Written Answers of 16 January 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr.Alex Carlile
  To ask the secretary of State for the Home Department What is the daily cost charged by each police authority for the use of police cells to house overspill prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [8758]

  Mr Maclean
  No prison Service prisoners have been held in police cells since June 1995 At that time, the national average cost per prisoner was £300 Per night.

  Police authorities do not have a standard cost for holding prisoners. Each authority submits an invoice to the prison service based on the actual cost of the service provided There are many variables which may affect that cost.

  Home Office circular 36/1993 gives guidance to police authorities on calculating their costs. The Home Office also monitors the charges made by police forces.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted criminals were being held in police station cells at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [8759]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 16 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of convicted criminals being held in police station cells at the latest available date.
  There have been no Prison Service prisoners held in police cells since 15 June 1995.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of port applicants for asylum arriving in the United Kingdom having travelling through one or more other countries in each of the last three years; and what proportion of all port applicants they were. [9621]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers reside in the parliamentary constituency of Tottenham; and how many of them have been granted(a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to remain in the last five years. [9811]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on the places of residence of people currently seeking asylum is not held centrally.

  Terrorism Legislation (Inquiry)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the methods by which the right hon. Lord Lloyd of Berwick will gather evidence for his inquiry into the future requirement for legislation against terrorism. [10179]

  Mr. Howard
  Advertisements are being placed in the press inviting people to submit views to Lord Lloyd by 15 March. Lord Lloyd is writing, with the same invitation, to a wide range of interested parties throughout the United Kingdom. He will, in the course of his review, seek to elicit the widest possible range of fact and opinion.

  Any person wishing to offer his views on the law against terrorism should write to Lord Lloyd at the following address:

  PO Box 9998

  London SW1H 9ZB.

  Police (Complaints)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public complaints against each police force in England and Wales were made in 1994; and what percentage change this represents over the figure for 1993. [9204]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 January 1995]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Total complaints recorded 1994 Police forces in England and Wales

  Total complaints recorded 1994

  Percentage change 1993–1994

  Avon and Somerset

  992

  5

  Bedfordshire

  249

  -2

  Cambridgeshire

  422

  38

  Cheshire

  454

  -10

  Cleveland

  460

  -14

  Cumbria

  319

  -4

  Derbyshire

  481

  20

  Devon and Cornwall

  935

  22

  Dorset

  147

  -18

  Durham

  214

  5

  Essex

  500

  22

  Gloucestershire

  300

  -19

  Greater Manchester

  2,701

  5

  Hampshire

  685

  -20

  Hertfordshire

  407

  -3

  Humberside

  472

  -28

  Kent

  766

  -7

  Lancashire

  695

  9

  Leicestershire

  305

  -19

  Lincolnshire

  93

  12

  City of London

  89

  65

  Merseyside

  2,146

  18

  Metropolitan Police1

  10,094

  na

  Norfolk

  393

  2

  Northamptonshire

  178

  -11

  Northumbria

  612

  -6

  North Yorkshire

  330

  -5

  Nottinghamshire

  788

  17

  South Yorkshire

  583

  -11

  Staffordshire

  548

  1

  Suffolk

  353

  1

  Surrey

  506

  25

  Sussex

  905

  28

  Thames Valley

  979

  11

  Warwickshire

  136

  -17

  483

  Total complaints recorded 1994 Police forces in England and Wales

  Total complaints recorded 1994

  Percentage Change 1993–1994

  West Mercia

  506

  11

  West Midlands

  1,739

  5

  West Yorkshire

  1,304

  3

  Wiltshire

  260

  -6

  Dyfed-Powys

  169

  19

  Gwent

  467

  16

  North Wales

  608

  32

  South Wales

  981

  16

  Total

  36,201

  25

  1Comparable figures for 1993 not available.

  2Excludes Metropolitan Police.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the level of recorded crime in the Merseyside police force area(a) in June 1994 and (b) in June 1995; and what are the figures for England and Wales over the same period. [7925]

  Mr. Maclean
  There were 11,122 offences recorded by the Merseyside police in June 1994 and 12,207 in June 1995. The corresponding figures for England and Wales were 440,245 and 405,035 respectively.

  Ms Gordon
  TO ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in figures for reported robbery in London in the 12 months to June 1995. [8100]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information relates to offences of robbery recorded in the Metropolitan police district. There were 27,712 offences recorded in the 12 months to June 1995, an increase of 10 per cent. over the previous 12 months.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in the level of recorded crime in the Humberside police force region since 1987. [8156]

  Mr. Maclean
  Between 1987 and 1994, recorded crime in Humberside rose by 53 per cent. from 88,570 offences to 135,826 offences.

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [7830]

  Mr. Howard
  Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. It is the usual practice in the Home Office for Ministers to see the proposed replies to such parliamentary questions before they appear in the Official Report, but they would not normally intervene in
  484
  operational matters. No central record is kept of replies amended at the request of Ministers and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Private Security Firms
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure adequate legal control over private security forces operating in local communities; and if he will make a statement. [9134]

  Mr. Maclean
  We are currently reviewing the case for statutory regulation of the private security industry

  Immigration Applications
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in each of the last five years an application for renewal of exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom has been refused; and how many of these refusals were after(a) one year's exceptional leave and (b) four years' exceptional leave. [8977]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Prisoners (Police Interviews)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the guidelines for the conduct of police interviews with convicted prisoners in the furtherance of their investigations into other crimes; what is the legal status of such guidelines; how long they have been in force; and what changes have occurred to previous practices since 1966. [8720]

  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary issued guidance to the police in January 1987 on the interviewing of convicted prisoners about outstanding crime. The guidance, copies of which are available in the Library, is non-statutory but Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary monitors forces' compliance as part of its inspection procedure.

  Child Sexual Abuse
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders convicted of child sexual abuse in each of the last five years had previous convictions for the same offence. [8717]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available.

  Police (Driver Training)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount spent on driver training in each police force area in England and Wales for each year since 1990. [7541]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Information collected centrally relates to all aspects of driver and traffic training. Details of the number of days spent on such training are set out in the table, together with information about training costs, which is not complete.
  485

  Total training days—driver and traffic training

  Force

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Avon and Somerset

  6,710

  6,736

  6,829

  Bedfordshire

  2,562

  2,414

  2,555

  Cambridgeshire

  587

  1,074

  2,053

  Cheshire

  3,547

  1,843

  1,429

  City of London

  952

  697

  706

  Cleveland

  2,259

  743

  618

  Cumbria

  1,496

  1,383

  1,416

  Derbyshire

  4,511

  2,287

  2,795

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,652

  4,254

  3,648

  Dorset

  1,524

  1,804

  1,603

  Durham

  2,135

  2,643

  2,136

  Dyfed Powys

  1,614

  1,397

  1,746

  Essex

  6,535

  7,813

  7,840

  Gloucestershire

  1,762

  1,465

  1,282

  Greater Manchester

  12,431

  10,345

  9,062

  Gwent

  1,513

  1,291

  —

  Hampshire

  3,944

  3,407

  —

  Hertfordshire

  3,698

  2,160

  3,260

  Humberside

  2,490

  3,158

  —

  Kent

  4,620

  2,643

  3,008

  Lancashire

  2,675

  3,321

  3,003

  Leicestershire

  2,270

  3,011

  2,521

  Lincolnshire

  1,617

  1,675

  1,562

  Merseyside

  5,504

  6,608

  3,601

  Norfolk

  2,652

  2,406

  1,887

  Northamptonshire

  2,466

  2,389

  2,130

  Northumbria

  5,178

  4,410

  4,535

  North Wales

  1,351

  1,325

  1,101

  North Yorkshire

  2,345

  2,944

  2,754

  Nottinghamshire

  4,030

  3,151

  2,477

  South Wales

  2,490

  4,341

  4,982

  South Yorkshire

  3,756

  3,570

  4,396

  Staffordshire

  4,677

  4,982

  3,936

  Suffolk

  1,715

  2,115

  1,916

  Surrey

  2,889

  3,674

  —

  Sussex

  4,465

  6,843

  —

  Thames Valley

  7,948

  7,427

  5,585

  Warwickshire

  1,153

  1,678

  969

  West Mercia

  2,236

  3,375

  4,014

  West Midlands

  13,016

  9,980

  10,777

  West Yorkshire

  4,532

  4,304

  4,920

  Wiltshire

  2,771

  3,332

  2,638

  Metropolitan

  28,149

  31,783

  33,886

  Training costs—driver and traffic training (£s)

  Force

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Avon and Somerset

  1,494,009

  1,321,638

  1,453,522

  Bedfordshire

  —

  590,523

  677,496

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  361,942

  524,857

  Cheshire

  509,266

  376,253

  330,990

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  467,000

  273,000

  —

  Cumbria

  305,436

  135,649

  259,091

  Derbyshire

  929,463

  —

  577,794

  Devon and Cornwall

  655,897

  855,765

  877,513

  Dorset

  —

  419,892

  —

  Durham

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed Powys

  263,400

  231,600

  277,251

  Essex

  1,964,589

  2,300,000

  2,007,391

  Gloucestershire

  350,784

  293,538

  276,670

  Greater Manchester

  —

  1,251,773

  1,207,188

  Gwent

  287,498

  209,866

  98,258

  Hampshire

  —

  858,621

  1,114,196

  Hertfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  520,000

  258,000

  —

  Kent

  1,048,039

  875,336

  1,185,687

  Lancashire

  —

  914,666

  —

  Leicestershire

  253,713

  —

  405,623

  Lincolnshire

  —

  474,400

  —

  486

  Training costs—driver and traffic training (£s)

  Force

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Merseyside

  1,594,039

  1,827,821

  1,413,639

  Norfolk

  571,500

  519,700

  453,800

  Northamptonshire

  —

  441,661

  431,128

  Northumbria

  —

  —

  968,752

  North Wales

  —

  —

  121,569

  North Yorkshire

  433,570

  533,890

  550,200

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  710,292

  —

  South Wales

  644,808

  840,145

  961,465

  South Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  441,759

  1,137,897

  535,668

  Suffolk

  553,462

  448

  456,012

  Surrey

  864,700

  969,000

  1,002,000

  Sussex

  503,000

  805,912

  —

  Thames Valley

  —

  1,761,828

  1,380,992

  Warwickshire

  166,314

  788,718

  249,693

  West Mercia

  596,616

  725,905

  897,038

  West Midlands

  3,020,332

  3,226,004

  2,989,280

  West Yorkshire

  1,674,900

  1,493,900

  1,561,300

  Wiltshire

  47,620

  303,448

  392,890

  Metropolitan

  —

  4,546,817

  —

  Figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are not yet available.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those members of the Nigerian Government who are prohibited from entry to the United Kingdom. [8537]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have been asked to reply.

  In accordance with the common position adopted by the European Union on 4 December, all members of the Federal Executive Council, the provisional Ruling Council, serving members of the military and security forces, and their families shall be refused entry to the United Kingdom.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Lord Chancellor under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9587]

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

  Law of Domicile (Reform)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether the Government intend to bring forward legislation to give effect to the reforms of the law of domicile recommended by the Law Commission in its recent report on this subject (Law Com. No. 168, Scot Law Com. No. 107). [10169]
  487
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government have decided not to take forward these reforms on the basis that, although they are desirable in themselves, they do not contain sufficient practical benefits to outweigh the risks of proceeding with them and to justify disturbing the present long-established body of case law on this subject.

  Mental Incapacity (Law Commission Report)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what response the Government intend to make to the Law Commission report on mental incapacity (Law Com. No. 231). [10170]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government have considered the Law Commission report on mental incapacity very carefully and are grateful to the many individuals and organisations that have sent in their views on this subject. The Government appreciate that this is an important and sensitive subject raising moral and ethical issues on which many people will have strong personal views.

  The Government have decided not to legislate on the basis of the Law Commission's proposals in their current form and have also concluded that it would be inappropriate to make any proposals to Parliament in the absence of full public consultation. The Government propose to issue a consultation paper on mental incapacity in due course.

  The Government wish to emphasise that they fully support the views of the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics that euthanasia is unacceptable and

  £ thousand

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Agency

  Budget

  Actual

  Budget

  Actual

  Budget

  Actual

  Budget

  Actual

  PINS

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  1.5

  0.0

  2.4

  0.0

  2.2

  OS

  64.0

  63.0

  72.0

  99.0

  75.0

  68.0

  60.0

  64.0

  QEII

  61.2

  45.7

  59.0

  81.8

  50.0

  45.1

  33.7

  32.7

  1. PINS does not have a specific budget for overseas travel.

  2. 1995–96 figures are up to December 1995.

  BRE does not set a budget for overseas travel. The agency is funded through commissions undertaken for its various customers. When these include overseas travel, the cost is recharged directly to customers. The agency does not distinguish in its financial systems between travel within the UK and overseas travel; to provide the information requested could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9147]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State has responsibility for four executive agencies—Building Research Establishment, Ordnance Survey, Planning Inspectorate and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. The agencies, which have delegated responsibility for these matters, arrange pre-retirement courses as 488
  have no plans to change this policy. The Government's consultation will thus not include any proposals on this subject.

ENVIRONMENT

  Ruddy Duck
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current situation in respect of the ruddy duck; and if he will make a statement. [8457]

  Mr. Clappison
  We are currently considering the views of the United Kingdom ruddy duck working group and our statutory scientific advisers, English Nature, in developing an appropriate strategy for controlling population levels of this introduced species.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of his executive agencies for each financial year for the last four years(a) their budget for overseas travel and (b) the actual amount spent. [8710]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State has responsibility for four executive agencies—Building Research Establishment, Ordnance Survey, Planning Inspectorate and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.

  The information requested for OS, PINS and QEII is set out in the table.

  required. No special action has been taken, or is needed, to safeguard their provision; there is no intention to cease providing such courses.

  Fifth Terminal, Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the possible fifth air terminal at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement. [8552]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The public inquiry into the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow airport is currently scheduled to finish in spring 1997, after which the inspector will prepare his report on the applications before the inquiry. It is too early to say when the report will be received.

  Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been commissioned by his Department on the number of(a) men and (b) women,

  489
  over the age of 60 years, who are homeless and sleeping rough within the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement. [8553]

  Mr. Clappison
  Information about the extent of rough sleeping is mostly anecdotal or estimated, except for central London, where voluntary sector agencies carry out a twice-yearly count of rough sleepers. The methodology for this arose from an independent evaluation of the rough sleepers initiative, commissioned by my Department. The most recent count, in November 1995, found 272 people sleeping rough in central London, of whom 25 men and seven women were aged 60 years or more.

  The Government are considering assisting the development of the successful rough sleepers initiative model in areas outside central London where rough sleeping can be demonstrated to be a major problem. A Government consultation paper about the future of the initiative, issued on 3 October, invited local authorities to quantify the extent of rough sleeping in their areas. The responses are now being analysed.

  Water Metering
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct all water companies to stop further implementation of metering water supplies to individual residences, unless specifically asked to by the occupier; and if he will make a statement. [9116]

  Mr. Clappison
  Neither the Director General of Water Services, Mr. Ian Byatt, nor Ministers have powers to prescribe charging methods or types of tariff. Within the terms of the legislation, it is up to each company to decide which method of charging is most appropriate and cost-effective in its area, subject to the Director General of Water Services being satisfied that the chosen method and the associated tariffs do not give undue preference to, or unduly discriminate against, any group or class of customers.

  Pollution Information (Internet)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to publish pollution information on the Internet. [8635]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department has pages on the CCTA's world wide web site known as hhtp://www.open.go.uk. Currently, the DOE pages include information on the Department's responsibilities for air quality and drinking water, plus the departmental press notices. The Department's air quality information and press notices are updated on a daily basis.

  The Department will also be putting a selection of information from its digest of environmental statistics publication on the CCTA's world wide web site later this year.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the average time taken by his Department to decide planning applications which it has called in;. [9507]
  490
  (2) what targets he has set on the length of time taken to determine planning applications which have been called in by his Department;. [9508]

  (3) how many planning applications have been called in by his Department in each of the last five years. [9506]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of planning applications which have been called in from English local planning authorities over the past five years have been:

  1990–91: 132

  1991–92: 140

  1992–93: 101

  1993–94: 99

  1994–95: 167

  These called-in cases should be seen in the context of nearly half a million planning applications made each year.

  The Secretary of State does not set overall targets for the determination of called-in applications. These cases are normally discussed at a public inquiry, whose length will depend upon the complexity of the issues and the amount of public interest generated; but the Department does aim to determine 80 per cent. of called-in planning applications within 13 weeks of receipt of the inspector's report and to have determined all cases within 20 weeks of receipt of the report.

  There is no centrally available information on the average length of time taken to determine all called-in planning applications.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9223]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People on Monday 15 January 1996 Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible will be made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when his Department will complete its analysis of the responses to consultations over the extension of part M of the Building Regulations to residential dwellings;. [9261]

  (2) if he will be seeking advice from the Building Regulations Advisory Committee regarding the extension of part M of the Building Regulations to residential dwellings; and when he intends to do so; [9262]
  491
  (3) when he intends to make a statement regarding the extension of part M of the Building Regulations to residential dwellings. [9263]

  Mr. Clappison
  The analysis of the responses to the Government's consultation on extending part M of the Building Regulations to cover new dwellings is expected to be completed this spring. This will then be considered by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee with the aim of advising me of the best way forward. After considering that advice, I shall make a statement.

  Rural Challenge (Easington Colliery)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Easington dated 28 November 1995 concerning the failed bid for rural challenge for Easington colliery. [9671]

  Mr. Clappison
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter yesterday—Monday 15 January 1996.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the debt level of each local authority in England indicating in each case the debt per head of population. [9807]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have today placed the information requested in the Library of the House.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Gosport)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take any necessary steps to ensure that the payments made to the borough of Gosport are correctly calculated on the basis of the appropriate standard spending assessment with particular reference to taking account of an accurate assessment of the number of armed forces residents. [9806]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We are currently considering all the representations made by authorities on our proposals for the 1996–97 settlement, including those made by the borough council of Gosport on the resident population figures which it is proposed to use to calculate standard spending assessments. We are proposing to use figures of resident population at 30 June 1994, as estimated by the Registrar General. They will take account of representations made to us during the consultation period.

  Special Areas of Conservation
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas in the United Kingdom which he has designated special areas of conservation; and if he will place maps of these areas in the Library. [9616]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 20 June 1995.Official Report, columns 140–43, and my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 9 January 1996, Official Report, columns 6–8, for lists
  492
  of the 211 sites in the United Kingdom which have been forwarded to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation. Maps of these areas were placed on deposit in the Library last March at the commencement of the public consultation on these areas.

  Radon
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he proposes to take on radon in homes; and if he will make a statement. [10247]

  Mr. Clappison
  Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in homes and increase the risk of lung cancer.

  My Department has had a long-established programme to identify those most at risk, and to advise them on what action to take in order to protect their health. In England, 250,000 homes have had their radon levels measured under the Government-funded measurement scheme; cost-effective methods of preventing radon from entering, new and existing homes have been developed by the Building Research Establishment; changes have been made to the building regulations to prevent radon becoming a problem in new homes; and financial assistance is available to enable the most needy householders to take remedial action.

  The next phase of the radon programme will take place in early February, when 200,000 invitations to have a free radon measurement will be sent to those householders in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire most likely to have high radon levels in their homes. All householders in these counties have, over the past eight years, been offered free measurements. The results obtained so far have enabled the National Radiological Protection Board to identify with far greater precision the areas within those counties where homes are most likely to have high radon levels. This allows measurement invitations to be targeted more accurately and efficiently. The offer of free measurements will therefore now be based on invitations to individual householders, and the current arrangements for free measurement will be discontinued from 29 February.

  The NRPB is currently completing a mapping exercise of the whole of England. This will be published later in the year and will indicate more precisely than before those areas with high radon levels.

  Radon is a serious problem, but one that is amenable to simple, relatively inexpensive solutions, developed primarily by the Department's Building Research Establishment. We shall continue to advise householders in high radon areas what action they should take. Local authorities have discretion to give grants to low-income private owners for radon remedial works.

  Fire Protection
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of sprinklers and other fire protection measures in (i) hospitals and (ii) homes for the elderly. [9478]
  493
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: My Department has commissioned a number of studies from the Building Research Establishment on sprinklers and other fire protection measures in connection with hospitals and residential care establishments, including old people's homes. Reports are evaluated by my officials, who make recommendations to Ministers on the work's significance and any practical implications, for example for building regulations, flowing from it.

  I am sending the hon. Gentleman a list of these studies, some of which have been published.

PRIME MINISTER

  Honours List
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister how many Conservative hon. Members have received knighthoods since 1979; and if he will list them by name. [9666]

  The Prime Minister
  A total of 127 Conservative Members have received knighthoods since 1979. The names of the recipients have been published in the London Gazette.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will define "political services" and "public and political services" in the context of the honours list. [9607]

  The Prime Minister
  Political services relate to those who give service to a political party. Political and public service is an appropriate description for those who have some other form of public service to their credit in addition to their political work.

  Government Economic Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the goal of the Government's economic policy. [9794]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's overall economic objective is to promote sustained economic growth and rising prosperity. We will continue with the policies which have given this country the lowest mortgage rates for 30 years, the lowest basic rate of tax for over 50 years and the longest period of low inflation for 50 years.

  Refugees
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will initiate joint action by the relevant Departments of Her Majesty's Government to determine the domicile of those persons, and their dependants, who(a) have refugee status, (b) have been given exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom or (c) have outstanding applications for refugee status; and if he will (i) publish and (ii) place in the Library the numbers of (1) such persons and (2) their dependants (x) by local authority area and (y) by parliamentary constituency. [8251]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what legal costs arising from the Scott inquiry have been incurred by the Government in relation to(a) himself,
  494
  (b) his predecessor and (c) his or her officials and advisers. [8743]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The Treasury Solicitor provides legal advice to the Prime Minister and his officials on a range of issues as part of his normal duties. The cost of his advice in relation to the Scott inquiry is not quantifiable. No other legal costs have been incurred in connection with the Scott inquiry on behalf of myself, my predecessor or my officials or advisers.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Science Budget
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the allocation of the science budget. [10078]

  Mr. Lang
  I have discussed the allocations with the Director General of Research Councils and have decided that, subject to parliamentary approval of the Supply estimates in due course, the science budget of £1,312.390 million should be allocated as follows:

  Science Budget Allocations and Planning Assumptions

  £ million

  Allocation

  Planning figures

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  BBSRC

  176.31

  176.89

  179.98

  ESRC

  63.08

  63.62

  65.64

  EPSRC

  375.95

  373.46

  376.78

  MRC

  281.89

  282.96

  286.86

  NERC

  164.65

  162.32

  167.90

  PPARC

  191.68

  191.73

  194.90

  International subscriptions reserve

  15.04

  18.00

  18.00

  CCLRC

  1.45

  1.45

  1.45

  Research Council Pensions Supplement

  9.87

  11.53

  12.97

  Royal Society

  21.82

  22.27

  22.62

  Royal Academy of Engineering

  3.12

  3.37

  3.44

  OST Initiatives

  2.53

  2.78

  2.85

  Foresight Challenge

  5.00

  10.00

  13.00

  High-performance computing

  —

  10.00

  —

  Total

  1,312.39

  1,330.39

  1,346.39

  These allocations will enable the research councils and other funded bodies to consolidate and develop the new initiatives announced in February 1994 to take forward the policies set out in the 1993 White Paper "Realising Our Potential: A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology". Further details are set out in the paper "Allocation of the Science Budget 1996–97", which I have placed in the Library of the House.

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the forthcoming prior options study of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory. [10079]
  495
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government announced on 29 September 1995 that all public sector research establishments would be subject to prior options reviews.

  A review of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory has begun. Bearing in mind the extensive studies carried out leading to the decision in 1994 that NWML should remain an executive agency of the DTI, and my right hon. Friend's recently announced decision that it should move to a net expenditure control basis from 1 April 1996, the forthcoming review is likely to draw extensively on this material; the review will also consider NWML's relationship with public sector research establishments.

  I should welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 16 February 1996 to Charles Cruickshank, Department of Trade and Industry, 151 Buckingham Palace road, London SW1W 9SS.

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the Government have paid to trade unions towards the costs of conducting postal ballots under legislation in each year since their introduction. [9812]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The costs of the trade union ballot refunds for the scheme, by calendar year since its inception, are as follows:

  1980: No applications

  1981: £12,935

  1982: £26,149

  1983: £85,072

  1984: £72,498

  1985: £1,392,982

  1986: £738,301

  1987: £1,158,801

  1988: £869,448

  1989: £1,339,582

  1990: £2,636,766

  1991: £4,082,383

  1992: £4,259,860

  1993: £3,382,803

  1994: £1,899,955

  1995: £1,095,236.

  Carbon Monoxide Detectors
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had, and when, with the Building Standards Institute on immediately establishing a British standard for carbon monoxide detectors. [9617]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  An official from my Department sits in the relevant British Standards Institution group which has been writing a new standard for carbon monoxide detectors and has been actively involved in this work. I am pleased to say the standard has now been completed and is expected to be published in the spring.

  Non-fossil Fuel Renewable Order 4
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how NFFO 4—fourth non-fossil fuel renewable order—was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department;. [8664]
  496
  (2) if NFFO 4 has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal;. [8662]

  (3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of NFFO 4;. [8665]

  (4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in NFFO 4 were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [8663]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answers 15 January 1996]: One of the objectives underlying the Government's renewables policy, including the non-fossil fuel obligation in respect of renewables, is a reduction in the emission of pollutants. The environmental aspects of the policy were fully discussed in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200, 1990), and in DTI energy papers such as "New and Renewable Energy: Future Prospects in the UK" (DTI: Energy Paper Number 62, 1994). The environmental aspects of particular proposed power stations are handled through the planning process.

TRANSPORT

  Marine Safety Agency
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to delegate further work from the Marine Safety Agency to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [8229]

  Mr. Norris
  The only delegation to the private sector of the work of the Marine Safety Agency currently planned, and which is in addition to the delegation package announced in August 1993, is the eyesight testing of seafarers.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons leaseholding operators of motorway service areas are not required to pay annual rent to his Department. [9397]

  Mr. Watts
  Originally, operators of motorway service areas paid an annual rent based on turnover. In 1978 the Prior committee report on MSAs concluded that this arrangement was discouraging new investment and the improvement of standards. A new policy was announced in October 1979 under which operators would pay a lump sum at the beginning of their lease term and a peppercorn annual rent thereafter. That arrangement had been adopted for all MSAs, new and existing, by 1982. It continues to apply to the 19 existing MSAs for which the Department currently owns the freehold, pending their sale to the private sector. The provision of MSAs was deregulated in 1992 and the issue of payment of rent to my Department no longer arises with new MSAs.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the costs to his Department of acting as a freeholder for motorway service areas in England. [9398]
  497
  Mr. Watts
  The costs are minimal and will reduce to nothing as the Department's remaining freehold interests in motorway service areas in England are sold to the private sector.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he intends to issue to(a)Departments,(b)executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9226]

  Mr. Norris
  We will shortly be publishing the first in a series of information bulletins which will report the progress we are making in implementing part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. These bulletins will be widely circulated. As the bulletins are published, I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

  When regulations are made under part V of the Act, we will issue separate detailed guidance to all those affected.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent reports he has received in respect of safety failings on the west coast main line; and if he will make a statement. [9291]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend has received no general reports indicating safety failings on the west coast main line. The Health and Safety Executive has received specific reports on derailments at Camden on 14 December and Euston station on 20 December 1995. These incidents are being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate. The inspectorate is also following up a number of claims about the condition of the west coast main line made by individuals.

  HM railway inspectorate will continue its independent monitoring and investigation of railway safety to ensure that safety standards are maintained on the west coast main line.

  Franchising Director
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to revise the objectives, instructions and guidance issued to the franchising director under section 5 of the Railways Act 1993. [10257]

  Sir George Young
  I have now written to the franchising director clarifying and amplifying the sections of his objectives, instructions and guidance which relate to the setting of passenger service requirements and the evaluation of bids. I have placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment has been made of the impact of the Newbury bypass on habitats of protected species;. [8410]
  498
  (2) what are the comparative costs of construction in respect of (a) the Newbury bypass and (b) upgrading the existing route of the A34 in accordance with route option CA4; and what assessment has been made of the relative environmental impact of each option. [8409]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Smith, dated 16 January 1996:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the A34 Newbury Bypass.
  We have surveyed carefully the route of the Bypass and we have relocated (in close liaison with English Nature) protected species where necessary. For example, all major trees were surveyed for the presence of bats; those found were caught, their roots removed and the bats then released into woodland away from the route, where bat boxes had been erected. Badgers have been relocated to new artificial setts and dormice have been moved to new sites. Our ecological consultants will keep watch during the works to ensure the safety of protected species in liaison, as necessary, with English Nature.
  Route option CA4 was an objectors alternative route put forward at the 1988 Public Inquiry; the comparative costs of the two schemes are those given to that Inquiry. These are £38.8M for route option CA4 and £46.6M for the western bypass. I should add that the Inspector at that Inquiry concluded that route CA4 would be ineffective in traffic terms and that the proposed western route would be very much better value for money that any of the alternatives put forward to the Inquiry.
  The comparative environmental impacts of the proposed route and alternative CA4 were discussed at the Public Inquiry in 1988. The Inspector concluded that central route options would not relieve Newbury of significant amounts of through traffic; there would be upheaval and disruption during construction and serious problems would remain at junctions. He found that CA4 in particular would have severe and insurmountable operational difficulties. And, at the end, central routes would leave Newbury with structures out of keeping with a country market town and there would be higher levels of pollution. The Inspector found all central routes unacceptable and the Secretaries of State accepted that.
  Our Study Report last year looked again among other issues at central route options, but concluded that nothing had changed since 1988 which had made the Inspector's criticism less valid or which had altered the balance he had found in favour of the western bypass.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the compulsory purchase order was made to acquire land on which the Newbury bypass is to be built; and when compensation will start being paid to those affected by the order. [9522]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 16 January 1996:
  As you know, John Watts has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Newbury Bypass.
  The Compulsory Purchase Order for the scheme was made on 4 October 1993. Some compensation has already been paid, further payments will follow when negotiations with landowners are finalised.

  Channel Tunnel Security Seal
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety of the security bolt seal chosen by Railfreight for channel tunnel operations relative to that of its competitors. [8486]
  499
  Mr. Watts
  The bolt seal meets the requirement laid down by the Department that any seal used must be on the Custom and Excise group 1 or 2 list. Railfreight Distribution has asked the Loss Prevention Council to undertake independent tests on the seal in the light of allegations made about it.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Railfreight is required to operate in an open-market, competitive manner in its allocation of contracts. [8487]

  Mr. Watts
  As with other public bodies, Railfreight Distribution must operate openly in a competitive market. EC rules require large contracts to be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and to be available to bidders throughout the EC. I am advised that Railfreight Distribution selected the bolt seal in 1994 following the evaluation of a number of seals. In EC and Railfreight Distribution procurement terms this was a small contract. However, Railfreight Distribution has agreed that the next contract will be put out for full competitive tender.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations led Railfreight to require all users of the channel tunnel to use the same security bolt seal; and what are his powers in this respect. [8488]

  Mr. Watts
  This is entirely a management matter for the British Railways Board and Railfreight Distribution. I understand from the BR Board that for managerial and control purposes Railfreight Distribution needed a single, easily recognisable set of seals to permit rapid verification of the integrity of cargoes at depots in all weathers. It concluded that acceptance of more than one manufacturer's product could result in a multiplicity of seals which in Railfreight Distribution's view would have impeded the safe and efficient discharge of its responsibilities. The BR Board has reviewed this decision and agreed that this was correct in the circumstances.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his safety inspectorate has given to the security seal policy of Railfreight; and what is its judgment thereon. [8489]

  Mr. Watts
  Security matters are the responsibility of my Department's transport security division. Its inspectors routinely consider all aspects of channel tunnel security. They do not consider that there are any security problems with the seal system in use by Railfreight Distribution.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met representatives of the British security seal industry about Railfreight's policy on security seals for the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement. [8490]

  Mr. Watts
  I have had one meeting with Mr. Bill Tait, the former chairman of the Security Seal Industry Association, and I have been in correspondence with the current chairman, Mr. Ken Lloyd. The policy on the use and control of seals is for Railfreight Distribution to determine. The Department's role is to lay down the standard of seal required.

  London Airports (Access)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to allow formal local government membership of his London airports surface access study steering group. [8532]

  Mr. Norris
  To keep it at a manageable size, the membership of the steering group for the London airports surface access study is restricted to representatives from several Government Departments and from transport and airport operators.

  During the study, advice and information is being sought from other interested parties, including local authorities and local authority groups, such as the South and West London Transport Conference—Sweltrac—of which Spelthorne borough council is a member.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what development opportunities and possible new routes have been discussed by his London airports surface access study steering group. [8533]

  Mr. Norris
  The London airports surface access study is examining the opportunities for improving surface access to and between London's main airports—Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City airports. As well as considering new links and development opportunities, the study will assess the extent to which such improvements would relieve future congestion on road links to the airports. The LASAS consultants are reviewing a wide range of proposals and schemes and are due to report by the end of June.

  Cars (Environmental Pollution)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he proposes to introduce to(a) discourage the use of the car and (b) encourage the use of alternative forms of transport. [8600]

  Mr. Norris
  Measures to discourage the use of the car and encourage alternatives are being promoted by local authorities within the context of the package approach. The need for further measures has been discussed widely as part of the national debate on transport policy, on which the Government intend to produce a further report.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is currently taking to increase the amount of public information available in respect of the environmental effects of car pollution. [8603]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department regularly issues advice in official publications to motorists and operators on environmentally conscious driving and, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, is undertaking a number of initiatives to increase the amount of public information available.

  One recent initiative, under the aegis of the Greener Motoring Forum, was the launch of a pilot information campaign, with garages and dealerships in five cities. This offered motorists a free exhaust emissions test and a booklet, "Running a greener car," explaining what they can do to improve their car's environmental performance.
  501
  More generally, the first national air quality strategy, which the Government intend to publish for consultation within the next few months, will include a detailed breakdown of the source of many common air pollutants, including road transport where appropriate, and the steps which we will take or expect others to take to reach air quality standards and objectives. The Government also publish the "Digest of Environmental Statistics" and sponsor publications such as the independent reports of the expert panel on air quality standards, which spell out clearly the environmental effects of different sources of pollution, including cars.

  Rural Transport Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural bus routes have been(a) withdrawn and (b) curtailed since 1979. [8602]

  Mr. Norris
  The Traffic Commissioners' records of bus service registrations, variations and withdrawals do not differentiate between rural and urban routes, and so the information requested cannot be provided. The annual report of the Traffic Commissioners shows the total numbers of services withdrawn or varied for each traffic area.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural train stations have closed since 1979. [8601]

  Mr. Watts
  Twenty stations in rural locations have been closed since 1979.

  Research Costs
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of his Department's transport research budget is devoted to investigating transport by(a) rail and (b) road; and what sums his Department has spent on these areas in the last year for which figures are available. [8604]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9 January 1996,Official Report, column 49. It is primarily for the rail industry to commission research particular to its needs. In 1994–95 my Department spent £69,000 on research devoted to investigating transport by rail and £33,800,000 on research devoted to investigating transport by road.

  National Integrated Transport Strategy
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to advance a national integrated transport strategy. [8605]

  Mr. Norris
  Decisions on the future direction of transport policy will be taken in the light of the national transport debate.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9589]
  502
  Mr. Norris
  Records of the powers and the parliamentary procedures specified in relation to them are not kept and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the past five years the holder of his office has travelled overseas at public expense without being accompanied by civil servants. [9813]

  Sir George Young
  None.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the environmental organisations he has met over the past year to discuss transport issues. [8599]

  Sir George Young
  Since taking up my position in July, I have had meetings with a number of environmental organisations, including:

  The Cyclists Public Affairs Group

  English Heritage

  English Nature

  The Environmental Transport Association

  The National Trust

  The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

  The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  Transport 2000.

  Newarthill
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list existing contracts between the Highways Agency and the United Kingdom company Newarthill and its subsidiaries. [9722]

  Mr. Watts
  Newarthill is the ultimate parent company of a number of subsidiary firms making up the Sir Robert McAlpine group. The Highways Agency's business contracts are confined to Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd., which is presently undertaking one contract in joint venture with Fitzpatrick Contractors Ltd. The contract is the A406 Silver street to Hall lane, Fore street underpass, which commenced on 24 April 1995.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what levels of noise and settlement in combination with each other will qualify as a serious effect under the Union Railways discretionary purchase scheme published in July 1995 in relation to the channel tunnel rail link. [9088]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The discretionary purchase guidelines placed in the Library on 19 July 1995 outline the type of factors that Union Railways Ltd. takes into account when deciding whether the enjoyment of a property is likely to be seriously affected. The factors listed are not exhaustive and other factors and combination of factors will be taken into account when considering individual applications.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  North Korea
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to appeals for food aid in response to the famine in North Korea; and if he will make a statement. [9068]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA contributed £150,000 through UN agencies and the International Red Cross to give food and other relief supplies last autumn. We have recently agreed to fund two Save the Children Fund nutritionalists to work with the World Food Programme in North Korea on famine assessment.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on providing financial and material help to rebuild Jaffna; and if he will make a statement. [8559]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have made clear to the Sri Lankan Government on a number of occasions that we are ready to help in assessing the rehabilitation of power supplies in Jaffna as soon as peace has been restored and the relevant Sri Lankan officials are in place.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance he plans to make available to Cyprus when a settlement is agreed; and if he will make a statement. [8551]

  Mr. Hanley
  The question of any financial assistance to Cyprus in the context of a settlement will be considered at the appropriate time.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public opinion surveys his Department has undertaken on attitudes to aid and development issues. [8875]

  Mr. Hanley
  As part of a survey on the effectiveness of its external communications, the ODA commissioned National Opinion Poll to conduct a public opinion survey in November 1995 which looked generally at the way the public viewed the aid programme.

  Bilateral Aid
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which five recipient countries have received the largest(a) increase and (b) decrease in United Kingdom bilateral aid since 1992. [8871]

  Mr. Hanley
  Statistics on aid expenditure usually relate to financial years, and in this case cover the changes between 1992–93 and 1994–95, the latest year for which information is available. The table gives the requested information for expenditure on the ODA aid programme, excluding the Commonwealth Development Corporation and expenditure from other Government Departments.
  504

  The countries receiving the largest increases and decreases in bilateral ODA aid programme expenditure from 1992–93 to 1994–95

  Recipient country

  Change (£ million) 1994–95 cf 1992–93

  Increases

  Rwanda

  +45.0

  Russia

  +20.8

  Malawi

  +20.3

  Pakistan

  +8.9

  States of ex-Yugoslavia

  +8.5

  Decreases

  Malaysia1

  -16.7

  Ghana

  -15.2

  Somalia

  -13.7

  India

  -12.1

  Zimbabwe

  -11.8

  1Expenditure on Pergau is included for 1992–93 but not for 1994–95. If expenditure on Pergau were excluded from the 1992–93 figures, Malaysia would no longer appear in the table. Bangladesh would then feature with a decrease of -£10.6 million.

  Aid Expenditure (Effects)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to measure the impact of aid expenditure on the poorest people. [9119]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA's policy information marker system identifies aid used for direct assistance to poor people. More broadly, the ODA assesses the impact of its programmes on poverty reduction through close project monitoring, assessment made at project completion and subsequent project evaluations. The evidence gathered in recent years is summarised in the "Progress Report on ODA's Policy Objectives", dated May 1995, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House.

  Aid Allocations (Priorities)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the priority sectors in aid allocations to recipient countries following the Overseas Development Administration's fundamental review of expenditure. [8869]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA will continue to allocate the majority of bilateral aid on a country-by-country basis.

  Country strategies and priority sectors will be developed according to the specific needs of individual countries, and in full consultation with them. These programmes will contribute to the wider aims set out in the ODA's revised mission statement.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current and future regional priorities for the aid programme following the Overseas Development Administration's fundamental expenditure review. [8873]

  Mr. Hanley
  The fundamental expenditure review confirmed the need for continued substantial levels of concessional aid. The ODA's intention will remain to focus this aid on where it is most needed and where it can do most good. This means that aid will continue to be concentrated on the poorest countries, although there
  505
  remains a continuing need for help to be given to countries in transition. The FER 'concluded that the effectiveness of the aid programme will be increased if substantial aid programmes are confined to a smaller number of recipients. The ODA will continue to move in this direction.

  Dominica
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been provided to Dominica for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the changes in the aid provision. [8697]

  Mr. Hanley
  UK bilateral aid disbursements to Dominica over the past five financial years were as follows:

  1990–91: £1.565 million.

  1991–92: £1.986 million.

  1992–93: £2.907 million.

  1993–94: £2.173 million.

  1994–95: £0.287 million.

  The lower disbursement figure in 1994–95 relates to the UK's decision to tie the release of funds from our 1993 aid grant to the clearance of arrears on repayments of past UK aid loans to Dominica.

  Developing Countries (Private Expenditure)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest figures on private flows from the United Kingdom to developing countries in(a) pound sterling and (b) as a percentage of GNP. [8949]

  Mr. Hanley
  The latest estimate of UK private flows to developing countries in 1994 is as follows:

  £ million

  Direct investment

  3,100

  Guaranteed export credits (net)

  27

  Other bilateral securities and claims

  1,241

  Total

  £4,368

  Total as a percentage of GNP

  0.64 per cent.

  Development Assistance
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the aims and objectives of United Kingdom development assistance following the Overseas Development Administration's fundamental expenditure review. [8874]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA fundamental expenditure review reviewed the ODA's mission statement set out in its 1995 departmental report. It concluded that there was scope for greater clarity and focus about what the ODA should be seeking to achieve. As a consequence, the ODA has adopted the following revised mission statement:"ODA's purpose is to improve the quality of life of people in poorer countries by contributing to sustainable development and reducing poverty and suffering.
  To this end ODA will aim:
  506

  to encourage sound development policies, efficient markets and good government;

  to help people achieve better education and health and to widen opportunities—particularly for women;

  to enhance productive capacity and to conserve the environment; and

  to promote international policies for sustainable development and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral development institutions."

  This revised mission statement will appear in ODA's 1996 departmental report.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service Pension Scheme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement in respect of the future principal civil service pension scheme. [9110]

  Mr. Willetts
  Occupational pensions for civil servants will continue to be provided through the principal civil service pension scheme.

  Public Service Pensioners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the pensions payable to public service pensioners in each of the years from 1979 covering grades from CA to assistant secretary, assuming the top of grade retiring salary, the award of pensionable performance pay and 30 years' service. [9111]

  Mr. Willetts
  This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9142]

  Mr. Willetts
  My agency chief executives have no plans to change their arrangements for the provision of pre-retirement courses.

  Open Government Code
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total cost to date of publicising(a) the citizens charters and (b) the open government code. [8557]

  Mr. Willetts
  To date, 40 main charters have been produced covering a wide range of public services. In addition, there are 8,000 local charters setting out the standards of service that users can expect. The cost of publicising charters is the responsibility of individual Departments and services. This information is not held centrally by my Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The total cost to date of specifically publicising the open government code is approximately £183,000.
  507
  I gave additional details of the way in which the code has been publicised in my answer to the hon. Member on 9 January 1996, Official Report, column 121.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9228]

  Mr. Willetts
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People,Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that the Cabinet Office and those bodies for which it is responsible are made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Engagements
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Monday 18 December and for Tuesday 19 December 1995. [8609]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  On each day, I had a number of meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in her Department are(a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by her before they are sent; and if she will identify such letters to which amendments by her have been made in 1994–95. [7837]

  Mr. Sproat
  Parliamentary questions are passed on 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. In 1994–95 no such replies were amended by Ministers.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action heads of all her Department's executive agencies are taking to protect pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if she will make a statement. [9135]

  Mr. Sproat
  Neither the Historic Royal Palaces agency nor the Royal Parks agency has any plans to make economies by cutting the provision of pre-retirement training, which we consider to be an important step in preparing our staff for leaving full-time employment.

  Television Licences (Visually Impaired Persons)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the visually impaired persons rebate on television licence costs was last reviewed; and what the rebate would now be if it had been increased in line with inflation since then. [8554]

  Mr. Sproat
  The reduction in the television licence fee for registered blind people used to be equivalent to the radio licence fee. The last increase was in 1965 and, since radio licences were abolished in 1971, the reduction in the television licence fee issued to blind people has remained at £1.25. If the reduction had increased with inflation from 1965 it would have risen to £12.65 by November 1995, based on latest available retail prices index figures. A specially adapted monitor which receives broadcast television signals in sound only is available from the Royal National Institute for the Blind. No licence is required to use such a monitor.

  BBC World Arabic Service
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will require the British Broadcasting Corporation to explain the circumstances in which the news broadcasters of the BBC World Arabic Service were interrupted during coverage of Her Majesty's Government's decision to deport Professor Mohammed al-Masari; and if she will make a statement. [8723]

  Mr. Sproat
  I understand that the BBC is investigating as a matter of urgency the circumstances surrounding the reported interruptions to BBC Worldwide's Arabic news service. This television service is a commercial venture and it is for the BBC to decide what action to take in the light of its findings.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what guidance she intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisations which she has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if she will make a statement. [9233]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People gave on 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible will be made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half-year ended 31 December 1995 of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historic or artistic interest which have been accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax, together with information, where applicable, as to conditions or wishes expressed by testators or executors in the matter of allocation; and if she will list the works of art and museum objects which
  509
  are still awaiting allocation, with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of inheritance tax. [9015]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  Item

  To whom allocated

  Condition/wishes

  Paintings by Joshua Reynolds

  National Trust

  Condition

  Pair of George I Pier Glasses

  National Trust

  Condition

  Chattels from Killerton

  National Trust

  Condition

  Four works of Ben Nicholson and two works by Barbara Hepworth

  Tate Gallery

  Condition

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the half-year ended 31 December 1995, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institutions; and if she will list any items for which the licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case(a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit. [9014]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  Description of item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A painting "The Holy Family", by Giulio Romano, (c.1490–1546)

  1,720,320

  Export licence granted.

  A George II open armchair, c.1727

  325,000

  Export licence granted.

  A pair of George II walnut side chairs, c.1731

  446,363

  Export licence granted.

  A pair of George II open armchairs, 1740

  202,912.50

  Export licence granted.

  A painting "Judith with the Head of Holofernes" by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1530

  314,662.50

  Acquired by the Burrell Collection, Glasgow.

  A court dress or mantua of ivory silk damask, c.1755

  78,826

  Acquired by the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection of the Historic Royal Palaces, Hampton Court.

  The Coronation Bible of George III, c.1761

  350,000

  Export licence granted.

  The frame of the Coronation Crown of George IV, 1821

  376,000

  Export licence application withdrawn.

  The frame of the Coronation Crown of Queen Adelaide, 1831

  425,000

  Export licence application withdrawn.

  The frame of the Imperial State Crown of George I, 1715

  576,000

  Export licence application withdrawn.

  510

  Description of item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A painting "La Lecture de Moliere" by Jean Francois de Troy

  4,497,672

  Purchased by a UK buyer.

  A Celtic buckle from a chariot horse harness, c.1st century A.D.

  2,940.63

  Acquired by the Kings Lynn Museum.

  Three letter-books and a diary of Sir William Boothby (1639–1706)

  32,500

  Acquired by the British Library.

  A drawing "Landscape with Boats on a River and Merchandise on the Shore" by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called II Guercino (1591–1666)

  70,000

  Export licence granted.

  An Anglo-Indian lacquer commode, c.1770–1780

  49,000

  Export licence application withdrawn,

  A painting "The Holy Family with the Infant St. John" by Fra Bartolommeo (1472–1517)

  14,000,00

  Decision deferred until after 8 May 1996.

  A painting "Lord Willoughby de Broke and his family at Breakfast" by Johan Zoffany, c.1766

  3,500,000

  Decision deferred until after 5 February 1996.

  A lady's secretary by Thomas Chippendale (1718–1779)

  570,000

  Decision deferred until after 5 February 1996.

  An archive of manuscripts relating to the editing of "Principia Mathematica" by Sir Isaac Newton c.1726

  400,000

  Decision deferred until after 5 February 1996.

  A collection of architectural drawings for Trentham Hall signed or annotated by Sir Charles Barry and others, 1834–1914

  75,820

  Decision deferred until after 5 February 1996.

  BBC Transmitters
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make it a condition of the acquisition of the BBC transmitters that the company awarded the licence shall have an obligation to(a) acquire the ownership, (b) maintain and (c) fully finance the running of community-owned booster masts throughout Britain. [7733]

  Mr. Sproat
  The BBC is handling the arrangements for the sale of its transmission services. At present, the responsibility for the ownership, maintenance and funding of community-owned booster masts in Britain lies with the communities themselves. We have no plans to impose on the purchaser of BBC transmission services new obligations in respect of community-owned booster masts.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9592]

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

  Televised Sport
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) which television organisations are giving evidence to the Government in connection with the possible protection for the terrestrial television channels of the major sporting events; [8708]

  (2) on what date the Government begin their consideration of the coverage of major sporting events on terrestrial television; [8709]

  (3) when she expects the Government's consideration of protection of major sporting events for the terrestrial television channels to be completed; [8707]

  (4) if she will list the people who are currently considering the issue of how to protect the major sporting events for the terrestrial television channels. [8706]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government's position is that sporting bodies should in general be free to sell their broadcasting rights in the interests of their sport. We have received a number of representations, and are aware of public debate on this issue; and we are keeping our policy underclosereview.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Numeracy and Literacy Centres
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she has had with local education authorities concerning her proposal to establish numeracy and literacy centres; what will be the basis of selection for those attending; and if attendence will be voluntary or optional or obligatory additional to existing teaching duties or on secondment for an existing appointment. [8459]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Departmental officials consulted the local authority associations on the nature of the scheme and have offered all local education authorities the opportunity to attend a discussion on 16 January to inform the production of their bids.

  Details of the operation of the scheme and the criteria for selection of LEAs are included in the letter which was sent to all chief education officers on 5 January. I will write to the hon. Member enclosing a copy of this letter, and will place copies of the letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of the Budget on Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; and if she will make a statement. [8456]

  Mr. Paice
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment wrote to all training and enterprise council chairmen in England on 28 November regarding the effects of the budget announcement on TECs. Officials from the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside have had preliminary meetings with all TECs in the region. Detailed discussions with Barnsley and Doncaster TEC will begin later this month.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the published information on the value of Barnsley and Doncaster TEC's contract with the Employment Department in the financial year 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [8430]

  Mr. Paice
  Information on the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council's budget for 1994–95 was published on 22 November 1994,Official Report, column 102, in a written answer to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) and the TEC's annual report for 1994–95 indicates income and expenditure relating to a range of activities, including those for which the Department contracts with the TEC. The accuracy of the written answer was checked by my officials, and the financial information in the TEC's annual report is extracted from the annual statutory report and accounts which are subject to external audit.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what negotiations have taken place between her Department and Barnsley and Doncaster TEC to make provision for employment for the over-45 year age group; and if she will make a statement. [8431]

  Mr. Paice
  Negotiations between the Department and Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council cover a number of matters, including training for work which is open to eligible unemployed adults up to the age of 63. Clients in the over 45 age group also have access to a range of Employment Service programmes through the local jobcentres.

  Youth Training Scheme (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many eligible young people in Walthamstow are currently unable to obtain a place on a youth training scheme. [8975]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no young people in Walthamstow for whom the youth training guarantee has not been met.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of new nursery places likely to be created in the nursery voucher pilot scheme areas as a result of the voucher scheme. [9058]
  513
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The number of additional places created through the nursery voucher scheme will depend on the response of providers to parental demand. I am confident that providers of all types, either alone or in partnership with each other, will satisfy parental demand over time.

  Ms Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of Office for Standards in Education inspections of nursery providers that will be carried out in the nursery voucher pilot areas during phase 1; what these inspections will cost; and what extra resources will be made available to Ofsted to accommodate increased inspection. [8719]

  Mr. Squire
  Setting aside maintained schools which are already subject to regular inspection by Ofsted, initial planning estimates indicate that for the first phase of the scheme some 600 inspections of voucher redeeming establishments will be required. The precise number will depend upon the number of providers who take part in the scheme.

  A total of £5 million has been set aside for the inspection and administration during the first phase, the greater proportion of which will be spent on the recruitment and training of inspectors in preparation for the second phase.

  Post-GCSE Pupils
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistics are maintained(a) nationally and (b) regionally providing details of the movement of pupils in the two years following GCSE. [8540]

  Mr. Paice
  Statistics are collected by careers services on the first destinations of all 16-year-olds following the completion of their compulsory education. The local area statistics are aggregated to provide regional and national figures. The findings are normally published early the following year and the report on the destinations of the 1995 year group is expected shortly. In recent years the report has been published by the Association of County Councils with the support of the UK heads of careers services and the Department.

  Additionally, since 1985 the Department has funded the youth cohort study. This is a postal questionnaire survey of approximately 20,000 young people in their first year after the end of compulsory schooling. The sample is representative of young people of the given age group in England and Wales.

  Further questionnaires are sent to the same young people in each of the following two years, so providing information on their progress at 16–17, 17–18, 18–19 years of age.

  The YCS provides detailed information on the school experience, current activity, education, qualifications, employment and training of young people, together with a small amount of contextual socio-demographic background data. The study was designed to provide a national picture and reports normally concentrate on national figures.
  514
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will collect statistics on the movement of pupils in the two years following GCSE. [8541]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department plans to extend the requirement on careers services so that they also collect information on the first destinations of 17 and 18-year-old school leavers. In future years this requirement may be further extended to include the corresponding further education college leavers and provide a fuller picture.

  Classroom Violence
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers have been subjected to violence in the classroom in each year since 1990. [9259]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not available centrally.

  Office for Standards in Education
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give a breakdown of the Ofsted budget for 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [9556]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  Training for Work
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what considerations led the Government office for the north-west and the Employment Service not to consult training providers for their views in compiling the north-west training for work study. [9703]

  Mr. Paice
  The study was designed to identify how training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service could work together more effectively to enhance the take-up of training for work opportunities. It is a highly focused study and there was insufficient time available for another study involving training providers or interviews of TFW participants.

  The results were subsequently discussed at a workshop that involved a number of training providers and their views have been taken into account by TECs, the ES and the Government office in managing TFW.

  Education Budget (Metropolitan Counties)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the percentage of each of the metropolitan counties' education budget which is spent on(a) schools and (b) on non-school expenditure together with the amount of money this represents per school pupil in each case. [8882]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows for each metropolitan county local education authority the percentage of net recurrent expenditure spent in
  515
  1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available, on: (a) pre-primary, primary, secondary and special schools; and (b) other education services, including education other than at school, adult education, continuing education, discretionary awards, youth and other

  Expenditure on Education and its cost per pupil—Metropolitan LEAs Net recurrent expenditure 1993–94

  Pre-primary/primary secondary and special

  Non-school

  Percentage of expenditure (a)

  Cost per pupil

  Percentage of expenditure (b)

  Cost per pupil

  Birmingham

  95

  2,313

  5

  112

  Coventry

  90

  2,319

  10

  248

  Dudley

  90

  1,950

  10

  210

  Sandwell

  94

  2,241

  6

  152

  Solihull

  94

  1,939

  6

  121

  Walsall

  89

  2,103

  11

  247

  Wolverhampton

  91

  2,313

  9

  215

  Knowsley

  91

  2,393

  9

  239

  Liverpool

  93

  2,260

  7

  182

  St. Helens

  96

  2,270

  4

  87

  Sefton

  96

  2,102

  4

  86

  Wirral

  93

  2,210

  7

  176

  Bolton

  94

  2,074

  6

  130

  Bury

  93

  2,084

  7

  146

  Manchester

  94

  2,531

  6

  150

  Oldham

  94

  2,110

  6

  143

  Rochdale

  92

  2,130

  8

  182

  Salford

  94

  2,107

  6

  127

  Stockport

  89

  1,954

  11

  247

  Tameside

  93

  1,975

  7

  139

  Trafford

  96

  2,095

  4

  93

  Wigan

  96

  2,093

  4

  77

  Barnsley

  94

  2,090

  6

  143

  Doncaster

  97

  2,236

  3

  79

  Rotherham

  94

  2,187

  6

  134

  Sheffield

  90

  2,161

  10

  230

  Bradford

  96

  2,276

  4

  90

  Calderdale

  92

  2,049

  8

  169

  Kirklees

  91

  2,225

  9

  222

  Leeds

  91

  2,115

  9

  197

  Wakefield

  96

  2,124

  4

  98

  Gateshead

  86

  2,167

  14

  346

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  89

  2,250

  11

  271

  North Tyneside'

  94

  2,104

  6

  123

  South Tyneside

  89

  1,950

  11

  241

  Sunderland

  95

  2,045

  5

  118

  Total

  93

  2,179

  7

  161

  Teachers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers are employed in each local education authority(a) currently (b) in 1979, (c) in 1985 and (d) in 1990; and if she will make a statement. [8676]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The full-time equivalent numbers of teachers employed in each local authority area in the maintained—including grant-maintained—nursery, primary and secondary sector in January 1995 are shown in the following table. The table excludes staff in sixth form colleges which transferred to the further education sector on 1 April 1993.

  Information for the years 1979, 1985 and 1990 include sixth form colleges and are contained in the Department of Education and Science "Pupil/Teacher Ratios in each
  516
  community services, service strategy and regulation and education support services. The table also shows the amount spent per pupil, although in the case of non-schools expenditure school pupils are not the principal clients and the figures are not therefore meaningful.

  Local Education Authority in England", statistical bulletins 17/79, 6/86 and 5/91, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained schools in the nursery, primary and secondary1 sector

  England

  January 1995

  Local education authority area

  FTE of teachers

  Corporation of London

  16

  Camden

  1,346

  Greenwich

  1,939

  Hackney

  1,429

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  941

  Islington

  1,360

  Kensington and Chelsea

  674

  Lambeth

  1,680

  Lewisham

  1,863

  Southwark

  1,687

  517

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained schools in the nursery, primary and secondary1 sector

  England

  January 1995

  Local education authority area

  FTE of teachers

  Tower Hamlets

  2,250

  Wandsworth

  1,561

  Westminster

  1,121

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,446

  Barnet

  2,638

  Bexley

  1,836

  Brent

  1,971

  Bromley

  2,181

  Croydon

  2,409

  Ealing

  2,097

  Enfield

  2,358

  Haringey

  1,730

  Harrow

  1,576

  Havering

  1,891

  Hillingdon

  1,870

  Hounslow

  1,890

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,057

  Merton

  1,269

  Newham

  1,968

  Redbridge

  1,937

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,052

  Sutton

  1,354

  Waltham Forest

  1,706

  Birmingham

  9,366

  Coventry

  2,657

  Dudley

  2,576

  Sandwell

  2,689

  Solihull

  1,845

  Walsall

  2,560

  Wolverhampton

  2,377

  Knowsley

  1,446

  Liverpool

  4,194

  St. Helens

  1,635

  Sefton

  2,546

  Wirral

  2,927

  Bolton

  2,467

  Bury

  1,420

  Manchester

  3,587

  Oldham

  2,202

  Rochdale

  1,819

  Salford

  1,821

  Stockport

  2,185

  Tameside

  1,842

  Trafford

  1,694

  Wigan

  2,754

  Barnsley

  1,704

  Doncaster

  2,703

  Rotherham

  2,440

  Sheffield

  3,719

  Bradford

  4,779

  Calderdale

  1,769

  Kirklees

  3,373

  Leeds

  5,759

  Wakefield

  2,704

  Gateshead

  1,715

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,104

  North Tyneside

  1,639

  South Tyneside

  1,340

  Sunderland

  2,728

  Isles of Scilly

  26

  Avon

  7,677

  Bedfordshire

  5,008

  Berkshire

  6,171

  Buckinghamshire

  5,310

  Cambridge

  5,573

  Cheshire

  8,013

  Cleveland

  5,189

  Cornwall

  3,675

  518

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained schools in the nursery, primary and secondary1 sector

  England

  January 1995

  Local education authority area

  FTE of teachers

  Cumbria

  4,016

  Derbyshire

  7,555

  Devon

  7,437

  Dorset

  4,393

  Durham

  5,117

  East Sussex

  4,899

  Essex

  11,771

  Gloucestershire

  4,258

  Hampshire

  11,871

  Hereford and Worcester

  5,329

  Hertfordshire

  8,725

  Humberside

  7,394

  Isle of Wight

  999

  Kent

  12,552

  Lancashire

  12,088

  Leicestershire

  7,810

  Lincolnshire

  4,877

  Norfolk

  5,898

  North Yorkshire

  5,774

  Northamptonshire

  5,624

  Northumberland

  2,672

  Nottinghamshire

  8,354

  Oxfordshire

  4,426

  Shropshire

  3,384

  Somerset

  3,665

  Staffordshire

  8,245

  Suffolk

  5,466

  Surrey

  6,529

  Warwickshire

  4,027

  West Sussex

  5,230

  Wiltshire

  4,698

  England

  392,910

  1Excluding sixth form colleges which transferred to the new FE sector on 1 April 1993.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9585]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information cannot be supplied other than at disproportionate cost, but the overwhelming majority of statutory instruments which are subject to parliamentary procedure are subject to the negative procedure.

  Employment Advertisements (Age Limit)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what her Department's policy towards banning an upper age limit in employment advertisements. [9724]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department remains committed to the elimination of upper age limits in job advertisements. Age discrimination makes no business sense and that is why the Government's campaign for older workers continues to emphasise this to employers. Increasing numbers of employers are responding to the message and are recruiting people on the basis of ability and skill and
  519
  not age. The Department has produced a series of publications aimed at employers and older workers as part of a co-ordinated campaign.

  The campaign's latest publication, "Age Works", encourages recruitment agencies and employment businesses to oppose age discrimination in the selection and recruitment of older workers in their job vacancies. Another publication to be published later this year targets the recruitment advertising industry.

  Social and Economic Deprivation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment where the district which includes the Hastings travel-to-work area lies for levels of social and economic deprivation in relation to other London and south-east districts. [7796]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department's index of local conditions shows that Hastings is the 23rd most deprived district out of a total of 103 districts in London and the south-east.

  Strikes
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many working days have been lost through strike action in 1994; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last 16 years. [9545]

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

  Data for working days lost through strike action in the United Kingdom are given in the following table:

  Year

  Working days lost (Thousands)

  1978

  9,405

  1979

  29,474

  1980

  11,964

  1981

  4,266

  1982

  5,313

  1983

  3,754

  1984

  27,135

  1985

  6,402

  1986

  1,920

  1987

  3,546

  1988

  3,702

  1989

  4,128

  1990

  1,903

  1991

  761

  1992

  528

  1993

  649

  1994

  278

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [8038]
  520
  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry and its associated executive agencies have been procuring mobile phones since 1990. Therefore, the information that follows covers the period from April 1990 to date.

  We currently have approximately 1,469 mobile phones which were procured under centrally negotiated call-off arrangements. Two suppliers have been used, Racal Vodafone (Vodac Ltd.) from 1 April 1990 to 28 February 1993 and Mercury Communications Ltd. from 1 March 1993 to present.

  The Ministry will shortly be tendering its requirements for mobile phones.

  The number of mobile phones bought each year are as follows:

  1990: 32

  1991: 137

  1992: 162

  1993: 398

  1994: 506

  1995: 234.

  Livestock Transport
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [8200]

  Mrs. Browning
  Out of a total of 127 responses to our recent consultation exercise on proposals for implementing Council directive 95/29/EC,(a) two individuals and (b) 13 farming organisations raised the issue of implementation in sparsely populated areas. Over 680 organisations and individuals were consulted in England and Wales.

  Food Regulations
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the food regulations that ceased to be effective in the United Kingdom on 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [8451]

  Mrs. Browning
  The following regulations, and any amendments to them, were revoked on 1 January 1996:

  Food Standards (General Provisions) Order 1994

  Food Standards (Fish Cakes) Order 1950

  Skimmed Milk and Non-Milk Fat Regulations 1960

  Skimmed Milk with Non-Milk Fat (Scotland) Regulations 1960

  Soft Drinks Regulations 1964

  Soft Drinks (Scotland) Regulations 1964

  Meat (Treatment) Regulations 1964

  Meat (Treatment) (Scotland) Regulations 1964

  Butter Regulations 1966

  Butter (Scotland) Regulations 1966

  Margarine Regulations 1967

  Margarine (Scotland) Regulations 1970

  Ice-Cream Regulations 1967

  Solvents in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1968

  Cheese Regulations 1970

  Cheese (Scotland) Regulations 1970

  521

  Cream Regulations 1970

  Cream (Scotland) Regulations 1970

  Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973

  Colouring Matter in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1973

  Antioxidants in Food Regulations 1978

  Antioxidants in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1978

  Miscellaneous Additives in Food Regulations 1980

  Miscellaneous Additives in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1980

  Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1983

  Sweeteners in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1983

  Bread and Flour Regulations 1984

  Bread and Flour (Scotland) Regulations 1984

  Preservatives in Food Regulations 1989

  Preservatives in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1989

  Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  Potassium Bromate (Prohibition as a Flour Improver)
  Regulations 1990

  Potassium Bromate (Prohibition as a Flour Improver) Regulations 1990.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received following his decision to hold back payment of IACS cheques to farmers from December 1995 to January 1996; and if he will make a statement. [9336]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Some 83 per cent. of claims under the arable area payments scheme were paid before 31 December 1995. We regret the delay to the remainder, which will be paid as soon as possible. Representations have been received from farming organisations and a number of individuals about the delay in making the remaining payments.

TREASURY

  Monetary Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations underlay his assessment of the prospects for the success of the Euro following the Madrid summit. [7725]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My assessment was based on my experience of frequent discussions of the subject at European Councils and ECOFIN meetings over the past two and a half years.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will ask his panel of independent experts to report on the likelihood of the achievement of monetary union and the implications of the single currency for Britain; [7430]

  (2) if he will commission and publish a report on the benefits and problems of monetary union, assessing the case for and against and the benefits and disbenefits of the United Kingdom's remaining outside. [7434]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Panel of Independent Forecasters' May 1995 report examined economic and 522
  monetary union. A copy of this report is available from the House of Commons Library.

  Protocol No. 11, annexed to the EC treaty, means that the United Kingdom shall 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 national interest to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

  Tax (Self-assessment)
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax inspectors will deal with self-assessment in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97 and 1997–98. [8313]

  Mr. Jack
  Self-assessment will start with the 1996–97 tax year, and the tax return issued in April 1997. Accordingly, no tax inspectors will be dealing with self-assessment returns in advance of that date, although many inspectors have spent time helping taxpayers to prepare for self-assessment, giving seminars to local accountants, and so on. The need for tax inspector involvement in the work will increase progressively throughout 1997–98 and into 1998–99, as returns are received from taxpayers.

  The Inland Revenue currently employs approximately 6,000 tax inspectors in local offices. Many of these deal with the affairs of taxpayers who receive tax returns, and will continue to do so when they start to received self-assessment tax returns.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons who are not currently using accountants the Department estimates will use accountants when the programme of self-assessment is introduced. [8317]

  Mr. Jack
  Neither the extensive market research programme nor surveys of those who have helped test the new tax return has yielded evidence that significant numbers of people will start to engage accountants as a result of self-assessment. On the contrary, some taxpayers viewed self-assessment as an opportunity to dispense with the services upon which they had previously depended.

  A full trial of the system is taking place in Leicester and may give a clearer indication of likely attitudes in the light of experience of the new system. No such data are yet available.

  The Inland Revenue considers that it is not necessary for those people who do not currently use the services of an accountant to engage one as a result of self-assessment. Those taxpayers who do not wish to calculate their own tax bill can ask the Inland Revenue to do it for them free of charge.

  Income Tax Thresholds
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the maximum by which income tax thresholds could be raised as a consequence of a
  523
  revenue reduction of (a) £1 billion, (b) £2 billion, (c) £3 billion, (d) £4 billion, (e) £5 billion and (f) £6 billion. [8476]

  Mr. Jack
  Latest estimates are that the personal allowance, including the age-related personal allowances, could be raised by the following amounts for the corresponding full year costs at 1996–97 levels.

  Increase in non aged and aged personal allowances

  Full year cost at 1996–97 levels

  £

  £billion

  160

  1

  320

  2

  480

  3

  650

  4

  820

  5

  1,000

  6

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9151]

  Mr. Jack
  The Treasury has no executive agencies.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average income of the highest paid 1 per cent. of the population in each year since 1966; what was the percentage increase in each year; and what was the value of each year's income at 1995 prices. [9271]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information which can be provided, using new earnings survey data, is given in the following table. It is not possible to provide this level of data before 1986.

  Earnings for years before 1995 can be converted to 1995 levels using the retail prices index (all items). This information is published in the Central Statistical Office Business Monitor MM23, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  New Earnings Survey 1986–1995 (Great Britain)

  Year

  1 per cent. earned more than £

  Gross average earnings weekly earnings highest paid 1 per cent. £

  Percentage increase on previous year

  1986

  541

  730

  —

  1987

  602

  838

  14.9

  1988

  674

  968

  15.5

  1989

  768

  1,086

  12.1

  1990

  845

  1,185

  9.2

  1991

  908

  1,255

  5.9

  1992

  961

  1,349

  7.5

  1993

  1,025

  1,490

  10.5

  1994

  1,028

  1,481

  -0.6

  1995

  1,083

  1,597

  7.8

  Full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was unaffected by absence.

  Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are United Kingdom relative export unit values at current rates of exchange(a) at the latest available date and (b) at the time of United Kingdom entry into the exchange rate mechanism. [9784]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  United Kingdom relative export unit values are published in table 2.15 of "Economic Trends". These figures are also available on the CSO central database, under the identifier FLAA, which can be accessed through the Library of the House.

  Money Supply
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1966 the percentage changes in the real money supply. [9783]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Data for the narrow and broad measures of the money stock are available in tables 3.1C and 3.1D of "Financial Statistics". Data for the GDP deflator (table 2) and other measures of prices including underlying retail prices (table 23) are available in "Economic Trends". Both these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of the United Kingdom's membership of the exchange rate mechanism on(a) manufacturing jobs and (b) manufacturing plants. [9785]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The United Kingdom's membership of the ERM will have been one of the many features of economic policy and conditions at the time that affected manufacturing jobs and manufacturing plants. It is not possible to quantify precisely with any confidence the effects of ERM membership or any other specific feature of economic policy in isolation from others. ERM membership played an important part in enabling the United Kingdom to begin to reduce inflation and so begin the economic recovery which we are still experiencing.

  Personal Pensions (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to date of tax relief allowed in respect of appropriate personal pensions contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme of individuals with annual earnings of(a) £2,000 or below, (b) up to £3,000, (c) up to £4,000, (d) up to £5,000, (e) up to £6,000, (f) up to £7,000, (g) up to £8,000, (h) up to £9,000 and (i) up to £10,000. [8175]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: I regret that the distribution of tax relief by earnings of participants is not available, but the total cost of tax relief for personal pensions is published annually in table 1.6 of "Inland Revenue Statistics".

  7141 and SC60 Tax Certificates
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers used(a) 714I and (b) SC60 certificates in each of the last five years. [8321]
  525
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: I refer to the reply which the then Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 15 March 1995, Official Report, column 608. The number of 714I holders recorded in April 1995 was 412,913.

  The latest figures available are for October 1995, when 403,502 714I holders were recorded.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of his Budget proposals on small businesses during the next five years. [8560]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The Budget will encourage growth in output and jobs in small firms.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred by the Department on behalf of current and past(a) civil servants and (b) advisers and secondees; [8745]

  (2) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred, on behalf of Ministers and ex-Ministers, by his Department; and if he will name the individuals concerned. [8756]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The value of accounts settled to date from public funds for the provision of external legal services, incurred by my Department on behalf of Ministers, ex-Ministers, civil servants, former civil servants, and other advisers and secondees in connection with the Scott inquiry is £60,440. The cost of any advice in connection with the Scott inquiry given by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties cannot be quantified. It is not the Government's policy to identify the individuals who have received legal advice, either directly or indirectly.

  Environmental Pollution Report
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates and on what matters, in connection with the 18th report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution, "Transport and the Environment", he has made representations to the Secretary of State for Transport. [9094]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: There have been many contacts between the Treasury and the Department of Transport concerning the royal commission report since its publication in October 1994, including several discussions at both official and ministerial level.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the assumptions used to calculate the cost of the increased lower and upper capital limits for long-term care announced in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report"; how many additional people he expects to qualify next year under the new capital limits; how many would have qualified next year under the existing 526
  capital limits; and how many qualified in the current financial year. [8653]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: A wide range of data and assumptions underpinned determination of the provision for long-term care capital limit increases set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report". Of the order of 50,000 people currently in residential or nursing home care can expect to benefit from the increases. At the end of the last financial year, around 370,000 people received public support for residential or nursing home care.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take over the consequences for the Department for Education budget of the revenue effects of the postponement of the policy of transferring Student Loans Company assets to the private sector. [9177]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The postponement of the introduction of private loans will mean that the resultant savings will not be made in 199697. The Government will be considering what, if any, steps need to be taken as a consequence.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each of the public sector pension funds detailing(a) the size of each scheme and (b) if it is funded or unfunded. [8565]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Full details are not held centrally. Information covering the main public service schemes is as follows:

  Scheme

  Size (number of active members)

  Type

  Local government

  1,190,000

  Funded

  NHS

  870,000

  Unfunded

  Teachers

  610,000

  Unfunded

  Civil Service

  520,000

  Unfunded

  Armed forces

  230,000

  Unfunded

  Police

  140,000

  Unfunded

  Fire

  40,000

  Unfunded

DEFENCE

  Porton Down
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the extramural contractors to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, who have agreed to their contractual relationship to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment being disclosed to the public, outlining the subject of the contract, its value and its duration; and how many extramural contractors refused to have their contractual relationship being disclosed to the public; [7298]

  (2) how many contracts in universities are being funded by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down; how many universities have these contracts; what is the total value of these contracts; how

  527
  many of these contracts are classified; how many of these contractors have agreed to allow their contractual relationship to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment to be disclosed to the public; and how many have refused. [7299]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  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 16 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for details relating to extramural contractors to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down and also for details of contracts with universities 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. I am answering both questions in this letter.
  In order to avoid any confusion I should explain that we do not make any distinction between extramural research contracts and research contracts specifically with universities. The information you have asked for refers, therefore, to one group of extramural contracts with universities, research institutes and industrial companies.
  As at Tuesday 9 January 1996 CBDE Porton Down had 53 of these contracts. Nineteen of the contractors have confirmed that they are prepared to have their contractual relationship disclosed to the public and, in fact, they are all universities. Fourteen have declined to make all the details of their relationship known to the public of which nine are in universities. The remaining twenty contractors have not declared their position, six of these being in universities.
  Of theses 53 contracts a total of 42 have been placed with 21 universities. They have a value of approximately £5 million and a duration varying from several months to a few years. None of them are classified.
  The nineteen university contractors who are prepared to make details of their relationship known to the public are:

  Birmingham
  Three contracts with a total value of £450K concerned with aspects of detection and decontamination. Duration between 2 to 4 years.

  Bristol
  Two contracts with a total value of £226K concerned with aspects of the medical countermeasures programme. Duration 3 years.

  Durham
  One contract with a total value of £98K concerned with aspects of the protective equipment programme. Duration 3 years.

  Hull
  Two contracts with a total value of £105K concerned with chemical analysis. Duration 3 to 4 years.

  Leeds
  One contract with a total value of £84k concerned with aspects of the medical countermeasures programme. Duration 3 years.

  Newcastle
  One contract with a total value of £68K concerned with aspects of the medical countermeasures programme. Duration 3 years.

  Southampton
  Two contracts with a total value of £178K concerned with aspects of the medical countermeasures and protective equipment programmes. Duration 1 and 4 years.
  528
  Warwick
  One contract with a total value of £156K concerned with the hazard assessment research programme. Duration 4 years.

  UMIST
  Five contracts with a total value of £780K concerned with aspects of the hazard assessment and protective equipment research programmes. Duration between 1 and 3 years.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Chemical and Biological Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of tests and studies carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment on service volunteers with the nerve agent Tabun; when these tests and studies were first carried out; in which scientific journals the results of these tests and studies have been published; and what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the health effects of long-term exposure to Tabun. [9041]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  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. Harry Cohen, dated 16 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what was the purpose of tests and studies carried out by the Chemical Defence Establishment on service volunteers with the nerve agent Tabun; when these tests were first carried out; in which scientific journals the results have been published; and what research his department has a) commissioned and b) evaluated into the health effects of long term exposure to Tabun 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 as one of its divisions.
  Studies to evaluate the nerve agent Tabun were conducted following the discovery of this agent in German shells found after the collapse of the Third Reich at the end of the Second World War. The purpose of the investigations was to determine the incapacitating effects on service personnel resulting from exposure to sub-lethal doses. Military interest has always been concerned with short term exposure and no studies to assess the effects of long term exposure to any nerve agents have been carried out. Work with Tabun involving the use of service volunteers ended over 40 years ago. We can find no record of any results of the studies undertaken appearing in the scientific literature. It is probable that security considerations precluded the open publication of this work at the time it was conducted in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the steering group of the 1980 memorandum of understanding on chemical and biological defence between the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America has met since November 1992; where these meetings were held; what was decided at each of these meetings; and if he will place copies of the minutes of these meetings in the Library. [9043]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The steering group of the 1980 memorandum of understanding on chemical and biological defence between the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America has met three times since November 1992: in Canada in November 1993; in the United States of America in November 1994; and in the United Kingdom in November 1995. These meetings addressed policy on tri-national collaboration. The
  529
  proceedings of these meetings are security classified. It is not therefore appropriate to place copies of the minutes in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds members of the ethics committee overseeing the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment are chosen; if members are required to sign the Official Secrets Act; what access they are given to classified information; and what annual reports this committee produces on its work. [9044]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Individuals are invited to become members of the independent ethics committee on the grounds that their expertise and experience complements those of the existing members, taking into consideration the guidelines on the constitution of ethics committees published by the Royal College of Physicians. The members of the committee are required to sign the Official Secrets Act as they have unrestricted access to any classified information which may related to the decisions taken by the committee. The committee produces an annual report which is given a security classification appropriate to the work conducted in that year.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the ethics committee overseeing the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment since 1991 had previously(a) served on a committee related to the work of Porton Down, (b) worked at Porton Down and (c) been in receipt of an extramural contract from Porton Down. [9045]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Two members of the independent ethics committee were members of the medical committee of the Chemical and biological defence board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council in the 1970s and 1980s. The chemical, biological and human technology board replaced the chemical and biological defence board in 1994. Three members of the committee are members of the successor board. None of the independent members of the ethics committee has been employed at CBDE Porton Down. The technical director and the senior military officer of CBDE, who are in attendance at the ethics committee meetings, are employees of the Ministry of Defence. None of the members of the ethics committee is currently in receipt of an extramural contract from Porton Down

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what volume of arms and of what type was sold from the United Kingdom to(a) Nigeria, (b) Indonesia and (c) Turkey in each of the past five years. [9565]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 19 December 1995,Official Report, columns 1081–82. Beyond this, it remains Government policy not to reveal details of exports of defence equipment to particular countries. However, some additional information can be found in the annual UK return to the "UN Register of Conventional Arms", and in table 1.11 of the "UK Defence Statistics". Both documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Army Technical Support Agency
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the possible redundancies within the Army Technical Support Agency if printing and distribution of technical documents and publications are privatised; and if he will make a statement; [9611]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the security implications of contracting out the non-core activities of the Army Technical Support Agency; and if he will make a statement; [9612]

  (3) what further plans he has for privatising non-core activities of the Army Technical Support Agency; [9613]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the number of redundancies that will occur in the Army Technical Support Agency directorate of technical services at Woolwich as a result of current privatisation plans; [9614]

  (5) what assessment he has made of the benefits of market testing or contracting out the printing and distribution of Ministry of Defence technical documents and publications. [9610]

  Mr. Soames
  These are matters for the chief executive of the Army Technical Support Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. R. Prince to Mr. John Austin-Walker, dated 16 January 1996:
  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS—ARMY TECHNICAL SUPPORT AGENCY
  I am replying to five questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA) business as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the ATSA.
  Question: What assessment has been made of the possible redundancies within the ATSA if printing and distribution of technical documents and publications are privatised?
  Answer: The next exact number of redundancies which will result from contractorisation of printing and distribution of technical documentation is the subject of an on-going internal study, the results of which are still awaited. The Trade Unions have been advised accordingly and I will ensure that they and yourself are informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
  Question: What assessment has been made of the security implications of contracting out the non core activities of the ATSA?
  Answer: At present the only ATSA activity with security implications subject to contractorisation considerations is that of printing and distribution. Approximately 1% of the work has security implications. Potential contractors will only be considered providing they meet the MODs security requirements.
  Question: What further plans has CE ATSA for privatising non core activities of the ATSA?
  Answer: The current ATSA Competing for Quality (CFQ) programme, which includes all aspects of Technical Documentation and Publications, and site management services, is ongoing and may lead to further contractorisation. Any additional proposals will be consulted in the normal manner.
  Question: What assessment has been made of the number of redundancies that will occur in the ATSA Directorate of Technical Services (DTS) at Woolwich as a result of current privatisation plans?
  Answer: The exact number of redundancies resulting from the contractorisation of printing and distribution of technical documentation is the subject of an on-going internal study, the results of which are still awaited. The Trade Unions have been advised accordingly and I will ensure that they and yourself are informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

  531
  Question: What assessment has been made of the benefits of market testing or contracting out the printing and distribution of MOD technical documents and publications?
  Answer: The ATSA study into the future of printing and distribution of MOD technical publications concluded that no work should be undertaken on the market testing option as the value of the ATSA print and distribution package is well below the recommended market testing threshold of £5M. This, coupled with the cost of having to collocate the unit as part of the ATSA restructuring programme, if the in-house bid won, made the market testing option non-viable.

  Serving Mothers
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving mothers are currently in post with the Royal Irish Regiment in Northern Ireland. [8212]

  Mr. Soames
  There are five female officers and 208 service women currently in post with the Royal Irish Regiment in Northern Ireland who have dependent children.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discretion is afforded to commanding officers of armed forces regiments in assignment of duties for young mothers who wish to develop careers as serving soldiers while their children are of pre-school attendance age. [8213]

  Mr. Soames
  Commanding officers may exercise discretion in the day-to-day employment of soldiers under their command, subject to the needs of the service. However, it is also the responsibility of all soldiers—male and female, single or married—to make suitable arrangements for the care of their children so that they are fully able to meet their service commitments.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent mothers of young children in the armed forces are required to carry out the same duties as male soldiers. [8214]

  Mr. Soames
  Female personnel with young children are, in common with all other service personnel, with or without the care and control of young children, expected to carry out the full range of duties for which they are employed. However, in accordance with health and safety regulations, special considerations apply to pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers which may result in their employment on alternative duties.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the terms and conditions of service in the armed forces for serving mothers with young children will be reviewed. [8215]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans for a special review of the terms and conditions of service for serving mothers with young children. A fundamental review of the terms and conditions of service for all service personnel is taking place under the independent review.

  Beaufort's Dyke
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he received in respect of explosions on the sea bed in and around Beaufort's dyke in the North channel during 1995; when he received this information; what action he is taking as a result; and if he will make a statement; [8323]
  532
  (2) if he will list the explosions on the sea bed in and around Beaufort's dyke in the North channel notified to his Department for each year form 1979 to 1994, indicating the assumed cause of such explosions. [8324]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has only recently received information about probable explosions dating back to 1982 from the British Geological Survey. There are many possible explanations for the readings recorded by the British Geological Survey, but the information provided is incomplete, and accordingly it is not yet possible to make a full analysis of the data.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will(a) publish and (b) place in the Library all correspondence between his Department and Scottish Power and Northern Ireland Electricity on the route of the proposed electricity interconnector between Scotland and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [8325]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our general practice to publish current correspondence between my Department and others.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further assessment he has made in respect of his Department's advice to Scottish Power and Northern Ireland Electricity on the route of the proposed electricity interconnector with regard to(a) problems with the British Gas pipeline and (b) the recent report by the British Geological Survey on explosions around Beaufort's dyke; and if he will make a statement. [8326]

  Mr. Soames
  Future marine engineering work may proceed only once those proposing the work have shown that a thorough environmental survey, including risk analysis, has been conducted and have satisfied the responsible Government Departments and other authorities accordingly. My Department is consulted as necessary as part of this process.

  Royal Observer Corps
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what public commendation or recognition his Department has given in respect of the Royal Observer Corps; and if he will make a statement. [8452]

  Mr. Soames
  On 8 December 1995, to commemorate the stand-down of the remaining element of the Royal Observer Corps, invited guests, officers and other ranks attended a ceremony at the Royal Air Force college, Cranwell to lodge the Royal Observer Corps banner in college hall. To mark this occasion, I wrote formally to the commandant of the Royal Observer Corps paying tribute to the men and women of the corps who have given so much to their sovereign and to their country. Throughout they have carried out their duties with honour and dedication.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the applicability of EU directives to compensation arrangements for pain, suffering and loss of amenity arising from military low flying over inhabited areas of Great Britain. [8240]
  533
  Mr. Soames
  We are unaware of any relevant new or impending EU directives having a bearing on the present compensation arrangements arising from military low flying.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received and what research he has commissioned about the use of chemical or biological weapons by the Iraqis during the Gulf war and the effect of such weapons on British service men. [9063]

  Mr. Soames
  There was no evidence of any use of chemical or biological weapons during the Gulf war. Scientific and medical investigations have since confirmed that there is also no evidence that British service men have suffered from any effects which could be attributed to the use of chemical or biological weapons.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions United Kingdom authorities were consulted before the United States of America used depleted weapons in the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement. [9030]

  Mr. Soames
  There were no such consultations nor was there a need for them. Depleted uranium ammunition is a standard part of the inventory of both UK and US armed forces.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of depleted uranium in the Gulf war; what assessment has been made by his Department of the longer-term consequences of its use with particular reference to United Kingdom military personnel subject; what plans he has to develop depleted uranium as a weapon for the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [9029]

  Mr. Soames
  The British armed forces are equipped with two kinds of ammunition containing depleted uranium, DU: 120 mm tank ammunition, some small quantities of which were fired by Challenger tanks during the Gulf conflict; and 20 mm ammunition for the Royal Navy's Vulcan phalanx point defence system which, apart from some rounds fired for proving purposes, was not used in the Gulf.

  There is no evidence that members of the British forces were exposed to harmful levels of radiation. My Department has, however, run a programme of reassurance monitoring for personnel who were concerned that they may have been exposed to DU. This monitoring has shown no detectable DU contamination of any individual.

  Stocks of an anti-tank round, charm 1, which utilises a depleted uranium penetrator, are available for use by Challenger 1 tanks. Development of the charm 3 round for Challenger 2 tanks, which will also use depleted uranium, will be completed by the end of 1996. Stocks of DU ammunition for the phalanx weapons system are available for use by the Royal Navy. There are no other current plans to purchase further naval weapons systems which employ DU.

  Munitions Dumping
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will hold an inquiry into the 534
  condition of munitions deposited in deep water, as marked on the relevant charts, just south of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement; [9189]

  (2) what representations he has received in respect of sea bed munition dumping, as marked on the relevant charts, in the vicinity of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement. [9188]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has no plans to hold an inquiry. Current scientific advice indicates that dump sites present no significant risk to human health or the marine environment if left undisturbed. My Department has no record of any representations about the inner sound of Raasay munition dumping ground.

  Merchant Vessels
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many merchant vessels have been chartered by his Department for exercises and military support operations in 1995; and how many of these were under the British flag. [9495]

  Mr. Soames
  Some 91 merchant vessels have been chartered for exercises and military support operations in 1995, of which 17 were under the British flag.

  Trident (Nuclear Incidents)
  Mrs Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what emergency berths exist in Scotland for Trident in the event of a nuclear reactor or weapon incident; and where they are situated. [9410]

  Mr. Soames
  No berths are designated specifically for emergency use. The normal operating berths for Trident submarines are at the Clyde submarine base, Faslane and at the royal naval armaments depot, Coulport.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the safety of(a) military and (b) civilian populations in the event of a nuclear leak from Trident; and if he will make a statement. [9411]

  Mr. Soames
  In the event of an accident involving any defence nuclear material in the UK, the Ministry of Defence nuclear accident response organisation would work in conjunction with the appropriate civil agencies to ensure an effective response to safeguard the public and departmental employees. Where appropriate, information has been issued by the MOD under the provisions of the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1992; public safety schemes exist in respect of all UK berths used by nuclear-powered submarines; and guidance on appropriate protective measures in the event of an accident during the transportation of nuclear weapons has been issued to local authorities and the emergency services. These arrangements were described on pages 39 and 40 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995".

  Stolen and Lost Property
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 January,Official Report,

  535
  column 102, about stolen and lost property (a) how many weapons were lost or missing in each period and service and (b) what proportion of (i) all losses and (ii) weapon loss occurred in Northern Ireland. [9723]

  Mr. Soames
  Figures for weapons reported as lost or missing in each period and service could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A central register detailing losses to this level of information is not held.

  Details of losses were given in my answer to the hon. Member on 9 January, Official Report, column 102. The proportion of those losses occurring in Northern Ireland for each of the last five years is:

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  3.2

  1991–92

  1.7

  1992–93

  1.6

  1993–94

  2.6

  1994–95

  '5.2

  1The figure for 1994–95 does not take into account figures for Germany for which returns are not yet available.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the dates on which, (b) the locations where and (c) the units which during the Gulf war were ordered to take nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets because of an assessed threat of possible chemical agent attack. [9619]

  Mr. Soames
  During the conduct of Operation Granby, which ran from 9 August 1990 to 11 April 1991, the assessed threat of chemical weapon attack in the theatre of operations was regarded as sufficiently high to necessitate the issuing of orders for nerve agent pre-treatment, set tablets to be taken during the period from 18 January 1991, following the start of the air war, to 1 March 1991, when hostilities ceased. The orders applied to all units and personnel in, or deploying into, theatre.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many volunteer reservists served with the Royal Air Force in the Gulf war; and how many of them have notified his Department that they are suffering from the condition known as Gulf war syndrome. [9620]

  Mr. Soames
  Records indicate that a total of 286 Royal Auxiliary Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel served with the Royal Air Force during Operation Granby, of whom approximately 140 deployed to the Gulf theatre. Of those Gulf veterans who have notified my Department of health concerns which they attribute to service in the Gulf, four individuals have indicated that they served with the RAF as reservists.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9595]
  536
  Mr. Soames
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ukrainian Personnel
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the arrangements that have been made to assist the retraining of Ukrainian military personnel; and if he will make a statement; [9407]

  (2) what assistance is being provided for the resettlement of Ukrainian armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [9408]

  Mr. Soames
  In the course of an increasingly warm bilateral relationship with Ukraine, representatives of the Ukrainian MOD, the defence and security committee of the Supreme Council and the ex-servicemen's committee have been briefed on the UK system for retraining and resettling retired military personnel. These discussions are expected to continue. I also understand that assistance in this area has been provided by the FCO's know-how fund, by the European Union technical aid to the Commonwealth of Independent States—TACIS—programme, by the Soros Foundation's international renaissance foundation and by the German Government.

  Married Quarters (Longhoughton)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the sale of surplus married quarters in Longhoughton, Northumberland, to a housing association was completed; and if he will name the housing association involved. [7706]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer Tuesday 9 January 1996]: The 21 surplus married quarters at Longhoughton, Northumberland were offered for sale by limited tender to four housing associations in December 1995. No acceptable offer was received and it has therefore been decided to include these properties in those being offered for transfer to the private sector.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Greenpark Hospital Trust
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the exact amount of debt accrued by the Green Park Hospital HSS Healthcare trust as of 12 December 1995 to its creditors; and if he will list the creditors indicating the amounts owing to each. [8225]

  Mr. Moss
  The information is not available in the exact form requested. As at 31 December 1995, the Green Park Hospital HSS Healthcare trust had trade creditors of £1.9 million. This total comprises individual amounts in respect of some 600 creditors. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not appropriate to list amounts owed to individual creditors.

  Mr. Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of debt a self-regulatory trust is allowed to accrue at any stage during its fiscal year; and if he will indicate the figure in respect of Green Park Hospital HCC Healthcare trust. [8226]
  537
  Mr. Moss
  A health and social services trust has three key financial duties. These are (1) to break even taking one year with another; (2) to make a 6 per cent. return on its relevant net assets; (3) to operate within its existing external financing limit. A trust is required to operate sound financial systems to control its income and expenditure and satisfy the duties set out in points (1) to (3). The EFL limits a trust's access to all sources of external finance, including the accumulation of trade creditors. For the year 1995–96, the Green Park Hospital HSS Healthcare trust's current EFL is £1,676,000. It should be noted that the EFL is a composite figure which takes account of the overall financial position of trust including debtor, creditor, stock and cash balances. The Green Park Hospital HSS Healthcare trust forecasts to stay within its EFL in 1995–96.

  Colleges of Nursing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many colleges of nursing there are in Northern Ireland; how many students attend each college of nursing(a) in total and (b) from the Republic of Ireland; what is the value of the bursary paid to a student from the Republic of Ireland; to what extent this bursary is means-tested; and what is the estimated cost to public funds for the annual expenditure for Republic of Ireland students. [8227]

  Mr. Moss
  The information is as follows:

  There are six Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery in Northern Ireland

  Training Institution

  Number of students in training

  Number of students from ROI1

  Eastern Area College— Northside

  429

  82

  Eastern Area College— Southside

  397

  46

  Northern Area College of Nursing

  371

  26

  Southern Area College of Nursing

  257

  63

  Western Area College of Nursing

  232

  89

  NI College of Midwifery

  54

  6

  Totals

  1,740

  312

  Figures as at 31 December 1995.

  1Republic of Ireland.

  Controlled/non-Catholic maintained

  Catholic maintained

  Total

  Numbers

  £ million

  Numbers

  £ million

  Numbers

  £ million

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  1,382

  33.3

  1,573

  37.3

  2,955

  70.6

  North Eastern Education and Library Board

  2,593

  60.6

  1,122

  27.4

  3,715

  88

  South Eastern Education and Library Board

  2,241

  54.7

  914

  22

  3,155

  76.7

  Southern Education and Library Board

  1,646

  38.5

  2,153

  50.4

  3,799

  88.9

  Western Education and Library Board

  1,130

  27.6

  2,038

  48.1

  3,168

  75.7

  Voluntary grammar/grant-maintained integrated

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,290

  72.2

  538
  The amount of bursary payable to students is not dependent on their Country of Origin and information on bursaries in payment is therefore not held by Country of Origin. Bursaries are not means tested.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland applicants were refused places in 1995 in the colleges of nursing; and what priority is accorded to students from the Republic of Ireland over students from Northern Ireland in the provision of places. [8228]

  Mr. Moss
  Experience has shown that, on average, there are approximately 10 applicants for each student place.

  No priority is accorded to students from the Republic of Ireland as all places are awarded on a merit basis.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary (Expenditure)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the projected expenditure for RUC operational policing in 1996; [8472]

  (2) what was the (a) projected and (b) actual expenditure on RUC operational policing in 1995. [8471]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is not held in the form requested; police budgets are calculated by financial, not calendar, year. The approved police authority grant for the 1996–97 financial year will be £584 million.

  The projected expenditure—the approved grant to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland for the 1995–96 financial year—was £609.2 million. I will write to the hon. Member once the actual expenditure for 1995-96 is known in April 1996. In both cases, the provision covers all RUC and PANI costs.

  Fair Employment Acts (Education)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were(a) the total number and (b) the annual salary payments of staff in the category of school teachers exempted from the anti-discrimination rules of the fair employment Acts; and if he will break down the figures by education board or council for Catholic maintained schools, and by controlled or maintained schools. [8495]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  Grant Aid
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant aid, and from which sources, has been allocated to each of the four Belfast constituencies in the past 10 years. [8010]

  Mr. Ancram
  The following grant aid has been committed by the Industrial Development Board under selective financial assistance to client companies in each of the four Belfast constituencies in the last 10 years.

  Belfast North: £2,969,000

  Belfast South: £41,905,000

  Belfast East: £9,348,000

  Belfast West: £67,937,000.

  The figures exclude assistance under the privatisation agreements with Harland and Wolff and Shorts in 1989 which amounted to £205 million and £115 million respectively.

  Information on schemes operated by IDB trade and export division is not recorded in a way in which it could be broken down into constituencies. The information is not therefore available.

  The Local Enterprise Development Unit has committed the following grant aid in the period from 1 April 1988. Information prior to this date would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Belfast North: £9,925,000

  Belfast South: £10,783,000

  Belfast East: £7,648,000

  Belfast West: £14,137,000.

  Ulster Museum
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the attendance figures for 1995 reported by the Ulster museum, including its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1994. [9012]

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1995, a total of 337,829 people visited the Ulster museum and the Armagh county museum—an increase of 25.57 per cent. on the attendance figure for 1994.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9586]

  Sir John Wheeler
  This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Spending
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the change in Government spending in Northern Ireland in the law, order and protective services budget in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c)0 1997–98; and if he will indicate the sums of money by which other areas of public spending will benefit from these savings in each of these years. [8222]
  540
  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  £million

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1993 Public Expenditure Survey Outcome

  944

  963

  963

  1995 Public Expenditure Survey Outcome

  1905

  858

  858

  1Latest estimated outturn.

  The fact that my right hon. and learned Friend has been able to reallocate these savings within the Northern Ireland block to social and economic programmes has clearly been beneficial. As all savings within the block are combined and used to meet pressures, it is not possible to be precise about where the savings have been allocated.

  Further information was given by my right hon. and learned Friend in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 11 December 1995, Official Report, columns 541–42.

  Prisoners (Home Leave)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many(a) republican and (b) loyalist paramilitary prisoners were granted home leave over Christmas; and how many of each persuasion failed to return; [8483]

  (2) how many (a) republican and (b) loyalist paramilitary prisoners were not granted home leave over Christmas. [8484]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for this subject has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. D. Shannon to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 16 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to the two Parliamentary Questions you listed relating to the numbers of paramilitary prisoners who were granted/refused Home Leave over the Christmas period.
  Of those prisoners who are assumed to have paramilitary associations, 125 were eligible to apply for leave under the 1995 Christmas Home Leave Scheme. All of these prisoners were granted 7 days leave from 22–29 December and all returned to prison on 29 December 1995.
  The breakdown was:

  68 prisoners with Republican affiliations

  57 prisoners with Loyalist affiliations

  No such prisoner who was eligible to apply under the 1995 Scheme was refused Christmas Home Leave.
  I hope this information is helpful.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ukraine
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement the United Kingdom has in Ukrainian defence conversion projects; and if he will make a statement. [9409]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Her Majesty's Government support the conversion of the Ukrainian military industrial complex through multilateral programmes such as the
  541
  technical aid to the Commonwealth of Independent States—TACIS—programme of the European Union. A total of 5 million ecu has been budgeted to three defence conversion projects in Ukraine. In the 1992 budget, 1 million ecu was allocated to the setting up of an advisory company which was to assist military enterprises in the Kharkov area with defence conversion. Another 1 million ecu has been allocated to six companies from the MIC which are now producing agricultural equipment.

  In the 1993 financial year, 3 million ecu was allocated to another six companies from the MIC.

  British companies from the private sector are also active in this field. For example, a British-Ukrainian joint venture recently signed a contract with the Ukrainian Government for the conversion of a military shipyard to civilian use.

  A feasibility study for this project received support from the UK know-how fund.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9584]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has responsibility for making statutory instruments which are subject to the negative resolution procedure under the Southern Rhodesia Act 1979, the Antarctic Act 1994 and the Hong Kong Act 1985. He has responsibility for making statutory instruments which are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure under the Crown Agents Act 1979, the Zimbabwe Act 1979, the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980 and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Act 1988.

SCOTLAND

  Consultants
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those(a) consultants, (b) outside organisations and (c) individuals employed by his Department each year since 1990, indicating the purposes of their employment and the total payments made to them. [3956]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total number of Scottish Office staff can be found in the civil service staff in post summary tables which have been placed in the Library. Staff costs are published in the Scottish Office departmental report. It is not possible to provide the other information without disproportionate cost.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Scottish Homes spent in each of the last three years on publicity and promotions. [7743]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information is as follows:

  1992–93: £1.142 million

  542

  1993–94: £1.149 million

  1994–95: £0.990 million.

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [7824]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to the chief executive under the terms of the agency framework document. My right hon. Friend may, on occasion, specifically ask to see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. To date, my right hon. Friend has not asked to see before issue a copy of any of the answers given by chief executives.

  Severe Weather Conditions
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Glasgow have been made temporarily homeless due to the recent severe weather conditions. [8941]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Information obtained from Glasgow district council suggests that around 1,000 people had to be placed in temporary accommodation following the recent severe weather. This figure does not include those who managed to find temporary accommodation with friends and relatives.

  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the recent severe weather in Scotland. [8938]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 10 January,Official Report, columns 235–38.

  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will visit those areas of Glasgow his Department estimates to be worst affected by the recent severe weather conditions. [8958]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: On 5 January, my right hon. Friend visited the Strathclyde regional council water department headquarters and heard at first hand from the staff who had worked long and hard over the holiday period to maintain services. He learnt about the large numbers of properties which were affected by burst pipes and the efforts made to reduce the ensuring damage. I and my colleagues have paid similar visits in other parts of Scotland and we are all aware of the tremendous efforts made by the staff of the water authorities. Benefits Agency staff have also done very well in dealing with urgent cases of hardship. My right hon. Friend has established a working party to report on the lessons to be learnt from what was, by any standards, an extraordinary series of events.

  Creagan Bridge
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) who he has consulted on the subject of a Creagan road bridge; and what plans he has to further consultations;. [8544]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the cost of the construction of the Creagan bridge;. [8585]

  (3) what is the timetable for the construction of the Creagan bridge; and if he will make a statement;. [8542]

  (4) what public funds will be made available for the construction of the Creagan bridge. [8543]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have consulted extensively on plans for the Creagan bridge with statutory consultees in line with schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. All directly affected landowners were visited by representatives from the National Roads Directorate. Plans were available for inspection locally at the time the draft road orders were published. On 1 May 1992, a compulsory purchase order was published under the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Scotland Act 1947 and on 5 February 1993 main line and side road orders were confirmed. Arrangements are currently being made for a public local inquiry to consider one unwithdrawn objection from a local landowner to the compulsory purchase order.

  The cost of the scheme is currently estimated at £6.22 million. Given a satisfactory outcome at the public inquiry, and the continuing availability of resources, it is anticipated that construction will start in 1997–98, as a publicly funded project.

  Flood Prevention (Strathclyde)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has given(a) in writing or (b) verbally to Strathclyde regional council in respect of capital projects concerned with flood prevention. [8485]

  Mr. Kynoch
  No recent approaches have been made by Strathclyde regional council to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in respect of capital projects concerned with flood prevention. Indeed, no approaches have been made since the Brock burn/leven water flood prevention scheme was confirmed in 1993. This scheme was completed in late 1994 and grant assistance at 50 per cent. of eligible costs has been paid.

  However, I am aware that Strathclyde has now commissioned flood studies of some of the areas affected in December 1994. This will assist the unitary councils in determining their flood prevention strategies. I welcome this initiative by Strathclyde regional council.

  Munitions Dumping
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold an inquiry into the condition of munitions deposited in deep water, as marked on the relevant charts, just south of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement. [9186]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Scottish Office has no plans to hold an inquiry.
  544
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in respect of sea bed munition dumping, as marked on the relevant charts, in the vicinity of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement. [9187]

  Mr. Robertson
  No representations have been received by the Scottish Office in respect of munition dumping in that vicinity.

  Skye Bridge Toll
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available total number of cases referred to the local procurator fiscal in respect of non-payment of the Skye bridge toll; when he expects the procurator fiscal to report further; if such alleged offences will be subject to civil or criminal proceedings; and if he will make a statement. [8677]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available figures relating to non-payment of the Skye bridge toll in contravention of section 38(1) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 are as follows:There have been 466 instances of non-payment which have been reported to the procurator fiscal; these instances involve 186 separate individuals. The procurator fiscal has been instructed by the Lord Advocate to institute criminal proceedings in respect of all instances where there is a sufficiency of evidence and the charges are now in course of preparation. The procurator fiscal will report the results of these proceedings to the Crown Office.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) guidelines and (b) other advice has been issued by his Department to (i) NHS bodies and (ii) other organisations regarding the extension of the private finance initiative to the operation of health services. [9081]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The "Private Finance Guide", issued to the NHS in Scotland, is the main source of guidance on PH. In it, it is stated that the NHS would
  "manage and provide all the core health services, while the private sector partner could provide a fully serviced building. The precise division of responsibilities between the Trust and its private partner would need to be determined on the basis of whatever arrangement would offer best value for money and least risk".

  No other guidelines have been issued on this subject. It is for trusts and boards to make this decision. The model so far has been that trusts will continue to operate core health services, with the private sector operating support services.

  Beaufort's Dyke
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1995,Official Report, column 817, if he will now agree to extend the nature and coverage of the follow-up survey of Beaufort's dyke (a) to include more sophisticated sonar and laser equipment and (b) to cover a wider geographic area, including depths below 30 m; and if he will make a statement. [8576]
  545
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Full particulars of the further Government survey work announced at a press conference on 8 January in Aberdeen will be made available in due course.

  Prisons (Education)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards education in Scottish prisons. [9276]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: As a recognised regime activity, education for prisoners is provided on the basis of need subject to prisoners' willingness to participate in what is a voluntary activity and resources being available. Courses range from literary and numeracy to degree level with a sizeable proportion focusing on recognised qualifications such as the Scottish Vocational Education Council modules to help prisoners find employment and to continue with their studies on release.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list those prisons in Scotland which provide educational courses leading to recognised qualifications for prisoners;. [9273]

  (2) if he will estimate the level of public expenditure that has been devoted to education in Scottish prisons over the last five years and the levels projected to be spent over the next three years;. [9274]

  (3) how many prisoners in Scottish jails are currently studying on courses leading to educational qualifications;. [9275]

  (4) what studies his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated to investigate the effect of education in Scottish jails on recidivism rates;. [9277]

  (5) what plans he has to set up a Scottish prison education trust to assist in promoting education in Scottish prisons;. [9278]

  (6) what estimate he has made of the proportion of prisoners in Scottish prisons who would be willing to undertake education while serving prison sentences if appropriate courses were available. [9279]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The subjects of the questions relate to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D. A. Stewart to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 16 January 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your questions about listing those prisons which provide educational courses leading to recognised qualifications for prisoners, the level of public expenditure devoted to education in prisons, the number of prisoners currently studying on courses leading to educational qualifications, what studies have been carried out to investigate the effect of education on recidivism rates, what plans there are to set up a Scottish Prison Education Trust and what estimate has been made of the proportion of prisoners who would be willing to undertake education if appropriate courses were available. In absence of the Chief Executive form the office, I am replying on his behalf.
  546
  All prison establishments in Scotland provide educational courses leading to recognised qualification for prisoners save, for the present, the recently formed Peterhead Unit and National Induction Centre at Shotts and Longriggend Remand Unit where the average length of stay for those on remand is relatively short.
  Expenditure on education for prisoners for each of the four years to 31 March 1995 together with the budget for the current financial year is as follows:

  Year

  £000

  1991–92

  1,273

  1992–93

  11,674

  1993–94

  1,545

  1994–95

  1,657

  1995–96 Budget

  1,678

  1Payment pattern skewed by incorporation of colleges of further education on 1 April 1993.

  Budget allocations for establishments for 1996–97 (including budgets for education) are still in the process of being agreed. Budgets for 1997–98 and 1998–99 will be set in due course.
  In terms of the number of prisoners currently studying on courses leading to educational qualifications a recent snapshot showed that there are approximately 1,100 prisoners in this category.
  On the topic of education and recidivism rates, no specific research studies have been undertaken to investigate the effects of education on recidivism. However, the recent computerisation of the system of prisoner records in Scotland will provide an opportunity, in future years, to examine the impact of a range of prisoner programmes, including education on recidivism.
  The Scottish Prison Service has no plans to set up a Scottish Prison Education Trust.
  An estimate of the proportion of prisoners willing to undertake education is not held centrally. Each establishment keeps under review the appropriate mix of regime activities, including education, in the light of the needs of prisoners.

HEALTH

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual saving to the NHS arising from compulsory competitive tendering. [7500]

  Mr. Horam
  As a result of market testing, it is estimated that since 1983 the national health service has saved a total in excess of £1 billion. The improved value for money achieved has released additional resources for direct patient care.

  Paediatric Beds
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of paediatric beds. [7501]

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities and trusts are best placed to determine the level and range of paediatric care that is needed by their local population. The development of day care services for children has reduced the demand for beds while increasing the number treated.

  General Practitioner Fundholding
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation has been made of the results of the general practitioner fundholding initiative. [7502]
  547
  Mr. Malone
  Independent evaluation of general practitioner fundholding has supported its development and many commentators, including the National Audit Office, have called for the benefits to be extended as widely as possible.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department maintains on the use of general practice fundholders' savings(a) by general practitioner fundholding practices and (b) by regional health authorities. [9034]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department receives information from each family health services authority each year on total savings spent by general practitioner fundholders, excluding amounts used to supplement their fundholding budgets.

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

  Accident and Emergency Services (London)
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about accident and emergency services in London. [7503]

  Mr. Malone
  Over the last three months, we have received a total of 18 letters from hon. Members and others.

  National Health Service Facilities (Sales)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the British Medical Association to discuss the purchasing by the private sector of NHS facilities. [7505]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets representatives of the medical profession and discussions cover a wide variety of topics.

  Intensive Care Paediatric Beds
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the present occupancy rate of intensive care paediatric beds. [7506]

  Mr. Bowis
  Because information on bed occupancy was not available centrally, the national health service executive arranged for Sheffield Children's hospital to co-ordinate the monitoring of occupancy and demand for beds at the 17 paediatric intensive care units in England for the period to 31 March.

  Edgware General Hospital
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further representations on the future of Edgware general hospital he has received after the meeting on Wednesday 13 December. [7507]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend has received just over 200 representations, most of which were pre-printed postcards.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the annual saving resulting from the abolition of regional health authorities. [7508]
  548
  Mr. Malone
  By 1997–98, total annual savings from the abolition of regional health authorities are expected to be around £100 million. These substantial savings will be retained by the national health service and reinvested in patient care.

  Emergency Admission Beds
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collects centrally concerning the non-availability of beds for emergency admissions in the areas of each district health authority. [7509]

  Mr. Horam
  Health authorities and national health service trusts should work together to plan and ensure that facilities are available to meet demand. The new patients charter standard on emergency admissions is focusing attention on the importance of this area of work. The NHS executive is looking at ways of identifying best practice and ensuring that it is disseminated across the service.

  Acute and Medical Emergency Beds (Birmingham)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consultations he has had with West Midlands regional health authority over the provision of acute and medical emergency beds in hospitals in the city of Birmingham. [7510]

  Mr. Horam
  I am kept regularly informed of emergency services provision in the west midlands and am aware that accident and emergency facilities across Birmingham continue to be made a priority.

  Trust Amalgamations (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the amalgamation of the health and hospital trusts on the Isle of Wight. [7511]

  Mr. Horam
  We have not received a proposal from the Isle of Wight Community Healthcare NHS trust or St. Mary's Hospital NHS trust to amalgamate.

  District Health Authorities (Purchasing Policy)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the purchasing policies of district health authorities. [7512]

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring he has undertaken of the purchasing policies of district health authorities. [7518]

  Mr. Malone
  Local information about purchasing plans is not collected centrally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private finance initiative schemes he(a) has agreed and (b) is considering. [7513]

  Mr. Horam
  To ensure that national health service capital projects meet NHS needs as cost-effectively as possible, the option of using private finance, under the Government's private finance initiative, must be considered for every potential capital project. Formulation of plans for projects to meet local needs is the responsibility of NHS trusts and health authorities. So far, 45 PFI schemes have been approved by the NHS
  549
  executive, with a total capital value of over £160 million. Information on the number of PFI schemes being considered is not available centrally.

  Hospital Porters
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of hospital porters. [7514]

  Mr. Malone
  The role of hospital porters is typically to transport patients between wards and departments and to move records, equipment and supplies from storage to where they are needed.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of staff for intensive care beds. [7515]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for local health authorities and national health service trusts, which are best placed to determine the needs of their local populations. They have been asked to examine and review local intensive care provision in the light of the report on intensive care provision in England 1993–94.

  Community Care
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Association of Directors of Social Services to discuss community care. [7516]

  Mr. Bowis
  I meet members and officers of the Association of Directors of Social Services on numerous occasions throughout the year and discuss a range of issues with them, including issues related to community care.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current instructions he has issued to local health authorities to ensure that, prior to patients being released from health care into community care, adequate inquiries are made to ascertain if this is practicable; and if he will make a statement. [9117]

  Mr. Bowis
  In the case of those treated in hospital for mental disorder, our guidance emphasises that no patient should be discharged unless and until those responsible are satisfied that he or she can live safely in the community, and that adequate arrangements have been made for the patient's treatment supervision, support and care.

  For patients with continuing health and social care needs, recent guidance stresses the need for clear procedures and responsibility for taking decisions about discharge and effective collaboration between key health and social service professionals.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring he has undertaken of community care provision; and if he will make a statement on its findings. [7436]

  Mr. Bowis
  Since April 1993, we have had a very full monitoring programme for community care in order to 550
  ensure that implementation stayed on track. In addition, the social services inspectorate carries out regular inspections, statistics are regularly collected and published and longer-term research is in hand to evaluate progress.

  Our monitoring has shown that the implementation of community care has been a good story for vulnerable people, who have already benefited greatly from the new arrangements. Firm foundations have been laid and steady progress continues to be made.

  Community care is, however, a long-term programme and work remains to be done before the full benefits are delivered in all areas. Our programme for development set out in the document "Building Partnerships for Success" will help encourage this further development. As the Audit Commission has pointed out, local authorities need good financial control of their social services budgets. Some could do better if greater use were made of independent sector provision.

  Alcohol-related Services
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS will spend this year on alcohol-related services. [7517]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman) on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1148.

  Care Guidelines (Elderly People)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued about the provision of care to elderly people living in the community. [7519]

  Mr. Bowis
  Policy and practice guidance has been issued by the Department to all local authorities in relation to their community care responsibilities, in "Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond", published in November 1990. Practice guidance on "Care Management and Assessment" was issued in 1991. In addition, the social services inspectorate has produced reports relating to care for elderly people. Guidance was issued in February 1995 on national health service responsibilities for meeting continuing health care needs.

  Copies of the documents are available in the Library.

  Darenth Park General Hospital
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in respect of the new general hospital at Darenth park for the Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust. [7520]

  Mr. Horam
  The trust has shortlisted four consortia which have been invited to submit their detailed proposals for the new general hospital by the end of the month.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women over the age of 65 years(a) developed

  551
  breast cancer and (b) died from breast cancer in each region in each of the last four years. [8480]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of women aged 65 years and over who have died from breast cancer in each region in each of the last four years for which data are available is as follows:

  Deaths from breast cancer (ICD1 174) to women aged 65 and over

  England and Wales

  1991

  1992

  21993

  21994

  Northern RHA

  493

  475

  451

  423

  Yorkshire RHA

  576

  527

  592

  523

  Trent RHA

  799

  805

  748

  764

  East Anglian RHA

  376

  410

  380

  433

  North-West Thames RHA

  568

  501

  459

  399

  North-East Thames RHA

  655

  613

  587

  552

  South-East Thames RHA

  715

  687

  692

  545

  South-West Thames RHA

  596

  576

  520

  638

  Wessex RHA

  575

  570

  560

  523

  Oxford RHA

  383

  398

  305

  338

  South Western RHA

  654

  662

  615

  622

  West Midlands RHA

  892

  860

  799

  795

  Mersey RHA

  363

  405

  353

  350

  North Western RHA

  662

  614

  586

  589

  Wales

  495

  529

  512

  492

  England and Wales

  8,802

  8,632

  8,159

  7,986

  Notes:

  1International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision.

  2Provisional data.

  The number of women aged 65 years and over who have been diagnosed as having breast cancer in each region in each of the last four years for which data are available is as follows.

  Incidence of breast cancer (ICD9 174) in women aged 65 and over

  England and Wales

  1989

  1990

  11991

  21992

  Northern RHA

  626

  656

  669

  647

  Yorkshire RHA

  968

  840

  849

  771

  Trent RHA

  982

  1,135

  1,128

  1,177

  East Anglian RHA

  583

  571

  597

  509

  North-West Thames RHA

  840

  933

  889

  912

  North-East Thames RHA

  1,070

  1,002

  996

  1,023

  South-East Thames RHA

  1,061

  1,065

  1,034

  1,102

  South-West Thames RHA

  926

  820

  821

  848

  Wessex RHA

  975

  907

  921

  993

  Oxford RHA

  580

  596

  587

  639

  South Western RHA

  986

  908

  862

  834

  West Midlands RHA

  1,362

  1,364

  1,335

  1,326

  Mersey RHA

  617

  619

  613

  600

  North Western RHA

  1,000

  940

  1,047

  1,080

  Wales

  848

  863

  880

  900

  England and Wales

  13,424

  13,219

  13,198

  13,361

  Notes:

  1Incidence for Wales is an estimate.

  2Incidences for all Thames RHAs, Mersey RHA and Wales are estimates.

  Source:

  Regional cancer registries and Welsh Office.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a ring-fenced levy in order to finance the long-term care of the elderly; if he will include the 552
  payment from this levy of the costs of residential and nursing home care; and if he will make a statement. [9120]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have no plans to do so.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those trusts which have made more than a 6 per cent. rate of return on their assets in each year since their inception, indicating the rate of return achieved. [8714]

  Mr. Horam
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Reginald Dixon
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the prosecution of Reginald Dixon for illegally performing an abortion on Barbara Whiten; and whether, following this case he has any plans to introduce new guidelines or bring forward legislation to clarify patients' rights. [8704]

  Mr. Horam
  We have no plans to introduce legislation in this area. A patient has the right under common law to give or withhold consent prior to examination or treatment. However, in an emergency when a patient is not in a position to express her consent or refusal, a doctor may act without consent when he or she reasonably believes that it is in the best interests of the patient to do so. Guidance on consent for examination or treatment was issued to the national health service in 1990. I understand that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is considering the implications of the recent case for best professional practice.

  Acute and Community Mental Health Services
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were seen by(a) acute and (b) community mental health services in each health authority in each of the last three years. [8716]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available in the form requested. Information on the number of episodes of in-patient treatment under mental health specialists is published in "Ordinary and Day Case Admissions for England". Information on the number of initial contacts with community psychiatric nurses is published in "Patient Care in the Community, Community Psychiatric Nursing, Summary information for England". Both publications give the information by individual national health service providers, that is, trusts, directly managed units and specialist health authorities with summaries for regional office areas; the data are not available for health authorities. The publications for 1994–95 and for earlier years are available in the Library.

  Carers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure early help is given to the carers of the elderly and disabled in accordance with the recommendations of the British Medical
  553
  Association's report on the subject; and if he will make a statement. [9129]

  Mr. Bowis
  Support for carers is one of our key community care priorities. It is not practicable to prescribe centrally the form which this support should take. It is the responsibility of health and local authorities to offer a suitable range of support, such as respite and home care, based on local needs. Case by case, the services and support provided should reflect the circumstances of individual users and carers.

  Our current guidance to health and local authorities makes clear the importance of involving their carers in decisions made about service users. From April 1996, under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995, carers who provide substantial care on a regular basis will have a right to their own assessment if they want it.

  This year, we have included an additional £30 million in community care funding for the provision of respite and home care. Our monitoring shows that the extra £20 million made available in 1994–95 resulted in more day and respite care being provided to the benefit of carers.

  Health Authority Standards
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that all NHS health authorities follow the best practice and highest standards which any one authority attains; if he will require that they regard the standards set out in his Department's guidance HSG(95)8 in February 1995 as the minimum acceptable standards; and if he will make a statement. [9153]

  Mr. Bowis
  Health authorities are expected to implement fully the requirements set out in HSG(95)8. The details of our arrangements to monitor the implementation of this guidance were set out in a letter to health authorities and local authorities which was issued on 17 August 1995. Copies of the letter are available in the Library.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on mental health in each health authority area in each of the last three years(a) in the acute sector and (b) in the community sector. [8715]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which trusts have(a) informed the NHS executive or (b) been investigated in respect of their long-term financial viability. [8711]

  Mr. Horam
  The financial viability of all trusts is investigated before their establishment. Subsequently, this process is on-going as a part of each trust's annual business planning cycle. Trust plans are reviewed by the national health service executive.

  Eye Tests (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Walthamstow have had eye tests in each year since 1987. [8978]
  554
  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available.

  Local Authority Responsibilities
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the. Secretary of State for Health what are the statutory responsibilities of local authorities to meet all needs assessed under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and within what time scale services should be provided. [8722]

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities are required to assess people whom they think may require community care services, as defined under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, and to decide on the basis of that assessment what, if any, services they should provide and how the needs of local people should be met.

  A summary of local authorities' key powers and duties in community care under this Act and other legislation is set out in our document "A Framework for Local Community Care Charters in England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Local authorities are expected to publish their first local charters, based on this framework, in April 1996. These local charters will give people local information about the services and standards they can expect from their local social services departments, as well as from health and housing authorities.

  Westcliffe Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to approve the bid for PFI funding for the replacement long-stay beds at Westcliffe hospital, Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will make a statement. [9206]

  Mr. Horam
  The national health service executive expects to receive a full business case from North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS trust to replace the majority of the beds early in 1997. Approval to funding a capital investment using private finance would be conditional upon such an approach increasing cost-effectiveness and reducing risks for the NHS. The balance of the service will be the responsibility of the health authority, which will be seeking to place patients with local nursing homes.

  Doncaster Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names and qualifications of the current chairman and non-executive directors of Doncaster health authority. [9902]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 October 1995,Official Report, columns 40–41. Chairmen and non-executive members of health authorities are appointed for their personal qualities and skills and the contribution that they can make to the board.

  Infant and Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in(a) infant mortality rates and (b) perinatal mortality rates since 1979. [7498]
  555
  Mr. Horam
  Infant and perinatal mortality rates have fallen, between 1979 and 1994, to the lowest levels ever recorded. Deaths in children under one year of age—the infant mortality rate—have fallen by half. Stillbirths and deaths of babies less than a week old—the perinatal rate—have fallen by nearly 40 per cent.

  Drug Misuse Database
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who owns the data codes and structure of the drug misuse database. [9412]

  Mr. Bowis
  The ownership of such data codes and the structure of the drug misuse database is shared between the Department of Health and the university of Manchester.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b)the affirmative resolution procedure. [9597]

  Magistrates' Courts case April-September 1995

  Received

  Finalised

  Of which, advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  North

  47,741

  46,710

  1,625

  32,255

  6,247

  2,934

  2,767

  882

  Yorkshire

  42,041

  42,335

  1,052

  28,072

  6,299

  2,975

  3,582

  355

  Mersey/Lancashire

  43,786

  41,667

  1,555

  29,034

  4,030

  3,512

  2,884

  652

  Humber

  34,750

  35,553

  1,802

  23,649

  4,886

  2,440

  2,005

  771

  North-West

  57,334

  57,351

  2,064

  40,333

  4,340

  3,938

  3,349

  3,327

  East Midlands

  43,407

  37,970

  1,246

  25,808

  5,457

  2,502

  2,710

  247

  Wales

  46,442

  46,173

  1,840

  30,944

  5,378

  2,673

  4,372

  1,000

  Midlands

  52,012

  52,054

  2,565

  34,674

  5,404

  3,779

  4,472

  1,160

  Anglia

  53,276

  53,013

  3,760

  36,916

  4,866

  2,941

  3,258

  1,272

  Severn/Thames

  46,947

  46,639

  2,324

  31,387

  5,120

  2,350

  4,470

  988

  South-West

  39,377

  34,391

  1,198

  24,359

  3,717

  2,103

  2,723

  291

  London

  120,741

  121,873

  3,281

  70,928

  15,700

  8,626

  22,030

  1,308

  South-East

  53,621

  51,684

  2,579

  36,136

  5,078

  3,545

  3,987

  359

  Total

  681,475

  667,413

  26,891

  444,495

  76,522

  44,318

  62,609

  12,612

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant could not be found, and other cases where the prosecution could not proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Other proceedings comprise non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture hearings under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Attorney-General when the internal review of the functions of the Crown Prosecution Service was established; what is its terms of reference; by whom it is being conducted; and when its conclusions will be reported to Parliament. [8460]

  The Attorney-General
  A number of important reviews of the work of the CPS were concluded last year. These included: a report on the merits and feasibility of merger between the CPS fraud divisions and the Serious Fraud Office; a prior options study in the context of the Government's initiative on next steps; and a senior management review. I reported to Parliament the outcome of the merger study and of the prior options study on 31 March 1995,Official Report, columns 1309–17, and 27 October 1995, Official Report, columns 820–21, respectively. On the Senior management review, the CPS,
  556
  Mr. Horam
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service; what was the total number of cases(a) received by magistrates courts and (b) finalised in magistrates courts; and how many cases were (i) received by the Crown Prosecution Service from the police, (ii) completed in the magistrates court, (iii) discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service before or at the magistrates court hearing, (iv) committed to the Crown court by the magistrates court or (v) otherwise disposed of in each Crown Prosecution Service region in total in the first nine months of 1995–96. [8478]

  The Attorney-General
  The table shows the number of defendants whose case was dealt with by the 13 areas of the Crown Prosecution Service during the period of April to September 1995. The figures are not yet available for the quarter ending December 1995. The figures do not include the specialised casework undertaken by the headquarters of the service.

  in common with most other Departments, has carried out a senior management review following the White Papers on the civil service, continuity and change. The report of the senior management review was produced in August 1995 and has been made available to staff and others outside the CPS. Separately, as I announced on 4 December, Official Report, column 17, work continues on a range of measures to improve further the working relationships between the CPS and the police.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9144]
  557
  The Attorney-General
  The one agency for which I am responsible is the Government Property Lawyers. The GPL currently uses the pre-retirement courses provided by the Home Office, but keeps under review the possibility of using courses offered by other bodies.

  Marchioness Accident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration the Crown Prosecution Service has given to initiating a prosecution in respect of the Marchioness accident since the inquest jury reached its verdict; and if he will make a statement. [9032]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service has received in November and December 1995 from the coroner transcripts of the evidence given at the inquest. These are being studied. Once they have been considered, together with the pre-inquest evidence and the results of any additional inquiries which may be necessary, a decision will be made as to whether further criminal proceedings should be instituted.

WALES

  Cancer Registration
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the date of completion of the review of cancer registration and the management and organisation of the Wales Cancer Registry; and if he will make a statement. [8467]

  Mr. Hague
  Proposals for the future management of the registry submitted by the Velindre NHS trust and the Welsh combined centres for public health are currently under consideration. I expect the management of the registry to transfer early in the next financial year.

  Electronic Mail
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the introduction of electronic mail for departmental press releases and for their transmission to the Library. [8465]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Tuesday 9 January 1996,Official Report, columns 109–10.

  Water and Sewage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the National Rivers Authority Wales area and the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation in relation to the corporation's proposals for water uses in the impounded lake behind the Cardiff bay barrage and proposed reductions in sewage pumping stations and interceptor sewers at Leckwith moors, Brindley road, Ferry road and Park street;. [8462]

  (2) what consultations he has had with the chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation and of the National Rivers Authority Wales on the water use strategy for the impounded lake behind the Cardiff bay barrage, in relation to the types of immersion sports, water contact
  558
  water sports and non-contact water sports that will be permitted; and if he will make a statement. [8461]

  Mr. Hague
  None. This is an operational matter for the Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the membership of community health councils; if he will place a copy of all such representations in the Library; and if he will list the organisations or individuals who have made representations in favour of his proposed changes. [8466]

  Mr. Hague
  More than 150 responses to the consultation have been received, covering a wide spectrum of views. I will consider very carefully all comments before announcing what the next steps should be. At that stage, I will arrange for all the responses, apart from those where respondents have indicated that they would prefer their views not to be separately identified, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Literacy and Numeracy Centres
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for literacy and numeracy centres in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9069]

  Mr. Richards
  Plans for raising standards of literacy and numeracy in schools in Wales are set out in the published "Bright Future" programme. Every primary school is to set targets for improvements. Some £3 million is to be devoted to schemes in support during 1996–97.

  Disadvantaged Pupils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to give extra support in the schooling of children from disadvantaged homes; and if he will make a statement. [9065]

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend announced his provisional local government revenue proposals for 1996–97 in the House on 28 November,Official Report, column 600. It is for individual local authorities to determine how the resources that are made available are allocated between services, including education, in the light of their statutory responsibilities and their perception of local needs and priorities.

  Government Expenditure Report
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek payment from the central office of the Conservative party to recompense the Welsh Office for the time taken by civil servants on undertaking the recent report on the purported income and expenditure of all Government Departments in Wales, and in printing and publishing the report. [8636]

  Mr. Hague
  No. The report presents an objective assessment of Government expenditure on behalf of the population of Wales and revenue raised in Wales. The methodology used is clearly explained and open to scrutiny. I am satisfied that the report adds to public
  559
  understanding of fiscal issues relating to Wales and that its preparation and publication at public expense is fully justified.

  Education Standards
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the percentage of lessons consistently identified as poor by Ofsted included assessments of lessons given in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9071]

  Mr. Richards
  No.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of failing schools in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9070]

  Mr. Richards
  No such estimates are made. Whether a school is in need of special measures will depend on the findings of a full office of Her Majesty's chief inspector.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what cash he has earmarked to identify and improve failing schools; and if he will make a statement. [9072]

  Mr. Richards
  The costs of identifying failing schools are borne from within the overall budget for the office of Her Majesty's chief inspector. Those for improving failing schools will vary: they are not limited to a specifically earmarked sum.

  Valleys Park
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to promote the establishment of a valleys park; and if he will make a statement. [8971]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the programme for the valleys, my right hon. Friend is keen to encourage projects which will help to improve the quality of the environment of the south Wales valleys. I understand an application has been submitted to the Millennium Commission for the development of a valleys park.

  Electricity and Water Industries
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implications for employment of the proposed takeover of Swalec by Welsh Water. [8637]

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Homework Centres
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homework centres he has established in each of the local education authorities of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9064]

  Mr. Richards
  Establishment of such centres is a matter for individual schools. The "Bright Future" programme provides that each school in Wales should consider offering facilities for study after hours.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning adult education. [9199]
  560
  Mr. Richards
  I refer the hon. Member to "People and Prosperity: An Agenda for Action in Wales". It is our policy in Wales to extend educational opportunity and choice, and improve standards, in all phases of education. This includes making good quality education accessible to adults to help them improve their qualifications and update their skills, and promoting a culture of lifelong learning.

  Arts Centre
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the establishment of a national concert hall, opera house and centre for the performing arts is established in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9313]

  Mr. Hague
  I am sympathetic to the development of a national opera house in Wales, but decisions on the provision of arts facilities are a matter for the funding bodies concerned.

  Millennium Fund
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what involvement his Department has in the process of deciding on millennium fund projects in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9338]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office does not participate in decision making on millennium fund applications. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 23 October 1995,Official Report, column 474.

  InterCity
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange as a matter of urgency to meet executives of InterCity rail services to discuss the robustness of the advertised InterCity through service from Holyhead to Euston. [9314]

  Mr. Hague
  The advertisement and provision of rail services are operational matters for the operator.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh language schemes have so far been agreed between the Welsh Language Board and public bodies in Wales covered by the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993. [9312]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1160, and to the letter sent to him by the chief executive of the Welsh Language Board on the same day.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconcile the apparent discrepancy for the expenditure on education in Wales, as shown in tables 3 and 4, for 1993–94, of his departmental report, "Government Expenditure and Revenue, Wales 1993–94", published on 8 January. [9514]

  Mr. Richards
  There is no discrepancy. The figures in table 3 relate to expenditure per head, as stated in the title. They show that expenditure per head on education was
  561
  about the same in England as in Wales. The figures in table 4 relate to total expenditure. They show that expenditure on education in Wales was a smaller proportion of identifiable general Government expenditure than in England.

  Disabled People (Sport)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in relation to the development of sports for disabled people. [9289]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Policy for the development of sports for disabled people is a matter for the Sports Council for Wales. In its strategy document "Changing Times, Changing Needs", the council reaffirmed its commitment to have particular regard to the needs of disabled people within its programmes. The council published the report "Willing and Able: The Provision of Sports Opportunity for Children with Disabilities" in March 1995 and is currently consulting on action programmes for the future.

  Education Funding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the new unitary authority local education authorities in Wales to carry out their responsibilities from 1 April; and if he will make a statement. [9396]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend announced his provisional local government revenue settlement proposals for 1996–97 on 28 November,Official Report, column 600. It is for individual local authorities to determine how the resources are allocated between functions, including education, in the light of their statutory responsibilities and their perception of local needs and priorities.

  National Museum and Gallery of Wales
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the attendance figures for 1995 reported by the national museum and gallery of Wales, including its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1994. [9013]

  Mr. Richards
  A total of 780,344 people visited the national museums and galleries of Wales during 1995, a decrease of 10.6 per cent. compared with the 872,936 total in 1994.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much funding was committed by the Welsh Development Agency to each of the objective 5(b) projects in 1995 listed in his letter of 8 January 1996, ref. CT/95-16178, in answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke; and how much has been allocated to each project to date. [9615]

  Mr. Hague
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9590]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Cardiff Bay Opera House Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the future public funding of the Cardiff Bay opera house trust; when the present public funding of the trust expires; and if he will make a statement.[9721]

  Mr. Hague
  None. This is an operational matter for the corporation.

  Staffing
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest number of staff employed for each civil service grade by his office, indicating the percentage who are Welsh speaking where this is known. [2067]

  Mr. Hague
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1995, c. 76–77]I regret that there was an error in my answer. The figure should accordingly read:

  Grade

  Number of people

  Percentage who have notified they have some ability in the use of Welsh

  GI

  1

  100

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the total amounts paid to recipients of housing benefit in (1) Scarborough and Whitby, (2) Torquay, (3) Weston-super-Mare, (4) Bournemouth, (5) Brighton, (6) Eastbourne, (7) Newquay, (8) Ramsgate, (9) Margate, (10) Southend-on-Sea, (11) Clacton, (12) Great Yarmouth, (13) Barmouth, (14) Pwllheli, (15) Llandudno, (16) Rhyl, (17) Prestatyn, (18) Southport, (19) Lytham St. Annes, (20) Fleetwood, (21) Morecombe, (22) Skegness, (23) Cleethorpes, (24) Minehead, (25) Worthing, (26) Bridlington, (27) Bognor Regis, (28) Torbay, (29) Polperro, (30) Brixham, (31) Falmouth, (32) St. Ives, (33) Ilfracombe, (34) Burnham on Sea, (35) Weymouth and (36) Herne Bay, in(a) 1991–92 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [3192]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table.
  563

  Housing benefit expenditure

  £millions

  Town for which expenditure details requested

  Local authority covering the town

  1991–92 housing benefit expenditure

  1993–94 housing benefit expenditure

  1

  Scarborough and Whitby

  Scarborough

  9.2

  14.5

  2

  Torquay

  Torbay

  See Torbay

  See Torbay

  3

  Weston super Mare

  Woodspring

  14.0

  23.8

  4

  Bournemouth

  Bournemouth

  27.7

  41.7

  5

  Brighton

  Brighton

  34.2

  49.9

  6

  Eastbourne

  Eastbourne

  12.4

  19.9

  7

  Newquay

  Restormel

  6.4

  11.5

  8

  Ramsgate

  Thanet

  19.1

  31.4

  9

  Margate

  Thanet

  19.1

  31.4

  10

  Southend on Sea

  Southend on Sea

  22.7

  36.0

  11

  Clacton

  Tendring

  11.4

  16.9

  12

  Great Yarmouth

  Great Yarmouth

  10.7

  15.4

  13

  Barmouth

  Meirionnydd

  1.9

  2.8

  14

  Pwllheli

  Dwyfor

  1.9

  2.4

  15

  Llandudno

  Aberconwy

  3.8

  5.4

  16

  Rhyl

  Rhuddlan

  5.1

  7.9

  17

  Prestatyn

  Rhuddlan

  5.1

  7.9

  18

  Southport

  Sefton

  26.2

  37.5

  19

  Lytham St. Annes

  Fylde

  4.0

  6.0

  20

  Fleetwood

  Wyre

  4.5

  7.5

  21

  Morecombe

  Lancaster

  12.9

  17.9

  22

  Skegness

  East Lindsey

  9.6

  13.2

  23

  Cleethorpes

  Cleethorpes

  4.9

  6.7

  24

  Minehead

  West Somerset

  3.4

  5.4

  25

  Worthing

  Worthing

  9.4

  14.8

  26

  Bridlington

  East Yorkshire

  7.3

  10.8

  27

  Bognor Regis

  Arun

  12.7

  21.9

  28

  Torbay

  Torbay

  19.0

  27.7

  29

  Polperro

  Caradon

  4.8

  8.5

  30

  Brixham

  Torbay

  See Torbay

  See Torbay

  31

  Falmouth

  Carrick

  7.3

  11.2

  32

  St. Ives

  Penwith

  6.6

  11.1

  33

  Ilfracombe

  North Devon

  8.6

  13.4

  34

  Burnham on Sea

  Sedgemoor

  8.1

  13.2

  35

  Weymouth

  Weymouth

  7.8

  10.6

  36

  Herne Bay

  Canterbury

  15.2

  19.6

  Expenditure figures are those for the local authority districts covering the towns in question. Where a local authority has the same name as a town, for example Brighton, it is possible that they do not cover the same geographic area.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of people aged under 25 years who will be affected by the changes announced in housing benefit for young people in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [8508]

  Mr. Evans
  The proposed changes are to come into effect on 7 October 1996. All new claims after that date, movers, and claims made from 2 January 1996 at the first review will be affected.

  Some 180,000 single people aged under 25 years live in the private rented sector and receive housing benefit.. We estimate that some 130,000 in 1996–97 and 150,000 in 1997–98 will be affected.

  Ministerial Travel and Accommodation Costs
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the total cost for himself and other departmental Ministers for each year since 1991–92, including the current year of(a) overseas travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers and their advisers, (b) car and chauffeuring costs of Ministers, (c) ministerial security costs and (d) domestic travel and accommodation expenses of ministers. [6408]

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

  Financial year

  1Overseas travel and accommodation £

  Car and chauffeuring costs £

  2Domestic travel and accommodation £

  1991–92

  n/a

  1286,391.00

  n/a

  1992–93

  21,115.27

  1274,758.00

  n/a

  1993–94

  17,717.54

  1290,241.00

  n/a

  1994–95

  27,570.38

  1325,815.00

  17,228.00

  1995–30/11

  4,222.35

  1203,088.00

  12,225.00

  1Includes expenditure incurred by Ministers and officials acting in direct support of Ministers.

  2 Includes expenditure by Minsters only.

  n/a = not available.

  Expenditure on Ministerial security costs is included in the running costs expenditure of the Department which is published in the Annual Report.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of running his departmental office, and that of his predecessor, for each year since 1990–91 including the current year, broken down into(a) telephone bills, (b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other. [6407]

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

  Financial year

  Total stuff cost £

  Hospitality £

  1990–91

  n/a

  7,111.00

  1991–92

  n/a

  8,230.00

  1992–93

  n/a

  6,846.00

  1993–94

  n/a

  5,667.00

  1994–95

  1,885,938.00

  14,859.00

  1995–30/November

  1,026,079.00

  7,893.00

  1. Expenditure on hospitality includes the annual reception for disabled people and organisations representing them held by the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People.

  2. Expenditure on hospitality includes entertainment, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

  3. Expenditure on telephone bills, press and communications, stationery and office refurbishment is included in the running cost expenditure of the Department which is published in the Annual Report.

  4. The information is for all Ministerial offices.

  n/a = not available.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of
  565
  the guidance issued by the Benefits Agency medical services to assist its medical practitioners when considering incapacity benefit applications. [7749]

  Mr. Burt
  A copy of the medical advisers' guide to incapacity benefit is available in the Library.

  Mr. Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people to date have undergone a medical examination by a medical assistant of the Benefits Agency in relation to claims for the consideration of incapacity benefit; and how many of those applicants have had their benefit stopped as a result. [7750]

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Number

  Total examinations

  1222,003

  Total all work test cases disallowed following examination

  2239,626

  1 Includes all work test examinations for Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and credits only cases.

  2 As there is often a delay between the examination and the adjudication officer's decision this figure does not accurately reflect the proportion of examinations which resulted in disallowance. 1. All information is from 13 April 1995 to 30 November 1995 and is subject to change.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number of hours per month that Benefits Agency doctors will spend dealing with incapacity benefit claims in 1996£97. [8016]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 670, regarding claims for incapacity benefit, if he will express the numbers of incapacity benefit claimants in the various categories as a proportion of the total. [7812]

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table.

  Per cent.

  Disallowed for failure to return questionnaire (IB50) without good cause as proportion of total questionnaires issued

  0.5

  Disallowed for failure to attend medical examination without good cause as a proportion of total examinations performed

  0.4

  Found capable of work following all work test as a proportion of all work test examinations

  117

  Appeals lodged with ITS as proportion of those failing all work test

  31

  Successful appeals as proportion of those heard

  43

  Appeals superseded by adjudication officer as proportion of those lodged

  3.8

  As there is often a delay between the examination and the adjudication officer's decision this figure does not accurately represent the proportion of examinations which resulted in disallowance.

  1. Figures include only incapacity benefit claimants and are subject to change.

  2. All figures to end of October 1995.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the benefit savings resulting from 566
  activities in respect of liable relatives in each year since 1989; and how much of this was attributable to maintenance paid. [8142]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the list:

  1989–90: £207 million

  1990–91: £232 million

  1991–92: £283.9 million

  1992–93: £313 million.

  In 1992–93 liable relative action fell under the umbrella of the child support unit.

  These figures include savings made where the level of maintenance reduced the amount of income support in payment; where maintenance removed the need for income support; and those cases where the claim for income support was withdrawn following liable relative action. It is not possible to break the figures down into these different categories.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent the benefit savings claimed by the Child Support Agency are calculated in a manner which gives a like-for-like comparison with(a) the liable relatives unit and (b) the court system which preceded it. [8120]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Because of the differing nature of the work, there is no direct like-for-like comparison.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to audit the benefit savings figures produced by the Child Support Agency; [8126]

  (2) what assessment he has made of accounting methods used by the Child Support Agency to calculate benefit savings. [8122]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Audits were carried out by Price Waterhouse in 1993–94 and 1994–95. The auditors found that the procedure for reporting and measuring benefit savings was more likely to understate than overstate benefit savings.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the benefit savings claimed by the Child Support Agency are calculated on the same basis as the benefit savings estimates in the financial memorandum of the Child Support Act 1991. [8127]

  Mr. Mitchell
  No. While the Child Support Agency's benefit savings figures include the effect on benefit expenditure of maintenance paid calculated on the same basis as the estimates for the financial memorandum, the latter figure also included an estimate of the longer-term effect on expenditure of a reduction in the number of lone parents on benefit resulting from enhanced work incentives and other factors. The benefit savings figures, on the other hand, include estimates of the effect on expenditure of claims to benefit ceasing as a result of agency action but take no account of the longer-term incentive effect of the work of the Child Support Agency.
  567
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his estimate of expenditure savings following the Child Support Act 1991 included a calculation of the effects of the withdrawal of benefit claims by recipients of income support. [8141]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Yes.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures are followed by the Child Support Agency when contacting absent parents in cases where paternity has not yet been established; and in how many cases Child Support Agency procedures have been breached in this matter. [5767]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 11 January 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the procedures followed by the Child Support Agency when tracing and identifying absent parents in cases where paternity has not been established.
  Information about absent parents is provided to the Agency in the first instance by the parent with care (PWC). Where paternity is not yet established the Agency follows set procedures in contacting the alleged absent parent (AAP), and these vary depending on whether the AAP knows that the PWC considers him to be the parent of the child or children in question. Where the PWC has provided a current and confident address for the AAP, and the AAP knows that the PWC considers him to be the parent, the Agency issues a maintenance enquiry form by post to the AAP.
  Where the PWC has provided a current and confident address for the AAP, but the AAP does not know that he is considered to be the parent, the Agency writes to him inviting him to call at the office to discuss "a social security matter". The letter does not give any indication of the Agency's interest.
  If the information provided by the PWC on the identity or address of the AAP is not complete or confident, the Agency takes action to trace the right person. Child support legislation provides that this may include an approach being made to an employer to enable an AAP to be traced. The objective is to arrange for a private interview in the same way as described above, to resolve the paternity issue. Sometimes several men have to be interviewed to eliminate those whose personal details indicate they may be the AAP, before the correct man is identified.
  The method of contacting an employer may be by telephone or letter. When correspondence is sent to an employer it is marked "Private and Confidential—The Personnel Manager". It gives no details for the reason for our request, but quotes the legislation which is being invoked—in this case Child Support legislation—because the employer will have already refused to give the information over the phone in response to a generalised "DSS" request. There are a number of reasons why we could be approaching an employer in this way, including the need to contact a parent who is due money as well as a parent who may be liable to pay it. We never divulge the precise reason to the employer either in our phone contacts or in our letters.
  No correspondence should be issued to an AAP until the Agency is sure that the person traced could very well be the AAP described by the PWC. As explained above, the type of correspondence then issued depends upon whether or not the AAP knows that the PWC regards him as the parent. This is not a new way of working, the Benefits Agency and the DSS before it took similar action when it had responsibility for liable relative work.
  The Agency does not collate information on the number of cases where procedures have been breached. The Agency will, of course, investigate fully any complaint that the correct procedures have not been followed, but such instances are very unusual. For example, available data shows that out of 852, 763 maintenance enquiry forms issued from April 1993 (the inception of the Agency), to October
  568
  1995, 222 of them (0.026 per cent) were issued to someone who in fact had no child maintenance liability in the case concerned. Of this relatively small number, by no means all were because the CSA acted incorrectly (PWCs sometimes give wrong information), but wherever our strict procedures are breached, disciplinary action is taken against the member(s) of staff who are culpable.
  You may wish to note that the Agency has traced and/or identified the whereabouts of over 100,000 absent parents since it was created in April 1993.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Social Security Spending
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the change in social security spending in real terms in each year since 1978–79, including estimates for each of the next three years, giving figures on the same basis as the answer of 7 June 1993,Official Report, column 144. [8501]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Social Security1 spending from 1978–79 to 1998–99

  Expenditure in £ million

  Years

  Cash

  1995–96 prices

  Percentage change in real terms over previous year

  1978–79

  16,401

  49,150

  —

  1979–80

  19,377

  49,755

  1.23

  1980–81

  23,483

  50,961

  2.42

  1981–82

  28,582

  56,555

  10.98

  1982–83

  32,451

  59,942

  5.99

  1983–84

  35,159

  62.066

  3.54

  1984–85

  39,716

  66,755

  7.56

  1985–86

  43.237

  68,897

  3.21

  1986–87

  46,611

  72,098

  4.65

  1987–88

  48,982

  71,936

  -0.23

  1988–89

  49,641

  68,331

  -5.01

  1989–90

  52,357

  67,365

  -1.41

  1990–91

  56,392

  67,171

  -0.29

  1991–92

  65,710

  73,672

  9.68

  1992–93

  74,661

  80,434

  9.18

  1993–94

  81,684

  85,505

  6.30

  1994–95

  84,189

  86,504

  1.17

  1995–96

  87,100

  87,100

  0.69

  1996–97

  90,102

  87,690

  0.68

  1997–98

  93,132

  88,429

  0.84

  1998–99

  96,264

  89,391

  1.09

  1Excludes non DSS expenditure on housing and council tax/community charge benefits.

  1. 1994–95 figures are estimated outturn.

  2. Figures from 1995–96 to 1998–99 are planned expenditure.

  3. The real terms decrease over the period 1987–88 to 1990–91 is largely attributable to the fall in unemployment since 1986.

  4. The figures from 1978–79 to 1989–90 are from the 1994 DR and earlier equivalents.

  5. Figures from 1990–91 to 1998–99 are from the 1996–97 FSBR.

  Child Care Disregard
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the average number of families who will benefit in 1996–97 from the increase in the child care disregard. [8500]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We estimate that on average between 5,000 and 10,000 families will benefit from the increase in the child care disregard during 1996–97.

  Earnings Disregards
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the freeze in earnings disregards for housing benefit, council tax benefit, invalid care allowance, unemployment benefit (daily rate) and income support claims; how many claimants (i) of each benefit and (ii) in total will be affected by the freeze; what evidence he has of the effect on work incentives of such a freeze; and if he will make a statement. [8514]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None. The level of earnings disregards and thresholds are kept under review but it has never been the practice to uprate them on an annual basis.

  One-Parent and Child Benefits
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to introduce regulations to integrate one-parent benefit; and child benefit; and if he will make a statement. [8510]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We aim to commence the statutory consultation procedures under sections 170 to 176 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 in February. Regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible after the consultation process is completed.

  Benefits Freeze
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the freeze in social fund (i) maternity payments, (ii) cold weather payments and (iii) capital; how many claimants (1) of each benefit and (2) in total he estimates will be affected by the freeze; and if he will make a statement. [8512]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  If social fund maternity payments had been uprated in line with Rossi since 1990, when they were last increased, the value of estimated additional expenditure—over current forecasts—would be £7 million in 1996–97 and £8 million in 1997–98. Approximately 230,000 claimants would be affected.

  Notes:

  1. The information in respect of Cold Weather Payments is not available as expenditure depends on weather conditions over the next two years.

  2. The information requested for capital is also unavailable.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the freeze in disregards for war pensions, student loans and covenants, expenses from sub-tenants and income from boarders under disability working allowance, family credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, invalid care allowance, unemployment benefit (daily rate) and income support claims; how many claimants (i) of each benefit and (ii) in total will be affected by the freeze; and if he will make a statement. [8513]
  570
  Mr. Evans
  None. The income disregards are kept under review, and increased only when it is prudent to do so. None of the incomes listed is taken into account in the calculation of either invalid care allowance or unemployment benefit.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of family credit claimants receive the £10 increase for full-time work. [8516]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  As at 31 August 1995, 87,000 new and renewal family credit awards included the new £10 premium. Awards already in payment when the premium came into effect on 17 July 1995 will become eligible on renewal of the 26 week award. Most existing family credit recipients working 30 hours or more should therefore by now be receiving the increase. In the longer term, we estimate that 345,000 families will benefit.

  Source: Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect of revenues in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 of the freeze in the maintenance disregard for family credit claims; how many claimants will be affected by the freeze; and if he will make a statement. [8515]

  Mr. Evans
  No estimate is made of savings to public funds when a disregard on income is not increased. The income disregards are kept under review and are increased only when it is prudent to do so.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families are currently in receipt of family credit and what has been the cost of this benefit in each year since 1989–90. [9264]

  Mr. Evans
  The latest available information is that 605,800 families were receiving family credit on 30 April 1995. The cost of family credit in each year from 1989–90 is set out in the table:

  Year

  Family credit outturn £ million

  1989–90

  425

  1990–91

  494

  1991–92

  626

  1992–93

  929

  1993–94

  1,208

  1994–95

  1,441

  Source:

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry April 1995. 1995 Departmental Report.

  Housing and Council Tax Benefits
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the proposal to extend help with housing benefit and council tax benefit during the first four weeks of work for unemployed people returning to work. [8505]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated additional cost of paying of housing benefit and council tax benefit for the first four weeks for unemployed people, lone parents,
  571
  carers and those attending Government training schemes who return to work is £50 million for each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. The overall final cost will depend on the number of people whom this work incentive measure helps back into work. We shall be monitoring and evaluating this carefully.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9139]

  Mr. Burt
  The Department and its agencies—except the Resettlement Agency, which will cease to operate on 1 April 1996–are committed to offering pre-retirement courses to all eligible staff. There are no plans to change this arrangement.

  Habitual Residence Rules
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings have resulted from the application of the habitual residence rules. [9347]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The savings from the application of the habitual residence test for the period August 1994 to November 1995 are estimated at £37 million.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers living in the parliamentary constituency of Tottenham have children living with them; and how many(a) have claimed and (b) receive child benefit. [9814]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  to ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 90, if the administrative costs of implementing the jobseeker's allowance are additional to those referred to in paragraph 6.19 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96"; and for what reasons these additional costs have arisen. [9810]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administrative costs of implementing the jobseeker's allowance are additional to those referred to in paragraph 6.19 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96". Provision for last year was made on account, pending identification of the full costs of implementation.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 90, what he expects the £200 million DSS administrative costs which have been reclassified as running costs from other current expenditure in 1996–97 will be spent on; and for what reasons it has proved necessary to reclassify this. [9809]
  572
  Mr. Burt
  The reclassification of £200 million DSS administrative costs from other current expenditure to running costs represents a reversal of an earlier, incorrect reclassification. This arose from uncertainties about the vote impact of outsourcing proposals in respect of the Information Technology Services Agency. It returns DSS running costs provision to the level agreed in the public expenditure survey. Details of how this provision will be applied will be provided in the forthcoming social security departmental report "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996–97 to 1998–99".

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9593]

  Mr. Burt
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Funeral Payments
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many funeral payments from the social fund for payment towards funeral directors' fees equivalent to the maximum contribution allowable have been paid in each of the last five years, in Scotland. [8587]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 15 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many Funeral Payments from the Social Fund for payment towards funeral director's fees equivalent to the maximum contribution allowable have been paid in each of the last five years, in Scotland.
  £500 is the maximum contribution that can be included in a Funeral Payment towards funeral director's fees. This limit was introduced on 5 June 1995 along with other changes to the Funeral Payment scheme. Prior to this date, payments were made at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer and no distinction was made between that part of a Funeral Payment which related to funeral director's fees and other costs.
  The available information is in the enclosed Table A which shows the number of Funeral Payments paid in Scotland, in each month since 5 June 1995, where the amount paid towards the funeral director's fees has been restricted to £500.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Table A

  Month

  Number of cases

  June

  41

  July

  260

  August

  410

  September

  351

  October

  416

  November

  364

  December

  333

  Total

  2,175

  The number of Funeral Payments made in Scotland since June 1995 where that part of the award relating to funeral director's fees has been restricted to £500.

  War Pensions Agency
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if staff working for the War Pensions Agency receive commission in respect of the number of claims which are met; and if he will make a statement. [9521]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  This is a matter for Mr. Kevin Caldwell, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from K. C. Caldwell to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 15 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about commission to War Pensions Agency (WPA) staff.
  WPA staff do not receive commission in respect of the number of claims which are met.
  All staff in WPA, as in other agencies, receive pay awards related to performance. Performance markings are based on achievement of ranges of personal objectives derived from the Agency's high level targets, as published in the business plan.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 December,Official Report, column 152, which offices of the Benefits Agency, other than the Sheffield office, have issued letters to claimants regarding the proposed changes in entitlement under the urgent cases regulations; what action was taken regarding those letters; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [6434]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of income support 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. Paul Flynn, dated 15 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, pursuant to his Answer of 5th December, Official Report, column 152, which offices of the Benefits Agency, other than the Sheffield office, have issued letters to claimants regarding the proposed changes in entitlement under the urgent cases regulations; what action was taken regarding those letters; and if he will place copies of them in the Library.
  574
  Benefits Agency offices are organised on a District basis and each District can include up to six offices. Annex A, provides a list of those Districts which incorrectly issued letters to customers following the announcement of the proposed changes.
  Some Districts issued clerical notifications, examples of which are at Annex B and will be placed in the Library.
  Other Districts issued disallowance notices via the Income Support Computer System (ISCS). Unfortunately, it is not practicable to provide copies of these as they are made-up from a library of more than 1000 standard paragraphs and differ depending on a customer's individual circumstances.
  Instructions were issued to all District offices on 1 December 1995 advising that decisions should be rescinded and letters of apology sent to all the customers involved.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Annex A
  List of Benefits Agency District offices that issued letters to customers following the proposed changes in entitlement under the urgent case regulations.

  Sheffield East

  Leaside

  Harrow and Hillingdon

  Manchester Central

  Manchester South

  Sale and East Cheshire

  North Surrey

  South West Thames

  Berkshire

  Lea Roding

  South Leicestershire

  Preston

  Makerfield Benefit Centre.

  Child Care (Heringey)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unaccompanied children are being cared for by the London borough of Haringey under the Children Act 1989. [9815]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest validated information available centrally on the London borough of Haringey is for 31 March 1993, when there were no children being looked after because they had no available parents or other persons with parental responsibility.

  Hanish Islands
  Hanish Islands
  NHS Ambulances
  NHS Ambulances
  Mental Incapacity: Law Commission Report
  Mental Incapacity: Law Commission Report
  Domicile: Law Commission Report
  Domicile: Law Commission Report
  Pensions after Divorce: Revenue Costs of Splitting
  Pensions after Divorce: Revenue Costs of Splitting
  Terrorism: Review of Legislation
  Terrorism: Review of Legislation