Written Answers of 8 July 1996

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total number of employees of(a) British nationality and (b) indigenous nationality employed in high commissions in sub-Saharan Africa in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1995–96. [35092]

  Mr. Hanley
  On 31 March 1996, the high commissions in the 14 Commonwealth countries in sub-Saharan Africa employed 463 British nationals and 701 indigenous nationals. Equivalent information for 31 March 1992 is not available from all high commissions. The eight which were able to provide figures report 382 British and 459 indigenous nationals.

  Alexandre Nikitin
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Russian authorities about the imprisonment of Alexandre Nikitin; and if he will make a statement. [35636]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our ambassador in Moscow has raised the case of the arrest of Mr. Nikitin, a Russian citizen, with the Russian authorities. He drew their attention to the interest in the west in this case, and emphasised that the international community would continue to monitor developments closely.

  UN Conference on Disarmament
  Mr. Liew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the admission of Iraq to membership of the United Nation conference on disarmament on 17 June. [35927]

  Mr. David Davis
  We welcome the decision by the conference on disarmament on 17 June to admit a further 23 states as members. This brings the total membership to 61.

  The United Kingdom has long favoured the widest possible membership of the CD in order to promote universal adherence to arms control treaties.

  Iraq is one of the new members.

  Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Indian Government regarding negotiations to complete a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [35963]
  2
  Mr. David Davis
  We maintain a close dialogue with the Indian Government on a wide range of issues. We have expressed to them at the highest level our hope that they will support the earliest possible conclusion of a universal and effective comprehensive test ban treaty and will become a party to such a treaty.

  EU Export Bans
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the EU's powers to ban exports from member countries to third countries. [35756]

  Mr. David Davies
  The EU's powers to ban exports from member countries to third countries are described in the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member on 11 June, column 77. The Government's attitude to the use of these powers depends on the particular circumstances in which their use is contemplated. For example the Government oppose the BSE-related export ban on beef, but support restrictions on the export of hazardous substances, designed to implement a UN scheme, enabling importing countries of control handling to such substances.

  Bhutanese Refugees
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the human rights of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. [35769]

  Mr. Hanley
  We believe that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is in the best position to monitor the situation. We continue to encourage the Governments of Nepal and Bhutan to resolve the underlying problems through bilateral negotiation. We have contributed over £475,000 through non-governmental organisations over the past three years to support the refugees in Nepal.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations he has had with the Appeal Movement Co-ordination Council about the situation of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and India. [35772]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Appeal Movement Co-ordination Council full committee called on the British embassy in Kathmandu on 7 May. It provides us regularly with reports of its activities in Nepal and India.

  India (Mr. Baburam Shegdem)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has received concerning the numbers of those injured during the alleged police attack on the funeral procession of Mr. Baburam Shegdem on 21 June; what representations he has made to ensure that the injured received appropriate medical treatment; and if he will make a statement. [35771]

  Mr. Hanley
  According to reports received by our high commission in New Delhi, around 100 people were injured during Mr. Shegdem's funeral procession on 21 June. We have raised the case with the Indian National Human Rights Commission.
  3
  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been evaluated by his Department about the circumstances and causes of the reported death in custody in India of Mr. Baburam Shegdem; what representations he has made to the Indian Government about the subsequent events at the funeral of Mr. Shegdem; and if he will make a statement. [35770]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our high commission in New Delhi has received reports that Mr. Shegdem was among a number of Bhutanese detainees who were allegedly beaten in prison on 3 June. Mr. Shegdem was admitted to hospital on 11 June and died the following day. We have raised the case with the Indian National Human Rights Commission.

  Defence Sales Embargo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 13 June,Official Report, column 263, if he will make a statement on the mechanism in his Department for keeping under review the embargo on defence sales. [34640]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The embargo on arms sales to Argentina is regularly reviewed by this Department, in consultation with other relevant Departments, taking account of all available information and any changing circumstances.

  St. Helena (Censorship)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government censorship applies to articles and letters submitted for inclusion in the St. Helena News. [36033]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There is no censorship in determining which submitted articles and letters are included in the St. Helena News. The editor relies on guidelines identical to those on broadcasting on Radio St. Helena described in my answer of 19 March 1996, column 112.

  Japan
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the benefits to the United Kingdom arising from the Japanese Government's peace, friendship and exchange initiative. [36447]

  Mr. Hanley
  The UK is specifically included in this 10-year £650 million programme; under it, the Japanese Government—in close consultation with ourselves—are helping to fund historical research as well as various exchange programmes aimed at fostering mutual understanding between the peoples of the UK and Japan. Participants in the exchange visits, initiated by private organisations, include former prisoners of war and their families. These research and exchange programmes are expected to continue in coming years.

  Angola
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently made to, or received from, the signatories of the Lusaka agreement about the political and military situation in Angola. [35590]
  4
  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker has recently had talks with the Prime Minister, the Secretary General of the MPLA and the Angolan army chief of staff. The Minister saw Dr. Savimbi during her visit to Angola in February. The British ambassador in Luanda is in frequent contact with senior representatives of the Lusaka signatories. At every opportunity we continue to press for an early and successful conclusion to the peace process.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Angolan Government and other relevant agencies and authorities about the conditions in the UNITA quartering camps. [35589]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are aware of complaints by UNITA about conditions in some of the quartering areas. These are the responsibility of the United Nations authorities who monitor the situation on the ground. Our embassy in Luanda is in touch with the relevant organisations.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  UNESCO
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the implications for Britain's contribution to international policy-making in the field of arts, culture and national heritage of the United Kingdom's non-membership of UNESCO; and if she will make a statement. [34823]

  Mr. Sproat
  The United Kingdom's non-membership of UNESCO has not significantly affected the work of my Department. The question of membership of UNESCO is primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The United Kingdom has no immediate plans to region UNESCO, although this issue is kept under review in the light of progress with reform in the organisation and other financial priorities.

  Millennium Commission
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make it her policy to ensure that the Millennium Commission visits locations outside London and the large conurbations to discuss how millennium money has been distributed; and how it is to be distributed in future. [35356]

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

  Museums Review
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the museums review is to be published. [35328]

  Mrs. Virgina Bottomley
  I hope to published the museum policy review before the summer recess.
  5

  Royal Parks Constabulary
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 92, (1) at whose request officers of the Royal Parks constabulary were deployed in Trafalgar square on 15 June; [34960]

  (2) under what powers officers of the Royal Parks constabulary were deployed on 15 June in Trafalgar square. [34961]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 2 July 1996]: Initially, officers of the Royal Parks constabulary were called to assist the Royal Parks constabulary inspector who was attacked in his car while driving through Trafalgar square on his way from Regent's park to St. James's park. They were later deployed in the square on different occasions throughout the day, at the request of the Metropolitan police, to help keep order between groups of rival fans in the area.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 92, if officers of the Royal Parks constabulary are fully insured against injury liabilities when assisting Metropolitan police outside of the area of the royal parks. [34962]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 2 July 1996]: The Government do not take out commercial insurance cover. An officer who is injured in the course of duty would be entitled to make a claim for compensation under the procedures that are available to all Royal Parks agency staff.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if officers of the Royal Parks constabulary deployed on 15 June in Trafalgar square had available to them arrest powers other than the common law powers available to other citizens; and if she will make a statement; [34958]

  (2) pursuant to her answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 92, what is the territorial jurisdiction of Royal Parks constabulary officers outside the royal parks. [34959]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 2 July 1996]: No, they have no powers outside the parks that are not available to any other citizen.

  The powers of a constable are conferred on officers of the Royal Parks Constabulary under the 1872 Parks Regulations Act. This gives them the same powers, duties and immunities of a constable in the same police district as the parks, but they can exercise these powers only within the royal parks.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are currently held by her Department. [24854]

  Mr. Sproat
  [pursuant to his answer, 18 April 1996, c. 596]: I regret that a recent review has indicated that the information given then was incorrect. At the time of answering the question, my Department held 25 files marked in this way, rather than 43 as stated earlier. One of the files has subsequently been reviewed and the marking removed, as no longer relevant.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Palestine
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to Palestine for educational projects in(a) the west bank and (b) Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [35649]

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom bilateral aid programme is funding a £3.2 million education project in the west bank and Gaza to secure sustained improvement in the quality of education in schools operated by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. In addition the UK is providing £10,000 to support an English language teaching specialist under a United Nations Association International Service programme to work on teacher training with MEHE.

  The UK is also contributing some 16 per cent. of the costs of two education projects supported by the European Union:

  i) provision of £9.45 million in running cost support this year for nine universities and 12 community colleges throughout the west bank and Gaza; and

  ii) a grant of £114,000 to establish an institutional vocational training qualification. The British Council is also supporting the project from funds to which the Overseas Development Administration contributes.

  The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees supports 200 schools in the west bank and 318 schools in Gaza. The UK is contributing to this programme both through its regular bilateral annual contributions to UNWRA's core programme budget and through the EU.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Industry (Maintenance and Safety)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the age profile of those workers involved in maintenance and safety in the nuclear industry for each of the last three years. [35534]

  Mr. Eggar
  While it is possible that individual companies may be able to produce such information, the statistics requested are not held centrally either by the industry or by this Department.

  Flour Supplies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the alleged operation of a cartel in the supply of flour to bakeries. [35665]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. Any evidence suggesting that there is a cartel in the flour market should be brought to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who has the responsibility to consider and, if appropriate, investigate such allegations.

  Regional Policy
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who was responsible for the designation of the Isle of Wight under NUTS level II; and if he will set out the decision-taking process and probable timetable for the redesignation of the Isle of Wight under NUTS level III; and what decisions in respect of NUTS designation require the agreement of the European Commission. [35593]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Community, has responsibility for the designation of NUTS areas across the Community. The Government yesterday issued a consultation document proposing changes to the UK's NUTS structure to reflect the creation of unitary authorities in England, Scotland and Wales and the decision by the Government statistical service to present regional statistics using the areas represented by the Government offices for the English regions. A copy of the consultation document, which outlines the decision taking process and likely timetable, is being placed in the Library of the House. The final decision on the NUTS areas is for Eurostat.

  Industrial and Employment Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the feasibility study carried out by his Department into industrial tribunals and employment appeal tribunals; and if he will make a statement. [35896]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The most recent review in this area followed the commitment in the Green Paper "Resolving Employment Rights Disputes: Options for Reform" (December 1994 Cm 2707) to review the scope for agency status, in consultation with the presidents of the tribunals. It would not be appropriate to publish this assessment and advice to Ministers. However, the main areas covered were:the scope for extending to the tribunals administration the benefits of improved efficiency and quality of service achieved by other next steps agencies;
  in this context, the particular benefits of great devolution of managerial responsibility in an area of administration which has expanded considerably in recent years;
  the importance of ensuring that agency arrangements for administrative staff effectively underpin the independence of the industrial tribunals, in England and Wales and in Scotland, and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, as distinct judicial bodies; the constitution of a DTI steering board, to advise Ministers and support the chief executive on strategy development;

  As I announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Waller) on 9 May 1996, Official Report, column 216, the Government have concluded that the establishment of the tribunals administrative support as an agency would be beneficial, and should be introduced by 1 April 1997.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on staff and union consultation during the process of re-engineering within the Patent Office. [35899]
  8
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Patent Office management regard consultation of the staff concerned as an essential step in winning commitment to specific proposals for re-engineering. Staff are therefore consulted before any proposals are implemented. The Patent Office management is always ready to meet the trade union side to discuss matters of interest or concern under the Whitley procedures.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the areas within the Patent Office that are under consideration for re-engineering indicating the number of staff, time scale and names of the departments involved; and if he will make a statement. [35897]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Patent Office keeps its structure and organisation under continuing scrutiny for possible improvements to operational efficiency. In particular, it has under review certain "front end" administrative processes which are similar in nature but separately handled in the trade marks directorate and the patents and designs directorate. This exercise is still in its early stages and no detailed time scale or staffing proposals have yet been adopted. About 75 posts are covered. No compulsory redundancies are foreseen.

  Public Interest Disclosure Bill
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations his Department has received since 10 April, on the Public Interest Disclosure Bill; how many of these were in favour of the Bill; and how many indicated that the Bill would pose an undue burden on business. [36139]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the period 10 April to 4 July, my Department received 11 letters on the Public Interest Disclosure Bill. Three of these were general inquiries about the Bill, seven were in support and one expressed concern about the Bill.

  Post Office
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial and efficiency targets he has set for the Post Office in 1996. [36446]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in agreement with the Treasury and in consultation with the Post Office, has set Royal Mail a target to achieve a 20 per cent. return on capital and employed in each of the three years 1996–97 to 1998–99, and has set Parcelforce a target to achieve a return on capital employed of 1.5 per cent. in 1996–97, 3.5 per cent. in 1997–98 and 5.5 per cent. in 1998–99. The profit used when calculating the returns will be struck after interest, excluding interest on past surpluses, but before tax. The capital employed on which returns will be calculated will be the greater of either opening fixed assets or the previous year's closing capital employed. In addition, Post Office Counters Ltd. has been set a target to achieve a 2.5 per cent. return on turnover in each of the three years 1996–97 to 1998–99. The profit used when calculating the return will also be struck after interest, excluding interest on past surpluses, but before tax.
  9
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in agreement with the Treasury and in consultation with the Post Office, has set a real unit cost target for Royal Mail of a cumulative reduction of 6.2 per cent. by 1998–99 over 1995–96.

  Insurance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from people who, having taken out payment protection cover, find their certificate of insurance differs from their letter of acceptance. [35625]

  Mr. Nelson
  None.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to prevent insurance companies from changing conditions of payment protection cover once a letter of acceptance has been signed by both the insurer and the insured. [35626]

  Mr. Nelson
  None. If an insurer wishes to change the terms of a policy it is incumbent on the insurer to notify the proposed changes to the policyholder. The policyholder can then decide whether to accept the new terms or to seek alternative cover elsewhere.

  Factoring Companies
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations he has received about factoring companies capping the limit of the amount of money they collected on behalf of their clients; [35627]

  (2) what representations he has received about factoring companies refusing to collect debts on behalf of their clients. [35628]

  Mr. Page
  I am not aware of any representations being made about factoring companies capping the limit of the amount of money they collect, or refusing to collect debts, on behalf of their clients.

  If, however, the hon. Gentleman is aware of any specific problems being experienced by small businesses, I will be happy to receive full details from him.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [34291]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 25 June 1996]: None.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many statutory instruments 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. [35039]
  10
  Mr. Lang
  [holing answer 3 July 1996]: This information is not available in the form requested. However, a list of regulations that have been repealed or amended was placed in the Library of the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 May 1996.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met Mr. O. J. Williams to discuss the application to burn orimulsion at Pembroke power station; and if he will make a statement. [35525]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has met Mr. Williams.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the shortfall between the cost of the liabilities which remain the responsibility of the public sector and the amount of moneys available to Magnox, excluding the proceeds from the sale of the advanced gas-coded reaction and pressurised water reactor nuclear power generation stations; and if he will make a statement on how that shortfall was to be met(a) in May 1995 and (b) at present. [35617]

  Mr. Ian Lang
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 May 1996, Official Report, column 269. The estimated cost of meeting Magnox Electric's liabilities are given in the company's report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 1996, published on 10 June 1996, as £8.9 billion discounted at 3 per cent. real and £18.2 billion undiscounted. Magnox Electric's liabilities have always been in the public sector and will remain so after the privatisation of British Energy.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Bereaved Families
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance she has issued to employers on ways of helping their staff to make contact with bereaved families. [34659]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has not issued guidance to employers on this subject. A sensitive approach to contacts with bereaved families is an aspect of good employment practice. The Health and Safety Executive provides information and advice to bereaved families following fatal accidents at work.

  Key Stage 2 Tests
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on changes in the marking methodology for key stage 2 tests in English between 1995 and 1996. [35895]
  11
  Mr. Paice
  The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority made a number of improvements this year to the external marking of the national curriculum tests at key stage 2. These included: increased training for markers; at least two checks of each markers' work at least twice; improved mark schemes; confirming the final level boundaries after a sample of actual scripts had been marked; and re-checking papers close to the level boundaries.

  A number of improvements were also made to the tests themselves in the light of evaluation evidence from 1995 and in order to bring the tests into line with the revised national curriculum. For the key stage 2 English tests, the writing test marking criteria were updated and a broader range of marks was provided on the handwriting test. Pre-test procedures were put in place to ensure that the standard of performance required for the award of a level was consistent between 1995 and 1996.

  Schools Renewal Challenge Fund
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the local education authorities which made bids for the new schools renewal challenge fund indicating the number of bids for each LEA and the total value of each LEA bid. [35905]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Ninety-five local education authorities submitted bids for the first tranche of allocations for the new schools renewal challenge fund. The following table lists these authorities, the number of bids submitted by each and the total of credit approvals sought.

  Schools renewal challenge fund: total LEA bids for first tranche 1996–97

  LEA

  Number of SRCF bids

  Total costs bid for £000

  Barnsley

  5

  4,338

  Bath and NE Somerset

  5

  1,205

  Bedfordshire

  3

  1,388

  Berkshire

  4

  1,620

  Bexley

  1

  1,210

  Birmingham

  8

  8,702

  Bolton

  5

  4,128

  Bradford

  2

  2,895

  Buckinghamshire

  1

  115

  Bury

  15

  1,254

  Calderdale

  5

  735

  Cambridgeshire

  5

  1,655

  Cheshire

  7

  1,520

  City of Bristol

  6

  1,340

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  4

  2,315

  Cornwall

  1

  4,390

  Coventry

  2

  1,502

  Croydon

  1

  2,600

  Cumbria

  13

  234

  Derbyshire

  2

  8,045

  Devon

  6

  564

  Doncaster

  2

  376

  Dorset

  1

  8,200

  Dudley

  1

  3,700

  Durham

  2

  1,881

  Ealing

  1

  5,175

  East Sussex

  6

  1,612

  Enfield

  3

  324

  Essex

  1

  500

  Gateshead

  2

  3,300

  Gloucestershire

  3

  325

  Greenwich

  14

  3,170

  Hackney

  8

  2,379

  12

  Schools renewal challenge fund: total LEA bids for first tranche 1996–97

  LEA

  Number of SRCF bids

  Total costs bid for £000

  Hampshire

  3

  3,724

  Haringey

  2

  1,289

  Hartlepool

  3

  350

  Havering

  1

  500

  Hereford and Worcester

  2

  1,709

  Hertfordshire

  3

  1,788

  Hounslow

  15

  2,825

  Isle of Wight

  3

  1,262

  Islington

  3

  4,099

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1

  30

  Kent

  4

  3,963

  Kingston upon Thames

  9

  2,594

  Kirklees

  5

  946

  Lambeth

  3

  1,063

  Lancashire

  5

  3,218

  Leeds

  3

  2,874

  Leicestershire

  8

  1,896

  Lewisham

  9

  408

  Liverpool

  4

  3,551

  Manchester

  3

  2,642

  Merton

  3

  985

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2

  8,082

  Newham

  1

  2,304

  Northamptonshire

  6

  4,080

  North East Lincolnshire

  3

  1,283

  North Lincolnshire

  1

  675

  North Somerset

  1

  2,500

  North Tyneside

  l

  1,270

  Northumberland

  5

  1,745

  North Yorkshire

  6

  3,137

  Nottinghamshire

  5

  4,904

  Oldham

  4

  850

  Redcar and Cleveland

  3

  958

  Richmond upon Thames

  1

  1,950

  Rochdale

  6

  547

  Rotherham

  7

  2,554

  Saint Helen's

  4

  685

  Salford

  4

  1,676

  Sandwell

  2

  2,881

  Sheffield

  2

  3,281

  Shropshire

  2

  712

  Solihull

  10

  603

  Somerset

  6

  2,086

  South Tyneside

  10

  126

  Southwark

  1

  167

  Staffordshire

  4

  2,232

  Stockport

  2

  165

  Suffolk

  2

  1,100

  Sunderland

  2

  1,450

  Surrey

  4

  3,446

  Sutton

  1

  248

  Tower Hamlets

  14

  3,492

  Trafford

  1

  1,445

  Wakefield

  7

  5,590

  Walsall

  2

  1,425

  Waltham Forest

  3

  2,173

  Wandsworth

  3

  2,065

  Westminster

  1

  250

  West Sussex

  1

  3,500

  Wiltshire

  9

  2,119

  Wirral

  6

  1,170

  Wolverhampton

  1

  500

  Where more than one option has been submitted for the same project, the more expensive option only has been included in the above totals.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Civil Jurisdiction and Judgements Act
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many English High Court actions in cases falling within the terms of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982, schedule 8 rule 3, were raised against defenders domiciled in Scotland in each year since 1990 and in the first half of 1996. [35944]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about High Court cases under Schedule 8, Rule 3 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982.
  These figures are not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many English county court actions in cases falling within the terms of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982, schedule 8, rule 3, were raised against defenders domiciled in Scotland in each year since 1990 and in the first half of 1996. [35942]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about county court cases under Schedule 8, Rule 3 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982.
  These figures are not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor' s Department how many English High Court judgments in cases falling within the terms of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982, schedule 8, rule 3, were obtained against defenders domiciled in Scotland in each year since 1990 and in the first half of 1996. [35941]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about High Court judgments under Schedule 8, Rule 3 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982.
  These figures are not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
  14
  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many English county court judgments in cases falling within the terms of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982, schedule 8, rule 3, were obtained against defenders domiciled in Scotland in each year since 1990 and in the first half of 1996. [35943]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about county court judgments under Schedule 8 Rule 3 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982.
  These figures are not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Mayoral Chains and Mace (Sale)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from Birmingham city council regarding the west midlands sheriff's offices' order to bailiffs to list the mayoral chains and mace for sale; and if he will make statement. [35902]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Jeff Rooker, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about West Midland's Office.
  I can confirm that no representations have been received from Birmingham City Council about the West Midlands Sheriff's Office.

HEALTH

  Unique Patient Numbers
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 June,Official Report, columns 144–45 if he will (a) publish and (b) place in the Library the results of the study carried out into the cause of duplicate numbers under the NHS unique patient number system. [35326]

  Mr. Horam
  The results of the studies have not yet been captured in a final report, although progress notes have been produced for the new NHS number programme board. However a report is being drafted, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as practicable.

  Alcoholic Lemonade
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with health education
  15
  bodies to evaluate the impact of alcoholic lemonade beverages on the health of children. [35479]

  Mr. Bowis
  None. The Government's report, "Sensible Drinking" December 1995, expressed particular concern about young people inappropriately drinking alcohol of any kind. It specifically recommended that parents and carers of children who drink alcohol should try to ensure that children are aware of its hazards and only consume alcohol in moderate safe quantities for their age group with reference to their physical development. We are currently working with the Health Education Authority to develop new health education messages based on the report for parents and young people.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on the health of young people of alcohol in lemonade-style beverages. [35480]

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the relationship between the marketing of alcoholic lemonade and similar drinks and the level of alcohol misuse among young people [34724]

  Mr. Bowis
  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 which 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. My noble Friend, Baroness Cumberlege, recently met representatives from Coca Cola GB when this issue was amongst those we discussed. Otherwise, the Department has received a limited amount of correspondence on the subject.

  Mortality Rates
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths in England and Wales were due to(a) cancers of the (i) lung, (ii) bronchus and (iii) trachea, (b) motor vehicle accidents, (c) HIV-AIDS infection, (d) tuberculosis and (e) Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in each year since 1986. [34869]

  Creutifeldt-Jakob disease in the UK By Calendar year (1985-May 1996)

  Year

  Referrals

  Deaths of definite and probable cases

  Sporadic

  Iatrogenic

  Familial

  GSS

  NVCJD

  Total

  1985

  —

  26

  1

  1

  0

  —

  28

  1986

  —

  26

  0

  0

  0

  —

  26

  1987

  —

  23

  0

  0

  1

  —

  24

  1988

  —

  21

  1

  1

  0

  —

  23

  1989

  —

  28

  2

  1

  0

  —

  31

  1990

  [52]

  26

  5

  0

  0

  —

  31

  1991

  75

  32

  1

  3

  0

  —

  36

  1992

  96

  44

  2

  4

  1

  —

  51

  1993

  78

  37

  4

  2

  2

  —

  45

  1994

  115

  53

  1

  2

  3

  —

  59

  1995

  79

  33

  4

  1

  2

  3

  43

  1996 end May

  46

  12

  0

  0

  1

  6

  19

  16
  Mr. Horam
  The available information on numbers of deaths in England and Wales from cancer of the lung, bronchus and trachea, and from motor vehicle traffic accidents is published:

  for 1986–92 in "Mortality statistic: cause England and Wales", OPCS Series DH2 nos. 13–19;

  for 1993–94, in "ONS Monitor DH2 96/1"; and

  for 1995, in "ONS Monitor DH2 96/2".

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  The figures on deaths in England and Wales from HIV and AIDS are shown in the table.

  Year

  HIV

  AIDS

  1986

  24

  262

  1987

  34

  334

  1988

  42

  393

  1989

  51

  628

  1990

  65

  736

  1991

  62

  891

  1992

  85

  1,009

  1993

  104

  1,174

  1994

  110

  1,216

  1995

  95

  1,088

  The number of deaths from tuberculosis in England and Wales is published, for 1986–92 in "Communicable disease statistics, England and Wales, 1994", ONS Series MB2 no. 21 (table 1B). Copies of this publication are available in the Library. Figures for 1993 and 1994 are shown in the table.

  1993

  1994

  Tuberculosis (ICD91 010–018)

  423

  418

  Late effects of tuberculosis (ICD91 137)

  84

  79

  Total

  507

  497

  1 International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision.Figures for 1995 are published in ONS Monitor DH2 96/2; copies of which are available in the Library.

  The data on deaths in the United Kingdom for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are shown in the table:

  Asthma
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the mortality rate for asthma for each of the last five years(a) among the whole population and (b) among under-16-year-olds. [35087]

  Mr. Horam
  The table shows asthma mortality rates per 100,000 population for the last five years in England, for all ages and for children aged under 15. Data are not available centrally for the under-16 age group.

  All ages

  Under 15

  1991

  3.6

  0.3

  1992

  3.4

  0.2

  1993

  3.2

  0.2

  1994

  2.9

  0.3

  1995

  2.7

  0.2

  Rates for 1995 are provisional, based on 1994 population estiamtes.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of NHS expenditure in 1995 was spent on treatment of asthma; [35374]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of NHS expenditure on treatment for asthma in 1995; and what proportion of this expenditure was spent on prescription medicines alone. [35376]

  Mr. Horam
  The net ingredient cost of national health service prescriptions for asthma medication in 1995 was £410.9 million—provisional figure. That represents just over 11 per cent. of the net ingredient cost of all NHS prescriptions in 1995. The net ingredient cost is the basic price of a drug before discounts and the addition of dispensing costs or fees.

  Information on the cost of other NHS services is not available centrally for individual conditions.

  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make asthma a key area in "The Health of the Nation"; and if he will make a statement. [36445]

  Mr. Horam
  We have considered very carefully the case for asthma to be given key area status, but decided against it. However, we have announced today consultation on the creation of an environment key area, covering both outdoor and indoor air quality and the possible respiratory effects of air pollution, including asthma. This in part reflects the report of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants—COMEAP—"Asthma and outdoor air pollution" which found that, although air pollution did not seem to cause asthma, it did aggravate the condition in a small proportion of existing sufferers.

  We are also announcing today the projects commissioned as the Department's contribution to the joint research initiative with the Department of the Environment and the Medical Research Council on air pollution and respiratory disease. We have already agreed to fund projects worth £2.5 million. In addition, we shall shortly be issuing a call for research proposals for further work on the surveillance of respiratory disease, including asthma.

  "The Health of the Nation" strategy is concerned with the prevention of ill health, rather than its management, and provides a focus for cross-Government working. We
  18
  have concluded that improving the management of asthma remains the responsibility of the national health service working in partnership with organisations outside Government, and there is limited scope for additional cross-Government working. For these reasons we do not consider that an asthma key area would be appropriate or beneficial.

  Nevertheless, improving services for people with asthma has a high priority within the Department of Health, and we are committed to an extensive research programme. The National Asthma Campaign is managing a research strategy on behalf of the Department looking at asthma management in the national health service. It will commission research on the effectiveness of treatments and services for asthma sufferers. That programme will soon be issuing its first call for proposals.

  Other important work includes the current consultation on the future of primary care, and within this context we shall be critically examining comments made concerning the chronic disease management programme.

  The Department values very highly its productive working partnership with the National Asthma Campaign, which has done much to bring about improvements in the management of asthma and to foster research into this important condition affecting more than 2 million people in England. This partnership has provided the means for joint campaigns which have been all the more effective as a direct result of the National Asthma Campaign's participation. I look forward to the further development of this partnership following today's announcements on the latest research initiatives and the consultation on an environment key area in "The Health of the Nation" strategy.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients or their agents requested NHS trusts to supply a more expensive wheelchair than the standard type from NHS trusts in each year since 1990. [35314]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra electric indoor/outdoor wheelchairs have been provided since 1 April under the scheme announced in February; and if he will give a regional breakdown of the figures. [35904]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not yet available.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in the past two months regarding the proposed closure of St. Bartholomew's hospital. [35475]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has received a number of representations, both from individuals and interested groups, about the future of St. Bartholomew's.

  Paediatric Care
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of expenditure in real terms on paediatric care in(a) 1970, (b) 1979 and (c) 1996. [35477]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to eradicate CFCs from metered dosage inhalers. [35506]

  Mr. Malone
  The Medicines Control Agency is complying with European regulations and the Montreal protocol concerning the removal of chlorofluorocarbon propellants from the environment which undertake to remove CFCs from all medicinal products by the end of 1999.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to doctors in respect of prescribing non-CFC inhalant medication. [35505]

  Mr. Malone
  No guidance has been issued to doctors regarding non-CFC inhalant medication, although factual material was included in a bulletin on such devices from the medicines resource centre in September 1995. Copies of this article are available in the Library. However, the Government are committed to the removal of CFCs from all medicinal products by the end of 1999.

  Cardiologists
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health regions in the United Kingdom have three or more consultant cardiologists; and if he will list them. [35498]

  Mr. Malone
  All regions in the United Kingdom have more than three consultant cardiologists.

  East London and the City Health Authority
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received other than from hon. Members concerning the adequacy of the capitation formula used for determining moneys paid to the East London and the City health authority; and what replies he has sent. [35632]

  Mr. Horam
  We have received a small number of representations from interested parties about the weighted capitation formula and its impact on East London and the City health authority. Our responses explain that homelessness and ethnicity, which are the two main areas of concern, are being considered as part of the continuous process of reviewing the formula.

  Suicide
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national statistics are collected on the incidence of and trends in suicide and self-harm; and if he will make a statement. [35523]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Office of National Statistics collects data on deaths from suicide which have been published in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys series DH2.
  20
  Data on suicide verdicts and verdicts where the cause of death was aggravated by lack of care or by self-neglect are published in the Home Office statistical bulletin, "Statistics of Deaths Reported to Coroners: England and Wales". Detailed analysis of trends and patterns in suicide have been published in a series of articles in "Population Trends", numbers 2, 35, 69, 71 and 80. The Department of Health's Public Health common data set national volumes also include trends on suicide. Information on the incidence of attempted suicide and self-harm is available for cases that result in treatment as an in-patient in hospital. The data are published in volume 2 of "Hospital Episode Statistics: England" for the years 1989–90 to 1993–94. All these publications are available in the Library.

  The overall trend, which is down by 7.2 per cent. since 1990, is encouraging. The suicide rate for young men aged between 15 and 29, which had been rising since 1982, has fallen in the last years in the 15 to 19 age group and begun to plateau among 20 to 29-year-olds. The rate among people over 75 is also continuing to fall. It is not possible to derive any trends from the figures on attempted suicide and self-harm since a large and variable proportion of episodes with a diagnosis of injury and poisoning have no attributable cause.

  Paediatric Doctors
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received over the recruitment of paediatrician doctors qualified for staffing children's wards in district general hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [35719]

  Mr. Malone
  Correspondence about the recruitment of paediatric consultants has been received from the British Paediatric Association.

  I recently announced additional funding of £5.7 million in 1996–97 to provide a significant increase in training opportunities for doctors wishing to become consultants. In paediatrics, the increase for 1996–97 is 262, larger than any other specialty.

  Regional postgraduate deans are expected to target the available resources on those specialties, such as paediatrics, which have seen a rapidly increasing demand for consultant manpower.

  Health Services (Charges)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that when trusts and health authorities hold a public consultation for proposals for substantial changes in services, the results are published showing summarised views and the reasons given for decisions contrary to assessed opinion; and if he will make a statement. [35843]

  Mr. Horam
  We expect health authorities to conduct their business in as open a manner as possible. The outcome of public consultation is normally discussed in open session of a health authority meeting and we would expect papers summarising health authority views and justifying their decisions to be available at the meeting.

  Where a community health council contests a proposal and it is referred to Ministers for a decision, Ministers write to the council informing them of the reasons for that decision.

  District General Hospitals
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes he has made to the guidelines for the assessment of viability of district general hospitals in mixed rural and urban areas. [35720]

  Mr. Horam
  None. The latest guidance, "The Operation of the NHS Internal Market: Local Freedoms, National Responsibilities"—HSG(94)55—was published on 12 December 1994. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Contaminated Blood Products
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will offer ex gratia payments to people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C through NHS treatment with contaminated blood products; [36179]

  (2) what plans he has for providing long-term financial help to people with haemophilia who were infected with HIV through NHS treatment using contaminated blood products. [36180]

  Mr. Horam
  The Government's view remains that, while they have great sympathy for those infected with Hepatitis C in this way, as no fault or negligence on the part of the national health service has been proved, we have no plans at present to make special payments. We are always ready to listen to further evidence, but the best way that the Government can help at present is to encourage research and the best treatment for those infected, as well as supporting voluntary groups with them. This we are doing.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what money is spent annually on(a) treatment and support services for haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C through NHS treatment with contaminated blood products, (b) research into this problem and (c) recombinant products at (i) national and (ii) regional level. [36130]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Obesity
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the estimated percentage, for each nation within the United Kingdom of(a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 16 to 64 years and (ii) 64 years and over, who were obese for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [36048]

  Mr. Horam
  The table shows the information available for England from 1991–1994. Prior to this, the data are less comprehensive, and information is available for 1.980 and 1986–87 for Great Britain only. For information relating to other parts of the United Kingdom I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  22

  Percentage obese1

  Year

  Great Britain

  England

  Age (years)

  16–64

  16–64

  65–74

  75+

  Men

  19802

  6

  —

  —

  —

  1986–873

  8

  —

  —

  —

  19914

  —

  13

  14

  7

  19924

  —

  12

  11

  14

  19934

  —

  13

  15

  11

  19944

  —

  13

  18

  15

  Women

  19802

  8

  —

  —

  —

  1986–873

  12

  —

  —

  —

  19914

  —

  15

  19

  16

  19924

  —

  16

  22

  14

  19934

  —

  16

  21

  16

  19944

  —

  16

  25

  16

  Note:

  1 The classification for obese has been taken as body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2.

  Source:

  2. The Heights and Weights of Adults in Great Britain.

  3. The Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults.

  4. Health Surveys of England, 1991 to 1994.

  Organically Produced Food
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated; on the potential effects on public health of the consumption of organically produced food; and if he will make a statement. [36051]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health has not commissioned such research.

  Passive Smoking
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his letter of 17 June, what recent representations he has received on the health effects of passive smoking. [34638]

  Mr. Horam
  The information pack produced by Philip Morris Europe SA in conjunction with its current publicity campaign on passive smoking has been received and is being studied.

  HIV Services
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who are the chief executives and officers responsible for purchasing HIV services with each health authority. [34851]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected centrally.

  HIV Prevention (Prisons)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances health authorities are authorised to provide ring-fenced HIV prevention money for health promotion in prisons in their areas; and if programmes supported by these funds are available to the entire prison population within the establishment. [34872]
  23
  Mr. Horam
  Health authorities are allocated ring-fenced funds for locally targeted prevention and education initiatives to help curb the spread of HIV. In carrying out their needs assessment, health authorities are expected to liaise with other agencies in their areas, including those working with people in custody or care of the criminal justice services, to help identify local priorities for HIV health promotion work. The scope of such work is a matter for local agreement.

  Pre-payment Prescriptions
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer of 30 April Official Report, column 503, on pre-payment prescription certificates, what research his Department has undertaken to identify the costs of administering a weekly instalment system for pre-payment prescription certificates; [35377]

  (2) what measures his Department is taking to publicise the availability of pre-payment certificates for prescriptions.[35458]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  We propose to amend current regulations later this year to allow community pharmacists who wish to do so to sell prescription prepayment certificates directly to patients. At present, patients must apply to a health authority. We will take further steps to publicise the availability of prepayment of certificates once this change has been made.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the use of the private finance initiative by individual hospital trusts for building projects or the reorganisation of health services by health authorities; and what guidance for trusts his Department has published on this matter. [35648]

  Mr. Horam
  So far, 57 schemes have been approved under the private finance initiative worth over £520 million. A further 40 schemes with a capital value of over £1.5 billion are testing private finance options as part of the PFI process.

  For the guidance issued for trusts, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 15 January at column 343.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each private finance initiative scheme advertised in the contracts supplement to the European Commission Official Journal, the adviser selected and named to assist potential contractors indicating how each was selected. [35889]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally. It is a matter for individual trusts to appoint advisers and guidance is available on the selection process.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the list of advisers currently approved to assist potential contractors seeking clarification in relation to private finance initiative schemes advertised in the contracts supplement to the Official Journal of the European Commission; if he will specify the arrangements by which such advisers are
  24
  allowed to collect fees in exchange for supplying pre-qualification documents to contractors; and if he will make a statement. [35892]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally. Advisers are appointed on the basis of their experience and relevant expertise. The payment of fees is part of the agreement between contractor and adviser and it is for the individual parties concerned to determine when these payments occur.

  Nurses
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the publication of hospital performance tables on the recruitment of nurses hired solely to greet patients within five minutes of arrival in casualty departments. [35887]

  Mr. Horam
  It is clear that, where additional nurses are in place, this is in response to increased demand for accident and emergency services and not as a result of performance tables.

  Information Management Group
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 334, if he will give the previous rank and position or outside job held by the two new deputy directors of the NHS centre for coding and classification. [35767]

  Mr. Horam
  Prior to being designated as deputy directors at the national health service centre for coding and classification—NHS CCC—the two individuals concerned are respectively:Head of the clinical coding support unit based in Manchester which was part of the information management group of the NHS Executive. Then, head of the classification department at the NHS CCC.
  General Practitioner in the NHS. Then, various posts at the NHS CCC including senior medical coding consultant, head of projects and head of Read code development.

  Edgware General Hospital
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the outcome of the meeting of the doctors' working group to finalise its recommendations on Thursday 4 July, in respect of the accident and emergency replacement facilities at Edgware general hospital; and if he will make a statement. [35832]

  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) of 1 July,Official Report, columns 338–39, what was the outcome of the meeting of the doctors' working group that met on Thursday 4 July to discuss matters relating to the accident and emergency department at Edgware hospital; and if he will make a statement. [35831]

  Mr. Dorrell
  As part of the process to which I referred in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 1 July at columns 338–39, the working group met on Thursday 4 July to finalise its recommendations to Barnet health authority about medical input to the casualty service at Edgware hospital. The working group has endorsed the principle that there should be a medical presence within the casualty service.

  25
  This helpful recommendation, which reflects the local opinions that have been voiced over many months by my hon. Friends and others, will be considered by Barnet health authority at its next meeting.

  Read Codes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 334, if he will specify the organisation or person carrying out the study of the licensing arrangements between Computer Aided Medical Systems plc and the NHS; if that organisation was chosen by competitive tenders; when the study was started; when he expected it to be completed; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the completed report.[35768]

  Mr. Horam
  The review of current licensing and support arrangements for Read codes will be carried out by Silicon Bridge Research. Since it was chosen for its particular skills and experience, at a cost below the single tender limit, there was no competitive tender. The review started an 4 Jury 1996 and is expected to be completed by the end of October 1996. A report of its findings will be placed in the Library.

  Trust and Health Authorities (Debts)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 93, if he will show the amount of bad debts and claims abandoned for each health authority in each region broken down by category for the last three years. [33097]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: The information will be placed in the Library.

  Child Abuse Inquires
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of(a) the independent review of residential care conducted by Lady Wagner and (b) its report, "Residential Care-A Positive Choice". [35146]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 1 July 1996]: The information is not available.

DEFENCE

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many JP233 mines were left by United Kingdom forces at bomb dump M3 in Bahrain after the Gulf war; and how many of them are currently owned by the United Kingdom Government. [35360]

  Mr. Soames
  All JP 233 munitions in Bahrain were returned to the UK after the Gulf war.

  Hawk Trainer Crash, Portugal
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 416, in respect of the crash of a Hawk trainer, when the NATO standardisation agreement came into operation. [35691]
  26
  Mr. Soames
  NATO standardisation agreement 3531 first came into operation in 1964.

  Official Secrets (Military Accidents)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to alter the provisions contained in official secrets legislation in relation to military incidents resulting in(a) injuries and (b) fatalities; and if he will make a statement. [35703]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no provisions in official secrets legislation relating specifically to such incidents. Service board of inquiry reports on military incidents resulting in fatalities are released to the next of kin of deceased service personnel, on request, subject to the minimum of security requirements.

  Armed Forces
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 16 May,Official Report, column 559, if he will break down the figures for armed forces by (a) year and (b) service for each year since 1991. [35751]

  Mr. Soames
  The strength of the Regular armed forces by service, on 1 April for each year since 1991, was as follows:

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  RN/RM

  62,100

  62,100

  54,400

  55,800

  50,900

  48,300

  Army

  154,600

  152,400

  140,900

  128,600

  115,900

  113,400

  RAF

  88,400

  86,000

  80,900

  75,700

  70,800

  64,700

  Total

  305,100

  300,500

  281,200

  260,100

  237,600

  226,400

  Others1

  2,100

  2,000

  1,900

  1,610

  1,000

  1,000

  1 Locally Engaged Service Personnel. Army figures include Gurkha strengths.

  All figures contain an element for personnel undergoing training.

  Unidentified Flying Objects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which office within his Department deals with sightings of unidentified flying objects. [35845]

  Mr. Soames
  The focal point within my Department for reports of sightings of unidentified flying objects is Secretariat(Air Staff)2a.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by(a) date and (b) location for the last 10 years unexplainable sightings of unidentified flying objects received by his Department; and what action was subsequently taken. [35844]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department evaluates reports of "unexplained" aerial phenomena solely in order to establish whether they may have any defence significance. Unless there is evidence to indicate that the UK air defence region may have been compromised, and to date no sighting has provided such evidence, my Department does not investigate or seek to provide an explanation for what was observed. The question of unexplainable sightings has not therefore arisen.

  Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
  Sir Roger Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further progress has been made in forming an Animal Welfare Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement. [36469]
  27
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In my previous answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) of 20 December 1995,Official Report, column 1173, I undertook to make a further announcement about membership and detailed procedures of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. The committee has now been formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Jeremy Lucke, a former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The committee will be meeting later in the summer to agree working arrangements and will submit an initial report on these to my Department's chief scientific adviser. It is intended that unclassified versions of the committee's substantive reports will be published.

  Anglo-French Co-operation
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each current joint programme or initiative being undertaken with the French Ministry of Defence. [35737]

  Mr. Soames
  Full information on such programmes is not held centrally. The following comprises the bulk of co-operative programmes, in which the French armed services are involved with our armed services:

  Organisations/groupings

  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

  United Nations

  Western European Union

  Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe

  Partnership for Peace

  Franco British Euro Air Group

  Twinning arrangements

  3 Commando Brigade/9th Division Infanterie de Marine

  UK Field Army/Force d'Action Rapide

  Many units organise their own affiliations.

  Nuclear

  Joint Nuclear Commission

  Bilateral training

  Bilateral exercise

  Staff College places

  Squadron Exchanges (NATO Programme)

  Operational Sea Training—Joint Maritime Course

  60 exchange/liaison officers on attachment between British and French units.

  Defence research

  European Cooperative Long Term Initiative for Defence (EUCLID)

  FINABEL

  Anglo-French Defence Research Group—controls 14 separate Working Groups.

  Anglo-French Future Land Systems Study Group.

  Anglo-French Army Equipment Commission.

  28
  Equipment issues

  Multi-Launch Rocket System Phase 1

  Milan Anti-Tank missile

  Jaguar

  Lynx

  Puma

  Gazelle

  Future Large Aircraft

  RTM322 Helicopter Engine

  Navstar Global Positioning System

  COBRA (Counter Battery Radar)

  Aimed Control Effect Anti-Tank Mine

  Medium Range Third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (TRIGAT)

  Long Range TRIGAT

  ADA Computer Language Project Support Environment Allied Data Systems Interoperability Agency

  Project HORIZON

  NATO Improved Link Eleven

  Future Tank Main Armament

  Very Short Range and Short Range Air Defence System Programme

  Principal Anti-Air Missile Systems

  Allied Standard Avionics Architecture Initiative

  Active Electronically Scanned Radar

  Advanced AeroEngine Technology

  Future Military Satellite for Communications

  Battlefield Information/Intelligence Compilation Exploitation /System (BICES)

  Computer Aided Acquisitions and Logistic Support

  NATO Submarine Rescue System

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings(a) he has (b) other Defence Ministers have had with their French counterparts in the last 12 months. [35738]

  Mr. Soames
  As one would expect, Defence Ministers have met their French counterparts in bilateral and multilateral forums on numerous occasions over the past 12 months.

  Tidworth Garrison
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the private finance initiative project for the water and sewerage works at Tidworth garrison. [36468]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am pleased to announce that, following expressions of interest from over 50 companies and outline proposals from 14, we have now selected Wessex Water Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Wessex Water plc, as the preferred bidder for the supply of water and sewerage services for Tidworth Garrison. Detailed contract negotiations will now commence with Wessex Water with the aim of achieving full transfer of responsibility at the beginning of 1997.

  The application of private finance will not only represent a saving to the taxpayer but will provide a higher standard of service for all customers at no extra cost, as well as allowing the MOD to focus its efforts on its core business, that of supporting the operational activities of the armed forces.

  Bastille Day Parade
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units of the(a) Army and (b) Royal Air Force will participate in the Bastille day parade in France on 14 July. [35736]

  Mr. Soames
  Eight RAF aircraft will participate in the fly-past along the Champs Elysee to celebrate Bastille day on 14 July. The composition of the RAF participation is as follows:

  One VC10 tanker from 101 Squadron RAF Brize Norton

  Four Tornado GR1s from XV Squadron RAF Lossiemouth

  Three Harrier GR7s from 3 Squadron RAF Laarbruch

  NAAFI
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to finalise the new Navy, Army and Air Force Institutions charter; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [35766]

  Mr. Soames
  The MOD-NAAFI charter has now been approved and has been submitted for printing. A copy of the charter will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

PRIME MINISTER

  Transsexuals
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Prime Minister which department and which Minister has been assigned overall responsibility for parliamentary issues concerning transsexuals; and if he will make a statement. [35269]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 24 June 1996,Official Report, column 14. No Minister or Department has been assigned overall responsibility for parliamentary issues concerning transsexuals. Where, as in this case, issues may touch on the responsibilities of a number of Departments, Ministers and officials in the different Departments work closely together to ensure effective co-ordination.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to lay before Parliament and publish the annual report of the Serious Fraud Office for 1995–96. [36309]

  The Attorney-General
  The report was laid before Parliament this morning and then published. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues to police forces and local education authorities about joint action to warn pupils of the dangers of drug taking. [35056]
  30
  Mr. Sackville
  Police forces are involved in a wide range of projects to provide school pupils with information on the dangers on drug misuse. Guidance on the content and organisation of drugs education and the involvement of other agencies, including the police, has been issued by the Department for Education and Employment. In addition, £6 million has been given to schools under the grants for education support and training programme to train teachers and support new projects in drug education and prevention.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are currently awaiting an initial decision by his Department's asylum directorate; how many appeals against a refusal of asylum are currently being processed by the asylum directorate; and how many appeals against a refusal of asylum, having been processed by the asylum directorate and despatched to the Immigration Appellate Authority, are awaiting hearings by the authority. [35602]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As at 31 May, there were 66,400 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision. As at the same date, there were 870 asylum appeals awaiting validation and preparation by the asylum directorate and 15,650 appeals awaiting a hearing by the Immigration Appellate Authority.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom pending determination of their application for asylum since 1 January 1994 are recorded as having absconded. [35606]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken by his Department's asylum directorate to process and despatch to the Immigration Appellate Authority an appeal against a refusal of asylum; and what is the average time taken by the authority to hear and determine such an appeal;[35601]

  (2) what is the average time currently taken by his Department to reach an initial decision on (a) all asylum applications and (b) asylum applications submitted (i) prior to and (ii) since implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. [35609]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.

  Average times involved in deciding applications for asylum (December 1995-May 1996)

  Months

  Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Pre-Act applications)

  43.2

  Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Post-Act applications)

  10.7

  Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal

  2.0

  Time taken by the Immigration Appellate Authority to determine an appeal

  8.2

  31
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and percentage of asylum seekers are(a) still waiting for consideration of their asylum application to be formally completed by the Home Office and (b) not having their asylum application pursued because his Department has granted them permission to stay. [35634]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As at 31 May, there were 66,400 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision. Information on the number of asylum seekers granted leave to enter or remain in another capacity in the United Kingdom, prior to their asylum applications being decided, is not held centrally.

  Immigration (Detention Centres)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to his Department of detaining persons under Immigration Act powers in immigration service detention centres, prison service establishments and police cells in 1995–96; and what amount of that cost was reclaimed from carrying companies during the same period. [35604]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The cost of detaining persons in immigration service detention centres and police cells under Immigration Act powers in the 1995–96 financial year was some £14.2 million. Of this, some £2 million was spent on police cells and the balance on the immigration service detention estate.

  No charge is made to the immigration service for the use of Prison Service accommodation but the estimated notional cost of this for the same period is about £9 million.

  The Immigration Act specifies certain conditions under which detention costs can be reclaimed from carriers and some £400,000 was reclaimed under these provisions in 1995–96.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average weekly cost of detaining a person under Immigration Act powers in(a) an immigration service detention centre and (b) a Prison Service establishment. [35603]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  For the 1995–96 financial year, the average cost of detaining a person in a centre within the Immigration Service estate was about £560 per week. This figure includes the cost of administrative support from headquarters.

  Persons detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service accommodation are normally housed separately in specially designated establishments, where the average cost per place in 1994–95 was £449 per week. This figure excludes headquarters costs.

  Immigration (Carriers Liability)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were arrested at Heathrow airport on suspicion of having used or attempted to use forged instruments to board an aircraft in(a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996 to date; how many such persons were formally charged with such an offence in the same periods; and how many such persons were convicted of such an offence in the same periods. [35607]
  32
  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table sets out the available information relating to all arrests at Heathrow airport for offences contrary either to section 1 or the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 or section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that statistical records relating to forged instruments are not kept by reference to the use to which that instrument was being put. All those arrested were formally charged but statistical information on how many of them were convicted is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Financial

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Attempting to obtain a service by deception

  7

  16

  29

  250

  Using/possession of a forged instrument

  27

  37

  97

  126

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total amount of liability incurred by carriers under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987 in each year since 1987; how much has been paid to date; how much has been waived to date; and how much is currently outstanding. [35605]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Total charges incurred by carriers under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987 in each year since the inception of the Act are as follows: (Charges are shown in £ million).

  1987:£ 3.92

  1988:£ 4.40

  1989:£ 7.86

  1990:£ 9.63

  1991:£12.891

  1992:£12.72

  1993:£11.04

  1994:£13.24

  1995:£12.37

  1 The charge increased from £1,000 to £2,000 per inadequately documented passenger on 1 August 1991.

  Charges amounting to £94.45 million have been incurred to date. A total of £56.91 million has been paid, £18.73 million waived, and £18.81 million is currently outstanding.

  Palestinian Passports
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of recognition of Palestinian passports. [35702]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The United Kingdom accepts passports issued by the Palestinian authority, as provided for by the Cairo agreement, as valid for travel to the United Kingdom.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current policy on overtime in the Metropolitan police service. [35259]
  33
  Mr. Maclean
  The Commissioner informs me that it is his policy that overtime is not worked unless it is operationally necessary, and that officers are compensated in accordance with the provisions of the police regulations.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current funding level of the Metropolitan police service; and if he will list the areas of budget reductions in respect of the Metropolitan police in the current year. [35260]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington),Official Report, columns 702–03; it is for the commissioner to decide how the budget that my right hon. and learned Friend has approved, which includes a 2 per cent. increase with a further 1 per cent. in reserve, may best be allocated across the Metropolitan police. The Metropolitan police estimates for 1996–97 will be published as a command paper later this financial year.

  Prisons (Hepatitis)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to monitor the levels of hepatitis B and C within prisons in England and Wales. [34873]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Robert Key, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the steps being taken to monitor the levels of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C within prisons in England and Wales.
  The Prison Service has a central system for monitoring hepatitis in inmates based on annual returns from establishments. The information recorded includes the following which relate to the number of new cases of hepatitis identified during each year.

  Acute Hepatitis A

  Acute Hepatitis B

  Chronic Hepatitis B

  Acute Hepatitis C

  Other Hepatitis

  The latest results of this monitoring were published in the annual report of the Director of Health Care (1994–95).
  34
  From April 1996 a new monthly system of health care monitoring was introduced. This includes similar questions to the above relating to hepatitis. The new system and distinguishes between new cases identified during the month and actual numbers with hepatitis on a given day. This enables more accurate information on prevalence to be produced.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued for the treatment of prisoners with hepatitis B and C. [34875]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Robert Key, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the guidance which is issued for the treatment of prisoners with hepatitis B and C.
  No specific advice is issued to prison doctors on the treatment of hepatitis B but this is managed by the managing medical officer within his/her clinical judgement taking note of specialist advice. The treatment of acute cases of hepatitis C (HCV) is managed along similar lines.
  Advice on the treatment of HCV including the necessity to seek consultant advice, provide pre-test counselling and the need for consent to testing has recently been issued, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This advice was developed in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Public Health Laboratory Service.

  London Fire Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hon. Members have made representations to him regarding(a) proposed changes in the level of London's fire service and (b) closures of London's fire stations. [35508]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: The London Fire and Civil Defence Authority applied on 6 March for my right hon. and learned Friend's approval under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 to certain changes in operational fire cover, including the removal of 15 fire appliances from stations around London. No station closures are involved. Correspondence has been received from 53 hon. Members regarding the proposed changes. The application is under consideration.

  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has also met my hon. Friends the Members for Twickenham Mr. Jessel) and for Battersea Mr. Bowis) and the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey.

TREASURY

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue in a full year from the imposition of VAT at the standard rate on aircraft fuel. [35324]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The estimate of the revenue in 1995 from the imposition of VAT at the standard rate on aircraft fuel for internal flights is £10 million. Fuel used for overseas flights is zero-rated. Assuming that the imposition of VAT at the standard rate on such fuel would have had no effect on demand, it is estimated that £160 million would have been raised in 1995.

  Asset Inflation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to control asset inflation. [35931]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Interest rates are set to achieve the inflation target, which is to keep underlying retail price inflation, RPIX, at or below 2 per cent. Asset prices are among the indicators that the Government take into account in assessing the prospects for inflation.

  Utility Prices
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 286, on the utility component of the retail prices index, what factors underlay the delay in answering the question; and when he first received a draft answer to the question. [36306]

  Mr. Jack
  I replied when I was in a position to provide a suitable answer. It is not my practice to disclose information relating to the advice given by officials.

  Earnings
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 June,Official Report, column 22, regarding earnings, if he will provide the figures excluding overtime payments. [35077]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I am placing the available information from the "New Earnings Survey" in the Members' Library.

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each major item for which tax relief is currently granted; and if he will indicate the current total value of each of these categories of tax relief. [35739]

  Mr. Jack
  Comprehensive information about the cost of principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs was published in the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" in July 1995. A copy can be found in the Library of the House. Estimates for 1995–96 and 1996–97 based on the summer economic forecast will be published in this year's edition later this month.
  36

  Privatisation Proceeds
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proceeds to the Exchequer of each privatisation since 1979 at current prices. [35725]

  Mr. Jack
  Table 5.6 of the "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 1996–97" (HMSO Cm 3201) gives privatisation proceeds by sale in cash terms. The table sets out annual proceeds in cash and current 1996–97 prices. It would not be possible to give current price proceeds on a sale-by-sale basis without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Privatisation proceeds (£ million)

  Year

  Cash

  Current 1996–97 prices

  1979–80

  377

  994

  1980–81

  210

  468

  1981–82

  493

  1,002

  1982–83

  455

  863

  1983–84

  1,139

  2,065

  1984–85

  2,050

  3,538

  1985–86

  2,706

  4,428

  1986–87

  4,458

  7,081

  1987–88

  5,140

  7,751

  1988–89

  7,069

  9,992

  1989–90

  4,225

  5,582

  1990–91

  5,347

  6,776

  1991–92

  7,925

  9,124

  1992–93

  8,184

  9,053

  1993–94

  5,460

  5,870

  1994–95

  6,428

  6,786

  1995–96

  2,420

  2,486

  64,086

  83,859

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many statutory instruments 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. [35045]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: This information is not presently available in the form requested, and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. However, a list of regulations that have been repealed or amended was placed in the House Libraries by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 May.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions to his Department in the past 12 months had not received a full answer within five weeks of the question being tabled; and if he will list the reasons in each case. [36307]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Eight out of 2,102. In each of these cases, the answering Minister was concerned to give as complete a reply as possible.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the levels of income tax in
  37
  (a) the 1996–97 and (b) the 1978–79 indexed regimes broken down into the top 1 per cent., 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and bottom 50 per cent. and 10 per cent. of taxpayers, showing the total changes in the level of tax and the average gain or loss to each group. [35511]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: Information on the reduction in income tax liability for 1996–97 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime is given in the table. This comparison is hypothetical since if an indexed version of the 1978–79 tax regime had prevailed over the past 18 years the income base would not have grown as it has.

  Quantile group of taxpyers under the 1978–79 indexed

  Amount of income tax

  Reduction in income tax

  Average reduction

  Per cent.

  1996–97 £ million

  1978–79 indexed regime

  £ million

  £

  Top 1

  12,500

  23,100

  10,600

  38,900

  Top 5

  25,400

  40,700

  15,300

  11,200

  Top 10

  33,900

  52,400

  18,500

  6,800

  Bottom 50

  8,700

  14,000

  5,300

  400

  Bottom 10

  90

  430

  340

  130

  Bad Debts (Tax Treatment)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchquer if he will make a statement on the tax treatment of bad debts on loans made to organisations which are not bankrupt. [35936]

  Mr. Jack
  The calculation of trading profit for tax purposes follows general accounting principles which, broadly, determine that income and expenditure should be brought into account on an accruals basis. This means that a trader may be charged to tax on money owed to the business in an accounting period even if the money is not actually received. However, if a particular debt to a business is bad or considered by the trader as being doubtful, a deduction may be given in the accounting period in which the debt becomes bad or is considered as doubtful, in effect cancelling out the charge to tax on so much of that debt as is viewed as bad or doubtful.

  Capital items—income and expenditure—are excluded form the computation of taxable profits. Generally, loans will be on capital account, with the result that no account may be taken of the extent to which they are bad or doubtful in arriving at the profits for tax purposes, unless they are made in the course of a trade of banking or moneylending or as an adjunct, or as an essential part, of some other trade.

  Relief may, however, be given as a capital loss when loans to traders prove irrecoverable, or when a guarantor of a loan to a trade is obliged to make a payment under the guarantee.

  Whether a debt is bad or doubtful depends on the particular facts. But while bankruptcy or insolvency of the debtor may be evidence that a debt is bad or doubtful, it
  38
  is not an absolute requirement at a debtor be insolvent or bankrupt before a debt can be bad or doubtful for tax purposes.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Members' Pay and Allowances
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to introduce new proposals on Members' pay and allowances, pursuant to the report of the Top Salaries Review Committee. [34719]

  Mr. Newton
  The Government have announced their proposals and the House will debate the matter on Wednesday 10 July.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what recent assessment he has made of levels of right hon. and hon. Members' pay and allowances. [34713]

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Prime Minister's reply of 4 July to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Dover),Official Report, column 505.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the annual salary of a Member of the House of Commons on 1 October 1971; and what that salary would be today if it had been increased annually(a) in line with inflation and (b) in line with the national average increase in earnings. [35641]

  Mr. Newton
  On 1 October 1971, a Member's annual salary was £3,250. The salary in May this year, the latest date for which figures are available, would be:

  (a) £24,041 had it been increased in line with inflation; and

  (b) £36,899 had it been increased in line with the national average increase in earnings.

  Parliamentary Calendar
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what recent representations he has received about the parliamentary calendar; and if he will make a
  statement. [34720]

  Mr. Newton
  A few, including a letter from the hon. Gentleman and the exchanges at Question Time on Monday 10 June,Official Report, columns 19–20.

  Sitting Hours
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what recent assessment he has made of the sitting hours of other European parliaments. [34722]

  Mr. Newton
  I have made no such assessment, but the hon. Gentleman may wish to consult the memorandums from the Director of the German Bundestag and the Secretary General of the French National Assembly which were submitted to the Select Committee on Sittings of the House in 1991–92 [HC 20-II (1991–92), pp 154–160].

  Prime Minister's Question Time
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to act on the recommendations
  39
  contained in the seventh report of the Select Committee on Procedure relating to Prime Minister's Question Time, HC 555, Session 1994–95. [347181

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to review the procedures for Prime Minister's Question Time. [34721]

  Mr. Newton
  The Government have always regarded the arrangements for Prime Minister's questions as a matter for the House to decide, and wish to hear the views of the House. Thursday's debate on parliamentary procedure will provide an opportunity to discuss this and a range of other procedural issues.

  Parliamentary Procedures (Efficiency)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will initiate a survey of the efficiency of the procedures of the House. [34723]

  Mr. Newton
  The efficiency of the procedures of the House falls within the remit of the Procedure Committee.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Staff Salaries
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the average annual salary, including where appropriate any overtime, on 1 October 1971 of (i)(a) a senior Library clerk, (b) the highest-paid chef, (c) a senior Clerk in the House of Commons and (ii) a ministerial car driver; if he will indicate in each of those cases what that salary would be today if it had been increased annually in line with inflation; and what is the current annual salary for each of those grades. [35642]

  Mr. Beith
  Figures for salaries of Commission staff prior to 1978 are not available centrally and they can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since the establishment of the House of Commons Commission in 1978, staff salaries have been included in the Commission's annual reports. Figures for ministerial car drivers are a matter for the Cabinet Office. The earliest figures readily available are those for 1 April 1978. London based salaries are as follows:

  Senior Clerk: £7,315-£9,253 p.a

  Senior Library Clerk: £5,917-£8,879 p.a

  Executive Chef: £9,980 p.a. (at 1 January 1980)1

  Those senior Clerks and senior Library Clerks who performed additional night duty were paid an allowance of £1,555 p.a.

  Applying the inflation factors for 1 April 1978 (x 3.093) and 1 January 1980 (x 2.454), respectively, these figures become:-

  Senior Clerk: £22,625–£28,619 p.a

  Senior Library Clerk: £18,301–£27,463 p.a

  Executive Chef: £24,490 p.a.

  The night allowance becomes £4,810 p.a.

  40
  Current salaries for the above grades are as follows:

  Senior Clerk

  £28,954–£43,802 p.a.

  Senior Library Clerk

  Executive Chef

  The current rate of night allowance is £4,010 p.a.

  1 The Refreshment Department did not become a Department of the House until 1980 and staff salaries for that Department did not appear in the Commission's report until that for 1979–80.

  In 1992, staff pay scales were radically restructured and they now include an element for performance-related pay so that strict comparison with the earlier pay scales is not valid.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [33864]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  In the three months to 19 June, I visited the following constituencies on official business:

  Birmingham, Hodge Hill

  Birmingham, Small Heath

  Belfast, East

  Belfast, West

  Upper Bann

  South Antrim

  Details of future visits are not given for security reasons, although I shall of course do my best to give prior warning to hon. Members when I visit their constituencies in an official capacity.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those 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. [34357]

  Mr. Freeman
  During the last three months I have visited the following constituencies: Ladywood, Widness, Ellesmore Port, Nuneaton, Bristol West, Chester, Richmond (Yorks), Warrington (North), Taunton, South Wirral, Salisbury, South Staffordshire, Newcastle upon Tyne, Central, Montgomery, Shropshire, North, Shrewsbury, and Belfast, East.

  I have not yet finalised my ministerial visits for the next three months. I always do my best to give prior warning to hon. Members when I visit their constituencies in an official capacity.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if compliance cost assessments are obligatory for all statutory instruments. [35143]

  Mr. Freeman
  A compliance cost assessment is required for all statutory instruments that effect business, charities and voluntary organisations. Full details of the requirement to prepare a compliance cost assessment are
  41
  set out in "Checking the Cost of Regulation: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment", copies of which are available in the House Libraries.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the total compliance cost of all rules and regulations since April 1995. [35144]

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that information is not held in this form. However, as part of the recent introduction of new compliance cost and risk assessment procedures, I am considering whether assessments of the total cost and benefit of new regulations might be recorded and published in future.

  Business Panel
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minster if he will list the membership of the panel of business people advising in interchange between the civil service and industry. [35639]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: The members of the interchange panel, who are unpaid, are as follows:

  Sir Bryan Nicholson (Chairman)
  (Emeritus President of the CBI, chairman of BUPA and Varity Europe Ltd., and Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam university);

  Alec Daly CBE
  (chairman of the National Manufacturing Council and Deputy Director General of the CBI, chairman of Cray Electronics, and Brent International);

  Ian MaAllister CBE
  (chairman of Ford Motor Co. Ltd. of Britain);

  Mark Radcliffe
  (chairman of Upton Management Services Ltd. and Metsec plc, and formerly main board director of the TI Group and Deputy Director General of the CBI);

  Nigel Whittaker
  (chairman of Cardcast plc, strategic and corporate affairs consultant, and formerly chairman of the Deregulation task force for small business, retail and tourism).

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to promote interchange between the civil service and small businesses. [35638]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: Interchange between all parts of the private sector and the civil service is promoted by the Office of Public Service, Government Departments, and the Whitehall and industry group. I have recently appointed a panel of businessmen from a wide range of sectors, including small businesses, to help increase these exchanges.

WALES

  Land Reclamation Schemes
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reductions in funding to the Welsh Development Agency for land reclamation schemes have been made in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement on the implications of financial 42
  reductions for schemes where tenders had been invited and accepted, subject to Welsh Development Agency approval. [35925]

  Mr. Hague
  The agency's budget for land reclamation in 1996–97 is £14 million. The other issues are operational matters for the WDA and I will arrange for its chief executive to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each of the land reclamation schemes under way in Wales, indicating the areas being reclaimed in each case. [35926]

  Mr. Hague
  These are operational matters for the Welsh Development Agency. I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Schools (Opting Out)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the number of complaints he has received on each occasion a ballot for opt-out status has been held, indicating whether the complaints concerned the materials and/or activities of those campaigning(a) for and (b) against opting out; and what action was taken about each complaint; [34814]

  (2) if he will list the occasions the Welsh Office has scrutinised the leaflets and other materials sent to parents (a) in support of and (b) against schools opting out, indicating whether this scrutiny was preceded by any complaints and whether in case (a) or (b) changes were ordered. [34815]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  It is particularly important that parents of pupils at a school where a ballot on grant-maintained status is taking place should have access to information that is objective and not misleading. As part of the Welsh Office's normal monitoring arrangements of grant-maintained ballots, both the school at which the ballot is taking place and its local education authority are therefore requested to submit for scrutiny copies of any material that they have issued or received in connection with the ballot irrespective of whether there has been a complaint. When complaints about the material that has been circulated to parents or the activities of those campaigning are received, they are investigated by Welsh Office officials. Details of these complaints could, however, by provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Education Funding
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much funding in cash and real terms has been spent on the administration of the education department in each of the last four years; and what percentage of the total funding this represents(a) including and (b) excluding the funds of the higher and further education councils in Wales. [34816]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is given in the following table:
  43

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Welsh Office Education Department Running Costs: 1

  Cash

  1.9352

  2.0002

  1.935

  1.962

  Real term 1994–95

  prices

  1.9711

  2.0002

  1.883

  1.858

  Above as a percentage of programme3 funding in cash terms:

  Including the Welsh Funding Councils

  0.5

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  Excluding the Welsh Funding Councils

  2.0

  1.6

  1.4

  1.5

  1 DRC figures for staffing costs, travel and subsistence, stationery and training.

  2 Includes translation unit costs.

  3 Excludes LEA Credit approvals.

  Casualty Departments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect of the publication of hospital performance tables on the recruitment of nurses to greet patients within five minutes of arrival in casualty departments. [35886]

  Mr. Hague
  I would be surprised if any hospital had recruited nurses solely to greet patients on arrival at casualty departments. The patients charter for Wales requires casualty departments not only to ease the natural concerns of the nearly 800,000 new patients attending accident and emergency departments each year but to make an immediate clinical assessment of the urgency of the treatment and care required.

  Information published in the hospital performance tables for the NHS in Wales demonstrates that casualty departments throughout Wales have greatly improved this important aspect of their emergency care.

  Staff employed in Welsh Office Education Department1

  April 1992

  September 1993

  September 1994

  June 1995

  June 1996

  Director and Secretary

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  Education Services

  421.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Culture and Recreation (including Translation Unit)

  —

  32.0

  23.5

  23.0

  22.6

  Further and Higher Education

  19.0

  13.0

  14.0

  12.0

  12.8

  Schools Administration

  15.5

  30.0

  27.0

  27.5

  28.0

  Schools Curriculum3

  16.0

  17.0

  22.0

  18.0

  —

  Schools Performance3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  18.0

  HM Inspectorate of Schools

  274.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  147.5

  94.0

  88.5

  82.5

  83.4

  1 Numbers are full-time equivalent.

  2 HM Inspectorate of Schools staff transferred to the newly created Department of Office of Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales in September 1992.

  3 Schools Curriculum Division became Schools Performance Division in 1995.

  4 Education Services Division became Culture and Recreation Division in 1993.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff have been employed in the Industry and Training Department in each of the last four years; and if he will list the number of staff employed to deal with(a) regional selective assistance, (b) the exchange risk guarantee scheme, (c) regional enterprise grants, (d) business development services, (e) training and

  Higher Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the drop-out rates in higher education in(a) year one, (b) year two and (c) year three—for four-year courses—and the failure rate in the final year of a first degree or its equivalent in the last three years. [34848]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information relating to drop-out rates is not collected centrally. Data collected by the higher education statistics agency—HESA—from academic year 1994–95 will allow us to calculate drop out rates in future years. The rate of final year student failures at first degree level in higher education in Wales over the last three years may be found in the following table. Information relating to the University of Wales for earlier years and data for the 1994–95 academic year are not available.

  Failure Rates of Students at First Degree Level in Higher Education in Wales (excluding the University of Wales)

  Rate per thousand

  1991–92

  6

  1992–93

  6

  1993–94

  3

  Source:

  Examination Results and First Destination Survey.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff have been employed in the education department in each of the last four years indicating the number, by full-time equivalent, employed in each specified area of responsibility within the department. [34817]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is set out in the following table. Over the period, various responsibilities have been transferred both between divisions within the education department and between the Department and outside bodies, and staffing levels have changed accordingly.

  enterprise council business growth and start-up measures, (f) Business Connect Wales, (g) all training programmes subdivided into specific sectors, (h) the careers services and (i) other programmes in each of these years; and how many full-time equivalents are involved in initiatives financed or carried out by training and enterprise councils. [34818]
  45
  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office Industry and Training Department was set up in May 1994. The total staff complement of its constituent divisions is set out in the table.

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  Industrial and training policy division

  20.65

  20.5

  Business services division

  30.57

  28.05

  Training finance and management division

  46.0

  38.8

  Industrial development division

  85

  88.2

  182.22

  175.55

  Direct comparisons between years are not possible because some work has been transferred between divisions, neither is it possible to disaggregate staffing further because most staff are not engaged solely on the discrete elements identified in the question.

  The main divisional functions are:

  Industrial and training policy division is responsible for advice and briefing on industrial policy and training policy; for economic briefing; general industrial and employment casework; for liaison with the Ministry of Defence on matters which affect Wales; for securing the effective implementation of the people and prosperity action plan; for the operation of training programmes and initiatives; and for sponsorship of the National Council of Vocational Qualifications in respect of its work in Wales.

  Business services division is responsible for small firms policy, and a range of business development services including Business Connect Wales; deregulation; for schemes to encourage innovation and technological development, environmental awareness, and energy efficiency; and for Welsh interests in the energy, steel and telecommunications industries.

  Training finance and management division is responsible for contracts with training and enterprise councils and for co-ordination of the Department's operational interest in TECs; for the management of contracts with careers service companies; and for financial management and accountability issues in respect of those programmes.

  Industrial development division is responsible for administering the regional selective assistance, regional enterprise grants schemes in Wales and residual work arising from the exchange risk guarantee scheme; for inward investment policy; for the provision of export services and for regional overseas links.

  Enterprise Trusts
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the enterprise trusts which receive public moneys and indicate for the last year for which figures are available the funding received by each and the principal activities which were financed, separately identifying the administrative costs of each. [34849]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  There are 20 local enterprise trusts or agencies in Wales providing a variety of services in support of local businesses. They are non profit-making and receive funding from a variety of public and private sources, details of which are set out in their audited accounts. The Welsh Office does not directly fund enterprise agencies and to gather the information requested would entail disproportionate costs. The verified enterprise agencies in Wales are as follows:

  Antur Dwyryd-Llyn Enterprise Agency

  Antur Teifi

  46

  Antur Menai

  Bersham Enterprise Centre

  Clwydfro Enterpise Agency

  Coastal Enterprise Agency

  Llanelli and Dinefwr Enterprise Company

  Made Enterprise Company

  Neath and Port Talbot Development Partnership

  Pembrokeshire Business Initiative

  Cardiff and Vale Enterprise Group

  D'Arcy Development

  Deeside Enterprise Trust Ltd.

  Delyn Business Partnership Ltd.

  Enterprise Taff Ely Ogwr Partnership

  Innovation Wales Ltd.

  Rhondda Development Agency

  West Glamorgan Enterprise Trust Ltd.

  Foothold, Llanelli

  Newport and Gwent Enterprise

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the costs paid by the Welsh Office to cover the grant-maintained ballot and all related costs for Ysgol Dyffryn Tâf, Whitland. [35730]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The cost of administering the ballot at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf was £1,089. It is open to the school's governing body to apply for financial assistance to help meet the costs incurred in circulating information on grant-maintained status to parents but no claim has been made to date.

  Dyspraxia
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the incidence of dyspraxia in Wales; and what help and treatment is available for sufferers. [35728]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not available centrally. The responsibility for the assessment and provision for sufferers of dyspraxia, including rehabilitation, is a matter for health authorities.

  NHS responsibilities for meeting continuing health care needs, including the provision of rehabilitation, are set out in Welsh health circular WHC(95)7.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each training and enterprise council the percentage of their resources in cash or in kind drawn from private sources. [34819]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As the information requested will take some time to collate, I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money is provided for each training and enterprise council in Wales; what percentage of it is spent on training; and how many trainees(a) start and (b) complete TEC financed courses. [34820]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is shown in the table:
  47

  TEC

  (i) TEC expenditure

  (ii) Percentage spent on training

  (iii) Total number of starts

  (iv) Percentage TEC financed Youth training/youth credit

  (v) Completing courses Training for work

  Gwent

  16,265,938

  63

  5,769

  43

  65

  Mid Glamorgan

  16,468,989

  67

  6,391

  47

  54

  North-East Wales

  10,330,623

  62

  3,167

  55

  61

  North-West Wales

  13,203,648

  66

  3,427

  52

  63

  Powys

  4,765,945

  56

  886

  1n/a

  66

  South Glamorgan

  11,369,738

  65

  4,405

  25

  46

  West Wales

  29,438,309

  66

  7,860

  45

  56

  Wales

  101,843,190

  65

  31,905

  48

  59

  Source of data:

  (i) and (ii) 1995–96 invoice monitoring; (iii) 1995–96 management information; (iv) and (v) DfEE YT/YC and TfW National Follow-up Surveys for 1994–95 (the latest full year for which information is available).

  Notes:

  1 Figures not available because responses to the follow-up survey in Powys were insufficient to be statistically reliable.

  1. The percentage completion rates relate to the overall starts figures provided and are not adjusted for circumstances in which some trainees (i) switch from one training course to another during the course of their training without having completed the original course or (iii) leave training having achieved a full or part qualification but without fully completing their training plans.

  The data needed to provide such an adjustment is not available centrally.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are employed by each training and enterprise council through funds allocated under Government contracts; and what proportion of them are involved in(a) enterprise, (b) training and (c) administration. [34850]

  Mr. Evans
  The following table shows the number of staff employed by each training and enterprise council, extracted from TEC annual statutory accounts for 1994–. 94—latest available.

  The figures are not available analysed in the form requested.

  Number

  Gwent TEC

  67

  Mid Glamorgan TEC

  95

  West Wales TEC

  126

  South Glamorgan TEC

  70

  Powys TEC

  27

  TARGED (North West Wales) TEC

  67

  North East Wales TEC

  116

  Workshops Land Reclamation, Tredegar
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that sufficient funds are available during the remainder of the current financial year to enable the Tredegar workshops land reclamation scheme to continue. [36114]

  Mr. Hague
  These are operational matters for the Welsh development agency. I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each private finance initiative scheme advertised in the contracts supplement to the Official Journal, the adviser selected and named to assist potential contractors indicating how each was selected. [35891]
  48
  Mr. Hague
  It is for each bidder for a private finance initiative project to appoint its own advisers. Public sector sponsors of projects may appoint their own advisers, following normal competitive tendering procedures for which guidance is available. Information on such appointments is not held centrally.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the list of advisers currently approved to assist potential contractors seeking clarification in relation to private finance initiative schemes advertised in the contracts supplement to the Official Journal of the European Commission; if he will list the arrangements by which such advisers are allowed to collect fees in exchange for supplying pre-qualification documents to contractors; and if he will make a statement. [35888]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office does not maintain an approved list of advisers for private finance initiative projects, and has not appointed any advisers to assist potential contractors for such projects. It is for the project sponsors to decide whether to make a charge for pre-qualification documents.

  A48 Slip Road
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with(a) Hill Samuel and (b) Charterhouse Finance concerning their participation in the consortium to build the multi-storey car park and A48 Eastern avenue slip road at the University Hospital of Wales, Neath, Cardiff; and if he will make a statement. [35890]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

ENVIRONMENT

  Biotechnology
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken since his letter G/CC/P50/19364/95 of 11 September 1995 to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on playing a pro-active role in developing and implementing interactive mechanisms for safety in biotechnology; and if he will make a statement. [34635]
  49
  Mr. Clappison
  My Department continues strongly to support a twin track approach to the development of an international framework on biosafety based on the promotion of the United Nations environment programme—UNEP—international technical guidelines for safety in biotechnology and the development of a biosafety protocol to the convention on biological diversity. I am pleased to be able to report that considerable progress has been made.

  We welcome the adoption of the UNEP international technical guidelines for safety in biotechnology, first developed by the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, in Cairo in December 1995 and are now actively promoting their use. As a first step, in September 1995, the UK entered a bilateral arrangement with Argentina to apply the then draft guidelines.

  The UK fully supported the decision of the second conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity, held in Jakarta in November 1995, to develop a biosafety protocol. The protocol will focus on the transboundary movement of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. A draft protocol is to be prepared by the open-ended ad hoc working group established by the conference of the parties. The first meeting will be in Denmark on 22 to 26 July 1996, when I look forward to the UK playing an active and constructive role.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow G/P50/10981/96, what consideration he has accorded to the work of the Max Plank institute in Mainz and Professor Paul Crutzen in relation to trace gases, the troposphere and climate change. [34636]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department is advised by the Hadley centre scientists on matters relating to trace gases, the troposphere and climate change. They are fully aware of, and draw on, the work of Professor Crutzen and his colleagues. Both the Hadley centre and the Max Plank institute contributed to the second assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, which provides the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the science of climate change.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what data is collated by his Department on the prevalence of car boot sales. [35679]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No statistics are kept by the Department on the number of car boot sales.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for controlling commercial traders at car boot sales. [35680]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The planning system controls the development, including use, of land. Part 4 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Development) Order 1995 already restricts the temporary use of land for a car boot sale to 14 days a year. It is not the function of the planning system to preserve existing commercial interests or to inhibit competition between 50
  retailers or between methods of retailing, and the planning legislation therefore applies to commercial and non-commercial traders alike. The Government have no plans to introduce a distinction in this matter.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr.Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the housing action trusts in England and Wales at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [35726]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There are six housing action trusts—HATs—in England—at North Hull, Liverpool, Waltham Forest, Castle Vale (Birmingham), Tower Hamlets and Stonebridge (Brent). There are no HATs in Wales. HATs provide a comprehensive approach to the regeneration of former local authority estates. They are responsible for the management, repair, refurbishment and redevelopment of their housing accommodation; giving tenants a range of options for future home ownership and tenure; and undertaking environmental, economic and social initiatives to help local communities sustain the improvements achieved by public and private investment once the trusts themselves have completed their work.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing units the Liverpool housing action trust operates at the most recent available date; and what plans there are for expansion. [35727]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Liverpool housing action trust has 4,934 housing units. It has no plans for expansion; like all housing action trusts, it was set up as a fixed life organisation to manage and improve housing stock transferred from the local authority.

  Waterloo and Wapping Dock Companies
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if(a) the Waterloo Dock and (b) the Wapping Dock companies allow their tenants to lease their apartments; and if he will make a statement; [35729]

  (2) what is the extent of the claw-back in the leases of the Wapping Dock and Waterloo Dock companies when the owner sells an apartment; and if he will make a statement. [35732]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The terms of these leases are a matter between the tenants and the companies concerned.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's current target for reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. [35900]

  Mr. Clappison
  The United Kingdom is committed under the framework convention on climate change to return emissions of all greenhouses gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. We are on course to meet these commitments and expect emissions of carbon dioxide to be 4 to 8 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2000.

  At the June meeting of the Environment Council, European Environment Ministers agreed to call on all developed countries to make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the period after 2000. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the

  51
  Environment has called for developed countries to agree to reduce their total greenhouse gas emissions to between 5 and 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

  Albert Dock
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was paid to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company for the Albert dock in 1982; and if he will make a statement. [35733]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Merseyside Development Corporation paid £100,000 to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company for the Albert dock.

  Development Corporations (Residential Blocks)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the development corporations with residential blocks in their areas and the service charge in each block; and if he will make a statement. [35734]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following urban development corporations have residential blocks in their respective areas: Birmingham Heartlands, Black Country, London Docklands, Merseyside, Trafford Park and Tyne and Wear.

  The information on service charges is not held by the UDCs, but would in any case be commercially confidential.

  Service Charges (Liverpool)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the service charges made in the Wapping dock, the Waterloo dock and the Albert dock in Liverpool. [35735]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The service charges are a matter between the tenants and the companies concerned. My reply to the earlier question on Wednesday 26 June,Official Report, column 135, gives details of the range of services covered by the service charge at Albert dock.

  Energy Advice Centres
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals his Department has with regard to the funding of local energy advice centres from September 1996. [35901]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Energy Saving Trust is responsible for the management and funding of the local energy advice centres. My Department has agreed the trust's proposals to use DOE funds to support the local energy advice centres up to March 1999. The trust is announcing its plans for the local energy advice centres today, at the local energy advice centres' annual conference.

  Packaging Waste Regulations
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the regulations implementing the European directive on packaging waste; and when and under which procedure the regulations are expected to be placed before the House for approval. [36154]
  52
  Mr. Clappison
  I hope to publish a consultation document on the draft regulations in the near future. As provided in section 93(10) of the Environment Act 1995, a statutory instrument containing regulations—on producer responsibility—shall not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

  Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the forthcoming finance, management and policy review of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. [36400]

  Mr. Gummer
  As part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly financial management and policy reviews of non-Departmental public bodies my Department will conduct a thorough review of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. The first stage of this review takes the form of a prior options study. This will assess the extent to which the committee's functions are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether there is scope for privatising, contracting out or transferring all or part of its functions to another body.

  The work of the committee, both past and anticipated, will be examined and the results of that examination and of the prior options study will inform a detailed review of the committee's structure and operation.

  To minimise the uncertainty that the prior options study will cause, I expect that study to be completed within three months. The time required for the more detailed review cannot be foreseen, but I expect it to last no longer than a further three months.

  In carrying out the study, my Department will seek the views of those with an interest in the committee's work, including the regulatory authorities, other Government Departments, the nuclear industry, representatives of non-nuclear users of radioactivity, other advisory committees and non-governmental organisations.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Peter Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to encourage the private finance initiative in local government; and if he will make a statement. [36368]

  Mr. Curry
  On 21 May,Official Report, columns 164–65, I announced that my Department would be consulting the local authority associations, and others, on wide-ranging measures to help harness private-sector finance and management expertise. I am now issuing draft capital finance regulations for consultation, with the aim of having regulations in force by the end of October.

  Marine Environment
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish guidance on the implementation of the decision on marine and coastal biodiversity agreed at the second conference of the parties of the convention on biological diversity. [35466]
  53
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 3 July 1996]: The decision agreed at the second conference of the parties of the convention on biological diversity, to encourage the establishment or strengthening of arrangements for the management of marine and coastal ecosystems, will be given effect in the United Kingdom by actions included in the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan (Cm2428). Commitments made at the fourth North sea conference in June 1995 are also relevant for which implementation guidance was published on 2 July 1996. A good practice guide on coastal zone management will be published later this year. No further guidance is necessary.

SCOTLAND

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the restructuring of the nursing services in the Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS trust. [35218]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is for NHS trusts to determine the best means of delivering nursing services to secure high quality patient care and the most cost-effective use of resources. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chief executive of the trust for further details.

  English Certificates or Money Provisions
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what mechanisms are in place at the Books of Council and Session to establish the substance of an English certificate of money provisions with particular reference to ascertaining whether it falls within the terms of schedule 8, rule 3(4) to the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982. [35946]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Before registering English certificates of money provisions, the keeper of the registers of Scotland ensures that such certificates.

  bear certification from an appropriate court

  are signed by a proper officer of that court

  are presented within six months of the date of signing.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many English certificates of money provisions were registered with the Books of Council and Session each year since 1990 and in the first half of 1996. [35945]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of English certificates of money provisions registered in the Books of Council and Session each year since 1990 is as follows:

  1990: 93

  1991: 1,488

  1992: 1,917

  1993: 2,101

  1994: 2,234

  1995: 2,474

  1996: 1,012 (first six months).

  Motorway Accidents
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the locations of all accidents that occurred on the motorways of Scotland in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will plot this information on a map and place a copy thereof in the Library. [35310]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table lists the number of personal injury accidents in 1995 for motorways in Scotland excluding the M8 through Glasgow. This information has been plotted on a map and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Personal injury accidents in 1995 on motorways 1

  Route number

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  M8

  4

  26

  55

  85

  M9

  1

  8

  23

  32

  M73

  1

  1

  10

  12

  M74

  2

  23

  45

  70

  M80

  Nil

  5

  5

  10

  M90

  Nil

  6

  19

  25

  M876

  Nil

  3

  5

  8

  M898

  Nil

  1

  1

  2

  M823

  Nil

  Nil

  2

  2

  Total

  8

  73

  165

  246

  1 The figures provided are provisional.

  Investors in People Initiative
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his letter of 6 June, what public funds have been committed to training through the investors in people initiative; and if he will provide a breakdown of the money allocated to the 311 companies to which he referred in paragraph 5. [34639]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  In the past five years, more than £5 million has been spent on investors in people in Scotland. This money is not allocated directly to individual organisations but is used by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to fund advisers based in local enterprise companies, to fund the assessment body, Investors in People Scotland, and for promotional work. It is not possible to assess the value of support given to each of the 1,762 organisations formally committed to IIP or the 329 organisations which have achieved the standard.

  Western Isles Health Board (GP Lists)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the chief executive of the Western Isles health board will respond to the hon. Member's letter, dated 11 April, concerning removal of patients from GP treatment lists; and what are the reasons for the delay in replying. [36020]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A response was sent to the hon. Member on 2 July. The delay was due to an oversight within Western Isles health board.

  Illegal Drugs (Deaths)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of deaths in Scotland caused by illegal drugs in each year since 1990; and if he will give a breakdown of specific drugs which caused these deaths. [35674]
  55
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: The available information, relating to the years 1992–1994, is contained in a paper published by the Registrar General in June 1995, "Collection of information on drug-related deaths by the General Register Office for Scotland." A copy of this is in the Library of the House. Corresponding figures for calendar year 1995 are being prepared and will be published shortly.

  The paper notes that the number of deaths from drugs in Scotland in 1994 of those known or suspected to be drug-dependent was 139. The total number of deaths due to drugs, excluding suicides, was 247.

  Alcohol and Tobacco (Deaths)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of deaths in Scotland caused by(a) smoking-related diseases and (b) alcohol-related diseases in each year since 1990. [35673]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: It is not possible to be precise, but the available information is as follows.

  In 1992 it was estimated that some 10,600 people in Scotland die each year from smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke.

  In some 850 cases a year, the cause of death recorded on the death certificate is a disease identified as being alcohol-related, but alcohol plays a part in the deaths of many more people through its contribution, for example, to violence and road accidents.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of applications for attendance allowance in the United Kingdom in each year since 1987; and how many of these were refused. [35063]

  Claimants of pension age in receipt of supplementary benefit/income support 1970 to 1995 Pensioner claimants by DSS administrative regions as a percentage of the regional pensioner population

  1970

  1971

  1972

  1973

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  Northern

  n/a

  n/a

  29.6

  28.0

  25.7

  21.3

  20.9

  20.9

  21.3

  20.9

  20.5

  19.7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  n/a

  n/a

  24.3

  22.6

  22.6

  19.8

  19.6

  20.4

  20.2

  19.5

  19.4

  19.6

  Anglia

  n/a

  n/a

  19.2

  17.7

  17.1

  15.6

  15.4

  16.4

  16.2

  15.7

  15.2

  15.8

  London North

  n/a

  n/a

  6.1

  5.8

  5.7

  5.5

  5.5

  5.7

  5.7

  5.5

  5.6

  5.6

  London South

  n/a

  n/a

  7.2

  7.1

  6.7

  6.5

  6.4

  6.6

  6.6

  6.5

  6.4

  6.3

  London West

  n/a

  n/a

  5.4

  5.2

  4.7

  4.3

  4.4

  4.5

  4.7

  4.7

  4.4

  4.6

  South Western

  n/a

  n/a

  15.5

  14.9

  15.6

  14.8

  15.0

  15.4

  14.9

  15.4

  14.4

  14.0

  West Midlands

  n/a

  n/a

  22.9

  21.8

  21.1

  19.8

  20.0

  20.0

  20.2

  20.3

  19.7

  20.2

  North Western (Manchester)

  n/a

  n/a

  11.9

  11.4

  11.9

  10.9

  10.9

  11.4

  11.2

  11.1

  10.9

  11.0

  North Western (Merseyside)

  n/a

  n/a

  11.5

  11.1

  10.5

  10.1

  9.8

  10.2

  10.1

  9.9

  9.7

  10.2

  Wales

  n/a

  25.0

  24.0

  22.3

  21.3

  19.0

  19.3

  19.4

  19.4

  19.3

  18.0

  18.6

  Scotland

  n/a

  22.8

  22.5

  21.9

  21.1

  18.6

  18.1

  18.2

  17.7

  17.4

  16.5

  17.2

  Northern Ireland

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  27.0

  26.2

  25.8

  25.4

  United Kingdom

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  18.4

  18.2

  17.6

  17.9

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  North Eastern

  19.4

  18.3

  18.6

  18.3

  18.0

  —

  14.5

  15.5

  15.4

  14.7

  London North

  9.7

  9.2

  9.3

  9.4

  9.2

  —

  7.5

  7.6

  7.2

  9.6

  London South

  8.9

  8.0

  8.4

  8.7

  8.2

  —

  6.9

  7.1

  6.9

  8.8

  South Western

  14.3

  13.8

  14.4

  14.4

  14.0

  —

  11.4

  12.3

  10.9

  10.6

  Midlands

  19.8

  17.3

  17.2

  17.0

  17.7

  —

  13.6

  14.6

  13.2

  14.1

  North Western

  —

  20.4

  20.2

  20.2

  20.5

  —

  17.4

  18.1

  17.7

  18.0

  56
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Attendance allowance: Decisions made in each year since 1987

  Year

  Total3

  Claims decided Awarded 1

  Refused

  19872

  309,000

  214,000

  96,000

  1988

  323,000

  207,000

  115,000

  1989

  333,000

  228,000

  105,000

  1990

  375,000

  276,000

  99,000

  1991

  472,000

  357,000

  115,000

  1992

  542,000

  418,000

  124,000

  1993

  498,000

  355,000

  142,000

  1994

  492,000

  349,000

  143,000

  1995

  484,000

  343,000

  141,000

  Notes:

  1 Figures include awards to people in hospital or scheduled accommodation at time of award where benefit may not be payable.

  2 Figures exclude, for Great Britain, awards at 1 but include first awards made on review or appeal.

  3 Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  4 The figures giving the available information relates to decisions made in each year.

  5Disability living allowance was introduced in April 1992 and replaced Attendance Allowance for people under pension age. However, attendance allowance is still available for people who first become disabled over age 65 or who first claim benefit after age 66.

  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division) and Northern Ireland DHSS: 100 per cent. data.

  Benefits (Pensioners)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 630, in respect of the figures given, what was the percentage of pensioners who claimed (a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit in each region of the United Kingdom for each year since 1970. [34889]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the following tables.
  57

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  North Western (Manchester)

  11.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Western (Merseyside)

  10.7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wales

  18.1

  17.5

  17.4

  17.2

  17.7

  16.3

  15.1

  15.7

  14.1

  15.1

  Scotland

  17

  16.3

  17.1

  16.6

  17.9

  17.5

  15.6

  16.5

  15.2

  15.7

  Northern Ireland

  25.3

  24.6

  24.4

  22.6

  23.2

  26.2

  24.2

  24.9

  n/a

  21.7

  United Kingdom

  18.2

  16.9

  17.1

  17.1

  17.1

  15.3

  14.2

  14.8

  n/a

  14.2

  Income support pensioner claimants by Government standard statistical region as a percentage of the regional pensioner population

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  South East (excluding London)

  7.1

  7.4

  7.5

  n/a

  London (inner and outer)

  5.7

  5.9

  6.0

  n/a

  North

  14.7

  16.5

  16.6

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  15.7

  16.4

  16.7

  n/a

  East Midlands

  12.8

  13.4

  13.9

  n/a

  East Anglia

  12.5

  12.5

  12.6

  n/a

  South West

  10.5

  11.9

  11.9

  n/a

  West Midlands

  15.7

  16.6

  17.1

  n/a

  North West

  16.9

  18.2

  18.6

  n/a

  Wales

  15.1

  14.9

  15.5

  n/a

  Scotland

  15.7

  16.6

  16.8

  n/a

  Northern Ireland

  21.7

  23.5

  n/a

  n/a

  United Kingdom

  14.2

  15

  n/a

  n/a

  Claimants of pension age in receipt of housing benefit 1992–94 Housing benefit claimants by Government standard statistical region as a percentage of the regional pensioner population

  1992

  1993

  1994

  South East (excluding London)

  8.0

  8.0

  8.1

  London (inner and outer)

  7.3

  7.5

  7.3

  North

  21.0

  20.1

  20.5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19.1

  20.2

  19.7

  East Midlands

  15.1

  15.3

  14.1

  East Anglia

  14.5

  14.5

  14.2

  South West

  10.8

  11.7

  11.1

  West Midlands

  17.6

  18.8

  17.4

  North West

  16.7

  16.7

  17.2

  Wales

  14.6

  14.1

  13.8

  Scotland

  23.8

  23.9

  23.5

  Northern Ireland

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  United Kingdom

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Community charge benefit/council tax benefit claimants by government standard statistical region as a percentage of the regional pensioner population

  1992

  1993

  1994

  South East (excluding London)

  13.3

  12.5

  12.2

  London (inner and outer)

  8.9

  8.5

  8.4

  North

  30.4

  27.6

  27.8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  29.8

  29.1

  28.1

  East Midlands

  26.6

  24.2

  22.3

  East Anglia

  23.8

  21.8

  21.5

  South West

  19.6

  18.8

  18.4

  West Midlands

  30.7

  26.9

  27.7

  North West

  28.5

  26.5

  27.2

  Wales

  22.1

  20.5

  20.5

  Scotland

  32.2

  28.6

  28.9

  Northern Ireland

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  United Kingdom

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are expressed to one decimal point.

  2. London data is expressed as a percentage of the "South East".
  58
  3. Supplementary benefit/income support pensioners are defined as male claimants aged 65 and over and female claimants aged 60 and over. Housing benefit/council tax benefit pensioners are defined as aged 60 and over.

  4. Supplementary benefit/income support data are not available for 1985 and 1988. Supplementary benefit information is not available by region prior to 1972. Supplementary benefit information for Northern Ireland is not available prior to 1978.

  5. Regions from 1970–1991 are DSS administrative regions. The boundaries for these regions changed in 1982. Data by Government standard statistical regions are available only from 1992.

  6. Housing benefit/council tax benefit is not available by region prior to 1992. Northern Ireland housing benefit/council tax benefit data are not available.

  7. Income support replaced supplementary benefit in April 1988.

  8. Council tax benefit was introduced in April 1993.

  9. Housing benefit/council tax benefit figures exclude cases where entitlement was reduced to nil after a non-dependent deduction was made.

  Sources:

  1. Office National Statistics, mid-term estimates 1971–1994.

  2. Supplementary Benefit Annual Statistical Enquiries 1979–1987.

  3. Supplementary Benefits (Northern Ireland) Annual Statistical Enquiries 1979–1987.

  4. Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries May 1989–1995.

  5. Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries (Northern Ireland) 1998–1993.

  6. Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample May 1992–1994.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who would have been entitled to benefits before the introduction of the Social Security (Persons From Abroad) Regulations 1996 on 5 February have sought asylum since that date. [33833]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  A total of 7,281 people claimed asylum in-country between February 1 and June 30, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Prior to the introduction of the regulations, asylum seekers in this category would have been eligible for income support housing benefit and council tax benefit, subject to the normal qualifying conditions.

  Benefit Entitlement (Publicity)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on commercial advertising space(a) in Nottingham and (b) nationally, informing the public of possible entitlement to (i) income support, (ii) family credit, (iii) disability working allowance, (iv) housing benefit, (v) council tax benefit, (vi) attendance allowance, (vii) child benefit, (viii) disability living allowance, (ix) incapacity benefit, (x) industrial disablement benefit, (xi) invalid care

  59
  allowance, (xii) maternity allowance, (xiii) one parent benefit, (xiv) retirement pension, (xv) severe disablement allowance and (xvi) widows benefits. [33877]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In 1995–96, more than £2,000 was spent in Nottingham to promote the whole range of benefits available for the elderly. A further £1,175 was spent to promote back to work benefits including family credit and disability working allowance.

  A total of £2.6 million was spent nationally on promoting benefits for people returning to work. The benefits promoted were family credit and disability working allowance, but the campaign was also directed at people leaving incapacity benefit. Some £100,000 was spent on a campaign informing people about the January changes to housing benefit rules. It is not possible to say how much of the total spent related to Nottingham.

  The Benefits Agency spent £5,963,391 nationally on publicising benefits in 1995–96 by way of leaflets and other publicity. The cost of publicity for Nottingham is included in this total, but it is not possible to identify these individual costs from the national figure.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much money from the family credit budget will be saved, in each region, as a result of the proposed amendments to family credit regulations to end awards immediately the last child leaves full-time non-advanced education; [35254]

  (2) how many families will be affected in each region by the proposed amendments to family credit regulations to end awards immediately the last child leaves full-time non-advanced eduation. [35253]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, is estimated that nationally 15,000 families will be affected, with an overall saving of £6 million in the first year.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons an officer acting on his behalf altered the method of payment of maintenance in CSA case reference 1014339731; and for what reasons no explanation for this decision has been given to the absent parent. [35432]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. David Lidington, dated 4 July 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency case reference 1014339731.
  In this particular case, when the parent with care and the absent parent submitted their application forms to the Agency, they both stated that their preferred method for the payment of maintenance was by direct payments from the absent parent to the parent with care.
  However, the parent with care later requested that payments be made through the Child Support Agency collection service, as the absent parent had failed to make regular payments to her.
  60
  The absent parent was advised of this request. He subsequently telephoned Plymouth Child Support Agency Centre and it was agreed that a standing order mandate would be set up for the payment of maintenance. This has been arranged.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Child Support Agency will send its submissions to the special payments branch about case reference 1002347955. [35135]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. David Lidington, dated 4 July 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency case reference 1002347955.
  This case is currently being progressed by the Dudley Child Support Agency Centre compensation referral team. It has been necessary to clarify aspects of the parent with care's request for compensation. For this reason, a letter was issued to her on 18 June 1996 requesting more information.
  To date no reply has been received. Once the necessary information has been received, a submission will be made to the Special Payments Branch as a matter or priority.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost of the Child Support Agency advertising campaign for the Greater Manchester area; for what reasons the campaign is located in the Greater Manchester area; what are the aims of the campaign; and what organisation is co-ordinating the campaign [35375]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The full cost of the campaign will be £180,000. The Greater Manchester area was chosen because the diversity of its population and the size and range of available media make it representative of the country as a whole.

  This is a test campaign with three main aims: to address some of the common public misconceptions about child support maintenance; to improve compliance with child support legislation; and to raise the levels of public awareness about the way the child support maintenance system operates. The campaign has been co-ordinated by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Social Security.

  Incapacity Benefit (Cynon Valley)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Cynon valley who were formerly in receipt of invalidity benefit have not qualified for the new incapacity benefit. [35355]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit 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 Mrs Ann Clwyd, dated 4 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in the Cynon Valley who were formerly in receipt of Invalidity Benefit (IVB) have not qualified for the new Incapacity Benefit (IB).
  61
  The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics for IVB and IB are not kept which are specific to Parliamentary Constituencies but are kept for individual Benefit Offices.

  The majority of customers in the Cynon Valley are served by the Aberdare Benefit Office. Figures for the Aberdare Benefit Office are tabled below.

  April 1995-May 1996

  Number

  Former IVB customers disallowed IB

  469

  (i) Data provided have been taken from the computerised system and therefore the count excludes a very small number of clerical cases.

  (ii) A minority of customers from the Cynon Valley are not dealt with by the Aberdare Benefit Office. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  (iii) Aberdare Benefit Office is part of the South Wales Valleys District.

  (iv) Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefit Inquiry Line
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated proportion of callers to the Benefits Agency inquiry line not referred to local Benefit Agency offices; how such inquiries will be dealt with following the closure of the benefit inquiry line; and what are the implications of the impact of the closure of the benefit inquiry line on the take-up of income-related benefits. [35450]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 3 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the estimated proportion of callers to the Benefit Agency enquiry line not referred to local Benefit Agency offices; how such enquiries will be dealt with following the closure of the Benefit Enquiry line; and what are the implications of the impact of the closure of the Benefit Enquiry line on the take-up of income-related benefits.
  The Freeline service closes on the 12 July but the Benefit Enquiry Line for people with disabilities will remain open.
  The information is not available in the format requested. No records are kept of the callers who contact Freeline and are not referred to their local benefit office.
  However research for the BA National Customer Survey 1995 asked about the Freeline service. 37% of customers phoned freeline to find out about eligibility, 25% for general information and 29% for issues relating to individual benefit enquiries. Freeline staff do not have access to the benefit computer systems and are therefore unable to answer specific benefit enquiries. Therefore many customers would need to contact their local benefit office in order to pursue their claim for benefit or resolve their enquiry.
  From 12 July when Freeline closes, customers will be encouraged to contact their local benefit offices. The closure of Freeline will allow resources to be refocused so that the customer is in touch with the staff who administer their claims or who can directly link the benefits available with the specific personal details of the customer. Benefit literature is readily available in local offices, post offices and numerous other outlets.
  It is not anticipated that the closure of Freeline will have any material impact on the take up of income related benefits.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Asthma
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many registered days of certified incapacity due to sickness and invalidity caused by asthma there were in 1995; and how much this cost in terms of benefits. [35373]

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

  4 April 1994–12 April 1995

  Number of days of certified incapacity due to asthma, excluding days for which statutory sick pay is payable

  17,061,001 (2.3 per cent, of all days of certified incapacity)

  Estimated cost of sickness and invalidity benefit

  £179 million2

  Source:

  1 1 per cent. sample of all claims in Great Britain. Diagnosis taken from the International Classification of Diseases [1975 edition].

  Note:

  2 It is not possible to estimate the costs of other benefits, such as income support, which may be payable on grounds of certified incapacity.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those 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. [35757]

  Mr. Lilley
  Since the beginning of April this year, I have undertaken official engagements in Eastbourne and Dunfermline, West. I expect to visit other parts of the country in the coming months.

  Disability Premium
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of income support severe disability premium withheld by his Department pending the decision in the Bate case; how many claimants were affected; and what use has been made of the funding allocated for the scheme which has been withheld. [35903]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 13 June,Official Report, column 260.

  Unfortunately, there was an error in the reply in that the information given for the number of suspensions as a result of the Bate case was incorrect. The figure quoted related only to those cases which had been suspended by the Secretary of State following awards made by social security appeal tribunals. It did not include those cases which had been suspended following decisions made by adjudication officers. A figure is not available for the total number of cases which have been suspended as Bate look-alikes.
  63
  The information requested on the amount of income support withheld by the Department pending the House of Lords judgment in the Bate case and the number of claimants affected is not available.

  The severe disability premium is paid as a component of income support which is funded by means of money voted by Parliament. Any over-spending or under-spending is reported in the annual appropriation account.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement concerning the proposed Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1996. [36448]

  Mr. Lilley
  I submitted these draft regulations for the Social Security Advisory Committee's consideration in April. They were intended to ensure that, as a general rule, housing benefit would meet service charges only where the service relates to the adequacy of accommodation as a dwelling.

  I have carefully considered the representations that I have received. These indicate that significant amounts of housing benefit may be being paid in respect of personal services in supported accommodation. I have concluded that the sudden removal of this source of income may cause significant difficulties for many vulnerable people in supported accommodation. I have therefore decided to withdraw the draft regulations, and I am commissioning an urgent inter-departmental review of the arrangements for funding supported accommodation. When the review is complete I will consider what legislation might be appropriate.

TRANSPORT

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of funding by private finance initiative of capital projects designed to improve traffic flow at motorway junctions. [34698]

  Mr. Watts
  Such projects are generally classified as small-scale improvements and are not large enough to be considered for separate funding under PFI.

  Eurofreight Terminal (Wales)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the impact of rail privatisation on the provision of a Eurofreight terminal in Wales. [34700]

  Mr. Watts
  Privatisation gives the new railfreight companies greater freedom and incentive to increase the proportion of freight carried by rail in Wales, Scotland and England.

  Safety At Sea
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress Her Majesty's Government have made in improving safety at sea; and if he will make a statement. [34701]
  64
  Sir George Young
  We have successfully pursued a number of proposals, both in the International Maritime Organisation and in the European Community, leading to agreements on improving standards, including the Stockholm agreement on ferry safety. We shall continue to work towards the implementation of higher standards.

  Ferry Safety
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new proposals he has to improve the safety of passenger-carrying ferries. [34706]

  Mr. Norris
  We shall be implementing changes to the SOLAS-safety of lives at sea—convention agreed at the International Maritime Organisation's diplomatic conference in November 1995, concerning evacuation procedures, life-saving equipment and enhanced operational requirements, and we are preparing regulations to implement the Stockholm agreement on ferry survivability.

  Salvage Tugs
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current location of salvage tugs contracted by his Department to provide emergency towing around the United Kingdom coast. [34702]

  Sir George Young
  The contracts for tugs at Stornoway and Dover provide for their return to station on 1 October. As my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping announced on 17 June, the Coastguard Agency will seek tenders for an additional emergency towing vessel to be stationed on the south-west approaches for six months from 1 October. As in previous years, no contracted tugs are stationed during the summer months.

  Humber Bridge
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the extent to which the Government will write off the Humber bridge debt. [34703]

  Mr. Watts
  Once the Secretary of State has determined the outcome of the current toll application, he will bring forward an order under the Humber Bridge (Debts) Act 1996.

  Fenchurch Street Railway Line
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the Fenchurch Street line. [34704]

  Mr. Watts
  Since the award of the LTS rail franchise to Prism Rail plc on 8 May, we have received no representations about the franchise award. I have answered two letters seeking information.

  Privatised Rail Network
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms he plans to introduce to measure the performance of the privatised rail network. [34707]
  65
  Mr. Watts
  The performance of the privatised rail network is monitored by both the Rail Regulator and the franchising director.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve competition among the privatised rail companies. [34690]

  Mr. Watts
  There is competition for each franchise awarded and each business sold.

  Forth Rail Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the last three months on the painting of the Forth rail bridge. [34708]

  Mr. Watts
  Maintenance of the Forth bridge is now an operational matter for Railtrack. Railtrack has accepted all the recommendations in the Health and Safety Executive's assessment of the bridge, published earlier this year, and is already in the process of prioritising repair and restoration work as part of the written maintenance plan that will be submitted to the House by 30 November this year. As part of this work, Railtrack has invited tenders to undertake 35,000 sq m of painting in 1996–97—a significant increase on the 13,000 sq m painted in 1995–96.

  Cumbria Rail Line
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last used the north-west coast rail line to Cumbria. [34709]

  Sir George Young
  I have not used the west coast line to travel to Cumbria. However, on 20 May I travelled on the line to Manchester to open the Manchester airport southern spur rail link.

  Oxford-Cambridge Railway Line
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance he will make available to secure the re-opening of the Oxford to Cambridge via Milton Keynes railway line for passenger traffic. [34710]

  Mr. Watts
  The proposal by a consortium of interested local authorities is currently at feasibility stage. I understand that the phase 1 study covered the potential of a number of east-west routes and recommended further work on a central corridor which would use existing rail infrastructure via Bletchley. Railtrack has now joined the steering group but it is too early to say whether this will result in a viable proposal worthy of Government support.

  Red Routes (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest timetable for introducing further red routes in London and for consultation with residential and business occupiers along proposed routes. [34711]

  Mr. Norris
  The Traffic Director for London is responsible for co-ordinating the introduction of the red route network. Before red routes are introduced, all frontagers are consulted, and full consideration is given to how their needs can best be met. The latest timetable for introducing red routes is contained in the Traffic 66
  Director's 1995–96 annual report, a copy of which is in the Library. The aim is to have the network operational by the year 2000.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of capital expenditure on transport during the next financial year will be on(a) roads and (b) non-road transport; and what were the equivalent figures for 1986. [34699]

  Sir George Young
  The proportion of capital expenditure allocated to national and local roads in the current year is nearly 60 per cent., compared with 70 per cent. in 1986–87—but such an analysis is inevitably subject to fluctuations in the capital budget arising from major projects.

  Charter Aircraft
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 34, if he will list the safety reasons that have resulted in the grounding of the aircraft operated by Air Operations of Europe. [35273]

  Mr. Norris
  I am advised that the Civil Aviation Authority issued a direction, under the Air Navigation Order 1989, to prevent this aircraft from flying because its registration documents, certificate of airworthiness and licences of flight crew appeared to have been issued illegally.

  Departmental Property
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the location and function of all buildings owned by his Department but not occupied by Government officials. [35435]

  Mr. Norris
  Excluding properties acquired for the roads programme, my Department owns but does not occupy the following properties:

  Stores Depot at Yate, Bristol

  IT Offices at the Oldway Centre, Swansea

  Research Sites at Crowthorne and Livingston

  International Maritime Organisation Building, London.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) cost, (b) name and (c) duration of all contracts entered into for the purposes of disposing of his Department's land. [35436]

  Mr. Norris
  The following firms have been appointed to advise on the Department's civil estate, including marketing of sites.

  Company

  Appointed

  Contract end date

  Expenditure (£)1 April 1996 to 30 June 1996

  Richard Ellis

  1 December 1995

  30 March 1997

  9,850

  Frere Cholmondeley Bischoff

  1 May 1996

  31 March 1997

  0

  Aspinwall and Co.

  1 June 1996

  31 July 1996

  10,500

  Healey and Baker

  1 June 1996

  31 March 1997

  0

  67
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list(a) the length of leases held by his Department and (b) buildings occupied and run by his Department which contain other Government or next step agency tenants; [35434]

  (2) if he will list all properties held by his Department that are (a) leased and (b) owned with their locations and functions. [35433]

  Mr. Norris
  I have placed a copy of the answer in the Library.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to improve the access to train services for disabled people at unmanned stations; [35474]

  (2) what measures he plans to ensure disabled access to train services at unmanned train stations. [35484]

  Mr. Watts
  Under the Railways Act 1993, the Rail Regulator has a duty to protect the interests of disabled rail passengers. All train and station operators are required to submit for the Rail Regulator's approval a disabled people's protection policy, as a condition of being granted a licence to operate. Many franchise operators have committed to improving access for disabled passengers. For example, GNR has committed to spending an additional £400,000 per year on improving access to its stations for disabled passengers. Prism Rail plc will spend £14 million on station improvements which will include improved facilities for disabled passengers.

  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provides the Secretary of State with powers to make regulations to require that new public transport vehicles are accessible to disabled people. The Act will apply to new rail vehicles, as well as to buses, coaches and taxis. Discussions have begun with the rail industry and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee about the shape of the new regulations. The issue of rail vehicles serving unstaffed or partially staffed stations will be considered in that context.

  Train Services (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what annual funding is made available to West Yorkshire passenger transport authority for operating trains in the Yorkshire area. [35485]

  Mr. Watts
  A figure is set aside each year from within the all other services block of the revenue support grant for distribution to district councils in metropolitan counties to meet the cost of supporting local rail services. The West Yorkshire passenger transport authority levies the district councils in the WYPTA passenger transport area each year for funding to cover expenditure by the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive on securing such railway passenger services as the authority decides to be necessary. In addition, payments are made to the WYPTE under the terms of certain current deeds of assumption. The combined figure for 1996–97 is £51.18 million. This comprises £45.98 million by way of RSG and some £5.2 million under the terms of those deeds of assumption.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place a copy of the main construction contract for the Newbury bypass in the Library; [35501]

  (2) what assessment he has made of Costain Group plc's ability to meet its contractual obligations in the construction of the Newbury bypass; [35504]

  (3) what action he is taking to ensure that Costain Group plc will meet its contractual obligations in the construction of the Newbury bypass; [35503]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department's budget of a failure by Costain Group plc to meet its contractual obligations in the construction of the Newbury bypass. [35502]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Keith Hill, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about the award of the A34 Newbury By Pass contract to Costain Group plc.
  All contractors employed by the Highways Agency are assessed in terms of their financial stability and capacity to undertake the work for which they have applied to be considered. These assessments were applied to Costain Civil Engineering Limited, the construction company within the Costain Group plc which applied to be considered for this contract, and the company met the pre-qualification criteria.
  In this case, where the contract has been let on the basis of the ICE 5th Edition Conditions of Contract, the immediate responsibility for ensuring contractors meet their contractual obligations rests with the Engineer to the contract. In addition, the Agency is continuing to monitor the financial position of Costain Civil Engineering Ltd and the Costain Group plc generally but has no immediate concerns as to their ability to meet all their current contractual obligations to the Agency, including construction of the Newbury Bypass.
  We have made no assessment of the costs to the Agency should Costain fail to meet its contractual obligations as this depends on a range of factors, the effect of which will vary with time.
  The documents comprising the actual contract awarded to Costain Civil Engineering Limited include the detailed Bills of Quantities which contain price information which is commercially sensitive to the company. The total estimated value of the contract at the time of award has already been announced.
  I have now seen the details announced by the company of their proposed deal with a major Malaysian construction and investment group which, if agreed, would strengthen substantially their financial position. Although the deal is subject to the approval of shareholders, this is a positive development which the Agency will follow closely.

  Rail Accidents (North-west)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 351, how many fatalities and serious injuries were caused to (a) adults and (b) children in (i) Lancashire and (ii) the North West Regional Railways area for each year since 1990. [35692]

  Mr. Watts
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate's accident statistics are not recorded by county, and due to a number of changes to regional railway boundaries since 1990, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Lower Vickers Street, Miles Platting
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision was made to order a public inquiry into the closure of Lower Vickers street, Miles Platting; and what actions were taken between the publication of the draft order and the decision to order a public inquiry. [35500]

  Mr. Norris
  Eight objections were received following publication of the draft order on 11 December 1995. Officials in the Government office for the north-west spoke to the applicants on a number of occasions over the following months, as the applicants sought to resolve differences with the objectors. When it became clear that satisfactory progress was not being made, officials wrote to the applicants on 14 May to arrange a public inquiry.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what powers magistrates may require those convicted of driving offences to retake their driving tests; and what are the figures for the use of this power in each of the last five years [35594]

  Mr. Norris
  Under section 36 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, as substituted by section 32 of the Road Traffic Act 1991, magistrates courts which have ordered drivers to be disqualified for a period of time on conviction on an offence of dangerous driving must also order them to be disqualified until they have passed an extended driving test. These courts may, at their discretion, also order other persons convicted of driving offences involiving obligatory endorsement to be disqualified until they have passed the appropriate driving test. The appropriate driving test is an extended driving test where the conviction involves obligatory disqualification, as with the main drink-drive offences, or if the driver has accumulated 12 or more penalty points. In other cases the test is the ordinary test of competence to drive.

  Section 36 as substituted came into force on 1 July 1992. The numbers of disqualifications under that section since that date, notified to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency by all courts in England, Wales and Scotland, are as follows:

  Extended test

  Ordinary test1

  1992 (July to December)

  186

  1,093

  1993

  1,845

  4,325

  1994

  3,128

  6,224

  1995

  5,126

  8,358

  1996 (January to June)

  1,843

  2,593

  1 Includes some ordinary tests ordered in respect of offences committed before 1 July 1992 in accordance with section 36 as first enacted.

  The Department has not kept statistics for the period before that date.

  MS Link Road
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the M5 link road to the second Severn crossing will be open. [35611]
  70
  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: I will be pleased to perform the opening ceremony of the M49 which links the M5 in the second Severn crossing shortly. The road will open to traffic as soon as safely possible after the ceremony.

  Road Traffic Growth
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by the Government into the impact of planning policy guidance note 13; and what are their conclusions on the rate of road traffic growth during(a) the next five years, (b) the next 10 years and (c) the next 20 years. [35591]

  Mr. Norris
  A research project to define the possible economic effects of the draft PPG 13 was published in April 1996; copies of the report have been placed in the Library. The report contains some projections of overall transport impacts, but does not specifically address the future rate of road traffic growth. The Government have commissioned further research into the implementation of PPG 13, and into future land-use patterns, taking account of planning policy guidance and road congestion.

  Buses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the budget committed by Her Majesty's Government to promote(a) guided buses and (b) telematics for buses. [35953]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government have no specific budget for the support of either guided buses or telematics for buses. Bids from local authorities for new or improved transport infrastructure are considered through the annual transport policies and programmes system, and good value projects are supported within the available resources. These projects may include facilities for guided buses and for the provision of information about bus services using telematics. The provision of facilities on vehicles themselves is a matter for the bus operators.

  Singapore Airlines
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the rights of Singapore Airlines to land at Heathrow and Manchester. [35956]

  Mr. Norris
  Singapore Airlines has the rights to operate 17 frequencies a week between Singapore and the United Kingdom. Any number of these can be used for services to Manchester, but no more than 14 a week may be operated to London.

  Cycling
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's cycling strategy; and if he will make a statement. [35952]

  Mr. Norris
  The national cycling strategy will be launched at a conference in London on 10 July. It is a consensus document, which we hope will be widely adopted by local authorities, other public bodies, and commercial interests. The Department of Transport endorses the main thrust of the strategy and will be contributing to the actions proposed, and other Government Departments are likely to do so as well. It is
  71
  expected that the strategy will continue to evolve, and to adjust to circumstances, under the aegis of a standing national cycling forum.

  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require cyclists to carry identification plates and third party insurance. [35947]

  Mr. Norris
  We have no plans to require cyclists to carry identification plates and third party insurance.

  Salisbury Bypass
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make a decision about the Salisbury bypass. [35699]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport are considering the inspector's report on the public inquiry into the proposed Salisbury bypass. They will announce their decision on the scheme as soon as possible.

  Motor Cycling
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department is giving to motor cycling in Bristol; and if he will make a statement. [35957]

  Mr. Norris
  Traffic management, including motor cycling, in Bristol falls to the local highway authority, which has a statutory responsibility to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety.

  Crash Helmets
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the advantage of making compulsory the wearing of crash helmets for cyclists. [35958]

  Mr. Norris
  We have carefully considered the case for the compulsory wearing of crash helmets for cyclists, and have decided that it is more effective at the present stage for Government actively to promote the voluntary wearing of helmets.

  Bus Working Group
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to bring forward proposals to implement the recommendations of his Department's bus working group. [35938]

  Mr. Norris
  The programme of actions and further discussions I have announced on 8 January is being actively pursued by the bus working group and its sub-groups. Implementation of agreed measures is being taken forward as and when appropriate. The bus working group is to meet again on 5 August to review progress.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the dates of the last meetings of the bus working group's sub-committees; and what items were discussed. [35939]

  Mr. Norris
  Three bus working group sub-groups are pursuing the programme of actions and further discussions announced on 8 January. The dates of their most recent meetings are as follows: Passenger Information—18 April; Bus Priority—15 May; and Service Provision 72
  and Quality—5 July. The main items considered at the relevant meetings were publication of a revise of "Keeping Buses Moving", the Department's guide on bus priority measures, publication of a new "Good Practice Guide" on passenger information, operator entry requirements, issues relating to bus headway spacing, and the development of quality partnerships.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on EU regulations on eye tests for heavy goods vehicle drivers. [35954]

  Mr. Norris
  The second EC driving licence directive requires a new uncorrected vision standard for drivers of lorries and buses. This will apply to new applicants for licences from 1 January 1997. The Government intend to consult further on a proposal to permit existing licence holders to renew their licences provided that they continue to meet current legal requirements. Those who can do so only under preserved rights provisions, which require them only to comply with the eyesight standards which applied when they obtained their licences, would be required to certify that they have a minimum level of recent driving experience and have not been involved in an accident where eyesight might have been a factor.

  Sustrans Project
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the Sustrans project. [35959]

  Mr. Norris
  The national cycle network being promoted by the charity, Sustrans, is making good progress. Much of the detailed work will be undertaken by local highway authorities.

  The Department welcomed the initiative to develop the network. We have already said that, where feasible, we would help to ensure safe and convenient crossings arrangements where the network crosses trunk roads. Sustrans has been invited to identify with the Highways Agency desirable trunk road crossing points.

  We were pleased to help Sustrans last month with the launch of its "Safe Routes to School" conference. This three-year demonstration project offers opportunities to local authorities to consider the strategic role which walking and cycling to school can play in helping to achieve local authority objectives.

  Transport Policies and Programmes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities submitting TPP bids in the latest year. [35922]

  Mr. Norris
  We have made no such estimate. It is for individual local authorities to decide on the precise content of their transport policies and programmes submissions, although we encourage them to keep the size of TPPs to a minimum—see paragraphs 17 and 18 of local authority circular 2/96, copies of which have been deposited in the Library.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total of(a) TPP bids received in the last year, (b) the amounts of those bids approved and (c) the proposition of (b) funded by his Department. [35921]
  73
  Mr. Norris
  The total of TPP bids from local authorities for 1996–97 was £2,260 million, of which £795 million—35.2 per cent.—was accepted as part of the local transport capital settlement announced on 19 December 1995.

  Northern Line
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stations on the Northern line(a) were improved during 1995–96 and (b) are due to be improved in 1996–97. [:35894]

  Mr. Norris
  (a) During 1995–96 London Underground Ltd. made improvements to the following Northern line stations:

  Balham

  Brent Cross

  Burnt Oak

  Chalk Farm

  Clapham North

  Clapham South

  Colindale

  Finchley Central

  Hampstead

  Kentish Town

  Old Street

  Tufnell Park

  (b) LUL is making improvements to the following Northern line stations during 1996–97:

  Clapham Common

  Hampstead

  Kentish Town

  Mornington Crescent

  Old Street

  Oval

  Tooting Bec

  Tooting Broadway.

  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much London Transport spent upgrading facilities on the Northern line in 1995–96; and how much it expects to spend in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [35893]

  Mr. Norris
  During 1995–96, London Underground Ltd. invested a total of £104 million in capital projects on the Northern line.

  (a) LUL has a budget of £96 million for capital investment in the Northern line during 1996–97

  (b) LUL's budget for investment in the Northern line during 1997–96 is £93 million.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to build an east London river crossing, and if he will make a statement. [35919]

  Mr. Norris
  In the transport strategy for London announced in April, the Government proposed a multi-modal local crossing between Beckton and Thamesmead at Gallions Reach as one potential element of a "package" of new crossing for East London. This proposal supersedes the old east London river crossing 74
  scheme, for which we propose to publish draft revocation orders as soon as possible.

  Road Surfaces
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on environmentally friendly surfaces and the use of whisper concrete on motorways. [35754]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Teresa Gorman, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question concerning environmentally friendly surfaces and the use of whisper concrete on motorways.
  It is the Department's policy to encourage the use of environmentally friendly surfaces both by permitting the recycling of existing surfaces where possible and by the use of low noise road surfaces where technically suitable and cost effective to do so.
  Following the satisfactory completion of trails whisper concrete is now permitted as an option for all roads where concrete is technically suitable.

  Bypasses (Yorkshire)
  Sir Irvine Patrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the benefits to local communities of bypasses in Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [35853]

  Mr. Watts
  Bypass schemes to be built on the trunk road network are assessed during the design stage in accordance with my Department's procedures which are set out in the design manual for roads and bridges. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Following completion of a bypass an assessment of the effects of the scheme is undertaken in terms of traffic and accidents. Since 1989, the following post-opening studies have been made for bypass schemes in Yorkshire:

  A616 Stocksbridge bypass: (November 1989)

  A65 Settle and Gigglewick bypass: (February 1990)

  A65 Addingham bypass: (February 1992)

  A1079 Market Weighton bypass: (June 1992)

  A650 Drighlington bypass: (October 1993)

  A65 Draughton bypass: (December 1993)

  Bypasses promoted by local highway authorities which are included in their transport policies and programme submissions to the Department are assessed using similar procedures.

  The provision of bypasses can bring very substantial benefits to local communities in terms of relieving bottlenecks to through traffic, enhancing the environment and improving road safety.

  Infrastructure, North-West
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the need to improve the transport infrastructure in the north-west. [34705]
  75
  Sir George Young
  We receive representations about improving transport infrastructure in the north-west, as we do from other parts of the country. My hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for local transport chaired the regional annual consultative committee for the north-west in Chester earlier this year, at which he heard the local authorities' view on transport needs in their region.

  Rail Speed Restrictions
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many temporary speed restrictions were notified by Railtrack's weekly operating notices to Regional Railways North East in the period(a) April to June 1994 and (b) April to June 1996; [35880]

  (2) how many temporary speed restrictions were in place on tracks used by Regional Railways North East passenger services on 1 April 1994 and how many are in place currently; and if he will list the locations and nature of each of the temporary restrictions at these dates. [35879]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked Railtrack to provide the relevant information. Once this is available, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Rail Franchising
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has commissioned into the number of stops by intercity trains which were removed from the timetable by British Rail during the three months prior to the award of franchises for the private sector operation of services which would otherwise have stopped at those stations; and if he will make a statement. [35884]

  Mr. Watts
  We have not commissioned research. For train operating companies which are subsidiaries of the British Railways Board, timetable changes are a matter for the board.

  For franchised services, the franchising director develops a contractually binding passenger service requirement based on the British Rail timetable in operation at the time the PSR is drawn up. He is not minded to include in PSRs services that are not being provided in the British Rail timetable. The PSR is subject to consultation with local authorities and rail users consultative committees.

  In specifying the PSR, the franchising director has regard to the need to protect vulnerable services, to give franchisees flexibility to plan service provision for commercial services, and to provide value for money. He takes into account the commitments of bidders to provide timetabled services over and above the PSR when assessing franchise bids.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the instructions given to the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to ensure in future that the minimum service requirements established through passenger service requirements which he issues through the franchising process are based upon the established pattern of activity by British Rail InterCity services and discount any cessation of services made in the immediate run-up to the franchise being issued. [35883]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director's existing objectives, instructions and guidance require that, when setting service levels for services being franchised for the 76
  first time, he should take as his starting point the service being provided by British Rail at the time when the specification is drawn up. This does not preclude the inclusion in the passenger service requirement of services which have previously been withdrawn by British Rail. Local rail users are free to press for the inclusion of such services in the service requirement during the period of public consultation which the franchising director undertakes for each franchise.

  Rail Disruptions
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much compensation was sought by Regional Railways North East from Railtrack for disruption to its passenger services as a result of temporary speed restrictions in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c)1996–97 to date. [35881]

  Mr. Watts
  The performance regime was not in place until December 1995. Compensation paid under the performance regime is a commercial matter for Railtrack and the operators involved.

  Transport Council
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 17 and 18 June. [36228]

  Sir George Young
  The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 17 and 18 June. I represented the United Kingdom on the first day and my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping did so on the second.

  The Council took a vote on one item, a mandate for the Commission to open negotiations with the United States on the regulatory framework for a possible future EU-US common aviation area. This was opposed by the United Kingdom but was approved with the support of other member states. The mandate is restricted to negotiations on "soft rights" such as competition rules and ownership and control of airlines. Any second stage, including a mandate for negotiations on "hard rights" such as market access, would require a separate Council decision. Member states retain the right to conduct bilateral negotiations with the US while Community-level negotiations are under way.

  The Council reached agreement with the European Parliament in the conciliation procedure on guidelines for the Trans-European transport network. The next stage is for the Council and the European Parliament to adopt the agreed text, formally and separately, to bring the guidelines into force.

  The Council reached political agreement on a proposed directive concerning the safety of domestic passenger ferries. The Council also reached political agreement on a draft directive to harmonise codes used to record information on driving licences.

  The Council discussed a directive to extend until 2001 the present arrangements for harmonisation of summer time start and end dates, but deferred a decision until its October meeting.

  The Council agreed a mandate for the Commission to negotiate an agreement between the Community, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation—

  77
  Eurocontrol—and the European Space Agency on a European contribution to a global navigation satellite system.

  The Council agreed general conclusions accepting a report on aviation safety, which was presented to the Council by the Commission, and calling for further work.

  The Council discussed four policy papers prepared by the Commission, on air traffic management, the external costs of transport, public passenger transport, and maritime strategy.

  The Commission presented progress reports to the Council on its negotiations with Switzerland on land and air transport, and on the work of the research task forces on intermodality and the train of the future.

  The United Kingdom blocked a number of "A" points submitted for adoption by the Council in accordance with the Prime Minister's statement of 21 May.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what preparations he has made for Her Majesty's Government presidency of the Council of Transport Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [35916]

  Sir George Young
  Officials are considering the administrative implications of the United Kingdom's presidency of the Council of Ministers in the first half of 1998. No formal preparations have yet been made in relation to the Transport Council.

  Trunk Roads
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to help road users to identify high-standard all-purpose trunk roads. [36229]

  Mr. Watts
  Motorways are our highest standard trunk roads. The Government's road improvement programme has established a second category of all-purpose trunk roads which offer similar levels of service to motorways, with dual carriageways, purpose-built interchanges and restricted frontage access. I consider that we should now do more to publicise the second category of roads near motorway standard, so that road users can more easily identify the quality of route they should expect. This will also help locations which, although not directly served by the motorway network, nevertheless benefit from excellent trunk road connections and so good accessibility to national and international markets.

  Following discussion with the Minister with special responsibility for the south-west, I announced on 4 July that the section of the A38 which connects Plymouth to the national motorway network will be the first to benefit from the new designation—which will be called an expressway. I will be giving consideration to extending this more widely to other high standard all-purpose trunk roads in England.

  EU Transport Funding
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to secure EU funding for a Trans-European network feasibility study for the Bristol-Penzance main railway; [35949]
  78
  (2) how many projects have been endorsed and submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the EU Commission for funding under financial regulations 2236/95 for transport initiatives; if he will list them; and if he will set out the steps taken to secure Commission allocation of funds. [35948]

  Mr. Norris
  The United Kingdom put forward, for funding under the Trans-European networks financing regulation EC 2236/95, 16 projects in 1995 and 18 projects in 1996, including the Great Western line development study, which covers the Bristol-Penzance line. These are listed in the table. The allocation of funds to individual projects is determined by a committee of member states' representatives on the basis of a set of Commission proposals, themselves based on member states' bids. Officials maintain regular contact with the Commission to ensure that the proposed allocation is based on a thorough and accurate knowledge of the projects concerned.

  Projects included in the 1995 UK bid for TENs funds

  Priority Projects

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  West Coast Mainline Upgrading

  Ireland-UK Benelux Road Link

  Other Projects

  Airports-Rail Links

  Heathrow Express

  London-Luton Interchange

  Manchester Airport Intermodality Study

  Birmingham Airport Interchange

  Other Rail

  Piggyback Consortium

  Other Road

  M4 bridge strengthening programme

  Britannia Bridge tidal flow study

  English road bridge strength studies

  English road capacity studies

  Traffic Management Systems

  Air

  Short Term Conflict Alert System evaluation studies

  ATC system modeling

  European airport/airspace capacity assessment model

  Road

  Radio Data Systems—Traffic Message Channel

  Projects included in 1996 UK bid for TENs Funds

  Priority Projects

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  West Cost Mine Line Upgrading

  Ireland-UK Benelux Road Link

  Other Projects

  Airports—Rail Links

  Luton Airport Interchange

  Birmingham Airport Transport Interchange

  Heathrow rail link studies

  Other Road Projects

  A40-A477-M4 corridor studies

  Other Rail Projects

  Great Western Line Development study

  Ayr-Mauchline Development study

  79

  Traffic Management Projects

  Air

  ATN feasibility studies

  Avionic ADS Europe systems upgrading

  Air/ground data link studies

  Flight Data Management and Distribution systems

  Road

  RDS-TMS development

  A55 Traffic control and driver information study

  Sea

  GMDSS safety radio network improvement

  Transponder Identification and Tracking trial

  Maritime traffic density study.

  Speed Limit Signs
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission an inquiry into the effectiveness of speed limit signs on roads; and if he will make a statement. [34874]

  Mr. Norris
  Aspects of speed limit signing have been, and continue to be, part of the Department's research programme.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what administrative arrangements he is making to ensure that the development of passenger traffic on the River Thames is co-ordinated with the organisation of the millennium exhibition. [34876]

  Mr. Norris
  The primary responsibility for all aspects of the millennium exhibition will rest with the company formed to operate it. The development of River Thames passenger services to the exhibition will be for the operator in conjunction with boat operators and the Port of London Authority. The Department of National Heritage and the Government office for London will each have a role in co-ordinating action.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to visit Congleton by train; and what route he plans to take. [35885]

  Sir George Young
  I have no current plans to visit Congleton.

  Road Programme
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the new roads and (b) the major road works planned to begin in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [35920]

  Mr. Watts
  The new road schemes announced for a start in 1996–97 are as follows:

  Al2 Hackney Wick—MI 1 Link Contract 1, London

  Al2 Hackney Wick—MI 1 Link Contract 3, London

  A13 Wennington—Mar Dyke, Essex

  A 13 West of Heathway—Thames Avenue Improvement, London

  A34 Newbury Bypass, Berkshire (Contract awarded June 1996)

  A40 Gypsy Corner Improvement, Ealing, London

  80

  A40 Western Circus Junction Improvement, Ealing/ Hammersmith, London—London Primary Route Signing Project

  Decisions about the start of works on programmed schemes in future years depend on their relative priorities and the resources available.

  The following major maintenance schemes will be carried out during 1996–97—that is, work over £1 million in value, including bridge maintenance and strengthening work:

  M1 Junction 34 North

  M1 Junction 34 Northbound Exit

  M1 Junction 2 Strengthening of flyovers

  M4 Junction 2 Elevated Structure—Replacement of Crosshead

  M4 Junction 5–6

  M4 Junction 10 Sliproads

  M4 Junction 18–19

  M5 Junction 24 Bridge Maintenance

  M6 Junction 15–14 (Southbound)

  M6 Junction 33—MP 3820

  M6 Junction 36–37

  M6 Midland Links Bescot Viaduct—Repairs to viaduct supports

  M18 M1 Junction 1

  M23 Junction 8–9 North

  M23 Junction 8–9 Central

  M25 Junction 26–27

  M27 Junction 8–10

  M53 Junction 9–10

  M62 Junction 11–12

  M180 Brigg Bypass

  A1(M) Bowburn to Bradbury

  Al Kingsway to Lobley Hill

  A2 Jubilee Way

  A2 Brenley to Harbledown

  A3/A31 Surrey Bridge Strengthening

  A4 Sutton Court Road to Chiswick Roundabout

  A10 Great Cambridge Road—Bush Hill Park Bridge Replacement

  A19 Moor Farm to Beckworth

  A27 Shoreham Bypass

  A38 Branston to Barton (Southbound)

  A40 Western Avenue—Bridge repairs

  A46 Kenilworth Bypass—Resurfacing (Stage 1)

  A5103 M56-M63

  Major maintenance works in 1997–98 and 1998–99 will be determined following analysis of the up-to-date condition information which will be collected this year and next.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Right of Hot Pursuit
  Sir John Cope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now seek an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic in respect of the right of hot pursuit similar to that reached allowing Spanish police the right of hot pursuit of suspected terrorists into France. [33816]
  81
  Sir John Wheeler
  I understand that the 'hot pursuit' arrangements between Spain and France to which my right hon. Friend refers are part of those countries' commitments as signatories to the Schengen agreement. Although neither the United Kingdom nor the Republic of Ireland are signatories, there are arrangements between the two countries for dealing with cross-border terrorist incidents.

  Local Enterprise Development Unit
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant aid was committed by the Local Enterprise Development Unit in each of the Northern Ireland constituencies in the period 1990 to 1995. [34977]

  Mr. Ancram
  LEDU assistance in each of the Northern Ireland constituencies in the period 1990 to 1995 was as follows:

  Constituency

  Amount committed £

  Belfast East

  4,599,390

  Belfast North

  7,410,213

  Belfast South

  7,421,601

  Belfast West

  8,826,576

  East Antrim

  3,865,682

  East Londonderry

  6,027,513

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  6,118,240

  Foyle

  6,345,457

  Lagan Valley

  7,413,171

  Mid Ulster

  7,065,516

  Newry and Armagh

  6,382,322

  North Antrim

  3,685,661

  North Down

  3,634,786

  South Antrim

  7,655,512

  South Down

  8,149,437

  Strangford

  4,640,272

  Upper Bann

  6,521,397

  Total

  105,762,746

  Industrial Development Board
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many inward investment projects were secured by the Industrial Development Board in the period 1990 to 1995 in each constituency in Northern Ireland; how many jobs were created, and how much each investment was worth. [34975]

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on investment projects by externally owned companies secured by the Industrial Development Board is available in the form requested only for the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1996. Details are set out in the table:

  Inward investment: 1993–96

  Parliamentary constituency

  Number of projects

  Jobs promoted

  Total investment (£000)

  Belfast, East

  4

  64

  65,032

  Belfast, North

  3

  119

  2,217

  Belfast, South

  3

  33

  3,142

  Belfast, West

  9

  804

  62,784

  East Antrim

  3

  339

  13,691

  East Londonderry

  4

  403

  55,291

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  8

  700

  29,455

  82

  Inward investment: 1993–96

  Parliamentary constituency

  Number of projects

  Jobs promoted

  Total investment (£000)

  Foyle

  15

  2,297

  190,190

  Lagan Valley

  7

  1,994

  179,845

  Mid Ulster

  6

  510

  43,389

  Newry and Armagh

  7

  499

  28,607

  North Antrim

  4

  8

  20,955

  North Down

  2

  91

  5,490

  South Antrim

  11

  1,827

  196,786

  South Down

  2

  91

  5,403

  Strangford

  1

  41

  1,676

  Upper Bann

  16

  1,241

  95,999

  The precise location of part of one project announced in 1995–96 has still to be decided; consequently, the table excludes the 215 jobs promoted and £4,277,000 of investment associated with that element of the project.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant aid was committed by the Industrial Development Board under selective financial assistance to client companies in each of the Northern Ireland constituencies in the period 1990 to 1995. [34976]

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on selective financial assistance offers is available in the form requested only for the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1996. Details are set out in the table:

  Parliamentary constituency

  Value of selective financial assistance offers (£'000)

  Belfast, East

  8,819

  Belfast, North

  2,711

  Belfast, South

  2,394

  Belfast, West

  35,925

  East Antrim

  18,359

  East Londonderry

  22,242

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  24,499

  Foyle

  50,417

  Lagan Valley

  68,143

  Mid Ulster

  19,100

  Newry and Armagh

  18,882

  North Antrim

  8,142

  North Down

  1,922

  South Antrim

  56,193

  South Down

  3,167

  Strangford

  2,056

  Upper Bann

  36,436

  The offers figures exclude £659,000 in respect of part of a project announced in 1995–96 for which the precise location has yet to be decided.

  Indecency Offences
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many men have been(a) convicted of, and (b) cautioned for, public indecency offences over the last three years in Northern Ireland and the equivalent figures for England and Wales; and what are the present guidelines under which the RUC proceeds in relation to cautioning for such offences and the equivalent Home Office guidelines in England and Wales. [35321]
  83
  Sir John Wheeler
  Statistics and guidelines relating to England and Wales are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  Males convicted of indecency offences in Northern Ireland

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Gross indecency offences

  13

  10

  19

  Indecent assault on females

  69

  86

  85

  Indecent assault on males

  15

  12

  18

  Indecent exposure offences

  23

  16

  17

  Indecent behaviour

  223

  300

  279

  The computerised recording of cautions commenced only in 1995. From 1 January 1995 to 4 July 1996, 66 persons were cautioned for the offences of gross indecency, indecent exposure with intent to insult a female, indecent exposure or indecent behaviour.

  Adult and juvenile caution schemes are operated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary based on the precept that criminal offenders should not necessarily be prosecuted for their offences. The purpose of the formal caution is:

  (a) to deal quickly and simply with less serious offenders;

  (b) to divert offenders from unnecessary appearance in the criminal courts; and

  (c) to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

  Consideration is given as to whether a caution is in the public interest. Factors taken into account are the nature of the offence; the likely penalty if the offender was convicted by a court; the offender's age and state of health; the offender's previous criminal history; the offender's attitude towards the offence.

  The views of the aggrieved party as regards the decision not to prosecute are considered; however the victim's consent to police administering a caution, although desirable, is not essential.

  Set-aside land
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what hectarage in Northern Ireland is given up to set-aside land; and if he will make a statement. [35354]

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 1391.66 hectares have been set aside in Northern Ireland in 1996 under the arable area payments scheme and 10.55 hectares under the five-year set-aside scheme.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many kilometres of river bank run along set-aside land; and if he will make a statement. [35353]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not known how many kilometres of river bank run along set-aside land in Northern Ireland as this information is not collected.

  All-party Talks
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amounts and proportion of the cost the Irish Government have agreed to pay toward the all-party talks; and if he will indicate the areas of activity the payments will relate to. [35323]
  84
  Mr. Ancram
  The British and Irish Governments are sharing in equal proportions from 10 June 1996, the various running costs of the negotiations, excluding strand one. This includes various categories such as expenditure relating to the three independent chairmen and their staff, allowances/grants paid to delegates and parties relating to their attendance for the purpose of the negotiations, press accommodation and catering contract costs. Final figures on costs incurred between 10 and 30 June 1996 are not yet available.

  Small Businesses
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many small businesses have received assistance in Northern Ireland under the small firms loan guarantee scheme in each of the last 12 months. [36153]

  Mr. Ancram
  Figures are available for the last financial year. The number of loans to Northern Ireland small businesses guaranteed under the small firms loan guarantee scheme during the period are as follows:

  Month

  Number of loans

  April 1995

  7

  May 1995

  5

  June 1995

  2

  July 1995

  8

  August 1995

  9

  September 1995

  2

  October 1995

  8

  November 1995

  1

  December 1995

  1

  January 1996

  6

  February 1996

  13

  March 1996

  11

  Some companies may have received more than one loan.

  Secondary School Funding
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the present age weighted pupil units that exist for post-primary school financing in the five area education boards and those for the voluntary grammar sector; and if he will make a statement. [35318]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows.

  The age weighting of pupils depend on the form being attended. The range of age weightings in each educations and library board area and in the voluntary grammar school sector is as follows:

  Form 1

  Form 2

  Form 3

  Form 4

  Form 5

  Form 6

  Belfast

  1.80

  1.75

  1.85

  1.95

  2.02

  2.30

  North-eastern

  1.83

  1.75

  1.83

  1.92

  2.02

  2.30

  South-eastern

  1.90

  1.80

  1.90

  2.00

  2.01

  2.51

  Southern

  1.60

  1.60

  1.60

  1.80

  1.80

  2.50

  Western

  1.66

  1.66

  1.66

  1.66

  1.66

  2.32

  Voluntary grammar schools

  1.60

  1.60

  1.60

  1.80

  1.80

  2.40

  85
  The actual amount of resources available to individual schools depends on the cash value of each age-weighted pupil unit and this varies from board to board and In the voluntary grammar school sector.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the budget unit costs arising over the last three financial years from allocations under

  Education and library board

  Secondary schools £

  Grammar controlled£

  Schools voluntary £

  Controlled integrated'£

  Grant maintained integrated schools£

  1993–94

  Belfast

  2,398

  2,211

  2,211

  n/a

  2,424

  North Eastern

  2,213

  2,033

  n/a

  South Eastern

  2,129

  2,032

  n/a

  Southern

  2,079

  2,249

  3,128

  Western

  2,094

  2.053

  n/a

  1994–95

  Belfast

  2,465

  2,246

  2,263

  n/a

  2,512

  North Eastern

  2,274

  2,108

  n/a

  South Eastern

  2,183

  2,092

  n/a

  Southern

  2,143

  2,311

  2,949

  Western

  2,192

  2.123

  n/a

  1995–96

  Belfast

  2,529

  2,289

  2,381

  n/a

  2,964

  North Eastern

  2,301

  2,140

  n/a

  South Eastern

  2,213

  2,122

  n/a

  Southern

  2,156

  2,331

  2,529

  Western

  2,275

  2,173

  n/a

  1 There is only one controlled integrated secondary school.

  Differences between the figures reflect a range of differing factors, including, relative need between education and library boards, local needs and priorities within education and library boards, differing levels of need between schools, expanding enrolments and different levels of delegation between sectors. An additional factor affecting integrated schools is the high initial per capita cost of newly established schools.

  Student Grants (Eligibility)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to enable Northern Ireland-born citizens' children whose parents have been resident in British dependent territories to be eligible for student grants and fees. [35346]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are no plans to change the residence requirements, which are common throughout the United Kingdom.

  Industrial Research and Technology Unit
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of public expenditure in Northern Ireland has been spent on the industrial research and technology unit in each of the last five years; and what is the planned proportion for the next two years. [36147]

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Industrial Research and Technology Unit under its chief executive, Mr. F. G. McConnell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from F. G. McConnell to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU), to reply to your question about the unit's expenditure.
  86
  local management of schools post-primary funding (a) in each of the five area boards, (b) as between voluntary and controlled grammar schools and (c) in maintained integrated schools and in each case set out the reasons for the differences in unit costs. [35319]

  Mr. Ancram
  The table details the pupil per capita expenditure costs over the last three financial years:

  IRTU's total expenditure since its establishment in March 1992 and planned expenditure for future years together with the corresponding Public Expenditure amounts are as follows:

  IRTU £ million

  Northern Ireland public expenditure block £ million

  IRTU expenditure proportion for total NI public expenditure Percentage

  1992–93

  14.3 (Actual)

  6,580 (Actual)

  0.2

  1993–94

  18.2 (Actual)

  7,085 (Actual)

  0.3

  1994–95

  18.2 (Actual)

  7,407 (Actual)

  0.3

  1995–96

  16.9 (Actual)

  7,823 (Estimate)

  0.2

  1996–97

  17.8 (Planned)

  8,015 (Planned)

  0.2

  1997–98

  17.8 (Planned)

  8,210 (Planned)

  0.2

  1998–99

  17.8 (Planned)

  8,273 (Planned)

  0.2

  I hope your will find this reply useful.

  Emigrants
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland emigrants have returned to Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [36151]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The most recent information on migration flows to and from Northern Ireland is for the mid-year period extending from 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1995. Information for this year and for the two previous years, 1992–93 and 1993–94, is shown in the table.

  The years 1992–93 and 1993–94 show net inward migration of 3,600 and 1,110 respectively. The year 1994–95 shows a slight net outward migration of around 200.
  87

  NI Inward 1992–93

  NI Outward 1992–93

  Net 1992–93

  NI Inward 1993–94

  NI Outward 1993–94

  Net 1993–94

  NI Inward 1994–95

  NI Outward 1994–95

  Net 1994–95

  Total migration

  17,344

  -13,703

  3,641

  15,367

  -14,303

  1,064

  15,884

  -16,123

  -239

  Total rounded

  17,300

  -13,700

  3,600

  15,400

  -14,300

  1,110

  15,900

  -16,100

  -200

  Emigrants leaving Northern Ireland are shown as a negative contribution to the net migration calculation for the year in question. Immigrants entering Northern Ireland are shown as a positive contribution.

  It is not possible to determine from the data available whether those recorded as immigrants are past emigrants from Northern Ireland returning home or persons coming to live in Northern Ireland for the first time.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was allocated to the making it back home scheme in 1995–96; and how much is planned to be allocated in 1996–97. [36148]

  Mr. Ancram
  The allocation of funding for making it back home for 1995–96 was £60,000, and the budgeted provision for 1996–97 is £96,400.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Ban
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs under what legislative powers the Commission of the European Union has placed a ban on the export of British beef to any nation; what are the penalties for breaching such a ban; and how the decision of the Commission will be enforced. [24069]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following notification of EU decision 96/239, we have ceased to issue export health certificates for products covered by the decision. Failure to meet the provisions of the decision could leave the United Kingdom liable in the event of an unfavourable judgment in national courts or the European Court of Justice. The Customs and Excise (Management) Act 1979 enables Customs to detain goods presented for export which are subject to the decision.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the European directives on which the European Commission based its decision to ban the export of beef or beef products by the United Kingdom to third countries; and what action he is taking to test the legality of that ban. [26481]

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

  The decision of the European Commission to ban the export of beef and beef products from the United Kingdom is based on the following directives:
  Council directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (OJ No. L 224, 18.8.1990, p29), as amended.
  Council directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (OJ No. L395, 30.12.1989, p13), as amended.
  88
  As regards the action taken, I, together with ministerial colleagues, have brought an action under article 173 of the treaty of Rome, challenging the legality of the ban before the Court of Justice of the European Community. In the context of that action, the United Kingdom has applied to the court for interim relief—essentially a suspension of the ban pending judgment in article 173 action—under articles 185 and 186 of the treaty.

  The United Kingdom has also intervened before the Court in support of a separate article 173 challenge to the ban launched by the National Farmers Union. In addition, the United Kingdom will be submitting written observations to the court contesting the ban's legality, as part of a procedure for a preliminary ruling under article 177 of the treaty, arising out of an application by the NFU for judicial review of measures taken by the Ministry to implement the ban.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from, and what meetings he has had with, the International Meat Trade Association, since 20 March, about the consequences of the European Community ban on British exports of beef; and if he will make a statement. [26361]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government have received numerous representations, both oral and written, from the International Meat Trade Association since 20 March about the ban on British beef exports. MAFF Ministers and officials have met IMTA officials and members on several occasions during that period. IMTA members also made representations to Coopers and Lybrand in the context of the two reports which the Government commissioned, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the consequential losses incurred by the meat, livestock and ancillary industries resulting from the ban on British beef exports. [28116]

  Mrs. Browning
  A full audit of the consequential losses incurred by the meat, livestock and ancillary industries resulting from the ban on British beef exports could be calculated only at disproportionate cost and would raise questions of commercial sensitivity. However, the effects include the following: exports valued at nearly £800 million in 1995 have been stopped; clean cattle prices have fallen by up to 20 per cent.; beef consumption has fallen; beef stocks have been devalued; staff have been laid off or made redundant; and businesses have taken on large debts.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy in respect of the holding of car boot sales on agricultural land with particular reference to set-aside land. [35513]
  89
  Mr. Baldry
  European Union rules currently prohibit any lucrative use of set-aside land incompatible with the growing of an arable crop. The European Commission has ruled that this prohibition applies even to local or charitable events where the proceeds go to someone other than the farmer. It therefore applies to car boot sales. The Government consider this restriction to be unwelcome and unnecessary arid are continuing their efforts to persuade the Commission to relax its ruling.

  Beef Intervention Stock
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current size of the beef intervention stock held in the United Kingdom; and how much of this stock was purchased in each year. [24417]

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 21 June 1996, United Kingdom beef intervention stock levels stood at around 9,000 tonnes. In December 1992, the stock level was approximately 160,000 tonnes. In the following year, about 22,000 tonnes came into intervention and around 86,000 tonnes were sold. There were no sales into intervention in 1994 and 1995 when sales from intervention were around 64,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes leaving a stock total in December 1995 of around 5,500 tonnes.

  Tonnes

  Belgium

  Denmark

  Germany

  Greece

  Spain

  France

  Ireland

  Italy

  Luxembourg

  Netherlands

  UK

  1991

  5.974

  35,230

  103,386

  —

  3,882

  163,266

  199,524

  51,947

  —

  2,623

  139,529

  1992

  2.666

  39,093

  174,492

  —

  12,895

  186,379

  241,843

  53,069

  —

  1,774

  159,849

  1993

  184

  22,131

  17,499

  —

  —

  21,275

  166,424

  20.985

  —

  681

  85,614

  1994

  —

  1,150

  —

  —

  —

  590

  27,403

  4,518

  —

  —

  22,015

  1995

  —

  71

  —

  —

  —

  36

  345

  —

  —

  —

  5,072

  As at 21 June 1996, UK beef intervention stock levels stood at around 9,000 tonnes.

  Intervention stock is unlikely to contain BSE-infected material. Community rules currently require that beef purchased into intervention must be derived from steers aged less than 30 months at slaughter, or 24 months in the case of bull beef. BSE has never been clinically diagnosed in an animal aged less than three years, and only in two animals—both heifers—aged between three and four years. In addition, specified bovine offals would be excluded and obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues removed during cutting. Beef stored in intervention is subject to regular and comprehensive controls, including analyses, to ensure that it remains safe to eat.

  Beef (Fast Food)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to require fast food and other eating establishments to restore British beef to their menus clearly labelled as such. [24881]

  Mrs. Browning
  No, the Government do not have the legal powers to introduce legislation requiring retail or catering establishments to sell British beef, as this would be a restrictive trade practice. The Government, in consultation with the beef industry and the Meat and Livestock Commission, continue however to do all that they can to persuade such establishments to restore British beef to their menus.
  90
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans his Department has for disposal of the beef intervention stock held in the United Kingdom. [24418]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Commission is expected to adopt a regulation which requires United Kingdom intervention stocks purchased prior to this year, that is between 1991 and 1993, to be destroyed. Beef purchased into intervention since March this year will be stored until such time as the Commission, in consultation with the Beef Management committee, deems it appropriate to place it back on the market.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what amount of the beef which was placed in intervention stores in each of the last five years currently remains in intervention; what steps he has taken to ensure that it complies with current requirements in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and what are the equivalent beef intervention stocks in other EU member states; [30049]

  (2) how much beef was held in intervention stores for each EU member state in each of the last five years. [30050]

  Mrs. Browning
  The levels of intervention stocks for each member state at the end of each calendar year for 1991–1995 were as set out:

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which organisations have been consulted by his Department regarding the situation in the meat and livestock industry. [28117]

  Mrs. Browning
  MAFF Ministers and officials have consulted, and continue to consult, organizations representing every part of the meat and livestock industry, including producers, consumer groups, breed societies, livestock exporters, feed manufacturers, welfare organisations, the veterinary profession, scientists, the medical profession, local authorities, the Commission, other member states, abattoirs, cutting plants, cold stores, meat exporters, renderers, retailers, wholesalers, caterers, economists, hauliers, livestock auction markets, tenants, landowners, the Meat and Livestock Commission, the banking industry and research establishments. Recent consultation papers laid in the Library of the House will indicate the names of those organisations consulted.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost of the slaughter of cattle of five years old and above in herds in Scotland which have had an incidence of BSE. [23364]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: It is estimated that there is somewhere in the order of 149,144 animals in Scotland in herds which have an incidence of BSE and are five years old or above. Slaughtering animals alone at a cost of about £50 head would cost around

  91
  £7.5 million. More substantial would be the economic costs to the meat and dairy industries and compensation to farmers for loss of stock and replacement.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if meat now entering the United Kingdom has had removed all the bovine offals required to be removed in United Kingdom production. [24216]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: Although some other countries have introduced similar controls to the UK, prohibiting the sale of bovine offals for human consumption, this is not a pre-condition of importation into the UK. However, imports of beef from animals aged over 30 months are currently prohibited except from 14 countries outside the EU where there have been no recorded cases of BSE.

  Abattoirs (Rendering Capacity)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has, and over what period, to increase the rendering capacity available to Welsh abattoirs; and if he will make a statement. [29609]

  Mr. Baldry
  There are currently three Welsh abattoirs involved in the over-thirty-month scheme and the scheme carcasses from these are being processed by three approved rendering plants. Renderers are working to a national plan agreed by the industry through the United Kingdom Renderers Association. The industry is currently processing about 28,000 scheme animals each week and hopes to improve on this through the introduction of extra capacity which indirectly will be of benefit to all abattoirs, including Welsh ones, through the national plan.

  Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sums were(a) allocated and (b) taken up in respect of decommissioning fishing vessels in each of the last three years; and what use was made of surplus funds. [35519]

  Mr. Baldry
  Sums of £8.4 million, £8.9 million and £12 million were allocated for decommissioning schemes in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively. Corresponding uptake in these years was £7.8 million, £8.8 million and £9.6 million. Normal Government accounting rules applied to these underspends.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make it his policy to publish the findings of his review into the common fisheries policy before 25 July; and if he will make a statement; [35723]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review into the common fisheries policy; what changes he now proposes to make to it; and how he intends to bring about reforms within the intergovernmental conference. [35724]

  Mr. Baldry
  The common fisheries policy review group has almost completed its work and I understand that it plans to publish its report before 25 July. Fisheries Ministers will wish to study the report and to hear the views of the industry before reaching final conclusions on 92
  it. The Government have already made it clear that they will be putting proposals to the intergovernmental conference to enable the problem of quota hoppers to be resolved.

  Beef Industry (Compensation)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those areas where EU compensation payments would be automatic to support the United Kingdom beef market, setting out the circumstances and triggers whereby it would come into effect. [24000]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: Community arrangements act to support the United Kingdom beef market in several respects, including:
  Premiums payable on beef cows and other male animals under the suckler cow and beef special premium schemes;.
  beef offered for sale into intervention when average market prices in the EU fall below 84 per cent. of the intervention price and where, in an individual member state, the average market price falls below 80 per cent. of the intervention price;.
  Subsidies, or export refunds, payable on cattle and beef exported to certain destinations outside the EU to enable EU exporters to complete on world markets;.
  Premiums payable on male dairy calves taken out of production by the age of 20 days; and.
  subject to upper limits, 70 per cent. of the basic compensation paid in respect of UK animals aged over 30 months which are currently unable to be sold into the human food chain.

  All of the above measures are subject to detailed rules set out in the relevant Community legislation.

  Veal Calves
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of British veal calves recently sent to France have been reared for beef; and what provisions exist to prevent these animals from being re-imported into the United Kingdom. [25861]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: Community rules, in place since 1990, required that any UK calf exported to another member state must be slaughtered on or before the age of six months. This precluded their use for production of beef.

  Beef
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion by weight of prime British beef has been slaughtered at over 30 months of age in recent years. [25859]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 19 April 1996]: Precise information on the slaughter age of prime beef cattle in recent years is not available. However, we estimate that between 5 and 10 per cent. of steers and heifers slaughtered annually are likely to be aged over 30 months.

  Quarantine Conditions
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the minimum standards that have to be met by the owners of quarantine kennels. [28930]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: The standard requirements under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 for the

  93
  design, construction, operation and management of authorised quarantine premises for dogs and cats are set out on form ID50. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

  Cattle Culling
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reasons for, and the consequences of, the halving of allocations of cattle under the 30-month scheme to the St. Merryn, Cobden's and West Devon meat abattoirs. [30802]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 4 June 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Intervention Board to reply direct.

  Letter from George Trevelyan to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about reduction in the allocations of cattle under the Over 30 Month Slaughter Scheme (OTMS) to St Merryn, Cobdens and West Devon Meat.[30802]
  The number of cattle that can he slaughtered each week under the OTMS is limited by the rendering capacity that is available. In the
  94
  first two weeks we operated the scheme in England and Wales on the basis of around 20 abattoirs. However, that was a "pump-priming" exercise and it was quite clear that it was necessary to increase the number of participating abattoirs in order to provide more equitable geographical coverage for producers. From week commencing 27 May, therefore, the number of plants was doubled and, as a consequence, it was necessary to reduce the allocations to the original abattoirs. Nevertheless, even under the new arrangements around 20% of the English allocation is in the West Country.

  Since slaughtering under the scheme began more than 208,000 animals have been processed and in each of the last four weeks the throughput has averaged more than 28,000 limited only by rendering capacity. We are beginning, therefore, to make significant inroads into the backlog.

  We are exploring all possible means of stepping up the rate of slaughtering. The renderers themselves are increasing their capacity over a period of time and we are bringing on stream cold storage capacity to allow carcasses to be stored prior to rendering. As a result, St Merryn Meat are now slaughtering additional cattle each week. We are also investigating the possibility of making more use of direct incineration. In combination these measures will allow us to increase the present allocations to abattoirs on the list over the coming weeks.

  I am sending a copy of this letter to the House of Commons Library and the Public Information Office.

  Council of Europe Committee of Ministers: Compliance Report
  Council of Europe Committee of Ministers: Compliance Report
  Asylum Appeals Referred for Further Consideration
  Asylum Appeals Referred for Further Consideration
  Transport Council, 17th-18th June
  Transport Council, 17th-18th June
  Employment Policy
  Employment Policy
  Government Department Records: Private Sector Purchase
  Government Department Records: Private Sector Purchase
  Asylum Seekers: Dublin Convention
  Asylum Seekers: Dublin Convention
  MoD Contracts: Invitations to Tender
  MoD Contracts: Invitations to Tender
  Ministers' Political Advisers
  Ministers' Political Advisers
  International Whaling Commission Meeting, 24th-28th June
  International Whaling Commission Meeting, 24th-28th June