Written Answers of 24 January 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Small Claims Limit
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice he received on his proposal to raise the small claims limit in housing cases other than possession proceedings from £1,000 to £3,000 for representatives of consumers and the legal profession. [10261]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Lord Chancellor received responses from representatives of housing advice groups, including the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, the Law Centres Federation and Shelter, from consumer groups such as the National Consumer Council, from the legal professions, including the Law Society and the Housing Law Practitioners' Association, and from members of the judiciary.

PRIME MINISTER

  Civil Servants (Opposition Contacts)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has now authorised confidential pre-election contacts between senior civil servants and Opposition spokesmen. [12001]

  The Prime Minister
  The Leader of the Opposition, the right hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair), has now asked me to authorise the conventional pre-election contacts between senior civil servants and Opposition spokesmen and I have done so. The purpose of these contacts is to allow Opposition spokesmen to inform themselves of factual questions of departmental organisation and to inform senior civil servants of any organisational changes stemming from Opposition policies in the event of a change of Government. Such meetings are confidential on both sides.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs; [10977]
  226
  (2) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private fiance 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. [10976]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given yesterday by the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9148]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have asked the chief executives of the National Resources Institute and Wilton Park executive agencies to reply to the hon. Member's question.

  Letter from Richard Latter to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
  Wilton Park arranges its pre-retirement courses for staff utilising the good offices of the FCO Training Department.

  Letter from Anthony Beattie to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1996:
  In your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs you asked what action the heads of his executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses. It has been agreed that I should provide this information in respect of NRI.
  Pre-retirement seminars organised by ODA are offered to NRI staff nearing retirement age. Provision of courses or seminars by a third party (as is presently being done for staff leaving NRI under a current severance/early retirement programme) would be arranged if ODA facilities were not available.

  Chernobyl Explosion (Compensation)
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been made to the Governments of the former Soviet Union, under the principles of the polluter pays, to seek compensation for the effects in the United Kingdom of the Chernobyl explosion. [11154]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Just after the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, on 10 July 1986, we notified the Soviet Union that we were reserving the right to file claims for damage which had occurred in the United Kingdom.

  However, we came to the conclusion that it was unrealistic to expect the Soviet Union to honour such claims.

  It was not possible to base a claim for compensation against the Soviet Union on relevant international conventions, in particular the 1968 Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage, as it was not a party to

  227
  these conventions. The Soviet Union now no longer exists. The Russian Federation and Ukraine are considering accession to the 1968 Vienna convention. However, any such accession would not have retrospective effect.

  We are participating in the work in progress internationally to achieve an enhanced global regime for nuclear liability. We expect that this issue will be discussed during the G7/G8 nuclear safety summit in Moscow in April.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Pakistan in respect of the abuse of human rights in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [10358]

  Mr. Hanley
  We regularly raise our concerns about humans rights issues with the Government of Pakistan and will continue to do so.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been killed in Karachi and Sindh in Pakistan in the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [10360]

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures we have from the Pakistani authorities for people killed in the last two years are:

  1994

  1995

  Sindh (including Karachi)

  2,112

  2,823

  Karachi

  919

  1,847

  We have consistently stressed the importance of respect for human rights and have urged all parties to refrain from violence and to negotiate a sustainable political settlement.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent arrest by the Pakistan security forces of the secretary-general of Human Rights International. [10361]

  Mr. Hanley
  Dr. Halepota, the secretary-general of Human Rights International, who is a dual British-Pakistani national, was detained by the Pakistani police on 28 November 1995. Under international law, we are not entitled to afford protection to a dual national in the country of his or her second nationality. However, on humanitarian grounds our high commission made informal representations to the Pakistani authorities. Dr. Halepota was deported to the UK on 5 January.

TREASURY

  Tax Returns
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number and proportion of taxpayers aged 65 years or over who complete tax returns. [7648]
  228
  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated that in 1995–96 there will be around 10 million people aged 65 or over, about 3 million of whom will pay income tax. It is estimated that around 750,000 or 7.5 per cent. of the total will complete tax returns.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has undertaken with the Plain English Society on the self-assessment tax forms currently being proposed; what has been the response; and if he will place a copy of all correspondence in the Library. [8319]

  Mr. Jack
  The Inland Revenue has won several plain English awards for its forms over the years and has been in correspondence with the Plain English Campaign about obtaining a crystal mark accreditation for the new self-assessment tax return. It continues to consult extensively with prospective users about the wording of the return and has invited PEC to contribute to that consultative process.

  It would not be appropriate for me to place copies of the correspondence on this in the House Library without the consent of the parties to it.

  Incomes (Budget Effects)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) single persons, (b) married couples and (c) married couples with two children he estimates will benefit by £9 per week net following his Budget; and what considerations underlay his estimate that taxpayers would benefit by this sum. [9779]

  Mr. Jack
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his Budget statement, a married couple with two children and one earner on average earnings gain around £190 per year from the Budget tax changes, including the effect of changes to indirect tax. Taking higher earnings into account, the same family should be around £450 per year better off next year, after tax and inflation.

  Sunday Trading
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total value of receipts from sales generated through Sunday trading(a) to retailers and (b) to the Treasury; and if he will make a statement. [10431]

  Mr. Jack
  No such estimates have been made. It would be extremely difficult to isolate the effects of Sunday trading from the many other factors that influence retail sales and tax revenues. However, it is clear that many people have welcomed the opportunity to shop on Sunday, and that retailers judge it worth their while to trade on Sundays.

  Disabled People (VAT)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Customs and Excise head office directive on the charging of VAT on computers and printers supplied to registered disabled people. [10918]
  229
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have placed in the Library a copy of the Customs notice, "VAT reliefs for people with disabilities," which is freely available in local VAT offices. Customs head office has not issued any general directive on the liability of computers and printers for disabled people.

  Taxpayers (Lancashire)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number and percentage of standard rate and higher rate taxpayers in(a) Lancashire and (b) the United Kingdom for the most recent year for which figures are available. [10872]

  Mr. Amory
  The table provides estimates for 1993–94, the latest year for which information can be provided:

  Basic and higher rate taxpayers 1993–94

  Taxpayers liable at basic rate but not higher rate

  Taxpayer liable at higher rate

  Thousands

  Percentage1

  Thousands

  Percentage1

  Lancashire

  413

  73.0

  25

  4.5

  United Kingdom2

  18,090

  72.3

  1,740

  7.0

  1 Of total number of taxpayers, including those liable only to the lower rate of tax.

  2 Includes members of HM forces, the Merchant Navy, civil servants serving overseas and non-residents liable to UK tax who cannot be allocated to regions.

  Income Tax (Relief and Allowances)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers there are with income tax reliefs and allowances in excess of(a) £7,000, (b) £8,000, (c) £9,000, (d) £10,000, (e) £11,000 and (f) £12,000 (i) including and (ii) excluding profit-related pay. [11191]

  Mr. Jack
  Available information was given in my reply to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 9 January 1996,Official Report, column 83.

  Tax Yields
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of taxation taken as(a) income tax, (b) corporation tax, (c) capital gains tax, (d) VAT and (e) other taxes in 1979–80, 1985–86 and 1995–96. [11125]

  Mr. Jack
  The table gives the requested figures. The figures for 1995–96 are Budget forecasts.

  Income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, VAT and other taxes as a percentage of total taxes and NICs1

  Year

  Income tax

  Corporation tax

  Capital gains tax

  VAT

  Other taxes2

  1979–80

  28¾

  6¾

  ½

  1l¾

  52¼

  1985–86

  24¼

  7

  ½

  13¼

  54¾

  1995–96

  27

  9¾

  ¼

  16¼

  45½

  1 Total taxes and NICS includes council tax for 1995–96 for consistency with earlier years.

  2 Other taxes include excise duties, stamp duty, council tax and NICs. Totals may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10073]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]The Treasury's policy continues to be not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [10061]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  National Helpline
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the national Customs, Inland Revenue and Contributions Agency helpline will be launched; when and where he made announcements about the launch; what will be the start-up costs and running costs; if all the required new technology needed is in place; and what pilot studies have been undertaken indicating(a) the period covered, (b) the cost, (c) the numbers using the helpline and (d) if his Department has evaluated the results. [10535]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]Our proposals for a national telephone helpline to give advice to employers on PAYE and national insurance contributions issues and to VAT traders were announced by the Deputy Prime Minister at a press conference on 19 September. The conference was held in response to the first report of the deregulation task force, chaired by the right hon. Francis Maude, and coincided with a joint press release from the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, the Department of Social Security and the Contributions Agency which gave more detail on the helpline. This confirmed that a helpline would be piloted in Scotland from October 1995, with the aim of extending it to cover the whole country in October 1996. A press conference hosted by officials from Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the CA was also held in Glasgow on the same day to give more details on the pilot.

  The pilot has been running successfully since 2 October and is being closely monitored by all three Departments. The helpline has attracted more than 12,500 calls; the final cost of the pilot will be dependent on the volume of calls received over the year. The final scope and design of the national helpline is not yet settled; decisions will be made in the light of the pilot which, as well as testing systems, is also taking soundings from businesses on how helpful they are finding the service. The final costs and technological requirements will depend on the design chosen.

  Environmental Appraisal
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10608]

  (2) if the White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money" 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; [10607]

  (3) how the White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10609]

  (4) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money". [10610]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]The White Paper, "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money", was not subject to an environmental appraisal. There are no plans to monitor the environmental impact.

  Duty-free Sales (Eurostar)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take the legislative steps necessary to allow duty-free sales to Eurostar passengers at(a) Waterloo station, (b) Ashford station and (c) on board trains; and if he will make a statement. [11518]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]No. International convention precludes the sale of duty-free goods on international rail journeys both on trains and at stations. The United Kingdom, and our European Union partners, have accepted recommendations of the Customs Co-operation Council to that effect. There are, for example, no duty-free sales for trains travelling between Dublin and Belfast, or between Paris and Bonn.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Fatal Accident, Yorkshire
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the Crown Prosecution Service decision in respect of prosecution of the operator of the truck with defective brakes which killed six people at Sowerby bridge in Yorkshire. [11093]

  The Attorney-General
  On 1 December 1995, the divisional court refused an application for judicial review of the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute any individual or company for manslaughter 232
  arising out of the accident at Sowerby bridge. In doing so, the court commented on the evidence. Once the transcript of the judgment is received a decision can be made on what further action, if any, should be taken.

  British Bus (Fraud Investigation)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General if British Bus is the subject of a Serious Fraud Office investigation. [10936]

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office is investigating possible offences relating to the conduct of certain directors of British Bus.

ENVIRONMENT

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received as to employment prospects in the construction industry in 1996. [10276]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I regularly meet senior representatives of the construction industry to discuss a range of issues including their concerns about workload and employment prospects. My Department prepares jointly with the industry a twice yearly "State of the Industry" report which is next due for publication on 29 February.

  Pollution (Manchester)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to reduce pollution in the Greater Manchester area. [10301]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government have put in place a number of mechanisms to control pollution which apply throughout the country. The Environment Act 1990 introduced two systems for controlling polluting emissions from industry: integrated pollution control, which limits emissions to all environmental media from large installations; and local authority air pollution control, covering emissions to air from small and medium enterprises. Both these systems apply best available techniques not entailing excessive cost, and authorisations are reviewed periodically. The main control on air pollution from domestic sources is the smoke control areas system, introduced in the Clean Air Act 1956. Emissions from the transport sector are mainly controlled through European Community legislation, and we shall be negotiating new vehicle emission and fuel quality standards for the year 2000 and beyond in the Council of Ministers this year.

  The Environment Act 1995 introduced a duty on local authorities to assess and review air quality in their areas, and to establish local air quality management areas where standards or objectives are being or arc likely to he breached. In such areas, authorities must draw up action plans to help bring ambient pollution down to acceptable levels. The Government are currently developing

  233
  guidance for local authorities to help them discharge those duties.

  As regards water quality, in 1994, for the north-west as a whole, 84 per cent. of river and canal length was classed as good or fair compared to 74 per cent. in 1990. More specifically, the Government have sponsored the Mersey basin campaign, a major initiative to clean up the rivers, canals and estuary of the Mersey basin. Increasingly stringent controls have been applied to both direct industrial and sewage discharges and the pollution load in rivers flowing into the estuary has been reduced by 80 per cent. over the last 25 years.

  House Building (Manchester)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the house building industry in the Greater Manchester area. [10300]

  Mr. Clappison
  The value of new orders for house building in the Greater Manchester area in 1994, the last complete year for which statistics are available, was £61 million local authority and housing association and £250 million private. This compares with £24 million and £100 million respectively in the first half of 1995.

  The value of new orders for private housing in Great Britain in the three months to November 1995 was 1 per cent. higher than in the previous quarter. The Government welcome this small improvement and continue to promote economic policies based on low inflation, sustainable growth and sound public finances which will encourage a return of consumer confidence and help ensure the long-term health of the housing market. The affordability of housing for purchase is excellent, with mortgage rates at their lowest for 30 years.

  Service Charges
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to monitor the value for money of service charges in the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement. [10297]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government have no plans to monitor the value for money of service charges in the private sector. We have, however, received many representations on the subject and I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 18 January 1996,Official Report, column 668.

  The Department commissioned research into council leaseholders' service charges in 1994 and the findings have been published. This included information about the level of service charges and the attitude of leaseholders to them. We are considering further research.

  Metropolitan District Employees
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many full-time equivalent employees there are(a) in total and (b) per head of population in the service of each metropolitan district. [10430]
  234
  Mr. Curry
  The available information is as follows. The levels of employment in individual authorities are not directly comparable because of variations in, for example, population structure and social characteristics, the extent of the use of private firms and contractors and the level of work undertaken for other authorities and public bodies on an agency basis.

  Staff at June 1995

  Whole-time equivalents

  Staff per thousand population

  Barnsley

  8,056

  35.6

  Birmingham

  35,755

  35.5

  Bolton

  9,335

  35.2

  Bradford

  16,133

  33.5

  Bury

  5,097

  28.0

  Calderdale

  1—

  1—

  Coventry

  10,953

  36.2

  Doncaster

  9,753

  33.3

  Dudley

  —

  —

  Gateshead

  8,269

  40.9

  Kirklees

  12,530

  32.4

  Knowsley

  5,491

  35.7

  Leeds

  23,964

  33.1

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  Manchester

  20,726

  48.1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  —

  —

  North Tyneside

  —

  —

  Oldham

  7,435

  33.7

  Rochdale

  7,010

  33.8

  Rotherham

  8,250

  32.2

  Salford

  9,210

  39.9

  Sandwell

  10,543

  35.9

  Sefton

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  17,169

  32.4

  Solihull

  5,536

  27.4

  South Tyneside

  5,828

  37.2

  St. Helens

  5,961

  32.9

  Stockport

  7,588

  26.0

  Sunderland

  11,010

  37.0

  Tameside

  6,963

  31.4

  Trafford

  5,753

  26.4

  Wakefield

  11,822

  37.3

  Walsall

  8,908

  33.8

  Wigan

  8,238

  26.6

  Wirral

  10,121

  30.4

  Wolverhampton

  9,206

  37.6

  1 Data not available.

  Source:

  Joint Staffing Watch, June 1995. Figures are for staff in general
  services—i.e. excluding law and order services.

  Aquifers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many aquifers currently supplying wholesome water have been sterilised following industrial or agricultural pollution or as a result of a traffic or railway accident in the last 30 years. [10633]

  Mr. Clappison:
  This information is not held centrally. However, relevant National Rivers Authority monitoring data are recorded on public registers in each of the authority's regions.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has recommended(a) Government Departments and (b) local authorities to carry out with organisations representing disabled people

  235
  regarding (i) the construction of access for disabled people to new buildings and (ii) making access easier for disabled people to older buildings. [10527]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Users and owners of buildings, including Government Departments, normally seek to make them accessible in accordance with recognised standards and guidelines, produced in consultation with organisations representing disabled people. Formal guidance is given in the approved document supporting part M of the Building Regulations 1991 and in the British Standards Institution's code of practice for access for the disabled to buildings, BS 5810, both of which were subject to consultation.

  Following Department of the Environment circular 10/82, general advice on access issues is also available from local authorities, many of whom have appointed access officers specifically for the purpose. They liaise with access groups representing local disabled people.

  Regulations and guidance on implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, including access to existing buildings, will be subject to consultation with organisations representing disabled people by the Departments responsible for implementing the various parts of the Act.

  Negative Equity
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the total value of negative equity in homes in(a) England and (b) the north-west in each year since 1992 at current prices. [10871]

  Mr. Clappison
  Estimates of negative equity are sensitive to the underlying assumptions made, such as changes in house prices. Using the Department's house price index, adjusted for the mix of different dwelling types, it is estimated that the total value of negative equity in homes in(a) England and (b) the north-west in each year since 1992 at current (1995) prices is as follows:

  £ million

  1992

  1993

  1994

  (a) England

  4,893

  5,230

  3,116

  (b) North-West

  2

  29

  5

  Estimates for 1995 are not yet available.

  These estimates provide only a very broad idea of the value of negative equity. The suitability of the assumptions used in compiling estimates of negative equity is currently under review.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households are currently in negative equity in each London borough. [10885]

  Mr. Clappison
  Estimates of negative equity are not available for individual London boroughs.

  Housing Costs
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average household rent 236
  in (a) privately rented, (b) council and (c) housing association dwellings in each London borough. [10889]

  Mr. Clappison
  The average weekly local authority and housing association rents in London boroughs in March 1994, the latest date for which figures for individual London boroughs are available for both local authorities and housing associations, were as follows:

  £ per week

  Local authority

  Housing association

  Barking and Dagenham

  32.27

  53.47

  Barnet

  48.66

  42.34

  Bexley

  43.13

  44.60

  Brent

  50.18

  45.36

  Bromley

  40.47

  47.50

  Camden

  48.35

  46.48

  City of London

  46.57

  n/a

  Croydon

  50.94

  53.50

  Ealing

  63.90

  43.86

  Enfield

  46.75

  47.93

  Greenwich

  41.70

  44.08

  Hackney

  46.42

  40.87

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  46.70

  38.76

  Haringey

  52.49

  39.08

  Harrow

  56.88

  43.73

  Havering

  36.91

  42.67

  Hillingdon

  59.48

  44.57

  Hounslow

  37.59

  43.00

  Islington

  47.07

  42.39

  Kensington and Chelsea

  56.40

  37.49

  Kingston upon Thames

  60.27

  46.23

  Lambeth

  40.71

  37.39

  Lewisham

  41.35

  38.71

  Merton

  49.21

  47.80

  Newham

  37.00

  43.45

  Redbridge

  61.32

  45.56

  Richmond upon Thames

  48.24

  47.56

  Southwark

  44.36

  39.92

  Sutton

  42.28

  39.65

  Tower Hamlets

  35.78

  40.13

  Waltham Forest

  39.89

  43.28

  Wandsworth

  55.64

  44.69

  Westminster

  59.65

  42.18

  London

  45.65

  42.74

  The average rent figures are not directly comparable as they take no account of differences in the composition of stock, eg. size and type of dwellings, their age and condition.

  Source:

  Local authorities—housing subsidy claim forms.

  Housing associations—HAR 10/I (not grossed for missing data).

  Figure for average private sector rents are available only from sample surveys which are not large enough to produce reliable figures for individual local authorities. The average weekly private sector rent in London in 1993–94, from the survey of English housing was £89; this figure, which covers all types of tenancy, is subject to sampling variability.

  Mrs. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is(a) the average mortgage level and (b) the number of households with mortgages in each London borough. [10887]

  Mr. Clappison
  Estimates from the survey of English housing indicate that in London as a whole the average mortgage payment was £330 a month in 1994–95 and that
  237
  just over 1 million households were buying with a mortgage. These estimates are subject to sampling variability. Estimates are not available for individual boroughs.

  Repossession
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many repossessions there were in each London borough in each year since 1992. [10886]

  Mr. Clappison
  Data are not held centrally on the number of repossessions in each London borough.

  Producer Responsibility Group on Packaging
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the current members of the producer responsibility group on packaging. [11180]

  Mr. Clappison
  The producer responsibility group presented its final report to Government in November 1994 and subsequently disbanded. At present, many businesses in the packaging industry are members of the Valpak working representative advisory committee—V-WRAG. Industry has also proposed that a committee be set up to advise the Secretary of State on the drafting and implementation of the regulations on producer responsibility for packaging, and on arrangements for carrying out review of the legal obligation. The Government intend to make an announcement on this shortly.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums remain to be distributed by the London residuary body to the London boroughs; and what residual rights and liabilities remain to be transferred. [10164]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]I understand that the London residuary body intends to distribute in early March some £6.2 million in revenue balances to the London boroughs and to the City of London. We are currently consulting the London boroughs on proposals to wind up the residuary body by 31 March 1996, to transfer responsibility for producing the LRB's final report and accounts to the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and to transfer all other remaining rights and liabilities to the London borough of Bromley as lead borough. Under these proposals, which would be effected by order, Bromley would be responsible for distributing among the London boroughs and the City any sums received by it as lead borough.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the emoluments paid to each board member of the London residuary body in the year 1995–96 to date; and what plans there are to scale them down. [10158]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]Between 1 April and 30 September 1995 the chairman of the London residuary body was paid £7,908 and the three other board members were each paid £4,775. The board was reappointed on 1 October and thereafter 238
  remuneration has been paid on the basis of one day a month at a rate of £370 per day for the chairman and £225 per day for each board member.

  Rather than scaling down expenditures, we are consulting the London boroughs on proposals to wind up the residuary body by 31 March 1996.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10069]

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. Officials are required to draw Ministers' attention to any elements of proposed regulations which go further than the EC directive concerned strictly requires, and I am exploring ways of ensuring that implementing regulations clearly explain which elements derive from the directive and, where relevant, why additional elements have been included. The presumption is always against any addition. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [10051]

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]Official guidance on gold-plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments. In addition, the Health and Safety Executive has already issued an instruction to its staff that other options should always be considered before the possibility of new regulations or approved codes of practice are considered, and that where such regulations or codes are proposed to Ministers they should be accompanied by a memorandum explaining any points where the requirements go beyond any EC directive. A copy of instruction, "General Administrative Procedures (GAP) No. 8—A Short Guide to Regulating in HSE", is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of local authorities run their housing rent accounts on a surplus; and if he will list those authorities. [10506]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]Based on returns submitted to the Department, local authorities' housing revenue account opening balances for 1994–95 totalled £745 million. Their end-year balances totalled £756 million; 46 per cent. of authorities increased their balances during the year. Those authorities are as follows:

  Alnwick

  Arun

  Aylesbury

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  239

  Basildon

  Bath

  Bedford

  Berwick upon Tweed

  Bexley

  Blaby

  Boston

  Bournemouth

  Bradford

  Braintree

  Bridgnorth

  Brighton

  Broxbourne

  Burnley

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Cannock Chase

  Canterbury

  Caradon

  Carrick

  Castle Morpeth

  Castle Point

  Chelmsford

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Chester

  Chesterfield

  Chester le Street

  Colchester

  Corby

  Craven

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Dacorum

  Derbyshire Dales

  Dudley

  Ealing

  East Hertfordshire

  East Lindsey

  East Staffordshire

  East Yorkshire

  Eden

  Elmbridge

  Enfield

  Epping Forest

  Erewash

  Forest Heath

  Forest of Dean

  Fylde

  Glanford

  Great Yarmouth

  Greenwich

  Harborough

  Haringey

  Harlow

  Harrogate

  Harrow

  Hartlepool

  Hastings

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  Holderness

  Horsham

  Hounslow

  Huntingdonshire

  Isles of Scilly

  Kettering

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

  Kingswood

  Kirklees

  Lambeth

  Lancaster

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Lewes

  Luton

  Macclesfield

  240

  Maidstone

  Manchester

  Melton

  Mid Suffolk

  Middlesbrough

  Milton Keynes

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Newham

  North Norfolk

  North Wiltshire

  Nuneaton

  Oadby and Wigston

  Oxford

  Penwith

  Plymouth

  Redditch

  Reigate and Banstead

  Richmond upon Thames

  Richmondshire

  Rochdale

  Rochford

  Rossendale

  Rother

  Rugby

  Runnymede

  Rushcliffe

  Rutland

  South Derbyshire

  Salford

  Salisbury

  Sandwell

  Scarborough

  Scunthorpe

  Slough

  Solihull

  South Cambridgeshire

  South Herefordshire

  South Holland

  South Kesteven

  South Lakeland

  South Norfolk

  South Northamptonshire

  Southend-on-Sea

  Southwark

  Spelthorne

  St. Albans

  St. Edmundsbury

  Tameside

  Tandridge

  Teesdale

  Teignbridge

  Test Valley

  Tewkesbury

  Thanet

  Tunbridge Wells

  Tynedale

  Uttlesford

  Wakefield

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Wandsworth

  Wansbeck

  Watford

  Waveney

  Wealden

  West Oxford

  West Wiltshire

  Westminster

  Wigan

  Winchester

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Worcester

  Worthing

  Housing Allocations
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he plans to use the regulation-making powers on housing allocations contained in part VI of the Housing Bill. [12185]

  Mr. Curry
  I have placed in the Library of the House today a copy of a consultation paper that invites views on the content of regulations about the allocation of housing accommodation by local authorities. The Government are committed to ensuring that social housing goes to those households with the greatest underlying needs, and the paper seeks views on ways to achieve this. It is proposed that the regulations should provide a framework within which each local authority would establish the allocation policy best suited to local needs.

HEALTH

  Health Service Employees
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued to health authorities or NHS hospital trusts regarding priority treatment to(a) key and (b) other NHS employees. [10255]

  Mr. Malone
  Decisions on treatment must be based on clinical need. Guidance was issued to the national health service in June 1991 in executive letter EL(91)84, "Joint Guidance (NHSME/JCC) to hospital consultants on GP Fundholding", and EL(94)19, "Clinical Priority on Waiting Lists", copies of which are available in the Library, underlining the principle.

  Electric Wheelchairs
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of new electrically-powered wheelchairs supplied by the national health service in the Greater Manchester area over the past three years. [11033]

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of powered wheelchairs issued in the Greater Manchester area in each of the last three years is shown in the table. South Manchester health authority and South Manchester University Hospitals trust are the only Manchester authorities which have issued powered wheelchairs.

  Number

  1992–93

  South Manchester DHA

  467

  1993–94

  South Manchester DHA

  551

  1994–95

  South Manchester University Hospitals

  484

  Source:

  DH K073 returns.

  Boundary and organisational changes may mean that the data are not strictly comparable year on year.

  Nurse Training, Manchester
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated to the training of nurses in the Greater Manchester area for the last year for which figures are available. [11034]
  242
  Mr. Horam
  Manchester college of midwifery and nursing and the Northern college of nursing, midwifery and health studies are the major establishments training nurses in the Greater Manchester area. The table shows the contracts for the financial year 1995–96 that North-West regional health authority has with these two colleges.

  College

  Column 1 £

  Column 2 £

  Column 3 £

  Manchester

  7,894,967

  1,780,789

  4,200,000

  Northern

  7,182,052

  1,497,164

  3,777,629

  Total

  15,077,019

  3,277,953

  7,977,629

  Manchester: Manchester college of midwifery and nursing.

  Northern: Northern college of nursing, midwifery and health studies.

  The figures in column 1 include the costs relating to:

  (i) all Project 2000 and midwifery first registration training;

  (ii) some traditional RGN training;

  (iii) some second registration nursing programmes and all second registration midwifery;

  (iv) some post basic programmes including the higher award. Column 2 relates to payments to trusts, teacher development, redundancy provision etc.
  Column 3 relates to student bursaries.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1995,Official Report, column 383, to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on mental illness, if he will provide a regional breakdown of the figures. [11094]

  Mr. Bowis
  Regional information on the number of beds and on finished consultant episodes is contained in "Bed availability for England" and in "Ordinary and day case admissions for England", respectively, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the cost to Dorset social services of implementation of the care programme approach for the mentally ill in the next year; and what support it will receive from Government funding. [10737]

  Mr. Bowls
  The care programme approach is a key element in the delivery of local mental health services. Local agencies should collaborate to ensure its implementation. In the year 1996–97, Dorset social services will receive £93.8 million for personal social services. It will also receive an allocation of mental illness specific grant, from which this year it has received £589,000.

  Anti-malaria Treatment
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received on adverse side effects arising from the new anti-malaria treatment Lariam, also known as Mefloquine; and if he will make a statement. [10664]
  243
  Mr. Horam
  From 1990, when Lariam was marketed in the United Kingdom, to 19 January 1996, the Medicines Control Agency has received 605 reports of 1,561 reactions. However, the receipt of a report of a reaction does not necessarily mean that it has been caused by Lariam.

  Mental Health Services
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total budget of each health authority, indicating the percentage devoted to mental health services. [10740]

  Mr. Horam
  For details of the planned 1996–97 initial cash limits for the new health authorities, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 19 December at column 1138. It is for health authorities to purchase health care for their resident population, taking account of local circumstances and characteristics and within the framework of national policies and priorities.

  Private Health Insurance
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of(a) people and (b) retired people taking out private health insurance in each of the last five years. [10750]

  Mr. Horam
  The available information is shown in the table. Separate information on retired people is not available.

  Thousands

  United Kingdom

  Subscribers

  Numbers covered

  1990

  3,613

  7,558

  1991

  3,578

  7,433

  1992

  3,527

  7,190

  1993

  3,541

  6,757

  1994

  3,584

  6,809

  Source:

  Figures compiled by the Association of British Insurers to which figures for the Post office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society have been added.

  Meningitis
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to produce an educational video to be made available for general practitioners and school teachers to aid the early detection of meningitis. [10890]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department, working with the National Meningitis Trust, has produced an information leaflet about meningitis for parents and for young people entering further education. Copies of the leaflet are available through general practitioners surgeries and have been distributed through the college bags which are given to all new students. It is most unlikely that children who are ill with meningitis would be sent to school.
  244
  The National Meningitis Trust produced an information video, together with an information pack, in 1989; this pack was sent free of charge to every health education unit and public health department in the United Kingdom.

  GP Budgets
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if(a) family health services authorities and (b) health authorities are able to provide information to hon. and right hon. Members on (i) drug budgets by named general practitioner practices, (ii) staff budgets by named general practitioner practices, (iii) development budgets by named general practitioner practices, (iv) computer reimbursement by named general practitioner practices and (v) the amount of funding holding savings; and what they have been spent on by named general practitioner fundholding practice. [10746]

  Mr. Malone
  This is a matter for family health services authorities.

  Hospital Readmissions, Manchester
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Greater Manchester area were readmitted to hospital within one month of their discharge in the last three years. [11035]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an analysis of final allowed external finance limits compared with actual external finance limits outturn for each NHS trust for each year since 1991–92; [10932]

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authority planned 1996–97 initial revenue cash limits per head of population by health authority. [10920]

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

  Hepatitis
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the types of hepatitis that can be transmitted in blood for which the Blood Transfusion Service(a) tests and (b) does not test. [10753]

  Mr. Horam
  The National Blood Service tests donated blood for hepatitis B and C before use. New strains of hepatitis are identified from time to time. An expert advisory committee advises Ministers on whether suitable tests for these are available and should he introduced.

  Doctors (Alcohol)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues on the amount of alcohol doctors can drink while on duty. [10743]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Cancer Patients
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of terminally ill patients with cancer in acute hospital beds. [10763]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  "NHS Magazine"
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS management executive has spent so far on producing the "NHS Magazine"; and how many copies have been produced and distributed. [11105]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 15 January 1996,Official Report, at columns 344–45 for information on production costs/gross revenues.

  Information on the number of magazines produced and distributed is as follows:

  Issue 1: 30,000

  Issue 2: 35,000

  Issue 3: 35,000

  Health Information Services
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, column 227, if he will set out the differences between NHS guideline HSG(95)44 and guideline HSG(92)21. [11144]

  Mr. Horam
  The revised health service guidance, HSG(95)55, devolves responsibility for ensuring the provision of the freephone health information service to the new health authorities with effect from 1 April 1996. This is because of the abolition of regional health authorities, who are currently responsible for the provision of the service.

  In addition, the guidance sets out a revised core mandatory service specification and performance indicators for the service.

  Copies of HSG(95)44 will be placed in the Library.

  "Employment of Children"
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all the submissions that he receives in respect of his document, "Employment of Children", at the end of the period for consultation. [11592]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have no plans to do so.

  Children Act 1989
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to amend the Children Act 1989 246
  following the ruling of the House of Lords on the appeal of Nottinghamshire county council; [11022]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the implications for applications for care orders and related issues following the ruling of the House of Lords on the appeal by Nottinghamshire county council; [11023]

  (3) what are the implications for the principle of the paramountcy of the child's welfare, set out in the Children Act 1989 of the decision of the House of Lords on the appeal by Nottinghamshire county council. [11024]

  Mr. Bowis
  The implications of the judgment are being considered, but preliminary indications are that it will not be necessary to amend the Children Act 1989 and that existing guidance on good practice is not affected by the judgment.

  Unregistrable Children's Homes
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, column 228, what is the status of the advice given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to a director of social services in a letter dated 14 November 1995 on action to be taken in respect of poor practice in unregistrable children's homes. [11030]

  Mr. Bowis
  Common sense.

  Breast Screening
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage of women aged 50 years who have breast screening, broken down by(a) district health authority and (b) regional health authority. [11028]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Drug Addicts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his calculation of the numbers of people who are addicted to(a) benzodiazapines, (b) other medicinal drugs, (c) heroin and (d) other illegal drugs. [11255]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not possible to measure the exact extent of a covert activity such as drug misuse. The available information is given in the Department of Health's Statistical Bulletin, "Drug Misuse Statistics" and, with respect to heroin, other opiate drugs (some of which are medicinal drugs) and cocaine, in tables 1 and 2 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Statistics of Drug Addicts notified to the Home Office", United Kingdom 1994. Copies of both these publications are held in the Library.

  Deaths (Winter Months)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the ratio of deaths of those aged 60 years or above, occurring in December to March relative to the average figures for the following and preceding four months, by region, for each of the past five years; and if he will indicate the number of deaths involved in each case. [10552]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]The information is shown in the table.
  247

  Table 1: Excess winter deaths ratio1, 1990–952, for those aged 60 and over by health region of usual residence

  Health region of usual residence

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Northern

  1.18

  1.24

  1.15

  1.16

  1.15

  Yorkshire

  1.24

  1.26

  1.16

  1.20

  1.17

  Trent

  1.23

  1.25

  1.17

  1.19

  1.18

  East Anglian

  1.26

  1.19

  1.18

  1.22

  1.18

  North-West Thames

  1.22

  1.23

  1.15

  1.13

  1.19

  North-East Thames

  1.21

  1.23

  1.16

  1.20

  1.19

  South-East Thames

  1.23

  1.21

  1.15

  1.17

  1.16

  South-West Thames

  1.24

  1.22

  1.18

  1.12

  1.18

  Wessex

  1.25

  1.19

  1.16

  1.14

  .18

  Oxford

  1.24

  1.19

  1.14

  1.17

  .17

  South Western

  1.25

  1.22

  1.13

  1.15

  1.17

  West Midlands

  1.26

  1.21

  1.16

  1.14

  1.14

  Mersey

  1.26

  1.19

  1.16

  1.11

  1.18

  North Western

  1.24

  1.23

  1.17

  1.13

  1.15

  Wales

  1.24

  1.20

  1.15

  1.10

  1.16

  1Ratio of deaths occurring in December to March relative to the average figures for the following and preceding four months.

  2Data for 1993–95 are provisional.

  Table 2: Death occurrences, 1990–951, for those aged 60 and over, by health region of usual residence

  Health region of usual residence

  August to November 1990

  December 1990 to March 1991

  April to July 1991

  August to November 1991

  December1991 to March 1992

  April to July 1992

  August to November 1992

  December 1992 to March 1993

  Northern

  10,134

  12,115

  10,352

  10,397

  12,624

  9,921

  10,276

  11,743

  Yorkshire

  11,255

  13,946

  11,298

  11,312

  13,884

  10,777

  11,341

  13,218

  Trent

  14,317

  17,751

  14,486

  14,024

  17,556

  14,061

  14,518

  17,064

  East Anglian

  6,154

  7,189

  6,237

  6,313

  7,539

  6,396

  6,144

  7,376

  North-West Thames

  8,853

  10,893

  9,015

  8,948

  10,921

  8,833

  8,886

  10,074

  North-East Thames

  10,661

  12,820

  10,479

  10,597

  12,815

  10,294

  10,390

  12,158

  South-East Thames

  11,581

  14,360

  11,742

  11,600

  13,995

  11,551

  11,814

  13,624

  South-West Thames

  9,191

  11,460

  9,248

  9,104

  11,062

  8,992

  9,046

  10,724

  Wessex

  9,325

  11,663

  9,268

  9,312

  11,107

  9,286

  9,303

  11,121

  Oxford

  5,970

  7,542

  6,230

  6,180

  7,342

  6,169

  6,346

  7,186

  South Western

  10,560

  13,444

  10,939

  10,942

  13,163

  10,680

  11,068

  12,488

  West Midlands

  15,194

  19,225

  15,428

  15,253

  18,377

  15,175

  15,597

  17,970

  Mersey

  7,321

  9,466

  7,689

  7,573

  9,015

  7,529

  7,510

  8,806

  North Western

  12,901

  16,277

  13,265

  12,917

  15,906

  12,865

  12,973

  15,335

  Wales

  9,330

  11,613

  9,419

  9,249

  11,191

  9,348

  9,459

  11,068

  April-July 1993

  August-November 1993

  December 1993–March 1994

  April-July 1994

  August-November 1994

  December 1994-March 1995

  April-July 1996

  Northern

  10,229

  10,980

  11,828

  9,399

  9,381

  10,965

  9,753

  Yorkshire

  11,423

  12,010

  13,931

  11,184

  11,229

  13,149

  11,200

  Trent

  14,629

  15,668

  17,836

  14,370

  14,235

  17,022

  14,621

  East Anglian

  6,372

  6,703

  8,790

  7,683

  7,571

  8,972

  7,637

  North-West Thames

  8,660

  9,124

  9,322

  7,353

  7,385

  8,844

  7,483

  North-East Thames

  10,487

  11,043

  12,796

  10,309

  10,521

  12,482

  10,433

  South-East Thames

  11,971

  12,378

  14,105

  11,694

  11,623

  13,605

  11,818

  South-West Thames

  9,070

  10,009

  10,772

  9,218

  9,030

  10,748

  9,114

  Wessex

  9,939

  10,381

  11,496

  9,841

  9,610

  11,577

  9,986

  Oxford

  6,289

  6,569

  7,542

  6,317

  6,139

  7,321

  6,328

  South Western

  10,976

  11,961

  13,125

  10,929

  10,776

  12,848

  11,250

  West Midlands

  15,474

  16,938

  18,374

  15,262

  15,517

  17,976

  16,012

  Mersey

  7.611

  8,479

  8,899

  7,532

  7,500

  8,827

  7,410

  North Western

  13,169

  14,465

  15,726

  13,358

  13,565

  15,457

  13,358

  Wales

  9,791

  10,749

  11,218

  9,672

  9,438

  11,108

  9,795

  1Data for 1993–95 are provisional.

  248

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Works of Art (Royal Collection)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her latest estimate of when the compilation of the inventory of royal collection of works of art will be completed. [10636]

  Mr. Sproat
  The royal collection—which is a department of the royal household and is not a responsibility of my Department—is responsible for compiling the inventory of the works of art. However, I understand that the inventory is scheduled for completion by the end of 1997.

  Tourism (North-East)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what measures are being taken by her Department to promote tourism in the north-east; [10916]

  (2) what has been the level of funding of the Northumbrian tourist board over the last five years. [10915]

  Mr. Sproat
  Government support for tourism is channelled through the statutory British Tourist Authority—BTA—and English tourist board, ETB. Through the ETB, support is made available to the 11 non-statutory regional tourist boards, including the Northumbria tourist board, which helps them undertake a variety of marketing and development activities of benefit to the tourism industry in their regions.

  The total funding made available to the Northumbria tourist board is as follows:

  1991–92: £479,000

  1992–93: £505,000

  1993–94: £484,000

  1994–95: £394,000

  1995–96: £364,0001

  1 Figure for 1995ߝ96 is an estimate as the Northumbria tourist board has until 31 March 1996 to complete the draw-down of funds from ETB.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the value of tourism to the north-east of England in the last five years. [10917]

  Mr. Sproat
  The estimated value of tourism to the north-east of England in the last five years is:

  £ million

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Staying visits:

  UK residents

  225

  255

  275

  310

  355

  Overseas residents

  79

  93

  96

  134

  131

  Day visits

  176

  220

  289

  305

  312

  Total

  480

  568

  660

  749

  798

  Source:

  United Kingdom Tourism Survey, International Passenger Survey, Leisure Day Visits Survey 1988–89 and Day Visits in Great Britain Survey 1991–92.

  Churches
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will seek powers to enable her to intervene to protect the internal fabric of churches whose construction and decor is of architectural or historical importance. [10905]

  Mr. Sproat
  Since 1 October 1994, ecclesiastical exemption from statutory listed building and conservation area controls has been confined to specified denominations which have satisfactory internal procedures to protect listed churches and unlisted churches in conservation areas. The Government are monitoring the operation of the procedures and have undertaken to review the position formally after two years. In the meantime, my right hon. Friend retains power to remove the exemption in any in individual case and will consider doing so wherever necessary.

  Libraries (North-West)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many libraries in the north-west region have been closed since 1987. [11055]

  Mr. Sproat
  This information is not held centrally. However, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's public library statistics, copies of which are held in the House Library, provide information about the total number of libraries in each library authority at the end of every financial year. These do not, however, record the opening or closure of library facilities.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) which official of her Department is responsible for monitoring Oflot's compliance with guidance provided by her Department; [8612]

  (2) which official of Oflot is responsible for ensuring that the Department is informed of any failure to observe guidance provided by the Department. [8611]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]None. Oflot is an independent, non-ministerial Government Department. As head of the Department, the director-general is responsible for compliance with various central guidance issued to Departments.

  Royal Parks
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what(a) number and (b) species of animals and birds were killed under licence in the royal parks during 1995. [10151]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from V. Robertson to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 24 January 1996:
  In the absence of the chief executive, I have been asked by the Secretary of State for National Heritage to reply to your parliamentary question on the number and species of birds and animals that were killed under licence in the royal parks during 1995.
  251

  Greylag geese

  Canada geese

  Hyde park and Kensington gardens

  0

  63

  St. James's park

  15

  19

  Regent's park

  15

  86

  Environmental Appraisal
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if the forthcoming heritage Green Paper 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 she will publish the environmental appraisal. [10611]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]My right hon. Friend has considered the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" and is satisfied that an appraisal of the environmental effects in relation to the proposed heritage Green Paper is not appropriate at this time. The main purpose of the Green Paper will be to consult on a range of proposals for improving the statutory protection of the built heritage. We will keep this decision under review as appropriate.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Stamps (Direct Selling)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of direct sales of postage stamps by the Royal Mail in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9489]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Post Office advises me that the total actual and estimated values of direct sales of postage stamps by post, excluding philatelic items, by the Royal Mail in 1993, 1994 and 1995 are as set out in the table. Sales of postage stamps by post office outlets are also shown.

  £000

  Sales of postage stamps via post office outlets

  Direct postal sales of postage stamps by Royal Mail

  1993–94

  1,128,944

  590

  1994–95

  1,126,216

  3,087

  1995–96

  11,140,000

  18,300

  1 Figures provided for 1995–96 represent.estimated sales.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research he has(a) evaluated and (b) commissioned into the effect of directly selling postage stamps by post on the viability of sub-post offices throughout the British Isles; and if he will make a statement. [9487]
  252
  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. Decisions on the methods by which postage stamps are sold to customers are the operational responsibility of Post Office management.

  However, I understand that the Post Office considers it unlikely that direct sales of postage stamps by post, excluding philatelic items, which it is estimated will constitute approximately 0.6 per cent. of total postage stamp sales in 1995–96, will have any significant impact on the viability of the nationwide network of sub-post offices.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received on the subject of direct postal selling of postage stamps to businesses by the Royal Mail; and if he will make a statement. [9488]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I am not aware of any representations made to my Department on the subject of direct postal selling of postage stamps to businesses by the Royal Mail.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of overseas investment in 1979; and what it is currently at constant prices. [9579]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information, in current prices, is set out in the table. Information in constant prices is not available.

  Book value of foreign direct investment

  £ billion, current prices

  UK investment overseas

  Overseas investment in the UK

  1979

  31.4

  22.0

  1994

  183.3

  139.7

  Investment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the annual level of investment in the United Kingdom in 1979; and what it is currently at constant prices. [9580]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Total fixed investment in the United Kingdom in 1979 amounted to £75.8 billion at 1990 prices. For the four quarters ending in September 1995, the latest period for which figures are available, the level of investment was £100.2 billion, a third higher than the 1979 level.

  Chocolate Exports
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much chocolate and chocolate products by(a) volume and (b) value was exported from the United Kingdom to (i) other EU states and (ii) elsewhere in each of the last five years; and if he will estimate how many United Kingdom jobs depend on these exports. [9944]

  Mr. Oppenehim
  Information on UK exports of cocoa, chocolate and their products1 is given in the following table. In 1993, employment in the cocoa and chocolate manufacturing industry2 was 25,500 in Great Britain. Estimates are not made of the number of jobs that depend upon chocolate and cocoa exports.
  253

  UK exporters of cocoa, chocolate and their products

  Thousand metric tonnes

  £ million

  1990

  EU

  55.8

  115.7

  Others

  64.9

  127.0

  Total

  120.7

  242.7

  1991

  EU

  66.1

  143.7

  Others

  63.6

  125.3

  Total

  129.7

  269.0

  1992

  EU

  73.4

  165.7

  Others

  70.7

  140.3

  Total

  144.1

  306.0

  1993

  EU

  76.7

  179.8

  Others

  91.5

  174.2

  Total

  168.3

  354.0

  1994

  EU

  82.3

  194.7

  Others

  98.9

  205.8

  Total

  181.2

  400.5

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the UK.

  Notes:

  1Cocoa, chocolate and their products are defined as Groups 072 and 073 of the Standard International Trade Classification(Revision 3).

  2 The cocoa and chocolate manufacturing industry is defined by subclass 15.84/1 of the Standard Industrial Classification (1992).

  Sydney Olympics
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what actions he is taking to ensure that British firms secure construction work for the Sydney olympics. [10029]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My Department has established the Sydney olympics UK business task force to identify and disseminate business opportunities arising from the preparations for the Sydney games. Working with the UK and Australian public and private sectors, it is the job of the task force to ensure that UK industry is well positioned to win contracts in a range of areas, including construction.

  Overseas Exhibitions
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the overseas exhibitions for trade fairs displaying military, security, police or paramilitary services or products his Department has provided support or joint venture funding for British companies to attend or exhibit at since 1988; what has been the value of such DTI support; and which companies have received such funding. [10272]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The DTI provided support to United Kingdom firms to exhibit towards the cost of participation at the following overseas exhibitions in the form of grants towards the cost of participation:
  254

  Event

  Number of firms

  Support (£)

  Piraeus Defendory—October 1988

  49

  293,246

  Sydney Aussie Air—October 1988

  9

  67,144

  Essen Security—October 1988

  20

  22.877

  Paris Europrotection—November 1988

  11

  13,741

  Beijing Asiaindex—November 1988

  21

  89,855

  Bangkok Defence Asia—December 1988

  18

  81.614

  Dubai Air—January 1989

  20

  137.902

  Ankara Idea—May 1989

  30

  129,430

  Ottawa Armx—May 1989

  21

  58,959

  Paris Airshow—June 1989

  79

  165,334

  Washington Comdef—October 1989

  26

  163,028

  Canberra Aidex—November 1989

  9

  38,891

  Singapore Asian Aerospace—February 1990

  60

  277,828

  Madrid Sicur—March 1990

  27

  70,407

  Kuala Lumpur—March 1990

  52

  209,430

  Baltimore Copex—May 1990

  21

  20,660

  Piraeus Defendory—October 1990

  32

  174,131

  Paris Expoprotection—November 1990

  17

  27,448

  Essen Security—November 1990

  20

  18,153

  Washington Comdef—November 1990

  12

  34,131

  Bangkok Asia Defence—December 1990

  12

  56,332

  Miami Copex—February 1991

  17

  15,680

  Baltimore Copex—May 1991

  15

  14.052

  Singapore Security—May 1991

  8

  17,144

  Paris Airshow—June 1991

  52

  144,634

  Minneapolis lacp—October 1991

  6

  4,775

  Dubai Air—November 1991

  73

  332,277

  Ankara Idea—November 1991

  28

  88,939

  Seoul Defence—November 1991

  26

  78,923

  Canberra Aidex—November 1991

  16

  52,731

  Utrecht Security—November 1991

  14

  13,651

  Riyadh Astex—December 1991

  16

  28,633

  Miami Copex—February 1992

  11

  21,386

  Singapore Asian Aerospace—February 1992

  45

  158,218

  Madrid Sicur—March 1992

  11

  21,386

  Kuala Lumpur Dsa—April 1992

  63

  171,331

  Baltimore Copex—May 1992

  9

  8,865

  Hong Kong Securtex—May 1992

  12

  33,008

  Bahrein Medef—May 1992

  12

  37,558

  Paris Eurosatory—September 1992

  25

  76,823

  Johannesburg Interbou—August 1992

  10

  20,841

  Paris Expoprotection—September 1992

  14

  37,636

  Piraeus Defendory—October 1992

  13

  65,972

  Essen Security—October 1992

  15

  18,859

  Riyadh Astex—October 1992

  15

  50,401

  Budapest Security—November 1992

  6

  9,978

  Abu Dhabi Defence—February 1993

  77

  281,963

  Singapore Security Asia—February 1993

  10

  30,012

  Baltimore Copex—May 1993

  9

  10,605

  Paris Airshow—June 1993

  32

  72,856

  Ankara Idef—September 1993

  11

  62,694

  Utrecht Security—October 1993

  8

  13,389

  Budapest Security—November 1993

  9

  18,946

  Dubai Air—November 1993

  39

  193,101

  Paris Milipol—November 1993

  7

  17,659

  Seoul Defence—November 1993

  28

  87,971

  Poznan Securex—January 1994

  8

  17.508

  Singapore Asian Aerospace—February 1994

  54

  247,078

  Madrid Sicur—March 1994

  8

  15,885

  Bangkok Securitex—June 1994

  7

  23,206

  Kuala Lumpur Dsa—April 1994

  62

  241,906

  Dubai Indepo—May 1994

  10

  26,506

  Hong Kong Securitex—June 1994

  11

  31,116

  Paris Eurosatory—June 1994

  5

  65,256

  Las Vegas Asis—September 1994

  11

  29,745

  Piraeus Defendory—October 1994

  10

  47,455

  Essen Security—October 1994

  20

  21,247

  Abu Dhabi Idex—March 1995

  88

  442,867

  Singapore Security Asia—April 1995

  19

  55,047

  Paris Airshow—June 1995

  48

  72.002

  New Orleans Asis—September 1995

  13

  30,505

  Bangkok Defence—September 1995

  14

  54.496

  Ankara ldef—September 1995

  8

  75.850

  Berlin Sitech—September 1995

  10

  14.246

  255

  Event

  Number of.firms

  Support (£)

  Seoul Defence—September 1995

  18

  72,194

  Utrecht Security—October 1995

  5

  8,220

  Dubai Air—November 1995

  27

  149,093

  Paris Milipol—November 1995

  12

  30,396

  The provisions of the Data Protection Acts precludes the release of information about individual firms.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what DTI support is provided to(a) the Defence Manufacturers Association and (b) Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers to support British companies to attend or exhibit at overseas military, security, police or paramilitary exhibitions. [10273]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Both associations are recognised sponsor organisations which may organise official groups of United Kingdom firms and are therefore eligible for support under the terms of the trade fairs support scheme and the outward mission scheme. Support under the former is in the form of grants towards the cost of participation and in the latter it is in the form of a travel grant.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Parliament of the Board of Trade what support or joint venture funding his Department has provided to British companies to attend or exhibit at the forthcoming Indepo, Dubai from 14 to 16 January; what is the value of such support; and to which companies it was given. [10274]

  Mrs. Oppenheim
  No DTI support was provided to any British companies exhibiting at Indepo Dubai which took place on 14 to 16 January 1996.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support or joint venture funding his Department has provided to British companies to attend or exhibit at the defence services Asia exhibition, Kuala Lumpur 1995; what was the value of such support; and to which companies it was given. [10275]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There was no exhibition in 1995. The most recent exhibition took place in 1994. The DTI provided support for United Kingdom firms to exhibit in the form of grants towards the cost of participation. Support totalling £241,906 was provided to 59 exhibiting companies. The provisions of the Data Protection Acts precludes the release of information about individual companies.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department provided in the last five years for British companies attending and exhibiting at Covert operations and police exhibition—COPEX—exhibitions throughout the world; what was the value of such support; and to which companies it was given. [10198]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The DTI provided support to United Kingdom firms to exhibit in the form of grants towards the cost of participation. Support totalling £81,641 was provided at six COPEX exhibitions throughout the world in the last five years. The provisions of the Data Protection Acts precludes the release of information about individual companies.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support or joint venture funding is being 256
  provided to British companies to attend or exhibit at the forthcoming COPEX Jordan scheduled for 26 and 27 March; at what cost; and to which companies. [10195]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No DTI support is being provided to any British companies exhibiting at COPEX Jordan taking place on 26 to 27 March 1996.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department provided for British companies attending and exhibiting at COPEX Miami in February 1991; what was the value of such support; and to which companies it was given. [10197]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The DTI provided support for United Kingdom firms to exhibit in the form of grants towards the cost of participation. Support totalling £15,680 was provided to 17 companies exhibiting at this event. The provision of the Data Protection Acts precludes the release of information about individual companies.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support or joint venture funding was provided to British companies which attended or exhibited at the international defence industry and civil aviation fair held in Turkey in November 1995; at what cost; and to which companies. [10196]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This event took place in Ankara in September 1995. The DTI provided support for United Kingdom firms to exhibit in the form of grants towards the cost of participation. Support totalling £75,850 was provided to eight companies exhibiting at this event. The provisions of the Data Protection Acts precludes the release of information about individual companies.

  Insurance Claims (Settlements)
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government have taken to encourage speedy settlements by insurance companies. [10307]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. This is a matter primarily for the insurance industry. The Association of British Insurers, the industry's principal trade association, has a code of practice which requires member insurers to settle valid claims without delay.

  Dealing swiftly with claims is in the interest not only of policyholders but insurers. By settling claims quickly, they reduce their administrative costs. Failure to do so will encourage customers to turn to insurers offering better service.

  Exports to Saudi Arabia (Outstanding Debt)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the total amount of debt outstanding for(a) six months and (b) 12 months in respect of (i) pharmaceutical products an (ii) other manufactured goods exported to Saudi Arabia. [10624]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Export Credits Guarantee Department has no debts outstanding in respect of goods exported to Saudi Arabia. Short-term cover for goods such as pharmaceutical products is provided by the private sector and estimates of total debts outstanding are not available.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of overseas investment in the United Kingdom; and what it was in(a) 1979 and (b) 1990. [11062]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information, in current price terms, is as follows:

  Book value of overseas direct investment in the United Kingdom

  £billion, current prices

  1979

  22.0

  1990

  113.2

  1994

  139.7

  Retailers (European Exports)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage British retailers to expand their activities into the rest of the European Union. [10901]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Through the "Business in Europe" service, this Department, and Foreign and Commonwealth Office commercial staff based in other member states, offer a wide range of information, advice and practical assistance to help firms do business in European Union countries. Many British retailers are already well established on the continent, and I encourage all UK companies, including retailers, to make full use of the support we can offer.

  Export Opportunities (California)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what programmes exist to enable United Kingdom companies to identify export opportunities in California. [10883]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Overseas trade services, administered jointly by my Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provide a wide range of support functions to UK exporters. This support is available to companies interested in opportunities in California where there are two commercial posts, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, to offer help and assistance.

  My Department's north America now campaign, which was launched in March 1993, provides additional support for companies interested in business opportunities in the United States. A team of export promoters seconded to the Department from the private sector is also available to give advice to exporters to the United States.

  Exports (US)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list, in the order of their introduction, all current initiatives which give information and assistance to companies which wish to export to the United States. [10882]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Overseas trade services, administered jointly by my Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provide a package of support measures to help exporters to all markets including the United States. These include help with market research,258
  finding representatives in the United States, support at trade fairs, outward and inward trade missions and information on export opportunities. A team of export promoters seconded to my Department from UK industry is also available to help exporters.

  In addition, my Department's north America now campaign provides additional help for UK companies seeking to do business in the United States. Seminars and clinics are held on a range of topics, both sectoral and cross-sectoral in nature, to alert UK companies to the opportunities in the market and the methods of doing business there. A range of publications is available to exporters and help is offered with finding strategic partners in north America.

  European Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notices 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; [10050]

  (2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10070]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answers 22 January 1996]: My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the additon of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments. Any guidance prepared by my Department on this subject will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what levels of export credit guarantees have been provided in each of the last 10 years in respect of contracts with(a) Nigeria, (b) Saudi Arabia, (c) Oman and (d) Indonesia; and what amounts related to the sale of defence equipment. [9823]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 16 January 1996]: The value of project and capital goods liabilities assumed in each of the named markets together with that element relating to defence equipment—shown in brackets—was as follows:

  £ Million

  Indonesia

  Saudi Arabia

  Oman

  Nigeria

  1985–86

  140

  (83)

  52

  (6)

  77

  (17)

  0

  —

  1986–87

  73

  (51)

  0

  —

  66

  (37)

  23

  (0)

  1987–88

  48

  (6)

  15

  (0)

  0

  —

  0

  —

  1988–89

  67

  (3)

  450

  (450)

  0

  —

  34

  (0)

  1989–90

  52

  (0)

  0

  —

  0

  —

  0

  —

  1990–91

  150

  (3)

  0

  —

  350

  (350)

  0

  —

  1991–92

  124

  (2)

  17

  (0)

  0

  —

  0

  —

  1992–93

  450

  (442)

  225

  (225)

  44

  (44)

  0

  —

  1993–94

  100

  (6)

  751

  (750)

  413

  (344)

  0

  —

  1994–95

  220

  (113)

  225

  (225)

  80

  (54)

  0

  —

  Stamp Prices
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what increase in the cost of(a) first-class and (b) second-class stamps he expects following the Budget. [9190]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: I understand that the Post Office has undertaken to maintain the existing level of postal charges until at least 31 March this year. It will be for the Post Office in the first instance to put forward a specific proposal on the amount and timing of the increase it believes will necessary thereafter.

  Character Ceramics, Falmouth
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department received from hon. Members about grant aid by his Department to Character Ceramics. [10110]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: No such representations were received.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much Character Ceramics, Falmouth, received from his Department in grant aid and on what date. [10173]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: A total of £104,000 was paid in three tranches between March and September 1993.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons (Mechanical Restraints)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the(a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, have been detained in a body belt or mechanical restraint, since January 1990; [8444]

  (2) how often the Home Office official at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of (a) body belts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (d) special segregation unit cells for each year since January 1990; [8422]

  (3) on how many occasions since January 1990 inmates in HMP New Hall, Wakefield, have been kept in body belts for more than 12 hours; [8438]

  (4) on how many occasions since January 1990 inmates at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, have been (a) detained in a strip cell and (b) restrained by body belts for (i) medical or (ii) non-medical purposes. [8441]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints, the segregation unit and the strip cell at New Hall prison since January 1990.
  260
  Since January 1990, inmates have been detained in a strip cell for medical reasons on 136 occasions. New Hall prison did not have a segregation unit until 1992. Since then, inmates have been detained on 46 occasions in the unit for non-medical reasons.
  On no occasion since January 1990 has any inmate at New Hall prison been restrained by bodybelts or other mechanical restraint.
  No official responsible for the punishment of inmates at New Hall prison has, since January 1990, authorised the use of bodybelts. ankle straps or handcuffs. Use of the special segregation unit cells has been authorised on the following occasions. 1992—twice: 1993—once; 1994—once; 1995—once.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the policy of handcuffing pregnant prisoners receiving hospital treatment around childbirth. [7540]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 15 January 1996]Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the handcuffing of pregnant prisoners.
  The Home Secretary announced on 18 January revised arrangements on the use of restraints on prisoners attending hospital. The Prison Service implemented the revised policy on 19 January. Amendments to the Prison Service security manual reflecting the revised policy will be issued as soon as possible and placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what stage labour is deemed to have begun in the context of paragraph 60.18 of the current edition of the Prison Service security manual. [9492]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 15 January [996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to he given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking at what stage labour is deemed to have begun in the context of paragraph 60.18 of the current edition of the Prison Service Security Manual.
  All decisions about the onset of labour arc made by nursing and medical staff attending the mother at the time.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures govern requests by(a) a doctor and (b) a midwife for the removal of handcuffs from a prisoner giving birth; and what discretion prison officers have on whether to comply with such a request. [9491]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to he given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what procedures govern requests by (a) a doctor and (b) a midwife for the removal of handcuffs from a prisoner giving birth; and what discretion prison officers have on whether to comply with such a request.

  261
  The Home Secretary announced on 18 January revised arrangements on the use of restraints on prisoners attending hospital, which were implemented by the Prison Service on 19 January. Amendments to the Prison Service security manual reflecting the revised policy will be issued as soon as possible and placed in the Library of the House.
  From now on, no female prisoner admitted to hospital to give birth will have physical restraints applied from the time she arrives at the hospital until she leaves.

  Fraud
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of fraud cases reported in the last five years. [9562]

  Mr. Maclean
  Figures are collected centrally on the number of fraud offences recorded by the police, but not on their total value.

  Bull Bars
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all bull bars have now been removed from police vehicles. [9938]

  Mr. Maclean
  As I stated in my reply to an earlier question from the hon. Member on 29 November 1995,Official Report, columns 781–82, this is an operational matter for chief constables. The information requested is not available centrally, but the Association of Chief Police Officers has written to every force suggesting that they remove bull bars from their vehicles.

  Internet
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what legal controls there are in respect of material providing instructions on explosives and weapons on the Internet; and if he will make a statement; [10479]

  (2) if he will press for the prosecution of those Internet providers who publish the detailed processes of making explosives and bombs; and if he will make a statement. [10483]

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no specific legal controls in respect of material providing instructions on explosives and weapons whether that material is contained on the Internet or any other medium. A person could, however, be liable to prosecution under the Explosive Substances Act 1883 if they actually carried out the instructions to make an explosive device, or the Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 for simply acquiring or keeping explosives without an explosives certificate from the police.

  In such cases, it is the responsibility of the police to decide whether there are sufficient grounds to launch a criminal investigation, and that of the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to prosecute those alleged to be responsible for the material.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to meet the Internet providers so as to eliminate the practice of the Internet making available chemical and other data required for making bombs and incendiary devices; [10481]
  262
  (2) how he proposes to prevent children and students having access via the Internet to material illustrating how explosives and bombs might be made; [10480]

  (3) what legislation he plans to bring forward to prevent Internet providers publishing manuals on bomb making and terrorist activities; and if he will make a statement. [10482]

  Mr. Maclean
  Officials have discussed with Internet service providers concerns about the availability of unsuitable material on the Internet, and ways of controlling access by children and young people to such material. The Government are currently considering the most suitable way of tackling the issue.

  The general question of regulation of the Internet and other computer networks is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who has commissioned a short study on the subject of unsuitable material on the Internet to identify the issues and possible solutions.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the availability on the Internet of information on the making of bombs and the materials required for the making of bombs and on the techniques of terrorism. [11032]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received one letter expressing concern about the availability of information on the Internet providing instructions on how to make bombs and on terrorist techniques.

  Prison Service (Director General)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional help and support the Deputy Director General of the Prison Service is receiving pending the appointment of a new Director General. [10878]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The temporary Director General of the Prison Service receives the same administrative support as his predecessor.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, column 966, against whom a case was brought by the Commission for Racial Equality on the basis that the ethnic profile of employees was such as to be inconsistent with appointments made purely on merit; if he will indicate in that case the percentage of employees who were from (a) white European and (b) ethnic minority backgrounds; and if he will make a statement of the implications of that case for (i) employers generally and (ii) the Commission for Racial Equality in particular, which employs high percentages of its work force from the ethnic minorities. [11048]
  263
  Mr. Kirkhope
  My reply of 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 966, was incorrectly printed and should have read:
  "None of the cases brought or supported by the commission against employers in the last year was on the basis that the ethnic profile of its employees was such as to be inconsistent with appointments made purely on merit.
  Information on whether such a profile has been a significant factor in other cases could be obtained only at disproportionate cost".

  Arrangements have already been made to amend the bound volume of the Official Report.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy in future to appoint to the Commission for Racial Equality such members that its ethnic profile broadly reflects that of the United Kingdom as a whole. [11046]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We believe that it is desirable for the 15 members of the Commission for Racial Equality to be drawn from a broad range of communities in the United Kingdom and we shall continue to take this into account when making appointments.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, column 965, if he will require the Commission for Racial Equality in future to record the ethnic background both of complainants and of those against whom the complaint is made. [11047]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The Commission for Racial Equality already monitors the ethnic origin of complainants. It is not practicable to monitor the ethnic origin of those against whom the complaint is made as these will usually be organisations rather than individuals.

  West Yorkshire Police
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of constables employed by the West Yorkshire police force currently; what the figures were in(a) 1990, (b) 1985 and (c) 1980; and what is the projected figure for 1999. [10733]

  Mr. Maclean
  The number of constables employed by West Yorkshire police in these years was:

  (a) September 1980: 3,660

  (b) September 1985: 3,739

  (c) September 1990: 3,992

  (d) September 19951: 3,961

  1Latest date centrally available.

  Between March and September 1995 the number of constables in the force increased by 89. The chief constable has also said that he expects overall police strength in West Yorkshire to increase by 135 in the year to March 1996. Projections for 1999 are a matter for the chief constable and police authority. However, West Yorkshire police's share of the extra funding being provided to recruit 5,000 additional officers nationally over three years is likely to be sufficient to enable 200 extra constables to be recruited by March 1999.

  Young Offenders
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total annual cost of dealing with young people aged 10 to 17 years in the judicial and custodial systems; [10940]

  (2) what is the average cost of processing the case of a juvenile offender from offence to completion, to (a) the police, (b) the Crown Prosecution Service, (c) the social services, (d) the education system and (e) the courts, and in total. [10866]

  Mr. Maclean
  We estimate that, including police, court, legal aid, Crown Prosecution Service, probation and prison service costs, the total annual cost to the criminal justice system in 1994–95 of dealing with juvenile offenders aged 10 to 17 years was about £130 million. We estimate that the average cost was about £1,000. These estimates do not include the costs to social services and the education system, which are not available.

  Holloway Prison
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place between the Whittington hospital county midwifery services and Her Majesty's Prison Holloway concerning access to medical care for women prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [11640]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what discussions have taken place between the Whittington Hospital County Midwifery Services and Holloway prison concerning access for medical care for woman prisoners.
  Discussions have taken place between Holloway and the Whittington Hospital over the provision of and access to a range of medical services. These discussions are continuing.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 19 October, 16 November and 13 December 1995 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. Shah Shrana Ahmed of 18 Harcock close, Manchester. [11615]

  Mr. Howard
  I wrote to the right hon. Member about Mrs. Shah Shuara Ahmed on 22 January 1996.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 29 September, 2 November and 13 December 1995 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. S. Shah of 23 Sarnesfield close, Manchester. [11613]

  Mr. Howard
  I wrote to the right hon. Member about Mrs. S. Shah on 22 January 1996.
  265
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 10 October, 9 November and 13 December 1995 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Mohammed Ashfaq of 19 Sullivan street, Manchester. [11614]

  Mr. Howard
  I wrote to the right hon. Member about Mr. Mohammad Ashfaq on 22 January 1996.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will report on the responses he has received to the Green Paper on identity cards, Cm 2879. [12136]

  Mr. Howard
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the Government's memorandum of evidence on identity cards to the Home Affairs Committee containing a summary of the responses received to the Green Paper.

  Merseyside Police
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to visit Merseyside to discuss the police authority's budget; and if he will make a statement. [10473]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend would be happy to visit Merseyside when a suitable opportunity arises.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has proposed that Merseyside police authority's basic funding allocation for 1996–97 should increase by 3.2 per cent. over 1995–96. If it sets a budget for 1996–97 at the cap, spending could increase by £8 million—3.7 per cent. over the current financial year.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by the National Lottery Charities Board on start-up and running costs since its inception. [9175]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 17 January 1996]: From August 1994 to November 1995—the latest date for which figures are available—the National Lottery Charities Board spent £7.8 million, of which £2 million was on start-up costs and the remainder on running costs. This is around 3½ per cent. of the money then available to it from the national lottery distribution fund and is comparable with the corresponding figure for other general purpose grant givers.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Privatisation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 January,Official Report, columns 26–29, what instructions he has issued to the franchising director regarding the assessment of the costs of a passenger rail franchise continuing to be operated by the British Railways Board rather than by private franchisee. [9940]
  266
  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director has a duty under section 5(1) (b) of the Railway Act 1993 to ensure that any payments made in pursuance of an agreement under section 52 of the Act, which enables the franchising director to secure provision by the British Railways Board or any wholly owned subsidiary of the board of railway passenger services that are not provided under a franchise agreement, achieve economically and efficiently and objectives given to him by the Secretary of State. The franchising director has an objective to encourage efficiency and economy in the provision of railway services.

  Upper Thames Piers
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expressions of interest have been received by the Port of London Authority in the public piers on the upper Thames; what criteria he proposes to adopt in respect of access, charging policy and other operational considerations; and what safeguards will he required in respect of access by potential future riverbus services. [10260]

  Mr. Norris
  These are matters for the Port of London Authority.

  Al (Construction Work)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors underlie the areas where construction work on the Al(a) is delayed and (b) is taking place. [9688]

  Mr. Watts
  Criteria used in the review of the roads programme are set out in the document "Managing the trunk road programme", published on 28 November 1995. I have set out in the tables the status of the A1 schemes in the road programme.

  1. Construction soon to start

  Area

  A1(M)

  Alconbury-Peterborough (DBFO)—start of works later this year

  M1/Al

  Link road (Lofthouse-Branham) (DBFO)—start of works spring 1996

  2. Main programme

  Area

  A1(M)

  Wetherby-Walshford, North Yorkshire.Leeds MB

  A1(M)

  Wetherby Bypass, Leeds MB

  A1(M)

  Bramham—Wetherby, Leeds MB

  A1(M)

  Ferrybridge-Hook Moor, Wakefield MB. Leeds MB, North Yorkshire

  A1(M)

  Redhouse—Ferrybridge, Doncaster, MB.Wakefield MB, North Yorkshire Willowburn-Denwick Imp.Northumberland

  A1

  Morpeth-Lanehead Imp, Northumberland

  Al

  Blyth GSJ, Nottinghamshire

  Al

  Five Lanes End GSJ, Nottinghamshire

  Al

  Markham Moor GSJ, Nottinghamshire

  A1

  Tempsford GSJ, Bedfordshire

  267

  3. To be reviewed as potential smaller scale improvements

  Area

  A1(M)

  J6–8 Widening, Hertfordshire

  A1

  Gateshead Western Bypass, Gateshead MB

  4. Longer term

  Area

  A1(M)

  Leeming-Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire

  A1(M)

  Dishforth-Leeming, North Yorkshire

  A1(M)

  Tuxford-Blyth, Nottinghamshire

  A1(M)

  Newark-Tuxford, Nottinghamshire

  A1(M)

  Stamford—Newark, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire

  A1(M)

  Stamford Bypass, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire

  A1(M)

  Peterborough-Stamford, Cambridgeshire

  A1(M)

  Baldock-Alconbury, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire

  A1(M)

  J9–10 Widening, Hertfordshire

  A1(M)

  J4–6 Widening, Hertfordshire

  A1(M)

  J1–4 Widening Hertfordshire

  A19 (Emergency Telephones)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to install emergency telephones on the A19 between the River Tees and the River Tyne. [10914]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Cummings, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking when emergency telephones will be installed on the A19 between the River Tees and the River Tyne.
  This stretch of the A19 is included in the Al9 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel DBFO contract. Tenders have been received, and the contract is currently being negotiated with the bidders. Under the terms of the contract, the DBFO Co will be obliged to provide emergency telephones between the River Tees and the River Tyne. The timescale for implementation will be agreed as part of the contract negotiations, but every effort will be made to achieve installation of the emergency telephones as soon as possible.

  Vehicle Owners
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the percentage of households who have(a) cars and (b) motor cycles for each shire county in England. [11153]

  Mr. Norris
  The 1995 county estimates of the percentage of households owning cars are shown in the table.

  Comparable information for motor cycles is not available.

  Per cent.

  Avon

  74

  Bedfordshire

  77

  Berkshire

  80

  Buckinghamshire

  82

  Cambridgeshire

  77

  Cheshire

  75

  268

  Per cent.

  Cleveland

  61

  Cornwall

  76

  Cumbria

  70

  Derbyshire

  71

  Devon

  74

  Dorset

  77

  Durham

  62

  East Sussex

  69

  Essex

  77

  Gloucestershire

  78

  Hampshire

  77

  Hereford and Worcester

  79

  Hertfordshire

  80

  Humberside

  65

  Isle of Wight

  71

  Kent

  75

  Lancashire

  68

  Leicestershire

  72

  Lincolnshire

  75

  Norfolk

  75

  North Yorkshire

  73

  Northamptonshire

  75

  Northumberland

  67

  Nottinghamshire

  67

  Oxfordshire

  79

  Shropshire

  77

  Somerset

  79

  Staffordshire

  73

  Suffolk

  76

  Surrey

  83

  Warwickshire

  77

  West Sussex

  78

  Wiltshire

  78

  Bus Deregulation, Warrington
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the Office of Fair Trading in relation to bus deregulation in Warrington. [11198]

  Mr. Norris
  My officials have frequent discussions with the Office of Fair Trading about various matters concerning the bus industry. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not my practice to disclose the details of any such discussions.

  Rail Privatisation, Manchester
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payment is planned to be made to the Office of Passenger Franchising in respect of additional costs of supporting rail services in the Manchester passenger transport executive area arising from the privatisation of British Rail. [11319]

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

  London Transport (Funding)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what allocation his Department has made for core funding for London Transport for each of the years 1995–96 to 1998–99. [11223]
  269
  Mr. Norris
  The grant allocation for the London Transport core business for 1995–96 is £442 million. For later years, a combined allocation of grant has been made for the core business and the Jubilee line extension project, as follows: 1996–97, £939 million; 1997–98, £648 million; 1998–99, £429 million. The apportionment of grant between the two areas will be determined by London Transport in the light of the precise requirements of the Jubilee line extension. The final allocation of grant at outturn will be reported in the DOT departmental report for the relevant year.

  Nottingham City Transport
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Nottingham city council on the sale of shares in Nottingham City Transport to(a) First Bus and (b) the employees; and if he will make a statement. [11222]

  Mr. Norris
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is not my practice to disclose the details of any discussions between the Department and an owning local authority on such an issue.

  Taxi Drivers
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to regulate local council policy on the adoption of group II medical status for taxi drivers. [11134]

  Mr. Norris
  In their response to the Transport Committee's report on taxis and private hire vehicles (CM 2715) the Government agreed with the Committee's recommendation that applicants for taxi and private hire vehicle driver licences should pass a medical similar to that required for bus and coach drivers. This will require primary legislation, and will thus depend upon a suitable legislative opportunity becoming available.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the SACTRA report was taken into consideration in the value for money assessment of the Newbury bypass. [11193]

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

  Letter front Lawrie Haynes to Mr Graham Allen, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if the SACTRA report was taken into consideration in the value for money assessment of the Newbury Bypass.
  The Highways Agency Study last year looked at the potential for induced traffic in line with the SACTRA report. It concluded that even if a severe test were to be applied, and very high levels of induced traffic assumed, the scheme would still represent good value for money.

  Yellow Lines
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which authorities are involved in the authorisation of yellow lines on roads. [11306]

  Mr. Norris
  Traffic authorities may cause or permit yellow lines to be placed on a road in support of an order that they have made restricting waiting or loading. In England, the Secretary of State is the traffic authority for trunk roads and motorways; the traffic authority for other roads is the relevant London borough, county council, metropolitan district council or unitary authority. The Traffic Director for London has powers to introduce stopping and loading restrictions on priority—red—routes, and his consent is required when proposals affect or are likely to affect the strategic road network in London. Under certain circumstances, orders made by local traffic authorities require the consent of the Secretary of State.

  Seafarers (Employment Prospects)
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the employment prospects for British seafarers; and if he will make a statement. [9447]

  Mr. Norris
  We are pursuing a package of positive measures to improve the attractiveness of the red ensign and the employment prospects of UK seafarers. These include:Foreign earnings deduction for seafarers; 100 per cent. allowance on earning made abroad;
  Crew relief costs scheme: grants to alleviate the cost of flying British crews to and from distant ports.
  Government assistance for training scheme: grants for the training of British officer trainees to first certificate of competency;
  Development of certificated seafarers scheme: grants for British junior officers training for their second certificate of competency.

  Port Waste Facilities
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to improve port waste facilities. [12068]

  Mr. Norris
  My noble Friend, the Minister for Aviation and Shipping, has today announced 18 new measures to reduce the discharge of waste from ships, including measures to improve the provision and use of port waste reception facilities. Copies of the announcement have been placed in the House Libraries.

  Indian Sub-continent (Travellers)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of people arriving and departing on flights to and from the Indian sub-continent in(a) each of the last 10 years and (b) each of the last 20 months. [10463]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The information requested is shown in the attached table.

  These data illustrate the approximate passenger flows between the United Kingdom and the Indian sub-continent.
  271

  Terminal passengers arriving and departing on flights between the Indian sub-continent and the United Kingdom

  Annual data

  Arrivals

  Departures

  1986

  308,780

  299,640

  1987

  339,432

  326,471

  1988

  394,606

  368,652

  1989

  452,915

  430,747

  1990

  477,839

  449,471

  1991

  426,242

  400,106

  1992

  441,725

  425,495

  1993

  467,003

  466,384

  1994

  581,707

  578,178

  Year ended October 1995

  620,540

  617,022

  Monthly data

  March 1994

  53,102

  53,868

  April 1994

  59,869

  35,270

  May 1994

  46,740

  31,889

  June 1994

  42,063

  40,148

  July 1994

  43,262

  54,910

  August 1994

  52,594

  41,726

  September 1994

  46,884

  40,194

  October 1994

  40,492

  53,099

  November 1994

  42,511

  52,914

  December 1994

  44,275

  66,447

  January 1995

  64,648

  63,359

  February 1995

  52,874

  50,196

  March 1995

  61,095

  52,638

  April 1995

  62,807

  43,727

  May 1995

  53,596

  33,859

  June 1995

  45,678

  43,161

  July 1995

  45,368

  58,043

  August 1995

  53,058

  45,326

  September 1995

  49,267

  46,185

  October 1995

  45,363

  61,167

  Source:

  CAA Airport Statistics

  Notes:

  1. Includes non-revenue passengers.

  2. Indian sub-Continent defined as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

  3. Departures/Arrivals equate to embarkation/disembarkation from the flight in the UK. It does not indicate the origin of the journey.

  4. Passengers may only be travelling to the UK to connect with other flights. Not all will enter the United Kingdom.

  5. Passengers embarking/disembarking in the Indian sub-Continent may do so only to connect with other flights and may have a final origin/destination outside the area.

  6. Where the airport authority is unable to supply a breakdown of the embarkation/disembarkation points of a flight serving more than one airport on the route, all passengers are allocated to the aircraft origin/destination. Mid points will therefore be understated and end points overstated. This affects inbound flights more than outbound.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what options are available to the Child Support Agency in cases where an absent parent refuses to complete and return an assessment form. [9542]

  Mr. Andrew 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.
  272
  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Dennis Canavan, dated 21 January 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessment forms.
  If the absent parent (AP) fails to return a completed Maintenance Enquiry Form (MEF) or Review Form (RF) within 14 days of it being issued, the Agency will contact the AP to establish the reasons for non-completion and, where there are no issues regarding paternity or CSA jurisdiction, will advise the AP on completion of the form and where necessary allow the AP extra time to complete and return the form.
  If, despite this action, a completed MEF is not returned the options available to the Child Support Office (CSO) depend upon what is known of the AP's circumstances:

  a) If nothing is known of the AP's circumstances or they are known to have income and the CSO considers that the AP is deliberately not co-operating in providing the required evidence he will consider the imposition of an interim maintenance assessment (Category A) calculated at 1.5 times the Maintenance Requirement. If necessary an IMA can be collected by a Deduction from Earning Order (DEO) direct from the absent parent's salary. Imposing a DEO in these circumstances often results in the completed MEF being returned and for many months we have placed increased emphasis on this work.

  b) If the AP has a Partner and is not able to provide evidence of the Partner's income but provides all other required evidence the CSO can consider imposing an interim maintenance assessment (Category B) based solely on the Absent Parent's circumstances and making no allowance for their Partner.

  c) If the AP is self-employed and is having genuine difficulty in supplying details of their earnings the CSO can consider imposing an interim maintenance assessment (Category C) at a standard rate (currently £30). A lower amount can be considered at the AP's request and after consultation with the parent with care. If the AP fails to make IMA payments and does not come to an arrears agreement, the Agency will consider enforcement action to recover those arrears. Such action commences by obtaining a liability order in a Magistrates' Court and leads to committal proceedings as a last resort.

  d) If the AP is receiving Income Support the CSO can request the Benefits Agency to make a standard deduction (currently £2.35) from the AP's Income Support as a contribution to maintenance.

  Under current legislation if a completed Review Form is not returned the CSO is unable to impose an interim maintenance assessment. The CSOs only option is to review the current MA. This involves the CSO in considering the evidences already held to see if they are still reasonable and updating those evidences independently where possible, using the powers available to the Secretary of State.
  Revised legislation from 22 January 1996 will allow the CSO to consider the imposition of an interim maintenance assessment in the same way as when a completed MEF has been returned.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to replace the Child Support Agency computer system. [10508]

  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 Ms Liz Lynne, dated 21 January 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency computer system.

  273
  As part of its normal management of business operations the Child Support Agency regularly reviews the role of the information systems it utilises. This review includes ongoing assessment of the cost effectiveness of the system and cost of change.
  There are no current plans to replace the Child Support Computer System.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that the hon. Member for Dewsbury receives a prompt response to all outstanding inquiries about Child Support Agency cases in the Dewsbury constituency that she has raised with the CSA chief executive. [11246]

  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 Mrs. Ann Taylor, dated 21 January 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about constituency cases you have raised with my office.
  I have looked into the three cases you have written to me about, and I will write to you shortly on each individual case.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the number of complaints filed in relation to the operation of the Child Support Agency(a) with Ministers and (b) the agency itself in each quarter since the agency was set up. [9535]

  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. Rhodri Morgan, dated 21 January 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about complaints received in relation to the Child Support Agency.
  It should be noted at the outset that complaints are not raised exclusively in relation to CSA administration. Many concern the financial amounts as calculated under the formula set by the Child Support Act.
  We do not have a detailed breakdown of the categories of Ministerial correspondence, and are therefore unable to provide information relating specifically to complaints filed with Ministers. Figures for all Ministerial and Chief Executive correspondence, including complaints, are as follows:

  Ministerial

  Chief executive

  1993–94

  Total

  16,275

  —

  1994–95

  Quarter 1

  317

  2,221

  Quarter 2

  325

  1,917

  Quarter 3

  368

  2,343

  Quarter 4

  339

  2,205

  Total

  1,349

  8,686

  1995–96

  Quarter 1

  346

  2,127

  Quarter 2

  294

  2,041

  Total

  640

  4,168

  1This is an aggregate figure; separate details for Ministerial and Chief Executive correspondence are not available for 1993–94.

  274

  Statistics are collated for complaints handled by the Agency as a whole, and the details from inception are as follows:

  Number

  1993–94

  Total

  110,886

  1994–95

  Quarter 1

  5,330

  Quarter 2

  5,659

  Quarter 3

  8,107

  Quarter 4

  8.552

  Total

  27,648

  1995–96

  Quarter 1

  8,639

  Quarter 2

  8,086

  Total

  16,725

  1A quarterly breakdown for 1993–94 is not available.

  As details for December 1995 are not yet published, we are unable to provide information for the third quarter of 1995/96.

  I hope this is helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Children Order
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account will be taken of spending levels in England in the Children Order. [10314]

  Mr. Moss
  The level of spending on personal social services for children following introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 will reflect local circumstances and priorities in Northern Ireland. No meaningful comparison can be made with the spending levels of local authorities in England.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much additional money will be spent in implementing the Children Order in Northern Ireland; [10312]

  (2) what impact the saving requirement that boards are expected to make will have on the amount available to service the requirements of the Children Order. [10313]

  Mr. Moss
  Before taking final decisions on allocations to boards and efficiency savings targets for 1996–97, no comment can be made on the amount available to service the requirements of the Children Order.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the change in the number of psychiatric beds available in each of the Northern Ireland health boards since 1991. [10568]

  Mr. Moss
  The information is as follows:

  Board area

  1990–91

  1994–95

  Eastern

  1,401

  901

  Northern

  555

  419

  Southern

  465

  320

  Western

  1,113

  499

  Magherafelt Bypass
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of the Environment intends to commence the Magherafelt bypass. [10579]

  Mr. Moss
  A scheme to by-pass Magherafelt is included in the Department's long-term programme of major road works, although its precise timing will be subject to future funding levels.

  Education Building Programme
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the planned building programme budget for education will be spent directly on construction in Mid-Ulster 1996–97; and what were the figures for 1995–96. [10571]

  Mr. Ancram
  Expenditure of £160,000 in 1995–96 and £310,000 in 1996–97, has been earmarked for construction work in Mid-Ulster within the major works building programme for the education service.

  Vegetable Industry, Ards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of damage to the vegetable industry in the borough of Ards resulting from the recent severe weather conditions. [10305]

  Mr. Ancram
  Damage to the vegetable industry in the borough of Ards as a consequence of recent adverse weather conditions has been variable. The degree of damage varied from farm to farm, the stage of growth and the crop and variety grown.

  Mid Ulster hospital

  South Tyrone hospital

  Tyrone County hospital

  Erne hospital

  Ordinary admissions

  1993–94

  7,226

  10,252

  8,820

  8,258

  1994–95

  8,183

  10,363

  8,332

  8,419

  Day cases

  1993–94

  1,604

  2,403

  1,430

  906

  1994–95

  1,787

  2,757

  1,824

  1,022

  Total attendances at consultant outpatient clinics

  1993–94

  25,575

  33,280

  34,648

  31,850

  1994–95

  24,442

  34,339

  33,700

  31,792

  Total attendances at accident and emergency departments

  1993–94

  16,416

  20,617

  18,763

  14,964

  1994–95

  18,416

  21,100

  21,418

  14,491

  Sean Quinn Cement Ltd.
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government grants have been received by Sean Quinn Cement Ltd. in each of the last 10 years. [10632]

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1991–92, £1,800 was paid to Sean Quinn Cement Ltd. in respect of assistance under the Industrial Development Board's marketing development grant scheme. No other grants were paid to this company over the past 10 years.
  276
  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he had made of the size and quality of the current year's vegetable crop in the borough of Ards relative to those of recent years; what plans he has to refer the matter to the Commission of the European Communities for financial assistance; and if he will make a statement. [10306]

  Mr. Ancram
  Vegetable quality in 1995, before the adverse weather spell, had been very good. Supplies were below 1994 levels, which was an abnormally good year. The harsh weather has, however, caused quality to deteriorate, depending on the crop grown, and has resulted in reduced supplies of some locally produced vegetables.

  There are no plans to refer the matter to the EC Commission for financial assistance.

  Alcohol-related Problems
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the NHS will spend this year on treatment for alcohol-related problems, and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last two years. [10629]

  Mr. Moss
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Patient Statistics
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were treated at the(a) Mid Ulster hospital, (b) South Tyrone hospital, (c) Tyrone County hospital and (d) Erne hospital during the last two years. [10570]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is as follows:

  Anti-social Tenants
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce new measures to deal with(a) anti-social tenants in the public sector, (b) anti-social tenants in the private sector and (c) anti-social neighbours in the owner-occupied sector of housing in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [10578]

  Mr. Moss
  The need for new measures to deal with anti-social tenants in the public sector will be considered
  277
  as part of the housing policy review in Northern Ireland, the consultation stage of which expires on 31 March 1996. There are no plans at present to introduce new measures to deal with anti-social tenants in the private sector or anti-social neighbours in the owner-occupied sector.

  Job Creation
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what jobs have been announced by the Department of Economic Development since the ceasefire in each of the 17 Ulster constituencies. [10574]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Industrial Development Board has made a series of job announcements since the terrorist ceasefires. Details are as follows:

  Jobs announced by IDB since 1 September 1994, by Parliamentary Constituency

  Constitueocy

  Jobs

  East Antrim

  409

  North Antrim

  —

  South Antrim

  575

  Belfast East

  —

  Belfast North

  106

  Belfast South

  20

  Belfast West

  498

  North Down

  119

  South Down

  —

  Farmanagh and South Tyrone

  667

  Foyle

  860

  Lagan Valley

  1,581

  East Londonderry

  81

  Mid Ulster

  218

  Newry and Armagh

  771

  Strangford

  —

  Upper Bann

  1,111

  Total

  7,016

  An additional 316 jobs have been announced but no definite location is yet known.

  Heath Services (Privatisation)
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has further to involve the private sector in the provision of health services. [10569]

  Mr. Moss
  The provision of health services is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Services and will remain so. The private sector routinely provides goods and services to support care and treatment, and supplies necessary capital works and equipment. In addition the provision of care and treatment may be procured on a patient's behalf from private or voluntary providers, where this represents the most economical, efficient and effective solution. With regard to any extension of private sector involvement, there are no plans which have this as their objective. It may arise indirectly as part of the Government's private finance initiative; from the White Paper, "Competing for Quality"; or from purchasing decisions by health boards or GP fundholders in light of the patient's need for the best available treatment.

  Flooding, Campsie
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of the 278
  Environment plans to install a new pump to prevent flooding at Campsie, Omagh. [10576]

  Mr. Moss
  When I wrote to the hon. Member on 10 December 1995 I informed him that it was intended to bring forward work on the scheme to the financial year 1997–98. I am now pleased to inform him that the Water Executive has just recently reviewed priorities in its capital works programme and it is possible to advance the work further. This is now scheduled to commence in the autumn of 1996.

  Health Boards (Finance)
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the savings proposed by his Department in each of the Northern Ireland health board areas in 1996–97. [10567]

  Mr. Moss
  The 1995 survey outcome provides for a small increase of 0.22 per cent. in real terms in the overall resources for the health and personnel Social Services in 1996–97. When one excludes the cost of drugs, the resources available to health and social services boards for hospital, community health and personal social services is 1.03 per cent. less than 1995–96 in real terms. In addition the survey outcome assumes 3 per cent. cash releasing efficiency savings. I have arranged to meet health and social services board chairmen and the local branch of the NHS Trust Federation before taking final decisions on allocations to boards for 1996–97.

  Pre-school Education
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by board the number of four-year-olds participating in pre-school education in Northern Ireland. [10563]

  Mr. Ancram
  Available statistics relate to pupils' age at 1 July. Measured at that date, there are no four-year-olds participating in pre-school education as four is the compulsory school age in Northern Ireland.

  Housing Executive
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when funds will he made available to clear the backlog of grant applications and awards by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. [10580]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The chief executive has advised me that, in response to the very high demand for grant aid for home improvements, the budget for 1995–96 has been increased by £10 million over the previous year to some £44 million. These substantial resources should enable further in-roads to be made in improving housing conditions in Northern Ireland.

  Birth Statistics
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many babies were born at the maternity units at(a) Erne hospital, (b) South Tyrone hospital and (c) Mid Ulster hospital during the past three years. [10572]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is as follows:
  279

  Erne hospital

  South Tyrone hospital

  Mid Ulster hospital

  Live births

  1992–93

  737

  957

  788

  1993–94

  790

  890

  763

  1994–95

  911

  1,066

  765

  Still births

  1992–93

  3

  1

  5

  1993–94

  3

  3

  4

  1994–95

  7

  7

  4

  Totals

  1992–93

  740

  958

  793

  1993–94

  793

  893

  767

  1994–95

  918

  1,073

  769

  Owner Occupation
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest estimates of the level of owner occupation in Northern Ireland and what were the figures for the previous three years. [10582]

  Mr. Moss
  The estimated level of owner occupation expressed as a percentage of the total occupied housing stock in Northern Ireland is:

  1994: 67 per cent.

  1993: 67 per cent.

  1992: 66 per cent.

  1991: 66 per cent.

  Planning (Belfast)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to address the future planning of the Belfast city region; and if he will make a statement. [12067]

  Mr. Moss
  Recent studies by the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) of urban regeneration, housing and transportation have pointed up the need for a review of strategic planning issues in the Belfast city region. I propose, therefore, to initiate debate about the future of Belfast and its environs and to help shape that debate I have today launched a discussion paper entitled, "The Belfast City Region: Towards and Beyond the Millennium". Copies of the discussion paper have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of ex-service(a) men and (b) women resident in Northern Ireland and ex-members (i) male and (ii) female of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its reserve suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder distinguishing between service inside and outside Northern Ireland. [10541]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The first part of the question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  In the inclusive period 1987 to 1995, 37—33 male and four female—RUC officers were medically retired from the RUC/RUC Reserve as a result of suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.
  280
  The term "combat-induced" is not a recognised medical definition and therefore no distinction can be made on this.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what provision is made by his department for the treatment of combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder; [10540]

  (2) what provision is made by his Department for respite care for sufferers of combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. [10543]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Health and social services boards in Northern Ireland provide a comprehensive range of mental health services and social services, including respite care, to meet the needs of all mentally ill people, including those suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research is undertaken by his Department(a) directly and (b) indirectly by financing research elsewhere into combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; and if he will indicate for (b) the organisations involved and the total funding provided. [10542]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: No research into combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder is being funded directly or indirectly by the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland at present. The Department has not received any applications for support of research into combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder in recent years.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Funding (Wolverhampton)
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has received from schools in Wolverhampton regarding the local authority finance settlement for 1996–97. [9434]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received a small number of representations from schools in Wolverhampton about funding for 1996–97.

  Nursery School Vouchers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she will take to ensure that a nursery place in a state school will be available to every holder of a nursery voucher who wants one. [9435]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The number of additional places created through the nursery voucher scheme in the maintained sector will depend on individual local education authority decisions influenced by parental choice.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the statistics for youth unemployment in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other European Union countries. [9436]
  281
  Mr. Paice
  On internationally comparable figures the International Labour Organisation unemployment rate in November 1995 for those aged under 25 was 13.4 per cent. This is among the lowest in the European Union, and almost 7 percentage points below the EU average.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of youth unemployment. [9440]

  Mr. Paice
  We will continue with the economic and employment policies that have reduced unemployment among young people under 25 by 225,000 since October 1992 and to less than half the rate in France or Spain where a minimum wage and other regulations discourage employment of young people.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors led her to delay the introduction of subsidised private sector student loans. [9437]

  Mr. Forth
  Following consultation with the major banks and building societies, we decided to defer implementation of the new arrangements until 1997 to allow time for the development of new systems.

  School Standards
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when a Minister in her Department last met Sir Geoffrey Holland, vice-chancellor of Exeter university, to discuss his views on the outputs of the school system. [9438]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend discussed these issues with Sir Geoffrey Holland earlier this month at the annual conference of the Council of Local Education Authorities, where issues of school standards were at the top of the agenda.

  Education Budget (Lancashire)
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from Lancashire county council about its education budget settlement. [9439]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received no representation from Lancashire county council about its education budget for 1996–97.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the employment implications for Britain of agreeing to the social chapter. [9441]

  Mr. Forth
  The social chapter would have damaged the United Kingdom's competitiveness and destroyed jobs. That is why we could not, and will not, accept it.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she last met 282
  representatives of the training and enterprise councils to discuss their budgets. [9443]

  Mr. Paice
  I regularly meet TEC representatives to discuss a wide range of topics including TEC budgets.

  Schools (London)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made since the Greenwich judgment of the percentage of children who attend schools in London boroughs outside the one in which they reside. [9444]

  Mrs. Gillan
  According to information provided by local education authorities in January 1994, approximately 11 per cent. of children of compulsory school age were then attending schools outside the London borough in which they resided.

  Single-sex Grammer Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many single-sex grammar schools there are in England. [9445]

  Mrs. Gillan
  There are at present 116 single-sex maintained grammar schools in England.

  Employment Opportunities (Workington)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce new measures for the creation of employment opportunities for the Workington travel-to-work area. [9446]

  Mr. Forth
  New jobs are being created all the time. The latest labour force survey shows that the number of people in employment in Great Britain rose by over 300,000 in the year summer 1994 to summer 1995.

  The priority for the Department is to help unemployed people get these jobs. In November, I announced a programme of 1.5 million opportunities to do that, which has more than doubled the number of places on 1-2-1, a programme of intensive help tailored to the needs of the individual jobseeker.

  Education Budget (Birmingham)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the standard education spending assessment for Birmingham local education authority in 1996–97; and what was Birmingham's budget for education in 1995–96. [9448]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Birmingham's provisional education standard spending assessment for 1996–97 is £448.7 million, an increase of 5 per cent. This year Birmingham's education SSA is some £427 million, and its education budget is some £456 million.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children currently have assisted places. [9449]

  Mrs. Gillan
  About 30,200 children are now estimated to hold assisted places at schools in England in the current academic year 1995–96.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have balloted in the last six months to become grant-maintained. [9450]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Forty-nine schools in England have balloted parents on the question of grant-maintained status since 1 July 1995.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many men were in full-time employment in(a) 1979 and (b) 1995 or the most recent year for which figures are available. [9451]

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1979 there were 14,213,000 men in full-time employment in Great Britain, compared with 12,037,000 in June 1995.

  National Curriculum
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on quality and the diversity of the curriculum in school education. [9452]

  Mr. Paice
  The national curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils at maintained schools benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum. The Office for Standards in Education has confirmed that it is already proving to be a successful vehicle for raising standards in school education. The revised national curriculum, introduced in August 1995, removed overload and gave teachers in primary and secondary schools more time to use at their discretion. Diversity is further guaranteed by the ability to choose between different elements of programmes of study.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to consult on what changes are desired to the national curriculum during the moratorium period. [11131]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The revised national curriculum was introduced into schools only last term and is intended to take them into the next century without further major change. The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority has already begun to monitor the revised national curriculum and will, in due course, consider the need for further revision.

  Older Workers
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to improve employment opportunities for older workers. [9453]

  Mr. Forth
  We will continue our successful economic policies which produced growth in jobs for all age groups. And we will pursue the campaign for older workers which seeks to persuade employers to eliminate age discrimination from their employment and recruitment practices.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and which schools for 284
  educationally disadvantaged pupils in England are able to offer a full programme of GNVQ foundation courses for key stage 4 pupils provided by staff all qualified to TDLB—Training Development Lead Body—D32/33 or D34. [10884]

  Mr. Paice
  This information is not held centrally.

  Education and Employment Departments (Merger Costs)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the total costs that will be incurred by her Department in amending stationery as a result of the merger of the Departments of Education and of Employment, the costs of new signs on buildings; and what other costs have been identified to her Department as a result of the merger of the Education and the Employment Departments. [11101]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total cost for printing new stationery and production of new signage following the adoption of the merged Department's corporate identity is some £33,000. An estimated additional £57,000 has been incurred in developing the design of the identity and in the associated cost of its implementation throughout the Department, including production of a detailed set of guidelines. There have been significant savings elsewhere as a consequence of the merger.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost to her Department of producing its new logo; which company produced the logo; and what was the cost to her Department of this contract. [11106]

  Mr. Squire
  The design of the new logo and corporate identify for the Department for Education and Employment cost £15,000. The design work was carried out by the Central Office of Information after winning a free six-way creative pitch. The total cost of the contract, covering all aspects of design, production of all materials needed for the new Department and the production of a guidelines document is estimated at £90,000–this includes the original design cost of £15,000.

  Access to Work Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have applied for assistance through the access to work scheme over each of the last 12 months; and how many of these applicants have received assistance. [11465]

  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. David Blunkett, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the monthly number of Access to Work applicants.
  The attached table shows the number of people accepted for Access to Work support in each month since December 1994. We do not collect information centrally about the numbers of people who apply for support but are not eligible.
  I hope this is helpful.
  285

  Access to work beneficiaries: December 1994 to November 1995

  Month

  Beneficiaries

  1994

  December

  622

  1995

  January

  785

  February

  830

  March

  868

  April/May1

  1,058

  June

  929

  July

  934

  August

  854

  September

  896

  October

  794

  November

  866

  1New procedures for recording information were introduced during April. The first count covered the period from 1 April to 31 May 1995.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects the review of access to work to be completed; and when the information from that review will be made available. [11466]

  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. David Blunkett, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the Access to Work review.
  The review of Access to Work is an internal exercise carried out by the Employment Service. A report of the review will soon be sent to the Minister of State and he has already announced that he will discuss the operation of the programme in 1996/97 with the principal organisations concerned before any recommendations are implemented.
  The Employment Service commissioned research from Social Community Planning Research to feed into the review. That research is complete and we intend to publish it during February.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Information Technology
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new information is being collected by her officials in the current survey into the levels of provision of information technology in schools. [11129]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Some questions have been updated in the survey to be carried out in March 1996 to reflect the changing provision of information technology in schools resulting from new technology developments. No new categories of information are involved.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authority advisory information technology centres there were in each year since 1991. [11113]

  Mr. Squire
  The information is not held centrally. It is a matter for individual local education authorities to decide how to provide IT support arrangements in the light of demand from schools. The Department's statistical bulletin "Survey of Information Technology in Schools", issue No. 3/95, ISSN 0142-5013, gives information on sources of technical support.
  286
  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of teachers in the current work force have received some formal training in information technology. [11116]

  Mr. Squire
  A sample survey of information technology provision in schools carried out by the Department in 1994 showed that the proportion of teachers who had received some training in information technology was 94 per cent. in primary schools, 86 per cent. in secondary schools and 92 per cent. in special schools.

  The ability to make constructive use of IT is among the competencies now required of all newly qualified teachers.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the current survey by her Department into the level of provision of information technology in schools. [11128]

  Mr. Squire
  The Department will be carrying out a further survey of information technology provision in a representative sample of schools in England in March 1996. The results of the survey should be available around the end of the year.

  Education Multi-media Industry
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she is taking to represent the views of the United Kingdom education multi-media industry in the European Commission. [11130]

  Mr. Forth
  The Government are maintaining dialogue with the Commission and with relevant interests, including the British Educational Suppliers Association. Most recently, this has involved discussion of work by the European Commission's task force on multi-media educational software. UK interests will be represented in formal discussions within the Council of Ministers later this year.

  Schools Renewal Challenge Fund
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has received from the Isle of Wight education authority for bids under the schools renewal challenge fund for capital projects involving renewal, repair, replacement or improvement of the island's school capital stock. [11151]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Local education authorities have not yet had the opportunity to bid for support from the schools renewal challenge fund, which we propose should operate in the 1996–97 financial year.

  School Budgets (Manchester and Trafford)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the levels of capital funding requested and capital spending allowed for school buildings in 1996–97 to the city of Manchester and the borough of Trafford. [9428]
  287
  Mrs. Gillan
  The annual capital guidelines for capital work in schools for the city of Manchester and the borough of Trafford in 1996–97 are £6.378 million and £2.153 million respectively. These figures represent 12.52 per cent. and 30.75 per cent. respectively of the amounts bid for, compared with the national average of 23 per cent. Grants for building work at voluntary aided schools to the value of £3.463 million in Manchester and £285,000 in Trafford were also approved in the recent capital round.

  ACGs do not constitute limits on capital spending by these authorities on their schools. Local education authorities can, and do, supplement their borrowing from other sources, including capital receipts and revenue budgets.

  Violent Pupils
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to issue guidelines in respect of the protection of head teachers and teachers from violent pupils. [9773]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The working group established by my right hon. Friend following the tragic murder of Philip Lawrence is considering urgently what more should be done to improve security in and around schools. Measures to protect school staff against violence —wherever it comes from—are a vital element in that work. DFEE circular 9/94, "The Education of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties", already contains advice to schools on the physical containment of pupils, where this is necessary to prevent them causing harm to themselves or to others.

  National Vocational Qualifications (L
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of those aged 18 to 21 years have achieved NVQ level 2 or its equivalent; and what are the equivalent figures for(a) Germany and (b) Japan. [10165]

  Mr. Paice
  The latest estimate for the proportion of 18 to 21-year-olds in the United Kingdom who have achieved at least national vocational qualification level 2 or equivalent is 63 per cent. This figure is taken from the summer 1995 labour force survey.

  Comparable information for Germany and Japan is not available.

  GCSE average point scores by each twentieth of the 15-year-olds 1994–95 provisional figures

  Cumulative totals

  All schools1 Grant maintained

  Independent

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  0.000

  28,910

  0

  0.218

  4,775

  1,042

  0.000

  2,374

  0

  0.413

  57,819

  23,892

  3.751

  9,550

  35,821

  1.150

  4,749

  5463

  2.641

  86,729

  229,072

  7.301

  14,325

  104,589

  6.321

  7,123

  45,021

  5.249

  115,639

  607,042

  10.352

  19,100

  197,731

  12.915

  9,497

  122,650

  7.793

  144,549

  1,126,428

  13.001

  23,875

  310,409

  18.283

  11,871

  217,043

  10.177

  173,458

  1,765,351

  15.361

  28,649

  440,079

  22.581

  14,246

  321,682

  12.394

  202,368

  2508125

  17.494

  33,424

  584,714

  26.088

  16,620

  433,584

  14.475

  231,278

  3,347,636

  19.448

  38,199

  742,899

  29.053

  18,994

  551,824

  16.438

  260,187

  4,277,067

  21.282

  42,974

  914,568

  31.599

  21,368

  675,199

  18.306

  289.097

  5,

  23.008

  47,749

  1,098,614

  33.828

  23,743

  803,187

  20.096

  318,007

  6,

  24.650

  52524

  1,294,723

  35.804

  26,117

  935,103

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates he has made of the proportion of families in England that have state nursery education available to them in each education authority for children aged(a) three to four and (b) four to five years. [11087]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Information about pupils under five being taught in maintained nursery and primary schools in each local education authority area in England in January 1995 is contained in statistical bulletin 1/96 "Pupils Under Five Years of Age in Schools in England—January 1995", which is available in the Library.

  Job Insecurity
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to reduce levels of job insecurity. [9442]

  Mr. Forth
  Concerns about job insecurity will he reduced by sustainable economic growth, falling unemployment, and rising employment, which the Government's policies are achieving.

  GCSE Scores
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide the GCSE average point scores per pupil in 1995 for each individual 20th group, and also for the cumulative 20th group, of all 15-year-old pupils when ranked according to their average point scores, where A* = 7 for (a) all such pupils in England, (b) all such pupils of the local education authority maintained sector only, excluding those of grant-maintained schools, (c) all such pupils of the grant-maintained sector only, (d) all such pupils of the whole maintained sector only, excluding those of independent schools and (e) all such pupils of the independent sector only. [42202]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 8 November 1995]: The GCSE average point scores per pupil in 1995 for each individual 20th group, and also for the cumulative 20th groups of all 15-year-old pupils when ranked according to their average point scores where A* = 7 are shown in the following tables:
  289

  GCSE average point scores by each twentieth of the 15-year-olds 1994–95 provisional figures

  Cumulative totals

  All schools1 Grant maintained

  Independent

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  21.823

  346,916

  7,570,643

  26.228

  57,299

  1,502,835

  37.591

  28,491

  1,071,011

  23.496

  375,826

  8,830,343

  27.750

  62,074

  1,722,550

  39.212

  30,865

  1,210,267

  25.123

  404,736

  10,168,051

  29.228

  66,849

  1,953,858

  40.717

  33,240

  1,353,446

  26.716

  433,646

  11,585,492

  30.674

  71,624

  2,197,008

  42.109

  35,614

  1,499,672

  28.290

  462,555

  13,085,748

  32.100

  76,398

  2,452,391

  43.400

  37,988

  1,648,678

  29.854

  491,465

  14,672,377

  33.518

  81,173

  2,720,772

  44.624

  40,362

  1,801,098

  31.431

  520,375

  16,355,717

  34.953

  85,948

  3,004,113

  45.873

  42,737

  1,960,481

  33.036

  549,284

  18,146,009

  36.429

  90,723

  3,304,934

  47.112

  45,111

  2,125,259

  34.827

  578,194

  20,137,007

  38.102

  95,498

  3,638,642

  48.467

  47,485

  2,301,460

  1Includes LEA and grant-maintained schools, independent schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.

  Maintained1

  LEA maintained

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  0.000

  26,416

  0

  0.000

  21,641

  0

  0.502

  52,832

  26,509

  0.221

  43,282

  9,569

  2.749

  79,248

  217,826

  2.111

  64,924

  137,027

  5.292

  105,664

  559,146

  4.474

  86,565

  387,315

  7.733

  132,081

  1,021,317

  6.818

  108,206

  737,741

  10.019

  158,497

  1,588,019

  9.047

  129,847

  1,174,775

  12.136

  184,913

  2,244,018

  11.134

  151,488

  1,686,656

  14.122

  211,329

  2,984,408

  13.099

  173,130

  2,267,840

  15.997

  237,745

  3,803,121

  14.962

  194,771

  2,914,229

  17.781

  264,161

  4,697,065

  16.740

  216,412

  3,622,833

  19.490

  290,577

  5,663,336

  18.447

  238,053

  4,391,259

  21.135

  316,993

  6,699,751

  20.094

  259,694

  5,218,197

  22.737

  343,409

  7,808,110

  21.699

  281,336

  6,104,623

  24.301

  369,825

  8,986,961

  23.269

  302,977

  7,050,001

  25.833

  396,242

  10,235,997

  24.810

  324,618

  8,053,922

  27.348

  422,658

  11,558,679

  26.336

  346,259

  9,119,118

  28.862

  449,074

  12,961,258

  27.861

  367,900

  10,250,138

  30.394

  475,490

  14,451,924

  29.404

  389,542

  11,454,202

  31.976

  501,906

  16,048,730

  31.003

  411,183

  12,747,745

  33.750

  528,322

  17,830,804

  32.790

  432,824

  14,192,162

  1Includes LEA and grant-maintained schools, independent schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.

  GCSE average point scores by each twentieth of the 15-year-olds 1994–95 provisional figures

  Individual totals

  All schools1

  Grant maintained

  Independent

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  0.000

  28,910

  0

  0.218

  4,775

  1,042

  0.000

  2,374

  0

  0.826

  28,909

  23,892

  7.284

  4,775

  34,779

  2.300

  2,375

  5,463

  7.097

  28,910

  205,180

  14.402

  4,775

  68,768

  16.663

  2,374

  39,558

  13.074

  28,910

  377,970

  19.506

  4,775

  93,142

  32.700

  2,374

  77,629

  17.966

  28,910

  519,386

  23.597

  4,775

  112,678

  39.761

  2,374

  94,393

  22.101

  28,909

  638,923

  27.162

  4,774

  129,670

  44.059

  2,375

  104,639

  25.693

  28,910

  742,774

  30.290

  4,775

  144,635

  47.136

  2,374

  111,902

  29.039

  28,910

  839,511

  33.128

  4,775

  158,185

  49.806

  2,374

  118,240

  32.150

  28,909

  929,431

  35.952

  4,775

  171,669

  51.969

  2,374

  123,375

  35.110

  28,910

  1,015,023

  38.544

  4,775

  184,046

  53.890

  2,375

  127,988

  37.999

  28,910

  1,098,540

  41.070

  4,775

  196,109

  55.567

  2,374

  131,916

  40.818

  28,909

  1,180,013

  43.584

  4,775

  208,112

  57.249

  2,374

  135,908

  43.573

  28,910

  1,259,700

  46.014

  4,775

  219,715

  58.659

  2,374

  139,256

  46.271

  28,910

  1,337,708

  48.441

  4,775

  231,308

  60.286

  2,375

  143,179

  49.029

  28,910

  1,417,441

  50.921

  4,775

  243,150

  61.595

  2,374

  146,226

  51.896

  28,909

  1,500,256

  53.495

  4,774

  255,383

  62.766

  2,374

  149,006

  54.882

  28,910

  1,586,629

  56.205

  4,775

  268,381

  64.204

  2,374

  152,420

  58.227

  28,910

  1,683,340

  59.338

  4,775

  283,341

  67.109

  2,375

  159,383

  61.929

  28,909

  1,790,292

  62.999

  4,775

  300,821

  69.409

  2,374

  164,778

  68.869

  28,910

  1,990,998

  69.886

  4,775

  333,708

  74.221

  2,374

  176,201

  1Includes LEA and grant-maintained schools, independent schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.

  290 291

  Individual totals

  Maintained1

  LEA maintained

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  Average GCSE points

  Number 15-year-olds

  Total point score

  0.000

  26,416

  0

  0.000

  21,641

  0

  1.004

  26.416

  26,509

  0.442

  21,641

  9,569

  7.242

  26,416

  191,317

  5.889

  21,642

  127,458

  12.921

  26416

  341,320

  11,565

  21,641

  250288

  17.495

  26,417

  462,171

  16.193

  21,641

  350,426

  21.453

  26,416

  566,702

  20.195

  21,641

  437,034

  24,833

  26,416

  655,999

  23.653

  21,641

  511881

  28.028

  26,416

  740,390

  26.854

  21,642

  581,184

  30.993

  26,416

  818,713

  29.869

  21,641

  646,389

  33.841

  26,416

  893,944

  32.744

  21,641

  708,604

  36.579

  26,416

  966,271

  35.508

  21,641

  768,426

  39.234

  26,416

  1,036,415

  38.212

  21,641

  826,938

  41.958

  26,416

  1,108,359

  40.959

  21,642

  886,426

  44.626

  26,416

  1,178,851

  43.685

  21,641

  945,378

  47.282

  26,417

  1,249,036

  46.390

  21,641

  1,003,921

  50.071

  26,416

  1,322,682

  49.221

  21,641

  1,065,196

  53.096

  26,416

  1,402,579

  52.263

  21,641

  1,131,020

  56.430

  26,416

  1,490,666

  55.636

  21,642

  1,204,064

  60.448

  26,416

  1,596,806

  59.773

  21,641

  1,293,543

  67.462

  26,416

  1,782,074

  66.744

  21,641

  1,444,417

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide the average GCSE point scores, where A* = 7, per 15-year-old pupil by local education authority and for 1995, and also by gender in each case for (a) the local education authority maintained sector only, (b) the grant-maintained sector only and (c) the whole maintained sector; and if he will state the averages in each case for each standard Department for Education region. [42203]

  Average GCSE point scores (based on A* equals 7)

  LEA maintained

  Grant maintained

  Maintained sector

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Corporation of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Camden

  25.8

  32.9

  29.8

  42.3

  41.2

  41.5

  28.6

  35.0

  32.3

  Greenwich

  26.3

  30.5

  28.4

  —

  —

  —

  26.3

  30.5

  28.4

  Hackney

  21.7

  28.8

  25.9

  —

  —

  —

  21.7

  28.8

  25.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  16.9

  30.0

  24.3

  40.0

  0.0

  40.1

  24.1

  30.0

  26.9

  Islington

  20.2

  24.2

  21.9

  —

  —

  —

  20.2

  24.2

  21.9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  28.3

  30.6

  29.6

  50.6

  —

  50.6

  36.5

  30.6

  33.7

  Lambeth

  14.1

  26.1

  21.4

  29.0

  32.5

  30.9

  22.9

  29.3

  26.5

  Lewisham

  24.8

  30.6

  27.6

  —

  —

  —

  24.8

  30.6

  27.6

  Southwark

  17.4

  26.9

  22.0

  30.5

  34.8

  32.7

  20.6

  28.9

  24.7

  Tower Hamlets

  21.2

  26.7

  23.8

  31.5

  32.2

  31.8

  21.9

  27.1

  24.4

  Wandsworth

  20.7

  19.4

  20.3

  29.7

  34.3

  32.3

  25.5

  31.3

  28.2

  Westminster

  22.8

  30.6

  26.9

  —

  —

  —

  22.8

  30.6

  26.9

  Barking and Dagenham

  26.2

  30.1

  28.1

  —

  —

  —

  26.2

  30.1

  28.1

  Barnet

  30.2

  41.3

  36.8

  40.7

  45.5

  42.6

  36.7

  43.1

  39.8

  Bexley

  31.7

  38.3

  35.4

  37.1

  40.0

  37.9

  33.5

  38.5

  36.0

  Brent

  20.1

  30.4

  24.6

  30.4

  36.4

  33.4

  28.6

  35.5

  32.0

  Bromley

  28.2

  30.7

  29.8

  37.7

  42.5

  40.0

  36.3

  39.4

  37.8

  Croydon

  27.4

  33.3

  30.3

  31.4

  39.9

  35.7

  29.2

  36.3

  32.7

  Ealing

  25.5

  33.6

  29.4

  28.5

  36.0

  32.7

  26.6

  34.7

  30.8

  Enfield

  26.2

  34.6

  31.0

  35.9

  38.6

  36.7

  30.3

  35.3

  32.7

  Haringey

  21.9

  28.6

  25.1

  —

  —

  —

  21.9

  28.6

  25.1

  Harrow

  35.8

  41.1

  38.5

  38.4

  —

  38.4

  36.1

  41.1

  38.5

  Havering

  31.7

  34.9

  33.1

  43.8

  45.4

  44.9

  33.3

  38.5

  35.9

  Hillingdon

  27.6

  31.4

  29.7

  31.4

  35.9

  33.7

  30.8

  35.1

  33.0

  Hounslow

  29.1

  35.6

  32.1

  38.1

  44.9

  41.5

  30.2

  37.0

  33.4

  Kingston upon Thames

  28.8

  43.5

  39.0

  45.0

  36.7

  43.1

  38.1

  42.5

  40.4

  Merton

  30.6

  32.5

  31.4

  —

  43.3

  43.3

  30.6

  35.3

  32.8

  Newham

  22.6

  27.9

  25.2

  23.0

  33.9

  28.7

  22.6

  28.1

  25.3

  Redbridge

  36.1

  38.5

  37.3

  34.0

  39.2

  36.8

  36.0

  38.5

  37.2

  Richmond upon Thames

  34.2

  39.8

  36.9

  —

  —

  —

  34.2

  39.8

  36.9

  Sutton

  24.9

  30.0

  27.7

  46.3

  50.5

  48.1

  38.0

  40.4

  39.1

  Waltham Forest

  25.1

  31.7

  28.4

  33.9

  42.6

  37.7

  26.8

  33.4

  30.0

  Birmingham

  23.4

  28.6

  25.9

  36.1

  38.8

  37.4

  26.3

  30.7

  28.5

  Coventry

  27.9

  33.5

  30.6

  —

  —

  —

  27.9

  33.5

  30.6

  292
  Mr. Squire
  [holding answer 8 November 1995]: The average GCSE point scores, where A* = 7 per 15-year-old pupil by local education authority and for 1995, and also by gender in each case for (a) the local authority maintained sector only, (b) the grant-maintained sector only and (c) the whole maintained sector are shown in the following table. The averages for each standard Department for Education region are also shown at the end of the following table:
  293

  Average GCSE point scores (based on A* equals 7)

  LEA maintained

  Grant maintained

  Maintained sector

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Dudley

  30.3

  35.9

  33.1

  34.5

  37.4

  35.8

  31.4

  36.3

  33.8

  Sandwell

  25.4

  30.3

  27.8

  23.7

  26.6

  25.2

  25.3

  30.0

  27.6

  Solihull

  34.2

  39.4

  36.9

  —

  —

  —

  34.2

  39.4

  36.9

  Walsall

  22.1

  27.8

  24.9

  34.9

  39.1

  37.0

  26.5

  31.8

  29.1

  Wolverhampton

  26.6

  30.0

  28.2

  24.5

  37.9

  32.6

  26.4

  31.4

  28.9

  Knowsley

  21.7

  23.8

  22.8

  16.1

  23.5

  19.7

  21.3

  23.8

  22.5

  Liverpool

  21.7

  27.1

  24.4

  34.0

  36.1

  34.7

  23.2

  27.7

  25.4

  St. Helens

  29.6

  35.0

  32.1

  —

  —

  —

  29.6

  35.0

  32.1

  Sefton

  32.3

  37.8

  35.1

  —

  —

  —

  32.3

  37.8

  35.1

  Wirral

  28.2

  35.6

  32.1

  56.8

  49.8

  55.5

  33.8

  36.3

  35.0

  Bolton

  30.1

  35.2

  32.5

  37.1

  43.0

  40.1

  31.2

  36.6

  33.7

  Bury

  34.3

  38.1

  36.1

  —

  —

  —

  34.3

  38.1

  36.1

  Manchester

  21.5

  26.3

  23.8

  —

  —

  —

  21.5

  26.3

  23.8

  Oldham

  26.3

  32.9

  29.5

  —

  —

  —

  26.3

  32.9

  29.5

  Rochdale

  27.2

  31.8

  29.4

  32.2

  38.7

  35.4

  28.0

  33.0

  30.4

  Salford

  23.5

  28.1

  25.8

  39.0

  41.9

  40.4

  24.0

  28.5

  26.3

  Stockport

  33.3

  38.0

  35.5

  —

  —

  —

  33.3

  38.0

  35.5

  Tameside

  25.9

  32.1

  29.2

  36.0

  41.1

  37.6

  28.4

  33.2

  30.7

  Trafford

  34.4

  39.2

  36.9

  27.3

  31.1

  29.0

  32.5

  37.4

  35.0

  Wigan

  32.1

  38.3

  35.1

  —

  —

  —

  32.1

  38.3

  35.1

  Barnsley

  24.8

  30.8

  27.8

  —

  —

  —

  24.8

  30.8

  27.8

  Doncaster

  25.9

  30.1

  27.8

  43.1

  49.7

  46.3

  26.8

  31.2

  28.8

  Rotherham

  29.7

  34.4

  32.0

  —

  —

  —

  29.7

  34.4

  32.0

  Sheffield

  28.3

  32.6

  30.4

  37.5

  39.5

  38.6

  28.8

  33.1

  30.9

  Bradford

  24.0

  29.4

  26.6

  28.5

  33.9

  31.0

  24.9

  30.2

  27.4

  Calderdale

  22.3

  27.1

  24.5

  34.8

  39.5

  37.0

  28.7

  33.7

  31.1

  Kirklees

  28.3

  34.6

  31.4

  57.5

  53.8

  55.7

  29.0

  35.1

  31.9

  Leeds

  27.8

  33.2

  30.4

  35.9

  36.1

  36.0

  28.0

  33.3

  30.6

  Wakefield

  28.5

  33.8

  31.2

  —

  —

  —

  28.5

  33.8

  31.2

  Gateshead

  30.1

  33.6

  31.9

  —

  —

  —

  30.1

  33.6

  31.9

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  26.0

  27.8

  26.9

  —

  —

  —

  26.0

  27.8

  26.9

  North Tyneside

  30.9

  34.8

  32.8

  —

  —

  —

  30.9

  34.8

  32.8

  South Tyneside

  28.7

  34.5

  31.6

  —

  —

  —

  28.7

  34.5

  31.6

  Sunderland

  27.0

  32.9

  29.9

  —

  —

  —

  27.0

  32.9

  29.9

  Isles of Scilly

  38.6

  50.9

  46.2

  —

  —

  —

  38.6

  50.9

  46.2

  Avon

  31.5

  36.4

  33.9

  37.3

  41.1

  39.0

  31.7

  36.6

  34.1

  Bedfordshire

  32.1

  37.2

  34.6

  34.9

  40.1

  37.4

  32.9

  38.0

  35.4

  Berkshire

  33.2

  39.5

  36.3

  40.0

  39.5

  39.8

  34.6

  39.5

  37.0

  Buckinghamshire

  36.4

  41.2

  38.8

  37.1

  39.5

  38.3

  36.6

  40.7

  38.6

  Cambridgeshire

  33.3

  38.3

  35.8

  36.2

  39.1

  37.6

  34.3

  38.6

  36.4

  Cheshire

  34.1

  39.1

  36.6

  36.3

  41.3

  38.8

  34.2

  39.2

  36.7

  Cleveland

  28.3

  32.5

  30.4

  —

  —

  —

  28.3

  32.5

  30.4

  Cornwall

  34.9

  39.3

  37.1

  —

  —

  —

  34.9

  39.3

  37.1

  Cumbria

  30.4

  35.1

  32.7

  36.5

  41.3

  38.9

  32.6

  37.4

  35.0

  Derbyshire

  29.2

  34.3

  31.6

  34.5

  39.7

  37.0

  30.8

  35.9

  33.3

  Devon

  31.7

  38.3

  35.0

  43.4

  44.9

  43.9

  32.8

  38.6

  35.6

  Dorset

  35.3

  40.1

  37.5

  43.6

  46.7

  45.4

  37.0

  42.0

  39.4

  Durham

  28.5

  34.1

  31.2

  —

  —

  —

  28.5

  34.1

  31.2

  East Sussex

  33.1

  37.2

  35.1

  —

  —

  —

  33.1

  37.2

  35.1

  Essex

  28.1

  33.5

  30.8

  35.5

  40.8

  38.1

  33.2

  38.5

  35.8

  Gloucestershire

  32.1

  35.8

  34.0

  37.6

  42.1

  39.7

  35.9

  40.0

  37.9

  Hampshire

  33.9

  39.2

  36.5

  39.1

  45.2

  42.1

  34.9

  40.4

  37.6

  Hereford and Worcester

  32.5

  37.3

  34.9

  34.9

  40.1

  37.7

  32.7

  37.5

  35.1

  Hertfordshire

  32.6

  38.7

  35.6

  38.2

  42.8

  40.5

  34.6

  40.1

  37.3

  Humberside

  28.3

  32.9

  30.6

  —

  —

  —

  28.3

  32.9

  30.6

  Isle of Wight

  33.3

  35.9

  34.5

  —

  —

  —

  33.3

  35.9

  34.5

  Kent

  29.5

  35.4

  32.7

  34.2

  38.3

  36.0

  32.1

  36.7

  34.4

  Lancashire

  30.8

  35.4

  33.0

  46.9

  49.3

  48.1

  31.8

  36.3

  34.0

  Leicestershire

  30.3

  35.6

  32.9

  38.5

  41.9

  39.9

  30.4

  35.6

  33.0

  Lincolnshire

  28.1

  36.7

  32.8

  37.1

  38.0

  37.5

  32.7

  37.2

  35.0

  Norfolk

  31.2

  37.5

  34.3

  33.6

  38.8

  36.1

  31.8

  37.8

  34.8

  North Yorkshire

  36.1

  40.9

  38.5

  —

  —

  —

  36.1

  40.9

  38.5

  Northamptonshire

  32.5

  38.0

  35.3

  32.6

  35.2

  33.8

  32.6

  37.4

  35.0

  Northumberland

  33.2

  38.2

  35.7

  28.6

  35.8

  31.7

  33.0

  38.1

  35.5

  Nottinghamshire

  28.7

  33.2

  30.9

  26.1

  34.2

  30.0

  28.6

  33.2

  30.9

  Oxfordshire

  33.3

  39.4

  36.3

  —

  —

  —

  33.3

  39.4

  36.3

  Shropshire

  32.7

  38.9

  35.8

  37.0

  39.8

  38.3

  33.5

  39.1

  36.2

  Somerset

  34.5

  39.9

  37.2

  30.4

  44.5

  32.6

  34.4

  39.9

  37.1

  Staffordshire

  30.1

  35.2

  32.6

  32.1

  33.8

  33.0

  30.2

  35.1

  32.6

  Suffolk

  35.7

  40.7

  38.2

  —

  —

  —

  35.7

  40.7

  38.2

  294 295

  Average GCSE point scores (based on A* equals 7)

  LEA maintained

  Grant maintained

  Maintained sector

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Surrey

  34.3

  39.6

  36.9

  38.3

  43.1

  40.6

  35.6

  40.7

  38.1

  Warwickshire

  32.1

  36.8

  34.4

  32.8

  40.2

  37.0

  32.2

  37.5

  34.9

  West Sussex

  36.9

  42.1

  39.4

  —

  —

  —

  36.9

  42.1

  39.4

  Wiltshire

  33.2

  38.4

  35.8

  37.6

  43.4

  40.3

  35.0

  40.3

  37.6

  Total

  30.2

  35.5

  32.8

  36.2

  40.2

  38.1

  31.3

  36.3

  33.7

  Regions

  North

  29.1

  33.7

  31.3

  35.8

  40.9

  38.3

  29.5

  34.1

  31.8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  38.7

  33.7

  31.1

  34.0

  38.4

  36.1

  29.0

  34.0

  31.4

  North-west

  29.5

  34.6

  32.0

  39.4

  41.6

  40.4

  30.2

  35.0

  32.5

  East Midlands

  29.8

  35.1

  32.4

  34.9

  38.0

  36.3

  30.8

  35.6

  33.1

  West Midlands

  28.9

  34.1

  31.5

  34.2

  38.1

  36.1

  29.7

  34.7

  32.1

  East Anglia

  33.5

  39.0

  36.2

  35.1

  39.0

  37.0

  33.8

  39.0

  36.4

  Greater London

  26.6

  32.9

  29.8

  35.8

  39.7

  37.6

  29.3

  34.7

  32.0

  South-east

  33.1

  38.5

  35.8

  36.2

  40.8

  38.4

  34.1

  39.2

  36.6

  South-west

  33.1

  38.3

  35.6

  39.0

  43.5

  41.1

  34.2

  39.3

  36.6

  Total

  30.2

  35.5

  32.8

  36.2

  40.2

  38.1

  31.3

  36.3

  33.7

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide for all 15-year-old pupils in(a) England, (b) the local education authority maintained, (c) grant-maintained and (d) independent sectors, on the same basis as in the annual school performance tables, and also by gender (i) their GCSE average point score where A* = 7 and where A* = 8 and (ii) the percentage achieving (1) at least five GCSEs at grades A* = C, (2) at least one GCSE at grade
  C or higher, (3) at least five GCSEs at grade G or higher and (4) at least one GCSE at grade G or higher. [42204]

  School performance tables 1995

  Average point score

  Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving

  A* = 7

  A* = 8

  5+ A* -C

  1+ A* -C

  5+ A* -G

  1+ A* -G

  (A) England

  Boys

  32.5

  32.7

  39.0

  63.5

  83.4

  90.7

  Girls

  37.3

  37.6

  48.1

  75.0

  88.1

  93.2

  Total

  34.8

  35.1

  43.5

  69.1

  85.7

  91.9

  (B) LEA maintained

  Boys

  30.2

  30.3

  33.6

  59.4

  82.2

  90.1

  Girls

  35.5

  35.7

  43.6

  72.1

  87.2

  92.5

  Total

  32.8

  33.0

  38.5

  65.7

  84.7

  91.3

  (C) Grant maintained

  Boys

  36.2

  36.4

  44.8

  71.0

  90.0

  95.3

  Girls

  40.2

  40.5

  53.0

  81.0

  92.5

  96.1

  Total

  38.1

  38.4

  48.7

  75.7

  91.2

  95.7

  (D) Independent

  Boys

  47.3

  48.2

  76.9

  87.9

  85.8

  90.7

  Girls

  49.8

  50.9

  83.1

  82.6

  89.7

  93.9

  Total

  48.5

  49.5

  79.9

  90.1

  87.8

  92.9

WALES

  Homelessness
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action was taken by local authorities in Wales
  296
  Mr. Squire
  [holding answer 8 November 1995]: The information for all 15-year-old pupils in (a) England,(b) the local education authority maintained, (c) grant-maintained and (d) independent sectors, on the same coverage as in the annual school performance tables, and also by gender (i) their GCSE average point score per pupil where A* = 7 and where A* = 8 and (ii) the percentage achieving (1) at least five GCSEs at grades A* = C, (2) at least one GCSE at grade C or higher, (3) at least five GCSEs at grade G or higher and (4) at least one GCSE at grade G or higher is shown in the following table:

  for those households accepted as homeless and in priority need by reason of old age in each quarter of 1993 and 1994 and in the first two quarters of 1995. [10263]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is provided in the following table.
  297

  Action taken by local authority for those households accepted as homeless in Wales, in priority need by reason of old age

  Number of cases

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Action taken by local authority

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  January-March

  April-June

  Enabled to stay in/return to previous accommodation

  16

  9

  17

  17

  13

  30

  28

  29

  24

  30

  Placed in ordinary local authority dwelling

  35

  36

  36

  30

  34

  21

  24

  25

  24

  18

  Placed in short life local authority dwelling

  2

  5

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  Placed in new town dwelling

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Placed in housing association dwelling

  3

  1

  1

  3

  1

  8

  1

  4

  4

  8

  Placed in private rented dwelling

  2

  1

  1

  0

  6

  2

  2

  0

  1

  3

  Placed in bed and breakfast

  11

  5

  2

  2

  3

  4

  8

  1

  2

  3

  Placed in local authority hostel

  5

  5

  1

  5

  4

  13

  2

  4

  4

  5

  Placed in mobile home

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Placed with relative/friends

  5

  5

  2

  5

  8

  2

  4

  1

  5

  5

  Placed in women's refuge

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Case referred to another housing authority

  1

  0

  3

  1

  0

  2

  3

  0

  0

  2

  Case referred to a voluntary

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Given advice and appropriate assistance

  15

  12

  15

  12

  18

  8

  16

  13

  11

  6

  Total

  96

  80

  81

  78

  90

  91

  89

  78

  77

  82

  Local authority returns.

  Bryncoedifor-Dolgellau Road Scheme
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when it is expected that the Bryncoedifor-Dolgellau road improvement scheme will be commenced; and if he will make a statement. [10709]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Drws y Nant improvement on the A494 trunk road is programmed to start in 1997, subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of finance.

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many revocations of planning decisions his Department has made over the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [10691]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local planning decisions his Department has called in during the last two years. [10720]

  Mr. Jones
  Ten.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines his Department has issued to the shadow unitary authorities on consultations between planning
  298
  authorities and town and community councils; and if he will make a statement. [10676]

  Mr. Jones
  The Welsh Office issued guidance to the new local authorities on consultations with community councils in June 1995. The guidance indicates the subjects on which the new councils should normally consult community councils; local planning matters are among the subjects indicated.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals against decisions of local planning authorities there are currently pending. [10721]

  Mr. Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  Appeals under the Town and Country

  Planning Act 1990:

  Section 78

  292

  Section 137

  1

  Section 174

  114

  Section 195

  22

  Appeals under the Planning and Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990

  20

  Appeals under section 18 of the Land Compensation

  299

  Number

  Number Act 1961

  4

  Appeals under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulation 1992

  16

  Appeals under schedule 2 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991

  5

  Tourism
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are currently employed in the tourism industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [10728]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of employees employed in tourism-related industries in Wales was 71,000 in September 1993 according to the 1993 census of employment. Employment data at this level of industrial activity are collected only in the census of employment and 1993 is the latest year for which data are available. Tourism-related industries are those classified as such in table 1.14, "Labour Market Trends", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations his Department has received over the past year on the question of the rate of value added tax on tourism services; and if he will make a statement. [10729]

  Mr. Jones
  Seven.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in(a) cash and (b) real terms the amount made available by the Welsh Office for capital expenditure on local authority needs in each year from 1990–91 to 1996–97. [10038]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: The total of credit approvals and grant to local authorities, announced prior to the start of each financial year, is given in the following table.

  Local authority capital provision

  £million

  Cash prices

  Constant 1994–95

  prices

  1990–91

  414.3

  480.3

  1991–92

  464.1

  506.4

  1992–93

  536.3

  562.3

  1993–94

  483.5

  492.6

  1994–95

  503.0

  503.0

  1995–96

  525.6

  511.5

  1996–97

  508.5

  481.7

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in(a) cash and (b) real terms the provision made for local authority capital programmes as (i) grant and (ii) a right to borrow, in each year from 1990–91 to 1996–97. [10039]
  300
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: Information for 1990–91 to 1995–96 is given in the following table. Figures for 1996–97 are not yet available.

  Available resources for local authority capital programmes1

  £ million

  Constant

  Cash prices

  1994–95 prices

  Grant2

  Right to borrow3

  Grant2

  Right to borrow3

  1990–91

  155.3

  283.3

  180.1

  328.4

  1991–92

  213.6

  313.7

  233.1

  342.3

  1992–93

  274.2

  327.3

  287.5

  343.2

  1993–94

  266.5

  299.5

  271.5

  305.2

  1994–95

  282.6

  354.7

  282.6

  354.7

  1995–96

  309.0

  348.0

  300.8

  338.7

  1 As reported by local authorities. Includes Home Office provision.

  2 Excludes European Community capital grant used to repay debt. Includes capital grants from non-departmental public bodies and contributions from private developers.

  3 Includes basic and supplementary credit approvals issued to local authorities.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received over the past 12 months on the subject of the amalgamation of Welsh fire brigades. [10722]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have received 30 representations about the reorganisation of the fire brigades in Wales over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received over the past 12 months in favour of amalgamation of Welsh fire brigades; and if he will make a statement. [10693]

  Mr. Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have received two representations in favour of the reorganisation of the fire brigades in Wales over the past 12 months.

  A470 Improvement Scheme
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when work will commence on the A470 road improvement scheme between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws-y-Coed. [10706]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Work started in August 1995 on stage 1 of the scheme, the length between Cancoed and Minffordd. A public inquiry will be held into the draft orders for the next stage, Dolwyddelan to Pont yr Afanc, this April. Subject to the satisfactory outcome of the statutory procedures, it is expected that works on this stage will commence in early 1997.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sites of special scientific interest there were in Wales in(a) 1990, (b) 1992 and (c) 1994. [10698]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 1990: 769

  (b) 1992: 841

  (c) 1994: 890

  301
  Mr. LIwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sites of special scientific interest there are in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [10701]

  Mr. Jones
  There are 907.

  Sheep Quota Scheme
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations his Department has received in the past 12 months on the current operation of the sheep quota scheme; and if he will make a statement. [10678]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has received a number of letters on general quota issues from individuals and representative organisations; and many approaches from individual producers, the farming unions, and members about the effect of the quota scheme in particular cases.

  Bathing Beaches
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many Welsh beaches currently display the EC blue flag; [10699]
  302
  (2) how many Welsh beaches were awarded the EC blue flag in (a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, and (e) 1994; and if he will make a statement. [10697]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is as follows:

  1990: 1

  1991: 3

  1992: 2

  1993: 3

  1994: 2

  1995: 2

  M48 (Signs)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that adequate signposts are in place for the renumbered M48 before the opening of the second Severn crossing. [10780]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In liaison with the Highways Agency, my Department will ensure that appropriate signing is in place for the new motorway links to the second Severn crossing and the renumbered M48 before the crossing is opened to traffic.

  Bahrain: Foreign Ministers' Discussions
  Bahrain: Foreign Ministers' Discussions
  Former Yugoslavia: Lifting of Arms Embargo
  Former Yugoslavia: Lifting of Arms Embargo
  Bosnia: US Policy on Arms
  Bosnia: US Policy on Arms
  Treaties Entered into Since 1991
  Treaties Entered into Since 1991
  Treaties: Ponsonby Rule
  Treaties: Ponsonby Rule
  Motorways and Trunk Roads: Cleaning
  Motorways and Trunk Roads: Cleaning
  Domiciliary Care of Elderly People: Supervision
  Domiciliary Care of Elderly People: Supervision
  HIV and AIDS: Incidence Forecast
  HIV and AIDS: Incidence Forecast
  HIV/AIDS: Combination Drug Therapy
  HIV/AIDS: Combination Drug Therapy
  National Disability Council
  National Disability Council
  Identity Cards
  Identity Cards
  Firearms: Central Register
  Firearms: Central Register
  Asylum Applications
  Asylum Applications
  BBC Charter and Agreement
  BBC Charter and Agreement
  Painting of House of Lords in Session
  Painting of House of Lords in Session
  Nitrate Control, Scotland
  Nitrate Control, Scotland