Written Answers of 29 February 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the
  Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Hawkins) on 13 February,Official Report, column 514, if he will define the term parliamentary interest. [16146]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  In my answer of 13 February,Official report, column 514, the term parliamentary interest refers to cases in which a Member of Parliament or a noble Lord has made representations about the proposed removal of somebody from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to Home Office presenting officers and adjudicators regarding the period of time in which couples are expected to become self-supporting in the United Kingdom where one spouse has been granted entry clearance; when such guidance was issued; and if he will make a statement. [18206]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No such guidance has been issued to presenting officers. The period of time in which couples are expected to become self-supporting will depend on the facts of the particular case. Guidance to adjudicators is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor.

  Dartmoor Prison (Death)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects the medical report into the death of Mr. Dennis Stevens in Dartmoor prison to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the causes of Mr. Stevens' death; [17336]

  (2) for how long Mr. Dennis Stevens was kept in a body belt in Dartmoor prison prior to his death on 18 October 1995; [17338]

  (3) what representations he has received alleging (a) improper procedures and (b) inadequacy in existing procedures in matters relating to the death of Mr. Dennis Stevens in Dartmoor prison; what response he has made; when he expects all the information on this case to be disclosed; and if he will make a statement. [17337]

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

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 29 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the death of Mr. Dennis Stevens in Dartmoor prison.
  626
  Mr. Stevens was in a body belt for 24 hours prior to being discovered dead in his cell on the morning of 18 October 1995.
  There have been two post-mortems, the second attended by a pathologist representing Mr. Stevens' family. At the second post-mortem, it was agreed that further specialist forensic analysis was required. The coroner will open the inquest once the result of that analysis, which is being carried out in the United States, is available.
  A number of Members, prisoners' rights groups and others have written to express concern about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Stevens' death. They have been advised that a senior prison governor has conducted an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Stevens' death and a separate enquiry into the control and restraint methods used has been commissioned. These enquiries will be in addition to the formal policy enquiry, which is underway.
  The results of the enquiries into this tragic incident cannot be made available until the inquest. However, I can assure you and Mr. Stevens' family that the service will respond promptly and positively to any recommendations made by the coroner.

  Construction Skills Certification Scheme
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to ensure that personnel on its prison construction sites have construction skills certification scheme accreditation. [17437]

  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. John Spellar, dated 29 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your Question about construction skills certification scheme accreditation on prison construction sites.
  It is the duty of the main contractor with whom the Home Office enters into a contract, to ensure that personnel on construction sites have the necessary skills.
  The Home Office is considering the introduction of clauses in construction contracts to bring to bear on the main contractor an obligation to ensure that personnel on prison construction sites have construction skills certification scheme accreditation.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors, other than population, determine Metropolitan police officer numbers per division. [17429]

  Mr. Maclean
  The deployment of manpower within the Metropolitan police district is a matter for the commissioner. I understand, however, that the allocation of officers to divisions takes account of, among other things, the number of crimes reported, calls for assistance, arrests, traffic accidents and incidents of disorder. In addition, officers in charge of divisional operational command units have some flexibility within their overall budget to decide on the mix of police officers, civil staff and other resources which will best meet local policing needs.

  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent reports by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary on Metropolitan police areas 3 and 4. [18765]
  627
  Mr. Howard
  Yes. I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from these reports, together with the commissioner's responses and my responses, which take into account the advice I have received from the Metropolitan Police Committee.

  Electro-shock Equipment
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British companies have been granted licences under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1982 to(a) handle, (b) store, (c) distribute and (d) manufacture electric shock devices in the last two years. [17363]

  Mr. Maclean
  Section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 prohibits the possession, purchase, acquisition, manufacture, sale and transfer of electric shock weapons without the authority of the Secretary of State. No company has been granted authority under this section specifically in respect of electric shock weapons in the last two years.

  Reoffenders
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to magistrates courts about sentencing in respect of repeated offences of theft and shoplifting goods of significant value. [17508]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government do not issue guidance on sentencing. The Magistrates Association issues sentencing guidelines for its members, which are available in the Library, and guidance is provided by Court of Appeal judgments in individual cases.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the asylum appeals passed by the tribunal to the adjudicator in 1994 were allowed by the adjudicator; and how many of these were appeals by port-of-entry applicants; [17540]

  (2) how many of the asylum appellants referred by the adjudicator to the Secretary of State in 1994 were granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom; and how many of these were port-of-entry applicants; [17542]

  (3) how many of (a) the asylum appeals allowed by the adjudicator and (b) those allowed by the tribunal in 1994 were made by port-of-entry applicants. [17541]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  Docklands Bombing (Fire Appliances)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 706, in respect of 9 February only, how many appliances attended the scene, what time the last appliance left and from which stations the appliances were drawn. [17518]

  Mr. Sackville
  The deployment of appliances is an operational matter for the London fire and civil defence authority. The hon. Member may therefore wish to invite the chief officer to provide the details which she has sought.

  Older Prisoners
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken to meet the special needs of older people in prison. [17519]

  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 Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 29 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 action is being taken to meet the special needs of older people in prison.
  The Prison Service has recognised the needs of the older prisoner. A special unit is at present being commissioned at HMP Kingston. An existing accommodation block is being refurbished and will include specialist facilities for older prisoners with disabilities. The unit is for 25 prisoners and hopes to receive its first prisoners in May 1996.
  The Directorate of Health Care is currently compiling a health strategy for prisoners and staff and has particularly identified the needs of older prisoners amongst its topics. The health strategy will be presented to the Prisons Board in May 1996.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women aged over 60 and men over 65 years are being held in prison on(a) remand and (b) after sentence. [17594]

  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 Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 29 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking, how many women aged over 60 and men over 65 years are being held in prison on (a) remand and (b) after sentence.
  On 31 January 1996 there were 16 women aged 60 or over (3 on remand and 13 sentenced) and 300 males (25 remand and 275 sentenced) aged 65 and over in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

  Racial Attacks
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported racial attacks there were in each London borough in 1995. [17657]

  Mr. Maclean
  Figures are not available by London borough. Racial incidents reported to the police in each Metropolitan police division for 1995 are shown in the table. A racial incident is defined as any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation, or any incident in which an allegation of racial motivation is made by any person.

  Classified racial incidents in the Metropolitan Police District Annual 1995

  Division

  Number

  Belgravia

  13

  Notting Hill

  11

  Brompton

  23

  629

  Classified racial incidents in the Metropolitan Police District Annual 1995

  Division

  Number

  West End Central

  2

  Charing Cross

  10

  Marylebone

  25

  Paddington

  21

  Fulham

  33

  Hammersmith

  29

  1 Area total

  167

  Hampstead

  40

  Kentish Town

  325

  Holborn

  78

  Holloway

  54

  Islington

  193

  Harrow

  108

  Wembley

  56

  Kilburn

  54

  Barnet and Hertsmere

  39

  Golders Green

  61

  West Hendon

  75

  Ealing

  45

  Southall

  108

  Hornsey

  34

  Tottenham

  45

  2 Area total

  1,315

  Hackney and Shoreditch

  114

  Stoke Newington

  83

  Limehouse

  389

  Whitechapel

  154

  Barkingside

  44

  Chingford

  55

  Ilford

  22

  Leyton

  55

  Havering

  45

  Forest Gate

  63

  Dagenham

  63

  Plaistow

  293

  Edmonton

  65

  Enfield

  104

  3 Area total

  1,549

  Southwark

  199

  Peckham

  87

  Walworth

  73

  Catford

  156

  Lewisham

  105

  Bromley and Orpington

  67

  Plumstead

  422

  Greenwich

  204

  Bexleyheath

  125

  Croydon

  46

  South Norwood

  82

  Epson and Sutton

  82

  4 Area total

  1,648

  Heathrow

  2

  Brixton

  45

  Streatham

  55

  Vauxhall

  26

  Chiswick

  42

  Hounslow

  149

  Spelthorne

  14

  Richmond

  49

  Kingston

  40

  Battersea

  26

  Wandsworth

  86

  630

  Classified racial incidents in the Metropolitan Police District Annual 1995

  Division

  Number

  Hillingdon

  157

  Merton

  129

  5 Area total

  821

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prepare a register of refugees and displaced persons from Bosnia-Herzegovina living in Britain and listed according to their religious or national background, their place of origin, gender and family connections; and if the Government have received a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide such a register. [17710]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No formal request has been received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees but when the UNHCR co-ordinator for former Yugoslavia briefed missions in Geneva recently, he said that accurate information was needed from countries of asylum on how many refugees and displaced persons they had; where they were from, where they wanted to return to, and when. This information is not available centrally and could be obtained only by contacting each person individually. We are considering the request.

  Secure Prisons
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently held in secure prison establishments in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [17551]

  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 Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 19 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 how many prisoners are currently held in secure prison establishments in Wales.
  On 26 February 1996, there were 805 prisoners held in the following establishments.

  Number

  Cardiff

  436

  Swansea

  212

  Usk

  157

  Total

  805

  Carl Bridgewater
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those individuals who helped the police with their inquiries in connection with the murder of Carl Bridgewater indicating the periods they were kept at each police station; [17205]
  631
  (2) if he will list the names of those individuals arrested in connection with the murder of Carl Bridgewater indicating the periods of detention at each police station; [17206]

  (3) if he will list the individuals to whom the police made payments for information in respect of the Carl Bridgewater trial; [17204]

  (4) if he will make a statement on all meetings between Joseph Hickey and Sergeant Ernest Robinson in (a) 1978 and (b) 1979. [17214]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No. These are all operational matters and the responsibility of the chief constable of Staffordshire constabulary.

  Fire Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will review his allocation of funds to the fire services of Wales consequent upon the formation of the new local government unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement; [17330]

  (2) if he will sanction new funds to enable the new North Wales fire service authority to meet its commitments in Clwyd and Gwynedd counties. [17328]

  Mr. Sackville
  Supplementary credit approvals of up to £2.7 million have been provisionally set aside for 1996–97 to meet the transitional costs of fire service reorganisation in Wales. The allocation between the three new brigades will be reviewed during the course of the year.

  Body Belts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of the Prison Service in respect of the use of the body belt of the type involved in the death of Joy Gardner; when that policy was last reviewed; what plans the Prison Service has to co-ordinate its policy in respect of the belt with the police; and if he will make a statement. [17339]

  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. Harry Cohen, dated 29 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 Prison Service policy on the use of body belts of the type involved in the death of Joy Gardner; when that policy was last reviewed and what plans the Prison Service has to co-ordinate its policy in respect of the belt with the Police.
  The type of body belt used by the Police is an operational matter for Chief Police Officers.
  The body belt used by the Prison Service is of a design approved by Prison Service headquarters. The authority for its use is covered in Prison Standing Order 3E, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
  The design of the belts used by the Prison Service was reviewed some eighteen months ago. It was decided that the needs of the Service required the current design but we continue to see if more modern materials can be used to serve the same purpose, on the rare occasions body belts are used.

  Crime (Coventry)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convictions in(a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands involved 16 to 24-year-olds in each of the last five years; and if he will indicate the year-on-year percentage change in this figure. [17120]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information which is readily available centrally is restricted to indictable offences and is given in the table. For summary offences, information on the actual age of adults is not available. The information is the latest available; 1995 data will be available in the autumn.

  Convictions for indictable offences of persons aged 16 to 24 and of all persons in Coventry Petty Sessional Division (PSD) and West Midlands Police Force Area, for the period 1990 to 1994.

  Number of persons

  Aged 16 to 24

  All ages

  Percentage aged 16 to 24

  Coventry Petty Sessional Division1

  1990

  1,709

  3,058

  56

  1991

  1,546

  2,825

  55

  1992

  1,511

  2,685

  56

  1993

  1,203

  2,357

  51

  1994

  1,182

  2,333

  51

  West Midlands Police Force Area

  1990

  11,839

  22,323

  53

  1991

  10,934

  20,688

  53

  1992

  9,984

  19,582

  51

  1993

  8,205

  16,784

  49

  1994

  7,541

  16,105

  47

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

  Euro '96
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of the police operation for the Euro '96 championships; and how many officers will be involved. [17848]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Association of Chief Police Officers has estimated that the cost of policing for the European football championships 1996 could be around £5.5 million. Decisions about the number of officers involved, and their deployment, are for chief officers of the forces concerned.

  Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received in respect of the financing of the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority; how many of these alleged the funding was inadequate; and what was his response. [16292]

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of such representations. Where the question of finance has been raised, the replies have made it clear that it was up to the authority to set a budget which would enable it to comply with its statutory duties.

  Football Pools Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his most recent assessment of
  633
  the impact of the national lottery on the football pools industry; what plans he has to assist the pools industry; and if he will make a statement. [16296]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  In October 1995, the Pool Promoters Association estimated that the pools industry had lost 30 per cent. of its business since the introduction of the national lottery in November 1994.

  The pools industry has benefited substantially from the Government deregulation initiative. In November 1994, the age limit for participation in the football pools was reduced from 18 to 16; the collection of football pools coupons in shops and other premises was legalised; and rollover of prize money was allowed. In March 1995, the prohibition on advertising the football pools on television and radio was lifted. In the Gaming Machines and Betting Office Facilities Order, which was put to the Deregulation Committee of the House in December 1995, we are proposing to allow the payment of football pools winnings in betting offices.

  The pools industry has also benefited from reductions in pool betting duty. In May 1995, the duty was reduced from 37.5 per cent. to 32.5 per cent. In his Budget last November, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a further reduction to 26.5 per cent.

  We are currently considering a number of proposals for further relaxation of the restrictions on the pools which have been put forward by the industry. On one of these proposals, to revoke the regulation which prevents pools collectors from selling lottery tickets door to door, we have issued a consultation letter to interested parties.

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if prisoners from Buckley Hall prison are eligible for unaccompanied visits to Rochdale as a reward for good behaviour; and if he will make a statement. [18117]

  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 Ms Liz Lynne, dated 29 February 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the eligibility of prisoners at Buckley Hall prison to have unaccompanied visits to Rochdale as a reward for good behaviour.
  The Prison Service introduced a national framework of incentives and earned privileges for prisoners in July 1995, with most prisons commencing their own local scheme before the end of December. This policy reflects Ministers' and the Prison Service's commitment to a system of structured incentives based on prisoners' behaviour and willingness to cooperate. It seeks to ensure prisoners earn privileges by responsible behaviour and participation in hard work and other constructive activity.
  Buckley Hall plan to extend their three-tier incentives and earned privilege scheme by introducing, by the end of March, the key earnable privilege of unaccompanied community visits. Those eligible to apply will be prisoners in security category D who have been retained for outside work parties. Each applicant will be subjected to a full risk assessment before any decision is taken on the granting of temporary release.

  Fire Service College
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the accounts for the national Fire Service College for the year 1994–95; and what was the overall financial result. [16731]

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1996, c. 411]: The Fire Service College annual report and accounts were laid before the House of 28 February.

ENVIRONMENT

  City Disesel Fuel
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for he Environment what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the level of pollutants emitted by city diesel fuel. [17666]

  Mr. Clappison
  A programme of field trials of alternative fuels, including city diesel, was set up by the Department of Transport, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in March 1994. The trials are assessing the emissions performance, energy consumption and economics of vans and buses using a number of alternative fuels. All vehicles in the trials are to be monitored in-service and up to 22 vans and 26 buses are to be emissions tested using driving cycles which best represent the real world in-service operating conditions for these vehicles. A final report of the project is expected in early 1997.

  Pollution Information
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to publish pollution information on the Internet. [17911]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer to hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Sir P. Beresford), on 16 January 1996,Official Report, column 491.

  Regional Development Funding (Merseyside)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the use of objective 1 funds in Merseyside; what plans he has to increase Government financial assistance towards European funding; and if he will make a statement. [16295]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All claims for payment for projects approved under the programme are accompanied by a report from project sponsors outlining their progress towards delivery of required outputs. Claims received to date indicate that most of the targets are likely to be met or exceeded. In accordance with the regulations governing the structural funds, an interim evaluation of the progress made by the programme so far will shortly be undertaken. The results will be available later in the year.

  The structural funds contribute only a part of a project's costs. There are many sources of matching funds, from both the public and the private sectors, for the remaining costs and it is the responsibility of the applicant to explore fully the possibilities before making an application. This is not the responsibility of the Government.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the number of prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the number of convictions and (c) the average fine per conviction against employers in the construction industry in each of the last five years. [17835]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive's primary aim is to prevent accidents and ill health. In appropriate cases, prosecution may be taken. Details of prosecutions taken by the HSE's field operations division inspectorates, information laid, the number of convictions and the average penalty per conviction in all industrial sectors in each of the last five years was set out in table 24 of the Health and Safety Commissions's statistics 1994–95. The following table provides extracts from this table concerning proceedings in the construction industry.

  Prosecutions taken by the HSE's field operations division by result in the construction industry 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  11994–95

  Information laid

  746

  746

  701

  526

  629

  The number of convictions

  600

  604

  572

  412

  497

  Average fine per conviction (£)

  857

  1,035

  1,279

  3,403

  2,675

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of(a) fatalities of workers in the construction industry and (b) members of the public killed by construction accidents in each of the last five years. [17765]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of fatalities of workers in the construction industry and of members of the public killed by construction accidents in each of the last five years was set out in table 2 of the Health and Safety Commission's statistics 1994–95. The table provides details of fatalities reported to the enforcing authorities in Great Britain.

  Fatal injuries reported to enforcement authorities in the construction industry 1990–91 to 1994–951

  2Workers

  Members of the public

  1990–91

  124

  9

  1991–92

  99

  6

  1992–93

  95

  5

  1993–94

  88

  6

  1994–95

  74

  5

  1 Provisional.

  2 Workers includes employees and self-employed.

  Statistic (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17680]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All relevant statistical information about employees of my Department is collected by reference to gender.
  636
  In addition, a gender breakdown of the employees of local authorities is collected quarterly by the Central Statistical Office in its "Work Force in Employment" series.

  A recent survey sponsored by my Department also collected gender information about occupations in the construction industry.

  Planning Inspectorate
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inspectors are currently employed by the Planning Inspectorate. [17066]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Planning Inspectorate currently employs 209 salaried planning inspectors, 10 of whom work part time.

  A further 209 fee-paid inspectors are engaged either on short-term contracts or on a case-by-case basis, to undertake appeals and similar work.

  Mine Gas
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he commissioned consultants Wardell Armstrong to undertake an inquiry into the dangers of mine or stythe gas in the Gateshead area; and what were the circumstances which led him to commission the study. [17974]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Wardell Armstrong was commissioned to undertake a study of methane and other gases from disused coal mines in the autumn of 1993. The research has included consideration of Gateshead as a demonstration area and of stythe, among other gases. The main aims were, however, to examine the extent to which such emissions should be taken into account in planning of land use and the appropriate means of doing so. The focus, therefore, has been national rather than local.

  My Department had previously commissioned a series of general reviews of land instability and related geological issues in order to determine whether there was a need to take more account of these in planning. One of these, a review of naturally occurring contaminants, was undertaken by the British Geological Survey. The report indicated that gas problems associated with old mines were sufficiently widespread to merit more detailed consideration. This led directly to the commissioning of the work being undertaken by Wardell Armstrong.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Wardell Armstrong report on the dangers of mine gas was received by his Department; and if he will publish it. [17975]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The final draft of a report by Wardell Armstrong entitled "Methane and other gas emissions from disused coal mines—the planning response" is currently awaited by my Department. It is expected that the report will be published in the summer of 1996.

  Proposed Supermarket, Barton-upon-Humber
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce his decision in respect of calling in the application to build a supermarket in Barton-upon-Humber. [18480]
  637
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The application to which my hon. Friend refers was called in on Tuesday 27 February for determination by the Secretary of State. The application and objections to it will now be examined at a local public inquiry by an independent inspector, who will submit his report to the Secretary of State.

  Housing Allocation Schemes
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how Ministers propose to use the powers contained in clause 128 of the Housing Bill to prescribe the criteria to be used in housing allocation schemes; and if he will make a statement. [18764]

  Mr. Curry
  Our proposals on the allocation criteria to be used are set out in the consultation paper "Allocation of Housing Accommodation by Local Authorities", published earlier this year. Once the consultation has ended and the Government have considered their response, we intend to bring forward, on Report, amendments to set the main allocation criteria in primary legislation. There would be provision to alter them subsequently only by an order subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

TRANSPORT

  A46–A47 Link Road
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings his officials have held with Mr. Tommy Morrison of Leicestershire county council to discuss the A46–A47 link road; and what were the dates of those meetings. [17050]

  Mr. Norris
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Mr. Tommy Thompson, CS of LCC. During the year my officials have held regular meetings with officers of Leicestershire county council to discuss progress of all road and rail schemes within the county's transport policies and programme. There have been no meetings held solely to discuss the A46–47 link road.

  Central Railway
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have taken place between Central Railway and the railway inspectorate. [18057]

  Mr. Watts
  I understand that Her Majesty's railway inspectorate met Central Railway plc last year and has commented on the company's outline design specification.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [17455]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has five contracts with EDS:

  (a) Date of Inception

  (c) Duration to

  17 December 1993

  31 March 1999

  17 December 1993

  30 June 1999

  638

  (a) Date of Inception

  (c) Duration to

  17 December 1993

  31 December 1998

  17 December 1993

  30 June 1998

  14 March 1994

  13 March 1996

  (b) The value of the contracts is classified commercial in confidence information.

  London, Tilbury and Southend Line
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the inquiry into ticketing irregularities on the London, Tilbury and Southend line; when and how he intends to publish the inquiry results; and if he will make a statement. [18222]

  Mr. Watts
  The inquiry into ticketing irregularities on LTS Rail is being undertaken by the independent Rail Regulator, using his powers under section 58 of the Railways Act 1993. It is for him to decide whether and how the results of the inquiry might be made public. The Rail Regulator has said that he will make a statement once the investigation has been completed.

  Eurostar Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the European passenger service from Doncaster to Waterloo is adequately publicised and connects promptly with Eurostar services. [17952]

  Mr. Watts
  The marketing and timetabling of these services are a matter for the operators, European Passenger Services. I understand that the main marketing thrust will come when the direct Eurostar services from the regions north of London to Paris and Brussels are introduced later this year.

  Ministerial Pedestrian Journeys
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the journeys he made on foot in an official capacity in the week beginning 19 February. [18182]

  Sir George Young
  I often walk between my Department, meetings in Whitehall and the House.

  Sea Empress
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date and time the salvage tug contracted to the Coastguard agency in Stornoway was offered to the salvors of the Sea Empress; what was their response; and when it was made; [18121]

  (2) what part of the marine pollution control unit played in the decision to introduce compressed air into the cargo holds of the Sea Empress prior to its refloating on Wednesday 21 February; [18119]

  (3) what estimate he had made of the cargo on board the Sea Empress (a) prior to the grounding on Thursday 15 February, (b) prior to the grounding on the evening of Monday 19 February, (c) at 0900 Tuesday 20 February, (d) at 0900 Wednesday 21 February and (e) immediately prior to the refloating on the night of Wednesday 21 February; [18118]
  639
  (4) what offers were made by French sources to assist in the Sea Empress incident; when they were made; and of what nature they were. [18120]

  Mr. Norris
  These matters will be covered by the inquiry being carried out by the marine accident investigation branch, which includes the planning and execution of the salvage operation. I do not wish to prejudge the inquiry's findings.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the names and positions of officials from his Department, the Coastguard agency and the marine pollution control Unit who were present in the operation control room of the Milford Haven coastguard marine rescue centre between 1600 and 1730 hours on Saturday 17 February; [18125]

  (2) what are the names and positions of the officials in (a) his Department, (b) the marine pollution control unit and (c) the Coastguard Agency who were present in the operation control room at the Milford Haven coastguard marine rescue centre on the morning of Friday 16 February; [18123]

  (3) what was the name of the marine pollution control unit official on the bridge of the Sea Empress between 1600 and 1730 on Saturday 17 February; and what was his position within the MPCU. [18122]

  (4) if he will list the individuals from his Department, the Coastguard agency and the marine pollution control unit who travelled to Milford Haven as a result of the Sea Empress incident. [18124]

  Mr. Norris
  It is the Government's policy not to publish the names of officials engaged in particular tasks unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so. The MAIB investigation will examine all the issues of the salvage operation.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17684]

  Mr. Norris
  Statistics concerning staff employed in my Department are normally based on pay and personnel records which include information on gender. Statistical information about personnel can therefore usually be broken down by gender. Similarly, all travel statistics collected by the Department include gender, where relevant.

  Catford Loop Line
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger trains run along the Catford loop line in both directions, in any 24-hour period between Monday and Friday, and Saturday and Sunday; and at what times these trains are travelling along the Catford loop line. [18197]
  640
  Mr. Norris
  The number of passenger trains scheduled to travel over the Catford loop line is as follows:

  London direction:

  Mondays to Fridays-42

  Saturdays-34

  Sundays-17.

  Bromley South direction:

  Mondays to Fridays-41

  Saturdays-36

  Sundays-16.

  In addition, the line may be used by empty passenger trains and also those diverted because of engineering works or operating difficulties. The time of all the scheduled services are to be found in the "Great Britain Passenger Railway Timetable".

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight trains run along the Catford loop line in both directions, in any 24-hour period between Monday and Friday, and Saturday and Sunday; and at what times these trains are travelling along the Catford loop line. [18196]

  Mr. Norris
  The number of freight trains that run along the Catford loop in either direction is as follows:

  Monday to Friday

  Up to 29 trains per day moving towards London distributed throughout the 24 hours.

  Up to 32 trains per day moving away from London distributed throughout the 24 hours.

  Saturday

  Up to 16 trains per day moving towards London distributed throughout the 24 hours.

  Up to 22 trains per day moving away from London distributed throughout the 24 hours.

  Sunday

  Up to 16 trains per day moving towards London distributed throughout the 24 hours.

  Up to 2 trains per day moving away from London distributed throughout the 24 hours.

  There may be additional or replacement services to run as a result of the need for track maintenance or for diversions.

  Waste (Illegal Discharges)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many convictions have been secured at the sheriff court for the illegal discharge of oil or waste at sea in each of the past seven years; what were the fines imposed; what was the number and proportion of United Kingdom registered vessels involved in such cases; and if he will make a statement. [17481]

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 24 January,Official Report, column 270, and on 31 January, Official Report, columns 807–808.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chechnya
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Russian Government on the present conflict on Chechnya; and what was their response. [17217]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed Chechnya with the former Russian Foreign Minister Kozyrev in Moscow on 5 September. At that time the Russian Government were experiencing problems over the implementation of the military agreement negotiated in July 1995 with Chechen rebels but were hoping for a political solution within the Russian constitution.

  Since then we have been maintaining a dialogue through diplomatic channels, and supporting, with our EU partners, the efforts of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to promote a negotiated settlement.

  War Crimes Tribunal
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries from which investigators are drawn by the UN war crimes tribunal on the former Yugoslavia. [16289]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The employment policy of the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is identical to that operated throughout the UN. Article 101 of the UN charter states that"paramount consideration in the employment of staff… shall be… the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity".
  The UN also aims to recruit staff from a wide geographical base. The tribunal will not divulge details of its investigators, including nationalities.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the Croats indicted for war crimes by the war crimes tribunal have been indicted for crimes committed in(a) Bosnia and (b) the Krajina. [16290]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The international criminal court for the former Yugoslavia has announced indictments against seven Croats to date. All of these were indicted for crimes allegedly committed in the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Bosnian Government in respect of the discovery by the implementation forces of concealed weapons in the Sarajevo area; and if the discovery is being referred to the war crimes tribunal. [16293]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We continue to urge all parties in the former Yugoslavia to meet their obligations under the Dayton peace agreement. The United Kingdom was presented at the Rome summit on 17 to 18 February where the parties reaffirmed their commitment to that agreement and took positive steps towards resolving outstanding 642
  incidences of non-compliance. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed a range of compliance issues with Bosnian President Izetbegovic, the commander of the implementation force, and the High Representative when he visited Sarajevo on 20 February. Concealment of weapons does not constitute a war crime. It does not therefore fall within the mandate of the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

  Military Trade
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will prohibit British military trade with undemocratic regimes; and if he will make a statement. [18218]

  Mr. David Davis
  It is our policy to support the sale of British defence equipment overseas where this is compatible with our political, strategic and security interests. We defend ourselves and should not deny others the right to do the same without good reason. We observe strict responsibility in our defence exports. We consider applications for licences to export defence equipment on a case-by-case basis in the light of established criteria including the international guidelines and obligations to which we are committed. These criteria include consideration of the recipient country's human rights record. We do not export defence equipment likely to be used for internal repression.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17681]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Statistics concerning staff employed in this Department are normally based on pay and personnel records which include information on gender. Statistical information about personnel can therefore usually be broken down by gender.

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he and (b) his Ministers have had over the last five years concerning the sale by British Aerospace to India of Hawk 100 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18199]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  During the last five years there have been a number of occasions when Foreign Office Ministers have commended Hawk to the Indian authorities.

  India and Pakistan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what mechanisms he informs the Home Secretary when he reaches a decision on whether(a) India and (b) Pakistan is a candidate for designation as a country where there is in general no serious risk of persecution; and if he will make a statement. [18132]
  643
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has already informed his right hon. and learned Friend Friend the Home Secretary of his agreement to the proposed list of designated countries, which includes India and Pakistan. No actual designation will be possible until clause 1 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill comes into force, and an order has been made under it.

  Yemen (British Council Office)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had in relation to the closure of the British Council office in Yemen. [18129]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  None. The British Council is still considering how best to make the necessary adjustments to its programmes and activities following the latest public expenditure round.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make changes in the personnel of his Department following criticisms contained in the report of the Scott inquiry. [16567]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: Where officials criticised in the Scott report had acted conscientiously, in good faith and in accordance with Government policy, it would not normally be appropriate to take disciplinary action against them. If there are cases where disciplinary action is considered appropriate, this would be carried out under normal departmental disciplinary procedure.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to paragraph K8.1 of the Scott report relating to the ministerial accountability, what additional measures he proposes to ensure his Department's compliance with paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". [17309]

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what review has been undertaken by his Department of its role in overseeing export licence applications for technologies with the capability of assisting in the manufacture of nuclear weapons since the publication of the Scott report. [17578]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February, Official Report, columns 589–604.

  Kenya
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions Her Majesty's Government intend to take to improve the relationship between the United Kingdom and Kenya. [17101]

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom has long-standing and deep-rooted links with Kenya, one of our most significant partners in Africa. The bilateral relationship 644
  spans wide-ranging areas of activity, many of them outside the framework of Government contacts. We maintain a close dialogue with the Kenyan authorities, one objective of which is to strengthen bilateral relations.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all cases brought under fair employment legislation against(a) a Government Department and (b) a public body, indicating in each case the costs incurred in defending such action. [15150]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of cases registered with the fair employment tribunal under the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1989 against(a) Government Departments and (b) public bodies is as follows:

  (a) NIO/NI Departments

  11 completed

  31 withdrawn 33 on-going.

  (b)Public bodies1

  46 completed

  49 withdrawn

  50 on-going.

  1This excludes public bodies for which the Department of Health and Social Services is responsible.

  Information on the costs incurred in defending these cases is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Criminals (Damages)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what power he has, when convicted criminals initiate actions for damages against the Government or their agencies, to commence a counterclaim for(a) the costs to the state of the criminal's activities, (b) any moneys incurred by the state to aid or recompense their victims and (c) the costs of their trial and any legal aid; and if he will make a statement; [16743]

  (2) how many claims for recompense his Department has commenced against convicted criminals in the last five years; and if there is a standing instruction to pursue this option in suitable circumstances. [16744]

  Sir John Wheeler
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to counterclaim against a convicted criminal who has initiated an action for damages against the Government or their agencies, except in the exceptional case where the Northern Ireland Office itself would be entitled to claim—for instance, where a criminal's activities had damaged Northern Ireland Office property.

  However, regardless of whether a convicted criminal is claiming damages against the Government or their agencies, the Secretary of State may apply to the county court for an order directing the offender to reimburse an amount equal to the whole or part of any compensation, paid or payable under the criminal compensation legislation, which is directly attributable to the offence of which the offender was convicted.
  645
  The total value of such recoveries under the criminal damage and criminal injuries schemes, over the last five years, is as follows:

  1990–91: £65,000

  1991–92: £182,000

  1992–93: £232,000

  1993–94: £246,000

  1994–95: £376,000.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17687]

  Sir John Wheeler
  A wide range of statistics are collected by the Northern Ireland Departments to inform decision making. Data on major statistical series are broken down by gender where relevant.

  Independent Commissioner for Holding Centres
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's third annual report as Independent Commissioner for Holding Centres. [18766]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have today arranged for the copies of Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's annual report for 1995 to be placed in the Library.

  I am grateful to the commissioner for his report and for the assurance that it provides that he has found absolutely nothing that might give anyone the slightest cause for concern about the care and treatment of detainees held in the custody of uniformed officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  I shall be studying the recommendations which Sir Louis has made carefully in the light of the changed circumstances since the ending of Provisional IRA's cessation of military operations.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means and on what criteria she intends to apportion vouchers distributed to parents for early-age education, where in any of the areas designated for phases 1 of the scheme the places offered by providers are fewer than the number of pupils whose parents have applied for vouchers. [17876]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No such apportioning of vouchers will take place. All parents of all eligible four-year-olds in the phase 1 authorities will receive vouchers.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each training and enterprise council(a) how much was spent on administration in 1994–95 and (b) the number of staff employed in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95 (A) for each TEC and (B) by all TECs. [18098]
  646
  Mr. Pake
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 February,Official Report, columns 483–84. This shows the amounts spent on administration in 1994–95 for each training and enterprise council and by all TECs. As TECs are private limited companies, they do not provide information to the DFEE on the number of staff they employ.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the savings to be made as a result of full implementation of the efficiency scrutiny report into the training and enterprise management fee and administrative costs. [18097]

  Mr. Paice
  I expect to publish shortly details of the action that the Department plans to take in response to the recent efficiency scrutiny into the training and enterprise council contract and management fee. We believe that implementation of the Department's plans will reduce costs significantly. However, estimates of total savings will need to await detailed discussions with TECs over the coming month.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if asylum seekers who are currently enrolled on Government-funded training courses remain eligible to receive the full training allowance(a) if they are in-country asylum seekers, (b) if their application for asylum is refused and (c) while awaiting the outcome of an appeal; and if she will make a statement; [18128]

  (2) if (a) future in-country asylum applicants and (b) asylum seekers whose application has been refused will remain eligible for training for work after obtaining permission to work; in what circumstances they will be entitled to receive a training allowance; and how the training allowance will be calculated. [18131]

  Mr. Paice
  Eligibility for Government-funded training programmes, and for training allowances, is a matter for the Department for Education and Employment.

  Asylum seekers remain eligible for Government-funded training programmes while they retain the Home Office's permission to work in the United Kingdom. They must fulfil the other eligibility criteria for those programmes which apply to all UK residents. Asylum seekers receive training allowances on the same basis as other trainees.

  Social Fund Training Programmes
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the average number of unemployed claimants in 1996–97 who participate in European social fund training programmes. [18113]

  Mr. Forth
  It is not possible to estimate the number of unemployed claimants participating in ESF training programmes. Although the majority of participants are unemployed, they do not have to be claimant unemployed to be eligible for ESF support and this information is not therefore recorded.

  Jobmatch Scheme
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of making the jobmatch pilot a nationwide scheme. [18101]

  Mr. Forth
  At this stage of the jobmatch pilots, there is insufficient evaluation information available to be able to estimate accurately the effects on public revenues.

  Assisted Places
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will announce the allocation of extra assisted places among schools in England for 1996–97. [18726]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There has been an excellent response to my announcement of 29 November inviting bids for the first instalment of the expansion of the assisted places scheme from September 1996. Over 400 schools applied for more than 7,400 new entry places this year. Bids were also received for over 5,200 additional places in 1997.

  I have allocated over 4,000 new entry places at around 280 schools in England for the academic year 1996–97. This is a significant contribution to expansion. As successive years' entries move up through the schools, the total number of places will eventually double the 34,000 currently available in England. Over half the new places will be for secondary pupils entering at ages 11 to 13 as in the existing scheme, and about a quarter for direct sixth form entry. Subject to parliamentary approval, I also intend to make places available for children to enter the scheme below the age of 11 at schools which have an integral junior department.

  I am placing in the Library of the House a list of the 226 schools currently participating in the scheme which will be increasing the number of assisted places. These amount to around 2,800 new entry places.

  A further 60 schools will be new to the scheme and have not previously had assisted places. I am completing negotiations with these on the provision of about 1,100 new entry places, and will place a list in the Library shortly.

  I will also announce shortly the allocation of some 100 additional aided places under the parallel at specialist schools for talented pupils of music and dance.

  Every region of England will benefit from these allocations. Nearly two fifths of the new places will be in girls' schools, and the remainder in coeducational and boys schools. This new tranche of assisted places secures an equitable distribution across the scheme as a whole.

  Many of the independent schools in the scheme serve major urban areas. I am asking those schools where appropriate to encourage applications for places for pupils from inner-city areas and the ethnic minority communities.

  All the schools receiving allocations for 1996 achieve outstanding GCSE and A-level results and maintain strong sixth forms. Many of the other schools bidding for places also have excellent records, and I regret that it was not possible to accommodate them within the provision available for the first instalment. I am keen to offer further
  648
  allocations of new entry places for 1997, and to extend places to separate preparatory schools for pupils aged below 11 and to encourage schools to develop distinctive facilities for pupils within particular needs.

  The extension of the assisted places scheme improves the opportunities for able children from less well-off families to benefit from the excellent education offered by all the schools participating in it.

TREASURY

  Taxation
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total yield from higher and lower rate taxpayers in 1994–95 for each English county or tax area. [16769]

  Mr. Jack
  The table provides estimates based on the survey of personal incomes for 1993–94, the latest available year for which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level.

  Lower and higher rate taxpayers, 1993–94

  £ million

  Taxpayers liable at lower rate but not basic rate

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  Total tax

  Total tax

  Cleveland

  11

  108

  Cumbria

  13

  138

  Durham

  13

  102

  Northumberland

  7

  98

  Tyne and Wear

  27

  166

  Humberside

  20

  193

  North Yorkshire

  16

  300

  South Yorkshire

  25

  221

  West Yorkshire

  49

  749

  Cheshire

  21

  427

  Greater Manchester

  62

  559

  Lancashire

  30

  340

  Merseyside

  28

  242

  Derbyshire

  19

  235

  Leicestershire

  20

  209

  Lincolnshire

  16

  162

  Northamptonshire

  10

  226

  Nottinghamshire

  27

  288

  Hereford and Worcester

  16

  313

  Shropshire

  7

  170

  Staffordshire

  16

  249

  Warwickshire

  12

  249

  West Midlands

  48

  452

  Cambridgeshire

  11

  288

  Norfolk

  14

  186

  Suffolk

  12

  275

  Bedfordshire

  9

  218

  Berkshire

  17

  596

  Buckinghamshire

  12

  637

  East Sussex

  19

  278

  Essex

  34

  857

  Greater London

  124

  6,070

  Hampshire

  44

  739

  Hertfordshire

  21

  693

  Kent

  32

  677

  Oxfordshire

  16

  412

  Surrey

  29

  1,300

  West Sussex

  15

  422

  Isle of Wight

  5

  21

  Avon

  22

  327

  649

  Lower and higher rate taxpayers, 1993–94

  —million

  Taxpayers liable at lower rate but not basic rate

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  Total tax

  Total tax

  Cornwall

  16

  70

  Devon

  29

  256

  Dorset

  18

  195

  Gloucestershire

  12

  264

  Somerset

  10

  113

  Wiltshire

  13

  285

  VAT (Leisure Complexes)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those member counties of the European Union which allow reduced VAT rates for leisure complexes; and in each case what is the ordinary rate and the reduced rate and the date on which the concession was made. [17790]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There is no common definition of leisure complexes. However, under the terms of the relevant EC agreements on VAT, member states have the option to apply reduced rates to certain specified goods and services, which include admission to sporting events and the use of sporting facilities. On the basis that those two categories most closely equate to leisure complexes, the table lists the member states that apply reduced rates. Detailed information on the date of introduction of the reduced rates is not readily available although, in general, reduced rates tend to date from the time when VAT was first introduced in the member state concerned.

  Percentage

  EC member state

  Standard rate of VAT

  Reduced rate of VAT applied admissions to sporting events

  Reduced rate of VAT applied to use of sporting facilities

  Belgium

  21

  3

  3

  Greece

  18

  8

  8

  Ireland

  21

  exempt

  12.5

  Italy

  19

  10

  —

  Luxembourg

  15

  3

  3

  Portugal

  17

  5

  5

  Spain

  16

  7 (amateur events only)

  —

  Source:

  European Commission Report on the operation of the VAT rates provisions in the Single Market (COM(94)584).

  Government Deficits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outturn against the Treasury Red Book forecast of Government deficits as a percentage of gross domestic product in the last four years including 1995 using the public sector borrowing requirement and Maastricht convergence, GGFD—general Government financial deficit—methods of measurement of Government deficit. [17663]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The table sets out the information requested. Calendar year forecasts are not made. Outturns for 1995–96 are not as yet known.
  650

  Percentage of GDP

  Year

  PSBR

  GGFD

  Budget forecast

  Outturn

  Budget forecast

  Outturn

  1992–93

  14.5

  6.00

  15.00

  7.50

  1993–94

  18.00

  7.00

  18.75

  7.25

  1994–95

  25.50

  5.25

  26.25

  6.25

  1995–96

  23.00

  n/a

  23.75

  n/a

  1 March 1992 and March 1993 Budgets respectively.

  2 November 1993 and November 1994 Budgets respectively.

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net subsidy to the nuclear generation industry from the Exchequer in 1995 prices in each year since 1996 to the proposed privatisation date of British Energy. [12474]

  Mr. Jack
  A public corporation's external finance requirement consists broadly of net flows of funds from the Government to the company, plus any net borrowing by the company. The external financing requirements of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear have been as follows since 1990–91, in 1994–95 prices (million):

  Nuclear Electric

  Scottish Nuclear

  1990–91

  1,384

  -2

  1991–92

  1,287

  27

  1992–93

  1,039

  15

  1993–94

  740

  -29

  1994–95

  483

  -48

  Note:

  1. Negative numbers indicate positive net cash generation by the industry. These funds will have been used for both revenue and capital expenditure. In the years concerned, Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear's expenditure on fixed assets was as follows, in 1994– prices (million £):

  Source:

  "Public Expenditure", Cm 2821, HM Treasury 1995. Financial year GDP deflator.

  Nuclear Electric

  Scottish Nuclear

  1990–91

  709

  42

  1991–92

  770

  49

  1992–93

  512

  58

  1993–94

  410

  50

  1994–95

  239

  35

  Source:

  Industry figures. Financial year GDP deflator.

  Prior to 1990, the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board were responsible for most nuclear generation in the UK. The accounts of those companies did not separately identify detailed financial information on nuclear generation.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the next steps review of the Inland Revenue is now complete; and if he will make a statement [18654]

  Mr. Jack
  The review of the Inland Revenue's next steps arrangements was announced in December 1994, and has been carried out in accordance with the normal
  651
  arrangements for periodic reviews of next steps bodies. Two of the three elements of the review have now been completed.

  The first element of the review required consideration of what are known as the prior options—abolition, privatisation, contractorisation or market testing of all or part of the Department's functions and reconsideration of its organisational structure. The review concluded that there is a continuing need for all the Department's core functions and that the wholesale privatisation of the work of assessing and collecting tax would not be appropriate, but the review also noted that the private sector has played and will continue to play a significant role in the delivery of the Department's business.

  Approaching 25 per cent. of the Department's annual running costs have already been contracted out, market tested or benchmarked against other market tests, and the Department's outsourcing contract for information technology services represents one of the largest such public sector arrangements in the world. The review reaffirmed the Inland Revenue's commitment to continue to search for further ways of involving the private sector either directly or indirectly in its work.

  The prior options review also concluded that the existing organisational structure based on a number of operational and service executive offices remains sound, and is right for the Inland Revenue.

  The second element of the review required evaluation of the effectiveness of the existing arrangements and scope for further improvements. That element took stock of the performance of the executive offices against their objectives and key targets, analysed their relationship with the centre of the Department and considered how existing arrangements might be improved. The results have been very encouraging, showing a marked improvement in performance since the establishment of the executive offices in April 1992, but areas for further development and improvement were identified and will be pursued.

  In the light of the findings of the review, the framework documents, which set out the policy and resources framework within which each of the Department's executive offices operates, and the authority, responsibilities and accountability of the controllers, are being revised.

  Ministerial Accountability
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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." [17320]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [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, Official Report, columns 589–604.

  Mortgage Endowment Policies
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the loss in revenue for each year since 1979 accruing from the granting of mortgage endowment policies. [17474]
  652
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1996]: The estimated cost of life assurance premium relief on mortgage endowment policy premiums was about £90 million in 1993–94 and £80 million in 1994–95. Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  These approximate estimates are based on information from the family expenditure survey.

PRIME MINISTER

  Export Controls
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to commission an independent review on the power to impose controls on exports from the United Kingdom. [17235]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February, Official Report, columns 589–604.

  Engagements
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 26 February, indicating the purpose of each meeting. [18170]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 29 February. [16238]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Thursday 29 February. [16239]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is carrying out official engagements in the far east.

  Downing Street Meetings
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) on how many occasions during the past 12 months he has had meetings at 10 Downing street with(a) Sir Gerrard Neale and (b) Lord Younger; [18208]

  (2) what facilities have been extended to Sir Gerrard Neale to have access to 10 Downing street in the past 12 months; and what access he has had to office and telephone facilities. [18207]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  As far as my right hon. Friend is aware, none.

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions British Aerospace was represented(a) directly

  653
  and (b) indirectly in groups led by (i) him and (ii) other Ministers to India in each of the last five years; if he will give the dates of such visits; and if he will make a statement. [18127]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  Representatives from British Aerospace have accompanied British Ministers to India on two occasions during the last five years in connection with our trade promotion programme for India.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had relating to the sale by British Aerospace to India of Hawk 100 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18133]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Indian air force has a requirement for a number of advanced jet trainer aircraft. British Aerospace has offered a variant of the Hawk aircraft to meet that requirement. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has commended the Hawk to the Indian Prime Minister on more than one occasion.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Prime Minister which lord-lieutenants will be affected by the changes in local government organisation that come into operation on 1 April. [18655]

  The Prime Minister
  On 1 April 1996 the following arrangements will come into effect.

  In the former county of Avon

  Mr. Jay Tidmarsh will become the new Lord-Lieutenant of the new county of Bristol.

  Sir John Wills, Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, will cover the unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset as part of the new ceremonial county of Somerset.

  Mr. Henry Elwes, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, will cover the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire as part of the new ceremonial county of Gloucestershire.

  In the former County of Cleveland

  The Lord Gisborough, at present Lord-Lieutenant of Cleveland, will become Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, when the unitary authorities of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton on Tees (south of the River Tees), previously in Cleveland, become part of the new ceremonial county of North Yorkshire.

  Sir Marcus Worsley will continue as Lord-Lieutenant of the whole of the county of North Yorkshire, including the new unitary authority of York.

  Mr. David Grant, as Lord-Lieutenant of Durham, will cover the unitary authorities of Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees (north of the River Tees) within the new ceremonial county of Durham.

  In the former county of Humberside

  Mr. Richard Marriott will become the Lord-Lieutenant of the new county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, covering the unitary authorities of Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

  Mrs. Bridget Cracroft-Eley, as Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, will cover the unitary authorities of North and North East Lincolnshire, as part of the new ceremonial county of Lincolnshire.

  Information Technology Developments
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Prime Minister how he intends to ensure that the United Kingdom derives maximum benefit from opportunities in developments in multi-media and information technology; and if he will make a statement. [18656]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government see the development of multi-media and information technology as an exciting area of opportunity for the United Kingdom in which much is already being achieved. These technological innovations are having an important impact on all aspects of our way of life. In the future there will be further opportunities for business to develop new products, services and ways of working; for individuals to adapt their work patterns; for consumers to improve their quality of life with new electronic products and services; and for the providers of services such as health care, education and training to strengthen their quality and delivery.

  The Government have been committed to the comprehensive development of these technologies since the early 1980s. By freeing up the market for our telecommunications and broadcasting industries through privatisation and deregulation and promoting the use of computers in schools we have made sure that the UK is in the vanguard of technological change. We are now undertaking a further range of initiatives, most recently through the information society initiative launched last month.

  A strong lead is rightly being given by the private sector's enterprise and initiative. That will continue to be supported by a focused and complementary partnership with Government. In order to reinforce that focus and driving force across Government, I have asked my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister to convene a ministerial group with the following terms of reference:
  "To identify and take forward significant cross-departmental initiatives to ensure that developments in information technology are exploited to the full in the national interest".

  In addition to the chairman, members of the group will be as follows:

  President of the Board of Trade

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Secretary of State for National Heritage

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. David Davis)

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry (Mr. Ian Taylor).

  Other Ministers will be invited to attend for items on which they have a departmental interest. My efficiency adviser and the chief scientific adviser will also attend.

  The work of the group will build on the information society initiative and the separate activities of the central information technology unit recently set up in the Office of Public Service to plan the Government's own use of technology. By these means the Government will ensure

  655
  that there is strengthened stimulus and co-ordination within and beyond Government to enable the UK to derive maximum benefit from the new technology.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Controls
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what review he has undertaken of export controls over dual-use goods. [17222]

  Mr. Lang
  Her Majesty's Government keep under constant review export controls on dual-use goods. These are mainly based on agreements reached with other member states of the European Union and partners in international export control forums. In addition, some controls are maintained by Her Majesty's Government on a unilateral basis to reflect United Kingdom national security considerations and foreign policy requirements.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral statement on the Scott report of 26 February,Official Report, columns 589–604, if he will list the specific responses made by Her Majesty's Government to each of the recommendations relating to policy contained in the report. [18176]

  Mr. Lang
  Specific responses to the recommendations relating to policy in Sir Richard Scott's report were set out in my speech on 26 February. I have promised to keep the House informed of progress on those that require further consideration prior to implementation. Changes to export control policies and procedures will be the subject of a consultation paper in due course, and I shall also keep the House informed of progress on this matter.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make changes in the personnel of his Department following criticisms contained in the report of the Scott inquiry. [16563]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: Where officials criticised in the Scott report had acted conscientiously, in good faith and in accordance with Government policy, it would not normally be appropriate to take disciplinary action against them. If there are cases where disciplinary action is considered appropriate, this would be carried out under normal departmental disciplinary procedure.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he first consulted with other Cabinet Ministers about the contents of the report of the Scott inquiry; and where and when such discussions took place and with whom. [16518]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: It is not the practice to give details of ministerial meetings.

  Magnox Reactors
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 February to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle),Official Report,
  656
  column 539, if he will place in the Library the evidence on the economics of continuing to generate electricity from the Magnox stations. [17832]

  Mr. Lang
  The economic case for continued operation of the Magnox stations was considered in detail as part of the Government's coal review. The conclusions were set out in paragraphs 7.71 to 7.80 of the White Paper "The Prospects for Coal", Cm 2235.

  Fossil Fuel Levy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 511, if he will provide details of the outstanding moneys that the fossil fuel levy will recover after privatisation of Nuclear Electric; and how they will be paid to British Energy. [17834]

  Mr. Lang
  Any outstanding moneys will be paid to Magnox Electric, rather than British Energy. The amount will depend on a number of factors that are still uncertain, such as the level of electricty consumption this year.

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions(a) he and (b) his Ministers have had over the last five years concerning the sale by British Aerospace to India of Hawk 100 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18198]

  Mr. Eggar
  A number of DTI Ministers have been involved in discussions and visits with British Aerospace over the last five years which would have included the prospects for Hawk in India.

  Regional Enterprise and Technology Schemes
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list what financial assistance has been given since 1980 by his Department to(a) Monderntask Ltd., Redruth, (b) Digitize Ltd., Truro, (c) Thimbles Ltd., Redruth, (d) South West Leisure Products Ltd., Redruth, (e) Van Pieters plc, Pewsey, (f) Pan Atlantic (UK) plc, Birmingham, (g) CSL Group by (i) type of grant and (ii) date. [15775]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 20 February 1996]: Six of the companies have received assistance under the Department's principal regional, enterprise and technology schemes since 1980:

  Company

  Scheme

  Payment £

  Date

  Moderntask Ltd.

  Regional Development Grant (RDG)

  78,228

  1991

  Thimbles Ltd.

  Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)

  22,000

  1993–94

  SW Leisure Products Ltd.

  RSA

  23,068

  1985

  RDG

  66,900

  1989

  Van Pieters plc

  Enterprise Initiative (EI)

  3,173

  1992

  Pan Atlantia (UK) Ltd.

  RSA

  22,000

  1993

  CSL Group

  EI

  3,014

  1993

  Workers' Rights
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action the European Union is taking to promote international rules (i) against(a) forced and (b) child labour and (ii) to guarantee workers' rights to organize and to bargain collectively; if the United Kingdom Government support this action; and if he will make a statement. [16903]

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Commission has recently published a communication which suggested that the World Trade Organisation conference at Singapore
  "could take the lead in the discussion and set up a working party to look into the question of the links between international trade and working conditions".
  The Government do not accept that there is any link between trade and labour standards and are opposed to any form of coercive trade action designed to impose particular social standards on developing countries. International labour standards are a matter for the International Labour Organisation, not for the WTO.

  Cement Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the cement industry and other interested parties about the alleged unfair advantages of the Greek cement industry over others in the EU. [17698]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have been asked to reply.

  No representations have been received from the cement industry or from other interested parties on this matter. However, I am aware that the relevant trade association—Cembureau—has been successful in an application to the European Court of Justice against the European Commission for failing to take appropriate action.

  British Library (Documents)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will press for the depositing of(a) the document numbered BL SRIS and (b) "British telecommunications engineering" of January 1996 in the British library. [17155]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have been asked to reply.

  Without further information it is not possible to identify the first of these two documents: the letters "BL SRIS" refer to the British library's science reference and information service which acquires a large volume of documents for its library collection. I understand that the journal entitled "British telecommunications engineering: the journal of the Institution of British Telecommunications Engineers" is published quarterly. One copy of each issue is deposited with the British library by the publishers, as required under the statutory legal deposit arrangements, and a further copy of each issue is donated to the British library.

  The most recent issue of this journal to be received under legal deposit was volume 14, part 3, dated October 1995, which was deposited on 6 December 1995. On the basis of the publishing pattern of this journal, the library would expect to receive copies of the January 1996 issue during March.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17686]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This answer refers to the Lord Chancellor's Department, Court Service and Public Trust Office. Statistics collected by the Department and the two agencies referred to are aimed at improving decision making, stimulating research and informing debate within government and the wider community. Where statistics broken down by gender are relevant to this purpose, the Department will consider them when deciding or reviewing what to collect. Currently, the Department collects statistics broken down by gender on, for example, public and judicial appointments made by the Lord Chancellor or on his recommendation.

  Legal Aid (Franchised Firms)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of franchised firms in each legal aid area at(a) 1 August 1994, (b) at 1 June 1995 and (c) 1 December 1995. [18209]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Franchises are awarded to suppliers' offices rather than firms. The number of franchised offices in each legal aid area as at the dates requested was as follows:

  Legal aid area

  1 August 1994

  1 June 1995

  1 December 1996

  London

  108

  117

  126

  Brighton

  53

  92

  94

  Reading

  115

  141

  148

  Bristol

  93

  122

  128

  Cardiff

  46

  41

  44

  Birmingham

  27

  32

  32

  Manchester

  70

  73

  91

  Newcastle

  36

  45

  44

  Leeds

  66

  70

  79

  Nottingham

  87

  102

  115

  Cambridge

  108

  124

  132

  Chester

  37

  42

  49

  Liverpool

  40

  44

  58

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of sole practitioner firms holding a franchise at 1 November 1995 in each of the legal aid areas. [18210]

  Mr. Evans
  Information on the number of sole practitioner firms holding a franchise is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [16768]
  659
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Lord Chancellor's Department spent the following amounts on the Isle of Wight in 1994–95:

  (a) staff £238,241

  (b) services £169,764

  (c) offices £47,633

  (d) other categories.

  Some £191,556 of legal aid payments were made through the Crown court on the Isle of Wight. Expenditure from the legal aid fund cannot be identified separately. The Legal Aid Board administers applications and bills regionally and payments to Isle of Wight practitioners could be identified only by scrutinising each bill at the regional office.

  In addition, local authority expenditure on magistrates courts on the Isle of Wight was £747,361. The Lord Chancellor's Department pays grants to local authorities at a rate of 80 per cent. of approved expenditure of magistrates courts.

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [16892]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Civil servants faced with a conflict of interest must declare their interest to senior management so that senior management can determine how best to proceed. This requirement is set out in the Department's personnel management manual. Records of such declarations are kept in written form on the individual's personal file. Staff who disclose relevant interests do so on the understanding that the declaration, like all employment matters, is confidential between them and their employer. I do not intend to establish a central register of officials' interests.

DEFENCE

  Equipment Sales (Iraq)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Iraq desk within the defence sales sector of his Department was closed. [16314]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No assistance has been provided by my Department to British industry to promote sales of defence equipment to Iraq since August 1990. Before that date, any assistance provided would have been consistent with the guidelines in respect of exports to Iran and Iraq.

  Training Services (Foreign Governments)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay his Department's decisions to write off expenditure in respect of training services for foreign Governments; and if he will indicate when and how the policies which informed these decisions have been reported to Parliament. [17784]
  660
  Mr. Soames
  Assistance with military training takes place mainly in support of wider foreign policy aims, but can also serve defence objectives by promoting stability and military effectiveness in countries where we retain valuable facilities, including for transit or training, or where we have an obligation to assist in the event of a security threat. Assistance of this nature forms part of military task 3.11, as described in paragraph 522 of the 1993 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" and significant activities under this task have been reported in subsequent statements on the defence estimates. On occasion, the MOD agrees to waive the costs of training provided in the furtherance of these objectives. Training costs can also be reduced or waived in the furtherance of some defence sales, but only when it is considered essential for the sale and when matching cost contributions are provided by the commercial firm involved. The total value of receipts forgone in respect of training is reported each year in the appropriation account. In addition, Ministers have from time to time provided information on the value of such waivers in response to questions. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 3 April 1995,Official Report, columns 968–69.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sums of money(a) written off each year in respect of training services for foreign Governments and (b) waived in respect of training services for foreign military students; if he will distinguish the costs incurred for policy reasons; and if he will list any expenditure written off or waived in respect of the Government of Iraq. [17783]

  Mr. Soames
  The primary responsibility for funding military assistance lies with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. On occasion, however, where there is a benefit to defence interests, the MOD agrees to waive the costs of training provided to foreign Governments. According to available records, the total of these waivers in the last five years is as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Total waiver

  Waiver for policy reasons

  1990–91

  4.6

  4.1

  1991–92

  4,6

  4.3

  1992–93

  5.9

  4.0

  1993–94

  5.5

  4.3

  1994–95

  5.2

  4.9

  Beyond the above costs, there have been no write-offs in respect of training services for foreign Governments.

  Details of the assistance provided are confidential between Governments.

  There are no records of any expenditure written off or waived during this period in respect of training services to the Government of Iraq.

  Seconded Staff
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what guidelines(a) in force now and (b) issued since 1981 prevent company staff seconded

  661
  to his Department working on memoranda of advice to Ministers on matters affecting the company from which they were seconded; [17797]

  (2) what guidelines have been issued since 13 May 1985 preventing access by company staff seconded to Defence Export Sales Organisation to correspondence, memoranda, and other contracts between the Ministry of Defence and their company; and what guidelines exist at the present time. [17795]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Rules governing access to, and possible disclosure of, information apply to all secondees to this Department, not just to those seconded to the Defence Export Sales Organisation. Guidance was issued by the Cabinet Office management and personnel office in 1987 which addressed, inter alia, the conduct of secondees to Government Departments. Secondees were reminded that they were subject to the Official Secrets Acts and were"to avoid situations that may lead to conflicts of interest."

  Attention was drawn to the need to avoid embarrassment either to the parent organisation or to the host Department. These rules remain in force.

  The Department's secondment agreement, which applies to all our secondees, requires them to conform to the normal civil service and departmental rules on conduct. These state:
  "no officer may engage in any occupation or undertaking which might in any way conflict with the interests of the Ministry of Defence or be inconsistent with his/her position as a public servant".

  Where a conflict of interest could arise, the secondee would be expected to declare this possibility to his/her line manager.

  On the question of possible disclosure, MOD rules state that material
  "which is of a security classified or confidential nature, to which the Secondee has access as a result of his/her work on secondment, (subject to the rights of third parties) may only be copied, disclosed and used solely for the purpose of performing that work. Such information or material may not be disclosed to or copied or used for the benefit of the Company or any of its employees or any other third party, without the prior written consent of the Secretary of State."

  Future Large Aircraft
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current position regarding Britain's membership of the future large aircraft project. [17435]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The United Kingdom has taken an active part in discussions on the future large aircraft project since the announcement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary when Secretary of State for Defence in December 1994 and will be considering with the FLA partner nations the implications of recent French statements on FLA funding.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discovery by implementation forces of weapons in the neighbourhood of Sarajevo; what evidence has been found of complicity 662
  between the Bosnian Government and Iranians detained at the site of the discovery; and if the matter is being referred to the war crimes tribunal. [16294]

  Mr. Soames
  On 15 February, IFOR raided a building near Fojnica in central Bosnia and seized weapons, ammunition, explosives and bomb-making equipment. Eleven people were arrested at the scene, including three Iranians. IFOR is continuing its investigation into the discovery, which is believed to constitute a violation of the peace agreement that prohibits the presence of foreign forces in Bosnia. The matter does not fall within the mandate of the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

  Army Careers Information Offices
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of Army careers information offices in Scotland; which of these are to remain open and for how long; and if he will make a statement. [17480]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 18 Army careers information offices—ACIOs—in Scotland. Five of these are to become armed forces careers offices—AFCOs—during the next calendar year. These AFCOs will be manned and operated on a tri-service basis. A further nine ACIOs will become permanent Army satellite offices and provide support for the AFCOs. Additionally, four offices due for closure will remain open until April 1997. These four offices form part of the Army's recent review of its requirement for ACIOs as referred to in the Official Report, 20 February 1996, column 96. Locations of all the careers offices are shown in the table.

  Armed forces careers offices

  Aberdeen

  Dundee

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  Inverness.

  Army satellite offices

  Bathgate

  Dumfries

  Dunfermline

  Galashiels

  Glenrothes

  Hamilton

  Irvine

  Perth

  Stirling.

  Short-term retained offices

  Dumbarton

  Elgin

  Greenock

  Wick.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17679]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Ministry of Defence does not collect statistics from the general public, local authorities and business. Personnel information to assist the Ministry
  663
  in running its business is compiled from the Ministry's administrative systems and from surveys of the armed forces and civilian personnel. All the data are available by gender, although not always published as such.

  Hawk 100 Aircraft
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions(a) he and (b) his Ministers have had over the last five years concerning the sale by British Aerospace to India of Hawk 100 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18200]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Indian air force has a requirement for a number of advanced jet trainer aircraft. British Aerospace has offered a variant of the Hawk aircraft to meet that requirement. I discussed this with the Indian authorities during my recent visit. During the last five years, there have been a number of instances when Defence Ministers have had occasion to commend Hawk to the Indians.

  Defence Dental Agency
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the creation of the Defence Dental Agency. [18763]

  Mr. Soames
  The Defence Dental Agency—DDA—will form up on 1 March 1996, when primary dental care currently provided on a single-service basis will be included within a tri-service agency under the control of a chief executive. The headquarters of the DDA will initially be based in London and its training functions will be undertaken at Aldershot and Halton. However, the majority of the agency's personnel will continue to be employed in dental clinics throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. The staff of the agency comprise 864 military and 179 civilian personnel.

  Each service will continue to recruit to its own dental branch and to be responsible for issuing appointments and posting orders for personnel of their particular service into, within, and out of the agency after agreement with the chief executive, and for an agreed duration. It is expected that uniformed dental personnel will spend the major part of their career working within the agency.

  The aim of the agency is to contribute to the operational effectiveness of the armed forces by achieving and maintaining, in the most cost-effective way, their dental fitness in war, operational situations other than war, and peace.

  The chief executive will be afforded the responsibility and flexibility to build upon the professional ability and reputation for excellence of all three service dental branches. This will ensure that the MOD retains the capacity to deploy trained dental staff on military operations, retain close supervision of the dental fitness standards of service personnel, and maximise value for money in the delivery of dental treatment for service personnel in order to maintain their operational readiness during peacetime.

  The chief executive has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:
  664

  1. To achieve the number of professional militarily trained personnel required for deployment at the specified readiness to meet medical support plans for the national contingency force based on defence planning assumptions 96.

  2. To define and implement tri-service dental fitness for deployment standards, and introduce a system of coding and quantifying outstanding treatment needs by 31 March 1996; and to achieve the agreed dental fitness for deployment performance targets by 31 March 1997.

  3. To identify a suitable clinical management information system and implement it at all DDA main locations.

  4. To operate an interim accounting system and a revised feeder system in order to produce full-cost accrual-based accounts for the financial year 1996–97 for preliminary audit by the National Audit Office.

  5. To achieve the agreed level of dental fitness for the forecast military population and provide treatment for dependants and entitled civilians overseas within budget; and to identify efficiency measures in the course of the financial year 1996– 97 to meet a specific efficiency target for the financial year 1997–98.

  I have arranged for copies of the agency's framework document to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Medical Supplies Agency
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the creation of the Medical Supplies Agency. [18762]

  Mr. Soames
  The defence medical supply organisation will become a defence agency of the Ministry of Defence, to be known as the Medical Supplies Agency—MSA—on 1 March 1996. The MSA will include the Army blood supply depot at Aldershot, the defence medical equipment depot at Ludgershall and 16 medical provisioning points located throughout the UK and overseas.

  The MSA will remain part of the MOD, but the chief executive will have delegated executive powers to discharge his responsibilities. The agency will employ 65 military and 260 civilian staff. The location of the headquarters of the agency has yet to be confirmed, but will initially be at Ludgershall.

  The aim of the agency is to ensure the most cost-effective and timely provision of medical, dental and veterinary material, blood and blood products, technical and logistic support and trained personnel to the UK armed forces in war, operations other than war, and peace.

  The chief executive has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:

  1. To build, hold and maintain the agreed number of kits, outfits and associated items of equipment, as defined in endorsed equipment tables.

  2. To meet 100 per cent. of operational deployment requirements to time.

  3. To achieve efficiency savings of £4 million in the cash budget of the agency whilst maintaining a constant level of output.

  4. By April 1997, to have a fully integrated tri-service structure in place.

  5. To identify the minimum stock levels necessary for the agency and publish quantifiable stock reduction targets for the financial year 1997–98.

  6. To design and implement the initial customer survey so as to establish a quantifiable baseline for measuring customer satisfaction.

  665

  7. To implement an accounting system to produce full-cost accruals based accounts for the financial year 1996–97 for preliminary audit by the National Audit Office.

  8. Successful implementation of the medical material management information system and production of a statement of requirement for the procurement of systems to meet the agency's MIS needs.

  I have arranged for copies of the agency's framework document to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Ministerial Accountability
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 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". [17306]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [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, Official Report, columns 589–604.

  Astra Holdings
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were(a) the first and (b) the final dates of the removal of documents from Astra Holdings by Ministry of Defence police in 1990; [17845]

  (2) what were (a) the first and (b) the final dates of the lists of documents removed from Astra Holdings by Ministry of Defence police as required by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. [17800]

  Mr. Soames
  The first and final dates of the schedules of documents removed by the Ministry of Defence police from Astra Holdings were 13 March 1990 and 22 July 1992 respectively. The first and final dates of the removal of documents from Astra Holdings by Ministry of Defence police in 1990 were 13 March and 7 August 1990 respectively.

  Royal Navy Personnel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of state for Defence how many(a) males and (b) females are employed as (i) commissioned officers, by rank, (ii) non-commissioned officers, by rank and (iii) seamen in the Royal Navy. [17947]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of the rank and gender breakdown of personnel of the naval service is included in a tri-service publication, TSP9, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House.

  Army Personnel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) males and (b) females are

  Location

  Meeting date

  Room hire £

  Travel and accommodation for staff1£

  Equipment provision and transport2£

  Other costs3 £

  Total £

  Edinburgh

  11 December 1995

  713

  4,210

  1,571

  699

  7,192

  Glasgow

  18 December 1995

  —

  4,166

  411

  —

  4,578

  666
  employed as (i) commissioned officers, by rank, (ii) non-commissioned officers, by rank and (iii) privates in the Army. [17949]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is contained in a tri-service publication TSP9, page 3, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  RAF Personnel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) males and (b) females are employed as (i) commissioned officers, by rank, (ii) non-commissioned officers, by rank and (iii) airmen in the RAF. [17948]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of the breakdown of RAF personnel by rank and gender as at 1 January 1996 are included in the latest edition of the tri-service personnel statistics—TSP9—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary to State for Defence what actions he(a) has taken and (b) plans to take as a result of the recommendations of the Scott report. [16960]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February,Official Report, columns 589–604.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the total cost of each of the sittings of the Scottish Grand Committee held in Scotland during this Parliament; and what is the estimated cost of the future sittings in Scotland planned in this parliamentary Session for(a) room hire, (b) accommodation for parliamentary staff, (c) travel for parliamentary staff, (d) equipment transport costs and (e) other costs. [17770]

  Mr. Beith
  The costs to date of the six meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee held this Session are given in the table. These figures have been produced by a manual clerical check since costings have hitherto not been analysed to individual meetings. It is also the case that these figures are not the final costs as there are still some invoices and claims outstanding. Excluded from these figures are staff overtime, hire of telephone lines and Members' travel. Estimates are not produced in detail for each visit but the forecast for each meeting was expected to be approximately £8,500. The estimate for the seven future meetings planned up until the 8 July is £59,500.
  667

  Location

  Meeting date

  Room hire £

  Travel and accommodation for staff £

  Equipment provision and transport2 £

  Other costs1 £

  Total £

  Edinburgh

  15 January 1996

  —

  6,941

  411

  2,188

  9,540

  Stirling

  29 January 1996

  —

  1,970

  1,569

  350

  3,888

  Inverness

  5 February 1996

  —

  3,298

  —

  —

  3,298

  Aberdeen

  19 February 1996

  —

  1,650

  —

  —

  1,650

  1 Staff travel and accommodation costs are not separately analysed in the accounting system.

  2 The cost of providing recording equipment, transport is included.

  3 Includes security and refreshments.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the cost of each meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee in the current Session to date; and what is the estimated cost of each of those planned for the remainder of the Session. [12960]

  Mr. Beith
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1996, c. 337–38]: I am now able to give the hon. Member, in the table, the following information about the six meetings of

  Location

  Meeting date

  Room hire £

  Travel and accommodation for staff1 £

  Equipment provision and transport2 £

  Other costs3 £

  Total £

  Edinburgh

  11 December 1995

  713

  4,210

  1,571

  699

  7,192

  Glasgow

  18 December 1995

  —

  4,166

  411

  —

  4,578

  Edinburgh

  15 January 1996

  —

  6,941

  411

  2,188

  9,540

  Stirling

  29 January 1996

  —

  1,970

  1,569

  350

  3,888

  Inverness

  5 February 1996

  —

  3,298

  —

  —

  3,298

  Aberdeen

  19 February 1996

  —

  1,650

  —

  —

  1,650

  1 Staff travel and accommodation costs are not separately analysed in the accounting system.

  2 The cost of providing recording equipment, transport is included.

  3 Includes security and refreshments.

HEALTH

  Medium Secure Units
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average length of stay in medium secure units; and if length of stay is limited. [16787]

  Mr. Bowis
  The length of time patients spend in medium secure units is determined by their clinical needs. We do not have information centrally about an average for the length of stay.

  Available beds and staffed residential places for mentally ill people

  England

  Year

  Staffed residential places

  Beds

  Total beds and places

  Local authority

  Voluntary sector

  Private sector

  Private hospitals nursing homes and clinics

  NHS mental illness

  1987–88

  5,673

  2,581

  6,902

  4,507

  67,127

  86,790

  1988–89

  5,922

  2,576

  7,649

  5,862

  62,999

  85,008

  1989–90

  5,734

  3,008

  8,949

  7,693

  59,290

  84,674

  1990–91

  5,741

  3,454

  9,590

  10,772

  55,239

  84,796

  1991–92

  5,555

  4,245

  10,245

  12,653

  50,278

  82,976

  1992–93

  5,360

  4,935

  10,840

  16,946

  47,308

  85,389

  1993–94

  5,080

  5,004

  11,567

  21,082

  43,532

  86,265

  1994–95

  4,747

  5,192

  12,245

  24,190

  41,827

  88,201

  668
  the Scottish Grand Committee held so far this Session. These figures have been produced by a manual-clerical check as costings have not hitherto been analysed to individual meetings. It is also the case that these figures are not the final costs as there are still some invoices and claims outstanding. Excluded from these figures are staff overtime, hire of telephone lines and Members' travel. Estimates are not produced in detail for each visit but the forecast for each meeting was expected to be approximately £8,500. The estimate for the seven future meetings planned up until the 8 July is £59,500.

  Psychiatric Hospital Beds
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of psychiatric hospital beds available for(a) short-stay and (b) long-stay patients between 1987 and 1995, together with a definition of short and long-stay patients. [16782]

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of available beds in hospital and residential units for mentally ill people is shown in the table.
  669
  In addition, there are about 1,600 places in the three special hospitals at Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton.

  Notes:

  Nursing care places in residential care homes which are registered for both residential and nursing care are included in the column containing nursing homes.

  Source: Department of Health RAC5, RA13A, KO36 and KH03 returns.

  The breakdown requested is available only in respect of NHS mental illness beds and is shown in the table.

  Average daily number of available beds/wards open 24 hours—NHS hospitals

  England: mental illness

  Short stay

  Long stay

  1987–88

  21,563

  38,984

  1988–89

  22,505

  39,687

  1989–90

  22,754

  35,667

  1990–91

  22,427

  31,942

  1991–92

  22,159

  27,237

  1992–93

  21,652

  24,724

  1993–94

  21,447

  21,056

  1994–95

  22,101

  18,644

  Notes:

  1. Definitions:

  Short Stay (Psychiatric). An element of the component of the ward classification intensity of care (psychiatric). Facilities for the mentally ill who are intended to stay less than one year.

  Long Stay (Psychiatric). An element of the component of the ward classification intensity of care (psychiatric). Facilities for the mentally ill who are intended to stay a year or more.

  2. The table excludes places in special hospitals and NHS secure wards, which are not defined in these terms.

  Bed availability for England, a copy of which is in the Library, contains information by individual NHS providers, ie Trusts, Directly managed Units and the Special Health Authorities, with summary tables for England. Data are collected by broad ward classification rather than by clinical specialty and returns are made on a financial year basis. The latest year for which data are available is 1994–95.

  Source:

  Department of Health KH03 returns.

  Accident and Emergency Units, Durham
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the cost of upgrading the accident and emergency department in Dryburn hospital, Durham; and how many extra full-time staff will be employed there; [17215]

  (2) how much will be saved as a result of the closure of the accident and emergency department at Shotley Bridge hospital, Durham. [17216]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for North Durham acute hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact the trust chairman, Mr. C. P. Douglas, for details.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the infant mortality rates in(a) East London/City, (b) Redbridge and Waltham Forest and (c) Kingston and Richmond; and what factors underlie the disparities between these figures; [17428]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the factors underlying significant variations in infant mortality rates in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) London. [17427]
  670
  Mr. Horam
  The infant mortality rates requested are as shown in the table:

  Infant mortality rates per 1,000 live births 1994

  Location

  Rate per 1,000 live births

  East London and The City Health Authority

  8.8

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority

  6.7

  Kingston and Richmond Health Authority

  3.1

  The infant mortality rate for England and Wales as a whole has halved over the last 15 years and is now at the lowest level ever achieved. All parts of the country have benefited from this reduction, but variations in infant mortality, which have been apparent since the 1950s, have persisted. Last October, we asked health authorities to act on the recommendation of a report commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer, "Variations in Health: What can the Department of Health and the National Health Service do?", copies of which are available in the Library. We have also allocated £2.4 million in 1996 for research into the causes of variations in health and the needs of particularly vulnerable groups of the population.

  Lung Cancer
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average annual cost to the NHS for treating all people suffering from(a) lung cancer and (b) mesothelioma over the last five years; [17221]

  (2) what is the current average cost to the NHS for treating each person suffering from (a) lung cancer and (b) mesothelioma over the course of their illness. [17220]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Construction Skills Certification Scheme
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure that personnel on its construction sites have construction skills certification scheme accreditation. [17438]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no current plans to issue guidance about the construction skills certification scheme, which is a voluntary register operated by the construction industry training board.

  Aging Study
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was his Department's input into the Medical Research Council's cognitive function and aging study; and if he will make a statement. [17512]

  Mr. Malone
  The cognitive function and aging study is a large, multi-centre study of the prevalence, incidence and natural history of declining cognitive function and dementia in old age. The Department has contributed £100,000 per year over seven years. In addition to the financial support, the Department has a presence on the project's steering group.

  NHS Patients (Compensation)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums were paid out by the national health service to patients or their relatives as compensation, in each of the last five years for which information is available. [17714]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not separately identifiable from central returns.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters he received from the general public during 1995 on difficulties in obtaining treatment from NHS dentists. [17656]

  Mr. Malone
  During 1995 the Department of Health received some 243 letters from members of the public which were concerned with difficulties in gaining access to national health service dentists.

  Paediatric Cardiac Operators, Bristol
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlay his Department's decision to advise the United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust that an arterial switch operation scheduled to be performed at the Bristol royal infirmary on 12 January 1995 should not take place as planned. [17716]

  Mr. Horam
  My Department did not advise that the operation should not take place. It would not be appropriate for my Department to become involved in matters of clinical judgment. Concern was expressed to my Department about the advisability of operating in view of concerns expressed previously by some members of staff of the Bristol royal infirmary about the performance of complex paediatric open heart operations including the "switch". The United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust was informed about the expressions of concern and asked to ensure that the concerns were taken into account when deciding whether the operation should proceed.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received from Professor G. Angelini since 1990 about the performance of neo-natal arterial switch operations at Bristol royal infirmary. [17715]

  Mr. Horam
  Professor Angelini expressed concern in the summer of 1994 about the results of an audit of performance of complex paediatric cardiac procedures including the neo-natal switch operation. These concerns were communicated to the United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust by my Department.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received during the last five years from the supra-regional services advisory group about the performance of paediatric cardiac operations at Bristol royal infirmary. [17713]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Smokers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of(a) men and (b) women in the United Kingdom aged 15 to 20 years smoke; and if he will make a statement. [17522]
  672
  Mr. Horam
  Information is not readily available in the form requested, but it is estimated that, among persons aged 16 to 20 in the United Kingdom, 31 per cent. of men and 27 per cent. of women smoke cigarettes.

  Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue guidance to social services departments regarding the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of this notice relative to the date of the Act coming into force. [17547]

  Mr. Bowis
  Policy and practice guidance to accompany the Act was distributed to local health authorities on 28 February 1996, copies of which will be placed in the Library. Draft versions were issued on 10 October 1995—some six months before the Act comes into force.

  Carers
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of carers in the United Kingdom; and how many are providing care for 20 hours or more each week. [17567]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is estimated that the number of carers in the United Kingdom in 1990 was 6.8 million, of whom 1.5 million provide care for more than 20 hours each week.

  Postgraduate Deans
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 601, how many withdrawals of approval for post have been made by postgraduate deans in each of the last five years. [17941]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Waiting List Initiative
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received and what evidence he has assessed that the waiting list initiative has led to longer waits for urgent cases. [18061]

  Mr. Horam
  We have no evidence that the waiting list initiative has led to longer waits for urgent cases. Half of all admissions to hospital are immediate. Of those patients who go on to a waiting list, those who need urgent treatment are given priority. Decisions on when to admit patients are for doctors and must be based on their assessment of patients' clinical need.

  Hospital Closures, Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have closed since 1978 in the London borough of Wandsworth. [16062]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Harry Cowd, chairman of Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority, for details of hospital closures in the area.

  Accident and Emergency Provisions, Liverpool and Sefton
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of accident and emergency provision in the Liverpool and South Sefton health authority areas; and what plans he has to provide additional resources for the provision of more intensive care beds. [16291]

  Mr. Horam
  These are matters for the Liverpool and Sefton health authorities. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. D. H. Tod and Mr. F. R. Ludlow, chairmen of Liverpool and Sefton health authorities respectively, for details.

  Adoption
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact of adoption on inheritance rights. [17388]

  Mr. Bowis
  Under the Adoption Act 1976, an adopted child's links with his birth family are severed and he is treated as the legitimate child of the adopter. He is therefore entitled to inherit only from the adoptive parent and adoptive family. An adopted person does not have legal entitlement to inherit from a birth parent unless his interest has been vested before the adoption order is made. Where interest is only contingent, that interest will be lost on adoption. The proposed Adoption Bill will include a provision to give the court discretion to allow an adopted child to retain a contingent interest—or part of it—in his birth family's property after adoption.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the Government's White Paper published in 1992 recommending changes to the existing adoption law. [17390]

  Mr. Bowis
  Following publication of the White Paper "Adoption: The Future" in November 1993, a draft Bill is being prepared for consultation and will be available shortly.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis have been confirmed over the past six months; how many patients have died; and what were the figures for the same period in 1994–95 in(a)the Tees health authority area and (b) England and Wales. [17590]

  Mr. Horam
  Provisional data on notified cases of meningitis and meningococcal disease in Cleveland—and its component authorities—for the last six-month period of 1995 and the corresponding period in 1994 are shown in the tables. Notifications can be made on clinical suspicion alone and it is likely that some notified cases will not have been laboratory confirmed.

  The incidence of meningococcal infection usually increases during the winter. In 1995, the rise in cases appears to have come earlier than usual, in December. Though this partly explains the higher 1995 figures for the July to December period, we did see more cases than in 1994 and also an increase in the proportion of the less
  674
  common group C strain. Nevertheless, the total number of cases and types of meningitis seen in 1995 is not out of line with that experienced in the recent past.

  All Meningitis

  July-December 1994

  July-December 1995

  Notifications

  Deaths

  Notifications

  Deaths

  England and Wales

  792

  88

  1,136

  120

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Langbaurgh on Tees

  0

  1

  6

  0

  Middlesbrough

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Stockton on Tees

  2

  2

  3

  0

  Cleveland total

  3

  3

  12

  1

  Meningococcal meningitis

  July-December 1994

  July-December 1995

  Notifications

  Deaths

  Notifications

  Deaths

  England and Wales

  378

  7

  537

  17

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Langbaurgh on Tees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Middlesbrough

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Stockton on Tees

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Cleveland total

  1

  0

  5

  1

  Meningococcal septicaemia—without meningitis

  July-December 1994

  July-December 1995

  Notifications

  Deaths

  Notifications

  Deaths

  England and Wales

  199

  57

  327

  78

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Langbaurgh on Tees

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Middlesbrough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stockton on Tees

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Cleveland total

  0

  0

  10

  0

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17682]

  Mr. Horam
  Gender specific statistical information is already collected by the Department where justified by the purposes the data will serve and where the collation of the data does not place an undue burden on data providers. The coverage and level of detail of all centrally held statistics, including gender-related information, is subject to regular review in consultation with the providers and users of the data.

  Cancer Services, Bristol
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about cancer services at the Bristol oncology centre. [17897]
  675
  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for Avon health commission and the United Bristol healthcare NHS trust. I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 28 February,Official Report, at columns 849–57.

  Disabled People (Care Services)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has now considered the implications for local authorities of the High Court's decision in relation to Gloucestershire county council's refusal to restore care services to over 1,000 disabled people in the county; and if he plans to issue further guidance to local authorities on the effect of section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 following the High Court's decision. [17917]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have no current plans to issue further guidance on this matter.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate his Department has made of the amount of money which will be reclaimed under the new rules for prescription charges in respect of men aged between 60 and 65; [16945]

  (2) how many pensioners have claimed refunds of prescription charges under the new rules affecting men aged between 60 and 65 years. [16944]
  676
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what total repayments have been made by the prescription claims processing unit to men aged 60 to 64 years since 20 October 1995; [17252]

  (2) what percentage of applications received by the prescription claims processing unit have been processed to the latest available date; [17254]

  (3) how many applications for refunds of NHS prescriptions charges have been lodged by men aged 60 to 64 years since 20 July 1995; and what percentage of those eligible this represents. [17253]

  Mr. Malone
  We do not hold figures on the number of men aged 60 to 65 who have paid prescription charges prior to the European Court of Justice ruling. Following our invitation to register a claim we have issued over 187,000 claim forms to men in the United Kingdom. At the close of business on 23 February 132,000—70 per cent.—had been returned.

  To date the prescription claims processing unit has authorised payments totalling £2.6 million to 83,000 —63 per cent.—men. At this stage it is not possible to forecast accurately the total cost of likely refunds but they are not expected to exceed £6 million. This does not include the cost of prepayment certificates refunded locally by family health services authorities. Administration costs will be additional.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sporting Events (Broadcasting)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she was informed of the Sky TV pay-as-you-view proposal for selected future sporting events prior to its announcement. [17745]

  Mr. Sproat
  This is a commercial matter between BSKyB and the right holder involved. My Department was not consulted.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list those contracts her Department

  £ thousand

  Administration costs (exclusive of wages)

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Millennium Commission

  Arts Council of England

  Scottish Arts Council

  Arts Council of Wales

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland1

  Sports Council

  Scottish Sports Council

  Sports Council for Wales1

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland1

  January 1995

  9.3

  291.5

  173.0

  4—

  28.2

  21.2

  4.5

  0.0

  3—

  2.8

  48.8

  February

  99.1

  256.0

  230.0

  —

  5.3

  18.8

  4.5

  875.3

  —

  2.8

  12.9

  March

  214.3

  256.7

  61,445.0

  1,242.0

  23.2

  21.6

  4.5

  304.4

  201.3

  2.8

  9.7

  April

  181.0

  302.7

  7.0

  36.6

  20.2

  10.5

  0.2

  130.1

  3.8

  2.8

  19.7

  May

  105.6

  425.4

  103.0

  36.6

  12.9

  12.0

  10.1

  33.1

  4.7

  2.8

  17.1

  June

  247.6

  511.1

  95.0

  431.2

  19.6

  12.8

  3.5

  17.4

  5.2

  2.8

  4.0

  July

  165.0

  643.0

  443.0

  150.5

  6.4

  4.9

  3.8

  312.6

  9.3

  2.8

  4.0

  August

  161.6

  547.5

  226.0

  355.7

  16.8

  36.4

  6.0

  384.1

  18.4

  2.8

  5.2

  September

  126.6

  715.6

  200.0

  349.6

  9.5

  10.2

  4.7

  250.4

  12.5

  2.8

  37.2

  October

  359.8

  918.4

  380.0

  119.7

  25.5

  10.2

  4.9

  159.8

  6.6

  2.8

  3.0

  November

  234.1

  777.2

  270.0

  301.2

  28.2

  9.4

  8.2

  186.4

  11.9

  2.8

  0.0

  December

  257.0

  1,015.8

  463.0

  168.2

  3.4

  28.4

  7.7

  196.4

  13.7

  2.8

  3.5

  January 1996

  270.7

  743.3

  367.0

  5—

  40.6

  24.6

  3.4

  5—

  19.2

  2.8

  5—

  Total

  2,431.7

  7,404.2

  4,402.0

  3,191.3

  239.8

  221.0

  66.0

  2,850.0

  306.6

  36.4

  165.1

  1. The NHMF, the art councils and the sports councils were established to perform other activities prior to the national lottery. The figures shown for administration and wages, represent the charge to lottery funds of all full-time lottery staff, plus a proportion of the costs of other staff in the organisations, who spend only part of their time working on lottery activities.

  2. Distributors began developing systems to carry out lottery duties in the autumn of 1994. Costs associated with this development were met from other sources (grant-in-aid) and recharged against lottery funds in the first few months of 1995.

  1 Administration costs and wages of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Sports Council for Wales and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland are initially met by the main council and recharged to the lottery at a later date. This does not always take place on a monthly basis.

  2 Administration and wages costs of the Scottish Sports Council lottery unit for January, February and March 1995 were incurred by the main council on behalf of the lottery unit and recharged to the lottery in total, in March.

  3 Administration costs of the Arts Council of England's lottery unit are shown in total for January, February and March 1995.

  4 Figures not available.

  5 Administration costs for the Millennium Commission in March includes £1,119,000 for repayment of grant-in-aid.

  £ thousand

  Wages costs

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Millennium Commission

  Arts Council of England

  Scottish Arts Council

  Arts Council of Wales

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland1

  Sports Council

  Scottish Sports Council

  Sports Council for Wales1

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland1

  January 1995

  20.3

  31.4

  25.0

  4—

  8.1

  10.1

  0.9

  2158.9

  3—

  13.3

  22.7

  February

  20.1

  33.5

  30.0

  —

  9.1

  10.8

  0.9

  68.0

  —

  13.3

  21.3

  March

  20.0

  33.1

  114.0

  169.0

  10.4

  11.0

  0.9

  67.9

  83.6

  13.3

  11.7

  April

  20.0

  50.6

  60.0

  31.9

  9.3

  11.0

  0.0

  63.3

  10.1

  13.3

  10.0

  May

  20.0

  119.0

  72.0

  31.9

  8.5

  11.0

  5.9

  61.9

  11.5

  13.3

  10.0

  June

  20.0

  226.3

  65.0

  32.7

  9.5

  12.7

  7.1

  60.1

  6.6

  13.3

  10.0

  July

  25.0

  255.2

  71.0

  40.4

  9.5

  11.2

  2.1

  63.6

  20.0

  13.3

  10.0

  August

  26.3

  220.4

  80.0

  47.7

  9.5

  11.2

  6.6

  64.1

  15.1

  13.3

  10.0

  September

  24.4

  180.1

  80.0

  40.6

  10.0

  11.2

  0.0

  61.2

  18.5

  13.3

  40.0

  October

  25.2

  224.7

  89.0

  43.7

  11.5

  11.9

  3.3

  66.2

  20.1

  13.3

  0.0

  November

  30.9

  393.5

  93.0

  49.5

  11.9

  12.0

  3.3

  75.6

  18.3

  13.3

  0.0

  December

  32.0

  372.0

  92.0

  56.3

  12.7

  13.2

  5.3

  71.0

  13.5

  13.3

  0.0

  678
  currently holds with EDS Ltd. indicating for each the (a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17441]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has no contracts with EDS.

  National Lottery
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what have been the(a) administration and (b) wages costs for each national lottery funding distribution body in each month since its establishment. [15063]

  Mr. Sproat
  The tables show the lottery administration costs and wages met for 13 months from 1 January 1995. The majority of distributors were given approval to draw funds from the national lottery distribution fund from this date.
  679

  £ thousand

  Wages costs

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Millennium Commission

  Arts Council of England

  Scottish Arts Council

  Arts Council of Wales

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland1

  Sports Council

  Scottish Sports Council

  Sports Council for Wales1

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland1

  January 1996

  29.3

  392.7

  126.0

  5—

  15.1

  12.1

  5.3

  5—

  13.9

  13.3

  —

  Total

  313.5

  2,532.5

  997.0

  543.7

  135.1

  149.4

  41.6

  881.8

  231.2

  169.9

  142.7

  1. The NHMF, the art councils and the sports councils were established to perform other activities prior to the national lottery. The figures shown for administration and wages, represent the charge to lottery funds of all full-time lottery staff, plus a proportion of the costs of other staff in the organisations, who spend only part of their time working on lottery activities.

  2. Distributors began developing systems to carry out lottery duties in the autumn of 1994. Costs associated with this development were met from other sources (grant-in-aid) and recharged against lottery funds in the first few months of 1995.

  1 Administration costs and wages of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Sports Council for Wales and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland are initially met by the main council and recharged to the lottery at a later date. This does not always take place on a monthly basis.

  2 The Sports Council's salary costs for January 1995 include the costs of the council's planning team for the period to 31 December 1994, which were later recharged by the council to the lottery unit.

  3 Administration and wages costs of the Scottish Sports Council lottery unit for January, February and March 1995 were incurred by the main council on behalf of the lottery unit and recharged to the lottery in total, in March.

  4 Administration costs of the Arts Council of England's lottery unit are shown in total for January, February and March 1995.

  5 Figures not available.

  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will publish a list of those agencies charged with distributing national lottery funding detailing the size of budget, the number of staff and the remuneration of each agency head for the year(a) before and (b) after their duties in respect of the lottery were allocated. [15096]

  Distributor

  Estimated outturn of lottery administration costs—1995–96 £000

  Number of lottery staff

  Chief executive remuneration 1994–954 £

  Chief executive remuneration 1995–964 £

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  3,546

  527

  45,000–49,999

  170,000–74,999

  National Lottery Charities Board

  11,145

  7148

  n/a

  880,000–84,999

  Millennium Commission

  5,000

  43

  240,000–44,999

  880,000–84,999

  Arts Council of England

  3,192

  23

  55,000–59,999

  60,000–64,999

  Scottish Arts Council

  376

  8

  40,000–44,999

  640,000–44,999

  Arts Council of Wales

  480

  9

  50,000–54,999

  50,000–54,999

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  137

  4

  40,000–44,999

  40,000–44,999

  Sports Council

  3,140

  33

  60,000–64,999

  60,000–64,999

  Scottish Sports Council

  253

  6

  55,000–59,999

  55,000–59,999

  Sports Council for Wales

  354

  4

  50,000–54,999

  50,000–54,999

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  300

  6

  35,000–39,999

  40,000–44,999

  Total

  27,923

  311

  —

  —

  1The NHMF appointed a new director in December 1995.

  2 The post of chief executive of the Millennium Commission was filled on a temporary basis until 1 March 1995.

  3 The figures for staff exclude any allowance for those officers of the NHMF, the arts councils and the sports councils who, though not assigned lottery staff, do spent a proportion of their time on lottery distribution activities.

  4 With the exception of the National Lottery Charities Board and the Millennium Commission, salaries of chief executives are not fully charged against lottery funds.

  5 The NHMF now has a staffing complement of 44 for its lottery distribution activities, the additional posts are expected to be filled in the near future.

  6 The salary of the chief executive of the Scottish Arts Council is currently under review.

  7 The staff complement of the NLCB has been agreed at 148. Some 30 temporary staff are also currently employed.

  8 The chief executives of the NLCB and the Millennium Commission are also paid an allowance of 15 per cent. of their salaries, with which to make their own pension provisions.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received concerning the establishment of free-standing lottery distribution bodies for Wales and Scotland; and if she will make a statement. [16411]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have received no such representations.
  680
  Mr. Sproat
  The table shows expected administration costs to be incurred by each of the 11 lottery distributors for the 12 months ending 31 March 1996, the number of staff required by those bodies for lottery duties and the salaries of the most senior officials of each body for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  English Heritage Sites (Cleaning Contracts)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many British companies tendered for the contract to clean British Heritage sites; [15891]
  681
  (2) what criteria were used in deciding which company should be awarded the contract for cleaning British Heritage sites; [15892]

  (3) what is her Department's policy in respect of awarding contracts to foreign companies; [15894]

  (4) to what extent the decision to award the contract to clean British Heritage sites to a French company was based on price considerations. [15890]

  Mr. Sproat
  The hon. Member's questions appear to refer to the sale by English Heritage of its direct labour conservation and maintenance organisation, Historic Property Restoration—HPR. The proposal to privatise HPR was set out in the forward strategy published by English Heritage in 1992. This proposal to privatise was prompted by changes in the geographic pattern of HPR's workload. Direct employment cannot provide the required flexibility. In accordance with our obligations as a member of the European Union, the sale of HPR was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Five shortlisted companies were invited to tender. Only two did so—one British owned, one French owned. The tender submitted by the British-owned company was significantly less financially favourable than the tender from the French-owned company.

  HPR has a work force skilled in building conservation which, in the private sector, will be able to bid for work from which it is statutorily excluded as a part of English Heritage. This will give the work force improved employment prospects. It is the intention to transfer staff under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 provisions.

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the officials in her Department who have declared a current interest; what

  Total expenditure in all Royal Parks (1995–96 prices)

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Capital

  3.72

  2.29

  3.85

  5.31

  5.42

  2.65

  1.76

  1.69

  Grounds Maintenance

  4.92

  6.83

  7.14

  6.75

  7.25

  6.73

  6.75

  6.44

  Works Maintenance

  6.26

  5.58

  4.85

  3.97

  4.69

  4.08

  4.48

  4.84

  Other Operating Costs

  3.09

  2.11

  2.32

  2.31

  2.26

  2.52

  2.48

  3.32

  Running Costs

  2.62

  2.68

  2.89

  3.11

  3.26

  2.97

  2.87

  3.01

  Redundancy Costs

  2.78

  0.57

  0.12

  0.10

  0.10

  0.07

  0.05

  0.03

  Total

  23.39

  20.07

  21.17

  21.56

  22.98

  19.02

  18.39

  19.34

  Total expenditure in Greenwich Park (1995–96 prices)

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Capital

  0.27

  0.36

  0.07

  0.42

  0.31

  0.14

  0.06

  0.11

  Grounds maintenance

  0.65

  0.86

  0.87

  0.79

  0.67

  0.73

  0.74

  0.74

  Works maintenance

  0.34

  0.24

  0.30

  0.39

  0.46

  0.46

  0.60

  0.36

  682
  requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if she will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16893]

  Mr. Sproat
  Officials in this Department faced with a conflict of interest must declare their interest to senior management so that senior management can determine how best to proceed. This requirement is set out in departmental rules. Staff who disclose relevant interests do so on the understanding that the declaration, like all employment matters, is confidential between them and the Department. There are currently no plans to establish a central register of officials' interests for this Department.

  Royal Parks
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will publish figures for planned public expenditure on(a) all the royal parks and (b) Greenwich park for the years 1995–96 to 1998–99 on the same basis as those published in (i) table 1 on page 60 and (ii) table 2 on page 61 of the report of the royal parks review group on Greenwich park, presented in March 1995. [16391]

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Welch to Mr. Nick Raynsford, dated 29 February 1996:
  I have been asked by Iain Sproat, Minister of State for National Heritage, to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State to publish figures for planned expenditure on all the Royal Parks and on Greenwich Park because these are the areas for which I am responsible.
  I attach tables showing planned total expenditure in all the Royal Parks and in Greenwich until 1998/99. These figures are based on the Agency's 1995 Corporate Plan as we have not finalised our Plan for the period 1996–99.
  683

  Total expenditure in Greenwich Park (1995–96 prices)

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Other operating costs

  0.31

  0.18

  0.15

  0.17

  0.16

  0.20

  0.20

  0.19

  Running costs

  0.11

  0.23

  0.22

  0.21

  0.18

  0.18

  0.17

  0.17

  Total

  1.68

  1.87

  1.61

  1.98

  1.78

  1.71

  1.77

  1.57

  Patents (British Library)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the present location of original documents held by the British library concerning(a) Rathbone and Burges' patent AD 1617 No. 1, (b) Jeremy Buck's patent of 1651 for the smelting of iron with coal, (c) Il Codice Atlantico by Leonardo da Vinci and (d) Aeronautica Illustrata by C. J. Norman. [17157]

  Mr. Sproat
  A copy of Rathbone and Burges' patent AD 1617 No. 1 is held by the British library and may be consulted at the science reference and information service's reading room at 25 Southampton buildings, London WC2A 1AW. The library does not hold a copy of Jeremy Buck's patent of 1651 for the smelting of iron with coal. I understand that official copies of most letters patent were enrolled on the Chancery patent rolls which are held by the Public Record Office. Information about such copies can be obtained from the Keeper of Public Records at the Public Record Office, Chancery lane, London WC2A 1LR. I understand that the Codex Atlanticus is held by the Ambrosian library in Milan. A copy of the Aeronautica Illustrata by C. J. Norman is held by the British library's science reference and information service and may be consulted at the library's reading room at 9 Kean street, London WC2B 4AT.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps her Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17694]

  Mr. Sproat
  Statistics concerning staff employed in my Department are normally based on pay and personnel records which include information on gender. Statistical information about personnel can therefore usually be broken down by gender.

  Party Political Broadcasts
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the current rules which permit political parties to have an entitlement to broadcasting time on television on the basis of the numbers of candidates fielded; what plans he has to review the procedures; and what parliamentary procedures would be needed to implement these proposals. [17094]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Decisions about the provision of airtime for party election broadcasts are matters for the BBC, the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority. By convention, proposals are put to the major political parties represented at Westminster with a view to reaching consensus.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise at the next meeting of the Agriculture Council the size of the CAP budget for 1996. [16109]

  Mr. Baldry
  The CAP budget situation forms part of the Council's current considerations of the 1996–97 price fixing proposals.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made on making the operation of the common agricultural policy more effective and more efficient. [16111]

  Mr. Baldry
  The European Commission has now accepted our view that the CAP must change. But neither it nor the majority of member states are yet convinced of the need for the fundamental reform for which we are pressing.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the transport of live animals; and if he will make a statement. [16110]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are conducting an extensive consultation on implementation of the EU rules on the welfare of animals in transit. The first stage of that is complete—we have had a high level of positive and proactive responses. We will be consulting widely again before any final decisions are taken.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the welfare of animals during export. [16124]

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the welfare of farm animals during export. [16120]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are consulting extensively on implementation of the EU rules on the welfare of animals in transit. The first stage is complete—we are grateful for the positive and proactive responses of those affected. We shall consult further before putting forward any proposals for legislation.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has(a) to introduce new and (b) to revise existing regulations governing the transport of domestic animals to (i) EU and (ii) other overseas destinations. [17042]
  685
  Mrs. Browning
  We are currently consulting extensively on implementation in this country of new EU rules on the transport of animals. The details of these provisions are aimed primarily at farmed livestock but the general principles of safeguarding the welfare of animals in transit cover other animals as well. As part of the exercise we intend, as set out in our October 1995 consultation document, to consolidate existing legislation on animal welfare in transport into one instrument. Further consultation will take place before proposals for legislation are put forward.

  Calves
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has recently received concerning the welfare of calves. [16112]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend gave earlier to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. Clapham).

  Milk Marque
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has recently received about the operation of Milk Marque. [16113]

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend and I continue to receive representations about Milk Marque's operating practices. Any complaints about these practices are a matter for the competition authorities.

  Horticultural Imports
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the inister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet representatives of the horticultural industry to discuss the price of imports from eastern Europe. [16115]

  Mr. Boswell
  I frequently meet representatives of the horticulture industry. We discuss a variety of issues of concern to them including, where appropriate, imports from central and eastern Europe.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made as to parity of enforcement of IACS payment by EU countries. [16116]

  Mr. Baldry
  All EU member states are required to implement IACS in accordance with the detailed rules laid down in Commission regulation 3887/92. Commission officials regularly visit all member states to check the way in which they operate the system. Full details of penalties applied are not available but information received suggests that the proportion of penalties applied in the UK is generally similar to those found in other member states.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the decisions made at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in December 1995. [16117]
  686
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the decisions made at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in December 1995. [16118]

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the decisions made at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in December 1995. [16119]

  Mr. Baldry
  I received a wide range of representations from Members of Parliament and members of the public both before and after the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 21 and 22 December 1995.

  Soya Milk
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Government policies in respect of the labelling of soya milk. [16121]

  Mrs. Browning
  Since the adoption in 1987 of Community legislation prohibiting the use of dairy terms on non-dairy products, the Government have pressed the European Commission, and other member states, to allow the continued use of the term "soya milk" in the UK.

  However, we have now exhausted all possibilities for securing a change in the rules and have been obliged to take the action necessary to comply with the Community legislation.

  I am in contact with the industry and enforcement authorities about changing the name of the product.

  Peat (Container Plants)
  Mrs Golding
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to find an alternative to peat for use in raising container plants. [16122]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry funds strategic research and development looking at the development of alternatives to peat as a growing medium. I will be pleased to write to the hon. Member with further details.

  Conservation
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department is taking to improve environmental management and wildlife conservation on agricultural land. [16123]

  Mr. Boswell
  Over the past two years the Ministry has greatly expanded the range of incentives available to promote environmental management and wildlife conservation on farmland. We have launched six new environmentally sensitive areas, making 22 in total covering 10 per cent. of agricultural land in England, and 22 new nitrate sensitive areas, making 32 in all.

  We have also introduced several entirely new schemes addressing major environmental priorities such as creating valuable wildlife habitats on farmland, promoting organic farming and improving the condition of heather moorland. In addition, we have announced plans for the future expansion and development of the countryside

  687
  stewardship scheme when it transfers from the Countryside Commission to MAFF in April at the end of its pilot period. Taken together, these measures represent a substantial commitment to conserving the countryside.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made towards renegotiating the common fisheries policy. [16126]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government are pursuing a series of initiatives to achieve improvements in the way that the common fisheries policy operates.

  Dogs (Export Licences)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences were issued for the export of dogs from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [17041]

  Mrs. Browning
  Exports of dogs are not subject to licensing. Precise figures for dog exports from the United Kingdom are not available since information is not held centrally, but it is estimated that 6,200 official export health certificates relating to approximately 9,600 dogs were issued during 1995. Figures for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Animal Welfare Directive
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Government have made on implementing the European directive on animal welfare. [16751]

  Mrs. Browning
  We are consulting extensively on implementation in this country of the new EU rules on the protection of animals during transport. The first stage of consultation is complete, and we shall be consulting further on our proposals for legislation, taking account of the comments we have received. The EU rules have to be implemented in the member states by 31 December 1996.

  Veal Crates
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to persuade the European Commission to phase out veal crates earlier than the time scale provisionally set. [16833]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Commission presented its proposals for phasing out the close confinement veal crate to the Council of Agriculture Ministers earlier this week. We made it clear in the preliminary discussions that the 12-year lead-in period is too long and we will continue to press hard for an early end to the close confinement veal crate and its associated dietary regime throughout Europe.

  Zoonoses Diseases
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which other EU member states have implemented directive 92/117 for the harmonisation of rules governing the prevention of specified zoonoses diseases. [17182]

  Mrs. Browning
  Article 8 of directive 92/117 requires member states to submit to the Commission details of the measures they are taking to implement the requirements 688
  of the directive. We believe nine member states have so far submitted plans, but only Denmark's plan has been accepted as being fully compatible with the objectives of the directive while the others, including the United Kingdom's, have been rejected.

  The Commission's main objection to the United Kingdom's measures is our policy of offering alternatives to slaughter in respect of parent broiler breeder flocks found on investigation to be infected with salmonella enteritidis or salmonella typhimurium.

  Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to simplify the procedure involved in the consideration of grants sought under the farm woodland premium scheme. [17413]

  Mr. Boswell
  The farm woodland premium scheme is currently being reviewed to enable decisions to be taken about its future operation after 31 March 1997. The simplification of application procedures is one of the issues being addressed. We expect to announce the outcome of the review this summer.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of grants under the farm woodland premium scheme in each of the last seven years; and how, in each year, the sums paid out compared with the amounts budgeted. [17414]

  Mr. Boswell
  The farm woodland premium scheme was launched on 1 April 1992. The first annual payments were not made until October 1993. Expenditure details for England are as follows:

  £000

  Year

  Actual expenditure

  PES provision

  1992–93

  0

  0

  1993–94

  645

  1,022

  1994–95

  1,362

  2,713

  1995–96

  11,943

  4,816

  1 Estimate.

  Licensed Abattoirs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licensed abattoirs there were in(a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland at the end of 1995; and if he will make a statement. [17554]

  Mrs. Browning
  In respect of(a), (b) and (c) the lists set out the number of slaughterhouses licensed at the end of 1995 under (i) the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 and (ii) the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995:

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

  Wales: 36

  England: 402

  Scotland: 48

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

  Wales: 11

  England: 144

  Scotland: 8

  689
  In respect of (d) I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who is responsible for the licensing of slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17678]

  Mr. Boswell
  Statistics concerning staff employed in the Department are normally based on pay and personnel records which include information on gender. Statistical information about personnel can therefore usually be broken down by gender.

  The Department also collects the following information broken down by gender:

  (i) employment on agricultural holdings

  (ii) earnings and hours on agricultural holdings

  (iii) food consumption and expenditure.

  Rabies
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission an independent study and full economic audit of all the available options for managing the risk of rabies to Great Britain. [14786]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 14 February 1996]: The Government gave this matter careful consideration following recommendations made by the Agriculture Select Committee in its report in late 1994 for certain changes to the current quarantine arrangements. Ministers also receive regular advice from officials on all aspects of rabies control. I therefore see no need to commission a further study at this time.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive from his Chief Veterinary Officer the new rabies risk assessment; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [14787]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 14 February 1996]: Ministers receive regular advice from officials on all aspects of rabies control including the risk of introduction of the disease. However, advice from officials to Ministers is confidential and is not normally divulged.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that veterinary surgeons have immediate unrestricted access to the inactivated rabies vaccines already approved by his Department for use of in animals in their care. [14788]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 14 February 1996]: No. The British isles is an internationally recognised rabies-free zone and the use of rabies vaccine for any animals other than those going for export or those going into quarantine would be unnecessary and entirely inappropriate.

  Food and Drink Industry
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he intends to help improve export opportunities for the United Kingdom's food and drink industry. [16125]
  690
  Mrs. Browning
  We continue, through Food from Britain, to provide active support, practical help and advice, to an increasing number of companies. Its recently opened new representative office in Copenhagen will help our exporters to reach even wider markets.

SCOTLAND

  District Court Trials
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total number of trials in the district courts during 1995; [16734]

  (2) what was the total number of adjournments of trials in the district courts and the reason for these adjournments during 1995; and whether they were at the instance of the prosecution or the defence. [16735]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the chief executive of the Scottish Court Service on 27 February 1996,Official Report, column 531.

  Lord Advocate
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Bills the Lord Advocate has introduced into the House of Lords in each of the past five years; and on what dates they were introduced. [16736]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  1991:

  None.

  1992:

  None.

  1993:

  Crofters (Scotland) Bill (25 May 1993)

  Scottish Land Court Bill (25 May 1993)

  Local Government (Wales) Bill (30 November 1993).

  1994:

  Value Added Tax Bill (16 May 1994)

  (Lord Advocate Rodger on behalf of the Lord Chancellor)

  Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill (17 November 1994)

  (Lord Advocate Rodger on behalf of the Lord Fraser of Carmyllie).

  1995:

  Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Bill (8 June 1995)

  Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Bill (8 June 1995)

  Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Bill (8 June 1995)

  Criminal Procedure (Consequential Provisions)(Scotland) Bill (8 June 1995).

  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is currently a spokesman for legal affairs, Scotland, Home Office and Wales in the House of Lords and would normally be involved in later stages of Bills rather than on introduction.

  Housing
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private sector leasing arrangements were established in the last year with local authorities in Argyll and Bute for the purpose of housing people on housing benefit and income support; and if he will make a statement. [17104]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally. However, we understand from Argyll and Bute district council that since 1 April

  Budget estimates for Scottish Police Forces for the last five years

  £000

  Central

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Grampian

  Lothian and Borders

  Northern

  Strathclyde

  Tayside

  Total

  1991–92

  Net expenditure

  20,928

  12,962

  25,670

  40,354

  87,749

  24,521

  226,473

  37,096

  475,753

  Loan charges

  934

  511

  814

  1,585

  2,904

  2,764

  7,230

  1,495

  18,237

  Total

  21,862

  13,473

  26,484

  41,939

  90,653

  27,285

  233,703

  38,591

  493,990

  1992–93

  Net expenditure

  22,457

  14,077

  28,783

  43,026

  94,535

  26,560

  249,428

  39,483

  518,349

  Loan charges

  956

  675

  908

  1,450

  3,046

  2,425

  6,260

  1,709

  17,429

  Total

  23,413

  14,752

  29,691

  44,476

  97,581

  28,985

  255,688

  41,192

  535,778

  1993–94

  Net expenditure

  24,115

  14,652

  29,978

  46,246

  96,360

  27,200

  261,068

  41,281

  540,900

  Loan charges

  927

  1,172

  1,097

  1,461

  2,968

  2,502

  7,528

  1,761

  19,416

  Total

  25,042

  15,824

  31,075

  47,707

  99,328

  29,702

  268,596

  43,042

  560,316

  1994–95

  Net expenditure

  24,904

  15,241

  30,203

  47,028

  99,394

  28,495

  270,600

  42,734

  558,599

  Loan charges

  980

  927

  1,449

  1,513

  2,995

  2,299

  8,529

  1,520

  20,212

  Total

  25,884

  16,168

  31,652

  48,541

  102,389

  30,794

  279,129

  44,254

  578,811

  1995–96

  Net expenditure

  25,621

  16,361

  32,174

  51,334

  104,177

  30,095

  288,555

  44,334

  592,651

  Loan charges

  826

  804

  1,644

  2,099

  2,845

  2,513

  7,854

  1,659

  20,244

  Total

  26,447

  17,165

  33,818

  53,433

  107,022

  32,608

  296,409

  45,993

  612,895

  Loan charges include leasing payments.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of staff for each of the Scottish police constabularies indicating(a) uniformed and (b)civilian employees for each of the last five years. [17431]
  692
  1995 it has accommodated 643 people in receipt of income support and housing benefit in privately leased accommodation in the district.

  Police
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the annual budget for each of the Scottish police constabularies for each of the last five years. [17430]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The budget estimates provided to the Scottish Office by local authorities are set out in the table.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  693

  31 December 1991

  31 December 1992

  31 December 1993

  31 December 1994

  31 December 1995

  Police strength1

  Civilian strength2

  Police strength1

  Civilian strength2

  Police strength1

  Civilian strength2

  Police strength1

  Civilian strength2

  Police strength1

  Civilian strength2

  Central

  636

  164.5

  649

  166.5

  657

  174.5

  654

  184.5

  659

  187.5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  370

  108.5

  387

  116

  386

  141

  390

  147

  392

  147

  Fife

  775

  227

  786

  231.5

  786

  242.5

  789

  229

  791

  254

  Grampian

  1,150

  414.5

  1,194

  435

  1,193

  430

  1,191

  434.5

  1,181

  432.5

  Lothian and Borders

  2,522

  886.5

  2,561

  926

  2,558

  961.5

  2,556

  988.5

  2,536

  988

  Northern

  633

  275

  636

  291

  658

  307

  643

  316

  648

  323

  Strathclyde

  6,790

  1,372.5

  6,797

  1,454.5

  6,823

  1,513

  7,003

  1,606.5

  7,156

  1,629

  Tayside

  1,031

  313

  1,084

  338

  1,078

  360.5

  1,087

  367.5

  1,116

  398.5

  Total

  13,907

  3,761.5

  14,094

  3,958.5

  14,139

  4,130

  14,313

  4,273.50

  14,479

  4,359.5

  1 Includes officers on secondment.

  2 Includes traffic wardens, clerical and technical staff, domestics, cleaners, cadets and part-time staff (shown as whole-time equivalent).

  Confiscation Unit
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff there are in the confiscation unit of the Scottish Prosecution Service. [17144]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no dedicated confiscation unit in the Scottish Prosecution Service. Confiscation proceedings are dealt with as part of the duties of the fraud and specialist services unit at the Crown Office. Each of the four legal staff in that unit carry, as part of their workload, confiscation cases. The full resources of the procurator fiscal service are available to assist in necessary investigation in such cases.

  Water and Sewerage (Grants)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants he has made since April 1995 to reduce or stabilise water and sewerage bills in Scotland; what is the estimated annual cost of such grants; and if he will make a statement on the revision for such grants. [17510]

  Mr. Kynoch
  No such grants have been made by my right hon. Friend since April 1995. For the financial year 1996–97, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 29 November 1995 to my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro),Official Report, column 704.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what payments his Department made to optometrists in Scotland in respect of free or subsidized eye tests in 1978–79 and in the most recent year for which figures are available. [17517]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Sight tests may be carried out by ophthalmic opticians—optometrists—or ophthalmic medical practitioners. From April 1989 eligibility to NHS sight tests was restricted to certain groups of the population. The information requested is set out in the table.
  694

  Scotland: NHS sight test fees paid to ophthalmic opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners

  £ thousand

  1978–79

  11994–95

  Sight tests2

  Ophthalmic medical practitioners

  168

  192

  Ophthalmic opticians

  2,500

  7,792

  Domiciliary visits3

  Ophthalmic medical practitioners

  n/a

  117

  Ophthalmic opticians

  n/a

  175

  Total Scotland

  2,668

  8,276

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Including NHS contributions under the NHS Low Income Scheme to the cost of private sight tests.

  3 Since June 1990 practitioners may claim a visit fee when they carry out a sight test at a patient's home.

  Companies (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of applications that have been made by companies for financial assistance, (b) the number approved, (c) the total financial value of the approved applications and (d) the average time taken to process and approve these applications in the last three years for which figures are available for (i) the Scottish Development Agency and (ii) the Highlands and Islands development board. [16979]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands development board were replaced by, respectively, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 1 April 1991. As the information requested concerns the operational activities of these organisations, I have asked their chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

  Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will revise the regulatory arrangements to make farmers who are not engaged in full-time agricultural activity or farmers wishing to retire to take up support under the farm woodland premium scheme. [17212]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Under the existing statutory rules, entry to the farm woodland premium scheme is not restricted to full-time farmers, although retired farmers are ineligible. The scheme is currently being reviewed to enable decisions to be taken about its future operation after 31 March 1997. The eligibility rules
  695
  are among the various issues under consideration. It is too early to predict the outcome of the review but an announcement is expected during the summer.

  Forestry
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has undertaken of schemes for the encouragement of forestry in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Ireland; and what has been the contribution made to the increase in forestry in Ireland from EC funds. [17415]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Forestry Commission undertook a comprehensive review of the incentives for forestry investment in Britain in 1994. The EC reimburses up to 75 per cent. of the cost of planting grants in objective 1 areas. My right hon. Friend, however, has no responsibility for forestry in the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the net change in afforested areas in(a) England and Ireland and (b) Scotland in each of the last 10 years. [17416]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The areas afforested in England and Scotland in each of the last 10 years are as follows. My right hon. Friend, however, has no responsibility for forestry in the Republic of Ireland. The area of woodland converted to other land uses each year is not recorded.

  Thousands hectares

  England

  Scotland

  1986

  1.3

  21.5

  1987

  1.4

  22.4

  1988

  2.0

  25.8

  1989

  2.0

  26.4

  1990

  3.7

  15.3

  1991

  4.4

  14.1

  1992

  4.2

  12.6

  1993

  5.3

  12.1

  1994

  6.2

  10.5

  1995

  5.1

  13.4

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what proportion the areas devoted to

  Table 1: SPS staffing as at 31 March each year 1991–1995

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Establishment

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Aberdeen

  122

  13

  124

  11

  137

  10

  131

  6

  114

  8

  Barlinnie

  519

  18

  538

  22

  558

  17

  513

  15

  452

  21

  Castle Huntly

  69

  3

  78

  4

  82

  6

  73

  6

  70

  3

  Cornton Vale

  181

  9

  180

  9

  191

  13

  184

  15

  166

  11

  Dumfries

  129

  12

  150

  12

  147

  14

  145

  15

  133

  13

  Dungavel

  64

  5

  69

  7

  75

  7

  73

  6

  67

  10

  Edinburgh

  373

  10

  385

  10

  424

  8

  411

  8

  381

  11

  Friarton

  48

  2

  52

  3

  54

  2

  49

  2

  40

  3

  Glenochil

  406

  18

  417

  19

  441

  17

  430

  23

  388

  28

  Greenock

  149

  0

  154

  3

  168

  5

  164

  7

  145

  8

  Inverness

  89

  7

  83

  6

  95

  6

  90

  7

  64

  5

  Longriggend

  153

  4

  163

  7

  170

  7

  163

  7

  149

  8

  Low Moss

  131

  6

  141

  7

  165

  5

  150

  6

  146

  12

  Noranside

  62

  5

  72

  5

  71

  6

  72

  6

  61

  7

  Penninghame

  33

  1

  35

  4

  36

  5

  36

  7

  28

  7

  Perth

  353

  11

  383

  13

  395

  15

  391

  13

  373

  14

  Peterhead

  268

  4

  244

  7

  260

  5

  244

  8

  225

  8

  Polmont

  267

  16

  295

  18

  312

  14

  301

  18

  283

  17

  696
  forestry has changed in (a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) Northern Ireland (c) in Ireland over the last 10 years. [17417]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The area devoted to forestry in the United Kingdom has increased by 10 per cent. in the last 10 years. My right hon. Friend, however, has no responsibility for forestry in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

  Prison Service
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number employed within the Scottish Prison Service; if he will provide a breakdown(a)for (i) uniformed and (ii) civilian employees and (b) for each institution, in each of the last five years. [17837]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 29 February 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the total number employed within the Scottish Prison Service with a breakdown (a) for (i) uniformed and (ii) civilian employees and (b) for each institution in each of the last five years.
  I attach a table which gives the information which I think you are seeking. It is in 2 parts. First, the number of uniformed and civilian staff on 31 March each year from 1991 to 1995. In this table, civilian staff means civilian instructors in the SPS workshops, and civilian staff in typing grades in prisons, and in some prison maintenance jobs, as well as administrative staff in the Scottish Prison Service Headquarters. Uniformed staff include all prison officers, senior officers and principal officers, as well as prison governors (although the latter do not in fact wear a uniform).
  On 1 April 1995, however, the Scottish Prison Service moved to a New Staffing Structure, which abolished the previous grades and incorporated the HQ staff into the SPS Staffing Structure. In addition, a number of posts which were previously filled by uniformed staff are now filled by civilian staff, such as professional nurses or administrative staff in offices or maintenance staff dealing with the prison estate. The most recent figures available as at 1 February 1996 are in Table 2. These distinguish between operational management and staff, and other staff.
  I hope this provides the information which you are seeking.
  697

  Table 1: SPS staffing as at 31 March each year 1991–1995

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Establishment

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Uniformed

  Civilian

  Shotts

  377

  10

  423

  13

  423

  13

  418

  13

  387

  16

  SPS College

  32

  7

  27

  12

  30

  13

  30

  10

  38

  17

  Stores

  —

  23

  —

  22

  —

  22

  —

  13

  —

  15

  Headquarters

  28

  179

  28

  179

  27

  179

  33

  192

  33

  202

  Total

  3,851

  363

  4,039

  393

  4,249

  388

  4,101

  403

  3,763

  444

  Uniformed staff: governors, officers senior officers and principal officers.

  Civilian staff administrative grades in SPS HQ, typing staff in prisons, civilian maintenance staff and drivers.

  Shotts unit and barlinnie special unit included in main establishments.

  Table 2: SPS staffing as at 1 February 1996

  1996

  Establishment

  Operational management and staff

  Other staff1

  Aberdeen

  123

  20

  Barlinnie

  454

  59

  Castle Huntly

  56

  10

  Cornton Vale

  157

  32

  Dumfries

  143

  23

  Dungavel

  57

  15

  Edinburgh

  376

  67

  Friarton

  42

  4

  Glenochil

  370

  61

  Greenock

  141

  18

  Inverness

  89

  11

  Longriggend

  148

  26

  Low Moss

  139

  22

  NIC

  37

  1

  Noranside

  60

  10

  Penninghame

  28

  10

  Perth

  355

  69

  Peterhead

  204

  39

  Peterhead Unit

  18

  1

  Polmont

  271

  50

  Shotts

  330

  65

  Shotts Unit

  24

  1

  SPS College

  33

  27

  SPS Central Stores

  14

  SPS Headquarters

  24

  190

  Total

  3,679

  846

  1 'Other Staff' includes administrative, nursing, maintenance and other staff.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total expenditure on the Scottish Prison Service and the component allocated to private security firms; and if he will provide a breakdown by institution in each of the last five years. [17836]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Airdrie Cunningham, dated 29 February 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the total expenditure on the Scottish Prison Service and the component allocated to private security firms with a breakdown by institution in the last five years.
  The total expenditure on the Scottish Prison Service in the last five years, as shown in the Annual Reports is listed below, no part of which was allocated to private security firms.
  698

  Financial year

  Total expenditure (£000)

  1990–91

  125,908

  1991–92

  136,763

  1992–93

  150,027

  1993–94

  154,343

  1994–95

  164,283

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17689]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The role of the statistical services in the Scottish Office is to collect and analyse statistics on most aspects of Scottish life. Where relevant, this involves the collection and publication of statistics broken down by gender. As a result, gender is distinguished in a wide range of statistical information handled by the Department.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about sheriffdom and sheriff court district boundaries following reorganization of local government. [18601]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My Department issued a consultation document on 29 December 1995, copies of which have been placed in the Library. As a result of the responses to the consultation paper, I propose to make only minor adjustments to five sheriff court district boundaries as described. As a consequence of these changes, there would be minor changes to the boundaries of the sheriffdoms of Glasgow and Strathkelvin and South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway respectively. My proposals will be brought before the House for approval shortly.

  Sheriff Court District

  Proposed Changes

  Airdrie

  Airdrie will retain its current jurisdiction with the addition of part of Strathclyde Electoral Division 46 (Chryston)

  Arbroath

  Arbroath will retain its current jurisdiction and absorb Tayside Electoral Division 30 (Monifieth)

  Forfar

  Forfar will retain its current jurisdiction and assume responsibility for that part of Tayside Electoral Division 31 (Sidlaw) which is now contained within the Angus Council district.

  699

  Sheriff Court District

  Proposed Changes

  Glasgow

  The only part of Strathkelvin which is not to be absorbed into the new East Dunbartonshire Council is part of Strathclyde Electoral Division 46 (Chryston). This will be transferred from Glasgow to Airdrie Sheriff Court district.

  Perth

  Perth will retain its current jurisdiction with the addition of part of Tayside Electoral Division 31 (Sidlaw)

  Ministry of Defence Joint Working Group
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer 5 February,Official Report, column 90, how many of the meetings of the Ministry of Defence joint working group have been attended by his Department's officials, and what level of officials and which section. [17408]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 27 February 1996]: Scottish Office officials have attended all three meetings of the Ministry of Defence joint working group held to date. One meeting was attended by an official at grade 7 from the area regeneration division of the Scottish Office development department and two by officials at grade 5 and grade 7 from the same division.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many posts within the East, West and North of Scotland water authorities have salary levels above £42,000 per annum; and if he will list these posts and the salary and grading levels for each of these posts. [17574]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 28 February 1996]: Thirty-six posts in the three new water authorities carry salaries in excess of £42,000 per annum. These are as listed.

  West of Scotland Water Authority:

  Chief Executive

  Operations Director

  Finance Director

  Engineering Services Director

  Human Resources Director

  Support Services Director

  Scientific Services Director

  Customer Services Director

  Special Projects Director

  Business Planning Director

  External Services Manager

  Operations Support Manager.

  North of Scotland Water Authority:

  Chief Executive

  Managing Director Finance

  Managing Direct Water Services

  Director of Human Resources

  Director of Corporate Services

  Group Finance Controller

  Head of Information Technology

  Finance Planning Controller

  Director Capital Procurement

  Legal Adviser

  700

  Regional Director, Grampian

  Regional Director, Tayside

  Regional Director, Highlands

  Regional Director, Islands.

  East of Scotland Water Authority:

  Chief Executive

  Director of Operations

  Director of Water Quality

  Director of Corporate Services

  Director of Finance

  Director of Human Resources

  Head of Legal Services

  Head of Information Technology

  Human Resource Manager

  Group Financial Controller.

  Detailed information about individuals' salaries and gradings is not held centrally as these are operational matters for the water authorities. Information on posts carrying salaries of £42,000 per annum or more has been collected and is set out in salary bands in the following table:

  Salary band

  West of Scotland Water authority

  North of Scotland Water authority

  East of Scotland Water authority

  £42,001–50,000

  4

  6

  4

  £50,001–60,000

  5

  5

  3

  £60,001–70,000

  2

  2

  2

  £70,001–80,000

  1

  1

  1

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many posts the East, West and North of Scotland water authorities each expect to have within their organisations when they become operational on 1 April; and if he will provide a further breakdown of these figures to indicate the nature and number of the posts within these organisations' overall structures. [17575]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 28 February 1996]: The information contained in the following table is based on present estimates of staffing levels at 1 April and will be subject to revision. The information is broken down by the functional groupings established within each authority.

  Function

  Estimated number of employees

  West of Scotland Water Authority

  Operations

  2,240

  Engineering Services

  240

  Support Services

  160

  Scientific Services

  140

  Finance

  80

  Special Projects

  80

  Personnel Services

  50

  Business Planning

  20

  Customer Services

  10

  Total

  3,020

  North of Scotland Water Authority

  Water Services

  1,952

  Finance/Information Technology

  50

  Human Resources

  19

  Corporate Affairs

  13

  Chief Executive and support

  2

  Total

  2,036

  701

  Function

  Estimated number of employees

  East of Scotland Water Authority

  Operations

  1,605

  Development

  160

  Water Quality

  140

  Corporate Services

  100

  Finance

  90

  Human Resources

  40

  Total

  2,135

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been for each of the East, West and North of Scotland water authorities the amounts so far claimed in expenses and remuneration made to each of the members of the boards of these bodies. [17577]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 28 February 1996]: The information is set out in the table and relates to payments made until the end of January 1996.

  Remuneration £

  Expenses £

  West of Scotland Water Authority

  John Jameson, Chairman

  20,653

  2,198

  Ernie Chambers, Chief Executive

  40,868

  —

  Norman Berry

  3,098

  53

  Mungo Bryson

  3,098

  —

  Sir Robert Easton

  3,098

  218

  John Goodwin

  3,098

  288

  David Gray

  3,098

  —

  Peter Kennedy

  3,098

  —

  Billy Petrie

  3,098

  —

  Robert Reid

  3,098

  307

  Leslie Rosin

  3,098

  —

  Ian Young

  3,098

  —

  North of Scotland Water Authority

  John Robertson, Chairman

  21,746

  4,414

  Alastair Findlay, Chief Executive

  31,761

  4,427

  Denis Addly

  3,242

  693

  Raymond Bisset

  3,242

  399

  Joan Easten

  3,242

  2,528

  Nigel Graham

  3,242

  274

  Andrew Lewis

  3,242

  886

  Alasdair MacCallum

  3,242

  918

  Olwyn Macdonald

  3,242

  1,080

  Nicolas McAndrew

  3,242

  106

  Donald Nicholson

  3,242

  2,372

  David Paton

  3,242

  921

  East of Scotland Water Authority

  Ian Preston, Chairman

  12,968

  1,246

  Rod Rennet, Chief Executive

  40,000

  870

  Disney Barlow

  3,242

  —

  Robin Bell

  3,242

  10

  Ian Berry

  3,242

  103

  Ann Dickson

  1,984

  109

  Ian Galloway

  3,242

  180

  Harry O'Hanlon

  3,242

  52

  Tom Kerr

  3,242

  125

  Pat McCafferty

  3,242

  76

  Sir Francis McWilliams

  3,242

  892

  Roy Summers

  3,242

  200

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the budgets for each of the East, West and North of Scotland water authorities in the financial year 1996–97. [17573]
  702
  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 28 February 1996]: Budget setting is a matter for each of the new water authorities. Among the principal determinants will be the external financing limits which have already been announced and the charges schemes which have yet to be approved.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what training Benefits Agency staff and Benefits Agency medical services doctors receive in mental health problems in assessing applications for incapacity benefit. [15868]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit 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 Smith, dated 28 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what training Benefits Agency staff and Benefit Agency Medical Services (BAMS) doctors receive in mental health problems in assessing applications for Incapacity Benefit (IB).
  BA staff receive training in handling claims from persons suffering from mental health conditions as part of a general IB training course. This course provides instruction in dealing with all aspects of claims to IB, including guidance on identifying when customers may be suffering from mental health conditions; and the appropriate action to take to obtain sufficient information to enable the adjudication officer to give a decision on the appropriate test of incapacity.
  All doctors, full time, contract and sessional, employed by BAMS to carry out assessments for IB have undergone specific training to carry out the mental health assessment. All BAMS doctors attend a four day training course which includes a module designed specifically to cover the assessment of mental health problems.
  In addition all full-time and short term contract doctors attend a two-day medical education conference during which there is a session devoted specifically to the assessment of mental health problems, this session is led by a consultant psychiatrist.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending the linking rule for periods of incapacity for work or interruption of employment from eight weeks to(a) 13 weeks, (b) 26 weeks, (c) one year and (d) two years. [18229]

  Mr. Burt
  There is insufficient information available on which to base estimates.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed restructuring of the Contributions Agency on levels of service to customers and expected response times to inquiries and complaints; what savings he expects the restructuring to achieve; and what will be the effect on jobs in Wales within the Contributions Agency. [17829]
  703
  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 February 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about the operational matters relating to the Agency.
  I have been asked to reply to your enquiry regarding the assessment of the proposed restructuring of the Contributions Agency and the affect on jobs in Wales within the Agency.
  The proposed reorganisation of the Contributions Agency Field Operations has been the subject of a feasibility study and an extensive trial period in both rural and urban areas. Information from customer satisfaction surveys has also been taken into account to inform on the development, to ensure that the Agency continues to maintain the commitment to serve delivery outlined in its Contributor and Employer Charters.
  Precise details of savings cannot be determined during the planning and development stage of the reorganisation. However it is estimated that there will be significant savings in management costs. Savings in accommodation and related costs will be captured as the reorganisation is implemented.
  In line with the Governments White Paper "Continuity and Change in the Civil Service" the emphasis is to achieve increased efficiency with reduced costs. The new organisation will inevitably operate with a reduced resource allocation. In Wales that will result in a reduction in staffing levels of 14%.
  I hope you will find the reply helpful, if you require anything further please let me know.

  Income Support
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners were in receipt of income support in Wales at the latest available date; what estimate he has made of the numbers of pensioners eligible for income support but not claiming it; and if he will make a statement. [17581]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of income support 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. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioners were in receipt of Income Support (IS) in Wales at the latest available date; what estimate he has made of the numbers of pensioners eligible for IS but not claiming it; and if he will make a statement.
  The number of pensioners receiving IS in Wales in November 1995 was 92,339. This is the latest available figure. It is provisional and may be subject to change.
  The figures for the numbers of pensioners eligible for IS but not claiming in Great Britain are contained in the publication Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1993/94, copies of which have been placed in the library. A separate figure for Wales is unavailable because the sample size would be too small to give statistically reliable results.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mortgage Interest Payment Assistance
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending the assistance with mortgage interest payments currently available under 704
  income support to people in work whose incomes would qualify them for housing benefit if they were in rented accommodation. [18230]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Entitlement to housing benefit is dependent not only on income but on eligible rent. Without information equivalent to eligible rents for the owner-occupied sector it is not possible to make such an estimate. The necessary information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the annual number of applications for attendance allowance in Wales for each of the last five years indicating the proportion(a) approved, (b) withdrawn and (c) rejected. [17579]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the annual number of applications for Attendance Allowance (AA) in Wales for each of the last five years indicating the proportion (a) approved, (b) withdrawn and (c) rejected.

  Claims for AA in Wales are processed at the Cardiff Disability Benefits Centre. The information requested is shown in the following table:

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Claims received

  38,067

  34,301

  30,732

  32,981

  Decisions made:

  Awards

  20,934

  24,867

  20,946

  23,344

  Withdrawn

  n/a

  403

  340

  272

  Refusals

  10,497

  11,601

  8,421

  8,468

  Figures are provisional and subject to change. The difference between the number of claims received and decisions made are the claims that are waiting for adjudication decisions and carried forward in to the next year. The figures requested for the years 1990–91 are not available.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the value, in cash terms, of the savings to the Benefits Agency which have resulted from the contract awarded to BET to provide accommodation and office services to the Benefits Agency; [17754]

  (2) which consultants were employed by the Benefits Agency to review the operation of the contract awarded to BET to provide accommodation and office services to the Benefits Agency; what was the value of that contract; and if he will place a copy of the consultant's report in the Library. [17704]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  705
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Hutton, dated 28 February 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what is his estimate of the value, in cash terms, of the savings to the Benefits Agency (BA) which have resulted from the contract awarded to BET to provide accommodation and office services to the BA; and which consultants were employed by the BA to review the operation of the contract awarded to BET to provide accommodation and office services to the BA; what was the value of that contract; and if he will place a copy of the consultants's report in the Library.
  The BA has seven contracts with BET for accommodation and office services and the cash savings to the BA resulting from these contracts are estimated as £4.87 million per year.
  The BA keeps all contracts under internal review by monitoring their effectiveness in delivering services while maintaining value for money. The Agency employs a number of consultants to provide technical and contracting advice in support of the Department of Social Security's Competing for Quality programme. The consultants advise on draft contracts and contract variations, the contractual implications of policy and procedural changes and on the best contract practice to secure contained value for money. Although consultants may also be asked to give advice on contracts as they are reviewed, it is not possible to identify a proportion of consultants' costs attributable solely to work relating to the contracts BA has with BET. This is because most of the consultants work concerns issues of general relevance to all the contracts relating to the Competing for Quality Programme.
  Internal consultants have carried out a specific study relating to one BET contract. The approximate cost of this study was £2,500. This study contains commercial information which has been given in confidence, therefore a copy will not be placed in the library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17688]

  Mr. Burt
  Statistics concerning staff employed in this Department are normally based on pay and personnel records which include information on gender. Statistical information about personnel can therefore usually be broken down by gender.

  Information is available by gender for all benefits administered by the Department.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending entitlement to non-means-tested jobseeker's allowance from six months to one year. [18236]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Extending entitlement to contributory jobseeker's allowance from six months to one year would be equivalent to restoring the reduction in entitlement to contribution-based benefit from 12 months to six resulting from the replacement of unemployment benefit with jobseeker's allowance in October 1996. The current estimates for the savings from this reduction are £30 million in 1996–97 and £145 million in 1997–98. These figures are lower than previous estimates due to revised forecasts of unemployment and changes to the 706
  transitional arrangement for those in receipt of unemployment benefit when jobseeker's allowance is introduced.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates assume 2.1 million unemployed claimants (GB) and 405,000 unemployment benefit claimants in the absence of jobseeker's allowance.

  2. Savings are estimated using 1991–92–93 FES data and 1994 unemployment benefit statistics.

  3. Savings are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  4. 1996–97 savings are in 1996–97 prices. 1997–98 savings are in 1997–98 prices.

  5. Figures assume transitional protection in 1996–97.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of raising the applicable amounts under disability working allowance by(a) £5, (b) £10 and (c) £25, giving figures separately for single claimants, couples and lone parents. [18243]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Information is not available in the format requested. Available information is given in the table. Costs are given in cash terms, and are net of income-related benefit offset savings.

  £ million

  Cash

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (a) Raising applicable amount by £5

  1—

  1—

  (b) Raising applicable amount by £10

  5

  5

  (c) Raising applicable amount by £25

  10

  15

  1 Represents a figure less than £2.5 million.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates rounded to nearest £5 million.

  2. Information from the "Family Expenditure Survey" (1991, 1992and 1993) is used to estimate the effects of these changes.

  3. Estimates are based on sample data and should be used with extreme caution.

  Source:

  "Family Expenditure Survey".

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of reducing the taper for the withdrawal of disability working allowance to(a) 65 per cent., (b) 60 per cent., (c) 55 per cent., and (d) 50 per cent., and what would be the effect on claimant numbers in each case. [18109]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The estimated effects of changes in the disability working allowance taper are given in the table. Estimates are expressed in cash terms and are net of income-related benefit offsetting savings.

  Reduce DWA taper to:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (a) 65 per cent.

  Cost

  1—

  £5 million

  Additional DWA recipients

  1,000

  1,000

  (b) 60 per cent.

  Cost

  £5 million

  £5 million

  Additional DWA recipients

  2,000

  2,000

  (c) 55 per cent.

  Cost

  £10 million

  £10 million

  Additional DWA recipients

  3,000

  4,000

  707

  Reduce DWA taper to:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (d) 50 per cent.

  Cost

  £10 million

  £15 million

  Additional DWA recipients

  6,000

  7,000

  1Represents a figure less than £2.5 million.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £55 million.

  2. Estimates of additional DWA recipients rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  3. Information from the family expenditure survey (1991, 1992 and 1993) is used to estimate the effects of these changes.

  4. Estimates are based on sample data and should be used with extreme caution.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statistics he collects about the range and averages of earnings and hours of work of people in receipt of disability working allowance. [18103]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Information about the range and averages of earnings can be found in the "Disability Working Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry" (July 1995), a copy of which is in the Library.

  No reliable information on hours worked is held.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of replacing the child care disregard under family credit with a credit of the same cash value, upto a maximum of £42 to be added to the applicable amount of families with paid child care. [18237]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated cost of replacing the family credit child care disregard with a credit of the same cash value up to a maximum of £42 a week is £25 million for 1996–97 and 1997–98. This does not allow for behavioural effects.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on family expenditure surveys, uprated at 1996–97 and 1997–98 levels of prices, earnings and benefit rates, adjusted using the 1993–94 family resources survey data on the use of childcare.

  2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending entitlement to social fund(a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) cold weather payments to families in receipt of family credit. [18244]

  Mr. Evans
  Since the discretionary social fund is cash limited, extending eligibility to community care grants and budgeting loans to families in receipt of family credit without increasing the cash limit would result in a higher rate of refusals but no extra cost, other than for the administration of any additional applications.

  Alternatively, if the cash limit were increased in proportion to the number of families receiving family credit compared with those receiving income support, assuming the same level of demand is met and comparable eligibility conditions apply, we estimate that an increase would be required to (a) the community care
  708
  grants budget and to (b) the net amount available for budgeting loans as shown in the table. However, in a discretionary scheme there would be no guarantee that additional expenditure would all go to family credit recipients.

  It is not possible to estimate the additional cost of cold weather payments, since the number of payments, being dependent on the weather, varies hugely and unpredictably from year to year. However, we estimate that the total number of eligible people and administration costs would be increased by roughly 10 per cent.

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Administration costs, yearly

  (a) Community care grants

  10

  10

  2

  (b) Budgeting loans

  15

  7

  5

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the current numbers and proportions of family credit recipients who are(a) lone parents, (b) one-earner couples and (c) two-earner couples. [18096]

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

  Number of cases

  Percentage

  All FC recipients

  626,000

  100

  Lone parents

  277,000

  44.2

  One earner couples

  323,000

  51.7

  Two earner couples

  27,000

  4.2

  Note:
  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and percentages to one decimal place.

  Source:

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry July 1995.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of(a) ignoring a spouse's earnings entirely for the purpose of calculating entitlement to family credit and (b) aligning the treatment of a spouse's earnings for the purpose of calculating entitlement to family credit with the rules which apply to a spouse's earnings under the invalid care allowance. [18112]

  Mr. Evans
  The structure of family credit in effect provides a disregard of the first £73 of earned income in the household. The estimated cost of introducing a further complete disregard for spouses' earned income in family credit is £235 million for 1996–97 and £240 million for 1997–98.

  Because of the different structures of invalid care allowance and family credit, it is not possible to estimate the costs of applying a disregard structure similar to that in invalid care allowance to family credit.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on the family expenditure surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, and family credit quarterly enquiry statistics (July 1995) uprated to 1996–97 or 1997–98 prices and benefit levels.

  2. Estimates of costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the percentage of the population with severe literacy problems caused by dyslexia; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that they are covered by regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [17918]

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not held centrally about the percentage of the population with severe literacy problems caused by dyslexia.

  The Disability Discrimination Act defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Anyone with dyslexia meeting this definition will be protected by the provisions of the legislation. Effects which are severe would satisfy the requirement that effects should be at least substantial.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues and claimant numbers in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of reducing the taper for the withdrawal of housing benefit to(a) 60 per cent. and (b) 50 per cent. [18231]

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

  Estimated cost of reducing the housing benefit taper

  Cost (£ million)

  Increase in Housing Benefit caseload (000s)

  Taper

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  60 per cent.

  160

  175

  35

  35

  50 per cent.

  550

  595

  160

  160

  1. Estimates based on the family expenditure su0rveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, uprated to 1996–97 or 1997–98 prices and benefit levels.

  2. Estimates of costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  3. Estimates of caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  Home Responsibilities Protection
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers of people in each of the last three years for which statistics are available who(a) were entitled to home responsibilities protection, (b) ceased to be entitled as a result of resuming to pay national insurance contributions, (c) ceased to be entitled as a result of claiming a retirement pension and (d) ceased to be entitled due to other changes in circumstances. [18110]

  Mr. Heald
  The information available is given in the table.

  Thousands

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Total with entitlement1

  2,633

  2,718

  2,773

  Number ceasing due to increased contributions

  267

  192

  199

  Number ceasing due to retirement pension

  1

  1

  1

  710

  Thousands

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Number ceasing due to other reason

  143

  138

  135

  1 Entitlement—HRP used where earnings or credits not sufficient for a real qualifying year for pension purposes.

  Notes:

  Figures are for UK.

  1. Figures for 1992–93 are not complete as some employers tax returns may not have been received at the time of the extract.

  2. Excludes women with a reduced rate option.

  3. May exclude some people with HRP for child benefit where the award date was prior to July 1979.

  Source:

  1 per cent, sample of NIRS records taken at February 1994.

  Earnings Disregard
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of introducing a disregard of(a) £25 or (b) £50 to be set against a spouse's earnings in two-earner couples for the purpose of calculating entitlement to family credit. [18102]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The structure of family credit in effect provides a disregard of the first £73 of earned income in the household. The estimated cost of introducing further disregards is set out in the table:

  £25 disregard

  £50 disregard

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total cost (£ million)

  40

  45

  90

  95

  1. Estimates are based on the family expenditure surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, and family credit quarterly enquiry statistics July 1995, uprated to 1996–97 or 1997–98 prices and benefit levels.

  2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are currently the average numbers and proportions of income support recipients who have earnings set against an earnings disregard of(a) £5, (b) £10, (c) £15 and (d) £25, giving figures separately for (i) single people, (ii) married couples, (iii) second-earner spouses and (iv) lone parents. [18070]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is set out in the table. There is no £25 earnings disregard in income support. The £10 couple disregard will be introduced in October 1996 for income support and jobseeker's allowance.

  Claimant group

  Amount of earnings disregarded £

  Number of cases

  Percentage of claimant group

  (i) Single claimants

  0.01–5.00

  32,000

  0.7

  5.01–10.00

  5,000

  0.1

  10.01–15.00

  66.000

  1.4

  Total

  103,000

  2.2

  Of which: Lone Parents

  0.01–5.00

  1,000

  0.1

  5.01–10.00

  4,000

  0.4

  10.01–15.00

  63,000

  5.6

  Total

  68,000

  6.1

  711

  Claimant group

  Amount of earnings disregarded £

  Number of cases

  Percentage of claimant group

  (ii) Couples

  0.01–5.00

  31,000

  3.2

  5.01–10.00

  2,000

  0.2

  10.01–15.00

  23,000

  2.4

  Total

  56,000

  5.8

  Of which: second-earner partners

  0.01–5.00

  —

  —

  5.01–10.00

  —

  —

  10.01–15.00

  —

  —

  Total

  1,000

  0.1

  (iii) All cases

  0.01–5.00

  63,000

  1.1

  5.01–10.00

  7,000

  0.1

  10.01–15.00

  89,000

  1.6

  Total

  159,000

  2.8

  Notes:

  1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. A dash represents numbers less than 500.

  2. The amounts shown are the actual amounts disregarded. These may be less than the full amount of earnings disregard that the claimant is entitled to.

  3. Self-employed earnings are not shown.

  4. Couples include cohabitees and spouses.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Enquiry. February 1995.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending entitlement to free school meals to families receiving family credit. [18242]

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending entitlement to free school meals to families receiving family credit. [18234]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated cost of extending entitlement to free school meals to families receiving family credit is £150 million in both 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Therapeutic Earnings
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the number and proportion of invalidity benefit claimants in 1994–95 with therapeutic earnings, (b) the current number and proportion of incapacity benefit claimants with therapeutic earnings which are still subject to the rules which applied before 13 April 1995 and (c) the current number and proportion of incapacity benefit claimants with therapeutic earnings. [18069]

  Mr. Burt
  Information on which to base estimates is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of abolishing(a) the 16 hours rule and (b) the earnings rule for therapeutic earnings under incapacity benefit. [18232]

  Mr. Burt
  There is insufficient information available on which to base estimates.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of people in each of the last three years for which statistics are available who(a) were in receipt of invalid care allowance, (b) who ceased to be entitled to invalid care allowance as a result of earnings above the earnings limit, (c) who ceased to be entitled to invalid care benefit due to their age and (d) who ceased to be entitled due to other changes in circumstances. [18115]

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table1

  1993

  1994

  1995

  ICA Recipients,

  230,313

  273,901

  316,353

  Cessations due to earnings

  2,524

  3,119

  4,688

  Cessations due to age2

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Other cessations

  40,341

  44,022

  56,860

  Notes:

  1 Figures are based on a 100 per cent. of cases as at 31 December.

  2 Once entitlement to ICA is established, there is no upper age limit.

  Source:

  Invalid care allowance quarterly statistical returns.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are currently the range and average level of earnings of people in receipt of invalid care allowance and of their spouses, giving figures separately for each; and what are(a) the number and proportion of invalid care allowance claimants with earnings, (b) the number and proportion of married invalid care allowance claimants whose spouses are earning and (c) the number of invalid care allowance claimants who have lost additional payments for (1) one child, (2) two children and (3) three or more children as a result of the level of their spouses' earnings. [18114]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  As at 28 February 1996, the number of invalid care allowance claimants with earnings is 23,252, which represents 7.2 per cent. of the total number of recipients.

  Note: figures are based on a 100 per cent. count of cases.

  Source: scan of invalid care allowance database.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending entitlement to social fund(a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) cold weather payments to families in receipt of family credit. [18105]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Since the discretionary social fund is cash limited, extending eligibility to community care grants and budgeting loans to families in receipt of family credit without increasing the cash limit would result in a higher rate of refusals but no extra cost, other than for the administration of any additional applications.

  Alternatively, if the cash limit was increased in proportion to the number of families receiving family credit compared with those receiving income support, assuming the same level of demand is met and

  713
  comparable eligibility conditions apply, we estimate that an increase would be required to (a) the community care grants budget and to (b) the net amount available for budgeting loans as shown in the table. However, in a discretionary scheme there would be no guarantee that additional expenditure would all go to family credit recipients.

  It is not possible to estimate the additional cost of cold weather payments, since the number of payments, being dependent on the weather, varies hugely and unpredictably from year to year. However, we estimate that the total number of eligible people and administration costs would be increased by roughly 10 per cent.

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Administration costs, yearly

  (a) Community care grants

  10

  10

  2

  (b) Budgeting loans

  15

  7

  5

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate his Department has made of the amount of money which will be reclaimed under the new rules for prescription charges in respect of men aged between 60 and 65 years; [16945]

  (2) how many pensioners have claimed refunds of prescription charges under the new rules affecting men aged between 60 and 65 years. [16944]

  Mr. Malone
  I have been asked to reply.

  We do not hold figures on the number of men aged 60 to 65 who have paid prescription charges prior to the European Court of Justice ruling. Following our invitation to register a claim we have issued over 187,000 claim forms to men in the United Kingdom. At the close of business on 23 February 132,000—70 per cent.—had been returned.

  To date the prescription claims processing unit has authorised payments totalling £2.6 million to 83,000—63 per cent.—men. At this stage it is not possible to forecast accurately the total cost of likely refunds but they are not expected to exceed £6 million. This does not include the cost of prepayment certificates refunded locally by family health services authorities. Administration costs will be additional.

WALES

  Breast Cancer Services
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers, grades, jobs designations and health authority area of full-time breast cancer staff working in the NHS in Wales for each year since 1990. [16625]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Chernobyl
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to revoke the various emergency restrictions imposed in response to the Chernobyl disaster. [17051]

  Mrs. Gwilym Jones
  Radiocaesium contamination from the Chernobyl accident continues to affect certain upland areas of sheep grazing in north Wales. Although there has been a general decline in the activity of the radiocaesium the actual rate of decline depends on the interaction of a number of factors such as soil type, vegetation, weather, drainage and sheep grazing preference. The variable interaction between these factors does not enable an accurate forecast to be made of the length of time sheep controls will be required.

  Regular monitoring of radiocaesium levels in sheep, and other relevant information, enables suitable areas to be identified for a comprehensive survey and assessment to determine the prospects for removing controls. Following such work my right hon. Friend was able to lift controls from over 65 sq k in the Snowdon area on 17 January 1996. The area originally affected by sheep controls was approximately 4,100 sq k, but has now been reduced to approximately 580 sq k.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has commissioned to assess the long-term effects of the Chernobyl incident on(a) Welsh agriculture and (b) land use in the affected areas. [17052]

  Mr. Jones
  In Wales land affected by the Chernobyl accident is predominantly confined to certain upland areas of north Wales used for sheep grazing. Other than restrictions on the movement and slaughter of sheep from those areas there have been no long-term effects of Welsh agriculture or land use.

  Research has identified ways to immobilise the transference of radioactivity through certain technical remedies and chemical land treatments. However, the potential adverse effect such land treatment could have on the natural environment of the area and the practical application of the other treatments are not necessarily appropriate to the area covered by restrictions. At present, the mark and release scheme remains the most satisfactory means of securing the protection of food chain safety and ensuring that normal sheep marketing practices within the restricted area continue with minimum disruption to farmers.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the revocation of the emergency restrictions imposed in response to the Chernobyl incident. [17053]

  Mr. Jones
  General inquiries are sometimes received about the length of time sheep restrictions will be required. Our policy of regularly informing farmers affected by restrictions and their unions of the current position is intended to provide them with a full understanding of the situation. This can be judged by the continued co-operation and patience farmers have shown in the need to retain restrictions and their help in maintaining confidence in the quality of Welsh lamb.

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.[16884]

  Mr. Hague
  Staff in my Department faced with a potential conflict of interest must declare the position to senior management who can consider how best to proceed. This requirement is set out in the Welsh Office terms and conditions of service code.

  Staff disclose relevant interests on the understanding that this, like all employment matters, is confidential between them and their employer.

  Milford Haven Waterway
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the designation of the Milford Haven waterway as a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement. [17375]

  Mr. Hague
  Ministers and officials received nine responses following the public consultation exercise undertaken last year from organisations representing a range of interests. Some expressed concern about the socio-economic effects of the proposed designation, others supported it fully, some suggested that the site was not large enough, while others raised queries about the proposed boundaries. All responses received will be taken into account before a decision is made on whether or not to submit the site to the European Commission.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to submit his plans for the designation of the Milford Haven waterway as a special area of conservation. [17374]

  Mr. Hague
  A public consultation exercise was undertaken last March on over 280 potential special areas of conservation in the United Kingdom. Two hundred and eleven of these sites—including 34 in Wales—have already been submitted to the European Commission as potential SACs. It is hoped that the remaining sites, which include the proposed Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire islands SAC, can be submitted in due course. No decision will be made until all points raised during the consultation have been fully considered.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [17459]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department does not currently hold any contracts with EDS.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of children of secondary school age attend a grammar school. [17500]
  716
  Mr. Richards
  There are no grammar schools in Wales.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the new overseas industrial inward investment projects secured by Wales over the past two years were introduced by Invest in Britain. [17229]

  Mr. Hague
  In the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95 two new inward investment projects were introduced to Wales by the Invest in Britain Bureau.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many inward investment projects have settled in Wales as a result of guidance given by the Invest in Britain Bureau over the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [17734]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In 1992–93, the bureau was significantly involved in two of the 60 projects recorded by Wales; in 1993–94, the bureau was involved in one of the 64 projects recorded; and in 1994–95, the bureau was involved in three of the 51 projects recorded.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many grant-maintained schools there are in each of the counties of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [17502]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Distribution of grant-maintained schools in Wales by county

  Number of Schools

  County

  Primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Clwyd

  2

  4

  6

  Dyfed

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  1

  3

  4

  Gwynedd

  1

  —

  1

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  1

  —

  1

  South Glamorgan

  —

  3

  3

  West Glamorgan

  —

  1

  1

  Wales

  5

  11

  16

  Wind Turbines
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many wind turbines have been erected in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [17501]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Some 224 wind turbines have been erected in Wales with the support of the non-fossil fuel obligation. A small number of turbines have also been constructed outside the NFFO framework; however, details are not held by this Department.

  Drug and Substance Abuse
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures his Department has adopted to combat(a) drugs abuse and (b) substance abuse. [17379]
  717
  Mr. Richards
  A Welsh office consultation paper "Forward Together" which sets out a strategy for tackling drug and alcohol misuse in Wales was launched on 16 October 1995. This paper sets out the measures to be adopted to combat the misuse of drugs and other substances in Wales including the establishment of a new Welsh drug and alcohol unit. The intention is to publish the final strategy document in spring 1996.

  I have also announced our intention to reconstitute the Welsh Committee on Drug and Alcohol Misuse. Membership of the committee will be announced in the coming weeks.

  Deprived Youths (Training)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate training schemes for deprived youth in the Alyn and Deeside constituency. [17503]

  Mr. Richards
  The Welsh Office already guarantees a training place to all young people who are not in full-time education, training or employment through its youth credits and modern apprenticeships programmes. As part of its work in delivering this guarantee in the Alyn and Deeside constituency, the North East Wales training and enterprise council operates, as an integral part of its youth training provision, a bridge to work programme which specially caters for those young people who are disadvantaged in the labour market.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will break down the number of people who were accepted as homeless in the county of Mid Glamorgan over the last five years by(a) sex and (b) age group; and if he will make a statement; [17511]

  (2) if he will break down the number of people who were accepted as homeless in Dyfed over the last five years by (a) sex and (b) age group; and if he will make a statement. [17530]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  A470 Extension
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the construction on the A470 extension of the Cardiff to Merthyr trunk road to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road to Cefn Coed is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [17562]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Pentrebach to Cefn Coed scheme, which extends the improvement of the A470 to the A465, is expected to be completed in spring 1997.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the construction companies currently working on the A470 extension of the Cardiff to Merthyr trunk road to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road at Cefn Coed. [17563]
  718
  Mr. Jones
  The Pentrebach to Cefn Coed scheme, which extends the improvement of the A470 to the A465, comprises two contracts. The main contractors are:Southern Section (Pentrebach to Swansea Road)—Taylor Woodrow Civil Engineering Ltd.
  Northern Section (Swansea Road to Cefn Coed)—Christiani and Nielsen Ltd.

  A465
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the construction on the A465 from Aberdulais to Glyn Neath will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [17566]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Construction on the A465 between Aberdulais and Glynneath is expected to be completed in early 1997.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the engineering and statutory procedures will be completed on the rebuilding of the A465 Abergavenny to Hirwaun dual carriageway; and if he will make a statement. [17524]

  Mr. Jones
  Work is currently expected to start on this scheme in 1999, subject to satisfactory completion of design and statutory procedures, and the availability of finance.

  Companies (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been received by the Welsh Development Agency for financial assistance for companies; and what is(a) the number approved, (b) the total financial value of the approved applications and (c) the average time taken to process and approve these applications in the last three years for which figures are available. [16980]

  Mr. Hague
  I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to my hon. Friend and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17692]

  Mr. Hague
  In conducting statistical surveys of, or about, individuals the Welsh Office collects information on gender where this is relevant to analysis of the survey data. Aggregated statistics about individuals are published by gender where appropriate.

  Reservoirs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 26 February,Offical Report, column 403, on what date his officials were most recently informed by Dwr Cymru and the National Rivers Authority, Wales region, of reservoir levels; and if he will give the percentage level of the water in each of Dwr Cymru's principal reservoirs at the corresponding date. [18204]
  719
  Mr. Hague
  My Department has received information from Dwr Cymru on reservoir levels in Wales most recently as at 26 February 1996. The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Principal Welsh Reservoir Levels as at 26 February 1996

  Percentage full

  North Wales

  Celyn

  53

  Brenig

  86

  Cefni

  100

  Cwymystradllyn

  100

  Alwen

  58

  Cynwch

  65

  South Western Wales

  Brianne

  100

  Cray

  100

  Llysyfran

  100

  Prescelly

  100

  Ystradfellte

  100

  Egnant

  99

  South Eastern Wales

  Usk

  71

  Talybont

  100

  Llandegfedd

  99

  Taf Fechan

  99

  Taf Fawr

  100

  Elan Valley

  93

  Waiting List Initiative Funds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 February,Official Report,columns 732–33 what was the total amount of waiting list initiative funds granted to each family health services authority since 1 January. [18205]

  Mr. Hague
  In the financial year 1995–96, waiting times initiative funding was allocated on a district basis. Within each district, the health authority and family health services authority were asked to agree on the division of the funding. The amounts agreed for family health services authorities are as follows:

  FHSA

  £

  Clwyd

  nil

  Dyfed

  110,200

  Gwent

  50,000

  Gwynedd

  9,000

  Mid Glamorgan

  100,000

  Powys

  nil

  South Glamorgan

  250,000

  West Glamorgan

  520,000

  Total

  1,039,200

  In addition, family health services authorities may receive a share of the residual funding of £125,000 recently notified to health authorities.

  Sea Empress
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made for the long-term monitoring of the effects of the oil spill on the marine ecosystem around the Pembrokeshire coast. [17970]
  720
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has provided £250,000 to the Countryside Council for Wales to enable it to conduct a study of the entire marine environment, and initiate a long-term monitoring programme, in the area affected by the spill.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what resources he has made available to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to assist those organisations in their rescue of sea birds and other wildlife affected by oil from the Sea Empress. [18108]

  Mr. Jones
  Compensation for cost incurred and economic loss suffered as a result of the oil pollution damage from the Sea Empress, including the costs of reasonable measures taken to prevent or minimise the damage, are available from the ship owner's insurer and from the international oil compensation fund, which is funded by levies on the oil industry.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what further assessment he makes of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G13.125, page 1996, in respect of his legal and constitutional responsibility to promote the public interst; and if he will make a statement; [16996]

  (2) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusions in G13.106 that the brief to Mr. Moses and his submissions to Judge Smedley were inconsistent with the Deputy Prime Minister's views; and if he will make a statement; [16994]

  (3) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G13.123 that he must bear responsibility for inadequate instructions to Mr. Moses. [16993]

  The Attorney-General
  The Treasury Solicitor's Department instructed prosecuting counsel in relation to public interest immunity on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence.

  All the Ministers who signed PII certificates in the Matrix Churchill case, including my right hon. Friend the then President of the Board of Trade, were satisfied that there was, in principle, a public interest in non-disclosure of documents within the classes as formulated in the certificates, and that the documents in question fell within those classes.

  Having regard to the law as it then stood, in the light of the President's concerns, I advised him on a specially drafted PII certificate which emphasised that he was doing no more than performing his duty to assert PII, and that it was for the court to decide which documents should be disclosed.

  In the circumstances, as my evidence to the Scott inquiry made clear, the instructions to counsel in relation to the DTI were inadequate and counsel should have been shown my exchange of letters with the President, but these were not matters for my personal supervision.
  721
  Sir Richard Scott's comments on my role derive from the fact that he takes a fundamentally different view of the law and does not believe that the President was under any such duty. I am satisfied that the advice I gave was correct and that the decision on disclosure was for the court, not Ministers.

  Prosecuting counsel, in line with the President's specially drafted PII certificate, emphasised to the court that Ministers were doing no more than performing their duty to assert PII, and that it was for the court to decide which documents should be disclosed. At counsel's invitation the judge read every document covered by all the PII certificates and duly decided which should be disclosed.

  The law has now moved on. Following the decision in ex parte Wiley (1994), Ministers are now able to form their own judgment as to whether material should be disclosed. In the light of that decision, submissions to Ministers on PII are now fuller and take into account Ministers' expanded role.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G18.60 that Government are entitled to authorise the disclosure of its confidential or secret documents; and if he will make a statement. [17005]

  The Attorney-General
  Public interest immunity applies only to disclosure in the context of legal proceedings. Following the decision of the House of Lords in ex parte Wiley, a Minister is entitled to volunteer disclosure where he concludes that this is in the overall public interest. It has always been for Ministers to decide whether disclosure for purposes other than legal proceedings is in the public interest.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G18.58 in respect of Viscount Simon's judgement in Duncan v. Cammell Laird 1942; and if he will make a statement. [17004]

  The Attorney-General
  The decision in Duncan v. Cammell Laird (1942) was overtaken by the decision of the House of Lords in Conway v. Rimmer (1968), which effected a major change in the law as to the function of Ministers in claiming public interest immunity. The Government's approach to PII in the Matrix Churchill case was fully in accordance with the law as it then stood in the light of Conway v. Rimmer and the later authorities. With the House of Lords decision in ex parte Wiley (1994) there has been a further change.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in sections G 18.66 that his advice was without sound legal foundation; and if he will make a statement; [16998]

  (2) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G18.54 that his views on Ministers' legal duties to claim PII were based on a fundamental misconception of PII law; and if he will make a statement. [16997]

  The Attorney-General
  The advice I gave on PII at the time of the Matrix Churchill trial was entirely in accordance with the law as it then stood. It was based on careful, detailed advice from a team of distinguished independent practitioners, was fully supported by the case 722
  law and has been publicly endorsed by three of the defence counsel and a number of other eminent commentators including the Master of the Rolls.

  Since the Matrix Churchill trial the decision of the House of Lords in ex parte Wiley (1994) has brought about a change in the law on PII.

  For a full analysis I refer the hon. Member to the document entitled "Public interest immunity: Government response to the Scott Report", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G18.104 that the class claims made in the Matrix Churchill trial should have had no place in a criminal trial; and if he will make a statement. [16999]

  The Attorney-General
  The class claims made in the Matrix Churchill trial were of a kind which were well established and recognised by the courts. The trial judge held that they had been properly made. The application of PII to criminal cases has been confirmed by the higher courts. For example, the Court of Appeal upheld class claims for material relating to national security and communications with foreign Governments in Ordtec—Rv. Blackledge and others—(1995).

  As to the future, I have announced that the Government are considering carefully the recommendations in the Scott report in relation to PII and are seeking the views of interested parties.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G13.17 that the ability of the prosecution to introduce evidence within a public interest immunity class without making it available to the defence is one-sided. [17324]

  The Attorney-General
  Public interest immunity applies regardless of whether the prosecution or the defence seeks disclosure of the material in question. At the relevant time a Minister was under a duty to claim PII where it applied, except where it was clear that on any view the court was bound to order disclosure—the so-called Makanjuola exception. The Makanjuola exception was not expressly applied to the disclosure of the material referred to in paragraph G13.17 of the Scott report. It is accepted that the prior approval of the Secretary of State for disclosure should have been obtained. However, on the basis that disclosure could in the circumstances have been justified as falling within the scope of the Makanjuola exception, there was no inconsistency between that disclosure and the PII claims that were made in the case.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General when he first consulted with other Cabinet Ministers about the contents of the report of the Scott inquiry; and where and when such discussions took place and with whom. [16514]

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 22 February 1996]: It is not the practice to give details of ministerial meetings.
  723
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 February,Official Report, column 17, (1) when he read the letter from the Deputy Prime Minister dated 11 September; [16990]

  (2) pursuant to his oral answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 17, who in his Department read the Deputy Prime Minister's letter dated 11 September; on what date; and on what date their contents were communicated directly to him; [16989]

  (3) pursuant to his oral answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 17, if the written comments submitted to Sir Richard Scott on his behalf on 6 November 1995 confirmed that he had not read the Deputy Prime Minister's letter of 11 September prior to commencement of the Matrix Churchill trial on 12 October 1992. [16991]

  (4) if he will publish the written comments submitted on his behalf to Sir Richard Scott on 6 November 1995; [16992]

  The Attorney-General
  One of my officials read my right hon. Friend's letter when it was received on 14 September 1992 and immediately sent a copy to the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which was responsible for instructing prosecuting counsel. I was away from my office during the week when the letter arrived.

  The letter was a brief one. Its purpose was to thank me for my advice and for the revised draft PII certificate which I had proposed, and which my right hon. Friend had duly signed. I already knew this. In the circumstances there is nothing at all surprising in the fact that, as the Scott inquiry was informed in written comments submitted on 6 November 1995, the letter was not brought to my attention before the Matrix Churchill trial. I have no plans to publish those comments. Sir Richard Scott intends to publish in due course copies of all documents which he considers relevant to the text of his report.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in sections G13.113 and 115 that Ministers should inform the court if they have views on disclosure; and if he will make a statement; [17003]

  (2) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G18.101 that it is a waste of public time and money to place the issue of disclosure in respect of trivial documents before the trial judge; and if he will make a statement; [17001]

  (3) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G18.101 that judges may make mistakes; and if he will make a statement; [17002]

  (4) what assessment he has made of Sir Richard Scott's conclusion in section G13.103 that Ministers were given insufficient guidance to come to a consistent view about the class of documents they were protecting; and if he will make a statement. [17323]
  724
  The Attorney-General
  As the law on public interest immunity stood at the time of Matrix Churchill, it was for Ministers to advance a PII claim where they were satisfied that there was a public interest in not disclosing documents within the relevant classes, and that the documents fell within those classes. It was then the judge's function to weigh the public interest in non-disclosure against the public interest in disclosure for the purposes of doing justice. The judge was best placed to know the issues in the case and hence the degree of relevance of the documents in question.

  Following the decision in ex parte Wiley (1994), Ministers can now weigh the competing interests for themselves and volunteer disclosure if they conclude that this is in the overall public interest. But where a Minister is not satisfied that disclosure should be made, the court remains the ultimate decision maker and must balance the competing public interests and rule on disclosure.

  Departmental Officials (Interests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [16885]

  The Attorney-General
  Comprehensive records are not held centrally for civil servants in the departments and agency for which I am responsible. Civil servants faced with a conflict of interest must declare their interest to senior management in accordance with the staff handbook of each department and agency. Staff who disclose relevant interests do so on the understanding that the declaration, like other employment matters, is confidential between them and their employer. There are no plans to establish a central register of officials' interests.

  Asil Nadir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has held, and with whom, on the case of Mr. Asil Nadir. [17161]

  The Attorney-General
  Asil Nadir is the co-accused of Elizabeth Forsyth who is presently standing trial at the Central Criminal court. He has however left the jurisdiction and is the subject of an unexecuted warrant for his arrest. I have discussed the case from time to time with my officials and the director of the Serious Fraud Office.

  EDS Ltd.
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [17450]

  The Attorney-General
  None of the departments or agency for which I am responsible has entered into any contract with EDS, Electronic Data Systems.

  Serious Fraud Cases
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to change the procedures governing the investigation and prosecution of serious fraud cases; and if he will make a statement. [17389]

  The Attorney-General
  None. The Serious Fraud Office and the fraud division of the Crown Prosecution Service continue to implement the recommendations of the Davie report as set out in my statement to the House on 31 March 1995,Official Report, column 1309. Copies of the report were placed in the Library of the House.

  Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17685]

  The Attorney-General
  Statistics concerning staff employed in the departments and agency for which I am responsible are normally based on pay and personnel records which include information on gender. Statistical information about personnel can therefore usually be broken down by gender.

  Grenada, Dominica and Solomon Islands: Loans
  Grenada, Dominica and Solomon Islands: Loans
  Flea Collars: Child Safety
  Flea Collars: Child Safety
  Greece: Control of CAP Expenditure
  Greece: Control of CAP Expenditure
  Agriculture Council, 26th February
  Agriculture Council, 26th February
  Arable Area Payments
  Arable Area Payments
  Multi-media and Information Technology
  Multi-media and Information Technology
  Local Government Reorganisation: Lord Lieutenants
  Local Government Reorganisation: Lord Lieutenants
  UK Forces under US Command
  UK Forces under US Command
  Arms Exports: Public Information
  Arms Exports: Public Information
  Bulk Carrier Losses
  Bulk Carrier Losses
  Holding Centres: Independent Commissioner's Annual Report
  Holding Centres: Independent Commissioner's Annual Report
  Secure Training Centres
  Secure Training Centres
  Public Interest Immunity Claims
  Public Interest Immunity Claims
  Matrix Churchill Case: Public Interest Immunity
  Matrix Churchill Case: Public Interest Immunity
  Prosecution Policy
  Prosecution Policy
  The Royal Parks Agency
  The Royal Parks Agency
  Beaufort's Dyke: Survey Work
  Beaufort's Dyke: Survey Work