Written Answers of 17 January 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Crown Court Statistics
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of cases coming to trial in the Crown court, acquittals and convictions in 1994, and in that part of 1995 for which figures are now available. [8479]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Jack Straw dated 17 January 1996:
  CROWN COURT TRIAL, ACQUITTAL AND CONVICTION FIGURES FOR 1994 AND 1995
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of cases coming to trial in the Crown Court in 1994 and 1995 and the number of acquittals and convictions in these years.
  The figures requested are as follows:

  1994

  1995 (January-November)

  Cases committed to the Crown Court

  89,301

  75,790

  Defendants pleading guilty

  59,827

  58,650

  Defendants pleading not guilty: convicted on more counts

  15,206

  14,879

  acquitted on all counts

  15,772

  15,299

  The total number of defendants does not equate directly to the number of cases committed to the Crown Court as a proportion of cases will have more than one defendant and as some cases are discontinued by the prosecution before trial.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Upper Waiting Hall Exhibition
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to NatWest's "Face 2 Face with Finance" scheme to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall from 19 February to 23 February. [8090]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 19 February to Friday 23 February 1996.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War (Low Flying)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the comments by Sir Peter de la Billiere on the suspension of low flying in the Gulf war for the future operational needs of low flying; what are the consequences for low flying training; and if he will make a statement. [9483]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 15 January 1996,Official Report, columns 423–24.

  Torture
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to investigate allegations of torture regarding soldiers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers serving in Bosnia. [9395]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West on 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 425–26.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if soldiers from the Royal Welch Fusiliers will give oral evidence to the war crimes tribunal at The Hague regarding allegations of torture in Bosnia. [9394]

  Mr. Soames
  As part of its investigation into the detention of UN personnel by Bosnian Serb forces, the UN war crimes tribunal proposes to interview a representative group of soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers who were among those taken hostage in May 1995.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (d) non-departmental bodies and (d) outside bodies and arms-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. [9224]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 15 January by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People,Official Report, columns 417–18. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible will be made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Cyprus (Forces' Behaviour)
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken by the British military authorities in Cyprus to control the behaviour of British military personnel towards the local population when off duty. [9392]

  Mr. Soames
  British Forces Cyprus attaches great importance to the maintenance of the very good existing relations with the local population. With this in mind, all service personnel and their dependents are briefed on the expected standards of conduct on arrival in Cyprus. The message is reiterated in routine and other orders and the Commander, British Forces Cyprus, regularly reminds his
  577
  subordinate commanders that they have a responsibility to ensure that service personnel behave in an exemplary manner both on and off duty.

  This is reinforced by a number of selective restrictions which exclude service men from potential trouble spots. The tourist strips in Limassol and Larnaca are subject to a I am curfew for service personnel, and individual premises elsewhere may be placed out of bounds. In addition, the Ayia Napa area remains out of bounds in the wake of the death of Louise Jensen in September 1994. The penalties for the infringement of these rules range from a fine to the sending home of the individual concerned to the UK.

  Many disturbances in Cyprus involving groups of local youths are unconnected with the British military presence, with service personnel occasionally suffering unprovoked attacks. The restrictions applied are, therefore, as much to protect UK military personnel as for other reasons. Analysis shows that British Forces Cyprus has a good record for discipline, with a relatively small number of serious disciplinary incidents.

  Landmines (International Ban)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the international discussions aimed at outlawing the use of landmines. [9385]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The first resumed session of the UN weaponry convention review conference is taking place this week in Geneva. The purpose of this conference is to strengthen protocol II to the convention, which governs the use of mines in armed conflict. We are working hard to achieve international agreement on effective measures to reduce the dangers to civilian from the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines.

  Devonport Dockyard
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received on the stability of the geological base on which Devonport dockyard is built; and if he will make a statement. [9381]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Site investigations, including borehole surveys, and desk studies have been carried out to verify that the nature of the underlying geology is suitable to support the development of nuclear submarine refitting facilities at Devonport royal dockyard. The surveys confirmed that the rock underlying the site will form a suitable foundation for the proposed nuclear installations. No significant geological problems have been encountered on site to date.

  Trident Refitting
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the public expenditure implications of the Trident missile submarine refit at Devonport beyond those specified in the successful tender documents submitted by Devonport Management Ltd. [9380]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Negotiations on the design and build of facilities for refitting Vanguard class submarines at Devonport are proceeding and it would not be appropriate to speculate about details, including cost, while negotiations are under way.
  578
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he intends to take to ensure the highest safety standards are enforced in the future refitting of Trident submarines. [9358]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Refitting facilities for nuclear powered submarines are being designed and will be constructed to meet all necessary safety standards and are being monitored and regulated by both civilian and MOD authorities. The future operators of the nuclear powered submarine refitting facility will be required to demonstrate to these authorities the appropriate levels of safety standards in order to obtain a nuclear site licence and the necessary consent to operate the facility.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations with Devonport Management Ltd. over Trident refitting. [9357]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Negotiations on the design and build of the facilities for refitting Vanguard class and ultimately all nuclear powered submarines at Devonport are proceeding with the consortium forming Devonport Management Ltd. A decision on contract award is expected in the first part of this year.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions there have been formal and informal contacts with Rosyth royal dockyard on the Trident refit programme since July 1993; and who initiated each contact. [9355]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Between July and September 1993, my Department corresponded regularly with the Rosyth royal dockyard management company about the decision to construct nuclear submarine refitting facilities at Devonport. Since then, there have been no formal discussions or negotiations with the company about the location at which Vanguard class submarines will be refitted. During the last year, the company wrote on two occasions indicating that Rosyth would be capable of accommodating Vanguard class refits should the Government wish to reconsider their decision. I wrote to the company in August to the effect that the Government have no such plans. No record is held of the number of informal contacts that Ministers or officials have had with representatives of the Rosyth royal dockyard management company since July 1993 nor of the topics of discussion.

  MOD Police
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Royal Ordnance paid his Department for the services of the Ministry of Defence police in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [9376]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not the Department's practice to disclose commercially sensitive information.

  Army Ambulances
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army ambulances were(a) used and (b) damaged or lost in (i) the Gulf conflict and (ii) in deployment with the United Nations in the former Yugoslavia. [9456]
  579
  Mr. Soames
  Information regarding the number of Army ambulances used, damaged or lost during the Gulf conflict is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of Army ambulances deployed to the former Yugoslavia in support of the United Nations fluctuated throughout the period, but the average number in theatre at any one time was 17 wheeled ambulances and 13 tracked ambulances. No ambulances were lost during the deployment. Information on the number damaged is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 January,Official Report, column 96, when he expects the study on the probability of a random mid-air collision to be completed. [9778]

  Mr. Soames
  The study should be completed by the end of this year.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the causes of the mid-air collision on 10 January involving two Tornado F3 fighters. [9693]

  Mr. Soames
  An RAF board of inquiry is investigating the cause of this accident. A copy of the summary of its findings will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

  Royal Marines School of Music
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) costs additional to those forecast and (b) delays in preparing the naval detention quarters are being incurred in connection with the closure of the Royal Marines school of music at Deal and the proposed move to Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [9681]

  Mr. Soames
  The contract now let for the conversion of the former RN detention quarters is at a cost of £505,000 compared with our original estimate of £450,000 contained in the consultative document. The conversion work is planned to be completed by mid-April, when the RMSM personnel return from their normal Easter leave.

  Equerries
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many equerries are provided by his Department; and to whom they are allocated. [8682]

  Mr. Soames
  Five equerries are provided by my Department to the royal households. They are allocated as follows:

  HM The Queen

  HM The Queen Mother

  HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

  HRH The Prince of Wales

  HRH The Duke of York.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days the royal yacht was used on official business in 1994–95. [8684]

  Mr. Soames
  In 1994, HMY Britannia was at sea for 164 days, of which 31 entailed royal duties, and 13 were devoted to trade promotion. In 1995, she was at sea for 156 days, of which 35 entailed royal duties, and 11 were devoted to trade promotion.

  Brown and Root
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he is taking and has taken to investigate Brown and Root's ability to oversee the refitting of Trident submarines; and when he will make a decision; [9356]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the suitability of Brown and Root for Trident refitting work; [9353]

  (3) what assessment he made of the records of the parent company in the United States in respect of contracts when considering the suitability of Brown and Root for Trident refitting work. [9354]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Brown and Root Ltd. is a UK-based company and is a member of the consortium forming Devonport Management Ltd., with which my Department is involved in contractual negotiations for the design and build of nuclear refitting facilities at Devonport. A decision on contract award is expected in the first part of this year. Steps have been, and will be, taken to ensure that any company ultimately contracted to undertake the work is both able and suitable to do so, including the provision of appropriate guarantees and assurances from parent companies where necessary.

  HOME DEPARTMENT
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the powers and authority of the Home Office controllers at Doncaster prison; what are their salaries; and if he will make a statement. [8056]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the powers and authority of the Home Office Controllers at Doncaster.
  The Criminal Justice Act of 1991 requires that "every contracted-out prison shall have a Controller who shall be a Crown Servant appointed by the Secretary of State". This function is currently carried out at Doncaster prison by a senior governor grade and his deputy. His duties include authorising the temporary release of prisoners, their removal from association, approving the use of special cells and restraints, and carrying out adjudications. He also has a general duty to keep under review and to report to the Secretary of State on the running of the prison by and on behalf of the Director as well as to investigate and report to the Secretary of State on any allegations made against prisoner custody officers performing custodial duties at the prison. The Controller is also

  581
  authorised to suspend and refer for revocation the certificate of a prisoner custody officer if he considers him or her not to be a fit and proper person to carry out custodial functions.
  The current salaries of the Controller and Deputy Controller are £43,000 and £32,000 a year respectively.

  Prisons (Cellular Accommodation)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide more robust cellular accommodation within the prison estate. [8256]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what plans he has to provide more robust cellular accommodation within the prison estate.
  Since the late 1980s all new prisons and all new houseblocks and refurbished accommodation at existing prisons have included secure cellular accommodation to the current security standard. This standard is kept under review and revised as necessary.
  The six new privately built and managed prisons which are planned will include secure cellular accommodation to accepted standards.

  Holloway Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional inmate places will be available for use by the end of 1996 at HMP Holloway. [8446]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many additional inmate places will be available for use by the end of 1996 at Holloway prison.
  There are no additional inmate places planned for Holloway prison in 1996.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long the mother and baby unit at Holloway prison has been closed; for what reason; when it is expected to be available for use again; and if he will make a statement. [9038]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how long the mother and baby unit at Holloway prison has been closed; for what reason it has been closed; and when it is expected to be available for use again.
  The mother and baby unit at Holloway prison has not been closed and there are no plans to close it.

  Prisons (Mental Health Care)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates in Doncaster prison received some form of mental health care in each month since the prison opened. [8426]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of inmates in Doncaster prison who have received some form of mental health care in each month since the prison opened.
  Listed on the attached table are details showing the number of inmates seen by a psychiatrist.

  New referrals

  Follow-up appointments

  July 1994

  2

  0

  July 1994

  4

  7

  August 1994

  5

  2

  September 1994

  11

  7

  October 1994

  15

  9

  November 1994

  20

  10

  December 1994

  4

  7

  January 1995

  6

  4

  February 1995

  8

  4

  March 1995

  19

  1

  April 1995

  29

  3

  May 1995

  21

  11

  June 1995

  21

  18

  July 1995

  20

  26

  August 1995

  31

  20

  September 1995

  20

  17

  October 1995

  23

  12

  November 1995

  24

  29

  December 1995

  23

  14

  Prisons (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the daily average number of prison staff at Doncaster prison absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison's work force. [8425]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the daily average number of prison staff at Doncaster prison absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison's work force.
  The average daily sickness is 10.23 staff, which represents 3.28 per cent of the daily work force.

  Prisons (Inmate Places)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional inmate places
  583
  will be available for use by the end of 1996 at Doncaster prison. [8445]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many additional inmate places will be available for use by the end of 1996 at Doncaster prison.
  The Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA) at Doncaster prison was increased from 771 to 850 from Monday 20 November 1995 for a period of six months. This is intended to be a short term measure in order to help cope with the current high population levels. When the arrangements cease, it is intended that the CNA will revert to 771.

  Prisons (Mechanical Restraints)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at HMP Holloway have been detained in a bodybelt or mechanical restraint since January 1990. [8443]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at Holloway prison have been detained in a bodybelt or mechanical restraint since January 1990.
  The shortest period of time prisoners have been restrained in a bodybelt or mechanical restraint at Holloway prison since January 1990 is 1 hour 40 minutes; the longest is 5 hours 10 minutes; and the average time is 3 hours 13 minutes.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the Home Office official at HMP Holloway responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of(a) bodybelts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (c) special segregation unit cells for each year since January 1990. [8423]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how often the Home Office official at Holloway prison responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of (a) bodybelts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (d) special segregation unit cells for each year since January 1990.
  The use of body belts, ankle straps, and special cells in the segregation unit have been authorised by the governor since 1990 on the number of occasions shown in the attached table, as a means of restraint and not punishment.
  Handcuffs are used as a security measure when prisoners are being moved and are a routine occurrence. In the context of restraining violent prisoners there is no record of their use.
  584

  Body belt

  Ankle straps

  Special cell Segregation Unit

  Handcuffs

  1990

  0

  0

  9

  0

  1991

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1992

  0

  0

  13

  0

  1993

  0

  0

  13

  0

  1994

  1

  0

  17

  0

  1995

  2

  0

  14

  0

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the heads of all his Department's executive agencies are taking to protect pre-retirement courses from being abandoned in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9133]

  Mr. Howard
  Pre-retirement courses continue to be run for staff in the Home Office and its agencies, apart from the Prison Service, by the main Home Office. In the Prison Service courses are organised by the Prison Service college. There are no plans for any reductions in the number of courses.

  Police Vehicle Escorts
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for police escorting slow-moving loads on motorways, with special reference to whether single police vehicles should drive in the inside lane behind the slow-moving vehicle. [9401]

  Mr. Maclean
  The precise procedure adopted for the escorting of abnormal loads is an operational matter for chief officers of police. But guidelines on the escorting of abnormal loads on motorways are contained in the police service's "National Motorway Manual", which has been issued to forces by the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  The guidelines advise that police vehicles should be positioned not less than 50 m to the rear of the load and occupy a complete lane. In normal circumstances the lane the police vehicle occupies will be determined by the width of the load. Loads which project into the second or middle lane will normally be followed by a police vehicle in that lane.

  British Citizenship
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that every woman who is not herself a British citizen but is or has been the wife of a British citizen who is the mother of a child by that husband and the child is a British citizen, will in all but the most exceptional circumstances, be granted a permanent right to abode in the United Kingdom; and if he will give the number of such mothers who have during the last 12 months been refused right of abode in the United Kingdom. [9315]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No. Each application for leave to remain as the wife of a British citizen is considered in the light of all the relevant circumstance. There are no
  585
  separate statistics of the number of foreign wives, married to British husbands, with British children, who are refused leave to remain.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, column 969, if he will specify the items of expenditure wrongly classified as hospitality in the original figure given for 1994–95. [9539]

  Mr. Howard
  The reclassification related solely to expenditure by the Fire Service College executive agency. The provisional figure given in my answer of 1 May at column 94, included the cost of meals and accommodation provided free of charge to visiting lecturers, auditors and contractors who would otherwise have included an element for these expenses in their invoices, and to candidates attending certain course selection interviews which should have been attributed to the costs of the course. The expenditure classified as hospitality should have been only that incurred on the business entertaining of the college's clients and potential clients.

  Incapacitants
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the safety of (i) pepper spray and (ii) CS incapacitant. [9668]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects on human health of CS and of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. In addition, research commissioned by my right hon. and learned Friend has been undertaken into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the suspension of trials in the west midlands on CS incapacitant. [9669]

  Mr. Maclean
  West Midlands police is one of a number of forces due to participate in police trials of CS incapacitant for self-defence. The Association of Chief Police Officers announced last November that the trials would be delayed pending further work to ensure that the solvent used to disperse the CS irritant was the most appropriate, and to ensure that the advice to police officers and medical practitioners on the aftercare of people sprayed was the best available.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (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; [8749]

  (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. [8751]
  586
  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: No legal costs have been incurred by my Department on behalf of Ministers, ex-Ministers, civil servants, former civil servants or other advisers or secondees of my Department in connection with the Scott inquiry. The cost of any advice in connection with the Scott inquiry given by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties cannot be quantified.

  Ashford (Middlesex) Remand Centre
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to sell the site of the former Ashford (Middlesex) remand centre as soon as possible. [8531]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. David Wilshire, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the future of the former Ashford remand centre.
  The Prison Service is currently considering a number of sites in the London area for a new prison. The site at Ashford is not a preferred option and the Prison Service does not have any current plans to rebuild a prison on the site.
  However, the anticipated growth in the prison population, particularly in the London area, necessitates the retention of the Ashford site for future possible development should the need arise. The Prison Service is currently in the process of renewing the lease for the site from the Council.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9750]

  Mr. Howard
  Mobile telephones, including car telephones, are procured after comparison of service providers' tariffs to meet individual requirements at best value for money. The companies which have supplied mobile telephones to my Department in the last three years are Advance Communications, British Telecommunications Mobile, Cellnet, Mercury One-2-One, Martin Dawes, Motorola, Orange, People's Phone, Securicor, Vodac, Vodafone and WaveTech.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9749]

  Mr. Howard
  There are currently no agreements with companies for the provision of mobile and car telephones other than the contracts for the individual telephones.

PRIME MINISTER

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister 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 organisation 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. [9217]

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

  Civil List
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the amount of the civil list in 1994–95; what is the projected amount for 1995–96; and what is the current assessed surplus over actual expenditure. [8685]

  The Prime Minister
  As announced by my predecessor on 24 July 1990 Official Report, columns 299–300, and implemented by SI 1990/2018 of 12 October 1990, the provision of Her Majesty's civil list is £7.9 million in each year of the current 10-year settlement. Surplus provision in the early years is designed to cover shortfalls in the later ones.

  For details of the current surplus, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 10 January, Official Report, columns 244–45.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (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; [8750]

  (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. [8752]

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of legal services charged by the Treasury Solicitor's Department together with accounts settled to date from public funds for the provision of external legal services incurred on behalf of Ministers, ex-Ministers, civil servants and former civil servants of my Department in connection with the Scott inquiry is £318,165.46. No legal costs have been incurred on behalf of other advisers and secondees. The cost of any legal 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.

  Hafez Dalkamoni
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Germany concerning the possible release by the German authorities of Hafez Dalkamoni. [9403]

  Mr. David Davis
  None. Any decision concerning the release of a national of a third country from a German prison is solely a matter for the German authorities.

  British Council
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions have taken place with the British Council about its withdrawal from countries overseas as a result of the proposed reductions in the aid budget. [9603]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the British Council's overseas activities of the reductions proposed in the autumn statement. [9602]

  Mr. Hanley
  Preliminary discussions have taken place with the British Council about the possible effects of the 1995 Budget settlement. The council is preparing detailed proposals which will be discussed further with the FCO, diplomatic wing, and the ODA.

  Kurds
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has evaluated in respect of alleged mass killings by Turkish troops of the Kurds; and if he will make a statement. [9695]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have seen no reports on the mass killings by Turkish troops. I am aware of photographs which recent newspaper articles have alleged to show Turkish soldiers posing with the mutilated bodies of Kurds. I understand that the Turkish ambassador in London has sent copies of the photographs to Ankara for investigation.

  Ivory (Hong Kong)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current total of all ivory notified to his Department as held in Hong Kong; and on what date it was last assessed. [8884]

  Mr. Hanley
  The aggregate total declared quantity shown on commercial ivory possession licences in Hong Kong was 307 tonnes on 31 December 1995.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of licensed ivory traders in Hong Kong; and what was the number on 26 February 1992. [8900]

  Mr. Hanley
  There were 821 possession licences held by commercial ivory stock-holders in Hong Kong on 31 December 1995. The number was 963 on 26 February 1992.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the confiscation of ivory by the Hong Kong
  589
  authorities since 25 February 1992; and what prosecutions for illegal export have occurred during that period. [8902]

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 25 February 1992, the Hong Kong authorities have seized a total of 909.6 kg of ivory. There were three prosecutions for illegal export during the period.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current tradeable ivory stock held in Hong Kong; and to which countries ivory has been exported since 7 July 1990. [8898]

  Mr. Hanley
  The aggregate total declared quantity shown on commercial ivory possession licences in Hong Kong was 307 tonnes on 31 December 1995. No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised by the Hong Kong authorities since 7 July 1990 except for pre-convention specimens to the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spot checks on ivory-holding premises were carried out by the Hong Kong authorities in each year since 1991. [8899]

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of checks carried out by the Hong Kong authorities on ivory-holding premises in each year since 1991 are as follows:

  Year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Number of checks

  220

  319

  320

  807

  284

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on licenses issued by the Hong Kong authorities for the export of ivory since 1991. [8901]

  Mr. Hanley
  No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised since 1991 except for nine licences to export pre-convention specimens to the United Kingdom and USA.

  British Embassy, Moscow
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of modifications and decoration in the British embassy in Moscow during 1994–95; what was the figure for the previous financial year; and what was the total cost in respect of manpower and materials associated with the proposed additions to the banqueting hall in 1994. [8908]

  Mr. Hanley
  The total cost of modifications and decoration at the British embassy in Moscow in 1994–95 was £431,000, including £377,000 on re-organisation of the visa section. In 1993–94, the cost of modifications and decoration totalled £760,000. This included £540,000 for a complete refurbishment of the run-down—outhoused—commercial office and £215,000 for the installation of new security gates at all embassy entrances.

  There is no banqueting hall as such. Formal dinners are held in the dining room of the ambassador's house and official functions in the reception room there. No
  590
  additions to either room were proposed or carried out in 1994. The reception room was redecorated in 1994 at a total cost, including manpower and materials, of £28,000.

  Endangered Species (Hong Kong)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the items from endangered species seized by the Hong Kong authorities in each year since 1992; and how many prosecutions arose from such seizures. [8905]

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 1992, the Hong Kong authorities have seized a wide variety of specimens of endangered species. Details of seizures will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. During the same period, there were 1,239 prosecutions.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9757]

  Mr. Hanley
  Within this current financial year, 11 mobile phones have been withdrawn from service at an estimated total cost of £750 for contractual disconnection charges. The companies involved were Cellcom Ltd. (seven), British Telecom Mobile Communications (two) and VODAC Ltd. (two) Most disconnections result from obsolete or damaged equipment.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9755]

  Mr. Hanley
  Service contracts of 12 months duration have been awarded to the following companies:

  VODAC Ltd.

  VODACOM Ltd.

  British Telecom Mobile Communications

  Motorola Telco Ltd.

  Cellular One Ltd.

  Direct Mobile Communications Ltd.

  DVH Communications Ltd.

  Operating costs for the current financial year in respect of 217 phones, including call charges and monthly line rental/airtime totalled £83,200.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9756]

  Mr. Hanley
  Service contracts are awarded to companies submitting the most competitive bid and offering the best value for money. The following companies have variously been involved:
  591

  VODAC Ltd.

  VODACOM Ltd.

  DVH Communications Ltd.

  BT Mobile Services

  Bradford Mobile Phone Company

  DX Mobile Phones

  K1 Mobile Phones

  Mercury Mobile Services

  Motorola Telco Ltd.

  NAG Telecom

  Woodend Communications.

HEALTH

  Nursing Home Costs
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra people will now have their nursing home costs paid(a) entirely and (b) in part as a result of raising the thresholds to (i) £10,000 and (ii) £16,000; what is the cost of each category to the Treasury; how many people will have their care costs paid in full as a result of raising the capital threshold from £3,000 to £10,000; and what is the cost to the Treasury. [8696]

  Mr. Bowis
  Around 50,000 people in residential care and nursing homes are expected to benefit from the increases in the capital thresholds. The estimated cost of the increases is around £60 million. All residents, whether placed in residential care or nursing homes by a local authority, or in receipt of income support to pay towards their care costs, have to contribute out of income as well as capital, so the number of those having their care costs paid in full is negligible.

  Vaccinations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider involving parents in the preparation of future leaflets produced to warn of the adverse effects of vaccinations along the lines of the co-operative scheme established in the United States. [8702]

  Mr. Horam
  The design of all immunisation and promotional materials by the Health Education Authority is informed by qualitative and quantitative research into parents' needs and concerns. At the developmental stage, qualitative research is undertaken to determine parents' perceptions of individual diseases and immunisations. Draft materials are then pre-tested with parents and modified to improve clarity and understanding.

  In addition, quantitative tracking studies monitor awareness of promotional activity and materials, as well as which sources of information are most used and considered to be most useful by parents of young children. This research is also used to assess the information given to them by health workers.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the incidences of Crohn's disease in relation to vaccinations. [8648]
  592
  Mr. Horam
  Considerable research has already been conducted around the world and convincing links between immunisation and Crohn's disease have not been demonstrated.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a compensation fund for victims of the adverse effects of vaccines along the lines of the scheme in place in the United States. [8701]

  Mr. Horam
  None. Compensation for alleged vaccine damage is a matter that should be determined by the courts. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security administers the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979. Payments made under the Act are not compensation but are intended to ease the present and future burdens of those suffering from vaccine damage and their families.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a public inquiry into cases of adverse effects of the administration of immunisation against measles and rubella. [8703]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department has undertaken rigorous evaluation of the measles/rubella campaign, including the analysis of reports of suspected adverse reactions. This analysis concluded that measles/rubella vaccine was very safe and this conclusion was supported by two independent committees of clinical experts: the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the Department of Health, and the Committee on Safety of Medicines, which advises the Licensing Authority regarding the safety of vaccines. Details of adverse reactions have been published in "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance", a copy of which is in the Library. This publication is sent to all doctors, pharmacists, dentists and coroners who are then free to comment publicly on the data. In view of this action and the very low reporting rate of suspected adverse reactions, there is no need for a public inquiry.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9149]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department provides a range of counselling, "life planning", career management and employee assistance courses to those staff in the Department's executive agencies who have successfully applied under the Department's voluntary early retirement or voluntary severance schemes. The contract for these services is funded centrally by the Department.

  Pre-retirement courses for staff approaching normal retirement age are not funded by the Department centrally and provision for them must be considered by individual agencies as part of their forward planning exercises.

  Hospices (National Lottery)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the national lottery on raising funds to support the development and operation of the hospice movement and
  593
  hospices; what plans he has to ensure the financial security of hospices; and if he will make a statement. [9281]

  Mr. Horam
  There is as yet no conclusive evidence concerning the impact of the national lottery on the fund-raising activities of voluntary hospices. The National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services and the National Association of Hospice Fund-raisers, are continuing to keep this under review. Three hospices in England have, however, benefited from the national lottery fund.

  To help promote hospices' financial security, Government funding for hospices and specialist palliative care services has, since 1994–95, been built into health authorities' general allocations and health authorities have been encouraged to enter into three year rolling contracts for the purchase of specialist palliative care services.

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is in relation to the supply of incontinence pads to those who require them because of disability; what plans he has to review these arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9212]

  Mr. Bowis
  The organisation of continence services in England and the matter in which they are delivered, including the provision of continence pads, are matters for district health authorities and hospital and community trusts. They are under a general obligation to provide these services where the need exists and in the light of their resources and priorities.

  National health service responsibilities for meeting continuing health care needs, which include the provision of community health services such as the supply of continence pads, are set out in circular HSG (95) 8, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Dentists
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in each family health services authority have withdrawn from the NHS in each year since 1992. [9503]

  Mr. Malone
  This information will be placed in the Library. At 30 September 1995, there were 15,951 dentists on the lists of family health services authorities in England, the highest September figure ever.

  Divorce
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what forecast has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the proportion of new and recent marriages that are likely to end in divorce; and what previous estimates have been made. [9601]

  Mr. Horam
  An estimate has recently been made of the proportion of marriages which would end in divorce if divorce and death rates each remained at the average level recorded throughout 1993 and 1994. On this basis, 41 per cent. of marriages in England and Wales would end in divorce. Earlier estimates based on 1979–80 and 1987 rates remaining constant were 34 and 37 per cent. respectively. The latest estimate, together with associated 594
  commentary and technical explanation, is due to be published by HMSO in mid-March in an article in "Population Trends, 83", copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Newcastle General Hospital (Chemotherapy)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently receiving chemotherapy in Newcastle general hospital; how many were turned away from the hospital during the first two weeks in January 1996 owing to the scarcity of beds and; if he will make a statement. [9670]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for the Freeman Group of Hospitals national health service trust, which manages chemotherapy treatment on the Newcastle general hospital site. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Leonard Barron, chairman of the trust for details.

  NHS Trusts (Staffing)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the NHS executive to investigate medical staffing in NHS trusts. [9906]

  Mr. Malone
  The national health service executive takes advice on staffing from the advisory group on medical education, training and staffing. The number of doctors in higher specialist training in each specialty is planned through the specialist workforce advisory group, to ensure that there are sufficient trained candidates to fill consultant posts in the future.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be(a) the annual cost and (b) the current charges if prescription charges had been raised in line with price inflation since 1979. [8962]

  Mr. Malone
  The loss of income to the national health service if the prescription charge had been raised in line with the GDP deflator index would be about £260 million per year. This calculation is based on a comparison with charge income in 1994–95.

  The standard prescription charge per item would be £0.51.

  Cataracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the number of operations for cataracts undertaken in each of the last five years by the NHS; [9193]

  (2) what is the estimated annual cost to the NHS of cataract eye disease; [9191]

  (3) what is the incidence of cataract eye disease in England, Wales and Scotland. [9192]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of eye lens operations, which are mainly for cataracts, undertaken in England in the last five years is shown in the table.
  595

  Year

  Thousands

  1989–90

  92.2

  1990–91

  97.9

  1991–92

  111.7

  1992–93

  118.6

  1993–94

  130.5

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Information on the incidence and the estimated annual cost to the national health service in England of cataract eye disease is not available centrally.

  Information concerning Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland.

  Meningitis
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the information and training offered to general practitioners in diagnosing meningitis; and if he will make a statement. [8760]

  Mr. Horam
  The chief medical officer issued advice on meningococcal infection in his update letter of October—CMO update 7—which is sent to all doctors, copies of which are available in the Library. In this letter, doctors were reminded of the seasonal increase in meningococcal infection, were given advice on the early diagnosis of suspected cases and on the need for antibiotic treatment and urgent referral to hospital. The letter follows on from previous reminders which have been sent to general practitioners in the past. Additionally, articles in medical journals continually emphasise to doctors advice similar to that issued by the chief medical officer.

  The training received by GP trainees during their vocational training year covers infectious diseases. This is supplemented and developed further through the inclusion of infectious diseases in continuing medical education programmes.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information is made available on a nationwide basis to parents in care of infants of the symptoms of meningococcal disease and the procedures that should be adopted once the symptoms have been observed; and what plans he has to increase the information made available during an outbreak of 'flu; [8893]

  (2) what steps his Department is currently taking to inform the public of the symptoms of meningitis and the procedures that should be adopted at the outset of such symptoms; [8896]

  (3) the leaflet produced by the Department on meningitis was first made available; and in what manner the leaflet has been distributed. [8894]

  Mr. Horam
  Health visitors provide new parents with the Health Education Authority's leaflet "A Guide to Childhood Immunisations", which includes advice on recognising meningitis. In February 1994, new public information leaflets on meningitis and septicaemia were sent to all general practitioners to be made available to the public. Copies of both leaflets are available in the Library. Supplies of the leaflet were provided to the National Meningitis Trust and Meningitis Research.596
  Leaflets have also been distributed to college students and there was a further wider distribution to students in September 1995. The Department of Health also provides funding to the National Meningitis Trust to support its valuable information and support work. The trust is active in raising public awareness immediately before, and during, the winter peak. Advice on recognising meningitis can be found in the Health Education Authority's "Birth to Five" book which is issued to all first-time parents. The Department of Health also contributes to the many newspaper articles and television and radio programmes that appear during the winter peak.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for health what procedures are currently in place to inform staff working in nurseries, playgroups and schools of the symptoms of meningitis and the procedures that should be adopted once the symptoms have been observed; and if his Department plans to update these procedures. [8895]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for local arrangement by the local consultant in communicable disease control. Revised guidelines for outbreak management of meningococcal infection, prepared by the meningococcal working party of the Public Health Laboratory Service, were published in the "Communicable Disease Report" vol. 5, No. 13 in December, copies of which are available in the Library. The guidance has been sent to all public health physicians including consultants in communicable disease control and includes advice on notifying nurseries, playgroups and schools.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9753]

  Mr. Horam
  In September 1993, the Department invited, via an advertisement in the EC Journal, tenders for the supply of minor items of telecommunications equipment which included mobile telephones. Full open tendering procedures were followed. The companies which tendered were:

  Vodafone

  Mercury Communications

  Rocom

  Martin Dawes

  BT (Cellnet)

  Interconnect

  Phillips

  Securicor

  Pennine Telecoms Ltd

  Motorola.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9752]
  597
  Mr. Horam
  A contract of three years with a possible one-year extension was awarded to Vodafone from 1 April 1994 for the supply of mobile and car phones. For each mobile phone ordered, a one-year agreement applies—thereafter 90 days notice is required to terminate individual mobile phone agreements. Since April 1994 approximately 200 mobiles have been issued at a rental cost of £60,000—£300 per unit per annum. In addition, there are the call charges at £30,000, which average about £150 per unit per annum.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9754]

  Mr. Horam
  No costs have been incurred by the Department as a result of withdrawing from the contract with Vodafone as it is still in place.

  Live Vaccines
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase funding support for research into alternatives to live vaccines. [8700]

  Mr. Horam
  The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The MRC gives high priority to research relevant to developing new and improved vaccines against diseases. A proportion of this is relevant to developing alternatives to live vaccines.

ENVIRONMENT

  Fur Imports
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the briefing notes prepared by United Kingdom representatives in Brussels for the Coreper deliberations on the import of furs from animals caught in leg-hold traps in countries outside the European Union. [8698]

  Mr. Clappison
  It would not be appropriate for such papers to be placed in the Library. The papers are internal documents whose disclosure might harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

  Local Government (Services to Disabled People)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services for disabled people; what guidelines he(a) has issued, and (b) intends to issue, to unitary authorities on the provision of services for and to disabled people; what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure the continuation of services which are currently provided across the new local government authority boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [9238]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All new unitary authorities will be responsible for deciding how their statutory responsibilities for personal social services can best be 598
  discharged. On 12 May 1995 the Department of Health issued an advice document to all local authorities entitled "Social Services: Maintaining Standards in A Changing World", under cover of a local authority social services letter (95)5. Copies of the advice document are available in the Library. It draws attention to the special features of social services which the new authorities will need to consider if they are to deliver those services effectively to people who need them.

  Local Government (Essex)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on which date he expects to receive the final proposals of the Local Government Commission in respect of the county of Essex; and when he expects to announce his decisions arising from the report. [9326]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Local Government Commission published its final report for all its reviews of individual districts on 19 December 1995. Interested parties have until 13 February to make representations; we aim to announce our decisions soon after that date.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he intends to issue to local authorities about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9245]

  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.

  Local Government Elections
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances it is possible to hold the general election of all councillors for proposed unitary authorities at a time other than the normal scheduled date in May. [9325]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is possible by means of a structural change order to hold elections in other months. This is consequential upon the structural change. However, it is our policy not to have local elections other than at the normal time in May. Local authorities do not receive full powers to plan for change until the elections and we believe that, given the importance of proper preparation, there should be the full 11 months between the elections and reorganisation. In addition, because the May elections could be cancelled only by means of the structural change order, the result would be two sets of elections in the one year.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest date upon which parliamentary approval would be required for those orders giving effect to the proposals of the Local Government Commission in respect of the county of Essex to permit the holding in May 1996, of the general election of all councillors for the proposed unitary authorities. [9327]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Davies) on 11 January 1996,Official Report, column 288.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require water companies to provide financial and other information to the National Rivers Authority relating to the costs of implementing activity plans drawn up by the National Rivers Authority. [9691]

  Mr. Clappison
  No. It is for the Director General of Water Services to secure that those appointed as water and sewerage undertakers are able to finance the proper carrying out of the functions of such undertakers. Accordingly, water and sewerage undertakers provide financial and other information to the director general including in respect of obligations arising from requirements imposed or to he imposed by the National Rivers Authority and in future the Environment Agency. As regards any requirement to provide information to the agency, the Government's view was set out in another place during the passage of the Environment Act 1995,Official Report, 31 January 1995, column 1376, including in respect of the potential implications of such a requirement for the Environment Agency in carrying out its duties under section 39 of that Act.

  Education Standard Spending Assessment
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each authority in England, the education standard spending assessment for 1995–96 and the provisional education standard spending assessment for 1996–97. [9689]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mine Accidents
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing the number of(a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents, gathered by the mines inspectorate, covering (i) direct and (ii) contract employees of each of the coal companies operating deep mines which were previously publicly owned, in those months in 1995 for which figures are available; and if he will publish equivalent figures for 1994 [9775]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Information for individual mines is not produced. Statistics for the industry are published as an aggregate figure in the Health and Safety Commission's annual report. Those for the period from January 1994 to March 1995 are included in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 statistics. Copies of the commission's annual reports have been placed in the House Library.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information, and at what intervals, is required to be provided to the Health and Safety Executive regarding serious injuries occurring in private coal companies. [9717]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985—RIDDOR—require the manager of the mine to notify the Health and Safety Executive forthwith in the event of an accident at work to any employee or member of the public resulting in a fatality or major injury or if there is a dangerous occurrence. Accidents at work to employees 600
  resulting in an absence of more than three days must be reported within seven days. Cases of occupational disease specified in the schedule to the regulations must be reported as soon as an employer receives notification from a doctor.

  Incidents must be reported on an approved report form published by HSE. The information required includes details of the employer concerned, the premises where the incident occurred, the injured person and the nature of their injuries, and a description of the accident.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require private coal companies to publish, at regular intervals, detailed statistics relating to the number and types of serious reportable accidents, sustained by(a) directly employed and (b) contract workers. [9776]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No.

  Gas Engineers
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to ensure that only Confederation of Registered Gas Installers—approved gas engineers carry out work on gas appliances. [7924]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 require that gas installation businesses carrying out gas work in domestic or commercial premises must be registered with a body approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Currently, the approved body for this purpose is the Council for Registered Gas Installers. This legal requirement is being reinforced in the HSE's current national publicity campaign about the dangers of gas-related carbon monoxide poisoning.

  On 1 December 1995, the HSE published new criteria against which it will consider and approve organisations to operate a statutory registration scheme for gas installation businesses. These criteria introduce a specific requirement on bodies so approved to publicise regularly the need for the public to use only registered installation businesses to undertake gas work. An approved body must operate within criteria prescribed by the HSE.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of the change in the estimated level of Government financial support for 1996–97, on(a) local government expenditure and (b) local government taxation. [8891]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The overall level of aggregate external finance—that is the total central Government support for English local authorities—will increase by £960 million—2.8 per cent.—in 1996–97. This increase in AEF is to support the Government's view of the appropriate level of revenue spending for local authorities in England—total standard spending, which is £44.9 billion in 1996–97; an increase of 3.3 per cent.

  Local authorities are however, subject to capping, free to set their budgets at the level they consider appropriate. The actual level of local authority expenditure will therefore depend on local decisions. If English local authorities increase their spending in line with the

  601
  increase in TSS, average council taxes in England would increase by between 5 and 6 per cent. in 1996–97. The pessimistic view of local authority behaviour taken in my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's "Financial Statement and Budget Report", imply that council tax levels will rise by 8 per cent. on average next year.

  Local authority funding in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Elephant Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licences he has issued for the sale of elephant ivory since 17 October 1990. [8897]

  Mr. Clappison
  Since 17 October 1990, my Department has issued 138 individual licences allowing the sale of items made from, or containing, ivory, in accordance with the EC convention on international trade in endangered species.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which TECs included funding for business start-up(a) grants and (b) training in their last single regeneration budget bid; and which of these bids were successful. [9195]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Information in the form requested is not available. The kind of support provided for business start-up activity in SRB challenge fund bids is determined by local partnerships to reflect the needs of their localities. Challenge fund grant is made available by the Government to help meet the costs of these locally determined initiatives.

  In rounds 1 and 2 of the challenge fund, a total of 25 training and enterprise councils took the lead in 39 successful bids that included funding for business start-up. Over their lifetime, these schemes are expected to provide 36,000 new business starts and to receive £140 million in challenge fund support. The TECs concerned are:

  Merseyside

  Greater Nottingham

  Hereford and Worcester

  South London

  London East

  Central London

  City and Inner London

  North West London

  North London

  West London

  AZTEC

  Gloucestershire

  Cheshire, Ellesmere Port and Wirral

  St Helens

  South and East Cheshire

  Greater Peterborogh

  Herts

  Norfolk and Waveney

  Shropshire

  Lancashire Area West and East Lancashire

  Teesside

  602

  Tyneside

  Northumberland

  Heart of England

  North Yorkshire.

  A further 199 challenge fund schemes are expected to produce an additional 44,000 business start-ups over their lifetime. Although not led by TECs, most of these schemes involve TECs as members of partnerships.

  Butterflies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what value he places on the number of butterflies as an indicator group of the state of biodiversity of species; [9297]

  (2) what proposals he has to monitor the number of rare and common butterflies; and what new proposals he has to establish new butterfly conservation areas; [9298]

  (3) his Department will respond to the biodiversity steering group's recent published report; [9299]

  (4) what proposals he has to honour the United Kingdom's commitments made at the Rio de Janeiro earth summit in regard to butterfly and moth conservation. [9300]

  Mr. Clappison
  The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to produce a national biodiversity plan when "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan" was published in January 1994.

  The biodiversity steering group, chaired by my Department, with members drawn from all sectors, published its findings on 13 December 1995. "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report", identifies 25 butterfly and 122 moth species whose populations should be monitored where practicable. The report includes costed action plans for seven of the butterflies and three of the moths and recommends that costed action plans for a further three butterflies and 50 moths be produced within three years. The Government expect to publish their response to the report in the spring of 1996.

  On 8 January, two further candidate special areas of conservation for the conservation of the marsh fritillary butterfly were submitted to the European Commission. In all six candidate SACs for this species have been notified to the European Commission. Butterflies will be one of the groups of species used in the preliminary package of UK indicators of sustainable development which my Department will publish in the early spring of 1996.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authorities about more effective planning controls for car boot sales. [9622]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There is a general planning permission to use land for car boot sales for up to 14 occasions in any period of 12 months. If there is a real and specific threat to amenity or the environment however, a local planning authority may withdraw this right and require a planning application for such use. We have no plans to change this position and have not recently discussed the issue with local authorities.

  Tenants' Choice
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of tenants' choice. [10524]

  Mr. Curry
  Part IV of the Housing Act 1988 introduced the tenants' choice scheme in 1989. The scheme has been overtaken by other more effective initiatives which meet its objectives of improving housing management performance and providing local authority 604
  tenants with opportunities to change their landlords. Better services and more tenant control are being delivered through right to manage and tenant consultation on housing management compulsory competitive tendering. Change of landlord can be achieved through large-scale voluntary transfers, and the new estates renewal challenge fund.

  The tenants' choice scheme no longer serves a useful purpose and the forthcoming Housing Bill will include provisions to repeal the legislation in England and Wales.

TREASURY

  Income Tax Relief
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the full year yield of restricting income tax relief available at the 40 per cent. marginal rate to(a) £2,000, (b) £3,000, (c) £4,000, (d) £6,000 and (e) £8,000, (i) including and (ii) excluding profit-related pay, giving in each case the number of people affected. [7064]

  Mr. Jack
  The full-year yield of restricting income tax reliefs, but not personal allowances, for higher rate taxpayers only and the number of people affected at 1996–97 income levels are given in the table. Detailed information is not available to provide estimates taking account of profit-related pay.

  Upper limit for total allowances1

  Yield in full year £ million

  Number of higher rate taxpayers thousands

  2,000

  1,100

  890

  3,000

  830

  490

  4,000

  680

  310

  6,000

  500

  160

  8,000

  400

  100

  1Including only reliefs available at 40 per cent. marginal rates and excluding profit related pay.

  The estimates do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such a limit.

  Profit-related Pay Schemes
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation his Department has undertaken of profit-related pay schemes during the last two years; and what is his evaluation of the success of the scheme in achieving the objectives intended for it. [8309]

  Mr. Jack
  An independent survey of the tax relief for profit-related pay was commissioned by the Inland Revenue, the Department of Employment and the Treasury and was published in May 1995. The survey suggested that tax relief had stimulated significant additional take-up of profit-related pay.

  United Kingdom (seasonally adjusted)

  June of each year

  Population1 Thousands

  Workforce in employment2 Thousands

  Unemployed (claimant count) Thousands

  Workforce in employment as a percentage of the population1 Percentage

  1971

  32,548

  24,661

  859

  76

  1972

  32,558

  24,636

  727

  76

  1973

  32,580

  25,209

  534

  77

  1974

  32,583

  25,280

  513

  78

  1975

  32,626

  25,183

  780

  77

  1976

  32,757

  24,946

  1,095

  76

  1977

  32,945

  24,970

  1,159

  76

  1978

  33,173

  25,115

  1,150

  76

  1979

  33,436

  25,492

  1,067

  76

  1980

  33,607

  25,445

  1,274

  76

  Save-as-you-earn Share Options Schemes
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees were involved in save-as-you-earn share option schemes in each year since 1980; how many employees use the savings and bonus to purchase shares and at what cost to public funds; and how many employees take out the savings and bonus without buying shares and at what cost to public funds. [8308]

  Mr. Jack
  Estimates of the cost of income tax relief for options exercised under approved savings-related share option schemes, and the number of employees to whom options were granted are published in table 6.1 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995", a copy of which is the Library.

  The number of employees who exercised options is given in the table.

  Year

  Number exercising options (thousands)

  1984–85

  20

  1985–86

  25

  1986–87

  65

  1987–88

  60

  1988–89

  70

  1989–90

  100

  1990–91

  175

  1991–92

  165

  1992–93

  190

  1993–94

  240

  An estimate of the number of employees who take out their savings and bonus without buying shares is not available, but the cost of tax relief for the related save-as-you-earn accounts is included in the estimated cost of SAYE shown in table B.1 of "Inland Revenue Statistics".

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the total number of adults of working age, (b) the total in employment, (c) the total who were unemployed and (d) the total in employment as a percentage of the total number of adults for each year since 1966. [8528]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Available information relating to 1971–95 is given in the following table.
  607

  United Kingdom (seasonally adjusted)

  June of each year

  Population1 Thousands

  Workforce in employment2 Thousands

  Unemployed (claimant count) Thousands

  Workforce in employment as a percentage of the population1 Percentage

  1981

  33,780

  24,477

  2,176

  72

  1982

  33,934

  24,039

  2,521

  71

  1983

  34,199

  23,758

  2,805

  69

  1984

  34,480

  24,412

  2,897

  71

  1985

  34,676

  24,692

  3,019

  71

  1986

  34,846

  24,719

  3,120

  71

  1987

  35,029

  25,248

  2,836

  72

  1988

  35,166

  26,137

  2,294

  74

  1989

  35,292

  26,945

  1,786

  76

  1990

  35,391

  27,198

  1,615

  77

  1991

  35,469

  26,313

  2,301

  74

  1992

  35,533

  25,738

  2,735

  72

  1993

  35,589

  25,348

  2,920

  71

  1994

  35,689

  25,478

  2,645

  71

  1995

  35,760

  25,722

  2,314

  72

  Notes:

  1Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59 years.

  2Includes employees in employment, self-employed, HM forces and those on work-related Government training programmes.

  Source:

  CSO (LMSG) and OPCS.

  Unemployment Benefit (Seaham and Peterlee)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Seaham and Peterlee areas are in receipt of unemployment benefit. [9505]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In November 1995, the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits—unemployment benefit, income support or national insurance credits—numbered 1,303 in the Employment Service local office area of Seaham and 1,833 in the Peterlee local office area. These figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of the private finance initiative in the purchase of information technology by Government Departments. [7896]

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of the private finance initiative in the purchase of information technology by Government Departments. [7918]

  Mr. Jack
  On 22 December, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced the appointment of Graham Jordan as head of the new unit set up to co-ordinate a strategic approach to information technology across Government. At the core of this approach will be the use of the private finance initiative. With Government spending over £2 billion a year on IT, there are many exciting opportunities to improve public services in this area through the involvement of the private sector. The private finance panel has already identified around 150 potential IT private finance initiative projects.

  Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an itemised breakdown of the costs of maintaining the Central Chancery of the Order of Knighthood in 1994–95. [8913]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The breakdown for 1994–95 is shown in the table.

  £000

  Insignia

  204

  Staff

  201

  Printing

  92

  Capital equipment

  16

  Maintenance

  12

  Stationery

  8

  VAT

  53

  Less receipts

  (26)

  Total

  560

  Extra-statutory Concessions
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many extra-statutory concessions will remain in effect following enactment of clause 186 and schedule 35 of the Finance Bill. [9292]

  Mr. Jack
  There are 207 published extra-statutory concessions. Clause 186 and schedule 35 of the Bill will enact 11 of these. A further five will be enacted by other provisions in the Bill.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated level of Government financial support for each local authority, for England and for the United Kingdom in constant prices for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97, indicating the percentage yearly change in each case and the overall cumulative

  609
  change (i) net of community care and the estimated cost of local government reorganisation and (ii) including community care and where appropriate the estimated cost of local government reorganisation; [8886]

  (2) what is the estimated level of Government financial support for each of the new unitary local authorities and for Scotland as a whole in constant prices for (a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97, indicating the percentage yearly change in each case and the overall cumulative change (i) net of community care and the estimated cost of local government reorganisation and (ii) including community care and the estimated cost of local government reorganisation. [8887]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Central Government support to local authorities comprises:

  Table 1: Central Government support to local authorities at 1994–95 prices: United Kingdom

  Yearly change

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1995–96 per cent.

  1996–97 per cent.

  Cumulative change per cent.

  Including reorganisation and community care

  61,254

  60,438

  58,725

  -1.3

  -2.8

  -4.1

  Excluding reorganisation and community care

  59,771

  58,239

  56,074

  -2.6

  -3.7

  -6.2

  Some of these elements are distributed by Departments with responsibilities spanning Great Britain. Not all of these Departments have yet allocated their spending plans for 1996–97 between the countries of the Union. It is therefore not presently possible to break down the United Kingdom figure for support for that year. This information will be included in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", to be published in February.

  The table shows the figures which are available.

  Table 2: Central Government support to local authorities at 1994–95 prices

  1994–95 £

  1995£961 £

  Change Per cent.

  England

  Including reorganization and community care

  50,218

  49,074

  -2.3

  Excluding reorganization and community care

  48,939

  47,237

  -3.5

  Scotland

  Including reorganization and community care

  7,292

  7,219

  -1.0

  Excluding reorganization and community care

  7,174

  7,017

  -2.2

  1Figures shown in this column are not necessarily consistent with table 1 above, which is based on later information which was not broken down between the countries of the Union.

  Grants and credit approvals are distributed to local authorities by a number of different Departments. Figures for the total support provided to each authority could therefore only be collated at disproportionate expense.
  610
  grants within aggregate external finance, which represent central Government's contribution towards the cost of core local authority services such as education and community care. They include revenue support grant, non-domestic rates redistributed to authorities from the national pools and certain grants in respect of specific services;

  current specific grants outside AEF, notably in respect of housing benefit and mandatory student awards;

  capital grants; and

  credit approvals.

  Table 6.7 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97" (HC 30) set out the Government's plans for total support to local authorities and their components. The table shows those figures in the form requested, including and excluding Department's latest plans for support in respect of local government reorganisation and the current costs of community care. The capital costs of community care are not separately identified.

  Cheques
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will bring forward proposals to amend the Bills of Exchange Act 1882 to allow(a) the electronic presentation of cheques, (b) dishonour of cheques by electronic means and (c) authenticated copies of cheques to be valid as receipts, in accordance with the recommendations of the Jack report. [10409]

  Mrs Angela Knight
  I am pleased to announce the publication today of a consultation document setting out proposals on these issues. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the Government intend to bring forward an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, to give effect to the proposed changes. Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of wealth was owned, by the most wealthy 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 per cent. of the population in each year since 1979. [9317]

  Mr. Jack
  The available information on marketable wealth is given in table 13.5 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995", a copy of which is in the Library.

TRANSPORT

  British School of Motoring
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schools are now using the British School of Motoring's ignition young driver education course; and how many of these are supplying the names
  611
  and addresses of pupils using the British School of Motoring package. [8302]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not held centrally. It is a matter for individual schools to determine both how and when they provide road safety education and which resource materials or programmes they use to support that teaching.

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the shortlisted bidders he has selected as the purchaser of the Transport Research Laboratory; and if he will make a statement. [10621]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government have selected the Transport Research Foundation as the preferred purchaser for the final negotiations on the sale of the Transport Research Laboratory. The foundation includes members of TRL's existing management and is seeking to acquire TRL as a non-profit distributing company. Although the competing bid from the consortium of Pell Frischmann Consulting Engineers Ltd., Mouchel Associates Ltd., the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club was strong, the foundation's bid was judged better to meet the objectives for the sale announced by the then Secretary of State on 14 March 1995.

  We expect to complete the sale of TRL by the end of February.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often the royal train was used in 1994–95 on official business. [8683]

  Mr. Watts
  Between 1 April 1994 and 31 March 1995, the royal train was used 27 times to enable members of the royal family to carry out official engagements.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9732]

  Percentage increases in all fares: 1986–87 to 1995–96

  London Buses

  London Underground

  All London Transport

  Network SouthEast

  British Rail

  Actual

  Real

  Actual

  Real

  Actual

  Real

  Actual

  Real

  Actual

  Real

  1986–87

  5.9

  2.6

  5.7

  2.5

  5.6

  2.3

  7.0

  3.7

  7.5

  4.2

  1987–88

  4.9

  0.9

  6.4

  2.3

  5.8

  1.7

  5.2

  1.2

  5.4

  1.3

  1988–89

  10.8

  4.6

  10.3

  4.1

  10.3

  4.0

  7.0

  0.9

  7.1

  1.1

  1989–90

  10.3

  2.3

  11.1

  3.0

  10.8

  2.8

  8.5

  0.6

  8.0

  0.2

  1990–91

  10.3

  0.5

  11.2

  1.4

  10.8

  1.0

  10.1

  0.4

  10.2

  0.5

  1991–92

  9.6

  4.6

  9.9

  4.9

  9.7

  4.7

  9.5

  4.5

  9.2

  4.3

  1992–93

  7.9

  4.6

  7.8

  4.5

  7.8

  4.5

  7.7

  4.4

  6.9

  3.7

  1993–94

  8.0

  6.2

  7.6

  5.8

  7.8

  6.0

  7.7

  5.9

  5.9

  4.1

  1994–95

  5.8

  3.0

  5.8

  3.0

  5.8

  3.0

  5.4

  2.6

  3.7

  1.0

  1995–96

  4.5

  n/a

  4.5

  n/a

  4.5

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  612
  Mr. Norris
  The procedures adopted for award of contracts relating to mobile phones across the Department of Transport has ranged from full competitive tendering procedures to simple competitive quotations, dependent upon the number of phones and predicted future requirements involved.

  The companies involved with the processes are, in alphabetical order:
  BT Mobile, Carphone Warehouse, Connections, Cellcom, EDS, ETC Communications, Hutchison Telecom, Intercity Mobile, Intercell, Martin Dawes, Mobile Cellular, Motorola, Newgate Corns, Prestige, Securior Cellular, Talkland, Uniqueair, Uplands Radio, Vodac, Vodacom Ltd., Voicecast.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9733]

  Mr. Norris
  Some £800; as a result of one agency consolidating its time contracts. Companies involved were British Telecom, Hutchison Telecom and Cellcom.

  Public Transport (Fare Increases)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list(a) the annual percentage change and (b) the increase in fares on (i) London Buses, (ii) London Underground, (iii) all London Transport, (iv) Network SouthEast and (v) British Rail in each year since 1986–87 taking 1985–86 as the base and showing the increase in both actual and real terms; what estimate he has made for 1995–96; and if he will indicate the percentage change relative to the rate of inflation in each year since 1991 for (1) adults and (2) children; [9160]

  (2) if he will list (a) the annual percentage change and (b) the increase in child fares on London Transport in each of the years since 1986–87, taking 1985–86 as the base and showing the increase both in actual and real terms; [9159]

  (3) what is the annual per cent. increase in fares on London Buses, London Underground and British Rail Network SouthEast in each of the financial years 1985–1995. [9156]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The information is shown in the tables.
  613

  Percentage increases in London Transport Child fares1, 1986–87 to 1995–96

  Actual

  Real

  1986–87

  0.8

  -2.4

  1987–88

  8.0

  3.8

  1988–89

  19.5

  12.8

  1989–90

  18.7

  10.1

  1990–91

  9.2

  -0.4

  1991–92

  16.4

  11.1

  1992–93

  9.8

  6.5

  1993–94

  3.8

  2.1

  1994–95

  2.3

  0.0

  1995–96

  0.1

  n/a

  1Ordinary tickets only. Information on travelcards and season tickets is not available.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9731]

  Mr. Norris
  Figures are not available for the cost of each agreement nor the specific number of phones involved. Contract duration varies between 0 to 24 months, the bulk being 15 months including notice period. Companies with which the Departments and its executive agencies hold air-time contracts are, in alphabetical order.BT Mobile, Cellcom, Hutchison Telecom, Intercell, Intercity Mobile, Martin Dawes, Motorola, Newgate Corns, Securior Cellular, Talkland, Uniqueair, Uplands Radio, Vodac.

  Rail Transport Research
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he will be introducing to ensure that research into rail transport will continue following rail privatisation taking place. [8606]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: It will be a matter for companies in the railway industry to determine their own individual research requirements and how they may best be fulfilled.

  London Transport
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff worked for London Transport on 24 November 1994; and how many permanent staff, full-time equivalent, were employed by London Transport on the most recent date for which figures are available. [8945]

  Mr. Norris
  On 12 November 1994—the nearest date to 24 November 1994 for which figures are available—London Transport employed 21,391 staff, of whom 20,437 were permanent staff, full-time equivalent.

  On 9 December 1995, the most recent date for which figures are available, London Transport employed 18,152 permanent staff, full-time equivalent.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision 614
  of pre-retirement courses in the event of those agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9137]

  Mr. Norris
  The chief executives of the agencies in my Department will continue to offer pre-retirement courses to all their staff who are due to retire.

  Telematics
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's telematics budget has been for the last five years; and what amount has been allocated for the next three years. [9687]

  Mr. Norris
  There is no separate budget for telematics, the use of advanced information and telecommunciation technologies. In each particular case where a telematic solution is thought to be the most cost-effective approach, it is budgeted for in the normal way as part of the relevant programme.

  A13 (Private Management)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has in respect of private management schemes for the A13. [9686]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend announced on 28 November a further tranche of design, build, finance and operate road schemes, which included the A13 between east London and the M25.

  The scope of the project is being refined, but it is intended to include the improvements at Ironbridge-Canning Town, A117 Woolwich Manor way junction and Movers lane junction, together with the management and maintenance of the A13 between east London and the M25. This will include management of the improvements between west of Heathway and Mar Dyke after construction is completed. Works are expected to commence in mid-1997.

  Road Repairs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects local authorities to have established a computerised street works register. [9333]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport is arranging for the provision of a computerised street works register for England and Wales. The contactor expects it to be fully operational by 1 March 1997.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers local authororities have to set timetables for street repairs by utilities in order to minimise traffic disruption; what plans he has to increase these powers. [9341]

  Mr. Watts
  Local highway authorities, in their capacity as street authorities, have a power under section 56 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to give directions to undertakers of proposed street works, in certain specified circumstances, as to the times when the works may or may not be carried out. The power does not apply to emergency works or to certain other urgent works for which no advance notice is required. There are no plans to increase it.
  615
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the co-ordination of road repairs(a) between local authorities and (b) between local authorities and the Highways Agency. [9332]

  Mr. Watts
  Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, highway authorities have a duty to co-ordinate the execution of works of all kinds in the streets for which they are responsible. That duty extends to co-ordination with other highway authorities where necessary.

  Arrangements for implementing this requirement between local highway authorities are a matter for the authorities concerned. For trunk road and motorway work which affects local roads, co-ordination meetings between the Highways Agency and local highway authorities are held on a regular basis to agree future programmes of major road repairs. Improvements, through the greater use of information technology, are being developed.

  British Rail Engineering Ltd. (Asbestos)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many claims for compensation for contracting asbestos-related diseases have been received by British Rail from or on behalf of former employees of British Rail Engineering Ltd. based in(a) York, (b) Derby, (c) Crewe and (d) other locations; in how many of these cases the former employee has died from an asbestos-related disease; how many of these claims have been settled; what was the (i) highest, (ii) lowest and (iii) the average cash sum paid in compensation in cases which resulted in the death of the employee; and how many weeks on average were taken in settling these claims from the time that they were initially submitted to British Rail. [9201]

  Mr. Watts
  British Rail has provided the following information:

  BREL: asbestos-related compensation claims

  York

  Derby

  Crewe

  Other

  Claims registered

  43

  20

  28

  194

  Claims closed

  19

  5

  13

  69

  These data relate to claims registered since 1 April 1991.

  Information on the number of cases in which former BREL employees have died from an asbestos-related disease, and on the compensation payable in such cases, is not readily available. In addition, in some cases the claim may be settled before death, and in others death may have occurred before the claim was submitted.
  Details of, financial settlements to date

  Highest settlement: £262,134–05

  Lowest settlement: £5,385–50

  Average settlement: £37,515–64.

  This information relates to all cases arising out of an asbestos-related disease, not just to those which resulted in the death of the employee.

  The average time taken in settling claims from registration to closure of the case is 91 weeks. This period includes the time taken to pay plaintiff's costs and any costs payable by British Rail to its own legal advisors, as the claim cannot be closed until all legal costs have been paid.

  Public Transport (London)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the change in fares on public transport in London in real terms relative to the rest of Britain since(a) 1991 and (b) 1992. [9157]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The table shows real percentage increases in public transport fares.

  1991–92 to 1994–95

  1992–93 to 1994–95

  London

  Rest of Great Britain

  London

  Rest of Great Britain

  Bus fares

  14.2

  5.9

  9.4

  3.7

  British Rail1

  13.4

  8.9

  8.6

  5.1

  London Underground

  13.9

  n/a

  9.0

  n/a

  1Network SouthEast for London. All British Rail fares in Rest of Great Britain column.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to seek additional powers to deal with defective foreign HGVs. [9840]

  Mr. Norris
  None. The Government are satisfied that the powers in the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act 1972 and in the Road Traffic Act 1988 are sufficient.

  Water Spray
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require commercial vehicles to take steps to reduce water spray from their vehicles. [9832]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is continuing to conduct research to find a reliable and repeatable way of measuring the effect of spray on driver's vision. When the research is comple1ted, we shall be in a better position to consider improvements to the current standards.

  Loose Loads
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require commercial vehicles to restrain or cover loose loads. [9833]

  Mr. Norris
  The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 already require drivers of goods vehicles to ensure that loose loads are covered or restrained when being operated on the roads or in quarries.

  The Department also issues a code of practice on the safety of loads, which has gained wide recognition within the haulage industry, in which advice is given on methods to constrain loose loads.

  A30
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the contract for the improvement of the A30 trunk road junction at Kennards house, north Cornwall, to be let. [9609]
  617
  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Paul Tyler, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when the Secretary of State for Transport expects the contract for the improvement of the A30 trunk road junction at Kennards House, North Cornwall, to be let.
  It had been planned to let a contract for this scheme during the current financial year. However, in light of the reduced level of funding for National Roads announced in November's Budget Statement, the Secretary of State announced changes to the Highways Agency's Business Plan for 1995/96 on 10 January. The scheme has been deferred but will be taken forward when funds become available.
  I am sorry I cannot be more forthcoming at the moment.

  Public Consultation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public consultation exercises his Department has undertaken in the last three years in respect of transport policy. [8607]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: "Transport: The Way Ahead" was published as part of the national transport debate launched in 1995, and sought views on the future direction of transport policy. My Department has also conducted a number of consultation exercises on individual aspects of policy including:

  Passenger Rolling Stock (January 1993);

  Gaining Access to the Railway Network (February 1993);

  The Operation of Local Bus Services outside London (March 1993);

  Consultation on Route Options for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (undertaken by Union Railways on behalf of DoT, Summer 1993)

  Paying For Better Motorways (May 1993);

  The Merchant Shipping Registration Regulations (August 1993);

  The future of Taxi and Private Hire Services in England and Wales (October 1993);

  Consultation on the principles of DBFO policy which accompanied the document, "Preliminary Note on Design, Build Finance and Operate contracts" (April 1994);

  Privatisation of the National Air Traffic Services (May 1994);

  Donaldson Report "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas" (May 1994);

  Wreck Removal Powers (June 1994);

  Waste Reception Facilities in UK Ports (April 1995);

  Proposals for New Regulations on Transport of Radioactive Materials by Road In GB (April 1995);

  River crossings to the East of Tower Bridge (June 1995);

  Possible changes to Bus Deregulation (July 1994).

  In addition, there have been a large number of consultations on very specific and/or technical issues such as: railway noise regulations and loading gauge standards; amending highways and vehicle regulations and aviation and shipping matters.

  Motor Vehicles (West Yorkshire)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for. Transport how many motor vehicles over 25 years of age are currently registered in west Yorkshire. [8883]
  618
  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: An estimated 9,350 vehicles over 25 years of age are currently licensed in the west Yorkshire area. Of these, 2,900 are in private and light goods, motorcycle or tricycle taxation classes and will qualify for exemption from vehicle excise duty as a result of the vehicle taxation changes announced in the budget on 28 November 1995.

  Electric Cars
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the potential use of the electric car; and what proportion of his Department's transport budget this constituted in (i) percentage and (ii) real terms. [8598]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The Government are considering the role that alternative fuels, including electricity, might play in minimising road transport emissions. To that end, they are continuing to sponsor studies, including the £1.2 million collaborative field trials of alternative fuels and a study into life cycle emissions. Results are expected towards the end of this year. It is not possible to apportion costs by fuel type.

  Railway Stations
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations were(a) closed and (b) opened in the United Kingdom between (i) March 1974 and April 1979 and (b) May 1979 and December 1995; and what was the net figure for openings and closures for those two periods. [9608]

  Mr. Watts
  In Great Britain, between March 1974 and April 1979, 14 stations were closed and 31 opened or reopened, giving a net gain of 17 stations. Between May 1979 and December 1995, 63 stations were closed and 233 opened or reopened, giving a net gain of 170 stations. Figures for closures, openings and reopenings of stations in Northern Ireland between March 1974 and April 1979, and between May 1979 and December 1995, would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Coastguard Service
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the running cost budget for the Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years; and what it is for the current year. [9559]

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

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 17 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about running cost budgets for the Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years.
  The Coastguard Agency was formed on 1 April 1994 and the budgets since then are as follows:

  1994–95: £24,882

  1995–96: £25,596.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to ensure that workers on the construction of the Jubilee line are legitimately employed [9104]

  Mr. Norris
  Day-to-day management of the Jubilee line extension project is the responsibility of London Underground Ltd., whose contracts require construction companies to comply with the appropriate legislation covering the employment of labour.

  Merchant Vessels
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of merchant vessels of 500 gross registered tonnes or more registered worldwide were constructed in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland an (d) Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [9566]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: I understand that the information, as sourced from Lloyd's maritime information services, is as follows:

  Operational merchant vessels in world fleet at 30 September 1995 By year and country of build

  Percentage of registered vessels completed in year by country of build

  Year of build

  England

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  1990

  1.6

  0.0

  0.2

  1991

  1.2

  0.0

  0.5

  1992

  1.1

  0.2

  0.1

  1993

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  1994

  0.3

  0.2

  0.5

  No merchant vessels were constructed in Wales during this period.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Eastern Europe
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his Department's projections for future expenditure in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. [8948]

  Mr. Hanley
  Planning figures for the period 1996–97—1998–89 are being finalised. As usual, these will be published in the 1996 Foreign and Commonwealth Office departmental report in March.

WALES

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of those agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9136]
  620
  Mr. Hague
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments under its chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 January 1996:

  PROVISION OF PRE-RETIREMENT COURSES
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the provision of pre-retirement courses with respect to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments.
  Cadw is an executive agency within the Welsh Office and all staff are employed by the parent Department. As a general rule, the agency does not run its own training courses. Cadw staff are eligible for in-house training courses provided by the Welsh Office (which include pre-retirement courses) and will also attend specialist courses provided by external trainers.
  All staff in the agency are encouraged to attend courses relevant to their needs at the appropriate time and it is my understanding that the Welsh Office intend to continue with the existing programme of pre-retirement training.

  Dentists
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations the Welsh Office had with(a) the British Dental Association and (b) dentist representative bodies in Wales, before instigating the Welsh Office initiative to attract more dentists to those areas in Wales where NHS dental capacity is currently inadequate; and if he will make a statement. [9339]

  Mr. Hague
  During the course of consultations on the Government's Green Paper, "Improving NHS Dentistry", Welsh Office officials met the British Dental Association, the General Dental Services Committee and held meetings with each of the eight local dental committees in Wales to which all dentists were invited. An individual meeting was offered to any dentist who wished to express views privately. Over 40 per cent. of dentists in Wales were seen in this way.

  Local Government
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the effect of the change in the estimated level of Government financial support for 1996–97, on(a) local government expenditure and (b) local government taxation. [8890]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend's provisional 1996–97 settlement proposals announced on 28 November provide for central Government support for local authority spending—through aggregate external finance—to rise by 2.1 per cent. to £2,517.4 million. This level of support represents 87.8 per cent. of total standard spending, compared with 88.6 per cent. in 1995–96.

  Actual council tax levels depend also on local authorities' own budgetary decisions.

  Butterflies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to strengthen and enlarge the work of butterfly conservation through nature reserves and butterfly and moth conservation areas. [9294]
  621
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The statutory countryside agencies, including the Countryside Council for Wales, are jointly funding with the World Wide Fund for Nature a three-year project "Action for Butterflies". It is intended to produce action plans for the conservation of 25 species of butterfly. In addition, two sites containing the Marsh Fritillary—Rhos Llawr Cwrt and Gower Commons—have been submitted to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation under the habitats directive. The Countryside Council for Wales continues to support the establishment of local nature reserves, many of which contain significant butterfly and moth populations.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most recent calculation of the proportion of Welsh families that have state nursery education available to them in each education authority for children aged(a) three to four years and (b) four to five years. [9352]

  Mr. Richards
  No calculations have been made on the basis of families. The following table shows the number of children at maintained nursery and primary schools at January 1995, with estimated ages at 31 December 1994, expressed as a percentage of the Registrar General's mid-1994 population estimates for three and four-year-olds.

  Percentage of children at maintained nursery and primary schools, by LEA and by age

  Age

  LEA

  3 years

  4 years

  Clwyd

  63.4

  98.5

  Dyfed

  43.4

  86.7

  Gwent

  50.3

  93.6

  Gwynedd

  23.2

  75.2

  Mid Glamorgan

  52.9

  91.9

  Powys

  26.8

  87.1

  South Glamorgan

  38.2

  80.4

  West Glamorgan

  72.7

  99.2

  Wales

  49.7

  90.2

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9770]

  Mr. Hague
  Welsh Office has no live contracts for the provision of mobile phones. Airtime contracts are presently held with:

  Number of phones

  Astec Communications

  13

  BT

  8

  Cellular Communications Corporation

  1

  Martin Dawes Communications

  3

  Mercury Communications

  1

  622

  Number of phones

  Mobile Telecomms

  6

  Peoples Phone

  100

  Talkland International

  4

  Uniqueair

  5

  VHL Communications

  1

  VODACOMM

  16

  Airtime contracts for existing mobile phones are initially for 12 months from purchase date and following that period are reviewed competitively and let to ensure value for money.

  Contract values are dependent on mobile phone usage.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9771]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department's standard competitive tendering procedures are used for the purchase of mobile telephones and car phones. Companies invited to tender for the supply of mobile phones include Peoples Phone, Talkland, Martin Dawes, Uplands Communications, Avenguard Communications, Astec Communications and VHL.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9772]

  Mr. Hague
  In the last three years we have paid £264 in penalties for terminating contracts early. The companies involved were Peoples Phone, Vodacom and Uniqueair.

  Cardiff Bay (Birds)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce his plans for bird compensation measures for the loss of the Cardiff site of special scientific interest; and when he expects these to be completed. [10410]

  Mr. Hague
  I am pleased to announce my plans to proceed immediately with bird reserve compensation measures at Uskmouth and Goldcliff and the area in between on the Gwent levels. These new proposals have been developed with the assistance of the Countryside Council for Wales, from the conclusions reached by the Cardiff Bay development corporation steering group report on alternative mitigation measures—October 1995—and discussed with the European Commission. I have placed a copy of the steering group report in the Library of the House.

  I have asked the Cardiff Bay development corporation to set up immediately a project implementation steering group to oversee the establishment of the new integral reserve of over 375 hectares, with the firm objective of completion before the start of impoundment of the waters in Cardiff bay. The longer term objective is for the reserve to be developed so that it qualifies for special protection

  623
  area status. The first task of the group will be to provide clear proposals for the management of the site and by the end of May, specific targets for the birds to be attracted to it. The Land Authority for Wales, working on behalf of CBDC, has already secured from National Power 164 hectares of the land required and lodged a planning application for engineering works for the whole of the reserve site.

  Animal Feedstuffs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines the agricultural section of his Department gives to farmers and other workers in Wales with regard to the need to use gloves when handling animal feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement. [8693]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive has not issued specific guidelines concerning the use of gloves by farmers and other workers when handling animal feedstuffs. However, suppliers of animal feedstuffs have a duty to provide information regarding precautionary measures if the feedstuffs present a health hazard to people.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Engagements
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list her engagements for Monday 18 December and for Tuesday 19 December 1995. [8608]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: In addition to my parliamentary duties, I had a series of meetings with ministerial colleagues, officials and others.

  Military Knights
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will identify each of the military knights of Windsor who occupy accommodation on the occupied royal palaces estate; and what is the total amount received in rents and other charges from the occupiers. [8906]

  Mr. Sproat
  There are 13 military knights in residence at Windsor castle. All the military knights are distinguished ex-service men.

  The military knights, who receive no payment for performing their ceremonial duties, live rent free but are responsible for internal repairs and decorations. They have paid a total of £1,287 in charges for water from the Windsor castle waterworks for the financial year 1995–96. They are billed for other utilities by the suppliers and they pay council tax.

  Royal Residences
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what resources have been provided from public funds for the maintenance of each of the royal residences in each year from 1992–93. [8912]
  624
  Mr. Sproat
  The cost to my Department for the maintenance of each of the royal residences, since 1992–93, is as follows:

  £Million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Buckingham Palace

  1.103

  1.326

  2.380

  Buckingham Palace Mews and Gardens

  1.760

  0.613

  0.624

  Kensington Palace

  0.483

  0.985

  1.145

  St. James's Palace

  1.106

  0.974

  2.172

  Clarence House and Marlborough House Mews

  0.468

  0.271

  0.241

  Hampton Court Mews and Paddocks

  0.067

  0.061

  0.155

  Windsor Castle

  8.518

  5.380

  2.077

  Windsor Castle Mews

  0.198

  0.137

  0.372

  Windsor Castle Homes and Great Park

  0.463

  0.361

  0.483

  The figures for Windsor Castle exclude fire restoration costs.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Turkeys
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to ensure that turkeys are reared and slaughtered humanely. [8721]

  Mrs. Browning
  Legislation is already in place to ensure that the welfare of turkeys is protected. We are currently considering the recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on turkeys which was published last year. We shall also participate actively in future discussions on the proposed Council of Europe recommendations on the welfare on turkeys.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many miles of hedgerows have been reinstated in the last four years; how many miles of hedgerows have been removed in each region; and at what cost in subsidy to public funds. [9606]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have been asked to reply.

  Financial support for hedgerow restoration and planting is mainly provided through the Countryside Commission's countryside stewardship scheme, which incorporates the hedgerow incentive scheme, and MAFF's farm and conservation grant scheme.

  The information requested in relation to countryside stewardship is set out in the table:

  Agreement year (1 October–30 September)

  Length of hedgerow planted/reinstated (approximately)

  Expenditure (approximately) £

  1992–93

  142 miles (229 km)

  410,169

  1993–94

  279 miles (449 km)

  802,350

  1994–95

  487 miles (784 km)

  1,522,087

  1995–96

  468 miles (754 km)

  1,354,818

  625

  Comparable information in respect of the Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme is as follows:

  Financial year

  Length of hedgerow planted/reinstated approximately

  Expenditure approximately £

  1991–92

  450 miles (735 km)

  1,469,744

  1992–93

  570 miles (920 km)

  1,839,446

  1993–94

  710 miles (1,146 km)

  2,292,570

  1994–95

  530 miles (855 km)

  1,709,479

  Neither scheme provides assistance towards hedgerow removal.

  Fish Stocks
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to commission studies into the artificial development of fish stocks by use of(a) discarded gas and oil structures, (b) protected closed areas and (c) other means and if he will make a statement. [8370]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]I see no justification for commissioning further studies of enhancement of marine fish stocks because work done so far, both in the United Kingdom and world-wide, suggests that such measures are rarely effective. On the specific suggestions made by the hon. Member.

  (a) the development of artificial reefs has been shown to be feasible. However it has not been demonstrated that the use of artificial reefs necessarily leads to increases in stocks; it rather may lead to the aggregation of existing resources into a smaller, well defined area and make the fish easier to catch;

  (b) I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 15 January 1996, Official Report, column 457.

  (c) there have been various attempts around the world at enhancing marine fish stocks through the release of juveniles but these have so far been largely unsuccessful. A particular problem is that reared fish have generally exhibited high mortality rates once released. The expert view is that overall, artificial additions to fish stocks can at best make only a small contribution to total stocks; and unless great care is taken with preparation and release, the reared fish may provide no more than expensive food for other species.

  Equidae
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many organisations have been recognised in Britain to register equidae within the meaning of directive 90/426/EEC; [9349]

  (2) if he will name the organisations in Britain which have been recognised to register equidae within the meaning of directive 90/426/EEC; and if he will make a statement about the welfare implications for equidae of such registration. [9350]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: Under EC Council directive 90/426, "registered equidae" means any equidae registered with those organisations or associations maintaining studbooks which have been formally recognised under the terms of EC Council
  626
  directive 90/427. Recognition is voluntary. Thirty seven organisations have so far been recognised in the United Kingdom as follows:

  The National Pony Society

  British Miniature Horse Society

  National Light Horse Breeding Society

  Anglo-European Studbook Ltd.

  British Warm-Blood Society

  British Sports Horse Registry

  Arab Horse Society

  Weatherbys

  British Horse Foundation

  Shire Horse Society

  Suffolk Horse Society

  The British Andalusian Horse Society

  Falabella Horse Breeders Association

  Caspian Pony Society

  Dales Pony Society

  Hackney Horse Society

  Exmoor Pony Society

  Lusitano Breed Society of Great Britain

  British Skewbald and Piebald Association

  New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society

  British Appaloosa Society

  The Spotted Horse and Pony Register

  English Connemara Pony Society

  The Dartmoor Pony Society

  Irish Draught Horse Society

  British Hanoverian Horse Society

  International Miniature Pony Society

  Welsh Pony and Cob Society

  Donkey Breed Society

  British Palomino Society

  Fjord Horse Society of Great Britain

  British Lipizzaner Horse Society

  Shetland Pony Society

  British Quarter Horse Association

  Trakehner Breeders Fraternity

  Eriskay Pony Society

  Highland Pony Society.

  The welfare implications for registered equidae are being considered. We will be discussing this with interested parties as part of our continuing consultations on the implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the non-European countries which have minimum wage legislation. [7895]

  Mr. Lang
  The Government do not collect details of those countries throughout the world which have minimum wage legislation. However, the majority of research clearly shows that statutory minimum wages destroy jobs.

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux on changes in the level of its services as a result of the budget he has allocated to it. [7908]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  We have regular discussions with the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux about its funding and performance. I can announce today that the grant-in-aid available to the association for 1996–97 will be increased by £600,000 to a total of £12,516,000.

  SWALEC (Takeover)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the takeover of SWALEC by Dwr Cymru plc. [7909]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  One representation has been received by my Department.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of the landfill tax on the future of the coal industry. [7910]

  Mr. Page
  None, but I am aware that representations are being made by the industry. These will, of course, be taken fully into account before decisions are made on relevant aspects of the implementation of the tax.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much of the current liability for processing nuclear waste it is proposed that the British Energy Company will meet. [7911]

  Mr. Eggar
  The final decisions on the precise split of assets and liabilities between the company remaining in the public sector—Nuclear Electric plc, to be renamed Magnox Electric plc—and the two companies to be privatized—Scottish Nuclear Ltd. and Nuclear Electric Ltd., as subsidies of British Energy plc—have not yet been taken.

  We have established the basic principle that assets will be followed by the associated liabilities.

  Businesses, Suffolk
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support is being given by his Department to businesses in Suffolk. [7913]

  Mr. Page
  My Department is supporting Business Link Suffolk and Business Link Norfolk and Waveney. Both business links opened recently and are now providing high quality services to local companies.

  Central South Coast Region
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received in support of a new central south coast region. [7914]
  628
  Mr. Eggar
  I have not received any recent representations on this issue.

  Industrial Investment Levels
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on investment levels in United Kingdom industry(a) from 1974 to 1979 and (b) since 1979. [7915]

  Mr. Eggar
  Between 1974 and 1979, total investment grew on average by 0.75 per cent. in real terms each year. Since 1979, it has grown by 1.75 per cent. on average in real terms each year.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures were proposed by Her Majesty's Government at the Madrid summit to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing and service industries in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other member states. [7916]

  Mr. Lang
  The Madrid European Council discussed competitiveness on the basis of a report produced by the European Commission's competitiveness advisory group under the chairmanship of Dr. Ciampi. The United Kingdom endorsed, in particular, the emphasis which the report placed on: the need to ensure the effective implementation of the single market, including the introduction of competition into the utilities sector, the need to give effective support to small and medium enterprises, especially through the removal of regulatory obstacles, and the importance of Europe competing effectively with the United States and Asia. The United Kingdom also reiterated its commitment to making progress with trans-European networks.

  Competitiveness (Environmental Appraisal)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [8668]

  (2) if "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [8666]

  (3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead"; [8669]

  (4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [8667]

  Mr. Page
  The 1994 White Paper "Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win" was the first comprehensive audit of the UK's competitive position. The 1995 White Paper "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" updated the analysis, and it will be reviewed and developed further in the competitiveness White Paper due to be published later this year.
  629
  The White Papers have analysed the main factors influencing competitiveness. They identified the primary responsibility of companies themselves to improve their competitive performance. They also outlined policies and initiatives across the whole of Government to help create the right framework and conditions to foster that improvement.

  Against this background, the White Papers considered the relationship between environmental issues and competitiveness. The 1995 White Paper sets out the implications for business of the Government's commitment to sustainable development. It addresses the way that tax and regulatory policies are used to achieve environmental objectives and identifies the challenges and opportunities for business managers. There was no specific, separate written environmental appraisal of the White Papers themselves. It is a matter for each Government Department and individual company to consider and monitor the environmental implications of their activities in the normal way—including, where appropriate, the need for a written environmental appraisal.

  Responsibility for managing the competitiveness agenda within the Government now lies with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Office of Public Service in the Cabinet Office.

  Business Links
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the introduction of business links. [7917]

  Mr. Lang
  Business links are making excellent progress in raising the quality of business support services and simplifying access to them. For the first time, businesses have a simple route to top quality public and price sector support—support delivered by local business for local business and tailored to the customer's individual needs. Across the country, thousands of companies, especially small firms with the desire and potential to grow, are experiencing the tangible benefits which business link offers—a single point of access to a complete range of support, including help with exports, innovation and technology, access to finance, sources of supply and so on.

  The national business link network is nearing completion. With 176 outlets now operational, close to 80 per cent. of VAT registered firms in England can now benefit from the services of their local business link. Complete coverage is expected by April.

  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of his Department's internal audit report into business links. [7902]

  Mr. Page
  This was a valuable report which has helped my Department to improve its management of the business link project. On 6 October 1995, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and Industry wrote to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) as the then Chairman of the Trade and Industry Committee, providing a memorandum which included details of progress and covering key issues identified by the report. I have asked my officials to seek the agreement of the Committee to placing the memorandum in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Electric
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when it is expected that Nuclear Electric will be able to meet the full cost of its liabilities. [7919]

  Mr. Eggar
  The major part of Nuclear Electric's liabilities are in respect of long-term provisions for nuclear fuel reprocessing, waste management and decommissioning costs, a substantial part of which will not fall due for payment for a considerable number of years. After the privatisation of British Energy, the Government will ensure that Magnox Electric has sufficient assets to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed in civil research and development in(a) 1979 and (b) the current year. [7920]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information is not available for the years requested; 1993 is the latest year for which information is available and only total research and development figures were collected before 1990.

  The total number of full-time equivalent persons engaged in research and development in the UK in 1978, 1990 and 1993, and the civil component for the latter two years were as follows:

  Total

  Civil

  1978

  262,000

  —

  1990

  280,000

  231,000

  1993

  279,000

  245,000

  Communications Industry
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to promote the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturers and suppliers of communications networks and services. [7921]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department promotes the competitiveness of the communications industry through a series of initiatives, many in close co-operation with trade associations. These initiatives tackle a number of issues such as skill shortages, quality, and the use of new applications of technology to enhance productivity. In addition, we continue to pursue a licensing policy for telecommunications operators which has created one of the most competitive telecom services markets in the world. This has brought benefits both to consumers and to the industry itself since many UK companies which have proved themselves to be competitive here are now taking advantage of opportunities in expanding overseas markets.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the aerospace industry in relation to the United kingdom share of work in the Eurofighter project. [7922]
  631
  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is staying in close touch with industry and, with the MOD, it is seeking to ensure a fair and realistic distribution of work in the Eurofighter project. My Department is also seeking to help secure the best conditions for UK industry's participation in Eurofighter through its own contacts with Governments and industry at home and abroad.

  Small Business
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his plans to promote small businesses. [7923]

  Mr. Page
  The Government are taking a number of measures to promote the interests of small businesses. These include:the establishment of the business link network which will offer advice and help to small and medium companies. By April 1996, every company in England will have access to a business link outlet and the range of services they offer;
  the creation of the small business Ministers forum to ensure that the issues and concerns of small businesses are addressed across Whitehall Departments.
  the current programme of "Your Business Matters" conferences being organised by the small firms' representative organisations is enabling small businesses themselves to have a direct say in the development of future Government policy for the sector. The outcomes of the conferences will be considered in this year's competitiveness White Paper.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of Britain's electricity is currently generated by power stations using(a) coal, (b) gas and (c) oil. [7889]

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1995, 50 per cent. of electricity in the United Kingdom was generated from coal, 15 per cent. from gas, and 5 per cent. from oil.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of the private finance initiative on industrial performance. [7912]

  Mr. Lang
  Although the private finance initiative is expected to have a beneficial effect on the economy by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector procurement, no assessment has been made of its impact on industrial performance.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the results of the Scott inquiry to be published. [8539]

  Mr. Lang
  I expect the report to be published within the next few weeks.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision 632
  of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost of public funds of each agreement; [9728]

  (2) what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts; [9729]

  (3) what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9730]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Mobile and car phones are purchased locally in accordance with established Government procurement procedures. Although records of the contracts are not held centrally, it is estimated that, excluding next steps agencies, there are currently in the region of 800 mobile phones in use in my Department. These will have come from a variety of suppliers.

  Similarly, there are no central records of costs incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided.

  Japanese Investment
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Japanese companies have invested for the first time in the United Kingdom during the period April 1992 to the present; and what were the equivalent figures between(a) 1979 and 1983, (b) 1983 and 1987 and (c) 1987 and 1992. [7900]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There are around 228 Japanese manufacturing investments in the UK. From April 1992 to the present, 32 Japanese manufacturing companies invested in the UK for the first time. The equivalent figures in the financial years 1979 to 1983, 1983 to 1987 and 1987 to 1992 were 12, 27 and 114 respectively. The UK has succeeded in attracting around 40 per cent. of all Japanese manufacturing investment into the European Union.

  Sales and Auctions
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with local authority organisations about the establishment of a system of advance notification and appropriate trader identification and record keeping for one-day sales or mock auctions. [9727]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My officials have periodically discussed the issues raised by particular one-day sales with trading standards officers. My officials will shortly meet the local authorities co-ordinating body on food and trading standards and other representatives of the trading standards service to review the situation. Mock auctions were made illegal by the Mock Auctions Act 1961.

  Training and Enterprise Council
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each TEC(a) what grants it currently makes available for people starting up businesses, (b) how long those grants last, (c) what is the

  633
  monetary value of the grants, (d) what restrictions are placed on applying for the grant and (e) if the grant applies across the TEC geographical areas. [9194]

  Mr. Page
  The information requested is not held centrally for each TEC and could be obtained from them individually only at disproportionate cost.

  Research Vessel Services Ltd.
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has have with the chairman of the Natural Environment Research Council in relation to the impact of moving Research Vessel Services Ltd., from Barry to Southampton on the costs of oceanographic research. [8733]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: None. The cost in 1996 of operating the research vessel services from Southampton is expected to be less in real terms than the cost of operation from Barry in 1995.

  The transfer to Southampton is an important element in the creation of a world-class centre in deep sea oceanography.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance he intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arms-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. [9234]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department of Social Security is primarily responsible for the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply from my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People, 15 January 1996,Official Report, columns 417–18.

  I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible are reminded of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Supermarkets
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had on(a) profit margins of supermarkets and (b) references to the Office of Fair Trading of pricing policies by the supermarkets; and what studies his officials have made of these matters. [9463]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have received several representations concerning the profit margins and pricing policies of supermarkets, notably concerning bread, greengrocery products and turkeys.

  The Office of Fair Trading keeps supermarket behaviour under review and has undertaken several inquiries into the pricing policies of large supermarkets, most recently in 1992. The director general has not concluded that action under the competition legislation was appropriate.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives have been taken, and at what cost, to publicise the changes in qualifying periods for employment rights for part-time workers to(a) employees and (b) employers. [9600]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Employment announced in response to a written parliamentary question on 20 December 1994,Official Report, columns 1100–01 that regulations removing qualifying hours of work thresholds for employment rights would shortly be introduced. On the same day, the former Employment Department issued a detailed press notice about these changes which were widely reported in the press and professional journals. The changes were also covered in the February 1995 issue of the "Employment Gazette". The costs of these publicity items cannot be isolated from normal Departmental running costs.

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the number of people(a) killed and (b) injured as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, and (iii) 1995. [9618]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The annual totals of people in Great Britain accidentally killed by carbon monoxide from flammable gas, as recorded by the Health and Safety Executive, are:

  Year

  Number of fatalities1

  1993

  31

  1994

  230

  1995

  n/a

  1The totals do not include fatalities from carbon monoxide generated by solid fuel and oil. These figures are not yet available from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  2Provisional.

  n/a = no figures yet available.

  The estimated annual number of people injured in the United Kingdom as a result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning are as follows:

  Heating-appliance related

  Not heating-appliance related

  Total1

  1993

  105

  42

  147

  1994

  211

  273

  485

  1995

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1Estimates from the DTI Home Accident Surveillance System, which excludes accidents in the work place.

  n/a = no estimates yet available.

  Nuclear Power (Environmental Appraisal)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how "Prospects for Nuclear Power in the UK" (Cm 2860) was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [8656]
  635
  (2) if "Prospects for Nuclear Power in the UK" (Cm 2860) has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the appraisal;. [8654]

  (3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Prospects for Nuclear Power in the UK" (Cm 2860);. [8657]

  (4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Prospects for Nuclear Power in the UK" (Cm 2860) were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [8655]

  Mr. Page
  The environmental implications of the Government's proposals were addressed as part of the nuclear review and details of the conclusions reached were published in the White Paper.

SCOTLAND

  World Heritage Site (Cairngorms)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to submit the application for the Cairngorms to be designated a world heritage site, and if he will make a statement. [8474]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has asked the Cairngorms Partnership Board to prepare the case for world heritage site listing for the Cairngorms in 1997, once the agreed management strategy for the area, on which so much rests, has been published in its final form towards the end of this year.

  Mobile Telephones
  Mr. Williams Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mobile telephones have been contracted to his Department in each of the last eight years; and in each of those years how many different suppliers were involved. [9132]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Four mobile phones were hired from one supplier for periods up to one month in 1995. No phones were hired in the previous seven years.

  Heart Transplants
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of heart transplants carried out in 1995. [8942]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of heart transplants carried out in Scottish NHS hospitals in 1995 was 32.

  Severe Weather Conditions
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make additional resources available to Scottish local authorities to tackle the damage caused by the recent severe weather conditions, [8940]
  636
  Mr. Kynoch
  So far as the Bellwin scheme is concerned, 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.

  The Bellwin scheme does not relate to capital expenditure, but I recognise that local authorities may have to incur additional capital expenditure as a result of the recent severe weather. Any representations from authorities facing serious difficulties in this regard will be sympathetically considered in the light of available resources.

  Central European Time
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the preliminary conclusions of his analysis of the introduction of central European time on road accident casualties in Scotland; if he will immediately publish the methodology on which this analysis has been based; and what consultations his officials have had with the Transport Research Laboratory in the course of this study. [9454]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Scottish Office statisticians have published a report outlining the methodology used in their analysis of the likely effect on road accident casualties in Scotland following the introduction of central European time. Their interim conclusions are that such a change would be broadly neutral in terms of total road accident casualties in Scotland. Copies of the report are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. My statisticians have met statisticians from the Transport Research Laboratory and the Department of Transport, most recently on 20 December 1995, to discuss the methodologies used for estimating casualty savings from adopting central European time.

  I have arranged for this information to be made available to the Department of Transport and the Transport Research Laboratory.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what guidance he intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arms-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; [9235]

  (2) what guidance he intends to issue to local authorities about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement; [9244]

  (3) what guidance he intends to issue to health authorities and trusts about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9240]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People on 15 January,Official Report, column 417.

  I will ensure that officials in the Scottish Office and all bodies for which it is responsible are made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Scottish Defence Initiative
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on the Scottish defence initiative; and what proposals he has to extend it. [9406]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The Scottish defence initiative was introduced by Scottish Enterprise as a fesponse to expected reductions in defence expenditure. Progress on the initiative is consequently a matter for that organisation. I have asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to the hon. Member.

  Business Purchases (Imports)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish business purchases were imported from(a) elsewhere in the United Kingdom and (b) other countries; and if he will provide a breakdown by sector. [9567]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The only data source which provides information on Scottish imports by industry is the Scottish input-output tables for 1989. A copy of this publication will shortly be placed in the House of Commons Library. A summary of the imports data contained in these tables is set out in the table:

  Purchases

  Industry

  Percentage rest of UK

  Percentage rest of world

  Agriculture

  17.6

  11.7

  Forestry

  10.6

  2.5

  Fishing

  14.3

  8.5

  Energy and water supply

  25.1

  29.6

  Metal manufacturing

  27.2

  30.8

  Other minerals and mineral production

  26.8

  14.4

  Chemicals and man-made fibres

  38.1

  16.7

  Metal goods

  36.1

  18.0

  Mechanical engineering

  28.5

  21.5

  Electrical and instrument engineering

  50.1

  31.2

  Transport Equipment

  35.2

  25.7

  Food, drink and tobacco

  20.0

  10.4

  Textiles, leather, footwear and clothing

  29.6

  17.3

  Paper, printing and publishing

  25.3

  36.3

  Other manufacturing

  33.9

  19.1

  Construction

  30.4

  8.4

  Distribution

  21.6

  5.5

  Transport and communication

  33.5

  16.3

  Finance and business services

  42.4

  3.3

  Other services

  21.2

  14.4

  Public administration

  —

  —

  Total Scottish industry

  29.7

  18.5

  Source:

  Scottish input-output tables for 1989.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the effect of the change in the estimated level of Government financial support for 1996–97, on(a) local government expenditure and (b) local government taxation. [8889]

  Mr. Kynoch
  This information is not yet available and will depend on decisions still to be taken by individual local authorities regarding their 1996–97 budgets council tax levels.

  Oil Pollution
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the final figures for recovered losses of birds and mammals arising from oil pollution in the Shetland Isles as a result of the MV Braer incident. [8903]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is contained in the report of the ecological steering group "The Environmental Impact of the Wreck of the Braer" (The Scottish Office, 1994), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Butterflies and Moths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new proposals he has to strengthen and enlarge the work of butterfly conservation through nature reserves and butterfly and moth conservation areas. [9301]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Following publication of the UK biodiversity action plan steering group report last December, my right hon. Friend is currently considering proposals to enhance the conservation of butterfly and moth species occurring in Scotland. Requirements for habitat creation and specific conservation areas will be taken forward in the context of the Government's commitment to the UN convention on biological diversity.

  Cairngorms
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on commissioning the report of the working party on the future of the Cairngorms; and how long it took to produce its report. [9569]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Spending on the Cairngorms working party, including the cost of working party meetings, publication of a consultation paper by the working party in May 1992, all consultancy fees and the costs of producing the working party's final report and associated documents, totalled £127.650. The working party was set up in March 1991 and its report was published on 26 March 1993.

  Irvine Development Corporation
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the names of the landlords who will be allowed onto the ballots for the properties currently owned by Irvine development corporation. [9843]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1067.

  Housing
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what sums Scottish Homes has spent since its establishment on the development of housing associations; and if he will list those associations which have received funding from Scottish Homes and the amounts paid to each of them; [9844]

  (2) if he will list the result of each ballot undertaken by Scottish Homes as part of its programme of stock transfers; and if he will indicate for each ballot (i) the

  639
  number of tenants voting (a) in favour of and (b) against the stock transfer, (ii) the total number of tenants eligible to vote in each ballot, (iii) the percentage of tenants voting in favour of transferring to another landlord and (iv) the name of the successful bidding organisation in each case. [9846]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked the chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member with the relevant information.

  Commercial Properties (Revaluations Appeals)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals were lodged against the recent revaluations of commercial properties by each regional and island council; what was the number and percentage of appeals which have been dealt with; how many and what percentage of appeals have been successful; and what is the average amount of time taken to deal with an appeal. [9845]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The following table gives a provisional count, by assessors, of the number of appeals lodged against the 1995 revaluation of rateable values of all non-domestic subjects throughout Scotland. The information was gathered as at 15 December 1995, the date by which such appeals must be lodged. No information is available on the number of appeals by type of subject.

  It is too early in the process to gather meaningful information about the progress of appeals. Regular, quarterly, information on the number and progress of appeals will be gathered from the end of March 1996.

  Number of appeals1 lodged against the 1995 revaluation

  Scotland

  103,049

  Borders

  1,938

  Central

  5,494

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3,025

  Fife

  6,196

  Grampian

  10,286

  Highland

  5,589

  Lothian

  13,328

  Strathclyde

  48,436

  Tayside

  7,978

  Orkney

  174

  Shetland

  285

  Western Isles

  320

  Note:

  1It is possible for both owner and tenant to appeal in relation to the same property. The analysis shows the total number of appeals. Assessors estimate that these appeals relate to just over 94,000 separate properties.

  Source:

  Information supplied by Assessors.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the circulars his Department had issued up until 1 January 1996 in respect of current local government reforms in Scotland. [9847]
  640
  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 November 1995,Official Report, columns 68–70. Since then, the following seven circulars related to reorganisation of local government have been issued.
  Local Government Finance
  Finance Circular 24/1995: 1996–97 Capping Regime: Report specifying notional amounts.
  Circular Letter: The Local Government (Application of Enactments) (No. 2) Order 1995.
  Planning
  SODD Circular No. 25/1995: Designation of Structure Plan Areas (Scotland) Order 1995.
  Industry
  SOEID Circular No. 14/1995: Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994—Economic Development Powers.
  Social Work
  SWSG 21/1995: Community Care Planning: Joint Planning Structures.
  Police
  Circular on Police Amalgamation Schemes.
  Fire
  Circular on Fire Administration Schemes.

  Health Boards (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what safeguards exist to ensure that contracts for goods or services are awarded in a proper way by health boards or NHS trusts in Scotland when these contracts are not awarded by competitive tendering. [9848]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is a statutory requirement on all health boards and national health service trusts to undergo an end-year audit by external auditors to ensure that the trust's standing financial instructions, and any other financial instructions determined by the management executive of the natimal health service in Scotland, have been complied with.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland at what level(a) local authorities and (b) health boards and NHS trusts in Scotland are obliged to enter into a competitive tendering exercise before agreeing a contract for goods or services. [9849]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authorities make their own standing orders covering financial probity in the handling of contracts and other matters. They are required to submit certain services to compulsory competitive tendering. As a result of local government reform, most of the compulsory competitive tendering requirements have been temporarily suspended, with the exception of construction contracts over £500,000.

  Health boards and NHS trusts are required to include in their standing financial instructions detailed procedures on the procurement of goods, services and works by competitive tendering or other means. These instructions include the setting of locally agreed thresholds above which quotations or formal tenders must be obtained.

  Local authorities and health boards and NHS trusts must also have regard to EC procurement directives, including the thresholds for the advertising of contracts.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was(a) the number of intensive care beds within each health board area, (b) the number of

  641
  people living within each board area and (c) the ratio of patients to intensive care beds in each financial year since 1979–80; [9841]

  (2) what steps his Department has taken to increase the number of intensive care beds available in Scotland and the effectiveness of the intensive care system with particular reference to rural areas. [9842]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The tables show the number of intensive care beds by health board area of treatment, the estimated population resident in each health board area and the average number of patients discharged per available staffed beds by health board area of treatment.

  NHSiS—Intensive care beds1: by health board area of treatment: Years ending 31 March

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Scotland

  135

  137

  142

  159

  166

  168

  166

  166

  Argyll and Clyde

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  5

  5

  5

  7

  10

  8

  6

  8

  Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  2

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Grampian

  6

  6

  6

  6

  10

  11

  11

  11

  Greater Glasgow

  72

  72

  74

  80

  81

  81

  81

  80

  Highland

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  6

  Lanarkshire

  15

  15

  16

  19

  19

  20

  19

  18

  Lothian

  12

  12

  12

  12

  11

  12

  12

  14

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  13

  14

  14

  14

  15

  15

  16

  15

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Scotland

  166

  182

  188

  198

  219

  230

  250

  247

  Argyll and Clyde

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  7

  12

  13

  Ayrshire and Arran

  6

  6

  6

  6

  7

  8

  8

  8

  Borders

  —

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  16

  14

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  6

  Forth Valley

  4

  4

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  Grampian

  11

  10

  10

  10

  10

  11

  10

  11

  Greater Glasgow

  75

  76

  78

  77

  77

  77

  75

  75

  Highland

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Lanarkshire

  19

  24

  31

  35

  37

  37

  37

  37

  Lothian

  21

  30

  25

  28

  38

  41

  41

  40

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  15

  15

  15

  15

  20

  24

  28

  25

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Note:

  1Average available staffed beds in the speciality of intensive therapy unit.

  Source:

  ISD(S)1.

  NHSIS—Estimated Population resident in Health boards in Scotland: As at 30 June

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Scotland

  5,167,000

  5,153,300

  5,180,200

  5,166,800

  5,152,600

  5,145,602

  5,136,900

  5,123,000

  Argyll and Clyde

  480,653

  459,282

  455,045

  452,700

  450,700

  448,000

  447,200

  445,300

  Ayrshire and Arran

  376,027

  375,759

  377,854

  377,000

  376,600

  376,700

  376,200

  376,200

  Borders

  99,938

  99,510

  101,256

  101,100

  101,100

  101,300

  101,700

  101,700

  Dumfries and Galloway

  142,547

  142,465

  145,502

  145,400

  145,400

  145,500

  145,600

  145,400

  642
  It is for individual health boards and NHS trusts to ensure an appropriate level of intensive care bed provision to meet the needs of their population. The clinical resource and audit group and the Scottish management efficiency group produced a report in 1991 which made a number of recommendations relating to the effectiveness of adult intensive care such as the staffing of intensive care units and the piloting of guidelines for admission and discharge. A survey of intensive care facilities in all Scottish health board areas, which was carried out by the Scottish Office in August 1995, showed that health boards keep the need for intensive care services in their areas under review. I have asked general managers of health boards to continue to monitor the provision and use of intensive care facilities.
  643

  NHSIS—Estimated Population resident in Health boards in Scotland: As at 30 June

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Fife

  340,170

  340,341

  341,589

  342,500

  344,200

  345,900

  346,200

  346,600

  Forth Valley

  271,177

  271,210

  273,515

  273,300

  273,100

  273,200

  272,900

  272,500

  Grampian

  469,168

  471,944

  464,899

  490,400

  494,500

  498,000

  501,600

  504,500

  Greater Glasgow

  1,023,083

  1,012,041

  1,007,325

  996,700

  986,600

  978,200

  968,600

  960,500

  Highland

  190,507

  191,188

  194,903

  195,000

  195,700

  196,702

  197,800

  199,000

  Lanarkshire

  571,338

  571,737

  574,589

  573,100

  571,800

  570,700

  568,500

  565,300

  Lothian

  750,728

  748,603

  749,591

  749,100

  745,900

  746,400

  745,900

  743,100

  Orkney

  16,134

  18,030

  19,182

  19,100

  19,200

  19,200

  19,200

  19,100

  Shetland

  22,111

  22,309

  26,347

  24,100

  22,300

  22,200

  22,300

  22,400

  Tayside

  401,661

  399,191

  397,055

  395,800

  394,100

  392,400

  392,100

  390,500

  Western Isles

  29,758

  29,681

  31,548

  31,600

  31,400

  31,200

  31,100

  31,000

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Scotland

  5,112,604

  5,093,414

  5,096,628

  5,102,296

  5,107,000

  5,111,200

  5,120,200

  5,132,400

  Argyll and Clyde

  442,700

  441,300

  440,000

  439,518

  437,400

  434,300

  432,800

  433,000

  Ayrshire and Arran

  376,400

  376,000

  376,400

  376,700

  376,900

  376,600

  376,800

  377,000

  Borders

  102,000

  102,304

  102,810

  103,616

  104,100

  104,800

  105,300

  105,700

  Dumfries and Galloway

  145,504

  145,700

  147,100

  147,630

  147,700

  147,900

  147,900

  147,800

  Fife

  346,700

  346,600

  347,600

  348,800

  349,400

  349,900

  351,200

  352,100

  Forth Valley

  272,800

  272,200

  272,104

  273,020

  272,900

  272,700

  272,900

  273,400

  Grampian

  504,600

  503,500

  507,600

  510,200

  515,600

  522,400

  528,100

  532,500

  Greater Glasgow

  952,200

  940,400

  932,700

  924,500

  922,600

  918,200

  915,700

  916,600

  Highland

  198,700

  199,510

  200,614

  202,612

  204,100

  205,900

  206,900

  207,500

  Lanarkshire

  564,200

  561,900

  562,200

  562,700

  561,300

  561,600

  561,400

  561,200

  Lothian

  744,600

  742,900

  747,100

  750,300

  751,000

  750,600

  753,900

  758,600

  Orkney

  19,100

  19,200

  19,300

  19,400

  19,560

  19,710

  19,760

  19,810

  Shetland

  22,400

  22,300

  22,200

  22,400

  22,540

  22,640

  22,830

  22,880

  Tayside

  390,200

  389,300

  388,900

  391,100

  392,500

  394,600

  395,200

  395,000

  Western Isles

  30,500

  30,300

  30,000

  29,800

  29,400

  29,350

  29,410

  29,310

  Source:

  Registrar General for Scotland.

  NHSIS—Intensive care units1—average number of patients discharged per available staffed bed; By health board area of treatment: Years ending 31 March

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Scotland

  66

  68

  71

  72

  69

  72

  75

  77

  Argyll and Clyde

  96

  106

  113

  103

  101

  100

  111

  119

  Ayrshire and Arran

  145

  146

  138

  70

  32

  42

  57

  44

  Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  90

  94

  100

  102

  107

  107

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  122

  116

  116

  113

  115

  127

  116

  128

  Grampian

  13

  12

  18

  7

  28

  28

  31

  32

  Greater Glasgow

  57

  58

  60

  65

  67

  66

  67

  68

  Highland

  88

  92

  100

  97

  93

  94

  100

  102

  Lanarkshire

  57

  62

  65

  62

  64

  64

  67

  73

  Lothian

  92

  104

  107

  117

  101

  111

  123

  123

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  61

  62

  64

  70

  71

  74

  82

  79

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Scotland

  277

  80

  86

  94

  298

  99

  92

  94

  Argyll and Clyde

  n/s

  —

  —

  —

  n/s

  135

  101

  83

  Ayrshire and Arran

  68

  81

  72

  93

  85

  91

  88

  84

  Borders

  —

  43

  69

  65

  83

  95

  97

  93

  Dumfries and Galloway

  125

  148

  141

  150

  181

  180

  105

  116

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  59

  64

  Forth Valley

  129

  115

  82

  97

  97

  97

  85

  81

  Grampian

  29

  42

  57

  66

  72

  65

  44

  43

  Greater Glasgow

  78

  81

  81

  84

  84

  83

  84

  80

  644 645

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Highland

  111

  113

  113

  119

  111

  122

  116

  135

  Lanarkshire

  70

  77

  77

  95

  96

  98

  90

  92

  Lothian

  64

  70

  102

  118

  108

  103

  106

  107

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  82

  82

  88

  97

  128

  119

  112

  112

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1Activity in the speciality of intensive therapy unit.

  2 Excludes Argyll and Clyde.

  n/s = Not shown—the figures for 1988 and 1992 are not shown because of concern over the accuracy of available data.

  Source:

  ISD(S)I.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Roads (Newtownards)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's assessment of the bank at 114 Crawfordsburn road, Newtownards. [8526]

  Mr. Moss
  The bank in question reduces the sightlines for vehicles emerging from the private lane serving the property in question.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to level the bank at 114 Crawfordsburn road, Newtownards. [8499]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department does not own the bank in question and has no proposals to level it.

  Multiple Occupancy Property
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will introduce legislation to require the owners or agents responsible for letting a house or property for multiple occupancy to register the property with the local authority and obtain approval for multiple occupancy or group tenancy before letting out the property;. [8468]

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to require that all existing properties leased for multiple occupancy or group tenancy provide adequate safeguards to ensure the safety of occupants as deemed necessary by an expert on fire risk. [8469]

  Mr. Moss
  The housing policy review consultative document "Building on Success", a copy of which is in the Library, confirms that consideration is being given as to how best to bring about improvement in the safety and quality of houses in multiple occupancy in Northern Ireland. When the consultation process is complete, final decisions will then be taken on further legislative provision in this sector.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken by the Department of the Environment to ensure that adequate fire safety arrangements are now in place in accommodation offered by the private sector for group and multiple occupancy. [8470]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, the Housing Executive has a responsibility to inspect standards of accommodation and fire safety in 646
  houses in multiple occupation. The chief executive of the Housing Executive has advised me that it maintains a register of HMOs. If on inspection a property does not meet appropriate standards, including adequate fire safety arrangements, the executive is empowered to require the landlord to ensure that (i) the number of persons occupying the premises is appropriate for the facilities (ii) the premises are made fit and (iii) have adequate fire safety arrangements. As required by legislation, the Northern Ireland Fire Authority is consulted about the adequacy of means of escape from fire. The Housing Executive is also the authority to close all or part of the premises if the conditions are not met.

  Housing Benefit (Private Landlords)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 10 private landlords who received most in terms of indirect payments of housing benefit last year and the amounts involved. [8498]

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

  Butterflies and Moths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new proposals he has to strengthen and expand the work of moth and butterfly conservation through nature reserves and conservation areas. [9295]

  Mr. Moss
  Moth and butterfly conservation in Northern Ireland will continue to benefit from the ongoing programme of site protection through the declaration and management of areas of special scientific interest and nature reserves.

  There are now 85 ASSIs covering 75,327 hectares. These already include many of Northern Ireland's most important butterfly and moth sites. The target date for the completion of the declaration of ASSIs throughout Northern Ireland is 2001. Several new nature reserves are also proposed, some of which will be important for moths and butterflies.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be the effect of the change in the estimated level of Government financial support for 1996–97 on(a)u local government expenditure and (b) local government taxation. [8892]
  647
  Mr. Moss
  The resources available for general Exchequer grant for 1996–97 are equal to the original provision for 1995–96: £40.226 million. However, in 1995–96 a special once-only allocation of £2 million was provided to district councils to help kick-start the promotion of local economic development.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to review its roads programme when road projects have been cancelled; and if the criteria used in re-assessing individual road schemes have been adjusted in concert with those of the Department of Transport. [8497]

  Mr. Moss
  The roads programme is reviewed annually following the outcome of the public expenditure survey and adjustments are made to reflect the funds allocated. The criteria used to re-assess schemes are consistent with those used by the Department of Transport.

  Housing (Heating and Insulation)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of his Department and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in relation to utilising double glazing in new housing and the installation of oil-fired central heating in both new and existing houses. [8496]

  Mr. Moss
  Energy conservation and the efficient use of energy resources are a Government priority. Since 1 April 1995 it has been the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's policy, approved by the Department, to install double glazing in all its new housing.

  The installation of oil-fired central heating for the executive's existing houses is currently under review. However, with effect from 1 April 1996, its policy, approved by the Department, is to include oil heating as a option for all new-built houses.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions(a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned, (ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5981]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schools (Parental Choice)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement 648
  on the role of parental choice in determining the school that a child can attend. [9464]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Parents have the right to express a preference for the school that they wish their child to attend. In most cases, that preference must be met if places are available. As a result of the Government's reforms, parents now have more rights, much better information, and access to many more kinds of schools.

  Pupil Selection
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools applied for the right to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils following the guidelines in her Department's circular 6/93; and what are the criteria under which the right to select was sought. [8969]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Local education authority-maintained schools do not have to seek the Secretary of State's approval to introduce such arrangements.

  Some 43 grant-maintained schools have secured the Secretary of State's agreement to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils on the basis of aptitude or ability in a particular subject or combination of subjects. Of these, 23 wished to select by reference to aptitude or ability in music alone, 17 by music and one or more other subjects, and three by technology.

  Nottingham Schools (Funding)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the capital funding allocations to grant-maintained schools and the CTC in Nottingham for 1996–97. [9404]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Decisions on city technology colleges' capital allocations for 1996–97 have not yet been taken. Capital allocations to individual grant-maintained schools are a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Sports (Disabled People)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her Department's policy in relation to the development of sports for disabled people. [9216]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The revised national curriculum for physical education provides teachers with sufficient flexibility to respond to the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs. It was drafted so that specific interpretation or modification is required for as few pupils with special educational needs as possible. The revised curriculum also enables teaching material to be selected from an earlier or later key stage where a teacher considers it necessary to enable pupils to progress and demonstrate achievement.

  The sport policy statement, "Raising the Game", which was launched in July last year, sets out the Government's proposals for rebuilding the strength of British sport. That statement applies equally to all schools and the Government intend that the measures and

  649
  recommendations set out in it will be interpreted or adapted for all sportsmen and sportswomen, regardless of their individual circumstances.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give the Government's estimate of the extra administrative cost to Ealing council and each of the relevant schools within the borough boundary of administering the proposed nursery voucher scheme. [9384]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  An agency will administer the issue and redemption of nursery education vouchers. We are working with the voucher agency in phase one to ensure that the burdens on schools and local authorities are kept to a minimum.

  Bluecoat School, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she received an application from the Bluecoat school, Liverpool about exchanges in admissions criteria; what length of time it usually takes to determine such applications; when she expects to make a decision; and if she will make a statement. [9674]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The governors' proposals to change the admission criteria for the Bluecoat school, Liverpool, were published on 28 January 1995. We normally aim to take decisions on all statutory proposals within five months of their publication, though in some cases a longer period is needed if full consideration is to be given to all relevant facts. My right hon. Friend will announce a decision on these proposals as soon as possible.

  GEST
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the national allocations under the grants for education support and training programme for 1996–97. [9563]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table sets out the national allocations under the grants for education support and training programme for 1996–97. Fuller details were set out in the Department's press notice dated 5 January, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Grants for education support and training (GEST) 1996–97 Programme

  1996–97 funding

  Grant number

  Grant title

  £ million

  1(a)

  School Effectiveness

  131.9

  1(b)

  School Improvement Initiative

  1.2

  2(a)

  NC Assessment—Verification

  8.4

  2(b)

  NC Assessment—Supply Cover

  16.8

  3(a)

  Primary Teachers' Subject Knowledge

  16.9

  3(b)

  Assessment Training for Primary School Teachers

  3.0

  4

  Training for Special Educational Needs

  10.4

  5

  Development of School SEN Policies

  10.2

  6

  Development of SEN Parent Partnership Scheme

  4.0

  7

  Licensed and Overseas Trained Teachers

  0.4

  650

  Grants for education support and training (GEST) 1996–97 Programme

  1996–97 funding

  Grant number

  Grant title

  £ million

  8(a)

  Vocational Qualifications—Post 16

  9.7

  Vocational Qualifications—Pre 16

  1.5

  8(b)

  Vocational Qualifications—Pilot Part Ones

  3.5

  9(a) and 9(b)

  Truancy and Disaffected Pupils

  14.0

  9(c)

  Pupil Behaviour and Discipline

  3.0

  10

  Training in Youth and Community Work

  2.2

  11

  Bilingual Pupils

  5.9

  12

  Training for Careers Teachers

  4.1

  13(a)

  Drug Prevention and Schools— (Formula)

  4.5

  13(b)

  Drug Prevention and Schools— (Bid)

  1.4

  141

  Specialist Schools

  5.7

  15(a)1

  Literacy and Numeracy Centres

  3.5

  15(b)

  Literacy and Numeracy (support)

  1.5

  Programme total

  263.7

  1To be funded at 100 per cent., all others at 60 per cent. grant rate.

  Helplines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which her Department provides any funding, stating which are(a) independent organisations, (b) run by her Department or agencies of her Department or (c) of another classification; how many calls each received in each of the last five years; and how much money each received from her Department in each of the last five years. [9799]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Until the merger of July 1995, the Education and the Employment Departments operated independently, and will continue to do so for publicity purposes until the end of this financial year.

  Records are not held centrally of helplines funded by the former Employment Department, including some set up in partnership with the former Department for Education.

  Details of education helplines funded in the last five years are as follows:
  Helplines run by the Department
  Grant-maintained Schools
  A six-week information helpline pilot in 1993, set up by the Department, received 2,500 calls at a cost of £25,000. The service was then provided by the Department's own staff, receiving a further 2,098 calls in 1993, 1,960 calls in 1994, and 1,540 in 1995. As servicing the helpline is part of many other duties, costs for operating this service following the pilot cannot be separated out.
  Nursery Education
  A nursery education helpline was set up by the Department in November 1995. To date, 5,000 calls have been received at an estimated cost of £16,000.
  Helplines run by Agencies for the Department
  The Teacher Training Agency set up a helpline for individuals wishing to go into teaching in August 1995. To date, around 7.980 calls and more than 3,530 letters have been received at a cost of £115,000.
  The Funding Agency for Schools set up a helpline for schools in January 1996, in response to the recent survey of the condition of school buildings. Costs have yet to be finalised.

  Literacy and Numeracy Centres
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give a breakdown of the costs of the primary literacy and numeracy centres for 1996–97, indicating what amounts will be available for(a) capital and (b) running costs. [9564]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The new grants for education, support and training programme specific grant will provide for £5 million of expenditure in 1996–97. The breakdown between capital and running costs will depend on the nature of successful bids from local education authorities.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what training each TEC makes available for small business start-ups; how many training places for start-ups are currently available; and what were the equivalent figures for each financial year since the TECs began. [9196]

  Mr. Paice
  The single regeneration budget allows training and enterprise councils and their local partners to provide training as part of an integrated programme of support for small business start-ups. In addition, TECs can use training for work budgets to help unemployed people who wish to become self-employed. The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures were used by her Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to her Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9762]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones for the Department and for the Teachers' Pensions Agency are awarded through value for money comparisons—for low-value orders below £500—and competitive tender for higher value contracts.

  The following companies have tendered:

  BT

  Vodac

  Direct Mobile

  Cellcom

  Peoples Phone

  4U Ltd

  Martin Dawes.

  The Employment Service has had a framework agreement for the supply of mobile and car phones with Vodac for the past four years. Work is currently in hand to run a competition to put in place a single framework agreement which will be used by the Department and its executive agencies.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what agreements her Department and its executive agencies have with 652
  companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9761]

  Mr. Squire
  The information sought is set out in the table, as far as it is readily available, in respect of centrally managed contracts.

  Company

  Number of phones

  Agreement fixed Charges £

  BT

  77

  23,500

  Vodac

  52

  14,200

  Direct Mobile

  1

  300

  Cellcom

  9

  3,000

  Peoples Phone

  29

  15,000

  4U Ltd.

  5

  1,700

  Vodac—employment service framework agreement

  1,129

  297,474

  1. Contracts for mobile and car phones are for a minimum of one years duration.

  2. Details of call charges are not readily available and would involve disproportionate cost to provide.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what costs her Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9763]

  Mr. Squire
  The Department has no record of incurring costs as a result of withdrawing from mobile and car phone contracts, nor have either of its executive agencies—the Employment Service and the Teachers' Pensions Agency.

  Homework Clubs
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received about the development of homework clubs; and if she will make a statement. [8091]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has received representations about out-of-school activities, including homework centres, from the Prince's Trust and from Education Extra. The Department contributed towards the cost of a conference on study support out-of-school hours organised by the Prince's Trust in November 1995, and is discussing possible further developments with the trust.

  Disability Discrimination
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 9 January,Official Report, column 147, when her Department or the then Department of Employment first became aware of the fact that 96 per cent. of employers would not be covered by the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; what plans she has to amend the Act to involve more employers; and what is her current estimate of unemployment amongst disabled people. [9726]
  653
  Mrs. Gillan
  The Government first consulted on the possible introduction of a new statutory right of non-discrimination against disabled people in the document "A Consultation on Government measures to Tackle Discrimination Against Disabled People", published in July 1994. The document sought views on the exclusion of firms with fewer than 20 employees. In preparing that document, the Government were aware that about 95 per cent. of employers would not be covered by legislation if such small employers were excluded, but that about 80 per cent. of employees work for employers who would be within the legislation.

  The Government have no immediate plans to amend the Disability Discrimination Act to bring more employers within its scope. However, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment is required under the Act to review section 7 of the Act—the small firms exemption—within five years of its coming into force, and to give Parliament the opportunity to debate the issue.

  Estimates from the last labour force survey show that, in the summer of 1995, there were 330,000 unemployed people of working age in Great Britain who said they had a health problem or a disability expected to last for more than one year. The survey does not currently enable us to estimate the number of disabled people, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act, who are unemployed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many holders of personal pensions contribute(a) up to 5 per cent.,
  (b) 5.1 to 10 per cent.,

  Recipients of means-tested benefits by type of benefit

  1979–1994

  Year

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support

  As a per cent. of the population aged 60 and over

  Family Income Supplement/Family Credit

  As a per cent. of the population aged 60 and over

  Housing Benefit

  1979

  1,723,000

  15.9

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  1,694,000

  15.4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  1,738,000

  15.6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1982

  1,781,000

  15.8

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1983

  1,651,000

  14.6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  1,683,000

  14.7

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1986

  1,717,000

  14.9

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1987

  1,727,000

  15.0

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1988

  1,719,000

  14.9

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1989

  1,607,000

  13.8

  1,000

  —

  2,100,000

  1990

  1,675,000

  14.4

  1,000

  —

  2,067,000

  1991

  1,575,000

  13.5

  1,000

  —

  1,957,000

  1992

  1,643,000

  14.0

  1,000

  —

  1,957,000

  1993

  1,736,000

  14.8

  1,000

  —

  1,980,000

  1994

  1,765,000

  15.1

  2,000

  —

  1,944,000

  Year

  As a per cent. of the population aged 60 and over

  Council Tax Benefit

  As a per cent. of the population aged 60 and over

  Community Charge Benefit

  As a per cent. of the population aged 60 and over

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  654
  (c)10.1 to 15 per cent. and (d) more than 15 per cent. of their earnings; and, of each of the above categories, how many receive employer's contributions of (i) up to 5 per cent., (ii) 5.1 to 10 per cent., (iii) 10.1 to 15 per cent. and (iv) above 15 per cent. of earnings.

  Mr. Heald
  Provisional Inland Revenue estimates of the amounts of contributions to personal pensions for 1994–95, are £2,110 million of employees' contributions and £590 million of employers' contributions.

  There are no statistically reliable sources of information on the proportion of earnings contributed to personal pensions.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on his proposals to restrict the entitlement of asylum seekers to benefit. [8979]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The report of the Social Security Advisory Committee was laid before Parliament on Thursday 11 January and was published today in a Command Paper.

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish for each year since 1979(a) each means-tested benefit applicable to pensioners in that year, (b) the number of claimants of each benefit and (c) their figure as a percentage of the total number of pensioners. [9533]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the tables.
  655

  Year

  As a per cent. of the Population aged 60 and over

  Council Tax Benefit

  As a per cent of the population aged 60the and over

  Community Charge Benefit

  As a per cent. of the population aged 60 and over

  1982

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1983

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1986

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1987

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1988

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1989

  18.1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1990

  17.8

  n/a

  n/a

  3,644,000

  31.4

  1991

  16.7

  n/a

  n/a

  3,202,000

  27.4

  1992

  16.7

  n/a

  n/a

  3,057,000

  26.1

  1993

  16.9

  2,820,000

  24.0

  n/a

  n/a

  1994

  16.6

  2,799,000

  23.9

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, percentages to one decimal place.

  2. A pensioner has been defined as aged 60 and over.

  3. Community Charge Benefit (CCB) replaced Rent Rebate in Scotland from April 1989 and the rest of Great Britain from April 1990. Figures for Community Charge Benefit in Scotland as at May 1989 are not available. Community Charge Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Benefit (CTB) from April 1993.

  4. The total number of pensioners receiving Housing Benefit or Family Income Supplement is not available prior to 1989.

  5. Income Support replaced Supplementary Benefit in April 1988.

  6. Family Credit replaced Family Income Supplement in April 1988.

  7. Sample Sizes: Income Support and Family Credit 5 per cent. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of all claims. Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit/Community Charge Benefit 1 per cent.

  8. No figures are available for 1985 for Income Support due to industrial action.

  Source:

  Social Security Statistics 1979–1995.

  1 per cent. Sample of recipients of Housing benefit/council tax benefit.

  Family credit 5 per cent. Sample of awards.

  Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. Count of awards.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9769]

  Mr. Burt
  None.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement; [9767]

  (2) what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9768]

  Mr. Burt
  The Department does not currently have any agreements for the provision of mobile telephones. Each request for the supply of a mobile telephone is dealt with individually and following established public sector procurement procedures, the order is placed with the supplier that offers the most economically advantageous terms.

  The information relating to the provision of mobile telephones that is readily available is shown in the table. information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  656

  Period

  Total numbers of mobile phones supplied

  Suppliers

  April 1994 to 31 November 1995

  3,013

  Benfells Car Phones ACR Ltd. Car Radios Station Ltd. Cellphones RGS Cellphones ROCOM Ltd. Excell Direct G-Comm Ltd. Hutchison Telecom Martin Dawes Telecommunication Peoples Phone Company plc R.T. Systems Ltd. Sitelink Comms Vodac Government plc

  Pensioners (Incomes)
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in 1996–97 of paying a basic pension supplement to all pensioner units whose total pension income from all sources is less than the level of income support to raise their pension incomes to the income support level; and what would be the annual cost of maintaining pensioners' pension incomes at that level in real terms for each year until 2001–02, assuming the 1996–97 income support regime and giving costs net of any effects on tax and benefit revenues. [6706]

  Mr. Heald
  The estimated cost in 1996–97 of raising the total pension income from all sources of all pensioner units to at least the level of income support is £2.15 billion. It is not possible to give estimates of this
  657
  cost to the year 2001–02 as reliable forecasts of future levels of pensioners' incomes are not available for this period.

  Notes:

  1. It has been assumed that the pensioner supplement would be paid as an increase in income support levels. Maintaining the current income-related benefit system involves aligning the thresholds and income for assessment purposes in the other income-related benefits. As a result, there are increased costs in the housing benefit and council tax benefit included in the total.

  2. To raise pension-only income to the levels specified implies that other income would be disregarded.The costs reflect this assumption also.

  3. No account has been taken of any additional costs that would arise from the abolition of the existing capital limits in the income-related benefits which would be necessary to ensure that those above these limits also received any required increase in pension income.

  4. As income support is not taxable for claimants over 60 years of age, there will be no net tax effects from the increased payments in income support.

  5. The costs have been estimated using data drawn from the May 1994 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and the 1991, 1992 and 1993 Family Expenditure Surveys, uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefits levels and rounded to £50 million.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 623, how the throughput of incapacity benefit claims has been controlled; in what respects the cases processed so far are unrepresentative; what effect this is likely to have had on the proportion of successful claims; and when he expects to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the benefit in meeting its objectives. [7926]

  Mr. Burt
  The rate at which pre-April invalidity benefit cases are being scheduled for the all work test is being carefully controlled to ensure that the total work available, including new claims, does not exceed operational capacity. This gradual introduction of pre-April claims into the system means that the greater proportion of cases being processed are new claims which is unrepresentative of the case load as a whole. As it is not possible to estimate accurately the effect that this might have on the proportion of successful claims, it would be unwise to draw any firm conclusions about the effectiveness of the new procedures during this transitional period.

  Detailed arrangements for the monitoring and evaluation of the changes are in place. It is too early to predict when definitive conclusions might be drawn.

  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 extending the proposal to give additional help with housing benefit and council tax benefit during the first four weeks of work for unemployed people returning to work, to include a continued entitlement to income support during that time. [8502]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The cost of extending this proposal to include a continued entitlement to income support—and income-related jobseeker's allowance, where 658
  appropriate—on the same basis, is estimated to be £150 million in 1996–97 and £170 million in 1997–98. This does not include any behavioural effects such as more people returning to work.

  Pensioners (Benefit Take-up)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of income-related benefits, in constant prices, that has not been taken up by pensioners in each year since 1990; and what was the average amount of income-related benefits, in constant prices, not taken up per eligible pensioner in each year since 1990. [9050]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Table 1: Total amount of Housing Benefit and Income Support not taken up by pensioners

  £ million

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993–94

  Estimated money value

  (400:630)

  (370:720)

  (600:910)

  (600:890)

  Constant 1993–94 prices

  (460:720)

  (400:770)

  (620:940)

  (600:890)

  Table 2: Average weekly amount of Housing Benefit and Income Support not taken up

  Pensioners

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993–94

  Housing Benefit

  Estimated money value

  £11.45

  £13.90

  £16.60

  £17.95

  Constant 1993–94 prices

  £13.05

  £14.90

  £17.10

  £17.95

  Income Support

  Estimated money value

  £8.85

  £13.45

  £13.05

  £14.10

  Constant 1993–94 prices

  £10.05

  £14.40

  £13.45

  £14.10

  1. The constant price figures given above have been deflated using the GDP deflator.

  2. The figures quoted below exclude full-time self-employed cases and those not living in private households.

  3. Pensioner benefit units are defined as: a single person aged 60 years or over, or a couple one of whom is aged 60 years or over.

  4. The most recent information is for 1993–94.

  5. The figures in table 1 are presented as ranges within which it can be assumed that the true amount of benefit not taken up will lie.

  Pensions (Uprating)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will base the calculation of the state retirement pension and public service pension on the formula of the higher of average(a) earnings or (b) prices; and if he will make a statement; [9106]

  (2) to what extent the use of the data derived from the September retail prices index are now estimated by his Department to be pertinent in respect of the uprating of (a) state and (b) public service pensions following the Budget statement; what alternative arrangements he is considering; and if he will make a statement; [9109]

  (3) if he will base the calculation of pension increases on the average earnings index; and if he will make a statement. [9105]

  Mr. Heald
  We have no plans to change the existing arrangements for the uprating of either state retirement pension or public service pensions.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many eligible pensioners have not received cold weather payments due to not claiming pensioner or disability premiums with income support, in each year since the introduction of cold weather payments; and what is the total amount of money that would have been paid to such pensioners for cold weather payments, in constant prices, if they had claimed the income support pensioner or disability premiums for which they are entitled; [9048]

  (2) what research his Department has carried out into the monthly death rates faced by pensioners not claiming pensioner or disability premiums with income support and cold weather payments despite being eligible; and what plans he has to investigate whether such pensioners face disproportionate death rates during the winter months. [9049]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Pensioner and disability premiums are not a separate benefit, but form part of the calculation of income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit and are awarded automatically when the conditions are satisfied. Similarly, cold weather payments are awarded automatically when eligibility conditions are met.

  Housing Benefit (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of households in Walthamstow in receipt of housing benefit. [8980]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the format requested.

  At 31 May 1995, there were 24,1001 recipients of housing benefit in the London borough of Waltham Forest2.

  Notes:

  1The number of recipients relates to benefit units which may be a single person or couple.

  2 Walthamstow is part of the London borough of Waltham Forest.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the benefits of privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services, agency. [8328]

  Mr. Willetts
  Privatisation offers the best way to develop the potential of RAS. Freed from public sector constraints, it will be able to compete for business in wider markets, both public and private, offer new opportunities for investment and allow for the introduction of more flexible use of staff resources. Customer departments will benefit from the opportunities for improving performance that privatisation will bring. In reaching these conclusions, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster received advice from financial advisers and customer departments.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department will retain ownership of the tests carried out by the Recruitment and Assessment 660
  Services agency if it is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [8436]

  Mr. Willetts
  The Government will retain ownership of the tests.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if all the functions of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency are to be sold on its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8493]

  Mr. Willetts
  Yes. The services provided by the agency will transfer to the private sector.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the length of the term of contract to the successful bidder of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency if it is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [8434]

  Mr. Willetts
  This will be decided during the sale process in the light of customers' views and advice from financial and legal advisers.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what value he has set on the skill of Recruitment and Assessment Services agency staff for the purposes of privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8475]

  Mr. Willetts
  The skills of RAS staff are vital to its business. The valuation placed on the business will recognise this.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the staff of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency were consulted in advance prior to the announcement of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8435]

  Mr. Willetts
  No. The decision to privatise the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency reflected the view reached by Ministers that privatisation was the best way to secure the long-term interests of the staff and customers, as well as those of the taxpayer.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what factors led him to set the time scale for privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency; and if he will make a statement. [8527]

  Mr. Willetts
  To keep the period of uncertainty for RAS staff and customers to a minimum.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what public consultation process has been arranged in respect of privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency; and if he will make a statement; [8327]

  (2) what length of notice customers' organisations of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency were given regarding its intended privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8437]

  Mr. Willetts
  Major customers were consulted before the decision to privatise. The consultation provided adequate time for them to express views. There will be continuing close consultation with customers during the privatisation process. The principle of selection on merit by fair and open competition, to which the Government are committed, is not affected by the proposed privatisation.

  Royal Family (Publicity Service Costs)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the 1994–95 costs to the Central Office of Information for publicity services to the royal family. [8904]

  Mr. Willetts
  The COI is responsible for organising television. radio and newspaper attendance at visits by senior members of the royal family while carrying out 662
  their official duties outside London. Some 419 venues were visited in 1994–95. The COI provides appropriate briefing material for such visits and also provides a media summary service for the Queen when on official engagements overseas.

  The cost of these services in 1994–95 was £354,051. These costs normally appear in the royal finance booklet. The 1994–95 costs were not available for the most recent edition of the booklet.

  Transport Research Laboratory: Purchaser
  Transport Research Laboratory: Purchaser
  A.12 Road Improvement
  A.12 Road Improvement
  Road Schemes in Preparation: Current Status
  Road Schemes in Preparation: Current Status
  Former Yugoslavia: Protection of British Troops
  Former Yugoslavia: Protection of British Troops
  Employee Protection against Unfair Dismissal
  Employee Protection against Unfair Dismissal