Written Answers of 22 January 1996

TREASURY

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been(a) the percentage change in real personal disposable income and (b) the index of real personal disposable income, taking 1966=100 in each year since 1966. [9319]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information on real personal disposable income and the index of real personal disposable income, both based on 1990, is published annually in the CSO Blue Book and quarterly in the CSO press notice "Quarterly National Accounts" and is held on the CSO database. All sources are available in the Library of the House. The figures are given in the table—the 1990 based index has been re-referenced to 1966=100.

  Percentage change in real personal disposable income

  Index of real personal disposable income

  1966

  2.1

  100.0

  1967

  1.5

  101.5

  1968

  1.8

  103.3

  1969

  0.9

  104.2

  1970

  3.8

  108.5

  1971

  1.2

  109.5

  1972

  8.4

  118.7

  1973

  6.5

  126.4

  1974

  -0.8

  125.4

  1975

  0.6

  126.1

  1976

  -0.3

  125.7

  1977

  -2.1

  123.1

  1978

  7.4

  132.2

  1979

  5.7

  139.7

  1980

  1.5

  141.8

  1981

  -0.8

  140.7

  1982

  -0.5

  140.0

  1983

  2.7

  143.7

  1984

  3.6

  149.0

  1985

  3.4

  154.0

  1986

  4.5

  160.8

  1987

  3.4

  166.3

  1988

  6.0

  176.2

  1989

  4.8

  184.7

  1990

  1.8

  188.0

  1991

  -0.1

  187.9

  1992

  2.3

  192.2

  1993

  1.6

  195.4

  1994

  0.7

  196.7

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households have. incomes(a) less than £5,000 a year, (b) £5,000 to £15,000 a year, (c) £15,000 to £20,000 a year, (d) £20,000 to £50,000 a year, (e) £50,000 to £100,000 a year and (f) more than £100,000 a year; and of each of these groups, how many and what percentage have incomes that are (i) wholly earned, (ii) wholly unearned and (iii) part earned and part unearned. [9324]
  2
  Mrs. Knight
  The figures are not available in the form requested.

  Financial Services Act 1986
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when section 164 of the Financial Services Act 1986 was brought into force. [10638]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Section 164 of the Financial Services Act 1986 has not been brought into force and was repealed when the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 came into force on 19 June 1995. Regulation 10 of those regulations contains an equivalent provision to section 164.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the enforcement of penalties for(a) carrying on, and (b) purporting to carry on, investment business without authorisation or exemption, under section 4 of the Financial Services Act 1986. [10434]

  Mrs. Knight
  Prosecutions for contraventions of section 3 of the Financial Services Act are brought before the courts where there is a realistic prospect of securing a conviction and the public interest is in favour of a prosecution. Enforcement of any penalty under section 4 of the Financial Services Act imposed by the court is a matter for the court concerned.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the penalties for(a) carrying on and (b) purporting to carry on, investment business without authorisation or exemption, under section 4 of the Financial Services Act 1986. [10435]

  Mrs. Knight
  I have no plans to do so.

  Tortoises
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what seizures of tortoises and tortoise products were made by Customs and Excise in 1995. [10153]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Statistics for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species seizures made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1995 are complete only for the first nine months to 30 September. In that period, there were two seizures of tortoise products imported in breach of CITES requirements together with 794 live specimens.

  The latter figure includes one large seizure of 674 specimens found in the possession of crewmen on board an east European vessel which called temporarily in the United Kingdom.

  Banks (Overcharging)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to provide that banks pay compensation to customers for the consequences of overcharging; and if he will make a statement. [9880]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: There are no plans to introduce such legislation. Arrangements already exist for customers' complaints to

  3
  be pursued, either through banks' internal procedures or, where they are exhausted, by involving the banking ombudsman.

  Banking Contracts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Governor of the Bank of England with a view to making changes in the standard inclusion in banking contracts of repayment on demand; and if he will make a statement. [9881]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: No. The precise form that a particular loan takes is a commercial matter to be agreed between a borrower and his bank. Since 1992 there has been a shift in small business lending away from overdrafts, which are repayable on demand, and towards a greater proportion of fixed-term loans.

  Bank Customers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Governor of the Bank of England with a view to establishing guidelines to ensure protection coverage for hank customers in cases of(a) bank malpractice, (b) overcharging and (c) breach of contract; and if he will make a statement. [9882]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: The code of banking practice and the banking ombudsman scheme already provide guidance on these issues, and offer definitive and flexible methods of resolving disputes. Customers now have far more information than ever before about banking practices, fees and interest payments, and about what they should do if they wish to discuss, or complain about, the services they receive.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will implement the recommendations of the Government's 1989 review of banking services to provide for(a) the power of a bank to withdraw any complaint which has wide ramifications or raises important legal issue from the banking ombudsman's jurisdiction to be exercised only with the concurrence of the ombudsman, (b) compulsory production by a bank of any relevant documents of information and (c) publication of information about a complaint if a customer consents; and if he will make a statement. [10232]

  Mrs. Knight
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: Recommendations (a) and (b) are now reflected in the latest version of the banking ombudsman's terms of reference—paragraphs 20–22 and 5(b) respectively. The ombudsman does not publish details of customers' complaints but his annual report does quote figures on the types of complaints received by the ombudsman. The report also quotes examples of specific complaint, without revealing the identity of the complainant, to illustrate the circumstances of a particular case.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to require banks to establish hank customer councils; and if he will make a statement. [10234]

  Mrs. Knight
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: No. This is a matter for banks and their customers.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to provide financial support or guarantees to Eurotunnel in respect of the re-financing of the channel tunnel. [10114]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: No.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were United Kingdom relative export unit values at current rates of exchange(a) at the latest available date and (b) at the time of United Kingdom entry into the exchange rate mechanism. [9786]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply of 16 January 1996,Official Report, column 526 given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the same question.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent research has been initiated by his Department into early decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [10089]

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has not initiated any research into the early decommissioning of nuclear power stations. However, my Department together with Nuclear Electric, is providing funding for the early decommissioning of the prototype advanced gas-cooled reactor at Windscale.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent research the Government have initiated into the use of robotics in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [10088]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government have not initiated any research into the use of robotics in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. However, I am advised that in 1993–94 the nuclear installations inspectorate identified the use of telerobotics as a nuclear safety research issue that the nuclear licensees should address. As a result, Scottish Nuclear, on behalf of the licensees, undertook research on telerobotics safety-related control and protection.

  Business Links
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to bring about a business link in East Lancashire. [10634]

  Mr. Richard Page
  The chairman of the business link national assessment panel had detailed discussions with the chairman of the East Lancashire training and enterprise council about its proposals for a business link in East Lancashire. Those proposals were considered by the assessment panel in December, which concluded that they needed to be developed further in conjunction with other partners.
  5
  The Government office for the north west has convened a series of meeting with ELTEC, the local chamber of commerce and the local authorities concerned. This has led to the establishment of a working group involving all partners and the Government Office, that is committed to developing an agreed bid for consideration by the assessment panel.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average number of clients held by personal business advisers in business links; and what is the largest and smallest number of clients. [10415]

  Mr. Page
  Our latest information indicates that the average case load of a personal business adviser is around 40 clients. Most have between 21. and 50; none are known to have more than 100.

  Resider and Rechar Programmes
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals to grant additional funds to the United Kingdom under the European Union Resider and Rechar 1994–1997 programmes were discussed at the management committee meeting of member states in December 1995; and if he will make a statement. [10422]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The committee's agenda included a Commission proposal to allocate an additional 60 mecu to the United Kingdom for Resider, Rechar, Retex and Konver together, for 1998 and 1999. These are programmes of European structural funds grant for designated areas which have lost jobs in, respectively, steel, coal, textiles and defence.

  The UK asked for a larger allocation. Before a decision is taken, the committee will meet again; the European Parliament is also being consulted.

  I plan to make a statement after the allocations for these and certain other similar programmes have been settled.

  British Coal
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list opencast deposits identified by British Coal on land in its ownership in north Wales; [10927]

  (2) if he will list the landholdings of British Coal in north Wales which are subject to sale currently; if he will list those land holdings of British Coal in north Wales which will be considered for sale in the future; and if he will give the current land use of all of these land holdings. [10926]

  Mr. Page
  These are matters for British Coal.

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons details of official gifts received by Ministers in his Department are not available before 1994–95, as indicated in his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 146. [10178]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information in respect of gifts received by Ministers before April 1994 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Systematic Biological Research
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his Department's letter of 12 September 1995, what progress has been reported to Her Majesty's Government by the United Kingdom systematics forum, on its identification of priorities for systematic biological research. [8411]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The United Kingdom systematics forum published its "Review of 1994–95" on 6 October 1995 and produced a preliminary report, "Priorities in Systematic Research and Training" in September last year.

  I am pleased to be able to announce today that the Office of Science and Technology will be providing a further three years' funding to the systematics forum from 1 April this year, amounting to a total of £86,000. Since it was established in 1994, the forum has done much to foster closer communications within the community it serves, This new commitment will enable it to focus on devising a national strategy on priorities for systematics research.

  OST will explore integration of the forum into an existing learned society during this new funding period so that the links built within the systematics community are maintained.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10969]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative within my Department and its associated bodies since its introduction are as follows:

  £ thousand

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Staff costs

  Nil

  Nil

  111.5 (11.5)

  1163.4 (159.1)

  IT

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Other costs

  Nil

  Nil

  111.5 (11.5)

  122.4 (21.8)

  1Real costs in brackets.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10970]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No money has yet been spent by my Department on external consultants in the tendering process for projects under the private finance initiative.

  Forte Hotels
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to act under the Financial Services Act 1986 in respect of Granada group's decision to understate publicly its intention for the disposal of the Meridien and Exclusive hotels of Forte plc. [9808]
  7
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: Section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 provides that it is an offence for any person to seek to manipulate the market in or the price or value of any investments by issuing a statement, promise or forecast which he knows to he false or misleading. If the hon. Member has evidence of improper conduct, he should write to me.

  If the bid by Granada Group plc for Forte plc is successful, it is possible that any subsequent disposal or proposed disposal by Granada of assets acquired from Forte might be subject to examination under the merger control procedures of the Fair Trading Act 1973, depending on the nature of the particular disposal in question and of the acquirer.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by his Department on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry; and how much has been spent on legal advice and for whom. [10223]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: The amount so far spent by my Department on external advice in relation to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry is £293,870. The names of individuals and their legal advisers are confidential to them.

  Competitiveness
  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.

  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.
  8
  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.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Warrants and Process (Transfer)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations his Department has received expressing concern over the proposed transfer of responsibility from the police to magistrates courts committees of the execution of warrants and the service of process; and how many of these have been received from members of police forces. [10985]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My Department has been in consultation with representative bodies within the magistrates courts community and other interested parties, including the Association of Chief Police Officers, over the proposed transfer of responsibilities, which has now been postponed with a view to its taking effect on 1 April 1997. In addition to these consultations, my Department has received correspondence on the subject of the transfer from individual justices chief executives and clerks to magistrates courts committees, justices clerks, local authorities, the chairman of an area criminal justice liaison committee and interested private firms. I have also received representations from Members of Parliament for the Kirklees area, including the hon. Lady. My Department has received one letter from the Metropolitan police expressing concern over the progress of the transfer of responsibility.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10961]
  9
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  All expenditure on external consultancy has been incurred in the current financial year. Expenditure to date is (i) legal fees—nil, (ii) publicity costs—nil, (iii) accountancy fees—nil, (iv) management consultancy fees—£108,464.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's department what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10962]

  Mr. Evans
  All expenditure was incurred in the current financial year. Expenditure to date is (i) staff costs—£153,000, (ii) information technology—£1,500, (iii) other costs £3,000.

  Public Interest Immunity
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements are in place to ensure that justice is done on the basis of accurate information in a court case where public interest immunity is claimed to suppress certain evidence; and if he will make a statement. [9498]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In each individual case, the authority for deciding claims relating to public interest immunity rests with the courts.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [9218]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer to the answer given by my right Hon. Friend, the Minister for Disabled People on 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible will be made fully aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will put on public display those gifts received by Ministers in his Department. [10161]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Gifts received by Ministers are not put on public display.

  Penguins (Falkland Islands)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the population change in Gentoo and Magellanic penguins in the Falkland Islands over the last 10 years. [10160]
  10
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There is insufficient recorded material from which to draw detailed conclusions on the state of the penguin populations in the Falkland Islands.

  A recent survey of Gentoo penguins indicates that there are approximately 65,000 breeding pairs which suggest a decline of around 10 per cent. over the last 10 years.

  An accurate estimate of the population of Magellanic penguins is more difficult. Figures based on recent study plots suggest a very approximate total of 300,000 breeding pairs, which could show a decrease of up to 30 per cent. over the past five years.

  Hong Kong and China
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hong Kong and Beijing. [8570]

  Mr. Hanley
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1996, column 410]: I regret that the last paragraphs of my answer of 15 January were inadvertently omitted. The full answer is as follows

  My right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary, visited Hong Kong and China from 6 to 11 January.

  In Hong Kong he met the governor, members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, senior Hong Kong Government and British officials and business and community figures. This gave him an invaluable opportunity to hear at first hand the views and concerns of the people of Hong Kong about their future.

  My right hon. and learned Friend was warmly received in Peking and held frank and constructive discussions with President Jiang Zemin, Premier Li Peng, Vice Premier Qian Qichen, and the Director of the State Council Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Lu Ping. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary's discussions gave him an opportunity to describe to Chinese leaders the mood in Hong Kong and to discuss with them ways of maintaining confidence there. We made substantial progress on several specific issues. The Chinese assured my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary of their commitment to a successful transition and to the preservation of a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong after 30 June 1997.

  We also agreed to develop further our bilateral links in all areas: political, economic and commercial. As part of this dialogue my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary registered our concerns over reports of human rights abuses and urged china to address these issues quickly and openly.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Woodland Improvement Grant
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what role the woodland improvement grant will play in encouraging coppicing for the purpose
  11
  of reducing the decline in the numbers of woodland butterflies and moths. [9322]

  Mr. Boswell
  The first projects eligible for the woodland improvement grant are those which encourage informal public recreation in woodlands. Further projects, which may include coppicing to enhance the nature conservation value of woodlands, will be considered in due course.

  Fish Stocks
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the treaty on straddling fish stocks; and highly migratory fish stocks; and what action has been taken to place limits on catches of(a) tuna and (b) swordfish which migrate through international waters and stocks of (i) flounder, (ii) halibut and (iii) other fish which straddle the territorial waters of different countries. [8246]

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Nations agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations convention on the law of the sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks was adopted by the conference on 4 August 1995. It opened for signature on 4 December 1995 and was signed on that date by 25 states, including the United Kingdom in respect of certain dependent territories. The EC and its member states have not yet completed the required internal procedures for signature.

  Much of the content of the agreement has to do with the establishment of regional fisheries organisations and their activities. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, which the United Kingdom joined on 14 November 1995, adopted at its 1995 meeting further measures to limit the catches of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and to allocate percentage national shares for the catch of north Atlantic swordfish. The North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation has adopted for 1996 a zero catch limit for yellowtail flounder and a total allowable catch of 27,000 tonnes for Greenland halibut on the Grand banks.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the latest estimate of farm income for(a) each standard region, (b) for England and (c) for the United Kingdom, together with the equivalent figures for the previous three years in constant prices, indicating the yearly percentage change and the cumulative percentage change in each case; and if he will make a statement; [9019]

  (2) if he will list the latest estimate of farm income together with the equivalent figures for the previous three years in constant prices, indicating the yearly percentage change and cumulative percentage change in each case; and if he will make a statement. [9020]

  Mr. Boswell
  The latest available estimates of total income from farming, covering years from 1990, for the 12
  United Kingdom, the four countries and each standard statistical region within England are as follows. The figures are presented in real terms, first in £m at 1990 prices and then as indices—1990=100. The latter set thus show cumulative percentage changes from 1990 and both allow easy calculation of annual changes. The figures have been derived from those shown in table 6.5 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1994" and tables 5.2 and 5.3 of issues of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom".

  A provisional estimate of total income from farming in 1995 for the United Kingdom will be issued by press release on 31 January and corresponding country data will be issued by the other agricultural departments. "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1995" and "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 11994–95", both to be published on 19 March, will provide further details, including English regional data for 1994.

  Total income from farming in real terms (as deflated by RPI): £ million 1990 prices

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  United Kingdom

  2,300

  2,174

  2,599

  3,531

  3,687

  England

  1,821

  1,701

  2,055

  2,775

  2,800

  Wales

  134

  131

  134

  209

  225

  Scotland

  212

  176

  218

  326

  398

  Northern Ireland

  134

  167

  194

  223

  265

  England regions

  North

  132

  128

  182

  228

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  240

  202

  230

  285

  n/a

  East Midlands

  336

  332

  317

  452

  n/a

  East Anglia

  397

  345

  363

  415

  n/a

  South East

  219

  220

  240

  428

  n/a

  South West

  164

  136

  299

  432

  n/a

  West Midlands

  171

  194

  253

  333

  n/a

  North West

  162

  144

  172

  201

  n/a

  Totals may not add owing to rounding.

  1 Provisional.

  Total income from farming in real terms (as deflated by RPI): Indices 1990=100

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  United Kingdom

  100.0

  94.5

  113.0

  153.5

  160.3

  England

  100.0

  93.4

  112.9

  152.4

  153.7

  Wales

  100.0

  97.4

  99.9

  155.7

  168.0

  Scotland

  100.0

  82.8

  103.0

  153.9

  187.9

  Norther Ireland

  100.0

  124.3

  144.1

  165.8

  197.6

  English regions

  North

  100.0

  97.2

  138.3

  172.8

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  100.0

  84.4

  95.9

  118.9

  n/a

  East Midlands

  100.0

  98.9

  94.4

  134.6

  n/a

  East Anglia

  100.0

  86.9

  91.3

  104.5

  n/a

  South-East

  100.0

  100.3

  109.4

  195.4

  n/a

  South-West

  100.0

  82.8

  182.0

  263.0

  n/a

  West Midlands

  100.0

  113.2

  147.7

  194.9

  n/a

  North-West

  100.0

  88.6

  106.0

  124.0

  n/a

  1Provisional.

  Live Animal Imports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to permit the importation of breeding cattle from North America through the port of Avonmouth. [9855]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The port of Avonmouth has applied for approval as a border inspection post—BIP—to handle imports of cattle from third countries including north America. EC inspectors have recently visited the port in order to assess its suitability as a BIP and their report is awaited.

HEALTH

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of patients dying while on the waiting list for bypass surgery,(a) nationally and (b) by region. [10748]

  Description

  Run by

  Number of calls

  Cost £

  Blood Donor line

  Managed by the Central

  78,516 (April to December

  33,074

  Office of Information for

  1995)

  the Department of Health

  Drinkline

  Drinkline (non-profit making

  44,000 (October 1993 to

  516,000 (DH funding for

  limited company)

  January 1996)

  1993–94–1995–96)

  Health Information Service

  NHS—regionally provided

  1,000,788 (April 1992 to

  8,113,170 (April 1992 to

  Service

  December 1995)

  March 1996 Includes all

  costs associated with

  establishing the service and

  in initially publicising its

  availability)

  Health Literature line (including the

  Managed by the Central

  255,885 (April to December

  108,026

  Organ Donor line)

  Office of Information for

  1995)

  the Department of Health

  National AIDS Helpline and National

  Network of Scotland Ltd.

  386,953 (April to December

  1,569,000 (estimated total

  Drugs Helpline

  (independent company

  1995)

  1995–1996 cost)

  contracted by the

  Department of Health)

  National AIDS Helpline

  Broadcasting Support Services

  4,200,514 (January 1990 to

  6,038,000

  and Network Scotland

  December 1994)

  (contracted by the

  Department of Health)

  Sexwise helpline

  Managed by the Central

  784,016 (April to December

  366,854

  Office of Information for

  1995)

  the Department of Health

  Committee safety medicines freephone

  Medicines Control Agency

  1,977 (January 1994 to

  7,510 (call costs only)

  December 1995)

  Details of other helpline services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  Details of the helpline numbers are as listed:

  Blood Donor line: 0345 711 711

  Drinkline: O345 32 02 02

  Health Information Service: 0800 66 55 44

  Health Literature line: 0800 555 777

  National Drugs helpline: 0800 77 66 00

  National AIDS helpline: 0800 567 123

  Sexwise: 0800 28 29 30

  14
  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Health (Dr. Mawhinney) gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 19 May 1994,Official Report, column 557.

  Helplines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are(a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of his Department of (c) of another classification; how many calls each received in each of the last five years; and how much money each received from his Department in each of the last five years. [9800]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the eight main information lines and one run by the Medicines Control Agency is listed.
  Committee Safety Medicines: Dial the operator and ask for freephone CSM.

  Form AG1
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of his Department's form AG1. [9907]

  Mr. Malone
  Supplies of form AG1 are available from Her Majesty's Stationary Office in the normal way.

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to making MRSA a notifiable disease; what representations he has received, and from whom, on this matter: what assessment he has made of the effect of the non-notifiability of MRSA on its recorded incidence; and if he will make a statement. [10269]

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the advantages of making MRSA a notifiable disease. [10594]

  Mr. Horam
  No representations that methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus—MRSA—should be made a notifiable disease have been received in recent years.

  The statutory notification system requires doctors who are directly responsible for patient care—not laboratories—to notify diagnosed and suspected cases who are suffering from certain diseases. About 80 per cent. of people who acquire MRSA. do not develop any infection and are not therefore suffering from a disease. When MRSA infection does occur, it can take the form of many different diseases, ranging from trivial skin infections to pneumonia or septicaemia, all of which are more commonly due to other causes. MRSA infection cannot be diagnosed clinically but only by laboratory tests. Notification of clinically suspected cases of all these diseases would be wholly impracticable. Appropriate control measures are taken in hospitals when MRSA is identified—such control action is not dependent on whether or not MRSA is notifiable.

  Current data on the incidence of MRSA are compiled by the central public health laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Service. The PHLS believes that its data on the incidence of MRSA are among the most complete of any country in the world.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to social services departments on the treatment of patients with MRSA discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement. [10268]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department held a seminar in December 1995 on methicillin—resistant staphylococcus aureus in the community which was attended by representatives from social services departments: a further seminar is being planned. The Department intends to issue guidance shortly to social services departments about MRSA and to provide them with leaflets, which are currently being prepared, for distribution to nursing and residential homes.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's annual expenditure on(a) research into MRSA and (b) developing new antibiotics. [10598]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health is currently funding, through the regional research and development programme, two research projects totalling £46,000 per year into the detection and prevalence of methicillin—resistant staphylococcus aureus. It is also spending £2 million on studies on the surveillance and costs of hospital acquired infection including MRSA infections. The 16
  regional research and development programme includes many projects which involve antibiotics. Of these, two, totalling about £300,000 per year, are on research into antibiotics. There are also eight RHA-funded research projects relating to antibiotics totalling about £210,000 per year.

  About 20 per cent. of the NHS drugs bill goes into research and development of new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry and the industry in the United Kingdom is currently spending in excess of £1.5 billion. This includes research into antibiotics, some of which are intended specifically for use against MRSA.

  The Public Health Laboratory Service is conducting research into the genetics of MRSA and into the behaviour and virulence of different strains of MRSA, and is also co-operating with the pharmaceutical industry on testing new antibiotics.

  The MRC, which receives its grant-in-aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, is funding a research project costing £538,000 over five years into staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the severity of the problem of MRSA in(a) Britain and (b) France, Germany, Italy and the United States of America. [10596]

  Mr. Horam
  Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus was a considerable problem in British hospitals in the mid-1980s, then receded, but has increased again in the last two to three years. Data on incidents of MRSA are compiled by the central public health laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Services—PHLS, which defines an incident as three or more patients with the same strain of the organism. About 80 per cent. of patients with MRSA are only carrying the organism and have no infection from it. In 1994, the PHLS recorded 1,081 incidents of MRSA and in the first six months of 1995 there were 750 incidents. Most of these incidents were short lived.

  Whilst it is clear from papers published in the medical literature that the other countries have problems with MRSA in some hospitals, the Department is not aware of any central collation of data on MRSA in any of these countries and we are unable to assess the severity of the problem there.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement outlining the department's policy on controlling the spread of MRSA. [10597]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department's policy on the control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in hospitals is contained in guidance published jointly by the Hospital Infection Society and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, circulated to the NHS in September 1994 under cover of EL(94)74 entitled "Improving the Effectiveness of the NHS".

  The Department also published guidance on the control of infection in hospitals in March 1995 under cover of HSG(95)10 "Hospital Infection Control". This includes new advice on the surveillance of MRSA. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his Department's guidelines to health authorities or NHS hospital trusts on the number of fully medically supported intensive care beds to be available at any one time. [10320]

  Mr. Horam
  It is for health authorities and national health service trusts to determine the level of intensive care provision that is needed by their local populations.

  Mental Health Services
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the response from health authorities to his letter sent in August 1995 requesting information on the state of mental health services in each health authority; [10738]

  (2) if he will list the number of health authorities (a) providing a comprehensive mental health service, (b) who will be in a position to provide such a service if given sufficient investment by the end of 1995–96 and (c) who will not achieve it by the end of the current year. [10739]

  Mr. Bowis
  An announcement will be made shortly.

  North Mersey Community Health Trust
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the reduction in the management costs of the North Mersey community health trust will be redeployed into the trust's clinical services. [10712]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for North Mersey community national health service trust to decide. The hon. Member may wish to approach Mr. R. James, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in the year 1994–95, how many NHS prescriptions were dispensed for prescription-only medicines at the relevant standard charge which could have been purchased on private prescription at less than the relevant standard charge; [8620]

  (2) in the year 1994–95, how many prescriptions were dispensed at the relevant standard charge. [8621]

  Mr. Malone
  When an item is dispensed privately, the pharmacist may add a private dispensing fee to the cost of the medicine. The amount of that fee is at the pharmacist's discretion. It is not therefore possible to calculate the number of prescription items which would, if purchased as private prescriptions, cost less than the NHS prescription charge.

  In England in 1994–95, it is estimated that 50.7 million prescription items were charged at the point of dispensing.

  Quitline
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Quitline programme in combating teenage smoking. [9021]
  18
  Mr. Horam
  The Quitline telephone helpline which provides advice on smoking cessation for all age groups was launched as a Freefone number on 7 November 1995. The performance of the service in its first year is being carefully evaluated.

  Patient Transfers
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in 1995 had to be transferred to other hospitals because they could not be treated at their local hospital; and if he will indicate the trust to which these belonged; how many of these transfers arose from(a) a lack of beds and (b) a lack of suitable staff; how many of the patients died; and if he will make a statement. [10464]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available centrally.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of benzodiazepines was prescribed via community pharmacists in England and Wales in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9886]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information for England is shown in the table. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Number of prescription items dispensed for benzodiazepines: 1991 to 1994

  England

  Year

  Prescription Items (millions)

  1991

  15.7

  1992

  14.8

  1993

  14.3

  1994

  13.8

  The data are from the "Prescription Costs Analysis" (PCA), are for England only and are based on the number of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the figures for disbursements by the Prescription Pricing Authority in England for each year since 1990 in respect of payments for drugs to dispensing doctors and drugs supplied by prescribing doctors in terms of(a) net ingredient cost, (b) discounted cost, (c) VAT, (d) container allowance, (e) dispensing fee, (f) on cost and (g) in total; and if he will make a statement. [9888]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the actual payments, made direct by family health services authorities to doctors in England is shown in the table.
  19

  Year

  Net ingredient cost £ million

  Net ingredient cost less discount £ million

  On cost allowance £ million

  Percentage to basic price

  Fees £ million

  Container allowance £ million

  Total payment oxygen £ million

  VAT £ million

  Total cost £ million

  1990

  163.4

  153.8

  17.2

  0.0

  30.4

  1.3

  0.0

  23.1

  225.8

  1991

  186.2

  175.0

  19.5

  0.0

  33.6

  1.4

  0.1

  29.7

  259.2

  1992

  219.3

  206.2

  23.0

  0.0

  35.1

  1.5

  0.1

  36.0

  301.9

  1993

  255.6

  240.6

  26.8

  0.0

  36.7

  1.6

  0.1

  41.8

  347.5

  1994

  288.7

  271.9

  30.3

  0.0

  38.6

  1.6

  0.1

  46.7

  389.2

  1. The information was obtained from the Prescription Pricing Authority.

  2. The total cost is the remuneration and reimbursement paid for prescriptions dispensed by doctors and for personally administered items. This is calculated from the net ingredient cost of drugs appliances and chemical reagents dispensed, less a discount calculated from the discount scale, plus an on-cost allowance, a dispensing fee per prescription, a container allowance per prescription, and a VAT allowance where applicable. Payments are made in accordance with Paragraph 44 of the General Medical Services Statement on Fees and Allowances.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated; [10054]

  (2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10066]

  Mr. Horam
  My Department's policy is not to gold plate European Community directives by the addition of unnecessary. burdens when implementing them in the United Kingdom. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is undertaken by his Department(a) directly and (b) indirectly by financing research elsewhere into combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; and if he will indicate for (b) the organisations involved and the total funding provided. [10538]

  Mr. Bowis
  No such research is being undertaken by the Department of Health. The main agency through which the Government supports biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provision is made by his Department for the treatment of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; [10536]

  (2) what provision is made by his Department for respite care for sufferers of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10539]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is the responsibility of health authorities to assess the needs of their population and to secure, through contracting, services to meet those needs.
  20
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of ex-service(a) men and (b) women suffering from combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10537]

  Mr. Bowis
  No such estimate has been made.

  Antibiotics
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses of antibiotics were administered in Britain in 1970, 1980 and in each year from 1990 to 1995. [10595]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information for England is shown in the table. Information relating to Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

  Number of prescriptions dispensed for antibiotics

  England

  Year

  Prescriptions (millions)

  1980

  32.8

  1990

  39.8

  1991

  43.7

  1992

  43.4

  1993

  47.7

  1994

  45.8

  Notes:

  1. Antibiotics are those preparations in the British National Formulary [issue 26, September 1993] therapeutic group 5.1—antibacterial drugs.

  2. The data for 1980 and 1990 are not consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1980 and 1990 are based on fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures from 1991 are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.

  Treliske Hospital
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency referrals by general practitioners at Treliske hospital, Cornwall, the hospital was unable to admit on the weekend of 6 and 7 January. [10462]
  21
  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact John Williams, chairman of Royal Cornwall Hospitals national health service trust for details.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue further regulations in respect of the crowning and capping of teeth on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [10707]

  Mr. Malone
  I announced proposals for the reform of the general dental service on 5 April 1995,Official Report, columns 1214–15. One of the measures proposed was the introduction of more rigorous prior approval procedures to ensure that the general dental service provides only those treatments which are clinically essential and for which there are no clinically acceptable, less costly, alternatives. We will implement the reforms in due course.

  Manchester Health Commission
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what submissions were made to the Under-Secretary at his meeting on 17 January with representatives of the Manchester Health Commission and the city's community health councils; what response he gave; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. [10997]

  Mr. Horam
  Representatives of Manchester health authority and the three Manchester community health councils gave a verbal account of the problems affecting health services in the city, supporting their case with written evidence. I listened sympathetically to their views and undertook to consider any potential solutions.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10954]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 15 January at column 337. Tenderers bear their own costs. Further information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees,(ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10953]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) on 9 January at column 71.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number and percentage of the population of(a) men aged 65 years and over and (b) women aged 60 years and over in each of the past five years; and what are the expected figures in each of the next 20 years. [11095]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest available information is shown in the table.

  England and Wales

  Men aged 65 and over

  Women aged 60 and over

  Year

  Thousands

  As percentage of total male population

  Thousands

  As percentage of total female population

  Estimates

  1990

  3,225

  13.0

  6,179

  23.8

  1991

  3,257

  13.0

  6,189

  23.7

  1992

  3,283

  13.1

  6,184

  23.6

  1993

  3,306

  13.1

  6,173

  23.5

  1994

  3,323

  13.1

  6,150

  23.4

  Projections (1992 based)

  1995

  3,355

  13.2

  6,144

  23.3

  1996

  3,384

  13.2

  6,140

  23.2

  1997

  3,409

  13.3

  6,141

  23.1

  1998

  3,427

  13.3

  6,146

  23.1

  1999

  3,445

  13.3

  6,155

  23.1

  2000

  3,470

  13.3

  6,160

  23.0

  2001

  3,499

  13.4

  6,150

  22.9

  2002

  3,531

  13.4

  6,162

  22.9

  2003

  3,567

  13.5

  6,199

  23.0

  2004

  3,603

  13.6

  6,253

  23.1

  2005

  3,637

  13.7

  6,306

  23.3

  2006

  3,657

  13.7

  6,363

  23.4

  2007

  3,696

  13.8

  6,507

  23.9

  2008

  3,757

  14.0

  6,620

  24.3

  2009

  3,832

  14.2

  6,709

  24.5

  2010

  3,904

  14.5

  6,787

  24.8

  2011

  3,977

  14.7

  6,855

  25.0

  2012

  4,133

  15.2

  6,918

  25.2

  2013

  4,253

  15.6

  6,986

  25.4

  2014

  4,349

  16.0

  7,055

  25.6

  2015

  4,431

  16.2

  7,119

  25.8

  2016

  4,504

  16.5

  7,192

  26.0

  Abortions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions in total have now been performed in England and Wales under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; how many and what percentage of that total were performed in an emergency to save the life of the mother; and if he will give a breakdown by region of that total and the relevant figures and percentages. [6796]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 18 December 1995]: The total number of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act in England and Wales on residents and non-residents from 1968 to 19941 was 4,054,340. During this period 140 abortions were performed in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, so as to save the life of the woman. A breakdown by region of the total and the relevant figures and percentages, excluding data for 1968 and 1969, is in the table.
  23

  Number of abortions 1970–19941,2

  Health authority of usual residence3

  Total number of abortions

  Performed in emergency (F of 5)4

  Percentage of total abortions

  England

  3,140,723

  100

  0.00

  Wales

  151,320

  7

  0.00

  Northern

  147,389

  6

  0.00

  Yorkshire

  189,160

  6

  0.00

  Trent

  245,489

  9

  0.00

  East Anglia

  97,728

  6

  0.01

  NW Thames

  379,451

  8

  0.00

  NE Thames

  373,285

  11

  0.00

  SE Thames

  294,696

  7

  0.00

  SW Thames

  234,336

  3

  0.00

  Wessex

  143,269

  9

  0.01

  Oxford

  144,154

  4

  0.00

  South Western

  160,792

  9

  0.01

  West Midlands

  351,747

  9

  0.00

  Mersey

  141,916

  6

  0.00

  North Western

  237,311

  7

  0.00

  Non-residents

  683,837

  3

  0.00

  Total

  3,975,880

  110

  0.00

  1All data for 1994 are provisional.

  2Figures for 1968–69 are not held on a comparable basis.

  31994 figures based on 1993 RHA boundaries. Other boundary changes have not been reflected in the figures.

  4Abortions performed under statutory grounds 5 (1970–April 1991) and F (April 1991–present)—i.e. where in the case of emergency it was necessary to save the life of a woman.

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning annually resulting in death and injury are the result of a work-related incident. [9709]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.
  Statistics on incidents of carbon monoxide-CO-poisoning resulting from work-related incidents are not available.

TRANSPORT

  London Underground (Accidents)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) minor injuries were suffered by (i) passengers and (ii) employees of London Underground in each of the last 10 years. [8111]

  Mr. Norris
  The information, which has been provided by London Underground Ltd. on the basis of accidents reported by them to HM railway inspectorate, is set out in the following tables. Figures are not available for 1986.

  Injuries on London Underground 1987–1995

  Year

  Fatal

  Serious

  Minor

  A. Passengers

  1987

  82

  25

  2,597

  1988

  59

  32

  2,999

  1989

  53

  32

  2,839

  1990

  35

  48

  1,915

  1991

  37

  45

  1,198

  1992

  32

  32

  1,491

  1993

  58

  89

  2,004

  1994

  55

  87

  1,980

  1995

  42

  82

  2,262

  24

  Injuries on London Underground 1987–1995

  Year

  Fatal

  Serious

  Minor

  B. LUL employees

  1987

  2

  13

  369

  1988

  1

  6

  284

  1989

  0

  6

  348

  1990

  6

  17

  339

  1991

  2

  26

  474

  1992

  1

  17

  551

  1993

  0

  46

  506

  1994

  2

  41

  440

  1995

  1

  86

  354

  Notes:

  1 Fatal injury figures cover (for passengers) all non-medical related incidents including suicides and accidents involving trespassers, and (for employees) include accidents involving contractors working for LUL. Minor injuries exclude cases involving only minor cuts and bruises.

  2 1995 figures do not include data for December.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the costs per day of security staff and other security measures employed at the Newbury bypass site; [9345]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the likely delay caused by action directed to prevent the building of the Newbury bypass; [9346]

  (3) if Her Majesty's Government will now carry out a new cost benefit analysis of the Newbury bypass. [9344]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 22 January 1996:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what are the costs per day of security staff and other security measures employed at the Newbury Bypass; if the Government will now carry out a new cost benefit analysis of the bypass; and what estimate has he made of the likely delay caused by action directed to prevent the building of the bypass.
  There are no figures available for security costs at this early stage; costs will in any event vary from day to day.
  The economic evaluation shows the western bypass to be very good value for money. We will not be carrying out another COBA.
  We do not expect the protest action to delay the scheme significantly. The target for completion is Summer 1998.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 January,Official Report, columns 500–01, on what date compensation was first paid under the Newbury bypass compulsory purchase order; how much compensation has been paid to date; what negotiations with landowners are expected to be concluded; and what is the estimated total amount of compensation to be paid under the order. [10650]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
  25
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the A34 Newbury Bypass.
  The first payment of compensation for land compulsorily acquired for the Newbury Bypass was made on 17 May 1994. To date the Agency has paid just over £1.2m compensation from an estimated total land expenditure figure of £8.25m.
  It is impossible to predict with any certainty when all land compensation negotiations will be concluded. Many claimants prefer to wait until the road is built and operational before submitting their claims for disturbance and injurious affection.

  Road Scheme Protests (Cost)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to carry out a new cost-benefit analysis of the Newbury bypass to take account of increases in the costs of the road; [10439]

  (2) what were the total security and legal costs that resulted from protests against the building of the M 11 through residential areas; [10433]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the additional security costs at the Newbury bypass site on the cost-benefit analysis calculations prepared for the road scheme; [10440]

  (4) what were the total security and legal costs that resulted from protests against the building of the motorway through Twyford down. [10432]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr Graham Allen, dated 22 January 1996:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the costs of security at Twyford Down; the effects of the additional cost of security at Newbury on the cost benefit analysis for the scheme, the total security and legal costs resulting from protests against the M11, and what plans there are to carry out a new cost benefit analysis of the Newbury Bypass following the increase in the costs of the road.
  The legal and security costs resulting from protests at Twyford Down amounted to £3.9M (including VAT).
  Costs associated with the additional site security element required to complete the Newbury Bypass cannot be established at this early stage. The final outcome will depend on the level of protest action. But given that the present value benefits of the scheme are estimated as being between £83M and £150M, the additional cost would not have any significant effects on the cost benefits of the scheme.
  The security and legal costs resulting from protests against the Al2 Hackney to M11 Link Road were in the order of £10M.
  We have no plans to carry out a new cost benefit analysis of the Newbury Bypass. Cost benefit analysis are carried out as part of the decision making process for the road schemes. In this case they showed that the scheme is very good value for money.

  Road Repairs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Highways Agency to have completed its computerised road repair database. [9334]

  Mr. Watts
  The Highways Agency operates a number of computerised databases which contain information on road repairs. Further improvements to these systems are being developed.

  School Buses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve safety measures on double-decker school buses. [9896]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Traffic and Transport Advice
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 January,Official Report, column 48, if he will list the advice on traffic and transport matters and its legal status issued by his Department in the last year. [9898]

  Mr. Norris
  Most of the advice the Department of Transport issues each year to local authorities on traffic and transport matters is not statutorily binding but is concerned with the dissemination of good practice.

  The only binding advice issued to local authorities in 1995 originated from the Highways Agency, and concerned new or revised standards for trunk roads and motorways. The agency requires local authorities acting as its agents to comply with these standards. The following documents were published in this category:
  THE DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

  BD 41/94: Reinforced Clay Brickwork Retaining Walls of Pocket Type and Grouted Cavity Type.

  BD 42/94: Design of Embedded Retaining Walls of Pocket Type and Grouted Cavity Type Construction.

  BD 44/95: Assessment of Concrete Highway Bridges and Structures.

  BD 53/95: Inspections and Records for Road Tunnels.

  BD 57/95: Design for Durability.

  BD 58/94: External and Unbonded Prestressing.

  BD 62/94: As Built, Operational and Maintenance Records for Highway Structures.

  BD 63/94: Inspection of Highway Structures.

  HD 26/94 Amendment No.1: Flexible Composite Pavements.

  HD 27/94 Amendment No. 1: Porous Asphalt on Heavily Trafficked Roads.

  HD 31/94 Amendment No 1: Maintenance of Bituminous Roads.

  HD 35/95: Technical Information (on the use of reclaimed materials).

  SD 10/95: The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations: Requirements for Health and Safety File.

  TD 41/45: Vehicular Access to All-Purpose Trunk Roads.

  TD 42/95: The Geometric Design of Major/Minor Priority Junctions.

  TD 45/94: Motorway Incident Detection Automatic Signalling (MIDAS).

  TD 46/94: Motorway Signalling.

  Volume 11 Amendments: Environmental Assessment.

  THE MANUAL OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS FOR HIGHWAY WORKS

  Volume 0: Model Contract Document for Highway Works—England. 1994 Edition.

  Volume 1: Specification for Highways Works—1994 Edition.

  Volume 2: Notes for Guidance on the Specification for Highway Works—1994 Edition.

  Volume 3: Highway Construction Details—1994 Edition.

  Volume 4: Bill of Quantities for Highways Works—1994 Edition.

  27
  THE TRUNK ROAD MAINTENANCE MANUAL

  Volume 1: Amendment number 5.

  Volume 2: Amendment number 3.

  Volume 3: Amendment number 1.

  The following non-binding advice was issued by the Department of Transport to local authorities on traffic and transport matters in 1995:

  Local Authority Circular 1/95—Guidance on Decriminalised Parking Enforcement outside London.

  Local Authority Circular 2/95—Transport Policies and Programme

  Submissions for 1996–97.

  TPP Submissions for 1996–97—Guidance Notes.

  TPP Submissions for 1996–97—Information Required on Individual Highway Structural Maintenance Schemes.

  TPP Submissions for 1996–97—Supplementary Guidance Notes on the Package Approach.

  TPP Submission for 1996–97—The Local Government Review.

  The Local Government Review—Local Authority Transport Responsibilities.

  PPG13 A Guide to Better Practice (joint with the Department of the Environment).

  Circular Roads 1/95—Traffic Signal and Speed Camera Signing.

  Circular Roads 2/95—Deregulation: The Control of Dogs on Roads Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1995; and Advice on Designating Roads. All Roads within Geographical Areas.

  Circular Roads 3/95—Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England.

  Local Transport Note 1/95—The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings.

  Local Transport Note 2/95—The Design of Pedestrian Crossings.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/95—Speed Limiter Signs—A Guide to Good Practice.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/95—Raised Rib markings.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 3/95—Cycle Routes.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 4/95—The "SCOOT" Urban Traffic Control System.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/95—Parking for Disabled People.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 6/95—Pedestrian Crossings—Assessment and Design.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 7/95—Traffic Islands for Speed Control.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 8/95—Traffic Models for Cycling.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 9/95—Cycling Bibliography.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 10/95—Traffic Calming Bibliography.

  Better Places through Bypasses: Report of the Bypass Demonstration Project.

  Working Drawings for Traffic Signs Vol. II and III.

  Road Safety Education in Schools—Good Practice Guidelines.

  Re-statement of Recommended Specification for Buses used to Operate Local Services.

  The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges:

  BA 43/94: Strengthening, Repair and Monitoring of Post Tensioned Concrete Bridge Decks.

  BA 51/95: Assessment of Concrete Structures Affected by Steel Corrosion.

  BA 53/94: Bracing Systems and the Use of U Frames in Steel Highway Bridges.

  BA 57/95: Design for Durability

  BA 58/94: External and Unbonded Prestressing.

  BA 63/94: Inspection of Highway Structures.

  28

  HA 44/91 Amendment No.1: Earthworks—design and Preparation of Contract Documents.

  HA 66/95: Environmental Barriers—Technical Requirements.

  HA 70/94: Construction of Highway Earthworks.

  HA 71/95: The Effects of Highway Construction on Flood Plains.

  HA 72/94: Use and Limitations of Ground Penetrating Radar for

  Pavement Assessment.

  HA 73/95: Site Investigations for Highway Works on Contaminated Land.

  HA 74/95: Design and Construction of Lime Stabilised Capping.

  HA 75/95: Trunk Roads and Archaeological Mitigation.

  SA 4/95: The Introduction of the Manual of Contract Documents

  for Highway Works.

  TA 66/95: Police Observation Platforms on Motorways.

  TA 67/95: Providing for Cyclists.

  Rail Freight Services
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what due diligence processes his Department has undertaken in relation to the Wisconsin Central and Loadhaul/Omnitrax bids for the British Rail Freight businesses. [9916]

  Mr. Watts
  All bids were evaluated in detail by British Rail and its professional advisers, and then discussed with my Department before a preferred purchaser was selected.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway freight grants were granted in each year since 1987; and what was their total value in each year. [10865]

  Mr. Watts
  The Government have awarded 28 railway freight facilities grants since 1987. The value of the awards were as follows:

  1987: £2,595,810

  1988: £651,473

  1989: £4,145,985

  1990: £765,000

  1991: £1,771,000

  1992: £7,601,500

  1993: £403,000

  1994: £2,911,720

  1995: £7,348,219

  The full list of awards can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of freight grants in encouraging the transfer of goods from road to rail. [10880]

  Mr. Watts
  More than 200 schemes have benefited from these grants at a cost of £90 million, removing more than 3 million lorry journeys per year from the roads.

  Socially Necessary Rail Services
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail services in England and Wales he plans to designate as socially necessary; and if he will make a statement. [10085]
  29
  Mr. Watts
  This is a matter for the Franchising Director. He considers the services to be specified in passenger service requirements on a franchise-by-franchise basis. When setting passenger service requirements he is required by his instructions and guidance from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to consider each service individually, taking account of all surrounding circumstances. Where services are essential but unprofitable to run, the Franchising Director will set the PSR close to or at the level of the British Rail timetable in operation at the time. Where a train is exceptionally lightly used and is not an essential service he may omit it from the PSR where he considers that its inclusion would not provide value for money. He has specified a number of socially necessary but uneconomic services in the PSRs that have so far been finalised.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimated cost for the complete refurbishment of the west coast main line between London and Glasgow. [9926]

  Mr. Watts
  The overall cost of the west coast main line core investment programme has been estimated at about £1 billion.

  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the signalling technology proposed for the modernisation of the west coast main line is currently installed; and what assessment he has made of its operational liability. [10309]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack informs me that in-cab signalling technology is currently employed in differing forms in various parts of the world, but is not identical to the system planned for the west coast main line. For this reason, Railtrack intends to let further development contracts for the signalling system during the first quarter of this year and expects that a reliable signalling system can be developed within the time necessary for the modernisation works.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 January,Official Report, column 29, what is the budgeted expenditure for 1996–97 for the employment of consultants and other advisers in the Officer of Passenger Rail Franchising. [9942]

  Mr. Watts
  The budget has not been finalised. It will be published in the transport report in due course.

  A590, Cumbria
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to start on the High and Low Newton improvements on the A590 in Cumbria; and how much has been spent to date in preparations, including land purchase. [10094]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my right hon. Friend.
  30
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Michael Jopling, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the High and Low Newton improvements on the A590 in Cumbria.
  You will have seen from the Secretary of State's announcement on the Road Programme on 28 November that this scheme has been included in the main programme but against a background of continued pressure on public spending, I am unable to give you a firm start date. All I can say is that it will be brought forward as quickly as resources and statutory procedures allow.
  To date preparation costs total £889,400 in addition to lands costs of £230,000.

  Motorway Noise
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to use porous asphalt on the areas of the M4, between junctions 5 and 8, which are being resurfaced. [10193]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr Graham Allen, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the use of porous asphalt for resurfacing a section of the M4 between junctions 5 and 8.
  Resurfacing of the M4 between junctions 5 and 8 is being undertaken using a conventional hot rolled asphalt surface similar to that originally laid on this section of motorway,
  There are statutory obligations which require the Highways Agency to provide noise attenuation measures but these relate only to new or substantially altered roads. Maintenance can only be undertaken in the most cost effective way. Although I recognise that porous asphalt surfacing does cut down the noise generated by vehicle tyres it is significantly more expensive to provide, requires special highway drainage, costs more to maintain and has a shorter life than hot rolled asphalt.
  Porous asphalt was not therefore considered suitable as a replacement for the existing surface for the M4.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his policy to use major works on motorways to reduce the impact of motorway noise on nearby homes. [10183]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the use of major works on motorways to reduce the impact of motorway noise on nearby homes.
  There is a statutory requirement to consider the impact of noise on nearby homes only in the case of works involving the construction of a new road or of improvements which alter the line or level of an existing road. It is Departmental policy to regard this as covering the widening of motorways. In such cases, the scheme will include appropriate measures designed to mitigate noise and other environmental impacts. In the case of other roadworks such as minor improvements and structural maintenance which have no subsequent effect on the position of traffic relative to adjacent properties there is no requirement for such impacts to be reviewed.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he encourages the use of porous asphalt to reduce noise pollution near motorways. [10184]
  31
  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the use of porous asphalt to reduce noise near motorways.
  The Highways Agency has developed with industry a general specification to permit the use of porous asphalt. Its adoption is encouraged where conditions are suitable and where the benefits can be shown to outweigh the higher costs associated with its use.

  Railway Stations
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new stations have been opened on the rail network in the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the number to be opened on the railway system during the next three years. [9946]

  Mr. Watts
  Twenty-two new stations have been opened on the rail network since January 1993. There are plans for 17 new stations to be opened over the period 1996 to 1998.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish for each British Rail region and for British Rail as a whole for each of the last available three years(a) the total number of railway stations and halls and (b) the total number of such stations and halls with ticket sales offices, indicating (b) as a percentage of (a) in each case. [8917]

  Mr. Watts
  The information requested is not available for each British Rail region. The information requested at(a) for BR as a whole is as follows:

  1992–93: 2,482 stations

  1993–94: 2,493 stations

  1994–95: 2,506 stations

  The information requested at (b) is available only for 1994–95. Of the 2,506 stations, 1,316 or 53 per cent. had ticket sales offices.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many chief executives there have been at the Driving Standards Agency in the last five years. [10485]

  Mr. Norris
  Prior to the current chief executive who joined DSA in April 1995 there have been two substantive DSA chief executives in the last five years.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the salary of the chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency is linked to the performance of the agency. [10486]

  Mr. Norris
  Yes

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the loss of the Driving Standards Agency's chartermark will affect the chief executive's salary. [10487]

  Mr. Norris
  The recent loss of the charter mark by DSA was mainly due to the fact that car driving test waiting times were exceeding the DSA service standard, and DSA was also failing to meet certain other customer service targets such as speed of telephone answering.32
  The chief executive's salary partly depends on achievement of such standards and targets, and will be reduced as a result of their non-achievement.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action he is taking to improve service levels at the Driving Standards Agency following the recent loss of the charter mark award; [10490]

  (2) what plans he has to address service problems at the Driving Standards Agency; [10489]

  (3) if he will instruct the Driving Standards Agency to improve its telephone system. [10694]

  Mr. Norris
  I have reviewed the situation at DSA and authorised the following actions to improve service levels.The recruitment of 25 per cent. additional staff to increase staff numbers on the telephones and the installation of new technology phone systems which distribute calls to the booking clerks more efficiently.
  Recruitment and training of additional contract examiners to reduce test waiting times. These are being taken on at an average of 10 per month.
  Steps to reduce the number of short notice test cancellations, including measures to achieve reductions in staff sick absence. A new compensation code for candidates whose tests have been cancelled at short notice has been implemented.
  Improvement in external communications with the introduction of an external newsletter and a range of other measures.
  The implementation of customer satisfaction tracking later this year and other new systems to improve the handling of complaints.

  Heavy Vehicles (Testing)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many buses in the Greater Manchester area failed safety tests in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1994; [10318]

  (2) how many heavy goods vehicles were tested in the north-west region on emission standards; and how many of them were (a) prohibited and (b) prosecuted. [10319]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Jim Callaghan, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions on the number of heavy goods vehicles tested on emission standards in the North West and how many were prohibited and prosecuted. Your other question asked how many buses in the Greater Manchester area failed safety tests in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
  Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are tested for emissions standard as part of their annual test. Details of the number tested in the North West Region and the percentage of those which failed on smoke emission are shown in Table 1. Vehicles which fail this part of the test would not be prohibited but would be required to rectify the fault before a test certificate was awarded.
  Emissions are also checked as part of the HGV spot checks for roadworthiness that are carried out throughout the year. The Vehicle Inspectorate (VI) has no single enforcement area comprising the North West "region", it is covered by 3 VI Enforcement Areas. Smoke emission checks were carried out on a total of 2,968 HGVs of which 73 (2.46%) were issued with prohibitions. Prohibitions can only be removed when the vehicle has been rectified and inspected again by VI to show that it is fit for service. Prosecution for emission offences is reserved for very serious neglect and for serial offenders. Details of the number of prosecutions for emissions as a result of

  33
  routine spot checks can only be provided at disproportionate cost. There were no prosecutions following last year's "blitz" checks on HGVs in the North West.
  Details of the number of buses which failed their annual test in the Greater Manchester area are shown below.

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Total number tested

  2,861

  3,868

  4,357

  Total number failed

  825

  756

  863

  Number of HGVs tested and percentage failed on smoke emission: North West

  1994–95

  VI HGV testing station

  Tested

  Percentage failed

  Carlisle

  3,733

  1.7

  Milnthorpe

  3,065

  2.4

  Barrow

  529

  1.7

  Kirkham

  8,325

  1.8

  North Manchester

  10,604

  1.6

  South Manchester

  12,317

  2.0

  Simonswood

  12,828

  0.52

  Bromborough

  2,651

  0.9

  Wrexham

  5,416

  1.9

  Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the profits of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company for the years from 1989 to 1995. [10330]

  Mr. Norris
  These are matters for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. Details can be found in its annual reports and accounts for the years concerned.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representation Her Majesty's Government have on the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. [10331]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Al Gateshead Western Bypass
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of properties compulsorily purchased by the Highways Agency in the Gateshead area from April 1994 to date in connection with the Agency's proposed Al Gateshead western bypass; and what has been the total cost of the purchases. [10555]

  Mr. Watts
  Since April 1994, nine properties have been purchased at a cost of £1.6 million. They have been purchased under statutory blight provisions which enables affected owner-occupiers to require the Department to buy their property in advance. The question of compulsory purchase does not arise.

  Royal. Train
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the royal train is kept when it is not in use; and how many times it was used by(a) the Queen, (b) the Prince of Wales and (c) other members of the royal family in the last 12 months. [10639]
  34
  Mr. Watts
  The royal train is kept at a secure rail depot in Buckinghamshire when it is not in use. During 1995 the train was used eight times by Her Majesty the Queen, 14 times by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and on 10 other occasions by members of the royal family.

  Road Building
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy when road contractors are ahead of schedule and the new work required is dependent on the allocation from the next financial year. [10488]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 22 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 what is the policy when road contractors are ahead of schedule and the new work required is dependent on the allocation from the new financial year.
  Road building activity is governed by the terms of commercial contracts between the Highways Agency and road contractors. Within this framework, it is incumbent upon the Agency to manage its financial affairs in such a way that requirements arising from the annuality of Government accounting are met.

  M62 Relief Road
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new tenancies and on what terms have been granted by the Highways Agency or those acting on its behalf in the Bury, South constituency since the announcement of the cancellation of the M62 relief road. [10938]

  Mr. Watts
  No new tenancies have been granted by the Highways Agency's managing agents following my announcement of the withdrawal of the M62 relief road from the trunk roads programme. Twelve tenancies which had previously been secured by payment of deposits have come into effect since my announcement. In all these cases, the tenants have been granted one-year fixed-term agreements.

  Seat Belts and Child Seats
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answers of 29 November 1995,Official Report, column 752, what progress he has made on seat belt regulations and child seat concessions. [10925]

  Mr. Norris
  I intend to lay the regulations before the House in early February.

  British Bus
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to investigate the activities of British Bus. [10937]

  Mr. Norris
  None, other than the normal monitoring of bus companies' operations by the Traffic Commissioners.

  Bicycles (Light Emitting Diode Lights)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ban the use of LED lights on bicycles. [11052]
  35
  Mr. Norris
  We have no plans to ban the use of LED lights on bicycles. A recent public consultation exercise was carried out asking for views on prohibiting the use of non-approved lights on bicycles. We are currently analysing the responses.

  Heathrow Flight Paths
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what factors led to the change in the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow via Dover in the early 1990s [10827]

  (2) what inquiries about the main routing of Heathrow air traffic to the east were received by the Civil Aviation Authority prior to the change in the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow towards Dover; [10829]

  (3) what is his responsibility in respect of setting flight paths from Heathrow; [10826]

  (4) if he will restore the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow via Dover to its former line; and whether he will make a statement; [10830]

  (5) what efforts were made to consult affected local communities about the change made in the early 1990s in the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow towards Dover. [10828]

  Mr. Norris
  The main easterly departure route from Heathrow towards Dover has remained unchanged for over 25 years, apart from minor but essential adjustments from time to time to compensate for movement in the position of magnetic north. At the present time, the position of magnetic north is decreasing by about 7.2 minutes a year in relation to true north and points in south-east England. This departure route has used a track of 287 deg. to the relevant navigational beacon since 19 August 1993, when it was adjusted from a track of 288 deg. to compensate for magnetic drift since the previous such adjustment made in 1986.

  The Secretary of State has taken responsibility for the routes taken by departing aircraft from Heathrow up to an altitude of 4000ft. Aircraft using this particular route must attain this altitude before reaching the area of Norbury in south London, but in practice most do so much nearer the airport. Once an aircraft has reached 4,000ft. it may be vectored off the route by air traffic control on to a more direct heading to its destination. This long standing practice is essential for the efficient management of air space.

  Car Ownership (Greater Manchester)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the projected increase in car ownership in the Greater Manchester area over the next five years. [11037]

  Mr. Norris
  Car ownership in Greater Manchester is predicted to increase by between 6.5 per cent. and 10.5 per cent. over the next five years, depending mainly on the growth in the local economy. This represents an additional 56,000 to 96,000 cars owned. The forecast is based on census data. The 1991 census showed that households in Greater Manchester owned 814,000 cars.

  Central Railways plc
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 15 January,Official Report, column 403, what plans he has to ensure that, in the event of a proposal from Central Railways plc to re-develop the central railway being deemed of national significance, Parliament will be adequately informed of the relevant national issues. [10048]

  Mr. Watts
  The documents to be deposited with Parliament in this event include a briefing note by the Department. We would expect to deal with relevant national issues in that note and in opening the debate.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that before any application from Central Railways plc to re-develop the central railway under the Transport and Works Act 1992 is submitted to Parliament(a) the application fully complies with the Act in relation to the funding of blight and (b) that Central Railways plc produces conclusive and irrefutable evidence that it can fully fund the inquiry process. [10049]

  Mr. Watts
  The Transport and Works Act rules require applicants to provide concise details of their proposals for funding the cost of acquiring blighted land within the meaning of section 149 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. If Central Railway plc were unable to meet its statutory obligations to acquire such land, the application would fail. Similarly, if it were unable to finance the inquiry it would be forced to withdraw the application.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that any application made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in regard to the central railway submitted by Central Railways plc complies with all the requirements of the Act with particular reference to the submission of adequate information including maps of the proposed route at a scale of not less than 1:2500 before the application may be placed before Parliament and that local authorities affected will be consulted in this process. [10046]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering applications by Central Railway plc for partial, conditional or absolute waivers from compliance with certain application requirements under the Transport and Works Act rules. If we judge that local authorities should be consulted before reaching a decision, we will do so.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from local authorities along the route of the proposed central railway about the likely compliance of the proposals to be made by Central Railways plc with the requirements of the Transport and Works Act 1992. [10045]

  Mr. Watts
  We have received a number of representations. These will be taken into account in considering the applications by Central Railway plc for waivers from compliance with certain requirements of the Transport and Works Act rules.

  Transport and Works Act 1992
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions of the Transport and Works Act 1992 require the submission of a statement to justify a proposal made under the Act in relation to national planning or transport policy or economic or technical considerations. [10047]

  Mr. Watts
  There is no requirement for a statement in relation to national planning or transport policy, but Parliament has the opportunity to consider the case in principle for any application judged to be of national significance. Any applicant for a works order involving compulsory land acquisition would need to be able to demonstrate that the project is technically feasible and financially viable, and that the public benefits of the proposals outweigh any private disbenefits before the order is approved.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated; [10055]

  (2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10065]

  Mr. Watts
  My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new proposals he has to ban the use of bull bars; and if he will make a statement. [11064]

  Mr. Norris
  I recently met Neil Kinnock of the European Commission. It was agreed that the best way forward was for the Commission to bring forward a proposal for an amendment to the existing external projections directive. This would specifically address bull bars and help remove obstacles to effective national action. The initiative now rests with the Commission and we will be urging them to announce their plans as soon as possible.

  Waste
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his letter G/PSO/26593/95 of 15 December, what response he has made to summary point 8 of the report by Dr. Martin Angel of Southampton in respect of the expedition of the provision and funding of waste facilities in ports. [8413]
  38
  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 1 November 1995,Official Report, column 309.

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure that direct image transmission from site is installed on the MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [9912]

  Mr. Norris
  While we have not ruled out this possibility, we are advised that there would be considerable technical difficulties and that the cost would be significant in relation to the total resources available.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will permit two MV Derbyshire Family Association nominated technical experts to be included in the expedition to the wreck of MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [10245]

  Mr. Norris
  The views of the Derbyshire Family Association are being taken into account in the development of the arrangements for the return expedition to the wreck.

  No commitment can be made at this stage as to who will be on board the vessel used in the expedition.

  Rail Ticket Offices
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each British Rail region and for British Rail as a whole all rail ticket sales offices on BR stations and halts which have been staffed wholly or partly by volunteers in the last 12 months, indicating the date on which such service ceased or is due to cease; and if he will make a statement. [9302]

  Mr. Watts
  Ticket offices at the following stations are currently staffed by volunteers on a commission basis:

  Clitheroe

  Gobowen

  Ledbury

  Newtown (Powys)

  The information requested on the dates that BR ticket office services ceased is not available.

  Oil Pollution (Wildlife Deaths)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the numbers and species of birds and sea mammals recently washed up on the north Humberside coast as a result of oil pollution; and what progress has been made in establishing the source of the oil pollution. [8768]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 22 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number and species of birds and sea mammals washed up on the North Humberside coast as a result of oil pollution.

  39
  During the period 27 December to 4 January an approximate total of 450 birds were affected by pollution off the North Humberside coastline. Of that number some 320 birds were recovered alive and treated by the RSPCA; these included approximately 250 guillemots, 50 Razorbills, and single figure numbers of Kittiwakes, Puffins and Shelduck. Reported dead birds totalled 127 which were made up of 72 Guillemots, 38 Razorbills, 10 Puffins, 4 Fulmars, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Little Auk and 1 Red Throated Diver. During the same period 3 seals were rescued and taken into care by the RSPCA, one of which was thought to be affected by oil.
  The Agency's Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU) has not been able to establish the source of the pollution. The fast indication of pollution in the area was oiled birds coming ashore in Humberside. Oil samples associated with the incident and collected on behalf of MPCU have been analysed. The analyses have concluded that samples taken from the beach and from the feathers of contaminated birds are a mixture of light fuel oils which may indicate bilge discharges by ships. We do not have sufficient evidence to identify particular ships.
  During the period 27 December to 4 January the MPCU surveillance aircraft flew 3 patrols in the sea area off the Humberside coast. These patrols were in response to continuing reports of oiled birds coming ashore in Humberside. One of these patrols detected oil at sea some 23 miles east of Spurn Point which might have caused the damage to wildlife described here.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General how many members of the Crown Prosecution Service there are at present; what that figure is as a percentage of the optimum complement of the service; and if he will make a statement. [8865]

  The Solicitor-General
  As at 31 December 1995 the Crown Prosecution Service employed 6,769 staff, including part-time workers. Staffing requirements are being reassessed in the light of expected workloads, resources and the senior management and pay and grading reviews.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to improve the training available to the Crown Prosecution Service. [9909]

  The Attorney-General
  The training needs of the Crown Prosecution Service are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions who carries out her functions under the superintendence of the Attorney-General.

  Training is seen as an essential tool for improving Crown Prosecution Service performance. A wide range of training, both professional and managerial, is undertaken and its relevance is continuously reviewed. The provision of training has recently been market tested to ensure quality and value for money.

  Saudi Arabia (Contracts)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Saudi Arabia over contracts. [8866]

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has had any recent discussions with Lord Justice Scott regarding the Scott report. [8867]
  40
  The Attorney-General
  It is the intention of the inquiry that any exchanges with individual witnesses should be confidential. That is to be respected.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what guidelines he issued in(a) October and (b) November 1995 in respect of issuing public interest immunity certificates in the Ordtech appeal hearing; and what factors underlay his advice. [9496]

  The Attorney-General
  Any advice given to Government concerning public interest immunity following the decision of the House of Lords in ex parte Wiley in July 1994 will have taken account of the change of approach signalled in that case. However, by convention, the fact as to whether the Law Officers have advised on a given matter is not disclosed, nor is the content of any advice which may have been given.

  Departmental staff
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General how many people currently work in his Department; at what cost to public funds; how this figure compares in similar and real terms with May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [8864]

  The Attorney-General
  Twenty-seven staff are currently employed in the legal secretariat to the Law Officers. The total staff costs for the financial year 1994–95—consisting of salary, allowances, overtime, earnings-related national insurance contributions and superannuation—were £1,040,018. This figure does not include agency staff.

  The Supply Estimates for the year 1979–1980 show 22 staff at a cost of £209,000. This figure does not include superannuation which is currently 14.9 per cent. of basic salaries. Applying this percentage to staff costs of £209,000 gives a sum of £240,141.

  Since 1979 additional functions have been conferred on the Attorney-General, principally supervision of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office, and those connected with the review of certain criminal sentences which may be unduly lenient with a consequent increase in the number of criminal lawyers on my staff.

  The staff cost of £240,141 for the financial year 1979–1980 at 1994–1995 prices is £600,112. The difference between the latter figure and that for 1994–1995 is represented in part by an increase generally in the number of staff and the proportion of higher grades, and in part by the increase in staff salaries over and above the rate of inflation over the period in question.

  John Bennett and Keith Wilson
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General what consultations he has hade with the South Wales police in relation to the conviction of John Bennett and Keith Wilson for corruption in Welsh Office printing contracts. [9598]
  41
  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service forwarded to my Department a file of the evidence which resulted from the investigation into the activities of John Bennett and Keith Wilson by the South Wales police. The evidence was considered by the Solicitor-General who agreed to grant his fiat to prosecute both men under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. Neither the Solicitor-General nor I have had any direct contact with the South Wales police.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what guidance he intends to issue to(a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9225]

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 15 January,Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my Department is made aware of its responsibilities under the Act. I am not responsible for any executive agencies or other bodies.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are her plans for the development of policy on the distribution of lottery proceeds. [10077]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am writing today to the chairmen of the lottery distributing bodies to consult with them on changes to policy directions I issue under section 26 (1) and (2) of the National Lotteries etc. Act 1993. My proposals would allow an amount of revenue funding to help develop the skills and talent of young people including elite young athletes; increase access to the arts and sports; allow the Sports Councils to fund one-off major events in the United Kingdom; and allow the national heritage memorial fund to make awards to building preservation trusts. None of these proposals is intended to substitute for existing funding through grant in aid. These proposals do not affect the Millennium Commission and the National Lottery Charities Board. My colleagues will be writing in similar terms to the chairmen of the distributing bodies in Scotland, in Wales and in Northern Ireland.

  I have considered the existing rules on partnership funding. I am satisfied that there is sufficient flexibility available for distributing bodies to take account of special circumstances in individual applications. I shall be encouraging the chairmen of the distributing bodies to be
  42
  properly flexible in their interpretation of what is possible in this area, and I shall be encouraging the Arts Councils to consider what they can do to foster innovation within the existing definition of capital. The Arts Council of England has proposed using lottery money to help arts organisations gain long-term financial stability, in a way which would not substitute for existing grant in aid. I shall be discussing this further with it.

  The consultation period will last until the end of February. I will then consider the responses to the consultation process, with a view to announcing any changes to the directions at the beginning of April.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Former Prime Ministers Allowance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many former Prime Ministers claim the maximum allowance available to them. [9901]

  Mr. Freeman
  I do not think it right to disclose information about the amount of allowance claimed by former Prime Ministers, any more than the House discloses details of claims by individual Members under the office costs allowance.

  Photocopiers
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 335, on costs of photocopiers, what was the estimated number of copies projected in respect of each contract and at what cost per copy. [10277]

  Mr. Willetts
  The estimated number of copies projected in respect of each contract and the cost per copy for the 25 photocopiers is as follows:

  Copies projected for contract period

  Cost per copy (pence)

  24,000,000

  0.32

  24,000,000

  0.32

  1,800,000

  0.71

  1,800,000

  0.79

  1,800,000

  0.79

  900,000

  0.65

  360,000

  0.85

  324,000

  0.90

  270,000

  0.91

  252,000

  0.91

  252,000

  0.84

  240,000

  0.91

  240,000

  0.91

  240,000

  0.91

  240,000

  0.91

  180,000

  0.97

  180,000

  0.97

  144,000

  0.91

  108,000

  0.91

  108,000

  0.95

  72,000

  0.95

  60,000

  0.97

  48,000

  0.97

  1,620,000

  0.81 per first 90,000 per annum 0.63 thereafter

  5,000,000

  first 1.2 million per annum included in contract price, next 200,000 at 0.5 per copy thereafter 0.3 per copy.

PRIME MINISTER

  Regulators
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, column 289, what are the reasons for the degree of variations in the salaries paid to the regulators. [10648]

  The Prime Minister
  The salaries paid to individual regulators are determined by the appointing Secretary of State and take account of various factors including the responsibilities of their particular office and what is necessary to recruit and retain a suitable appointee.

  Liverpool Dockers (Petition)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the petition presented on 9 January by the women's support group on behalf of Liverpool dockers who had been made redundant. [10427]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 18 January,Official Report, column 689.

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions between June and October 1989 when in his capacity as Foreign Secretary he made statements, written or oral, or corresponded, on the United Kingdom's policy towards each of the participants in the Iran-Iraq war; in each case what was that stance; and if he will make a statement. [11043]

  The Prime Minister
  A comprehensive record of statements and correspondence on Iran and Iraq could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Statements made are, of course, a matter of public record.

  "Realising our Potential"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made, subsequent to the letter of 19 September to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, by the research councils an0d Sir John Cadogan, to implement the science, engineering and technology policy research set out in "Realising our Potential". [8242]

  The Prime Minister
  The research councils continue to implement the policy set out in "Realising our Potential" in accordance with their royal charters and guidance from the Director General of the Research Councils. The President of the Board of Trade announced on 16 January the science budget allocations for 1996–97 and the planning figures for the next two years to enable them to do so. A booklet explaining the allocations, "Allocations of Science Budget 1996–97" is available in the Library.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the principal statements, or documents, authorised or made by persons who are, or have been, Ministers of the Crown since 1990, which show that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to so privatise the functions of the former British Railways in a manner that made possible(a) the dispersal into separate companies the
  44
  current responsibilities of Railtrack and (b) that any such company or any other performing any of the functions of the former British Railways Board could be owned or controlled by (i) shareholders a majority of whom were not citizens of the United Kingdom or (ii) a company registered outside the United Kingdom. [8619]

  The Prime Minister
  The White Paper, "New Opportunities for the Railways", published in July 1992, announced the Government's intention to restructure the railways. Restrictions on the ownership of shares by foreign nationals are tightly controlled by international law and agreements.

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on the provision of official gifts by his Office in 1994 and 1995; and if he will now make it his policy to give details of the gifts presented. [10149]

  The Prime Minister
  A total of £22,510 was spent on the provision of official gifts in the 1994–95 financial year. It is not my practice to give details of gifts purchased.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to put on public display official gifts received by him and his predecessors. [10163]

  The Prime Minister
  All gifts are handled in accordance with the provisions set out in "Questions of Procedures for Ministers".

  Mohammed al-Masari
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister who on behalf of Her Majesty's Government made representations to the Government of Dominica to inquire if they would receive Professor Mohammed al-Masari if he was deported from the United Kingdom; if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between the two Governments concerning this case; and if the Government of Dominica has indicated if it will receive Professor al-Masari. [10659]

  The Prime Minister
  The initial approach was made by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary to the Dominican Prime Minister when he visited London on 18 December. It is not normal practice to make public correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and other Governments. The Dominican Government have agreed to accept Dr. al-Masari and to grant him asylum, if he applies for it.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the French Government's current series of nuclear tests in the Pacific. [10499]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 29 November,Official Report, column 790–91.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the responsibilities of the staff employed in the Cabinet Office in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10986]

  The Prime Minister
  The responsibilities of staff in the Cabinet Office employed on matters relating to the inquiry are to provide Ministers and officials with advice on matters arising from the inquiry, and to liaise with the inquiry.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions staff employed in the Cabinet Office in relation to the Scott inquiry have had on matters related to the Scott inquiry with persons(a) employed by and (b) working as consultants for Conservative Central Office; and what subjects were discussed. [10987]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Monetary Union
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Prime Minister for how long a currency must be in the exchange rate mechanism before it can be abolished in favour of a single European currency; and what are his current plans regarding the exchange rate mechanism and the pound. [9304]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore), on 9 January,Official Report, column 114.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) on how many occasions mobile or car phones retained for his use or the use of his staff have been cloned during(a) the last two years, (b) the last 18 months, (c) the last 12 months and (d) the last six months; [9570]

  (2) on how many occasions mobile or car phones retained for his use or the use of his staff have been cloned since his appointment. [9571]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: As far as I am aware, one, and that was in 1994.

  £000's

  1990–91 Cash

  1991–92 Cash

  1992–93 Cash

  1993–95 Cash

  1994–95 Cash

  Cash

  1984–85 prices

  Cash

  1984–85 prices

  Cash

  1984–85 prices

  Cash

  1984–85 prices

  Cash

  1984–85 prices

  No. 10 capital and running costs and costs of Chequers

  7,990

  5,660

  8,420

  5,620

  9,620

  6,170

  8,950

  5,570

  7,440

  4,550

  Grant-in-aid to Cheques trust

  240

  170

  240

  160

  250

  160

  270

  170

  230

  140

  Total

  8,230

  5,830

  8,660

  5,780

  9,870

  6,330

  9,220

  5,740

  7,670

  4,690

  Figures rounded to the nearest £10,000.

  All figures at 1984–85 prices using GDP deflator

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his latest estimate of the cost to British trade of sanctions against Libya. [8167]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: It is not possible to estimate the loss of trade as a result of the United Nations sanctions.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of travel incurred by his office in each year since 1990–91. [8965]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: The information as requested is as follows:

  (£000s)

  1990–91

  880

  1991–92

  1,310

  1992–93

  1,730

  1993–94

  1,490

  1994–95

  1,230

  Figures rounded to the nearest £10,000.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost to public funds arising from all duties in each complete year since 1990–91 and for 1995–96 to date; and if he will indicate the figures separately for (i) accommodation and (ii) expenses. [8964]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 December, Official Report, columns 1053–54. The information as requested for earlier years is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide the figures from 1990–91 to 1994–95 and 1995–96 to date for(a) the cost of maintaining and running No. 10 Downing street and additional costs at Chequers, (b) the grant-in-aid to the Chequers trust and (c) the costs on a consistent basis and expressed at constant 1984–85 prices. [9534]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: The information as requested is in the table.

  Road Investment
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Prime Minister if the recent statement of the Minister of State at the Scottish Office about the fundamental importance of road investment to Scotland's economy represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government; if a similar policy exists for the rest of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on his policies on road investment in(a) Scotland and (b) England and setting out the basis for differences between the two. [10238]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: The Government believe that an efficient transport infrastructure, of which trunk roads form an integral part, is essential to national competitiveness. My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Transport for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland develop their plans in that context taking account of transport needs of each country within the United Kingdom.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many mobile phones have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years; and in each of those years how many different suppliers were involved. [9130]

  Mr. Newton
  Excluding the office of my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal, the information for the Privy Council Office is as follows. Three mobile phones were purchased between 1989 and 1992, all from the same supplier; the exact year of purchase is no longer recorded. One telephone was supplied in 1993. Two telephones were purchased in 1995, from two different suppliers. No telephones were supplied in 1994.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that disabled people are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9364]

  Mr. Moss
  A number of disabled people already serve in a non-executive capacity on health boards and as members of health councils and their contribution brings a necessary and important perspective to the bodies to which they are appointed. Nominations to serve as non-executives on health boards and as members of health councils are sought from a wide range of community, voluntary and health groups.

  Responsibility for appointments to health boards and health councils in Northern Ireland rests with the Department of Health, which seeks to ensure a broad representation of members appointed to these bodies.

  Autism
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the services available to(a) children and (b) adults with autism; and what plans he has to enhance these services. [9256]

  Mr. Moss
  It is the responsibility of the education and library boards to assess and provide for the special educational needs of all children in Northern Ireland, including children with autism. Placements may be made in special schools, in special units attached to mainstream schools or in mainstream schools themselves.

  The health and personal social services needs of people with autism are met by the four health and social services boards within their learning disability programmes of care. Services include residential and nursing home care, day care and respite care and a wide range of community nursing, social work, psychology and paramedical services. There is, however, growing awareness among health and social services boards, trusts and professional staff of the specialised needs of people with autism. One board is organising a series of courses to train staff in TEACCH—treatment and education of autistic related communication handicapped children—a structural treatment and educational programme.

  These courses will enable staff in adult settings to continue and develop the TEACCH programmes started in schools and to introduce TEACCH to others who would benefit from it.

  In addition, the Department of Health and Social Services is providing financial support for Professionals and Parents and Autism—PAPA—a local voluntary organisation.

  Edgewater Development, Donaghadee
  Mr. John. D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what breaches of planning permission have occurred at the Edgewater development to the north and west of Norfolk avenue, Donaghadee; and if he will make a statement. [9311]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department considered that the continued use of Norfolk avenue to access the development site would be a breach of planning control. The Department contacted the developer about this and the matter is resolved as the access is no longer in use.

  Carers
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has ensure that carers are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9239]

  Mr. Moss
  Nominations to serve as non-executives on health boards and as members of health councils are sought from a wide range of community, voluntary and health groups, a number of whom will represent the interests of carers.

  Responsibility for appointments to health boards and health councils in Northern Ireland rests with the Department of Health, which seeks to ensure that a broad representation of community interests is available through the appointment of members.

  Buddy Bear Conductive Education Centre
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that the Department of Education endorses all statements from education boards, placing children in the Buddy Bear conductive education centre. [9931]

  Mr. Ancram
  Under article 31(3) of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986, a proposal by an education and library board to arrange for the special educational provision for a child to be made otherwise than at a grant-aided school is subject to the approval of my Department. My Department considers each proposal made under this legislation on its merits, taking into account the professional advice, parental representations, proposed costs and any other circumstances relevant to each case. There are, however, proposals currently before Parliament to change this legislation: under these proposals, my Department's approval role in individual placements would be replaced by a power to approve institutions other than grant-aided schools as suitable for the placement by boards of children with special educational needs.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a statement will be approved, and appropriate fees and costs authorised, by the Department of Education for Anna Marie Treanor and Daniel Murphy, currently attending the Buddy Bear conductive education centre in Dungannon. [9932]

  Mr. Ancram
  The two proposals referred to, which have been made by the Southern education and library board, are still under consideration. These have been submitted to my Department in the form of a proposed pilot scheme and further information is being sought from the board about the scheme, including its proposed structure, costs and duration.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the educational statement issued by the North Eastern education and library board for James Agnew was approved by his Department; and from what date the fees and transport costs of his placement at the Buddy Bear conductive education centre in Dungannon will be paid. [9933]

  Mr. Ancram
  The proposal made by the North-Eastern board to place this child in the Buddy Bear school was approved by my Department on 20 November 1995. I understand that the board will be meeting the associated fees and transport costs with effect from May 1995, when the school received final registration as an independent school.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the pilot conductive education project proposed by the Department of Education, with particular reference to(a) the date when the proposal was completed, (b) the reasons for abandoning the proposal and (c) the reasons for questioning the basis of the pilot proposal presented by the Southern education and library board. [9934]

  Mr. Ancram
  My Department has not proposed a pilot conductive education project. A pilot project was the subject of discussions between my Department and the North-Eastern education and library board in 1992, and 50
  subsequently discussions about possible pilots took place with the Southern education and library board and the Buddy Bear trust. It was however decided in April 1994 not to proceed with a pilot project. In coming to this decision, particular regard was had to resource considerations and the potential value of the pilot projects in the form proposed in the light of the findings of a Government-funded research project carried out at the Birmingham Institute for Conductive Education which became available during the course of 1993.

  The Southern board has recently sought approval to place two children with special educational needs at the Buddy Bear school in Dungannon for a four-term pilot scheme, but no information was given as to the nature of the proposed pilot. In order to form a view on the value for money which would be obtained from the significant additional expenditure which would be incurred through the proposed pilot, my Department therefore sought further information from the board as to the nature, objectives and operation of the proposed pilot, and its relationship to another pilot which I understand the board has also been considering at one of its own special schools. Some information has been provided, and discussions with the board are ongoing.

  Prison Service
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many prison officers are currently employed in(a) HMP Maze, (b) HMP Maghaberry and (c) HMP Belfast; [10341]

  (2) how many prisoners are currently in (a) HMP Maze, (b) HMP Maghaberry and (c) HMP Belfast; [10342]

  (3) how many prison officers and staff will be made redundant in the proposed round of staff reductions in the Prison Service in Northern Ireland; [10343]

  (4) what percentage of the proposed reductions in staffing in the Prison Service will occur in Northern Ireland; [10344]

  (5) how many prison staff in Northern Ireland will be eligible for redundancy packages accompanying staffing reductions in the Prison Service; [10345]

  (6) when HMP Belfast will close; how many of its prisoners will go to other prisons in Northern Ireland; and if he will list the prisons concerned. [10346]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subjects in question have been delegated to the Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. D. Shannon to Ms Marjorie Mowlan, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to the Parliamentary Questions in which you asked:

  (i) the number of prison officers who are currently employed in certain Northern Ireland prisons;

  (ii) the number of prisoners in certain Northern Ireland prisons;

  51

  (iii) the number of prison officers and staff who will lose their jobs in the proposed round of staff reductions in the Prison Service in Northern Ireland;

  (iv) the percentage of the proposed reductions in staffing in the Prison Service which will occur in Northern Ireland;

  (v) the number of prison staff in Northern Ireland who will be eligible for redundancy packages accompanying staffing reductions; and

  (vi) when HMP Belfast closes, how many of its prisoners will go to other prisons in Northern Ireland; and to list the prisons concerned.

  Sir John Wheeler recently announced the closure of HMP Belfast and the construction of new prisoner accommodation at HMP Maghaberry. The inmate population of HMP Belfast will be reallocated to other accommodation some of which is currently vacant and un-staffed. The staffing implications of this decision are currently being assessed, but preliminary studies suggest that around 15 Governor posts, 200 officer posts and 25 civilian posts will no longer be required. It is hoped that the reductions can be achieved through natural wastage and voluntary redundancies.
  The recent announcement of staffing reductions in HM Prison Service does not have any impact on the staffing levels of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, which is a separate organisation.
  The management of the NIPS is currently consulting with the relevant Staff Associations about the precise terms of any redundancy package which may be offered. The extent of the application of any package forms part of this consultation and has yet to be agreed.
  On 18 January 1996 the staffing and inmate figures for each of the prisons was:

  Staffing

  Inmates

  Prison Officers

  Others

  HMP Maze

  588

  1,241

  86

  HMP Maghaberry

  1293

  618

  65

  HMP Belfast

  254

  400

  46

  HMP Magilligan

  258

  448

  45

  1 Includes 27 female prisoners.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10965]

  Sir John Wheeler
  A range of projects across all Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office are under consideration, but none are yet at the invitation to tender stage. The administration costs incurred to date in the tendering process are part of the normal work of departments and are not separately identified.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10963]

  Sir John Wheeler
  A range of projects across all Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office are under consideration, but none are yet at the invitation to tender stage. However, the following external consultancy costs have been incurred in 1995–96 in moving towards this position:

  £ thousand

  Legal

  58

  Publicity

  2

  Accountancy

  1

  Management consultancy

  97

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons (Mechanical Restraints)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since January 1990 inmates at Her Majesty's Prison, Holloway, have been(a) detained in a strip cell and (b) restrained by body belts for (i) medical or (ii) non-medical purposes. [8440]

  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 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of occasions inmates at Holloway prison have been detained in a strip cell and restrained by bodybelts for medical or non-medical purposes.
  The number of occasions since January 1990 that prisoners have been restrained are shown in the attached tables.

  Special cell

  Year

  Non-medical

  1990

  9

  1991

  1

  1992

  13

  1993

  13

  1994

  17

  1995

  14

  Body belt

  Year

  Medical

  Non-medical

  1990

  0

  0

  1991

  0

  0

  1992

  0

  0

  1993

  0

  0

  1994

  0

  1

  1995

  1

  1

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he intends to issue to(a) departments (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside

  Calls

  Funding

  Helpline

  Run by

  Year

  Number

  Year

  £

  The National Volunteering Helpline1

  Independent company

  1995

  14,000

  1995

  130,000

  The Prison Service Victim Helpline2

  Agency

  1994

  24

  1994

  39,000

  1995

  238

  1995

  12,000

  Prisoner Location Service

  Agency

  1993

  48,000

  1994

  60,000

  1995

  68,000

  1995

  460,000

  UK Passport Agency inquiry lines

  Agency

  1991

  1.5 million

  1991

  750,000

  1992

  1.5 million

  1992

  760,000

  1993

  1.6 million

  1993

  800,000

  1994

  2.1 million

  1994

  890,000

  1995

  2.3 million

  1995

  910,000

  54
  bodies and arm's-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9221]

  Mr. Howard
  I refer to the reply to the hon. Member's question given on 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 417, by my hon. Friend the Minister for Disabled People. I, too, will ensure that my Department and bodies for which it is responsible are made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

  Frankland Prison
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total cost of, and reasons for, replacing the locks at Her Majesty's prison, Frankland; [9266]

  (2) where the master key to the locks of Her Majesty's Prison Frankland was found. [9265]

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

  Letter from. A. J. Pearson to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the replacement of the locks at Frankland prison.
  The keys to the security locks of Frankland prison were compromised by the loss of a cell key. In the circumstances it was decided to replace all cell locks and other pass locks in use in the prison.
  The cost of locks and labour in fitting them was £93,500. The missing key has not yet been found.

  Helplines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are(a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of his 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 his Department in each of the last five years. [9804]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department funds a number of telephone, inquiry lines which the public can ring for advice. It has not been possible in all cases to attribute costs, but details which are readily available are as follows:
  55

  Calls

  Funding

  Helpline

  Run by

  Year

  Number

  Year

  £

  Immigration and Nationality telephone inquiry bureau

  Department

  1991

  5358,000

  —

  —

  1992

  395,000

  —

  —

  1993

  436,000

  —

  —

  1994

  458,000

  —

  —

  1995

  501,000

  —

  —

  Nationality Directorate telephone inquiry

  Department

  1991

  205,080

  —

  bureau

  1992

  202,000

  —

  1993

  225,000

  —

  1994

  240,000

  —

  1995

  218,000

  6140,000

  —

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar inquiries line

  NDPB

  1990–91

  38,000

  —

  —

  1991–92

  42,000

  —

  —

  1992–93

  44,000

  —

  —

  1993–94

  48,000

  —

  —

  1994–95

  66,000

  —

  —

  1Commenced 1 March 1995. The helpline is run by Network Scotland with a grant from the Home Office.

  2Commenced 5 December 1994. Excludes additional running costs of £4,000–£5,000 incurred as a one-off basis in the first four and a half months of the service only.

  3Includes start-up costs of £8,000.

  4Estimated cost for 1995. In previous years separate costs have not been recorded.

  5Figures do not include recorded messages.

  6Estimated cost for 1995. In previous years separate costs have not been recorded.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public response he has made to the publication by Amnesty International last June of "Playing Human Pinball-Home Office Practice in Safe Third Country Asylum Cases"; if he will place copies in the Library of letters he has sent to Amnesty International in reply to letters from it concerning matters contained in the pamphlet; and if he will make a statement. [10660]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  My predecessor wrote to Mr. David Bull, director of Amnesty International, on 27 July in response to this report. I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken by his Department to reach substantive decisions on asylum applications lodged since the coming into force of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, when applications are made(a) at a port of entry, (b) by persons given leave to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period and (c) by persons liable to removal as illegal entrants; [10080]

  (2) what is the average time taken by his Department between receipt of an asylum application under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 and the carrying out of substantive interview with the asylum seeker when applications are made (a) at a port of entry, (b) by persons given leave to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period and (c) by persons liable to removal as illegal entrants. [10081]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on the average time taken during 1995 to reach a substantive decision on those asylum applications submitted after the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 is given in the table. Reliable information on the time between application date and interview date is not held centrally.
  56

  Average time taken to reach a substantive decision1 on post 1993 Act asylum applications, 1995

  1995

  Average decision time Months

  Port cases

  8.6

  In-country cases previously granted leave to enter2

  13.4

  Illegal entrants

  7.6

  All cases decided3

  9.5

  1 Excludes without foundation refusals and refusals under paragraph 340 of immigration rules.

  2 Includes those who applied after deportation action had been initiated.

  3 Excludes those cases where the applicant's immigration status was unknown at the time of application.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library all material issued on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the UN human rights committee concerning the appeal rights of asylum seekers. [10623]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The fourth periodic report by the United Kingdom to the committee, dated October 1994, which included a description of asylum appeal rights under the 1993 Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act, is already available in the Library. The committee's record of oral evidence by United Kingdom officials to the committee on 21 July 1995 about the report will be placed in the Library when it becomes available.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Tamil asylum seekers arriving in the United Kingdom on 13 February 1989(a) have been repatriated and (b) have been given leave to remain or are remaining in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [10460]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not readily available.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the Home Office circular dated 13 January 1994 setting out the circumstances in which the Home Office may exercise its
  57
  discretion and consider asylum cases substantively in potential safe third country cases. [10661]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I have done so today.

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions agreed at the meeting his Department hosted with a delegation from the states of Jersey and Guernsey on 5 January; and if he will place in the Library copies of all documents or briefings made available to the Channel Islands delegation during the meeting. [10087]

  Mr. Sackville
  This meeting was that looked forward to in the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Kirkhope) on 29 November 1995,Official Report, column 774, to an earlier question from the hon. Member. At the meeting, officials from a number of Government Departments and British Nuclear Fuels briefed political representatives of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and the Isle of Man, and accompanying officials and advisers, on a range of nuclear matters, including the dumping and transport of nuclear waste, the monitoring of radiation levels, contingency planning, and possible developments in the French civil nuclear industry and at Sellafield. Departments undertook to provide further information requested at the meeting or for which the islands might ask subsequently, and to arrange further meetings as need be. Our aim is to ensure that the island authorities have continuing reassurance in these matters. I am arranging to place in the Library copies of all the papers provided to the insular representatives at the meeting, all of which are also available publicly.

  Director General, Prison Service
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions have taken place between the parties on the amount of compensation to be paid to the former Director General of the Prison Service; and whether a quantified offer of compensation has been made by his office; [10324]

  (2) how long was taken to agree compensation for the former Director General of the Prison Service; and what is the norm in such cases. [10334]

  Miss Widdecombe
  It would be inappropriate to disclose details of the discussions which are continuing between lawyers representing both parties. The length of time taken to conclude such matters depends upon the circumstances of each case.

  Crime Reduction (Suffolk)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the outcome of the positive people bid from the Suffolk consortium of police, education and business for funding for the crime reduction programme; and if he will make a statement. [9303]

  Mr. Maclean
  The positive people bid is one of a number of second stage applications for funding under the criminality reduction development programme. The matter is being given very careful consideration and I hope to be able to make final decisions shortly.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders sentenced under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 were in custody on the last date for which figures are available; and of those in custody, how many were(a) in local authority secure accommodation, (b) in prison department custody and (c) detained under mental health legislation. [9887]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about young offenders sentenced under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.
  On 15 January 1996 there were 51 young offenders, including 9 juveniles, sentenced under section 53(1) of the 1933 Act in custody. 48 were held in Prison Service custody and 3, all juveniles, in local authority secure accommodation. There are currently no young offenders who have been sentenced under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 detained under mental health legislation.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the convicted prison population aged over 21 years had also been convicted of an offence under the age of 21 years, for the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [9875]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 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. Alex Carlile, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what percentage of the convicted prison population aged over 21 years had also been convicted of an offence under the age of 21 years for the latest year for which information is available.
  The latest available information is contained in the attached table.

  Adult prison population1 in Prison Service establishments under sentence on 30 June 1994: by whether an offence2 is recorded under the age of 21

  England and Wales, Adults

  Percentage

  Population

  Previous history not found3

  No conviction 2 aged under 21

  Conviction 2 aged under 21

  Males

  28,896

  5

  26

  69

  Females

  1,128

  11

  54

  35

  Total

  30,024

  5

  28

  67

  1 Excludes fine defaulters and is based on samples of 4,606 males and 1,105 females. The adult population consists of those aged 21 and over apart from some young offenders aged 21 who have not been reclassified as adult.

  2 Relates to convictions for "standard list" offences only. These offences include all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences.

  3 Information on prisoners was matched to records on the Home Office Offenders Index. In some cases no set of matching records can be found. A prisoner may not be matched because he or she may not have been sentenced to a "standard list" offence and has

  59
  no previous record for such offences or alternatively there may be an inconsistency between personal details held on the Offenders Index and those held on prison records.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons aged 15 years were held in young offenders' institutions and remand centres in England and Wales on the last available date; in which establishments they were held; and if they were held on remand or under sentence; [10145]

  (2) how many persons aged 16 years were held in each young offenders institution and remand centre in England and Wales (a) on remand and (b) under sentence, on the last available date. [10146]

  Population of 15 and 16-year-olds in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 19951

  Remand

  15-year-olds Sentence

  Total

  Remand

  15-year-olds Sentence

  Total

  Remand centres

  Brinsford

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Exeter

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  Feltham

  1

  —

  1

  5

  —

  5

  Glen Parva

  8

  —

  8

  26

  —

  26

  Gloucester

  1

  —

  1

  4

  1

  5

  Hindley

  5

  —

  5

  17

  4

  21

  Low Newton

  5

  —

  5

  10

  —

  10

  Northallerton

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  11

  Norwich

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Swansea

  —

  —

  —

  3

  5

  8

  Total remand centres (male)

  21

  —

  21

  81

  10

  91

  Closed YOIs (male)

  Aylesbury

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Brinsford

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Deerbolt

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Feltham

  —

  4

  4

  —

  11

  11

  Glen Parva

  —

  2

  2

  —

  11

  11

  Moorland

  —

  1

  1

  —

  6

  6

  Onley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Portland

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Stoke Heath

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  3

  Swinfen Hal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Total closed YOIs (male)

  —

  11

  11

  37

  37

  Juvenile YOIs (male)

  Brinsford

  9

  7

  16

  12

  10

  22

  Deerbolt

  —

  14

  14

  —

  43

  43

  Feltham

  5

  22

  27

  29

  43

  72

  Huntercombe

  —

  2

  2

  —

  16

  16

  Lancaster Fms

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1

  5

  Onley

  —

  13

  13

  —

  33

  33

  Portland

  —

  9

  9

  —

  46

  46

  Stoke Heath

  —

  11

  11

  —

  50

  50

  Thorn Cross

  —

  4

  4

  —

  4

  4

  Werrington

  —

  13

  13

  —

  31

  31

  Wetherby

  —

  11

  11

  —

  29

  29

  Total Juvenile YOIs (male)

  14

  106

  120

  45

  306

  351

  Closed YOIs (female)

  Bullwood Hall

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  New Hall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Styal

  —

  3

  3

  —

  1

  1

  Total closed YOIs (female)

  —

  4

  4

  —

  3

  3

  Open YOIs (female)

  Drake Hall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  East Sutton Park

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Total open YOIs (female)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  60
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alun Michael, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions asking, how many persons aged 15 and 16 years were being held in young offenders' institutions and remand centres in England and Wales on the last available date; in which establishments they were held; and if they were held on remand or under sentence.
  The latest available information is for 31 December 1995 and is given in the attached table.
  61

  Population of 15 and 16-year-olds in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 19951

  Remand

  15-year-olds Sentence

  Total

  Remand

  16-year-olds Sentence

  Total

  Other establishments

  8

  5

  13

  24

  16

  40

  Total all establishments

  43

  126

  169

  150

  375

  525

  1 Provisional figures. Remand includes both untried and also convicted unsentenced prisoners.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the significance of emotional disturbance among young people as a factor associated with inmates of detention centres; what estimate he has made of the proportion of the cost to detention centres accounted for by such young people; and if he will make a statement. [9018]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: Detention centres and youth custody centres were replaced by young offender institutions in 1988.

  Two studies have been commissioned by the Home Office into the mental health of sentenced and unsentenced prisoners. Both include findings of young males in prison, although data on young females was not collated separately from data on adult females. The report of the first study was published in May 1991 under the title, "Mentally Disordered Prisoners". The report of the second study, "Mental Disorder in Remand Prisoners", was received by the Home Office in late September 1995.

  The 1990 study showed that 33 per cent. of sentenced young male offenders in the sample group were diagnosed as suffering., from some form of psychiatric disorder, including harmful or dependent misuse of substances. The corresponding figure for unsentenced young male offenders in the 1995 study was 53 per cent. of the sample group.

  No figures are available on the cost of maintaining inmates with emotional or mental health problems, as opposed to those without such problems.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated; [10060]

  (2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10072]

  Mr. Howard
  It is my Department's policy not to make regulations implementing European directives which add to the burdens imposed by such directives. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Fire Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of firefighters and officers per fire service for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [10239]
  62
  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the numbers of personnel in each fire authority is published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales. The reports for 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993–94 and 1994–95, Cm 1581, 2008, 2275, 2679 and 2998, each contain a table giving establishments and strengths at 1 January 1991 to 1 January 1995 respectively. However, these tables do not provide a breakdown into firefighters and more senior ranks and such information could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the incidents involving illegal immigrants arriving at Gatwick in December 1993 absconding. [10469]

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

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons arriving at United Kingdom ports of entry have been allowed to go to temporary addresses in each of the last five years; and how many have absconded in each year. [10459]

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

  Passengers at United Kingdom ports of entry

  Passengers granted temporary admission

  Passengers who absconded1

  1991

  13,220

  601

  1992

  16,967

  530

  1993

  19,063

  667

  1994

  19,327

  1,240

  19952 3

  23,084

  1,577

  1 Either from temporary admission or detention or the control area at ports. The time period relates to when the passenger was recorded as an absconder, not when the passenger entered the country.

  2 January to October.

  3 Data for 1995 are provisional.

  Immigration (Hong Kong)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Hong Kong citizens have applied for United Kingdom passports; and how many dependents are estimated to arrive from each application. [10461]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to applications for British citizenship made under the British nationality (Hong Kong) selection scheme. As at 26 November 1995, 108,768 principal beneficiary applications had been received. This figure includes invalid, ineligible and withdrawn applications and second applications from some of those unsuccessful in the first tranche of the scheme. So far, 48,376 of these
  63
  applicants have been registered as British citizens, along with 80,207 dependants. The scheme allows for a maximum of 50,000 principal beneficiaries.

  James Hanratty
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a public inquiry into the case of James Hanratty; and if he will make a statement. [10468]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No. In 1974 Mr. Lewis Hawer QC was appointed to carry out an independent assessment of the case and his report, which did not conclude that there had been a miscarriage of justice, was published as Cm 6021. Following a request in July 1994 by solicitors acting for the late Mr. Hanratty's family, my officials arranged for scientific tests to be carried out on certain material relating to the case, but these proved inconclusive. We are currently considering what further action may be necessary in relation to other points raised by the solicitors.

  Immigration (Detention)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were detained under Immigration Act powers(a) overnight, (b) between one night and one month, (c) for a period of more than one month up to two months and (d) for more than two months in (i) Harmondsworth detention centre, (ii) the Queen's building, Heathrow, (iii) Terminal 4, Heathrow, (iv) the Beehive, Gatwick, (v) HM prison Haslar, (vi) HM prison Pentonville, (vii) Campsfield house detention centre, (viii) HM prison Rochester, (ix) HM prison Holloway and (x) other establishments during (1) 1994 and (2) 1995 to the latest date for which information is available; and, of these people, how many in each category were (B) women, (B) children under 18 and (C) men; and what were the names of the establishments in (x); [7423]

  (2) how many people were received into (a) Prison Department establishments, (b) immigration detention centres and (c) police cells under Immigration Act powers during (i) 1994 and (ii) 1995 to the latest convenient date; how many of these were (1) asylum-seekers or (2) applying to remain on non-asylum grounds, by individual prisons establishment or detention centre; what was the average daily population of persons so detained in each of those years; what was the average length of time spent in detention by persons so detained in each of those years; and what was the nationality of persons so detained for each of those years. [7424]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: Information on the total numbers of persons detained, analysed by nationality; is given in table 1. The number of detainees received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under the Immigration Act 1971 is given in table 2 for 1994 and for January to November 1995. The number is shown by the establishment of initial reception. The average population in 1994, including persons originally received for a criminal offence, was 487. The average for January to November 1995 is 481. A breakdown of receptions into Prison Service establishments by nationality is given for 1994 and for January to November 1995 in table 3.
  64
  The average period of detention for detainees released in 1994 and in January to November 1995 is provisionally estimated at 21 weeks and 19 weeks respectively. The other information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1: Passengers at ports1, illegal entrants and deportation cases2 detained under Immigration Act powers

  Geographical region and nationality

  1994

  1995 January–September3

  European Economic Area

  Austria

  1

  1

  Belgium

  7

  2

  Denmark

  1

  —

  Finland

  —

  —

  France

  28

  16

  Germany

  7

  1

  Greece

  1

  2

  Iceland

  —

  —

  Ireland

  —

  —

  Italy

  27

  15

  Luxembourg

  3

  —

  Netherlands

  41

  8

  Norway

  —

  —

  Portugal

  32

  8

  Spain

  3

  —

  Sweden

  7

  2

  Total EEA

  158

  55

  Europe

  Bulgaria

  33

  67

  Cyprus

  345

  150

  Former Czechoslovakia

  59

  47

  Hungary

  18

  15

  Malta

  1

  2

  Poland

  503

  429

  Romania

  215

  224

  Russia

  53

  62

  Other former USSR

  100

  119

  Switzerland

  3

  5

  Turkey

  543

  283

  Former Yugoslavia

  124

  190

  Other Europe

  58

  59

  Total Europe

  2,055

  1,652

  Americas

  Argentina

  8

  6

  Barbados

  15

  16

  Brazil

  109

  85

  Canada

  26

  23

  Chile

  13

  6

  Colombia

  212

  135

  Guyana

  33

  26

  Jamaica

  411

  325

  Mexico

  16

  10

  Peru

  43

  33

  Trinidad and Tobago

  30

  17

  USA

  115

  80

  Venezuela

  16

  10

  Other Americas

  200

  199

  Total Americas

  1,247

  971

  frica

  Algeria

  542

  314

  Angola

  93

  43

  Egypt

  25

  15

  Ethiopia

  57

  24

  Ghana

  865

  431

  Kenya

  195

  131

  Libya

  23

  16

  Mauritius

  40

  32

  Morocco

  105

  44

  65

  Table 1: Passengers at ports1, illegal entrants and deportation cases2 detained under Immigration Act powers

  Geographical region and nationality

  1994

  1995 January-September3

  Nigeria

  1,633

  985

  Sierra Leone

  319

  45

  Somalia

  111

  64

  South Africa

  108

  70

  Sudan

  35

  17

  Tanzania

  89

  77

  Tunisia

  30

  10

  Uganda

  65

  32

  Zaire

  190

  101

  Zambia

  37

  35

  Zimbabwe

  55

  46

  Other Africa

  684

  386

  Total Africa

  5,301

  2,918

  Asia

  Indian sub-continent

  Bangladesh

  311

  228

  India

  827

  616

  Pakistan

  566

  390

  Total Indian sub-continent

  1,704

  1,234

  Middle East

  Iran

  48

  59

  Iraq

  43

  38

  Israel

  34

  21

  Jordan

  11

  1

  Kuwait

  —

  —

  Lebanon

  21

  14

  Saudi Arabia

  —

  1

  Syria

  6

  3

  Yemen

  3

  1

  Other Middle East

  8

  8

  Total Middle East

  174

  146

  Remainder of Asia

  China

  172

  371

  Hong Kong4

  33

  30

  Indonesia

  6

  4

  Japan

  30

  11

  Malaysia

  112

  130

  Phillippines

  58

  10

  Singapore

  8

  7

  South Korea

  13

  14

  Sri Lanka

  279

  147

  Taiwan

  1

  3

  Thailand

  26

  18

  Other Asia

  58

  35

  Total Remainder of Asia

  796

  780

  Oceania

  Australia

  21

  17

  New Zealand

  4

  5

  Other Oceania

  2

  2

  Total Oceania

  27

  24

  British Overseas citizens

  16

  10

  Stateless5

  568

  450

  All Nationalities

  12,046

  8,240

  1 Passengers detained overnight or longer.2 Excluding persons detained pending deportation following completion of a custodial sentence.

  3 Data for 1995 are provisional.

  4 Includes Hong Kong stateless persons.

  5 Excluding Palestine and Hong Kong stateless persons.

  66

  Table 2: Receptions of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales: by establishment 1994 and January-November 1995

  Number of Persons1 2

  Establishment

  1994

  1 January–30 November 1995

  Remand Centres

  Blakenhurst

  36

  3

  Brinsford

  15

  11

  Dorchester

  13

  2

  Exeter

  12

  11

  Feltham

  10

  16

  Glen Parva

  1

  1

  Haslar

  462

  412

  Moorland

  1

  —

  Northallerton

  1

  —

  Lancaster Farms

  2

  —

  Local Prisons

  Bedford

  1

  3

  Belmarsh

  22

  26

  Birmingham

  218

  226

  Bristol

  24

  42

  Brixton

  71

  68

  Bullingdon

  5

  3

  Canterbury

  52

  9

  Cardiff

  6

  4

  Chelmesford

  12

  1

  Doncaster

  1

  3

  Dover

  36

  —

  Durham

  9

  4

  Elmley

  24

  1

  Gloucester

  6

  1

  Highdown

  40

  26

  Hindley

  7

  12

  Holloway

  34

  45

  Holme House

  10

  2

  Hull

  14

  2

  Leeds

  20

  27

  Leicester

  —

  4

  Lewes

  2

  3

  Lincoln

  2

  5

  Liverpool

  23

  13

  Manchester

  88

  45

  Norwich

  19

  2

  New Hall

  —

  2

  Pentonville

  62

  21

  Preston

  1

  1

  Reading

  3

  —

  Risley

  8

  2

  Rochester

  122

  512

  Shrewsbury

  6

  —

  Swansea

  7

  —

  Wandsworth

  35

  24

  Winchester

  10

  —

  Wolds

  8

  11

  Wood Hill

  1

  3

  Wormwood Scrubs

  44

  74

  Closed training prisons

  Dartmoor

  —

  1

  Establishment not recorded

  2

  2

  Nationality not recorded/other

  33

  25

  All Establishments

  1,641

  1,711

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  2 Provisional figures.

  67

  Table 3: Receptions into Prison Service establishments by nationality, 1994 and January to November 1995

  Number of Persons1, 2

  Nationality

  1994

  1 January to 30 November 1995

  Afghanistan

  —

  3

  Albania

  7

  9

  Algeria

  15

  124

  Angola

  24

  21

  Anguilla

  2

  —

  Argentina

  2

  1

  Ascensioni Island

  1

  —

  Austria

  —

  1

  Australia

  —

  3

  Bangladesh

  38

  53

  Benin

  —

  2

  Barbados

  3

  1

  Belgium

  1

  —

  Bolivia

  —

  1

  Bosnia-Herzogovina

  1

  —

  Brazil

  1

  7

  Bulgaria

  3

  7

  Burkina Faso

  —

  2

  Cameroon, United Republic of

  6

  5

  Canada

  4

  —

  Chad

  1

  —

  Chile

  2

  1

  China

  18

  79

  Colombia

  7

  9

  Congo

  —

  2

  Cyprus

  15

  8

  Czech Republic

  4

  4

  Denmark

  1

  Dominica

  1

  1

  Djibouti

  1

  —

  Egypt

  7

  4

  Ethiopia

  7

  5

  Equador

  —

  4

  Estonia

  —

  1

  Fiji

  —

  1

  Finland

  —

  1

  France

  7

  7

  French Southern Territories

  1

  1

  Gambia

  7

  39

  Georgia

  —

  4

  Germany

  3

  5

  Ghana

  124

  79

  Greece

  —

  4

  Guyana

  2

  2

  Haiti

  1

  —

  Hong Kong

  4

  5

  Hungary

  2

  —

  India

  281

  294

  Indonesia

  —

  2

  Iran

  11

  13

  Irish Republic

  4

  2

  Indian Ocean Territories

  1

  —

  Israel

  3

  2

  Iraq

  4

  10

  Italy

  4

  8

  Ivory Coast

  17

  2

  Jamaica

  58

  83

  Japan

  1

  —

  Jordan

  2

  —

  Kazakhstan

  1

  1

  Kenya

  13

  9

  Laos Peoples Democratic

  —

  1

  Republic

  Lebanon

  6

  2

  Liberia

  19

  21

  Libya

  12

  3

  Lithuania

  1

  2

  Malaysia

  3

  1

  Maldives

  —

  1

  Mali

  2

  —

  Moldova

  1

  —

  Morocco

  19

  13

  Mauritius

  1

  2

  68

  Table 3: Receptions into Prison Service establishments by nationality, 1994 and January to November 1995

  Number of persons1 2

  Nationality

  1994

  1 January to 30 November 1995

  Malawi

  1

  —

  Mozambique

  4

  1

  Netherlands

  7

  5

  Netherland Antillies

  1

  —

  Nepal

  4

  1

  Nicaragua

  —

  1

  Niger

  4

  1

  Nigeria

  237

  235

  Pakistan

  100

  106

  Peru

  —

  9

  Philippines

  —

  1

  Poland

  14

  14

  Portugal

  7

  1

  Romania

  26

  71

  Russia

  9

  15

  Rwanda

  2

  8

  Senegal

  —

  2

  Serbia

  —

  1

  Singapore

  1

  1

  Sierre Leone

  21

  14

  Slovakia

  1

  —

  Somalia

  8

  11

  South Africa

  14

  14

  Spain

  2

  5

  Sri Lanka

  25

  28

  St. Lucia

  1

  1

  St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  —

  1

  Sudan

  8

  4

  Taiwan

  —

  1

  Tajikistan

  —

  1

  Tanzania

  6

  5

  Toga

  1

  2

  Tonga

  1

  —

  Thailand

  1

  1

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  3

  Tunisia

  5

  1

  Turkey

  104

  53

  Uganda

  1

  11

  United Arab Emirates

  1

  —

  United States of America

  3

  11

  Venezuela

  —

  1

  Vietnam

  1

  1

  Yugoslavia

  13

  33

  Zambia

  5

  4

  Zaire

  38

  22

  Zimbabwe

  5

  3

  Nationality not recorded/other

  35

  27

  All

  1,641

  1,711

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of remand prisoners in England and Wales were(a) male and (b) female for each of the last 10 years. [9874]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 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.
  69
  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 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, what percentages of remand prisoners in England and Wales were (a) male and (b) female for each of the last 10 years.
  The information requested is given in the attached table.

  Percentages of male and female remand prisoners1 in prison service establishments2 in England and Wales, 1984 to 1994

  Year

  Percentages of remand prisoners

  All remand prisoners3

  Male

  Female

  1984

  95.9

  4.1

  8,741

  1985

  96.0

  4.0

  9,742

  1986

  95.7

  4.3

  10,081

  1987

  95.8

  4.2

  11,162

  1988

  95.6

  4.4

  11,440

  1989

  95.6

  4.4

  10,499

  1990

  96.1

  3.9

  9,905

  1991

  96.2

  3.8

  10,157

  1992

  96.2

  3.8

  10,090

  1993

  96.3

  3.7

  10,662

  1994

  96.0

  4.0

  12,357

  1 Remand prisoners covers both untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners.

  2Excludes those held in police cells.

  3Average population.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners were held for over three months prior to their trial on 30 June for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [9876]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 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 remand prisoners were held for over three months before their trial on 30 June for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
  Information for 1994 and 1995 is given in the attached table. Information for 1985–1993 is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.3 of the 1993 edition, Cm 2893), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House

  Untried prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 1994 and 1995 held on remandfor over three months1

  Year

  Number remanded for over three months

  On 30 June

  1994

  3,500

  1995

  23,000

  1 Untried prisoners awaiting trial. Time since first reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment. This includes any intervening time spent on bail, but excludes any time spent in police cells beforehand.

  2 Rounded provisional estimate.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated time spent in custody for untried prisoners in gaols in England and 70
  Wales for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [9877]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 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, what was the estimated time spent in custody for untried prisoners in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
  Information for 1994 is given in the attached table. Information for 1984 to 1993 is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.1 of the 1993 edition, Cm 2893), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Average time spent in custody for untried prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales in 19941 by sex

  Type of custody

  Average number of days in custody3

  Male

  Female

  Untried2

  59

  44

  1 Provisional figures.2 Time spent in custody before conviction.

  3Calculated from number of receptions and average population in 1994.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the remand population in England and Wales on 30 June for each of the last 10 years and up to the latest period for which figures are available; how many were aged under 21 years for each of those years; and if he will make a statement. [9878]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 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, what was the remand population in England and Wales on 30th June for each of the last 10 years and up to the latest period for which figures are available and how many were aged under 21 years for each of those years.
  The information requested is given in the attached table.

  Prisoners held on remand1 in prison service establishments2 in England and Wales, 30 June 1985 to 1995

  Aged under 21

  Aged 21 and over

  Total Remand

  30 June 1985

  3,185

  6,754

  9,939

  30 June 1986

  3,149

  6,816

  9,965

  30 June 1987

  3,416

  7,253

  10,669

  30 June 1988

  3,344

  7,469

  10,813

  30 June 1989

  3,186

  7,078

  10,264

  30 June 1990

  2,754

  6,359

  9,113

  30 June 1991

  2,791

  6,472

  9,263

  30 June 1992

  2,724

  6,835

  9,559

  30 June 1993

  2,795

  7,837

  10,632

  30 May 1994

  3,063

  9,430

  12,493

  30 June 1995

  2,728

  8,328

  11,056

  30 November

  1995

  2,796

  8,588

  11,384

  1 Remand covers both untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners.2 Excludes those held in police cells.

  Prisoners (Resettlement)
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps have been taken by his office to monitor additional services in resettlement services and accommodation required by prisoners losing their entitlement to housing benefit under the new regulations; [10446]

  (2) how many ex-prisoners were placed in hostels for the homeless in (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 to date; and at what cost. [10448]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: The general use of approved probation/bail hostels and other offender accommodation is monitored through the collection and analysis of routine information on occupancy.

  Specific information about the take-up of places by ex-prisoners is not collected centrally; but inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation and reports from probation services may draw attention to particular pressures or problems.

  As for the cost of offender accommodation, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 9 January 1996, Official Report, column 188.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners released after serving between 13 and 52 weeks were homeless on release in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96 to date in respect of (i) male and (ii) female prisoners. [10449]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 19 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. Keith Bradley, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners serving between 13 and 52 weeks who were homeless on release in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, and (c) 1995–96 to date in respect of (i) male and (ii) female prisoners.
  The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance on the changes in housing benefit regulations has been given to prisons receiving(a) remand and (b) sentenced single prisoners with tenancies. [10450]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 19 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. Keith Bradley, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about guidance issued to prisons holding (a) remand and (b) sentenced single prisoners with tenancies on the changes in housing benefit.
  The latest edition of the Prisoners' Information Book, which is available in all prisons and to all prisoners, refers to the changes in the rules on housing benefit and advises prisoners to seek further advice from prison staff and/or the Housing Benefit Office.
  72
  By April 1996 all prisons are due to be offering Inmate Development and Pre-Release (IDPR) training covering the main obstacles to effective resettlement, including housing advice, and to have a pool of officers trained by NACRO's Prisons Link Unit (PLU) to deliver a housing and employment advice service to prisoners. The PLU also provides establishments with a substantial set of directories with relevant information and an updating service changes occur.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how employment levels in the Employment Service will be affected by the implementation of the jobseekers's allowance; [9790]

  (2) how many surplus staff there will be in the Employment Service as a result of the implementation of the jobseeker's allowance. [9789]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the planned staffing levels in the Employment Service (ES) as a result of the implementation of the Jobseeker's Allowance, and how many surplus staff there would be as a result of that implementation.
  There is no target for specific efficiency savings in staff numbers as a result in the implementation of JSA. In fact during the implementation period some additional staffing will be required. However, if unemployment continues to fall fewer staff will be required and the expectation is that there will be a modest reduction in total staffing. The actual staffing figures for ES—and therefore possible staff surpluses—have not yet been finalised and this will, to some extent, depend upon discussions with the Benefits Agency about staff transferring.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if individuals voluntarily leaving their job will receive any contributory jobseeker's allowance after 8 April. [10298]

  Mr. Forth
  Jobseeker's allowance will be introduced on 7 October 1996. If people have voluntarily left their employment as employed earners without just cause, contribution—based JSA will not be payable to them for a period of at least one week but not more than 26 weeks. Decisions will be made by independent adjudication officers, who will also decide the period of non-payment in each individual case.

  Mr. Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be in the implications after 8 April for claims for contributory jobseekers's allowance of suspension of an applicant's unemployment benefit because that applicant voluntarily left a job. [10323]

  Mr. Forth
  Jobseeker's allowance will be introduced on 7 October 1996. Until that date, claims for unemployment benefit will continue to be suspended pending an adjudication officer's decision as to whether claimants have voluntarily left their employment without
  73
  just cause. After 7 October, provided the jobseeker satisfies the entitlement conditions that he is available to be employed, actively seeking employment, and has entered into a jobseeker's agreement, payment of JSA will be made in full pending an adjudication officer's decision on a leaving voluntarily question.

  Redundancy Compensation
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many representations her Department has received in the last 18 months on the operation of part IV of the Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) Regulations 1994; and if she will make a statement; [10082]

  (2) what plans she has to amend Part IV of the Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) Regulations 1994; and if she will make a statement. [10083]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has received 17 representations on this matter in the last 18 months. Amendments to the Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) Regulations 1994 are for the Department of the Environment to consider.

  Secondary School Inspections
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of secondary schools inspected under section 9 of the Education Schools Act 1992 are judged to have been in the(a) very good, (b) good, (c) sound, (d) unsatisfactory and (e) poor category. [10417]

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

  Business Start-up Scheme
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors led her to put the business start-up scheme into the single regeneration budget. [10414]

  Mr. Paice
  The introduction of the single regeneration budget gave local partnerships greater scope to determine the right mix of measures to support the development of their local economies. As helping unemployed people to set up their own business is an important element in regeneration, the business start-up scheme was incorporated into the single regeneration budget.

  Foreign Students
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many foreign post graduate students were studying at United Kingdom universities at the latest date for which figures are available; and what this number is expressed as a percentage of all post graduate students of United Kingdom universities; [10903]

  (2) how many foreign students were studying at United Kingdom universities as undergraduates at the latest date for which figures are available; and what proportion this was of the total number of undergraduate students at United Kingdom universities. [10892]
  74
  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 December,Official Report, columns 975–76.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many work permit applications for soccer players from abroad were received by her Department in 1995 including those for extensions to existing permits. [10157]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The number of work permit applications for soccer players from abroad, including those for extensions to existing permits, received by the Department in 1995 was 65.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons information regarding work permit applications for soccer players from abroad is not available in respect of clubs, player nationality and refusal numbers as indicated in her answer of 19 July,Official Report, column 1341. [10177]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Each work permit application is considered on its merits against the agreed criteria for soccer players. Information about clubs, and the players' nationality and numbers refused is not recorded separately by the work permit computer system as these factors are not relevant to the decision to approve or refuse a permit application.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new systems she has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10067]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to her efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10053]

  Mr. Forth
  Official guidance on gold plating of European legislation is currently being reviewed by the Cabinet Office deregulation unit in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Dance and Drama Students (Funding)
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what results were obtained from the consultations between the then Department of Education, the Department of National Heritage and the Arts Council on the subject of securing improvements in the funding for students of dance and drama. [10348]

  Mr. Forth
  Discussions on this issue are continuing. No final decisions have yet been taken.
  75
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students of dance and drama are(a) presently on course, (b) receive discretionary awards and (c) finance themselves; and what were the equivalent figures for 1992–93. [10350]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Upper Secondary Graduation Rate
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what examination the upper secondary graduation rate of 63.6 per cent. was based in the information which her Department supplied to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for "Education at a Glance: OECD" indicators, published in 1995. [10534]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The statistic is based on the number of pupils in the United Kingdom who left school at the end of the 1991–92 academic year with at least one GCSE at grades A to C or equivalent or higher academic qualifications including CSEs at grade 1, Scottish certificate of education standard and higher grades, GCE O and A levels and AS examinations.

  Oral Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many parliamentary questions for oral answer have been transferred to another Department by her since her current Department was set up; and which Members were involved. [11066]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Four oral questions, tabled by the hon. Members for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger), for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) and for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), have been transferred to other Departments since the establishment of the Department for Education and Employment.

  Dartford Schools (Playing Fields)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she plans to issue a decision on the dispute concerning the allocation of playing fields between the Dartford West high school for girls and the Dartford grammar school for girls; and if she will make a statement. [10771]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already informed the parties of the decision that she is minded to make. Further representations have been made, some only very recently, and these are receiving urgent attention. The case raises a number of complex issues and is further complicated by another case which is now before the Education Assets Board. The outcome of that case may affect my right hon. Friend's consideration of this one.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which schools with grant-maintained status had financial deficits in the financial year 1994–95; and how much the deficits amounted to for each school at the year end. [10981]
  76
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the amount and purpose of each bid from each grant-maintained school for 1996–97; and if she will list the allocation made per school. [11063]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  These matters are now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to arrange for replies to be sent to the hon. Members.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs; [10946]

  (2) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10945]

  Mr. Forth
  The procurement of projects under the private finance initiative in the education sectors is entirely a matter for individual institutions and local education authorities. The information which the hon. Member requests is, therefore, unavailable for projects undertaken at universities, colleges or schools.

  The Employment Service has procured a personnel administration system under the PFI. Information about the running costs relating to the tendering process would be available only at disproportionate cost. The ES relied solely upon consultancy provided by CCTA—the Government centre for information system. Costs for this service are not disaggregated in the form sought in the question, but the service included both legal and procurement advice. Payments totalling £26,711 were made to CCTA over a 13-month period from November 1994 to November 1995.

  Out-of-School Child Care Initiative
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the full evaluation of the out-of-school child care initiative will be published. [10338]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: I expect to publish the second evaluation report on 23 January 1996. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Employment Advertisements (Age Limits)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 520–21, on the banning of an upper age limit in employment advertisements, what is her policy in respect of legislation to ban such advertisements. [10442]
  77
  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: I have no evidence which suggests that such legislation would have any effect on employment. The Government remain convinced that the way to combat age discrimination is through persuasion.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into a link between noise levels from military low flying and deafness in children; and if he will make a statement. [10086]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has not conducted specific research into the subject. We do, however, closely monitor scientific research on noise and hearing including that relating to possible hearing loss in children due to aircraft noise. We believe that the restrictions we place on the heights, speeds and operating procedures of military aircraft should ensure that the level of noise experienced on the ground is not harmful, particularly given the brief exposure involved.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the cost of peacekeeping in Bosnia is to be borne by each of the member states of NATO. [10253]

  Mr. Soames
  Those costs which have been accepted as common costs for the IFOR operation will be borne by all members of NATO according to the appropriate cost share formulas.

  All other costs will be borne by the individual troop-contributing nations, largely by each meeting the cost of their own national deployments. The United Kingdom has assessed its own costs to be in the region of £300 million for the duration of the operation. We have no visibility of the costs other nations will have to incur.

  Armed Forces Driving Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) what savings and (b) what costs will flow from moving the Royal Air Force driving school from Saint Athan to Leconfield; and when he expects the cost of the move to be paid back by the savings made. [10028]

  Mr. Soames
  The investment appraisal carried out as part of the study into the future of the tri-service driver training indicates that moving the RAF driving school from RAF St. Athan to.Leconfield will:

  (a) Provide savings of £47.222 million at net present value—over 25 years. This saving takes into account the additional costs,

  (b) require additional costs of £10.616 million over 25 years,

  The additional costs will be paid back by the fourth year following implementation—currently FY200/01.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the qualifications of the management accountants who visited the three sites affected by the 78
  proposal to amalgamate the armed services driving schools; and whom they interviewed at each site. [10027]

  Mr. Soames
  The investment appraisal into the future location of driver training was produced by a member of management accountancy services (Army), the MOD's own internal management accountancy service. All members of the service are qualified management accountants.

  The management accountant and other members of the study team interviewed a number of civilian and military personnel at each of the sites visited. Information was also obtained by telephone, by facsimile and by letter. The management accountant and the study team also visited policy and finance staffs in the services.

  HMS Malabar
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships have visited Hamilton since the closure of HMS Malabar; and at what cost. [10254]

  Mr. Soames
  Since the closure of HMS Malabar on 31 March 1995, three Royal Navy ships and a Royal Navy submarine and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship have visited Bermuda. The bills for the three Royal Navy ship visits have not yet been received, but the ships' broker and agent has estimated a total approximate cost of £33,000, excluding refuelling costs. The cost of the submarine visit was £107,559; that for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship is not yet available.

  Royal Naval Publications
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of writing, publishing, printing and disseminating the Royal Navy promotional literature "Broadsheet 1995–96" and "VJ The Final Victory". [9939]

  Mr. Soames
  "Broadsheet" is an annual publication produced by the Royal Navy to promote awareness of wider naval issues among a broad audience, including serving and retired personnel, and hon. members with an interest in such matters. Some 44,000 copies of the present issue were produced. The "VJ The Final Victory" brochure was a one off publication to commemorate the substantial contribution of the East Indies and Pacific Fleets to the victory in the far east. Some 85,000 copies were produced. The total cost of producing and disseminating "Broadsheet 95/96" and the VJ day brochure was approximately £235,000.

  Royal Marines School of Music
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected date for the Royal Marines school of music to occupy the former RNDQ premises in Her Majesty's naval base, Portsmouth. [10321]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 17 January 1996,Official Report, column 581.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who provided external legal advice for Ministers in the Department in relation to the Scott inquiry. [11050]
  79
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The source of legal advice to witnesses to the Scott inquiry is a confidential matter.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions staff employed in his Department in relation to the Scott inquiry have had on matters related to the Scott inquiry with persons(a) employed by and (b) working as consultants for Conservative Central Office; and what subjects were discussed. [10995]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of the staff employed in his Department in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10994]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The responsibilities of the staff employed in my Department in relation to the Scott inquiry are to provide Ministers and officials with advice on matters associated with the inquiry, and to liaise with the inquiry.

  HMS Ocean (Damage. Costs)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the damage done to HMS Ocean; what is the cost of rectifying the damage; and who is responsible for paying this cost. [10494]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The minor extent of the damage to HMS Ocean when she was launched in October was confirmed at a dry docking over the Christmas period. We now await proposals from the contractor in respect of the arrangement to make good the damage and the estimated cost of repairs. An element of the cost will be borne by the contractor with the balance being covered by MOD's normal self-insurance arrangements

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the contract for the replacement maritime patrol aircraft. [10496]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Our assessment of bids continues, and we expect to let a contract with the selected prime contractor in late summer this year.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10944]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The tendering process of a particular project may consider a number of procurement routes and it is not possible to separately identify those costs attributable to the private finance initiative. The procurement route selected is that which provides best value for money over the whole life of the project.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii)
  80
  publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10943]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information required is available only at disproportionate cost. The private finance unit of the MOD has in this financial year spent some £200,000 on management consultants in support of projects which may have a PFI element.

  Falkland Islands (Argentine Mines)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the number of Argentine mines remaining in the Falkland Islands; and what contribution is being made by Argentina towards the cost of clearance. [10159]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 February 1995,Official Report, column 321.

  Dishonourable Discharges (Army)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of dishonourable discharges from the Army as a result of breaches of military discipline in the period November 1992 until December 1993 together with the units from which they were discharged. [10498]

  Mr. Soames
  "Dishonourable discharge" is not an expression used by the services. Fifteen personnel were discharged with disgrace from the Army during the period 1 November 1992 to 31 December 1993.

  The list of those discharged under this heading is as follows:

  Discharged with disgrace

  Date

  10 November 1992

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Manning and Record Office

  23 November 1992

  7th Signal Regiment

  7 December 1992

  The Royal Dragoon Guards

  13 January 1993

  32 Engineer Regiment

  11 February 1993

  16th Signal Regiment

  12 March 1993

  Army Medical Services Training Group

  20 April 1993

  7 Armoured Workshops. REME

  4 July 1993

  Army Medical Services Training Group

  4 August 1993

  The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

  26 August 1993

  Combined Manning and Record Office

  3 September 1993

  26 Engineer Regiment

  13 September 1993

  Support Battalion, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

  20 September 1993

  12 Transport Squadron Royal School Military Engineering

  30 October 1993

  Royal Green Jackets

  2 November 1993

  Army Training Regiment, Lichfield

  The list does not necessarily show the units at which the individuals were serving at the time they committed the disciplinary offences for which they were discharged. In many cases the personnel may have been discharged from holding units or their manning and record to which they were transferred after the disciplinary offence.

  The manning and record office accounts for those personnel who are not held on the establishment of a specific unit.

  Stores Losses
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), on 14 December.Official Report, column 762, what are the 20 most valuable items which have been (a) stolen and (b) lost from the armed services stores in the past five years; and what is their estimated (i) value and (ii) replacement cost. [11096]

  Mr. Soames
  Figures for items lost or stolen valued at below £100,000 could not be provided without disproportionate cost since a central register is not held.

  A central register of stores losses of over £100,000, however, is maintained. From this register there are two cases of items lost from armed services stores.
  (1) Stores lost in transit from stores depot to RN vessel.Description
  A Thermal Imager was lost in transit. Extensive searches have failed to locate its whereabouts.
  Value: £118,000
  Replacement Cost: £118,000
  Date of Loss: July 1993(2) Stores lost in transit on return to stores depot Description
  A consignment of 3 inch rockets being returned to a Royal Naval armament depot in Scotland after the Gulf conflict was lost in transit. Despite extensive investigation, the exact cause of the loss could not be determined.
  Value: £104,000
  Replacement Cost: £104,000
  Date of Loss: April 1991
  Both losses are detailed in the 1995 appropriations account which was approved by the National Audit Office.

  NATO (Interoperability)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning NATO command, control and communication information interoperability. [9976]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: Much work has been done, in recent years, to improve interoperability of United Kingdom and NATO command, control, communication and information systems. The pace of change in information systems technology means that it has been necessary to maintain a constant programme of work to build on current achievements.

  Recently, major initiatives such as the joint Warrior interoperability demonstration and the interoperability symposium in The Hague have assisted progress. Particular successes have been achieved in naval and air systems including the joint tactical information distribution system.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government (House Sales)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total receipts to local government from the sale of their homes for rent; by whom the balances are now held; and what is(a) the
  82
  amount and (b) the proportion of these receipts that has been used to write off local authority debt. [9861]

  Mr. Clappison
  Total receipts to local government from the sale of local authority dwelling since 1971–72 are about £23 billion. Most of these receipts will have been used to repay debt or for new capital expenditure, but no breakdown is available relating to housing receipts. Unused amounts remain with the authorities that received them.

  Rented Property
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if properties remain subject to assessment by the rent officer service where a tenant's consent has been obtained on form RR1. [10251]

  Mr. Clappison
  Schedule 11 to the Rent Act 1977 sets out the procedures for rent officers receiving applications for the registration of a rent.

  If a landlord and tenant apply jointly on form RR1 for the registration of a rent, the rent officer may, after making any enquiry he thinks fit or asking for any information he requires, simply register the asking rent if he thinks it is a fair rent. If he does not think it is a fair rent, he may determine a fair rent.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment (1) what action was taken by local authorities in England for those households accepted as homeless and in priority need by reason of old age, in each quarter of 1993 and 1994 and in the first two quarters of 1995; [10262]

  (2) what were the reasons for homelessness among those households accepted as homeless by local authorities in England, who were in priority need by reason of old age, in each quarter in 1993 and 1994 and in the first two quarters of 1995. [10266]

  Mr. Curry
  The quarterly P1(E) return on which local authorities in England report information on their activities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 does not provide a breakdown by priority need category of the data collected on the use of temporary accommodation for households accepted for re-housing, the type of accommodation in which households are finally placed or the reason for the loss of previous settled accommodation.

  Wild Birds (Shooting Licences)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by species the number of licences issued in 1995 under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the destruction of wild birds; and how many birds were killed in each case. [10152]

  Mr. Clappison
  Details of licences issued under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are contained in reports by the Untied Kingdom to the European Community on derogations under article 9 of the directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC). The latest report for which figures are
  83
  available covers 1994. Figures are not yet available for 1995, but when the report has been prepared a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Rough Sleepers (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what emergency provisions were made for rough sleepers in metropolitan areas during the very cold spell over Christmas and the new year; and if he will make a statement. [9972]

  Mr. Curry
  Under the Government's rough sleepers initiative, an annual programme of winter shelters provides additional beds for rough sleepers in central London between December and March. The 1995–96 programme is providing 310 beds in seven shelters. Extra emergency beds are opened during particularly cold spells and, so far this winter, up to 125 beds have been made available between 5 and 13 December and between 21 December and 7 January.

  Extra assistance for rough sleepers during the winter is also provided nationally by local authorities and voluntary sector agencies.

  European Regional Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bids have been successfully made for objective 1 status funding in Merseyside; and how many relate to(a) the Wirral and (b) the Liverpool side of the river. [10458]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A total of 1,521 bids have so far received approval under the objective 1 process. Of these some 300 are based in or being delivered directly in the Wirral. A further 178 training projects involve some beneficiaries from the Wirral and a further 30 business support and technology transfer projects will benefit companies across Merseyside. This leaves 1,013 projects based in or directly aimed at residents of the other four Merseyside districts.

  East Cambridgeshire District Council
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has decided to take in relation to East Cambridgeshire district council following the notice served on it on 19 May 1995 in respect of anti-competitive behaviour in awarding a refuse collection contract in-house. [10588]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  On 19 May my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, served a notice under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 on East Cambridgeshire district council, setting out his view that the authority had acted anti-competitively during a competition for refuse collection work.

  My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the response to that notice. East Cambridgeshire awarded the contract for refuse collection to its direct service organisation when it had received substantially lower bids from private companies. In my right hon. Friend's view they did not have well-founded reasons for doing so. He has therefore today given the authority a direction under section 14 of the Act which requires them to retender their
  84
  refuse collection work by 22 January 1997. It must seek his consent if it plans to assign the work to its direct service organisation.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs; [10948]

  (2) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10947]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of the Environment and its sponsored bodies have achieved increases, year on year, in the amount of private finance attracted in support of departmental programmes. In 1995–96 we estimate that £4.6 billion will be levered-in. The administrative costs of this activity are not separately identified.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the bids for reorganisation costs for 1996–97 that have been made by those local authorities subject to reorganisation on 1 April 1995, 1996 and 1997 and the proportion of the bids which have now been allocated supplementary credit approval cover for 1996–97. [10840]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The amounts are as follows:

  Bid

  Allocation

  Allocation as percentage of bid

  1995 Reorganisation

  Isle of Wight Council

  1,029

  500

  49

  1996 Reorganisations

  Hartlepool Borough

  Council

  3,638

  2,150

  59

  Redcar and Cleveland

  Council

  3,980

  3,400

  85

  Middlesbrough Borough

  Council

  3,200

  2,750

  86

  Stockton on Tees Borough

  Council

  7,209

  3,250

  45

  Bath and North East

  Somerset Council

  11,742

  1—

  Bristol City Council

  13,826

  1—

  North West Somerset

  Council

  5,301

  3,000

  57

  South Gloucestershire

  Council

  9,541

  3,000

  37

  East Riding Yorkshire

  Council

  18,940

  1—

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  Council

  10,544

  1—

  North Lincolnshire Council

  5,625

  3,500

  62

  North-East Lincolnshire

  Council

  6,808

  4,000

  59

  North Yorkshire County

  Council

  492

  400

  81

  Selby District Council

  100

  100

  100

  York District Council

  19,975

  1—

  85

  Bid

  Allocation

  Allocation as percentage of bid

  1997 Reorganisations

  Bedfordshire County

  Council

  4,000

  300

  8

  Luton Borough Council

  6,355

  3,250

  51

  Milton Keynes Borough

  Council

  3,452

  2,500

  72

  Derbyshire County Council

  6,180

  300

  5

  Derby City Council

  7,840

  2,500

  32

  Bournemouth Borough

  Council

  8,210

  2,500

  30

  Poole Borough Council

  2,980

  2,500

  84

  Durham County Council

  965

  300

  31

  Darlington Borough

  Council

  4,702

  2,500

  53

  East Sussex County

  Council

  3,585

  300

  8

  Brighton Borough Council

  1,254

  350

  28

  Hove Borough Council

  1,710

  350

  20

  Hampshire County Council

  5,131

  300

  6

  Portsmouth City Council

  9,561

  2,500

  26

  Southampton City Council

  6,040

  2,500

  41

  Staffordshire County

  Council

  5,326.7

  300

  6

  Stoke on Trent City

  Council

  11,539

  2,500

  22

  Wiltshire County Council

  1,555

  100

  6

  Thamesdown Borough

  Council

  9,193

  2,500

  27

  1 The councils of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull City, Bristol City, Bath and North-East Somerset and York District have been asked to reconsider whether the reorganisations in their area could be implemented more economically. If they submit revised bids by the end of January, they will be considered and allocations made during February.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update his answers of(a) 17 July 1995, Official Report, columns 868–69, to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) and (b) 17 July 1995, Official Report, column 869, to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) for the financial year 1994–95. [10942]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A list by region of the amounts of accumulated usable capital receipts for each English local authority at 31 March 1995 has been placed in the Library of the House. Figures for the amounts set aside as provision for credit liabilities at 31 March 1995 are not yet available.

  The regional totals for these amounts are:

  Amounts held at 31 March 1995 (£ million)

  Region

  Usable receipts

  South-East

  958

  South-West

  123

  East Anglia

  74

  West Midlands

  78

  East Midlands

  64

  North-West

  91

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  37

  Northern

  39

  Miscellaneous authorities (all regions)

  86

  Total

  1,550

  Nottingham Unitary Authority
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay the orders making Nottingham a unitary authority. [11226]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [9758]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The companies with which my Department and its executive agencies hold air-time contracts are:
  BT Mobile; Carphone Warehouses; HL Communications; Hutchinson Orange; Martin Dawes Communications; Mercury One 2 One; Peoples Phone; Talkland; Vodac; Vodacom.

  Contract duration varies but the standard arrangement is for a minimum of 12 months subject to a termination period of between one or three months thereafter. Figures are not available for the cost of each contract.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [9759]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The procedures followed depended on the value of the contract being awarded and ranged from full competitive tendering processes to obtaining quotations from a number of potential suppliers. The companies involved with these processes were:
  BT Mobile, Carphone Warehouse, HL Communications, Hutchinson Orange, Martin Dawes Communications, Motorola, Mercury One 2 One, Peoples Phone, Securicor Cellular, Talkland, Uniqueair, Vodac and Vodacom.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [9760]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: None. My Department has withdrawn from over 250 air-time agreements but has done so by exercising its right to give notice of termination in accordance with the terms of the contract.

SCOTLAND

  Prison Population
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average daily population in each penal establishment for each month from 1990 onwards. [7788]
  87
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter E. W. Frizzell to Mr. John McFall, dated 22 January 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the average daily prison population in each establishment for each month from 1990 onwards.
  I enclose tables which provide the information requested for the calendar years 1990–1994 and January 1995–November 1995. As this information is rather lengthy. I have also arranged for a copy of these tables to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Severe Weather Conditions
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by local authority area, the total number of houses in each local authority which have been reported as suffering damage as a result of the recent severe weather conditions. [8939]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is not yet available centrally as local authorities are continuing to assess the damage caused. However, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is collecting information from individual local authorities on the position. When I met COSLA's housing committee on 12 January I asked for the information that it collects to be passed on to the Scottish Office as soon as a full picture emerges and it has undertaken to do so.

  Local authorities may have limited information about houses where the occupants did not call upon the council for assistance.

  Flood Prevention Schemes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what impact the abolition of ring-fencing in relation to the capital programmes of local authorities will have on his plans to impose a statutory duty on local authorities to assume responsibility for flood prevention schemes. [9285]

  Mr. Kynoch
  It is for each local authority to determine the relative priorities of schemes within its capital programme in the light of its statutory duties and identified local needs. The financial implications of any changes in flood prevention responsibilities will be taken into account in the review which the Secretary of State announced on 1 November 1995. A consultation paper will be issued soon.

  Hafez Dalkamoni
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions there have been between the Crown Office and the German authorities concerning Hafez Dalkamoni, and if he will make a statement. [9402]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There have been no recent discussions between the Crown Office and the German authorities concerning Hafez Dalkamoni. Any decision concerning the release of a national of a third country from a German prison is solely a matter for the German authorities.

  Disabled People (Sport)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in relation to the development of sports for disabled people. [9214]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Government are committed to the development of sporting opportunities for disabled people and significant progress has been made in this area in recent years through the Scottish Sports Council. In December 1994 the council appointed a co-ordinator of sport for people with a disability within the framework of the successful team sport Scotland initiative. This appointment came in the wake of the launch of the national ready, willing and able scheme aimed at improving the opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport. Ready, willing and able is a partnership between the Scottish Sports Council, the Scottish Sports Association for People with Disabilities and the Royal Mail, whose sponsorship of the programme has been matched through the sportsmatch scheme.

  Carpet Industry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Scottish carpet manufacturing industry, with particular reference to European competition and European Community regulations; what plans he has to promote, enhance and develop the Scottish carpet industry; and when he next plans to meet representatives of the industry to discuss economic advancement. [9288]

  Mr. George Kynoch
  The census of employment estimates that in September 1993 some 1,300 people were employed in the Scottish carpet manufacturing industry. A wide range of business development advice and assistance to the industry is available from the Scottish Office, the Scottish Enterprise network and the Scottish Textiles Association.

  Article 92 of the treaty of Rome requires that all support to the carpet industry from any public source has to comply with the European Community state aid rules. Where aid has been found to be incompatible with the rules the European Commission has ordered its repayment The UK Government monitor closely cases which arise in other member states. The Government also maintain close contact with representatives from the UK carpet industry.

  National Waste Strategy
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish a national waste strategy for Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [9207]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Environment Act 1995, provides for the preparation of a national waste strategy for Scotland. It places a duty on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to prepare a strategy as soon as possible. The agency will become operational on 1 April 1996.

  New Zealand Flatworm
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of dangers arising from the New Zealand flatworm; and what finance the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland allocates to(a) Invergowrie and (b) other research establishments for investigations relating to the New Zealand flatworm. [8412]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  In 1991 the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department commissioned and funded a survey of the distribution of the New Zealand flatworm in Scotland. Further surveillance on horticultural and farm businesses is presently being undertaken and will be completed later in the year.

  There is no current funding made available to the Scottish Crop Research Institute at Invergowrie or to any other research establishment for investigations relating to the New Zealand flatworm. However, it is proposed to commission shortly a three-year project which will look at the environmental and ecological impact of the flatworm. This is part of a joint approach to research into the flatworm by the UK Agriculture Departments.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10056]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Office is currently considering with other Government Departments the introduction of guidance about gold plating in relation to EC directives.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10064]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is undertaken by his Department(a) directly and (b) indirectly into combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder; and if he will indicate for (b) the organisations involved and the total funding provided. [10546]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office Department of Health is not undertaking any research, either directly or indirectly, into combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what provision is made by his Department 90
  for the treatment of combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder; [10544]

  (2) what provision is made by his Department for respite care for sufferers of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; [10547]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of ex-service (a) men and (b) women in Scotland suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. [10545]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  Health boards in Scotland are responsible for purchasing health services to meet the needs of their resident populations. Services are purchased nationally only in the case of a few rare highly specialist treatments. These do not include services for people suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.

  The Scottish Office Department of Health has not, therefore, specifically assessed the numbers suffering, nor has it made specific provision for treatment of, or respite care for, people suffering from this condition. These are matters for health boards.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to revise the definition of rural areas following the introduction of new local authority boundaries in April. [10590]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department is planning to commission research which will review the existing definitions of rurality and develop an appropriate formula in the light of that research and taking account of forthcoming changes to the structure of local government in Scotland.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to ensure that all agencies with an interest in rural affairs work to a common set of definitions. [10591]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Rural White Paper "Rural Scotland: People, Prosperity and Partnership", which was published on 15 December 1995, sets out the Government's policies for rural communities in Scotland and proposes measures to put these into practice.

  The White Paper proposes a Scottish rural partnership system, based on local rural partnerships, supported by a Scottish national rural partnership and resourced through a Scottish Partnership Fund. The national rural partnership will provide a forum at national level for a range of agencies and organisations concerned with rural Scotland to formulate and implement their policies in an integrated manner and to work towards the achievement of the objectives laid out in the Scottish Rural White Paper.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the rural local authorities, according to the Scottish "Economic Bulletin" Randall definition, updated to take account of data for the 1991 census of population. [10589]
  91
  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish "Economic Bulletin" Randall definition defines rural as those local authority districts which have a population density of fewer than 100 persons per square kilometre.

  The information set out in the following list details the local authority districts classed as rural under this definition, taking account of data from the 1991 census of population.

  Angus

  Annan

  Argyll and Bute

  Badenoch

  Banff and Buchan

  Berwick

  Caithness

  Clydesdale

  Cumnock and Doon

  Ettrick

  Gordon

  Inverness

  Kincardine

  Kyle and Carrick

  Lochaber

  Moray

  North-East Fife

  Nairn

  Nithsdale

  Orkney

  Perth and Kinross

  Ross and Cromarty

  Roxburgh

  Shetland

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Stewarty

  Stirling

  Sutherland

  Tweeddale

  Western Isles

  Wigtown

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recent representations he has received calling for an extension of the powers and role of the Scottish Grand Committee; and if he will make a statement. [2542]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: During my statement to the House on 29 November 1995, Official Report, columns 1228–42, setting out my proposals for extending the role of the Scottish Grand Committee, three hon. Members called for the Committee to be given voting powers. However, my proposals to raise the profile and increase the activity of the Scottish Grand Committee were well supported and welcomed by hon. Members from both sides of the House; and during the debate on Standing Orders on 19 December 1995, Official Report, columns 1408–33, the proposals were approved without amendment.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ministerial visits have been undertaken by each Minister in his Department between 6 July and 1 December; and how many and what percentage of these have involved the Minister travelling abroad. [4240]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 December 1995]: The information requested is as follows:

  Minister

  Total number of visits made

  Number of visits abroad

  Percentage of visits abroad

  Michael Forsyth

  27

  1

  4

  Lord James

  Douglas-Hamilton

  45

  2

  4

  Raymond Robertson

  69

  2

  3

  George Kynoch

  68

  3

  4

  Earl of Lindsay

  115

  3

  3

  Consultants
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost of consultants' reports commissioned by his Department since April 1992; and what identifiable savings have been achieved as a result of implementing report recommendations. [5148]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 December 1995]: The total cost of consultancy projects commissioned by the Scottish Office from April 1992 to the end of March 1995 was £12,971,654. Consultancy reports do not invariably result in savings but my Department will summarise the benefits resulting from major projects over this period and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those consultants, outside organisations and individuals employed by his Department in each year since 1990, indicating the purpose of their employment and the individual payments and total payments made to those contractors. [5512]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 December 1995]: The available information regarding consultants engaged by my Department is being collated and I shall write to the hon. Member on this subject as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  The information requested regarding other organisations and individuals is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the members of the boards and (b) the chief executives of the new Scotland water authorities, together with their salaries, performance-related bonuses and membership of other non-departmental public bodies in Scotland. [5645]
  93
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 December 1995]: In relation to the membership, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Local Government to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donahoe) on 11 December, Official Report, columns 470–71.

  The Chairmen of the North and West of Scotland water authorities are paid £40,000 per annum; the chairman of the East of Scotland water authority is paid £24,000 per annum. The chief executives of each of the three water authorities are paid £80,000 per annum, and the members £6,000 per annum.

  Only chief executives are eligible to receive a performance related bonus, which is limited to a maximum of 20 per cent. of salary.

  The following are members of other NDPBs in Scotland as indicated:
  North of Scotland water authority

  Mr. John Robertson: Chairman, Highland health board

  Mr. Alasdair MacCallum: Member, Scottish Crop Research Institute

  Mr. Nicolas McAndrew: Member, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Mr. David Paton: Member, North East River Purification Board

  West of Scotland water authority

  Councillor Robert Reid: Chairman, Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  Mr. Ian Young: Member, Cumbernauld development corporation.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what have been the costs to date of establishing each of the new Scottish water authorities; [5509]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the transition and set-up costs in respect of each of the new water authorities in Scotland. [5511]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 December 1995]: Grant-in-aid provision for the three new water authorities in Scotland in 1995–96 and their expenditure are as follows:

  Grant-in-aid, 1995–96 £million

  Expenditure to 11 December 1995 £

  East

  3.2

  900,099

  West

  3.2

  175,000

  North

  3.3

  635,000

  Total

  9.7

  1,710,099

  Scottish Office (Media Coverage)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist for the Scottish Office Information Directorate to monitor media coverage of Scottish Office activities; how long such arrangements have been in existence; and if he will make a statement. [7271]
  94
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 20 December 1995]: Two independent press cuttings agencies have been providing, on a sequential basis, a trial monitoring service since October 1995. Tenders for the service were invited and these are presently being considered.

  Messrs Kynoch of Keith
  Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what progress he has made in recovering moneys paid to Messrs Kynoch of Keith by the Scottish Development Agency and Scottish Enterprise, following that firm's withdrawal from Scotland; [8180]

  (2) what at constant prices is the amount of Scottish Enterprise's investment in Messrs Kynoch of Keith; and what is its current value. [8181]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 9 January 1996]: Scottish Enterprise's investment in Kynoch Group plc, formerly G and G Kynoch plc, is an operational matter within the delegated authority of Scottish Enterprise. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the powers to make statutory instruments exercisable by the Secretary of State under primary legislation enacted since 1979 are subject to(a) the negative and (b) the affirmative resolution procedure. [9591]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [9766]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: No costs have been incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [9765]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: Mobile phones and car phones are purchased as and when required, taking advantage of offers on the market at the time with a view to, securing the best value for money.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the all-Wales average increase for standard spending assessments for 1996–97; and what was the standard spending assessment provisional announced sum for the Bridgend unitary authority for 1996–97. [8840]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The average increase between 1995–96 indicative standard spending assessments and 1996–97 provisional standard spending assessments for county councils and county borough councils is 2.9 per cent. Bridgend county borough council's provisional standard spending assessment for 1996–97 is £107.537 million.

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the revenue settlement for local government provides per head of population in(a) Wales and (b) England. [8845]

  Mr. Hague
  The provisional settlement proposals for 1996–97 provide for total standard spending per head of population of £984 in Wales and £922 in England. Comparable figures for central Government support for that spending are £864 and £732.

  Both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will announce our final settlement decisions at the end of the month.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received following the announcement of the 1996–97 local government finance settlement. [8853]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I discussed the provisional settlement with representatives of local government at a meeting of the Welsh Consultative Council on local government finance on 18 December 1995. We have also received various written representations.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's latest estimate of the percentage change in the average council tax bill in Wales for 1996–97 compared with 1995–96. [9774]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  1996–97 council tax levels will depend on the budgetary decisions local authorities take following my right hon. Friend's final revenue settlement, which he will announce shortly.

  Tourism
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest trends in tourism in Wales. [8842]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Latest information for 1995 suggests that domestic visitors to Wales increased by 11 per cent. with spending up 8 per cent. There were 690,000 overseas visitors to Wales in 1994 with spending up 10 per cent. to £190 million.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what resources have been allocated to provide more closed circuit television cameras to fight crime in Wales. [8843]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  £1.6 million has been allocated over the next two years under the strategic development scheme for new closed circuit television camera projects in Wales, with over 100 additional cameras being brought into use for the fight against crime. Welsh projects can also compete for a share of the £15 million Home Office funding for CCTV schemes in England and Wales in 1996–97.

  Cardiff International Airport
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what developments have taken place to improve the facilities at Cardiff international airport. [8846]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Several, including a new international arrivals hall opened officially by my right hon. Friend last November.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the figure for male unemployment in(a) Newport, Gwent and (b) Wales at the latest available date and expressed in percentage terms. [8847]

  Mr. Richards
  In December 1995, the unadjusted number of males on the claimant unemployment count in the Newport travel-to-work-area was 5,841. This compares with 82,839 in Wales. The unemployment rates were 10 per cent. and 11.1 per cent. respectively.

  Government Spending
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about Government spending and tax receipts per head in Wales. [8849]

  Mr. Hague
  A Welsh Office report, "Government Expenditure and Revenue—Wales 1993–94", published on 8 January, estimated that total Government expenditure on behalf of the population of Wales in 1993–94 was £14.7 billion. This is equivalent to £5,040 per head in Wales compared with expenditure of £4,871 per head in the United Kingdom as a whole. Total tax receipts from Wales in the same year are estimated at £9.3 billion or £3,020 per head. This compares with the UK figure of £3,973 per head.

  Trade (Far East)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what activities the Welsh Office is undertaking to promote trade in the far east. [8850]

  Mr. Richards
  General advice is available to any company which is considering exporting to any overseas market, including the far east. In addition, the Welsh Office trade mission programme and trade fair representative service specifically encourage small and medium sized Welsh companies to export to new markets worldwide. Eight visits to various countries in the far east have been made or are planned under current programmes between 1993 and spring 1997.

  public transport
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he intends to take to protect and improve the level of local public transport services in Wales. [8852]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The level of services is primarily a matter for operators. It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that essential public transport services are provided where it cannot be done commercially.

  Grant-maintained Schools Foundation
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much it has cost to set up an office for the Grant-maintained Schools Foundation in Wales. [8854]

  Mr. Richards
  The Grant-maintained Schools Foundation's regional office in Swansea opened in January last year. The costs incurred in 1994–95 were £15,298. Payments so far made to the foundation in 1995–96 are a little over £20,000.

  Cycle Paths
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to encourage the development and use of cycle paths in Wales. [8855]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I recently announced that £1.3 million has been allocated over three years under the strategic development scheme to help create 326 miles of cycle paths in north and south Wales.

  The Welsh Office is also assisting with the funding of a feasibility study for the proposed Swansea to Newport cycle route.

  Schools (Expenditure)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from headmasters and others on the level of education expenditure in schools in Wales. [8857]

  Mr. Richards
  Many representations have been received on the level of expenditure on schools in Wales. However, it is for individual local authorities to determine how the resources that are made available to them are allocated between services, including education, in the light to their statutory responsibilities and their perception of local needs and priorities.

  Carers
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that carers are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9366]
  98
  Mr. Richards
  People representing all sections and interests of the community are encouraged, through open advertisement, to apply for non-executive appointment to NHS trusts and health authorities and to become members of community health councils. An equal opportunities policy in the selection process is adopted for all appointments.

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [9211]

  Mr. Richards
  The organisation of continence services in Wales and the manner in which they are delivered, including the provision of continence pads, are matters for district health authorities and hospital and community units. They are under a general obligation to provide these services where need exists and having regard to their resources and priorities.

  NHS 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 Welsh Health Circular WHC(95)7.

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services of 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. [9237]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The new unitary authorities will be responsible for deciding how their statutory responsibilities for social services can best be discharged. The Welsh office issued guidance in August 1995 to all shadow unitary authorities in Wales, summarising local authority 'social services functions and responsibilities. This highlights the particular features of social services which the new authorities will need to consider as they plan the effective provision of social services for the people who need them.
  Sections 32–34 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 allow my right hon. Friend to take certain steps if the arrangements for any service or aspects of that service appear to be unsatisfactory or appear likely to become unsatisfactory. These powers are available until 31 March 1999.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that disabled people are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9363]
  99
  Mr. Richards
  People representing all sections and interests of the community are encouraged, through open advertisement, to apply for non-executive appointment to NHS trusts and health authorities and to become members of community health councils. An equal opportunities policy in the selection process is adopted for all appointments.

  Hospices
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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 hospices; what plans he has to ensure the financial security of hospices; and if he will make a statement. [9282]

  Mr. Richards
  There is, as yet, no conclusive evidence concerning the impact of the national lottery on the fund raising activities of the voluntary hospices in Wales. However, the Government have given a commitment to monitor charitable income, and the Welsh Office is associated with a Home Office research project which will analyse and monitor changes in charitable income, following the introduction of the national lottery. One hospice in Wales has benefited from the national lottery.

  Since 1 April 1995 funds for hospices have been included in the health authority allocations. Authorities will be expected to assess local health needs and commission an appropriate level of palliative care, entering into three-year rolling contracts, where possible.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many eligible young people in Alyn and Deeside, Clwyd, Gwynedd and Wales are currently unable to obtain a place on a youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement. [9551]

  Mr. Richards
  Information is not available in the form requested. However, at 30 November 1995—latest available—no young person in Wales eligible for the Government's youth training guarantee was waiting for an offer to start a training place.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of under-fives' education in Wales is on a full-time basis. [9552]

  Mr. Richards
  Of children estimated to be under five years of age at 31 December 1994 and enrolled in school at January 1995, 58.8 per cent. were attending on a full-time basis.

  Flintshire Unitary Authority
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to respond to the request made to his Department in November 1995 for more funds for the Flintshire unitary authority in the financial year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [9555]
  100
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Flintshire county council's views are being considered as a representation on the provisional local government revenue settlement, consultation on which ended on 5 January. My right hon. Friend will announce his final settlement proposals shortly.

  Smoking
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce a programme to tackle the problem of teenage smoking on similar lines to the Quitline programme in England. [9022]

  Mr. Richards
  The Quitline telephone helpline in England provides advice on smoking cessation for all age groups and is not aimed specifically at teenage smokers.

  The Health Promotion Authority for Wales currently delivers a wide range of programmes designed to prevent the take up of smoking or to help individuals to stop smoking. Many of these programmes, including the "Smokebusters" initiatives—which aim to discourage 11 to 13-year-olds from starting smoking—and "Quit and Win" project— aimed at 15 to 19-year-olds—are designed specifically to address the problem of smoking among young people. There are no plans to introduce a programme similar to Quitline in Wales.

  Under the new arrangements for funding Health Promotion Wales which are to be introduced from April 1996, it will be primarily for health authorities to commission future programmes to deal with the problem of teenage smoking in Wales.

  Council Tax
  Mr Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his estimate of the average council tax—band C, two adults—in constant prices for each of the new unitary council authorities and for Wales as a whole for 1994–95 and 1995–96 together with his estimate for the same categories for 1996–97. [9198]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The average council taxes for band C dwellings with two adults for 1994–95 and 1995–96, at constant 1995–96 prices, are £303 and £348 respectively. No information is available on a unitary authority basis for 1994–95. Implied band C taxes for individual unitary authorities for 1995–96 are given in the following table. The figures have been derived from the final disaggregated budget and indicative standard spending assessments (SSAs) issued on 27 October 1995. These redistribute 1995–96 budgets and SSAs for the existing councils to the new authorities.

  Council tax levels for 1996–97 will depend on the budgetary decisions of individual authorities in the light of the final settlement which will be announced at the end of the month.
  101

  Band C council tax estimates for unitary authorities: estimates based on the latest budget and indicative SSAs for 1995–96

  Implied band C council tax 1995–96 £

  Anglesey

  285

  Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire

  375

  Aberconwy and Colwyn

  259

  Denbighshire

  437

  Flintshire

  379

  Wrexham

  327

  Powys

  309

  Cardigan

  525

  Pembrokeshire

  331

  Carmarthenshire

  394

  Swansea

  309

  Neath and Port Talbot

  458

  Bridgend

  348

  Vale of Glamorgan

  308

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  435

  Merthyr Tydfil

  387

  Caerphilly

  361

  Blaenau Gwent

  466

  Torfaen

  312

  Monmouthshire

  215

  Newport

  218

  Cardiff

  330

  Wales

  348

  Source:

  Local authority returns.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people currently serve in his Department; at what cost to public funds; what were the figures in real and current terms in May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [8848]

  Mr. Hague
  There are currently 2,400 full-time equivalent staff in my Department, with a total running cost budget of £76 million for 1995–96. In 1979–80 there were some 2,600 staff with recorded running costs of £18 million, which is equivalent to £46 million at 1995–96 prices. However, these running cost figures are not comparable; for example, running costs in 1979–80 did not include superannuation charges, the training and enterprise council management fee and various overhead costs including accommodation, which have added at least £22 million to the 1995–96 figure. The Welsh Office has assumed additional functions over this period; for example, further responsibilities for industry, higher education and training.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10063]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department's policy is not to gold-plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the United Kingdom. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.
  102
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10057]

  Mr. Hague
  I shall arrange for a copy of the current guidance on deregulation to Welsh Office staff to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. This guidance is already subject to review and will be affected by the outcome of the official review of guidance on gold plating.

  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what research is undertaken by his Department(a) directly and (b) indirectly into post traumatic stress disorder and if he will indicate for (b) the organisations involved and the total funding provided; [10550]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of ex-service men and women in Wales suffering from combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10549]

  Mr. Richards
  None.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what provision is made by his Department for the treatment of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; [10548]

  (2) what provision is made by his Department for respite care for sufferers of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10551]

  Mr. Richards
  None. The provision of services is a matter for local determination.

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the hospitals, registered nursing homes and homes for the elderly that have suffered outbreaks of MRSA, indicating the severity of the outbreak with special reference to the number of victims and of deaths. [10592]

  Mr. Richards
  The epidemiology of MRSA is a complex Matter. Certain data are available on an England and Wales basis, but the Welsh element could be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. MRSA is undoubtedly a rising problem. For this reason, last year, the Chief Medical Officer in the Welsh Office invited the Public Health Laboratory Service in Wales to undertake separate surveillance on MRSA in Wales.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will instruct NHS trust hospitals to publish information about the number of cases of(a) MRSA and (b) other infections in their annual report. [10593]

  Mr. Richards
  There are no plans to require NHS trusts to provide this information in their annual reports. However, details should be available from the Chief Executive of NHS trusts on request, since they have been asked to ensure that adequate infection control arrangements are in place within their hospitals.

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of the tender and the other associated expenses in demolition and adaptation of block T05 of phase 2 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital carried out in the second half of 1995. [10352]

  Mr. Richards
  The cost of the tender for the scheme, to provide an expanded rehabilitation unit as part of the redevelopment of the hospital, carried out in the second half of 1995 was £133,457. The total cost of the scheme was £244,000 which included the cost of the professional fees, equipment and VAT.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was block T05 designed for when phase 2 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital was constructed; and if it was used for this purpose. [10353]

  Mr. Richards
  Template T05 within phase 1 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital and provides accommodation for rehabilitation services, that is, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. It has been used for this purpose since it was opened in 1986.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the budget of the Welsh development agency for 1996–97. [8856]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Chunghwa Picture Tube Company
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance or inducement was offered to the Chunghwa Picture Tube Company of Taiwan by the Welsh development agency to locate its new United Kingdom assembly plant in Cardiff. [10684]

  Mr. Hague
  There were many discussions with Chunghwa about a wide range of support, including financial assistance, to encourage the company to locate in Wales. The package included support from my Department; the Welsh development agency; the South Glamorgan training and enterprise council; South Glamorgan county council; and Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  Theatr Clwyd, Mold
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts he has included in Flintshire's standard spending assessment specifically for Theatr Clwyd, Mold. [10841]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The formula for calculating standard spending assessments comprises objective indicators of relative need which are relevant to local government as a whole. The formula for 1996–97 has been agreed with the local authority association and ratified by the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.

  The formula does not include specific indicators for expenditure items, such as Theatr Clwyd, which are relevant to individual authorities. However, as a major recreational facility Theatr Clwyd will influence Flintshire county council's SSA and revenue support grant
  104
  entitlement since the SSA formula includes indicators which contain estimates of day and night visitors to the authority's area.

  Clwyd county council's budgeted expenditure for Theatr Clyd in 1995–96 is being disaggregated into Flintshire's notional amount figure. Flintshire will have the spending power associated with that.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs; [10941]

  (2) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10971]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  For 1995–96, the only Welsh Office running costs and consultancy fees relating to the tendering of private finance initiative projects are as follows: staff costs £195,300; other costs £550, and management consultancy fees £18.580.

  No costs were incurred before 1995–96.

  Roads (Porous Surfaces)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on which roads in Wales porous surfaces have been laid. [11067]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Porous asphalt has been laid on the M4 between the Coryton and Miskin interchanges.

  Traffic Separation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on which roads in Wales chevron road markings are used to encourage traffic separation. [10998]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  NHS (Priorities)
  Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his priorities for the national health service in Wales during 1996. [8844]
  Mr. Richards
  The priorities are clear. My right hon. Friend wants the NHS in Wales to redouble its efforts to provide effective care, care that has been shown to be of benefit to patients with minimum bureaucracy and delay and with maximum efficiency.

  Our priorities in detail are:

  (i) more emphasis on services of proven benefit to patients;

  (ii) more responsive services;

  (iii) partnerships with Social Services and voluntary groups;

  (iv) co-operation within the NHS; and

  (v) improved efficiency.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the proposed family credit ceilings in 1996–97 for a family with(a) one child aged under five years, (b) two children aged under 11 years, (c) two children aged over 11 years, (d) three children aged under 11 years, (e) three children age over 11 years and (f) two children under 11 years and two children aged over 11 years. [8158]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  At the new benefit levels proposed for April 1996, the family credit ceilings represented by the highest amount of net earnings and other relevant income, including child benefit, a family can have and still qualify for family credit at the minimum payment of 50p will be as follows:

  Parent working 16 to 29 hours per week £

  Parent working 30 hours or more per week £

  Family with one child under five years

  168.43

  183.14

  Family with two children under 11

  194.01

  208.73

  Family with two children over 11 (but under 16)

  216.01

  230.73

  Family with three children under 11

  219.60

  234.31

  Family with three children over 11 (but under 16)

  252.60

  267.31

  Family with two children under 11 and two children over 11 (but under 16)

  267.19

  281.90

  These ceilings may be increased by up to £15 where maintenance is received and by up to £60 where there are relevant child care expenses.

  From October 1994, up to £40 a week per family in respect of formal child care charges incurred can be offset in the calculation of normal earnings for family credit. It applies where the care is for a child under 11 in the family of a lone parent or a couple where one is working and the other is incapacitated. This increases the potential ceilings still further.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reassess the appropriateness of the interval between qualification for cold weather payments and receipt of the money. [8416]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will reassess the appropriateness of the interval between qualification for Cold Weather Payments (CWPs) and receipt of the money.
  The Metrological office supply the Agency with temperature data on the basis of forecast and recorded periods of Cold Weather. A forecast period is seven consecutive days during which the mean
  106
  daily temperature is forecast to be equal to or below zero degree centigrade. A recorded period is seven connective days during which the mean daily temperature was recorded as equal to or below zero degree centigrade.
  Once a Cold Weather period has been identified a scan of the Income Support computer is run to establish those who are eligible for a Cold Weather Payment (CWP). If a period of Cold Weather is identified ending on a Thursday, a scan is run that weekend. A Cold Weather period identified ending on a Friday will be included in a scan the following weekend. The scans can only be run at a weekend when District offices are closed and the computer system is not needed. Payment is sent out automatically the following week.
  This method ensures that payment is made timeously and without the customer having to make a claim. Where payment is made on a forecast period of Cold Weather potential qualifiers can be established more quickly than waiting for a period of Cold Weather to be confirmed.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claimed extra heating allowance in the areas covered by the Peterlee and Seaham area benefit offices during the recent cold weather; and on which dates they qualified. [9511]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Cummings dated 19 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people claimed the extra heating allowance in the areas covered by the Peterlee and Seaham area benefit offices during the recent Cold Weather; and on which dates they qualified.
  Cold Weather Payments, are paid automatically when the average daily temperature in an area, as reported by the weather station covering that area, has been or is forecast to be Zero Degree Centigrade or below for seven days. A customer is entitled to a Cold Weather Payment, if for at least one day in the Cold Weather period, they receive Income Support which includes an amount for a dependant under five, or one of the following premiums; Higher Pensioner, Enhanced Pensioner, Disability, Severe Disability and Disabled Child.
  The benefit offices of Seaham and Peterlee are part of the North Durham District. Geographical areas are linked to weather stations by post code. Postal codes covered by the North Durham District are linked to the weather stations at Leeming and Tynemouth.
  The information you requested is provided at Annex A.
  I hope my reply is helpful.

  Annex A

  Weather station

  Qualifying period

  Leeming

  23 December 1995 to 2 January 1996 inclusive

  Tynemouth

  22 December 1995 to 3 January 1996 inclusive

  Benefit office

  Number of payments

  Peterlee

  6,678

  Seaham

  1,985

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current annual overall cost of unemployment to his Department; and what is the average cost per unemployed claimant(a) per week and (b) per annum. [9536]
  107
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The total estimated outturn expenditure by the DSS on unemployed people in 1994–95 was £9,100 million. Of this, £1,260 million is unemployment benefit, £5,323 million is income support, £48 million is social fund payments and £2,470 million is housing benefit and council tax benefit. The average weekly amount received by unemployed claimants receiving a specific benefit is: income support £55.38, unemployment benefit £48.60, housing benefit £42.65 and council tax benefit £7.44.

  Pensioners' Benefits
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of pensioners who are in receipt of(a) income support and (b) housing benefit. [10207]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The numbers of pensioners receiving income support and housing benefit are 1.78 million and 1.94 million respectively.

  Notes:

  1. Sources: Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1995 (5 per cent. sample), Housing Benefit Management Information Systems 1 per cent. sample May 1994.

  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  3. A pensioner is defined as aged 60 or over.

  Pensions (Women)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when his Department received the results from the research it commissioned from Ms Julia Field and others in 1994 into women's pension provision for retirement, the financial effects of divorce and the treatment of occupational pensions; [9920]

  (2) when his Department will publish the findings of research it commissioned from Ms Julia Field and others in 1994 into women's pension provision for retirement, the financial effects of divorce and the treatment of occupational pensions; [9921]

  (3) what was the total cost of the research his Department commissioned from Ms Julia Field and others in 1994 into women's pension provision for retirement, the financial effects of divorce and the treatment of occupational pensions. [9922]

  Mr. Heald
  Preliminary results of the research on women's retirement provision and on the treatment of pensions rights on divorce commissioned from social and community planning research were received in the Department by the end of December 1995. We expect to receive the final draft reports by the end of March 1996 and will publish the findings soon afterwards. The total cost of the four linked surveys that constitute this programme of research is £457,100.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reconsider his decision to prevent local authorities from paying housing benefit in advance to housing associations. [9925]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Proposals for changing the rules for paying housing benefit from payment wholly or partly in advance to payment in arrears were put to the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations in December 1995. The committee decided 108
  to consult more widely on the proposals with interested bodies. Its report and the views of the local authority associations are due in February and will be taken fully into account when deciding what changes, if any, should be made to the housing benefit rules.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to place in the Library the report of research undertaken by the Benefits Agency Security, benefit review team, into housing benefit fraud. [10495]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 19 January 1996,Official Report, Column 834.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total amount of state benefits recouped by the compensation recovery unit in each of the last three years. [10133]

  Mr. Heald
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 19 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the total amount of state benefits recouped by the Compensation Recovery Unit in each of the last three years.
  The information requested is given in the table below

  Financial year

  Amount £million

  1992–93

  51.3

  1993–94

  81.9

  1994–95

  110.1

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.The figure for the current financial year to 31 December 1995 is £96 million.I hope you find this reply helpful.
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what responses, in addition to his formal one, he has made to the report of the Social Security Committee of 1994–95 (HC 196) concerning the compensation recovery unit; and if he is conducting a consultation exercise with interested parties regarding the work of the compensation recovery unit and its future operations; and if he will make a statement. [9470]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I wrote to the Chairman of the Select Committee on 10 January. My letter explained that a compliance cost assessment of the Select Committee's proposals for reform of the compensation recovery scheme would be published shortly. A consultation exercise on the Select Committee's proposals was conducted in late 1995. I shall publish a summary of the results of the consultation shortly.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10068]
  109
  Mr. Roger Evans
  This Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed by all Departments.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10052]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The largest block of EC legislation on social security is in the form of Council regulations, which are directly effective. There is relatively little other EC legislation on social security. This has been implemented on a case-by-case basis in line with overall policy of not gold plating directives, the guidance on which is currently under review. In addition, the Department has its own action plan on deregulation and EC law which is designed to ensure that there is no over-implementation of EC directives.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the number of people awarded national insurance contribution credits in 1994–95, (b) the average number of credits awarded and (c) the cost of funding these national insurance credits; and if he will indicate the different groups being credited with national insurance contributions. [10770]

  Mr. Heald
  Some 10.5 million people in the United Kingdom in one or more of the categories listed were awarded an average of 39.4 national insurance credits in the tax year 1994–95.1 Estimates of the costs arising from these credits are not available.
  Categories of people awarded national insurance credits:

  Young people, for the tax years containing their 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays.

  People over age 18 undergoing courses of approved training.

  People entitled to invalid care allowance.

  People who are unemployed or incapable of work.

  Men age 60–64 who are not liable to pay class 1 or class 2 contributions.

  People on jury service.

  Women receiving statutory maternity pay.

  People whose course of full-time education, training or apprenticeship has terminated.

  Widows on termination of widowed mother's allowance.

  Source:11 per cent sample of national insurance records.

  Income Support
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total annual expenditure on income support to cover mortgage interest payments in each financial year between 1989–90 and 1994–95. [10710]
  110
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table.

  Total number of cases with mortgage interest included in the assessment

  Total amount of estimated annual expenditure

  £ million

  1989–90

  281,000

  353

  1990–91

  310,000

  553

  1991–92

  411,000

  949

  1992–93

  499,000

  1,143

  1993–94

  529,000

  1,145

  1994–95

  511,000

  1,001

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and expenditure to the nearest million.

  2. Caseload figures are for May each year, except for 1994–95 where February 1995 figures have been used.

  3. Expenditure estimated for 1989–90 to 1992–93 is derived by multiplying the number of cases by the average weekly amount then multiplying by 52. Figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are based on an average of four quarters.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries 1989–92.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries May 1993 to February 1995.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to review his policy in respect of the award to children under five years of age of the mobility component of disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement; [10842]

  (2) how many applications have been made on behalf of children under five years of age for the mobility component of disability living allowance in each of the years since 1993; [10843]

  (3) how many children under five years of age were exceptionally allowed to claim the mobility component of disability living allowance in each year since 1993. [10984]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Claims for disability living allowance are for the benefit as a whole and not for an individual component. The Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 specifies that a person must be aged over five to be entitled to the mobility component of DLA. There are currently no plans to review this policy.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii)publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10967]
  111
  Mr. Roger Evans
  In 1994–95 this Department's private finance initiative projects spent £1.044 million on external consultants in the PFI tendering process on the areas of consultancy identified. This figure comprises (i) legal fees of £420,000; (ii) publicity costs of nil; (iii) accountancy fees of £167,000 and (iv) management consultancy fees of £457,000. In 1995–96 prices these costs would be £1.073 million in total and (i) £431,000; (ii) nil; (iii) £172,000 and (iv) £470,000 respectively.

  The Department's PFI projects forecast that in 1995–96 we will spend £2.774 million on external consultants in the PFI tendering process on the areas of consultancy identified. this figure comprises (i) legal fees of £359,000; (ii) publicity costs of nil; (iii) accountancy fees of £95,000 and (iv) management consultancy fees of £2.32 million.
  112
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10968]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In 1994–95 this Department's private finance initiative projects incurred total running costs relating to the PFI tendering process of around £1.5 million, rounded either as a cash figure or at 1995–96 prices. In 1995–96 the Department's PFI projects forecast that they will have incurred total running costs of around £2.5 million relating to the PFI tendering process. A breakdown of the costs is not available in the format requested.

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