each the(a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17458]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury currently holds no contracts with EDS.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is being allocated by the European Commission to each member state to publicise the alleged benefits of a single currency. [17543]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 February 1996, columns 186–87.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) of 14 July 1993,Official Report, column 515–16 on the introduction of an upper limit for income tax allowances and reliefs for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97

  Full year yield (£ billion) at 1995–96 income levels restricted to:

  Full year yield (£ billion) at 1996–97 income levels restricted to:

  Upper limit for total allowances and reliefs1 £

  Marginal rates

  Basic rate

  20 per cent.

  Marginal rate

  Basic rate

  20 per cent.

  10,000

  0.5

  2.8

  7.8

  0.5

  3.1

  7.1

  15,000

  0.3

  2.6

  7.7

  0.3

  3.0

  7.0

  20,000

  0.2

  2.6

  7.7

  0.2

  2.9

  7.0

  No limit

  —

  2.5

  7.5

  —

  2.8

  6.8

  1 Available at marginal rates of tax.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman) of 5 March 1993,Official Report, column 335, on the cumulative gain as a result of changes in income tax and national insurance since 1978–79 and 1987–88 to (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [14402]

  Mr. Jack
  Readily available information on the annual reduction in income tax and national insurance liability for 1995–96 and 1996–97 compared with the 1978–79 and 1987–88 indexed regimes are given in the table. They are based on projections of the 1993–94 survey of personal incomes. These comparisons are hypothetical since if an indexed version of the 1978–79 and 1987–88 tax regime had prevailed the income base would not have grown in the way it has. The effect of changes in mortgage relief cannot be included in the analysis because most mortgage interest relief is given at source and therefore is not recorded on individual tax records.
  486
  providing calculations of the yield from restriction to the basic rate and 20p rate only for those reliefs and allowances claimed at the marginal rate; [14264]

  (2) if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Hartlepool of 1 July 1993, Official Report, column 598–600 on the introduction of an upper limit for income tax allowances and reliefs for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 providing calculations of the yield from restriction to the basic rate only for those reliefs and allowances claimed at the marginal rate. [14267]

  Mr. Jack
  Available analyses of the full year yields at 1995–96 and 1996–97 income levels from introducing combinations of allowance and relief limits and restrictions are given in the table. The figures do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such changes.

  The estimated number of people with total allowances and reliefs in excess of these limits are as follows:

  Limit

  Thousands

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  10,000

  170

  190

  15,000

  60

  70

  20,000

  30

  40

  Average reduction in income tax and national insurance per individual in 1995–96

  £

  Compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Compared with 1987–88 indexed regime

  Range of individuals income in 1995–96

  Income tax

  Income tax and national insurance

  Income tax

  Income tax and national insurance

  Under 5,000

  130

  160

  50

  60

  5,000–10,000

  360

  320

  160

  190

  10,000–15,000

  720

  540

  220

  290

  15,000–20,000

  1,080

  720

  290

  310

  20,000–25,000

  1,440

  810

  360

  320

  25,000–30,000

  1,830

  1,100

  420

  350

  30,000–40,000

  2,120

  1,390

  150

  60

  40,000–50,000

  3,350

  2,640

  430

  340

  487

  Average reduction in income tax and national insurance per individual in 1995–96

  £

  Compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Compared with 1987–88 indexed regime

  Range of individuals income in 1995–96

  Income tax

  Income tax and national insurance

  Income tax

  Income tax and national insurance

  50,000–60,000

  5,380

  4,680

  1,230

  1,190

  60,000–70,000

  8,480

  7,780

  2,600

  2,510

  70,000–80,000

  12,200

  11,600

  4,340

  4,240

  Over 80,000

  47,900

  47,200

  19,900

  19,800

  Average

  1,230

  970

  390

  400

  Average reduction in income tax and national insurance per individual in 1996–97

  £

  Compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Compared with 1987–88 indexed regime

  Range of individuals income in 1996–97

  Income tax

  Income tax and National Insurance

  Income tax

  Income tax and National Insurance

  Under 5,000

  150

  200

  60

  80

  5,000–10,000

  390

  380

  200

  250

  10,000–15,000

  810

  670

  330

  420

  15,000–20,000

  1,240

  920

  450

  500

  20,000–25,000

  1,640

  1,090

  560

  550

  25,000–30,000

  2,070

  1,390

  690

  610

  30,000–40,000

  2,490

  1,830

  530

  450

  40,000–50,000

  3,560

  2,930

  700

  630

  50,000–60,000

  5,490

  4,900

  1,490

  1,420

  60,000–70,000

  8,320

  7,760

  2,690

  2,640

  70,000–80,000

  11,800

  11,200

  4,340

  4,270

  Over 80,000

  47,200

  46,700

  19,700

  19,600

  Average

  1,410

  1,170

  540

  550

  Mortgage Endowment Policies
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will require each major company with mortgage endowment policy repayment schemes which have yet to mature to conduct an audit of these policies. [17475]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  If customers with mortgage endowment policy repayment schemes are concerned about the maturity value of their policy, they should discuss the situation with their insurer.
  488
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, by the top 10 companies, the sales of mortgage endowment repayment policies since 1979; and if he will indicate the value of these policies by companies for each year since 1979. [17473]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  This information is not held centrally.

  Self-employment
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the piloting of a single form to give the self-employed a single notification point along the lines announced in the Government's response to the first annual report of the deregulation task force. [15678]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: The pilot of the single form to give the self-employed a single notification point for tax, national insurance contributions and VAT commenced in October 1995. The form is available from tax, social security, VAT and business link offices in the pilot area in the north of England. The pilot, which has been well received, is due to run until March 1996. The intention is then to extend the use of the form to the rest of the country. In developing the national version of the pilot, the Inland Revenue has been guided by comments from consultation with customers.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of the allocation of persons in his Department to the consideration of the Government's response to the Scott inquiry. [16572]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: Access to the report itself prior to publication was restricted to a very small number of officials in my Departments, in accordance with the procedure agreed with the Scott inquiry. However, the Scott report covered a wide range of policy issues and a number of other officials contributed to preparation of the Government's response without sight of the report. It is not therefore possible to give the cost of the work.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he responded to communications received from Mr. Christopher Muttukumaru; what were the dates of letters; and if he will deposit copies in the Library. [16547]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: I and my officials have responded to a number of letters from Mr. Muttukumaru, for example, about my evidence to the inquiry in February 1994. Sir Richard Scott is free to publish any document he considers to be relevant to his report, consistent with his procedures. I understand that he proposes to do this as soon as possible.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what communication he received from the Secretary of the Scott inquiry, concerning the time needed by the Opposition parties to scrutinise the Scott report; on what date he received such communications; what was the nature of the contents of the letters; and if he will deposit copies of those letters in the Library. [16629]
  489
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  (holding answer 22 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the President of the Board of Trade on 22 February, columns 251–52.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what hour and minute of which day the report of the Scott inquiry was delivered to his office. [16491]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: At about 6 pm on Friday 9 February.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he first saw the report of the Scott Inquiry. [16581]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: On 10 February, at about 10 am.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Badgers (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of the badger TB programme in each area in each of the last five years. [16242]

  Mrs. Browning
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the approximate cost of employing staff to undertake badger investigations following TB breakdowns in cattle in England for each of the last five financial years is as follows:

  1991–92: £466,707

  1992–93: £588,328

  1993–94: £792,898

  1994–95: £1,202,448

  1995–96: £1,212,137—estimate

  In addition, considerable resources have been allocated to research into the problem of TB in badgers and cattle. It is estimated that the Department will spend £1.48 million in the current financial year.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of administration of the blood test scheme which identifies TB in badgers since its introduction. [16243]

  Mrs. Browning
  The cost of using the recently developed live test for TB in badgers, from its introduction in November 1994 to date, has been approximately £536,324.

  Food (Peanut Content)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that the peanut content of food is listed on the packaging; and if he will make a statement. [16302]
  490
  Mrs. Browning
  The European Community's Scientific Committee for Food has recently reported on the subject of food intolerance. We expect the EC Commission to pursue revised labelling rules on the basis of this scientific opinion.

  In the meantime, following discussions between my officials and industry and consumer representatives, there is an increased awareness of nut allergy within the industry. Many manufacturers are now voluntarily labelling the presence of nuts on their labels and some have considered the reformulation of their products.

  Licensed Meat Wholesalers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licensed meat wholesale premises there were in(a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland at the end of 1995; and if he will make a statement. [16510]

  Mrs. Browning
  The tables set out the number of wholesale premises licensed at the end of 1995 under (i) the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995, (ii) the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 and (iii) the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995:

  (i) The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995

  Type of premises

  Wales

  England

  Scotland

  Slaughterhouses

  36

  402

  48

  Cutting Plants

  25

  357

  41

  Cold Stores

  18

  242

  44

  Farmed Game Handling/Processing Facilities

  6

  57

  7

  (ii) The Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995

  Type of premises

  Wales

  England

  Scotland

  Slaughterhouses

  11

  144

  8

  Cutting Plants

  7

  68

  1

  Cold Stores

  1

  4

  —

  Re-wrapping Centres

  —

  1

  1

  (iii) The Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995

  Type of premises

  Wales

  England

  Scotland

  Wild Game Processing Facilities

  —

  16

  13

  Fish Discards
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met his European counterparts to discuss the discarding of fish; and if he will make a statement. [16720]
  491
  Mr. Baldry
  At the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 21 to 22 December 1995, we discussed the implementation of technical conservation measures under the common fisheries policy. I led the way in pressing the case for improvements to be made to help reduce discards and conserve stocks, and it was agreed that the Commission should present new proposals by 1 June 1996. The Council undertook to reach a decision on these proposals before the end of 1996.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total expenditure of his Department on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95 broken down by category. [16779]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information is not held centrally. Details of national expenditure broken down into 81 programmes are available from the MAFF/IB annual departmental report. The 1995 edition (CM 2803), available from the House of Commons Library, contains estimated outturn figures for 1994–95. The next edition of this report is due to be published on 25 March 1966 as part of a series, accompanied by a statistical supplement, which present the Government's expenditure plans for 1996–97 to 1998–99.

  National Institute of Agricultural Botany
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a prior options review of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. [16973]

  Mr. Boswell
  None. Discussions are taking place with the National Institute of Agricultural Botany with a view to placing it unequivocally in the private sector.

  Sheep Producers (Aid Packages)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to press the European Union for similar aid packages for United Kingdom sheep producers to those recently awarded to the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [17780]

  Mrs. Browning
  No. As yet, no aid package has been awarded to the Republic of Ireland. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister made it clear at the Agriculture Council last December that we saw no justification for the special treatment which Ireland was seeking: responding to a weak market situation by granting special aid gives the wrong signals to producers.

  The statement agreed at that meeting of the Council makes it clear that the extension of the less favoured areas supplement to the whole of Ireland—that is, including Northern Ireland—will be proposed by the Commission only if there are sufficient funds in the budget to accommodate the resultant payments.

  Given the close relationship between sheepmeat production in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic, it is right that any special aid granted to producers in the republic should be available also to those in Northern Ireland.

  Lame Sheep
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the number and percentage of lame sheep in the national flock; [16337]

  (2) if he will make a statement about the results of the recent survey by his Department into lameness in sheep; and what action he intends to take to attempt to reduce the number of lame sheep in the national flock; [16338]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: The Government are concerned that sheep lameness is a significant problem both for welfare and economic reasons. We are currently running an advisory campaign and, following recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of sheep, propose to amend the welfare code for sheep to emphasise the importance of appropriate prevention and treatment.

  We have, in addition, been funding the Royal Veterinary college to carry out a study into ovine lameness. The first part of the study, a survey of a random sample of sheep holdings, found a reported incidence of lameness of about 8 per cent. in 1993–94. This is now being followed up by on-farm investigations into the different causes of lameness with a view to developing improved methods of control.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what hour and minute of what day the report of the Scott Inquiry was delivered to his office. [16540]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: My copy of the Scott report was collected from the House at 3.30 pm on Thursday 15 February and delivered promptly to my office.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the members of his Department who saw the report of the Scott inquiry before it was presented to the House; and when each saw the report. [16523]

  Mr. Hogg
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: No member of my Department saw a copy of the report of the Scott inquiry before it was presented to the House.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he first saw the report of the Scott inquiry. [16594]

  Mr. Hogg
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: I first saw a copy of the report of the Scott inquiry after its publication.

  Press Gallery Writing Rooms
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Ministers in his Department entered the writing rooms of the Press Gallery on 15 February. [16483]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: If any Ministers did so, that is a matter for them.

  Ministerial Accountability
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to paragraph K8.1 of the Scott report relating to ministerial accountability, what additional measures he proposes to ensure his Department's compliance with paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". [17304]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The Government are considering what further measures may need to be taken in the light of this and other findings of the Scott report.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons (Health Care)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to prevent discrimination against prisoners with specific health problems. [16695]

  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. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about steps taken to prevent discrimination against prisoners with specific health problems.
  The Prison Service is conscious of the need to prevent discrimination against prisoners with specific health problems. For this reason, all notes pertaining to a prisoner's health are contained in the Inmate Medical Record (IMR). This record is kept under conditions of medical confidentiality and details of an inmate's health status are not normally made known to anyone outside the care team. (There are special exceptions such as reports to Court).
  Medical officers and nurses working in the Prison Service adhere to professional codes of conduct and health care officers who are not nurses work under the supervision of the Medical Officer and are covered by that professional Code of Conduct in relation to issues of confidentiality.
  Induction training for medical officers, for nurses and health care officers emphasises the need for medical confidentiality to be maintained. HIV training for prison staff, health care staff, counsellors and prison psychologists stresses the importance of medical confidentiality.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regular medical checks prisoners in prisons in England and Wales receive; and what systematic checks are carried out for transmissible diseases. [16701]

  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. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisoners' medical checks and what systematic checks are carried out for transmissible diseases.
  All persons receive a medical screening on first reception into custody. A health check is also made at each transfer between establishment, and also each time a prisoner returns from court in the case of remand prisoners.
  494
  There are no other systematic checks, but prisoners are encouraged to discuss their health care with staff. Prisoners receive advice and are counselled concerning testing for transmissible disease. At reception Hepatitis B vaccine is offered and all health screening includes questions about transmissible disease.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific provisions are made for those prisoners known to be terminally ill. [16694]

  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. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about provisions for terminally ill prisoners.
  All prisoners receive medical treatment appropriate to their needs. Prisoners who are suffering from a terminal illness and who are expected to die before the end of their prison sentence may be released on compassionate grounds. Needs vary between individuals, and the responsible Medical Officer will make recommendations appropriate to the needs of the individual case, bearing in mind security issues and the need to protect the public.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total annual budget for prisons in England and Wales is designated for health care. [16696]

  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. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the percentage of the total annual budget for prisons which is designated for health care.
  At individual prison establishments it is for the governor to decide what proportion of his budget should be allocated to health care. having regard to the overall demands to be met. In 1994–95 spending on health care services accounted for £59 million—3.7 per cent. of the Service's total expenditure. This covered staffing costs and provision of patient care at establishments as well as the central Directorate of Health Care budget.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies the Prison Service has concerning the prevention of transmissible or contagious diseases(a) in general and (b) in respect of particular outbreaks. [16684]

  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. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Prison Service policy on prevention of transmissible or contagious diseases.
  The Prison Service policy on the prevention of transmissible or contagious diseases in general is to screen for transmissible diseases on reception into prison. Health checks are also provided on transfer to another establishment and in the case of remand prisoners, on return from Court.

  495
  In the case of testing for infection, testing is only carried out with the informed consent of the prisoner, which means that pre-test counselling is made available. This is the policy in the community and is reflected in Prison Service policy and practice.
  In the case of Hepatitis B, immunisation is offered to inmates on reception.
  The policy is to maintain medical confidentiality in respect of a prisoner's health status.
  All outbreaks of notifiable transmissible diseases are reported to the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control. His/her advice in the management of outbreaks is mandatory.
  Each prison is required to have contingency plans for the outbreak of food poisoning or other communicable diseases and these contingency plans must be approved by the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is available to prisoners for therapeutic and psychological follow-up in the case of positive results in tests for transmissible diseases. [16704]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what provision is available to prisoners for therapeutic and psychological follow-up in the case of positive results in tests for transmissible diseases.
  There is training for medical officers, prison psychologists, HIV counsellors and health care workers to enable them to provide medical, psychological and social care to people who test positive to HIV infection.
  The skills and techniques of counselling for HIV infection are directly relevant to the psychological and therapeutic follow-up for other transmissible diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and tuberculosis. The multi-disciplinary HIV teams and counsellors are now receiving training which orientates them not just to HIV but for all communicable diseases.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in prisons in England and Wales are currently known to be terminally ill; and what information is available as to the nature of the terminal illness. [16693]

  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 front Richard Tilt to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about terminally ill prisoners in England and Wales.
  Information on the causes and total numbers of inmates who currently have terminal illnesses is not available centrally. However, health care advisors suggest that they average between 20 and 30 in the service at any one time.

  Crime and Unemployment
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the research projects undertaken or commissioned by his Department in each of the past 10 years which included discussion of possible relationships between levels of crime and unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [16405]
  496
  Mr. Maclean
  There have been four projects of this description.

  These are:

  Field, S. (1990). "Trends in Crime and their Interpretation" Home Office Research Study No. 119.

  Leitner, M., Shapland, J. and Wiles, P. (1993) "Drugs Usage and Drugs Prevention; The Views and Habits of the General Public" HMSO.

  Orme, J. (1994) "A Study of the Relationship between Unemployment and Recorded Crime" Home Office Statistical Findings 1/94.

  Graham, J. and Bowling, B. (1995) "Young People and Crime" Home Office Research Study No. 145.

  Children's Evidence
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if children can give evidence through video links to the court in all cases that involve child sex abuse in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [16324]

  Mr. Maclean
  All children in cases of this kind may, with the leave of the court, give evidence by means of a live television link to the court or by means of a video recording of their evidence-in-chief. If a case of this kind arises at a court which does not have the necessary facilities, it can be transferred to one which does.

  Police Objectives (Drug Crime)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many representations he has received on the content of the Government's five key objectives for police forces for 1996–97; how many of those representations refer to combating drugs criminality; and if he will make a statement; [16506]

  (2) how many representations he has received on his Department's designation of drugs criminality in the target and prevent crime category of the Government objectives for police forces; and if he will make a statement. [16507]

  Mr. Maclean
  In determining the key objectives for policing for 1996–97, my right hon. and learned Friend took account of the views of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the local authority associations, and colleagues. Three other proposals for additional key objectives were made. None of them related to drugs.

  Police Station Closures
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations were closed, by constabulary, during(a) 1980 to 1985, (b) 1985 to 1990 and (c) 1990 to 1995. [16613]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Immigration and Nationality Department
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist to assist officials in the immigration and nationality department in dealing with correspondence with hon. Members. [17062]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Staff in the immigration and nationality department receive training and have instructions on the handling of correspondence from Members of Parliament. There are also published guidelines to assist Members of Parliament making representations in immigration cases, which were most recently updated in April 1994.

  Immigration Applications
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 486, when his Department stopped obtaining the figures for refusal of extension of exceptional leave to remain as quoted in his answer of 10 May 1994, Official Report, column 74; and for what reasons. [16947]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The precise information requested in the hon. Member's previous question has never been available. The answer given on 10 May 1994,Official Report, column 74, was based on the available information, which now broadly indicates that in 1994 and 1995 no more than some 30 persons in either year were refused an extension of exceptional leave to remain.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16824]

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Publication of annual reports:

  Alcohol Education and Research Council (statutory)

  Commission for Racial Equality (statutory)

  Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

  Data Protection Registrar (statutory)

  Gaming Board for Great Britain (statutory)

  Horserace Betting Levy Board (statutory)

  Horserace Totalisator Board (statutory)

  National Lottery Charities Board (statutory)

  Police Complaints Authority (statutory)

  (b)Publication of annual reports:

  Alcohol Education and Research Council (statutory)

  Commission for Racial Equality (statutory)

  Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

  Data Protection Registrar (statutory)

  Gaming Board for Great Britain (voluntary)

  Horserace Betting Levy Board (statutory)

  Horserace Totalisator Board (statutory)

  National Lottery Charities Board (statutory)

  Police Complaints Authority (statutory)

  498
  (c)Publication of the minutes of meetings:

  Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

  In addition, the Commission for Racial Equality keeps copies of the Commissioners' monthly meetings, which are available to the public.

  (d) Publication of the agendas of meetings:

  Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

  In addition, the Commission for Racial Equality keeps copies of the Commissioners' monthly meetings, which are available to the public.

  (e) Publication of registers of members' interests:

  The Commission for Racial Equality has a register of members interests which is available to the public. In addition, to-date, details of members' interests have sometimes been given in non-departmental public bodies' annual reports. Future arrangements for all Home Office sponsored executive NDPBs are under review, including the possibility of publishing registers of members' interests.

  Kani Yilmaz
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide an answer to the question raised by the hon. Member for Woolwich in his letters of 18 December 1995 and 22 February 1996 regarding Kani Yilmaz; and if he will make a statement. [17750]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter of 18 December 1995 on 21 February 1996. I shall be replying to his letter of 22 February shortly.

  Commercial Gambling (Advertising)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be issuing the consultation paper on relaxation of the restrictions on casinos, bingo clubs and advertising of commercial gambling. [18215]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have published today a consultation paper which constitutes a comprehensive review of the law on casinos, licensed bingo clubs and the advertising of commercial gambling, and which restates principles for the regulation of gambling. It proposes a number of relaxations in the law.

  Subject to this consultation, we propose to bring forward orders under section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to implement the changes. The paper constitutes formal consultation on some of the proposals for the purpose of section 3(1) of the 1994 Act. Other proposals will need to be the subject of further detailed consultation before implementation. Comments on the proposals are requested by the end of May 1996.

  The main proposals on casinos are as follows:

  Secondary legislation to allow casinos in 13 new locations. The additional areas proposed are:

  Croydon

  Dartford

  Gloucester

  Folkestone

  Hastings

  Ipswich

  Morecambe

  Oxford

  Peterborough

  499

  Redbridge

  Slough

  Swindon

  Weymouth

  A reduction in the 48-hour waiting time for membership of a casino to 24 hours, together with provision for postal applications and group membership.

  A new regime for gaming machines. with increased numbers and higher stakes and pay-outs.

  An extension to liquor licensing hours.

  Advertising of the location of casinos in directories and guides.

  Payment by debit card.

  The proposals on bingo are:

  An end to the requirement that bingo establishments operate as members' clubs with a 24-hour waiting period for membership.

  Abolition of the demand criterion for the granting of licences.

  Removal of restrictions on added prize money and on frequency and prizes in multiple bingo—the national game.

  Payment by debit card.

  Extension of bingo licences from one year to three years.

  Removal of the remaining restrictions on print advertising.

  The Government are minded to allow broadcast advertising of bingo subject to the response to the consultation document.

  The document also proposes the removal of the ban on the on-site print advertising of gaming machines and the print advertising, but not broadcast advertising, of betting offices.

  These measures represent a balanced package of reform which aims to provide new opportunities for the industry and the consumer, while maintaining the effective regulation of gaming.

  The timetable for the implementation of changes arising from this document will depend on a number of factors including the response to the consultation and the availability of additional resources for the Gaming Board of Great Britain and the courts.

  Pet Animals Protection
  Sir Jim Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the policy of the United Kingdom in respect of accession to the European convention on the protection of pet animals. [18216]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government remain firmly committed to adopting reasonable measures to improve the treatment of animals, but are not at present convinced that accession to the pet animals convention would add significantly to the protection which domestic animals already enjoy under existing United Kingdom law. The Government will review the position again at the end of the decade.

  Prisoners (Non-English Speakers)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy regarding the conduct of social visits for persons held in Her Majesty's prisons who do not speak English; and if he will make a statement on the matters raised by the hon. Member in his letter dated 14 February. [16649]
  500
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 22 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. John Austin-Walker, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Homes Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prisoners' visits.
  Generally, prisoners and their visitors may conduct their conversations in the language of their choice. The exceptions and where conversations need to be overhead for reasons of prison security or control, or because there is reason to believe that the prisoner and visitor may discuss matters relevant to national security, public safety of the commission of crime. In these situations governors may require that the conversation is monitored and interpreted.
  Further details of Prison Service policy on the conduct of visits to prisoners are set out in the Security Manual, Standing Order 5, and Circular Instruction 11/1991, copies of which are in the Library.
  Your letter of 14 February to the Home Secretary, was passed to the Director General because it concerned a number of operational matters and he will reply to you shortly.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Pakistan nationals who entered the United Kingdom via Malaysia have applied for asylum(a) on entry and (b) after entry in each of the last five years; how many applications have been (i) granted and (ii) refused; on how many applications a decision is pending; how many have been (1) upheld and (2) dismissed at appeal; and in respect of how many an appeal is awaited. [17334]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Information regarding the number of asylum seekers who have travelled through other countries before arriving in the United Kingdom is not held centrally. A breakdown of applications, initial decisions or appeals for such cases is, therefore, not available.

  General information on asylum applications from nationals of Pakistan, including a breakdown of appeal determinations in 1994. can be found in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Prisons (Staff)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount spent on wages per member of staff in each prison for the first six months of the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [16675]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 26 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.
  501
  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 27 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to answer your recent Question about the average amount spent on wages per member of staff in each prison for the first six months of the current financial year.

  Pay as at 30 September 1995 Directorate of Operations (South)

  Area

  Establishment

  Expenditure to end September

  SLP as at 30 September

  Average

  East Anglia

  3511

  Blundeston

  2,854,718

  267

  10,692

  3516

  Bullwood Hall

  1,380,416

  136

  10,150

  3522

  Chelmsford

  3,219,834

  329

  9,787

  3551

  Highpoint

  3,689,380

  355

  10,393

  3553

  Hollesley Bay

  3,444,989

  322

  10,699

  3580

  Norwich

  4,113,756

  375

  10,970

  3624

  Wayland

  2,789,256

  265

  10,525

  Kent

  3501

  Aldington

  789,877

  75

  10,532

  3510

  Blantyre House

  774,475

  70

  11,064

  3519

  Canterbury

  2,556,880

  227

  11,264

  3524

  Cookham Wood

  1,052,360

  101

  10,419

  3528

  Dover

  2,207,833

  203

  10,876

  3531

  East Sutton Park

  559,208

  54

  10,356

  3648

  Elmley

  4,239,336

  412

  10,290

  3571

  Maidstone

  3,786,088

  344.3

  10,996

  3592

  Rochester

  3,008,169

  276

  10,899

  3598

  Standford Hill

  1,811,096

  174

  10,409

  3633

  Swaleside

  3,762,555

  363

  10,365

  London North

  3508

  Bedford

  2,956,981

  263

  11,243

  3545

  Grendon

  3,201,251

  280

  11,433

  3554

  Holloway

  5,786,817

  491

  11,786

  3542

  Littlehey

  2,995,266

  275

  10,892

  3585

  Pentonville

  6,369,731

  525

  12,133

  3609

  Wellingborough

  2,126,341

  198.9

  10,691

  3574

  Whitemoor

  7,423,414

  697

  10,651

  3621

  Woodhill

  5,105,846

  506.8

  10,075

  3614

  Wormwood Scrubs

  8,095,596

  625

  12,953

  London South

  3502

  Albany

  3,386,094

  306

  11,066

  3630

  Belmarsh

  8,583,014

  813

  10,557

  3513

  Brixton

  7,675,556

  631

  12,164

  3517

  Camp Hill

  3,025,770

  279

  10,845

  3537

  Feltham

  6,016,547

  514

  11,705

  3561

  Latchmere House

  796,910

  72

  11,068

  3584

  Parkhurst

  6,075,247

  539

  11,271

  3608

  Wandsworth

  8,607,791

  726.5

  11,848

  South Coast

  3643

  Downview

  2,011,823

  188

  10,701

  3538

  Ford

  1,901,258

  173.5

  10,958

  3547

  Haslar

  940,292

  83

  11,329

  3646

  High Down

  4,474,549

  422

  10,603

  3557

  Kingston

  1,390,006

  123

  11,301

  3564

  Lewes

  3,392,560

  301

  11,271

  3594

  Send

  893,314

  86

  10,387

  3613

  Winchester

  4,629,803

  412.5

  11,224

  Chilterns

  3507

  Aylesbury

  2,782,890

  262

  10,622

  3623

  Bullingdon

  5,000,019

  425

  111,765

  3523

  Coldingley

  2,133,451

  191

  11,170

  3556

  Huntercombe

  1,910,954

  181

  10,558

  3622

  The Mount

  2,530,561

  247

  10,245

  3582

  Onley

  2,927,243

  270

  10,842

  3583

  Oxford

  52,256

  61

  1857

  3590

  Reading

  1,971,640

  183

  10,774

  502
  The information requested is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  The attached table sets out the expenditure for the first six months of the year at each prison; the staff in post at the end of that six months; and expenditure per staff in post at the end of the period.
  503

  Pay as at 30 September 1995 Directorate of Operations (South)

  Area

  Establishment

  Expenditure to end September

  SLP as at 30 September

  Average

  Wales and West

  3512

  Bristol

  5,221,442

  499

  10,464

  3520

  Cardiff

  4,002,878

  370

  10,819

  3532

  Eastwood Park

  97,365

  9

  10,818

  3533

  Erlestoke

  1,990,80

  191

  10,423

  3544

  Gloucester

  2,390,545

  223

  10,720

  3565

  Leyhill

  1,967,56

  178

  11,054

  3588

  Pucklechurch

  1,031,455

  96

  10,744

  3602

  Swansea

  2,327,223

  209

  11,135

  3605

  Usk

  1,961,303

  184

  10,659

  Wessex

  3521

  Channings Wood

  2,881,105

  268

  10,750

  3525

  Dartmoor

  4,178,642

  374

  11,173

  3527

  Dorchester

  1,602,576

  144

  11,129

  3535

  Exeter

  3,584,262

  326

  10,995

  3546

  Guys Marsh

  1,927,219

  182

  10,589

  3586

  Portland

  3,108,216

  293

  10,608

  3595

  Shepton Mallet

  1,495,209

  137

  10,914

  3606

  The Verne

  3,012,523

  281

  10,721

  1Shared staff with Bullingdon.

  Pay as at 30 September 1995 Directorate of Operations (North)

  Establishment

  Expenditure to end September

  SIP as at 30 September

  Cost per member of staff

  East Midlands

  Lincoln

  4,346,630

  393

  11,060

  Lindholme

  3,909,398

  358.5

  10,905

  Moorland

  4,122,807

  371.5

  11,098

  Morton Hall

  762,121

  74.25

  10,264

  North Sea Camp

  1,011,080

  103.5

  9,769

  Nottingham

  2,214,551

  199.8

  11,084

  Ranby

  2,369,742

  221

  10,723

  Stocken

  2,309,203

  215

  10,740

  Whatton

  1,400,304

  130.9

  10,697

  North-east

  Acklington

  3,325,093

  341

  9,751

  Castington

  2,138,298

  190

  11,254

  Durham

  6,011,175

  568.5

  10,574

  Frankland

  6,232,569

  568.5

  10,963

  Full Sutton

  7,652,947

  711.5

  10,756

  Holme House

  4,552,547

  449

  10,139

  Kirklevington

  860,880

  68.8

  12,513

  Low Newton

  1,978,309

  185.1

  10,688

  North-west

  Garth

  3,828,877

  364.5

  10,504

  Haverigg

  2,669,824

  261.8

  10,198

  Hindley

  2,956,365

  280.03

  10,557

  Kirkham

  2,163,519

  210.96

  10,256

  Lancaster Castle

  1,526,074

  146

  10,452

  Lancaster Farms

  2,955,215

  285

  10,369

  Preston

  4,610,371

  398.5

  11,569

  Thorn Cross

  1,577,989

  152.5

  10,216

  Wymott

  3.404,808

  309.5

  11,001

  Trans Pennine

  Leeds

  7,838,108

  698.5

  11,221

  Liverpool

  8,894,451

  778

  11,432

  Manchester

  8,149,425

  770.5

  10,577

  New Hall

  2,048,420

  187.3

  10,936

  Risley

  6,000,714

  551.5

  10,881

  Styal

  2,305,032

  229

  10,065

  Wakefield

  6,970,868

  609

  11,446

  504 505

  Pay as at 30 September 1995 Directorate of Operations (North)

  Establishment

  Expenditure to end September

  SIP as at 30 September

  Cost per member of staff

  Yorkshire

  Askham Grange

  821,326

  77.5

  10,598

  Deerbolt

  3,000,859

  276

  10,872

  Everthorpe

  2,295,073

  226.4

  10,137

  Hatfield

  1,393,334

  132.4

  10,524

  Hull

  4,627,270

  425.85

  10,866

  Northallerton

  1,750,228

  168.75

  10,372

  Wealstun

  2,743,146

  250

  10,972

  Wetherby

  1,410,398

  131.88

  10,694

  Central

  Ashwell

  2,002,289

  182

  11,002

  Birmingham

  6,635,518

  605.5

  10,959

  Brinsford

  3,640,163

  338.5

  10,754

  Featherstone

  3,389,342

  288

  11,768

  Gartree

  3,060,016

  288

  10,625

  Glen Parva

  5,349,035

  479.75

  11,150

  Leicester

  3,415,367

  307.5

  11,107

  Long Lartin

  5,746,105

  551

  10,428

  Stafford

  3,859,104

  341.17

  11,311

  Mercia

  Brockhill

  1,228,028

  109.5

  11,215

  Drake Hall

  1,405,874

  134.1

  10,484

  Hewell Grange

  855,957

  86.5

  9,895

  Shrewsbury

  2,369,175

  210

  11,282

  Stoke Heath

  2,386,464

  232.5

  10,264

  Sudbury/Foston

  2,053,136

  197

  10,422

  Swinfen Hall

  1,751,583

  161.5

  10,846

  Werrington

  895,703

  88

  10,179

  Prison Inspections
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of inspections carried out in each of her Majesty's prisons for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [16661]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Since January 1990, Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons has carried out 245 inspections in the 131 Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, an average of nearly two inspections per establishment.

  The total number of inspections undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons in each year is as follows:

  1990–91: 56 (from 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1991)

  1991–92: 44

  1992–93: 42

  1993–94: 40

  1994–95: 33

  1995–96: 30 (from April 1995 to date)

  Parental Control (Fines)
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parents of children convicted of an offence have been required to pay a fine in respect of refusal to comply with the court's decision to bind them over to take proper care of and exercise proper control over their child in the last 12 months. [16345]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Section 58(2)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 gives courts the power to fine a parent or guardian in respect of
  506
  a refusal to comply with the court's decision to bind them over to take proper care of and exercise proper control over their child. Information on the number of such fines is not separately identifiable centrally.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total annual budget, for each of the last 10 years, allocated for the inspection of Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement. [16662]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Information on the total annual budget allocated for the inspection of Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales is not available before 1991–92. The total annual budget for each of the last five years was:

  Year

  Budget £

  1991–92

  568,159

  1992–93

  664,506

  1993–94

  726,344

  1994–95

  665,220

  1995–96

  737,000

  Police (Bicycle Seizures)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued on the use of police powers to seize and retain bicycles used in demonstrations; and in what circumstances the police are entitled to take such action. [16792]
  507
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: There are no specific police powers of this kind and therefore no such guidance has been issued. The role of the police in controlling demonstrations is to preserve the peace, to uphold the law and to prevent the commission of offences. Police tactics and decisions on how to achieve these objectives are a matter for the independent operational judgment of chief officers of police.

  Crime (Retail Premises)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many retail premise burglaries in Coventry in each of the last five years resulted in convictions; [17019]

  (2) if he will estimate the total cost to retailers in Coventry of robberies and till snatches in each of the last five years; what are the figures in real terms; and what was the percentage change from the previous year; [17021]

  (3) how many robberies and till snatches there were in retail premises in Coventry in each of the last five years; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [17020]

  (4) how many retail premises were burgled in Coventry in each of the last five years; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case. [17018]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answers 26 February 1996]: This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the conviction rate for retail store robbery and till snatches in Coventry in each of the last five years. [17023]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Information which is readily available centrally is given in the table. Data for 1995 will be available in the autumn.

  Prosecutions and convictions1 in Coventry petty sessional division for theft from shops,2 for the period 1990 to 1994

  Number of defendants

  Prosecutions

  Convictions1

  1990

  585

  484

  1991

  493

  408

  1992

  491

  382

  1993

  468

  377

  1994

  428

  377

  1 Includes persons convicted at the Crown court, who were committed for trial/sentence by Coventry PSD.

  2 Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with the President of the Board of Trade with respect to retail crime; what plans he has to combat retail crime; and if he will make a statement; [17024]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the likelihood of retail premises being burgled in (a) Coventry and (b) England and Wales. [17022]
  508
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answers 26 February 1996]: My right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have both contributed to the third White Paper on competitiveness, which will emphasise the importance of crime prevention.

  Work to combat retail crime is being energetically pursued by the retail action group, an associate group of the Home Office Crime Prevention Agency Board. Advice booklets for retailers on preventing burglary, robber and violence to staff have already been published. Further guidance on the prevention of customer theft and external fraud and on making an arrest will be published later this year. The group is also looking at ways of identifying and promulgating best practice, including the use of technology in crime prevention.

  Closed circuit television can make a significant contribution to reducing crime against retail premises, especially when it forms part of a package of crime prevention measures. The Home Office has provided advice to users in recently published guidance; and has helped promote its use through last year's CCTV challenge competition in which the majority of successful bids were from partnerships who wished to install security cameras in shopping centres and high streets in town centres around the country. My right hon. and learned Friend has announced that £15 million will be available in 1996 for a further CCTV challenge competition and it is likely that shopping areas will again be major beneficiaries.

  Numerous projects are also being carried forward by police forces, local partnerships, businesses and shop watch schemes. Some have been funded under the safer cities programme. Police crime prevention officers supply regular and up to date crime prevention advice to businesses, and architectural liaison officers provide advice on the part that good building design can play in preventing crime.

  The Home Office conducted a survey in 1994 to assess the risks of crime for retailers in England and Wales, including the risks of burglary. The results are reported in Home Office research study No. 146 and Home Office research and statistics directorate research findings No. 26, copies of which are in the Library. The survey does not allow any reliable results for retailers in Coventry.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 February to the hon. Member for Blackburn,Official Report, column 107, if he will place in the Library a copy of the study of sentences given to those convicted of burglary and drug dealing and copies of similar studies he had commissioned or evaluated. [17009]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: A study of a sample of offenders convicted in 1993 is contained in chapter 9 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1994", a copy of which is in the Library. A special statistical analysis was required to provide the hon. Member with the information requested in the previous questions.
  509
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average sentence given to adults upon their(a) first, (b) second and (c) third or greater number of convictions for (i) domestic burglary and (ii) drug dealing. [17010]

  Sentencing of domestic burglars and drug dealers1 aged 21 or over by number of previous convictions

  Offence

  1st conviction

  2nd conviction

  3rd or greater conviction

  Percentage given immediate custody

  Average custodial sentence (months)

  Percentage given immediate custody

  Average custodial sentence (months)

  Percentage given immediate custody

  Average custodial sentence (months)

  Domestic burglary

  39

  15

  51

  15

  57

  15

  Drug dealing

  55

  32

  61

  25

  75

  30

  1 Based on drug trafficking offences monitored and reported in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1994". These are offences of unlawful production of drugs other than cannabis, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful import or export.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests: in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16888]

  Mr. Willetts
  Staff in the Departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, and in other areas which fall to the Cabinet Office vote, are required to declare any business interests which might conflict with their official duties and to comply with any subsequent instructions regarding the retention, disposal and management of such interests. Records are kept at operational level. I have no plans to publish the names of those concerned or to establish a central register.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those contracts his Department currently holds with EDS, indicating for each the(a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17448]

  Mr. Willetts
  There are none.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to increase understanding overseas of the workings of the citizens charter. [15547]

  Mr. Willetts
  UK success in public sector reform is recognised internationally. In particular, the citizens charter is an idea that has been adopted, and adapted, in many countries. Australia, Canada, USA, France. Belgium, Portugal. Spain, Israel, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore all have programmes which resemble in substance, though not always in name, the citizens charter initiative.

  Interests is still growing as more and more countries, like Argentina, Hungary, South Africa and Kuwait, seek our advice as they develop their own programmes. On current plans, over the next four months, officials will
  510
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The information requested is not collected routinely. The results from a sample of those convicted of indictable offences in three weeks of 1993 are given in the table.

  be providing briefings to representatives of 10 different countries, and will be speaking at four international conferences.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16815]

  Mr. Willetts
  No executive non-departmental bodies are sponsored by the Office of Public Service.

SCOTLAND

  Algrade Trust
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the police investigation of property acquisitions by the Algrade Trust. [15549]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The police are inquiring into the circumstances surrounding the making of a will. The general heritable property acquisitions of the former trustees are being examined by the Scottish Charities Office in the course of its investigation into the financial affairs of the Algrade Trust.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Scottish Charities Office to complete its investigation of the affairs of the Algrade Trust; and if he will make a statement. [15550]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The investigation is making good progress. The intervention of the Scottish Charities Office has brought about the resignations of the former trustees and their replacement by the present trustees who have backgrounds in teaching, accountancy and medicine. The new trustees are responsible for the management of the Algrade Trust. The issues giving rise to the past concerns about Algrade developed over the many years during which the former trustees had charge of the administration under the supervision and registration of the local social work department. Some
  511
  new matters have emerged in the course of the investigation and further work requires to be done on points arising from the accountancy report and into aspects of the property transactions. The investigation is not likely to be concluded before the end of June of this year.

  Court Service
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary trials there were in the sheriff court during 1995; and if he will indicate the total number of adjournments of summary trials in the sheriff court, the reason for these adjournments and if they were at the instance of the prosecution or the defence. [15861]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is held by the Scottish Court Service and I have asked the chief executive to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Michael Ewart to Mr. John McFall, dated 27 February 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about Sheriff Court trials and adjournments during 1995.
  The figures you seek are as follows:
  1. During the period 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1995 there were 59,299 diets of trial called which involved 43,552 summary cases.
  2. Of the 59,299 diets, 15,747 were adjourned trial diets. The reasons recorded for these adjournments were:

  Reason

  Number of adjournments

  (a) Availability/absence of Crown witness

  3,207

  (b) Lack of Court time

  2,835

  (c) Lateness of the hour/completion of evidence

  1,158

  (d) Availability/absence of Defence witness

  1,155

  (e) Inadequate time to prepare for trial

  1,016

  (f) Adjourned to notional trail diet

  945

  (g) Miscellaneous1

  5,431

  15,745

  1Miscellaneous includes a variety of causes each of which occurs relatively infrequently, including the absence of a defence agent, Procurator Fiscal or Sheriff due to ill heath, change of defence agent, difficulties with productions, adverse weather conditions and for further investigation.

  These figures do not include adjournments for reasons stated after the conclusion of a trail, for example, in those cases where the Sheriff defers sentence for the accused to demonstrate good behaviour.

  School

  Number of pupils covered by scheme 1995–96

  Total roll 1995–96

  Proportion of total roll covered by scheme 1995–96 (spring term) (Percentage)

  Fees charged for assisted pupils 1995–96 (£ per annum)

  Fee remission grant allocation 1995–96 (£)

  Kilquhanity School

  12

  32

  37.50

  2,503

  30,000

  Keil School

  64

  210

  30.48

  3,909–4,614

  234,000

  Morrison's Academy

  133

  522

  25.48

  3,258–3,453

  395,000

  The Park School

  65

  259

  25.10

  3,432–3,822

  245,000

  Kilgraston School

  55

  241

  22.82

  3,840–4,287

  192,000

  512
  I am sorry that we do not hold centrally figures which show whether adjournments were at the instance of defence or prosecution.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total number of summary trials in the sheriff courts during 1995; [16732]

  (2) what was the total number of adjournments of summary trials in the sheriff courts and the reason for these adjournments during 1995; and whether they were at the instance of the prosecution or the defence. [16733]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the chief executive of the Scottish Court Service.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many independent sector schools have(a) more than 25 per cent.; (b) more than 50 per cent.; and (c) less than 5 per cent. of their school rolls made up of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme in the academic year 1995–96. [16328]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  School session

  1995–96

  Assisted pupils over 25 per cent. but not more than 50 per cent. of school roll

  4

  Assisted pupils more than 50 per cent. of school roll

  Nil

  Assisted pupils less than 5 per cent. of school roll

  9

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for the financial year 1995–96 in descending order the proportions of the school rolls at independent schools made up of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme; what is the total number of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme at each school; what is the total number of pupils on the roll of each school; what proportion of the school roll at each school is covered by the assisted places scheme; what is the level of fees charged for pupils under the assisted place scheme at each school; and what are the amounts received by each school under the assisted places scheme. [16332]

  Mr. Robertson
  The information requested is detailed in the table. The assisted places scheme is administered, and statistical information collected, in respect of each school session and not by reference to financial years. The information provided relates to fee remission grant allocations for the 1995–96 school session and to pupil numbers in the schools at the spring term of that school session.
  513

  School

  Number of pupils covered by scheme 1995–96

  Total roll 1995–96

  Proportion of total roll covered by scheme 1995–96 (spring term) (Percentage)

  Fees charged for assisted pupils 1995–96 (£ per annum)

  Fee remission grant allocation 1995–96 (£)

  Rudolf Steiner School, Edinburgh

  54

  260

  20.77

  2,796–3,702

  183,000

  St. Denis and Cranley School

  27

  130

  20.77

  4,330

  125,000

  Laurel Bank School

  64

  335

  19.10

  3,492–4,131

  228,000

  Kelvinside Academy

  94

  520

  18.08

  3,414–4,259

  350,000

  High School of Dundee

  199

  1,126

  17.67

  2,608–3,716

  595,000

  Rannoch School

  39

  235

  16.60

  5,490

  173,000

  Merchiston Castle School

  65

  399

  16.29

  4,665–6,675

  327,000

  George Heriot's School

  244

  1,504

  16.22

  2,787–3,732

  680,000

  St. Aloysius College

  167

  1,088

  15.35

  3,068

  450,000

  Glenalmond College

  43

  291

  14.78

  5,858–7,802

  266,000

  Wellington School

  51

  360

  14.17

  4,068–4,419

  200,000

  George Watson's College

  246

  2,073

  11.87

  2,886–3,993

  775,000

  Lomond School

  54

  461

  11.71

  4,134–4,242

  194,000

  Stewart's Melville College and the Mary Erskine School

  300

  2,573

  11.66

  2,934–4,029

  975,000

  St. Margaret's School, Edinburgh

  72

  650

  11.08

  3,028–4,012

  268,000

  Croftinloan School

  8

  79

  10.13

  5,639

  35,000

  Craigholme School

  46

  477

  9.64

  3,213–3,429

  137,000

  St. Leonard's School

  31

  329

  9.42

  4,488–5,853

  157,000

  Fernhill School

  30

  345

  8.70

  2,735–2,851

  90,000

  Butterstone School

  5

  58

  8.62

  5,076

  26,000

  Hutchesons' Grammar School

  157

  1,866

  8.41

  3,491

  488,000

  Strathallan School

  41

  492

  8.33

  6,345–7,710

  299,000

  Glasgow Academy

  82

  989

  8.29

  3,850–4,134

  300,000

  Loretto School

  31

  378

  8.2

  5,759–7,451

  205,000

  Belmont House School

  30

  366

  8.20

  3,215–3,628

  101,000

  Fettes College

  39

  486

  8.02

  4,722–7,524

  220,000

  Aberlour School

  8

  107

  7.48

  4,923

  37,000

  Gordonstoun School

  30

  418

  7.18

  6,756

  171,000

  Edinburgh Academy

  56

  795

  7.04

  5,013–5,082

  245,000

  Dollar Academy

  76

  1,093

  6.95

  3,349–3,831

  228,000

  St. George's School

  55

  901

  6.10

  3,842–4,221

  184,000

  St. Columba's School

  32

  544

  5.88

  3,525–3,801

  115,000

  Clifton Hall School

  6

  103

  5.83

  4,965

  27,000

  Beaconhurst School

  15

  267

  5.62

  4,116–4,245

  50,000

  Albyn School

  24

  429

  5.59

  3,534–3,642

  73,000

  Park Lodge School

  3

  54

  5.56

  2,829

  10,000

  St. Mary's School, Melrose

  5

  93

  5.38

  4,761

  18,000

  New Park School

  6

  114

  5.26

  4,071

  19,000

  Robert Gordon's College

  70

  1,354

  5.17

  3,654

  210,000

  High School of Glasgow

  51

  986

  5.17

  3,564–4,104

  144,000

  Belhaven Hill School

  3

  70

  4.29

  5,190

  13,000

  Lathallan School

  6

  146

  4.11

  4,760

  28,000

  St. Margaret's School, Aberdeen

  16

  420

  3.81

  3,141–3,454

  50,000

  Craigclowan School

  9

  240

  3.75

  3,600

  27,000

  Hamilton College

  24

  762

  3.15

  2,341

  47,000

  Ardvreck School

  3

  119

  2.52

  4,725

  23,000

  Cargilfield School

  3

  196

  1.53

  5,865

  23,000

  Drumley House

  1

  100

  1.00

  4,545

  5,000

  Cademuir International School

  0

  86

  —

  5,460

  5,000

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which independent sector schools charged(a) the highest and (b) the lowest level of fees to pupils covered by the assisted places scheme in the academic year 1995–96; and what charges were levied. [16330]

  Mr. Robertson
  The highest tuition fee charged to pupils covered by the assisted places scheme in academic year 1995–96 was at Glenalmond college at £7,802 per annum. The lowest fees were charged at Hamilton college—£2,341 per annum for pupils aged 12 to 18 years.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on the operation of the assisted places scheme in the academic year 1995–96; how many pupils are covered by the scheme in this period; what is the number of institutions 514
  covered by the scheme in this period; and what was the overspend on the budget allocated to the scheme in this period. [16329]

  Mr. Robertson
  The information requested is set out in the table. Expenditure on the assisted places scheme is cash limited each year and there have been no overspends on the budget allocated in any year since the scheme commenced.

  Assisted places scheme

  School session

  11995–96

  Total expenditure

  £10,941,700

  Pupils covered

  3,050

  Schools covered

  55

  1 Provisional.

  515
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each school covered by the assisted places scheme in descending order the amounts which the school received from the scheme for the academic year 1995–96; what is the number of pupils covered by the scheme in each school; what is the total number of pupils on the school's roll and the proportion

  School

  Fee remission grant allocation 1995–96 (£)

  Number of pupils covered by scheme 1995–96

  Total roll 1995–96

  Proportion of total roll covered by scheme 1995–96 (spring term) (Percentage)

  Fees charged for assisted pupils 1995–96 (£ per annum)

  Stewart's Melville College and the Mary Erskine School

  975,000

  300

  2,573

  11.66

  2,934–4,029

  George Watson's College

  775,000

  246

  2,073

  11.87

  2,886–3,993

  George Heriot's School

  680,000

  244

  1,504

  16.22

  2,787–3,732

  High School of Dundee

  595,000

  199

  1,126

  17.67

  2,608–3,716

  Hutchesons' Grammar School

  488,000

  157

  1,866

  8.41

  3,491

  St. Aloysius College

  450,000

  167

  1,088

  15.35

  3,068

  Morrison's Academy

  395,000

  133

  522

  25.48

  3,258–3,453

  Kelvinside Academy

  350,000

  94

  520

  18.08

  3,414–4,259

  Merchiston Castle School

  327,000

  65

  399

  16.29

  4,665–6,675

  Glasgow Academy

  300,000

  82

  989

  8.29

  3,850–4,134

  Strathallan School

  299,000

  41

  492

  8.33

  6,345–7,710

  St. Margaret's School, Edinburgh

  268,000

  72

  650

  11.08

  3,028–4,012

  Glenalmond College

  266,000

  43

  291

  14.78

  5,858–7,802

  Edinburgh Academy

  245,000

  56

  795

  7.04

  5,013–5.082

  The Park School

  245,000

  65

  259

  25.10

  3,432–3,822

  Keil School

  234,000

  64

  210

  30.48

  3,909–4,614

  Dollar Academy

  228,000

  76

  1,093

  6.95

  3,349–3,831

  Laurel Bank School

  228,000

  64

  335

  19.10

  3,492–4,131

  Fettes College

  220,000

  39

  486

  8.02

  4,722–7,524

  Robert Gordon's College

  210,000

  70

  1,354

  5.17

  3,654

  Loretto School

  205,000

  31

  378

  8.20

  5,759–7,451

  Wellington School

  200,000

  51

  360

  14.17

  4,068–4,419

  Lomond School

  194,000

  54

  461

  11.71

  4,134–4,242

  Kilgraston School

  192,000

  55

  241

  22.82

  3,840–4,287

  St. George's School

  184,000

  55

  901

  6.10

  3,842–4,221

  Rudolf Steiner School, Edinburgh

  183,000

  54

  260

  20.77

  2,796–3,702

  Rannoch School

  173,000

  39

  235

  16.60

  5,490

  Gordonstoun School

  171,000

  30

  418

  7.18

  6,756

  St. Leonard's School

  157,000

  31

  329

  9.42

  4,488–5,853

  High School of Glasgow

  144,000

  51

  986

  5.17

  3,564–4,104

  Craigholme School

  137,000

  46

  477

  9.64

  3,213–3,429

  St. Denis and Cranley School

  125,000

  27

  130

  20.77

  4,330

  St. Columba's School

  115,000

  32

  544

  5.88

  3,525–3,801

  Belmont House School

  101,000

  30

  366

  8.20

  3,215–3,628

  Fernhill School

  90,000

  30

  345

  8.70

  2,735–2,851

  Albyn School

  73

  24

  429

  5.59

  3,534–3,642

  Beaconhurst School

  50,000

  15

  267

  5.62

  4,116–4,245

  St. Margaret's School. Aberdeen

  50,000

  16

  420

  3.81

  3,141–3,454

  Hamilton College

  47,000

  24

  762

  3.15

  2,341

  Aberlour School

  37,000

  8

  107

  7.48

  4,923

  Croftinloan School

  35,000

  8

  79

  10.13

  5,639

  Kilquhanity School

  30,000

  12

  32

  37.50

  2,503

  Lathallan School

  28,000

  6

  146

  4.11

  4,760

  Clifton Hall School

  27,000

  6

  103

  5.83

  4,965

  Craigclowan School

  27,000

  9

  240

  3.75

  3,600

  Butterstone School

  26,000

  5

  58

  8.62

  5,076

  Ardvreck School

  23,000

  3

  119

  2.52

  4,725

  Cargilfield School

  23,000

  3

  196

  1.53

  5,865

  New Park School

  19,000

  6

  114

  5.26

  4,071

  St. Mary's School, Melrose

  18,000

  5

  93

  5.38

  4,761

  Belhaven Hill School

  13,000

  3

  70

  4.29

  5,190

  Park Lodge School

  10,000

  3

  54

  5.56

  2,829

  Cademuir International School

  5,000

  0

  86

  —

  5,460

  Drumley House

  5,000

  1

  100

  1.00

  4,545

  516
  of the school's roll made up of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme: and what is the level of fees charged for pupils covered by the assisted places scheme at each school. [16331]

  Mr. Robertson
  The information requested is detailed in the table:

  Clinical Outcome Indicators
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of(a) collecting the data for and (b) publishing the clinical outcome indicators for the national health service in Scotland released in February 1996. [16710]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no specific data collection costs attributable to the outcome indicators work. Routine returns are simply being examined in new ways. The cost of printing the report which is distributed free was approximately £3,000.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the most recent figure available for the cost of providing an individual with an electrically powered indoor wheelchair. [17189]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The average cost of providing an electrically powered indoor wheelchair is £1,000.

  The actual cost of supplying a wheelchair to an individual patient will vary according to the model provided and any modification necessary to meet a patient's needs.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been provided with electrically powered indoor wheelchairs by health boards in each of the last three years. [17197]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Information on the number of indoor powered chairs issued in the last three years is not held centrally. Details of the overall number purchased since 1992 are set out in the table.

  Year

  Indoor

  1992–94

  1497

  1994–95

  409

  1995–96

  287

  1 For the 24 month period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1994.

  2 For six months 1 April 1995 to 30 September 1995.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been provided with electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs by health boards in each of the last three years. [17195]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Information on the number of indoor/outdoor powered chairs issued in the last three years is not held centrally. Details of the overall number purchased since the provision of special funding in 1992 are set out in the table.

  Year

  Indoor/Outdoor

  1992–93

  313

  1993–94

  267

  1994–95

  286

  1995–96

  193

  1 For six months 1 April 1995 to 30 September 1995.

  518
  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenditure has been incurred by health boards for the purchase of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in each of the last three years. [171892]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: In February 1992, special funding was made available in Scotland for the provision of patient-controlled electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs. The allocation available to artificial limb and appliance centres for the provision of these chairs over the last three years is as detailed:

  1993–94: £900,000

  1994–95:£929,000

  1995–96: £946,000

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the most recent figure available for the cost of providing an individual with an electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair. [17015]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The average cost of providing an electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair is £1,750.

  The actual cost of supplying a wheelchair to an individual patient will vary according to the model provided and any modification necessary to meet a patient's needs.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenditure has been incurred by health boards in Scotland for the purchase of electrically powered indoor wheelchairs in each of the last three years. [17073]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: The services provided by the artificial limb and appliance centres—ALACs—which includes the wheelchair service, are at present funded centrally by the national services division, NSD, of the common services agency. A review of the service currently under way recommended that funding of this service should be devolved to health boards from 1 April 1996. This recommendation was accepted and notification of the notional allocation for each board was included in the financial allocations for 1996–97.

  Restraint and Confiscation Orders
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many restraint and confiscation orders have been obtained in each of the last three years; and for what amounts. [17145]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of restraint and confiscation orders obtained in the past three years are as undernoted at1.

  Restraint orders, by their nature, cover all the realisable property of an accused person whether specifically detailed in the restraint order or not and therefore it follows that individual amounts cannot be determined. The amounts fixed by the court in individual confiscation orders and totals for each year are undernoted at2.

  Undernote1 Calendar Year

  Number of Restraint Orders

  Numbers of Confiscation Orders

  1993

  1

  3

  1994

  11

  3

  1995

  28

  9

  519

  Undernote (2) Calender Year

  Individual values of confiscation orders

  £

  1993

  98,966

  90,000

  70,000

  258,966

  1994

  1,715.65

  5,615

  9,024

  16,345.65

  1995

  41,865

  32,396

  16,665

  20,000

  7,000

  17,000

  55,000

  38,975

  35,000

  263,901

  Breast Screening
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what forecasts he has made of the number of women who will present themselves annually at the national health service breast screening programmes; and if they have been adjusted to take into account the effects of private sector advertising; [17824]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of private sector advertising on the number of women presenting themselves at NHS mass screening programmes; and if he will make a statement; [17825]

  (3) what discussions have taken place between his Department and Health Care International regarding the recent advertisements of breast screening; [17826]

  4) what comparative assessment he has made of the service offered by the NHS breast screening programme and the service being offered by Health Care International; [17827]

  (5) what steps he has taken to assess whether the breast screening service provided by Health Care International will follow agreed NHS standards of practice for breast screening. [17828]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There has been no adjustment to the target set for attendance for screening in the Scottish breast screening programme as a result of private sector advertising. The current target for attendance in the UK NHS breast screening programme is 70 per cent. In Scotland, this means that about 130,000 women are invited for screening each year and more than 91,000 are screened. No discussions have taken place between the Scottish Office and Health Care International regarding the recent advertisements for breast screening and no assessment has been made of the service being offered by it.

  The Scottish breast screening programme offers free screening every three years to all eligible women aged 50 to 64. Women aged over 64 can attend on request at the
  520
  same frequency. Every effort is made to ensure that women and their general practitioners are aware of this high-quality free service.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the implementation of EC directive 95/29 on the transport of live animals does not exclude producers in the highlands and islands from markets; and if he will make a statement. [17531]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  EC directive 95/29 sets out a range of requirements for ensuring the welfare of animals being transported throughout the single market. Implementation in Great Britain will have to be sufficiently flexible to allow the traditional pattern of livestock and marketing to continue from all parts of the country, including the highlands and islands. We shall consult further on our legislative proposals.

  General Practitioner Fundholding
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library 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. [17669]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Arrangements are being made for the report of the study to be placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Statistics
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals are currently in receipt of payments from the Benefits Agency. [15432]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 26 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many individuals are currently in receipt of payments from the Benefits Agency.
  The information is not available in the form requested as a customer may be in receipt of more than one benefit at any time.
  Annex A gives details of the number of recipients of the different benefits, administered by the BA. This information which is updated annually is available in the Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  521

  Annex A: Benefits Agency benefit recipients

  Benefit

  Number of recipients (thousands)

  Attendance Allowance

  1,050

  Child Benefit

  7,000

  Disability Living Allowance

  1,512

  Disability Working Allowance

  5

  Family Credit

  602

  Income Support

  5,751

  Invalidity Benefit

  1,857

  Invalid Care Allowance

  285

  Industrial Death Benefit

  21

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  223

  Maternity Allowance

  15

  Non-Contributory Retirement Pension

  27

  One Parent Benefit

  949

  Reduced Earnings Allowance/RA

  151

  Retirement Pension

  10,149

  Severe Disability Allowance

  342

  Sickness Benefit

  141

  Widows Benefit

  290

  Notes:

  1. Figures are provisional and subject to change.

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

  3. Some people receive more than one benefit and the extent of the overlap cannot easily be quantified.

  4. The information has been provided for the year 1994–95, with the exception of Industrial Disablement Benefit, Reduced Earnings Allowance/RA which is 1993–94.

  5. Information in this table has been collected in March each year, with the following exceptions: Income Support in February; Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, Severe Disability Allowance. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Reduced Earnings Allowance/RA in March/April and Industrial Death Benefit in December.

  6. Invalidity Benefit and Sickness Benefit were replaced by Incapacity Benefit from 13 April 1995.

  Source

  Analytical Services Division of DSS.

  Benefits Agency (Costs)
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amount is spent annually by the Benefits Agency on(a) postage, (b) stationery and (c) printing. [15433]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 26 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what amount is spent annually by the Benefits Agency on (a) postage, (b) stationery and (c) printing.
  The information requested is not available in the form requested. The Agency accounting systems do not separate the individual costs of stationery from printing. The figure for stationery and printing also includes the cost of the small local office requisites.
  The Figures below are for the financial year 1994/95, the last full year for which figures are available:-

  Postage:

  For despatch of payments: £43.019 million

  Other postage costs: £20.230 million

  Stationery and Printing £51.034 million

  These figures are provisional and subject to change.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [16022]

  Mr. Heald
  The Occupational Pensions Board is the only executive non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department. It is:

  (a) subject to the investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (PCA);

  (b) not subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission;

  (c) subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office, under the National Audit Act 1983;

  (d) subject to the statutory provisions for open government;

  (e) not subject to published performance indicators;

  (f) committed to the principles of the citizens charter.

  The board and its staff were brought within the jurisdiction of the PCA on 31 July 1995. From the same date, the board has been subject to the open government provisions which apply only to bodies within the ambit of the Parliamentary Commissioner. In line with the principles of the citizens charter, the OPB published its charter standard statement and code of practice in July 1994.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16818]

  Mr. Heald
  The Occupational Pensions Board is the only executive non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department. It does not publish: annual reports; annual accounts; minutes, or agendas, of meetings. It has voluntarily compiled a register of members' interests which is available for public inspection.

  Earnings
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has taken legal advice as to whether the different benefits available to those earning above or below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions contravene European law on sex discrimination; and if he will make a statement; [16621]

  (2) if he will list the benefits available only to those earning above the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions. [16620]

  Mr. Heald
  The benefits available to people who have paid sufficient class 1 national insurance contributions are set out in section 21(2) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay are also available to employees who have earnings at or above the lower earnings limit and meet the other qualifying conditions. Employees with earnings below that limit are not liable
  523
  to pay class 1 contributions, but they can pay voluntary class 3 contributions which count towards retirement pension and widow's benefits. In the light of the recent judgment by the European Court of Justice in the case of Inge Nolte v. Landesversicherungsansstalt Hannover (C317/93)), we consider that a lower earnings limit for payment of class 1 contributions is not incompatible with the principle of equal treatment between men and women in matters of social security.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a deduction from earnings order is imposed by the Child Support Agency. [16388]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Deductions from earnings orders are used only as a last resort. They are an important method for securing compliance where it has not proved possible to get absent parents to pay maintenance fully and regularly. Nearly 38,000 deductions from earnings orders have been issued since April 1995. This is a significant increase on the 1994–95 total of 32,027.

  Cold Weather Payments, Wales
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total amount paid in each year since 1991 in respect of cold weather payments in each Welsh county; [17047]

  (2) what was the total amount paid in each parliamentary constituency in Clwyd in respect of cold weather payments in each year since 1991. [17045]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is contained in the social fund statistical series—cold weather payments by district offices—held in the statistical section of the Library.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will undertake a review of weather stations used to monitor payments for cold weather payments for Wales. [17060]

  Mr. Evans
  The operation of the cold weather payments scheme is reviewed with the Meteorological Office after the end of March each year. In particular, links between weather stations and postcode areas are reviewed and where appropriate, changes are made.

  Benefit Entitlement (Water Costs)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of revising the 524
  figure included for water costs in the calculations of benefit entitlement to reflect (a) variations of regional costs, (b) the rateable value of the property concerned and (c) the fact of a property being on a metered charge; [16805]

  (2) what figure for water costs is included in the calculations of benefit entitlement (a) in 1995 and (b) in each of the preceding five years. [16804]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Income support is a national benefit which provides a level of income for normal daily expenditure. It does not specify particular amounts for particular items of household expenditure many of which, like water, vary regionally and over time. The cost of restructuring the benefit in the way envisaged would be considerable.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average deduction from income support,(a) with and (b) without an element for arrears, paid to water companies where people have opted to have their water costs deducted at source. [16803]

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

  Direct payment deductions from income support for water/sewerage charges

  £

  Average weekly deduction excluding arrears

  3.34

  Average weekly deduction including arrears

  5.86

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1995.

  Note:

  1. In certain circumstances, direct payment deductions for water/sewerage charges may be made without the consent of the Income Support recipient. Figures for people who have specifically opted tor direct payments are not available.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that the interests of pensioner members of pension schemes are fully represented through the trustees in drawing up the Occupational Pension Schemes. (Member-nominated Trustees and Directors) Regulations 1996. [17380]

  Mr. Heald
  Trustees of a trust scheme are not representative of a particular group or category of member. The interests of pensioner members will be fully considered because all trustees have a duty to consider the interests of all the beneficiaries of the pension fund. This aspect of trustees' conduct is a provision of trust law and is unaffected by the proposed Occupational Pension Schemes (Members-nominated Trustees and Directors) Regulations 1996.

  UN Electoral Assistance Division: UK Staff
  UN Electoral Assistance Division: UK Staff
  European Commission: Members' Allegiance
  European Commission: Members' Allegiance
  Turkey: Incidents in Sivas Province
  Turkey: Incidents in Sivas Province
  Turkey: Mr. Abdulmelik Firat
  Turkey: Mr. Abdulmelik Firat
  Gambling: Consultation Paper
  Gambling: Consultation Paper
  Pet Animals: European Convention
  Pet Animals: European Convention
  Personal Data: Protection
  Personal Data: Protection
  Sickle Cell Anaemia: Ante-natal Testing
  Sickle Cell Anaemia: Ante-natal Testing
  Scott Report: Ministerial Recipients
  Scott Report: Ministerial Recipients
  Scott Report: Pre-publication Access
  Scott Report: Pre-publication Access
  Waste Management Licensing (Fees and Charges)
  Waste Management Licensing (Fees and Charges)
  Landfill Tax and Recycling Credits
  Landfill Tax and Recycling Credits
  Pensions Split on Divorce: Cost Estimate
  Pensions Split on Divorce: Cost Estimate