Written Answers of 11 January 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  European Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from(a) the Commission of the European Community and (b) the Government of any of its member states concerning those matters of common interest listed in article K1 of the treaty on European Union; what proposals he has received for conventions under the provisions of article K3 2(c); and what (i) material and (ii) information he has published relating thereto. [8254]

  Mr. Howard
  The Commission, which has a limited right of initiative under article K3(2) of the treaty on European union, has issued three communications to the Council of Ministers concerning matters of common interest under article K1. These related to immigration and asylum policies, a European Union action plan to combat drugs and the possible application of article K9 of the treaty. The Commission has also submitted proposals for a Council decision establishing the convention on the crossing of the external frontiers of the member states and for a convention on the protection of the Communities' financial interests.

  Member states enjoy the right to initiate action in all the areas of common interest listed in article K1 and regularly make proposals for specific measures or projects in the Justice and Home Affairs Council and its associated working groups. The Council of Ministers has adopted conventions on simplified extradition procedures, fraud, Europol and the customs information system. Draft instruments currently under negotiation by the member states include: the convention on external frontiers and the associated convention on the European information system; a second stage convention on simplified extradition procedures; and a convention on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications.

  Any proposal or communication from the Commission to the Council of Ministers is deposited in Parliament. In accordance with the procedures for scrutiny of European Community documents, the Government publish an explanatory memorandum for each document deposited. Proposals arising from intergovernmental co-operation on justice and home affairs under title VI of the treaty are subject to the separate arrangements for Parliamentary scrutiny of work which apply to that title.

  Surinder Singh Judgment
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the additional entitlements of European nationals to bring relatives into the EU and the UK in consequence of the Surinder Singh judgment in the European Court; and if he will publish a booklet explaining the situation; [8521]
  276
  (2) what are the implications of the Surinder Singh case in the European Court in so far as the immigration law and the primary purpose rule are concerned; and what estimate has been made of the numbers of persons who have taken advantage of the implications of the judgment. [8522]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Nationals of the other member states of the European Economic Area are free to come to the United Kingdom with their close family members to exercise rights conferred under the provisions of the treaty of Rome relating to the free movement of workers and rights of residence.

  Those rights were not affected by the Surinder Singh judgment, delivered by the European Court of Justice in July 1992. The effect of that judgment is that where a British citizen returns to the United Kingdom after exercising treaty rights in an economic capacity in another member state, his or her third-country national spouse and other close family members are entitled to enter and reside in the United Kingdom under European Community law.

  In giving effect to the judgment, we require that the British citizen must have exercised substantive treaty rights in another member state, normally for a period of at least six months, as a worker or in another economically active capacity; those who resided abroad as tourists or students, for example, do not qualify. The primary purpose rule does not apply but the application is refused if the marriage is one of convenience. If the marriage ends in divorce, or if the British citizen goes abroad, the third-country spouse will no longer have a right to reside here under European Community law.

  Since the judgment was delivered, we have received 73 applications based on it, of which 59 have been granted.

  Europol Convention
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what drafts of the Europol convention concerning the establishment and powers of a European police office were(a) published by Her Majesty's Government and (b) sent to police authorities or their representative organisations; what outline (i) proposals and (ii) drafts were sent to select committees of both Houses of Parliament; when the convention was signed and by whom on behalf of the United Kingdom; and which drafts were considered at ministerial meetings and on what occasions. [8303]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: The final text of the Europol convention was published, and laid before Parliament, on 8 December last year. Drafts of the convention were not public documents and therefore were not published nor made generally available. The police service were closely consulted throughout the negotiation of the convention through police representative organisations.

  An explanatory note on the draft convention was submitted on 22 February 1994. Supplementary explanatory notes, with revised drafts of the convention, were provided on 17 November 1994 and on 31 May 1995. The final text of the convention, together with an accompanying explanatory note, was forwarded on 28 July last year.
  277
  Various aspects of the negotiation of the Europol convention were discussed at meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council between late 1993 and 1995, but specific drafts of the convention were not considered in detail.

  Agreement was reached in principle to the terms of the convention at the European Council meeting at Cannes in June 1995. The convention was subsequently signed on 26 July by Mr. David Bostock, the United Kingdom's deputy permanent representative to the European Union.

  South Yorkshire Constabulary (Charges)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the South Yorkshire constabulary charge for the police safe scheme and similar services. [8415]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that South Yorkshire police do not charge for the keyholder list services which they provide.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by month since Doncaster prison was opened the number of people detained under immigration powers and held at the prison, indicating from what countries the detainees originally came. [8053]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about immigration detainees held at Doncaster prison.
  The number of detainees held at Doncaster are listed by month in the attached table, together with the countries of origin.

  List of detainees held at Doncaster

  Month

  Number

  Country of origin.

  June 1994

  Nil

  —

  July 1994

  Nil

  —

  August 1994

  Nil

  —

  September 1994

  Nil

  —

  October 1994

  Nil

  —

  November 1994

  Nil

  —

  December 1994

  Nil

  —

  January 1995

  1

  Malaya

  February 1995

  1

  Malaya

  March 1995

  1

  Malaya

  April 1995

  1

  Malaya

  May 1995

  2

  Malaya/Jamaica

  June 1995

  3

  Malaya/Jamaica/Colombia

  July 1995

  3

  Malaya/Jamaica/Colombia

  August 1995

  3

  Malaya/Jamaica/Colombia

  September 1995

  4

  Malaya/Jamaica/Colombia

  October 1995

  6

  Malaya/Jamaica/Colombia/India

  November 1995

  5

  Jamaica/Colombia/India

  December 1995

  4

  Jamaica/Colombia/India

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners were transferred from Doncaster prison in each month since it has been opened, indicating the reason for the transfer in 278
  each case, and the name of the prison to which the transfer was made; [8051]

  (2) how many prisoners were transferred to Doncaster prison in each month since it has been opened, indicating the reason for the transfer in each case, and the name of the prison to which the transfer was made. [8052]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about transfers in and out of Doncaster prison since it opened.
  There are around 2,500 prisoner movements into and out of Doncaster each month. This information could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Winson Green Prison
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average occupancy at Winson Green prison in each of the last five years; [7954]

  (2) what has been the average prison officer establishment at Winson Green prison in each of the last five years. [7955]

  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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 11 January 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 average prisoner population and the average number of prison officers at Birmingham prison in each of the last five years.
  The average prisoner population over the last five years is shown in table one, attached.
  The average number of officers working in each of the last five years is given in table two.

  Table 1

  Year

  Average prisoner population

  1991

  956

  1992

  911

  1993

  793

  1994

  752

  19951

  839

  1 until end November.

  Table 2

  Year

  Number of discipline officers

  Discipline officers plus miscellaneous officers such as trades and catering officers

  1991

  364

  448

  1992

  378

  461

  1993

  372

  454

  279

  Table 2

  Year

  Number of discipline officers

  Discipline officers plus miscellaneous officers such as trades and catering officers

  1994

  345

  425

  1995

  348

  429

  The figure for 1991 are not exact as the method of recording the information at that time was not completely reliable.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of running Winson Green prison in each of the last five years at(a) actual prices and (b) current prices; and what are the budgets for 1995–96 and 1996–97. [7956]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the cost of running Birmingham prison.
  The total net operating costs for the years 1990–91 to 1994–95 at actual and current prices and the present budget for 1995–96 are set out in the attached table. The budget for 1996–97 has not yet been decided.

  Financial year

  Actual prices £ million

  1995–96 prices £ million

  1990–91

  14.9

  17.7

  1991–92

  16.9

  18.9

  1992–93

  17.7

  19.1

  1993–94

  15.7

  16.4

  1994–95

  16.1

  16.5

  1995–96

  16.8

  16.8

  The costs for the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 are calculated on a different basis to later years in that they include notional charges for opportunity cost of rent and depreciation.

  Probation Committees
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations are undertaken before appointments are made to local probation committees. [7951]

  Mr. Sackville
  The majority of probation committee members are magistrates, elected by their benches. Where committees choose to co-opt members of the local community it is for them to decide how to do so: many committees place public advertisements to attract people with suitable interests and experience. Where committees co-opt members of local authorities, as they are required to do in metropolitan areas and may decide to do elsewhere, they should consult the authorities concerned about the appointments.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how local probation committees are accountable to their communities. [7948]

  Mr. Sackville
  Local probation committees are responsible to their communities through the management of services: by the publication of Her Majesty's inspection reports, annual reports and by an obligation under national standards to liaise closely with local communities.

  Risley Prison
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement the recommendation of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons into the women's prison at Risley in respect of the women's health care centre. [8176]

  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. Doug Hoyle, dated 11 January 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 provision of a new female health care centre at Risley prison.
  The recommendation by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons that a new health care centre for women be provided at Risley was accepted. But no promises could be given about the timing of this new provision. This will depend on the redevelopment programme at Risley and on money for new buildings being available.
  There are no funds presently earmarked for this scheme but it will continue to be considered alongside other schemes when money is allocated.
  The Chief Inspector's most recent report on Risley (the report of an unannounced visit) was published in November 1995. No special mention was made of health care provision for women.

  Prisons (Allocation of Sexes)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to discourage the practice of allocating women to wings of male prisons. [8257]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the practice of allocating women to wings of male prisons.
  The Prison Service is currently developing a strategy for the future provision of female places. This strategy will be reported to the Home Secretary in the spring of this year.
  At present 314 women are held in units at five male prisons. These prisons provide a total of 344 places in areas with a specific shortage of female provision. The current female provision at male establishments allows women to be kept closer to their home areas.
  The accommodation provided at these establishments enables female prisoners to be housed in dedicated units on a shared site with distinct access to particular prison facilities.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people lost eligibility for compensation in respect of the death of a relative under the 1994 criminal injuries compensation scheme when the CICB scheme was re-introduced; and what has been the saving to public funds. [8161]

  Mr. Maclean
  The eligibility of a claimant for compensation can be determined only by reference to the individual circumstances of the case in the light of the relevant scheme. In the great majority of cases where an application was made in respect of a fatal case under the
  281
  former tariff scheme, the claimants' eligibility for payment had not been determined when that scheme was withdrawn.

  Information on numbers of applications for fatal awards under the tariff scheme, the relationship between the applicant and the victim in those cases, and payments made, was contained in answers given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 28 November 1995, Official Report, columns 652–53.

  New Hall Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional inmate places he expects will be available for use by the end of 1996 at Her Majesty's prison New Hall, Wakefield. [8329]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about New Hall prison.
  The Prison Service has no plans at present to increase the number of places at New Hall by the end of 1996.

  Probation Staff
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those prisons which have made probation staff redundant over the last year; and if he will make a statement; [7387]

  (2) if he will make a statement in respect of those prisons which have reduced (a) sex offenders and (b) drug treatment programmes over the last year; and if he will make a statement; [7388]

  (3) what reductions in probation work, including courses dealing with offending behaviour, have been made at (a) Winchester, (b) Birmingham and (c) Little Hey prisons; and if he will make a statement. [7389]

  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. Alan Beith, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about redundancies among prison-based probation officers; reductions in prison sex offender and drug treatment programmes and reductions in prison probation work at Winchester, Birmingham and Littlehey prisons during the last year.
  No prisons have made probation staff redundant. Probation officers work in prison establishments on secondment from their home probation services. They remain subject to the conditions of service of their local Probation Committee.
  Detailed information about treatment programmes for drug misusers in individual prisons is not held centrally but every prison must develop a local strategy to reduce the supply and demand for drugs, to rehabilitate drug misusers and to minimise the potential for damage to the health of prisoners, staff and the wider community.
  282
  With the exception of Littlehey prison, there has been no reduction in sex offender programmes at any prison and there has been no reduction in probation work at Winchester or Birmingham. At Littlehey, probation staff, with uniformed staff, lead sex-offender treatment programmes. A combination of factors including sick leave and staff changes led to the cancellation of some sex offender treatment sessions during the summer.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he will use for determining whether an upheaval has taken place in a country for the purposes of determining whether asylum seekers claiming after entry into the United Kingdom should qualify for income support; and which countries he assesses to be currently undergoing such an upheaval. [7400]

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. and learned Friend will notify the Benefits Agency if a country undergoes a fundamental change in circumstances such that people are not normally being required to return to it for the time being. Each upheaval will be separately assessed and a judgment made as to whether people should be required to return. This assessment will be based on the latest available relevant information from a wide range of sources.

  Internet
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what web site his Department maintains on the Internet; what information is provided there; how often it is updated; what is the address; and if he or his Department answers questions and supplies additional information through the Internet. [7570]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department does not maintain its own World Wide Web site on the Internet, but uses(a) the electronic news distribution service of the Central Office of Information for the publication of press releases on the web, and (b) the web site known as the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency Government information service, maintained by CCTA—the Government centre for information systems—for other information. My Department does not yet have its wwn home page, but has four separate presences on the web as follows:
  (a) Press release
  (address-http://www.coi.gov.uk/coi/depts/GHO/GHO.html)
  (b) Research & Statistics Department, for publication of statistics which are also published in conventional form
  address-http://www.open.gov.uk/home_off/rsdhome.htm)
  (c) United Kingdom Passport Agency, for general information about passports and passport offices
  (address-http://www.open.gov.uk/ukpass/ukpass.htm)
  (d) Immigration & Nationality Department, for general information about immigration and nationality
  (address-http://www.open.gov.uk/coi/ind.htm).

  Press releases and statistics are published as they are published on paper. Information from the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the immigration and nationality department is updated as necessary. Neither I nor my Department at present uses the Internet for answering questions or supplying additional information.

  Prison Service Staff
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison service staff were employed, by category and in total in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [7369]

  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. Alex Carlile, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question requesting information about the number and category of staff employed by the Prison Service in each of the last five years.
  The attached tables, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House, are based on information held in the personnel information computer system. They show the total Prison Service staff, broken down by grade and gender, at the beginning of each financial year since 1990, except for 1991 where the 1 April figure is unavailable and so the figure for 1 October has bee used instead.

  Mr. Clive Broomfield
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to answer the hon. Member for Lewisham, East's letters of 284
  19 July, 2 October and 1 November on behalf of Mr. Clive Bromfield. [6921]

  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 Mr. Richard Tilt to Ms Bridget Prentice, dated 11 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about when you will receive full replies to your earlier letters on behalf of Mr. Clive Bromfield.
  Your letters were passed to me for answer as I have operational responsibility for the Prison Service. I hope to be able to send a full reply shortly.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the awards made to charities in Worcestershire from national lottery funds; and what is the size of the grant and total project cost in each case. [6132]

  Mr. Sackville
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for National Heritage on 9 January 1996,Official Report, column 61. This includes details of the grants given by the National Lottery Charities Board to charities and voluntary groups based in Worcestershire.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service Management Functions
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what delegations have been made in 1995 under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992; to whom those delegations were made; and what were the main conditions that were attached to them. [8645]

  Mr. Freeman
  The table lists delegations made under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 since the last report to Parliament,Official Report, 11 January 1995, col. 140. In some cases, for staff appointed by statutory office holders, Ministers were statutorily required to give consent to terms and conditions of service. For such staff, delegation has been effected by waiving that requirement, subject to the conditions attached to the delegation.

  List of delegations made in 1995 under The Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992

  Delegation

  Nature of delegation

  Recipients

  Main conditions

  1. Delegation

  Authority to

  Ministers in

  (i) The

  of pay and

  determine pay

  charge of

  recipient must

  Certain

  and certain

  departments

  continue to

  conditions of

  pay-related

  for the

  comply with

  service.

  conditions of

  following

  certain sections

  service of civil

  organisations:

  of the Civil

  servants below

  Child Support

  Service

  the new Senior

  Agency

  Management

  Civil Service.

  Government

  Code.

  The pay and

  Communications

  (ii) Changes

  Certain

  Headquarters,

  made to terms

  pay-related

  Highways

  and conditions

  conditions of

  Agency,

  must provide

  service of

  Historic

  value for

  Agency Chief

  Scotland,

  money and be

  Executives are

  Intervention

  made in a way

  also excluded

  Board for

  which does not

  from the scope

  Agricultural

  jeopardise

  of the

  Produce

  essential public

  delegations.

  Meat Hygiene

  expenditure

  Service

  safeguards.

  Paymaster

  Service

  Children's

  Schools (North

  West Europe)

  War Pensions

  Agency

  Previous service—wide delegations extended to other organisations in 1995

  Delegation

  Recipients

  1. Travel; Overseas Accountable Entertainment Allowance; relocation expenses; rent for key staff who occupy government owned residential properties; boarding school allowance.

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Commission (in respect of staff appointed by Health and Safety Executive)

  2. Rent for key staff who occupy government owned residential properties; boarding school allowance.

  Central Statistical Office

  286

  Previous service—wide delegations extended to other organisations in 1995

  Delegation

  Recipients

  3. Minimum recruitment criteria; travel; overseas accountable entertainment allowance; relocation expenses; rent for key staff who occupy government owned residential properties; boarding school allowance; recruitment and retention allowance; and recruitment and retention allowances for staff overseas.

  Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  House Library Department
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what consideration the House of Commons Commission has given to the proposal of the Information Committee regarding the name of the House Library Department; and if he will make a statement. [7985]

  Mr. Beith
  At its last meeting, the Commission considered a proposal to change the name of the Department of the House of Commons Library to that of the House of Commons Library and Research Department. After careful consideration, and taking account of the advice of the Information Committee and of the high reputation of the House of Commons Library, the Commission decided against the change in name.

  Upper Waiting Hall Exhibitions
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Schizophrenia-Fear, Fact or Fiction" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [8555]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 25 March to Friday 29 March 1996.

ENVIRONMENT

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made it a condition of any applications for privatisation, ownership or operation of the docklands light railway that(a) fare levels are the same as for London Underground Ltd., (b) it will remain part of the London public transport zone scheme, (c) zone-period passes will remain valid at London fare levels and (d) the pensioners'pass scheme will continue for this line. [8249]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government's policy is that the docklands light railway will continue to participate in
  287
  the London public transport zone scheme and to participate in the joint through-ticketing arrangements, including Travelcard, when its operations and management are franchised to a private sector operator later this year. Passengers should therefore, as now, be able to use the full range of London-wide tickets on the DLR at the same prices as on London Underground. The DLR currently sets its own fares for DLR-only journeys and this will also continue after franchising. The DLR takes part in the London boroughs concessionary travel scheme and offers pensioners and others free travel, as on London Underground. Our policy is that this should continue, subject to funds continuing to be available from the boroughs.

  Docklands Light Railway 1992–93 to 1995–96

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  (a)

  the number of train miles in service

  0.69 million

  0.65 million

  1.05 million

  1.24 million

  (b)

  the number of passenger miles travelled

  20 million

  24 million

  37 million

  46 million

  (c)

  (i) the operating cost per train mile

  £28.0

  £29.3

  £23.2

  £18.1

  (ii) the operating cost per passenger mile

  £0.95

  £0.79

  £0.62

  £0.48

  (d)

  the subsidy per passenger mile

  £0.77

  £0.60

  £0.43

  £0.27

  (e)

  the percentage of non-capital costs received from passengers and London pooled income.

  23 per cent.

  24 per cent.

  30 per cent.

  42 per cent.

  1 Estimate outturn figures

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the capital investment, at constant prices, including additional costs arising from adjustment to control or signalling systems, for each phase of construction of the docklands light railway and the estimated cost of its extension to Lewisham together with the contributions to that capital expenditure not originating from public funds, stating their respective sources. [8248]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The capital cost of the docklands light railway, at constant 1995 prices is as follows:

  Initial railway: £90 million

  Extension to Bank and upgrading: £295 million

  Extension to Beckton: £280 million

  Resignalling/improvements: £56 million

  Prime contract: £30 million

  Total: £751 million

  Olympia and York made a contribution of £95 million at 1995 prices to the Bank extension and Canary Wharf station. The extension of the DLR to Lewisham will be built as a joint venture under the Government's private finance initiative at a cost of over £100 million. The amount of private sector investment will be established following the tendering exercise now under way.

  New Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the last date on which orders must be placed for the establishment of new unitary authorities so that elections can take place on 2 May. [8625]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There is no strict requirement to lay a structural change order by a particular date. However, where there is to be reorganisation, it is our
  288
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year of the operation of the docklands light railway,(a) the number of train miles in service, (b) the number of passenger miles travelled, (c) the cost (i) per train mile and (ii) per passenger mile of all costs other than capital for construction, (d) the subsidy per passenger mile and (e) the percentage of non-capital costs received from passengers and London pooled income. [8250]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following table sets out the relevant statistics on the docklands light railway from 1 April 1992, when the Secretary of State for the Environment took on responsibility for the railway:

  policy that there should be full elections to the future unitary authority the year before the transfer of responsibilities. As a result, given the requirements governing the publication of the notice of election in the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 along the administrative needs of the returning officer, we consider that an order should be made not less than two months before the date of the election to which it relates.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 January. [8138]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 January. [8139]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in Paris representing Her Majesty's Government at the commemorative service for the late President Mitterrand.

  Regulators
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the regulators, indicating their dates of appointment, period of tenure, salary, including any performance-related element, and their previous employment prior to employment with salary plus bonuses, where these are(a) known and (b) in the public domain. [8121]

  The Prime Minister
  The information is shown in the table:
  289

  Office

  Regulator

  First appointment

  Term

  Salary1

  Former employment

  Former salary2

  Electricity supply

  Professor Stephen Littlechild

  1st September 1989

  5+5

  102,500

  Birmingham University

  —

  Fair trading

  Mr. John Bridgeman

  1st October 1995

  5

  130,000

  British Alcan

  191,000

  Gas supply

  Ms Clare Spottis-woode

  1st November 1993

  5

  90,000

  Self employed

  —

  National lottery

  Mr. Peter Davis

  25th October 1993

  5

  84,255

  Sturge Holdings plc

  —

  Rail

  Mr. John Swift

  1st December 1993

  5

  131,650

  Queens Counsel

  —

  Telecommunications

  Mr. Donald Cruickshank

  1st April 1993

  5

  126,400

  NHS Scotland

  —

  Water services

  Mr. Ian Byatt

  1st August 1989

  5+2

  81,381

  HM Treasury

  59,800

  1 No regulators receive performance related pay.

  2 Where known and in the public domain.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  East Timor
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, column 839, of whom inquiries were made to investigate the reports about Hawk aircraft flying over East Timor and by whom; and what criteria were applied to judge the validity of the information. [8011]

  Mr. Hanley
  Various inquiries were made of confidential sources, which it would not be proper to disclose. As I said in my answer on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 839, we have looked into the reports about Hawk aircraft over East Timor but have found no evidence to substantiate them.

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are(a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95. [7831]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister may see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. Records are not kept of any amendments by Ministers.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Govnerment have taken to secure the release of the European hostages in Kashmir. [7941]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are co-operating closely in Delhi, Srinagar and capitals with the Indian and other Governments concerned, and continue to work for the safe and early release of Paul Wells, Keith Mangan and the other hostages. All Governments involved, the relatives,290
  and a number of interested groups in the region have appealed for the immediate and safe release of the hostages.

  We keep in close touch with the families and give factual briefing also to the constituency Member of Parliament involved.

  Harjit Singh
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with the Indian Govnerment regarding the case of Harjit Singh. [8177]

  Mr. Hanley
  We remain in touch with the Indian authorities about the case of Harjit Singh. The latest court hearing was on 28 November, when the judge ordered an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Intelligence. We await its outcome.

  Anglo-French Military Co-operation
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all committees which members of his Department assist or serve upon which discuss military co-operation between Britain and France as part of their remit. [8281]

  Mr. David Davis
  Military co-operation between Britain and France is discussed in the following committees: the Franco-British Joint Commission on Nuclear Doctrine and Policy; the Franco-British Euro Air Group steering group and working group; and the UK-France political/military working group. There are also a number of multilateral groups which discuss multilateral military co-operation.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what circumstances an individual earning £18,000 per year and renting out a property would qualify for legal aid. [7798]
  291
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  An applicant will satisfy financial qualifications for legal aid if disposable income and capital fall within the statutory requirements. Disposable income and capital is that which is left from total income and capital after certain allowances have been deducted. Non-contributory civil legal aid as available if an individual's disposable income and capital are below £2,425 and £3,000 respectively. If disposable income falls between £2,425 and £7,187, or £7,920 for personal injury cases, respectively, an individual will have to pay a contribution. If disposable income and capital are above the upper limits then an individual will he outside the scheme. In criminal cases an applicant will receive non-contributory legal aid if weekly disposable income and capital is below £47 and £3,000 respectively. A contribution will be required if weekly disposable income and capital is above those limits. There are no upper limits in criminal legal aid.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the criteria for eligibility for legal aid. [7799]

  Mr. Evans
  The financial eligibility criteria for both civil and criminal legal aid are set out in my answer today to the hon. Member's question about the circumstances in which an individual earning £18,000 per year and renting out property would qualify for legal aid.

  In civil cases, the applicant must also satisfy the Legal Aid Board that he or she has reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to proceedings, and that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case for legal aid to be granted. These tests must be met throughout the time that the case is legally aided.

  In criminal cases, the court must also be satisfied that it is in the interests of justice that the applicant should have legal representation. In deciding whether it is the interests of justice, the court must take several factors into account, including whether the charge against the defendant is so serious that he or she may be imprisoned or lose his job if convicted or whether there is a substantial point of law to be considered in the case.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps a member of the public can take to ensure that a fraudulent claim for legal aid is properly investigated. [7800]

  Mr. Evans
  Members of the public can write to the Legal Aid Board if they have any evidence or suspicion that a fraudulent claim has been made for civil legal aid or for green form advice and assistance. The board will investigate any allegations of fraud. Allegations of false declaration of means by an assisted person are referred to the Benefits Agency to investigate further. If the allegations are substantiated, the Legal Aid Board revokes the legal aid certificate and the assisted person is liable to pay all costs incurred. Certain cases may be referred to the police who will consider prosecution under section 39 of the Legal Aid Act 1988.

  Members of the public who have evidence of a fraudulent claim for criminal legal aid should write to the relevant court. The courts investigate allegations of
  292
  fraudulent claims and refer substantiated allegations to the police.

  Interdepartmental Working Group on Marriage
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made by the interdepartmental working party on marriage. [9473]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The interdepartmental working party on marriage is working on a summary of its findings so far. It hopes to hold a seminar for interested service providers and researchers in February or March this year to discuss these findings before finalising them. The working party is grateful to all those groups who have responded so fully and promptly to its questionnaire.

  The working party has given a preliminary indication of the types of initiatives at which it believes resources may need to be targeted. These are:
  marriage preparation projects;
  encouraging people to access services before a problem becomes a crisis;
  encouraging innovation as one service will not suit the needs of every person seeking help—there needs to be variety; and
  looking at whether some families have more specific needs, for example it is not clear whether the needs of stepfamilies and families from ethnic minorities are being met at present.

  The Government intend to work with organisations which seek to support marriage in examining the potential of these initiatives. Following consultation with these organisations at the planned seminar, the Government will consider bids for the funding of pilot projects in areas with particular potential for reducing the incidence and costs of marriage breakdown. The primary purpose of this exercise will be to evaluate the effectiveness and value for money of potential initiatives, particularly in the area of marriage preparation and new types of service provision. Organisations will need to specify how they will demonstrate the effectiveness and value for money of their service in preparing any such bids.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Overdue Commercial Debt
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the case for a statutory right to interest on overdue commercial debt; and what form that review will take. [9378]

  Mr. Page
  The 1994 White Paper "Competitiveness—Helping Business to Win"—Cm 2563—announced a package of measures which the Government would introduce to tackle late payment. It also committed the Government to review the case for statutory interest"if there has not been a significant improvement within the next two years".

  There have been some signs of improving payment times in the UK, but late payment continues to be of concern to a number of small firms. Therefore, even though the package of measures now largely in place has not been so for long enough to have had an impact on late payment, I have decided to look again at the arguments

  293
  for and against statutory interest. The review will be in the context of my wider consideration of how the problem of late payment can best be addressed. I have today invited relevant submissions from representative bodies who responded to the public consultation in November 1993. The submission will be considered alongside research and survey evidence. The outcome of the review will be published in the summer.

  EU Structural Funds
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if there will be a revision of the areas eligible for grant from the EU structural funds under objective 2. [9379]

  Mr. Eggar
  The European Commission has been reviewing the current list of areas, but is not committed to revising it. The Government's view is that revision would not be in the national interest.

  I am glad to say that, at an informal meeting of EU Ministers which I attended in Madrid on 1 December, there was general consensus on the part of member states in favour of "complete continuity" between the current list of areas, which expires at the end of 1996, and the list for the period 1997–99.

  A formal decision from the Commission is expected during the coming weeks.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used in checking end-use certification of arms sales; and what information the Government publish on this matter. [7689]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: Appropriate documentation to provide evidence of end-use must be supplied in support of applications for individual licences to export arms and military equipment. If the consignee is an overseas Government, the applicant must provide a copy of the official order or the appropriate parts of the contract. In respect of small arms, requirements vary according to the country of destination: for many countries the applicant provides appropriate import certification from the authorities in the importing country. In all other cases, specific end-use undertakings have to be provided in a prescribed format and on the end-user's headed notepaper. The information in the supporting documentation is assessed by the Department of Trade and Industry export control organisation, and by other Government Departments from which the DTI takes advice in considering the application. The Government give guidance on the type of supporting documentation which must be supplied, the circumstances in which they are required, the information they need to contain and the format in which they must be supplied.

  Nigeria (Arms Embargo)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken on the European ban on arms exports to Nigeria; and how this applies to(a) dual use goods and (b) existing contracts. [7688]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: In common with arms embargoes against other countries,
  294
  the embargo against Nigeria is enforced by means of the export licensing regime operated by the Department of Trade and Industry. Any licence applications which may be made in respect of embargoed goods to the relevant destinations are considered in light of the terms of the embargo in question. The embargo against Nigeria includes all military, security and paramilitary goods and arms, ammunition and related material which is listed in schedule 1, part III, group 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. The embargo does not include other categories of goods which are controlled under that order, although such goods remain under strict licensing control. Nor does it extend to existing contracts for defence equipment for which individual licences have been issued.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to reject all further licences for the sale of arms to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [6939]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill) on 12 December 1995,Official Report, columns 599–600.

  Interreg Programme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the amounts of money paid or committed in respect of projects in each of the member states of the European Union under the Interreg programme for each available year since its inception. [7038]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 20 December 1995]: I have information about amounts of money committed in respect of projects only in the UK. Interreg grants so committed have been as follows:

  1991: £3.7 million

  1992: £8.2 million

  1993: £17.3 million

  1994: £6.7 million

  1995: £1.5 million

  Total allocations of Interreg II A grants for 1994–99 are as follows:

  Ecu million

  UK

  109.4

  France

  246

  Germany

  402.2

  Italy

  347.4

  Spain

  564.7

  Netherlands

  69.1

  Belgium

  82

  Luxembourg

  3.5

  Republic of Ireland

  133.5

  Denmark

  17.7

  Portugal

  339.7

  Greece

  595

  Sweden

  39.5

  Finland

  43.7

  Austria

  42.7

  For Interreg I, the amounts are not available to me.

  Ceramic Industry (Quotas)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement in respect of the retention of existing quotas relating to the ceramic industry. [6937]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Commission is about to report to member states on the operation and future of the EC's quotas on certain imports from China, including ceramicware. The Government will consider the report once it is available.

  Army Vehicle Contracts
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Ministry of Defence regarding contracts for(a) army field ambulances and (b) non-military vehicles for use in Germany. [7141]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My Department keeps in close touch with the Ministry of Defence on major procurement programmes, including the two mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. Our objective is to ensure that the industrial implications of purchasing decisions are taken fully into account.

  The Government are committed, however, to full and open competition for defence contracts and final decisions on particular contracts will quite rightly be based primarily on value for money and operational considerations.

  Companies Act 1985 (Definition of Harm)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what definition he uses of harm to the public when deciding whether to make a direction under section 32 of the Companies Act 1985. [6682]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No definition of harm to the public is used when considering whether to make a direction under section 32 of the Companies Act. I assess each case on its merits, taking into account the circumstances.

  When deciding such cases, I consider whether there are reasons for thinking, or evidence indicating, that the public would be likely to suffer harm as a result of the name. There must be evidence of harm or of the likelihood of harm; mere speculative harm would not be enough. I also take care to consider the likely impact of a direction on a company's business.

  Manufacturing Investments
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received recently about manufacturing investment in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the north west region. [7649]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I and other DTI Ministers regularly receive representations about manufacturing industry and manufacturing investment. For example, in the north-west, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade discussed issues facing manufacturers at a meeting with the Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace on 24 November. He has also recently received 296
  representations on behalf of the automotive sector in the north west.

  Postage Costs
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of(a) 1p, (b) 2p, (c) 3p and (d) 5p increase on the cost of (i) first-class and (ii) second-class stamps on firms with under (1) 100, (2) 50, (3) 20 and (4) 10 employees. [7554]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. It is for the Post Office to assess the detailed impact of any changes in letter tariff rates on its customers and on mail traffic volumes. The impact on companies of higher postal charges will depend on the nature of their business rather than on the number of employees. An increase of 1p on first and second-class letter tariffs equates to a 0.008 per cent. increase in the retail prices index. By international standards, UK letter tariffs represent very good value for money both in terms of cost and of quality of service. Royal Mail's letter tariffs last increased in November 1993 and the Post Office is committed to maintaining the present rates until March 1996, the longest period of stability since the 1960s.

  Insolvency Agency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to make an announcement about the future of the Insolvency Agency. [7755]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I expect to make an announcement about the future of the Insolvency Service at the end of January 1996.

  Company Failures (Construction Industry)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many construction industry related companies have failed in each of the last five years. [8262]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The following table shows company insolvencies, including partnerships, for the construction industry in England and Wales, 1990–94.

  Company Insolvencies: construction industry

  (England and Wales)

  Year

  Number

  1990

  2,445

  1991

  3,373

  1992

  3,830

  1993

  3,189

  1994

  2,401

  Source:

  DTI.

HEALTH

  Chauffeur-driven Cars
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of chauffeur-driven cars used by his Department was in each of the past five years. [5852]

  Mr. Horam
  The available information is shown in the table. Information for financial years 1990–91 to 1992–93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  297

  Financial year

  Total amount excluding VAT (£)

  1994–95

  316,609

  1993–94

  326,740

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the management costs of national health service trusts in England for the financial year 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [8455]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Hawkins) on 4 December 1995,Official Report, column 37.

  NHS Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1995,Official Report, column 336, if he will provide a breakdown of NHS contracts by (a) type and (b) region. [3330]

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1995, c. 804]: I regret that my previous reply is incorrect. It should read as follows:

  The numbers of national health service contracts, by regional health authority, for the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 are shown in the tables. The information available on contracts by type is contained in the "Review of Contracting" for 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Total number of contracts

  Regional health authorities

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Northern

  181

  146

  Yorkshire

  146

  148

  Trent

  246

  279

  East Anglia

  116

  157

  North West Thames

  310

  345

  North East Thames

  255

  247

  South West Thames

  435

  476

  Wessex

  238

  206

  Oxford

  174

  186

  South Western

  115

  237

  West Midlands

  724

  606

  Mersey

  82

  79

  North Western

  659

  271

  South East Thames

  301

  122

  Total

  3,982

  3,505

  Total number of contracts

  Regions

  1995–96

  North and Western

  365

  West Midlands

  744

  Trent

  342

  Anglia and Oxford

  311

  South Western

  375

  South Thames

  544

  North Thames

  753

  Northern and Yorkshire

  303

  Total

  3,737

  Edgware General Hospital
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with opponents of the closure of the accident and emergency department of Edgware general hospital; if he has completed reconsideration of the proposals to close the Department; and if he will make a statement. [8000]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend has discussed the issue on a number of occasions with interested parties. Most recently he met two deputations on 13 December 1995. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1140.

  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received opposing the closure of the accident and emergency department of Edgware general hospital. [8003]

  Mr. Malone
  Approximately 5,000 such representations have been received, mostly pre-printed postcards.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Probation Officers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors have led to the retention of the social work qualification for probation officers following its abolition in England and Wales; and what proposals he has to bring Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales. [8305]

  Sir John Wheeler
  There is no statutory requirement in Northern Ireland for probation officers to hold a social work qualification. However, it has been a policy of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, for many years now, to recruit only those with such a qualification. Developments in England and Wales, following abolition of the social work qualification, will be watched closely. Any proposal to change the current Northern Ireland arrangements will be made in accordance with the particular needs and circumstances of Northern Ireland.

  Nurses
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of second level registered nurses; and how many are currently undertaking training to convert to first level registration. [8335]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: The total number of second level registered nurses is not held centrally. This information is available on the database of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting situated at 23 Portland place, London. The total number of second level registered nurses currently at 31 December 1995 undertaking training to convert to first level registration is 331.

  Government Purchasing Service
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the prior options study of the Northern Ireland Government purchasing service
  299
  was completed; and what has been the outcome of the study. [9377]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  On 7 March 1995 my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) announced that the functions of the Government purchasing service of the Department of Finance and Personnel would be subject to a prior options study. That study is now complete and I have concluded that the functions should be undertaken in future by a new next steps agency. It is my intention to begin preparations for the launch of such an agency so that it might begin operation from 1 April 1996. I am satisfied that will ensure continuous improvement through partnership with suppliers to deliver long-term benefits for Northern Ireland and improve competitiveness in the market place.

  I also believe that the agency, in time, might prove suitable for privatisation, and I intend to look again at this possibility in due course. In the interim, there are a range of services associated with the work of the proposed agency which could be contracted out and steps will now be taken to market test these activities.

TREASURY

  Government Activities (Efficiency)
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to increase efficiency in the Government's activities. [7085]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  We have already reduced the cost of Government by more than £500 million a year. Provision for the running costs of civil departments for 1998–99 is more than 12 per cent. lower than this year.

  Investment
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase investment in the economy of the United Kingdom. [7086]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Industry is expanding capacity as needed. In the third quarter of 1995, manufacturing investment was 12 per cent. up on a year earlier, and 21 per cent. higher than at the end of 1993. This shows that we have created the right climate for investment.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss investment in British industry. [7098]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly meets representatives from the Confederation of British Industry to discuss a range of issues.

  Economic Performance
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic position of the United Kingdom in relation to competitor countries. [7088]
  300
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The UK is well placed in relation to competitor countries, with healthy growth, low inflation, sound public finances, falling unemployment, a competitive exchange rate and rising investment.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's economic performance relative to that of other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. [7097]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In its 1995 survey of the UK economy, the OECD said that the UK was "among the pace setters" in its supply side reforms, adding that"the sweeping structural reforms launched in the 1980s are yielding dividends in a more flexible, competitive and less inflation-prone economy",
  which grew faster than the OECD average in both 1993 and 1994, and is forecast to have done so again in 1995.

  Savings
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policies to encourage saving. [7089]

  Mr. Jack
  The Government believe in encouraging saving and rewarding thrift. That is why we reduced the rate of tax on savings income from 25 per cent. to 20 per cent. for basic rate taxpayers in the recent Budget, benefiting 14 million savers who are basic rate taxpayers. This builds on our successful schemes such as PEPs and TESSAs and reinforces the benefit to savers from the best inflation record for almost 50 years.

  Inflation and Interest Rates
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he had received following the December figures on inflation and interest rates. [7090]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  We have received a number of representations welcoming lower interest rates and the best performance on inflation for almost 50 years.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates. [7094]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Interest rates were cut by ¼ per cent. to 6½ per cent. on 13 December. This cut in rates was appropriate and fully consistent with meeting the inflation target of 2½ per cent. or less.

  Fraud
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to combat fraud. [7091]

  Mr. Jack
  The Government attach a high priority to tackling all types of fraud and abuse. The measures we have introduced to combat social security fraud arc already saving the taxpayer over £1 billion a year, expected to reach £2.5 billion a year by 1998–99. Customs and Excise is strengthening its intelligence and investigation activities, including over 200 more staff over the next three years, while Inland Revenue attaches similar priority to tackling fraud. In addition, the Treasury has recently issued its annual letter on fraud within
  301
  Government Departments, so that managers throughout Government will be aware of fraud risks, and will be able to strengthen systems to counter those risks.

  Tax Revenues
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of tax revenue is raised through(a) direct taxes and (b) value added tax; and what were the percentages raised through these taxes in 1979. [7092]

  Mr. Jack
  The shares of direct taxes and VAT in total taxes and national insurance contributions were 55 per cent. and 18 per cent., respectively, in financial year 1994–95. Comparable figures for 1979–80 were 56 per cent. and 12 per cent.

  The share of income tax has fallen from 29 per cent. to 27 per cent. over the same period.

  Budget Representations
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the Budget. [7093]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As usual, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer received a large number of representations in the run-up to the Budget and he has also received a number since he made his Budget statement in November.

  Pensioners' Savings
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of pensioners have savings or investment income. [7095]

  Mr. Jack
  Around three-quarters of pensioners now have some investment income.

  Government Spending
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to reduce wasteful Government spending. [7096]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have sharply reduced civil service running costs. We have undertaken fundamental expenditure reviews and senior management reviews of nearly all major Departments. All Departments are required to produce annual plans to show how they will improve efficiency by market testing, contracting out and other means and all next steps agencies are set specific efficiency targets.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of growth is forecast in the economy of the south-west region by the end of 1996. [7099]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government do not produce regional economic forecasts. However, gross domestic product for the UK as a whole is forecast to grow by 3 per cent. in 1996.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impacts his Budget announcements will have on small businesses. [7102]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Budget will encourage growth in output and jobs in small firms.

  Single Currency
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to British banking and industry of the conversion to a single currency; and who will bear the cost. [7103]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government have not made a firm estimate of the transitional costs to banks and industry, associated with the change to a single currency, that would be incurred if the United Kingdom participated in the third stage of economic and monetary union. Such costs would be met by those affected, and they would be among the factors that would need to be taken into account, at the appropriate time, when the Government make their assessment of whether it is in the United Kingdom's interest to join a move to the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Under protocol 11 of the EC treaty, the United Kingdom will not be obliged or committed to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. We will agree to take part in a single currency only if it is in our interests to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

  Cider
  Sir Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the additional revenues arising from sales of premium ciders and the change in duty on cider levy and strength greater of 7.5 per cent. alcohol. [7104]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Financial Statement and Budget Report showed that the duty increase on very strong ciders is estimated to raise £10 million in its first full year, over and above what would be gained from increasing the duty in line with inflation.

  Public Spending
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority he attaches to cutting public spending as a proportion of gross domestic product. [7105]

  Mr. Waldegarave
  The Government are determined to reduce the share that they take of national output below 40 per cent. and we are on track to do so.

  Low Incomes (Budget Effects)
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the Budget on the poorest 10 per cent. of the population. [7101]

  Mr. Jack
  All income tax payers will gain from income tax cuts in the Budget. Pensioners and others on low
  303
  incomes will gain from rising benefits, mostly uprated by 3.9 per cent. from April, or 3 per cent. for income-related benefits. All households stand to gain from our sound economic policies, which have already cut unemployment by over 700,000 since 1992.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Organic Cultivation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage more farmers to adopt organic methods of cultivation. [7716]

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright) on 6 July 1995,Official Report, column 365.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number of suspected BSE cases were notified during the past 12 weeks. [7990]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: The number of suspected BSE cases notified and placed under restriction in the 12 weeks from 26 September 1995 to 19 December 1995 was 3,996.

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are(a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95. [7836]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister may see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. As far as I am aware, no replies have been changed by Ministers in this Department in the period in question.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from marine heritage organisations concerning EU regulations and consequential United Kingdom legislation requiring owners of sound, seaworthy and hand built traditional wooden vessels used for fishing to be destroyed, or rendered incapable of use on water or being disposed of to any private person or body for uses other than fishing, under any scheme of registration as a condition of receiving de-commissioning grant; and what replies he has sent. [8216]
  304
  Mr. Baldry
  I have recently received representations from the following organisations with regard to the decommissioning of traditional wooden fishing vessels:

  The 4+ Fishing Boat Association of the British Isles

  The Colne Smack Preservation Society

  The Historic Warship Preservation Society

  In replying to all these bodies, I have made it clear that it is a requirement of Council regulation 3699/93 that decommissioned vessels are permanently excluded from fishing in Community waters. Experience has shown that it is only by requiring vessels to be made permanently unseaworthy that we can guarantee meeting our obligations. It is also a requirement that vessels of less than 25 gross registered tonnes have to be scrapped to qualify for Community aid. Nevertheless, I am always willing to consider any suggestions an applicant may make for alternatives to scrapping which provide the same degree of certainty in protecting public expenditure.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a breakdown of administration costs incurred to date and forecast for the future on PFI work. [5721]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 14 December 1995]: Quantifiable administration costs incurred to date on PFI amount to some £20,000 annually. Forecast future costs are broadly similar.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Aboriginal Artefacts
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reports she or her predecessors have received from United Kingdom museums regarding the offer for sale of aboriginal artefacts from the Broome area of Western Australia; and if she will make a statement. [8002]

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not aware of any reports received by her, or her predecessors, from United Kingdom museums regarding the offer for sale of Aboriginal artefacts from the Broome area of Western Australia.

  Iron Age Artefacts (Theft)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reports she has received alleging the theft and sale to the British museum of historic artefacts from the Salisbury area; and if she will make a statement. [8001]

  Mr. Sproat
  I understand from the British museum that it purchased a collection of bronze artefacts of the British iron age of unknown provenance.

  Research by the museum into the provenance of a group of miniature bronze shields included in this collection led to arrests in 1993. A site at Netherhampton,

  305
  Wiltshire, was excavated by the museum and confirmed as the source of an extensive hoard which included these shields.

  On 2 May 1995 the finders of the hoard were convicted. Ownership of the shields has now reverted to the estate of the owner of the land on which the shields were found.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Chief Inspector of Schools
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library copies of advertisements for the post of chief inspector of schools together with the job description and contract of employment and the minimum period in respect of the current terms of office or the renewal of contract; and what(a) advice and (b) instructions were issued by her to the panel which appointed the present incumbent. [8253]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The chief inspector of schools is appointed by Order in Council, under the provisions of the Education (Schools) Act 1992, on similar terms and conditions as apply to other senior public appointments. The Education (Schools) Act 1992 specifies a term of appointment of not more than five years, with the possibility of re-appointment after that period.

  The present chief inspector, Chris Woodhead, applied for the post through open competition and was appointed following consideration of the applicants by a selection board. The board was chaired by the first civil service commissioner. The appointment is for five years from 1 September 1994. A copy of the advertisement and job description for the post has been placed in the Library. The chief inspector's contract of employment is personal between him and the Department.

  Grant-maintained Status
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from(a) organisations representative of (i) parents and (ii) school governors, (b) denominational bodies, (c) organisations representing voluntary-aided schools and (d)other bodies, in respect of simplified procedures for obtaining grant-maintained school status without balloting parents of pupils currently in attendance at schools. [8252]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's consultation paper, "Self-Government for Voluntary Aided Schools", set out a number of possibilities for giving voluntary-aided schools only easier access to self-government. My right hon. Friend received the following responses:

  Body

  Number of responses

  (a) Organisations representing:

  (i) parents

  2

  (ii) school governors

  6

  (b) Denominational bodies

  69

  (c) Voluntary aided schools

  1,632

  306

  Body

  Number of responses

  (d) Other bodies(including local authority associations, local education authorities, teacher unions, bodies representing grant-maintained schools and former voluntary GM schools)

  246

  A summary of responses has been placed in the Library.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the TECs that have still to meet the criteria for the award of a three-year licence; and what percentage this represents. [8450]

  Mr. Paice
  As of today, 47 TECs in England have been awarded a three-year licence, which represents 64 per cent. of the network. TECs have until 1997 to meet the standards. The following TECs are still working towards the criteria:

  Birmingham

  Bolton Bury

  Bradford and District

  CAMBS (TEC)

  CEWTEC

  CILNTEC

  ELTEC (East Lancashire)

  Essex

  Greater Peterborough

  Hampshire

  Heart of England

  Kent

  LAWTEC

  Manchester

  Merseyside

  METROTEC (Wigan)

  North West London

  North London

  North Yorkshire

  Northamptonshire

  Oldham

  Sandwell

  St. Helens Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise

  Surrey

  Sussex Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise

  Wight Training and Enterprise Council

  Wiltshire

  Many of these TECs are close to completing the process and I expect shortly to make further announcements of TECs to be awarded licences.

  Training, North-West
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money in(a) cash terms (b) real terms at 1991–92 prices her Department provided of training in the north-west region in each year from 1990–91 to 1993–94; and how

  307
  much money has been allocated for training in the north-west in 1995–96. [7652]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no consistent figures available for all the years requested owing to changes in regional boundaries and the setting up of the Government office for Merseyside.

  In the first year of the present structure—1994–95—the amount spent on training in the north-west was £136.25 million.

  For 1995–96, the Government office for the north-west has been allocated £169.826 million to spend on training. This does not include training initiatives run at a national level which cannot be disaggregated to a regional level.

WALES

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many apprentices under the new apprenticeship scheme have received bursaries; and what proportion this represents of the total number. [7746]

  Mr. Richards
  A total of 498 young people started modern apprenticeships in manufacturing engineering in Wales in 1994–95. Of these, 188 or 37.75 per cent. were in receipt of a bursary. A total of 1,780 young people have commenced modern apprenticeships so far in 1995–96. Of these, 75 or 4.2 per cent. are in receipt of a bursary.

  Bursaries are available, for the first year of training only, to young people following modern apprenticeships in manufacturing engineering who are attending college on a full-time basis and who are non-employed.

  Number of newly registered cancers

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Pembrokeshire

  Wales

  1988

  2,447

  1,490

  2,255

  1,416

  2,560

  593

  1,893

  2,196

  624

  15,474

  1989

  2,463

  1,273

  2,231

  1,228

  2,427

  576

  1,947

  1,967

  657

  14,769

  1990

  2,334

  1,317

  2,120

  1,572

  2,863

  468

  2,115

  1,753

  568

  15,110

  Newly registered cancers as a percentage of population

  Clwyd

  EastDyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Pembrokeshire

  Wales

  1988

  0.6

  0.6

  0.5

  0.6

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.6

  0.6

  0.5

  1989

  0.6

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.6

  0.5

  1990

  0.6

  0.6

  0.5

  0.7

  0.5

  0.4

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  Source:

  Wales Cancer Registry.

  Nursing and Midwifery Students
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many pre-registration nursing and midwifery students commenced training as initial entrants by means of(a) salaried student places, (b) Project 2000 and (c) undergraduate study, for each of the last five years; [8352]

  (2) how many pre-registration nursing and midwifery students who commenced training as initial entrants by means of (a) salaried student places, (b) Project 2000

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of "The Bay Study—A Strategy for Water Uses" report of Cardiff Bay development corporation. [7965]

  Mr. Hague
  A water use strategy for the bay is an operational matter for the corporation and will emerge from discussions with the local authorities, other public bodies and possible users.

  Home Insulation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes he expects to be insulated under the energy efficiency scheme in the next financial year; and how many homes were insulated under the scheme in 1994. [7816]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No separate estimates are produced for Wales. The home energy efficiency scheme is run on a Great Britain basis and 450,000 homes received grants in 1994–95. The Government expect a further 600,000 to be given in 1995–96.

  Cancer Patients
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients were diagnosed as suffering from cancer in each health authority and for Wales as a whole for each of the last available three years, expressing each figure as a percentage of the corresponding population. [8086]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: The information is given in the following table:

  and (c) undergraduate study, gave up their courses for each year of training for each of the last five years; [8358]

  (3) how many pre-registration nursing and midwifery students who commenced training as initial entrants by means of (a) salaried student places, (b) Project 2000 and (c) undergraduate study, (i) qualified and (ii) registered with the UKCC, for each of the last five years; [8357]

  (4) how many pre-registration nursing and midwifery

  309
  students who commenced training as initial entrants by means of (a) salaried student places, (b) Project 2000 and (c) undergraduate study, gave up their training in (i) the first year, (ii) the second year and (iii) the third year, for each of the last five years. [8359]

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Project 2000

  Commenced training as initial entrants of which:

  100

  987

  793

  656

  737

  gave up in first year

  30

  93

  47

  59

  n/a

  gave up in second year

  4

  67

  88

  n/a

  n/a

  gave up in third year

  3

  72

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  qualified

  63

  755

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Midwifery students1

  Commenced training

  n/a

  8

  12

  12

  12

  qualified

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  8

  12

  1Pre-registration students undertaking a three-year course.

  n/a—not available

  Work Force Planning
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies his Department has undertaken into work force planning in the last five years. [8354]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: Work force planning information is collected for certain non-medical and dental staff groups in the NHS on an annual basis. To reduce the burden on the service the information requested centrally was reduced considerably in 1995. Only information which enables decisions on student intake numbers to be made for those staff groups planned and funded centrally is now collected.

  Nurses
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of second level registered nurses; and how many are currently undertaking training to convert to first level registration. [8356]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: This information is not held centrally.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of nurses working in(a) private nursing homes, (b) private hospitals, (c) local authorities, (d) private residential homes, (e) the armed forces, (f) the prison service, (g) the occupational health service, (h) private industry, (i) self-employment and (j) any other categories; and if he will express the figures in terms of (i) total numbers and (ii) whole time equivalents. [8351]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: Information is not available centrally for all categories requested. The available information, which relates to staff with a nursing qualification, is given in the following table. In addition, there were 24,728 whole-time equivalent staff in the nursing and midwifery group in the NHS at 30 September 1995. This figure excludes pre-registration learner nurses and any staff with a nursing qualification not working in the nursing and midwifery
  310
  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: Information in the form requested relating to salaried students and undergraduate students is not available centrally. The available information is given in the following table.

  group but includes auxiliary staff within the group who do not have a nursing qualification.

  Category

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Private nursing homes (at 31 March 1995)

  3,833

  2,687

  Private hospitals and clinics (at 31 March 1995)

  280

  253

  Armed forces (at 1 December 1995)1

  9

  n/a

  Prison service (at 31 December 1995)2

  14

  n/a

  General Practitioner support staff (at 1 October 1994)

  n/a

  611

  1 Data obtained from the Ministry of Defence.2 Data obtained from the Home Office.

  n/a-not available.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he intends to estimate demand for nurses from the non-NHS sector; and how this information will be used to regulate the supply of nursing students. [8353]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: Nurse training numbers are based on the requirement for newly qualified nurses identified in trusts' annual workforce plans. Allowance is also made for additional nurses working in the independent sector and with general practitioners.

  To estimate demand outside the NHS, private hospitals, nursing homes and HM prisons are invited to provide information on their novice recruit requirements as part of the NHS Wales work force planning cycle.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what means he assesses the demand for conversion courses for second level registered nurses. [8355]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: The demand for conversion courses for second level registered nurses is assessed by the trust which employs the nurses.

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will reach his decisions on housing revenue account subsidy for 1996–97. [9497]
  311
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  We have decided to confirm the proposals which were set out in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Sweeney) on 28 November 1995,Official Report, column 600. These included an average guideline rent increase of 92p per dwelling per week and per dwelling management and maintenance allowance to be kept at broadly the same as in 1995–96. The other proposals, including one to limit rent rebate subsidy, are also confirmed with minor adjustments.

  Tables setting out each authority's rent guideline and management and maintenance allowance for 1996–97 have been placed in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1979 on which he, his predecessors or officials of his Department have met Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi; what was the subject of each such meeting; and if he will make a statement. [7802]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the replies which my predecessor gave to the hon. Members for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) and for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 24 April 1995,Official Report, columns 394 and 396.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mobile phones have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years; and in each of those years how many different suppliers were involved. [8035]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Following the introduction of the Department's new management strategy in 1991, responsibility for the procurement of mobile phones was disaggregated to local budget holders. No central records are held and information could be produced only at disproportionate cost. I shall write to the hon. Member regarding the position prior to 1991.

  Mutual Defence Agreement
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to amend the 1958 United States-United Kingdom mutual defence agreement to allow greater nuclear co-operation between Britain and France before the next amendment conference in 2005. [8265]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if an office has been established for the purpose of co-ordinating Anglo-French nuclear co-operation similar to the existing atomic co-ordinating office, established to facilitate the 1958 US-UK mutual defence agreement. [8271]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No.

  Nuclear Weapons (France)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that no French Government officials work at, or use, the facilities at the atomic weapons establishment. [8273]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No. Such a policy would be contrary to the Government's aim of deepening defence nuclear co-operation between the United Kingdom and France.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions there have been with the United States on the extent to which Britain can assist France in its nuclear weapons design, development and production programme. [8275]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We hold regular discussions with both the United States and France on a range of issues related to nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance is(a) being given and (b) planned to be given to the French Government to assist in the construction of PALEN. [8266]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is not our practice to reveal such details.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what procedures are in place to facilitate Anglo-French nuclear co-operation; [8267]

  (2) what assistance is (a) being given or (b) planned to be given to the French Government to assist them in developing the facilities and equipment necessary for computer simulation and above ground experiments in respect of nuclear testing. [8268]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 16 October 1995,Official Report, column 37.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if any memoranda of understanding have(a) been negotiated and (b) are currently under negotiation or consideration to formalise aspects of Anglo-French nuclear co-operation; [8284]

  (2) if he will list all treaties and memoranda of understanding which currently exist between Britain and France with regard to nuclear co-operation. [8272]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 24 October 1995,Official Report, column 587.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last five years French Government officials have visited a Untied Kingdom atomic weapons establishment. [8274]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the answers I gave the hon. Member on 16 October 1995 Official Report, column 37, and to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 31 October 1995, Official Report, columns, 155–56.

  British Aerospace
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments his Department has received in the last five years from British Aerospace for services
  313
  provided to British Aerospace; and what services were provided. [7603]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: This is a matter for the chief executive of the agency concerned. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. A. Rowe to Mrs. Ann Clwyd, dated 11 January 1996:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Defence what payments his Department has received in the last five years from British Aerospace for services provided to British Aerospace, and what services were provided. As Chief Executive of the Defence Bills Agency I have been asked to reply.
  The value of payments received from a customer is commercially sensitive information and therefore cannot be divulged.
  Our payment records for British Aerospace, or indeed any customer, detail invoice number and value. In order to ascertain the type of supply or service covered each invoice would need to be retrieved and examined. Due to the level of business we have with British Aerospace this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, examples, of the goods and services covered by the invoices are the provision of training, sale and loan of equipment, and levies due in respect of commercial sales.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

  Services Bandsmen
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bandsmen(a) there are currently and (b) there were in 1990 in each of the services regular bands and in each band in the Territorial Army. [7984]

  Mr. Soames
  The breakdown of established figures for bandsmen for the three services, including the Territorial Army, is shown in the table.

  1996

  1990

  Navy (RM)

  227

  377

  Army (Reg)

  1,162

  1,991

  Army (TA)

  864

  992

  RAF

  206

  244

  The reorganisation of regular Army bands over the last three years has resulted in a reduction from 69 to 30 bands. Fifty seven bands which existed in 1990 no longer exist, and 18 new bands have been created. In 1990, 43 bands were established with 22 bandsmen, 14 with 34, three with 35, five with 49 and one with 30. There were an additional 25 staff. There are now 22 bands with 35 bandsmen and eight with 49.

  The reorganisation process in the other two services and the TA has not been so dramatic. Comparative figures for 1990 and 1996 are shown in the tables:

  Royal marines

  Number

  1996

  RM Band Portsmouth

  70

  RM Band Plymouth

  43

  Commando Training Centre RM Band

  44

  314

  Royal marines

  Number

  RM Band Scotland

  44

  Britannia Royal Naval College Band

  26

  Total

  227

  1990

  Royal Marine School of Music Staff Band

  65

  CinCNAVHOME Band

  65

  CinCFLEET Band

  65

  Commando Forces Band

  65

  Flag Officer Portsmouth Band

  41

  FOSNI Band

  41

  Britannia Royal Naval College Band

  35

  Total

  377

  Royal Air Force

  Band

  1996

  1990

  Western

  36

  42

  College

  50

  37

  Regiment

  40

  41

  Germany

  0

  40

  Salon Orchestra

  7

  7

  Central

  65

  69

  HQ Musical Services

  8

  8

  Total

  206

  244

  Territorial Army

  Total

  1996

  24 Bands,(all at 35 person strength). 24 other permanent staff

  864

  1990

  24 Bands (22 at strength of 31, one at 41, one at 55).
  120 juniors and 24 other permanent staff

  922

  Procurement Executive
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated(a) costs and (b) savings to public expenditure by financial year in respect of the establishment of the new building for the Procurement Executive at Abbey Wood, Bristol. [8199]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The estimated works cost of the Abbey Wood development, inclusive of site acquisition, construction, fitting out, professional works management fees and VAT, is £254.1 million at 1993 prices—£273.4 million at 1995 prices. Expenditure on works is estimated to be complete by the financial year 1998–99, allowing for the payment of retentions covering warranty and defect liability periods. The associated direct relocation cost, inclusive of staff relocation costs, removals, recommissioning of transferred IT systems and buy-out of London weighting allowance, is estimated at £79.8 million at 1993 prices—£.85.5 million at 1995 prices—with the bulk of expenditure estimated to be completed by the financial year 2000–01 allowing for detached duty and housing cost allowances.
  315
  The net savings to the defence budget supported by the establishment of the new headquarters at Abbey Wood, Bristol for the Procurement Executive on completion of collocation are estimated at £86 million at 1993 prices—£92 million at 1995 prices—in the financial year 1997–98 rising to £105 million at 1993 prices, £113 million at 1995 prices, by the financial year 2004–05, and continuing annually thereafter.

  When other exchequer costs and benefits are taken into account, and subject to finalisation of plans for the re-use or disposal of existing accommodation, the Department estimates the net savings to public expenditure are estimated at £67 million at 1993 prices—£72 million at 1995 prices—in the financial year 1997–98 rising to £94 million at 1993 prices, £101 million at 1995 prices, by the financial year 2004–05, and continuing annually thereafter.

  Post project evaluation will be carried out by early 1997 to assess the extent to which estimated savings are being achieved.

  Porton Down (Experiments)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions studies involving service volunteers at Porton Down started without the permission of the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments or the Independent Ethics Committee; and if the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments included members who were not on the staff or Porton Down; [7309]

  (2) what information has been kept on the register of work maintained by the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments described in his answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 369; when this register was set up and whether it is still kept; where the register is kept; who has access to the register; whether any part of the register is unclassified; and whether the register is available to be consulted by service volunteers who have taken part in the service volunteers programme. [7310]

  Mr. Soames
  These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from. John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for further details about the register of work maintained by the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments (COSHE) mentioned in my letter to you of 6 July 1995 (Official Report, column 369) and on how many occasions studies were started involving service volunteers without permission of the committee have been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. I am replying to both questions in this letter.
  The register referred to in my answer of 6th July comprises of a list of the study protocols approved by the Committee for the Safety of Human Experiments (COSHE) since its inception. It is a classified document held in the archives of the Medical Countermeasure Centre at CBDE Porton Down. Access is limited to those managing the Service Volunteer Programme.
  316
  Since their inception no studies have ever been undertaken without the consent of either the COSHE or the Independent Ethics Committee. The COSHE was a committee of Porton Down medical practitioners and sometimes including external experts.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down started its policy of providing details, if requested, of the studies in which a service volunteer participated to medical practitioners who are responsible for the medical care of the individual concerned; what details are currently provided; and, since this policy began, whether the individuals concerned have always been allowed to see these details if the medical practitioner wished to show such details to the individual; [7294]

  (2) if volunteers can inspect or obtain copies of contents of the paper folder referred to in his answer 18 July, Official Report, column 1174, containing details of their participation in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down; if this paper folder contains laboratory reports and scientific data about the experiments in which they participated; and when the establishment started the practice of maintaining paper folders on each volunteer; [7311]

  (3) if all service volunteers in the service personnel programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1965 have been informed of the name of the chemical or chemical agent which was being tested on them before the test started. [7305]

  Mr. Soames
  These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for further details of the information contained in the paper folders, mentioned in my letter to you of 18 July 1995 (Official Report, column 1174), relating to service volunteers at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE), Porton Down; what information was released to volunteers and their medical practitioners; and whether volunteers were informed of the substances being tested on them have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Defence Research and Evaluation Agency (DERA) which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. I am answering all three questions in this letter.
  The paper folders to which I referred in my letter of 18 July have been used at CBDE Porton Down since 1980 and contain details of medical examinations conducted on each volunteer as they join and leave CDBE. Access to this information is now in accordance with the 'Access to Health Records Act 1990' which gives patients the right to see or obtain copies of their health records compiled after 1 November 1991. In fact, it has always been CBDE policy to release medical details to medical practitioners on request. Experimental data and study details are held separately and this information is also usually available to medical practitioners on request. Medical practitioners are at liberty to show any of this information to their patients.
  Volunteers at Porton Down have always, as a matter of course. been informed of the name, nature and possible short term outcome of any chemical or chemical agent used in studies in which they are going to participate. The only exception was in studies using psychotomimetric drugs, such as the trials involving LSD in the

  317
  1960s, where it was considered that to do so might prejudice the scientific integrity of the study. Those volunteers were, however informed of the nature of the drug and the type of short term effects it might induce. Once any volunteer has been given this information they are given time to consider and ask further questions before proceeding with the trial. They are free then, and at any subsequent time during the study, to withdraw without giving a reason. These safeguards have been enshrined in the Nuremburg Code since the 1940s but had, to the best of our knowledge, always been the practice at Porton Down.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down recruited volunteers for its service volunteers programme. [7297]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) at Porton Down recruits volunteers for the service volunteer programme has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  CBDE recruits volunteers for the research programme by placing its requirements in Defence Council Instructions, a form of internal notices, which are issued to all military units. Service personnel wishing to volunteer apply to their unit's administrative staff who pass the details to CBDE.
  I hope this information is useful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service volunteers were involved in the trials to determine the dispersion of chemical agents carried out in the underground sampling chambers at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down; which chemical agents were used in trials in these underground chambers; if these underground chambers were used for any other purposes; and in what year these underground chambers were last used. [7307]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter front John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many service volunteers were involved in the trials to determine the dispersion of chemical agents carried out in the underground sampling chambers at the former Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, which agents were used in these trials, what other studies were conducted in the underground chambers and in what year they were last used has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its divisions.
  No service volunteers have been involved in the studies conducted using the underground sampling chambers at CBDE Porton Down. These chambers, which were originally water reservoirs for the now
  318
  demolished farmhouse known as Old Lodge, were last used in the early 1960s for trials with riot control agents such as CS.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent tests and studies involving service personnel in the service volunteer programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1965 have conformed to the Nuremburg code and Helsinki declarations on medical research on humans in respect of compensation; and if he will make a statement. [7308]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking whether tests and studies involving service personnel in the service volunteer programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) at Porton Down since 1965 have conformed to the Nuremburg Code and Helsinki Declaration on medical research on humans with regard to the principle that persons should be compensated for any injury or loss caused by the experiments has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  All volunteer studies conducted at CBDE since 1965 have been carried out according to a written protocol approved by the Committee for the Safety of Human Experiments (COSHE), a committee of Porton Down medical practitioners and sometimes including external experts. Since 1991 protocols have been formally submitted to an independent Ethics Committee for approval before the studies begin. Any member of HM Armed Forces who suffers an injury that is attributable to service (including participation in studies at CBDE Porton Down) would be entitled to a War Pension. Claims for compensation, other than for a War Pension would be considered on a case by case basis. Compensation would be awarded, if appropriate, following a full examination of the facts.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern participation by service personnel who have recently given blood in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; what is the reason for this policy; and when it was introduced. [7301]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what rules govern the participation by service personnel who have recently given blood in the service volunteer programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down, what is the reason for this policy and when it was introduced has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  It is CBDE's policy that those who participate in the Volunteer Programme must be medically fit to take part in the studies required. It is therefore part of the procedures for acceptance onto the programme to conduct a medical examination of the volunteer.

  319
  When a study will involve taking multiple blood samples the medical examination includes a red blood cell count. If this is not within acceptable parameters (perhaps as the result of recent blood donation) the volunteer is not accepted for the study. Trials since the early 1940s have involved multiple blood sampling and we believe that the policy of using red blood cell count as part of the acceptance procedure for this type of study has existed since this date.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what details of experiments are given to hon. Members who write to the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down requesting information about such experiments on behalf of individuals who have taken part in those experiments during the service volunteers programme; and if such hon. Members receive more detailed information of such experiments than the patient's medical practitioners. [7356]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 11 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking whether the information given to honourable members about the service volunteer programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down is more detailed than that given to the volunteers' medical practitioners has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  It has been CBDE's policy for many years to provide details of the type of studies in which a volunteer participated to an honourable member requesting this information on behalf of a constituent. The information provided to the honourable member is similar to that provided to the volunteer's medical practitioner with the exception that any medical details regarding the individual are provided solely to their medical practitioner and not to a third party such as the honourable member.
  I hope this information is helpful.

SCOTLAND

  Dounreay (Leukaemia)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigation is being made currently into leukaemia clusters around Dounreay. [7253]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 December 1995]: No studies relating solely to the area around Dounreay are currently being carried out but monitoring of the incidence of leukaemia in the area continues. Other relevant studies include the Scottish contribution to the Government-funded childhood cancer case control study. Linked to a parallel study in England and Wales, this is the largest investigation yet undertaken into the causation of childhood leukaemia and will cover all cases of childhood cancer registered in Scotland in the period 1991–94.

  Water Rates
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis the water authorities in Scotland will calculate the revenue which the unitary councils will be expected to collect in water rates. [4444]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 6 December 1995]: The three new public water sewerage authorities will set charges for their services in charges schemes for their areas. The unitary councils will be required to demand and recover unmeasured domestic water and sewerage charges payable for these services under a charges scheme less any reduction to such charges for which the Secretary of State may provide in exercise of his powers under section 81 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is proposing in respect of the liability of the new unitary councils in Scotland to collect water rates. [4442]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 6 December 1995]: My right hon. Friend will make an order under section 79 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 requiring local authorities to demand and recover domestic unmeasured water and sewerage charges on behalf of the new water and sewerage authorities.

  Oil Spillages
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many oil spillages have been detected around the coast of Scotland in each of the last three years; how many sea birds and mammals were affected; and how many prosecutions were entered against those causing the spillages. [7656]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 January, 1996]: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate advises that in each of the last three years for which complete figures are available there have been the following number of prosecutions:

  1992: One

  1993: Four

  1994: Five

  As the number of oil spillages detected in Scottish waters is an operational matter for the Coastguard Agency, I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to ask the chief executive of that agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 January 1996:
  The Minister for Transport has been asked by the Secretary of State for Scotland to reply to part of your recent Question about oil spillages around the cost of Scotland and the affect on sea birds and mammals. I have been asked to reply as the query deals with a matter for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive of the Coastguard Agency.
  In the three years period 1992 to 1994, there have been 477 reported oil pollution incidents in Scottish waters. Of these, 144 were reported in 1992, 178 were reported in 1993 and 155 were reported in 1994.
  In 1992 238 birds were affected by oil around the coast of Scotland. During the BRAER spill in January 1993, some 1500 to 1600 birds of all species were found dead, according to the report by the Ecological Steering Group on the Oil Spill in Shetland (ESGOSS) into the Environmental Impact of the Wreck of the

  321
  BRAER. The ESGOSS report does not attribute any mammal deaths directly to the effects of the BRAER spill. During 1994 366 birds were affected by oil around the Scottish coastline.

  Mr. J. Easson and Sons
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors have led to his Department's delay in responding to inquiries made by the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West in respect of Mr. J. Easson and Sons. [7747]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: My noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture in Scotland wrote to the hon. Member on 5 January 1996 in relation to her inquiries on behalf of Mr. J. Easson and Sons. This followed lengthy and detailed discussions between the UK Agriculture Departments and the Intervention Board executive agency.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the urban programme will continue as a specific grant in 1996–97; and when he will make an announcement about its future. [7761]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The urban programme will continue as a specific grant in 1996–97 although, as normal, grant payments will largely be devoted to reimbursing, in arrears, expenditure already incurred on approved projects. Views on the future of the urban programme as a specific grant were invited in the consultation paper "Devolution of Power to Councils" which was published on 29 December. The consultation period will end on 15 March and my right hon. Friend will announce his decision once he has given careful consideration to the responses received.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mobile phones have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years; and in each of those years how many different suppliers were involved. [8039]

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

  Year

  Number of mobile phones

  Number of suppliers

  1988

  7

  2

  1989

  21

  2

  1990

  29

  2

  1991

  23

  3

  1992

  65

  2

  1993

  54

  1

  1994

  37

  2

  1995

  72

  3

  Nursery Schools
  Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by new local authority area, the number of nursery schools currently provided by local authorities. [8183]
  322
  Mr. Raymond Robertson
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: The information is in table 6.1 of the new councils statistical report prepared by the Scottish Office and published by the Government statistical service in May 1995.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from(a) individual farmers and (b) farming organisations about the practical consequences of implementing EC directive 95/29 on livestock transport in sparsely populated areas. [8201]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Of the 91 formal responses from organisations in Scotland to the consultation paper issued in October last year on the implementation of EC directive 95/29, 36 have offered specific comments on livestock transport in sparsely populated areas. These comprise 29 responses from farming organisations and seven from individuals who are, or are associated with, farmers.

  BBC Transmitter System
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant assistance will be available from local enterprise companies in Scotland following the proposed privatisation of the BBC transmitter system for the construction of boosters. [7998]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: It is the responsibility of individual local enterprise companies to make decisions on applications for grant assistance for projects in their area. Any applications involving booster construction would have to be considered against the local enterprise company operating guidelines laid down by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the overall resources available and their relative priority against other projects.

  Scottish Ambulance Service
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist to provide for the public accountability of the Scottish ambulance service for its management policies and practices and to ensure its employees are not subject to victimisation. [7999]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: The Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust is a self-governing body with its own board of directors. The trust has freedom to organise its affairs subject to the legal framework within which it operates, the guidelines laid down by the Scottish Office and the contracts negotiated with purchasers.

  The trust chairman and his board are accountable to the Secretary of State via the management executive of the NHS in Scotland.

  A copy of the Scottish ambulance service's policy and procedure for the resolution of differences between the trust and its employees has been placed in the Library of the House.
  323
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions, and on what dates, were issued to the Central Legal Office by the Scottish ambulance service in respect of the case of Mr. D. Allan Bruce of Kinlochiervie; and what action the Central Legal Office took in response to each instruction. [8285]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 January 1996]: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a signed copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made by the efficiency scrutiny of the Scottish Office on sponsored non-departmental public bodies. [9474]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The results of the efficiency scrutiny of my Department's sponsorship of non-departmental public bodies were announced to the House on 19 October 1994,Official Report, columns 285–86. The recommendations included new training and development programmes for staff involved in sponsorship; the provision of more advice and assistance to sponsor staff; and action programmes for putting strategic frameworks into place for each NDPB as appropriate.

  I am pleased to announce that the recommendations contained in the scrutiny report have been achieved ahead of target and copies of the implementation report have been placed in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Loss of Benefit
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what protection is afforded to people who lose social security benefits because of a change in legislation. [4096]

  Mr. Burt
  When there is a change in legislation affecting people already in receipt of a specific social security benefit, the extent to which, if at all, transitional protection arrangements will be required depends on a number of circumstances, including the purpose and nature of the benefit in question, the likely needs of those in receipt of it who may be affected by the change, and what other help is available to meet those needs. Consequently, protection may not be available for every beneficiary against all changes. Where protection is given sometimes it is for rights or concessions awarded to existing claimants, and sometimes for existing amounts of money paid to them. Protection against the effect of a change in legislation can also be offered by means of a lengthy period of introduction of the new rules, or by announcement of the change many months ahead of the date on which it is due to come into effect.

  For such changes in the law there are procedures for consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee—and, where appropriate, with the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council or Disability Living Allowance
  324
  Advisory Board—and, concerning housing benefit and council tax benefits, with organisations representing the local authorities.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision will be made on the proposed social security legislation to protect claimants who have made their plans on the basis of the benefit they would have received under the existing legislation. [4117]

  Mr. Burt
  The need for transitional protection is considered in accordance with the individual circumstances of proposed policy changes. In announcing proposals on 29 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made it clear that the proposal to limit housing benefit for some people under 25 living in private rented accommodation will not affect those in receipt of housing benefit prior to January 1996, which is 92 per cent. of the total, unless they change their address or have a break in entitlement of more than four weeks. Also, those who make a new claim between 2 January 1996 and 7 October 1996 will not be affected by the new rules until the date of the first review of their claim after 7 October 1996. The announcement of the proposal to bring the mobility component of disability living allowance into line with similar benefits which are withdrawn during hospital stays also made it clear that those who have been in hospital for 12 months or more, for example, will continue to receive the mobility component at an amount equivalent to the lower rate. Also mobility agreements, for a car or wheelchair, funded by the mobility component of disability living allowance, which are current when a person enters hospital will continue for the full term of the agreement.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the amount of down time recorded for the Child Support Agency's operational accounting system in each months since April 1993. [4077]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the table.

  Period

  Service availability percentage

  3 August 1994–9 August 1994

  99.8

  15 August 1994–21 August 1994

  97.6

  28 August 1994–4 September 1994

  99.6

  5 September 1994–11 September 1994

  99.6

  12 September 1994–18 September 1994

  99.9

  19 September 1994–25 September 1994

  99.6

  14 November 1994–20 November 1994

  99.6

  28 November 1994–4 December 1994

  99.6

  9 January 1995–15 January 1995

  99.2

  6 March 1995–12 March 1995

  99.7

  27 March 1995–2 April 1995

  99.8

  12 June 1995–18 June 1995

  99.7

  26 June 1995–2 July 1995

  98.9

  31 July 1995–6 August 1995

  99.6

  7 August 1995–13 August 1995

  99.7

  14 August 1995–20 August 1995

  99.8

  6 November 1995–12 November 1995

  99.7

  The operation accounting system went live on 7 June 1994.

  Pensioners (Benefit Take-up)
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number and proportion of pensioners in the United Kingdom who do not take up(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit to which they are entitled; and what is the estimated value of the unclaimed benefits. [7646]

  Mr. Heald
  The most recent information is for 1993–94 and applies to Great Britain.

  The latest figures for take-up are contained in the "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 1993/94" which was published on 15 December 1995, copies of which are in the Library.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the mean and median periods of time in weeks that people who have submitted an appeal against the decision by the Benefit Agency to stop their incapacity benefit have to wait before a hearing is held. [7795]

  November 1979 £

  April 1995 (if increased in line with RPI) £

  April 1995 (if increased in line with average earnings) £

  Standard rate cat. A RP for a single person

  23.30

  56.95

  77.75

  Standard RP for a married couple

  37.30

  91.15

  124.65

  1. Calculations are rounded to the nearest 5p at each uprating date.

  2. Increases in RPI are calculated using the retail prices index (all items) as supplied by Central Statistical Office.

  3. Earnings increases are calculated using the average earnings index (whole economy unadjusted) as published by the Central Statistical Office.

  Poverty
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent assessment he has made of the extent of poverty in the United Kingdom. [8082]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  There is no simple or meaningful way to define or measure poverty. Income is not always an accurate guide to living standards, especially among households in the lowest income deciles.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change the means of levying national insurance. [7100]

  Mr. Heald
  None.

  Equal Treatment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each form of institutional discrimination listed by his Department between men and women for social security benefit purposes; what is the approximate number of claimants affected by each different form and the approximate annual cost of removing each form if there were no retrospective effect of removal; and what assessment he has made as to what extent each form is necessarily and objectively to the
  326
  Mr. Burt
  The information could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are(a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95.

  Mr. Burt
  Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister sees a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. No record is kept of any amendments suggested by Ministers.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the pension for(a) a couple and (b) an individual in 1979; and what it would currently be if the pension had been uprated in line with (i) inflation and (ii) earnings. [8080]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.

  difference in pensionable age; and if he will make statement. [1080]

  Mr. Heald
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: The table sets out the different treatment of men and women in the social security system. These either relate to the differences in pensionable age or are otherwise considered to be permitted in law. Estimates of the financial effects of equalisation depend on the basis on which provisions are equalised.

  The Pensions Act 1995 introduces further equalisation into the social security system linked to an equal state pension age. The financial implications of this Act are contained in the report by the Government Actuary on the financial provisions of the Bill on the national insurance fund, Cm 2714.

  Benefit

  Description

  Unemployment benefit1

  The maximum age for receipt is

  65 for women, 70 for men. The

  age at which the benefit rate

  changes to the retirement

  pension rate is 60 for women,

  65 for men.

  Long-term incapacity benefit

  The maximum age for receipt is

  60 for women, 65 for men.

  Short-term incapacity benefit

  The maximum age for receipt is

  65 for women, 70 for men. The

  327

  Benefit

  Description

  age at which the benefit rate

  changes to the retirement

  pension rate is 60 for women,

  65 for men.

  Transitional invalidity

  The upper age limit for

  allowance and related age

  acquiring entitlement to the

  addition to retirement pension2

  lower rate of allowance was 55

  for women, 60 for men.

  Widow's payment, widowed

  Married women are entitled on

  mother's allowance, widow's

  widowhood where statutory

  pension

  conditions are satisfied. There

  are no equivalent benefits for

  men.

  Category A retirement pension

  The minimum age of

  (own insurance)

  entitlement is 60 for women, 65

  for men. Women may defer

  their entitlement in order to

  receive increments between age

  60 and 65; men between 65 and

  70. Entitlement to retirement

  pension is calculated on a

  working life of 44 years for

  women, 49 for men.

  Category B retirement pension

  A woman must be aged 60 and

  (spouse's contributions

  over and (i) married to husband

  who is entitled to category A

  retirement pension, or (ii)

  widowed after age 60 and late

  husband satisfied contribution

  condition for category A

  retirement pension, or (iii)

  widowed before age 60 and in

  receipt of widow's pension at

  that age in consequence of

  husband's death. A man is

  entitled only where (i) both he

  and his late wife were over

  pensionable age when she died

  and (ii) she satisfied the

  contribution conditions for

  category A retirement pension.

  Retirement pension—

  earnings-related additional

  pension (SERPS) 1986 Act

  changes to SERPS calculation

  for people reaching

  pensionable age from 6 April

  1999 affect men born after 5

  April 1934 and women born

  after 5 April 1939.

  Graduated retirement benefit

  The minimum age of

  entitlement is 60 for women, 65

  for men. The amount of

  graduated contributions paid to

  obtain one graduated retirement

  benefit "unit" was £9.00 for

  women, £7.50 for men.

  Reduced earnings allowance3

  Recipients transfer to retirement

  allowance at age 60 for women,

  65 for men.

  Increase of unemployment

  benefit or short-term

  incapacity benefit paid at the

  lower rate in respect of a

  dependent child. Child

  dependency increase are

  available for women from age

  328

  Benefit

  Description

  60, men from age 65.

  Increase of category A

  retirement pension for adult

  dependant. A woman claiming

  an adult dependency increase

  of retirement pension for a

  dependent husband has to

  satisfy the condition that she

  was entitled to an increase of

  unemployment benefit or

  incapacity benefit immediately

  before claiming her pension.

  There is no similar condition

  for a man claiming an increase

  of retirement pension for his

  wife.

  Child benefit

  A wife or mother of the

  child(ren) has priority of

  entitlement over a husband or

  father.

  Family credit

  In couples cases the claim is

  made by the woman and any

  benefit paid to her.

  Guardian's allowance

  A wife has priority of

  entitlement over husband.

  1 Jobseeker's allowance will replace unemployment benefit in October 1996. JSA will cease at pension age. As pension ages are aligned under the 1995 Pensions Act, different treatment will be reduced.

  2 Invalidity addition was abolished from 13 April 1995 but continues in payment to former invalidity benefit recipients.

  3 Women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over before 10 April 1989 continue to receive a frozen rate of reduced earnings allowance.

  Benefits Agency Medical Services
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of doctors who currently work for Benefits Agency medical services on a part-time basis have undertaken further education on clinical topics in the last year in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Wales and (c) England; and what percentage of this further education was related to mental illness. [6254]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  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. Ron Davies, dated 10 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what percentage of Doctors who currently work for Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) on a part-time basis have undertaken further education on clinical topics in the last year in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Wales and (c) England; and what percentage of this further education was related to mental illness.
  Information about the further education on clinical topics undertaken by BAMS Doctors is not available.
  Fee paid Doctors are contracted on a self-employed basis and are paid hourly for a three and a half hour, half day session. All these Doctors, approved to apply the new medical test for Incapacity

  329
  Benefit, have received a flexible modular training course during the past year.
  Twenty per cent of the modules are related to the assessment of mental health problems and the application of the mental health questionnaire for the medical test for Incapacity Benefit.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of Benefits Agency medical services doctors work for the BAMS(a) full-time and (b) part-time in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) Wales and (iii) England. [6263]

  Mr. Evans
  The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter front Peter Mathison to Mr. Ron Davies, dated 10 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what percentage of Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) Doctors work for the BAMS (a) full-time and (b) part-time in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) Wales and (iii) England.
  Details requested are outlined below. Both permanent and fixed term appointment Doctors are employed full time by the BAMS. You should know, however, that some Doctors employed on a permanent basis may also work part-time. Fee paid Doctors are contracted on a self-employed basis and are paid hourly for a three and a half hour, half day session.

  Appendix A: Number and location of doctors employed by the Benefits Agency medical services

  Location

  Total number. full-time employed doctors

  Total number fee paid part-time doctors

  Fee paid doctors aged 65–70

  Fee paid doctors aged 70+

  Wales

  27

  144

  39

  10

  Bootle

  14

  123

  22

  2

  Manchester

  12

  142

  25

  3

  Wembley

  26

  113

  32

  4

  Bristol

  14

  90

  17

  1

  Leeds

  24

  188

  32

  4

  Newcastle

  19

  64

  14

  3

  Glasgow

  25

  88

  19

  Nil

  Edinburgh

  23

  83

  15

  Nil

  Midlands

  38

  250

  1

  Nil

  Sutton

  32

  118

  28

  3

  Fylde DLA

  12

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Totals

  266

  1,403

  244

  30

  These figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Family Credit
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the backlog of family credit renewal claims awaiting processing during 1995; what change there has been in them in the last year and for what reasons; and what action is proposed to revise such backlog. [6317]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  330

  Percentage

  Permanent/fixed term appointments

  Fee paid

  United Kingdom

  16

  84

  Wales

  18.55

  81.45

  England

  14.80

  85.20

  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by region, the total number of doctors employed(a) full-time and (b) part time by the Benefits Agency medical services; how many Benefits Agency medical services doctors in each region are aged (i) 65–70 years and (ii) over 70 years; and what are the terms of their Benefits Agency medical services contract. [6321]

  Mr. Evans
  The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services 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. William Etherington, dated 10 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list, by region, the total number of Doctors employed (a) full-time and (b) part time by the Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS); how many BAMS Doctors in each region are aged (i) 65–70 years and (ii) over 70 years; and what are the terms of their BAMS contract.
  Information that is available in the outlined in Appendix A.
  Fee paid Doctors are contracted on a self-employed basis and are paid hourly for a three and half hour, half day session.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Letter front Peter Mathison to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 10 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the backlog of Family Credit (FC) renewal claims awaiting processing during 1995; what change there has been in them in the last year and for what reasons; and what action is proposed to revise such backlog.
  At 30 November 1994, there were 34,570 outstanding renewal claims and at 30 November 1995, this had reduced to 33,191. This figure has varied during the year from between 25,589 and 37,168.
  When a customer wishes to renew entitlement to FC, a renewal claim is required. Such claims may be submitted up to four weeks prior to the expiry of the previous award. This four week period enables enquiries to be made without the customer suffering a gap in benefit payments.

  331
  The FC Unit expect to receive a total of 900,000 renewal claims in the current financial year. The number of renewal claims received does vary throughout the year with two peak renewal periods. March and September. The Secretary of State has set two demanding targets for the clearance of all claims, including renewal claims to FC. These are that 60% of claims be cleared within 13 working days and that 95% be cleared within 42 working days. The FC Unit has achieved these targets throughout the current financial year. At the end of November 1995, the clearance of renewal claims stands at 71.3% cleared within 13 days and 98.5% cleared within 42 days.
  Management controls are in place to ensure that a high standard of service is maintained and that renewal claims to FC are decided as quickly as is possible.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of continuing medical education modules undertaken by all Benefits Agency medical services full-time doctors is dedicated to psychiatry and medical illness. [6272]

  Mr. Evans
  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. Ron Davies, dated 10 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what proportion of continuing medical education modules undertaken by all benefits. Agency Medical Services (BAMS) full-time Doctors is dedicated to psychiatry and medical illness.
  Approximately thirty per cent of the modules are devoted to psychiatric evaluation and assessment of effects of mental health problems.
  A balance of the modules is devoted to disability awareness and advances in management and evaluation of commonly occurring or complex medical conditions.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Claimant Deaths
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the average length of time that elapses between the death of(a) a benefit claimant and (b) a pension claimant and the notification of the relevant benefit agency. [6269]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  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. Jon Owen Jones, dated 10 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what estimate he has made of the average length of time that elapses between the death of (a) a benefit and (b) a pension claimant and the notification of the relevant Benefit Agency (BA).
  Statistics on the time that lapses between the death of a customer and the notification to the BA are not kept. Experience shows that in the event of a death, the BA is notified, in the majority of cases, directly by the next of kin, solicitor, executor or nursing home. The death is usually reported direct to the BA within a few days and the computer systems are updated immediately.
  Once the relevant computer system has been updated any future payments will be suspended. The date of death is "broadcast" via the Departmental Central Index (DCI) to every other benefit system. This will automatically activate a suspension of future benefit payments, where appropriate, on those benefit systems.
  As an additional safeguard, the Registrars pass details of the deaths, reported to them, to the Office of Population Censuses and Survey. The details are then transferred to a tape which is sent to the Contributions Agency. The details from this tape are passed to the DCI which then broadcasts to every benefit computer system. This process takes approximately 3 weeks.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Human Suspected Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicines: Report
  Human Suspected Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicines: Report
  Women Prisoners: Handcuffing Directive
  Women Prisoners: Handcuffing Directive
  Pensions after Divorce: Assumptions
  Pensions after Divorce: Assumptions
  Marriage: Working Party
  Marriage: Working Party
  UK Air Safety: Regulations
  UK Air Safety: Regulations