Written Answers of 25 January 1996

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee to be held in(a) Ayr, (b) Kilmarnock, (c) Cumnock, (d) Dumfries, (e) Stranraer, (f) Prestwick, (g) Troon and (h) Girvan. [8566]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am delighted with the enthusiasm now being shown by Opposition Members for my proposals to take the Scottish Grand Committee to locations throughout Scotland. Possible venues in Scotland must first of all be assessed by the House authorities before they can be added to the list of suitable locations. Decisions are then taken through the usual channels on where the Scottish Grand Committee should meet.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11358]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11355]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Expenditure by the Scottish Office and its associated agencies on external consultants including management consultants was:

  1989–90: £2,095,000

  1991–92: £10,836,000

  1993–94: £5,383,000

  1994–95: £4,079,000

  1995–96: £5,758,000

  304
  No details are currently available centrally on the expenditure during 1979–80, the expenditure to date on external consultants for 1995–96, the estimate of expenditure for 1996–97, or the expenditure by non-departmental public bodies. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Not all consultancy projects are capable of being measured in terms of identifiable savings. The Scottish Office is currently preparing a report summarising the benefits obtained from major projects since April 1992. I shall write to the hon. Member on this subject as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Conservative Central Office
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters and faxes have been dispatched from his Department to Conservative central office in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [11477]

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is not available.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11383]

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested in not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 198990, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11385]

  Mr. Howard
  Figures are not collected centrally on absenteeism.

  The average number of working days lost through sick absence per staff year in the Home Office, including its agencies, for which data are available was as follows:

  1991: 9.9

  1992: 9.0

  1993: 10.6

  1994: 10.1

  Police Funding
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to review the pensions element of the police funding allocation formula. [11902]

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The present mechanism for allocating money for police pensions is the best available to us. We shall continue to refine it.

  Mrs. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Minister of State's letter of 30 November 1995, if he will give details of those aspects of the police funding allocation formula which are in need of further work. [11901]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the report entitled "Critical Analysis of the Police Funding Formula", produced last summer by the independent consultants Price Waterhouse. We have carried out the further work recommended by the consultants, but in some instances it has proved inconclusive and investigations will continue into 1996. Copies of the report are in the Library.

  Prisoners (Mechanical Restraints)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how often the Home Office official at Doncaster prison responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of(a) bodybelts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (d) special segregation unit cells since the prison was opened; [8424]

  (2) what is the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at Doncaster prison have been detained in a bodybelt or mechanical restraint since it opened; [8442]

  (3) on how many occasions since it opened inmates in Doncaster prison have been kept in bodybelts for more than 12 hours; [8421]

  (4) on how many occasions since it opened inmates at Doncaster prison have been (a) detained in a strip cell and (b) restrained by bodybelts for (i) medical or (ii) non-medical purposes. [8439]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints, special segregation unit cells and strip cells at Doncaster prison since its opening in June 1994.
  The use of ankle-straps has twice been authorized on one inmate, for medical reasons, to prevent him causing himself serious and permanent injury. The first occasion was for 24 hours 37 minutes and the second was for six days and 55 minutes.
  The use of the special cell was authorized on 57 occasions during the period 20 June 1994 to 31 December 1994. It was also used without authorization on 44 occasions. This resulted in the operating company Premier Prison Services being issued with a default notice for use of the cell without the Controller's authorization. From 1 January to 31 December 1995 the special cell was used on 41 occasions with the authorization of the Controller of each occasion.
  306
  Bodybelts have been used on two occasions since the prison opened, once for medical and once for non-medical reasons. The longest time spent in a body belt is two hours. The shortest time spent in a body belt was 1 hour 55 minutes. This gives an average time of I hour 57 minutes.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for each prison in England and Wales the number of occasions that restraints were used on(a) men and (b) women prisoners during December 1995; [11603]

  (2) how many (a) men and (b) women were placed in restraints when taken outside prisons, in England and Wales, for whatever reason, during the week beginning 1 January 1996. [11604]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about restraints used on prisoners in England and Wales.
  This information is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the protection of remand prisoners under 18 years of age from bullying at Doncaster prison. [9900]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the protection of remand prisoners under 18 years of age from bullying at Doncaster prison.
  Doncaster has already taken a number of steps to minimise bullying among young offender remand prisoners. Those considered to be bullying are isolated from other prisoners until they cease such activities. Doncaster has also installed cameras to help staff in monitoring the movement and behaviour of juvenile offenders and employed a full-time anti-bullying co-ordinator and removed personal cell keys from young offenders, in order to prevent them being forced to hand them over to other prisoners.
  Anti-bullying measures are subject to continuous review and appraisal. A "Safe Inside Doncaster" Committee has recently been formed, which has been tasked with helping to increase further the safety and comfort of prisoners inside the prison environment. Doncaster takes very seriously its commitment to try and prevent bullying among this age group.

  Holloway Prison
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic breakdown of women prisoners in Holloway prison in December 1995 or at the latest available date. [10084]

  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.
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  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Diane Abbott, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ethnic breakdown of women prisoners in Holloway prison.
  The ethnic breakdown of women prisoners in Holloway prison on 17 January 1996 is given in the attached table.

  Adult

  Young offender

  Total

  Asian—Bangladeshi

  0

  0

  0

  Asian—Indian

  3

  1

  4

  Asian—other

  2

  0

  2

  Asian—Pakistani

  2

  0

  2

  Black—African

  42

  5

  47

  Black—Caribbean

  91

  8

  99

  Black—other

  25

  8

  33

  Chinese

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  24

  1

  25

  White

  299

  40

  339

  Martin Fenton
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the consideration by the Parole Board of the application by Martin Fenton, currently serving a life sentence for murder. [10252]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Mr. Fenton's case was last considered by the Parole Board on 1 December 1995. The board did not recommend his release on life licence.

  On 14 January 1996, Mr. Fenton suffered a cardiac arrest. He was immediately admitted to hospital where he is still serious ill. I shall be writing to the hon. Member about that.

  Prisons Budgets and Staff
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each prison, including those which are privately managed(a) the projected budget in monetary terms, (b) the percentage change and (c) the change in staffing levels for each financial year between 1996–97 and 1999–2000, inclusive. [10296]

  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. George Howarth, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the budget allocation and staffing levels for each prison establishment for each financial year 1996–97 and 1992–2000.
  The process of setting budgets for public sector establishments for 1996–97 is not yet complete. I will send you details of budgets once they are finished.
  Governors are in the process of working out staffing projections for their establishments in 1996–97. I will send you their estimates once governors have had the opportunity to discuss them with their staff locally. I will also send you the provision made for payments to private sector prisons for 1996–97. These are not exactly the same as cash-limited budgets, as the terms of the contract may trigger additional payments in some circumstances.
  308
  We do not at present have budget figures at establishment level more than one year ahead. But later this year we shall be issuing indicative spending figures for the years 1997–98 to 1998–99.

  Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the highest number of visitors strip searched in a single day during November 1995 at Stoke Heath young offenders institution without the police being present; and how many visitors to Stoke Heath young offenders institution have been strip searched in each of the last six months. [10327]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the strip searching of visitors to Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution during November 1995 and in each of the last six months.
  There were no strip searches of visitors to Stoke Heath YOI in November 1995. In the last six months there has been one strip search of a visitor to Stoke Heath YOI.

  Immigration and Asylum Interviews
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of tape recording immigration and asylum interviews at ports of entry and at the Home Office. [10477]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have not made any estimates of the cost of tape recording immigration and asylum interviews at ports of entry or at the Home Office. We have no plans to introduce the tape recording of such interviews.

  Prison Service (Director General)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the previous Directors General of the Prison Service, the dates of their retirement, resignation or dismissal and the dates on which their successors took over. [10877]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Mr. Richard Tilt was appointed temporary Director General of the Prison Service on 16 October 1995. The available information in respect of previous Directors Generals—a term used since 1967—is as follows:

  Mr. Derek Lewis (6 January 1993–16 October 1995. Dismissed)

  Mr. Joe Pilling (14 August 1991–2 January 1993. Transferred)

  Mr. Christopher Train (14 March 1983–31 August 1991. Retired)

  Mr. Dennis Trevelyan (1 January 1978–13 March 1983. Transferred)

  Mr. Eric Wright (1973–1977. Retired)

  Mr. William Cox (1970–1973. Transferred)

  Mr. William Pile (1964–1970. Transferred)

  Incapacitants
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 587, what conclusions he has reached on the effects on human health of (a) CS and

  309
  (b) incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. [11515]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has concluded that CS presents no significant risk to human health, but that not enough is currently known about oleoresin capsicum for us to be reassured as to its effects on human health.

TREASURY

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the numbers in work for each of the last 30 years, dividing this total where possible between full and part-time workers. [11890]

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

  Work force in employment1 in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted: at June

  (Thousands)

  All2

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1965

  24,860

  1—

  1—

  1966

  25,017

  1—

  1—

  1967

  24,670

  1—

  1—

  1968

  24,519

  1—

  1—

  1969

  24,536

  1—

  1—

  1970

  24,428

  1—

  1—

  1971

  24,097

  1—

  1—

  1972

  24,079

  1—

  1—

  1973

  24,646

  1—

  1—

  1974

  24,707

  1—

  1—

  1975

  24,608

  1—

  1—

  1976

  24,382

  1—

  1—

  1977

  24,401

  1—

  1—

  1978

  24,523

  1—

  1—

  1979

  24,881

  1—

  1—

  1980

  24,838

  1—

  1—

  1981

  23,887

  1—

  1—

  1982

  23,461

  1—

  1—

  1983

  23,184

  18,299

  4,885

  1984

  23,836

  18,556

  5,280

  1985

  24,106

  18,705

  5,401

  1986

  24,132

  18,569

  5,563

  1987

  24,651

  18,809

  5,842

  1988

  25,523

  19,482

  6,042

  1989

  26,322

  19,933

  6,389

  1990

  26,555

  19,912

  6,644

  1991

  25,657

  19,095

  6,562

  1992

  25,091

  18,515

  6,576

  1993

  24,703

  18,097

  6,605

  1994

  24,823

  18,041

  6,781

  1995

  25,052

  18,098

  6,953

  1Includes employees in employment, self-employed, HM forces and work-related Government training programme participants.

  2May not equal sum of full and part-time due to rounding.

  "—1" denotes information not available.

  Source:

  CSO.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of Exchequer if he will list the number of unemployed workers who(a) return to the labour market and (b) cease claiming benefit after (i) under one month's unemployment, (ii) over one month's unemployment but less than two month's unemployment, (iii) each succeeding period of
  310
  one month up to 12 months' unemployment and (iv) over 12 months' unemployment. [11891]

  Mrs. Knight
  The following table shows the duration of claim for claimants who left the claimant count in the United Kingdom between 10 November 1995 and 14 December 1995. No information is available on the destination of claimants who cease to claim unemployment-related benefit.

  Duration of claim for claimants leaving the claimant count between 10 November 1995 and 14 December 1995, United Kingdom

  Duration of claim (weeks)

  Number of claimants

  Up to 4

  70,517

  Over 4 and up to 8

  42,608

  Over 8 and up to 12

  28,398

  Over 12 and up to 16

  19,772

  Over 16 and up to 20

  16,728

  Over 20 and up to 24

  13,583

  Over 24 and up to 28

  9,343

  Over 28 and up to 32

  10,163

  Over 32 and up to 36

  9,402

  Over 36 and up to 40

  6,235

  Over 40 and up to 44

  5,086

  Over 44 and up to 48

  4,595

  Over 48 and up to 52

  3,604

  Over 52

  56,158

  Total

  296,192

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have at any time used copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to prepare the Government's response to Sir Richard's report. [11887]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No decision about the response to Sir Richard Scott's report will be taken until the report has been received.

  In considering issues relating to the Scott inquiry, all Departments naturally take account of material properly available to them.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report arc in the possession of Ministers or officials in his Department other than those to whom draft sections of the report were sent by Sir Richard Scott. [11886]

  Mr. Clarke
  In forwarding draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to Ministers and officials, the inquiry expressly stated that individuals could, at their discretion, make a copy for a legal or other adviser and another for the Department concerned.

  Employment Statistics (Accuracy)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new proposals he has to improve the accuracy of employment statistics. [9414]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 24 January 1996]Central Statistical Office statisticians keep methods under constant review. A number of new initiatives have been put in place in recent years. Further initiatives will be implemented as appropriate.
  311
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of people in each of the last three years in the north-west in(a) part-time employment and (b) temporary employment. [11601]

  Mrs. Knight
  The information requested is available from the labour force survey and is shown in the following table.

  Employees in North West region: Summer of each year (thousands)1

  Year

  Part-time

  Temporary

  1993

  555

  146

  1994

  576

  164

  1995

  580

  163

  1Unadjusted.

  Source:

  CSO, Labour Force Survey.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds were available for work in (i) Lancashire and (ii) the north-west at the latest date for which figures are available. [11602]

  Mrs. Knight
  The following table shows the latest available information from the summer (June to August) 1995 labour force survey.

  16 and 17-year-olds in employment or ILO unemployed (summer 1995, not seasonally adjusted)

  North-west

  Lancashire

  Thousands

  16

  17

  16–17

  In employment

  25

  42

  16

  Of which in FTE1

  17

  22

  10

  ILO unemployed2

  16

  11

  n/a

  1In full-time education.

  2Not in employment, but seeking work in past four weeks and available to start in the next two weeks.

  n/a Not available, estimate below 10,000.

  Earnings (Yorkshire and Humberside)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the average(a) weekly earnings, (b) total hours, (c) average hourly earnings and (d) median hourly earnings, including and excluding overtime, for (i) all part-time females and (ii) all part-time males on adult rates in (1) West Yorkshire, (2) South Yorkshire, (3) North Yorkshire, (4) Humberside and (5) Yorkshire and Humberside as a whole, broken down to show (A) manual and (b) non-manual workers; [10688]

  (2) if he will list the proportion of full-time employees on adult rates with weekly earnings of less than (a) £150, (b) £200 and (c) £250 per week (i) excluding and (ii) including overtime, in (1) West Yorkshire, (2) South Yorkshire, (3) North Yorkshire, (4) Humberside and (5) Yorkshire and Humberside as a whole for all full-time (A) males and (B) females on adult rates, broken down to show (x) manual and (y) non-manual workers; [10689]

  (3) if he will list the proportion of employees on adult rates earning less than (a) £3.20, (b) £3.50, (c) £4.00, (d) £4.60 and (e) £6.00 per hour in (i) West Yorkshire, (ii) South Yorkshire, (iii) North Yorkshire, (iv) Humberside and (v) Yorkshire and Humberside as a whole, (1) excluding and (2) including overtime for (A) all full-time males, (B) all part-time males, (c) all
  312
  full-time females and (D) all part-time females on adult rates, broken down to show (x) manual and (y) non-manual workers. [10690]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information is contained in tables which I am placing in the Library.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of(a) manual part-time workers and (b) non-manual part-time workers, broken down into men and women, work less than (i) eight hours a week and (ii) 16 hours a week. [10862]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Estimates from the labour force survey are shown in the table following.

  Part-time manual and non-manual workers by the total number of hours they usually work Great Britain, summer 1995 (not seasonally adjusted)

  Working less than 8 hours a week

  Working less than 16 hours a week

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Men

  Manual part-time

  87

  16

  238

  45

  Non-Manual part-time

  93

  17

  264

  48

  Women

  Manual part-time

  303

  15

  944

  47

  Non-Manual part-time

  330

  11

  1,075

  35

  Employment (Maastricht Treaty)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the effect on employment in the United Kingdom of the Maastricht treaty when full implemented. [9798]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government have made no estimates of the effect on employment in the United Kingdom of the convergence criteria under the Maastricht treaty when fully implemented. The UK opt-out from the social chapter means that the Maastricht treaty will have no adverse effect on employment via that mechanism. However, the Government will agree to join a single currency only if it is in our national interest to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on manufacturing jobs of the United Kingdom adopting a common EU currency in its currently proposed form. [9805]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Protocol No. 11 annexed to the EC Treaty means that the United Kingdom shall not he obliged or committed to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. The Government will only agree to take part in a single
  313
  currency if it is in our national interest to do so, given the circumstances at the time. Clearly employment forms a vital part in the assessment of our national interest.

  The Government have made no estimates of the impact on manufacturing jobs of the United Kingdom adopting a single currency. It is impossible to say at this stage what the impact will be. Studies by others have produced a wide variation of estimates.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  ISDN Lines
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that the price of integrated services data network lines falls in line with the real terms price reductions for all telecommunications services. [10426]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The detailed answer on the supply of ISDN lines which I gave my hon. Friend last November, 22 November 1995,Official Report, column 210, set out the variety of ways in which use of ISDN is being stimulated. The Director General of Telecommunications has now issued his consultation document on the BT price cap. This document discusses whether ISDN services should be brought within the price control regime, and Oftel has asked for responses by 2 February.

  There will also be downward pressure on prices from the increasing competition in the supply of ISDN services with cable companies entering the market. In the future, radio fixed access systems at 10Ghz should also offer an alternative to the current services available from BT and Mercury. I was particularly pleased to learn of the deal between Energis and Research Machines which will allow many schools to access the Internet via ISDN at attractive rates.

  Waste
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what(a) committees and (b) working parties his Department has set up to advise on (i) recycling, (ii) waste management and (iii) packaging; and in each case who are the current members. [11182]

  Mr. Page
  The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment was set up in 1991 to provide a dialogue between Government and industry on environmental issues, including those of waste management and recycling, ACBE is currently reorganising under the chairmanship of David Davies—Johnson Matthey plc—and the membership of the new committee has yet to be established. A list of the membership of the previous committee, whose work finished in November 1995, follows:

  MEMBERSHIP OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  Chairman
  Derek Wanless: National Westminster Bank Plc
  Members

  John Baker: National Power Plc

  Peter Bonfield CBE: ICL Plc

  Cedric Brown: British Gas Plc

  314

  Ann Burdus: Dawsons International

  Rodney Chase: British Petroleum Plc

  Mike Clasper: Proctor and Gamble Europe

  David Davies: Johnson Matthey Plc

  Peter Davies: DHL International Ltd.

  Dr. Oliver Doubleday: Bax Farm

  Richard Gamble: Royal Insurance Plc

  Ian Gibson CBE: Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.

  Roger Hewitt: formerly Shanks and McEwan

  Derek Higgs: S.G. Warburg and Co. Ltd.

  Ron Huggins: Kimberly-Clarke Ltd.

  Sir Gordon Jones: Yorkshire Water Plc

  Martin Laing CBE: John Laing Plc

  Robert Lawton: Lawton Farms

  David Malpas: Tesco Plc

  Jean Parker CBE: Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Ltd.

  Dr. Robin C. Paul: Albright and Wilson Ltd.

  George Phillipson: Redland Aggregates Ltd.

  Sir Antony Pilkington: Pilkington Plc

  Alan Smith: formerly B and Q Plc

  John Speirs: Norsk Hydro UK Ltd.

  Geoff Turnbull MBE: GT Group Ltd.

  A Government/industry scrap tyre working group was formed in June 1994 to advise and report on scrap tyre recovery and recycling and associated matters. Its current membership is:

  Mr. W. Pollock: Director, British Rubber Manufacturers Association

  Mr. R. Edy Director: National Tyre Distributors Association

  Ms S. Ikin Director: Retread Manufacturers Association

  Mr. P. Taylor: Director, Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association

  Mr. S. Norgrove: DTI

  Mr. J. Marsh: DTI (Secretary)

  The producer responsibility group was set up by industry in response to the joint producer responsibility challenge from DTI and DoE Ministers in July 1993 to recover more value from package waste. It reported in November 1994 and wound itself up. A list of its former members is as follows:
  LIST OF MEMBER COMPANIES

  Allied Lyons Plc

  Bass

  ASDA Group

  Booker Plc

  Bowater Plc

  Burton Group

  Guinness Plc

  Grand Metropolitan Plc

  Marks and Spencer Plc

  Northern Foods Ltd.

  RHM

  Shell Chemicals Ltd.

  Tesco Stores Ltd.

  Unilever

  Argyll Group Plc

  BP Chemicals Ltd.

  The Boots Company Plc

  315

  Coco-Cola GT Britain and Ireland

  Forte Plc

  ICI Plc

  Kingfisher Plc

  Nestle UK Ltd.

  Procter and Gamble Ltd.

  J. Sainsbury Plc

  D. S. Smith (Holdings) Plc

  Unigate Plc

  United Biscuits

  Weetabix Ltd.

  STEERING COMMITTEE

  Mike Clasper (Chairman)

  Graeme Crombie

  Peter Barr

  Ross Buckland

  Mike Buzzacott

  Tim Clement Jones

  Roger Huff

  David Lyon

  Bill Madden

  Bill Mason

  John Sharpe

  Guy Walker

  David Webster

  Peter Williams

  Martin van Zwanenberg

  Procter and Gamble

  Shell Chemicals

  Hazlewood Foods

  Unigate

  BP Chemicals

  Kingfisher

  Boots

  Bowater

  ICI Materials

  Consultant

  Birds Eye Walls

  Van den Bergh Foods

  Annual percentage change(total visible trade)

  Non-oil balance

  Year

  Export volumes

  Export unit values

  Import volumes

  Import unit values

  Terms of trade

  Percentage of gross domestic product

  Change in percentage of gross domestic product

  1985

  5.6

  5.4

  3.2

  4.9

  0.5

  -3.2

  0.6

  1986

  4.2

  -9.9

  7.4

  -4.6

  -5.6

  -3.5

  -0.3

  1987

  6.0

  3.5

  7.7

  2.9

  0.5

  -3.7

  -0.2

  1988

  2.2

  1.0

  13.5

  -1.0

  2.0

  -5.2

  -1.5

  1989

  5.8

  4.5

  8.1

  4.3

  0.3

  -5.0

  0.2

  1990

  6.2

  3.5

  0.1

  2.4

  1.1

  -3.7

  1.3

  1991

  1.2

  1.4

  -5.3

  1.2

  0.2

  -2.0

  1.7

  1992

  2.5

  2.1

  6.5

  0.9

  1.2

  -2.5

  -0.5

  1993

  3.6

  12.2

  3.9

  10.0

  2.0

  -2.5

  -0.1

  1994

  10.4

  2.2

  4.1

  3.4

  -1.2

  -2.2

  0.3

  Mrs. Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list as a percentage of gross domestic product for each year since 1985(a) the visible trade balance, (b) the invisible trade balance,
  316

  Argyll Group

  D S Smith (Holdings)

  Marks and Spencer

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what(a) advisory committees and (b) working parties have been established by his Department to advise him on the implications of changes in legislation regarding packaging, recycling and waste management. [11184]

  Mr. Page
  As far as the implication for legislation are concerned with regard to these matters, the Government consult widely and take into account the views of all interested parties. No committees or working groups have been set up specifically to address the implication of changes in legislation.

  The Government are currently considering the recommendation by companies in the packaging chain at their meeting on 15 December 1995 that an advisory committee be established to advise on the drafting and implementation of the regulations and on arrangements for carrying out a review of the legal obligation, including consideration of actual burden on individual companies.

  Industrial Death and Retirement Fund
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) in which publication the annual reports and statement of accounts of the industrial death and retirement fund are published; [11590]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the actuary's report on the industrial death and retirement fund. [11591]

  Mr. Page
  These are matters for British Coal. I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Balance of Trade
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each year since 1985 the percentage changes in(a) export volumes and export unit values, (b) import volumes and unit values, (c) the terms of trade and (d) the non-oil visible trade balance. [11898]

  Mr. Page
  The information is shown in the table.

  (c) the current account balance and (d) the non-energy visible balance. [11899]

  Mr. Page
  The information is shown in the table.
  317

  Percentage of gross domestic product

  Year

  Visible trade balance

  Invisible trade balance

  Current account balance

  Non-oil visible balance

  1985

  -0.9

  1.6

  0.6

  -3.2

  1986

  -2.5

  2.3

  -0.2

  -3.5

  1987

  -2.7

  1.6

  -1.1

  -3.7

  1988

  -4.6

  1.1

  -3.5

  -5.2

  1989

  -4.8

  0.4

  -4.3

  -5.0

  1990

  -3.4

  -0.1

  -3.5

  -3.7

  1991

  -1.8

  0.3

  -1.5

  -2.0

  1992

  -2.2

  0.6

  -1.6

  -2.5

  1993

  -2.1

  0.4

  -1.8

  -2.5

  1994

  -1.6

  1.3

  -0.3

  -2.2

  Directors' Remuneration (Disclosure)
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish a consultative document on proposals for amending the Companies Acts to take account of the recommendations on disclosure of directors' remuneration contained in the Greenbury report. [12291]

  Mr. Lang
  I have today published a consultative document seeking views on proposed changes to the requirements of the Companies Act 1985 relating to disclosure of directors' emoluments. The proposals are designed to remove overlap with the Greenbury recommendations for full disclosure of the emoluments of individuals directors by listed companies, now implemented by the stock exchange listing rules, and generally to ensure consistency of approach between the Companies Act provisions and the Greenbury recommendations. Copies of the consultative document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Royal Family (Free Postage)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which statute free postage to members of the royal family is authorised. [11027]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 24 January 1996]: This facility is not granted by statute. The provision of free postage to members of the royal family is a facility which has been provided by the Post Office since the earliest days of its inception.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which members of the royal family receive free postage for their official mail. [11026]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 24 January 1996]: The following members of the royal family and their households receive free postage for their official mail:

  the Queen, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Prince Edward, the Princess Royal, the Princess Margaret, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11380]

  Mr. Hanley
  Total expenditure on publicity—that is, promotional material and recruitment advertising—in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office—diplomatic wing and Overseas Development Administration—since 1979 at 1995–96 prices was:

  £

  1979–80

  809,559

  1980–81

  569,578

  1981–82

  734,682

  1982–83

  675,220

  1983–84

  809,117

  1984–85

  645,986

  1985–86

  688,390

  1986–87

  873,338

  1987–88

  802,582

  1988–89

  1,348,555

  1989–90

  1,883,124

  1990–91

  2,180,180

  1991–92

  2,003,485

  1992–93

  2,193,224

  1993–94

  2,229,921

  1994–95

  2,384,083

  1995–96

  2,707,000 (Estimate)

  An estimate for 1996–97 is not yet available.

  It is not possible to break these figures down between (1) advertising and (2) However, the expenditure comprise: press and public relations. outturn figures for 1994–95 comprise:

  At 1995–96 prices

  £

  £

  Newspaper advertising for recruitment purposes:

  (DW) 80,575

  82,791

  (ODA) 727,000

  746,993

  Videos and brochures giving consular advice:

  162,700

  167,174

  ODA publicity and promotional material:

  1,350,000

  1,387,125

  2,320,275

  2,384,083

  The foregoing do not include figures for the executive agencies. Publicity expenditure—at outturn prices—for

  319
  the National Resource Institute and the Wilton Park Executive agency are as follows:

  thousand

  NRI

  WP

  1990–91

  137

  —

  1991–92

  132

  20

  1992–93

  77

  27

  1993–94

  47

  22

  1994–95

  56

  20

  1995–96

  56

  15

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report are in the possession of Ministers or officials in his Department other than those to whom draft sections of the report were sent by Sir Richard Scott. [11880]

  Mr. Hanley
  In forwarding draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to Ministers and officials, the inquiry expressly stated that individuals could, at their discretion, make a copy for a legal or other adviser and another for the department concerned. Whether they did so is entirely a matter for the individuals concerned.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 1996,Official Report, columns 691–92, how much of the sum spent by his Department on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry has been spent on legal advice. [11882]

  Mr. Hanley
  All of it.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used copies o draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to prepare the Government's response to Sir Richard Scott's report. [11881]

  Mr. Hanley
  No decision about the response to Sir Richard Scott's report will be taken until the report has been received.

  In considering issues relating to the Scott inquiry, all Departments naturally take account of material properly available to them.

  China
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the recent television programme, "The Dying Rooms", was discussed during his recent visit to China; and if he will make a statement. [10329]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]>: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 10 January, Official Report, columns 206–7.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been held by his Department with Saudi Arabian opposition groups(a) in Saudi Arabia and (b) elsewhere. [11025]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 23 January 19961: I am unaware of any requests from such groups for any meetings during 1995 to date and can confirm that none took place. We are similarly unaware of any previous meetings, but could not research this without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Government Borrowing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications of the Maastricht treaty for (i) the creation of credit, (ii) Government borrowing through ways and means advances and (iii) Government borrowing through the banks. [9797]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  Under article 105(2) of the EC treaty, the primary objective of the European system of central banks shall be to maintain price stability, and the basic tasks to he carried out through the ESCB include the definition and implementation of monetary policy of the Community, which would have implications for the creation of credit. As a result of article 109k(3) and protocol 11 there would no direct implications in countries not participating in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Under article 104(1) of the EC treaty, central Governments are prohibited from having an overdraft facility or any other credit facility with the European central bank or with the national central banks. However, article 11 of protocol 11 annexed to the EC treaty makes clear that, notwithstanding article 104, the United Kingdom may maintain the ways and means facility with the Bank of England, if and so long as the United Kingdom does not move to the third stage of EMU. If the United Kingdom were to participate in the third stage of EMU, the Government would be unable to maintain the Ways and Means facility.

  Under article 104a(1) of the EC treaty, public authorities are prohibited from establishing "privileged access" to financial institutions. This provision is already in effects and the United Kingdom is in compliance. There are no other treaty provisions directly concerned with the ability of central Governments to borrow through banks.

  Under protocol 11 annexed to the EC treaty, the United Kingdom shall not be obliged or committed to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. We will agree to take part in a single currency only if it is in our national interst to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 January. [10166]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 January. [10167]

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

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister if officials in(a) his private office and (b) the Cabinet Office have used copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to prepare the Government's response to Sir Richard's report. [11889]

  The Prime Minister
  No decision about the response to Sir Richard Scott's report will be taken until the report has been received.

  In considering issues relating to the Scott inquiry all Departments naturally take account of material properly available to them.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister if copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report are in(a) his possession and (b) the possession of officials in the Cabinet Office other than those to whom draft sections of the report were sent by Sir Richard Scott. [11888]

  The Prime Minister
  In forwarding draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to Ministers and officials the inquiry expressly stated that individuals could at their discretion make a copy for legal or other advisers and another for the Department concerned. Whether they did so is entirely a matter for the individuals concerned.

  Hafey Dalkamouni
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with Chancellor Kohl the proposed release of Hafey Dalkamouni. [11733]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the arrangements for compliance cost assessments. [12328]

  Mr. Freeman
  Compliance cost assessments are a vital tool for helping to minimise the costs to business arising from new legislation. Under the Government's deregulation initiative, I am today publishing a revised guidance booklet on compliance cost assessment and am arranging for copies to be placed in the House Libraries. The new booklet includes:322
  the requirement for Ministers to personally sign-off all CCAs and to certify that the regulatory proposal strikes an appropriate balance between cost and benefit.
  the requirement for a CCA to be prepared and published with all legislative proposals presented to Parliament.
  extension of the requirement to complete a CCA to regulatory proposals which impact on charities and the voluntary sector.
  the arrangements for carrying out the small business litmus test.
  the parliamentary scrutiny arrangements for CCAs dealing with EC legislative proposals.

  I have also presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 75 CCAs published between 1 January 1995 and 30 June 1995. Copies of the CCAs listed are available in the House Libraries. This is the third such Command Paper and further Command Papers listing CCAs published in the preceding six-month period will he published at six-monthly intervals.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Staff Salaries
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will list all employees of the House who have salaries in excess of the salary of a Member of Parliament, indicating in each case the salary and a brief description of their job. [9405]

  Mr. Beith
  One hundred and fourteen Officers of the House in the following grades receive basic salaries above the £33,189 paid to hon. Members. In the list which, follows job holders grade titles are provided but it is not practicable to provide a job description for each post.

  Grade title

  Number of job holders

  Grade

  Office of the Speaker

  Parliamentary Commissioner for

  —

  Standards (part-time)

  Speaker's Secretary

  1

  5

  Department of the Clerk of the House

  Clerk of the House

  1

  1

  Clerk of Committees

  1

  2

  Clerk Assistant

  1

  2

  Speaker's Counsel

  2

  3

  Principal Clerk Class I

  6

  3

  Principal Clerk Class II

  4

  4

  Deputy Principal Clerk

  25

  5

  Deliverer of the Vote

  1

  5

  Assistant to Speaker's Counsel

  1

  5

  Supervisor of Broadcasting

  1

  6

  Senior Clerk

  5

  7

  Deputy Deliverer of the Vote

  2

  7

  Department of the Serjeant at Arms

  Serjeant at Arms

  1

  3

  Director of Works

  1

  4

  Deputy Serjeant at Arms

  1

  5

  Deputy Director of Works

  1

  5

  Information Systems Officer

  1

  5

  Assistant Serjeant at Arms

  1

  6

  Members of Works Office

  5

  7

  Department of the Library

  Librarian

  1

  3

  Deputy Librarian

  1

  4

  Head of Information Systems

  1

  5

  323

  Grade title

  Number of job holders

  Grade

  Assistant Librarian

  2

  5

  Deputy Assistant Librarian

  8

  6

  Head of Information Technology

  1

  7

  Senior Library Clerk

  5

  7

  Department of the Official Report

  Editor

  1

  4

  Deputy Editor

  1

  5

  Assistant Editor

  7

  6

  Principal Assistant Editor

  4

  6

  Committee Sub-Editor

  6

  7

  Department of Finance and Administration

  Adviser

  1

  2

  Director of Finance and Administration

  1

  3

  Accountant

  1

  4

  Head of Establishment Office

  1

  4

  Head of Finance Office

  1

  5

  Deputy Accountant

  1

  6

  Staff Inspector

  1

  6

  Deputy Head—Establishments

  1

  6

  Internal Auditor

  1

  7

  Assistant Accountant

  1

  7

  Head of Policy/Project Unit

  1

  7

  Refreshment Department

  Director of Catering Services

  1

  5

  Executive Chef

  1

  7

  Salary range

  Grade

  Range£

  1

  98,957

  2

  67,500–81,400

  3

  55,000–66,000

  4

  47,921–58,077

  5

  39,227–58,077

  6

  30,377–50,276

  7

  26,619–41,162

DEFENCE

  Scott Inquiry
  binCook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to prepare the Government's response to Sir Richard Scott's report. [11879]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No decision about the response to Sir Richard Scott's report will be taken until the report has been received.

  In considering issues relating to the Scott inquiry, all Departments naturally take account of material properly available to them.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report are in the possession of Ministers or officials in his Department other than those to whom draft sections of the report were sent by Sir Richard Scott. [11878]
  324
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In forwarding draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to Ministers and officials, the inquiry expressly stated that individuals could at their discretion make a copy for a legal or other adviser and another for the Department concerned. Whether they did so is entirely a matter for the individuals concerned.

  Munitions Dumping
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations his Department has received from(a) the European Commission and (b) other countries in relation to the sea dumping of conventional and chemical munitions around Britain's coast. [11811]

  Mr. Soames
  There have been contacts between the Ministry of Defence and the Irish Government about sea dumping of munitions, but there have been no representations from other Governments or the European Commission.

  Positive about Disabled People Symbol
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for his Department and each of the agencies for which he is responsible if it uses the Employment Service's positive about disabled people symbol for(a) external recruitment and (b) internal recruitment and promotion. [11914]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department initiated the use of the Employment Service's positive about disabled people symbol and is an accredited user. Departmental organisations, including agencies funded directly from defence votes, are entitled to use the symbol for both external and internal recruitment and promotion. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, which operates on a trading fund basis, and the Meteorological Office, which is planning to operate on this basis later this year, are not covered by the departmental accreditation, but both agencies are currently working towards obtaining authorisation from the Employment Service to use the symbol in their own right.

  NATO (Interoperability)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts concerning the interoperability of ambulances within the alliance. [10102]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 18 January 1996]: My Department continues to explore ways of achieving greater interoperability with our NATO partners, although there have been no recent discussions specifically related to ambulances. In preparing the staff requirement for the replacement medium mobility ambulance, full account was taken of the need to ensure interoperability with NATO allies, particularly with regard to airportability, stretcher and stretcher mountings. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement announced the order for the medium mobility ambulance on 18 January 1996.

  Departmental Contracts (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all contracts placed by his Department with(a) GEC Marconi Radar in Chelmsford, (b) GEC Marconi

  325
  Communications in Chelmsford, (c) the English Electric Valve Company in Chelmsford and (d) other companies based in Chelmsford since June 1987, and what each contract was worth. [10844]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The number and total value of contracts with (a) the GEC-Marconi Ltd. group of companies in the Chelmsford area, (b) EEV Ltd.—the English Electric Valve Company—and (c) other companies in the Chelmsford area which were extant during the period from 1990 to date are shown in the table.

  Financial year

  GEC-Number of contracts

  Marconi Ltd. Total value £million

  EEV Number of contracts

  Ltd Total value £million

  Other Number of contracts

  Co's Total Value £million

  1990–91

  1,172

  842.8

  170

  118.4

  567

  25.1

  1991–92

  1,387

  876.4

  201

  132.8

  719

  30.6

  1992–93

  516

  834.3

  158

  115.3

  550

  34.7

  1993–94

  603

  638.7

  143

  104.3

  621

  51.7

  1994–95

  588

  592.5

  132

  105.3

  649

  48.5

  1995 up to December

  593

  537.9

  80

  74.9

  542

  62.7

  Dodman Exercise Area
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the success rate of the Dodman exercise area for training; and if he will make a statement about its current use by members of his Department. [11810]

  Mr. Soames
  The exercise areas off Dodman point in Cornwall are used for a variety of naval training purposes, including naval gunfire support training, which is part of essential operational sea Training, and simulates the provision of gunfire support from ships at sea to forces operating ashore. I am satisfied, as is the Navy, that acceptable levels of training are being achieved at Dodman, including steadily improving success rates for NGS firings, and that the area itself fully meets our training requirements.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staffing his Department for each of
  the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92,
  (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11333]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994, the average numbers of working days absence for non-industrial staff were 7.8, 7.9, 8.7 and 7.6 respectively. Figures are not yet available for 1995. Those for years before 1991 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Data for industrial staff are not held centrally and could he provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Civilian Posts
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian Ministry of Defence jobs there are within a 25-mile radius of(a) Bath and (b) Cheadle. [11258]
  326
  The following points should be noted:

  (1) the records from which this data have been obtained do not differentiate between the various divisions and management companies within the GEC-Marconi Ltd. group.

  (2) where a contract was current in two or more financial years, it is included in the figures for each year concerned.

  (3) the figures do not include any contracts placed by Defence agencies since they took over their own contract administration.

  I regret that the figures before 1990 are not immediately available and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The number of MOD civil servants employed within a 25-mile radius of(a) Bath and (b) Cheadle was 8,674 and 600 respectively on 1 April 1995.

  LSD Experiments, Porton Down
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify which Porton Down technical papers contain the descriptions and results of the LSD experiments which were conducted(a) in the laboratory and (b) in the field by the Chemical Defence Establishment; and which are currently unclassified. [11809]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 25 January 1996:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking which Porton Down Technical Papers contain the descriptions and results of the LSD experiments which were conducted (a) in the laboratory and (b) in the field by the Chemical Defence Establishment; and which are currently unclassified has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE)
  A search of the CBDE Information Service's list of technical papers produced by CBDE and its predecessor organisations at Porton Down has identified four published papers concerning the work conducted with LSD in the 1960s. Three of these reports are concerned with the field studies. These are Porton Technical Paper 936 "A field experiment using LSD25 on trained troops", Porton Technical Paper 979 "Recount—A second field experiment to assess the effects of T3456 on trained troops" and Technical Note 53 "Small Change—A brief preliminary report". As you know we have recently arranged for these papers to be made available in the Public Record Office at Kew at the end of January in response to your

  327
  earlier request to see information relating to trials with LSD involving service volunteers. We have recently located a fourth report, Technical Note 5 "The determination of T3456 in human plasma following oral administration" which concerns the laboratory based development of an analytical method to detect low levels of LSD in human plasma. This report is not yet in the Public Records Office but arrangements can be made for its early release should this be required. The library search also identified eight papers which include references to laboratory work involving LSD and other substances being tested on animals. The work was primarily concerned with analytical methods and the papers remain classified.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Married Housing Sales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the sums to be paid to the Treasury from the sale of his Department's married housing. [11807]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As I told the hon. Member in my reply of 18 December 1995,Official Report, columns 988–89, our assessment of the value of the married quarters estate under the terms of the proposed sale is commercially confidential.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Attorney-General if(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to prepare the Government's response to Sir Richard Scott's report. [11884]

  The Attorney-General
  No decision about the response to Sir Richard Scott's report will be taken until the report has been received.
  In considering issues relating to the Scott's inquiry, all Departments naturally take account of material properly available to them.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, columns 705–6, how much of the sum spent by his Department on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry has been spent on legal advice. [11885]

  The Attorney-General
  All of it.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Attorney-General if copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report are in the possession of Ministers or officials in his Department other than those to whom draft sections of the report were sent by Sir Richard Scott. [11883]

  The Attorney-General
  In forwarding draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report to Ministers and officials, the inquiry expressly stated that individuals could at their discretion make a copy for a legal or other adviser. Whether they did so is entirely a matter for the individuals concerned; the Government do not disclose details of communications, if any, between the inquiry and individual witnesses.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on cases in each of the last 10 years in which the total legal aid bill exceeded more than £1 million. [11867]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information is available. however, for the period 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1994. During that period, there were 20 cases involving final bills where the total costs to the legal aid fund exceeded £1 million. Of those, 19 were in respect of criminal proceedings.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11377]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information for 1979–80 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the public purse. The figures for the year 1989–90 and thereafter are shown in the table. The Public Trust Office is shown separately for the year 1994–95 since it assumed agency status in July 1994. Details for the current financial year 1995–96 will not he available until after the end of this financial year.

  Sick absence in the Lord Chancellor's Department 1989–95

  Year

  Absence rate in days

  1989–90

  194,581

  1991–92

  140,041

  1992–93

  151,840

  1993–94

  178,172

  1994–95

  1171,192

  Public Trust Office

  1994–95

  9,929

  1Excluding the Public Trust Office.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11375]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Before 1995–96, information has not been held centrally for the full period in question. and information before 1992–93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure by the Department
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  and non-departmental public bodies on external consultants was as follows:-

  1993–94: £3.455 million

  1994–95: £1.640 million

  1995–96: £0.853 million (to date)

  Forecast expenditure for the whole of the year 1995–96 is £1.234 million, and for 1996–97 is £7.018 million.

  The chief executives of the Court Service and Public Trust Office will reply separately for the periods for which they have been agencies. The chief executives of the Land Registry and Public Record Office will reply direct.

  In many cases, consultants are employed to contribute particular skills to an element of a much larger process. As a result, their work will be only one of several factors leading to the eventual outcome. There is therefore no ready way of apportioning their particular contribution to savings achieved.

  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 19 January 1996, regarding the expenditure on all consultants for each of the years 1979–80, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) an estimate for the whole year; the estimated expenditure for 1996–97 and an estimate of the savings accruing from the use of consultants in each of these years.
  The Public Trust Office became an Agency on 1 July 1994 and figures prior to that date are included in the departmental Headquarters response. The cost of consultants for the financial years 1994–95 onwards are as follows:

  1994–95: £70,242.55

  1995–96: £43,753.01 (total to date)

  £77,252.01 (estimate for year)

  1996–97: £70,000 (estimate)

  Consultants are employed to provide a particular skill and their work is only one element of a much larger process and as such it is difficult to assess the savings to the Office as a result. However, the consultants used for the Business Process Re-engineering in 1994/95 estimated that there would be a saving of £800,000 to the Office over time.

  Letter from Duncan Simpson to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive, who is away from the Office on official business, I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply for the Public Record Office to your question about expenditure on consultants and the savings accruing.

  1. The Public Record Office's annual expenditure on consultants was:

  (a) 1979–80: nil

  (b) 1989–90: £46,745

  (c) 1991–92: £349,111

  (d) 1993–94: £674,305

  (e) 1994–95: £315,669

  (f) 1995–96: £213,500 to date

  1995–96: £585,075 budget
  The estimated expenditure for 1996–97 is £775,500.
  2. The above includes £120,942 spent between 1992–93 and 1994–95 on consultancy to support the market testing programme. which resulted in an annualised net saving to 1994–95 of £291,000 per annum, with additional but not yet quantified savings expected in 1995–96 and subsequent years.
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  3. Other consultancies have been to carry out necessary specialised work beyond this department's normal scope, rather than to realise direct cost savings. They have related primarily to the construction of a new building, also to the installation of computer systems and training.

  Letter front John Manthorpe to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's department, to reply to your recent question on expenditure on external consultants for each of the years a) 1979–80 b) 1989–90, c) 1991–92, d) 1993–94, e) 1994–95 and f) 1995–96 i) to date and ii) as estimated for the whole year and the estimated savings accruing to the Land Registry from the use of consultants in each of these years. I can provide the following information:

  a) 1979–80 No record of any expenditure on consultancy

  b) 1989–90 £42,900

  c) 1991–92 £98,539

  d) 1993–94 £157,022

  e) 1994–95 £196,011

  f) 1995–96 i) £236,000 (at 31.12.95)

  ii) £468,000

  HM Land Registry has not used consultancy services extensively (the actual cost in 1994–95, for instance, represented only 0.1% of its total expenditure) and its main engagements are for specialist tuition, Information System business services, and consultancy arising from the Market Test programme. It is not possible to quantify annual cost savings but consultants services have made a contribution to the overall cost savings achieved by the Registry which, for example, in 1994–95, amounted to a 2.9% reduction in unit costs in real terms over the previous year.
  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to the above Question about expenditure on external consultants.
  Since April 1995, the date on which the Court Service was established, £1.11m has been spent on external consultants. Forecast expenditure for the whole year 1995–96 is £3.49m. The estimate fin-1996–97 has yet to be finalised.
  In many cases consultants have been used where it has not been possible to provide the same service 'in-house' or where their contribution has been a small part of a much larger project. It is therefore not possible to assess what specific savings have been achieved as a result of their contribution.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11376]

  Mr. Evans
  The expenditure on publicity by the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service. was as follows: 1989–90—£33,616; 1991–92–05,734; 1993–94—£46,667; 1994–95—£78,961; 1995–96 to date—£.83,339. The estimate for the year 1995–96 is £113,000. The estimate for 1996–97 has not yet been finalised but will be approximately £125,000. The figure for publicity expenditure for the year 1979–80 is not available.
  331
  These figures represent expenditure on press and public relations, excluding staff costs. There was no expenditure on publicity advertising in any of the years specified, and none is planned for 1996–97.

  The Lord Chancellor is responsible for three agencies other than the Court Service: Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Record Office, and the Public Trust Office. The question concerns specific operational matters on which the chief executives of these three agencies are best placed to provide answers. I have accordingly asked the chief executives to reply direct.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible for two non-Departmental public bodies, the Legal Aid Board and the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct. Publicity expenditure by the Legal Aid Board, which was established in 1989, was as follows: 1989–90–£103,000; 1991–92–£132,000; 1993–94–£141,000; 1994–95–£207,000; 1995–96 to date–£153,178 and estimated for the total year–£218,000. The latest estimate for 1996–97 is £244,000. Publicity expenditure by the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct is contained within its budget for postage and telephone and is not separately itemised.

  Letter from Duncan Simpson to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive, who is away from the Office on official business, I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply for the Public Record Office to your question about the annual expenditure on publicity by the agencies for which he is responsible.
  1. Total expenditure has been:

  Advertising £

  Press and Public Relations £

  1989–90

  nil

  47,000

  1990–91

  28

  50,000

  1991–92

  20,666

  53,000

  1992–93

  77,392

  57,000

  1993–94

  86,505

  58,000

  1994–95 to date

  82,900

  45,000

  1995–96 budget

  107,500

  59,500

  1996–97 budget

  70,000

  61,000

  2. Figures for 1979–80 could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.3. The advertising figures are for staff recruitment and, since 1991–92, for approximately £1,500 per annum spent on advertising our own products for sale.

  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 19 January 1996, regarding the assessment made of the total expenditure for publicity for the financial years 1979–80, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and the estimated cost for the same in 1996–97.
  It is Government policy that the Public Trust Office does not advertise for the services it provides.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question on expenditure on publicity for each of the years a) 1979–80 b) 1989–
  332
  90, c) 1991–2, d) 1993–94, e) 1994–95 and f) 1995–96 i) to date and ii) as estimated for the whole year and estimated expenditure for 1996–97. I can provide the following information:

  Advertising £

  Press and Public Relations £

  (a) 1979–80

  23,696

  —

  (b) 1989–90

  36,434

  2,684

  (c) 1991–92

  6,342

  22,322

  (d) 1993–94

  16,233

  10,554

  (e) 1994–95

  10,070

  71,765

  (f) 1995–96

  (i) 19,248

  182,164

  (ii) 13,000

  131,800

  1At 31 December 1995.

  The increase in 1995–96 is mainly due to the production of a Land Registry Corporate Video.
  Estimated expenditure figures for 1996–97 are not yet available. The annual non-staff budget setting process is currently taking place and the Land Registry Budget Committee has yet to decide the final budget allocation.
  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can he of any further assistance.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11378]

  Mr. Evans
  Details of expenditure on telephones for LCD headquarters and associated offices, the Legal Aid Board and the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct are set out in the table, where figures are available.

  The chief executives of the Court Service, the Public Trust Office, the Land Registry and the Public Records Office will be replying separately.
  LCD headquarters and associated offices

  1994–95: £644,031.98

  1995–96: £460,161 13

  1996–97: £398,000.00

  The figures include a number of headquarters' outstations located around the country.

  Internal directories are available to all staff.
  Legal Aid Board

  1989–90: £285,425

  1991–92: £322,222

  1992–93: £311,904

  1994–95: £317,215

  1995–96: £303,180 estimate to year end

  1996–97: £303,000 latest estimate.

  Internal directories are available within each of the board's area offices and central departments of the hoard at its head office.
  Advisor,' Committee on Legal Education and Conduct

  1991–92: £9,389

  1992–93: £8,998

  1993–94: £8,966

  1994–95: £11,850

  333

  1995–96: £11,091

  1996–97: £11,000

  The figures include expenditure on postage and telephones; the ACLEC does not have separate budgets for each item. Internal directories are available for all staff.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question on expenditure on telephone costs for each of the years i) 1979–80 ii) 1989–90, iii) 1991–92, iv) 1993–94, v) 1994–95, vi) 1995–96 and vii) 1996–97 and if internal telephone directories are available. I can provide the following information:

  i) 1979–80: £341,149

  ii) 1989–90: £1,198,010

  iii) 1991–92: £1.067,855

  iv) 1993–94: £1,007,268

  v) 1994–95: £751,365

  vi) 1995-96: £759,945

  vii) 1996–97: Estimated figures are not yet available. The annual non-staff budget setting process is currently taking place and the Land Registry Budget Committee has yet to decide the final budget allocation.

  Significant savings were achieved between 1993–94 and 1994–95 due mainly to the change of management in the Government Telecommunications Network (GTN).
  Internal telephone directories are available throughout the Land Registry.
  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply in respect of the Court Service to your Question about estimated annual telephone costs.
  The projected figures for estimated annual telephone costs from 3 April 1995, the date on which the Court Service was established, are:

  1995–1996: £3,027,872

  1996–1997: £3,044,761

  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 19 January 1996, regarding the estimated annual telephone costs for each financial year since 1979 and for the forthcoming financial year. You also asked whether internal telephone directories were available to all staff.
  The Public Trust Office became an Agency in July 1994 and the estimated figures prior to that time for the year 1979–80, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, and 1993–94 form part of the LCD total figures and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. For the following years to 1997 the figures are as follows:

  1994–95: £105,000

  1995–96: £98,000

  1996–97: £98,000

  Each member of staff within the Public Trust Office has access to an internal telephone directory.
  334
  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 25 January 1996:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply for the Public Record Office to your question about annual telephone costs, and the availability to staff of internal telephone directories, in the executive agencies for which he is responsible.
  The annual telephone costs since 1993–94 are:

  1993–94: £124,739

  1994–95: £101,170

  1995–96: £125,050 (budget)

  1996–97: £130,350 (budget)

  Figures for earlier years could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
  Internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas.

  Wayne Thompson
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much is owed in respect of legal aid to Wayne Thompson, solicitor, 9 Wimpole street, London; and when payment will be made. [10474]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  It is not possible to assess the total amount owed to Mr. Thompson in respect of legal aid where work is on-going. Payments from the legal aid fund are made only in response to claims submitted. As at 18 January 1996, the London area office of the Legal Aid Board was not aware of any claims submitted by Mr. Thompson which remain unpaid. For criminal higher legal aid, one outstanding claim for an interim payment has been identified for which payment is expected to he made within the next few days.

  Repossessions
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) proceedings have been commenced to repossess homes and (b) homes have been repossessed in Northern Ireland since 1989. [10562]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The number of writs and originating summonses issued in respect of mortgages by the Chancery division of the Northern Ireland High Court for each year since 1989 is as follows:

  Number

  1989

  2,459

  1990

  2,599

  1991

  3,061

  1992

  1,646

  1993

  1,728

  1994

  1,371

  1995

  1,220

  Total

  14,085

  There are no reliable figures available on the number of decrees for possession granted on foot of these.

  The Enforcement of Judgments Office, which is responsible for delivering vacant possession in Northern Ireland, has received the following number of notices of

  335
  intention to enforce decrees for possession for each year over the period.

  1989: 718

  1990: 748

  1991: 832

  1992: 683

  1993: 492

  1994: 468

  1995: 396

  The figures relating to the number of these which resulted in actual repossessions taking place are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fish Farming
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how often trout fattening ponds are visited by his Department's officials; [10666]

  (2) what have been the wild fish losses at fish farm intakes over the past 21 years; [10667]

  (3) if Department staff report the number of dead wild fish observed at the intake of fish farms when monitoring the farms. [10668]

  Mr. Baldry
  All farms holding trout in England and Wales are inspected by fish disease inspectors once every six months, and fish sampled every 24 months on a routine basis; visits and sampling would also occur whenever there is suspicion of disease. Should inspectors observe dead wild fish or be notified of such occurrences, they would take appropriate disease control action. Inspectors would also notify the National Rivers Authority, which is responsible for the regulation and management of salmon and freshwater fisheries in England and Wales, including pollution control measures. However, no record is kept of wild fish losses at fish farm intakes.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has to review procedures for the veterinary inspection of live animals for transport; and if he will make a statement; [11118]

  (2) what representations he has received in relation to the efficiency of veterinary inspection of live animals for transport. [11117]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Department is considering recent allegations that our detailed inspection procedures for live exports have not been followed. We will take firm action if a full assessment of all the available facts shows that there has been any failure to observe the rules or certification instructions.

  Chernobyl Explosion (Compensation)
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of providing compensation to farmers who were affected by the Chernobyl incident, in both England and Wales. [11155]
  336
  Mrs. Browning
  As at 30 November 1995, the total cost of compensation to farmers who were affected by the Chernobyl incident in England has been £1,335,757 and in Wales the total cost has been £7,903,872.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees; [10949]

  (2) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10950]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Department has not incurred significantly increased consultancy and running costs in the tendering process of the private finance initiative, compared with those which would have been incurred in a more traditional approach.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the mobile phones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last six years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11005]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: There is no information available prior to May 1994 on the cloning of mobile telephones supplied to the Ministry. Since then it is known that a total of 13 of the Ministry's mobile telephones have been cloned.

  There is no information available on the specific dates when cloning took place, only the date when it was discovered. This information, broken down by years, is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  Date discovered

  1994

  1

  19 December 1994

  1995

  12

  19 January 1995

  30 March 1995

  6 April 1995

  8 May 1995

  19 May 1995

  30 May 1995

  19 July 1995

  4 November 1995

  21 November 1995

  17 December 1995

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Young Entrepreneurs (Training)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to encourage the provision of high quality training for young entrepreneurs. [10893]
  337
  Mr. Paice
  The enterprise in higher education programme encouraged the development of enterprising graduates, whose skills fit them for a wide range of opportunities in both the private and pubic sectors.

  Enterprise in higher education commenced in 1987. More than 60 universities have participated in the initiative, which ends this year. Good practice is being disseminated to other higher education institutions.

  University Facilities
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many universities in the United Kingdom have developed joint programmes with their local authority economic development units. [10895]

  Mr. Forth
  The required information is not collected centrally by the Department.

  Information Technology
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of officials within her Department have attended a training course on information technology skills. [11227]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Around 90 per cent. of DFEE staff have received training in information technology skills

  Much of the training is devolved and takes place locally, and a more precise estimate could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Home-to-school Transport
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to change the law concerning responsibilities for home-to-school transport. [11237]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no proposals to change the law governing the provision of home-to-school transport.

  Education Multi-media Industry
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the involvement of the United Kingdom in the EU task force on multi-media in education. [11132]

  Mr. Forth
  Members of this task force were appointed by the European Commission. A number of United Kingdom organisations were consulted by the task force in producing drafts of its report. Formal discussions between the Commission and member states on the proposals arising from the work of the task force are expected later this year.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if providers of early learning education associated with(a) supermarkets, (b) franchised retail suppliers of early learning materials and (c) companies providing early-years schools in several locations will, under the proposed legislation, be
  338
  permitted to operate within the voucher scheme on similar conditions as local education authorities or other providers. [11896]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  To join the voucher scheme, all private and voluntary providers must either be registered under the Children Act 1989 or finally registered as an independent school, and must undertake to meet the quality criteria and inspection arrangements as set out in "Nursery Education Scheme: The Next Steps."

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many provider institutions have expressed interest in participating in phase one of the nursery voucher scheme in(a) Wandsworth, (b) Westminster, (c) Kensington and Chelsea and (d) Norfolk. [11482]

  Mr. Squire
  In the three London boroughs, all eligible maintained schools have applied to join the scheme through their local education authority and around 50 private and voluntary providers have applied so far. In Norfolk 154 are maintained schools and 178 private and voluntary providers have so far applied to join the scheme.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 472–73, (1) what estimates she has made of the cost of employing (a) 200 registered nursery education inspectors in phase one and (b) 4,000 registered nursery education inspectors in phase two of the voucher scheme; [11480]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the cost of carrying out (a) 600 inspections of voucher-redeeming institutions in phase one and (b) 12,000 inspections of voucher-redeeming institutions in phase two of the voucher scheme. [11481]

  Mr. Squire
  The costs of inspection and administration together are estimated to be £5 millions for phase 1 and £20 million for phase 2. My Department is in discussions with Ofsted about the likely cost of employing sufficient inspectors and carrying out inspections in both phases of the voucher scheme.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures will he established to ensure the prevention of fraud in the nursery voucher system. [11478]

  Mr. Squire
  We have worked closely with the voucher agency to set up a system which will deter and detect fraud. Vouchers will incorporate a number of security features to prevent counterfeiting and will he issued only to parents whose children are on the child benefit centre database or who provide full documentation.

  Voluntary Aided Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she now expects to publish her Department's analysis of the responses to the consultation paper on self-government for voluntary aided schools. [11483]

  Mrs. Gillan
  A summary of responses has been placed in the Library. Copies are available from the Department on request.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the expenditure of her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate she has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if she will estimate the savings accruing to her Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11343]

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

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in her Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80,
  (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11345]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 15 January,Official Report, columns 471–72, what estimates have been made of the shortfall of places for four-year-olds in (a) Wandsworth, (b) Westminster, (c) Kensington and Chelsea and (d) Norfolk, taking into account provision in the private, voluntary and maintained sectors, expressed in each case as (i) a number and (ii) a percentage of all four-year-olds in each local education authority. [11479]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the numbers of four-year-olds in nursery education other than maintained and independent schools in individual local education authorities is not held centrally.

  Local Government Finance, Cheshire
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total value of the standard spending assessment for the Cheshire county council; how much was passed on to local schools by the county council; what was retained by the county council to cover schools' administration and other services; what average figure per school in Cheshire this total represents; and what was the average cost of employing(a) a primary and (b) a secondary school teacher in Cheshire in 1995–96. [11836]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows the education standard spending assessment for Cheshire in 1995–96, together with the size of the general schools budget—total local education authority spending on its schools—the aggregated schools budget—the sum delegated to schools—and the balance of the general schools budget not delegated to schools, with each figure also expressed as an average per school. The last three 340
  figures are taken from the budget statement published by the Cheshire LEA in accordance with section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  £ million

  £ per school

  Education SSA

  332.027

  639,744

  General schools budget

  340.071

  655,243

  Aggregated schools budget

  261.938

  504,697

  Balance of general schools budget retained by LEA

  78.133

  150,545

  The LEA also has to meet the cost of recoupment of annual maintenance grant paid to grant-maintained schools, and I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member about the level of recurrent grant paid to Cheshire GM schools in 1995–96.

  Information about the cost of employing teachers individual LEAs in 1995–96 is not held centrally.

  National Curriculum
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the national curriculum assessment and testing arrangements. [12230]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In January 1995, I asked the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority to conduct a full review of national curriculum assessment and testing arrangements for seven, 11 and 14-year-olds.

  SCAA's report on its wide-ranging and thorough review is published today. It draws on teachers' comments, evaluation reports, evidence from Her Majesty's inspectors and studies by teacher associations, local education authorities and other organisations.

  I accept in full the recommendations made by SCAA concerning the future of the assessment programme. We announced earlier this month the availability of a new grant in 1996–97 to fund additional assessment training for the primary school teachers who need it most—those at key stage 2.

  SCAA's review showed that most teachers want a period of stability. That is what we now intend. We shall introduce changes only if they will bring real improvements and if they will: maintain rigorous and reliable assessment for all seven, 11 and l4-year-olds; he consistent with the complementary roles of tests and teacher assessment; and take into account the work load on teachers.

  Some of SCAA's recommendations have already been or are being implemented, to ensure the benefits are available as soon as possible. For example, in the wake of our consultation last summer, SCAA has already set out for schools the 1996 assessment arrangements, hut, for the most part, SCAA's review focuses on 1997 and beyond. I intend to carry out extensive consultation on my provisional decisions on these proposals and have today published a consultation document accordingly.

  I have also announced today the national results of the 1995 assessments for seven, 11, and 14-year-olds and my decision to give greater access to schools' assessment results in order to raise standards, following our consultation in the autumn.
  341
  Copies of my exchange of correspondence with Sir Ron Dearing about SCASS's review; the Government's consultation document; a letter from Her Majesty's chief
  342
  inspector; and the national curriculum assessment results of seven, 11 and 14-year-olds have been placed in the Library.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what allocations of national lottery

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Saint Peter and Paul over 50's Club

  Salford, Manchester

  500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Rochdale Pensioners Association

  Rochdale

  500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied Club

  Middleton, Gtr. Manchester

  836

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  346 (East Manchester) Scout Group

  Chadderton, Manchester

  1,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Trustees of Seven Springs Camp Site—Disley

  Didsbury, Manchester

  1,910

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Harpurhey Minibus Group Church Lad's and Church Girls' Brigade, Manchester

  Harpurhey, Manchester

  2,630

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Manchester

  Manchester

  2,750

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Arthritis Care—Manchester North

  Middleton, Manchester

  3,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Ratcliffe Arms Senior Citizens Club

  Rochdale

  3,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  St. Marks Youth Club, Glodwick

  Oldham

  3,375

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Tyldesley Tennis Club

  Tyldesley, Gtr. Manchester

  3,564

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Higher Broughton Advice Centre

  Salford, Manchester

  3,600

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  161st Manchester Troop of Boy Scouts

  Cheetham Hill, Manchester

  5,000

  Sports

  6 September 1995

  Withenshawe Shortmat Bowling Club

  Manchester

  5,241

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Volunteer Reading Help

  Bolton

  5,410

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Manchester Women's Aid

  Manchester

  5,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Denton Blind Centre

  Denton, Manchester

  6,000

  NLCB

  23 October 1995

  Rochdale Childer

  Rochdale

  6,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Moss Side Playgroup

  Moss Side, Manchester

  6,646

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Little Tots Toy Library Steering Committee

  Salford, Manchester

  5,650

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Triump Over Phobia (TOP) UK

  Manchester

  6,753

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Formal Term

  Moss Side, Manchester

  7,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Moss Side Community Build

  Moss Side, Manchester

  7,500

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  The Bolton Association of Playgroups

  Bolton

  7,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Manchester Bosnian Community Association

  Prestwich, Manchester

  8,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Link Community Care Group

  Moss Side, Manchester

  8,200

  Sports

  9 August 1995

  Hawkshaw Tennis Club

  Bury

  8,250

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Bury Women's Aid

  Bury

  9,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  7th A Rochdale Scouts

  Rochdale

  9,063

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Denton Town Football Club

  Tameside, Gtr. Manchester

  9,513

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Community Action

  Manchester

  10,000

  Arts

  21 September 1995

  Black Arts Alliance

  Manchester

  10,758

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Selclare (Greater Manchester) Trust—Accemp

  Bury, Gtr. Manchester

  11,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Selclare (Greater Manchester) Trust—Accemp Manchester and District Transport for Sick Children

  Bury, Gtr. Manchester

  11,500

  NLCB

  23 October 1995

  Children

  Manchester and District

  12,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  North Manchester Crime Prevention Panel

  Oldham

  12,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Victim Support

  Rochdale

  12,300

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  North Manchester District Scout Council

  North Manchester

  12,400

  Arts

  16 October 1995

  Theatre Workshop

  Manchester

  12,850

  Arts

  21 September 1995

  Theatre in Prisons and Probation

  Manchester

  13,338

  NLCB

  23 October 1995

  Manchester Young People's Theatre Company

  Manchester

  15,000

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  The Selcare Greater Manchester Trust

  Greater Manchester

  15,000

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Shaw Cricket Club

  Oldham

  15,246

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Slade Lane Neighbourhood Centre

  Longsight, Manchester

  15,500

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Oldham District Scout Council

  Oldham

  16,500

  Sports

  3 October 1995

  Sacred Heart Football Club

  Rochdale

  17,446

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  First Rochdale Scout Group

  Rochdale

  18,000

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Saddleworth Outdoor Pursuits Association Inskip League of Friendship for Disabled

  Greenfield, Gtr. Manchester

  22,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Persons

  Rochdale

  22,903

  Arts

  21 September 1995

  Bury Music Services Ltd.

  Bury

  25,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Gate House Publishing Charity

  Hulme, Manchester

  25,525

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  College Bank Tenants and Residents

  Rochdale

  28,000

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  100th Manchester (centurians) Scout Group

  Manchester

  29,040

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  INCITU

  Moss Side, Manchester

  30,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Mosscare Housing Limited

  Manchester

  30,000

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  The Manchester Deaf Centre

  Manchester

  30,000

  Arts

  16 October 1995

  Dobcross Youth Band

  Oldham

  34.000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Weaste Community Care Centre

  Salford, Manchester

  35,000

  344
  funds have been made to date to organisations and projects in the Greater Manchester area. [11056]

  Mr. Sproat
  To date, 116 awards totalling £27.8 million have been made to organisations in Greater Manchester. The allocations of awards are shown in the following table:
  345

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount

  Sports

  8 November 1995

  Saddleworth and District Angling Society

  Oldham

  35,754

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Bradshaw Tennis Club

  Bolton

  36,887

  NHMF

  20 December 1995

  St. Ann's Church

  Manchester

  38,000

  Arts

  16 October 1995

  Multi Asian Arts

  Rochdale

  39,190

  Sports

  7 June 1995

  Etherow Centre

  Gtr. Manchester

  39,700

  Arts

  21 September 1995

  Blue Coat School Brass Band

  Oldham

  40,000

  Arts

  30 March 1995

  Inner Sense Percussion Orchestra

  Manchester

  40,600

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Contact Shiri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Mission Centre

  Whalley Range, Manchester

  45,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Centre

  Whalley Range, Manchester

  45,000

  Arts

  20 July 1995

  Standish Brass Band

  Bolton

  48,000

  Sports

  6 September 1995

  Little Hulton Cricket and Bowling Club

  Manchester

  48,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  The Agency for Economic Development

  Manchester

  50,000

  Sports

  8 November 1995

  Rochdale MBC

  Rochdale

  55,422

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Trafford CVS

  Sale, Manchester

  57,270

  Arts

  23 November 1995

  Inner City Music Ltd.

  Manchester

  59,142

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Trafford Women's Aid

  Stretford, Manchester

  65,447

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Cheetham Hill Advice Centre

  Cheetham Hill, Manchester

  70,146

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Heywood/Middleton Citizen Advocacy

  Heywood, Gtr. Manchester

  75,000

  Arts

  24 May 1995

  M6 Theatre Company

  Rochdale

  76,384

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Manchester and Salford Methodist Mission

  Manchester

  79,648

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Newhay Playground

  Rochdale

  83,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  St. John Ambulance National Headquarters

  Manchester

  83,950

  Sports

  7 June 1995

  Garswood Football Club

  Gtr. Manchester

  86,045

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Independent Neighbourhood Care Association

  Salford, Manchester

  89,100

  Arts

  16 October 1995

  St. Ann's Church

  Manchester

  95,000

  MC

  11 September 1995

  Boarshaw Clough

  Rochdale/Oldham

  100,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Hideaway

  Moss Side, Manchester

  102,000

  NLCB

  23 October 1995

  Bury Metro Racial Equality Council

  Bury

  102,900

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Independent Contract Unit

  Manchester

  111,445

  Sports

  8 November 1995

  Rochdale Football Club Limited (By Shares) Swinton, Pendlebury and Clifton Care of the

  Rochdale

  120,412

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Elderly

  Manchester

  137,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Creative Support Manchester Adventure Playgrounds

  Manchester

  137,880

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Association

  Manchester

  142,000

  Sports

  9 August 1995

  Markland Hill Tennis Club Ltd.

  Bolton

  146,268

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  The Big Issue North West

  Manchester

  155,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  City Centre Project Limited

  Manchester

  160,292

  NLCB

  23 October 1995

  Manchester and Salford Family Unit

  Manchester and Salford

  162,428

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Manchester Rape Crisis

  Manchester

  164,068

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Bolton Metropolitan Borough

  Bolton

  168,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Indian Association

  Oldham

  185,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  The Bibini Centre for Young People

  Manchester

  198,900

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Manchester University Settlement

  Manchester

  204,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Nacre Halloween Youth Project

  Bolton

  210,071

  Sports

  6 December 1995

  Bury Metropolitan Borough Council Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

  Gtr. Manchester

  216,966

  Sports

  3 October 1995

  (Breeze Hill School)

  Oldham, Gtr. Manchester

  246,500

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Demesne Community Association Manchester City Council (North Manchester

  Middleman, Gtr. Manchester

  250,000

  Sports

  5 July 1995

  High School for Boys) Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

  Gtr. Manchester

  260,000

  Sports

  3 October 1995

  (Royton and Crompton School)

  Oldham, Gtr. Manchester

  266,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Salford Link Project Newbold Multicultural Residence and Youth

  Salford. Manchester

  303,850

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Association

  Rochdale

  350,000

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  CAB, Manchester

  Manchester

  370,541

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Wai Yin Chinese Women Society

  Manchester

  395,031

  NHMF

  26 April 1995

  Museum of Science and Industry

  Manchester

  400,000

  MC

  11 September 1995

  The Visions Centre

  Manchester

  435,000

  Arts

  24 May 1995

  Green Room

  Manchester

  750,000

  MC

  11 September 1995

  East Manchester River Valley

  Manchester

  2,370,000

  Arts

  23 November 1995

  Contact Theatre Company

  Manchester

  4,456,392

  MC

  30 October 1995

  Rochdale Canal Trust

  Manchester to Halifax

  11,923,500

  116 Awards

  £27,881,326

  346

  Pay-per-view (Five Nations Rugby)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will add five nations rugby to the list of sporting events excluded from pay-per-view channels. [11467]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have no plans to do so.

  S4C
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what occasions since her appointment(a) she or her Ministers and (b) her officials have held meetings with (i) the chief executive of S4C, (ii) the chairman of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority and (iii) members of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority. [11069]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: Ministers and officials have held meetings with the chairman and chief executive of S4C, as with other bodies for which my Department is responsible, from time to time. Most recently, the Under-Secretary of State, Lord Inglewood, met the chairman and chief executive of S4C to discuss the Broadcasting Bill on Monday 15 January.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will place in the Library all correspondence sent by her Department to the chairman or members of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority or to the chief executive of S4C communicating the Department's intention to change the funding basis of S4C. [11071]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: I have placed in the Library of both Houses a copy of my right

  £ million

  Estimated outturn

  Spending plans

  19941

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Not applicable

  64.0

  67.9

  73.3

  75.3

  77.3

  1The figures for the 1994 calendar year did not appear in the table to which the hon. Member refers. In 1994, S4C received £57.971 million from the Department of National Heritage.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will express as a percentage the year on year increase in the figures for the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority for 1994–95 To 1998–99

  Estimated

  Outturn 1994–95

  Outturn 1995–96

  1996–97

  Spending Plans 1997–98

  1998–99

  £ million

  64.0

  67.0

  73.3

  75.3

  77.3

  Percentage increase between above figures

  6.0

  7.9

  2.7

  2.7

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are her estimates of S4C income for the years(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 taking into account the changes she announced on 15 December 1995; and if she will additionally express these figures as a year on year percentage change. [11078]
  348
  hon. Friend's letter to the chairman of S4C of 15 December.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) whether the figures for the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority spending plans in the years 1997–98 and 1998–99 contained in table 2 of her press release of 28 November 1995, were calculated on the basis of the planned new formula for calculating S4C income announced on 15 December 1995; [11073]

  (2) what is her estimate of the funding of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority from her Department in the calendar years (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 if no change were to take place in the basis of funding S4C; and if she will additionally express these figures as a year on year percentage change. [11077]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: The figure for 1996–97, contained in the press release to which the hon. Gentleman refers, derives from best available estimates of the application of the Broadcasting Act 1990 formula, although uncertainties for later years led the Department to uprate the estimated 1996–97 figure by £2 million for each of the following years for planning purposes in the expectation that additional funding would be found if needed in later years of the survey to meet S4C's statutory entitlement.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will express the income of S4C on a calendar year basis from 1994–1999, inclusive using the financial spending plan figures for the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority contained in table 2 of her press release of 28 November 1995. [11076]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: The information the hon. Member requests, based on the particular table he specifies, is as follows:

  which were issued in table 2 of her press release of 29 November 1995. [11074]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: The information the hon. Member requests is as follows:

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: My Department estimates that S4C funding in 1997 will be in the region of £73.3 million, but that figure cannot be assessed with certainty at this stage. Firm estimates of income for S4C in later years deriving from the proposals in the Bill cannot be made until the level of payment to S4C for 1997 is finalised.
  349
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are her estimates of the percentage change in qualifying terrestial advertising revenue year-on-year for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99; and if she will additionally express these as calendar year percentage changes for the years (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 (iii) 1996, (iv) 1997 and (v) 1998. [11075]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: My Department does not compile estimations of terrestrial television advertising revenues. That is a matter for the Independent Television Commission.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) when her Department communicated the intention to change S4C's funding basis to the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority and the chief executive of S4C; [11070]

  (2) when she or her Ministers or officials told the Welsh Office of their plans to change the funding basis of S4C. [11072]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 January 1996]: The Broadcasting Bill was published on 15 December 1995. It reflected discussions with all interested Government Departments. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State spoke and wrote to the chairman of S4C on the morning of 15 December about the contents of the Bill.

  Millennium Projects
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations she held with people from Wales, or what consultation she required the millennium commissioners to hold with people in Wales before reaching a decision on the respective merits as perceived by the people of Wales, in respect of the various schemes being proposed for major millennium projects in Wales; and if she will make a statement. [9393]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in her Department for each of the years(a) 1991–92, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95 and (d) 1995–96. [11341]

  Mr. Sproat
  The absenteeism rate in days for the Department of National Heritage since it was created in April 1992 are shown in the table:

  Year

  Number of days

  1993–94

  1,839

  1994–95

  2,489

  1995–96

  12,752

  1 Estimated figure for whole year based on actual figure as at end of December 1995.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public funds have been allocated by(a) the Franchising Director and (b) other sources to offset the liabilities which Railtrack faces, in respect of penalty payments under the track access agreements with train operating companies with special reference to schedules 4 and 8 of these agreements. [9945]

  Mr. Watts
  As foreshadowed in his policy statement in January 1995, the Rail Regulator has recently issued advice to BR and Railtrack on the level of additional charges which Railtrack should raise in consequence of its additional liabilities under schedules 4 and 8 to passenger track access agreements. This time limited measure is intended to allow Railtrack to adjust to the demanding targets in its performance regime, which will place on Railtrack strong financial incentives to improve its performance.

  For 1995–96, no additional public expenditure will be associated with these arrangements. No decisions on funding matters for 1996–97 have yet been taken.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis the debt of the British Railways Board was shared between BRB and Railtrack, upon the formation of Railtrack. [9941]

  Mr. Watts
  The apportionment of long-term debt between BR and Railtrack on 1 April 1994 was as follows:

  BRB: £1,269 million

  Railtrack: £1,973 million

  This was judged to be the most appropriate apportionment of debt, given the nature and size of the two bodies, when Railtrack was formed.

  Rail Grant (Strathclyde)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of metropolitan rail grant was paid to the regional passenger transport executives and Strathclyde regional council for the financial year 1995–96. [11233]

  Mr. Watts
  The estimated level of metropolitan railway grant to be paid in 1995–96 to the English passenger transport authorities is £72 million. The estimated level of MRG to be paid to Strathclyde regional Council is £60.2 million.

  Trains (Speed Restrictions)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains speed restrictions imposed for a period of greater than six weeks are currently in place on the(a) London, Tilbury and Southend line, (b) Great Western line, (c) South West main line and South West suburban lines, (d) InterCity east coast main line, (e) Midland main line, (f) South London line and Sussex coast line and (g) Gatwick Express line, indicating the information also for spur lines; how long the restrictions have been in place; when the restrictions are due to be lifted; and what is the estimated cost of the works required to lift those restrictions. [11234]
  351
  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack informs me that the number of all speed restrictions currently in place are(a) London, Tilbury and Southend Line: none; (b) Great Western Line: 16; (c) South West main line and suburban lines: four; (d) InterCity east coast main line: six; (e) Midland main line: two; (f) south London line and Sussex coast line: six; (g) Gatwick Express line: none.

  Details of how long the restrictions have been in place, details of spur line restrictions, and estimated repair costs are not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, Railtrack confirms that repair time scales are in accordance with both operational requirements and Railtrack's rigorous safety standards.

  Railway Property
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of property currently owned by(a) the British Railways Board and (b) Railtrack plc is classified as contaminated. [11235]

  Mr. Watts
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  It is to be expected that some railway activities have had the potential to cause contamination of land. The British Railways Board takes protective action where there are known problems with land formerly in operational railway use and carries out investigations prior to the sale of property where significant contamination is a possibility because of the previous uses. Railtrack seeks to identify and manage those operational sites and facilities which may represent a significant actual or potential risk of harm to the environment.

  East Lancashire Railway Line
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sources of public funding are available for improvements to the east Lancashire railway line; what decision the Government office north-west has made in respect of this project for regional challenge funding; and if he will make a statement. [11606]

  Mr. Watts
  Although the proposal for improvements to the East Lancashire railway line formed an unsuccessful bid for funding under regional challenge in 1995, the Government office for the north-west is continuing to work with the promoters to examine other funding options, including the possibility of carrying forward some elements of the project through mainstream European regional development fund grant. Lancashire county council can also seek funding in 1997–98 through the transport policies and programmes process, by making a renewed bid for funds as part of the Blackburn/Hyndburn local transport package.

  Highways Agency
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the work to date of the Highways Agency's environmental unit; and what plans there are to increase its resources. [11242]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
  352
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the work to date of the Highways Agency's environmental unit and what plans there are to increase its resources.
  The Agency Environmental Policy Division (AEPD) was set up on 31 January 1995 and is approaching the end of its first year of operation. The work of the Division to date has been directed towards the development of an Environmental Strategy for the Highways Agency. The Division has also established itself as the HA focal point for contact with statutory and non-statutory environmental organisations.
  The Division has coordinated the preparation of the environmental section of the Agency's first Annual Report and produced a booklet on the archaeological work carried out on the trunk road network in 1994/95. Both of these were published in October 1995. I enclose a copy of the archaeology booklet. You should have received a copy of the Annual Report.
  In line with good management practice the resources needed to discharge the duties of the division are kept under review. There are no plans to increase the complement of the Division for the present.
  I hope that this is useful.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 13 December to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers),Official Report, column 677, on what date he learned that the costs of the Newbury bypass were to increase to £101 million. [11220]

  Mr. Watts
  The estimated cost of the Newbury bypass is £101 million; it has not increased by that sum. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was aware of the revised cost during the review of the roads programme last year. The estimate reflects current price trends.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11347]

  Mr. Norris
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure £ million

  1993–94

  24.2

  1994–95

  29.0

  1995–96 (to date)

  31.0

  1995–961 (whole year)

  51.5

  1996–971

  26.6

  1Estimated.

  Figures from 1979–80, 1989–90 and 1991–92 are not available except at disproportionate cost.

  The totals exclude expenditure on road scheme consultancies as they relate largely to production and planning work.
  353
  It is not possible to estimate the savings accruing from this expenditure, the vast majority of which was for specific deliverables such as privatisation; and very little of which had the aim of achieving savings.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11348]

  Mr. Norris
  The expenditure by the Department is as follows:

  £000

  Agency

  1979–80

  1989–90

  1991–92

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1995–961

  1996–97

  MSA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  104

  55

  80

  80

  Coastguard agency

  —

  —

  —

  —

  241

  206

  281

  n/a

  Highways agency:

  Advertising

  —

  —

  —

  —

  320

  110

  n/a

  Publicity

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  1,000

  n/a

  TRL:

  Advertising

  —

  —

  —

  0.59

  —

  19

  25

  2n/a

  Publicity

  —

  —

  —

  23.59

  5

  DVLA:

  Advertising

  6

  736

  1,192

  1,604

  1,506

  1,177

  2,200

  2,200

  Publicity

  27

  43

  45

  26

  38

  38

  DSA

  —

  —

  30

  40

  40

  40

  n/a

  1Estimated outturn.

  2 TRL is to be privatised.

  Road Salting
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of road salting on (i) roadside flora, (ii) roadside fauna, (iii) vehicles and (iv) bridges. [11644]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has commissioned and evaluated on the effects of road salting on roadside flora, fauna, vehicles and bridges. comprehensive study of the effects of road salting on roadside flora was carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory in 1982. The subsequent report was "An Assessment of The Conditions For Shrubs Alongside Motorways" by Colwill, Thompson and Rutter, Laboratory Report 1061.
  A study was also commissioned in April 1989 into the performance of concrete in bridges. Known as the "Maunsell Report", its findings have been included within the 15 year bridge rehabilitation programme.
  There has not been any separate assessments on evaluating the effects of road salting on roadside fauna or on vehicles.
  354

  1979–80: 6,686,000

  1989–90: 5,386,000

  1991–92: 7,380,000

  1993–94: 8,275,000

  1994–95: 8,039,000

  1995–96: 7,472,000

  1996–97: n/a

  A forecast for 1996–97 is not yet available. All figures include vat.

  The figures cover all publicity expenditure, including television, radio, press advertising and other promotional material. It is not possible to break these figures down between advertising and press and public relations.

  Information on non-departmental public bodies and agencies is not held centrally, or otherwise readily available. Available data is given in the table.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11349]

  Mr. Norris
  Information on sickness absence in the Department of Transport, which is available only for calendar years, is as follows:

  Year

  Average working days of sickness per staff year

  1989

  8.1

  1990

  9.4

  1991

  9.9

  1992

  10.2

  1993

  10.7

  1994

  9.4

  1995

  19.0

  1Estimated.

  In 1979–90 sick absence rates were not separately recorded for the Department.

  Chiswick Flyover
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of refurbishment of the Chiswick flyover on the London A4, the cause of its deterioration and the time taken to repair it. [11645]
  355
  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking him if he will estimate the cost of the refurbishment of the Chiswick flyover, the cause of its deterioration and the time taken to repair it.
  My reply relates to work to the M4 elevated section which extends from Junction 1 (east of Chiswick roundabout) to Boston Manor playing fields.
  It is too early to be precise about the cost of the refurbishment of the elevated section of the M4. In order to maintain access on this busy route between London, Heathrow and the west and to minimise disruption to road users, the work will have to be phased and could take up to ten years. Preliminary estimates suggest that the cost will be in the region of £30m.
  The M4 elevated structure is some 30 years old. Repairs are required because over the years water containing de-icing salts has leaked from the road surface into the crossheads at the top of the piers. When this occurs steel reinforcement in the piers begins to rust loosening and pushing off the protective surface concrete.
  There is an ongoing maintenance programme to install new bridge deck joints to prevent further deterioration of the structure and to review loose surface concrete. This work is being undertaken at night.
  Investigations to prepare a programme a further repairs are still ongoing. There are no plans for weekday or daytime closures of this section of the M4 motorway.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he expects to be made in the eyesight test for public service vehicle and lorry drivers; and what number of these drivers he expects will fail the new test. [11897]

  Mr. Norris
  From 1 July, all those who wish to drive large goods or passenger-carrying vehicles—whether for the first time or to continue doing so—will, when they apply for or to renew their licence, have to meet the minimum uncorrected vision standard in both eyes, rather than in one eye only as at present. We estimate that some 3,000 current licence holders will not meet this requirement.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. what revisions of emission targets will be made to accord with the findings of the intergovernmental conference on climate control on human influence on the global climate. [10304]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions remains that set down for all developed countries in the climate change convention—to return emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000—although we now expect to surpass this. For the period after 2000, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has called for developed countries to agree to aim to reduce their emissions by a figure in the range of 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. He intends to take every opportunity to press his international colleagues to support that target and will he highlighting the important findings of the intergovernmental panel on climate change whenever he does so.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Research
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has carried out and with what findings into what happens to claimants aged(a) 16 and 17 years and (b) 18 years and over who have become disentitled to state benefit; and if he will make a statement. [8069]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds who meet the qualifying conditions have access to social security benefits including income support and housing benefit. In 1990, the Department of Social Security commissioned research by MORI into the circumstances of young people aged 16 and 17 who claimed income support via the severe hardship provision. This was published in 1991 and is in the Library. People who are aged 18 or over qualify for benefits if they meet the entitlement conditions. We have not conducted research into people who fail to meet those conditions.

  Mortgage Interest Payments
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate savings since 1 October 1995 as a result of his measures announced on 30 November 1994 to limit or withdraw income support for mortgage interest payments indicating the figures for(a) 1994–95,
  (b) 1995–96 and (c) the projected figures for 1996–97; what further plans he has to (i) limit and (ii) restrict mortgage interest payments under income support; and if he will make a statement. [9391]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated savings from the measures announced by the Secretary of State on 30 November 1994 and introduced on 10 April 1995 and 2 October 1995 to restrict the amount of mortgage interest met by income support are £30 million in 1995–96, £170 million in 1996–97 and £240 million in 1997–98.

  We have no further plans of the kind described but all aspects of social security are kept under review.

  One-parent Families
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of(a) families with children, (b) one-parent families, (c) one-parent families headed by a divorced or separated person, (d) one-parent families headed by a widow or widower and (e) one-parent families headed by a single unmarried mother receive income support. [9605]

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

  Income support recipients: GB 1993

  Number of IS recipients (thousands)

  As a percentage of the relevant population

  Families with dependent children

  1,600

  23

  One-parent families with dependent children of which:

  1,048

  71

  Divorced or separated

  547

  65

  widowed

  20

  24

  Single unmarried mother

  463

  85

  357

  Number of IS recipients (thousands)

  As a percentage of the relevant population

  Single unmarried fathers

  14

  1—

  Prisoners' partners

  3

  n/a

  Notes:

  1denotes sample size too small to estimate percentage.

  1. n/a denotes not available.

  2. Due to rounding, recipient total does not tally.

  Source:

  Income Support 1 per cent. Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1993. Estimates derived from the General Household Survey.

  Parents with Care
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of parents with care for whom good cause has not been accepted by the Child Support Agency have had a reduced benefit directive imposed,

  Departmental telecommunications running costs

  £000

  Agencies

  DSS HQ

  Benefit Agency

  Contributions Agency

  Child Support Agency

  Information Technology Service Agency

  Resettlement Agency

  War Pensions Agency

  Non-departmental public bodies

  DSS totals

  1989–90:

  Current

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  113

  —

  —

  29,738

  Capital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9,070

  1991–92:

  Current

  370

  16,865

  227

  —

  24,099

  107

  —

  —

  41,668

  Capital

  0

  0

  0

  —

  7,281

  0

  —

  —

  7,281

  1993–94:

  Current

  384

  20,794

  2,658

  1,325

  36,413

  65

  57

  —

  61,696

  Capital

  0

  1,531

  0

  0

  29,212

  0

  0

  —

  30,743

  1994–95:

  Current

  352

  21,009

  4,516

  2,523

  37,154

  36

  104

  —

  65,694

  Capital

  167

  2,393

  86

  346

  12,890

  0

  184

  —

  16,066

  1995–96 (to date):

  Current

  421

  15,840

  2,415

  1,733

  24,536

  13

  78

  233

  45,036

  Capital

  95

  1,154

  70

  63

  14,288

  0

  75

  3

  15,745

  1995–96:

  Current

  561

  21,120

  3,221

  2,311

  32,715

  18

  111

  310

  60,057

  Capital

  84

  1,539

  94

  85

  15,225

  0

  101

  4

  17,128

  1. Figures for 1979–80 are not available. 2. Detailed spending plans for 1996–97 are yet to be finalised.

  3. Only Departmental figures and RA figures are available for 1989–90.

  4. 1991–92 figures for BA and ITSA include elements of what were to become CSA and WPA.

  5. 1995–96 figures have been extrapolated from the year to date figure.

  6. Current expenditure figures include running and rental costs for both voice and data transmission, capital expenditure figures include costs of equipment including office machines to handle output—e.g. to print order books.

  7. All figures are vote based and include VAT.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for
  358
  broken down by centre, since April 1995; and how he explains variations between centres. [10181]

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

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11394]

  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the table.

  Internal telephone directories are available to staff in the Department, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies.

  1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11391]

  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the table. The information requested for 1979–80 and savings accrued from the use of consultants is not available. The estimated expenditure for 1996–97 is not yet available.
  359

  Expenditure on external consultants

  Year

  Amount £ million

  1989–90

  43.3

  1991–92

  69.7

  1993–94

  134.0

  1994–95

  26.1

  1995–96 (to date 31 December 1995)

  216.9

  1995–96 (estimated full year)

  21.66

  1Figures for 1992–93 onwards refer solely to expenditure on consultancy services following work undertaken for the efficiency scrutiny into the Government's use of external consultants. Figures for earlier years include the cost of contracted services.

  This figure is provisional and subject to amendment.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11393]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. The average number of working days per staff year lost due to sickness is as follows:

  1991: 11.2 days

  1992: 9.3 days

  1993: 12.2 days

  1994: 12.1 days

  The figures for 1995 will not be available until the summer.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families are currently in receipt of family credit in(a) the City of Durham constituency and (b) the northern region; and what has been the cost of this benefit in each year since 1989–90. [10641]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of family credit is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many families are currently in receipt of Family Credit (FC) in (a) the City of Durham constituency and (b) the Northern Region; and what has been the cost of this benefit in each year since 1989–90.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because statistics are not kept which are specific to Parliamentary Constituencies, the borders of which are not the same as those of benefit offices. Statistics are available for the North Durham District which includes the Durham, Chester le street, Peterlee and Seaham offices. The number of families claiming FC in North Durham District is 4080, as at 10 November 1995. These figures are provisional and subject to change.
  The Benefits Agency is no longer organised on a regional basis and is now divided into Areas and Territories. FC figures for Scotland and Northern Territory could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  Annexe A gives details of the national cost of FC since 1989/90.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  360

  Annexe A

  Year

  Family credit outturn £ million

  1989–90

  425

  1990–91

  494

  1991–92

  626

  1992–93

  929

  1993–94

  1,208

  1994–95

  1,441

  Note:

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Source:

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry April 1995.

  1995 Departmental Report.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he has taken to publicise the social fund to likely applicants; and what is the total expenditure involved. [9486]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr Jim Callaghan, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State of Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what measures he has taken to publicise the Social Fund to likely applicants and what is the total expenditure involved.
  Social Fund information is produced in partnership with the Department of Social Security.
  Products include:
  A 16 page, introductory leaflet entitled "How the Social Fund can help you" produced in English, English/Welsh bilingual and eleven ethnic languages.
  A detailed, 64 page leaflet "A guide to the Social Fund", published in English.
  A series of three posters, publicising the help available and outlining the basic conditions people would need to satisfy before they might be eligible for an award from the Social Fund.
  The leaflets are made available to the public from Benefits Agency (BA) offices. They are also available to welfare advisers, Post Offices, Doctors Surgeries and Libraries external to the BA on request, from BA offices and HMSO, Chadderton. Posters are displayed in Benefits Agency offices and are also available to welfare advisers.
  The Social Fund publicity budget for 1995–96 is £77,300.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for discretionary social fund awards were refused in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) 1995 in total and by(a) region and (b) local DSS offices. [9484]

  Mr. Evans
  The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
  361
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Callaghan, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many applications for discretionary Social Fund awards were refused in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, and (iii) 1995 in total and by (a) region and (b) his local department's offices.
  The information is not available in the format requested. With the creation of the Benefits Agency in April 1991, former Departmental Local Offices and Regions were grouped into Districts and Area and Territorial Directorates. The information that is available is contained in Annex A - C, for the financial years 1993\94, 1994\95 and 1995\96 year to date. Copies will be placed in the Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mrs. Marilyn Hume
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on behalf of Mrs. Marilyn Hume, 10 St. Anne's court, Aigburth road, Liverpool L17 6BH; and if he will make a statement. [9675]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Alton, dated 24 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what representations he has received on behalf of Mrs Marilyn Hume.
  The Benefits Agency has received representation from the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, Doctor C A Young and Doctor S A Kumar on behalf of Mrs Marilyn Hume.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Social Security Fraud
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many instances his Department has identified in the past 12 months of attempted social security fraud based on impersonation with particular reference to attempts to secure benefits by changing a name and assuming the national insurance number of the other person; and if he will make a statement. [9309]

  Mr. Heald
  The information requested is not available. However, a total of 355 multiple identity investigations are currently under way, comprising 14 investigations with over 150 identities in each investigation and 341 investigations containing between two and 149 identities in each investigation.

  Funeral Payments
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received in respect of funeral payments from the social fund since the 5 June 1995 amendments were implemented. [10205]
  362
  Mr. Roger Evans
  This Department have responded to 54 letters and 19 parliamentary questions concerning social fund funeral payments since 5 June 1995.

  Pensioners' Incomes
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of the basic state retirement pension for(a) a single pensioner and (b) a pensioner couple in 1970 and at each uprating since 1970; and what it would have been if it had been uprated in line with whichever was the higher of average earnings or prices. [10203]

  Mr. Heald
  The available information is in the table. As there was no uprating in 1970, the table shows the effect of uprating by the higher of prices and earnings since November 1969.

  £ per week

  Actual rate

  Rate if uprated by higher of prices and earnings

  Uprating date

  Single

  Couple

  Single

  Couple

  November 1969

  5.00

  8.10

  5.00

  8.10

  September 1971

  6.00

  9.70

  6.15

  9.95

  October 1972

  6.75

  10.90

  7.15

  11.55

  October 1973

  7.75

  12.50

  8.05

  13.00

  July 1974

  10.00

  16.00

  9.30

  15.00

  April 1975

  11.60

  18.50

  11.95

  19.30

  November 1975

  13.30

  21.20

  13.85

  22.35

  November 1976

  15.30

  24.50

  15.95

  25.70

  November 1977

  17.50

  28.00

  18.00

  29.00

  November 1978

  19.50

  31.20

  20.40

  32.85

  November 1979

  23.30

  37.30

  24.30

  39.15

  November 1980

  27.15

  43.45

  28.80

  46.40

  November 1981

  29.60

  47.35

  32.25

  51.95

  November 1982

  32.85

  52.55

  34.95

  56.30

  November 1983

  34.05

  54.50

  38.00

  61.20

  November 1984

  35.80

  57.30

  39.95

  64.35

  November 1985

  38.30

  61.30

  43.45

  69.95

  July 1986

  38.70

  61.95

  45.35

  73.00

  April 1987

  39.50

  63.25

  47.90

  77.10

  April 1988

  41.15

  65.90

  51.65

  83.15

  April 1989

  43.60

  69.80

  56.25

  90.55

  April 1990

  46.90

  75.10

  61.70

  99.35

  April 1991

  52.00

  83.25

  68.45

  110.20

  April 1992

  54.15

  86.70

  73.85

  118.90

  April 1993

  56.10

  89.80

  77.45

  124.70

  April 1994

  57.60

  92.10

  79.70

  128.30

  April 1995

  58.85

  94.10

  82.90

  133.45

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of all pensioners, single pensioners and pensioner couples have total incomes of(a) £0 to £5, (b) £5 to £10, (c) £10 to £15, (d) £15 to £20, (e) £20 to £25 and (f) £25 to £30 above income support levels. [10270]

  Mr. Heald
  The available information is in the table. Due to the limited sample size available it is not possible to provide reliable information for the proportion of incomes falling within bands of less than £15.
  363

  Pensioner income levels

  Numbers in thousands (1993 prices)

  Income above I.S.

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  All pensioners units

  Proportion (per cent.)

  Numbers

  Proportion (per cent.)

  Numbers

  Proportion (per cent.)

  Numbers

  £0 to £15

  8

  200

  17

  750

  13

  1,000

  £15 to £30

  10

  250

  21

  900

  16

  1,150

  Source:

  Analysis of the Family Expenditure Survey 1993.

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent., numbers rounded to the nearest 50,000.

  2. The level of Income Support used for this calculation is that for pensioners aged 60/65, at April 1993 benefit levels.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will exempt supported lodgings from the proposed housing benefit changes in relation to young people; and if he will make a statement. [11029]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Social Security Advisory Committee has just completed its consultation on these proposals. The local authority associations will be completing their consultation shortly. I will consider all the representations which have been made on the provisions for young people with special needs, and will respond to them in the Command Paper.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the system of cold weather payment, in respect of immobile disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [10528]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There have been no representations on this matter. Cold weather payments are focused on the

  Year

  Month of uprating

  Rate of basic retirement pension £ per week

  Increase over previous rate percentage

  Equivalent annual increase percentage

  Change in RPI since previous AprilRate as a percentage of average earnings percentage

  percentage

  1969

  November

  5.00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1970

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5.6

  19.3

  1971

  September

  6.00

  20.0

  10.5

  9.4

  20.3

  1972

  October

  6.75

  12.5

  11.5

  6.3

  19.6

  1973

  October

  7.75

  14.8

  14.8

  9.2

  19.8

  1974

  July

  10.00

  29.0

  40.5

  15.2

  22.2

  1975

  April

  11.60

  16.0

  21.9

  21.7

  21.6

  November

  13.30

  14.7

  26.4

  —

  22.0

  1976

  November

  15.30

  15.0

  15.0

  18.9

  22.6

  1977

  November

  17.50

  14.4

  14.4

  17.5

  23.7

  1978

  November

  19.50

  11.4

  11.4

  7.9

  23.2

  1979

  November

  23.30

  19.5

  19.5

  10.1

  23.2

  1980

  November

  27.15

  16.5

  16.5

  21.8

  22.6

  1981

  November

  29.60

  9.0

  9.0

  12.0

  22.4

  1982

  November

  32.85

  11.0

  11.0

  9.4

  23.1

  1983

  November

  34.05

  3.7

  3.7

  4.0

  21.7

  1984

  November

  35.80

  5.1

  5.1

  5.2

  21.4

  1985

  November

  38.30

  7.0

  7.0

  6.9

  21.4

  1986

  July

  38.70

  1.0

  1.6

  3.0

  20.5

  1987

  April

  39.50

  2.1

  2.8

  4.2

  19.9

  1988

  April

  41.15

  4.2

  4.2

  3.9

  18.8

  1989

  April

  43.60

  6.0

  6.0

  8.0

  18.2

  364
  most vulnerable groups receiving income support, that is those with a pensioner or disability premium, or a child aged under five. So far this winter, 3.8 million payments worth almost £32 million have been made.

  State Pensions
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the value of the basic state retirement pension as a proportion of gross average earnings in the United Kingdom for each year since 1970; [10204]

  (2) what was (a) the annual percentage increase in the state pension and (b) the year on year April to April retail prices index for each year since 1970. [10259]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table. the rate of increase in the basic pension has been converted to an annual rate where the length of time between upratings was greater or less than 12 months.

  As there was no uprating in 1970 the value of the basic pension during that year is shown in the last column of the table as a percentage of average gross earnings at April 1970.
  365

  Year

  Month of uprating

  Rate of basic retirement pension £ per week

  Increase over previous rate percentage

  Equivalent annual increase percentage

  Change in RPI since previous AprilRate as a percentage of average earnings percentage

  percentage

  1990

  April

  46.90

  7.6

  7.6

  9.4

  17.8

  1991

  April

  52.00

  10.9

  10.9

  6.4

  18.3

  1992

  April

  54.15

  4.1

  4.1

  4.3

  17.8

  1993

  April

  56.10

  3.6

  3.6

  1.3

  17.7

  1994

  April

  57.60

  2.7

  2.7

  2.6

  17.7

  1995

  April

  58.85

  2.2

  2.2

  3.3

  17.5

  1996

  April

  61.15

  3.9

  3.9

  n/a

  n/a

  Source:

  "The Abstract of Statistics for Social Security Benefits and Contributions and Indices of Prices and Earnings", 1995 edition. Average earnings index (whole economy, unadjusted) (Tables 2.1 and 2.2 of the abstract).

  Retail prices index information taken from table 1.1.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the numbers of people in receipt of incapacity benefit who are no longer eligible for invalidity benefit at the most recent date for which information is available. [11088]

  Mr. Burt
  On 13 April 1995, all recipients of invalidity benefit transferred to incapacity benefit at the rate of the benefit in payment. At 31 August 1995, the latest date for which information is available, 1.64 million1people were in receipt of incapacity benefit who had, before 13 April 1995, been in receipt of invalidity benefit.
  1Note: Figures excludes a small number of cases paid clerically.

  National Disability Council
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is in a position to announce the chairman and membership of the National Disability Council. [12066]

  Mr. Burt
  I am delighted to announce that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has appointed David Grayson1 of Business in the Community, as the chairman of the National Disability Council, and the following council members:

  Doug Alker1, Chief Executive of RNID

  Christopher Brocksom, Chief Executive of AXA Equity and Law

  Alan Dickson, Deputy Director of The Scottish Spastics Society

  Ann Foster1, Director of The Scottish Consumer Council

  Tanni Grey1, Chairman of the British Wheelchair Racing Association

  David Jenkins, General Secretary of the Welsh TUC

  Colin Low1, Vice Chairman of RNIB

  Jim McAllister, Divisional Director of Marks and Spencers

  Bert Massie1, Director of RADAR, and member of DPTAC

  David Mills, Managing Director of Retail Banking Services, Midland Bank

  Martin Reaveley1, Director of Corporate Finance and Planning, Bass PLC

  Phillipa Russell1, Director of the Council for Disabled Children David Roberts1, Founder member of Clwyd People First

  Kevin Shinkwin1, parliamentary advisor to the Muscular Dystrophy Group

  Alan Smith, Chairman of NACEPD

  Jenny White, Deputy Legal Advisor to the Electricity Association

  366

  1 indicates that the member is either a disabled person or the parent or guardian of a person with disabilities

  My right hon. Friend will also be inviting the chairman of the Northern Ireland Disability Council to become a member once he or she has been appointed.

  In making these appointments, the Secretary of State has met the commitments given in Parliament that membership will be drawn from throughout Great Britain and sought to provide common membership with the National Advisory Council on the Employment of People with Disabilities and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Council. More than half of the membership of the council are disabled people or the parents or guardians of people with disabilities. They will bring to the council a wide range of experience of disability, the disabilities represented include sensory impairments, mobility difficulties and learning disabilities.

  The National Disability Council can make a great contribution to the reduction of discrimination against disabled people and the chairman and members will be crucial to its success. I believe that we have achieved the right balance of experience of business and disability.

ENVIRONMENT

  City Grants
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by region, the figures for city grants approvals and achievements since May 1988 in terms of(a) schemes approved, (b) grants approved (c) total private sector investment and (d) the gearing ratio and jobs created. [10188]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following table provides the information requested for city grant applications administered either centrally by my Department, or by English partnerships since 10 November 1993, city challenge partnerships and the urban development corporations.
  367

  Region

  Schemes approved1

  Grants approved £ million

  Private investment £ million

  Gearing ratio

  Jobs created

  North-east

  105

  104.183

  824.798

  7.92

  8,398

  North-west

  139

  134.003

  657.063

  4.90

  16,185

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  104

  78.760

  278.280

  3.53

  13,541

  Merseyside

  68

  55.807

  213.400

  3.82

  7,464

  West Midlands

  130

  141.321

  552.622

  3.91

  20,221

  East Midlands

  55

  52.028

  145.239

  2.79

  5,815

  Eastern

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  South-west

  12

  22.894

  52.472

  2.29

  2,939

  South-east

  4

  4.262

  30.841

  7.24

  835

  London

  46

  50.776

  229.240

  4.51

  6,674

  Total

  663

  644.034

  2,983.955

  4.63

  82,072

  1 This does not include approved schemes on which grant was not drawn down.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibilities local authorities have to house asylum seekers whose applications(a) are under consideration and (b) have been refused; and if he will make a statement.[11203]

  Mr. Clappison
  At present the homelessness legislation requires local authorities to secure accommodation for asylum seekers who are unintentionally homeless and in priority need, if there is no other accommodation available for them. When the Asylum and Immigration Bill becomes law we propose to make an order that would remove entitlement under the homelessness legislation from those persons who apply for asylum after they have entered this country, and from those asylum seekers who remain in this country pending the outcome of an appeal against an initial negative decision. This will align entitlement under the homelessness legislation with entitlement to housing benefit.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment how much each local authority took from balances to fund budget expenditure in 1995–96. [11596]

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

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what would be the effect of an 8 per cent. increase in council tax on(a) the total yield of council tax in Great Britain, (b) the total yield of council tax in England, (c) the council tax bill in England for each valuation band, (d) the average council tax in England, expressed as the total yield from the council tax divided by the total number of chargeable dwellings, (e) council tax benefit, (f) the retail price index and (g) index-linked benefits. [11728]

  Mr. Gummer
  The information relating to Wales and Scotland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland.

  If council taxes in England had increased in 1995–96 by an additional 8 per cent. compared to actual levels, the approximate effect is estimated as follows:

  (b) the gross yield of council tax would increase by £780 million;

  368

  (c) average council tax levels, before council tax benefit or transitional relief, would increase

  Band A: by £32 to £439

  Band B: by £38 to £512

  Band C: by £43 to £585

  Band D: by £49 to £658

  Band E: by £60 to £804

  Band F: by £70 to £950

  Band G: by £81 to £1,096

  Band H: by £97 to £1,316

  (d) the average bill per chargeable dwelling, before council tax benefit or transitional relief, would increase by £40 to £538;

  (e) council tax benefit would increase by £170 million;

  (f) the increase would add around 0.2 percentage points to the percentage change over 12 months in the all items retail prices index.

  (g) the precise effect on those benefits linked to the retail prices index would depend on whether this marginal change resulted in benefit levels moving up or staying unchanged. As an approximate guide, an additional 0.2 percentage points on the rate of inflation would add around £80 million to the cost of those benefits in a full year. There would be no effect on those income related benefits which are usually linked to the Rossi index.

  Chicken Litter Fuelled Power Station
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the proposal to establish a chicken litter fuelled power station at Poole farm, near Wellington, Somerset; and if he will make a statement. [11826]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government office for the south west has received two representations objecting to the proposed electricity generating station at Wellington. Somerset.

  Copies of the relevant papers have not yet arrived from the local planning authority, Somerset county council. Upon receipt it will be considered whether the issues raised merit my intervention.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94,

  369
  (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c); [11398]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–

  Annual telephone costs

  £000

  1989–90

  1991–92

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  DoE (Central)

  3,554

  3,051

  2,728

  2,532

  1,920

  Property Holdings

  n/a

  385

  159

  132

  145

  PSAS

  6,052

  6,047

  2,170

  105

  50

  Total department

  9,606

  9,483

  5,057

  2,769

  2,115

  Planning inspectorate

  0

  0

  162

  77

  46

  Building research establishment

  173

  194

  237

  172

  108

  Figures for planning inspectorate for 1989–90 and 1991–92 are included within the departmental total.

  The figure for Property Holdings for 1989–90 is included within the figure for PSAS.

  Expenditure on consultants

  £000

  1989–90

  1991–92

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  DoE (Central)

  9,835

  6,547

  9,195

  9,567

  10,739

  Property Holdings

  n/a

  1,125

  223

  204

  529

  PSAS

  177,400

  182,850

  25,120

  752

  441

  Total department

  187,235

  190,522

  34,538

  10,523

  11,709

  Planning inspectorate

  0

  40

  632

  465

  80

  Building research establishment

  31

  187

  220

  212

  151

  The buying agency

  n/a

  n/a

  9

  17

  25

  Security facilities executive

  n/a

  n/a

  56

  368

  150

  QEII Conference Centre

  n/a

  n/a

  60

  10

  32

  Figures for planning inspectorate for 1989–90 are included within the departmental total.

  The figure for PSAS includes works consultancies.

  The figure for Property Holdings for 1989–90 is included within the figure for PSAS.

  Excludes expenditure on the Department's strategic IT consultancies.

  The remaining information requested on telephone costs and consultancies is not held centrally in the form required and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  The Department makes use of CCTA's metropolitan telephony service, which provides us with full managed telephony and directory services. The Department, along with other MTS users, maintains a current directory of staff, location and telephone extensions. The MTS service provides an annual estimate of telephony charges.

  The Government telephone network connects more than 1,000 Government offices nationwide. As users of the GTN, and GTN dialling codes booklet is available to all staff in this Department. It enables staff to identify the operator in any other Government building for inquiry services.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each 370
  96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11395]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The tables set out the information available on annual telephone costs and expenditure on consultants respectively.

  of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11397]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following information gives the average number of sick days per staff member for the calendar years 1992, 1993 and 1994; it covers non-industrial staff in my Department—excluding Health and Safety Executive, Ordnance Survey and PSA Services. Information is not available for earlier years andwill not be available for 1995 until late summer.

  1992: 8.0

  1993: 8.1

  1994: 7.17

  Source: OHSA sickness absence database.

HEALTH

  NHS Administration
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure was incurred on(a) general and senior managers and (b) administrative and clerical staff salaries

  371
  in the national health service in each region in each year since 1990–91. [9035]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 6 November 1995,Official Report, columns 624–25. Provisional expenditure for 1994–95 is shown in the table.

  Hospital and community health service salary costs for managerial and administrative and clerical staff 1994–95

  £000

  Managerial expenditure

  Admin and clerical expenditure

  Northern and Yorkshire region

  100,963

  199,367

  Trent region

  59,387

  139,380

  Anglian and Oxford region

  70,363

  148,005

  North Thames region

  122,338

  285,923

  South Thames region

  112,835

  243,981

  South and West region

  91,730

  183,010

  West Midlands region

  70,588

  166,298

  North-west region

  93,474

  212,515

  Special health authorities

  1,633

  3,650

  Total England

  723,361

  1,582,129

  Sources:

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

  2. The annual financial returns of NHS trusts.

  Notes:

  1. The figures are provisional.

  2. Salaries and wages costs incurred by family health services authorities and the special hospitals service authority (HQ London, Broadmoor, Ashworth and Rampton hospitals) and the UK transplant support service are excluded as corresponding costs are not identified on the same basis.

  3. Managerial staff consist of general senior managers for health authorities and executive board members and senior managers for NHS trusts.

  4. The figures are based upon gross costs including employers' National Insurance and superannuation contributions.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on(a) general practitioners and (b) other medical staff taking early retirement. [10931]

  Mr. Malone
  Statistical information about general practitioners and other medical staff are recorded, along with all other groups of national health service employees by the NHS Pensions Agency, and are categorised by reason of termination. This covers the type of retirement and age. Data are not readily identifiable for specific posts.

  Efficiency Scrutiny
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by how much the total budget of the North Mersey Community Health Trust has been reduced as a result of his efficiency scrutiny; [10713]

  (2) what plans he has to maintain the present efficiency scrutiny arrangements into 1996–97, and beyond. [10711]
  372
  Mr. Malone
  The efficiency scrutiny into the burdens of paperwork in national health service trusts and health authorities will complete its report within 90 working days. There are no plans at present to extend its remit beyond the end of March 1996. The efficiency scrutiny team will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and the Prime Minister's efficiency adviser, Sir Peter Levene, with recommendations for implementations within two years.

  The aim of the efficiency scrutiny is to make proposals to cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy in the NHS so that more time and effort can be devoted to patient care. It is not within the terms of reference of the scrutiny to reduce the total budget of any particular trust. Copies of the terms of reference will be placed in the Library.

  Continuing Health Care
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's analysis of the responses to HSG(95)8. [10929]

  Mr. Bowis
  Yes, in due course.

  Medical Negligence Claims
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount of money was paid out by the NHS in relation to medical negligence claims in each of the last five years. [10741]

  Mr. Horam
  Data on medical negligence alone are not collected centrally. For the estimated costs of overall clinical negligence claims, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 6 March 1995,Official Report, columns 40–42, for 1991–92 to 1993–294. Figures for 1990–91 and 1994–95 are £60 million and £155 million respectively.

  Promotional Calendars (Cost)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will indicate how much "The New NHS Number is for every 1" desktop calendar cost to the NHS Management Executive to produce and send; to how many people it was sent; and if he will list the recipients. [10736]

  Mr. Horam
  The costs of production and distribution totalled £28,000, and it was sent to 30,000 people. The recipients were general practice managers for distribution within their practices, and those officers with responsibility for implementation of the new NHS number in family health services authorities and acute hospitals.

  The purpose of the calendar is to raise awareness of the new NHS number and to provide a visual reminder on a daily basis of the importance of using it. The total cost will be more than offset if as few as 1 per cent. of GP practices use the new NHS number.

  School Dental Service
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pupils in Lancashire were both inspected and re-inspected by the school dental service in each year since 1990. [10874]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mental Health Services
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the expenditure on mental health services as a proportion of total NHS spending in each year since 1988–89. [11053]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Elderly Mentally Ill
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how may EMI beds there are in the Sunderland, Hartlepool and Durham health authority areas; and how many there were in each year since 1990. [11092]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is published annually in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library. Information for 1990–91 to 1992–93 is available for individual health authorities. For subsequent years, the information was collected by national health services trust or directly managed unit.

  Tomlinson Projects
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated to Tomlinson projects in each year since the programme started; and what was the allocation in each year to each health commission in the London area. [11110]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested on the London initiative zone programme, since it was established in 1993, is shown in the table:

  £000

  Family health services authority

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Barking and Havering

  1,716

  1,927

  2,094

  Camden and Islington

  2,920

  6,036

  7,095

  City and East London

  5,088

  13,132

  13,221

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  3,594

  9,941

  12,576

  Brent and Harrow

  1,210

  3,292

  2,048

  Enfield and Haringey

  2,786

  6,808

  5,258

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  2,436

  8,182

  6,029

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  1,318

  3,887

  5,876

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  10,750

  11,605

  24,214

  Bexley and Greenwich

  3,085

  2,181

  7,834

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  3,928

  4,490

  4,425

  Croydon

  523

  5,147

  5,743

  1. LIZ funds comprise central top-sliced resources together with funds from the Thames regions and local HAs.

  2. Figures are based on total LIZ plans, excluding funds carried forward from previous years.

  3. The table excludes payments made centrally by the NHS executive and regions in respect of the voluntary sector initiative (1993–94 and 1994–95) and GP educational initiatives (1994–95 and 1995–96).

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projects funded by Tomlinson moneys to date stating the budget location, name and purpose of each project. [11111]
  374
  Mr. Malone
  Information on individual London initiative zone projects are available from the chief executives of the health authorities concerned. These are:

  Camden and Islington HA

  Brent and Harrow HA

  East London and the City HA

  Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster HA

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA

  Enfield HA

  New River HA

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA

  Croydon HA

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA

  Bexley and Greenwich HA

  Barking and Havering HA

  Earnings
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS employees earn less than £4 an hour. [11152]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Surgical Beds
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current ratio of surgical beds to head of population(a) nationally, (b) in the northern region and (c) at Sunderland general hospital. [11137]

  Mr. Horam
  The information available centrally is shown.

  Number

  England

  Annual average daily available beds

  144,803

  Population (mid 1994)

  48,707,459

  Ratio (beds per 10,000 population)

  29.7

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Annual average daily available beds

  10,184

  Population (mid 1994)

  2,927,525

  Ratio (beds per 10,000 population)

  34.8

  City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust

  Annual average daily available beds

  1,044

  Population (mid 1994)

  n/a

  Ratio (beds per 10,000 population)

  n/a

  Data on bed availability are collected by broad ward classification. "Surgical beds" has therefore been interpreted as "General and acute" which comprises beds for general patients (including the elderly), the younger physically disabled, neonatal cots not in maternity wards and beds for the terminally ill or those receiving palliative care.

  Sunderland Hospitals
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which premises previously operated by Sunderland Hospitals NHS trust have been deemed surplus to requirements in the trust's site and services review; [11150]
  375
  (2) what is the annual maintenance cost of the empty hospital and buildings formerly used by Sunderland City Hospitals NHS trust. [11138]

  Mr. Horam
  These are matters for City Hospitals Sunderland NHS trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. David Graham, chairman of the trust for details.

  Personal Information
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he has evaluated into patients' willingness to share personal health information with NHS administrators; and what studies into patients' views on access to their data by non-clinical staff he proposes to commission; [11472]

  (2) what arrangements are in place for patients to give unambiguous consent for the sharing of their identifiable personal health information; and what plans he has to alter such arrangements; [11471]

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given when preparing his guidance booklet for the NHS on the protection of patient information to the principle of obtaining informed consent from patients for the sharing of their identifiable personal health information; [1190]

  (4) to what extent the Department requires health service bodies to (a) monitor and (b) control the practice of NHS administrative personnel accessing identifiable personal health information; and if he will make a statement. [11473]

  Mr. Horam
  We issued a consultation document on the protection of patient information in 1994 and have taken into account the many responses received, including from patients' organisations. We shall shortly be promulgating detailed guidance to the national health service. All NHS bodies and staff have a legal duty to keep patient information confidential. This is also a patients charter requirement.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties exist for unauthorised access to identifiable patient health data; and on how many occasions these penalties have been used in each of the last three years. [11475]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 4 December 1995,Official Report, columns 42–43. The Department of Health does not hold figures about the imposition of legal penalties in such circumstances. National health service employers are responsible for any disciplinary action against staff.

  Surgical Wards
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of dedicated surgical wards required at Sunderland district general hospital to meet the needs of the population of Sunderland and north Easington. [11139]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for Sunderland health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. George Bedell, chairman of the authority, for details.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 553, how many trusts have been assessed in respect of their long-term financial viability; and what has been the outcome in each case. [11115]

  Mr. Horam
  The financial viability of all trusts is assessed as a part of each trust's annual business planning cycle. The outcome in the vast majority of cases has been the continued existence of the trusts as they were established.

  Trusts are merged or reconfigured for a number of operational reasons. Those which have resulted largely from concerns over their long-term financial viability are:
  West Dorset Community Health NHS trust with West Dorset Mental Health NHS trust to form the Dorset Community NHS trust.
  Royal Liverpool University NHS trust and Broadgreen NHS trust to form Royal Liverpool University and Broadgreen NHS trust.

  There are also two further proposals subject to public consultation for the following trusts:
  Louth and District Healthcare NHS trust and Lincoln Hospital NHS trust.
  Royal Free NHS trust and the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital NHS trust.

  Public Information Lines
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 December,Official Report, column 812, if he will list those companies currently operating health information lines on behalf of his Department, the value of the contracts involving these companies and the period of their duration. [11145]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 22 January,Official Report, columns 13–14. The additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, column 227, if he will make a statement indicating the number of calls that have been made to the health information service on a regional health authority basis; and what has been the cost of operating and publicising the health information service to each of the regional health authorities. [11143]

  Mr. Horam
  Details of the number of calls received by the health information service, on a regional basis, since its establishment in April 1992 to the end of December 1995, and details of the cost of providing the health information service, on a national basis, for the financial years 1992–93 to 1995–96, are shown in the tables.

  Number of calls received by the Health Information Service between April 1992 and December 1995

  1992 calls received

  1993 calls received

  1994 calls received

  1995 calls received

  Northern and Yorkshire

  13,415

  16,394

  60,358

  73,958

  Trent

  1,665

  9,366

  14,571

  32,009

  377

  Number of calls received by the Health Information Service between April 1992 and December 1995

  1992 calls received

  1993 calls received

  1994 calls received

  1995 calls received

  Anglia and Oxford

  1,716

  10,674

  16,499

  28,998

  North Thames

  5,113

  20,350

  30,434

  62,748

  South Thames

  942

  14,603

  18,397

  57,923

  West Midlands

  1,545

  8,370

  29,394

  48,886

  North and West

  17,059

  33,107

  82,541

  102,637

  South and West

  5,839

  17,893

  21,398

  50,028

  Pan-Thames1

  3,958

  5,536

  1,812

  —

  Total

  51,252

  136,293

  275,404

  457,187

  1College of Health National Waiting Times Helpline—discontinued as part of the Health Information Service.

  Cost of providing the health information service, on regional basis between 1992–93 and 1995–96

  Region

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  Northern and Yorkshire

  288,201

  260,000

  276,223

  346,120

  Trent

  177,181

  137,859

  149,637

  155,193

  Anglia and Oxford

  268,000

  268,000

  308,000

  308,000

  North Thames

  142,500

  236,200

  243,608

  237,629

  South Thames

  n/a

  221,714

  240,777

  255,210

  West Midlands

  102,965

  165,277

  151,156

  241,243

  North and West

  331,296

  344,548

  421,037

  573,371

  South and West

  197,500

  248,400

  254,900

  221,000

  Total

  1,507,643

  1,881,998

  2,045,338

  2,337,766

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care(a) beds and (b) admissions there were for (i) infants, (ii) children and (iii) adults in each health region in each year since 1987. [11197]

  Mr. Horam
  The information available centrally is published in "Bed availability for England" and "Ordinary and day case admissions for England", both of which are available in the Library.

  Speech and Language Therapy
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of expenditure by each health authority in England and Wales for speech and language therapy services for(a) children with a record of needs and (b) children without a record of needs in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994. [11589]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Childhood Cancer Study
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the United Kingdom childhood cancer study organised by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research is expected to be completed; when the research project was first started; if 378
  his Department will ensure that the findings of the report are widely disseminated; and what is the total amount that his Department is contributing to the project. [10662]

  Mr. Horam
  The United Kingdom childhood cancer study organised by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research commenced in April 1992, following preliminary studies from 1 January 1992 to 31 March 1992.

  Field work and the collection of data are expected to be completed by the end of 1997 with subsequent analysis of the data.

  The findings of the whole report will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals. The UKCCCR will also disseminate the results more widely after publication.

  The total amount that the Department of Health is contributing to the project is currently £635,853.

  Employment of Children
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses to the "Employment of Children" consultation document have so far been received; if he will publish them, what action he will take after the close of consultations; and if he will make a statement. [11544]

  Mr. Bowis
  To date, some 40 responses have been received. I have no plans to publish them. Future action will take into account the views expressed in response to the consultation.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11337]

  Mr. Horam
  The available absenteeism rates for the Department of Health in the years 1992, 1993 and 1994 are shown in the table.

  Year

  Number of days sickness absence per staff year

  1992

  9.4

  1993

  9.7

  1994

  8.9

  Information is not available for 1995 nor for the years prior to 1992.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11338]

  Mr. Horam
  Annual telephone costs incurred by the Department and its agencies are as follows:
  379

  1990–91: £4,739,561

  1991–92: £3,017,000

  1992–93: £3,490,000

  1993–94: £3,419,000

  1994–95: £2,951,740

  1995–96: £2,914,000 Estimated outturn

  1996–97: £3,734,000 Forecast

  The figure for 1996–97 additionally includes the telephone costs of approximately 1,100 staff in the eight new national health service executive regional offices at seven separate sites.

  Separate figures for the Department of Health are not available before 1990–91 since such costs were incurred by the combined Departments of Health and of Social Security.

  No central records are available for the telephone costs of non-departmental public bodies.

  Internal telephone directors are available to all staff in the Department, its agencies, and non-departmental public bodies.

  Transplant Patients
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to health authorities and trusts in the light of the recent case of Mr. Peter Sumners; if he will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the kidney transplant to Mr. Peter Sumners; what steps he has taken to minimise the risk to transplant patients in the light of the experience of Mr. Peter Sumners; and if he will make a statement. [11832]

  Mr. Horam
  The question of whether to conduct an investigation into this case, which was as a result of transplant which took place in 1986, is for the local trust. The decision about the suitability of a donor organ for transplant is a clinical one; however, we are confident that the stringent protocols that are now in place will exclude the possibility of such an incident in the future.

  Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has evaluated regarding the possible causes of MRSA; and what advice he has issued to doctors regarding prescribing practice in the light of increases in the incidence of MRSA outbreaks. [11834]

  Mr. Horam
  Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus is the term used for strains on the bacterium staphylococcus aureus which have become resistant, principally to methicillin, but also to other antibiotics. Clinicians are expected to consider a number of factors, including resistance to infection, before prescribing antibiotics for a patient.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of(a) beds and (b) wards closed and i) admissions and (ii) operations postponed or cancelled as a result of outbreaks of MRSA. [11833]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.
  380
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the financial cost of MRSA in terms of isolating and treating patients; and what action he is taking to reduce or control the incidence of MRSA outbreaks. [11835]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the costs of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) on 22 January,Official Report, columns 16–17 for information on the action the Department is taking to reduce or control the incidence of outbreaks of MRSA.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to ensure early diagnosis of and fast treatment for bacterial meningitis. [11726]

  Mr. Horam
  Guidance on the early management and treatment of cases and contacts of meningitis has been issued by the Department of Health, the Public Health Laboratory Service and the National Meningitis Trust, which receive funding from the Department of Health. In October 1995, the chief medical officer wrote to all doctors and health authorities alerting them to the expected winter rise in cases of meningococcal infection and reminding doctors of the benefits of early administration of benzylpenicillin. Directors of public health were reminded in November of the need for local plans to respond to outbreaks of meningococcal infection, especially those involving schools. Since issuing its guidelines on control of meningococcal infection in 1989, the PHLS has issued regular updates. The guidelines are sent to all DPHs and local consultants in communicable disease control, the most recent being published in the communicable disease report of 8 December 1995.

  The Department and the National Meningitis Trust have collaborated in providing an information leaflet for parents of small children and for teenagers. The leaflet is included in the college bag for students, a group where there is a higher risk of meningitis than for other adults.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make available vaccination against bacterial meningitis for all children. [11727]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no vaccine available against the most common form of meningococcal infection, meningitis group B. Vaccine is available against group C meningitis but this vaccine is not appropriate for use on a routine basis. The vaccine is not effective in children under age two, the group at highest risk of group C meningitis, and in older individuals the protection it provides is only short lived. Because the available vaccine is not very effective, the independent expert committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the United Kingdom Health Departments, does not recommend the meningitis C vaccine for general immunisation. The vaccine may be used in clearly identified target groups, such as school contacts, whenever local circumstances indicate. No country in the world uses this vaccine for all children.

  The Department of Health has invested considerable resources in trials of new meningococcal vaccines.
  381
  Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) used to be the most common form of bacterial meningitis in the under-fives, but Hib meningitis has now been virtually eliminated since the introduction of Hib vaccine into the childhood immunisation programme in 1992.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Democratic Accountability
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve the democratic accountability of the Northern Ireland Office. [9634]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Our overall objective is, as part of a three-stranded process, to establish locally accountable political arrangements in Northern Ireland, on a widely accepted basis.

  Until there is agreement on such arrangements and they are in place, I want to improve the democratic accountability of the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments. I need therefore to consult the Northern Ireland parties which I shall shortly do. The remit of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee is, for example, an area with a promising potential.

  Republican Terrorism
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) violent attacks and (b) murders have been committed by republican terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland in the last year. [9635]

  Sir John Wheeler
  In the period 15 January to 14 January 1996 there were 225 punishment attacks, of which 144 have been attributed to republican groups. Over the same period there have been 10 terrorist-related deaths, of which eight have been attributed to republican groups.

  Arms and Explosives
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current positions taken by paramilitary organisations in Ulster on the surrender of weapons. [9637]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The international body concluded that the paramilitaries will not decommission any arms prior to all-party negotiaions. We see no sufficient reason why they should not begin. But no one should be allowed to block the path of peace. That is why we hope that an elective process may now be considered by the parties which, together with the recommendations the body has made, may well offer an alternative means to generating the necessary confidence which the body found to be lacking.

  Paramilitary Murders
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give the number of murders committed in Northeren Ireland involving the use of firearms since the declaration of a ceasefire by paramilitary organisations in the Province. [9638]
  382
  Sir John Wheeler
  Since the Provisional IRA ceasefire on 1 September 1994 there have been 17 murders committed in Northern Ireland which involved the use of firearms. Of these, 10 have been categorised by the RUC as having a terrosit involvement.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent developments in the peace process.[9639]

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current political situation in Northern Ireland and recent progress on the peace process. [9646]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the Government's "twin-track" approach to the Northern Ireland peace process [9647]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. member to the replies I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink) and to the hon. Members for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) and for Lewisham, East (Mrs. Prentice).

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the impact of the peace process on living standards in the Province. [9644]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not possible to link the peace process directly to any general measure of the standard of living in Northern Ireland. however, in the first 12 months after the ceasefire employment increased by almost 11,000—1.9 per cent.—to the highest level ever recorded; unemployment fell by just over 9,000—9.5 per cent.—to its lowest level for 14 years and house prices increased, on average, by 5 per cent.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current annual level of inward investment in Northern Ireland; and what was the level prior to the ceasefire. [9640]

  Mr. Ancram
  During the nine months of the current financial year to 31 December 1995 Northern Ireland has secured eight inward investment projects promoting 2,306 jobs. In the 12 months of 1994–95 there were 10 projects promoting 1,969 jobs, and in the 12 months of 1993–94 there were 13 projects promoting 2,309 jobs.

  Food Companies
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants are available to food companies wishing to conduct inward investment in Northern Ireland. [9641]

  Mr. Ancram
  The range of grants available to food companies wishing to invest in Northern Ireland is the same as that for any other potential inward investor engaged in manufacturing industry or in internationally tradeable services.

  Mitchell Commission
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Mitchell Commission. [9642]

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy in respect of the form the decommissioning of weapons and ordnance by paramilitary groups should take; and if he will make a statement. [9651]

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the decommissioning of paramilitary arms. [9655]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink).

  Shootings and Beatings
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current levels of shootings and punishment beatings in Northern Ireland. [9643]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I strongly condemn these wicked attacks on people. Such attacks divide the community and destroy the trust in Northern Ireland. The Government's position is clear. These murders, senseless shootings and attacks are appalling and must cease. There is no excuse of any kind. I am in no doubt that terrorists are involved in all such incidents and I call on all those genuinely committed to peaceful methods unreservedly to condemn such acts.

  Economic Prospects
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the prospects for the economy of Northern Ireland during 1996. [9648]

  Mr. Ancram
  Prospects for the Northern Ireland economy are very encouraging. Business confidence is high, employment is at record levels and output and trade are increasing. With continuing peace we can look forward to this excellent progress being maintained.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of(a) pensioners and (b) pensioners on income support in Northern Ireland. [9649]

  Mr. Moss
  The latest available figures show that at September 1994 there were 219,109 pensioners in Northern Ireland and at November 1995 there were 65,931 pensioners—excluding partners over pensionable age—in receipt of income support.

  Licensed Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licensed weapons were in private hands in Northern Ireland; and what proportion of these weapons are owned by(a) Catholics and (b) Protestants. [9650]
  384
  Sir John Wheeler
  At 30 November 1995 there were a total of 133,869 weapons held on 88,092 firearms certificates received under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

  There is no information held which would indicate the religious background of an applicant.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future proposals involving the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. [9652]

  Mr. Moss
  The housing policy review entitled "Building on Success" was published on 19 December and copies placed in the Library. The conclusions confirm the Executive's role as a single, comprehensive, regional housing authority for Northern Ireland, and also propose to strengthen and enhance that role. I would welcome comments on those proposals by 31 March.

  Elderly Physically Handicapped
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the care of the elderly physically handicapped in Northern Ireland. [9653]

  Mr. Moss
  Care services for elderly physically disabled, and other vulnerable people, in Northern Ireland are provided on the basis of individual assessed health and personal social services care needs. In securing the delivery of services which respond flexibly and sensitively to the needs of individuals, and the relatives and friends who care for them, boards are expected to ensure that priority is given to those in greatest need and to secure value for money.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many four-year-olds arc currently receiving education; what proportion of their age group this represents; what is the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [10168]

  Mr. Ancram
  Available statistics relate to pupils' age at 1 July. 26,089 four-year-olds were receiving education at the 1995 census date. This represents 100 per cent. of the four-year-old age group, as this is the age of commencement of compulsory schooling. The cost to public funds for the education of four-year-olds cannot he separately identified.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11401]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The estimate number of days absence for non-industrial staff in(d) 1993–94 was 335,780 and in (e) 1994–95 was 362,438. Information for (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1991–92 is not available

  385
  and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The estimated number of days lost in the first six months of 1995–96 was 165,765.

  Child Care
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average money spent per capita on child care in Northern Ireland; and what is the figure for English local authorities. [10311]

  Mr. Moss
  The information is not available in the form requested. HPSS bodies produce statements in support of the annual accounts which provide supplementary analyses of the expenditure in the accounts over programme of care. One programme of care is family and child care. The total expenditure on this category in Northern Ireland for 1993–94 amounted to £44 million. This expenditure figure has been related to the child population in Northern Ireland 1993 to give an average cost per child of £100. The equivalent figure for English local authorities is not held centrally.

  Care of the Elderly
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines he has issued about the provision of care to the elderly living in the community. [10565]

  Mr. Moss
  Policy and practice guidance has been issued by my Department to health and social services boards in relation to their community care responsibilities. "People First: Community Care In Northern Ireland in the 1990s" was issued in March 1990 and practice guidance on care management and assessment was issued in August 1991. In addition, the social services inspectorate produced a report on assessment and care management arrangements in Northern Ireland in June 1995.

  Radioactive Land
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now publish and place in the Library a map showing the changing areas of land in Northern Ireland to which the restrictions consequent upon the Chernobyl incident apply, indicating the dates of the different changes and the levels of radioactivity at each such date in those areas at the latest available date; and when he estimates all the remaining restrictions will be removed. [9515]

  Mr. Ancram
  On each occasion that derestriction takes place a press release is issued along with a small scale map outlining the changes per derestriction. Arrangements have been made to have copies of these maps placed in the Library. Derestriction is based on monitoring levels of radioactivity in live sheep and can be considered only where the levels are found to be below the action level of 1,000 becquerels per kilogramme.

  Although the continued downward trend is encouraging, it is not possible to indicate at this time when all restrictions may be removed.

  Mr. Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish and place in the Library a map showing the area and land use, of the areas of land in Northern Ireland to which the restrictions consequent upon the Chernobyl incident have applied; and what 386
  uptake of radioactive material by trees in such areas there has been. [9516]

  Mr. Ancram
  On each occasion that derestriction takes place a press release is issued, along with a small-scale map outlining the changes. Arrangements have been made to have copies of these maps placed in the Library. These maps do not indicate the land use, which in the main is rough grazing with some forestry. There is no data available on uptake of radioactive material by trees.

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is in relation to the supply of incontinence pads to those who require them because of disability; what plans he has to review these arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9210]

  Mr. Moss
  The organisation of continence services in Northern Ireland and the manner in which they are delivered, including the provision of incontinence pads, are matters for health and social services boards and trusts. They are under a general obligation to provide these services where the need exists and in the light of their resources and priorities. There are no current plans to review these arrangements.

  Fire Authority
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to change the membership of the Fire Authority; and if he will ensure that present representation from local authorities is maintained. [9862]

  Mr. Moss
  I am currently reviewing the constitution of the Fire Authority. No decision has yet been taken, but there will be full consideration about any proposed changes.

  Rural College, Draperstown
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are employed at the Rural college at Draperstown, County Londonderry; how many are(a) Catholics and (b) Protestants; and if he will make a statement. [9860]

  Mr. Ancram
  Staff at the Rural college, Draperstown are employed directly by the college. I am therefore not in a position to answer the question.

  Six Mile Water (Effluent)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consented discharges are in operation on the Six Mile Water; and what was the river flow regime used in granting these consent discharges. [9915]

  Mr. Moss
  Four consents granted by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 for effluent discharges to the Six Mile Water are currently in operation. The consents are based on the low flow in the river, known as the Q95, which is the flow exceeded for 95 per cent. of the time.

  Water and Sewerage Systems
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) water treatment plants and (b) sewage treatment plants are operating in County Antrim. [9914]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment's Water Executive operates 17 water treatment works and 158 sewage treatment works in County Antrim.

  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve the water and sewerage systems serving(a) Northern Ireland and (b) Mid Ulster. [10575]

  Mr. Moss
  The Water Executive will continue the programme of improvements commenced six years ago to enable it to meet the standards set by EC directives on drinking water quality, urban waste water treatment and bathing waters. New sources of water supply will be developed and refinements made to the water distribution system and sewerage system to make them more effective in dealing with current and future demand for services. On top of the £370 million already spent in the last six years on these objectives throughout Northern Ireland a further £66 million has been committed for the 1996–97 year. In Mid-Ulster planned capital investment over the next five years amounts to £35 million with particular emphasis being placed on strengthening the water supply infrastructure serving the towns of Omagh and Cookstown.

  Power Stations
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many power stations in Northern Ireland use aluminium sulphate in the treatment of water used in cooling towers; and what arrangements are in place for the disposal of the residue. [9913]

  Community psychiatric nurses for each health board in Northern Ireland

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  1991

  61

  61.00

  12

  12.00

  16

  16.00

  26

  26.00

  1992

  67

  66.80

  18

  18.00

  13

  13.00

  24

  24.00

  1993

  72

  72.00

  24

  24.00

  18

  18.00

  32

  32.00

  1994

  68

  66.80

  22

  22.00

  16

  16.00

  40

  40.00

  1995

  66

  65.50

  26

  25.40

  17

  17.00

  40

  39.60

  WTE = Whole time equivalent. Number = Head count (staff in post).

  General Practitioner Fundholding
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evaluation has been made of the results of the general practitioner fundholding initiative in the west of the Province. [10573]

  Mr. Moss
  The Western health and social services board is responsible for the monitoring of the GP fundholding scheme within its area and no separate evaluation of the scheme's operation there has been undertaken. On the basis of monitoring reports supplied by the board, I am satisfied that the scheme is working well in the Western board area and that patients of fundholding GPs are receiving a high standard of service.
  388
  Mr. Moss
  None of the four power stations in Northern Ireland use towers for cooling water. Consequently, aluminium sulphate is not used for this purpose.

  Road Deaths and Injuries
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the number of road deaths and serious injuries in the years 1994 and 1995. [10577]

  Mr. Moss
  The number of road users killed in 1994 was 157 and the provisional figures for 1995 is 144. The number seriously injured in 1994 was 1,648 and the provisional figure for the 11 months to 30 November 1995 is 1,520. good progress is being made towards achieving the Northern Ireland road safety target of reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on Northern Ireland's roads by one third, compared with the average for 1981 to 1985, by the year 2000.

  Health Boards (Private Finance Initiative)
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many private finance initiative schemes he(a) has agreed and (b) is considering in respect of Northern Ireland health boards. [10566]

  Sir John Wheeler
  No scheme under the private finance initiative has been approved to date in the Northern Ireland health boards. One scheme has been approved to proceed to tender stage and eight other cases are currently under consideration which may lead to private finance solutions.

  Psychiatric Community Nurses
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the change in the number of psychiatric community nurses since 1989 in each of the Northern Ireland health boards. [10564]

  Mr. Moss
  The information is as follows:

  Homelessness
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if accommodation approved by the Northern Ireland tourist board is used by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to accommodate the homeless. [10316]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chief executive has advised me that he is aware of one establishment approved by the Northern Ireland tourist board and used by the Executive to accommodate the homeless. While tourist board approval may exist for some other properties used by the Executive for similar purposes, a property's suitability is
  389
  determined by the Executive on the basis of its own technical inspections and tourist board approved status is neither a pre-requisite nor the subject of inquiry by the Executive. In the light of recent interest, I understand that the chief executives of the tourist board and the Executive will be meeting to discuss these matters.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations have been received about the need for proper liaison between the RUC, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Northern Ireland tourist board and health and social services authorities on the placement of homeless families or individuals; and what response has been given. [10317]

  Mr. Moss
  I understand that a representation has been made to my noble friend who has responsibility for the Department of Economic Development about liaison between the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and other agencies on the placement of homeless applicants including instances where the accommodation used by the Housing Executive has attained the tourist board's approval status. The reply indicated that there was no evidence that the standard of accommodation in tourist board approved establishments has deteriorated as a result of the placing of homeless there and that present liaison arrangements were satisfactory.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about liaison arrangements between the RUC, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the health and social services authorities on the placement of homeless people with a criminal record. [10315]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose chief executive has advised me that, when considering both the temporary and permanent housing needs of homeless applicants, the Executive will liaise where appropriate with the RUC, the Health and Social Services Board and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Liaison arrangements operate on a case by case basis at local level between the Executive's district office staff and their counterparts in the agencies involved.

  Regional inter-agency meetings involving the Executive, the Health and Social Services Board and the Probation Board are held at least twice a year to discuss general issues relating to homelessness.

WALES

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is, in respect of the nursery voucher scheme in Wales,(a) the amount of new money he intends to make available, (b) the amount he intends to reduce from the budget allocation for local authorities, (c) the cost of providing a full time place for a four-year-old pupil, (d) the number of four-year-olds taking up nursery places in April 1997, (e) the number of places he estimates (i) local authorities, (ii) the voluntary sector and (iii) the private sector will provide and (f) the number of places available in Ysgolion Meithrin. [9047]
  390
  Mr. Richards
  The total cost of the scheme in 1997–98 is not expected to exceed £43 million. The scheme will be funded by a mixture of new money and a proportion of present local authority expenditure on provision for four-year-olds in the maintained sector. There will be a one-off transfer of money from the local authorities total, but this will be at the all Wales level and not deducted from individual authorities' budgets. The maximum amount of this transfer will not exceed a sum equivalent to the value of the voucher multiplied by the number of four-year-olds receiving education in the maintained sector. A final decision on the relevant levels of new money and present expenditure funding will he taken in the context of the public expenditure settlement for 1997–98.

  The cost of providing a full-time place for a four-year-old pupil will vary according to the sort of provision made and the sector in which it is made.

  The number of four-year-olds taking up places in April 1997 will depend on parental choice, though I would not expect it to be less than current levels. The sectors in which places are taken up will also depend on parental choice, which will be enhanced by the voucher scheme.

  Regeneration Scheme (Caernarfon)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the expenditure to date under the provision of the 1992 regeneration scheme for the town of Caernarfon; and how many new jobs have so far been facilitated by this expenditure. [9335]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office's strategic development scheme has contributed £1.11 million for the period 1993–94 to 1994–95 towards environmental improvements and infrastructure works in Caernarfon. The Welsh Development Agency has contributed £2.91 million for the same period. Information on the number of jobs created to date is not available. However, the agency will shortly be conducting an evaluation to determine the number of jobs created and other results of the regeneration programme.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in(a) Alyn and Deeside and (b) Clwyd are (i) long-term unemployed and (ii) unemployed in the age group 18 to 24 years; and if he will make a statement. [9554]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In October 1995 the number of claimants in the Alyn and Deeside constituency who were long-term unemployed—over 52 weeks—was 617; the number of claimants in the age group 18 to 24 years was 621. The corresponding figures for Clwyd were 3,794 and 3,780, respectively. Over the last two years, the numbers in each of these categories have fallen by between a fifth and a third.

  Helplines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are(a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of his Department or (c) of another classification; how many

  391
  calls each received in each of the last five years; and how much money each received from his Department in each of the last five years. [9802]

  Mr. Hague
  Information in the format requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In 1995–96, my Department is funding the following helplines run by external organisations.

  Organisation

  Helpline

  Welsh office funding in 1995–96 £

  ADAS

  Countryside and Agricultural Information Service (CAIS)

  Not separately identified

  Arena Network

  Help and advice on environmental issues for businesses

  1,100

  8 business development consortia

  Business connect

  1500,000

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  Groundwater enquiry line

  Not separately identified

  Carmarthen Area Blind Society

  Helpline for the visually impaired

  Not separately identified

  Childline

  Childline

  73,000

  Cymru/Wales Clwyd Social Services Department

  Carers helpline

  6,000

  County Hospital, Pontypool

  Cardiac rehabilitation project

  Not separately identified

  Gwent Training and Enterprise Council

  Adult prospects

  3,250

  Gwynedd Carers Outreach

  Carers helpline

  Not separately identified

  Healthcare Management Information Services

  Health Information Wales

  63,000

  Healthcare Management Information Services

  Health Information Wales—Waiting Times Inormation Service

  1,000

  Mid Glamorgan Carers Support Group

  Carers helpline

  Not separately identified

  Network Scotland (on behalf of all UK Health Departments)

  National AIDS and Drugs Helpline

  34,000

  Newport MIND

  Crisis helpline

  500

  Pennell Kerr Forster

  Helpline for GP fundholders with accounting queries

  300

  Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service, Merthyr

  Rape and sexual abuse helpline

  Not separately identified

  South Glamorgan Social Services Department

  Community Alcohol Team helpline

  1,800

  392

  Organisation

  Helpline

  Welsh office funding in 1995–96 £

  Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)

  Support helpline

  10,700

  West Glamorgan Health Authority

  National Incontinence Helpline 1996

  200

  West Wales Energy Group

  Local energy advice

  Not separately identified

  1This represents Welsh Office support in 1995–96 for the development of the Business Connect network, including information technology.

  In addition, my Department operates the following helplines:

  Helpline

  Cost to Welsh Office in 1995–96

  Number of calls in 1995–96 (estimate)

  Citizen's charter freephone

  275

  100

  Help and advice on energy efficiency

  1,500

  3,000

  Schools (Deficit Budgets)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the grant-maintained and (b) the locally-managed schools which had deficit budgets in the last financial year for which information is available, indicating in each case the number of years deficits have been carried over, the measures each school has been asked to take to get rid of the deficits and the legal obligations on school governors if the deficits arc not removed. [9475]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 15 January 19961: The information requested is as follows:

  The audited accounts for 1994–95 show that two grant-maintained schools—Cwmcarn in Gwent and Bishop Vaughan Catholic comprehensive in West Glamorgan—had deficits at the end of March 1995. This is the first year in which Bishop Vaughan had a deficit; that for Cwmcarn was carried over from 1993–94.

  The financial memorandum agreed between the Welsh Office and grant-maintained schools says that governing bodies must plan and conduct their affairs so as to remain solvent. If it becomes apparent to its governors that their school is in overall deficit, they must inform the Welsh Office. Officials then discuss with the school a strategy to extinguish the deficit. The Department is currently in discussion with both schools on action appropriate to eliminate the deficits.

  Should the governing body fail to implement the agreed strategy, then it is open to the Secretary of State to appoint additional governors to the governing body in accordance with section 67 of the Education Act 1993. If, however, it is his opinion that the governing body's actions are prejudicial to the provision of education at the school then, under section 64 of the 1993 Act, he can replace all or any of the first governors. In extreme cases, where the Secretary of State is of the view that the school is

  393
  unsuitable to continue, he can, under section 109 of the Act, give the school notice of his proposed date for cessation of his duty to maintain the school.

  As regards LEA-maintained schools, the position as detailed in the section 42 outturn statements for the period 1990–91 to 1994–95 is as follows:

  Local Education Authority

  Number of years in which school has had a deficit

  CLWYD

  Primary schools

  St. Ethelwood's, Shotton

  2

  Llanarmon-yn-Ial

  3

  Secondary schools

  Denbigh High School

  2

  Special schools

  Gwersyllt

  1

  DYFED

  Primary schools

  Gorslas

  1

  Ffarmers

  1

  Llanboidy

  1

  Llangennech Infants

  1

  Crymych

  1

  Llanarth

  1

  Blaenporth

  1

  Fishguard Juniors

  2

  Mynachlogddu

  2

  Narberth

  2

  Tregaron

  2

  Mathry

  2

  Bwlchygroes

  3

  Llangeitho

  3

  Llandyfaelog

  3

  Llangynin

  4

  Ffairfach

  4

  Coedmor

  4

  Alltwalis

  4

  New Inn

  4

  Pencader

  4

  Llansaint

  4

  Moylegrove

  4

  Llannon

  4

  Ysbyty Ystwyth

  4

  Angle

  4

  Llangwm

  4

  Secondary schools

  Ysgol Dewi Sant

  1

  Lampeter

  1

  Glanymor

  1

  St. John Lloyd RC

  2

  Ysgol Pantycelyn

  2

  Fishguard

  2

  Graig

  2

  GWENT

  Primary schools

  Brynglas J and I

  1

  Bryngwyn J and I

  1

  Cefn Fforest Junior

  1

  Hillside J and I

  1

  Ringland Junior

  1

  Varteg J and I

  1

  Llanyravon J and I

  2

  GWYNEDD

  Primary schools

  Nebo

  1

  394

  Local Education Authority

  Number of years in which school has had a deficit

  Trefriw

  1

  Brynsiencyn

  1

  Pencarnisiog

  1

  Faenol

  2

  Llangoed

  3

  Secondary schools

  Friars

  2

  Special schools

  Y Gogarth

  1

  MID GLAMORGAN

  Primary schools

  Cwmaman Infants

  1

  YGG Abercynon

  1

  Cwmbach Church Primary

  1

  Blaen-y-Cwm

  1

  Cymer Infants

  1

  Dunraven

  1

  Llwynpia

  1

  Pentre

  1

  Penyrenglyn Infants

  1

  YGG Ynyswen

  1

  Coed yr Esgob

  1

  Gellideg Infants

  1

  Gellifaelog

  1

  Goetre Infants

  1

  Ynysowen

  1

  YG Rhyd y Grug

  1

  St. Illtyd's

  1

  St. Brides C in W

  1

  Bargoed Infants

  1

  Hengoed Primary

  1

  Nant y Parc

  1

  Abertaf

  2

  Blaenrhondda

  2

  Llangewydd

  4

  Pencoed Juniors

  4

  Trallwng Infants

  5

  Secondary schools

  YG Rhydfelen

  1

  Cardinal Newman RC

  1

  Vaynor and Penderyn

  1

  POWYS

  Primary schools

  Archdeacon Griffiths

  1

  Builth Wells

  1

  Gungrog C in W

  1

  Llandinam

  1

  Llanfaes

  1

  Llangynidr

  1

  Oldford Infants

  1

  Rhayader C in W

  1

  Talgarth

  1

  Tregynon

  1

  Whitton (Aided)

  1

  Castle Caereinion C in W

  2

  Hay-on-Wye

  2

  Ladywell Green N and I

  2

  Llangorse C in W

  2

  Nantmel C in W

  2

  Ysgol Maesydre

  2

  Cwmdu C in W

  3

  Cwmtwrch

  3

  Guilsfield

  3

  Montgomery C in W

  3

  Mount St. Juniors

  3

  Trecastle

  3

  Trefonnen C in W 1

  3

  Forden C in W

  4

  395

  Local Education Authority

  Number of years in which school has had a deficit

  Llangurig

  4

  Manafon C in W

  4

  Radnor Valley

  4

  Banw

  5

  Clyro

  5

  Maesyrhandir

  5

  Sarn C in W (Aided)

  5

  Secondary schools

  Gwernyfed

  1

  Ysgol Bro Ddyfi

  1

  Maesydderwen

  1

  Crickhowell

  2

  South Glamorgan

  Primary schools

  Pendoylan C in W

  1

  St. David's (Vale)

  1

  Ysgol Sant Curig

  1

  Fairfield

  3

  Secondary schools

  Radyr

  2

  Llanedeyrn

  4

  Local management of schools schemes in general prohibit governing bodies from planning deliberately for deficits, except to the extent that the LEA may think it reasonable to make provision in its scheme to allow schools, in certain specified circumstances, to anticipate their budget shares for the following year in order to finance some major planned item of expenditure for which the full cost cannot readily be accommodated within the current year's budget share. Where deficits nevertheless arise, LMS schemes must make appropriate provision for their recovery, normally from the following year's budget share, except where clear practical considerations preclude recovery on this timescale. It is for LEAs to pursue any appropriate action in respect of deficits incurred by LEA maintained schools.

  Repossessions
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the extent of repossessions in Wales over the past two years; and what are his estimates of likely trends in(a) repossessions and (b) negative equity in 1996. [10258]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information is not recorded centrally on the number of cases in which mortgage possession orders lead to warrants to have the defendants evicted. However, recent figures on the number of possession orders and suspended orders are given in the table. Estimates of likely trends in repossessions and negative equity are not available for 1996.

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  11995

  Mortgage possession orders

  3,958

  3,403

  2,297

  1,485

  1,245

  Suspended orders

  3,457

  3,673

  3,598

  2,253

  2,008

  Source:

  Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Note:

  1Figures are for the first 3 quarters of 1995.

  Estimates of likely trends in repossessions and negative equity are not available for 1996.

  Bristol Channel (Dredging)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the study on the impact of dredging on the coastal environment in the Bristol channel referred to in his answer of 2 May 1995,Official Report, column 140, to be completed. [10912]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Invitations to tender will be issued shortly. The study will commence as soon as a suitable contractor has been chosen. The work is expected to take two to three years to complete.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has attended meetings of the Council of Ministers. [10696]

  Mr. Hague
  None to date. Members of the Government attending meetings of the Council of Ministers speak on behalf of the whole United Kingdom, including Wales.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings of the Council of Ministers dealing with responsibilities held by the Welsh Office have been convened since he took up his duties as Secretary of State for Wales. [10695]

  Mr. Hague
  Between 5 July 1995 and 19 January 1996, the Council of the European Union met on 19 occasions when the title of the Council could in some way be related to responsibilities held by the Welsh Office as set out in the 1995 departmental report of the Welsh Office.

  CADW
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many offices CADW currently has in Wales. [10702]

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for the agency and I have asked the chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 25 January 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question in which you ask how many offices Cadw currently has in Wales.
  The Agency has only a single administrative office and this is located at Brunel House here in Cardiff, although it will be relocated into the main Welsh Office building in Cathays Park later this year. The Agency also has three works management units at Caerphilly and Neath these will be centralised at Crickhowell in April—and at Caernarfon. There are responsible for the management of industrial staff and the conservation maintenance programme for the estate in care.

  Community Councils
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many community councils there were in Wales(a) 1976 and (b) 1986; and how many there are currently. [10675]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Temporary Traffic Lights, Bryncoedifor
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how long the temporary traffic lights system has been in
  397
  operation at Bryncoedifor on the Bala to Dolgellau road; and if he will make a statement. [10708]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 24 November 1995,Official Report, column 415.

  Severn Flood Barrage
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated as to a River Severn flood barrage in the Llandrinio area; and if he will make a statement. [11257]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11360]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is included in the following table.

  Expenditure on advertising and press and public relations by my Department and its executive agency CADW for the years requested are set out in the table below. Figures are not held centrally for NDPBs.

  Year

  Advertising

  Press and public relations

  Welsh Office

  1979–80

  61

  451

  1989–90

  411

  2,245

  1991–92

  349

  2,089

  1993–94

  275

  1,704

  1994–95

  255

  2,068

  1995–96 (i) to date

  352

  964

  (ii) estimate outturn

  465

  2,055

  1996–07 estimate

  408

  2,187

  CADW

  1979–80

  n/a

  1n/a

  1989–90

  n/a

  n/a

  1991–92

  n/a

  n/a

  1993–94

  58

  370

  1994–95

  35

  471

  1995–96 (i) to date

  26

  312

  (ii) estimate outturn

  26

  374

  1996–97 estimate

  26

  375

  CADW was set up as an executive agency in April 1992. 1Figures before 1992–93 are not readily available and can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Expenditure on advertising includes television, radio and press advertising costs. Figures for press and public relations includes press and publicity staff costs, press cutting services and the cost of purchasing other forms of publicity material.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's
  398
  agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11362]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is included in the following list.

  (a) 1979–80: No records available

  1989–90: £906,700 (actual)

  1991–92: £1,159,874 (actual)

  1993–94: £1,314,015 (actual)

  1994–95: £1,221,344 (actual)

  1995–96: £834,483 (spend to date)

  1996–97: Not yet finalised

  (b) 1979–80: No Agencies

  1989–90: No Agencies

  1991–92: £38,866 (actual)

  1993–94: £65,763 (actual)

  1994–95: £32,033 (actual)

  1995–96: £55,671 (spend to date)

  1996–97: £57,700 (estimate)

  (c) Not available centrally.

  (d) Internal directories are available to all staff in my Department and it's Agencies. Information is not available centrally on the position of NDPB's.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11359]

  Mr. Hague
  Expenditure on management and other consultants engaged by the Welsh Office is as follows:

  £000

  1979–80

  not applicable

  1989–90

  342

  1991–92

  1,109

  1993–94

  1,454

  1994–95

  805

  1995–96 to end—December

  202

  My Department's plans for using external consultants in 1996–97 have not yet been finalised. There are no central records of expenditure on consultants by non-departmental public bodies, or the savings resulting from consultancy work.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11361]
  399
  Mr. Hague
  The average number of working days sickness absence per member of staff by calendar year was as follows:

  1992: 9.82

  1993: 10.1

  1994: 9.14

  Statistics on a comparable basis are not available prior to 1992. Statistics for 1995 are not yet available.

  South Glamorgan Health Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority in relation to the cancellation of all extra-contractual referrals until the end of the current financial year. [11905]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department was made aware of the health authority's policy decision prior to its introduction.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposals to provide general practitioner out-of-hours health care, and the process of public consultation in Mid Glamorgan and in Wales. [11729]

  Mr. Richards
  The agreement reached last year between the Government and the British Medical Association provides the opportunity for GPs to organise their emergency out-of-hours services in ways that will maintain and improve patient services.
  400
  The arrangements for implementing the agreement at a local level rests with the relevant family health services authority.

  Retail Shopping Developments
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which superstore projects have received public funding from(a) regional selective assistance grants and (b) other grants in each of the counties of Wales; what are the amounts awarded; and if he will make a statement. [11730]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning out-of-town retail parks. [11731]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend's policy is set out in planning policy guidance note No. 6 "Town Centres and Retail Development". Planning policy guidance (Wales) which was issued for consultation in July 1995 contains revised guidance on retail development.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representation he has received in the last three years concerning the impact of new superstores and out-of-town retail parks on existing shopping centres. [11732]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have received various representations in that time from individuals, companies, local authorities and other organisations relating both to specific retail proposals and to retail development generally.

  Disabled People: Direct Payments in Lieu of Services
  Disabled People: Direct Payments in Lieu of Services
  Campbeltown/Ballycastle Ferry Service: Operator
  Campbeltown/Ballycastle Ferry Service: Operator
  Campbeltown and Ballycastle Harbour Facilities: Costs
  Campbeltown and Ballycastle Harbour Facilities: Costs
  Veterinary Medicines Containing Organophosphates
  Veterinary Medicines Containing Organophosphates
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips, Standards of Efficacy
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips, Standards of Efficacy
  Protection of Animals for Slaughter: European Convention
  Protection of Animals for Slaughter: European Convention
  Agriculture Council, 22 and 23 January
  Agriculture Council, 22 and 23 January
  General Dostum: UK Visit
  General Dostum: UK Visit
  OSCE Principles: Observance
  OSCE Principles: Observance
  Anti-Satellite Weapons
  Anti-Satellite Weapons
  Boycotts: UK Policy
  Boycotts: UK Policy
  UN Register of Conventional Arms: UK Weapons Transfers
  UN Register of Conventional Arms: UK Weapons Transfers
  Economic Sanctions
  Economic Sanctions
  Destabilisation of Foreign Governments
  Destabilisation of Foreign Governments
  Former Yugoslavia: Arms Embargo
  Former Yugoslavia: Arms Embargo
  Former Yugoslavia: CIA Activities
  Former Yugoslavia: CIA Activities
  Bosnian Government Forces: Training
  Bosnian Government Forces: Training
  Bosnian/Turkish Co-operation Agreement
  Bosnian/Turkish Co-operation Agreement
  Former Yugoslavia: Military Equipment Testing
  Former Yugoslavia: Military Equipment Testing
  UN Contributions: Arrears
  UN Contributions: Arrears
  Turkey: PKK Cease-fire Proposal
  Turkey: PKK Cease-fire Proposal
  Khiam Prison: Detainees
  Khiam Prison: Detainees
  Turkey: Election
  Turkey: Election
  British Coal: Outstanding Liabilities
  British Coal: Outstanding Liabilities
  Firearm Numbers
  Firearm Numbers
  Domestic Fuel: VAT Yield
  Domestic Fuel: VAT Yield
  Lloyd's: Tax Treatment of Equitas Premiums
  Lloyd's: Tax Treatment of Equitas Premiums
  Quasi-Legislative Crown Material: Reproduction Arrangements
  Quasi-Legislative Crown Material: Reproduction Arrangements
  National Curriculum
  National Curriculum
  Research Ethics Committees: Work Co-ordination Study
  Research Ethics Committees: Work Co-ordination Study