Written Answers of 1 July 1996

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Performance Assessment
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, to what extent the Commission has(a) encouraged and (b) permitted competitive performance assessment (i) within Departments of the House and (ii) between their respective employees. [34670]

  Mr. Beith
  (a) Performance-related pay was introduced several years ago for staff in the non-industrial grades in the civil service and the Commission approved the introduction of similar arrangements for appropriate groups of staff in the House in order to keep "broadly in line" with the civil service as required by the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978.

  (b) Performance pay in the House takes two different forms, depending upon the grade of the post. Competitive performance assessment exists for staff in grade 7 and above. Pay increase are dependent upon the box marks awarded in the staff annual report and the competitive element arises because the performance awards are paid from a performance budget, usually equal to 2 per cent. of the pay bill. For staff in grade 8 and below, the competitive element does not exist because performance awards, again dependent upon annual report box marks, are made in accordance with a progression chart without regard to a predetermined budget.

  (i) The performance pay budgets are set on a House-wide basis for each of the grades at grade 7 and above, rather than by Department. The element of competition is therefore House-wide.

  (ii) There is competition between individual members of staff at a particular grade level, at grade 7 and above.

  Parliamentary Groups Inquiry
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when he expects the Committee to conclude its inquiry into all-party and parliamentary groups; and if he will make a statement. [35212]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I am pleased to advise my hon. Friend that at its meeting on 18 June, the Administration Committee agreed its report on all-party and parliamentary groups. The Committee makes several recommendations which, if approved by the House, would mean that the current written undertaking given by such groups seeking registration would be amended significantly to remove any existing imprecisions, and to be otherwise tightened up. Hon. Members may obtain copies of the report, HC (1995–96)494, from the Vote Office.
  262

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Launch Aid
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the take-up and effectiveness of launch aid; and if he will make a statement. [34998]

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department already reviews regularly the returns from previous launch aid contracts.

  EU Research Programme
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the research projects in Britain which have been financed in whole or in part by the European Union's third research framework programme. [34948]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Full information on research projects funded in individual member states by the European Union's third framework programme for research and technological development, which ran from 1990 to 1994, is held only by the European Commission. It is not distributed to member states. UK researchers have, however, participated vigorously in the EU's framework programmes. Commission statistics show that 2,337 UK research teams participated in projects funded under the third framework—more than in any other member stale. The indications are that UK researchers are continuing to participate strongly in the fourth framework programme, which runs from 1994 to 1998.

  European Funding
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress in respect of the Barmac N166 site objective 1 application. [34833]

  Mr. Eggar
  The approval of the European Commission is required under the terms of the seventh shipbuilding directive for public investment in Barmac's project as presently constituted.

  Since the end of February, there have been a number of discussions and meetings between the company, officials of the Scottish Office and those of my shipbuilding unit and oil and gas project supplies office. An informal meeting was held on 13 June between those DTI officials and those of the European Commission's directorate general IV responsible for interpreting and enforcing the seventh shipbuilding directive, at which the Commission asked for clarification of certain issues before approval of the grant could be considered.

  A further meeting was held between the company and my officials on 24 June to review the progress of its application, the information requested by the Commission and the options open to Barmac.

  EU Internal Market
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what decisions were taken at the EU ministerial Council on the internal market on 28 May; and what matters were voted upon. [35113]
  263
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the deputy UK permanent representative and I represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 28 May.

  The Council reached common position by qualified majority voting on the sweeteners directive—Germany and Sweden opposed. The Council also reached unanimous political agreement on the common position on the directive on temporary authorisations for foodstuffs. Common positions on comparative and misleading advertising, exchange of information on measuring air pollution, monitoring of waste and protection of passengers in frontal collisions were agreed by A point procedure.

  In accordance with UK non-co-operation in EU business, we blocked four measures requiring unanimity: two Council resolutions—administrative co-operation and legislative simplification in the internal market; a set of Council conclusions, accounting strategy; and an A point, Council decision on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry.

  Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1996
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated saving to business from the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1996. [34678]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The draft order contains three proposals to reduce the burdens on business:

  verification of weighing or measuring equipment by manufacturers and others;

  third party testing of equipment;

  pre-test stamping of equipment.

  The total savings will depend on how many businesses take up these options. Assuming take-up by about half of the businesses that already have equipment verified, it is estimated that businesses might save £4.3 million per annum in fees formerly paid to trading standards officers, to which can be added savings in businesses' indirect costs less the cost of operating one or other of the new options.

  Radiation Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment the Clifford Chance report on nuclear privatisations made of the number of workers likely to pursue damages claims for radiation-induced illness in the years(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000; and what was the estimated cost of meeting these claims. [34327]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 27 June 1996]:I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him during the debate on 18 June, Official Report, column 780.

  It is inevitable that some of those affected by radiation-induced illnesses, such as cancer, will work in the nuclear industry, but it is scientifically impossible to distinguish between a radiation induced cancer and a naturally occurring one.
  264

ENVIRONMENT

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the constituencies he has visited in the past three months on official business and the constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [34356]

  Mr. Gummer
  During the past three months, I have visited:

  Battersea

  Brighton, Pavilion

  Ipswich

  Coventry, South-East

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  Dorset, West

  Guildford

  Spelthorne

  Rutland and Melton

  Sheffield, Attercliffe

  Barnsley, East

  Doncaster, Central

  Brentford and Isleworth

  Twickenham

  Northavon

  Milton Keynes—North-East

  Birmingham—Selly Oak

  Brighton, Kempton

  Hove

  Braintree

  Ludlow

  City of London and Westminster

  Cambridge

  Chichester

  Rushcliffe

  Sheffield, Central

  Sheffield, Brightside

  Don Valley

  Kensington

  Suffolk, Central

  Salisbury

  Milton Keynes, South-West

  Birmingham, Small Heath

  I have a number of visits planned over the next three months, but it is not my policy to make public details of my forward diary.

  Rendering Plants
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many animal rendering plants there are in Britain; what are the procedures for the treatment of their effluent; how many discharge their effluent into the domestic sewerage system; and how many spray their effluent on to agricultural land. [34509]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are 36 rendering plants in Great Britain, authorised under the Animal By-Products Order 1992. Treatment of effluent will normally include the removal of solids and will reflect conditions in trade effluent consents issued by sewerage undertakers for
  265
  discharges to sewer, or conditions in consents from the Environment Agency for discharges direct to receiving waters. No central records of the number of rendering plants discharging effluent to sewer, or spraying it on agricultural land, are held by my Department or the Environment Agency.

  Energy Saving Trust
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanisms exist to reallocate money from the Energy Saving Trust to the home energy efficiency scheme. [34666]

  Mr. Clappison
  Uncommitted resources may be redeployed between the different parts of my Department's environment protection programme in accordance with the Government's priorities.

  Mr. Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what Government funding has been made available to the Energy Saving Trust in the current financial year; what proportion of this funding has been committed to specific programmes; and what estimates he has made of the trust's actual expenditure during the period. [34667]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government will make up to £25 million available to the Energy Saving Trust in 1996–97. More than 95 per cent. of this is for specific projects within a programme of work that has been agreed with the trust, the remainder covers the trust's management and administration costs. It is too early yet to estimate the outturn expenditure.

  Waste Disposal
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received opposing the implementation of a tax on waste disposal. [34587]

  Mr. Clappison
  The consultation paper setting out the Government's proposals for the introduction of a new tax on the disposal of waste to landfill was published on 21 March 1995 by seven Government Departments, including the Department of the Environment. Of the 720 responses that were received, 166 opposed the introduction of the tax.

  Although this Department has received further representations about the introduction of the landfill tax, it keeps no central record of the number of representations that have been submitted.

  Castle Cement
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring of plume grounding at Castle Cement in Clitheroe the Environment Agency has carried out since the earlier testing of air quality by the National Physical Laboratory. [34738]

  Mr. Clappison
  Observations of the plumes are made on a regular basis by Environment Agency inspectors. However, the agency does not consider that further monitoring would provide any additional useful information, since the monitoring carried out by the National Physical Laboratory during August and September 1995, using a mobile laboratory and 266
  differential scanning lidar, provided sufficient information for the Environment Agency to evaluate the position and to determine appropriate action. As a result, Castle Cement was required to submit proposals to the Environment Agency to resolve the problem of plume grounding, and these proposals are required to be implemented by 31 December 1996. Castle Cement has appealed to the Secretary of State for the Environment against the implementation time scale.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was given to each London borough council in revenue support grants settlement in relation to homelessness in the current financial year. [34594]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is not possible to specify a portion of revenue support grant—RSG—for revenue expenditure on homelessness because RSG is not hypothecated to particular services.

  Energy Efficiency Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed the assessment of his Department's energy efficiency voucher scheme; what has been the total cost to his Department of this initiative; how many householders have installed practical energy efficiency measures benefiting from discounts offered under the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [34865]

  Mr. Clappison
  The assessment is not complete, and I can not add to the answer given to the hon. Member on Wednesday 22 May,Official Report, columns 222–23.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of community charge still outstanding and owed to local authorities; and how much has been written off. [34858]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The latest information relates to 31 March 1995. As at that date, we estimate that community charge arrears totalled £1,200 million, and write-offs totalled £430 million.

  Albert Dock, Merseyside
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to the Government office on Merseyside by the Albert dock residents association concerning its lease when the Merseyside development corporation is wound up. [34461]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government office for Merseyside has received three letters during the past two years from the Albert dock residents association concerning that lease and other issues.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many residents have had court proceedings taken against them by the Albert Dock company for leasing their apartment between 1 January 1989 and 1 January 1995. [34384]
  267
  Sir Paul Beresford
  This is a confidential matter between the Albert Dock Company and each and every occupier, and I am unable to provide this information.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the clawback clauses included in the terms of the sale of the leases of properties by(a) the Albert Dock Company, (b) Barratt and (c) other companies within the Merseyside development corporation. [34487]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The detailed terms of each and every sub-disposal by the Albert Dock Company, Barratt and, indeed, any other developer within the corporation's area is really a matter of negotiation between a purchaser of an interest and the seller of that interest. It is a confidential matter, and I am unable to provide the information required.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of the National Rivers Authority's receipts from water abstraction licensing and changes in each year of its operation. [34845]

  Mr. Clappison
  The receipts from water abstraction licensing and charges generated by the National Rivers Authority in each of the years of its operation are set out in the table.

  National Rivers Authority: Income from water abstraction licensing and charges 1989–90 to 1995–96

  £ million

  1989–90

  79.2

  1990–91

  58.3

  1991–92

  64.6

  1992–93

  77.0

  1993–94

  77.3

  1994–95

  64.7

  1995–96

  80.3

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research he has evaluated as to the size of filter pore needed to prevent possible contamination of potable water from abattoir discharges; [34776]

  (2) what information he has collated as to how many water companies are requiring abattoirs involved in the national BSE cull to provide fine filter systems; [34777]

  (3) what is his policy with regard to the provision of fine filter systems at abattoirs dealing with cattle from the national BSE cull; and if he will make a statement. [34778]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has advised that filtration systems in abattoirs that are capable of removing particulate matter from effluent are adequate to prevent the infective agent being carried into the aquatic environment. The Environment Agency and water companies, who have statutory responsibilities for authorising discharges from abattoirs, ensure that the required standards are applied at relevant abattoirs. In addition, waste water receives further treatment at sewage treatment works. Natural 268
  processes within catchment areas and drinking water treatment processes form a further multiple barrier providing adequate protection for drinking water supplies.

  Water Abstraction
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the income from water abstraction licensing and changes came from(a) water undertakers, (b) industrial concerns and (c) private individuals last year. [34846]

  Mr. Clappison
  Last year—1995–96–87 per cent. of the income from water abstraction licensing and charges came from the water undertakers. Industrial concerns and private individuals accounted for the remaining 13 per cent. The Environment Agency does not keep central records enabling it to distinguish between the last two categories.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new licences for water abstraction have been granted in each year since 1989 and in 1996 to date. [34847]

  Mr. Clappison
  The total number of new licence applications determined each year in England and Wales since March 1989 are as follows:

  Year (April to March)

  Licences determined

  1989–90

  1,041

  1990–91

  1,599

  1991–92

  1,781

  1992–93

  1,849

  1993–94

  1,489

  1994–95

  1,313

  1995–96

  1,339

  1996–97 to date

  399

  These determinations include those of applications for impoundment. Records of applications granted are not kept centrally.

  Torbay Ring Road
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the findings of the inspector's report on state 3/4 of the Torbay ring road; and if he will make a statement. [35128]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The public local inquiry into this called in application closed on 10 June 1996, after 32 days sitting. Details of the expected time scale for announcing the decision will be published when the inspector's report is received by the Government officer for the south-west later this year.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for special grants to local authorities following the Court of Appeal's judgment on 21 June in respect of regulations withdrawing benefits from asylum seekers. [35447]

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 24 June that the Government intend to amend the Asylum and Immigration Bill so as to exclude from eligibility for
  269
  benefit certain asylum seekers and certain other persons from abroad. Other provisions in the Bill would make similar changes to eligibility for assistance under the homelessness legislation at about the same time as the benefit rules are changed. Any remaining costs to local housing authorities should be minimal.

  Because housing benefit payments are now available to persons housed under the homelessness legislation since 5 February, the Government have decided that the proposed persons from abroad housing benefit special grant to local housing authorities is no longer required.

  There is likely to be some continuing burden on social services departments in connection with supporting children in need and their families, and the Government's commitment to assist social services authorities with those costs, given earlier this year, remains unchanged. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health intends to lay a revised special grant report proposing a special grant to social services authorities. The terms of this grant are likely to be similar to the persons from abroad children's grant in the special grant report (No. 19) which was laid before Parliament on 6 June. The special grant report (No. 19) has been withdrawn.

  Sulphur Protocol
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he plans on proposals for meeting the United Kingdom's commitments under the second sulphur protocol of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe—UNECE. [35348]

  Mr. Clappison
  Because of the rapid progress which is being made in the United Kingdom in reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide—one of the main constituents of acid rain—we are on course to meet our international obligations under the second UNECE sulphur protocol. We published last Friday—28 June—a consultation paper setting out our preliminary conclusions on how this will be achieved. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

  Under the terms of the protocol, the United Kingdom is committed to reducing national emissions of sulphur dioxide by 80 per cent. by 2010 compared with 1980 levels. This target is to be met through intermediate reductions of at least 50 per cent. by 2000 and 70 per cent. by 2005.

  The paper shows that, in the light of current programmes for reducing emissions, particularly from power stations, the targets for 2000 and 2005 should be met without the need for additional measures. Over the longer term, we propose to keep the position under review in the light of any measures which may be required to meet short-term air quality standards—on which we shall shortly be publishing a consultation draft of a national air quality strategy—and any new initiatives in this area which may be agreed by the European Community.

  The paper also reviews the performance of the existing national plan, which gives effect in the United Kingdom to the requirements of the EC large combustion plant directive, and sets out proposals for changes in its future operation. The aim of these changes will be to ensure future allocations of emissions quota under the national plan are more closely in line with regulatory consents under integrated pollution control.
  270
  The Environment Agency has introduced new flexibilities in the revised authorisations for the electricity supply industry in England and Wales which allow the generators to switch emissions between stations, provided that no adverse impact on the environment occurs. The agency is now examining how these arrangements can be extended to allow emissions to be similarly adjusted between different industrial plants by mutual agreement of the operators. Under the revised national plan for large combustion plant, there is no longer any gain in providing a scheme of transferable sulphur emissions quotas as was originally envisaged.

SCOTLAND

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved; [33508]

  (2) how many (a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33509]

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

  Year

  Fatalities

  Major injuries

  Minor injuries

  Information technology related (all minor)

  1995–96

  Nil

  4

  219

  2

  1994–95

  Nil

  10

  203

  3

  1993–94

  Nil

  14

  249

  0

  1992–93

  Nil

  11

  242

  0

  1991–92

  Nil

  4

  271

  0

  During the past five years, the Health and Safety Commission has become involved in six cases—two in 1991–92 and four in 1993–94.

  A central record of health and safety problems is not kept, since many are minor and dealt with routinely by line management. On average, however, my Department's health and safety adviser deals with about 15 queries a week.

  Council Housing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on council housing in(a) Scotland and (b) Dundee in (i) 1989–90 and (ii) 1995–96, expressed in 1995–96 prices. [33845]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The table gives estimated expenditure in 1995–96, and actual expenditure in 1989–90 expressed in 1995–96 prices. It should be noted that expenditure in any year depends, in part, on the success of local authorities in generating capital receipts.
  271
  In 1989–90, the level of capital receipts generated by Scottish local authorities, including Dundee, considerably exceeded the estimated amount for 1995–96.

  Total capital expenditure on Council Housing in Dundee and Scotland (£ million)

  Dundee

  Scotland

  1989–90 expenditure (at 1995–96 prices)

  27.2

  625.0

  1995–96 estimated expenditure

  15.6

  425.1

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about(a) the expenditure programmes and (b) the level of central Government funding provided to Perth and Kinross council and Angus council; and if he will make a statement. [34239]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I have received a number of representations about the revenue budgets set by Perth and Kinross and Angus councils and about the level of central Government funding which supports those budgets. On each occasion, I have taken the opportunity to point out that it is for each council to determine its own spending priorities within the total level of resources available to it. I have also drawn attention to the very generous level of Government support for Scottish local authorities.

  Perth and Kinross council was able to increase its expenditure by £5.8 million, or 4.60 per cent., over its notional 1995–96 budget figure without breaching its capping limit; Angus council had scope to increase its expenditure by £4.7 million, or 4.47 per cent. In both cases, the increases were before any account was taken of the scope for efficiency savings.

  Perth and Kinross council will receive Government support totalling £115.5 million in the current year, which is 20 per cent. more per head of population than the average level of support for English authorities. Angus council will receive support totalling £100.3 million, which is 23 per cent. more than the average English figure.

  Agricultural Wages
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many permits issued to individuals who are incapacitated for the purposes of the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949 for the payment of lower minimum rates are currently in force; and what is their distribution by rates of pay. [34584]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  There are seven permits in force. They are distributed as shown in the table.

  Number of permits

  Classification of worker

  Full minimum weekly wage

  4

  General farm worker

  £150.55

  1

  Tractor worker

  £168.55

  1

  Stockworker

  £180.60

  1

  Supervisory

  £181.30

  272
  Actual rates of pay vary in the range of 25 to 90 per cent. of the full minimum weekly wage, reflecting the degree of disability experienced by the worker.

  Business Rates
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent local assessors are permitted to take account of local economic circumstances when making assessments for business rates. [34588]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Assessors are entirely independent of both local and central Government in the exercise of their statutory duties, and reach decisions on the rateable value of business premises in accordance with statute and case law. Economic circumstances in each area will affect rateable values to the extent that they will affect the rental evidence used by assessors in setting appropriate rateable values.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the advantages of introducing a differential business rate for rural and urban areas. [34589]

  Mr. Forsyth
  I am well aware of the burden rates place on Scottish businesses, both rural and urban. That is why the Government have been pursuing a policy of harmonisation, to bring Scottish business rates to the same level as apply in England.

  We are also very sympathetic to the problems of village shops and post offices. Research has shown that, while for most businesses rate bills are relatively small in relation to total turnover, they impose a more substantial burden on the smallest businesses, particularly in the retail sector. Shops and post offices in villages often exist on very low turnovers and, for them, the rates bill can represent a significant burden.

  In the White Paper "Rural Scotland: People, Prosperity and Partnership" the Government announced their plans to bring forward a scheme to reduce the burden of rates on general stores and post offices which fulfil a special role in the life of the rural community, and I recently issued a consultation paper on the operation of such a scheme.

  In line with the Government's aim to harmonise rating across the country, the intention is to introduce the scheme in Scotland, England and Wales simultaneously.

  Statutory Measures
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many statutory measures his Department introduced in(a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) between 1 January 1996 and 1 May 1996 which had the effect of repealing one or more previous statutory instruments without replacing them with a new regulation. [35029]

  Mr. Kynoch
  This information is not available in the form requested, but a list of regulations that have been repealed or amended was placed in the House Library by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 May.
  273

  Firearms (Circular Letters)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library an index of all Scottish Office circular letters, to police authorities since 1967 relevant to the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988, 1992, and 1994 indicating the number and reference of the circular together with the date of issue and title; [34838]

  (2) if he will place in the Library an index of all Scottish Office circular letters, to chief officers of police since 1967 relevant to the administration of the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988, 1992 and 1994 indicating the number or reference of the circular together with the date of issue and title. [34840]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Details of circulars relating to firearms in the numbered series are as listed:

  Index of Scottish Office circular letters to chief constables since 1967

  Year

  Number of circular

  Date of issue

  Title

  1967

  24/67

  30 August 1967

  Firearms Certificates for Flare Signal Pens

  1967

  39/67

  22 November 1967

  Firearms Form 9A

  1968

  25/68

  19 July 1968

  Firearms Act 1968

  1969

  12/69

  19 March 1969

  The Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) (Scotland) Rules 1969

  1975

  16/75

  1 July 1975

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1975

  1976

  24/76

  16 September 1976

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1976

  1976

  28/76

  10 December 1976

  The Removal of Firearms to Northern Ireland

  1977

  2/77

  20 January 1977

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) No 2 Order 1976

  1977

  13/77

  25 May 77

  Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1975

  1979

  4/79

  20 February 1979

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979

  1979

  5/79

  6 March 1979

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979

  1979

  8/79

  18 April 1979

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) 1979

  1979

  14/79

  3 May 1979

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979

  1983

  10/83

  20 July 1983

  1. Firearms (Certificates granted in Great Britain and Air Weapons lawfully held in Great Britain Regulations (Northern Ireland) SI No 132

  2. Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1975 SI 1975 No 760

  1983

  11/83

  12 September 1983

  Firearms Act 1982

  1986

  7/86

  19 August 1986

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1986

  1994

  4/94

  24 May 1994

  Firearms Certificate Returns

  274

  Index of Scottish Office circular letters to police authorities since 1967

  Year

  Number of circular

  Date of issue

  Title

  1975

  23/75

  1 July 1975

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Older 1975

  1976

  36/76

  16 September 1976

  The Firearms (Variations of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1975

  1977

  2/77

  20 January 1977

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) (No 2) 1976 Order 1976

  1978

  6/78

  16 March 1978

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1978

  1979

  8/79

  6 March 1979

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979

  1979

  11/79

  18 April 1979

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979

  1980

  3/80

  2 June 1980

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1980

  1986

  4/86

  19 August 1986

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1986

  1988

  3/88

  23 June 1988

  Firearms Amnesty: Appeal for Surrender of Guns

  1989

  1/89

  9 January 1989

  The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988

  1989

  6/89

  31 May 1989

  Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988: Second Commencement Order

  1989

  10/89

  22 September 1989

  Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988: Visitors Permit Scheme Removal of Arms and Ammunition to Northern Ireland

  1990

  4/90

  9 May 1990

  Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1990

  1991

  1/91

  8 February 1991

  Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988: Removal of Arms and Ammunition to Northern Ireland

  1991

  3/91

  23 April 1991

  Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988: Removal of Arms and Ammunition to Northern Ireland

  1992

  13/92

  28 October 1992

  Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992— Guidance to Police

  1993

  4/93

  24 June 1993

  Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) (Scotland) Amendment Rules

  1994

  12/94

  31 August 1994

  The Firearms Amendment Act 1994

  1996

  3/96

  23 April 1996

  Firearms Amnesty: Appeal for Surrender of Guns

  Child Abuse Inquiries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost to public funds of(a) the Fife inquiry and (b) the report of the inquiry into child care policies in Fife. [35219]
  275
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The costs incurred by the Scottish Office in relation to the inquiry were £830,000. They include direct running expenditure for Scottish Office staff, of £239,356, wholly seconded to the staff on the inquiry. The cost of printing the report of the inquiry was £15,000. Information on the costs to public funds incurred by others involved in the inquiry is not available.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to public funds of the Orkney child abuse inquiry by Lord Clyde. [35140]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The costs incurred by the Scottish Office in relation to the inquiry were £3,380,000. They include direct running expenditure for Scottish Office staff, estimated at £157,000, wholly seconded to the staff of the inquiry. The cost of printing the report of the inquiry was £10,500. Information on the costs to public funds incurred by others involved in the inquiry is not available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on training and development in the civil service. [35442]

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to announce that I have presented to Parliament today the White Paper "Development and Training for Civil Servants: a Framework for Action". I have also placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of tables detailing progress in the civil service towards gaining investors in people status.

  The Government place great importance on increasing the skills of the UK work force in order to meet the challenges set out in the recent competitiveness White Paper, Cm 3300. The civil service has a vital role to play in delivering national competitiveness. The White Paper published today sets out a framework for achievement this necessary step change in training and development in the civil service.

  The White Paper has three key themes: a strengthened commitment to the achieving of the investors in people standard across the civil service; a drive to raise the levels of skills and awareness of civil servants; and an emphasis on civil servants taking responsibility for their own development and careers in a supportive partnership between top managers, line managers and the individual.

  In addition to key targets being monitored centrally for initiatives in the senior civil service and its feeder grades, Departments and agencies will be required to draw up action plans with their own stretching targets in the specific areas listed in the White Paper. There will be an annual progress report to Ministers on the collective performance of the civil service, which will be published.
  276
  The proposals in the White Paper will strengthen the civil service and give greater opportunities to individual civil servants. This White Paper is an important step in ensuring that the civil service is fully equipped to face the challenges of the future.

  Health Information
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he has taken since March to establish an independent committee to review the supply and dissemination of information within the services dealing with people in need of treatment; care and control. [34601]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following widespread consultation we published on 7 March guidance for the National Health Service—"The Protection and Use of Patient Information Between Agencies". Specific guidance on these matters is also contained in "Building Bridges". Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000; [33490]

  (2) on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved; [33488]

  (3) how many (a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities; [33489]

  (4) what was the cost in each of the past five years of rectifying working conditions that were the responsibility of this Department and its agencies, to bring them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and additionally those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33491]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 27 June,Official Report, columns 189–92.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 27 June.

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is attending the G7 summit in Lyon.
  277

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Council what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33458]

  Mr. Newton
  Nil.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33456]

  Mr. Newton
  No such problems have been reported. I am not responsible for any agencies.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) primary and (b) secondary legislative measures would be required to allow the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty to be implemented. [34586]

  Mr. David Davis
  We anticipate that legislation may be required to implement certain provisions of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. We shall consider the precise form and nature of any legislation in the light of the outcome of the negotiations.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with British high commissioners the role and perception of the BBC World Service in the countries in which they serve; and if he will make a statement. [34592]

  Mr. Hanley
  All FCO posts overseas, including the high commissions, are asked in an annual information return to assess the impact of the BBC World Service in the country to which they are accredited. The last such exercise took place in April this year. The results show the BBC World Service is highly valued in Commonwealth countries.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Kashmir with the Indian Government; and what specific problems were addressed. [34599]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed Kashmir in general terms with the previous Indian Foreign Secretary in London in November.
  278

  Mr. Mohd Bashir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a decision to be taken on an application made by Mr. Mohd Bashir, date of birth 8 January 1971, to the British post in Dubai to join his wife in the United Kingdom. [34813]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have asked the embassy at Dubai for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

  Mr. Amanat Ali
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a decision to be taken on the application made by Amanat Ali ref: Imm/D2604 to the British post in Islamabad to enter the United Kingdom; when Mr. Ali was interviewed; and if he will make a statement. [34812]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the British representatives at the European Parliament as to the refusal of Mr. Denktash to allow members of the European Parliament to visit the Karpass area in occupied northern Cyprus and if he will make a statement. [34768]

  Mr. David Davis
  MEPs attending the 9th meeting of the EU/Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee discussed the issue of the Karpass with EU ambassadors in Nicosia 3 to 5 March. The Turkish Cypriot leadership is well aware of our views on the need to revoke the remaining restrictions on the basic freedoms in the Karpass. High commission officials regularly visit the Karpass.

  UNESCO
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. [34821]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received nine letters from Members of Parliament, organisations and members of the public in the last six months about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. In addition there have been three parliamentary questions in the same period.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the financial implications of the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. [34828]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We estimate that it would cost the United Kingdom approximately £11 million annually to rejoin UNESCO. In addition there would be extra staffing costs which have yet to be calculated.
  279
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current management and functioning of UNESCO. [34831]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have frequently acknowledged the progress made by UNESCO in putting its house in order since we left in 1985. But we believe that there is still scope for further reform. In particular, we are keen to see greater focus of programmes, greater decentralisation, tighter budgetary discipline and more transparency in management practices.

  Visa Applications (Language Students)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to speed up the processing of visa applications made by language students in Moscow seeking to learn English in the United Kingdom. [34974]

  Mr. Hanley
  All applications for UK visas have to satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules. The visa section at Moscow, like all our other entry clearance issuing posts, processes all straightforward visa applications within 24 hours. However I inspected Moscow's visa section and approved plans to enlarge and improve the old premises at a cost of £700,000, better to accommodate visa applicants. The renovated visa section opened on 13 May and provides waiting space for 160 persons and new counter positions for eight visa officers at a time, out of a total of 17.

TREASURY

  Promotion (Women)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures her Department has implemented during the last 12 months to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions with his Department and its executive agencies; and what progress her Department has made in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years. [31546]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information in respect of the Chancellor's Departments and agencies is as follows:

  HM Treasury

  As part of a package of measures designed to ensure equality of opportunity within the department, the Treasury has targets to measure the progress of women and ethnic minority staff. Amongst these targets are objectives (i) to achieve a similar pattern of promotion for men and women which is related to their representation in the 'feeder grade'; (ii) to increase the proportion of women in the higher grades over time; and (iii) in the longer term, for women to be represented in the most senior grades in the same proportions as they are recruited into the Treasury in the 'feeder grades'.

  While all promotions are made on the basis of merit, further measures to encourage the promotion of women include: action to address the perceived 'long hours culture' within the Treasury; the introduction of an open system of postings within the Department with the presumption that all posts are open to alternative working
  280
  patterns, except where a valid case is made to the contrary; and flexible working hours made available to more than one third of the staff. The Treasury is also a member of Opportunity 2000.

  Customs and Excise

  The Department has implemented the following measures during the last 12 months to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions.
  The board led by Chairman Valerie Strachan is committed to developing professionalism and responsibility. The Departmental strategy includes.
  "investing in and supporting the continuous development of our people as a key element".
  Agreeing clear personal objectives and performance measures and rewarding people according to their contribution is another key factor. This links in with the new appraisal system and revised competencies. These serve to ensure that promotion is on merit.
  The new appointments system has removed the seniority requirement. This is particularly important to women who may have had a break in their service for family reasons. Training needs are being met to equip people with skills and knowledge which also enhances development.
  Mrs. Strachan, the chairman, is seen as a role model for women within the organisation and outside. She supports the Department's commitment to Opportunity 2000 and has recently agreed to be a member of the target team which plays a vital role in determining the overall direction of Opportunity 2000.

  The Department has also made the following progress in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years.

  Balancing work and family
  Providing a wide range of options to help women return to work after the birth of a child or as their family grows up;.
  A full range of non-traditional working patterns is now in place;.
  Career break and domestic absence schemes.

  This kind of flexibility allows women to plan their careers around their individual needs and family responsibilities.
  Child care provision, including workplace nurseries, buying nursery places and play schemes.
  Reimbursement of extra child care and possibly elder care expenses incurred when attending residential training courses.
  Positive action training.
  Membership of key organisations like Opportunity 2000, and demonstrating our commitment to the membership by setting forecast figures for women at higher executive officer level and above by the years 1996 and 2000.
  Establishing a comprehensive equal opportunities policy and putting into place strategies and practices which make those opportunities a reality.

  Inland Revenue

  During the last 12 months, the Inland Revenue has taken the following measures to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions:
  As part of "Lifting the Barriers"—an initiative aimed at meeting the Department's strategic objective to increase the representation of women and ethnic minority people—at senior levels:.
  "Diversity in Action" a new advanced equal opportunities training course for senior managers was introduced;

  281
  "Springboard", a three-month personal development course for women, was piloted;
  Mentoring schemes were piloted.
  A career tracking project which looked at the careers of men and women who entered the Department in 1975 and 1985 was carried out to establish whether there were any barriers or stepping stones to progression which hindered or helped certain groups of people. Recommendations are still being considered.
  A review of the existing arrangements whereby staff can be reimbursed additional child care costs if they have to attend A training course which affects their normal working hours was commenced.
  A series of pilots on alternative working patterns focused on homeworking and extensions to flexible working hours. And guidance to managers and staff on job sharing, part-time working, flexible working hours, and alternative working patterns generally was issued. Since the publicity there has been a marked increase in term-time working.
  A report into the equality aspects of the Inland Revenue's performance management system was completed by independent consultants. The main conclusion was that there was nothing inherent in the system design which would inevitably lead to differing impacts on various groups.
  Extensive equal opportunities information was included in the "Guide to Working in the Inland Revenue", available to all members of staff.

  The Inland Revenue has made the following progress since 1991:
  Two women became non-executive directors on the management board.

  The biggest increase at senior management level during the last five years has been at grade 7 level where women increased their representation from 12 per cent. to 24.3 per cent. The first woman controller (Grade 4) was appointed in January 1994.

  Valuation Office Agency (VOA)

  The Valuation Office Agency follows the Inland Revenue's strategic objective of improving the representation of women at senior levels and supports the "Lifting the Barriers" initiative. The VOA issued an equal opportunities programme of action for 1996–97 in May 1996, which includes goals for women's representation by the year 2002–3. Over the last 12 months they have analysed a sample of promotion boards to identify whether there was any basis or discrimination against women. No bias or discrimination was identified.

  Paymaster

  Paymaster promotes people to vacant posts on the basis of a competency framework and merit. During the past twelve months two women have been appointed to grade 7 posts and joined the chief executive's team, the senior management team in the agency. This increased women's representation from zero to almost 25 per cent. In addition, the agency has appointed a woman as a non-executive director who provides independent advice to the management board.

  Royal Mint

  A woman was appointed at assistant director level—Grade 7—in the last 12 months—the first female ever to be appointed at this level in the Royal Mint.
  282
  The total number of females in executive senior management posts has increased from three to four over the last five years. Also in 1993 one female non-executive director was appointed.

  Within the last year a new policy of recruiting to a post and not a grade was introduced. Monitoring of fairness of opportunity takes place at each stage of recruitment and promotion processes. The same applies to our appraisal scheme which emphasises individual objectives scored against job evaluation factors. The Mint tries to ensure that at least one member of recruitment/selection panels is female. The proportion of women in senior positions has risen in the last five years from 7.5 per cent. to 10 per cent.

  National Savings

  The recent reorganisation of National Savings has had the effect of restricting the number of promotions and recruitment.

  Despite these factors, development of equal opportunities policies has continued with a highly successful awareness training course for managers being introduced, and the seniority requirement for promotion being reduced to two years, both within the past year. Self-nomination for promotion arrangements which have been effective for two years have also had an effect in helping women to progress with the organisation.

  National Savings also operates workplace nurseries and school holiday play schemes. Special unpaid leave is also available if needed during school holidays to enable staff to be with their family.

  Office for National Statistics

  As part of its programme for action on equal opportunities, the Office for National Statistics actively encourages women.

  Over the past 12 months, ONS—and its predecessor departments, the Central Statistical Office and the Office for Population Censuses and Surveys—has operated a range of family-friendly policies including holiday play schemes, a nursery, flexible working hours and career breaks aimed at encouraging experienced members of staff to continue their careers alongside their domestic responsibilities. Other initiatives pursued by the Department in 1995–96 included:
  offering women-only training courses to meet demand;
  actively encouraging women to apply for posts in grades above executive officer, while ensuring that selection was based on merit; and
  monitoring the success rates of women against white males in recruitment, performance promotability assessment, promotion and internal postings.

  Information about the number of promotions in earlier years is only available for the CSO. Restructuring of CSO led to fewer promotion opportunities overall. Because the new Office for National Statistics was created on 1 April 1996, analysis of monitoring data has not yet been undertaken. ONS is presently developing a new equal opportunities programme of action for 1996–97. The programme will include proposals for monitoring, analysis of the results and for action to remedy any significant disparities highlighted.
  283

  Works of Art
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of the conditionally except works of art list in uncollected inheritance tax(a) in 1995 and (b) since the list started, inflation adjusted. [34221]

  Mr. Jack
  The estimated overall cost to the Exchequer of granting conditional exemption from inheritance tax/capital transfer tax to works of art and chattels is about £55 million in 1994–95 and around £700 million over the period 1984–85 to 1994–95, at constant 1994–95 prices using the GDP market deflator. Comparable information for earlier years to 1977–78 when the list started is not available. And there are no separate estimates of the cost of exempting items included in the list.

  The exemption is conditional, not absolute. Its broad effect is to defer payment of tax on the qualifying items for so long as the conditions of the exemption are met. the figure of £700 million given above does not take into account any deferred tax subsequently paid.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals have been asked by the Inland Revenue to remove items from the exempt works of art list as a result of denial of access(a) in 1995 and (b) since the list has existed. [34223]

  Mr. Jack
  In 1995 one owner has had items removed from the list because of a failure to provide public access. The capital taxes office has no record of any previous such removal of items.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average inflation adjusted gross yearly income of individuals owning conditionally exempt works of art in(a) 1995, (b) 1980 and (c) the first year of the relevant list. [34220]

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received by the Inland Revenue regarding denial of access to conditionally exempt works of art(a) in 1995 and (b) since the scheme came into existence. [34222]

  Mr. Jack
  The capital taxes office has received no complaints from members of the public regarding denial of access to conditionally exempt works of art. If anyone feels that he or she has been unreasonably denied such access, they should write to that office.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to equalise the inheritance tax treatment of surviving partners in long-term homosexual couples with the treatment of the surviving partner in heterosexual marriages; and if he will make a statement. [34949]

  Mr. Jack
  There are no such plans. Inheritance tax exemption for transfers between spouses is not available to unmarried couples.
  284

  Actors and Actresses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many actors and actresses are currently unemployed. [35008]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In May 1996, 13,033 of the claimant unemployed in the United Kingdom usually worked as actors, entertainers, stage managers, producers or directors. Figures for actors alone cannot be separately identified.

  National Savings
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he has set National Savings on its creation as an executive agency of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [35472]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  National Savings has today been established as an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Its main aim is to support the Government's management of its debt and its policies for personal savings by attracting and retaining investments from the retail market efficiently and cost effectively. It will be set clear targets to continue to improve value for money for the taxpayer and the level of service to customers. Accordingly, I have set the following performance targets for its first year, 1996–97.

  (i) To work within the terms of the 1996–97 funding remit1

  (ii) To manage National Savings so as to deliver its aims within the resources allocated by Parliament.

  (iii) To improve efficiency by 6 per cent. in 1996–97.

  (iv) To develop a consistent agency-wide unit costing system drawing on the development of resource accounting by end March 1997.

  (v) To achieve a 97 per cent. outturn against all national savings published timeliness targets.

  (vi) To set up a consistent system by end March 1997 to measure accuracy of those transaction processes that most affect customers (repayment and purchase).

  (vii) To show 85 per cent. of customers surveyed are either satisfied or very satisfied.

  1 The funding remit sets out the costs and volume assumption that National Savings works to. It is not published because of commercial confidentiality.

  I have today placed copies of the agency's framework document in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Following open competition Peter Bareau has been selected as the new agency chief executive. He will take up post on 15 July 1996.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom and for United Kingdom as a whole for the last three years in constant prices the cost to the Exchequer of enforcement of current laws on illegal drugs, broken down by the costs of(a) policing, (b) prosecutions, (c) medical treatment of abusers and (d) border controls. [33930]
  285
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The overall expenditure of the Government on tackling drug misuse across the United Kingdom in 1992–93 was estimated to have been £520 million. The comparable figures for 1993–94 was estimated as £526 million. These are the most recent figures available. The information in the form and breakdown requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Abortions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the next edition of the "Abortion Statistics Monitor" will be published; and what factors account for the interval in publication between it and its predecessor. [34891]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The most recent edition of the "Abortion Statistics Monitor", covering legal abortions for the December 1995 quarter, was published on 27 June 1996. The next edition, which will cover the March 1996 quarter, has an expected publication date of 1 October 1996. Publication dates are determined by the date of receipt of HSA4 notification forms by the chief medical officers at the Department of Health and the Welsh Office, and the statistical processing and analyses of the notifications by the Office for National Statistics.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many legal abortions were performed in England and Wales in each month of 1995. [35091]

  Mrs. Knight
  The data presented for 1995 in the table are provisional as they are based on quarterly returns. Finalised annual figures for 1995 are expected to be published in an annual monitor on legal abortions performed in England and Wales on 10 September 1996.

  Total terminations performed in England and Wales

  1995

  residents and non-residents

  January

  13,913

  February

  13,938

  March

  14,890

  April

  12,138

  May

  13,403

  June

  14,191

  July

  13,803

  August

  13,825

  September

  13,224

  October

  13,521

  November

  13,372

  December

  12,229

  Total

  162,447

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34146]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 June 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 June 1996 by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Official Report, column 119.
  286

  Utility Prices
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express as an index where the year of privatisation equals 100 the utility component of the retail prices index including value added tax in(a) 1979 and (b) the latest available period for (i) gas prices, (ii) electricity prices, (iii) electricity and gas prices, (iv) water prices and (v) gas, electric and water prices. [30343]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]:The information is as follows:

  Period

  Gas

  Electricity

  Electricity and gas

  Water

  Gas, electricity and water

  Year of privatization

  1986

  1990

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1979

  44

  44

  42

  36

  41

  May 1996

  125

  121

  118

  194

  127

  Although the gas/water/electricity prices has risen to 127 compared to 100 in 1990, a wider range of utility prices, which also includes the price of telephone services, rail fares and postage, has risen to only 121.3. In real terms, this is an increase of only one and half percentage point.

  Note:

  The components of the retail prices index for electricity and gas, and for gas, electricity and water, assume a privatisation year of 1990—the year that electricity utilities were fully privatised.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Spending Statistics
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the spending per pupil(a) in primary schools and (b) in secondary schools in each local education authority in England. [34674]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table sets out, for each local education authority, net institutional expenditure per pupil in LEA-maintained(a) pre-primary/primary schools and (b) secondary schools in England for 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available.

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil 1994–95

  (a) Pre-primary and primary £

  (b) Secondary £

  Corporation of London

  3,635

  0

  Camden

  2,057

  2,790

  Greenwich

  2,028

  2,772

  Hackney

  2,249

  3,138

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,482

  3,316

  Islington

  2,055

  2,657

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,397

  3,327

  Lambeth

  2,573

  3,782

  Lewisham

  2,097

  2,677

  Southwark

  1,898

  2,681

  Tower Hamlets

  2,393

  3,194

  Wandsworth

  2,268

  3,053

  Westminster

  2,440

  2,825

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,891

  2,353

  287

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil 1994–95

  (a) Pre-primary and primary £

  (b) Secondary £

  Barnet

  1,763

  2,415

  Bexley

  1,536

  2,232

  Brent

  1,718

  2,033

  Bromley

  1,634

  2,231

  Croydon

  1,725

  2,165

  Ealing

  1,969

  2,457

  Enfield

  1,761

  2,359

  Haringey

  2,300

  2,986

  Harrow

  2,043

  2,598

  Havering

  1,715

  2,570

  Hillingdon

  1,777

  2,625

  Hounslow

  1,931

  2,582

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,730

  2,518

  Merton

  1,931

  2,663

  Newham

  1,711

  2,623

  Redbridge

  1,678

  2,553

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,884

  2,373

  Sutton

  1,860

  2,514

  Waltham Forest

  1,792

  2,395

  Birmingham

  1,721

  2,356

  Coventry

  1,705

  2,418

  Dudley

  1,575

  2,205

  Sandwell

  1,666

  2,244

  Solihull

  1,605

  2,225

  Walsall

  1,664

  2,314

  Wolverhampton

  1,648

  2,341

  Knowsley

  1,575

  2,227

  Liverpool

  1,634

  2,603

  St. Helens

  1,521

  2,247

  Sefton

  1,487

  2,227

  Wirral

  1,567

  2,294

  Bolton

  1,646

  2,261

  Bury

  1,492

  2,032

  Manchester

  1,558

  2,435

  Oldham

  1,621

  2,293

  Rochdale

  1,552

  2,225

  Salford

  1,507

  2,151

  Stockport

  1,566

  2,152

  Tameside

  1,447

  2,046

  Trafford

  1,477

  2,319

  Wigan

  1,474

  2,130

  Barnsley

  1,550

  2,102

  Doncaster

  1,444

  2,025

  Rotherham

  1,719

  2,220

  Sheffield

  1,612

  2,110

  Bradford

  1,681

  2,041

  Calderdale

  1,651

  2,104

  Kirklees

  1,607

  2,256

  288

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil 1994–95

  (a) Pre-primary and primary £

  (b) Secondary £

  Leeds

  1,645

  2,223

  Wakefield

  1,590

  2,046

  Gateshead

  1,638

  2,257

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,660

  2,314

  North Tyneside

  1,636

  2,145

  South Tyneside

  1,623

  2,062

  Sunderland

  1,576

  2,142

  Isles of Scilly

  2,471

  4,484

  Avon

  1,613

  2,336

  Bedfordshire

  1,674

  2,231

  Berkshire

  1,630

  2,238

  Buckinghamshire

  1,636

  2,256

  Cambridgeshire

  1,540

  2,160

  Cheshire

  1,529

  2,176

  Cleveland

  1,505

  2,172

  Cornwall

  1,615

  2,202

  Cumbria

  1,541

  2,034

  Derbyshire

  1,596

  2,290

  Devon

  1,554

  2,203

  Dorset

  1,510

  2,061

  Durham

  1,757

  2,122

  East Sussex

  1,692

  2,359

  Essex

  1,734

  2,321

  Gloucestershire

  1,274

  1,937

  Hampshire

  1,645

  2,177

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,643

  2,063

  Hertfordshire

  1,717

  2,264

  Humberside

  1,652

  2,304

  Isle of Wight

  1,607

  2,030

  Kent

  1,555

  2,276

  Lancashire

  1,661

  2,345

  Leicestershire

  1,612

  2,274

  Lincolnshire

  1,588

  2,384

  Norfolk

  1,600

  2,342

  North Yorkshire

  1,577

  2,180

  Northamptonshire

  1,618

  2,265

  Northumberland

  1,528

  1,944

  Nottinghamshire

  1,692

  2,396

  Oxfordshire

  1,680

  2,285

  Shropshire

  1,605

  2,413

  Somerset

  1,660

  2,113

  Staffordshire

  1,565

  2,104

  Suffolk

  1,690

  2,182

  Surrey

  1,744

  2,234

  Warwickshire

  1,665

  2,349

  West Sussex

  1,668

  2,240

  Wiltshire

  1,548

  2,125

  England

  1,661

  2,270

  289

  Kirklees Borough Council
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the amount of grant for Kirklees metropolitan council for the education revenue budget for each year since 1979–80. [34798]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 27 June 1996]: It is not possible to identify a portion of revenue support grant for the education revenue budget since RSG is not hypothecated to particular services. Details of the education standard spending assessment for Kirklees from 1990–91 to 1996–97 are set out in the following list. The previous system of local government finance that applied before 1990–91 was different in structure and coverage from the current system and comparable figures are therefore not available.

  1990–91: £128.823 million

  1991–92: £148.129 million

  1992–93: £157.647 million

  1993–94: £140.873 million

  1994–95: £138.275 million

  1995–96: £136.679 million

  1996–97: £141.523 million

  School Nursery Units
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many nursery units have been provided at Church-aided schools through the private finance initiative; [34829]

  (2) how many nursery units have been provided at local education authority schools through the private finance initiative; and if she will make a statement. [34830]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We are aware that many local education authorities and voluntary aided schools are exploring the use of the private finance initiative or similar arrangements for education projects, including nursery units. PFI in schools and nursery units is at an early stage, and as yet we are not aware of any nursery units provided through the PFI.

  Unemployment Benefit Rules
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will list the professions where unemployed people are able to seek employment in their chosen occupation while receiving unemployment benefit without being asked to seek alternative employment; and if she will make a statement; [35003]

  (2) what is the maximum time during which actors and actresses are able to claim unemployment benefit before being asked to seek alternative employment; and if she will make a statement. [35102]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  290
  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr Martin Redmond, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking for a list of the professions where people who are unemployed are able to seek employment in their chosen occupation whilst receiving unemployment benefit, without being asked to seek alternative employment.

  Under the provisions of the Social Security Act 1989, people may limit themselves to seeking and accepting work in their usual occupation and at their usual rate of pay for a period of up to 13 weeks from the date they claim unemployment benefit. After this, people claiming benefit are expected to broaden their jobsearch and to accept work for which they are capable, even if that work is not in their usual field. Anyone who takes up such an offer of employment is, of course, still free to continue to look for work in their chosen occupation.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the visit of a Minister from her Department to the area covered by the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC to discuss measures to reduce unemployment in the travel-to-work areas of Doncaster and Mexborough. [34984]

  Mr. Paice
  My noble Friend the Minister of State undertook the most recent visit of a Minister from the Department to the area covered by the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council on 8 May 1996, in his capacity as a sponsor Minister. He visited sites in the Barnsley north-east corridor city challenge area and attended the launch of the Dearne Valley college, at the University of Sheffield. The visit was not specifically to discuss measures to reduce unemployment in the travel to work areas of Doncaster and Mexborough. However, he did meet a representative of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC during the visit. He will be visiting the Doncaster area again, on 1 July 1996, to hold a reception for excellent, good and improving schools in the Yorkshire and Humberside region identified by Ofsted inspections.

  Secondary Schools
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when she last met the chief inspector to discuss admission policy for secondary schools;[34771]

  (2) what advice she received from Office of Standards in Education on the re-introduction of admission by selection to secondary schools. [34772]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend meets the chief inspector regularly, most recently on 5 June, to discuss a range of education matters.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she or her ministerial colleagues have recently visited Germany to study the selection methods under which pupils are allocated to each type of secondary school in that country; and if she will make a statement. [35085]

  Mrs. Gillan
  No such visits have recently taken place. The White Paper "Self-government for Schools", Cm 3315, stresses the value of many different kinds of selection and specialisation in extending diversity and so giving parents more choice.
  291

  School Security
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons have been(a) challenged and (b) apprehended for being found in (i) a school or college building and (ii) the precincts of a school or college, without any lawful authority, in each eduction authority area for each month in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [34843]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Unemployed Claimants
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many claimants in 1995–96 were referred to(a) jobplan workshops, (b) restart courses and (c) workwise and worklink; and for each how many attended and what were the outcomes; [35276]

  (2) how many claimants had reductions in their income support for non-attendance or failure to complete (a) jobplan workshops, (b) restart courses and (c) workwise and worklink. [35275]

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

  Letter from Robert Horne to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your questions to her about Jobplan, Workwise and Worklink and Restart Courses.

  The attached tables show how equal many claimants were referred to Jobplan, Workwise and Worklink and Restart Courses in 1995–96, how many attended and the outcomes.

  The responsibility for adjudication on people who fail to attend or complete these programmes rests with the Benefits Agency (BA). In approximately 90% of cases that are adjudicated upon a reduction

  Jobmatch pilot

  Period

  London (ES)

  North West England (ES)

  North London TEC

  Lincolnshire TEC

  Total

  Weeks 1–12

  118.00

  82.00

  79.00

  59.00

  338.00

  Weeks 13–24

  334.00

  125.00

  131.00

  61.00

  651.00

  Weeks 25–36

  782.00

  182.00

  162.00

  69.00

  1,195.00

  Weeks 37–48

  651.00

  85.00

  110.00

  41.00

  887.00

  Weeks 49–60

  571.00

  137.00

  141.00

  53.00

  902.00

  Total

  2,456.00

  611.00

  623.00

  283.00

  3,973.00

  Information is not yet available on the employment status and experience of participants in the period after the jobmatch allowance ceases. A follow-up survey of participants is being conducted from which results will be available next year.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many restart interviews took place in 1995–96; and from these how many claimants(a) were placed in a job, (b) claimed other benefits and (c) entered other programmes and signed off the claiming benefit. [35281]
  292
  of either 40% or 20% of personal Income Support is applied. Details of the total number of disallowances by programme are included in the table.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Table 1

  1995–96

  Jobplan

  Restart courses

  Workwise/link

  Referrals

  339,419

  190,866

  65,252

  Starters

  165,012

  104,686

  27,635

  Outcomes

  Jobs

  7,542

  4,301

  2,971

  ES/TEC/LEC programmes

  41,811

  21,899

  7,158

  Other

  9,022

  4,589

  1,796

  Total outcomes

  58,375

  30,789

  11,925

  BA decisions

  Deductions in personal IS

  37,891

  24,505

  11,231

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants are currently participating in the voluntary jobsearch element of the project work pilots. [35284]

  Mr. Forth
  The most recent figures available, covering the period from the start of the pilots up to 13 June, show a total of 2,012 people in the Hull and Medway and Maidstone pilot areas have had their initial restart interview, and entered the first 13 weeks of the pilot process.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary' of State for Education and Employment how many claimants have participated in each of the four jobmatch pilots in each quarter since inception; and what have been the outcomes of those who completed. [35283]

  Mr. Forth
  The following table gives the number of long-term unemployed people who have participated in each of the four jobmatch pilots. The table shows the number of new participants in each 12 week period since the pilots began on 3 April 1995 and until 24 May 1996.

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

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of Restart interviews which took place in 1995/96 and the outcomes from them. This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  293
  I have set out the information you have requested in the table below. It may be helpful if I explain the scope and purpose of the Restart interviews which are offered at regular six monthly intervals as part of an advisory and information service aimed at helping people back into work. These interviews provide clients with the opportunity to discuss with a Client Adviser the steps they are taking to find work, how to access the employment and training opportunities that are available to them, and the course of action which, if followed, will offer the best prospects of returning to work.

  1995–96

  Total

  Total Restart Interviews

  3,271,561

  Job Placings

  54,903

  Family Credit and Other Benefit Starts

  64,124

  Programme Starts1

  764.886

  Sign Offs as a direct result of Advisory action

  117,644

  1 Jobclub, Business Start-Up, Restart Course, Training for Work, JIG, Work Trials, JSS, Jobplan, Job Review Workshop, Workwise, Community Action.

  While the primary aim of this service is to help people back into work, advisers also have a duty to make sure those claiming benefit understand and comply wit the conditions under which they are paid. These conditions require people to be available to start work immediately; not to place such restrictions on the work they are willing to do as to leave them with no real prospects of finding a job; and to take those steps, each week, which offer the best prospects of obtaining work.

  As part of this process, advisers ensure that people are claiming the most appropriate benefit. If, during an interview, discussions between the client and the adviser identify that an alternative benefit is more appropriate, then the adviser will ensure a smooth transition to the correct benefit.

  I should emphasise that the figures shown in the table represent only the immediate result of Restart interviews. Many other people subsequently take up a job or a place on an employment or training programme as a result of the guidance given to them at their interview. Independent researchers who have studied the Restart interview programme have all concluded that this indirect effect is extremely significant.

  I hope this in helpful.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants were(a) referred to 1–2–1 interviews in 1995–96, (b) attended and completed these interviews and (c) received sanctions for non-attendance or failure to complete their programme. [35280]

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

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many people were referred to and completed 1–2–1 interviews in 1995–96 and how many received benefit sanctions for non-attendance or failure to attend the interviews. This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.

  You will see the information set out in the table. It may also be helpful if I explain that 1–2–1 was piloted in 1994/95 and introduced nationally from April 1995 for 18–24 year olds unemployed a year. It involves placing people on a caseload operated by an ES adviser for up to six interviews. This caseload approach provides an extended period for advisers to support clients' job search and to help them develop realistic plans to return to work. Clients are given information about jobs and other opportunities and extensive job search advice and help, including help with the preparation of CVs, the completion of application forms and interview techniques. The interviews also provide an opportunity to confirm that clients understand and are meeting the conditions under which benefit is
  294
  paid. In April 1996 the initiative was expanded; to provide 239,000 opportunities from the previous 95,000. The extra places has enabled help to be extended to clients over 25 and people at other unemployment durations.

  1995–96

  Total

  1–2–1 Cases opened

  67,557

  1–2–1 Cases completed

  40,921

  Number of Benefit Sanctions applied

  5,423

  For those 1–2–1 is unable to help, a linked four week course, Workwise, provides further help with job search and confidence building. Workwise is also made available immediately, in preference to 1–2–1, for those clients to whom it is more appropriate.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the performance of the Employment Service against its targets in 1995–96. [35289]

  Mr. Forth
  The Employment Service performed very well in 1995–96, meeting or exceeding 10 of the 12 targets set in the annual performance agreement. A total of 1,935,300 unemployed people were placed into jobs, against an annual target of 1.9 million. This represents 58,500 more placings than in 1994–95. Performance against all the targets for 1995–96 is set out in the following table:

  Employment service performance against target April 1995 to March 1996

  Annual performance targets

  Target levels

  Performance

  1. To place 1.9 million unemployed people into work at a planned unit cost of £185, assuming 2.65 million vacancies are notified

  1.9 million

  1,935,300

  2. 29.5 per cent, of total unemployed placings achieved to be long-term claimants

  29.5 per cent. (560,500)

  29.2 per cent (565,800)

  3. 27 per cent, of total unemployed placings achieved to be people in inner cities

  27 per cent. (513,000)

  27.5 per cent. (531,400)

  4. 55 per cent, positive outcomes for unemployed claimants invited to a 12 month advisory interview

  55 per cent.

  57 per cent.

  5. 45 per cent, positive outcomes for unemployed claimants invited to a 24 month advisory interview

  45 per cent.

  49 per cent.

  6. 80 per cent, of starts on training for work to be referrals from the Employment Service

  80 per cent.

  83 per cent.

  7. 9.5 per cent, of initial claim enquiries not to be pursued as new claims

  9.5 per cent.

  10.8 per cent.

  295

  Employment service performance against target April 1995 to March 1996

  Annual performance targets

  Target levels

  Performance

  8. 185,000 submissions to adjudication where there is an arguable case, with supporting information to show that the claimant is not available for, actively seeking or willing to accept work

  185,000

  273,900

  9. At a planned unit cost per claimant of £15.80 for all benefit claims

  —despatch 75 per cent, of first payments of unemployment benefit within 12 days of claim

  75 per cent.

  74.6 per cent.

  —97 per cent, of unemployment benefit payments by value to be correct

  97 per cent.

  96.7 per cent.

  10. 4 per cent, of total unemployed placings achieved to be people with disabilities

  4 per cent. (76,000)

  4.5 per cent. (87,400)

  11. 82,000 claims to be withdrawn of those suspected of obtaining benefit by deception following fraud investigation

  82,000

  88,500

  12. To achieve £58 million in efficiency savings

  £58 million

  £74.63 million

  Career Development Loans
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications for career development loans there have been in each year since 1990–91; and what is the projection for the current year. [35277]

  Mr. Paice
  The following table sets out the information requested:

  Year

  Loans approved

  Loans rejected

  1990–91

  8,054

  1,767

  1991–92

  10,432

  4,260

  1992–93

  10,230

  3,978

  1993–94

  12,159

  4,966

  1994–95

  15,169

  4,790

  1995–96

  13,287

  5,129

  The target for 1996–97 is 16,000 approved applications.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unemployed recipients of career development loans entered full-time employment on completion of their training. [35279]

  Mr. Paice
  Information on the number of trainees in work following training is obtained from a follow-up survey of trainees, which has been conducted since the start of the scheme in 1988. On the basis of this ongoing survey, 61 per cent. of career development loans supported trainees who were unemployed prior to training have found work within three months of completing their course.
  296
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many recipients of career development loans have been served with default notices; and what proportion are unemployed. [35278]

  Mr. Paice
  At 31 May 1996, the number of career development loans which have been defaulted is 9,619 out of 78,874 loans issued. Information about numbers of defaulters who are unemployed is not available.

  Project Work Pilots
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which organisations have been awarded contracts to run work experience placements for the project work pilots. [35285]

  Mr. Forth
  The Employment Service agreed contracts with nine organisations. In the Hull pilot they are:

  Q-Mat

  The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

  GrandMet Trust

  Instant Muscle

  Forum for Work

  and in the Kent pilot:

  Community Link

  Career Ahead

  Training Network

  GrandMet Trust

  Participants will be referred to placements with these organisations later this month.

  Training for Work Scheme
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the weekly average number of working hours of participants in the training for work scheme; what is the current level of training premium they receive; when this figure was last reviewed; and what plans she has to increase this figure. [35149]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no figures available for the weekly average number of working hours for training for work trainees. The Government's agreement with training and enterprise councils stipulates that trainees shall have planned training of 21 hours or more in each seven-day period. Trainees receive an allowance based on the benefit they were receiving the day they joined the programme plus a premium of £10 per week. Training allowances are increased annually in line with benefit payments. The £10 premium was introduced in 1988. My right hon. Friend has no plans to increase this premium.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances claimants of jobseeker's allowance will have the right to a copy of their jobseeker's agreement prior to the new claim interview. [35287]

  Mr. Forth
  A jobseeker's agreement can be drawn up only after a full discussion between the jobseeker and an Employment Service adviser. This will normally take place at the new claim interview, and until then the jobseeker will be treated as having an agreement. People who are already claiming when the jobseeker's allowance
  297
  is introduced in October 1996 will also initially be treated as having an agreement, and the actual agreement will be drawn up at their next advisory interview. If a new claim for JSA is made within 14 days of a previous period of entitlement, the previous agreement will continue to have effect, but otherwise there are no circumstances in which an agreement can exist prior to the new claim interview.

  Community Action
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants attended community action in each year since 1993; and what outcomes were achieved by leavers in each year. [35282]

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

  Letter from Robert Horne to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about participants and outcomes on the Community Action programme.

  The information you requested is in the tables attached.

  Community Action started in July 1993 and recruitment to the programme ceased at the end of December 1995. Data relates to the three operational years over which the programme operated.

  Information on outcomes is based on follow up surveys of leavers. Consequently, data is not yet available for participants who have left the programme more recently.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Table 1: Community action participants

  Operational year

  Number of starters

  1993–94

  23,389

  1994–95

  47,646

  1995–96

  28,770

  Unit cost £

  Primary

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Isles of Scilly

  2,511

  2,873

  3,155

  3,140

  3,281

  3,347

  3,574

  Tower Hamlets

  2,372

  2,799

  2,986

  3,035

  2,975

  3,035

  3,052

  Lambeth

  2,311

  2,750

  2,950

  3,084

  2,886

  3,066

  3,024

  Hackney

  2,373

  2,760

  2,918

  3,126

  2,976

  3,076

  2,991

  Southwark

  2,174

  2,545

  2,695

  2,789

  2,805

  2,947

  2,926

  Islington

  2,147

  2,548

  2,701

  2,824

  2,861

  2,888

  2,865

  Camden

  2,065

  2,380

  2,522

  2,724

  2,744

  2,900

  2,841

  Hammersmith

  2,108

  2,444

  2,593

  2,815

  2,716

  2,904

  2,808

  Lewisham

  2,000

  2,368

  2,537

  2,637

  2,685

  2,777

  2,803

  City of London

  1,827

  2,172

  2,264

  3,015

  3,133

  2,901

  2,736

  Greenwich

  1,878

  2,224

  2,377

  2,424

  2,583

  2,711

  2.716

  Westminster

  2,133

  2,473

  2,593

  2,741

  2,622

  2,750

  2,667

  Wandsworth

  2,027

  2,414

  2,562

  2,674

  2,549

  2,683

  2,654

  Haringey

  2,035

  2,407

  2,576

  2,670

  2,618

  2,589

  2,631

  Kensington

  2,111

  2,500

  2,611

  2,755

  2,645

  2,852

  2,628

  Newham

  2,020

  2,361

  2,529

  2,586

  2,603

  2,581

  2,620

  Brent

  2,004

  2,320

  2,458

  2,542

  2,454

  2,500

  2,554

  Waltham Forest

  1,886

  2,186

  2,316

  2,404

  2,440

  2,434

  2,484

  Ealing

  1,848

  2,139

  2,294

  2,398

  2,356

  2,350

  2,378

  Hounslow

  1,726

  2,009

  2,134

  2,165

  2,233

  2,260

  2,341

  Manchester

  1,777

  2,052

  2,150

  2,206

  2,214

  2,258

  2,320

  Enfield

  1,693

  1,969

  2,088

  2,126

  2,208

  2,234

  2,289

  Croydon

  1,691

  1,961

  2,097

  2,143

  2,202

  2,243

  2,277

  Barking

  1,689

  1,946

  2,074

  2,095

  2,219

  2,231

  2,273

  Redbridge

  1,630

  1,877

  2,008

  2,093

  2,172

  2,164

  2,241

  Knowsley

  1,682

  1,904

  2,050

  2,084

  2,201

  2,186

  2,231

  Merton

  1,675

  1,931

  2,056

  2,121

  2,163

  2,184

  2,216

  298

  Table 2: Community action outcomes

  Percentage

  Operational year

  Entries into employment

  Other outcomes1

  1993–94

  16.8

  9.3

  1994–95

  14.5

  12.3

  1995–961

  14.0

  9.1

  1 Other outcomes are entries into training for work or full-time education.

  2 Data for April to November 1995 (latest available).

  Learning for Work Programme
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library a copy of evaluation for the learning for work programme. [35286]

  Mr. Paice
  Copies of the evaluation reports were placed in the Library on 1 February.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, by order of the sum involved, the figure per child represented by the 1996–97 education standard spending assessment for(a) primary and (b) secondary school children in each local education authority in England and Wales; and what were the figures for each year since 1979–80. [34442]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 26 June 1996]: The information requested for English local education authorities from 1990–91 to 1996–97 is set out in the following table. Comparable figures are not available for the previous system of local government finance that applied before 1990–91. Figures for Welsh local education authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  299

  Unit cost £

  Primary

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Liverpool

  1,717

  1,967

  2,061

  2,113

  2,141

  2,110

  2,203

  Barnet

  1,670

  1,937

  2,069

  2,130

  2,161

  2,197

  2,203

  Hillingdon

  1,568

  1,822

  1,923

  1,983

  2,120

  2,133

  2,195

  Harrow

  1,629

  1,888

  1,995

  2,019

  2,110

  2,147

  2,194

  Birmingham

  1,737

  1,974

  2,072

  2,131

  2,093

  2,083

  2,173

  Sutton

  1,535

  1,777

  1,902

  1,972

  2,085

  2,093

  2,162

  Bexley

  1,524

  1,795

  1,908

  1,972

  2,068

  2,064

  2,124

  Middlesbrough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,109

  Kingston

  1,558

  1,809

  1,917

  1,957

  2,052

  2,064

  2,108

  Havering

  1,490

  1,732

  1,828

  1,878

  2,057

  2,023

  2,104

  Newcastle

  1,603

  1,831

  1,908

  1,949

  2,012

  2,045

  2,104

  Wolverhampton

  1,697

  1,924

  2,003

  2,030

  1,997

  1,995

  2,081

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,080

  Hertfordshire

  1,483

  1,716

  1,842

  1,884

  1,970

  2,010

  2,074

  Bromley

  1,551

  1,793

  1,883

  1,938

  2,039

  2,013

  2,074

  Isle of Wight

  1,506

  1,751

  1,875

  1,940

  2,018

  2,016

  2,070

  Bradford

  1,627

  1,864

  1,971

  2,022

  1,993

  1,986

  2,070

  Bedfordshire

  1,543

  1,773

  1,896

  1,976

  2,011

  1,995

  2,057

  Essex

  1,477

  1,691

  1,815

  1,882

  1,972

  1,989

  2,055

  Sandwell

  1,614

  1,818

  1,910

  1,960

  1,976

  1,986

  2,051

  Coventry

  1,583

  1,792

  1,892

  1,909

  1,948

  1,984

  2,049

  Salford

  1,569

  1,756

  1,853

  1,919

  1,971

  1,975

  2,047

  Berkshire

  1,505

  1,738

  1,855

  1,906

  1,953

  1,988

  2,047

  East Sussex

  1,480

  1,698

  1,825

  1,941

  1,986

  2,000

  2,043

  Redcar and Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,042

  Richmond

  1,572

  1,826

  1,932

  1,982

  2,001

  2,015

  2,040

  Surrey

  1,475

  1,704

  1,828

  1,857

  1,921

  1,998

  2,040

  Doncaster

  1,526

  1,754

  1,861

  1,905

  1,943

  1,934

  2,039

  Kent

  1,477

  1,695

  1,807

  1,886

  1,960

  1,968

  2,032

  Wirral

  1,551

  1,788

  1,869

  1,891

  1,959

  1,948

  2,024

  Bucks

  1,498

  1,720

  1,826

  1,890

  1,962

  1,966

  2,021

  Rochdale

  1,537

  1,750

  1,805

  1,863

  1,917

  1,932

  2,017

  South Tyneside

  1,545

  1,756

  1,836

  1,825

  1,923

  1,932

  2,012

  City of Bristol

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,011

  Hartlepool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,010

  Oldham

  1,551

  1,790

  1,877

  1,866

  1,910

  1,919

  2,008

  Gateshead

  1,480

  1,712

  1,828

  1,886

  1,952

  1,937

  2,006

  Sunderland

  1,521

  1,736

  1,805

  1,833

  1,925

  1,919

  2,001

  Sheffield

  1,503

  1,725

  1,815

  1,874

  1,936

  1,922

  1,996

  Walsall

  1,539

  1,725

  1,813

  1,829

  1,881

  1,894

  1,991

  Hampshire

  1,469

  1,678

  1,788

  1,867

  1,929

  1,930

  1,989

  West Sussex

  1,437

  1,656

  1,766

  1,813

  1,918

  1,932

  1,987

  Calderdale

  1,506

  1,710

  1,808

  1,869

  1,905

  1,896

  1,986

  Oxfordshire

  1,473

  1,696

  1,798

  1,872

  1,934

  1,933

  1,985

  Cornwall

  1,489

  1,700

  1,799

  1,831

  1,878

  1,893

  1,984

  Durham

  1,496

  1,704

  1,787

  1,805

  1,879

  1,884

  1,983

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,982

  Stockton on Tees

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,981

  Rotherham

  1,479

  1,700

  1,796

  1,819

  1,856

  1,871

  1,978

  Nottinghamshire

  1,501

  1,723

  1,821

  1,851

  1,872

  1,883

  1,973

  Kirklees

  1,527

  1,746

  1,853

  1,914

  1,912

  1,900

  1,971

  Norfolk

  1,472

  1,682

  1,789

  1,815

  1,863

  1,881

  1,971

  Lincolnshire

  1,505

  1,713

  1,809

  1,850

  1,874

  1,873

  1,969

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,965

  Lancashire

  1,491

  1,705

  1,805

  1,822

  1,867

  1,877

  1,964

  Cambridge

  1,458

  1,663

  1,764

  1,802

  1,847

  1,876

  1,962

  Bolton

  1,517

  1,712

  1,815

  1,863

  1,869

  1,866

  1,958

  Devon

  1,454

  1,661

  1,762

  1,817

  1,865

  1,879

  1,958

  Cumbria

  1,455

  1,664

  1,763

  1,820

  1,862

  1,856

  1,957

  Sefton

  1,463

  1,679

  1,769

  1,788

  1,879

  1,875

  1,955

  Bamsley

  1,451

  1,672

  1,765

  1,793

  1,854

  1,869

  1,955

  Leicestershire

  1,476

  1,687

  1,785

  1,821

  1,855

  1,864

  1,954

  Shropshire

  1,489

  1,685

  1,774

  1,811

  1,850

  1,862

  1,952

  Leeds

  1,499

  1,719

  1,813

  1,846

  1,868

  1,864

  1,947

  North Tyneside

  1,451

  1,684

  1,797

  1,779

  1,828

  1,845

  1,946

  St. Helens

  1,433

  1,656

  1,729

  1,750

  1,851

  1,845

  1,945

  North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,940

  Northumberland

  1,435

  1,641

  1,743

  1,784

  1,838

  1,825

  1,935

  Somerset

  1,439

  1,643

  1,745

  1,781

  1,833

  1,846

  1,933

  Northamptonshire

  1,454

  1,655

  1,759

  1,796

  1,823

  1,836

  1,927

  Wiltshire

  1,446

  1,657

  1,750

  1,787

  1,824

  1,835

  1,921

  300 301

  Unit cost £

  Primary

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,427

  1,621

  1,712

  1,734

  1,798

  1,827

  1,914

  Gloucestershire

  1,440

  1,635

  1,731

  1,772

  1,819

  1,836

  1,912

  Derbyshire

  1,431

  1,618

  1,706

  1,739

  1,801

  1,812

  1,911

  Wakefield

  1,435

  1,668

  1,761

  1,771

  1,816

  1,825

  1,910

  Dorset

  1,401

  1,602

  1,714

  1,771

  1,828

  1,833

  1,909

  Bury

  1,408

  1,595

  1,681

  1,699

  1,786

  1,813

  1,909

  Tameside

  1,486

  1,694

  1,779

  1,785

  1,827

  1,831

  1,908

  Warkwickshire

  1,433

  1,635

  1,723

  1,754

  1,801

  1,822

  1,906

  Trafford

  1,454

  1,647

  1,745

  1,758

  1,798

  1,830

  1,905

  Wigan

  1,400

  1,588

  1,687

  1,727

  1,814

  1,809

  1,905

  Cheshire

  1,418

  1,611

  1,703

  1,746

  1,818

  1,817

  1,903

  Suffolk

  1,425

  1,628

  1,726

  1,762

  1,807

  1,820

  1,901

  Dudley

  1,411

  1,604

  1,700

  1,722

  1,802

  1,813

  1,896

  Staffordshire

  1,409

  1,609

  1,704

  1,744

  1,792

  1,805

  1,894

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,890

  York

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,888

  Bath and north east Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,880

  Solihull

  1,410

  1,600

  1.721

  1,752

  1,808

  1,798

  1,872

  Stockport

  1,385

  1,586

  1,669

  1,689

  1,779

  1,775

  1,863

  North Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,863

  South Gloucestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,834

  Avon

  1,428

  1,634

  1,728

  1,779

  1,835

  1,838

  —

  Cleveland

  1,569

  1,795

  1,894

  1,908

  1,942

  1,940

  —

  Humberside

  1,513

  1,724

  1,817

  1,849

  1,891

  1,891

  —

  North Yorkshire

  1,445

  1,649

  1,738

  1,756

  1,805

  1,827

  —

  England

  1,550

  1,780

  1,889

  1,940

  1,985

  2,000

  2,053

  Inner London

  2,148

  2,530

  2,692

  2,812

  2,777

  2,891

  2,865

  Outer London

  1,755

  2,025

  2,146

  2,206

  2,229

  2,238

  2,296

  Mets

  1,510

  1,733

  1,841

  1,897

  1,961

  1,973

  2,038

  Shires

  1,462

  1,670

  1,766

  1,801

  1,848

  1,857

  1,944

  Isles of Scilly

  1,506

  1,710

  1,808

  1,869

  1,905

  1,896

  1,986

  Unit cost £

  Secondary

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Isles of Scilly

  3,558

  4,155

  4,601

  4,545

  4,570

  4,381

  4,794

  Tower Hamlets

  3,386

  4,079

  4,385

  4,425

  4,178

  4,034

  4,051

  Lambeth

  3,298

  4,007

  4,331

  4,497

  4,052

  4,463

  4,431

  Hackney

  3,387

  4,020

  4,283

  4,558

  4,180

  4,359

  4,207

  Southwark

  3,100

  3,704

  3,953

  4,062

  3,937

  4,090

  3,933

  Islington

  3,061

  3,708

  3,961

  4,114

  4,017

  3,963

  3,889

  Camden

  2,943

  3,462

  3,696

  3,966

  3,850

  3,648

  3,596

  Hammersmith

  3,005

  3,556

  3,802

  4,101

  3,811

  3,777

  3,701

  Lewisham

  2,849

  3,443

  3,718

  3,837

  3,766

  3,778

  3,769

  City of London

  2,594

  3,147

  3,306

  4,382

  4,392

  9,055

  7,422

  Greenwich

  2,674

  3,231

  3,480

  3,524

  3,621

  3,589

  3,620

  Westminster

  3,041

  3,598

  3,802

  3,991

  3,677

  3,637

  3,470

  Wandsworth

  2,889

  3,511

  3,756

  3,892

  3,572

  3,617

  3,551

  Haringey

  2,902

  3,504

  3,778

  3,889

  3,674

  3,583

  3,599

  Kensington

  3,009

  3,638

  3,828

  4,011

  3,710

  4,071

  3,605

  Newham

  2,879

  3,436

  3,709

  3,766

  3,653

  3,439

  3,490

  Brent

  2,856

  3,375

  3,604

  3,701

  3,441

  3,448

  3,504

  Waltham Forest

  2,686

  3,178

  3,393

  3,498

  3,421

  3,261

  3,348

  Ealing

  2,632

  3,109

  3,360

  3,488

  3,302

  3,224

  3,246

  Hounslow

  2,456

  2,917

  3,122

  3,145

  3,128

  2,959

  3,072

  Manchester

  2,533

  2,985

  3,153

  3,211

  3,107

  3,072

  3,141

  Enfield

  2,407

  2,858

  3,054

  3,088

  3,091

  2,941

  3,034

  Croydon

  2,405

  2,846

  3,068

  3,112

  3,083

  3,050

  3,089

  Barking

  2,402

  2,824

  3,034

  3,042

  3,107

  2,951

  3,057

  Redbridge

  2,316

  2,722

  2,936

  3,038

  3,040

  2,884

  2,970

  Knowsley

  2,395

  2,767

  3,003

  3,032

  3,087

  2,986

  3,055

  Merton

  2,381

  2,802

  3,007

  3,080

  3,028

  2,904

  2,948

  Liverpool

  2,445

  2,860

  3,019

  3,075

  3,002

  2,821

  2,924

  Barnet

  2,374

  2,812

  3,027

  3,094

  3,024

  2,883

  2,897

  Hillingdon

  2,228

  2,642

  2,809

  2,878

  2,967

  2,838

  2,930

  302 303

  Secondary

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Harrow

  2,315

  2,739

  2,916

  2,930

  2,952

  2,898

  2,951

  Birmingham

  2,475

  2,871

  3,037

  3,101

  2,934

  2,794

  2,907

  Sutton

  2,180

  2,576

  2,779

  2,860

  2,916

  2,722

  2,829

  Bexley

  2,163

  2,602

  2,787

  2,861

  2,893

  2,734

  2,831

  Middlesbrough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,859

  Kingston

  2,213

  2,622

  2,801

  2,839

  2,870

  2,720

  2,787

  Havering

  2,114

  2,508

  2,668

  2,722

  2,877

  2,686

  2,816

  Newcastle

  2,282

  2,659

  2,792

  2,832

  2,820

  2,717

  2,793

  Wolverhampton

  2,417

  2,796

  2,934

  2,952

  2,798

  2,691

  2,807

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,789

  Hertfordshire

  2,105

  2,486

  2,689

  2,732

  2,754

  2,663

  2,754

  Bromley

  2,203

  2,598

  2,750

  2,811

  2,851

  2,678

  2,744

  Isle of Wight

  2,138

  2,537

  2,739

  2,813

  2,819

  2,696

  2,755

  Bradford

  2,316

  2,708

  2,885

  2,940

  2,791

  2,679

  2,777

  Bedfordshire

  2,193

  2,570

  2,772

  2,867

  2,812

  2,664

  2,750

  Essex

  2,097

  2,449

  2,650

  2,729

  2,756

  2,647

  2,749

  Sandwell

  2,297

  2,641

  2,796

  2,849

  2,768

  2,642

  2,734

  Coventry

  2,253

  2,602

  2,769

  2,773

  2,728

  2,648

  2,731

  Salford

  2,232

  2,549

  2,711

  2,788

  2,762

  2,652

  2,747

  Berkshire

  2,137

  2,519

  2,709

  2,764

  2,730

  2,664

  2,733

  East Sussex

  2,101

  2,460

  2,666

  2,816

  2,776

  2,672

  2,728

  Redcar and Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,698

  Richmond

  2,234

  2,648

  2,823

  2,875

  2,797

  2,635

  2,660

  Surrey

  2,093

  2,464

  2,667

  2,691

  2,684

  2,679

  2,723

  Doncaster

  2,169

  2,544

  2,720

  2,765

  2,717

  2,572

  2,719

  Kent

  2,098

  2,455

  2,638

  2,734

  2,740

  2,620

  2,714

  Wirral

  2,207

  2,597

  2,735

  2,746

  2,744

  2,606

  2,690

  Bucks

  2,127

  2,492

  2,666

  2,740

  2,741

  2,630

  2,715

  Rochdale

  2,187

  2,540

  2,639

  2,706

  2,684

  2,608

  2,711

  South Tyneside

  2,197

  2,549

  2,685

  2,649

  2,692

  2,562

  2,681

  City of Bristol

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,759

  Hartlepool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,673

  Oldham

  2,206

  2,599

  2,746

  2,709

  2,674

  2,530

  2,646

  Gateshead

  2,104

  2,484

  2,673

  2,739

  2,733

  2,601

  2,691

  Sunderland

  2,163

  2,520

  2,640

  2,661

  2,695

  2,549

  2,673

  Sheffield

  2,137

  2,503

  2,655

  2,722

  2,711

  2,565

  2,679

  Walsall

  2,189

  2,503

  2,652

  2,656

  2,633

  2,501

  2,634

  Hampshire

  2,086

  2,432

  2,611

  2,707

  2,696

  2,575

  2,657

  West Sussex

  2,039

  2,398

  2,578

  2,628

  2,679

  2,571

  2,647

  Calderdale

  2,141

  2,481

  2,643

  2,714

  2,665

  2,527

  2,650

  Oxfordshire

  2,091

  2,456

  2,624

  2,714

  2,700

  2,575

  2,625

  Cornwall

  2,114

  2,463

  2,627

  2,654

  2,622

  2,522

  2,644

  Durham

  2,125

  2,471

  2,611

  2,618

  2,627

  2,512

  2,649

  North east Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,638

  Stockton on Tees

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,622

  Rotherham

  2,102

  2,466

  2,625

  2,640

  2,596

  2,462

  2,609

  Nottinghamshire

  2,134

  2,499

  2,662

  2,687

  2,618

  2,506

  2,630

  Kirklees

  2,171

  2,533

  2,710

  2,779

  2,675

  2,539

  2,637

  Norfolk

  2,090

  2,437

  2,612

  2,632

  2,601

  2,508

  2,630

  Lincolnshire

  2,137

  2,482

  2,642

  2,682

  2,616

  2,483

  2,630

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,595

  Lancashire

  2,119

  2,472

  2,639

  2,644

  2,611

  2,502

  2,616

  Cambridge

  2,070

  2,409

  2,576

  2,613

  2,580

  2,508

  2,615

  Bolton

  2,158

  2,485

  2,654

  2,705

  2,616

  2,488

  2,603

  Devon

  2,064

  2,407

  2,574

  2,635

  2,605

  2,506

  2,609

  Cumbria

  2,066

  2,410

  2,575

  2,639

  2,600

  2,470

  2,598

  Sefton

  2,079

  2,435

  2,586

  2,596

  2,630

  2,492

  2,590

  Barnsley

  2,061

  2,425

  2,580

  2,602

  2,594

  2,489

  2,117

  Leicestershire

  2,097

  2,446

  2,608

  2,642

  2,593

  2,483

  2,601

  Shropshire

  2,114

  2,441

  2,589

  2,625

  2,583

  2,479

  2,596

  Leeds

  2,131

  2,494

  2,652

  2,680

  2,613

  2,480

  2,597

  North Tyneside

  2,063

  2,444

  2,628

  2,582

  2,557

  2,483

  2,620

  St. Helens

  2,035

  2,402

  2,527

  2,539

  2,590

  2,467

  2,609

  North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,650

  Northumberland

  2,036

  2,377

  2,544

  2,587

  2,566

  2,421

  2,582

  Somerset

  2,041

  2,379

  2,547

  2,582

  2,558

  2,489

  2,580

  Northamptonshire

  2,064

  2,398

  2,569

  2,604

  2,547

  2,448

  2,568

  Wiltshire

  2,053

  2,401

  2,555

  2,590

  2,546

  2,451

  2,561

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,026

  2,348

  2,500

  2,513

  2,511

  2,439

  2,556

  Gloucestershire

  2,044

  2,369

  2,528

  2,569

  2,541

  2,435

  2,542

  Derbyshire

  2,032

  2,345

  2,491

  2,522

  2,516

  2,415

  2,555

  304 305

  Unit cost £

  Secondary

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Wakefield

  2,038

  2,418

  2,574

  2,569

  2,539

  2,421

  2,536

  Dorset

  1,988

  2,321

  2,502

  2,569

  2,554

  2,440

  2,536

  Bury

  2,001

  2,313

  2,456

  2,464

  2,498

  2,405

  2,517

  Tameside

  2,113

  2,458

  2,601

  2,590

  2,556

  2,428

  2,530

  Warwickshire

  2,034

  2,369

  2,516

  2,543

  2,516

  2,433

  2,543

  Trafford

  2,066

  2,389

  2,550

  2,551

  2,515

  2,420

  2,518

  Wigan

  1,989

  2,302

  2,464

  2,505

  2,537

  2,391

  2,523

  Cheshire

  2,013

  2,334

  2,487

  2,532

  2,542

  2,408

  2,529

  Suffolk

  2,022

  2,358

  2,520

  2,553

  2,522

  2,422

  2,538

  Dudley

  2,005

  2,326

  2,484

  2,498

  2,521

  2,408

  2,526

  Staffordshire

  2,000

  2,332

  2,489

  2,528

  2,504

  2,398

  2,520

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,517

  York

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,533

  Bath and north east Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,462

  Solihull

  2,002

  2,319

  2,514

  2,542

  2,527

  2,376

  2,468

  Stockport

  1,967

  2,299

  2,437

  2,449

  2,484

  2,374

  2,482

  North Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,462

  South Gloucestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,442

  Avon

  2,028

  2,369

  2,524

  2,582

  2,566

  2,460

  —

  Cleveland

  2,231

  2,606

  2,772

  2,772

  2,719

  2,589

  —

  Humberside

  2,150

  2,500

  2,656

  2,684

  2,644

  2,509

  —

  North Yorkshire

  2,050

  2,387

  2,537

  2,544

  2,518

  2,422

  —

  England

  2,192

  2,569

  2,746

  2,800

  2,765

  2,655

  2,728

  Inner London

  3,058

  3,676

  3,939

  4,091

  3,894

  3,889

  3,834

  Outer London

  2,493

  2,935

  3,136

  3,203

  3,120

  2,993

  3,067

  Mets

  2,144

  2,510

  2,688

  2,751

  2,742

  2,630

  2,722

  Shires

  2,076

  2,420

  2,580

  2,612

  2,582

  2,472

  2,589

  2,507

  Isles of Scilly

  2,141

  2,481

  2,643

  2,714

  2,665

  2,527

  2,650

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Open Prisons
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted since 1979 of a crime involving violence against the person served the greater part of their sentence in an open prison. [34428]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners convicted since 1979 of a crime involving violence against the person who had served the greater part of their sentence in an open prison.

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

  Green Issues
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the green issues mentioned in the list of ministerial responsibilities for his Department; and if he will make a statement. [34343]

  Mr. Howard
  Green issues in the Home Office are the responsibility of my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Blatch. They consist of the green housekeeping strategy, which sets out the Department's policy on conserving 306
  natural resources and reducing environmental pollution. The strategy is supported by action plans incorporating recycling and energy efficiency schemes and a range of other green housekeeping initiatives.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many times during the last 12 months prison officers were required to work a double shift at Doncaster prison; and what was the reason for the requirement; [35006]

  (2) how many prison officers have been seconded during the last 12 months to Doncaster prison; from which prison establishment they came; and if Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons was informed of the seconded prison officers working at Doncaster prison when it visited the prison; [35014]

  (3) how many prison officers have been seconded during the last 12 months from Doncaster prison; to which prison establishment they went; and if Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons was informed of the Doncaster seconded prison officers when it visited the prison. [35012]

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

  Letter from Alan Walker to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about staffing at Doncaster prison.
  307
  Premier Prison Services' policy is not to operate double shifts and there is no record of staff working double shifts, neither have any prison officers been seconded to Doncaster prison in the last 12 months. However, five prisoner custody officers, who were attending a control and restraint course at the national training centre on 15 November 1995, were seconded to Full Sutton prison for two days to assist in quelling a disturbance. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons was made aware of this incident and the use of Premier Prison Services' staff during the inspection in March 1996.

  Royal Family (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost in each of the past five years in policing events attended by members of the royal family. [35018]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Drug Seizures
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of illicit drugs have been made by police and customs from 1990 to date; and what is the estimated value of the drugs seized. [35051]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested on the number of seizures of controlled drugs made by police and customs from 1990 to 1994 is contained in tables 1.1 and 2.2 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1994", copies of which are in the Library.

  In addition, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise informed us that the following number of seizures of controlled drugs were made by it during 1995:

  Heroin: 185

  Cocaine: 496

  All synthetic drugs: 291

  of which amphetamines: 158

  MDMA: 133

  Cannabis (all forms): 6,049.

  Data for 1995 for police forces will be published later in the year.

  Chiefs of Police Conference
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the paper presented by Judge Goldstein to the conference of chiefs of police on 17 June; and if he will make a statement. [34656]

  Mr. Sackville
  Courts in this country have powers to ensure that, in appropriate cases, drug misusing offenders receive treatment as part of a community sentence. Treatment for minor offenders is also arranged through arrest referral schemes set up between the police and drug treatment agencies.

  In the light of Judge Goldstein's paper on the American system of drug courts, the scope for maximising the use of non-custodial drug treatment options is currently under review.
  308

  Racial Discrimination (Drugs)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has recently undertaken of the extend of racial discrimination in respect of drugs enforcement and penalties. [34658]

  Mr. Maclean
  The police have conducted ethnic monitoring of stops and searches since April 1993, and ethnic monitoring was extended from 1 April this year to include arrests and cautions, among other matters. Drugs enforcement is not separately identified in ethnic monitoring.

  International Association of Women Police Training Conference
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will renew his offer of grant aid to the International Association of Women Police training conference in Birmingham on 31 August; and if he will make a statement. [34887]

  Mr. Maclean
  No such offer of grant has ever been made or withdrawn. This was confirmed in writing to the organisers of the conference last year.

  Missing Patients
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since March to ensure that all police forces have formal missing patients procedures in co-operation with local hospitals and social services departments to include a system for inquiry into cases of repeated absconding by patients with restriction orders. [34608]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the national health service executive are currently discussing this issue.

  Police (Training)
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since March to ensure that police forces nationally adopt training and procedures for dealing with mentally ill people comparable to those currently practised by the Metropolitan police. [34603]

  Mr. Maclean
  The national director of police training circulated the Metropolitan police distance learning document "Understanding Mental Disorder" to all police forces in 1995. A further Metropolitan police document was cited as an example of good practice.

  The national director has invited the National Schizophrenia Fellowship to conduct a series of conferences at police training centres around the country, dealing with the vulnerability of the mentally disordered suspect.

  Prisoners' Records
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since March to review the confidentiality of prison medical records. [34605]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Prison Service accepted the recommendation of the independent inquiry report into the case of Jason Mitchell that the question of confidentiality
  309
  of prison medical records should be fully reviewed. It will, as that report recommended, shortly be consulting the General Medical Council and other professional bodies for their views.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken since March in respect of the role of C3 division acting in relation to information relating to(a) patients' index offences, (b) ensuring that the procedures of C3 division are in line with the Home Office practice in relation to discretionary lifer powers, (c) reviewing the notes for guidance of social supervisors to take account of potential conflicts in the roles of social workers arising from changes in community care, mental health and criminal justice legislation and (d) updating the case worker guide to require information from all who will bear responsibility for patients after care. [34631]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since March, the role of the mental health unit—formerly C3 division—of the Home Office in these four areas of its caseworking functions in respect of restricted patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 has been reviewed. We have concluded that the proposal that the mental health unit should act as a repository of information about patients' index offences should be addressed as part of a wider review of risk assessment already under way. No changes in the mental health unit's practices in relation to the other elements of the question are proposed. Comparison between mental health review tribunals and discretionary lifer panels, and the statements provided to each, are not valid; the social supervisor's role in respect of restricted patients is not subject to the conflict of role implied in the question; and the caseworker guide already requires information from all parties who will be responsible for the supervision of conditionally discharged patients in the community.

  Vehicle Purchases (Metropolitan Police)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Mercedes vehicles the Metropolitan police has purchased in the current financial year and in each of the past two years. [34866]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner that the Metropolitan police have not purchased any Mercedes vehicles in the current financial year, that six were acquired for evaluation in 1994–95, and that 40 were purchased in 1995–96.

  Crown Court Witness Service
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support services are made available by the Crown court witness service to victims and other witnesses. [34881]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Crown court witness service is run by Victim Support and funded by the Home office to help victims and witnesses through the stress of attending court. It provides a range of services, including general information, pre-trial familiarisation visits, explaining how the court works, supporting witnesses before, during and after they have given evidence, and linking witnesses to other sources of support.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) victims and (b) other witnesses have used Coventry Crown court witness
  310
  service since its establishment; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of witnesses appearing in Coventry Crown court. [34882]

  Mr. Maclean
  Victim Support advises that the Coventry Crown Court witness service has helped 777 people since September 1994. The Crown Prosecution Service advises that information about the total number of witnesses could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Appropriate Adult System
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study has been undertaken since March of the appropriate adult system in criminal justice; and what plans he has to extend its role. [34611]

  Mr. Maclean
  An appropriate adults review group was set up in 1994 in response to a recommendation of the royal commission on criminal justice. The group reported last year. The Home Office is consulting the Association of Chief Police Officers before issuing guidelines to the police service in response to the report. The review group did not recommend an extension of the role of appropriate adults.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims are outstanding for compensation under the pay book scheme for firearms recommended for compensation under the terms of the Firearms Act 1988; and what is the value claimed in each case. [34836]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The Department has considered all claims made under the Government buy-in scheme for weapons which became prohibited by virtue of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 and has advised the claimants of the outcome. Offers have been made to all claimants entitled to receive compensation.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the agenda and minutes of a meeting held at the Home Office on 30 November 1987 between officials of the firearms division and representations of the International Shooting Sportspersons Liaison Committee. [35291]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have been unable to locate details of the meeting referred to. Routine papers are destroyed after five years.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library an index of all Home Office letters, circulars, guidance and memorandums to the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and for Scotland since 1967 relevant to the administration of the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988., 1992 and 1994 indicating the number or reference of the letter or document, together with the date of issue and title. [34837]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office does not issue guidance on firearms administration to either the Association of Chief Police Officers for England and Wales or to the Association of Chief Police Officers for
  311
  Scotland. An index of correspondence and letters of consultation with these two organisations does not exist and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library an index of all Home Office circular letters to police authorities since 1967 relevant to the administration of the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988, 1992 and 1994 indicating the number or reference of the circular together with the date of issue and title. [34839]

  Mr. Maclean
  Police authorities receive copies of Home Office circulars to chief officers of police, an index to which is already in the Library. I am not aware of any other documentation relating to firearms administration which has been issued to police authorities.

  Mr. Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library an index of all Home Department circular letters, to chief officers of police since 1967 relevant to the administration of the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988, 1992 and 1994 indicating the number or reference of the circular together with the date of issue and title. [34841]

  Mr. Maclean
  Copies of those circular letters to chief officers relating to firearms administration which are readily available have already been supplied to the hon. Member. No comprehensive index of any such letters exists and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bombs
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he intends to take to prevent the sale of materials which can be used to formulate explosive devices and bombs. [34842]

  Mr. Maclean
  There are extensive legal controls on the manufacture and possession of explosives, and these are kept under constant review. It would not be practical to restrict all materials which might be used in the manufacture of explosives. Many have other legitimate uses.

  Mr. Raghbir Singh
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the representations he or Ministers in his Department have received from hon. Members on the case of Mr. Raghbir Singh; and if he will give the political affiliation of the hon. Members. [34956]

  Mr. Howard
  Two hundred and thirty-two letters have been received from 197 Members of Parliament about the case of Mr. Raghbir Singh. One hundred and twenty-five were received from Labour Members, 86 from Conservative Members, 14 from Liberal Democrat Members, two each from Ulster Unionist and Plaid Cymru Members, and one each from Members representing the Social Democratic and Labour party, Democratic Unionist party and the Scottish nationalists. In addition, 16 parliamentary questions and one early-day motion have been tabled by eight Labour Members.
  312
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requests have been made on behalf of Mr. Raghbir Singh for him to make compassionate or family visits under escort; and how many were agreed to. [34987]

  Mr. Howard
  Mr. Singh has made two requests to make a compassionate or family visit. On 31 January, he was granted permission to attend his father-in-law's funeral. On 3 June, an application to attend his niece's wedding was rejected.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average time between the reception of letters over the case of Mr. Raghbir Singh and the issue of replies; and if replies to correspondents who were not hon. Members have been signed by Ministers. [34957]

  Mr. Howard
  A full answer is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Correspondence from members of the public is not routinely answered by Ministers.

  Prisoners (Drug Tests)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners were found to be free of illegal drugs in each of the prisons in which drug tests have been undertaken in the past two years. [34955]

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

  Letter from Alan Walker to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the percentage of prisoners found to be free of illegal drugs in each of the prisons in which drug tests have been undertaken in the past two years.

  Mandatory drug testing was introduced in eight first phase establishments from February 1995. From September 1995 to March 1996 the process of implementation to all other establishments was undertaken. Data on the full prison estate is therefore only available from April 1996 to date.

  The attached table shows the percentage of prisoners providing a sample under the random mandatory drug testing programme which was found to be negative for drugs for each of the prisons from their date of commencement for mandatory drug testing to 10 June 1996. The number of prisoners tested to date at each prison is also shown.

  A copy of this table has been placed in the Library.

  Establishment

  Numbers tested

  Percentage negative

  Acklington

  210

  58.57

  Albany

  220

  91.82

  Aldington

  67

  68.66

  Ashwell

  93

  59.14

  Askham Grange

  57

  85.96

  Aylesbury

  96

  80.21

  Bedford

  107

  62.62

  Belmarsh

  385

  75.84

  Birmingham

  578

  64.36

  Blakenhurst

  199

  66.83

  Blantyre House

  55

  94.55

  Blundeston

  140

  64.29

  Brinsford

  233

  64.38

  Bristol

  705

  69.5

  313

  Establishment

  Numbers tested

  Percentage negative

  Brixton

  288

  87.15

  Brockhill

  41

  60.98

  Buckley Hall

  136

  52.94

  Bullingdon

  301

  60.80

  Bullwood Hall

  35

  77.14

  Camp Hill

  44

  68.19

  Canterbury

  196

  72.94

  Cardiff

  70

  51.76

  Castington

  180

  85.56

  Channings Wood

  80

  87.50

  Chelmsford

  143

  56.64

  Coldingley

  175

  61.11

  Cookham Wood

  92

  94.57

  Dartmoor

  177

  78.53

  Deerbolt

  185

  82.16

  Doncaster

  242

  66.94

  Dorchester

  77

  45.45

  Downview

  169

  95.27

  Drake Hall

  106

  67.92

  Durham

  321

  53.58

  East Sutton Park

  46

  84.78

  Elmley

  502

  64.34

  Erlestoke House

  126

  66.67

  Everthorpe

  292

  68.84

  Exeter

  83

  73.58

  Featherstone

  202

  47.03

  Feltham

  627

  64.91

  Ford

  130

  86.92

  Frankland

  150

  58.67

  Full Sutton

  166

  62.65

  Gloucester

  31

  64.52

  Gartree

  113

  69.91

  Glen Parva

  356

  77.81

  Garth

  363

  63.36

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  148

  80.41

  Guys Marsh

  119

  68.07

  Haslar

  86

  98.84

  Hatfield

  93

  91.40

  Haverigg

  378

  75.93

  Hewell Grange

  73

  90.41

  Highdown

  307

  67.10

  Highpoint

  255

  67.45

  Hindley

  166

  75.30

  Hollesley Bay

  133

  72.18

  Holloway

  632

  78.16

  Holme House

  391

  48.85

  Hull

  166

  67.47

  Huntercombe

  142

  78.17

  Kingston

  69

  84.06

  Kirkham

  168

  77.98

  Kirklevington Grange

  36

  86.11

  Lancaster

  128

  67.92

  Lancaster Farms

  264

  79.92

  Latchmere House

  100

  94.00

  Leeds

  79

  63.29

  Leicester

  74

  63.51

  Lewes

  157

  63.70

  Leyhill

  213

  84.04

  Lincoln

  243

  66.26

  Lindholme

  530

  65.10

  Littlehey

  384

  78.65

  Liverpool

  217

  66.82

  Long Lartin

  169

  63.31

  Low Newton

  55

  49.09

  Maidstone

  322

  72.95

  Manchester

  330

  70.91

  Moorland

  332

  82.92

  Morton Hall

  60

  88.33

  The Mount

  125

  68.00

  New Hall

  84

  80.95

  Northallerton

  155

  71.61

  North Sea Camp

  77

  77.92

  Norwich

  117

  57.26

  314

  Establishment

  Numbers tested

  Percentage negative

  Nottingham

  78

  63.85

  Onley

  213

  92.96

  Oxford

  36

  88.89

  Parkhurst

  68

  73.53

  Pentonville

  997

  61.08

  Portland

  242

  89.67

  Preston

  258

  60.85

  Ranby

  262

  59.54

  Reading

  97

  71.13

  Risley

  582

  65.30

  Rochester

  447

  94.85

  Send

  86

  77.91

  Shepton Mallet

  75

  48.00

  Shrewsbury

  52

  80.77

  Stafford

  356

  71.07

  Standford Hill

  93

  72.04

  Stocken

  156

  76.28

  Stoke Heath

  401

  85.29

  Styal

  203

  84.73

  Sudbury/Foston

  316

  84.18

  Swaleside

  358

  61.73

  Swansea

  85

  47.06

  Swinfen Hall

  99

  71.72

  Thorn Cross

  150

  77.33

  Usk

  147

  93.20

  The Verne

  23

  56.52

  Wakefield

  849

  79.15

  Wandsworth

  337

  90.21

  Wayland

  805

  65.34

  Wealstun

  202

  68.32

  Wellingborough

  118

  64.41

  Werrington

  60

  81 67

  Wetherby

  61

  95.08

  Whatton

  160

  92.50

  Whitemoor

  187

  81.82

  Winchester

  287

  72.82

  Wolds

  131

  73.28

  Woodhill

  205

  71.22

  Wormwood Scrubs

  372

  75.81

  Wymott

  174

  90.23

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated saving to business from the Deregulation (Employment in Bars) Order 1996. [34677]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We understand that public houses have high rates of staff turnover and recruitment costs of more than £100 million a year. Extension of apprenticeship schemes to 16 and 17-year-olds should provide high quality, well trained and motivated recruits. Many would be likely to remain in the industry, thereby leading to significantly lower recruitment costs and to efficiency savings.

  Morgan Report
  Ms Janet Report
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 April,Official Report, column 524, if he will list the local authorities engaged in crime prevention partnership as endorsed in the Morgan report. [35136]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  315

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the animals welfare issues for which his Department has responsibility; [34302]

  (2) if he will list (a) United Kingdom legislation, (b) EU legislation and (c) international treaties, conventions or other obligations concerning animal welfare for which his Department has responsibility. [34303]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 25 June 1996]:The information requested is as follows:
  Domestic legislation

  Game Act 1831

  Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended)

  Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925

  Protection of Animals Act 1934

  Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended)

  Cockfighting Act 1952

  Abandonment of Animals Act 1960

  Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962

  Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963

  Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970

  Conservation of Seals Act 1970

  Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991

  Farriers (Registration) Acts 1975 and 1977

  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

  Protection against Cruel Tethering Act 1988

  Deer Act 1991

  Protection of Badgers Act 1992

  Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996

  EU legislation
  Directive 86/609/EEC on the Approximation of Laws, Regulations and Administrative Provisions of the Member States Regarding the Protection of Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (and subsequent amendments)
  International treaties, conventions or other obligations
  European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes
  European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals

  The Home Office is responsible for animal welfare issues relating to animal experimentation and to domestic, captive and wild animals listed in the legislation set out above.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by group, division or other work unit the number of grades of staff working within his Department on animal welfare issues. [34304]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 25 June 1996]: The information requested is as follows:

  The relevant work is undertaken by 1.8 senior executive officers, 2.7 higher executive officers, 1.5 executive officers, 8.5 administrative officers, 6.1 administrative assistants and secretarial support, and is overseen by a grade 6 officer as part of his wider responsibilities. The animal (scientific procedures) inspectorate comprises: one chief inspector, three superintendent inspectors, 15 inspectors and secretarial support.
  316

  Prisons (Capacity)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the certified normal accommodation for each gaol in England and Wales and what was the actual population for the last day for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [33438]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 20 June 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question requesting details of the actual population and certified normal accommodation for each jail in England and Wales.

  The attached table shows the actual population and the in use certified normal accommodation (CNA) on 24 June 1996.

  In use CNA and population on 24 June 1996

  In use

  Population

  Acklington

  662

  634

  Albany

  436

  430

  Aldington

  146

  141

  Ashwell

  404

  385

  Askham Grange

  126

  124

  Aylesbury

  230

  222

  Bedford

  309

  351

  Belmarsh

  661

  606

  Birmingham

  653

  1,000

  Blakenhurst

  649

  713

  Blantyre House

  106

  111

  Blundeston

  408

  397

  Brinsford

  473

  479

  Bristol

  474

  503

  Brixton

  480

  595

  Brockhill

  159

  72

  Buckley Hall

  350

  342

  Bullingdon

  644

  646

  Bullwood Hall

  125

  124

  Camp Hill

  384

  415

  Canterbury

  184

  264

  Cardiff

  322

  525

  Castington

  300

  288

  Channings Wood

  594

  574

  Chelmsford

  248

  399

  Coldingley

  288

  286

  Cookham Wood

  120

  137

  Dartmoor

  599

  592

  Deerbolt

  420

  401

  Doncaster

  771

  868

  Dorchester

  147

  207

  Dover

  316

  295

  Downview

  287

  283

  Drake Hall

  285

  262

  Durham

  598

  828

  East Sutton Park

  94

  94

  Eastwood Park

  135

  118

  Elmley

  637

  620

  Erlestoke

  270

  272

  Everthorpe

  435

  408

  Exeter

  253

  443

  Featherstone

  564

  551

  Feltham

  845

  850

  Finnamore Wood

  56

  0

  Ford

  498

  442

  Frankland

  447

  416

  Full Sutton

  572

  556

  Garth

  513

  515

  317

  In use CNA and population on 24 June 1996

  In use

  Population

  Gartree

  360

  357

  Glen Parva

  792

  847

  Gloucester

  211

  249

  Grendon

  245

  224

  Guys Marsh

  300

  298

  Haslar

  158

  144

  Hatfield

  180

  165

  Haverigg

  450

  434

  Hewell Grange

  174

  193

  High Down

  649

  637

  Highpoint

  679

  676

  Hindley

  531

  439

  Hollesley Bay

  397

  346

  Holloway

  517

  580

  Holme House

  714

  665

  Hull

  349

  359

  Huntercombe

  240

  233

  Kingston

  106

  103

  Kirkham

  644

  609

  Kirklevington

  100

  100

  Lancaster

  218

  212

  Lancaster Farms

  438

  423

  Latchmere House

  177

  159

  Leeds

  824

  895

  Leicester

  207

  330

  Lewes

  312

  293

  Leyhill

  386

  384

  Lincoln

  434

  656

  Lindholme

  670

  656

  Littlehey

  584

  570

  Liverpool

  1,073

  1,265

  Long Lartin

  372

  354

  Low Newton

  192

  268

  Maidstone

  484

  525

  Manchester

  967

  1,115

  Moorland

  620

  626

  Morton Hall

  192

  188

  Mount

  588

  579

  New Hall

  207

  211

  North Sea Camp

  203

  153

  Northallerton

  152

  200

  Norwich

  319

  408

  Nottingham

  218

  212

  Onley

  520

  500

  Oxford

  122

  71

  Parkhurst

  378

  282

  Pentonville

  726

  850

  Portland

  526

  511

  Prescoed

  120

  95

  Preston

  311

  441

  Pucklechurch

  0

  0

  Ranby

  517

  512

  Reading

  203

  224

  Risley

  790

  744

  Rochester

  424

  358

  Send

  137

  133

  Shepton Mallett

  158

  198

  Shrewsbury

  172

  303

  Spring Hill

  210

  198

  Stafford

  434

  589

  Standford Hill

  384

  383

  Stocken

  396

  389

  Stoke Heath

  312

  312

  Styal

  239

  247

  Sudbury/Foston Hall

  488

  487

  Swaleside

  512

  509

  Swansea

  151

  212

  Swinfen Hall

  191

  191

  Thorn Cross

  240

  178

  Usk

  126

  168

  Verne

  552

  546

  Wakefield

  727

  673

  Wandsworth

  804

  860

  318

  In use CNA and population on 24 June 1996

  In use

  Population

  Wayland

  574

  554

  Wealstun

  573

  548

  Wellingborough

  352

  310

  Werrington

  114

  112

  Wetherby

  120

  120

  Whatton

  216

  216

  Whitemoor

  518

  533

  Winchester

  462

  535

  Wolds

  320

  335

  Woodhill

  669

  598

  Wormwood Scrubs

  715

  1,093

  Wymott

  799

  718

  52,612

  54,960

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those parliamentary constituencies he has visited in the last three months on official business and those constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [33860]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have visited the following constituencies on official business in the last three months:

  South Antrim

  East Belfast

  North Belfast

  West Belfast

  North Down

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  For security reasons I am unable to state those constituencies I intend to visit in the next three months.

  Pacific Institute
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of(a) the department of economic development, (b) the local enterprise development unit, (c) the Industrial Development board and (d) the Training and Employment Agency have been involved in courses of seminars delivered by the Pacific Institute. [34087]

  Mr. Ancram
  The numbers attending courses or seminars organised by the Pacific Institute are as follows:

  (a) Department of Economic Development HQ—3 staff;

  (b) The Local Enterprise Development Unit—Nil;

  (c) The Industrial Development Board—20;

  (d) The Training and Employment Agency—7.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's definition of a farm holding in relation to BSE. [34336]
  319
  Mr. Ancram
  The Department defines a farm holding in relation to BSE as an independent agricultural establishment in which bovine animals are regularly kept or bred.

  Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiation) Act 1996
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to give effect to the Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiation) Act 1996. [35347]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  [pursuant to his answer, 8 May Official Report c.190]: Elections were held on 30 May, and the initial resulting meetings of both the negotiations and the forum have taken place.

  Parliamentary approval for the consequential expenditure is being sought in a summer supplementary estimate for the Northern Ireland Office's administration, law, order, protective and miscellaneous services vote (class XV vote 1). Pending that approval further urgent expenditure to cover the costs of the elections and the initial costs of setting up and servicing the forum and negotiations estimated at £3,800,000 will be met by a further repayable advance from the contingencies fund.

  EU Collection Centres
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many EU approved collection centres there were in Northern Ireland in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [33770]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 21 June]: There were 19 such centres in Northern Ireland in both these years.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what inter-departmental collaboration is undertaken to identify and restrict systematic housing benefit fraud by organised crime syndicates. [30449]

  Mr. Heald
  The Department's investigators collaborate with other agencies where appropriate, where offences may have been committed by the same individuals against more than one agency. The Department is also represented on a number of inter-agency bodies which share intelligence on organised criminal activity. Information is shared on all benefits, including housing benefit.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will announce the introduction of a national housing benefit computer system; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the development of the system. [33791]

  Mr. Heald
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in March this year that he was inviting the local authority associations to join in a study of how local authority systems can be linked, to share information with each other and with the new Benefits Agency computer system. In particular, this study would examine the merits 320
  of introducing a unified computer system covering all local authorities' housing benefit work. This work is in its early stages and a further announcement will be made in due course when the study team has reported its findings.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the distribution and average levels of hours of work, earnings and amounts of benefit paid under the disability working allowance. [33829]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the tables:

  Distribution and average hours worked

  Hours worked

  Number of cases

  All families

  8,340

  16–20

  2,371

  20–24

  1,647

  24–28

  832

  28–30

  108

  30–32

  531

  32–36

  516

  36–40

  1,293

  40 or more

  1,042

  Average hours worked

  26.93

  Gross weekly earnings of disability working allowance recipients

  Gross weekly earnings of main earner

  Number of cases

  All families

  8,340

  Under £40.00

  1,192

  £40.00-£79.99

  3,204

  £80.00-£119.99

  1,946

  £120.00-£159.99

  1,193

  £160.00 and over

  805

  Average gross weekly earnings (£)

  87.05

  Amounts and average weekly payments of disability working allowance

  Amount of disability working allowance in payment (£ per week)

  Number of cases

  All families

  8,340

  Under £10.000

  289

  £10.00-£19.99

  595

  £20.00-£29.99

  925

  £30.00-£39.99

  1,164

  £40.00-£49.99

  1,885

  £50.00-£59.99

  640

  £60.00 and over

  2,842

  Average weekly disability working allowance (£)

  54.42

  Note:

  Exact numbers are quoted.

  Source:

  Disability working allowance 100 per cent. count of claims as at January 1996.
  321
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the most recent available figures showing(a) the number of people receiving disability working allowance and (b) an estimate of the number of potentially eligible non-claimants. [33832]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the table.

  Number of people claiming disability working allowance (January 1996)

  Estimated number of potentially eligible non-claimants (autumn 1993)1

  8,340

  20,000

  1Based on research undertaken by the Policy Studies Institute, published in October 1994; should be treated with caution due to small sample sizes.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving disability working allowance which includes(a) the £10 allowance for working more than 30 hours a week and (b) the disabled child's premium. [34272]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  As at January 1996, 3,382 received the £10 premium for working 30 hours or more a week; and 72 the disabled child's premium.

  Source:

  Disability working allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been recouped by the compensation recovery unit during the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96, by amount and type of benefit. [34274]

  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. Alan Howarth, dated 27 June 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much has been recouped by the Compensation Recovery Unit during the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 by amount and type of benefit.

  The information is given in the attached table.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  £

  Benefit type

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Invalidity benefit

  31,506,196.35

  51,912,225.48

  45,957,227.95

  Incapacity benefit

  Nil

  Nil

  21,806,993.44

  Unemployment benefit

  236,168.62

  355,419.58

  518,384.73

  Sickness benefit

  3,027,307.11

  4,391,479.21

  5,039,440.94

  Income support

  5,188,320.46

  7,999.922.25

  10,150,965.02

  Attendance allowance

  495,364.16

  876,537.69

  839,317.51

  Statutory sick pay

  13,874,752.39

  17,268,020.16

  15,281,003.03

  Mobility allowance

  942,886.54

  1,039,547.38

  821,166.41

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit

  7,899,333.58

  12,511,359.68

  16,429,575.75

  322

  £

  Benefit type

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Constant attendance allowance

  136,815.64

  244,809.00

  266,496.25

  Reduced earnings allowance

  4,894,461.35

  5,236,865.95

  4,176,652.21

  Retirement allowance

  3,506.55

  5,302.25

  601.76

  Family credit

  914.68

  625.82

  Nil

  Severe disablement allowance

  828,476.30

  1,520,197.28

  1,978,326.60

  Old cases act benefit

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Disability living allowance

  2,486,917.53

  6,601,000.90

  10,823,763.54

  Disability working allowance

  18,940.81

  53,767.19

  89,306.95

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  23,894.90

  61,817.02

  53,128.88

  Data is provisional and subject to amendment.

  Adult Dependants Benefits
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the spending on increases to benefits for adult dependants during 1995–96 in respect of(a) incapacity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance and (c) unemployment benefit. [34243]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated expenditure on adult dependency increases in 1995–96

  £ million

  Incapacity benefit

  770

  Severe disablement allowance

  5

  Unemployment benefit

  85

  Estimates rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) male and (b) female claimants of (i) severe disablement allowance, (ii) incapacity benefit and (iii) unemployment benefit also claim an allowance for an adult dependant; and if he will indicate the average amount of benefit payable in each case. [34214]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Benefit

  (a) Males to whom an adult dependency increase is payable

  Average amount in payment £

  (b) Females to whom an adult dependency-increase is payable

  Average amount in payment £

  Severe disablement allowance

  3,000

  20.69

  1,000

  21.15

  Incapacity benefit

  361,000

  31.75

  5,000

  34.16

  Unemployment benefit

  53,000

  27.78

  1,000

  27.11

  1 Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2 Severe disablement allowance and incapacity benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of cases recorded on the incapacity benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically paid cases. The figures are for claimants in receipt of an adult dependency increase at 29 February 1996.

  3 Unemployment benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of unemployed claimants taken on 8 February 1996.

  323

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the costs of raising the invalid care allowance to(a) the level of unemployment benefit and (b) the level of retirement pension. [34227]

  Mr. Burt
  The estimated cost, at 1996–97 rates, of raising the rate of invalid care allowance to the levels of unemployment benefit and retirement pension is £150 million a year and £330 million a year respectively.

  Note:

  The rate of invalid care allowance is equivalent to the rate of retirement pension, category B (lower) based on spouse's contributions.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been disqualified from invalid care allowance during 1995–96 broken down by reason for disqualification. [34226]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables.

  Disallowed claims 1995–96

  Reason

  Numbers

  Claimant under 16

  8

  Claimant over 65

  2,072

  Qualifying benefit not in payment

  21,818

  Caring less than 35 hours a week

  201

  Gainfully employed

  1,891

  In receipt of other benefits1

  3,119

  Other reasons

  20,099

  Total

  49,208

  Awards terminated 1995–96

  Reason

  Numbers

  Death of disabled person

  23,694

  Ceased caring

  19,002

  Qualifying benefit ceased

  4,130

  Overlapping benefits1

  8,607

  Gainfully employed

  5,390

  Other reasons2

  6,575

  Total

  67,398

  Notes:

  1Underlying entitlement to invalid care allowance may remain with consequent entitlement to carers premium within the income-related benefits if appropriate.

  2"Other reasons" includes disallowances on grounds of residence/presence, full-time education, more than one carer claiming for same disabled person, and carer claiming for more than one disabled person.

  Source:

  Invalid care allowance unit, based on 100 per cent. count of cases subject to amendment.

  Freeline Service
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the future of his Department's freeline service. [34634]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. Butler) on 21 June,Official Report, column 629.
  324

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many IB50 questionnaires have been(a) issued and (b) returned; and how many people have been examined for the all-work test in the year ended April 1996. [34268]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  April 1995-March 1996

  Questionnaires issued: 1,317,715.

  August 1995-March 19961

  Examinations conducted: 328,551.

  Notes:

  1Separate figures for the number of people who have been examined for the all work test have been kept only since August 1995.

  1. Data are provisional and subject to change.

  2. No records are kept of questionnaires returned. However, a recent sampling exercise indicates that 93 per cent. of questionnaires are returned within the six weeks time limit.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who have been disallowed(a) incapacity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance, (c) income support with a disability premium and (d) credits, have subsequently signed on as unemployed during the year ended April 1996 and received (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) income support and (iii) both. [34267]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Up to the end of March 1996 there were 40,257 claims for unemployment benefits from people who have been found capable of work under the provisions of the Incapacity for Work Act 1994.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of(a) family credit and (b) disability working allowance are currently earning below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions. [34319]

  Mr. Heald
  There are 133,000 family credit awards and 2,752 disability working allowance awards where the main earner earns less than lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Notes:

  1. The exact number is quoted for disability working allowance. Number of family credit claims is rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. The lower earnings limit referred to for the purposes of this question is the amount for April 1995-April 1996 which was £58.00 per week.

  3. Data for family credit and disability working allowance, is for October 1995 and January 1996 respectively.

  Source:

  1. Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  2. Disability working allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  3. Social security statistics 1995.
  325

  Overpayments
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recoverability determinations of overpayment have been made by adjudication officers under section 71 of the Social Security Admissions Act 1992 and equivalent previous provisions in each year since 1988; what amounts of such overpayments were recovered in cash terms and at constant prices, in each year since 1988 for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the annual recovery of overpayments which would be achieved under the provisions of the Social Security (Overpayments) Bill. [34784]

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

  The Benefit Agency's 1996–97 target for recovering benefit overpayments is £91.5 million. In addition, £43.5 million is expected to be recovered under the agency's security and control programme, although the full amount will not be recovered during 1996–97.

  The provisions of the Social Security (Overpayments) Bill 1996 would not increase the amount of overpaid benefit recovered. It has been introduced following a decision by a social security commissioner on overpayment recovery. The Bill reinstates the long standing policy and practice of correcting benefit in payment immediately an overpayment is discovered and allowing a decision on the overpayment to be made at a later date.

  Amount recovered2

  Year

  Number of recoverable determination1

  £ million cash prices

  £ million 1996–97 prices

  1991–92

  87,337

  24.3

  27.99

  1992–93

  256,078

  43.5

  48.15

  1993–94

  405,984

  79.6

  85.62

  1994–95

  590,218

  116.0

  122.47

  1995–96

  546,861

  122.1

  125.46

  1 The number of determinations includes recoveries under sections 71 and 74 of the Act. Although separate records are not held for section 71, they would constitute the bulk of recoverable overpayments.

  2 Includes a small amount arising from recovery of "official error" overpayments which cannot be disagregated as separate records are not held.

  Records of overpayment recovery are not held prior to 1991–92.

  Industrial Injury Pensions
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many industrial injury pensions were paid in the last complete year for which figures are available; what proportion was for industrial diseases; of these how many were for(a) pneumoconiosis, (b) asbestosis, (c) occupational deafness and (d) chronic bronchitis and emphysema. [34950]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
  326
  As at 1 April 1995 the number of industrial injuries disablement benefit assessments in payment was 237,208. Of these, 44,544 assessments or 18.78 per cent. were in respect of prescribed industrial diseases.

  Assessments in payment at 1 April 1995

  Number

  Pneumoconiosis1

  12,913

  Asbestos-related diseases2

  1,794

  Occupational deafness

  14,201

  Chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema

  3,536

  Notes:

  1 Pneumoconiosis, prescribed disease D1, includes pneumoconiosis, silicosis and asbestosis. information relating to asbestosis cases alone could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  2 The figures relating to asbestos related diseases include assessments relating to diffuse mesothelioma, prescribed disease D3; carcinoma of the lung, prescribed disease D8, and bilateral diffuse pleural thickening, prescribed disease D9.

  Source:

  Benefits Agency: Based on a 10 per cent. sample with an allowance for late returns. A recipient may be in receipt of more than one pension assessment.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of industrial injury pensions paid in the last complete year for which figures are available relate to workers or former workers in(a) coal mining, (b) construction and (c) heavy engineering. [34951]

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

  As at 1 April 1995, the number of industrial injuries disablement benefit assessments in payment was 237,208. Of these, 14.76 per cent. or 35,014 relate to workers, or former workers in the coal mining industry, including deep coal mining, opencast coal working and the manufacture of solid fuel and 12.48 per cent. or 29,594 relate to workers, or former workers, in the construction industry.

  Information relating to heavy engineering is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Source:

  Benefits Agency—based on a 10 per cent. sample with an allowance for late returns. A recipient may be in receipt of more than one pension assessment.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the impact on(a) housing benefit and (b) mortgage interest payments of a benefit sanction for non-compliance with a jobseeker's direction during the two-week and four-week periods under the jobseeker's allowance. [35288]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Sanctions will have no effect on housing benefit. Entitlement to mortgage interest payments will depend on whether a jobseeker can demonstrate that he is in hardship. Mortgage interest payments will continue where jobseeker's allowance is awarded under the hardship provision during the sanction.
  327

  Funeral Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to appoint an independent regulator of the funeral industry. [34411]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have no such plans.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what powers he has to regulate the funeral industry; and what self-regulatory structures exist; [34423]

  (2) what powers he has to limit the prices charged by the funeral industry. [34422]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have no powers to limit prices charged by the funeral industry. Competition is the best regulator of prices. On self-regulation, I understand that codes of practices are operated by the relevant trade associations—the National Association of Funeral Directors, the Funeral Standards Council and the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors.

HEALTH

  Dental Practices, London
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in each London borough council accepted NHS patients in 1995. [33105]

  Mr. Malone
  The information available is shown in the table.

  General Dental Service: number of dentists who had additions to their register, by London local borough council for year ending 31 December 1995

  Local authority

  Number of dentists

  All local authority districts

  3,294

  City of London

  11

  Barking and Dagenham

  41

  Barnet

  169

  Bexley

  79

  Brent

  138

  Bromley

  136

  Camden

  143

  Croydon

  148

  Ealing

  146

  Enfield

  105

  Greenwich

  77

  Hackney

  65

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  93

  Haringey

  121

  Harrow

  89

  Havering

  74

  Hillingdon

  96

  Hounslow

  105

  Islington

  78

  Kensington and Chelsea

  74

  Kingston upon Thames

  71

  Lambeth

  113

  Lewisham

  114

  Merton

  62

  Newham

  70

  Redbridge

  98

  Richmond upon Thames

  84

  Southwark

  111

  Sutton

  90

  328

  General Dental Service: number of dentists who had additions to their register, by London local borough council for year ending 31 December 1995

  Local authority

  Number of dentists

  Tower Hamlets

  76

  Waltham Forest

  85

  Wandsworth

  145

  City of Westminster

  187

  Additions to the register include instances of patients registering with a dentist after a break in attendance and instances of reinstatement of registrations that have been cancelled in error. Some dentists have contracts in more than one London Borough Council area. Where appropriate, these dentists have been included in the calculation for each London Borough Council area in which they are under contract.

  Counts relate to registrations for which payments were authorised during the year. Payments are made one month in arrears.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those parliamentary constituencies he has visited in the last three months on official business and those constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [33863]

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the past three months, I have visited the following constituencies:

  Kensington

  City of London and Westminster, South

  Welwyn Hatfield

  Leeds, Central

  Ealing, Southall

  Bow and Poplar

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  Cambridge

  Rutland and Melton

  Meriden

  Chelsea

  Leicester, East

  Coventry, South-west

  Coventry, South-east

  Coventry, North-east

  City of Chester

  Halton

  Birmingham, Ladywood

  Harrogate

  The constituencies which I expect to visit in the next three months are as follows:

  Leicester, South

  City of London and Westminster, South

  Chelsea

  Hartlepool

  Stratford upon Avon

  Wigan

  Burgner Report
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Burgner report on the responses to "Moving Forward" will be published. [34494]
  329
  Mr. Bowis
  More than 500 submissions were received in response to the Government's consultation paper "Moving Forward". Mr. Burgner is now assessing these, and will be reporting his conclusions to me in due course.

  Social Services Inspectorate (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the work of the social services inspectorate in West Yorkshire over the past 10 years; [34337]

  (2) what reports he has received from the social services inspectorate in the last 10 years in respect of individuals in West Yorkshire who had not received the service and assistance to which they were entitled under Government regulations; and if he will make a statement; [34338]

  (3) if he will publish the reports from the social services inspectorate covering West Yorkshire for the past 10 years in respect of cases where local authorities social services departments have not complied with Government regulations or guidelines; and if he will make a statement. [34339]

  Mr. Bowis
  The work of the social services inspectorate—SSI—is described fully in the annual reports of the chief inspector, copies of which are available in the Library. In the regions, the SSI is primarily concerned with promoting departmental policy on the provision of social services, and monitoring and reporting on the work of social services departments. It is not part of its normal duties to report to Ministers on individual cases.

  Since 1990, the inspectorate has carried out a number of formal inspections across the range of children's and adult services in each of the five metropolitan districts in West Yorkshire. Reports of these inspections are publicly available. Information on inspections carried out before 1990 is not available.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 509, what are the services for people seeking asylum on which his Department is spending an additional £25 million in 1996–97. [34789]

  Mr. Bowis
  The £25 million has been earmarked for a special grant to compensate social services departments for additional expenditure they may incur in support of children in need, as a result of changes or prospective changes to social security benefits for asylum seekers.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that in-patient units whose patients include offenders with disturbed personalities have access to psychodynamic expertise. [34616]

  Mr. Bowis
  All patients should have access to an appropriate range of multi-disciplinary psychological assessments, interventions and therapies. These need to 330
  be more broadly based than the dynamic psychotherapies. Assessing and meeting the need for these different therapies is a matter for local health and social services.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he has taken since March(a) to review and (b) to enhance the clinical training and experience in psychodynamic and forensic aspects of psychiatry of trainees in general psychiatry; [34624]

  (2) what action he has taken since March to ensure that general psychiatrists taking up consultant posts with responsibility for secure beds have had a period of training in forensic psychiatry; [34621]

  (3) what action he has taken since March to ensure that all trainees in general psychiatry spend a period of training under the supervision of a forensic psychiatrist. [34623]

  Mr. Bowis
  The standard and content of specialist medical training in psychiatry is the responsibility of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Department of Health holds regular meetings with the college to discuss the content of training and areas of mutual concern.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that professional clinical assessments by staff, other than those in psychiatry and nursing, are included in case conference reports, reviews and hospital transfers in respect of restricted patients. [34628]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is good practice to record any multidisciplinary assessments undertaken in respect of restricted patients. It is also usual for information to be transferred to the relevant agencies when patients leave hospital.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that medical members of mental health review tribunals receive a set of summary documents with reports from professionals responsible for the patient's care and treatment. [34606]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is good practice for the medical member to have sight of all documents concerning a patient and this is provided for in the Mental Health Review Tribunal Rules 1983.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that offender patients are given regular interviews with responsible medical officers and clinicians. [34618]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is good clinical practice.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to meet the training needs of(a) existing and (b) new members of mental health review tribunals. [34622]

  Mr. Bowis
  The introduction last year of national induction training for all tribunal members was an important new initiative which was carried through by the tribunal training group. The group has been considering the opportunities for training for existing members, which currently takes the form of discussion at regular members' meetings. The members' handbook has also been revised and the group is looking at whether a training video could be commissioned.
  331
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that reviews of practice following major untoward events involving patients detained under the Mental Health Acts are conducted by managers without direct line responsibility for the case in question. [34630]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for local managers to decide who should conduct investigations into operational procedures following an untoward event.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken since March in consultation with relevant professional bodies to draw from the best practice in child protection and to develop an inter-agency approach to case management for mentally ill patients who are discharged into the community. [34615]

  Mr. Bowis
  There is already a considerable body of guidance and good practice on the case management of mentally ill patients who are discharged into the community. This includes guidance on the proper implementation of the care programme approach and inter-agency working.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that responsible medical officers seek the advice of a psychologist or other suitably qualified person, who is not a member of the clinical team responsible for the patient, in respect of behaviour modification programmes, particularly in the absence of valid patient consent. [34617]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Mental Health Act code of practice, which has been disseminated widely, emphasises the importance of an appropriately skilled individual supervising behaviour modification programmes. This individual may or may not be attached to the clinical team responsible for the patient.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place since March with(a) the Royal College of Psychiatrists, (b) the Royal College of Nursing and (c) other relevant bodies to plan for additional guidance to their memberships about the inquiries they should make in respect of criminal offences committed by patients detained under the Mental Health Acts. [34629]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is a matter for the professional organisations concerned to provide for additional guidance to their members.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions or guidance have been given to social services departments to ensure that case records are transferred with patients restricted under the Mental Health Acts. [34627]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health guide to arrangements for inter-agency working for the care and protection of severely mentally ill people, "Building Bridges", which was published in November 1995, includes guidance on the use and disclosure of patient information. It calls for all agencies caring for people with mental health problems, whether restricted under mental health legislation or not, to have procedures to ensure that records are transferred, or copied, according to agency procedures, quickly when a patient moves district and/or 332
  local authority. It urges authorities to set sensible targets for the transfer of records, recommending transfer within two days in urgent cases and two weeks for less urgent cases. Copies of "Building Bridges" were sent to NHS agencies and social services departments.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken following the House of Lords decision in Home Secretary v. Oxford regional mental health review tribunal (1988) AC120 to ensure that tribunals may adjourn an application to give time for further examination of a patient's mental health before any discharge decision is made. [34614]

  Mr. Bowis
  Tribunals already have powers to adjourn before a final decision on whether to discharge is taken.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to ensure that only approved social workers are assigned the task of social supervision of restricted patients. [34609]

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities and probation services, from which social supervisors are drawn, are aware of their responsibility to ensure that only suitably qualified and experienced staff are appointed as social supervisors of restricted patients.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of mentally handicapped children currently in(a) local authority residential care, (b) private residential care and (c) voluntary residential care (i) in the north-west and (ii) nationally; and what are the corresponding figures for 10 years previously. [34105]

  Mr. Bowis
  The table shows centrally available information on children and, to enable comparison between years, figures for people of all ages in homes for children.

  Residents in residential care for children with learning disabilities as at 31 March

  Numbers

  All sectors

  Local authority

  Voluntary sector

  Private sector

  North West1

  19872 all ages1

  263

  224

  39

  0

  under 164

  125

  106

  19

  0

  1995 all ages3

  164

  152

  12

  0

  under 18

  153

  141

  12

  0

  England

  19872 all ages3

  1,530

  1,115

  307

  108

  under 164

  743

  579

  112

  52

  1995 all ages3

  1,328

  919

  282

  127

  under 18

  1,037

  777

  189

  71

  Source: DH annual return RAC5

  1North west standard statistical region.

  2Figures are not available before 1987.

  3Includes both children and adults receiving care in homes for children with learning disabilities.

  4Before 1994, information was collected on children under 16, so the figures cannot be compared directly.

  Clinical Psychologists
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken since March to ensure the funding of an adequate number of training places for clinical psychologists. [34620]
  333
  Mr. Malone
  The national health service executive issued education and training planning guidance on 17 June 1996, EL (96)46, asking education and training consortiums to consider their future demand and the level of training investment needed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified clinical psychologists. The NHS executive maintains a national overview. The number of NHS-funded training places is planned to rise by 11.8 per cent. in 1996–97.

  Forensic Social Work
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target date has been set for relevant Government Departments to require all social supervisors of restricted patients to acquire competency in forensic social work. [34597]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for individual local authorities and probation services to identify the needs of their staff for training in forensic social work and to make appropriate arrangements. The competencies and training guidance in forensic social work which the Department of Health commissioned from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, offers guidance to local authorities and probation services on how this can be achieved.

  Food Regulations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for milk, vitamins and other foods listed in the Welfare Food Regulations 1988. [34860]

  Mr. Horam
  The only change to the eligibility criteria has been to reflect forthcoming changes in the social security scheme when those entitled to an income-based jobseeker's allowance will also be eligible to receive welfare foods.

  Local Authority and Health Services Staff
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has now published its advice on the role of local authority and health services staff as a single document. [34607]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department published guidance on inter-agency working, "Building Bridges", in November 1995, copies of which are available in the Library. The document provides advice to a range of professionals, including health and local authority social services staff, involved with the planning and delivery of services to severely mentally ill people.

  Homicide Inquiries
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to advise authorities mandated to set up inquires under NHS executive guidance HSG(94)27 regarding giving families of victims the opportunity to be present at any homicide inquiry. [34619]

  Mr. Bowis
  The national health service executive already encourages health authorities to keep families of victims informed of an inquiry's progress and to afford them the opportunity to give evidence.
  334

  Regional Health Service Managers
  Mr. Bluhkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the records for staff on senior managers pay point 9 or above, employed by the former regional health authorities, were transferred to the national health service management executive on incorporation in April 1996; and if he will make a statement. [33613]

  Mr. Horam
  Employment records for regional health authority staff, including those at SMP9 or above, whose employment transferred to the Department of Health were retained in the regional offices when those offices became part of the national health service executive on the abolition of regional health authorities.

  Information Management Group
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to strengthen the senior management of the information management group. [35065]

  Mr. Horam
  The management of the national health service for coding and classification—a branch of the information management group—has been strengthened by the designation of two deputy directors. There are no other plans to change the management of the information management group.

  Statutory Measures
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many statutory measures his Department introduced in(a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) between 1 January 1996 and 1 May 1996 which had the effect of repealing one or more previous statutory instruments without replacing them with a new regulation. [35031]

  Mr. Horam
  This information was included in the list of regulations placed in the House Library by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 May.

  Read Codes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) evaluation arrangements, (b) business case, (c) value-for-money submission and (d) competitive tendering procedures were submitted to the Treasury for a computerised medical terms language prior to the selection of the Read codes system. [35071]

  Mr. Horam
  The decision to negotiate a purchase of the copyright for Read terms rested on a joint recommendation from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners following an evaluation of coding and classification systems undertaken by the joint computing group of these organisations.

  As to the matters of a business case and value for money, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health gave him on 18 October 1995, Official Report, columns 280–81.

  Since the Read codes were a unique product for which purchase was being negotiated, there could be no question of a tendering process.
  335

  Shellfish
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of illness in Devon have been reported as a result of eating shellfish within the last 12 months; how many of these cases emanated from plants licensed by the Government; and if each case has been notified to the local environmental health officer. [35068]

  Mr. Horam
  The public health laboratory service has received information on two cases of shellfish-related illness in Devon during the past 12 months. For the same period, there were 82 reported cases of illness in England and Wales associated with the consumption of shellfish, of which 70 cases were linked to shellfish originating from harvesting areas or purification plants in and around the south-western region.

  Shellfish purification plants are approved by local authority environmental health departments. Environmental health departments would normally be aware of illness linked to plants in their area.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of illness arising from consumption of shellfish have been reported in each of the last five years. [35070]

  Mr. Horam
  Cases of shellfish-related illness reported to the public health laboratory service were as follows:

  1991: 244

  1992: 186

  1993: 98

  1994: 104

  1995: 78.

  Alcohol (Young People)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to reduce the exposure of young people to high alcohol brands of lemonades and cordials. [35023]

  Mr. Bowls
  The Government are aware of concerns about the appeal of certain alcoholic drinks to young people. We welcome the code of practice for the packaging, marketing and sale of alcoholic drinks the Portman Group published in April. The Portman Group and other signatories will monitor the code, and we shall be following this carefully to see how effective it is in practice.

  St. Bartholomew's and Royal London Hospitals
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about his Department's current plans on(a) St. Bartholomew's and (b) the Royal London hospitals. [35207]

  Mr. Malone
  A statement which, among other issues, referred to St. Bartholomew's hospital and the Royal London hospital, was made to the House on 5 April 1995.

  Computer Aided Medical Systems plc
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to amend the financial arrangements between the NHS and its centre for coding and classification in Loughborough and Computer Aided Medical Systems plc. [35067]
  336
  Mr. Horam
  A study of the licensing arrangements between Computer Aided Medical Systems plc and the national health service has been commissioned with a view to their simplification and a reduction in their associated costs. the National Audit Office is examining the relationships between the NHS centre for coding and classicisations and Computer Aided Medical Systems plc. The arrangement referred to in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 4 June Official Report, at column 383, by which the same financial consultant oversaw the accounting and book-keeping of both bodies, has been changed. The consultant now deals only with the NHS centre for coding and classification.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in each of the last five years to discourage the use of(a) nicotine, (b) alcohol, (c) unnecessary medicinal drugs, (d) cannabis, (e) ecstasy and (f) heroin. [34895]

  Mr. Bowis
  The table shows the amount spent on behalf of the Department of Health on publicity and prevention initiatives for smoking and drug and solvent misuse over the last five years. Initiatives for drug and solvent misuse cover cannabis, ecstasy and heroin. No medicinal product can be licensed if it does not have a medicinal purpose. The figures for alcohol relate to sensible drinking messages and messages to people who may be having alcohol problems.

  Financial year

  Smoking £

  Alcohol £

  Unnecessary medicinal drugs

  Drug and solvent misuse

  1992–93

  5,438,000

  1,613,000

  None

  4,965,023

  1993–94

  8,256,000

  1,548,000

  None

  5,296,284

  1994–95

  10,538,000

  819,000

  None

  4,443,396

  1995–96

  6,342,000

  825,000

  None

  5,000,000

  1996–97

  6,500,000

  825,000

  None

  5,000,000

  B-12 Unit, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the B-12 unit located at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust has independent provider status; and if he will make a statement. [34952]

  Mr. Malone
  The vitamin B-12 unit is part of the Charing Cross and Westminster medical school, located on the Chelsea and Westminster hospital site.

  Ecstasy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of deaths involving ecstasy use in the last five years were attributed to(a) overheating, (b) excess water intake and (c) other causes. [34892]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not possible to provide percentages in the way requested. The Office for National Statistics attributes these deaths to an underlying cause of abuse of ecstasy, or poisoning with ecstasy, not to any particular complication of the drug which may have been mentioned as having led to death.
  337

  Cannabis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that cannabis or further derivatives of cannabis are available to those suffering from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, glaucoma and the effects of chemotherapy. [34894]

  Mr. Bowis
  Nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, is already licensed for use in the treatment of certain conditions. Should any company wish to apply for a licence for medicines derived from cannabis, the Medicines Control Agency would consider this on the basis of the product's quality, safety and efficacy.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many parliamentary questions to his Department have been referred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental agency for which he has responsibility so far in the 1995–96 parliamentary Session. [34953]

  Mr. Horam
  A search of the parliamentary database on POLIS—parliamentary on-line information system—database has identified a total of 22 such parliamentary questions which were answered up to and including 24 June in the 1995–96 parliamentary Session. This represents less than 1 per cent. of the total.

  Health Care Reforms
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which European countries(a) signed and (b) refused to sign the charter on reforming health care produced by the World Health Organisation conference on European health care reforms in Ljubljana on 17 to 20 June; [35141]

  (2) which European countries were represented at the World Health Organisation conference on European health care reforms in Ljubljana on 17 to 20 June by (a) health Ministers and (b) other officials; [35131]

  (3) if he will list the recommendations in the charter on reforming health care produced by the World Health Organisation conference on European health care reforms in Ljubljana on 17 to 20 June which the Government do not accept indicating the consideration underlying the Government's policy; and what other factors led the Government not to endorse the charter. [35142]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department of Health does not have full details of the delegations which attended the Ljubijana conference. The charter on reforming health care was adopted by consensus.

  The charter was developed by the World Health Organisation principally for countries from central and eastern European and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union whose health care structures are less well developed than those of western European countries. The reform of the national health service has continued to evolve in line with published targets and standards. The Government will continue to pursue this course for securing the highest possible standard of health care for the people of this country.
  338

  Child Abuse Inquiries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of the Leeways report chaired by Elizabeth Lawson QC. [35127]

  Mr. Bowis
  This was an inquiry set up by the London borough of Lewisham. I have no information on costs.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of the inquiry(a) into child care in Staffordshire and (b) the report "The Pindown Experience and the Protection of Children". [35126]

  Mr. Bowis
  The inquiry and report were funded by Staffordshire county council. I have no information on costs.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) reports and (b) inquiries have been commissioned into child abuse by his Department since 1979. [35130]

  Mr. Bowis
  Two statutory inquiries into child abuse have been commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health since 1979: the Cleveland inquiry 1988 and the Leicestershire inquiry 1992.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of the residential staffs inquiry chaired by Lady Howe indicating separately the cost of the report, "The Quality of Care". [35138]

  Mr. Bowis
  The inquiry was set up by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services and published by the Local Government Board. I have no information on its costs.

  Royal London Hospital
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the contract for the private finance initiative—PFI—rebuilding of the Royal London hospital to be signed; if he will publish the terms of the contract; and what PFI funding will be provided. [35208]

  Mr. Malone
  The Royal Hospitals NHS trust issued an invitation to negotiate for this work in April, and formal responses to this invitation are due by 2 September. The trust will then choose a preferred bidder and work up a full business case for approval by the NHS executive and Her Majesty's Treasury. It is too early to say what the capital value of the scheme is likely to be, or when the contract is likely to be signed.

  The terms of the contract will be commercial in confidence.

  Edgware General Hospital
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce the details of the replacement emergency facilities to be established at Edgware general hospital. [35073]

  Mr. Dorrell
  A working group was established last December to make recommendations to Barnet health authority about medical input to the casualty service at Edgware hospital. It is meeting on 4 July to finalise its recommendations, which will then be published. Proposals for implementing the working group's
  339
  recommendations will be made public when they are sent to members of the health authority on 24 July. The health authority will reach its decision on these proposals on 31 July.

  Health Service Staff Costs
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 934, if he will update the figures on employment of non-NHS staff. [35206]

  Mr. Malone
  Figures for 1995–96 expenditure are not yet available.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 88, if it is his Department's policy that health authority inspection reports into private nursing homes should be available to the public. [35210]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 June,Official Report, column 88.

  Photo-chemical Fog (Deaths)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of excess deaths that occurred in each period of excessive photo-chemical fog in each of the past five years. [35026]

  Mr. Horam
  A recent study by Professor Ross Anderson, a member of the Department of Health's committee on the medical effects of air pollutants—COMEAP—has shown that day-to-day variations of ozone concentrations are, during the wanner months of the year, related to daily mortality figures. It is not possible, however, to provide a precise estimate of the excess deaths produced by exposure to these pollutants during recent years.

  The Department of Health has recently established a sub-group of COMEAP with the specific objective of improving estimates of the size of the effects of air pollutants on health in the United Kingdom. An initial report is expected in 1997.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish proposals to amend the legal aid scheme. [34017]

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what new proposals he has to reduce the total cost of legal aid. [33700]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Lord Chancellor expects very shortly to announce his proposals for the reform of the legal aid scheme.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure that legal aid is not available to nationals of 340
  countries which do not have reciprocal arrangements for United Kingdom nationals. [33695]

  Mr. Streeter
  It would not be right to place nationality restrictions on the availability of legal aid for those faced with criminal charges in this country. The Lord Chancellor will announce his proposals for fundamental reform of the legal aid system shortly. An important part of these reforms will be to ensure that the money available for civil legal aid goes to those in the greatest need.

  Mr. Flynn
  to ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by decile the amounts paid from, and the number of recipients of, the legal aid fund in each of the last five years. [35027]

  Mr. Streeter
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Court Buildings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the process for revising the names of court buildings in England. [33696]

  Mr. Streeter
  Magistrates courts are locally managed by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979. Any decision concerning the name of a magistrates courthouse remains that of the relevant committee. There is no fixed administrative or statutory procedure for revising the name of a county or Crown court building. However, the decision to make a name change would depend on a number of factors including, for example, location, historical connections and geographical jurisdiction.

  King Edward VIII (Records)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he estimates that all the records relating to the activities of King Edward VIII will be in the public domain. [33697]

  Mr. Streeter
  Withheld public records relating to the late Duke of Windsor are being re-reviewed by the Departments which hold them, and will be released in the Public Record Office at the appropriate time.

  Landowners
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for legislation to abolish the liability for landowners to meet the cost of chancel repairs. [33699]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Law Commission has recommended in its report "Property Law: Liability for Chancel Repairs", Law Commission No. 152, that the liability of individual landowners for chancel repairs should be abolished, and the Government have decided that the Church authorities should be consulted further before a decision is taken as to whether this recommendation should be implemented.
  341

  Mental Incapacity
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to amend the law in respect of mental incapacity. [33694]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Government announced in January 1996 that they intend to publish a consultation paper on mental incapacity. Any decisions regarding legislation will be made in the light of the outcome of consultation.

  Magistrates Court, Bolton
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he can report with plans to build a new magistrates court in Bolton; and if he will make a statement. [33698]

  Mr. Streeter
  Procedures for obtaining privately financed solutions to magistrates courts' accommodation needs are being finalised. Bolton metropolitan district council will be invited to submit proposals once a revised programme and the procedures are published.

  Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints he has received on the operation of the solicitors disciplinary tribunal in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [33693]

  Mr. Streeter
  My Department receives very few complaints about the solicitors disciplinary tribunal. The tribunal is entirely independent from the Lord Chancellor, although the Department has responsibility for the payment of allowances to the tribunal's lay members.

  Judicial Studies Board
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the status of the Judicial Studies Board. [35471]

  Mr. Streeter
  I have today placed in the Library a memorandum of understanding which gives the Judicial Studies Board greater autonomy in the organisation of judicial training, and greater responsibility for planning and financial control. It is right that the nature and content of judicial training should be primarily a matter for the judiciary, if it is to remain relevant to the judiciary's needs. I am convinced that the memorandum will, over time, help the board to enhance the quality of the training facilities made available to the judiciary, and to improve

  Dwellings started in Wales 1985–1995

  Number

  District

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Aberconwy

  85

  178

  156

  368

  256

  246

  225

  153

  288

  238

  311

  Alyn and Deeside

  258

  189

  275

  427

  276

  630

  417

  275

  364

  336

  367

  Arfon

  117

  99

  178

  175

  187

  93

  198

  162

  192

  82

  97

  Blaenau Gwent

  26

  229

  206

  111

  240

  181

  190

  171

  135

  103

  180

  Brecknock

  117

  118

  114

  285

  233

  148

  162

  80

  134

  159

  43

  Cardiff

  1,367

  1,404

  1,972

  1,943

  1,239

  976

  1,383

  901

  974

  1,358

  627

  Carmarthan

  123

  167

  268

  327

  343

  224

  169

  148

  285

  191

  163

  Ceredigion

  213

  219

  259

  429

  421

  277

  274

  176

  208

  212

  325

  Colwyn

  225

  267

  394

  476

  380

  280

  230

  140

  188

  232

  264

  Cynon Valley

  118

  87

  137

  122

  234

  235

  118

  281

  205

  163

  118

  Delyn

  151

  181

  227

  344

  389

  475

  470

  298

  217

  261

  160

  342
  the advice and assistance which the JSB gives towards the training of magistrates and chairmen and members of tribunals.

WALES

  Wheelchair Provision
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the wheelchair users and the organisations representing wheelchair users with whom he has consulted concerning the options that he is considering for the future of wheelchair provision in Wales; and if he will make a statement on progress on this issue. [34402]

  Mr. Hague
  Discussions on the future provision of wheelchair services in Wales are continuing. Once detailed options have been identified, the views of voluntary organisations representing wheelchair users will be sought.

  Sport (Schools)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many responses he has received on his consultation document, "Young People and Sport in Wales", and what views respondents expressed on the publication of sports results by schools in their annual report. [34425]

  Mr. Gwilyn Jones
  We have received several responses on the policy document "Young People and Sport in Wales" since its launch in September 1995. The document does not request views on the publication of sports results by schools in their annual report.

  Swansea Institute of Higher Education (Overseas Courses)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about the management of overseas courses by the Swansea Institute of Higher Education; and if he will make a statement. [34734]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  None.

  Housing Starts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total of housing starts in each Welsh local authority in each of the past 11 years. [34893]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information is given in the table:
  343

  Dwellings started in Wales 1985–1995

  Number

  District

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Dinefwr

  109

  123

  117

  240

  154

  185

  182

  232

  156

  109

  90

  Dwyfor

  57

  109

  64

  109

  54

  79

  74

  142

  68

  41

  36

  Glyndwr

  128

  114

  197

  337

  127

  78

  177

  147

  118

  116

  102

  Islwyn

  98

  212

  105

  194

  125

  164

  82

  53

  60

  87

  215

  Llanelli

  211

  160

  98

  266

  191

  248

  203

  289

  413

  537

  324

  Lliw Valley

  113

  151

  111

  183

  537

  295

  469

  185

  225

  267

  153

  Meirionnydd

  54

  49

  26

  31

  66

  90

  44

  49

  64

  105

  63

  Merthyr Tydfil

  150

  109

  187

  167

  314

  156

  115

  97

  178

  189

  105

  Monmouth

  486

  351

  591

  569

  348

  260

  268

  285

  532

  461

  325

  Montgomeryshire

  267

  257

  290

  543

  423

  352

  259

  389

  359

  291

  343

  Neath

  62

  119

  183

  196

  318

  250

  174

  78

  234

  203

  193

  Newport

  887

  231

  768

  456

  693

  241

  271

  460

  222

  286

  333

  Ogwr

  432

  397

  416

  566

  413

  476

  479

  484

  576

  506

  453

  Port Talbot

  69

  63

  49

  157

  153

  169

  93

  70

  146

  95

  105

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  108

  190

  62

  198

  242

  298

  195

  237

  273

  355

  414

  Radnorshire

  64

  83

  128

  266

  220

  122

  150

  123

  177

  135

  50

  Rhondda

  32

  27

  94

  227

  174

  124

  174

  142

  120

  136

  39

  Rhuddian

  148

  159

  126

  183

  159

  128

  160

  140

  266

  173

  112

  Rhymney Valley

  200

  154

  236

  280

  342

  273

  238

  196

  184

  108

  481

  South Pembrokeshire

  87

  160

  199

  308

  357

  326

  146

  197

  359

  269

  181

  Swansea

  410

  367

  414

  814

  539

  321

  281

  421

  833

  1,204

  631

  Taff Ely

  395

  301

  618

  400

  565

  388

  328

  400

  386

  507

  634

  Torfaen

  374

  228

  322

  259

  296

  379

  288

  290

  336

  202

  258

  Vale of Glamorgan

  451

  624

  615

  497

  410

  343

  251

  464

  497

  410

  560

  Wrexham Maelor

  383

  388

  329

  431

  341

  498

  334

  464

  473

  342

  240

  Ynys Mon

  129

  137

  176

  156

  305

  246

  124

  98

  143

  120

  127

  Total

  8,704

  8,401

  10,707

  13,040

  12,064

  10,254

  9,395

  8,917

  10,588

  10,589

  9,222

  EU Funding
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, columns 65–66, if he will list for each of the last three years those applications to the European Union for financial support for education and training projects on which he has received information. [34488]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 26 June,Official Report, column 155.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of Pembrokeshire NHS trust regarding the piloting of the Read codes computerised medical terms language in a clinical setting at Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest. [35066]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Child Abuse Inquiries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost to public funds of the report into child abuse in north Wales by Nicola Davies QC. [35137]

  Mr. Hague
  The cost was £99,500.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of public funds of "Accommodating Children—A Review of Children's Homes in Wales" by the social services inspectorate of the Welsh Office. [35139]

  Mr. Hague
  Part of the survey work in respect of this report was undertaken by an outside consultancy and cost £20,000.
  344
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of public funds of(a) the Tymawr community home inquiry and (b) the report by Gareth Williams QC and John McCreadie. [35125]

  Mr. Hague
  The inquiry was undertaken by Gwent county council and I have no information in respect of costs.

DEFENCE

  Porton Down and Nancekuke
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former and present staff who have worked at the chemical warfare establishments at Porton Down and Nancekuke have claimed compensation since 1966 for injury or illnesses arising out of their employment at the establishments. [34468]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Since 1989, two service personnel have submitted claims for compensation in respect of injury or illness arising out of their employment at Porton Down or Nancekuke. It is not possible to establish the number of service personnel who may have claimed in the period 1966 to 1989, or the number of civilian personnel who may have claimed since 1966 without disproportionate cost, since records of claims are not held in a way that would readily provide the data requested.

  RAF Accidents
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident
  345
  involving Royal Air Force Tornado serial number ZD743 in August 1995; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34648]

  Mr. Soames
  RAF Tornado ZD743 is undergoing repair following damage to the underside of the fuselage when landing at RAF Bruggen on 9 March 1995.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident involving Royal Air Force Harrier serial number ZG510 at Gioia del Colle, Italy; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34652]

  Mr. Soames
  Some damage to sensors in the nose area and canopy of RAF Harrier ZG510 was discovered after landing at Gioia del Colle on 7 August 1995. The equipment was repaired and the aircraft returned to service.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident involving a Royal Air Force Wessex helicopter at Sennybridge training area in autumn 1995; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34654]

  Mr. Soames
  A RAF Wessex was involved in a landing incident at Sennybridge on 19 October 1995 as a result of an uncommanded yaw. The aircraft landed safely but heavily, causing the tailcone skin to tear. Following an engineering investigation, the damage was repaired and the aircraft returned to service.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of repairing Royal Navy Sea Harrier serial number XZ440 following its accident in October 1989; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34646]

  Mr. Soames
  The cost of repairing Royal Navy Sea Harrier XZ440 was some £1.5 million. The aircraft is currently undergoing conversion from FRS Mk1 to FA Mk2 standard. Once the avionic and equipment installation programme is complete, the aircraft will be returned to service.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident involving Royal Air Force Jaguar serial number XX974; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34650]

  Mr. Soames
  A search of RAF flight safety records from the beginning of 1995 has revealed two occurrences of a technical nature involving RAF Jaguar XX974, none of which has resulted in any aircraft damage. The aircraft is still in service.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident involving Royal Air Force Tornado serial number ZA365 during 1995; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34645]

  Mr. Soames
  A search of RAF flight safety records has revealed no accident or incident involving RAF Tornado ZA365 during 1995. A bird struck the fuselage of the aircraft during a training sortie over the Moray Firth on 23 June 1994. The damage to the panel and fuselage requires complex repair work. The aircraft has not yet returned to service.
  346
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident involving Royal Air Force Chinook serial number ZA681; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34649]

  Mr. Soames
  A bird struck the nose and windscreen area of RAF Chinook ZA681 during a training sortie from RAF Wittering to RAF Odiham on 5 December 1994. There was no damage to the aircraft, which is still in service.

  Mr.Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident involving a Royal Air Force Tornado at Bruggen on 23 February; and what is the current status of the aircraft. [34653]

  Mr. Soames
  A RAF Tornado suffered suspected gearbox failure and subsequent fire shortly after taking off from RAF Bruggen on 23 February 1996. The aircraft landed safely and the fire was extinguished. The aircraft is being examined and the extent of damage has yet to be formally assessed.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of repairing Tornado serial number ZD844; and what are the estimated dates of completion of repairs and return of the aircraft to service. [34651]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated cost of repairing Tornado ZD844 is some £430,000. The forecast date for completion of the structural repairs is July 1997. Ii is expected that ZD844 will re-enter service following a major servicing later that year.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current damage and repair status of Royal Air Force Jaguar serial number XZ396. [34647]

  Mr. Soames
  Jaguar XZ396 is a serviceable aircraft currently flying with a squadron based at RAF Coltishall. The aircraft has a small dent in the rear fuselage. The damage does not impair the structural integrity of the aircraft and repair has been deferred until the next scheduled major maintenance.

  Visiting Forces Act
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British citizens have been(a) detained, (b) arrested, (c) charged, (d) acquitted and (e) prosecuted by those acting under the Visiting Forces Act 1951 in each year since 1966 to date. [34310]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 25 June 1996]:The service courts and service authorities of a country to which section 2 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 applies may exercise over persons subject to their jurisdiction all the powers conferred on them by the law of that country. Citizens of the United Kingdom can be prosecuted or tried under this provision only if they are members of a force of the country concerned. My Department is not aware of any such cases.

  Surplus Equipment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the total receipts for the sale of surplus
  347
  equipment in each of the three services in each of the past five years. [35024]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Disposal Sales Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Navy

  11.842

  25.307

  42.403

  36.202

  45.706

  161.460

  Army

  16.077

  16.173

  16.607

  26.460

  24.098

  99.415

  RAF

  2.964

  4.965

  6.430

  8.937

  6.366

  29.662

  PE

  1.644

  1.296

  1.231

  1.504

  1.488

  7.163

  Total

  32.527

  47.741

  66.671

  73.103

  77.658

  297.700

  Naval Manning Agency
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Defence Agency status for the organisation of the naval secretary and director general of naval manpower. [35349]

  Mr. Soames
  I am delighted to announce that today the organisation of the naval secretary and director general of naval manpower is to be established as a Defence agency of the Ministry of Defence. It will be entitled the Naval Manning Agency, NMA.

  The NMA's owner will be the Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, with whom the chief executive's headquarters will be collocated within HM naval base, Portsmouth.

  The NMA is to ensure that sufficient manpower is available on the trained strength and effectively deployed in peace, crisis, major crisis and war.

  As the first chief executive, the naval secretary, Rear Admiral F.M. Malbon, will be offered new opportunities to build on the current organisation's professional expertise and high performance standards. In maintaining the NMA's vital contribution to front line capability, the naval secretary, through the greater delegations and authority afforded by agency status, will actively seek to improve the efficiency and value for money of his organisation.

  The naval secretary has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:

  (1) Greater than 93 per cent. of officer billets to be filled.

  (2) Greater than 93.5 per cent. of naval rating/royal marines other ranks billets to be filled.

  (3) Total strength of naval personnel to be within 1 per cent. of the set requirement.

  (4) Greater than 60 per cent. of officers to receive more than four months' notice for change of appointment.

  (5) Greater than 98 per cent. of ratings/other ranks to receive more than the specified notice for change of employment.

  (6) The number of occurrences where minimum time ashore criteria are not met to be fewer than 150 per year.

  (7) To achieve a progressive annual 10 per cent. reduction in the number of manpower gaps.

  (8) To conduct two benchmarking exercises with comparable personnel management organisations per year.

  348
  Letter from Keith Ellenden to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 1 July 1996:

  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about receipts from the sale of surplus equipment as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.

  Total receipts from the sale of surplus equipment in each of the three services in each of the past five years are shown below.

TRANSPORT

  Quiet Aircraft (Investment)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that investments in quiet aircraft by United Kingdom airlines are protected against the incursion of fifth freedom airlines. [33852]

  Mr. Norris
  All civil flights, including fifth freedom flights, operated from the UK must comply with the provisions of the EU directive and UK regulations governing the phasing out of noisier, "Chapter 2" jet aircraft. Scheduled fifth freedom services are agreed by negotiation with our bilateral partners, following consultation with UK airlines. On 19 June my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping announced new measures aimed at tightening controls on fifth freedom charter services operated from the UK by foreign airlines. Except where flights are permitted under EC legislation, the Government's policy is to allow passenger charters to be operated by fifth freedom carriers only where no UK airline can offer a suitable aircraft.

  Cycle Helmets
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make the wearing of cycle helmets compulsory; and if he will make a statement. [34825]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government actively promote the benefits of cycle helmet wearing, but we have no plans to make them compulsory.

  Aviation Standards
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his answer of 17 June,Official Report, column 340, if he will list the aircraft type, registration number, flight destination and flight number of the Air Operation flight where the certificate of airworthiness was withdrawn; [34803]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of air operation certificates issued to Air Operations Europe. [34808]

  Mr. Norris
  [further to his answer, 17 June 1996, Official Report, c. 340]: The certificate of airworthiness for this aircraft was withdrawn after problems were found

  349
  during routine maintenance and the aircraft was therefore not allocated to any particular flight at the time. Details concerning aircraft and the air operator certificates of airlines are held by the relevant regulatory organisations—in this case the Swedish civil aviation authority.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what inspections the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken on the DC10 operated by Excalibur Airways. [34807]

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority carried out 12 inspections on the operation of the DC10 by Excalibur Airways in order to be satisfied that the operator was competent to operate the type for public transport in accordance with the company's air operator certificate. Since approval was given for such operations, a further two inspections have been carried out. The CAA advises me that this is a representative inspection profile.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many complaints were received by the Air Transport Users Council in each of the last five years; and how many of them in each year related to airline or aircraft safety; [34805]

  (2) if he will list the number and nature of complaints received by the Air Transport Users Council relating to services operated by Air Operations Europe for each of the last three years. [34806]

  Mr. Norris
  The hon. Member should seek this information from the Air Transport Users Council at 103 Kingsway, London WC2B 6QX.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the permits issued to Ghana Airways to fly into and out of the United Kingdom. [34804]

  Mr. Norris
  Ghana Airways operates scheduled passenger services between Ghana and the United Kingdom and applies for winter and summer seasonal permits to operate services. The current permit for summer 1996 allows the airline to operate four services per week between London and Accra and vice versa, in accordance with the air services arrangements agreed between our two countries.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 645, how many complaints had been received regarding the safety of aircraft registered in Bulgaria; and if he will list the airlines involved. [34810]

  Mr. Norris
  Since 1991, the Department has received 36 passenger complaints alleging various problems or deficiencies with flights using aircraft registered in Bulgaria. The Department asked the UK Civil Aviation Authority to conduct an independent assessment in Bulgaria to ensure that International Civil Aviation Organisation standards were being applied. This assessment was carried out in February 1996.

  Two Bulgarian airlines operate passenger flights to the UK. They are Balkan Airlines and Air Via.

  Parking Appeals
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appeals have so far been submitted 350
  to the parking appeals service adjudicators for London; how many of these have been determined; and how many have been successful. [34940]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is set out in the Parking Committee for London's annual report and accounts, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Heavy Goods Vehicle Licences
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of drivers entitled to drive class 1 and class 2 heavy goods vehicles whose licences have been issued since 1991. [34811]

  Mr. Norris
  As explained in my reply of 17 June,Official Report, column 339, the terms class 1 and class 2 heavy goods vehicle are no longer used. The total number of large goods vehicle licences issued since 1991 is 1,019,355. Information on the number of drivers to whom these licences have been issued is not readily available.

  Traffic Area Offices (Cardiff and Manchester)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the business case for the closure of the traffic area offices in Cardiff and Manchester. [34809]

  Mr. Norris
  The strategic case for restructuring the traffic area network was set out in the "Efficiency Scrutiny of the Traffic Area Network" report published in June 1995. I have placed in the Library a further copy of the report and the costings for the current proposals.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for each of the last three years the number of "s" endorsed prohibition notices issued by the vehicle inspectorate; [34801]

  (2) whether delayed prohibition notices count towards the enforcement targets set for the vehicle inspectorate by his Department; [34799]

  (3) in what circumstances (a) his Department and (b) the Vehicle Inspectorate are able to prohibit United Kingdom drivers from driving over their permitted hours when stopped at the roadside during roadside checks; [34802]

  (4) if he will list for each of the last five years the number of prosecutions undertaken by the vehicle inspectorate (a) in the Crown courts (b) in magistrates courts. [34800]

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

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions on prohibitions and prosecutions.

  In 1994–95, 3,219 of all prohibitions issued were endorsed "S". Information for previous years can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Delayed prohibition notices do count towards the enforcement targets set for the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI).
  351
  VI does not have the power to prohibit United Kingdom drivers from driving over the permitted hours when stopped at the roadside during roadside checks.

  Information for the last five years on the number of prosecutions taken by VI at a) Crown Court and b) Magistrates' Court can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Severn Crossings
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 32, what repair work has had to be undertaken on the approach roads to the original Severn bridge as a result of defective steelwork; and what has been the effect on traffic flows. [34946]

  Mr. Watts
  No repair work has been undertaken on the approach roads to the original Severn bridge as a result of defective steelwork.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of traffic used each of the Severn river crossings in each week since its opening. [34886]

  Mr. Watts
  In each of the first three weeks of the new Severn crossing being opened, approximately 75 per cent. of traffic has used the new bridge and 25 per cent. the old.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the difference between the total costs of the second Severn crossing(a) under the present arrangements and (b) financed entirely by public funds; and if he will make a statement. [35028]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate he has made of the difference between the total costs of the Second Severn Crossing (a) under the present arrangements and (b) financed entirely by public funds.

  A comparison of the 4 private sector bids submitted in 1989 with the estimated cost of procuring the Crossing using public funds showed that the bid submitted by the winning tenderer. Severn River Crossing Plc, was cheaper and represented the best value of money. Utilising the private sector also meant that the Crossing could be provided much earlier than would have been possible if it had to compete for scarce road programme funds.

  Permanent Way
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries have occurred in each year since 1979 arising from unauthorised access to the permanent way by (i) children under 16 years and (b) adults. [34735]

  Mr. Watts
  The number of fatal accidents and serious injuries to children under 16 years and adults arising from unauthorised access to the permanent way is shown in the following table:

  Fatal accidents

  Serious injuries

  Year

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  1979

  121

  13

  363

  41

  24

  65

  1980

  127

  13

  140

  45

  10

  55

  1981

  129

  18

  147

  34

  12

  46

  1982

  120

  10

  130

  30

  20

  50

  1983

  131

  15

  146

  37

  27

  64

  352

  Fatal accidents

  Serious injuries

  Year

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  1984

  127

  19

  146

  42

  30

  72

  1985

  137

  13

  150

  49

  22

  71

  1986

  152

  10

  162

  50

  22

  72

  1987

  129

  15

  144

  48

  15

  63

  1988

  164

  16

  180

  58

  17

  75

  1989

  141

  8

  149

  34

  13

  47

  1990

  153

  15

  168

  64

  21

  85

  1991

  28

  2

  30

  5

  4

  9

  1991–92

  143

  7

  150

  44

  19

  63

  1992–93

  127

  5

  132

  46

  12

  58

  1993–94

  114

  7

  121

  46

  10

  56

  1994–95

  128

  6

  134

  52

  9

  61

  Total

  2,171

  192

  2,363

  725

  287

  1,012

  1. Figures exclude suicides and attempted suicides.

  2. Figures for 1979 to 1990 cover calendar year 1 January to 31 December.

  3. Figures for 1991 cover the period 1 January 1991 to 31 March 1991.

  4. Figures to 1992–93 to 1994–95 cover the financial year 1 April to 31 March.

  Statistics for 1995–96 are not yet available and will be published in the Health and Safety Executive's annual report on railway safety in Great Britain, copies for which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Cones Hotline
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will produce a report on the total(a) costs of and (b) number of calls received by, separately identifying non-effective calls, to the cones hotline in each year of its existence. [35025]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 26 March 1996 at column 547 and on 10 July 1995 at column 403.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of operating the royal train in 1995–96; on how many occasions it was used; and by whom. [33656]

  Mr. Watts
  The total cost to the Exchequer of royal travel by train in 1995–96 was £1.9 million, including train preparation, maintenance and British Transport police security. The train was used on 31 occasions by Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Kent.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 613, which members of the royal family used the royal train in 1994–95; and for what specific purpose in each case. [33735]

  Mr. Watts
  During 1994–95 the train was used by Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Kent. On each occasion, the train was used in connection with their public duties.
  353

  Central Railway
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the complete set of documents submitted to him by Central Railway plc under the Transport and Works Act 1992. [35072]

  Mr. Watts
  Central Railway plc, at our request, provided the Library with a complete set of the application documents shortly after their TWA application was made on 20 May. I understand that the Library reference number for the documents is TW27.

  Wheel Loss
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a survey of wheel loss incidents to determine the number of wheels lost off trucks and buses in the United Kingdom every year. [34870]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked my Department to investigate, together with the vehicle inspectorate, ways of improving the collection and collation of data to give a more accurate assessment of the incidence of wheel loss.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those wheel fixings that his Department has assessed as conforming to the British standard. [34871]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not monitor or assess the quality of wheel fixing components.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned in respect of the products on the market which claim to prevent wheel loss. [34879]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has not commissioned any research into products which claim to prevent wheel loss. It is a matter of departmental policy that we do not test, approve or otherwise endorse any proprietary products.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will fund research into wheel loss. [34878]

  Mr. Norris
  The mechanism of wheel loss has been extensively researched through the British Standards Institution and my Department is closely involved with the relevant committee of the institution. Recommendations regarding the manufacturing quality of fixings and care and maintenance have been made based on the outcome of this research, to which the Department of Trade and Industry contributed some £35,000.

  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into road traffic accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles and attributable to lost wheel syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [35152]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has not directly commissioned any research. However, we have been represented for many years on the British standards committee for wheels and tyres. This committee commissioned research by the Motor Industry Research Association into the problems of wheel loss from commercial vehicles. This research complemented work by Exeter university on behalf of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and the Department of Trade and Industry, which contributed some £35,000 to the funding.
  354
  An analysis of the vehicle inspectorate's accident and defect database shows that since 1982 there have been 323 accident cases involving the loss of wheels from commercial vehicles. Of the cases where the inspectorate prepared a defect report, almost three-quarters were shown to be related to maintenance or abuse.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Millennium
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on regional celebrations for the millennium. [33671]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Eight out of the nine flagship landmark projects for which funding has been approved are outside London. The Government are putting in place machinery to co-ordinate the many projects and events that are being planned around the UK to celebrate the millennium. My Department will lead this co-ordination. The millennium exhibition, which the Millennium Commission intends to support with up to £200 million, includes plans for a regional programme. The commission also welcomes funding applications for large-scale capital projects around the country.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice she has given to those selecting millennium projects for lottery funding concerning the regional distribution of their awards. [33678]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The Millennium Commission wants to ensure a good geographical spread of awards. It expects to fund 12 landmark projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and in each of the English regions. The commission will award funds to a number of smaller projects throughout the country.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received regarding the national site for the millennium celebration. [33682]

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the millennium project at Greenwich. [33683]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  As chairman of Millennium Commission and as Secretary of State for National Heritage, I have received letters from Members of Parliament and the public about the siting of the millennium exhibition. The decision to award the exhibition to Greenwich was made by the millennium commissioners.

  Credit Unions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the community-based credit unions in Scotland which have received national lottery awards indicating the average sum awarded; and if she will make a statement. [33672]

  Mr. Sproat
  No community-based credit union in Scotland has received a national lottery award, but the National Lottery Charities Board announced on 11 June an award of £63,590 to the credit union development initiative in Middlesbrough.
  355

  Good Causes
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of her Department's role in promoting greater public involvement in the good causes supported by lottery funding; and if she will make a statement. [33673]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Distributing bodies have undertaken wide public consultation to know the views of the public when setting the rules for distribution of funds.

  Minority Languages
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she next expects to discuss the programmes to promote minority languages with her European Union counterparts. [33674]

  Mr. Sproat
  The European Ariane programme—which has as one of its aims the support of translation of literary works between Community languages, with priority being given to lesser-used ones—was discussed at the Culture Council on 11 June, and a common position was formally adopted by Ministers on 27 June. There are no plans for further ministerial discussions.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her policy for the Arts Council; and if she will make a statement. [33677]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government set the legal, financial and institutional framework within which the Arts Council of England operates. Ministers make appointments to the council and determine the overall structure of arts funding and management.

  Within this framework, the council's role, in accordance with its royal charter, is to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts, and to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public. It achieves these objectives through grants to individual arts organisations from public expenditure and from its share of the proceeds of the national lottery.

  National Lottery
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the average amount spent weekly by each household on the national lottery. [33680]

  Mr. Sproat
  Family expenditure survey figures published in May showed that the average household spends just over £2 on the lottery draw each week.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the operation of the national lottery. [33681]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The lottery continues to be successful. It has raised more than £2 billion for the good causes. The distributing bodies have made 9,162 grants for a total of over £1.8 billion.

  Camelot has now paid out 100 million prizes.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representations she has received about the distribution of lottery moneys; and if she will make a statement. [33679]
  356
  Mrs. Bottomley
  People are interested in all aspects of the national lottery, including the distribution of funds to the good causes. The lottery is an important part of national life.

  English Heritage
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the total budget allocated to English Heritage in the current financial year. [33684]

  Mr. Sproat
  English Heritage has budgeted for expenditure of £126.3 million in 1996–97, of which £107.3 million is to be provided by Government grant in aid. This sum includes specific provision of £2 million each for the Albert memorial and Eltham palace. The allocation for 1996–97 is 11 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1990–91.

  National Volunteers Week
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what support her Department gave to national Volunteers Week. [33685]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department gave support to Volunteers Week in a number of ways. Financial support was given to the volunteer centre to co-ordinate the week. My right hon. Friend also participated in a number of events organised for the week, including the initial launch and a conference, "A Route to Opportunity", and the launch of business in the community's challenge 96, and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service's initiative for MPs to give an hour of their time to a WRVS project in their constituency.

  Arts Support
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent discussions she has held on increasing private sector support for the arts. [33686]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Business support is now a major component of the arts economy. I meet representatives from the business sector regularly to discuss a range of issues, including support for the arts. I also aim, through functions such as the pairing scheme receptions which I host regularly, to encourage even greater private sector involvement in the arts and in the community more generally.

  Euro 96
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what contribution her Department made in cash and percentage terms to the organisation of Euro 96. [33675]

  Mr. Sproat
  Euro 96 has been organised on a self-financing basis. The Department and its agencies have provided more than £400,000 to support the local authorities, cultural programme organised alongside the football. The DNH-sponsored national music festival has also focused this year on Euro 96, with Department support increased by £40,000 to £100,000.
  357

  Sports Clubs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps are taken to monitor the use of national lottery funding by sports clubs. [33676]

  Mr. Sproat
  All national lottery distributors are required to monitor their awards to ensure that lottery funds are being used for the purpose the grant was given and that the projects supported represent value for money.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Nigerian Ministerial Delegation
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the purpose of the current visit of the Nigerian ministerial delegation to the United Kingdom. [34827]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Nigerian ministerial delegation was invited to the United Kingdom by the Commonwealth ministerial action group for talks about the Commonwealth's concerns on human rights and the transition to civilian government in Nigeria.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hormone-implanted Beef Imports
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what reports he has received of imports of hormone-implanted beef entering the United Kingdom in the last year; [26275]

  (2) when he expects to answer the question of the hon. Member for Delyn for answer on 22 April, ref 26275. [35095]

  Mrs. Browning
  I very much regret that the hon. Member has had to wait so long for a reply.

  The import from third countries of meat and meat products derived from animals treated with hormonal growth promoters has been banned since 1988, as has the use of these substances within the European Community. Third countries wishing to import to the Community must submit guarantees to the European Commission regarding their plans for monitoring for these substances. Member states are responsible for implementing and policing the Community ban in respect of their own national production.

  We have not received any reports in the last year of the importation of meat derived from animals to which illegal hormones have been administered. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the state veterinary service would immediately investigate any such allegations.

  Plant Genetic Resources
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will(a) endorse and (b) financially support the global plan of action on plant genetic resources to be discussed at the Food and Agriculture Organisation's fourth international technical conference at Leipzig; and if he will make a statement. [33351]
  358
  Mr. Boswell
  The global plan of action was unanimously adopted last week by the FAO fourth international technical conference, at which the UK was represented by officials from my Department and the Overseas Development Administration. The UK supports the global plan of action as a useful framework on which to base future action, and will play a full and active part in its implementation and follow up processes.

  Through the ODA, the UK already provides significant resources for many of the areas identified in the global plan.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he plans to(a) increase and (b) stabilise and maintain the variety of plant genetic material used within agricultural systems in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the European Community and (iii) other countries; and if he will make a statement. [33353]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government are well aware of the need to maintain diversity of plant genetic resources for future food security, and are already taking active steps to ensure the conservation and future sustainable use of such resources, both nationally and internationally through the implementation of the principles enshrined in the convention on biological diversity, through the reform of the common agricultural policy, and through the development of the FAO global system for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The Government will continue to support the principles of sustainable development in line with their strategy for sustainable development, which was published in 1994.

  Sustainable Agriculture Policies
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support sustainable agriculture policies in international meetings this year with particular reference to the Food and Agriculture Organisation international undertaking, the World Trade Organisation and the convention on biological diversity; and if he will make a statement. [33352]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department is already fully committed to the principles of sustainable development, in line with the Government's strategy for sustainable development which was published in 1994. This commitment extends to international forums where such issues are discussed.

  Departmental Agencies (Scientists)
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the separate agencies operating under his Department, with the names of the scientists appointed to each and the percentage of the membership those scientists represent. [33881]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry has six executive agencies.:

  Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS)

  Central Science Laboratory (CSL)

  Meat Hygiene Service (MHS)

  Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD)

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)

  I have asked agency chief executives to reply direct to the hon. Member on the remaining part of his question.
  359
  Letter from Phillip Needham to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply direct to your Parliamentary Question in which you ask for the names of the scientists appointed to each Agency and the percentage of membership those scientists represent. [33881]

  The information for ADAS is as follows:

  Assistant Scientific Officer: 199

  Scientific Officer: 87

  Higher Scientific Officer: 28

  Total: 314

  Percentage of membership of total staff: 18

  Letter from Professor P. I. Stanley to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about names of scientists and the percentage of membership those scientists represent in his executive agencies in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. [33881]

  I am placing copies of CSL's Annual Science Review 1994, which includes a staff listing, in the House Libraries. The percentage of scientific staff in CSL is 72%.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 1 July 1996:

  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food relating to scientists employed by Agencies under MAFF's control has been passed to me for reply with respect to this Executive Agency.

  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was launched on 1 April 1995 as an Executive Agency of MAFF. It took over from some 300 local authorities responsibility for enforcement of the hygiene, inspection and welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales.

  The MHS headquarters are based in York where the Chief Executive and the supporting functions of Operations, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology are based. MHS services are managed by six regional offices. The Head of Operations as well as two of the Regional Managers are qualified Veterinary Surgeons. The MHS also employs Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) to supervise meat inspection staff working in plants. The MHS directly employs 37 OVSs and in addition contracts out work to 110 full time equivalent vets to supplement them. 7 vets are also used on a casual basis. This represents 12% of the total MHS workforce.

  I am sure you will appreciate that, for security reasons, the MHS is unable to disclose the names of its employees.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question concerning the names of scientists appointed to PSD, and the percentage of the membership that these scientists represent. [3388]

  I regret that, for reasons of security, I am unable to provide the names of the scientific staff employed by PSD. However, I can advise that PSD employs 134 scientists, which is 63% of the total staffing of the agency.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on scientists in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).

  The VLA was established on 1 October 1995, from the merger of the existing Central Veterinary Laboratory with the Veterinary Investigation Service, which was part of the State Veterinary Service.
  360
  There are currently 1,049 staff employed by the VLA. The VLA's aim is to provide MAFF with an effective and efficient service of specialist veterinary, scientific and technical support, consultancy and surveillance in the fields of animal health and welfare, food safety and the environment. To support this work, the majority of VLA employees are scientists and veterinarians.

  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 1 July 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about scientists employed in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. [33881]

  There are currently 33 scientists employed in the VMD, representing 30% of the staff. The names of VMD's scientific and other senior staff are set out in the April 1996 edition of MAVIS to assist companies in their dealings with the Agency. Copies of MAVIS are in the House Library.

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to increase the age of calves slaughtered under the calf compensation scheme, as part of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy culling programme, to 21 days. [34101]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Agriculture Council agreed at its meeting on 24 to 27 June that the age limit for calves under the scheme should be increased to 20 days in appropriate cases to be agreed by the Commission. We will be seeking to implement this change in the United Kingdom as soon as the necessary legislative provisions are in place.

  Miss Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review compensation schemes for animals under 30 months of age in the current BSE culling programme; and if he will make a statement. [34102]

  Mr. Baldry
  Adult animals under 30 months of age are not covered by any measures of the sort described. The slaughter premium for calves is prescribed in Council Regulation 805/68, as amended.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to reply to the letters of 7 and 30 May from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich inquiring about the scientific basis of the cattle cull. [34434]

  Mr. Boswell
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State replied to the letters of 7 and 30 May on 28 June 1996.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to monitor the activities of dealers taking advantage of the cow slaughter schemes; and what action he takes in the event of abuse. [34266]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 26 June 1996]: The activities of dealers are not monitored on a regular basis under the over-30 months slaughter scheme. We have, however, announced arrangements which will ensure that livestock markets get a fair share of the throughput of cattle to be slaughtered. We have also made clear that abuses of the scheme will not be tolerated.
  361
  Any allegations of abuse of the scheme rules made to the intervention board or to the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be investigated.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an inquiry to investigate the possible linkage between the Canterbury Mills animal rendering plant at Godmersham, Kent, the farm where the first BSE-infected herd was discovered in Ashford in 1985, and the cluster of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases in the Ashford area. [34510]

  Mrs. Browning
  Extensive epidemiological studies into BSE show no correlation between the incidence of BSE and any geographical features, including the location of rendering plants. The epidemiological surveillance of CJD is the responsibility of the national CJD surveillance unit funded by the Department of Health and the Scottish

  Details of permits of exemption

  England

  Value of permit (per cent, of minimum rate/£/week)

  AWC

  0–49 £0-£75.97

  50–59 £77.52-£91.47

  60–69 £93.02-£106.98

  70–79 £108.53-£122.48

  80–89 £124.03-£137.99

  90–100 £139.53-£155.04

  Total number of permits

  Avon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  4

  Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire

  —

  1

  5

  2

  2

  2

  12

  Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  1

  6

  Cheshire and Staffordshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  Cleveland, Durham and North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  3

  Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northants and Nottinghamshire

  1

  —

  1

  3

  1

  —

  6

  Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and West Midlands

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  —

  4

  Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Kent, Surrey and East and West Sussex

  1

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  6

  Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  8

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  1

  5

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Cumbria

  2

  1

  —

  1

  17

  —

  21

  Shropshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  South and West Yorkshire

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  —

  5

  Wales

  Value of permit (Percentage of minimum rate/£/week)

  AWC

  0–49 £0-£75.97

  50–59 £77.52- £91.47

  60–69 £93.02-£106.98

  70–79 £108.53-£122.48

  80–89 £124.03-£137.99

  90–100 £139.53- £155.04

  Total number of permits

  Gwynedd and Clwyd

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  Gwent

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Dyfed

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Mid, South and West Glamorgan

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Powys

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  362
  Office. The unit publishes annual reports and has considered geographical clustering of CJD cases, but has failed to find any of statistical significance. The unit continues to investigate cases of suspected CJD, including any of the new variant, and would report any significant findings.

  Wages
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many permits issued to individuals who are incapacitated for the purposes of the Agricultural Wages Act 1948 for the payment of lower minimum rates are currently in force; and what is their distribution by(a) region and (b) rates of pay. [34585]

  Mr. Boswell
  Permits of exemption are issued by agricultural wages committees. The tables show the total number of permits issued by each committee, in England and Wales, grouped according to their value as a percentage of the current minimum rate for an adult full-time ordinary worker.
  363

  Calf Exports
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many calves were exported to Europe in the first three months of 1996. [34600]

  Mr. Boswell
  Provisional overseas trade statistics show that 57,000 calves were exported from the United Kingdom to EC countries in the first three months of 1996.

  Fishing Fleet (Luxembourg)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proposals the Fisheries Minster for Luxembourg has made to cut that country's fishing fleet; [34590]

  (2) what is the current size of the Luxembourg fishing fleet. [34591]

  Mr. Baldry
  Luxembourg does not have a fishing fleet.

  State Veterinary Service
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the reviews of the state veterinary service he has undertaken over the last 10 years; in which year each review was carried out; and if he will make a statement. [35058]

  Mrs. Browning
  Reviews of the state veterinary service—SVS—initiated by the Minister over the past 10 years are:1989-Next steps initiative

  This resulted in the Central Veterinary Laboratory—CVL—separating from the state veterinary service and being established as a next steps agency in 1990.

  1990—Review of the investigation service

  The outcome was a reduction in a number of centres from 19 to 13 + one veterinary inspection unit.

  1993—Review of the animal health and veterinary group (which included the SVS)

  As a result of this review, the veterinary investigation service merged with the CVL in October 1995, as an enlarged agency—Veterinary Laboratory Agency—and the veterinary field service has undergone a structural reorganization.

  Throughout, the Government have ensured that their commitment to preserving the front-line resources and capabilities of the state veterinary service has been maintained.

  Poultry Slaughter
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many head of poultry have been slaughtered under the control and eradication of salmonella regulations. [34994]

  Mrs. Browning
  Since the start of the compulsory slaughter policy for salmonella infected flocks on 1 March 1989 until 28 June 1996, 3,706,938 birds in 414 flocks have been compulsorily slaughtered.

  Rendering Plants
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what temperature requirements he imposes on rendering plants for the heating of animal material; and if he will make a statement. [35059]
  364
  Mrs. Browning
  The various temperature requirements which have to be met by rendering plants are laid down in Council directive 90/667/EEC, implemented in Great Britain by the Animal By-Product Order 1992, as amended, and the Specified Bovine Material (No. 2) Order 1996.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many questions for ordinary written answer tabled for answer between 20 March and 20 June did not receive an answer within once week.

  Mr. Boswell
  Of the 356 written questions tabled to the Department in the period concerned, 179 did not receive an answer within one week.

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 1996–97. [35437]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency the following strategic performance targets for 1996–97:

  Financial performance
  full cost recovery for all Veterinary Laboratories Agency services.
  to comply with budgetary controls resulting from the public expenditure survey and the supply estimates

  Efficiency
  an overall efficiency gain of 3 per cent.

  Service delivery
  85 per cent. of ROAME research and development milestones achieved

  Service quality
  achievement of a satisfactory report from a visiting group
  achievement of laboratory accreditation for bacteriology department (salmonella and E.Coli serotyping) and analytical chemistry unit (extension of the scope of accreditation to include additional tests).

  Details of performance in 1995–96 will be set out in the agency's annual report and accounts, to be published during July 1996.

  Fish Diseases Laboratory, Weymouth
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of running the fish diseases laboratory in Weymouth; how many staff it employs; and what are its functions. [35069]

  Mr. Baldry
  The fish diseases laboratory at Weymouth is part of the Ministry's directorate of fisheries research, and its annual running costs are currently £1.9 million. It employs 53 staff and is responsible for statutory duties in relation to fish and shellfish diseases and shellfish hygiene, and undertakes related research.

  British Beef Ban
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which countries outside the
  365
  European Union have banned British beef; what action has been taken against each country; whether the UK has retaliated in kind; and if will make a statement; [27187]

  (2) when he will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for South Derbyshire for answer on 30 April on bans on British beef by non-EU countries. [34507]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 30 April 1996]: I very much regret that my hon. Friend has had to wait so long for a reply.

  Commission decision 96/239/EC of 27 March 1996 provided that the UK shall not export from its territory meat and meat products obtained from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK. The list of countries outside the European Union shows those countries with a ban on imports of British beef on the day before the introduction of the Commission decision.

  Algeria

  Argentina

  Bahrain

  Bulgaria

  Canada

  China

  Iran

  Iraq

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kazakhstan (CIS)

  Libya

  Lithuania

  Malaysia

  Philippines

  Russian Federation

  Saudia Arabia

  Switzerland

  Syria

  Taiwan

  United Arab Emirates

  Uzbekistan

  366
  The United States has not accepted imports of bone in beef from Britain since 1989. After 1989, negotiations concentrated on securing access to US markets for boneless beef, which were successfully concluded in July 1994. Negotiations continue on securing wider access to the US market, although in regular discussions with representatives of industry, the US has not been identified as a priority market for the export of beef.

  The following countries had introduced, but subsequently lifted, a ban before 27 March.

  Chile

  Cyprus

  Egypt

  Kuwait

  Lebanon

  State of Sarawak (Malaysia)

  Mauritius

  Morocco

  Oman

  Poland

  Qatar

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Details of the representations made by the UK Government in respect of individual countries could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, we have pressed our case strongly with the authorities concerned in an effort to persuade them to lift these restrictions on trade, based on the scientific evidence available from the World Health Organisation and others that there is no human health hazard arising from the consumption of UK beef.

  Responsibility for pursuing action through the World Trade Organisation—WTO—to secure the removal of unjustified BSE-related restrictions on UK exports and on those of other EU member states rests exclusively with the European Commission, as with all matters relating to trade outside the EU. Action has already been started by the Commission against certain countries who have imposed bans on dairy products from various EU member states.

  Australia: "New Images" Initiative
  Australia: "New Images" Initiative
  War Crimes in Former Yugoslavia: Arrest and Trial of Accused
  War Crimes in Former Yugoslavia: Arrest and Trial of Accused
  CJD: Incidence in Young People
  CJD: Incidence in Young People
  CJD: New Variant
  CJD: New Variant
  Rendering
  Rendering
  Organophosphorus Compounds: Use in Guernsey
  Organophosphorus Compounds: Use in Guernsey
  BSE
  BSE
  Kudu: Spongiform Encephalopathies
  Kudu: Spongiform Encephalopathies
  Rat Infestation
  Rat Infestation
  Agriculture Council, 24th-26th June
  Agriculture Council, 24th-26th June
  BSE in Great Britain: New Report
  BSE in Great Britain: New Report
  Electronic Monitoring of Offenders
  Electronic Monitoring of Offenders
  Judicial Studies Board
  Judicial Studies Board
  The Derwent Ings
  The Derwent Ings
  Asylum Seekers: Withdrawal of Benefits
  Asylum Seekers: Withdrawal of Benefits
  Civil Service Training and Development: White Paper
  Civil Service Training and Development: White Paper
  Lots Road/Cremorne Road: New Traffic Lights
  Lots Road/Cremorne Road: New Traffic Lights
  Second Severn Crossing: M.5 Interchange
  Second Severn Crossing: M.5 Interchange
  Broadcasting Licensing to Exclude Political Activities
  Broadcasting Licensing to Exclude Political Activities