Written Answers of 23 January 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when and in which newspapers the advisory committee for Doncaster advertised for applicants for positions as magistrates; and if he will publish the advertisement. [9903]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Lord Chancellor's advisory committee for Doncaster placed advertisements in the Doncaster Free Press, South Yorkshire Times and Doncaster Star on 25 May 1995. The text of the advertisement is shown. In addition 20,000 leaflets were delivered with the Doncaster Courier on 21 July 1995.

  COULD YOU SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE?
  The answer is yes, if you have the necessary personal qualities such as common-sense, courage, compassion and the time to offer about 18 days (or 36 half days) a year plus time for training, which would give you a unique insight into the skills required for decision making. Justices of the Peace, often called magistrates, are at the heart of Britain's system of justice and come from all walks of life, many different ethnic backgrounds and all sectors of the community.
  Justices of the Peace are unpaid but they may receive certain allowances to cover travelling expenses, subsistence and financial loss occasioned by the performance of their duties.
  Justices of the Peace in England and Wales are appointed on behalf of the Sovereign by the Lord Chancellor on the recommendation of local Advisory Committees.
  The Advisory Committee for the Doncaster District are currently looking for men and women who live in or within 15 miles of the Metropolitan Borough boundary and who are suitable to be appointed as Justices of the Peace. If you are between 27 and 50 and would like to know more about this vitally important public duty they want to hear from you. If you are between 50 and 60, you may still be considered.
  For an application form, information on the selection process and what is entailed, please write to me at the address below, or telephone (01302) 366711.
  S. W. Stokes
  Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee
  The Law Courts
  PO Box 49
  College Road
  Doncaster DN1 3HT

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates the cost will be to the local police constabulary of policing the site of the Newbury bypass. [9343]
  114
  Mr. Maclean
  Policing of the bypass site is a joint operation between Thames Valley police and Hampshire constabulary.

  Estimated total policing costs in 1995–96 have been assessed by Thames Valley police as £1.525 million and by Hampshire constabulary as £478,000. This includes the costs of officers who would otherwise be on duty elsewhere in the force areas.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps Her Majesty's Government are presently taking to examine the conviction in Sweden of Bengt Bolin under Sweden's extra-territorial law on sex offences against children; [9672]

  (2) when Her Majesty's Government expect to be able to make a statement on the implications of the Bengt Bolin case in Sweden for future United Kingdom legislation on child sex offences committed aborad. [9673]

  Mr. Maclean
  My officials have obtained from the Swedish authorities various documents concerning the Bolin case, including transcripts of the court proceedings. The Swedish chief prosecutor gave a presentation about this case to an Interpol working group in November last year, and Home Office officials who attended the presentation spoke to him about the case. My officials have also recently met a representative from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to discuss this matter. In addition, a meeting is being arranged with the Thai prosecutor who was involved in the Bolin case.

  The information so far received suggests that there would have been difficulties in securing a conviction in this country on the basis of the evidence presented to the Swedish court. The United Kingdom could, however, unlike Sweden, have extradited a British offender in similar circumstances. We remain of the view that this is the best approach, and have not been persuaded by the experience of the Swedes that extra-territorial jurisdiction would be helpful in dealing with British tourists who commit offences overseas.

  School Bus Drivers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what responsibilities the police have for checking the suitability of applicants to be school bus drivers; [10185]

  (2) if applicants for school bus driving positions are always checked by the police against a central criminal database; [10186]

  (3) how many applicants for school bus driving vacancies were checked against the central criminal database in 1995. [10187]

  Mr. Maclean
  The police have responsibility for carrying out criminal record checks on applicants for jobs in the statutory sector if the applicant will have a substantial level of regular unsupervised access to children, particularly if such access is on a one-to-one basis in an isolated setting. The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office have agreed guidance on which groups should be eligible for checks and this is set out in Home Office circulars. School bus drivers are listed as one of the groups which should not
  115
  normally be subject to checks as it is assumed that, for most journeys, they will be transporting large numbers of children with a teacher or parent also present. If a bus driver is likely to be transporting a child or small number of children on a regular basis without a teacher or parent being present, the police have discretion to carry out a check.

  If the police are satisfied that a check is justified, the applicant will be checked both against Phoenix, the national criminal record database, and local police records. No statistics are kept on the number of applicants for jobs as school bus drivers who have been checked.

  Electro-shock Equipment
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the duration of the hard arrests trial programme; what areas of equipment, policy or training were involved; and what was the budget of the programme; [10249]

  (2) what research his Department has carried out since 1987 on the operation, safety or use of electronic shock equipment. [10248]

  Mr. Maclean
  I assume that the hon. Member's interest relates to the issue of electronic shock equipment. Neither my Department nor the police service has any knowledge of "the hard arrest trial programme" or of any other programme in this area.

  Chief officers of police, with their police authorities, are responsible for deciding what equipment to obtain for their officers, either for testing or for introduction. A number of forces have obtained electro-shock equipment for use against ferocious dogs and training in their use would have been undertaken at the local level. The cost of training was met from existing resources. As I have made clear previously, no force has obtained any form of this equipment for use against people.

  In 1990 the Forensic Science Service published a theoretical assessment of the effects of electric shock weapons.

  Premium Telephone Numbers
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued to police

  Police force

  Specials1

  Regulars2

  Percentage3

  Population (000's)4

  Specials per 5 thousand population5

  Avon and Somerset

  676

  2,986

  22.6

  1,456

  2.3

  Bedfordshire

  196

  1,116

  17.6

  543

  1.8

  Cambridgeshire

  264

  1,254

  21.1

  688

  1.9

  Cheshire

  269

  1,950

  13.8

  976

  1.4

  City of London

  81

  859

  9.3

  5

  81.0

  Cleveland

  204

  1,429

  14.3

  560

  1.8

  Cumbria

  221

  1,143

  19.3

  490

  2.3

  Derbyshire

  440

  1,762

  25.0

  954

  2.3

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,079

  2,871

  37,6

  1,530

  1.9

  Dorset

  230

  1,272

  18.1

  672

  1.7

  Durham

  192

  1,376

  14.1

  608

  1.6

  Dyfed-Powys

  304

  977

  31.1

  473

  3.2

  Essex

  548

  2,897

  18.9

  1,497

  1.8

  Gloucestershire

  330

  1,141

  28.9

  550

  3.0

  Greater Manchester

  749

  7,026

  10.7

  2,578

  1.5

  Gwent

  129

  1,006

  12.8

  462

  1.4

  116
  forces on the use of premium telephone numbers for services to the public. [10256]

  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Police Vehicles (Accidents)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents involving police patrol vehicles were reported for the years 1994 and 1995; and how many police officers or civilians sustained serious or fatal injuries in such accidents. [10408]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest information which is available centrally, in respect of police forces in England and Wales, is for the year 1993, and is shown. The information on injuries relates to those where death or serious injury has arisen in the course of either police pursuits or responses to emergency calls.

  Police vehicle accidents in 1993—all types of police vehicles

  All accidents: 18,631.

  Accidents in course of pursuits or responses to emergency calls: 5,887.

  Police fatal injury: 5

  Police serious injury: 113

  Civilian fatal injury: 29

  Civilian serious injury: 187

  Special Constables
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of special constables in each police force in England, indicating in each case the ratio of specials to full-time officers and to the population of the force area. [10631]

  Mr. Maclean
  The following table, which is broken down by police force area, shows:the number of special constables in post on 30 September 19951;
  the number of regular officers in post on 30 September 19952;
  the proportion of regular officers the number of special constables notionally represents (disregarding discrepancies in hours of duty3:
  the population of each force area according to the latest available estimates from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (mid-1994)4; and
  the number of special constables per 5,000 population5.

  Many special constables perform about four hours' duty a week.
  117

  Police force

  Specials1

  Regulars2

  Percentage3

  Population (000's)4

  Specials per 5 thousand population5

  Hampshire

  549

  3,307

  16.6

  1,730

  1.6

  Hertfordshire

  307

  1,704

  18.0

  853

  1.8

  Humberside

  380

  2,024

  18.8

  890

  2.1

  Kent

  598

  3,099

  19.3

  1,546

  1.9

  Lancashire

  594

  3,194

  18.6

  1,424

  2.1

  Leicestershire

  334

  1,860

  18.0

  917

  1.8

  Lincolnshire

  311

  1,164

  26.7

  606

  2.6

  Merseyside

  349

  4,536

  7.7

  1,434

  1.2

  Metropolitan

  1,657

  27,395

  6.0

  7,455

  1.1

  Norfolk

  325

  1,391

  23.4

  769

  2.1

  Northamptonshire

  298

  1,160

  25.7

  595

  2.5

  Northumbria

  479

  3,610

  13.3

  1,442

  1.7

  North Wales

  323

  1.351

  23.9

  658

  2.5

  North Yorkshire

  359

  1,310

  27.4

  727

  2.5

  Nottinghamshire

  534

  2,314

  23.1

  1,031

  2.6

  South Wales

  469

  2,954

  15.9

  1,330

  1.8

  South Yorkshire

  423

  3,041

  13.9

  1,305

  1.6

  Staffordshire

  687

  2,190

  31.4

  1,054

  3.3

  Suffolk

  419

  1,158

  36.2

  649

  3.2

  Surrey

  241

  1,656

  14.6

  774

  1.6

  Sussex

  514

  3,020

  17.0

  1,449

  1.8

  Thames Valley

  764

  3,759

  20.3

  2,017

  1.9

  Warwickshire

  351

  982

  35.7

  496

  3.5

  West Mercia

  587

  2,007

  29.2

  1,116

  2.6

  West Midlands

  849

  7,078

  12.0

  2,628

  1.6

  West Yorkshire

  783

  5,122

  15.3

  2,104

  1.9

  Wiltshire

  259

  1,236

  21.0

  588

  2.2

  Total

  19,655

  124,697

  —

  51,629

  —

  1(a) Number of special constables in post at 30 September 1995.

  2(b) Number of regular officers in post at 30 September 1995.

  3(c) Special constables as an equivalent percentage of regular officers.

  4(d) Population of police force area at 30 June 1994. (in thousands).

  5(e) Number of special constables per five thousand head of population.

  Standards in Public Life
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete the review of the law relating to the bribery of hon. Members referred to in the Government's response to the first report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 2931. [10559]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are committed to the consolidation of the corruption statutes, and have welcomed the opportunity to clarify the position of hon. Members as part of that exercise. I cannot say at this stage when a conclusion might be reached.

  Immigration and Asylum Interviews
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reconsidered requests for tape recording immigration and asylum interviews at ports of entry and at the Home Office. [10478]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have no plans to allow asylum and immigration interviews at ports of entry or the Home Office to be tape recorded.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of juvenile offenders subject to a supervision order reoffend within two years of the making of the order. [10863]
  118
  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available information relates to a sample of those sentenced for standard list offences during three separate weeks of 1991.

  Eighty per cent. of those aged under 17 when sentenced to a supervision order were reconvicted within two years of the making of the order. This reconviction rate includes only reconvictions for standard list offences and relates only to offenders sentenced for such offences—standard list offences consist of all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences. The reconviction rate is based on a sample 275 offenders.

  Reconviction rates will be influenced by criminal histories and types of offences committed.

  Ms Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of juvenile offenders who receive custodial sentences reoffend within two years of release. [10864]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available information relates to prisoners discharged from Prison Service establishments during 1992.

  Eighty-nine per cent. of those aged under 17 when sentenced to custody were reconvicted within two years of release from prison. This reconviction rate includes only reconvictions for standard list offences—these consist of all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences.

  Reconviction rates will be influenced by criminal histories and type of offences committed.

  Dangerous Dogs Legislation
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs are currently being held under the dangerous dogs legislation. [11263]

  Mr. Sackville
  There are presently 81 dogs held in police custody in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. No dogs are currently being held by the police under other dog legislation.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs have been destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation to date. [11249]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the number of dogs destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation is not collected in the form requested.

  However, during 1992, 1993 and 1994, a total of 781 people were convicted either of offences under section 1 of the 1991 Act or of aggravated offences under section 3. In each of these cases, the court would have had no option but to order the destruction of the dog concerned. The figure quoted is thus likely to be close to the actual number of dogs put down under the Act over that period.

  Corresponding figures for 1995 are likely to be available in the autumn.

  Crime Control (International Co-operation)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what international research and co-operation, his Department has been involved concerning the introduction of new technologies to combat crime; and if he will make a statement. [9889]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Home Office police scientific development branch has memoranda of understanding with the Dutch Ministry of Justice, the Bundeskriminalamt in Germany and the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the United States of America with a view to collaborating in the research, development, evaluation and operational use of law enforcement technologies. Further MOUs are under discussion with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Drug Enforcement Administration and the New South Wales police. PSDB is also a member of the working group on international technology support and participates in numerous international specialist crime-related conferences. My Department is also working with the European Committee for Standardisation to develop a European standard for vehicle tracking devices.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library all information held by his Department concerning the effectiveness of installed closed circuit television on preventing crime; and if he will make a statement. [9890]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: My Department has published a number of research papers looking at various aspects of closed circuit television effectiveness as part of its series of crime prevention unit papers and the successor series of crime detection and prevention papers. The most recent of these—published
  120
  on 29 December 1995—is paper No. 68—"CCTV in Town Centres: Three Case Studies". Copies of all these papers are held in the Library.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total central Government expenditure to date on crime prevention closed circuit television schemes; and if he will make a statement. [9891]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Approximately £800,000 has been allocated to 56 crime prevention projects featuring closed circuit television since 1989 under the safer cities programme. In addition, £5 million was awarded to 106 CCTV schemes in last year's CCTV challenge competition. The current CCTV challenge competition will provide a further £15 million for CCTV in 1996–97. Information about CCTV projects funded by other Government programmes is not collected centrally.

  National DNA Database
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what international co-operation and research the United Kingdom Government have been involved concerning the operation of a national DNA database; and if he will make a statement. [9892]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Forensic Science Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Dr. Janet Anderson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 23 January 1996:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question about international co-operation and research concerning the operation of the National DNA Database. As you know, the arrangement now is that the Chief Executive of an Executive Agency, with the agreement of the Minister, replies to Members of Parliament on operational matters. I am therefore replying on behalf of the Forensic Science Service.
  The National DNA Database was launched in April 1995. The DNA technique used for the Database, Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)., was pioneered and developed by the Forensic Science Service (FSS). Following extensive peer review, a test system using STRs was successfully introduced into casework. The technique was chosen for the Database after a pilot study commissioned by the Home Office. The FSS work on STRs is now being taken forward internationally and I have set out some details below.
  FSS has engendered and maintained close contacts throughout the world. It was at the forefront of the foundation of the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) whose members now include representatives from virtually all European countries. The work of EDNAP is focused on STRs. The FSS takes a leading role in the direction fo forensic testing in Europe through this group orchestrating collaborative trials and studies. This in turn helps to enrich the FSS research programme.
  FSS Scientists are regular guest lecturers in North America, Australia and Asia. These talks help to assure that their work is subjected to the widest possible peer review. It is a measure of the quality of the most recent advances, which have tended toward simultaneous analysis of highly discriminating tests, that the philosophy and indeed the particular test systems have been adopted by countries throughout the world.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of launching and operating the national DNA database; and if he will make a statement. [9893]
  121
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The total cost of launching the national DNA database and the cost of its first year of operation, 1995–96, are forecast to be £3.2 million.

  Crime (Retail Premises)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to reduce crime against retail premises; and if he will make a statement. [10244]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: There are many measures in place to reduce retail crime. The retail action group, an associate group of the Home Office crime prevention agency board, has produced booklets for retailers on preventing burglary, robbery, and violence to staff; further guidance on the prevention of customer theft, and external fraud, and on making an arrest will be published later this year. The group is also looking at ways of identifying and promulgating best practice, and considering the uses of technology in crime prevention.

  The use of closed circuit television can make a significant contribution to reducing crime against retail premises, especially when it forms part of a package of crime prevention measures. The Home Office has helped to spread the use of CCTV through the publication of guidance on its use, and through last year's CCTV challenge competition in which the majority of successful bids were from partnerships which wished to install security cameras in shopping centres and high streets in town centres around the country. A further CCTV competition in which £15 million will be available is to be held this year, and it is likely that shopping areas will again be major beneficiaries.

  The British Retail Consortium is making a valuable contribution through the programme of work being pursued by the retail crime initiative. This initiative, which aims to develop the retail perspective in inter-agency crime prevention initiatives, is an important and valuable way of raising the general awareness of retail and town centre crime and of encouraging retailers to work together to beat crime.

  The projects carried forward by local partnerships, business and shop watch schemes, ring round schemes, police advice on the part that building design can play in preventing crime, as well as the numerous individual police force initiatives being pursued across the country all contribute to retail crime prevention. The safer cities programme has also funded a number of schemes aimed at improving the security of retail premises.

  The recently published Home Office commercial victimisation survey singles out for the first time the effect of crime on commercial victims, and we are continuing to analyse the data collected so that retailers, the police and others can target their crime prevention initiatives to best effect.

  The Home Office was represented on the Health and Safety Executive committee which last year published guidance for employers on the prevention of violence to retail staff in the workplace; and we also contributed to
  122
  the funding of a non-profit-making video for retailers on the prevention of customer theft, which was produced by Compass Vision Ltd.

  Party Conferences (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the policing costs associated with the annual conferences of the(a) Liberal Democrats, (b) Conservative and (c) Labour parties; and what amounts were claimed by each party from central funds for security costs. [10246]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: I understand from the forces involved that the latest estimated additional costs of policing the 1995 party conferences are:

  (a) Liberal Democrats (Strathclyde Police)—Nil

  (b) Conservative (Lancashire Constabulary)—£1 million

  (c) Labour (Sussex Police)—£29.029

  Finalised claims for security costs incurred by the political parties at these conferences have not yet been received.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-ordinated action police forces are taking to provide adequate mechanisms for rough sleepers and similar vulnerable people to report physical attacks. [9971]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Government's consultation paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative: Future Plans" makes it clear that the police aim to provide the same quality of service to the homeless as to all other victims of crime, and in doing so should have regard to the special needs and vulnerability of homeless people. It is for individual chief officers, though, to decide the most suitable approach locally.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [9751]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: Arrangements for the procurement of mobile telephones in my Department are devolved to executive agencies and dispersed business units and no central records are kept. I am aware of agreements for four individual mobile telephones which have been terminated. The cost to my Department was about £145. The companies involved were Cellcom and People's Phone.

  Killings and Woundings (Toxteth)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) killings and (b) woundings have taken place in Toxteth over the past year to the most recent available date; and if he will make a statement. [10467]
  123
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: This information is not collected centrally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [10955]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The amount spent on external consultants in the tendering process since the introduction of private finance initiative is as follows:

  (a) In real terms: applying the GDP deflator to the cash totals in (b) below, costs are equivalent (1995–96 prices) to:
  124

  £

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  27,740

  421,170

  1,381,448

  (b) In cash terms:

  Legal fees

  4,500

  186,450

  537,128

  Publicity costs

  —

  —

  —

  Accountancy fees

  22,000

  135,834

  260,901

  Management consultancy

  —

  87,616

  583,419

  Totals

  26,500

  409,900

  1,381,448

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [10956]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The information requested is not separately recorded.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how often the Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy has met. [10022]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" makes it clear that information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet or Cabinet Committees is not normally made public.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes have taken place in his responsibilities over the last four years; and what impact this has had on the running costs of his Department. [10023]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's ministerial responsibilities in December 1992 were as follows:The discharge on a day-to-day basis of the responsibilities of Minister for the Civil Service; overseeing progress and development of the citizens charter initiative, the next steps programme, the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service and the market-testing programme; responsibility for the Office of Science and Technology which, in addition to responsibility for Government policy on science and technology, is responsible for the research councils; and ministerial responsibility for Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  These responsibilities were carried out by the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service and Science. The estimated annual running costs associated with these responsibilities in 1992–93 was £96 million.

  On 1 April 1993 financial provision for the Prime Minister's Office, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, support to the Whips and minor other functions were transferred to the Cabinet Office "other services" vote. This reduced the OPSS annual running costs by £15.5 million.

  Cabinet Office

  £

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Aberdeen Press and Journal

  2,132

  3,686

  2,694

  —

  —

  Ambulance UK

  —

  —

  453

  453

  —

  Andover Advertiser

  —

  —

  892

  —

  —

  Assessment

  —

  —

  2,425

  —

  —

  B A News

  —

  —

  1,152

  4,064

  —

  Banbury Guardian

  —

  —

  677

  —

  —

  Bath (and West Evening) Chronicle

  —

  497

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire Times

  —

  —

  1,405

  —

  —

  Belfast Irish News

  900

  476

  1,143

  —

  —

  Belfast Telegraph

  4,777

  6,155

  5,233

  355

  —

  Birmingham Evening Mail

  —

  2,262

  3,700

  —

  —

  Bracknell News

  —

  —

  874

  —

  —

  Bournemouth Evening Echo

  —

  751

  —

  —

  —

  Braintree and Witham Times

  —

  416

  999

  —

  —

  Brighton Evening Argus

  —

  —

  2,000

  —

  —

  Bristol Evening Post

  —

  2,498

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley Borough News

  —

  371

  —

  —

  —

  Bucks Free Press

  —

  —

  972

  —

  —

  126
  On 1 April 1995 my predecessor took over responsibility for civil service pensions and civil service pay and conditions, including the senior civil service. These responsibilities were transferred by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, following HM Treasury's fundamental expenditure review, and strengthened my civil service efficiency and effectiveness remit. The effect of these additional responsibilities serve to increase the OPSS annual running costs by some £13 million.

  The machinery of Government changes announced in July 1995 saw significant changes with responsibility for the science and technology transferring from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Minister for Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry. At the same time, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster assumed responsibility for supporting the Deputy Prime Minister on the competitiveness agenda and for the progress and development of deregulation, transferred from the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry. The net annual affect on running costs of these changes to my Department—now the Office of Public Service—is estimated to be a reduction of £3 million.

  On the 1 January 1996 I assumed responsibility from the Minister for the Environment and Countryside for two executive agencies—the Security Facilities Executive and the Buying Agency. The effect of this transfer on my Department's annual running costs is £29 million.

  Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the expenditure of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on newspaper advertising by title for each year since 1990–91; and what estimate he has made for 1995–96 based on expenditure to date and existing plans. [6571]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  Details of expenditure on newspaper advertising and other promotional materials and activities by the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's Office, and the Office of Public Service were as follows:
  127

  Cabinet Office

  £

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Burnley Express

  —

  —

  603

  —

  —

  CA Magazine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  721

  Carmarthen Citizen

  —

  161

  —

  —

  —

  Carmarthen Journal

  —

  —

  516

  —

  —

  Chronicle and Echo

  —

  —

  1,076

  —

  —

  Coalville Times

  —

  —

  529

  —

  —

  Community Care

  847

  —

  2,541

  1,457

  —

  Cornishman

  —

  —

  434

  —

  —

  Courier and Advertiser (Dundee)

  1,906

  1,165

  2,499

  —

  —

  Coventry Evening Telegraph

  —

  1,127

  —

  —

  —

  Croydon Advertiser series

  —

  1,535

  1,593

  —

  —

  Daily Express

  63,510

  4,650

  24,200

  1,260

  —

  Daily Mail

  78,335

  33,520

  26,616

  53,410

  —

  Daily Mirror

  49,062

  7,800

  14,800

  41,357

  —

  Daily Post (Liverpool)

  990

  —

  1,515

  —

  —

  Daily Record

  7,000

  2,300

  4,600

  —

  —

  Daily Star

  11,700

  1,700

  6,300

  —

  –

  Daily Telegraph

  68,908

  9,545

  38,548

  19,040

  11,900

  Derby Evening Telegraph

  —

  794

  1,512

  —

  —

  Derry Journal

  —

  498

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset Evening Echo

  —

  342

  689

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway Standard

  —

  —

  856

  —

  —

  East Anglian Daily Times (Ipswich)

  —

  635

  1,327

  —

  —

  East Kent Gazette

  —

  —

  547

  —

  —

  Eastbourne Herald

  —

  —

  932

  —

  —

  Eastern Daily Press (Norwich)

  —

  —

  1,467

  —

  —

  Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)

  —

  1,522

  2,189

  —

  —

  Evening Gazette (Teeside)

  —

  —

  1,465

  —

  —

  Evening Herald (Plymouth)

  —

  —

  1,159

  —

  —

  Evening Leader (Wrexham/Deeside)

  —

  —

  815

  —

  —

  Evening News (Worcester/Hereford)

  —

  633

  —

  —

  —

  Evening Standard

  —

  5,000

  8,800

  22,700

  —

  Evening Star (Ipswich)

  —

  576

  —

  —

  —

  Express and Star W Midlands/Shropshire Star

  —

  920

  5,576

  —

  —

  Federation Focus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  176

  Financial Times

  15,200

  —

  —

  1,770

  —

  Fire

  —

  995

  1,946

  2,043

  —

  Folkstone Herald/Dover Express

  —

  —

  635

  —

  —

  Gazette (South Shields)

  —

  —

  787

  —

  —

  General Practitioner

  —

  —

  4,447

  2,329

  —

  Glasgow Evening Times

  —

  1,987

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucester Citizen

  —

  436

  895

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire Echo

  —

  —

  885

  —

  —

  Governors News

  —

  —

  —

  —

  418

  Guardian

  36,600

  15,398

  8,664

  15,369

  —

  Hamilton Advertiser

  —

  869

  —

  —

  —

  Health Service Journal

  2,046

  1,739

  4,067

  3,357

  —

  Herald Glasgow

  2,850

  5,262

  3,591

  —

  —

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  —

  —

  613

  —

  —

  Hinckley Times

  —

  —

  555

  —

  —

  Housing Associations Weekly

  —

  —

  —

  —

  407

  In Attendance

  —

  —

  357

  —

  —

  Independent

  26,250

  11,148

  7,068

  435

  —

  Independent on Sunday

  10,189

  —

  3,648

  450

  —

  Irish News

  —

  1,050

  1,143

  —

  —

  Inside Housing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  473

  Journal (Newcastle)

  —

  —

  1,499

  —

  —

  Junior Education

  —

  —

  900

  1,980

  —

  Kent Messenger

  —

  —

  2,408

  —

  —

  Kent Today

  —

  1,254

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire Evening Post

  —

  1,056

  —

  —

  —

  Leek Post and Times

  —

  —

  371

  —

  —

  Leicester Herald and Post

  —

  —

  715

  —

  —

  Leicester Link

  —

  —

  2,528

  —

  —

  Leicester Mail series

  —

  —

  3,006

  —

  —

  Leicester Mercury

  —

  1,480

  5,687

  —

  —

  Liverpool Echo

  —

  1,756

  —

  —

  —

  Local Government Chronicle

  —

  1,772

  3,389

  2,912

  1,482

  Londonderry Sentinel

  —

  414

  —

  —

  —

  128 129

  Cabinet Office

  £

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Loughborough Echo

  —

  —

  1,189

  —

  —

  Loughborough Herald and Post

  —

  —

  818

  —

  —

  Luton and Dunstable Herald and Post

  —

  600

  —

  —

  —

  Lynn News

  —

  —

  1,252

  —

  —

  Mail on Sunday

  20,500

  7,020

  28,500

  2,100

  —

  Managing Schools Today

  —

  —

  —

  —

  266

  Manchester Evening News

  —

  —

  6,344

  —

  —

  Market Harborough Mail

  —

  —

  719

  —

  —

  Marketing

  —

  —

  —

  720

  —

  Melton Times

  —

  —

  1,515

  —

  —

  Municipal Journal

  —

  1,580

  2,244

  2,541

  —

  Museums Journal

  —

  —

  —

  741

  —

  News Letter—Ulster

  1,088

  1,684

  2,715

  —

  —

  News of the World

  10,000

  34,280

  10,500

  3,750

  —

  Nottingham Evening Post

  —

  2,342

  1,258

  —

  —

  Nursing Times

  —

  —

  2,236

  2,346

  —

  Observer

  11,600

  1,906

  4,788

  630

  —

  On the Bell

  —

  —

  357

  —

  —

  P S Magazine

  —

  —

  476

  —

  —

  The People

  5,500

  11,200

  5,400

  2,079

  —

  Peterborough Evening Telegraph

  —

  625

  —

  —

  —

  Police Review

  476

  1,032

  1,620

  1,440

  —

  Portsmouth—The News

  —

  —

  1,862

  —

  —

  Practice Manager

  —

  —

  424

  424

  —

  Prison Service News

  —

  —

  1,604

  —

  —

  Private Education

  —

  —

  —

  371

  Public Sector Commercial Management

  —

  971

  —

  —

  —

  Public Service and Local Government News

  —

  953

  —

  —

  —

  Rail News

  —

  —

  1,747

  —

  —

  Rutland and Stamford Mercury

  —

  —

  1,087

  —

  —

  South Wales Evening Post

  910

  1,058

  1,333

  —

  —

  Salisbury Journal

  —

  451

  —

  —

  —

  Scarborough Evening News

  —

  481

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland On Sunday

  1,903

  451

  —

  —

  —

  Scotsman (Edinburgh)

  5,469

  4,371

  3,163

  430

  —

  Solihull News Series

  —

  265

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset County Gazette

  —

  552

  —

  —

  —

  South Wales Argus

  738

  638

  944

  —

  —

  South Wales Echo

  1,574

  3,412

  1,764

  —

  —

  Southern Evening Echo

  —

  —

  1,815

  —

  —

  Southern Reporter

  —

  773

  —

  —

  —

  Stafford Newsletter

  —

  —

  1,059

  —

  —

  Staines Informer

  —

  —

  929

  —

  —

  Sun

  73,800

  30,000

  32,250

  92,950

  —

  Sunday Express

  13,000

  27,470

  27,500

  1,740

  —

  Sunday Life (Belfast)

  856

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sunday Mail (Glasgow)

  2,000

  —

  2,500

  —

  —

  Sunday Mirror

  7,600

  35,300

  7,800

  —

  —

  Sunday News

  700

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sunday Post

  8,329

  —

  7,200

  —

  —

  Sunday Telegraph

  18,446

  4,590

  28,202

  —

  —

  Sunday Times

  39,370

  29,200

  39,294

  2,484

  —

  Sunday World (Northern Ireland)

  1,152

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey Advertiser Group

  —

  —

  1,165

  —

  —

  Teacher

  —

  —

  —

  —

  858

  Tempo

  —

  —

  953

  2,171

  —

  This Caring Business

  —

  —

  1,791

  —

  —

  Times

  22,556

  9,790

  9,940

  18,804

  6,000

  Times Educational Supplement

  2,162

  8,200

  5,057

  5,018

  546

  Times Higher Educational Supplement

  4,324

  —

  2,146

  3,097

  461

  Today

  3,150

  2,899

  5,450

  480

  —

  Training and Enterprise Journal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  445

  Transport Journal

  —

  856

  847

  —

  —

  TV Times

  900

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tyrone Constitution

  —

  370

  —

  —

  —

  Viewpoint

  —

  —

  397

  —

  —

  Voluntary Housing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  407

  Wales on Sunday

  132

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Water and Waste Treatment

  —

  970

  —

  —

  —

  130 131

  Cabinet Office

  £

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Water Bulletin

  —

  1,690

  847

  —

  —

  Welwyn and Hatfield Times

  —

  —

  2,753

  —

  —

  West Briton

  —

  520

  —

  —

  —

  Western Mail

  249

  1,550

  —

  304

  –

  Western Morning News

  —

  760

  —

  —

  —

  West Lancashire Evening Gazette

  —

  —

  1,498

  —

  —

  Western Mail

  —

  —

  2,223

  —

  —

  Wrexham Leader (Weekly)

  63

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yorkshire Post

  —

  1,510

  —

  —

  —

  641,769

  368,961

  507,602

  318,990

  24,931

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  HMSO (a)

  556,000

  645,000

  1,705,000

  1,905,000

  2,500,000

  1. The figures for the Cabinet Office excludes expenditure by the Office of the Prime Minister, which was the subject of a separate Answer by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  2. Cabinet Office expenditure is virtually all on the Citizen's Charter.

  3. Expenditure by title excludes agency or COI costs.

  4. There has been no expenditure on newspaper advertising by the Department's agencies, other than for the purposes of recruitment.

  5. 1995–96 figures are actual expenditure to end-November.

  6. Estimates for 1995–96 are not available. Newspaper advertising is treated for budgeting purposes as part of advertising in all its forms.

  7. HMSO figures are based on its year of accounting, which is January to December, and encompass all forms of advertising including newspaper advertising. The advertising is used to promote sales of HMSO books, and other products and services. Much of this is placed in trade journals, but more general periodicals and newspapers are also used.

  8. The Cabinet Office does not have any NDPBs.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if Government Departments may sell spare information technology capacities to other Departments; and if he will make a statement. [10680]

  Mr. Willetts
  Computer systems need to be installed with sufficient capacity to meet peak work loads and, as a consequence, Departments may have spare processing capacity outside these peak periods.

  Departments are encouraged to make the most efficient and effective use of their information technology resources. Where economic quantities of spare computing capacity can be identified, this may be sold to other Department so long as the normal technical, security and financial controls are met.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) 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; [10957]

  (2) 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. [10958]

  Mr. Willetts
  As yet, nil.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the mobile phones which have 132
  been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11009]

  Mr. Willetts
  In the Cabinet Office the following phones were cloned:

  Four telephones in January 1994;

  One telephone in October 1995 and,

  One telephone in June 1995.

  None of the mobile phones purchased by the Central Office of Information in the last eight years has been cloned.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office does not hold this information centrally and it could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Historic Monuments
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the outcome of the prior options stage of the financial management and policy review of the Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England; and if she will make a statement. [11819]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The overall conclusion of the prior options report was that maintaining the central functions of the royal commission is a necessary national task, and that the RCHME is best placed to carry out this work. I have accepted this recommendation and confirm that the RCHME will continue to carry out its role as the national body of survey and record of the historic environment, as defined in its royal warrant. A copy of the prior options report has been placed in the Library of the House.
  133
  The report also looked at the relationship between the RCHME and other heritage bodies working in the field and recommended that there was scope for greater co-operation between RCHME and English Heritage, and for a further clarification of their respective roles with regard to survey work. Discussions are taking place between the two bodies to give effect to these recommendations.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Furniture Inventory
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what progress has been made with compiling a comprehensive inventory of the furniture in the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement. [10839]

  Mr. Ray Powell
  The inventory of historic furniture was completed in late 1995. More than 7,500 pieces were identified on the parliamentary estate. These were numbered and photographed and the descriptions recorded on a computer database. The inventory is currently being edited and will provide an important tool for the management and conservation of these valuable assets.

TREASURY

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on official hospitality by agencies associated with his Department in 1993–94, 1994–95 and projected for 1995–96. [9089]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Expenditure by agencies associated with Her Majesty's Treasury on official hospitality is included in the running costs published for each agency.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 636, on hospitality spending by his Department in 1994–95 and 1995–96, if the figures included spending by his Department's agencies. [9090]

  Mrs. Knight
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: No. The figures were for the central Treasury only.

  Steam-powered Vehicles
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many steam-powered road vehicles over 25 years old were liable for road tax in the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and the first six months of the financial year 1995–96. [10627]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There were 340 steam-propelled vehicles over 25 years old liable for road tax at the end of 1994, the only year for which figures are currently available.

  Mr. Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was raised from road tax sources on steam-powered vehicles over 25 years old in the 134
  financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and the first six months of the financial year 1995–96. [10625]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Figures are currently available only for calendar year 1994. Total revenue raised in 1994 for steam-powered vehicles over 25 years old was £15,000.

  Regional Agents
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the cities in which regional agents who monitor the economy for the Bank of England are based in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [10429]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Bank has regional agents in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Winchester. There is additionally an agent in London, covering the south-east. In Scotland there is an agent in Glasgow. There is no agent in Wales. The Bank is currently reviewing its agencies, with a view to enhancing their coverage and profile in the regions.

  Part-time Employment
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of part-time employment posts in the north-west region in each of the past three years. [10302]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Part-time employees—north-west: September

  Year

  Level

  1993

  634,000

  1994

  634,000

  1995

  648,000

  Source:

  CSO.

  Cash Machines
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the banking industry over the introduction of vein scanning in cash machines. [10630]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  None, although from time to time my officials discuss with the industry ways of reducing fraud.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 1995,Official Report, column 527, who provided external legal advice to his Department's Ministers in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10875]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The names of individuals receiving external legal advice at public expense, and of their legal advisers, are confidential to them.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in relation to the Scott
  135
  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. [10991]

  Mr. Clarke
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in relation to the Scott inquiry have had no discussions with persons employed by or working as consultants for Conservative central office.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the responsibilities of the staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10990]

  Mr. Clarke
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The responsibilities of staff in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry are to provide Ministers and officials with advice on matters arising from the inquiry, and to liaise with the inquiry.

  Biodiesel
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to encourage the production of biodiesel fuel; and if he will make a statement. [11091]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have no such plans. The environmental case for biodiesel has not been established, although the Government continue to fund research in this area.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 528, on the postponement of the introduction of private loans, when he plans to conclude his consideration. [10983]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: In due course.

  Eurotunnel
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations the Government have received from Eurotunnel in relation to its debt; what requests were contained in those representations; and what response he has made. [10980]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Government have received representations from Eurotunnel on a number of issues, including the company's current financial difficulties.

  It has been made clear to the company that any financial restructuring of Eurotunnel is a matter for the company to resolve in discussion with its bankers, and without Government intervention. From the start, it was always envisaged that the channel tunnel would be an entirely private sector project and that the concessionaries would have no recourse to Government funds or guarantees of a commercial nature. That remains the position.

  Mobile phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the mobile phones which have 136
  been supplied to his Department in each of the last five years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11012]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  A total of three mobile phones have been cloned during the last five years. Two of these have been cloned three times and the other once. The dates are:

  (1) 15–17 November 1994, 21–22 April 1995 and 4–6 May 1995.

  (2) 11–12 March 1995, 21 April 1995 and 17–18 September 1995.

  (3) 24–26 October 1995.

  Income Tax Relief
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the full year yield of restricting income tax relief available at the 40 per cent. marginal rate to(a) £2,000, (b) £3,000, (c) £4,000, (d) £6,000 and (e) £8,000 (i) including and (ii) excluding profit-related pay giving in each case the number of people affected. [11003]

  Mr. Jack
  Available information was given in my answer to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 17 January 1996,Official Report, column 607.

DEFENCE

  Royal Squadron
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 8 December 1995 aircraft of the Royal Squadron were used by members of the royal family for private travel; and if he will list in each case the point of departure of the aircraft and the destination, the sum which was reimbursed and the members of the royal family involved. [10649]

  Mr. Soames
  Since 8 December 1995 there have been two occasions when aircraft of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron have been used by members of the royal family for private travel. The details of these flights, including the sums to be reimbursed to the Ministry of Defence by the royal households, are as follows:

  Departure Point

  Destination

  Charge £

  Members of royal family

  Her Majesty The Queen

  HRH The Duke of

  Blackpool

  London

  1,186.67

  Edinburgh

  HRH The Prince of

  Wales

  Prince William

  Mildenhall

  Zurich

  1,584.00

  Prince Henry

  Mr. David Hart
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set those qualifications held by Mr. David Hart which led to his employment as a special adviser. [11086]

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of
  137
  State for Defence Procurement on 9 January 1996, Official Report, column 3.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Mr. David Hart has an office in the Department. [11082]

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of which projects in the Department Mr. David Hart has direct control; and in which areas of work he has responsibility. [11081]

  Mr. Portillo
  None.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many meetings Mr. David Hart has had with foreign defence equipment suppliers since he was appointed; [11085]

  (2) how many meetings Mr. David Hart has had with British defence equipment suppliers since he was appointed as a special adviser. [11165]

  Mr. Portillo
  Since David Hart was appointed as an independent adviser my Department has not maintained a record of such meetings.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what interests Mr. David Hart has declared in respect of consultants(a) currently working for his Department and (b) committed to work for his Department. [11083]

  Mr. Portillo
  None.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental staff, of which grades, work directly for Mr. David Hart. [11080]

  Mr. Portillo
  None.

  Consultancy Agreements
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultancy agreements his Department has entered into for(a) the current and (b) future financial years on (i) efficiency studies, (ii) value for money studies, (iii) financial control systems and (iv) other related matters; and in each case what are the costs (1) now committed and (2) estimated to be incurred. [11084]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Budget holders throughout the Ministry of Defence have delegated authority to engage external advisers, on a paid consultancy basis or otherwise, to conduct independent reviews of aspects of the Department's work. Information on such studies is not collected centrally, or in the format required, and the details could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Marine Services
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the result of the market test of the marine services business. [10509]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The market test of the marine services business has reached the stage of final tender evaluation. The select of the successful bidder will be taken following this evaluation and will be announced as soon as possible thereafter.

  Service Women (Pregnancy)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the compensation payments made to pregnant service women dismissed between 1979 and 1990 by rank and the service in which they served. [11329]

  Mr. Soames
  Some 5,000 compensation payments averaging under £11,000 each have been made to service women discharged on pregnancy between 1978 and 1990. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member with a list of the individual payments which have been made to date, broken down by service, but details of the rank relating to each payment could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what distinction his Department makes in fitness standard requirements between service women returning to work following a period of maternity leave and female service personnel who have not been pregnant. [11326]

  Mr. Soames
  Women who return to duty following a period of maternity leave are, in common with other female personnel, normally expected to meet the level of fitness necessary to carry out their duties. However, in accordance with health and safety regulations, special considerations apply to pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, and breast-feeding mothers. It is possible, therefore, that some women returning to duty from maternity leave may be temporarily placed in a reduced medical category which necessitates their employment on restricted duties for a period of time.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the fitness requirements and testing applied to service women returning to work following a period of maternity leave; and how many such service women have failed these tests. [11324]

  Mr. Soames
  Service women returning to duty following maternity leave undergo a medical examination to confirm that they are fit to return to duty. The ability of a service woman to return to her normal duties will be assessed in the light of the medical examination. If necessary, a woman returning to work after a period of maternity leave will be temporarily placed on restricted duties. No data are available centrally in respect of the number of women who fail to meet the medical standards necessary for them to resume their normal duties.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many female service personnel gave up children for adoption in each of the years from 1978 to 1990; and what was his Department's policy towards such personnel during this period. [11327]

  Mr. Soames
  Information in respect of the numbers of women who gave up children for adoption in each of the years from 1978 to 1990 is not held centrally. During this period, pregnant service women were compulsorily discharged from the armed forces. Some women may have decided to have their child adopted prior to applying to re-enter the armed forces and any application for re-entry would have been treated in the same way as all other applications. Any decision by a serving mother to
  139
  give up her child for adoption is a private matter for the woman concerned.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service women have returned to work following a period of maternity leave in each of the years since maternity leave became available. [11325]

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Equal Treatment Directive
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has implemented article 7 of the equal treatment directive. [11328]

  Mr. Soames
  Yes.

  Industrial Tribunal Orders
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions he has failed to comply with orders from industrial tribunals within the time prescribed by the industrial tribunal. [11330]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is not held centrally, but it is my Department's practice to comply wherever possible with all such orders, once they have been received.

  Ministerial Visits (Kuwait)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last visited Kuwait; what issues were discussed; when the visit was arranged; and if he will make a statement. [11322]

  Mr. Portillo
  I had been planning to visit Kuwait for some time and was able to do so at short notice on 13 January. I discussed a range of bilateral issues, including regional security, defence co-operation and the supply of defence equipment.

  Conventionally Armed Stand-off Missile
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the desirability of a merger of British and American projects to meet a requirement for a conventionally armed stand-off missile. [11321]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  There have been discussions with several countries with a similar requirement to our own for a conventionally armed stand-off missile to assess the potential for co-operation. The outcome of these discussions will be taken into account during our assessment.

  Portland Naval Base
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department is involved in the search for ordnance within the waters of the former Portland naval base; and if he will make a statement. [11323]

  Mr. Soames
  In anticipation of the closure of the naval base on 31 March 1996. Portland harbour is being searched for the purpose of safely removing any ordnance 140
  which may exist. This is in accordance with MOD policy to clear surplus sites of ordnance before disposal. The Royal Navy is clearing the harbour floor and an area outside the harbour in areas deeper than 10 m. A MOD-approved specialist contract diving company is clearing areas inside the harbour of less than 10 m depth up to the shoreline. Only a small quantity of live but stable ordnance has been found and is being safely disposed of by Navy ordnance disposal specialists.

  Franco-German Armaments Agency
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his French and German counterparts concerning British participation in the Franco-German armaments agency. [10497]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Secretary of State met his German counterpart on 27 November 1995, and his French counterpart on 30 October 1995, on which occasions helpful discussions took place with regard to possible UK participation in the Franco-German armaments agency. Also I met my German counterpart on 18 January 1996 and had constructive discussion on this issue.

PRIME MINISTER

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made as to the number of asylum seekers who are abusing their position in the United Kingdom. [11136]

  The Prime Minister
  The level of abuse of the asylum procedures is very high. Last year only 5 per cent. of asylum applicants were granted refugee status under the 1951 United Nations convention on refugees and 79 per cent. of applicants were refused outright. The great majority of Home Office asylum decisions are upheld on appeal by independent adjudicators; last year, only 3 per cent. of such appeals were allowed. The Government are taking measures across a broad front to deter abusive asylum claims and to strengthen the procedures for determining applications.

  Opposition Policies
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made for the retention of assessments drawn up of Opposition policies in advance of general elections; and what facilities for the public inspection of these records are available. [10982]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Departments are asked from time to time, under Governments of any party, to provide factual costings of the policies of the Opposition. Such costings form part of departmental files and are not subject to any special access arrangements.

  Political Honours Scrutiny Committee
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister who are the members of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee; when they were appointed and by whom; and what is the term of their appointment. [11100]

  The Prime Minister
  The current members, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Pym, the right hon. Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos and the right hon. Lord Thomson of Monifieth, were appointed by Order in Council on 9 November 1992. They were appointed on my advice following consultations with the right hon. Members for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) and for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown). The Order in Council provides that the committee is appointed for the duration of office of the present Government.

  2001 Census
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will require the 2001 census to ascertain proficiency in(a) all indigenous languages of the United Kingdom and (b) in major European Community languages. [8783]

  The Prime Minister
  No final proposals will be made until 1998 in the light of cases made for all potential questions. However, little need has been stated for information from the census on proficiency in European Community languages and it seems unlikely that there will be a question about this. Some needs have been expressed for extensions to the questions on indigenous languages asked in Wales and Scotland in the 1991 census, and these are being considered.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will require the 2001 census to ascertain the extent of proficiency in the Welsh language in all nations of the United Kingdom. [8784]

  The Prime Minister
  The matter is under consideration. No final proposals will be made until 1998 in the light of the cases made for all potential questions.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an office in Wales to oversee the conduct of the 2001 census. [8785]

  The Prime Minister
  By statute it is the duty of the Registrar General to make the arrangements for taking the census throughout England and Wales. The Registrar General is, and will be, working closely with the Welsh Office in planning and co-ordinating the proposed 2001 census.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will require the 2001 census forms in Wales to be published in a bilingual Welsh-English form. [8786]

  The Prime Minister
  In the 1991 census in Wales, bilingual English-Welsh publicity material was distributed and the census form itself was available in Welsh as well as in English. The acceptability, effectiveness and practicability of a bilingual census form are under consideration.

  Royal Yacht Britannia
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have yet decided the future of HMY Britannia after decommissioning in 1997; whether any replacement vessel is to be acquired; and if he will make a statement. [9305]

  The Prime Minister
  A number of suggestions have been made about the future of HMY Britannia and these are being considered. The Government are also considering the question of whether to replace Britannia. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 January. [9471]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provisions of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9138]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The chief executives of the following executive agencies will respond direct to the hon. Member—Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  I am replying in relation to the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade about pre-retirement courses. The Personnel Section of the Patent Office runs such courses for staff who are about to retire and I can confirm that we will continue to provide them for our staff in the future.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question.
  I can confirm that the Radiocommunications Agency will continue to provide appropriate training to help those staff that are preparing for retirement.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about the action being taken to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses.
  The Insolvency Service currently uses the courses run by the Department of Trade and Industry's Personnel Training Services Consortium. About a year before expected retirement the individual members of staff are invited to attend a course: The Service pays for the individual and his/her partner to attend.
  The Service expects to continue the provision of such courses.
  143
  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about the provision of pre-retirement courses.
  There are no changes planned and this Agency will continue to provide pre-retirement courses.

  Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 12 January 1996:
  I have been asked to answer with respect to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist your question to the President of the Board of Trade number 9138 asking what action heads of executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies.
  The Laboratory of the Government Chemist continues to operate a policy of offering staff approaching retirement age the opportunity to attend a pre-retirement course.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  You have recently tabled a written Parliamentary Question asking what action the Department of Trade aid Industry's Executive Agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses. I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.
  Companies House initiated its own programme of pre-retirement courses in March 1990; prior to this the service was provided by the Department's Training Division. An invitation to attend the training is issued to every member of staff and their partner across all sites twelve months before they reach the age of 60. This invitation is also extended to any member of staff who takes up the option of early retirement.
  The course is a two day event. It is delivered by local external speakers who tailor their material on the financial, social and personal aspects of retirement to the needs of the course members. So far 92 staff have attended the training. We will continue to provide this service as part of our commitment to the welfare of our staff.
  This reply also takes account of your amended question.

  Telecommunications Services
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the relative levels of penetration of integrated services data network lines in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. [10425]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The OECD compiles a table representing the level of penetration of OECD lines in member countries which it amends and makes available to my Department regularly. I will arrange for a copy of the most recent survey, 1995, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people in full-time employment in the United Kingdom earn less than the minimum hourly wage rates in each country of the European Union. [10637]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information in the form requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the number of full- time employees in Great 144
  Britain earning less than the minimum hourly wage rates in those European Union countries which have a statutory national minimum wage is contained in the following table:

  National minimum hourly wage

  Number of full-time workers in Great Britain earning less than the minimum rate2

  Country

  £ Sterling equivalent1

  Millions

  Belgium

  5.46

  6.19

  France

  4.84

  4.78

  Greece

  1.82

  0.27

  Luxembourg

  5.51

  6.31

  Netherlands

  5.04

  5.24

  Portugal

  1.30

  0.15

  Spain

  2.00

  0.29

  1Market exchange rates of 17 January 1996 were used.

  2Derived from the Labour Force Survey—Summer 1995.

  Business and Innovation Centre
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many universities in the United Kingdom have participated in the development of a business and innovation centre. [10897]

  Mr. Page
  Nineteen universities in the United Kingdom have participated in the development of a business and innovation centre.

  Wylfa Power Station
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on(a) erosion and (b) other defects in fuel rod containers and tubes at the Wylfa power station on Ynys Mon since 1 January 1989. [11017]

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that, during the course of its normal regulatory inspection duties at Wylfa nuclear power station, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate was informed of the discovery in July 1990 of a small number of corroded fuel elements in one of the dry fuel stores and also of the identification in May 1993 of erosion in part of the defuelling route. Nuclear Electric has made acceptable safety cases to the NII for dealing with these occurrences and is implementing appropriate action.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) all leaks and (b) all accidents that have occurred at the Wylfa power station on Ynys Môn since 1 January 1989; and if he will make a statement. [11016]

  Mr. Eggar
  Details of all incidents at Nuclear Electric plc's Wylfa nuclear power station are recorded in site logs and published in widely circulated fortnightly site newsletters. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to a question from the then Member for Sherwood on 30 April 1987, Official Report, columns 203–204.
  145
  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library copies of the safety reports prepared since 1 January 1986 concerning the Wylfa power station on Ynys Môn. [11018]

  Mr. Eggar
  A copy of the report by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate setting out the findings of its assessment of Nuclear Electric's long-term safety review of Wylfa is already available in the Library of the House. In addition, site newsletters, which cover safety issues, are published for all United Kingdom civil nuclear installations, including Wylfa. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Oil and Gas Consumption
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for(a) each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole for each of the last available five years the total consumption in quantity and in value at constant prices of (i) oil and (ii) gas, indicating the proportion of the total in each case and the overall percentage change in each component over the period. [8787]

  Mr. Page
  Data for the United Kingdom as a whole are shown in the table:

  UK Energy Consumption (1)

  Oil

  Natural gas (2)

  Quantity (thousand tonnes)

  Value (3) (£ million)

  Quantity (gigawatt hours)

  Value (3) (3 million)

  1990

  57,518

  22,505

  525,885

  7,210

  1991

  57,741

  21,845

  561,088

  7,700

  1992

  58,392

  21,256

  550,633

  7,214

  1993

  59,496

  22,631

  562,960

  6,855

  1994

  59,898

  22,808

  565,022

  7,205

  Percentage change in consumption

  1990–94

  +4.1

  +1.3

  +7.4

  -0.,1

  Notes:

  1Consumption by final users (i.e. net of fuel industry own use and conversion, transmission and distribution losses, but includes conversion losses by final users).

  2Including colliery methane.

  3Adjusted for inflation to 1990 price levels using the GDP deflator.

  Source:

  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 1995, Tables 5,7 and 27 (HMSO).

  Comprehensive information on a comparable basis for the constituent nations of the United Kingdom is not available.

  ROM-Data Corporation
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those employees in the Department of Trade and Industry south-west regional office who took part in the assessment of the regional selective assistance grant made to the ROM-Data Corporation in 1991 who subsequently(a) acted as directors and (b) were employed in a different capacity by ROM-Data Corporation. [8925]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: I expect to be able to make a report about the findings before long.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [10993]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: None.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the responsibilities of the staff employed in his Department in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10992]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The responsibilities of staff in the Department of Trade and Industry employed on matters related to the inquiry are to provide Ministers and officials with advice on matters arising from the inquiry, and to liaise with the inquiry.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total cost of salaries since 1992 paid to persons in his Department employed on a part-time or full-time basis in any connection in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10222]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: The direct salary cost of officials within DTI wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry since 1992 is approximately £303,000. Other officials will inevitably be involved from time to time; their direct salary cost is unquantifiable.

  The direct salary cost since 1992 of Sir Richard Scott's inquiry team, which also falls to my Department, is approximately £718,000.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Attorney-General who provided external legal advice for Ministers in the Department in relation to the Scott inquiry. [11049]

  The Attorney-General
  Information on who has sought legal advice and from whom is confidential.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  General Electric Company
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 358, about contracts awarded to GEC (a) what was bought by the Overseas Development Administration from GEC in the two contracts in 1991 and 1992 and (b) what was bought in each of the contracts supported by Overseas Development

  147
  Administration finance between GEC or its subsidiary companies and overseas clients; who the overseas client was; and how much Overseas Development Administration money was spent in connection with each of these contracts. [10271]

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:a) ODA's contracts with GEC in 1991–92
  Under the 1991 contract GEC have provided technical advisory services to the Yue Yang power station in China, including the training of Chinese engineers in the operation of coal fired power stations. The 1992 contract provided technical advisory services and equipment to the Abu Zabaal Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd in Egypt.
  b) other contracts referred to in the answer of 15 January
  The Indonesia project, working with GEC Alsthom and approved in 1995, includes the construction of one 500kV substation, the extension of another, the construction of seven 150kV substations, and the extension of four existing 150kV substations. The contract covers project management, substation design, engineering and specification of substation equipment, supply of 500kV, 150kV, and 20kV substation equipment and miscellaneous items, provision of engineering data and drawings, supply of test equipment, insurance and warranty, and the training of Indonesian personnel. The overseas client is PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, the public electricity authority. The contract's value is £44.333 million, with ODA contributing ATP support of £15.516 million plus up to £43,000 for project monitoring.
  The Chandrapur to Ramagundum high voltage direct current link project, in India was approved in 1993. ODA has agreed to finance up to £63 million of a larger contract between GEC and PowerGrid Corporation of India. Under the ODA-financed portion GEC are supplying two HVDC back-to-back convertor stations plus associated equipment and technical services. £43 million has been spent to date.
  The Hirakud project in Orissa, India was approved in 1994. Within a total ODA project allocation of £18.8 million, ODA is financing a £14.7 million contract between GEC and the Orissa state electricity board, under which GEC is supplying capital equipment and training for Indian engineers. £8.5 million has been spent to date.

  Aid Procurement
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available the recent review undertaken by his Department on aid procurement tied to the purchase of British goods and services. [10421]

  Mr. Hanley
  The review on aid procurement tied to the purchase of British goods and services was undertaken by ODA and other interested Whitehall

  Access to Work Beneficiaries by element of support by medical code letter

  Period: 6 June 1994–31 March 1995

  Medical code

  Special aids and equipment

  Adaptions to premises and equipment

  Personal reader service

  Assistance with fares to work

  Communicator Support at interview

  Support worker

  Adaptations to vehicles

  Miscellaneous support

  Total

  A

  66

  2

  —

  2

  —

  1

  1

  1

  73

  B

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  10

  C

  59

  —

  —

  7

  —

  2

  4

  —

  72

  D

  12

  1

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  18

  E

  10

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  Q1

  131

  —

  —

  6

  4

  2

  —

  2

  145

  Q2

  53

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  56

  R

  390

  12

  —

  115

  —

  4

  13

  10

  544

  S

  469

  —

  —

  14

  —

  7

  7

  15

  512

  T1

  470

  21

  —

  125

  —

  11

  25

  8

  660

  T2

  2,059

  6

  1

  92

  —

  10

  8

  26

  2,202

  Y

  3

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  148
  Departments. ODA is currently producing a summary version of the review which will be made available as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics (Manchester)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons aged(a) 16 and (b) 17 years are currently available for work in the Greater Manchester area and not in receipt of benefit. [10304]

  Mr. Forth
  There is no requirement for 16 and 17-year-olds to hold themselves available for work. No information is held on the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who are not in receipt of benefit.

  Access to Work
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the principal types of disabilities of people who have received assistance under the access to work scheme in each of the years 1994–95 and 1995–96 to date. [10129]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 19 January 1996]: Responsibilities for the subject of the question 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. Keith Bradley, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the types of disability of people who have received support through Access to Work.
  I attach a table that shows all the help provided through Access to Work from 6 June 1994 (the first day of the programme) to 31 March 1995. The table shows the elements of help and the number of people in disability categories. Some people get more than one element of help and therefore the totals do not show the total number of people supported.
  In 1994/95, 10,394 people were helped, including a number receiving help under the previous special schemes that replaced Access to Work on 6 June 1994.
  The principal types of disability of those receiving help were disabilities of the spine (around 21%); organic nervous diseases (10%); hearing difficulties (18%) and visual impairments (26%).
  I am sorry that we do not have interim figures for 1995/96. Analysis by disability type is done annually and figures will he available after the end of the operating year in March.
  I hope this is helpful.
  149

  Access to Work Beneficiaries by element of support by medical code letter

  Period: 6 June 1994–31 March 1995

  Medical code

  Special aids and equipment

  Adaptions to premises and equipment

  Personal reader service

  Assistance with fares to work

  Communicator Support at interview

  Support worker

  Adaptations to vehicles

  Miscellaneous support

  Total

  F

  714

  6

  —

  61

  1

  12

  9

  15

  818

  H

  37

  —

  —

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  41

  I

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  7

  J

  73

  4

  —

  18

  —

  3

  1

  2

  101

  K1A

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  K1B

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  K2

  43

  —

  —

  9

  —

  —

  —

  2

  54

  L

  13

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  17

  V1

  51

  —

  —

  103

  —

  11

  2

  3

  170

  V2

  864

  16

  1

  294

  —

  23

  17

  13

  1,228

  X

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  U1

  12

  —

  —

  11

  —

  6

  —

  —

  29

  U2

  8

  —

  —

  12

  —

  3

  —

  —

  23

  U3

  96

  —

  —

  126

  1

  38

  —

  8

  269

  M1

  438

  5

  —

  8

  187

  101

  —

  53

  792

  M2

  862

  10

  —

  12

  79

  95

  —

  49

  1,107

  N

  534

  10

  —

  7

  11

  25

  —

  16

  603

  O

  1,696

  9

  176

  174

  8

  42

  2

  27

  2,134

  P

  1,141

  3

  37

  149

  —

  25

  —

  27

  1,382

  Z

  409

  5

  —

  58

  —

  14

  5

  9

  500

  Total

  10,728

  111

  215

  1,423

  291

  437

  94

  290

  13,589

  Medical code letters

  A, B, C, D, E: Amputations

  F: Arthritis and rheumatism

  H: Diseases of the digestive system

  I: Diseases of the genito-urinary system

  J: Diseases of the heart and circulatory system

  K1A, K1B, K2: Diseases of the respiratory system (except TB)

  L: Diseases of the skin

  M1, M2, N: Hearing impairments

  O, P: Visual impairments

  Q1, Q2: Injuries of head, face, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, trunk

  R, S: Disabilities of the limbs

  T1, T2: Disabilities of the spine

  U1, U2, U3: Mental disabilities

  V1, V2: Organic nervous disorders

  X, Y: TB

  Z: Other disabilities.

  EU Universities (UK Students)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many United Kingdom students are currently studying at other European Union university institutions as(a) undergraduates and (b) postgraduates. [10902]

  Mr. Forth
  Information is not available in the detail requested. Figures published by the European Union show that in 1991–92—the latest year for which full information is available—nearly 9,000 United Kingdom higher education students were studying in other member states, of which over 6,500 were participating in the Erasmus and Lingua programmes. In 1994–95, there were nearly 12,000 UK students studying in other member states under the Erasmus and Lingua programmes as well as an unknown number of other UK higher education students.

  University Facilities
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many universities in the United Kingdom have established(a) a business school and (b) a science park. [10898]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected by the Government. However, I understand that there are currently 71 United Kingdom universities with business schools and 49 science parks in the UK with UK Science Park Association membership.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many universities in the United Kingdom have developed joint programmes with their local training and enterprise councils. [10894]

  Mr. Paice
  This information is not held centrally, but officials have requested Government offices to make inquiries of the training and enterprise councils in their regions and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  University Funding
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what powers she has to provide exceptional funding to universities which have particular areas of expertise. [10899]

  Mr. Forth
  Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, responsibility for determining the allocation to universities of grant funds provided by the Department for Education and Employment rests with the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The allocation to universities of grant funds relating to initial teacher training is, under the Education Act 1994, the responsibility of the Teacher Training Agency. The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has no powers to provide exceptional funding to universities which have particular areas of expertise.

  Careers Service (London)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for the careers service in Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, following the decision of the Grand Met Trust to withdraw its plans to take over the contract to run the service. [10530]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Department is discussing options with the four local authorities. The Department's priority is to ensure a high-quality careers service for the young people of the area.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many expressions of interest were received by each of the boroughs of Greenwich, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham with regard to the contract to run these authorities' careers services; and which consortiums bid for the contract. [10532]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: There were four bids submitted for the combined area of Greenwich, Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark. Bids were submitted on a commercial in confidence basis and the Department must respect the confidence of the other organisations involved.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what criteria the Grand Met Trust was given preferred bidder status in respect of the contract to run the careers service in the boroughs of Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; what experience Grand Met has had in providing a careers service; and how many people were employed by the subsidiary of Grand Met bidding to run the careers service when the Department awarded it preferred bidder status. [10531]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Grand Met Trust submitted the best bid as measured against the criteria that were published in the "Prospectus for the Provision of London Careers Services from April 1996". Grand Met Trust has not previously provided a careers service. The Department recognised that bids might come from organisations entering this area of work for the first time. The prospectus stated, therefore, that such bidders must provide clear and realistic plans for meeting our requirements before the contract began. Grand Met Trust did so. The bid was submitted by Grand Met Trust, not a subsidiary. However, the trust stated its intention to form a subsidiary company to contract with the Department if preferred bidder status was awarded.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what occasions and on what date Grand Met Trust expressed an interest in partnerships to run local authority careers services; and on what dates it notified her Department of withdrawals of interest. [10533]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Grand Met Trust submitted its bid to run the careers service in London's area 5 the boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark by the closing date of 10 April 1995. It confirmed its intention to withdraw from contract negotiations on 10 January 1996.

  Business Links
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many universities in the United Kingdom have participated in the launch of local business links initiatives. [10896]

  Mr. Page
  I have been asked to reply.

  Precise numbers are not available and could he obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, universities and other higher and further institutions have been closely involved in developing most business link partnerships.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to improve the provision by employers of national vocational qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [8788]

  Mr. Paice
  Decisions on the usage of national vocational qualifications are a matter for individuals and employers. The Government are, however, providing funds for the marketing of these qualifications. In the 1994 competitiveness White Paper, the Government announced a package of £31 million over three years to help ensure NVQs are fully up to date, rigorous and of high quality; and provide funds for their attainment in training programmes for young people and unemployed adults.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will publish for the last available two years for each of the constituent nations and standard regions of the United Kingdom and for the United Kingdom as a whole the total number of employers using national vocational qualifications to train their work force, indicating this figure as a percentage of the total number of employers in each case. [8919]

  Mr. Paice
  Estimates from the "Skill Needs in Britain" surveys show that the percentage of establishments with 25 or more employees in Great Britain offering national vocational qualifications or Scottish vocational qualifications to their employees increased from 31 per cent.—approximately 46,000—in 1994 to 40 per cent.—approximately 61,000—in 1995. The "Skill Needs of Small Firms 1994–95" survey estimated that approximately 144,000 establishments, or 13 per cent., with fewer than 25 employees offered NVQs or SVQs to their employees.

  The requested data are not available for Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom or for standard regions but data for Great Britain, Wales, Scotland, England and training, enterprise and education directorate—TEED—regions are given in the following two tables:

  Table 1: Establishments offering NVQs to their employees

  1994

  1995

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Great Britain

  46,000

  31

  61,000

  40

  Wales

  2,500

  35

  3,500

  49

  Scotland

  3,500

  26

  4,000

  29

  England

  40,000

  31

  54,000

  41

  153

  Table 1: Establishments offering NVQs to their employees

  1994

  1995

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  TEED Regions

  London

  5,000

  21

  7,000

  31

  South-East

  6,000

  31

  8,000

  41

  South-West

  4,500

  37

  6,000

  48

  Eastern

  2,500

  18

  4,000

  32

  East Midlands

  3,000

  27

  4,500

  41

  West Midlands

  6,000

  40

  7,000

  46

  North-West (Manchester)

  3,000

  38

  3,500

  43

  North-West

  3,500

  35

  5,000

  52

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  5,000

  38

  6,000

  45

  Northern

  2,000

  34

  3,000

  45

  Notes:

  Base: Establishments with 25 or more employees.

  Estimated numbers of establishments have been individually rounded to the neatest 500 or 1,000 as appropriate depending on sample size.

  Source:

  Skill Needs in Britain 1994 and 1995.

  Table 2: Small establishments offering NVQs to their employees 1994–95

  Number

  Percentage

  Great Britain

  144,000

  13

  Wales

  9,000

  16

  Scotland

  8,000

  8

  England

  128,000

  13

  TEED Regions

  London

  10,000

  5

  South-East

  29,000

  18

  South-West

  14,000

  14

  Eastern

  11,000

  10

  East Midlands

  9,000

  13

  West Midlands

  13,000

  13

  North-West (Greater Manchester)

  15,000

  24

  North-West

  8,000

  11

  Yorks and Humberside

  14,000

  14

  Northern

  5,000

  13

  Notes:

  Base: Establishments with less than 25 employees.

  Estimated numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000. Figures for Greater Manchester region should be treated with greater caution than those for other regions because they are based on only 95 interviews.

  Source:

  Skill Needs of Small Firms in Britain 1994–95.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the mobile phones which have been supplied to her Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11008]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1036.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of overpayments to unemployed claimants 154
  as a result of the industrial dispute in the Employment Service agency; and if he will make a statement. [11205]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question 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. Rhodri Morgan, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of overpayments made to unemployed claimants as a result of the current industrial dispute with the CPSA in the Employment Service.
  Details of overpayments made are collected quarterly. The next set of figures will relate to the period ending 31 March. No current information is available about changes in levels of overpayments during the period since the industrial action started.
  Overpayments can, and do, arise for a variety of reasons and it would be very difficult to identify separately overpayments which are directly attributable to the industrial action. To do this would require complex analysis and reporting arrangements additional to those presently in place. These would add to the burden on those ES people continuing to work in the affected offices and further hinder the ability of the Employment Service to maintain customer service during this period of industrial action.
  I am sorry that I am unable to provide the information you requested.

HEALTH

  Mortuaries
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mortuaries in(a) NHS trusts and (b) elsewhere had insufficient accommodation to meet demand over the Christmas period; and what plans he has to ensure adequate accommodation in the future. [9908]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. It is for individual trusts and local authorities to plan their mortuary accommodation to meet local needs.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many medical negligence cases were taken out against hospitals in the north-west region in each year since 1987–88 and in 1995–96, to date; [10560]

  (2) how many medical negligence cases were taken out against (a) hospitals in the north-west region and (b) each hospital in the region in each year since 1987–88; and if he will list (i) the solicitors' practices used by each hospital and (ii) the number of cases they undertook and at what cost for each of these years. [10640]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of North West regional health authority, for details.

  Methadone
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in methadone prescribing in south-east Northumberland since 1990; and what was the cost. [10626]
  155
  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Jackie Axelby, chief executive of Northumberland Health, for details.

  Meals on Wheels
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in ascending order the amount charged by each county council for the provision of meals on wheels. [10419]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is not available centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, which publishes information on charges for services in its "Personal Social Services Statistics, Actuals and Estimates".

  Acute Beds
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of acute beds(a) closed in 1995 and (b) opened since 1 January 1996. [10752]

  Mr. Horam
  The information available centrally provides details of the average daily number of available acute beds in each national health service trust. The latest year for which data are available is 1994–95 and this information is published annually in "Bed Availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library. Organisational changes may mean that the data for each trust may not be strictly comparable over time.

  NHS Staff (Assaults)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults occurred against NHS staff in each of the last five years. [10919]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 948.

  NHS Finance
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1141, on health authority general allocations, in what way the national weighted capitation formula differs from the York university recommendations. [10921]

  Mr. Horam
  The national weighted capitation formula does not differ from the recommendations made by York university in its report entitled "A Formula for Distributing NHS Revenues Based on Small Area Use of Hospital Beds".

  Consultants
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent female and male consultants there were in England at September 1994. [10751]
  156
  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Male and female consultants in England as at 30 September 1994—whole-time equivalents

  Number

  Male

  12,930

  Female

  2,710

  Suicide
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his policies to reduce the suicide rate. [10747]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government's "The Health of the Nation" strategy set a target of reducing the rate of suicide by 15 per cent. between 1990 and the year 2000. Figures based on estimates provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys show that the suicide rate in England fell by around 7 per cent. between 1992 and 1994. A wide range of initiatives are being pursued to this end. The key themes of our suicide prevention work are improving mental health services, increasing public awareness of mental health issues, targeting occupational and demographic groups at particular risk of suicide, and reducing access to means.

  Patient Hotels
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trusts which have opened patient hotels indicating in each case(a) the location, (b) number of beds, (c) average bed occupancy rates, (d) the revenue cost of provision per occupied bed per day, (e) the opening date and (f) and the capital cost and in each case if the funding was (i) from NHS capital, (ii) by the private finance initiative and (iii) from other sources. [11109]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. It is a matter for local management.

  Specialised Services
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made to support the purchasing of highly specialised services. [11704]

  Mr. Malone
  Following an internal review initiated by the chief medical officer into the provision of specialised services within the national health service, I have agreed that a new group be established to advise on the purchasing of specialised services. The new group is to be known as the national specialist commissioning advisory group and I have today placed in the Library the group's terms of reference and a list of its appointed members. The NSCAG will take over work currently carried out by the supra-regional services advisory group.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the Health Committee's first report, HC19, on long-term care. [11821]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have today published the Government's response to this report, copies of which are in the Library.
  157
  We welcomed the report's recognition of the priority we are attaching to implementation of our guidance on national health service responsibilities for continuing health care. Our response emphasises our commitment to securing, over time, significant improvements in the provision of continuing health care and much greater consistency in these services across the country.

  Residential Care
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the statutory responsibilities to the social services departments of local authorities in respect of the provision of permanent residential care for those individuals who have exhausted their savings paying for private residential care. [8802]

  Mr. Bowis
  Since April 1993 local authorities have had a responsibility to arrange accommodation in residential care and nursing homes for elderly people who, for whatever reason, are assessed as needing such care but are unable to meet the cost.

  Elderly people who entered independent sector homes before April 1993 will have preserved rights to the higher rates of income support and are the statutory responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security. If they face eviction from a residential care home, local social service authorities have powers to make alternative arrangements.

  Regulations and guidance were issued to local authorities and health authorities in March 1993 detailing their powers to help people who were resident in independent sector residential care and nursing homes on 31 March 1993 and who have preserved rights to the higher levels of income support. Copies of circular LAC(93)6 are available in the Library.

  Total weekly death registrations of those age 60 and over by health region of residence, November and December 1995

  Weekly death registrations.

  Week ending:

  Health region of residence

  3 November 1995

  10 November 1995

  17 November 1995

  24 November 1995

  1 December 1995

  8 December 1995

  15 December 1995

  22 December 1995

  29 December 1995

  Northern

  561

  545

  579

  614

  592

  575

  624

  739

  673

  Yorkshire

  682

  717

  688

  742

  783

  806

  821

  896

  907

  Trent

  841

  896

  860

  948

  936

  1,030

  1,028

  1,066

  1,036

  East Anglia

  478

  504

  475

  532

  514

  542

  585

  669

  551

  North-west Thames

  442

  449

  481

  478

  503

  527

  531

  578

  467

  North-east Thames

  588

  613

  659

  682

  633

  704

  775

  767

  724

  South-east Thames

  685

  705

  762

  751

  723

  723

  920

  990

  742

  South-west Thames

  494

  547

  583

  565

  532

  635

  692

  713

  598

  Wessex

  588

  665

  692

  648

  686

  607

  692

  788

  737

  Oxford

  402

  351

  352

  423

  483

  428

  454

  524

  519

  South Western

  727

  658

  700

  711

  797

  741

  823

  928

  817

  West Midlands

  950

  984

  949

  1,123

  1,126

  1,120

  1,309

  1,236

  1,011

  Mersey

  394

  457

  456

  475

  547

  504

  582

  598

  591

  Intensive Care Beds (Yorkshire)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adult intensive care beds were available in each health area in Yorkshire in each of the last 15 years; and what was their occupancy rate. [10326]

  Mr. Horam
  Available information on the average daily number of adult intensive care beds, for 1988–89 to 1994–95, is published annually in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library. Information on bed occupancy rates is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds for children were available in each health area in Yorkshire in each of the last 15 years; and what was their occupancy rate. [10362]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. The national health service executive arranged for Sheffield children's hospital to co-ordinate the monitoring of occupancy and demand for beds at 17 paediatric intensive care units in England for the period to 31 March.

  Deaths (Winter Months)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of deaths of those aged 60 years or above, registered in each week, in each region, since the beginning of November 1995 until the most recent week. [10553]

  Mr. Horam
  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys' weekly death figures are a best estimate of the number of deaths registered over the whole of England and Wales. A regional analysis is not available for the most recent weeks. The latest available regional data are for the last week of 1995.

  The provisional numbers of deaths of those aged 60 years or over, registered in each week, in each health region of residence, from the beginning of November to the end of December 1995, are shown in the table.
  159

  Total weekly death registrations of those age 60 and over by health region of residence, November and December 1995

  Weekly death registrations.

  Week ending:

  Health region of residence

  3 November 1995

  10 November 1995

  17 November 1995

  24 November 1995

  1 December 1995

  8 December 1995

  15 December 1995

  22 December 1995

  29 December 1995

  North Western

  822

  852

  919

  916

  881

  928

  1,017

  1,089

  905

  Wales

  571

  591

  622

  648

  688

  659

  694

  779

  737

  Others1

  46

  70

  62

  80

  126

  139

  121

  197

  195

  Total

  9,271

  9,604

  9,839

  10,336

  10,550

  10,668

  11,668

  12,557

  11,210

  1Other includes deaths to non-residents of England and Wales and deaths which have not yet been coded.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have been held between his Department and local authority associations concerning the Children Act 1989 and its implementation for the need of asylum seekers' children following the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [11079]

  Mr. Bowis
  The implications of the benefit changes of asylum seekers and their children were discussed as part of a regular series of meetings between my officials and officers of the local authority associations. Discussions have continued informally. Department of Health and Department of the Environment officials are meeting the local authority associations to discuss details of a special grant which will assist local authorities with any unavoidable additional costs arising under homelessness legislation of the Children Act.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the mobile telephones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11010]

  Mr. Horam
  There have been five instances of cloning in the Department in 1995.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish details of the consortia that have been successful in private finance initiative bids. [11211]

  Mr. Horam
  The main contractors, where their details are available, who have successfully bid for private finance initiative schemes with a capital value over £1 million are shown in the table. Information on smaller schemes is not available centrally.

  List of approved private finance schemes by region—main contractors

  Scheme

  Contractor

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Royal Victoria: magnetic

  GVD Finance (Siemens

  resonance imager

  Group)

  Yorkshire RHA: clinical waste

  YWE (Yorkshire Water

  incinerator

  Enterprises)

  St. James's University Hospital:

  YCL Ltd. (Yorkshire Cogan

  combined heat and power plant

  Ltd.)

  Tees Health Authority:

  ANS Ltd. (Associated Nursing

  residential accommodation for

  Services)

  160

  List of approved private finance schemes by region—main contractors

  Scheme

  Contractor

  elderly and elderly mentally ill

  South Tyneside: pathology

  Cleveland Medical

  services

  Laboratories Ltd.

  Royal Victoria Infirmary: car

  Centreland Group/Gordon

  park

  Durham/Dent

  United Leeds Teaching

  ULTH Charitable

  Hospital: power station

  Trust/Medley

  Trent

  Leicester Mental Health: office

  Raynsway Properties Ltd.

  accommodation

  Doncaster Health Care NHS

  Motherwell Bridge Envirotec

  Trust: clinical waste incinerator

  Ltd.

  Anglia and Oxford

  North Bedfordshire Health

  Health and Care (UK) Ltd.

  Authority: residential

  accommodation for elderly

  mentally ill

  Royal Berks. and Battle: car

  Proteam (Hemdean

  park etc.

  Investments and Lovell

  Construction)

  South Buckinghamshire: new

  Healthcare Group (Taylor

  district general hospital

  Woodrow, Nexus, NWS

  Bank, Granada TFM, CODA,

  Hoare Lea and Partners,

  Waterman Partnership,

  Northcroft)

  North Thames

  Ealing Hammersmith and

  Sun Life Properties

  Hounslow: office

  accommodation

  New River Health Authority:

  Markheath PLC

  office accommodation

  Kensington Chelsea and

  Higgs and Hill

  Westminster: staff

  accommodation

  Brent and Harrow: residential

  CHS Ltd.

  accommodation elderly

  mentally ill

  Herts. Health Agency: office

  Possfund Custodian Trustees

  accommodation

  Hillingdon Health Agency:

  Hayes Cottage Nursing Home

  office accommodation

  Ltd.

  North Herts. NHS Trust:

  UCL Engineering

  pathology services

  Havering Hospital NHS Trust:

  Honeywell Control Systems

  estates services

  Ltd.

  South Thames

  South-East London

  Parks Incorporated

  Commissioning Agency and

  Lambeth, Southwark and

  Lewisham FHSA: office

  accommodation

  161

  List of approved private finance schemes by region—main contractors

  Scheme

  Contractor

  Kings Healthcare: clinical waste

  Clinical Waste Ltd.

  incinerator

  South-East Kent Health

  Dyvells

  Authority: clinical waste

  incinerator

  East Sussex Health Authority:

  ANS Ltd.

  nursing homes

  Kent and Canterbury Hospital:

  Bradford and Northern

  staff accommodation

  Housing Association

  Frimley Park Hospital: magnetic

  Lister Bestcare

  resonance imager

  Epsom General Practitioner

  EMP (Environmental and

  Fundholders: day surgery unit

  Medical Products) Ltd.

  Eastbourne Hospitals: clinical

  Clinical Waste Ltd.

  waste incinerator

  Merton Sutton and Wandsworth

  Haven Healthcare PLC

  Health Authority: residential

  accommodation for elderly

  mentally ill

  Mid Sussex (Princess Royal

  The Diagnostic Co. Ltd. (now

  Hospital): magnetic resonance

  Westminster Healthcare)

  imager

  St. Peters Hospital: housing

  Landmark Housing

  redevelopment and

  Association/Hunter and

  management

  Partners architects/Bird and

  Bird legal

  South and West

  Plymouth and Torbay Health

  South and West Water PLC

  Authority: clinical waste

  and Hull Waste Co.

  incinerator

  Royal Bournemouth and

  Whiterose Environmental

  Christchurch: clinical waste

  incinerator

  West Midlands region

  Alexandra Healthcare: clinical

  Medical Waste International

  waste incinerator

  Ltd.

  Birmingham Heartlands: car

  Transcare

  park

  Herefordshire Community

  Belmont Abbey

  Health: office accommodation

  North-West

  Oldham Hospital NHS Trust:

  White Rose Environmental

  clinical waste incinerator

  Bolton Health Authority:

  White Rose Environmental

  clinical waste incinerator

  North Manchester NHS Trust:

  Lister Bestcare

  magnetic resonance imager

  Royal Liverpool University

  Transcare Health Ltd./Team

  Hospital: car park

  Services UK Ltd.

  Aintree Hospitals: patient hotel

  St. Andrews Homes/Sedex House

  NHS Staff Salaries
  Mr Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the salary costs of employing(a) general and senior managers, (b) administrative and clerical staff and (c) nursing and midwifery staff in each year since 1989–90. [11212]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is contained in table 7.9 of "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for England," produced annually by the Department of Health, copies of which are available in the Library.
  162
  Provisional figures for 1994–95 are shown in the table.

  Hospital and Community Health Service expenditure 1995–95

  £000

  General and senior managers

  723,361

  Nurses and midwives

  6,184,015

  Administrative and clerical

  1,582,129

  Source:

  1. The annual financial returns of district and regional health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

  2. The annual financial returns of NHS trusts.

  Under-age Working
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inspections of work places have been undertaken in each year since 1979; and how many have revealed under-age working. [10774]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the need for further protection for children against illegal employment; and if he will make a statement. [11002]

  Mr. Bowis
  I consider that the current legal system for protecting children who choose to work is adequate. Enforcement of the law in this area is a matter for local authorities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Officials
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 408, (1) if he will place in the Library a list of all those of his Department's officials who have disclosed a current interest, indicating where they are based and the industry and the nature of the interest they have; [10476]

  (2) how many of his Department's officials have a current interest which they have disclosed; how many are based overseas; and how many have an interest with a business concern that is associated with the arms trade. [10475]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are unable to provide the information without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Tibet
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of China about religious freedom in Tibet and about the refusal of the Chinese authorities to recognise the Tibetan candidate for Panchen Lama; and if he will make a statement. [10424]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the situation in Tibet during his discussions with the Chinese Prime Minister, and with the Chinese Foreign Minister, during his visit to Peking earlier this month.
  163
  We regret that the Chinese Government and the Tibetan religious leaders have been unable to reach agreement on the selection of the new Panchen Lama. We will continue to urge the Chinese authorities to enter into a dialogue with the Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, without preconditions, and to ensure the adequate protection of the distinct cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious identity of the Tibetans.

  Pakistan (Murder)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest information he has received from the Pakistani authorities in respect of the investigation into the murder of Mohammed Afzal in Jaurah village, Pakistan on 4 October 1992. [10876]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Pakistani authorities have provided no further information about their inquiries into the murder of Mohammed Afzal. Since Mr. Afzal was a dual national they are not compelled to do so.

  Gulf States (Human Rights)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning abuse of human rights in(a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Bahrain, (c) Oman and (d) other Gulf states during 1995; and if he will make a statement.[11090]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have received a number of representations from various groups and individuals concerning human rights in the Gulf countries.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 1996,Official Report, column 589, who provided external legal advice for Ministers in the Department in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10924]

  Mr. Hanley
  The names of the individuals and their legal advisers are confidential to them.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the responsibilities of the staff employed in his Department in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10988]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The responsibilities of staff in the FCO 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. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [10989]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: None.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10071]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: It is the Government's policy that EC directives should not be gold plated 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.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [10059]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments. Work on this is being co-ordinated by the deregulation unit of the Cabinet Office.

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the official gifts received by Ministers in his Department in 1994–95. [10162]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January I996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 May 1995 by the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), Official Report, column 532.

  Heads of Mission (Official Uniform)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those missions where official uniforms are worn on ceremonial occasions by the head of missions. [10240]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Official uniforms are worn on ceremonial occasions by the heads of mission in:
  Bangkok, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brussels (embassy), The Hague, Holy See, Luxembourg, Madrid, Rabat, Tokyo, Mbabane.

  Governors wear uniform on ceremonial occasions in the following territories:
  Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Montserrat, St. Helena and dependencies, Turks and Caicos Islands.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) 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

  165
  disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees; [10951]

  (2) 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. [10952]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, is fully committed to the private finance initiative and is exploring the use of private capital for projects in a number of areas, including the home and overseas estate, information technology and other technical equipment. None of these projects has yet reached the tender stage.

  Gultasab Hussain
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken on the application made in Islamabad by Gultasab Hussain—Ref. Imm/c 8645; and H.O. H366271—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [10996]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

  Civil Personnel (Costs)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 December to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond),Official Report, column 576, if he will publish the total estimated salaries and associated expenses of civil personnel in his Department located in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom for the latest available year; and if he will make a statement. [9359]

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of salaries, including national insurance and superannuation, for staff in the FCO diplomatic wing, Overseas Development Administration and executive agencies in 1994–95 was:

  £

  England

  125,223,000

  Scotland

  9,250,000

  Total

  134,473,000

  There are no staff located in Wales or Northern Ireland.

  China
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Beijing. [10356]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 22 January,Official Report, column 10.
  166
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of hon. Members who have made representations to him concerning the television programme "The Dying Rooms". [10328]

  Mr. Hanley
  Those hon. Members who have made representations to my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary have done so in confidence on behalf of constituents. It would be a breach of that confidence to provide the list requested.

  Questions have been tabled in the House by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill, (Mr. Alton), and in another place by Lord Braine of Wheatley. Early-day motion 245, tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs), also addressed this subject.

  China and Iran (Entry Clearance)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords are not allowed to enter China and Iran; and if he will make a statement. [10470]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are not aware of any bans on hon. Members entering China or Iran. We do our best to assist with the travel plans of hon. Members, but entry clearance to the People's Republic of China and to the Islamic Republic of Iran is ultimately a matter for the authorities of those countries.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of democracy in Saudi Arabia. [11019]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government of Saudi Arabia have taken significant steps in recent years to expand the consultative process. We welcome this progress.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings have been held with representatives of the Government of Saudi Arabia concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement. [11021]

  Mr. Hanley
  We and our European Union partners discuss human rights regularly with the Saudi Arabian Government.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Government of Saudi Arabia concerning the asylum request of Dr. al-Masari; and if he will make a statement. [10847]

  Mr. Hanley
  The presence and activities of Dr. al-Masari in the United Kingdom have been raised by the Saudi authorities on a number of occasions. The Saudis have been told that Her Majesty's Government disapprove of Dr. al-Masari's activities, but that he would be treated strictly in accordance with UK and international law.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the mobile telephones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11011]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 7 December 1995,Official Report, column 340. The overall incidence of cloning of phones issued to the diplomatic wing is listed:

  1988–1993 = none

  1994 October = 2 phones

  1995 January = 1 phone

  1995 February = 1 phone

  1995 March = 4 phones

  1995 April = 1 phone

  1995 May = 1 phone

  1995 June = 2 phones

  1995 July to present = none

  No mobile phones used by the aid wing have been cloned.

  World Service (Oman Transmitter)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact on the BBC World Service of using the private finance initiative in the construction of the Oman transmitter; and what proposals he has to deal with the consequences of such a proposal. [11245]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 January,Official Report, columns 560–61. The impact on the BBC World Service of successfully applying the private finance initiative would be positive and the consequences would be a matter for discussion with them. The project referred to by the hon. Member is still the subject of detailed negotiations.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the feasibility of holding free and fair elections in Sierra Leone on 26 February. [10471]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have welcomed the assurance by the new Head of State that he intends to maintain the election timetable. Provided progress is maintained, we shall continue to provide support for the democratic transition.

  Cameroon
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the accession of Cameroon to the Commonwealth. [10472]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government welcome Cameroon's entry into the Commonwealth. We look forward to Cameroon's contribution to the full range of Commonwealth activities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9145]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Responsibility for this matter is delegated to agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  ACTION TO SAFEGUARD THE PROVISION OF PRE-RETIREMENT COURSES
  You asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses. The Minister has asked me to reply to you in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  CSL has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Establishments Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Under this MOU the Ministry's Welfare Branch is required to invite CSL staff aged 58 years and over to attend pre-retirement courses at some stage during their last two years of employment. Whilst staff are encouraged to attend such courses there is no compulsion to do so. There are no proposals at present to alter these arrangements.
  In cases of Voluntary Early Retirement or Severance the Department has negotiated with consultants to provide counselling and career services and with financial advisers to provide independent advice to Agency staff. Again this is on a voluntary basis and there is no compulsion on staff to take advantage of the services offered.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on action being taken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (known as the Central Veterinary Laboratory until 30 September 1995) to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses.
  MAFF provides pre-retirement courses which staff from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency attend as appropriate, and for which the Agency repays the service provider.

  Letter from C. J. Lawson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  In my Chief Executive's absence, the Minister has asked me to reply to your question about pre-retirement courses for staff of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). This is an operational matter for which my chief executive is responsible. (9145)
  The VMD has a formal agreement with the Establishments Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the provision of personnel services. Under this agreement the Welfare branch of the Ministry is required to invite all VMD staff aged 57 or over (or otherwise if appropriate) to "Preparation for Retirement" seminars. This arrangement works well and VMD staff have benefited from the pre-retirement courses run by the Ministry. There are no proposals to change this arrangement.

  Letter form G. K. Bruce to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question about the provision of pre-retirement courses for staff within the Agency. (9145)
  PSD has a Service Level Agreement with its parent Department—the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Under this agreement the Welfare Branch of the Ministry is required to invite

  169
  all PSD staff aged 57 or over (or otherwise if appropriate) to "Preparation for Retirement" seminars. This arrangement works well and I am not aware of any proposal to change it.

  Letter from P. Needham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to you concerning your Parliamentary question (PQ384) in which you asked what action heads of his Department's Executive Agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses.(9145)
  ADAS will continue to offer pre-retirement courses as appropriate.

  Letter from J. McNeill to Mr. M. Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning pre-retirement courses has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency.(9145)
  As you may know, the Meat Hygiene Service was established on 1 April 1995. The Agency is committed to the providing staff with suitable preparation for retirement and intends to make use of MAFF's training facilities in this respect, as the need arises.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent on official hospitality by agencies associated with his Department in(a) 1993–94 and 1994–95; what is projected for 1995–96. [9167]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter is delegated to agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question concerning hospitality.[9167]
  The following amounts have been spent on official hospitality for the three years concerned:

  £

  1993–94

  Actual expenditure

  380

  1994–95

  Actual expenditure

  422

  1995–96

  Projected expenditure

  1,400

  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  EXPENDITURE ON OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY
  You asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to provide information for his executive agencies on official hospitality expenditure in each financial year since 1993/94. The Minister has asked me to reply to you in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  Total expenditure for each of the years in question is as follows:

  1993/94: £4.7K

  1994/95: £10.4K

  1995/96: £23.0K (estimated)

  The Agency was significantly enlarged in April 1994 following the merger with the MAFF Food Science Laboratories at Norwich and Aberdeen, and this is reflected in increased expenditure from 1994/95.
  170
  Letter from P. Needham to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to you concerning your Parliamentary question (PQ385) in which you asked how much was spent on official hospitality by agencies associated with his Department in (a) 1994–95 and 1994–95; and what is projected for 1995–96.
  The costs incurred by ADAS on official hospitality for each of the last two years are as follows:

  1993/94: £14,197

  1994/95: £20,086

  There is no projected figure available for 1995/96.

  Letter from J. McNeill to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning official hospitality has been passed to me to reply with regard to this Executive Agency.
  As you may know, the Meat Hygiene Service was established on 1 April, 1995. Therefore, there was no such expenditure in the year 1993/94. In 94/95, prior to the Agency's launch, £10,580 was spent on hospitality and current projections for this financial year are for a total of circa £7,000.

  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about expenditure on official hospitality by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for each year since 1993/94, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.(9167)
  Expenditure on official hospitality, which principally covers buffet lunches for industry liaison meetings and advisory groups, was as follows:

  1993/94: £1,034.63

  1994/95: £1,817.26

  It is anticipated that expenditure in 1995/96 will not exceed £1,000.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question concerning spending on official hospitality in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (known as the Central Veterinary Laboratory until 30 September 1995).(9167)
  The amounts spent on official hospitality in 1993/94 and 1994/95 were £16,720 and £12,076 respectively. I will write to you next week with projected figures for 1995/96.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 23 January 1996:
  I promised to write this week with the projected figures for spending on hospitality in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) for 1995/96.
  The VLA was established on 1 October 1995, from the merger of the existing Central Veterinary Laboratory with the Veterinary Investigation Service, which was part of the State Veterinary Service. To provide this information it was necessary to incorporate expected spending from October 1995 to March 1996 by the former VI Service.
  Full year spending on official hospitality in the Agency is projected to be £16,400.

  Intervention Beef
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his estimate of the average cost in the United Kingdom of storing 1 tonne of intervention beef for one year, including the depreciation of the value of the beef; [9468]
  171
  (2) what is his estimate of the average cost in the United Kingdom of storing 1 tonne of intervention beef for one year, excluding the depreciation of the value of the beef; [9467]

  (3) what is his estimate of the difference between the value of a tonne of beef taken into intervention in the United Kingdom, and the value of that beef upon leaving intervention after one year in intervention. [9469]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Intervention Board to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from G. Trevelyan to Dr. Gavin Strang, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions (9467, 9468 and 9469) tabled for answer on Wednesday 17 January 1996:
  "To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the average cost in the United Kingdom of storing one tonne of intervention beef for one year, excluding the depreciation of the value of the beef. (9467)
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate for the average cost in the United Kingdom of storing one tonne of intervention beef for one year, including the depreciation of the value of the beef. (9468)
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the difference between the value of a tonne of beef taken into intervention in the United Kingdom and the value of that beef upon leaving intervention after one year in intervention. (9469)"
  Intervention beef is stored in commercial cold stores. The rates paid by the Agency are determined by open competition and can vary in line with changes in the demand for cold storage. The average costs of storing intervention beef for one year, including inspection, receipt, handling and delivering out charges is about £120 per tonne (excluding VAT).
  For budgetary purposes the EC Regulations require the book value of beef taken into intervention to be depreciated on entry by 60% of its purchase price to bring it more into line with the foreseeable price at which it might subsequently be sold. Beef is purchased in the form of fresh carcasses which have a higher market value than the stored frozen product. Currently depreciation on entry would be £1,759 on a tonne of beef purchased at £2,932. Decisions are taken by the Commission at the end of each of their financial years, ending 15 October, as to whether further changes in the valuation of stocks are needed to reflect market price movements. It is not possible to predict the extent to which this may give rise to further costs in the form of depreciated stock values.
  I am sending a copy of this letter to the House of Commons Library and the Public Information Office.

  Whales
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on the under-reporting of whale species by the former Soviet Union. [10150]

  Mr. Baldry
  At the meeting of the International Whaling Commission held in Mexico in 1994 the Russian Federation gave details of the inaccurate catch reporting by the former Soviet Union. Revised historical catch data were submitted to the scientific committee at the IWC meeting in Dublin in 1995 and further revised information is expected to be submitted to the scientific committee at this year's meeting of the IWC in Aberdeen.

  Set-aside Payments
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of set-aside payments are made after the date recommended by the European Commission. [10682]

  Mr. Baldry
  So far as possible, MAFF aims to make main payments under the arable area payments scheme between 16 October and 31 December, as required by European Community regulations. This year some 83 per cent. of claims were paid in that period. I regret the delay to the remainder, which was caused by the need to validate claims to the exacting standards required under the Community rules. Payment of these claims will be made as soon as possible.

  Egg Imports
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many eggs were imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and how many of those were successfully sold as British after grading. [11213]

  Mr. Baldry
  Total imports of poultry eggs in shell-fresh, preserved or cooked, not for hatching were as follows:

  Million dozen

  1990

  57.2

  1991

  34.2

  1992

  24.8

  1993

  20.7

  1994

  32.2

  19951

  16.7

  1Year to September inclusive (provisional figure).

  No records are kept on the destination of imported eggs once they have entered the UK, but we understand that the majority go for processing into egg products. We are not aware that imported shell eggs have been passed off as British.

TRANSPORT

  National Rail Timetable
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that Railtrack should be required to continue to publish a national rail timetable. [8491]

  Mr. Watts
  It is a condition of Railtrack's network licence that it must publish, or procure the publication of, a national timetable of railway passenger services unless the Rail Regulator consents otherwise.

  Railways (Public Service Obligation Grant)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what revenue subsidy was paid through the PSO grant to each of the rail services comprising(a) Great

  173
  Western Intercity, (b) South West Trains and (c) London Tilbury and Southend in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) the last year in which British Rail was wholly responsible for these services. [8492]

  Mr. Watts
  The year 1993–94 was the last year in which support payments to British Rail were made entirely under the PSO grant provisions; in 1994–95 payments were made under both the PSO provisions and under section 52 of the Railways Act 1993. In 1993–94, InterCity services received no PSO grant. Network SouthEast—formerly responsible for the services now operated by South West Trains and London Tilbury and Southend—received no PSO grant in support of revenue, but received some £372 million of PSO grant in support of investment.

  Grant payments in 1994–95, the last year in which BR will have been wholly responsible for these services, are not comparable with those in 1993–94, because the basis for payment was changed, as a result of restructuring the railway industry. In 1994–95, Great Western received £57.5 million, South West Trains £93.7 million and London Tilbury and Southend £30.7 million. These figures included administered profits of £3 million, £3.7 million and £900,000 respectively.

  Local Authority Transport Packages
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total bid for transport packages by local authorities for the year 1996–97; how much in total has been allocated in response to these bids; and how much is represented by(a) grants and (b) loans sanctions. [8525]

  Mr. Norris
  Local authorities outside London bid a total of £685.586 million for major highway schemes, major public transport schemes and minor work in packages.

  Some £78.7 million in supplementary credit approval has been allocated towards minor works in the 53 packages that were accepted for funding in 1996–97. In addition, £115.227 million has been allocated in that year towards major schemes in areas with approved packages, of which 50 per cent. is grant and 50 per cent. credit approval.

  Traffic Signs (Environmental Impact)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if roads circular 3/95 "Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", produced by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the appraisal. [10612]

  Mr. Watts
  The policy advice in circular roads 3/95 was developed in accordance with the guidance in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment". The circular itself makes it clear that consideration of environmental factors is an on-going process in signing policy decisions. We will consider whether to publish additional material in the light of developments.
  174
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of roads circular 3/95 "Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England". [10615]

  Mr. Watts
  Arrangements for monitoring are still under discussion with other interested Government Departments, including the Department of the Enviornment.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternative courses of action from those listed in roads circular 3/95 "Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10613]

  Mr. Watts
  The purpose of the circular is to develop existing traffic signing policy and practice in an environmentally acceptable way. It empowers local authorities to take appropriate decisions in individual cases in the light of local circumstances, bearing in mind environmental and other factors.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how roads circular 3/95 "Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10614]

  Mr. Watts
  Following public consultation, the circular was modified to give greater prominence to environmental factors.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the mobile phones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11014]

  Mr. Norris
  Eleven mobile phones have been cloned as follows:

  Number

  Date

  Central Transport Group

  4

  January 1995

  1

  May 1995

  1

  November 1995

  Highways Agency

  3

  September 1995

  Driving Standards Agency

  1

  April 1995

  Coastguard Agency

  1

  April 1993

  National Rail Information System
  Mr Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations(a) franchisees already appointed and (b) potential franchisees are under (i) to participate in and (ii) to fund, a national rail information system; and if he will make a statement. [11519]

  Mr. Watts
  Existing and potential franchisees are already required to participate in a national railway information scheme. All train-operating companies on the
  175
  domestic passenger railway are members of a contractually binding scheme, administered by the Association of Train Operating Companies, which requires them, among other things, to provide the full range of information contained in the national railway timetable. The scheme ensures the continuation of the existing network of railway telephone enquiry bureaux—TEBs—sets demanding standards for improving their performance, and requires TEBs to provide impartial information to passengers. TEBs are funded by train operators under arrangements specified in the scheme.

  British Rail is examining ways of increasing the capacity of the national telephone enquiry bureaux network. It will finalise its recommendations in due course.

  Rail Users' Consultative Committees
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints were received by the rail users' consultative committees concerning quality of service in each of the past 12 months. [11520]

  Mr. Watts
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of complaints about quality of service received by the RUCCs in the first three quarters of 1995 is as follows:

  1st quarter: 2,592 complaints

  2nd quarter: 2,209 complaints

  3rd quarter: 3,322 complaints.

  Figures for the last quarter of 1995 are not currently available.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice the Department of Transport has offered to drivers of vans with regard to the wearing of seat belts; and what additional publicity on the need to wear seat belts and the value of doing so is planned. [11247]

  Mr. Norris
  Van drivers, like all drivers, are advised to wear seat belts whenever they are in their vehicles, using the legal exemptions only as far as necessary. The

  Number of emission inspections and prohibitions issued for the last three years

  1994–95

  1993–94

  1992–93

  Inspections

  Prohibitions

  Inspections

  Prohibitions

  Inspections

  Prohibitions

  HGV

  12,959

  450

  10,589

  219

  5,706

  37

  PSV

  7,292

  184

  5,165

  145

  4,647

  77

  Cars and light commercial vehicles

  70,899

  2,580

  33,103

  223

  4,759

  23

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) 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,
  176
  message is simple: seat belts save lives. We are planning a further publicity campaign for March to emphasise this fact.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest available annual figures for the number of deaths, serious injuries and slight injuries to van drivers and passengers; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of seat belts in reducing injury to van occupants; what is the current seat belt wearing rate for van drivers and passengers; and what percentage of journeys made by van is exempt from the requirement that their occupants must wear seat belts because the vehicle is engaged in local deliveries. [11248]

  Mr. Norris
  Some 53 drivers and 11 passengers were killed in light goods vehicles in 1994. Some 734 drivers and 303 passengers were seriously injured and 4,552 drivers and 1,901 passengers were slightly injured in these vehicles in that year. The proportion of these not wearing seat belts is not known. A survey in October 1995 showed that 65 per cent. of drivers and 56 per cent. of van passengers were wearing belts. We do not know, however, how many of those not wearing belts were carrying out local deliveries and therefore exempt. Clearly, seat belts play a vital role in saving drivers and passengers in vans, as in other vehicles, from death and serious injury.

  Kerbside Emission Tests
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many kerbside emission tests have been undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last three years; and how many notices have been issued to drivers as a result of these tests. [11243]

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

  Letter from R. J. Oliver to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 23 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of kerbside emission tests in each of the last years and how many notices have been issued.
  Information is not held which differentiates between checks carried out as the roadside and those done, for instance, at operators' premises. The attached table shows the total number of special checks for emissions and the total number of prohibitions issued in each of the last three years.
  The reason for the increase in prohibition rates between 1992/3 and 1994/5 is due mainly to the introduction of objective measurement of diesel smoke.

  (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees; [10972]

  (2) 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

  177
  cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10973]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Attracting private finance for infrastructure investment affects policy work throughout the Department and the related expenditure on running costs cannot be estimated in isolation.

  Departmental expenditure on external consultants engaged in work related to tendering private finance projects over the period in question is as follows:

  Expenditure (£ thousand)

  (a) 1995–96 prices

  (b) Cash terms

  (i) Legal fees

  5,950

  5,850

  (ii) Publicity costs

  50

  50

  (iii) Accountancy fees

  700

  700

  (iv) Management consultancy fees

  5,650

  5,600

  Transport Blueprint
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which individuals and organisations have responded to the consultation exercise instigated by his Department to produce a transport blueprint for the next century; if he will make the responses publicly available; and what plans he has to issue a Green Paper on these issues. [11241]

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to him on 7 November,Official Report, column 755.

  Motorway Services
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current cost of managing the freeholds of motorway service areas. [11192]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 16 January,Official Report, columns 498–99.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that motorway service stations provide(a) adequate toilet facilities 24 hours a day and (b) disabled toilet facilities. [11631]

  Mr. Watts
  The operator of any motorway service area signposted from the motorway is required to provide a range of specified facilities 24 hours a day. The requirements include sufficient free toilets to cater reasonably for the amount of traffic using the motorway and facilities for disabled people. The Highways Agency investigates any report that these facilities are not being provided and, where necessary, takes action to ensure that the position is remedied.

  Rail Privatisation, (Isle of Wight)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of the franchising of rail services on the Isle of Wight; and if he will make a statement. [11228]
  178
  Mr. Watts
  The island line has been vested as an autonomous wholly owned subsidiary of the British Railways Board and will be franchised in accordance with the franchising director's timetable in due course.

  Minibuses
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions exist to ensure that the safety of minibuses conforms to an agreed standard, with particular reference to safe seating. [11097]

  Mr. Norris
  All minibuses are subject to the general safety requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Minibuses first used on or after 1 April 1988 must comply with the seating standards laid down in schedule 6 to these regulations.

  I intend to lay regulations in February which will require minibuses used specifically for the carriage of children to be fitted with a minimum of a lap belt on a forward facing seat for each child carried.

  Technology Foresight Panel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the recommendations of the technology foresight panel on transport; if he will list the organisations involved; and what funding his Department is providing. [11317]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department welcomes the findings of the technology foresight initiative, particularly the recommendations of the transport panel. The Department's research activities already reflect a reasonable alignment with the transport panel's recommendations, and will develop taking its findings fully into account.

  The Department aims to lend support as far as possible to the panel's two infrastructure projects: the informed traveller and urban clear zones. My officials are actively pursuing, with the members of the transport panel, how these projects can best be supported.

  My Department will be announcing shortly a new LINK research programme which will reflect the technology foresight recommendations. In addition, my Department is participating with other public and private sector organisations in a project which has been submitted for support under the foresight challenge scheme—launched by my hon. Friend the Minister for Science and Technology on 25 September 1995. However, I am not yet in a position to list any organisations or the resources involved.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the result of the channel tunnel rail link competition; and if an international and domestic station will be built at Stratford as part of the channel tunnel rail link project. [10879]

  Mr. Watts
  We expect to make an announcement soon about the choice of private sector promoter for the channel tunnel rail link project. We hope to make an announcement about a station at Stratford to a similar time scale.

  Railway Freight
  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number and locations of railway freight handling facilities in and around London which(a) can handle containers and (b) are warehouses where goods carried by train can be broken down and forwarded by road. [10881]

  Mr. Watts
  This information is not held centrally.

  Lorry Drivers (EC Sight Testing Regulations)
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about new EC sight testing regulations for lorry drivers; if under these regulations moderately sighted drivers wearing glasses would be permitted to drive; and if he will make a statement. [10672]

  Mr. Norris
  In response to a public consultation on implementing the eyesight requirements of the second EC directive on driving licences, a wide range of representative bodies and individuals offered comments. The directive introduces a higher standard of vision without glasses for lorry, and bus drivers who need to wear them for driving, in that both eyes must have an uncorrected acuity equivalent to at least 3/60 on the Snellen scale, rather than, as at present, one eye only. On that basis, the overwhelming majority of moderately sighted drivers wearing glasses would continue to be able to drive.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to make driving licences issued in the Republic of South Africa directly exchangeable for licences issued by the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [10681]

  Mr. Norris
  We shall shortly be consulting on proposed changes in the law which would enable most South African driving licences to be exchanged for British ones. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, we expect these changes to come into force later this year.

  Vehicle Excise Duty Evasion
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for vehicle excise duty evasion there were in 1994 and 1995 in the Greater London area. [10833]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is as follows:1994–95
  (a) prosecutions—43,229, (b) successful convictions 40,396. 1995–96 (April-December)
  (a) prosecutions—34,190 (b) successful convictions 32,063.

  Light Rapid Transit Schemes
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget provisions exist for light rapid transit schemes in 1994–95; and what is planned for 1995–96. [11038]

  Mr. Norris
  There is no specific provision for the funding of light rapid transit schemes; these schemes are funded from the local transport capital budget, in 180
  competition with other types of local transport scheme. Some £60.2 million was allocated to light rapid transit schemes in 1994–95, and £67.7 million in 1995–96.

  Buses (North-west Region)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department has given for the greater use of buses in the North-west region. [11039]

  Mr. Norris
  In the local transport settlement for 1996–97 my Department has allocated £9 million to the Greater Manchester transport package, and a total of £1.05 million to packages in Macclesfield, Northwich, and Preston and South Ribble. All these proposals put emphasis on measures to promote the use of buses. We shall continue to fund these initiatives in future as far as resources allow.

  Mersey Docks and. Harbour Company
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the size of Her Majesty's Government's shareholding in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company; and if he will make a statement. [10332]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government hold 12,411,795 ordinary shares in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. This shareholding is one of a number of residual holdings held by the Government in privatised companies. Her Majesty's Treasury announced on 19 September 1995 that it had appointed a financial adviser in connection with proposals, in 1995–96 and 1996–97, of residual equity holdings in these privatised companies. No decision has yet been taken on the timing or method of sale of the Government's shareholding in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support Her Majesty's Government have given to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company since 1989. [10333]

  Mr. Norris
  No direct financial support has been given by the Government since the financial reconstruction of the company in 1989.

  However, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company is in receipt of grant aid from several schemes with the backing of the European regional development fund. Since 1989, some £13.3. million has been made available to the company for various infrastructure and regeneration projects.

  Railtrack (Station Sales)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it remains his policy that Railtrack should dispose of 13 independent stations; and if he will make a statement. [10310]

  Mr. Watts
  No. All stations owned by Railtrack, including the 14 major stations which it operates, will pass into the private sector with the company when it is floated in May.

  Porous Asphalt
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the use of porous asphalt for road surfacing motorways and A roads. [9904]
  181
  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase the use of porous asphalt for road surfacing motorways and 'A' roads.
  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.

  Coastguard Agency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he is considering for further efficiency cuts in the Coastguard service; [9557]

  (2) which Coastguard offices or stations are under consideration for closure. [9558]

  Mr. Norris
  No further efficiency measures for the Coastguard agency, other than those contained in the agency's published 1995–96 business plan, have been decided. The process of considering the 1996–97 budget is currently under way.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what has been the change in the number of unprocessed applications at the Driving Standards Agency over the last two years; [10491]

  (2) what has been the average waiting time for tests from the Driving Standards Agency on a monthly basis over the last two years in each region; [10493]

  (3) what assessment has he had made of the effect of the recent reduction in the number of Driving Standards Agency regional offices from 10 to five on service levels to the public; [10437]

  (4) how many people have applied for driving tests in each month of the last two years at the Driving Standards Agency; [10438]

  (5) how many driving tests have been cancelled by the Driving Standards Agency at short notice in the last year; [10556]

  (6) what have been the annual funding and staffing levels at the Driving Standards Agency since it was established; [10492]

  (7) how much compensation has been paid to people whose driving tests have been cancelled in each of the last five years. [10436]

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

  Letter from B. L. Herdan to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 23 January 1996:
  DRIVING STANDARDS AGENCY SERVICES—PQS 680, 683, 688, 696, 698, 699 AND 705
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Questions about the Driving Standards Agency's services.
  PQ Numbers 680 and 696/95/96: Numbers of applications and unprocessed applications over the last two years
  182
  We have taken the reference to unprocessed applications to mean those who have applied for but not yet received a driving test. The table at Annex A shows the monthly level of applications for tests and the numbers awaiting a test at the end of each month over the last two years.
  PQ Number 683/95/96: Average waiting times
  Annex B shows the monthly average waiting time for each region over the same period. The more recent data reflects the merging of regions into our new 5 Area structure. Wales and Western were merged first; the Eastern regions (Nottingham and Cambridge) were merged with West Midlands; North West was merged with North East and the majority of South East was merged with Metropolitan (although some south eastern centres are now managed from Birmingham and some from Cardiff). We are pursuing a number of measures to improve service levels.
  PQ Number 688/95/96: Effect of reducing regional offices
  We recognise that the reorganisation changes have resulted in a number of temporary problems. These include a backlog of postal applications, misdirected mail, and poor telephone answering performance. These have been exacerbated by extremely high demand on the telephones because of the increase in queries about the new theory test and vocational test changes.
  Additional staff together with new and more efficient telephone systems are now in place which provide much better management information. We are setting higher service standards in next year's business plan and are confident that once the transition period is over the service offered by the 5 offices will be superior to that offered previously by the ten.
  PQ Numbers 698 and 705/95/96: Short notice cancellations and compensation levels
  Annex C shows the numbers of driving tests we have had to cancel at short notice, other than when the weather was too poor to enable a test to be conducted, over the last year. The following table summarises the compensation paid to customers whose tests were cancelled at short notice:

  £

  Year

  Compensation

  1990–91

  264,665

  1991–92

  244,468

  1992–93

  186,912

  1993–94

  205,853

  1994–95

  124,435

  1995–96

  179,021

  1The figure for the current year shows the amounts paid for the nine months to 31 December 1995.

  PQ Number 699/95/96: Funding and staffing levels The Agency is a non statutory on-Vote trading body whose current expenses are not classified as public expenditure. Its full costs are recovered through fees and charges and it has been producing audited commercial style accounts since 1992–93. The following table shows the Agency's net resource costs in cash prices and the numbers of full time equivalent staff employed for the five years since the Agency was established. The figures for the current year are our latest forecasts of outturn.

  Year

  Costs £000s

  Staffing

  1990–91

  49,914

  2,105

  1991–92

  51,808

  2,192

  1992–93

  50,786

  1,898

  1993–94

  48,064

  1,805

  1994–95

  48,505

  1,789

  1995–96

  50,288

  1,811

SCOTLAND

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish a bail hostel in each sheriffdom in Scotland. [7752]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Accommodation for persons on bail is currently available in the sheriffdoms of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, Lothian and Borders, Grampian, Highlands and Islands, and Tayside, Central and Fife. There are plans to establish further provision within the sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife. There are no plans to establish a bail hostel in every sheriffdom.

  National Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the attendance figures for 1995 reported by the national museums and galleries in Scotland, broken down into the individual institutions but including their substations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1994. [9016]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The information is as follows:

  1995

  Percentage change since 1994

  National museums of Scotland

  1,114,587

  -0.5

  National galleries of Scotland

  901,783

  +2.0

  Figures for the national museums of Scotland relate to the Royal Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Antiquities, the Scottish Agricultural Museum, the Scottish United Services Museum, the Museum of Flight, the Museum of Costume and the Gasworks Museum. The national galleries of Scotland figures relate to the National Gallery of Scotland, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, National Galleries of Scotland exhibitions held in the Royal Scottish Academy and, for the first time, Duff house in Banff.

  Health Boards (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued by his Department to(a) local authorities and (b) health board and NHS trusts in Scotland on when they should enter into a competitive tendering exercise before awarding contracts for goods or services. [9850]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The Scottish Office Environment Department has issued a number of guidance circulars to local authorities on compulsory competitive tendering. In particular, circular 13/93 offers advice on the avoidance of anti-competitive behaviour. Circular 13/95 provided guidance on compulsory competitive tendering during local government reform.
  184
  Comprehensive guidance on market testing for NHS services in Scotland issued from the management executive of the NHS in Scotland to health boards and national health service trusts on 6 October 1993. This consolidated all earlier guidance which had issued since 1987 when competitive tendering was introduced in the national health service in Scotland. The guidance addresses all aspects of market testing involving non-clinical services. Separate guidance which issued in 1992 covers the circumstances in which health boards and national health service trusts are required to use contracts negotiated centrally by the supplies division of the Common Services Agency for goods, services and equipment.

  Local authorities and health boards and national health service trusts must also have regard to the EC procurement directives.

  Child Offenders
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of children made subject to a supervision requirement by a children's hearing, having been referred for a commission of an offence, reoffend within two years of the making of the order where the child remains in the community for two years after leaving a children's home or residential school. [10645]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not maintained in the form requested.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what percentage of cases referred by the police to a reporter on the grounds that a child has committed an offence are the grounds for referral accepted at a children's hearing. [10644]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Currently 30 per cent. of all cases referred to the reporter on the grounds that the child has committed an offence are subsequently referred to children's hearings. In 75 per cent. of the cases considered by hearings the grounds are accepted.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average cost of a children's hearing per case referred(a) on offence grounds and (b) on non-offence grounds; [10646]

  (2) what is the average cost per case from referral until completion of cases referred to a reporter on offence grounds including the cost to the police, the reporter's department, social services, education and the children's hearing. [10647]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Cost information is not collected in the form requested.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time taken between a referral by the police to a reporter on the grounds that a child has committed an offence and the case being dealt with by a children's hearing(a) where the grounds for referral are accepted and (b) where the grounds for referral are not accepted. [10643]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not maintained in the departments of reporters to children's panels.

  Private Prisons
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the site for the new private prison; and if he will make a statement. [10299]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No final decision about the site for the new privately financed prison has yet been made and a number of options are still under consideration. I expect that an announcement will be made in the near future.

  Residential Mobile Homes
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assess the impact of the park home owners charter and to carry out more thorough research into the use of residential mobile homes in Scotland and the effectiveness of the legislative framework governing residential mobile homes. [10418]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Research to assess the working of the park home owners charter in Scotland, England and Wales has been commissioned by the Department of the Environment from the university of Birmingham. The research findings are expected to be made available in the next few months. The need for further research into the use of residential mobile homes in Scotland will be considered in the light of these findings.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the housing revenue account capital budget borrowing consent element for each council in Scotland in 1995–96. [10716]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Local authority housing capital allocations: 1995–96—net borrowing consent housing revenue account

  HRA £ (million)

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  0.063

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  0.794

  Roxburgh

  1.484

  Tweeddale

  0.609

  Central

  Clackmannan

  0.467

  Falkirk

  4.338

  Stirling

  3.710

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  0.943

  Nithsdale

  2.782

  Stewartry

  0.181

  Wigtown

  1.177

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  2.234

  Kirkcaldy

  1.629

  North-East Fife

  0.153

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  0.577

  Banff and Buchan

  0.648

  Gordon

  2.337

  Kincardine and Deeside

  1.670

  Moray

  -1.549

  186

  Local authority housing capital allocations: 1995–96—net borrowing consent housing revenue account

  HRA £ (million)

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0.433

  Caithness

  1.082

  Inverness

  2.686

  Lochaber

  2.120

  Nairn

  0.263

  Ross and Cromarty

  2.915

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1.077

  Sutherland

  0.946

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  1.955

  Edinburgh

  19.844

  Midlothian

  2.964

  West Lothian

  0.399

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  0.754

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  0.979

  Clydebank

  3.926

  Clydesdale

  0.874

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  0.271

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  0.967

  Cunninghame

  3.611

  Dumbarton

  4.049

  East Kilbride

  0.571

  Eastwood

  0.741

  Glasgow

  60.609

  Hamilton

  0.521

  Inverclyde

  5.048

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  2.460

  Kyle and Carrick

  0.448

  Monklands

  4.350

  Motherwell

  5.886

  Renfrew

  10.066

  Strathkelvin

  2.399

  Tayside

  Angus

  0.897

  Dundee

  9.757

  Perth and Kinross

  1.225

  Island areas

  Orkney

  -0.043

  Shetland

  2.949

  Western Isles

  2.636

  Scotland

  186.882

  Crofter Building Grants and Loan Scheme
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year from 1989–90 to 1994–95 (i) how many(a) new homes and (b) improvements were provided through the crofter building grants and loan scheme and (ii) what levels of (A) grants and (B) loans were provided through the scheme. [10904]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information is set out in the table.
  187

  Number of applications approved

  Financial year

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  (a) New houses

  109

  126

  122

  148

  143

  132

  (b) Improved houses

  237

  210

  156

  179

  16

  139

  The levels of assistance available under the scheme were increased on 16th May 1990

  Levels of grant and loan assistance

  Former maximum (pre 16 May 1990 £

  Present maximum £

  New houses:

  Grant

  8,700

  11,500

  Loan

  13,500

  17,500

  Improve houses:

  Grant

  1,500

  2,000

  Loan

  8,000

  10,500

  Housing Finance
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Scottish Homes budget in 1995–96 for publication and promotion. [10714]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  It is £800,000.

  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the proposed housing revenue account capital budget borrowing consent minimum and maximum levels for each council in Scotland in 1996–97; [10719]

  (2) if he will list the resource planning assumptions for each council in Scotland for its 1996–97 housing revenue account capital budget. [10715]

  Mr. Robertson
  No decisions have been taken yet on the housing revenue account capital budget borrowing consent levels for individual councils in Scotland for 1996–97. These will depend on the final estimates of capital receipts which authorities are expected to achieve in 1996–97 which are currently the subject of consultation.

  The information on resource planning assumptions for each council in Scotland for 1996–97 is set out in the table.

  HRA resource planning assumptions

  £ million

  Authority

  lower provision1

  1996–97 Central provision

  Upper provision

  Aberdeen City

  11.1

  12.2

  13.1

  Aberdeenshire

  10.1

  10.3

  11.1

  Angus

  3.5

  4.1

  4.4

  Argyll and Bute

  2.8

  3.7

  4.0

  Clackmannan

  2.7

  3.3

  3.6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  8.6

  9.3

  10.0

  Dundee City

  12.3

  13.5

  14.5

  East Ayrshire

  6.5

  7.4

  8.0

  East Dunbartonshire

  2.3

  3.0

  3.2

  East Lothian

  4.7

  5.2

  5.6

  East Renfrewshire

  0.9

  1.9

  2.0

  Edinburgh City

  22.4

  24.1

  26.0

  Falkirk

  9.7

  10.8

  11.6

  Fife

  13.0

  13.9

  15.0

  188

  HRA resource planning assumptions

  £ million

  Authority

  lower provision1

  1996–97 Central provision

  Upper provision

  Glasgow City

  64.4

  69.6

  75.0

  Highland Region

  14.2

  14.7

  15.8

  Inverclyde

  6.4

  7.4

  8.0

  Midlothian

  3.9

  4.4

  4.7

  Moray

  3.4

  3.9

  4.2

  North Ayrshire

  6.2

  6.7

  7.2

  North Lanarkshire

  24.5

  26.7

  28.8

  Orkney

  0.5

  0.6

  0.6

  Perthshire and Kinross

  4.5

  5.2

  5.6

  Renfrewshire

  14.0

  14.4

  15.5

  Scottish Borders

  4.2

  4.9

  5.3

  Shetland

  3.1

  3.4

  3.7

  South Ayrshire

  5.0

  5.6

  6.0

  South Lanarkshire

  8.9

  10.4

  11.2

  Stirling

  5.5

  6.1

  6.6

  West Dunbartonshire

  9.0

  9.3

  10.0

  West Lothian

  5.3

  6.2

  6.7

  Western Isles

  2.4

  2.8

  3.0

  Scotland

  295.8

  325.0

  350.0

  1Represents 70 per cent forward commitment.

  Pregnant Women Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if pregnant women prisoners are handcuffed while in labour and during childbirth; and if he will make a statement; [9024]

  (2) if he will make a statement about the supervision of pregnant women prisoners; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to the Prison Service on this issue. [9025]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the questions relate to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 23 January 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your two Questions about the handcuffing and supervision of pregnant women prisoners.
  All security category A and B prisoners, including women prisoners, who are required to be taken outside the prison are subject to security precautions including the use of handcuffs. However women prisoners would not be handcuffed whilst in labour, and staff would be expected, with the approval of the prison Governor, to have regard to individual circumstances in the supervision which would apply.

  Fishing (Norwegian Territorial Waters)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 2 November,Official Report, column 461, what were the total landings of fish caught in Norwegian territorial waters by (a) United Kingdom-registered fishing vessels and (b) other

  189
  European Union fishing vessels; and what were the species of fish included in these landings in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994. [9413]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The table shows landings by UK vessels from the Norwegian exclusive economic zone by species for 1992, 1993 and 1994. Information from other member states in the same form is not available.

  Landings by UK vessels from the Norwegian exclusive economic zone

  Liveweight (tonnes)

  Species

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Bass

  0.0

  —

  —

  Blue mouths

  —

  —

  0.0

  Blue ling

  1.9

  0.2

  —

  Bream

  6.8

  —

  0.4

  Brill

  15.4

  13.3

  8.4

  Catfish

  663.7

  671.9

  528.6

  Cod

  12,351.6

  15,164.2

  18,710.5

  Conger eel

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Cuttlefish

  0.0

  0.1

  —

  Dabs, other

  8.9

  25.2

  20.5

  Dory or John dory

  —

  0.0

  —

  Dogfish, spurdog

  730.1

  304.1

  86.6

  Flounders or flukes

  —

  0.1

  —

  Gurnard and ratchet

  1.2

  2.0

  1.0

  Haddock

  7,978.8

  11,638.7

  14,939.6

  Hake

  86.1

  51.6

  41.5

  Halibut

  34.4

  24.3

  35 0

  Halibut, Greenland

  4.0

  2.2

  16.3

  Herring

  102.6

  0.2

  398.4

  Lemon soles

  571.4

  500.6

  518.2

  Ling

  458.5

  579.3

  418.4

  Mackerel

  0.5

  968.6

  0.7

  Megrims

  24.7

  17.7

  20.0

  Monks or anglers

  638.0

  727 1

  770 0

  Mullet grey

  0.1

  0.0

  0.0

  Mullet, red

  0.0

  0.0

  —

  Nephrops (Norway lobster)

  22.0

  59.9

  59.7

  Octopus

  —

  0.1

  —

  Pilchards

  —

  0.0

  —

  Plaice

  4,088.5

  4,010.2

  3,696.7

  Pollack

  566.1

  566.8

  313.1

  Queen scallops

  0.1

  —

  —

  Roundnose grenadier

  —

  0.0

  —

  Redfish

  224.5

  482.7

  123.0

  Saithe

  2,284.5

  1,444.4

  1,495.1

  Sandeels

  143.0

  —

  1,194.9

  Scallops

  2.5

  —

  0.0

  Sharks

  0.9

  0.7

  0.8

  Shrimps

  —

  10.9

  —

  Skates and rays

  29.4

  20.6

  13.1

  Soles

  10.5

  10.6

  0.5

  Tope

  0.0

  0.4

  0.0

  Torsk (tusk)

  23.9

  16.4

  28.5

  Turbot

  101.2

  103.8

  118.5

  Whiting

  2,748.2

  1,999.1

  1,483.5

  Whiting, pout

  0.0

  0.0

  —

  Witches

  177.8

  163.6

  182.7

  Mixed or other demersal

  65.5

  54.4

  58.5

  Whelks

  0.7

  5.2

  1.6

  Clams (mixed)

  —

  —

  0.0

  Crabs, cancer pagurus

  0.0

  0.0

  0.4

  Squid, loligo

  7.0

  3.3

  0.1

  Other crustaceans

  —

  0.1

  —

  190

  Landings by UK vessels from the Norwegian exclusive economic zone

  Liveweight (tonnes)

  Species

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Livers

  —

  0.6

  0.1

  Roes

  46.7

  53.1

  16.9

  Total

  34,221.7

  39,698.3

  45,301.8

  Student Grants
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many postgraduate social work students have received grants at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Scotland in each of the years 1990 to 1995. [10775]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  None. The responsibility for providing student support for Scottish domiciled students undertaking postgraduate studies in social work was transferred to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work with effect from academic year 1990–91. This enabled the council to operate a uniform UK-wide policy in its area of responsibility.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the regulations on the award of student grants in Scotland. [10777]

  Mr. Robertson
  Grants to Scottish domiciled students undertaking full-time courses of higher education are offered under the Students' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991 No. 1522), as amended. The regulations are made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under powers contained in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are to bring the criteria for award of student grants for postgraduate students in Scotland in line with the provisions for England and Wales. [10778]

  Mr. Robertson
  For subjects where awards for postgraduate study in England and Wales are subject to national criteria, the arrangements in Scotland are already broadly in line, subject to minor variations to meet Scottish circumstances. Where the award in England and Wales is at the discretion of the local education authority, arrangements can vary and alignment is not possible.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance is available to postgraduate students in Scotland; and what plans there are to extend the availability of the student loans scheme to postgraduate students. [10776]

  Mr. Robertson
  The standard rates of means-tested maintenance allowance for non-loan-bearing postgraduate courses in the academic year 1995–96 are:

  £2,690: for students living in a hall of residence or in lodgings and attending establishments outside the London area.

  £3,295: as above, but attending an establishment in the London area

  £1,965: for students living at their parents' home.

  Additional weeks' allowances are payable for attendance exceeding 30 weeks and three days. Tuition fees are also payable without means testing.
  191
  There are no plans to extend the availability of loans to postgraduate students other than those undertaking PGCE courses who already qualify, and receive the lower undergraduate maintenance rates. Unlike those at undergraduate level, postgraduate rates of maintenance grant have been uprated annually in line with inflation in recent years.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria for the award of student grants in Scotland relating to postgraduate students. [10779]

  Mr. Robertson
  To be eligible for an award a student must generally have been ordinarily resident in the British islands for at least three years preceding 31 August of the year in which the course, or continuous series of courses, starts and also be ordinarily resident in Scotland on 30 June of that year.

  Under the postgraduate students' allowances scheme, an award may be offered to an eligible student who has completed a first degree or comparable course and who then wishes to take a short, usually one-year, course of professional or vocational training. Not all postgraduate diploma courses are covered by the scheme and, outwith the fields of science and technology, engineering and teacher training, the numbers of awards available are limited by quota and eligible students compete for assistance. There are also restrictions related to previous study at postgraduate level.

  Under the Scottish studentship scheme, support is offered to a limited number of eligible students who wish to undertake postgraduate higher degree study in the arts and humanities. Applicants must hold either a first class or a very good second class honours degree. The number of applications received significantly exceeds the studentship awards available each year and the successful candidates are selected on merit by a committee of academics appointed from Scottish universities.

  These arrangements are set out more fully in the booklet "Student Grants in Scotland—A Guide to Postgraduate Allowances." I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and copies have been placed in the Library.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the mobile telephones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11006]

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

  Year

  Instances of Cloning

  Dates

  1994

  4

  1December

  02 December

  220 December

  1995

  14

  1 2January 1995

  01 May

  03 May

  206 May

  10 May

  13 May

  192

  Year

  Instances of Cloning

  Dates

  16 May

  19 May

  1June

  1September

  06 September

  14 December

  1Day unrecorded.

  2Two clonings on same date.

  There were no instances of cloning in the previous six years.

  Rural Scotland White Paper
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will invite representatives of the Scottish Crofters Union to join the Scottish National Rural Partnership to discuss his White Paper "Rural Scotland: People, Prosperity and Partnership"; and if he will make a statement. [10685]

  Mr. Kynoch
  To date, invitations to serve on the Scottish National Rural Partnership have been limited to organisations with a national remit or, in the case of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to the two bodies which, taken together, have the national remit. However, my right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider any request from the Scottish Crofters Union to join the Scottish National Rural Partnership.

  Forth Road Bridge
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on which date the capital cost of the Forth road bridge is expected to be paid off; and if he will make a statement on(a)his intentions for tolling thereafter and (b) the future allocation of toll revenues. [11517]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Forth Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1958 provides for income from bridge tolls to be used to service and repay loans, including those in respect of the capital cost of the bridge, and to pay for its operation, maintenance and repair. It also provides for tolling to continue until adequate provision is made for the latter. The capital cost of the bridge has been fully paid off.

  The tolling period was extended in 1993 to 28 May 1998 to provide for essential strengthening and other maintenance works. The Forth transport working group, comprising representatives of the Forth Road Bridge joint board, Fife and Lothian regional councils and the Scottish Office, is examining future tolling arrangements as part of a wider consideration of transport issues across the Forth. The group will report to the Secretary of State and the convenors of the regional councils in due course.

  NHS (Public Relations Officers)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public relations officers are employed by the NHS management executive in Scotland; and what was the annual expenditure by the NHS management executive for each financial year since 1987 on(a) public relations, (b) communications and (c) marketing. [11164]
  193
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no public relations officers employed by or in the NHS management executive in Scotland. A team of three whole-time equivalent information officers in the Scottish Office's information directorate reporting to a chief press officer provide advice and support to Ministers, the management executive and the remainder of the Scottish Office Department of Health on issues relating to health and to the national health service. There is no identifiable expenditure by the NHSME since 1987 which is readily attributable to(a) public relations, (b) communications and (c) marketing.

  Monofilament Nets
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the areas he has identified as unsuitable for the use of monofilament nets for(a) conservation reasons and (b) because the area is used for sports diving. [11159]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  No such areas have been identified.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses to the recent consultation on the carriage of monofilament gill nets recommended that the use of such nets should be monitored to assess their impact on marine wildlife. [11156]

  Mr. Robertson
  Five respondents made such a recommendation.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with representatives of scuba divers in relation to ending the ban on the carriage and use of monofilament nets. [11158]

  Mr. Robertson
  Since announcing the outcome of consultations on the proposed ending of the ban on large mesh monofilament gill nets, I have received representations from diving interests, whose views have been noted.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations and individuals were consulted prior to changing the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of the Carriage of Monofilament Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1986; and how many responses were(a) in favour of and (b) against changing the legislation. [11160]

  Mr. Robertson
  The following organisations and individuals were consulted on the proposed derogation to the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of the Carriage of Monofilament Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1986:

  The Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland

  The Atlantic Salmon Trust Ltd.

  The Tay Salmon Fisheries Co. Ltd.

  Fishmongers' Company

  Salmon and Trout Association (Scottish Council)

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  The Salmon and Trout Association

  The Forth Fishery Conservation Trust

  Association of Scottish District Salmon Fishery Boards

  River Tweed Commissioners

  Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland)

  Hook Towe

  Scottish Fishermen's Federation

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  194

  Mallaig and North West Fisherman's Association

  Shetland Fishermen's Association

  Forth Fishermen's Association

  Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association

  Scottish Whitefish Producers Organisation

  Herring Buyers Association

  Aberdeen Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.

  North East of Scotland Fish Producers Organisation

  Fife Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.

  Orkney Fishermen's Association

  Western Isles Fishermen's Association

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Scottish Fishermen's Organisation

  Shetland Fish Producers Organisation

  Ullapool Boat Owners' Association

  Scottish Fish Merchants's Federation

  British Boatbuilders' Association

  Fishing Co-operative

  Fish Traders' Association

  Highlands and Islands Fishermen's Association (SG)

  Eyemouth and District Fishermen's Association

  Clyde Fishermen's Association

  J and W Stuart

  A W Harkiss

  Duthie Trawlers

  Sicor International Ltd.

  Seawire Services Ltd.

  Jackson Trawls Ltd.

  Harvest Trawls

  Pisces

  Seaway Nets

  Calley Nets

  Scotnet

  T Nets

  Faithlie Trawls

  Catchmore Macduff Ltd.

  Alf Wallace Nets

  John Noble Esq.

  LHD Net Mending

  Oceansafe

  Whalsay Trawl Nets

  Nautilus Consultants

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  Skye and Lochalsh Fishermen's Association

  Shetland Fish Processors Association

  Arbroath Fishermen's Association

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  Fife Fishermen's Association

  Shetland Fish Products Ltd.

  Macduff Shipyards Limited

  Aberdeen Fish Curers and Merchants Association Ltd.

  Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link

  World Wide Fund for Nature

  Anglo-Scottish Fish Producers Organisation

  Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association Ltd.

  Loch Linnhe Fishermen's Association

  UFS Ltd.

  Grampian Seafood Project

  195

  West of Scotland Fish Producers' Organisation

  Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation

  North Irish Sea Fishermen's Federation

  Association of Sea Fisheries Committees

  Fleetwood Fish Producers Organisation

  Cornish Fish Producers Organisation

  UK Association of Fish Producers Organisation

  Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.

  UK Association of Frozen Food Producers

  Grimsby Fish Producers Organisation

  Mudeford and District Fishermen's Association

  Lowestoft Fish Procedures Organisation Ltd.

  Southern Commercial Fishermen

  South Western Fish Producers Organisation

  Fishermen's Federation of Northumberland

  Yorkshire and Anglia Fish Producers Organisation

  Ken Bell International Ltd.

  States of Guernsey SFC

  States of Jersey, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

  Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Isle of Man

  Joint Nature Conservation Committee

  English Nature

  Wildlife and Countryside Link

  Twenty-seven responses were received, of which 16 were in favour of the proposed change, five were not opposed to it but had some qualifications, and four were opposed to it in varying degrees. Two respondents offered no view.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what measures he has instigated to prevent large-mesh monofilament nets presenting a threat to marine wildlife; [11163]

  (2) what monitoring will be established to assess the impact of large-mesh monofilament nets upon marine wildlife in Scottish waters. [11157]

  Mr. Robertson
  Arrangements for monitoring the by-catch of cetaceans in fishing nets are already in place and these will be extended to any large-mesh monofilament gill nets.

  Porpoises
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures his Department is taking to meet its commitments to protect the harbour porpoises in Scottish waters(a) under the biodiversity action plan and (b) under the habitats directive. [11162]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The harbour porpoise is a protected species under relevant provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, which make provision for the implementation of Council direction 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The report of the biodiversity action 196
  plan steering group submitted to the Government in December 1995 contains a suggested action plan for the conservation of the harbour porpoise. The Government will be responding to this report in the spring.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist to provide for the public accountability of the Scottish ambulance service for its management policies and practices and to ensure that its employees are not subjected to victimisation. [11204]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The chairmen and boards of NHS trusts are accountable to the Secretary of State via the management executive of the NHS in Scotland. Each trust is responsible for managing its own industrial relations and other personnel matters.

  A copy of the policy and procedures for the resolution of differences between the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust and its employees is in the Library of the House. Disputes which cannot be resolved through this mechanism may be pursued through other appropriate channels, including industrial tribunals.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rail Privatisation
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in introducing a private element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways; and if he will make a statement. [11250]

  Mr. Moss
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 18 May 1995,Official Report, column 355. Consultants commissioned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company have, this month, presented their final report dealing with the sale of non-core businesses and opportunities for market testing and contracting out of Northern Ireland Railway's activities. The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company will now take forward the consultant's recommendations.

  Public Meeting Halls (Attacks)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the Orange halls, (b) the churches and church halls indicating the denomination, (c) the Gaelic Athletics Association premises and (d) other halls, which suffered from (i) arson and (ii) other attacks which resulted in damage in each of the last two years, indicating in each case (1) the date, (2) the location of the premises, (3) the cost of repairing the damage and (4) if compensation was paid. [11004]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at
  disproportionate cost. The Compensation Agency has been able to produce lists of claims lodged on Church properties, orange halls and GAA properties damaged giving date of incident, cause and the amount of settlement. Copies of the lists have been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee on the likely timetable for implementation of proposed amendments to part M of the Building Regulations. [10265]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Papers setting out my Department's views on a programme of work on various aspects of the building regulations, including part M, were discussed by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee at meetings in June and October last year. These papers included possible implementation dates taking into account, among other things, the time needed for consultation and analysis. Decisions on the timetable for individual items will depend on the rate of progress achieved at each stage.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many non-domestic customers in each of the water and sewerage areas pay separate bills for sewerage on the basis of the rateable value of their premises. [9943]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not held centrally.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of the total number of homeless people in England. [10754]

  Mr. Clappison
  Local authorities in England provide data to my Department about their activities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 on the quarterly PI(E) return. Summary figures based on these returns are published in a quarterly information bulletin entitled "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England". The latest bulletin was released on 11 December and gives figures up to the third quarter of 1995; a copy is in the Library.

  Housing Stock
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the total housing stock in England is derelict or uninhabitable. [10755]

  Mr. Clappison
  The 1991 English house condition survey found 7.6 per cent. of dwellings in England to be unfit for human habitation under section 604 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by schedule 9 to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Some 3 per cent. of these unfit dwellings were derelict at the time of the survey.

  Conservation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures are followed when an application for a drought order is made which could potentially damage a special protection area designated under the European birds directive. [10241]
  198
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: In England and Wales, the National Rivers Authority is notified of applications for drought orders. Under section 17 of the Water Resources Act 1991 it must, except in an emergency, consult the relevant nature conservation agency if the proposal is likely to damage the special features of a site of special interest, including all special protection areas.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures are in place to review existing abstraction licences which could be potentially damaging to(a) a special protection area designated under the European birds directive and (b) a special area of conservation designated under the habitats directive. [10243]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: In England and Wales the National Rivers Authority has a statutory duty under section 17 of the Water Resources Act 1991 to consult the nature conservation agencies before carrying out or authorising any works, operations or activities which appear to the authority to be likely to affect adversely those sites of special interest which have been notified to the authority by one of the statutory notifying authorities. All special protection areas and, in future, special areas of conservation will be notified as such sites.

  In August 1995, the NRA and English Nature signed a memorandum of understanding regarding a joint approach to river sites of special scientific interest, covering the production of a conservation strategy and consenting, licensing, protocol. This will also apply other habitats, SPAs and in due course, SACs. In addition, English Nature has agreed to provide a priority list of SPAs and SACs potentially vulnerable to certain activities, including the effect of abstraction. This will be used by the NRA in a planned programme for reviewing existing abstraction licences.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal instruments are in place which require an assessment of environmental impacts of(a) new abstraction licences, (b) variations to existing abstraction licences and (c) a drought order. [10242]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: In England and Wales, the National Rivers Authority is the competent authority for issuing or varying abstraction licences and will comment as necessary on applications for drought orders. Relevant legislation includes the Water Resources Act 1991 sections 2(2), 4, 15, 16 and 19. In some cases, development proposals including abstractions fall within the remit of the environment assessment regulations and in these instances a full environmental statement will be required.

  Where the environmental assessment regulations do not apply, the NRA requires an environmental report when it considers that the proposed abstraction would have more than a negligible impact.

  In the case of new abstractions of variations to existing abstractions which may damage the special features of a site of special interest, the NRA is required under section 17 of the Water Resources Act 1991 to consult the relevant nature conservation agency. Under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 the NRA, as a competent authority, is required to review

  199
  authorisations, including abstraction licences, which might affect the integrity of special protection areas and special areas of conservation.

  Wild Animal Imports
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what number and species of terrapins have been imported under the provisions of the convention on international trade in endangered species since 1990. [10154]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Only one species of terrapin listed in CITES has been imported into the United Kingdom since 1990. Two hundred specimens of Pelomedusa subrufra—Marsh terrapin—were imported in 1991, and 10 in 1995.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dangerous wild animals as defined by statute were imported into the United Kingdom during 1995; and how many exotic animals and reptiles were imported. [10156]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: In 1995, 2,250 live specimens of species listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, as amended, were imported into the United Kingdom.

  Total figures for the import of exotic species are not available. In 1994—the latest year for which data are available—43,495 specimens of live animals, including reptiles, listed under the convention on international trade in endangered species were imported into the UK.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many American box turtles were imported into the United Kingdom in 1995. [10155]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Six Coahuila box turtles—Terrapene coahuila—were imported into the United Kingdom in 1995.

  Recycling Projects (Local Authorities)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was made available to local authorities through supplementary credit approvals with respect to recycling projects in each year since 1991–92, and the amount which is forecast to be made available to local authorities in each of the next three years. [10351]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Provision for the recycling supplementary credit approval programme was £12 million for 1991–92, £15 million for each of the next three years, and is £16.4 million for 1995–96. Planned provision for 1996–97 is £10 million. In addition, from next year local recycling initiatives are likely to benefit from expenditure by environmental trusts established in consequence of the landfill tax as well as from increased industry funding as a consequence of the producer responsibility for packaging initiative. With regard to 1997–98 and beyond, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained in his statement on the rate support grant on 30 November 1995, Official Report, column 1338, we will shortly be consulting on the scope for bringing challenge funding more broadly to bear on local authority capital spending in future years, including SCAs for recycling. This should give greater scope for
  200
  authorities that are keen to make major investment in recycling infrastructure, alongside the growing activities of industry and voluntary groups.

  Sewerage and Water Service Bills
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact the last revaluation of rateable values of non-domestic premises for unified business rate purposes has had on bills for sewerage, drainage and water issued by sewerage undertakers in areas where sewerage and water services are provided by separate companies. [10457]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Most sewerage undertakers use the general rating valuation list as at 31 March 1990 for charging unmeasured non-domestic premises. For those few companies that use the unified business rate as a basis of charging for water, sewerage and drainage, the impact on bills would vary from customer to customer.

  Drought (Yorkshire)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish the inspector's report of the public inquiry held into the drought in Yorkshire in November. [10769]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Copies of the inspector's report are available by applying to the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside, PO Box 213, City house, New Station street, Leeds LS1 4JU.

  River Derwent Emergency Drought Order
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the environmental impact on the Lower Derwent valley of the proposed River Derwent emergency drought order. [10734]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The hearing arranged to consider the application and the objections to it was postponed at Yorkshire Water's request. When the hearing takes place, the environmental impact will be one of the issues to be considered by the inspector in preparing his report.

  Minerals Planning Guidance
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10605]

  (2) if the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in his Department's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [10603]

  (3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the final draft minerals

  201
  planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System"; [10606]

  (4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10604]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" sets out an approach whereby environmental effects can be taken into account in policy development, while recognising that this will vary from case to case depending on the complexity and significance of the impacts. Minerals planning guidance note 1, general considerations and the development plan system, sets out the Government's policy on various issues concerning planning for minerals in England, including how policies for mineral extraction can be more consistent with the principles of sustainable development. This is being revised and developed following widespread consultation on a draft. It seeks to strike a balance between the aim of ensuring a supply of minerals and the need to protect the environment and conserve minerals as far as possible.

  The final draft consultation document includes many modifications to the first draft reflecting the views expressed by environmental organisations and others. I do not intend to publish a separate environmental appraisal in addition to the draft advice already published and the final guidance when completed. The Government will monitor the effectiveness of the policy guidance through regular liaison with minerals planning authorities and other bodies and the Deparment's research programme.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if(a) the forthcoming housing discussion paper, (b) draft planning policy guidance note "Countryside and the Rural Economy", (c) the forthcoming annual review of the United Kingdom sustainable development strategy and (d) the forthcoming draft planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles" will be subject to an environmental appraisal in accordance with the guidance contained in his document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will make a statement. [10617]

  Mr. Clappison
  (a) No. The housing discussion paper is a consultation document. (b) and (d) environmental impacts are being fully considered during the revision of PPG7, "The Countryside and the Rural Economy", and PPG1, "General Policy and Principles". (c) No. "This Common Inheritance: UK annual report 1996" will not itself set new policies. I fully endorse the need for environmental impacts to be taken into account in the development of new policy.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the White Paper "Making Waste Work" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in his Department's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [10599]

  (2) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the White Paper "Making Waste Work"; [10602]
  202
  (3) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the White Paper "Making Waste Work" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10600]

  (4) how the White Paper "Making Waste Work" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10601]

  Mr. Clappison
  It would not have been appropriate to undertake an environmental appraisal, using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", in relation to the White Paper "Making Waste Work". The White Paper sets out our strategy for achieving more sustainable waste management and includes a range of waste management practices. It emphasises that the choice of a waste management method for a particular waste stream will be guided by the principle of using the best practicable environmental option which would take into account both the environmental and economic costs and benefits of different methods of waste management.

  Indeed, such an appraisal could be undertaken only on the basis of reliable statistical information which is equally true of monitoring environmental impacts. The White Paper acknowledges that much of the necessary information is not readily available or is available with insufficient precision to enable reliable estimates to be made. An important part of the waste strategy is, therefore, to ensure that better information relating to waste is available and the White Paper sets out how this will be achieved.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the forthcoming rural White Paper, annual review, will be subject to an environmental appraisal in accordance with the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", published by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the environmental appraisal. [10616]

  Mr. Clappison
  A progress report on the commitments contained within the rural White Paper, "Rural England: A Nation Committed to a Living Countryside", will be produced later this year. Environmental impacts will be taken into account in following up the commitments contained within the White Paper.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many councils will have to reduce their capital spending as a result of the new rent capping proposals. [10507]

  Mr. Clappison
  If local authorities budget sensibly, they should be able to maintain their existing revenue contributions to housing revenue account capital expenditure.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of credit approvals to fund local authority capital spending on housing in each of the last five years; what is his forecast for 1996–97 and 1997–98; and if he will express each statistic in(a) real terms and (b) as a percentage change on the previous year. [10500]
  203
  Mr. Clappison
  The figures are provided in the table.

  Year

  Local authority credit approvals (cash £ million)

  Local authority credit approvals at 1994–95 prices (£ million)

  Percentage change on the previous year (in cash terms)

  1991–92 (outturn)

  1,441

  1,572

  —

  1992–93 (outturn)

  1,194

  1,252

  -17

  1993–94 (outturn)

  1,120

  1,141

  -6

  1994–95 (outturn)

  872

  872

  -22

  1995–96 (est outturn)

  869

  846

  0

  1996–97 (plans)

  789

  747

  -9

  1997–98 (plans)

  752

  695

  -5

  These figures exclude credit approvals for the estate action scheme, which has been subsumed into the single regeneration budged; the scheme has been grant-funded since 1995–96. The supplementary credit approvals issued to provide cover for specified capital grants are also excluded.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much revenue local authorities will lose in 1996–97 following the introduction of the new housing revenue account subsidy system. [10503]

  Mr. Clappison
  Local authorities which budget within the Government's guideline rent increases will be unaffected by the new arrangements to limit rent rebate subsidy.

  Rent Capping
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation was held with local authorities with respect to the new rent capping proposals. [10502]

  Mr. Clappison
  Our proposals for the limitation of subsidy on rent rebate costs in 1996–97 were circulated for consultation to the relevant local authority associations and to all local authorities on 21 November 1995. We asked for comments by 15 December.

  Housing Benefit (Council Tenants)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council tenants in the United Kingdom currently claim housing benefit. [10504]

  Mr. Clappison
  When claiming housing revenue account subsidy, local authorities in England supply my Department with information about the number of council tenants in receipt of rent rebate. Based on these returns, there are an estimated 2,394,000 council tenants in England in receipt of housing benefit in 1995–96. My Department does not receive any information about the number of claimants in the other parts of the United Kingdom.

  Rent Increases
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the 1996–97 guideline rent increases expressed in(a) real terms and (b) as a percentage increase on the 1995–96 amount. [10505]
  204
  Mr. Clappison
  There is no real terms increase in the 1996–97 average guideline rent per dwelling compared with 1995–96. In cash terms, the increase is 2.75 per cent.

  Air Quality Assessments
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultation he has had with local authority associations as to the capacity of their members to carry out the necessary assessments of air quality to comply with part IV of the Environment Act 1995; [10772]

  (2) by what date he expects local authorities to complete assessments of air quality in their areas to comply with the air quality provisions in part IV of the Environment Act 1995. [10773]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department, together with the Scottish Office and Welsh Office, established a working group last November, with representatives of the local authority associations, to advise on implementation and operation of the local air quality duties under the Environment Act 1995. The working group is considering the timing of reviews and assessments and developing the necessary guidance for local authorities, before the commencement of the relevant sections of the Act.

  Asylum Seekers (Benefits)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the dates and attendance of all meetings between his Department and local government associations concerning the costs of implementing the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Regulations; and if he will make a statement; [11000]

  (2) what is his estimate of the costs to local government of the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [11001]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This subject was discussed at a meeting on 6 December 1995 between my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration and the Association of London Government, and with all the local authority associations at the Housing Consultative Council on 7 December. My officials will be having further discussions with the local authority associations in the near future, to help us to identify these costs and to decide what financial assistance to make available to local authorities.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the mobile phones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last four years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11015]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information available to my Department suggests that 13 mobile phones have been cloned during the past four years. The precise dates when cloning took place are not available.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what bids he has received from authorities that have been, or are to be, reorganised on 1 April 1995, 1996 or 1997 for reorganisation costs. [11068]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 923.

  Drought Orders
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment (1) how much notice water companies are required to give to the public of an application for a drought order; [10849]

  (2) what provisions govern the publicity given to an application for a drought order. [10850]

  Mr. Clappison
  Applicants for drought orders are required under schedule 8 to the Water Resources Act 1991 to serve notices on a range of specified persons and cause notice of the application to be published in one or more local newspapers and in the London Gazette.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, columns 10–11, what is the latest position in respect of drought orders (a) applied for, (b) under consideration, (c) refused, (d) agreed and (e) withdrawn, by region. [10851]

  Mr. Clappison
  The figures since August 1995 by National Rivers Authority regions are as follows:

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Northumbria and Yorkshire

  30

  2

  0

  24

  4

  North-west

  26

  2

  0

  24

  0

  South Western

  15

  5

  0

  7

  3

  Southern

  4

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Severn Trent

  3

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Thames

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Anglian

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation with other statutory or voluntary agencies is required before a water company makes applications for a drought order. [10852]

  Mr. Clappison
  The proceedings on applications for drought orders, as set out in schedule 8 to the Water Resources Act 1991, require the applicant to cause notice to be served on the National Rivers Authority and every local authority, other than county councils, and water undertaker whose area would be affected by the order. It is the Department's practice to consult both the NRA and English Nature on each application.

  Leaseholders (Estate Action)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to help leaseholders of local authorities facing bills for estate action repairs and improvements where these costs are also met by Government-funded schemes. [11822]

  Mr. Clappison
  We have today invited comments on proposals to remove this anomaly. We propose to require local authorities, and other social landlords, to reduce charges for works to the extent that these are funded by central Government—for example, under the single regeneration budget challenge fund. For schemes already in process or completed—for example, under estate action—when the measure comes into effect, we propose to permit landlords to reduce charges. I have placed in the Library a copy of our consultation paper "Leaseholders of local authorities, housing action trusts, urban development corporations, registered housing associations and other registered social landlords: proposals to reduce charges for estate repairs and improvements funded by central government." We have invited comments by the end of February, as we wish to introduce our proposals at the earliest suitable legislative opportunity. The Welsh Office will be consulting similarly in Wales.

  Hydrofluorocarbons
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the negotiation of voluntary agreements with industry on the use of hydrofluorocarbons. [11823]

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have today concluded separate voluntary agreements with the four principal users of hydrofluorocarbons—the aerosols, air conditioning and refrigeration, fire and foams industries. These are the first agreements of their kind in Europe, and reflect the Government's desire to achieve environmental objectives through voluntary action by industry, rather than regulation, wherever possible.

  The agreements recognise that in certain applications, HFCs are important alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons which are ozone-depleting substances. HFCs are, however, greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential. The agreements with the industries concerned therefore ensure that, where HFCs are used, emissions to the atmosphere are minimised; and that they are not used where emissions are unavoidable, if safe, practical and more environmentally acceptable alternatives are available.

  Under the UN framework convention on climate change, the United Kingdom is committed to returning its emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Although currently emitted in smaller quantities than some other greenhouse gases, HFCs are significant due both to their high global warming potentials and to the potential increase in their use as replacements for ozone-depleting substances. These agreements will lead to a reduction in HFC emissions and so contribute to the UK climate change programme.

  NRA (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each prosecution by the National Rivers Authority against the privatised coal companies since coal privatisation, indicating(a) the date of infringement, (b) the date of prosecution, (c) a summary of the nature of the offence and (d) any resultant conviction. [9509]

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]: No prosecutions have been brought by the National Rivers Authority against the privatised coal companies.

WALES

  Disabled Pupils
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are in place to ensure that the inaccessibility of school transport is not a restricting factor in integrating disabled children into mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement. [9248]

  Mr. Richards
  Local education authorities have responsibility for identifying and assessing children with special educational needs. They have a qualified duty to ensure that children with special educational needs are educated in mainstream schools. They also have to comply with parental preference for a maintained school, subject to it being appropriate for the child and compatible with the efficient use of resources. If LEAs identify a particular need appropriate to a child's education, which may include school transport outside the authority's normal arrangements, they have to ensure that suitable provision is made.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidance he intends to issue to health authorities and trusts about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement; [9242]

  (2) what guidance he intends to issue to local authorities about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement; [9246]

  (3) 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. [9231]

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

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to enable members of town and community councils to be represented on community health councils as of right. [9546]

  Mr. Richards
  Current legislation does not provide for town and community councils to be represented on community health councils as of right.

  Primary legislation allows for at least one half of a community health council's membership to be made up of local authority nominees: these nominees can be drawn from any organisation, including town and community councils.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many community and town councillors sit on community health councils in Wales. [9547]

  Mr. Richards
  This information is not held currently.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the community health councils in Wales. [9548]

  Mr. Richards
  This information can be found in the 1995 health services year book prepared by the Institute of Health Services Management. A copy is in the Library.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy in respect of consultation on community health council matters where town and community councils are concerned. [9549]

  Mr. Richards
  There is no central policy for consulting on community health council matters directly with town and community councils. It is for the representative local authority to consult locally with its constituent councils on CHC matters.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for community health councils with respect to the impending changes in health authority organisation. [9550]

  Mr. Richards
  An important function of the new health authorities will be to act as the major local NHS presence, keeping in touch and working with local people and organisations to develop local services at a pace and in ways that local people will accept. As one of the most effective local representatives of the patient interest, CHCs fulfil the vital role of ensuring that the new commissioners are made fully aware of the need to make services more responsive to local needs and patient views.

  A copy of briefing paper No. 4, "A Fresh Start for Community Health Councils", drafted by an NHS Wales working group will be placed in the Library. This offers a more detailed assessment of how the role of CHCs may need to develop over the coming years.

  Teachers (Retirement and Redundancy)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many teachers in each local education authority have taken early retirement(a) on grounds of ill health and (b) for other reasons in each of the last five years; and how many of those have subsequently returned to teaching; [9716]
  209
  (2) how many teachers in each local education authority have had their employment terminated by voluntary redundancy agreements in each of the last five years; and how many of these have subsequently returned to teaching. [9704]

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

  Reasons for homelessness for those households accepted as homeless in Wales, in priority need by reason of age

  Number of cases

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Reason for homelessness

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  January-March

  April-June

  Breakdown of relationship with parents

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Breakdown of relationship with relatives/friends

  14

  21

  19

  13

  17

  17

  23

  12

  12

  9

  Breakdown of relationship with spouse/cohabitee— violent

  1

  2

  6

  5

  8

  1

  2

  4

  3

  1

  Breakdown of relationship with spouse/cohabittee— non violent

  12

  7

  10

  4

  8

  6

  4

  3

  2

  5

  Action by mortgagee

  9

  11

  7

  10

  6

  10

  7

  15

  9

  6

  Sale of Owner occupied property

  5

  3

  3

  4

  6

  7

  6

  4

  6

  5

  Rent arrears,LA/HA/other Public Sector

  1

  2

  1

  3

  1

  3

  2

  2

  4

  3

  Rent arrears,private sector

  3

  0

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  2

  2

  Other reason for loss of rented accommodation

  36

  18

  19

  22

  28

  26

  22

  22

  23

  25

  Fire, flood,storm etc.

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  13

  16

  14

  15

  15

  20

  21

  15

  15

  26

  Total

  96

  80

  81

  78

  90

  91

  89

  78

  77

  82

  Source: Local authority returns.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the reasons for homelessness among those households accepted as homeless by local authorities in Wales 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. [10264]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Cardiff Bay Opera House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations, on how many occasions, and on which dates he has had with the members of the Millennium Commission on the proposed Cardiff Bay opera house. [11210]

  Mr. Hague
  I have had no such consultations. The chairman of the commission notified me, shortly before the public announcement, of the conclusions the commission had reached about the opera house application.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions consultants working for the Millennium Commission on the proposed Cardiff Bay opera house have contacted his Department. [11209]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Cancer Registration
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of Wednesday 17 January,Official Report, column 559, if he will ensure that the new management of the Cancer Registry provides up-to-date cancer registration statistics. [11214]

  Mr. Hague
  The invitation for proposals to manage the Cancer Registry issued to Velindre and the combined centres set out clear performance targets that the successful organisation will be expected to meet. These targets include a timetable by which the backlog of registrations should be cleared and a future maximum operational delay of one year for registration data.

  Red Squirrels
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his assessment of the red squirrel population over the last decade and the measures he proposes to promote re-population of red squirrels; and if he will make a statement. [8918]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The red squirrel has continued to decline throughout Wales, as it has throughout southern Britain, over the past 10 years. Remnant populations are now confined to a few large conifer forests on the mainland and on Anglesey. This decline is at least partly attributed to the continued spread of the non-native grey squirrel. The Countryside Council for Wales, in partnership with the Forestry Commission research division, Forest Enterprise and Forestry Authority are continuing to research the habitat requirements of both red and grey squirrels in Clocaenog forest, Clwyd to identify ways in which conifer plantations can be managed to promote red and minimise grey squirrel populations. The same organisations are also considering a method of enhancing red squirrel populations on Anglesey, which involves reducing grey squirrel populations.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the latest populations of 212
  wild bird species; what were the equivalent figures for 1985 and 1990; if he will indicate the estimated total and percentage change in each case; and if he will make a statement. [9023]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The most recent estimates of the populations of wild birds are presented in "The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988–91", Gibbons, Reid and Chapman, 1993. Earlier estimates were published in "The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland", Sharrock 1976. Trends in populations of wild birds are addressed in "Population trends in British Breeding Birds", Marchant et al, 1990.

  Information on how the size of wild bird populations changes over time is collected and reported annually through specially designed monitoring schemes, including the breeding birds survey, the wetland bird survey and the common birds census.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the mobile telephones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last five years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11013]

  Mr. Hague
  One, on a number of occasions during August and September 1995.

  Nurses (Training)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average amount of time nurses undergoing project 2000 training are available for national health service hospital duty as a percentage of the figure for whole-time trainee nurses in employment; and if he will make a statement. [11206]

  Mr. Hague
  Forty per cent.

  Hospitals (Emergency Admissions)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many days each acute hospital in Wales was closed to emergency medical admissions in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [11207]

  Mr. Hague
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to the health authorities and national health service acute hospital trusts on assessing the need for emergency medical admissions beds; what representations he has received in relation to the joint meeting of these trusts with their commissioning authorities on 17 January; and if he will make a statement. [11208]

  Mr. Hague
  Recognising the likely pressure on Welsh hospitals from emergency medical admissions over the Christmas and early new year period, my Department asked senior NHS managers and health care professionals to develop an action plan aimed at minimising the risk of disruption to patient services.

  An outline plan was developed before Christmas and senior managers met on 17 January to review its implementation. My officials are in regular contact with

  213
  those co-ordinating action in the NHS and are monitoring the position closely.

  I have not received any representation on this issue following the meeting on 17 January 1996.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Rearing Costs
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the relative costs of bringing up children by lone-parents and by couples. [8801]

  Mr. Burt
  There is no consistent evidence that the financial requirements of a lone-parent household in bringing up a child are different from those of a two-parent household, with the exception of a potentially greater need to pay for child care when the lone parent is in employment.

  Seasonal Workers (Benefits)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to make the eligibility rules for income support and family credit for seasonal workers fully compatible.[8803]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The eligibility rules for seasonal workers in income support and family credit are compatible with the aims of the respective benefits. Where possible, the eligibility rules for these benefits are aligned.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on the subject of the recent changes to the system of payment of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [8804]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We have received a number of representations regarding the changes which came into effect on 2 January. They were the subject of consultation with local authority associations and the Social Security Advisory Committee last year. The outcome of the SSAC consultations was published in Cm 2902 in July 1995.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has had following the announcement of the change to housing benefit rules. [8812]

  Mr. Evans
  There have been a number of representations to the Secretary of State on these changes. However, the proposals are still subject to consultation with local authority associations and the Social Security Advisory Committee. The committee's report will be published in March and my response to it will be published in a Command Paper later this year.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the estimated cost of young people leaving local authority care who will require shared accommodation as a result of changes in housing benefit for the under 25-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [8816]

  Mr. Evans
  No separate estimate has been made.214
  Under the proposed changes, young people who have been in the care of local authorities are to be treated no differently from other young people living independently.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost of housing benefit paid to homeless families living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in the last year for which figures are available. [9260]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. It is estimated that the cost of housing benefit paid to homeless families housed by local authorities as boarders, in 1994–95, was approximately £9 million.
  Notes:

  1. Homeless is defined as those families accepted as homeless by the local authority and placed in accommodation by the local authority and paying rent to the local authority.

  2. Families are defined as single people or couples with children.

  3. Bed-and-breakfast accommodation is not directly identified by departmental statistics; the estimate relates to those counted as boarders—i.e. rent includes an amount for meals.

  Source:The annual 1 per cent. sample of housing benefit cases.
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in respect of each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom and for the United Kingdom as a whole his estimate of the total cost to local authorities of administering the new rules on housing benefit introduced in January 1995; and if he will make a statement. [8782]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is set out in the table and relates to Great Britain only. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for the administration of housing benefit in Northern Ireland.

  Estimate of local authorities' administration costs for 1995–96 arising from housing benefit changes introduced January 1996

  £ million

  England

  6.00

  Wales

  0.25

  Scotland

  0.75

  Total GB

  7.01

  1. Totals include first year set up costs.

  2. Individual figures do not sum because of rounding.

  Benefit Payment Card
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce a benefit payment card. [8805]

  Mr. Heald
  We intend to start phasing in the replacement of order books and girocheques with benefit payment cards in the autumn.

  Benefit System Reform
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from political parties over the past three months concerning reforms of the benefit system. [8806]
  215
  Mr. Lilley
  Opposition parties have criticised all the reforms of the social security system which I have announced over the last three months, as they have opposed all my previous reforms, which will save more than £5 billion by the end of the century and more than £15 billion in the longer term.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what effect he estimates his social security reforms will have had on public spending by the year 2050 in 1994–95 prices. [9472]

  Mr. Burt
  The major reforms announced in the last three years are expected to reduce public spending by about £15 billion per year in the longer term. It is estimated that this long-run figure will be reached by around 2030.

  Fraud
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is assessing to combat fraud; and if he will make a statement. [8807]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland).

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases are being dealt with by the CSA. [8808]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The Child Support Agency is currently working on 833,000 cases.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to review the current operation of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [8811]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The performance of the Child Support Agency is continually reviewed against agreed targets.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the co-operation of the Child Support Agency with the parliamentary commissioner in his investigation into the working of the agency. [9541]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 22 January 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency co-operation with the Parliamentary Commissioner.
  All Agencies of the Department of Social Security (DSS) liaise with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (PCA) through the Department's DSS PCA Focal Point. The Child Support Agency has a dedicated PCA Unit which deals with all complaints and correspondence with the PCA. This PCA Unit works closely with colleagues at the DSS PCA Focal Point.
  In addition to the PCA Select Committee's strict and short deadlines for Departments to respond to new complaints referred by the PCA, the DSS is the only Department to have additional agreed
  216
  deadlines with the PCA for the other stages of his investigation process. Since its inception the Child Support Agency has met all the deadlines on all the cases referred to it.
  The Agency (and the Department) has a very clear policy in its dealings with the PCA: if mistakes have been made, this is explained clearly and objectively to the PCA and appropriate apologies given.
  The PCA has previously commented to the PCA Select Committee that he has very good liaison with the DSS and singled out the work of the Department, through the offices of the Focal Point, for their excellent work.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, column 324, on computer services, on what basis the Child Support Agency's operational accounting system records the amount of down time; what factors led him to give information for only 17 weeks; what has been the amount of down time up to the present for each week since 7 June 1994; and what procedures were in place to carry out the tasks carried out by the operational accounting system before 7 June 1994. [10357]

  Mr. Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 11 January 1995,Official Report, column 324.

  Service availability of the Child Support Agency's operational accounting system is recorded and reported on a weekly basis.

  Information was given for the whole of the period since the system went live. The answer states that there has been 100 per cent. availability except for the 17 weeks tabulated. The table shows the availability in those 17 weeks.

  Before 7 June 1994, the CSA obtained management information either clerically, or by special scans of the child support computer system database.

  Funded Pension Schemes
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the aggregate level of funded pension schemes in the United Kingdom; and what is the level in other EU countries. [8809]

  Mr. Heald
  In 1993, the total value of funds in funded pension schemes in the United Kingdom was nearly £600 billion. This is substantially more than the latest estimate of £480 billion for all the other countries in the European Union.

  Income Support
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current cost of income support. [8813]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated cost of income support is £16 billion for the current year.

  State Pension
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to relating the state pension to the inflation rate and average earnings. [8814]

  Mr. Heald
  I have no plans to change the current legislation, which provides for the annual uprating of the state pension in line with the rise in prices.

  Pensions (Rebate Contributions)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the percentage of people who bought appropriate pensions in 1987–88 who have made full rebate contributions in each subsequent year. [8817]

  Mr. Heald
  Nearly half the people who started an appropriate personal pension with effect from 1987–88 have received a rebate of contributions in each year up to 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available. Approximately 80 per cent. of those people who took out an appropriate personal pension with effect from 1987–88 and who still held it in 1992–93 received rebates for at least four of the six years involved.

  Benefit Costs
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of all social security benefits paid out in 1978–79; what is the estimated outturn this financial year; and what is the relationship between these figures after allowing for inflation. [8818]

  Mr. Lilley
  Spending this year is estimated to be £87.1 billion compared to £49.2 billion in 1978–79, in today's prices. This represents average real growth of 3 per cent. a year over the period.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each week since 1 December 1995, for each Benefits Agency area,(a) the average minimum daily temperature, (b) if cold weather payments were triggered and (c) how many people received payments. [9623]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  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 and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 18 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list, for each week since 1st December 1995, for each Benefit Agency (BA) area, (a) the average minimum daily temperature, (b) if Cold Weather Payments (CWPs) were triggered and (c) how many people received payments.
  Data relating to average minimum daily temperature is collected by weather stations. A weather station covers a geographical area within which there can be several BA Districts. Information on temperatures for each BA area is not available.
  Statistics on the number of CWPs made for each month is placed in the House of Commons Library. The data for December 1995 will be available by 26 January 1996.
  Information on the areas triggered is provided at Annex A and copies will be placed in the Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful

  Claimants (Peterlee and Seaham)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many single parents are currently claiming benefits in the areas covered by the Peterlee and Seaham benefit offices; [9502]
  218
  (2) how many people in the areas covered by the Seaham and Peterlee offices are in receipt of (a) state retirement pension, (b) incapacity benefit (c) income support, (d) family credit and (e) disability living allowance, broken down into its various components. [9500]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Cummings, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many single parents are currently claiming benefits and how many people are in receipt of (a) State Retirement Pension (RP), (b) Incapacity Benefit (IB), (c) Income Support (IS), (d) Family Credit (FC) and (e) Disability Living Allowance (DLA), broken down into its various components, in the areas covered by the Peterlee and Seaham benefit offices.
  The information requested is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is shown at Annexe A. The number of people claiming IS and DLA for Peterlee and Seaham could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  The North Durham District includes the areas of Durham, Chester-le-street, Peterlee, Seaham and Stanley. The number of single parents currently in receipt of IS in the North Durham District is 6,258. Details of claims from single parents to other benefits is not available. The total number of people receiving IS in the District is 39,116, at November 1995.
  I hope you find this reply helpful

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefits Agency will begin its exercise to identify and review cases where retirement allowance is mistakenly being paid in place of reduced earnings allowance; how long he expects this review to last; how many cases, approximately, he expects to be involved; and how quickly any arrears will be paid to claimants. [8952]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of retirement allowance, payable under the industrial injuries scheme, is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when the Benefits Agency will begin its exercise to identify and review cases where Retirement Allowance (RA) is mistakenly being paid in place of Reduced Earnings Allowance (REA); how long he expects this review to last; how many cases, approximately, he expects to he involved; and how quickly any arrears will be paid to claimants.
  The Benefits Agency is currently trawling all their Industrial Injuries Benefit cases, approximately 4 million, to identify all RA and REA customers who have attained pension age since April 1989 when RA was introduced. The trawl which started in December 1995 is due to be finished by the end of February 1996. Once amending legislation is in place all identified cases will then be examined and where necessary referred to independent Adjudication Officers who will review the benefit entitlement.
  The review exercise will be undertaken as soon as possible. Approximately 8,500 RA and 19,000 REA cases will need to he re-examined. It is not possible to say, at this stage, when this exercise will be completed but the situation will be closely monitored.

  219
  Arrears of benefit will be paid to each customer whose case is favourably reviewed as soon as the mandatory overlapping benefit enquiries have been undertaken.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress of the updating of the "Incapacity Benefit: Medical Advisers Guide" to incapacity benefit. [9540]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services 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. William O'Brien, dated 22 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will make a statement on the progress of the updating of the Incapacity Benefit: Medical Advisors Guide to Incapacity Benefit.
  The Medical Advisers' Guide to Incapacity Benefit is currently being brought up to date. A revised version will be available from April 1996.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Pension Contributions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the total number of the work force who are currently members of (i) State earnings-related pension scheme, (ii) company pension schemes and (iii) personal pension schemes, (b) the average percentage of the wage or salary being paid into each scheme and (c) the average length of time in years for which these contributions have been made. [7591]

  Mr. Heald
  The following are the latest figures available for the numbers of individuals falling into each category at some time during the year in question, with one exception—see footnote 2. In certain cases some people may. in the course of a year, be in more than one type of scheme and so the numbers in separate schemes cannot be sensibly totalled. Nor can they be compared to numbers in employment or the work force, measured at a single point in time. This is because more people will work at some time during the year than will be working at any single point in time.

  The cumulative number of people who paid some class 1 national insurance contributions at the not-contracted-out rate over the year 1992–93 was 9.1 million. Of those, the number whose earnings factor was equal to or above the annual lower earnings limit is 6.5 million1; these will accrue entitlement to additional pension as will a number of people whose earnings factor was just below the LEL, provided they reach state pension age before April 2000.

  Individuals reaching state pension age from April 1999 onwards may also receive an enhancement to their entitlement to additional pension in respect of periods of caring responsibilities and incapacity since 1978.

  In 1991, 10.7 million people were members of occupational pension schemes2. This figure includes members of both contracted-in and contracted-out schemes.
  220
  In 1992–93, the latest year for which all the relevant data is available, 5.7 million employees were members of appropriate personal pension schemes3 and 600,000 self-employed people held non-appropriate personal pensions4. There were also 1.1 million self-employed holders of retirement annuity contracts4. In addition, 2.5 million non-appropriate personal pension arrangements5 were held by employees, some of whom may also have held an appropriate personal pension or a number of non-appropriate arrangements.

  Information relating to the average percentage of the wage or salary paid into each type of scheme and the length of time for which contributions have been made is not available.

  1. Source 1 per cent. sample from the National Insurance Recording System.

  2. Source: GAD 1991 survey of occupational pension schemes which records membership at points in time rather than cumulatively over a year.

  3. Source: 1 per cent. sample from the national insurance recording system.

  4. Source: Inland Revenue survey of personal incomes.

  5. Source: Inland Revenue tax returns from all providers.

  In certain cases some people may, in the course of a year, be in one or more types of schemes and so the numbers in separate schemes cannot be sensibly totalled.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 14 December,Official Report, column 795, on sick days related to mental illness, if he will estimate the value of benefits in each year since 1979. [7789]

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available.

  Voluntary and Charitable Payments
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the increase from £10 to £20 in the disregard for voluntary and charitable payments. [8503]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The increase in the disregard on charitable and voluntary payments is likely to be achieved at negligible cost.

  Child Support Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department is taking to improve the average clearance time at child support appeal tribunals. [9103]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  In conjunction with the independent tribunal service, we are continually looking for ways to improve the clearance time on appeals. For example, the Child Support Agency has set up a central unit to deal with appeals which in the second half of 1995 processed twice as many appeals as in the first half.

  Pensioners (Consumer Durables)
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the lowest income quintile of pensioner households had access to a(a) fridge or fridge/freezer, (b) car or van, (c) freezer or

  221
  fridge/freezer, (d) telephone and (e) television in (i) 1975 and (ii) 1995. [10206]

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

  Estimated percentages of pensioner benefit units in the bottom quintile of the income distribution possessing various durable goods

  Percentage

  Durable goods

  1979

  1993

  (a) Fridge or fridge/freezer

  81

  97

  (b) Car or van

  26

  34

  (c) Freezer or fridge/freezer

  23

  70

  (d) Telephone

  45

  88

  (e) Television

  91

  198

  Notes:

  1This figure is for 1992 as the data is not available from the Pensioners' Incomes Series 1993.

  1. A pensioner benefit unit is defined as a single person over state pension age or a couple where the husband, or head, is over state pension age.

  2. The earliest date for which information is available is 1979.

  3. The latest date for which information is available is 1993.

  4. The information is based on pensioner benefit units rather than pensioner households.

  Source:

  Analysis of the 1979, 1992 and 1993 Family Expenditure Surveys and Pensioners' Incomes Series.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the representations his Department received during 1995 from individual war pensioners, their associations, charities, local authorities and other politicians on the issue of disregard of war pensions by local authorities. [9973]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. In 1995, this Department received a number of such representations. From the information that is available, this included some 60 letters from hon. Members and some 144 letters from members of the public, local authorities and other interested parties.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners claiming income support in 2025 and 2035, assuming that the income support level remains at its current proportion of average earnings; [10511]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in 2025 and 2035 who will have a state earnings-related pension scheme entitlement or other second-tier pension entitlement which, in combination with their basic pension entitlement, will leave them with an income below current income support levels, assuming that the basic state pension and the level of income support remain constant in real terms; [10513]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners claiming income support in 2025 and 2035,
  222
  assuming that income support levels remain constant in real terms; [10510]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in 2025 and 2035 who will have a state earnings-related pension scheme entitlement or other second-tier pension entitlement of under £20 in 1996 prices; [10512]

  (5) what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners claiming income support over the period of the Government Actuary's quinquennial review of the national insurance fund; and what assumptions he has used to make this estimate. [10514]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, some information is now available from the departmental pensioner incomes simulation model, which projects changes in pensioner incomes to the year 2025. The results from the model are heavily dependent on the economic and behavioural assumptions used, and should be treated as a broad indication of the likely order of magnitude of any figures given, and should in addition be rounded heavily1. Details of the methodology and assumptions used in the model, and a brief overview of basic results, will appear in a technical paper released in the coming months.

  In 2025, assuming that basic state pension and the level of income support remain constant in real terms at 1994 prices, PENSIM projects that approximately 1.5 million pensioner benefit units2 will have a SERPS pension entitlement or other second-tier pension entitlement which, in combination with their basic pension entitlement, will leave them with a pension income below income support levels.

  However, due to income from other source, such as earnings and investment income, and other income support rules, such as capital limits, PENSIM estimates that in 2025 there will be approximately 0.5 million pensioner benefit units in receipt of income support. In 2010 PENSIM estimates there will be approximately 1 million pensioner benefit units in receipt of income support, assuming that income support levels remain constant in real terms.

  If income support levels had been uprated to remain at the same proportion of average earnings as in 1994, PENSIM projects that in 2025 there would he approximately 1.5 million pensioner benefit units in receipt of income support.

  PENSIM can be used to estimate relative changes over time but cannot produce robust estimates of absolute values. It cannot therefore be used to estimate the number of pensioners in 2025 who will have a SERPS pension entitlement or other second-tier pension entitlement of under £20 in 1996 prices.
  Notes1All figures rounded to the nearest 500,000.2Pensioner benefit unit is defined as a single pensioner over state pension age in 2025, or a couple with at least one partner over state pension age.

  National Insurance Fund Subsidy
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the level of annual subsidy to the national insurance fund in each year since 1985 to(a) meet spending commitments and (b) compensate for those who have taken out private pension insurance. [10845]

  Mr. Heald
  The amounts paid to the national insurance fund for each year in the period from 1985–86 to 1994–95 are shown in the table. These payments are a general contribution to the fund and are not attributed to any particular aspect of its expenditure.

  Payments into the national insurance fund11985–86 to 1994–95

  Year

  Amount £ million

  1985–86

  2,163

  1986–87

  2,412

  1987–88

  2,135

  1988–89

  1,653

  1989–90

  nil

  1990–91

  nil

  1991–92

  nil

  1992–93

  nil

  1993–94

  7,589

  1994–95

  6,280

  1Treasury supplement until 1988–89; Treasury grant from 1993–94.

  State Earnings-related Pension Scheme
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the total number of people in SERPS for each year since 1985 and for each year the number(a) entering, (b) leaving and (c) re-entering the scheme. [10846]

  Mr. Heald
  Information relating to the number of people in the state earnings-related pension scheme for each year since 1985–86 to 1992–93 is given in the table. Information relating to the number of people who entered, left, and re-entered SERPS is not currently available and I will write to the hon. Member with these details shortly.

  Year

  Number of people (millions)

  1985–86

  10.2

  1986–87

  10.4

  1987–88

  7.2

  1988–89

  7.6

  1989–90

  7.5

  224

  Year

  Number of people (millions)

  1990–91

  7.5

  1991–92

  6.7

  1992–93

  6.5

  1. Figures are for UK and rounded to nearest.1 million.

  2. Figures for 1987–88 are provisional.

  3. Figures for 1992–93 are not complete as some employers' tax returns may not yet have been input to the national insurance recording system.

  Source: 1 per cent. trawl of NIRS.

  5. Excludes appropriate personal pension holders.

  The table gives the numbers of people who have a qualifying year for additional pension purposes by virtue of having paid some class 1 national insurance contributions at the not contracted-out rate during the year with relevant earnings greater than or equal to the lower earnings limit applicable to that year.

  State Pension (Earnings Link)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of restoration of the link with earnings of the state pension from April 1996: and if he will make a statement. [10848]

  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated that restoring the link with earnings in uprating retirement pension in 1996–97 would increase pension expenditure by £10.1 billion.

  Habitual Residence Rule
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been denied benefits under the habitual residence rule; and what number were(a) British citizens and (b) foreign nationals. [9348]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 16 January. 1996]: The information requested is set out in the table and covers the period August 1994 to November 1995. It relates only to income support; housing benefit figures will not be available until December 1996 at the earliest.

  Fail

  EEA nationals

  11,946

  British citizens

  7,489

  Others

  13,835

  Total

  33,270

  The Benefits Agency has placed figures relating to the habitual residence test in the Library since April 1995.

  World Conference on Women, Beijing: Opposition to Abortion
  World Conference on Women, Beijing: Opposition to Abortion
  Chinese Orphanages: Allegations of Abuses
  Chinese Orphanages: Allegations of Abuses
  Western Mediterranean Countries' Transport Ministers' Meetings: Outcome
  Western Mediterranean Countries' Transport Ministers' Meetings: Outcome
  Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England: Review
  Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England: Review
  Asylum Seekers: Local Authority Costs
  Asylum Seekers: Local Authority Costs
  Schools in Scotland: Cold Weather Precautions
  Schools in Scotland: Cold Weather Precautions
  Unemployment among 50–65 Year-Olds
  Unemployment among 50–65 Year-Olds
  Social Security Policy: Implications for VAT Revenue
  Social Security Policy: Implications for VAT Revenue
  Housing Benefit and Young People
  Housing Benefit and Young People
  Lone Parent Benefit Changes: Consultations with Department of Health
  Lone Parent Benefit Changes: Consultations with Department of Health
  Parents with Care: Return of Forms to CSA
  Parents with Care: Return of Forms to CSA
  Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994: Offences under Section 145
  Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994: Offences under Section 145
  Special Constables Injured on Duty: Compensation
  Special Constables Injured on Duty: Compensation
  Asylum Seekers: Deportations
  Asylum Seekers: Deportations
  Organophosphorus Product Licensing: International Consultation
  Organophosphorus Product Licensing: International Consultation
  European Legislation Affecting UK Interests
  European Legislation Affecting UK Interests
  Warble Fly
  Warble Fly
  Organophosphorus Insecticides: Use on Cows
  Organophosphorus Insecticides: Use on Cows
  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Incidence by Area
  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Incidence by Area