Written Answers of 10 July 1996

ENVIRONMENT

  Business Rates Relief
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many village post offices and general stores he expects to benefit from business rates relief over the next 12 months. [35666]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Some properties of these kinds already benefit from discretionary rate relief on hardship grounds, but numbers are not held centrally. We estimate that up to 30,000 properties would be likely to benefit from our proposed scheme of rate relief for village shops, post offices and some other small rural businesses. The scheme would require primary legislation.

  Departmental Staff Losses
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure his Department has incurred on redundancy payments; and what future additional pension liabilities have been incurred by early retirement within his Department since 1990. [36021]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There have been no compulsory redundancies in my Department during this period. The total cost since 1990 of early retirements on voluntary terms and of severance payments to staff leaving before the age of 50 on such terms is:

  £million

  DOE and next steps agencies

  7.9

  Property Services Agency

  243.3

  These figures are net of Treasury funding—that is, 80 per cent.—of the cost of departures occurring after 1 October 1994.

  Ms Armstong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reduction of staff in his Department since 1990; and how many staff have left as a result of(a) competitive tendering from the Department's services, (b) transfers under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to next steps agencies, (c) premature retirement and (d) redundancy. [36022]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The numbers of staff employed by my Department have been reducing since 1990. The figures are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Included in these figures are departures from. DOE (central) and the Government offices since 1990 in the following categories:

  (a) competitive tendering from the Department's services: 24

  (b) transfers under TUPE to next steps agencies: 0

  (c) premature retirement: 436

  (d) redundancy: 0

  Council Tax
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of the revenue required to be raised by council tax in 1996–97 to meet local government expenditure from the 1995–96 financial year. [36036]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Each year, billing authorities estimate the surplus or deficit on council tax collection from previous years which they propose to take into account in setting their council tax for the current year. A deficit would represent income to be raised in 1996–97 to meet expenditure from a previous financial year. However, in setting the council tax for 1996–97, billing authorities in aggregate assumed a surplus from 1995–96 and earlier years of £106 million, rather than a deficit.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the Government-approved council tax increase for local government for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 in percentage terms. [36037]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government do not set an approved level of council tax increase.

  Cheshire County Council (Budget)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last five years the budget awarded by his Department to Cheshire county council. [36449]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department does not award budgets to local authorities. Each authority is responsible for setting its own budget taking into account a number of considerations, including the capping criteria announced by the Secretary of State. In each of the last five years, Cheshire county council set its budget requirements1 close to the maximum amount permitted under the capping criteria:

  £million

  1992–93

  619.800

  1993–94

  2587.400

  1994–95

  608.008

  1995–96

  3583.690

  1996–97

  613.042

  1In 1992–93, this was known as the precept, under the community charge system.

  2Responsibility for further education transferred from local authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993.

  3Responsibility for police services in shire areas transferred from County Councils to free standing Shire police authorities on 1 April 1995.

  Energy Advice Centres
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of people currently employed in each of the local energy advice centres. [36549]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  This is a matter for the local energy advice centres and the Energy Saving Trust, which is responsible for the management and funding of the centres.
  169
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total budget for local energy advice centres in each year from 1993 to date; and in each year how much of that budget was provided from(a) his Department, (b) the Energy Saving Trust and (c) other bodies. [36543]

  Mr. Jones
  The total expenditure, with the proportion provided by the Department of the Environment, on the local energy advice centre pilot study in each of the relevant years is as follows:

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1993–94

  1.76

  70

  1994–95

  2.62

  64

  1995–96

  3.51

  63

  The balance of the expenditure came from other sources. The Energy Saving Trust did not directly provide any funds before April 1996.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have received energy saving advice from local energy advice centres in each year since 1993. [36545]

  Mr. Jones
  The number—rounded to the nearest thousand—of clients who received advice from local energy advice centres in each year is as follows:

  1993–94: 26,000

  1994–95: 57,000

  1995–96: 100,000

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the work and effectiveness of local energy advice centres. [36547]

  Mr. Jones
  We monitored the efficiency and effectiveness of the local energy advice centres through regular reports from the Energy Saving Trust and reports from comprehensive market research running in parallel with the pilot study. The Energy Saving Trust has now taken over responsibility for this research programme. These reports demonstrate that the impartial and free advice provided by the pilot study centres has proved very effective, and substantial efficiency gains in its delivery have been achieved.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals his Department has for(a) the funding and (b) other support for local energy advice centres after September; and if he will make a statement; [36548]

  (2) what is his estimate of the amount of funding local energy advice centres will receive from (a) his Department, (b) the Energy Saving Trust and (c) other bodies, after September. [36544]

  Mr. Jones
  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 announced its plans for the local energy advice centres at the local energy advice centres' annual conference on 8 July.
  170
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is(a) the financial saving on energy bills and (b) the savings in carbon dioxide emissions (i) per customer and (ii) in total, that has resulted from energy/saving advice given by local energy advice centres, to the latest available date. [36546]

  Mr. Jones
  Estimated savings attributable to advice from local energy advice centres are as follows:

  Year

  Financial £

  Carbon Dioxide emission

  1993–94

  Per client: 38

  Per client: 458 kilograms

  Total: 1 million

  Total: 11,900 tonnes

  1994–95

  Per client: 30

  Per client: 350 kilograms

  Total: 1.7 million

  Total: 20,000 tonnes

  1995–96

  Per client: 30

  Per client: 350 kilograms

  Total: 2.4 million

  Per client: 35,000 tonnes

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons (Security Standards)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of setting minimum security standards for all prison establishments in England and Wales. [35864]

  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 Brian Landers to Mr. George Howarth, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the cost of setting minimum security standards for all prison establishments in England and Wales.The Prison Service has a phased programme to develop minimum security standards, but has not yet reached a decision on the appropriate standards to apply to all prison establishments in England and Wales. Until this work is complete, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the cost of setting minimum standards.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36007]

  Mr. Howard
  Information about the values of payments on taxi cab fares is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Cheshire Police
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last five years the total budget allocated by his Department to Cheshire police. [36531]
  171
  Mr. Maclean
  Cheshire police authority's budgeted expenditure on policing for each of the last five years is set out in the table.

  Cheshire Police Authority Budgeted expenditure on policing

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  74.5

  1993–94

  78.7

  1994–95

  88.3

  1995–96

  93.1

  1996–97

  198.5

  1 This figure is the total of the budget set by the police authority and the special grant for additional police officers in 1996–97.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of(a) constables and (b) special constables in the services of the Cheshire police for each of the last five years. [36532]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is in the table.

  Cheshire Constabulary

  Year

  Constable strength as at 31 March

  Special Constables strength as at 31 December

  1991

  1,424

  299

  1992

  1,413

  274

  1993

  1,447

  387

  1994

  1,453

  320

  1995

  1,487

  1321

  1996

  1,536

  1274

  1 As at 31 March.

  Prisoners (Taxis)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during the last 12 months private taxis have been used to transport prisoners(a) to and (b) from Doncaster prison; what category were the prisoners on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [36295]

  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 Brian Landers to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the use of taxis to escort prisoners at Doncaster prison.Taxis are used at Doncaster prison to take prisoners to and from hospital appointments at short notice.During the last 12 months, 65 prisoners were escorted from the prison using taxis. Of these, 52 were category B, five were category C and eight were category D. There is no record of the number of prisoners arriving at Doncaster by taxi.

  Cheshire Fire Service
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the number of fire stations closed in the Cheshire fire service area in each of the last five years; [36472]
  172
  (2) if he will list the number of firefighters employed by the Cheshire fire service in each of the last five years; [36471]

  (3) if he will list the number of appliances operated by the Cheshire fire service in each of the last five years. [36473]

  Mr. Sackville
  The position on 1 January in each of the last five years is as follows:

  1 January 1992

  1 January 1993

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1995

  1 January 1996

  Pumping appliances

  40

  39

  39

  47

  47

  Special appliances

  21

  21

  21

  12

  16

  Wholetime firefighters

  614

  638

  632

  624

  628

  Retained firefighters

  186

  176

  189

  201

  194

  No tire stations have been closed in the area served by Cheshire fire brigade during this period.

  Sex Offenders
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers who have committed sexual offences against children from among those listed in "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders", while serving, and for which they were subsequently prosecuted, since 1972. [36514]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not kept in the form requested, or for the period requested. However, records of the numbers of serving police officers in England and Wales convicted for sexual offences are available for the years 1993 and 1994. These show that one officer in 1993 and three officers in 1994 were convicted for sexual offences. The records are not broken down by type of offence and the 1993 records do not include the Metropolitan police.

  Colchester Young Offender Institution
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the selection procedure for the new commandant in charge of the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; [36206]

  (2) what training is being given (a) to the commandant and (b) to other military staff at the young offender regime at Colchester; [36208]

  (3) on what legal basis the commandant at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester will be allowed to conduct adjudications; [36210]

  (4) how many military and Prison Service employees will be employed at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; and what will be their duties. [36216]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  173
  Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about staff issues at Colchester young offenders institution.The commandant will be appointed when the Prison Service is satisfied that he is competent to discharge the responsibilities of that post. The commandant is undertaking training planned by the Prison Service College both at the college and at prisons.Training for other military staff to be appointed to the young offender institution includes a three week programme designed and provided by the Prison Service College.The commandant as governor of Colchester young offender institution will conduct adjudications under the powers in the Young Offender Institution Rules. Staff at the young offender institution, in addition to the governor, will be:

  a Prison Service governor grade 4, responsible for the day to day running of the institution;

  a unit manager and two shift supervisors appointed from the military corrective training centre;

  16 prison officers, of whom eight will be from the Prison Service and the other eight appointed from the military corrective training centre;

  a Prison Service administrative officer.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what will be the Prison Service title of the high-intensity centre, Colchester; [36207]

  (2) when he plans to open the high-intensity training centre Colchester; [36209]

  (3) what is the current estimated unit cost per place at (a) the high-intensity training centre, Colchester, (b) Thorn Cross and (c) Her Majesty's prison, Feltham; [36214]

  (4) how much (a) has been and (b) will be paid to the Ministry of Defence for the use of premises at the military corrective centre at Colchester as a high-intensity prison; [36215]

  (5) what arrangements will be made at the high-intensity training centres to ensure minimum security standards. [36220]

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

  Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the high intensity training centre at Colchester.The formal title will be Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Colchester. It will usually be known as Colchester young offender institution, and is expected to open in the autumn.The current estimated figures for annual cost per place are £28,700 for Colchester, £27,200 for the high intensity training programme at Thorn Cross young offender institution and £17,280 for Feltham.Nothing has yet been paid to the Ministry of Defence for accommodation. The cost to the Prison Service will be £101,000 per annum, in addition to which the Service will pay the actual cost of utilities and a contribution in lieu of rates.174 Colchester Young Offender Institution and the High Intensity Training Centre at Thorn Cross Young Offender Institution will comply with Prison Service security requirements for prisoners held in open conditions.
  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements will be made for the provision of through and after care at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; [36212]

  (2) how many hours out of cell will be provided to offenders at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; and what will be the range of activities; [36217]

  (3) how many (a) probation, (b) education and (c) psychology posts will be made available at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; [36218]

  (4) what the average term served at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester will be, and at what point of their sentence the offenders will be received. [36219]

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

  Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent questions about facilities at Cochester young offenders institution.The staff to prisoner ratio will be higher than normal, with one personal officer to every two or three prisoners, and prisoners will benefit from the presence of a full time welfare officer in the military corrective training centre. The young offender institution will operate a sentence planning system in which a probation officer and the welfare officer will participate. The probation officer will spend one day a week at the institution.Prisoners at Colchester young offender institution will normally be out of their rooms from 7.00 am until 8.00 pm or 10.00 pm. Most of this time will be spent in purposeful activity including education, vocational training, physical education, first aid training, drill, and cleaning and tidying their kit or accommodation.Education will be provided by the military corrective training centre's two full-time education officers. The education branch of the Adjutant General's Corps at the Colchester garrison may also be used for prisoners identified with special educational needs.There will be no psychologists at Colchester but support will be available from the Prison Service area psychology unit at Highpoint prison.Prisoners will normally serve the last six months of their sentence at Colchester.

  Private Prisons
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who conducts adjudications at private prisons in England and Wales. [36211]

  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. Alex Carlile, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about adjudications at contracted prisons.All adjudications at a contracted prison are carried out by the on-site Prison Service controller, who is a Crown servant.175

  Young Offender Institutions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to close young offender institutions. [36213]

  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 Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about plans to close young offender institutions.Finnamore Wood young offender institution closed on 16 May 1996. No firm decision has been taken to close any other young offender institution, although the future role of open young offender institutions is under consideration following the recent review of the open estate.

  Driving Insurance (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 April,Official Report, column 523, how many (a) arrests and (b) police cautions, there have been for driving without insurance in each of the last five years; how many (i) custodial sentences, (ii) fines and (iii) suspended sentences, have been handed down following prosecutions for driving without insurance in each of the last five years; what has been the reconviction rate for driving without insurance in each of the last five years; and what action he is taking to discourage drivers from driving without insurance. [36221]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not available centrally.

  The number of written warnings for the offence of driving without insurance cannot be distinguished from other insurance offences in the statistics available centrally. The following list gives the number of written warnings issued by the police in England and Wales for all vehicle insurance offences:

  Written warnings given for vehicle insurance offences in England and Wales

  1990: 22,788

  1991: 21,198

  1992: 18,285

  1993: 16,701

  1994: 15,277

  Figures for 1995 are not yet available.

  The penalties available for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks do not include custodial and suspended sentences. The following list shows the number of fines imposed following conviction for this offence:

  Fines imposed at all courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks in England and Wales

  1990: 161,281

  1991: 166,923

  1992: 182,019

  1993: 203,976

  1994: 199,884

  Figures for 1995 are not yet available.
  176
  Statistics of reconviction rates for this offence are not available.

  The enforcement of road traffic law, including the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, is a matter for chief officers of police. As the hon. Member knows, there were 446,559 court proceedings for this offence in England and Wales during 1994.

  Mr. Raghbir Singh
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations have been received from Raghbir Singh about(a) conditions in his prison and (b) on requests for escorted leave from prison for compassionate purposes; what action has been taken in respect of (a) and how many requests made under (b) were (1) accepted and (92) refused. [36402]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 9 July 1996]: I have received one letter from Raghbir Singh which contains representations about his conditions in prison. He has made two requests for escorted leave for compassionate purposes. The details of these requests are contained in the reply given to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 1 July, Official Report, column 312.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail applications have been made by Raghbir Singh and how many(a) have been refused and (b) are under consideration. [36403]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 9 July 1996]: Raghbir Singh has applied once to the High Court and once to the Court of Appeal for leave to apply for judicial review, and for a writ of habeas corpus. On each occasion, the court refused the application and, although the written application to the court included a request for bail, that was not pursued in court.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [35041]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 3 July 1996]: The information that the hon. Member requests is as follows:

  1994

  1994/3205: The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1994

  1995

  1995/267: The Public Health (Ships and Aircraft) (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1995

  1995/376: The Recreation Grounds (Revocation of Parish Council Bylaws) Order 1995

  1995/1296: The Air Navigation (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1995

  1995/1297: The Civil Aviation (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1995

  1 January to 1 May 1996

  1996/1140: The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 (Jersey) (Revocation) Order 1996

  177

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Appellate Authority
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers were released on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority in(a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996 to date. [35600]

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

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against a refusal of asylum are currently outstanding with the Immigration Appellate Authority. [35608]

  Mr. Streeter
  As at the end of June 1996, there were 16,809 appeals outstanding.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Baltic Exchange
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate English Heritage has made of the cost of rebuilding the St. Mary Axe facade of the Baltic exchange; and if she will permit the listing of the building to be withdrawn. [35898]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  English Heritage has not estimated the cost of rebuilding the St. Mary Axe frontage of the Baltic exchange. I have asked English Heritage to let me have a report on the exchange's listed status. However, it should be borne in mind that such a review can consider only evidence relating to the building's architectural or historic interest. Commercial or economic considerations would not be relevant; these are matters which can be addressed in the context of an application for listed building consent. General guidance on requests to delist buildings is given in paragraphs 6.26 and 6.27 of planning policy guidance note 15.

  Television Licence Fee
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects the BBC to introduce a weekly cash instalment scheme for payment of the television licence fee. [36942]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government laid a regulation yesterday that will enable the BBC to introduce an easy entry scheme for payment of the television licence fee. This scheme will enable people in receipt of at least one income-related state benefit to pay for their first licence in small weekly cash instalments over a period of six months, in arrears. The BBC intends to launch a national pilot of the scheme later this summer.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the recent decisions which have been made concerning the funding and organisation of the national millennium exhibition. [33889]
  178
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: 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.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many statutory instruments her 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. [35043]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: None.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Stagecoach Holdings plc
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much(a) his Department and (b) the Monopolies and Mergers Commission have spent in total in carrying out investigations into Stagecoach Holdings plc; and how much his Department has spent defending actions taken by his Department against the company in the courts of law. [36019]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information about (i) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In relation to (ii), information about the total costs incurred by the Department in defending court actions brought by Stagecoach could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  British Energy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will withdraw the sale of British Energy if the sale proceeds are less than the lowest market capitalisation value as set out on page 9 of the share offer prospectus. [36557]

  Mr. Lang
  I am confident that the privatisation of British Energy will achieve value for money for the taxpayer.

  Electro-shock Equipment
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under what export licence category electric shock weapons are classified. [36483]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Entry PL5001.d of the Export Goods (Control) Order, 1994, as amended.

  South West Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 459–60, if Mr. Kenneth Holmes was chairman of his Department's South West industrial development board at the time of (a) the offer and (b) the payment of regional selective assistance to Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. for (i) the first and (ii) the second project. [35264]
  179
  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 1 July 1996]: Mr. Holmes was a member of the industrial development board from January 1980 and chairman from January 1984 until January 1991. I explained in my answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 460, that he played no role in the granting of regional selective assistance to Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. during that period. But to amplify that answer, Mr. Holmes—in view of potential conflict of interest—saw no departmental papers relating to the applications and absented himself from the relevant board discussions.

  Companies (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 463, if he will state (a) the amount that had already been paid to the eight companies by his Department, (b) the amount remaining unpaid and (c) the amount that has been recovered by (i) date of last payment and (ii) date of the receiver's appointment or the company liquidation. [35261]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 1 July 1996]: In all eight cases, the amounts paid and remaining unpaid were the same on the date of last, if any, payment and the date on which receivers or administrators were appointed.

  Amount paid £

  Amount remaining unpaid £

  Orca Aircraft Ltd.

  50,000

  150,000

  Strategic Alloys Ltd.

  400,000

  100,000

  South West Farm Processors Ltd.

  100,000

  100,000

  Crissan Marine Ltd.

  nil

  120,000

  Lobbs Clotted Cream Ltd.

  170,000

  215,000

  ROM-Data Corporation Ltd.

  750,000

  98,500

  Redruth Brewery Ltd.

  380,000

  100,000

  Porthcurno Management Co. Ltd.

  nil

  500,000

  In the case of Orca Aircraft Ltd., £42,500 has been recovered subsequent to appointment of the receivers.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 461–64, what assessment he has made of the effect on the effectiveness of Mr. Roger Harris, as chairman of his Department's South West industrial development board, of the number of occasions on which he is caused to absent himself from board meetings due to a potential conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement. [35262]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 1 July 1996]: Since becoming chairman of the board in February 1991, Mr. Harris has absented himself from discussion of 35 cases because of potential conflicts of interest, but the board has discussed 77 other cases during that period as well as a wide range of other industrial development issues affecting the south-west and Mr. Harris has proved a very effective chairman. When he has had to absent himself, other board members have stood in for him and the board has continued to be able to provide valuable advice.
  180

DEFENCE

  Public Record Office Files
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the files with the class marks ESI/367–380 recorded at the Public Record Office concerning effluent from a pipeline to the River Thames are currently retained by his Department; and if he will release them. [36137]

  Mr. Soames
  In line with the open government initiative, arrangements are being made to review the papers listed at the Public Record Office under references ESI/367–380 to see whether release into the public domain is now possible. I will write to the hon. Member on completion of the review process.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the file with the class mark AIR 28/1317 recorded at the Public Record Office concerning RAF Wittering between January 1959 and December 1960 is currently retained by his Department; and if he will release it. [36138]

  Mr. Soames
  In line with the open government initiative, arrangements are being made to review the papers listed at the Public Record Office under reference AIR 28/1317 to see whether release into the public domain is now possible. I will write to hon. Member on completion of the review process.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36009]

  Mr. Soames
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many studies have been carried out by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston since 1966 to examine the effect of an accident involving nuclear weapons; and how many of these studies have examined the dispersal of nuclear materials in the event of such an accident. [36135]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Rather than individual studies, the Atomic Weapons Establishment maintains a continual programme of research into, and assessment of, the effects of a nuclear weapons accident, including dispersal of nuclear materials. Numerous weapon accident exercises are conducted to test procedures and personnel.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the names of the exercises held since 1966 for testing the Department's arrangements for dealing with an accident involving nuclear weapons controlled by(a) Britain and (b) the United States of America; in what year each of these exercises was held; and which service was primarily in charge of each of these exercises. [36136]

  Mr. Soames
  The 1995 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" described the programme of regular nuclear accident response organisation exercises and the basis on which these are categorised. The definition of these categories has developed over the years but, from the
  181
  records which are available, the following exercises since 1986 would have been commensurate with what we currently consider to be major or medium level.

  Information on exercises before 1986 and on minor exercises is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Exercise Name

  Lead service

  Weapon controlled by:

  1986

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  Carrick Bend

  RN

  UK

  Sharp Foil

  RN

  UK

  1987

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  Carrick Bend

  RN

  UK

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  1988

  Pantograph

  RAF

  UK

  Carrick Bend

  RN

  UK

  Sharp Foil

  RN

  UK

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  1989

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  Proper Watch

  RAF

  USA

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  Carrick Bend

  RN

  UK

  1990

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  Sharp Foil

  RN

  UK

  1991

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  1992

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  Miscast

  RAF

  UK

  1993

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  Bowline

  RN

  UK

  3 x Standardisation Exercises (1)

  RAF

  UK

  1994

  Diver Mist

  RAF

  USA

  6 x Standardisation Exercises (1)

  RAF

  UK

  Sharp Foil

  RN

  UK

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  1995

  7 x Standardisation Exercises (1)

  RAF

  UK

  Sharp Foil

  RN

  UK

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  1996 (to date)

  Running Fox

  RN

  UK

  1 x Standardisation Exercise (1)

  RAF

  UK

  Senator

  RAF

  UK

  Note (1):

  Standardisation exercises test the RAF Immediate Force response fire teams for the transportation of nuclear weapons. These exercises were re-categorised from minor to medium level during 1993.
  182
  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently the Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee produces a report on its activities; when the first such report was produced; and what are the current security classifications of each of these reports. [36490]

  Mr. Soames
  The Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee does not produce a regular series of reports. However, meetings of the committee have been minuted since it was established in 1959. The preparation of separate reports would be dependent on the nature of committee business but this is invariably sensitive. The security classification of the committee's paperwork ranges from restricted to top secret.

  Army Base Repair Organisation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual cost of the Army Base Repair Organisation in each of the last 10 years. [36165]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Army Base Repair Organisation under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 10 July 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) in each of the last 10 years as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of ABRO.ABRO was launched as a Defence Agency on 1 April 1993; you will understand therefore that it is not possible to provide financial information prior to that date. The Agency has however published and widely distributed its Annual Report and Accounts for each financial year since launch. The figures are as follows:

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Full costs

  260.9

  263.4

  260.7

  Cash expenditure1

  156.0

  155.6

  155.7

  1As a Defence Agency ABRO is still required to repor on a cash basis.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce or expand the Army Base Repair Organisation. [36164]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Army Base Repair Organisation under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 10 July 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what plans he has to reduce or expand the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of ABRO.ABRO is a Defence Agency and operates within the framework set out in the Framework Document. The role of the Agency is defined as the provision of base repair support to the Army in peace, transition to war and war. It is tasked to conduct repair and re-manufacture work by its Army and other customers.It is my job to ensure that the Agency conducts its business in the most cost effective way and to make proposals for the strategic direction of the Agency in the ABRO Corporate Plan. You may recall that in my letter to you of 12 June 1996, I explained that in recent years ABRO has been scaling down its in-house facilities to match capacity to the reducing requirement placed on it by the new defence profile. A major facility at Old Dalby in Leicestershire will close by the end of the year, while a smaller one at Ashford in Kent

  183
  will close by the end of September. I also explained that I have been progressively exposing all the Agency's activities to commercial competition, through a vigorous Competing for Quality programme.The Agency will continue to seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ABRO operations to deliver better value for the taxpayers' money. This will be achieved both through internal organisational improvements and through taut management of a very wide range (approaching 2,000 in number) of contracts placed with industry. It is demand from customers that will ultimately determine the expansion or reduction of ABRO activities.I have enclosed a copy of the ABRO Corporate Plan 1996 which explains the direction we are taking in greater detail and a copy of our Annual Report for 1995/1996. I hope that these are helpful to you.

  Former Royal Air Force Bases
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 341, on environmental assessments of former RAF stations, if land quality statements are made available to local councils and members of the public if requested. [36186]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department will make available, upon request, copies of individual land quality statements to local authorities and to members of the public.

  Vehicle Maintenance
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of repairs, maintenance and servicing of Army vehicles is carried out by private sector contractors. [36166]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Army Base Repair Organisation under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from. J. R. Drew to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 10 July 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the percentage of repairs, maintenance and servicing of Army vehicles carried out by private sector contractors as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).The total workload handled by ABRO for the repair, servicing and maintenance of Army vehicles amounts to more than 2 million man-hours per year (this does not include repairs carried out within the Field Army, nor the repair of major and minor vehicle assemblies such as engines and transmissions held in store). Some 35% of this work is currently carried out by commercial contractors under contracts managed by ABRO. It should be noted that the work carried out by commercial contractors amounts to some 65% of the work associated with the Army's commercial type vehicle fleets. The preponderance of work conducted in-house by the Agency is on specialist and armoured vehicles which are of strategic importance to the Army and where either facilities available within industry are limited or the army requires to maintain its own facilities to cope with operational surges or to protect strategic capability.Much of the work carried out in-house by ABRO on commercial type vehicles, is in support of units of the Field Army under the command of Land Command. This and the other equipment repair support activities carried out for Land Command are being exposed to competition with commercial sector in a market test competition. The results of the competition are due to be recommended to Ministers by the end of January 1997.184

  Trident Programme
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 July,Official Report, column 387, if he will give a breakdown of the £700 million yet to be spent on the Trident programme. [36231]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The £700 million of committed expenditure which has yet to be spent forms part of an estimated £1.61 billion of remaining expenditure on the Trident acquisition programme. A breakdown of the estimated remaining expenditure figure is:

  £ million

  Submarine

  487

  Strategic weapon system

  516

  Tactical weapon system

  70

  Buildings/works

  11

  Dockyards

  266

  Warhead/miscellaneous—unallocated contingency

  260

  Service Personnel (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of dwellings owned and occupied by service personnel in Cheshire. [36456]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department does not record nor does it need to hold this information.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's married housing quarters at Lulworth camp, Dorset, are to be sold as part of the MOD's housing sell-off. [36205]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None. The quarters concerned are held by my Department on a lease which may be assigned.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the consultants providing advice to his Department relating to the sell-off of the married quarters estate. [36480]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Apart from independent advisers, the following consultants have provided advice at various stages since we began to develop the proposal to transfer the married quarters estate to the private sector announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995,Official Report, columns 810–11

  Financial and accountancy advice

  NatWest Markets

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Price Waterhouse

  Legal advice

  Government Property Lawyers

  Herbert Smith

  Property advice

  Savills

  Cluttons

  Knight, Frank and Rutley

  Chestertons

  DTZ Debenham Thorpe

  Public relations advice

  Brunswick

  185
  In addition, three firms specialising in Scottish law provided advice prior to the decision to exclude Scotland from the transaction.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for its married housing stock; what has been the total cost to date of payments to consultants advising on the privatisation of this stock; and what is the percentage change in rent charge for this stock between 1995–96 and 1996–97. [34965]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 8 July 1996]: The Government's policy is to improve the quality and management of service housing. The sale of the married quarters provides the right basis for real improvements in service housing which are long overdue. The total cost to date of the employment of consultants since we began to develop this proposal, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995, Official Report, columns 810–11, amounts to some £3.8 million, exclusive of VAT, on the basis of invoices received at 4 July 1996. The percentage increase in families' accommodation charges payable by service personnel between 1995–96 and 1996–97 was between 10 and 25 per cent., depending on the type of quarter occupied; the average increase was some 14.5 per cent. This increase was recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body which also makes recommendations on pay. All personnel received a net increase in pay despite the increases in accommodation net charges. Two examples, based on the increase between 1 April 1995 and 1 December 1996 would be a major—depending upon pay scale and type of quarter—receiving a basic pay increase of £122.40 and accommodation charge increase of £33, giving a net gain of £89.40 per month and a lance corporal receiving a basic pay increase of £60.60 and accommodation charge increase of £22.20, giving a net gain of £38.40 per month. Both the Government and the review body have made it clear that the increases in charges have no connection with the sale of the married quarters estate or the way in which charges are set.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department has made for the rehousing of families of service personnel living in married quarters at RAF Finningley. [36122]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 9 July 1996]: Families were provided with alternative accommodation, as they were posted to other stations. To ensure minimum disruption, however, some families were allowed to remain at Finningley until the end of the school year before making a permanent move.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the provision of married quarters housing for members of his Department serving at RAF Cranwell. [36123]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 9 July 1996]: My Department is committed to providing married quarters to all eligible service families including those at RAF Cranwell. Works to improve the standard of living accommodation are under way, including modernisation of 230 officers' and 157 airmen's quarters. We have plans to build 34 new houses.
  186

  Defence Export Services Organisation
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs are provided by the Defence Exports Services Organisation; and at what cost to public funds. [36593]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  During 1996–97, the Defence Export Services Organisation will employ 686 staff—including project staff whose costs do not come out of public funds—at an estimated cost to public funds of £12.784 million.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the Defence Exports Services Organisation in each year since 1991. [36596]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Final outturn figures for the Defence Export Services Organisation for 1991–92 to 1995–96 are as stated.

  £ million

  Year

  Gross Exp

  Receipts

  Net DESO

  1991–92

  29.99

  18.94

  11.05

  1992–93

  31.87

  19.98

  11.89

  1993–94

  43.08

  27.06

  16.02

  1994–95

  50.26

  39.32

  10.94

  1995–96

  58.27

  41.19

  17.08

  Sting Ray Torpedo
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract for the development of the life extended Sting Ray torpedo will be placed. [36866]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am pleased to announce that we have today placed a contract worth some £109 million with GEC-Marconi underwater weapons division for the development of the life extended Sting Ray.

  The Sting Ray lightweight anti-submarine torpedo has been in service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force since 1983 and it is planned to extend its life by replacing expired components, and by so doing to improve its performance to maintain the weapon's effectiveness in the first two decades of the next century.

WALES

  Menai Strait (Marine Nature Reserve)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will designate the Menai strait as a marine nature reserve. [36998]

  Mr. Hague
  I published the requisite notice today. Representations should be made by 23 August. If, at the end of that time, there are no objections, the order designating the area as a marine nature reserve may be made with or without modifications.

  Road Improvement Schemes
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in taking forward motorway and trunk road improvement schemes under the private finance initiative. [36997]
  187
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have decided that the A55 dualling from Llanfair PG to Holyhead—an important improvement to which my predecessors and I have consistently attached great priority—should be taken forward as a design, build, finance and operate scheme under the private finance initiative. Subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures, I expect construction of the whole of the improvement across the island of Anglesey will commence in autumn 1998, and that the scheme will be completed some three years later at around the same time as would have been the case if the construction had been undertaken by means of conventional procurement.

  Preparatory work is continuing on the A465 dualling between Abergavenny and Hirwaun, and the M4 relief road between Magor and Castleton, but it will be some time before decisions are required on the method of procurement. Nevertheless, it is my intention that these schemes should also be pursued as potential design, build, finance and operate contracts.

SCOTLAND

  Veterinary Service (Orkney)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that a resident vet is available to serve the outer north islands of Orkney; and if he will make a statement. [35870]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Under the highlands and islands veterinary services scheme, veterinary services to the outer north islands of Orkney were provided for a considerable number of years by a resident vet who was a member of a large practice based in Kirkwall. The practice subsequently withdrew the resident vet for purely commercial reasons. The practice has not, however, withdrawn its service, operating now exclusively from Kirkwall. Following the revised arrangements for this scheme introduced recently, there is now a second practice, again operating from the mainland, which provides a veterinary service to these islands. My noble Friend's responsibility in operating this scheme is not to ensure the actual physical location of veterinary practitioners, only that adequate services are made available at reasonable cost to crofters and persons of like economic status in designated areas of Scotland. In the case of the outer north islands of Orkney, I am satisfied that such a service is readily available.

  Cairngorms Funicular Railway
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned by(a) his office and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise to estimate the job retention and creation of the proposed Cairngorms funicular railway; and what alternative options for the upgrading of the skiing facilities have been evaluated. [35161]

  Mr. Kynoch
  No research into such matters has been commissioned by the Scottish Office. The research commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an operational matter for that organisation and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
  188

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of children registered as working by each local authority in(a) the current year and (b) 1986. [36313]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Expenditure and Revenue Report
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to update the Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland report, last published in October 1995; and if he will make a statement. [37121]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is intended that the Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland report should become an annual publication. The next edition, covering the period 1994–95, is scheduled to be published on 21 October 1996.

  Haemophilia
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to the use of synthetic factor 8 for the treatment of haemophilia; and if he will make a statement. [37122]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Synthetic, or recombinant, factor 8 is a new treatment considered appropriate for some patients with haemophilia. The treatment is an alternative to the plasma-derived factor 8 currently in use and supplied free of charge to the NHS by the Scottish national blood transfusion service. To assist with the costs involved in the acquisition of the new product, which is available only from commercial sources, I have agreed to make available funding of £1.1 million in the current year. Future arrangements will depend on the speed and extent of the transition from plasma-derived factor 8 to recombinant. This will be kept under review.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the results of research undertaken by his Department into industrial injuries in respect of the income and resources of recent claimants. [35683]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The results were published in December 1995 by Social and Community Planning Research, which was commissioned to carry out the research on behalf of the Department. A copy of the report, "Survey of Claimants of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit", by Nigel Tremlett and David Dundon-Smith, is in the Library.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of disregarding family credit in the calculation of(a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in the next financial year. [35682]
  189
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimates are £230 million and £75 million respectively.

  Notes:

  1. Based on data from the 1991–92–93 Family Expenditure Surveys, uprated to 1996–97 benefit and price levels.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36010]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available.

TRANSPORT

  M25 (Widening)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many months the widening scheme for the M25 between junctions 6 and 8 is behind schedule; [35585]

  (2) how much of the additional costs incurred on the delay in the M25 widening construction project between junctions 6 and 8 will be borne by (a) the contractors and (b) the Government; [35584]

  (3) what additional costs construction delays have added to the cost of the M25 widening scheme between junctions 6 and 8; [35583]

  (4) what is the current estimated total cost of the M25 widening scheme between junctions 6 and 8; [35582]

  (5) what are the reasons for the delay in completing the widening scheme for the M25 between junctions 6 and 8; [35581]

  (6) over what period 24-hour working has been in operation on the M25 road widening scheme between junctions 6 and 8; [35532]

  (7) what reviews his Department has carried out of the Highways Agency's management of the M25 widening scheme between junctions 6 and 8; [35531]

  (8) what is the current projected date for completion of the M25 road widening project between junctions 6 and 8; [35530]

  (9) what inadequacies in the project specification have been discovered in the M25 widening project between junctions 6 and 8 subsequent to the commencement of work; [35529]

  (10) what date his Department was first informed that the completion of the M25 widening project between junctions 6 and 8 might be delayed. [35528]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay, dated 9 July 1996:
  As you know, I have been asked by the Minister for Railways and Roads to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the M25 between junctions 6–8.190 The improvements between junctions 6 and 8 are under construction and I am afraid that these roadworks are taking much longer to complete than we originally estimated. We are very conscious of the stresses caused by delays to traffic and clearly we regret any delays to our schemes. But the possibility of delay is always present when carrying out complicated major civil engineering works.The section is one of the busiest of the M25 and includes the major M25/M23 interchange at junction 7. To cope with the volume of traffic it carries, it needed to be widened from three lanes each way to four lanes. It is one of the oldest sections of the M25, having been in use for some 20 years. Major maintenance was due and, to minimise overall traffic disruption, we decided to do it at the same time as the widening. This included renewing the worn-out existing road surface, upgrading bridges and installing lighting.Work started in March 1994 and it gradually became clearer during Summer 1994 that the implementation of the project would be delayed.We discovered that the original 'capping layer', which is the lowest layer of the road construction lying about one metre deep, had deteriorated to the extent that it was too weak to support the new upper layers of the reconstructed carriageway pavement. Although some allowance was made in the Contract for replacement of deteriorated capping material, the scale of what we found was far in excess of what was foreseen. The Contractor can only replace this capping layer in a piecemeal way to fit in with traffic phasings.The other major problem we had to contend with was unexpected premature development of ruts in the wheel tracks on the new road surfacing material. The material used, hot rolled asphalt, has been developed over many years, and used throughout the country. The reasons for the problems in this case are unclear. We suspect the cause to be an exceptional combination of site specific factors, which include the high number of lorries that use this section of the M25, the temporary traffic management arrangements which concentrated the lorries into one lane and the exceptional heat of last summer, which could have affected the newly laid asphalt materials. As a precaution to reduce the risk of future rutting, we have instructed the Contractor to adopt an enhanced asphalt specification but the rutted areas of new surfacing have to be replaced.Our best estimate of the likely completion date for this project is December this year, but as with any major construction scheme, this date is subject to many variables such as the weather or other unforeseen problems.The Highways Agency was established in 1994 as an executive agency of the Department of Transport, and is responsible for managing a safe, efficient and environmentally acceptable trunk road system throughout England, on behalf of the Secretary of State. We work closely with our parent Department, the Department of Transport, but the Highways Agency is responsible for operational matters.Under the Contract, the Contractor is responsible for the size of his workforce, the amount of plant used and the hours worked. At present, the Contractor works 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday and 7.00 am to 6.00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Also, when changes to traffic management arrangements are required, they are often made on Saturday and Sunday nights. On weekdays nights the level of activity is less than during the day. This pattern is likely to continue until Autumn.The principal reasons for the delays in completing the widening and refurbishment of this project are the problems caused by having to replace the capping layer and the premature formation of ruts in the resurfaced carriageways as described earlier.The original tender price for the project was £46 million. The contract, which follows a standard form used in the Civil Engineering industry, contains clauses enabling the contractor to be paid for extra work and related delays. Negotiations on the amount of these extra payments are likely to continue for some while.The Highways Agency will fund the replacement of both the deteriorated capping layer materials and the rutted asphalt surfacing. It will also fund extra costs arising from adopting the enhanced

  191
  asphalt specification. This is because neither of these problems have been found to be the fault of the Contractor. The amount of the additional costs has not yet been evaluated.The original contract period for this project was 15 months, from March 1994 when work commenced, until June 1995. This 15 month period did not take into account the major difficulties which were discovered during construction and was set in an attempt to minimise the time taken on the project. The major problems we have encountered have regrettably delayed the works and the latest estimated completion date is December 1996, subject as I have already explained, to the many variables that can affect construction progress.I visited this site in early July and can assure you that I remain fully aware of the adverse effects the prolongation of the works is having on the travelling public. I apologise for the inconvenience caused but we are continuing to press for the earliest possible finish. I have every confidence that once the scheme is completed, drivers will find the widened carriageways, the improved signing and new street lighting will provide much better driving conditions.Your office has asked about the proposed scheme to widen the M25 east of the J6—8 project. The current position is that proposals to widen this stretch of M25 went to Public Exhibition in June 1994. Following the November 1995 review of the Roads Programme, this scheme has now been placed in the new longer term category. Widening is still expected to be necessary in the future but does not need to be undertaken yet. As a result, all preparation work has ceased.

  Aircraft Leasing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 80, if he will list the names of the companies involved in the wet lease applications received in 1995. [35274]

  Mr. Norris
  The following companies were involved in wet lease applications in 1995:

  UK lessee airline

  Foreign lessor airline

  Air 2000

  Canada 3000 Airlines

  Air Foyle

  Khors Air Company

  Safair

  Southern Air Transport

  Air Swift Ltd.

  Sun-Air

  Airtours International

  Avatlantic

  Centenniel Express

  SkyService Toronto

  Spanair

  All Leisure Airlines

  TransLift Airways

  Atlantic Air Transport Ltd.

  Safair

  Britannia Airways

  Air Operations of Europe

  American Trans Air

  British Airways

  Arrow Air

  Atlas Air

  Cargo Lion

  Evergreen International Airlines

  Gemini Air Cargo

  MK Airlines

  Seagreen Air Transport

  Southern Air Transport

  USAir

  Business Air

  Crossair

  Caledonian Airways

  Adria Airways

  AOM Air Company

  ChallengAir

  Sun Country Airlines

  Channel Express (Air Services)

  Farner Air Transport

  Zantop International Airlines

  Cityflyer Express

  Transwede Airways

  Dollar Helicopters

  Petroleum Air Services

  Emerald Airways Ltd.

  Heliglobe Finet

  European Aviation Air Charter

  Safair

  192

  UK lessee airline

  Foreign lessor airline

  Flightline

  Balair-CTA

  GB Airways

  Ryanair

  Heavylift Cargo Airlines

  Airstan Joint Stock AC

  Balkan Bulgarian Airlines

  Buffalo Airways

  Pelita Air Service

  Volga Dnepr Airline

  Macair Ltd.

  Sun-Air

  Maersk Air Ltd.

  Maersk Copenhagen

  Virgin Atlantic Airways

  TransLift Airways

  Sea Empress Incident
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the Sea Empress disaster. [35961]

  Mr. Norris
  The chief inspector of marine accidents intends to report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State within one year of the incident.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the clean-up operation following the Sea Empress oil spill off the Pembrokeshire coast; and if he will make a statement. [36996]

  Mr. Norris
  The clean-up operation has made excellent progress. The majority of beaches have now been cleaned of the heavy pollution immediately following the spill. Pembrokeshire's prime resort beaches at Tenby and Saundersfoot were restored in time for the Easter break and Tenby north beach has recently been awarded the prestigious European blue flag for high standards of cleanliness and water quality. It is one of only four beaches in Wales to achieve this.

  The main efforts in the on-going clean-up operation are now concentrated on the most inaccessible areas of coastline. However, the strong winds and high waters of the Pembrokeshire coastline continue to reveal isolated patches of buried oil, tar balls from oil broken down at sea and some sheening effects as oil residues are washed out. All beaches continue to be monitored closely and "hit squads" are immediately brought into action to deal with any localised problems of this kind. Resources will continue to be deployed for as long as is necessary to complete the clean-up operation.

  Airline Partnerships
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent of his responsibilities in respect of partnership agreements between United Kingdom and foreign airlines. [35917]

  Mr. Norris
  Partnership agreements and other forms of alliance between UK and foreign airlines are commercial matters for the airlines concerned, subject to UK and EC rules on ownership and control. Competition aspects are matters for the UK and EC competition authorities.

  Excalibur Airways
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken into allegations of unsafe operations during flights operated by Excalibur Airways. [35977]
  193
  Mr. Norris
  The CAA advises me that all but one of the complaints it received concerning flights operated by Excalibur were related to contractual and commercial arrangements between the airline and its customers. The single safety complaint concerned a faulty door. An inspection for the aircraft confirmed that, although the normal electrical method of opening one of the aircraft doors had an intermittent fault, it could still be operated both manually and pneumatically. The CAA does not consider that passenger safety was compromised.

  Air Rights
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom of the Council of Ministers' decision to empower the EU to negotiate with the United States of America on behalf of EU states regarding air rights. [35955]

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 8 July,Official Report, columns 76–77.

  As noted in that reply, member states retain the right to conduct bilateral negotiations with the US while Community-level negotiations are under way.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to restart the Bermuda II negotiations with the United States of America. [35918]

  Mr. Norris
  Negotiations are scheduled to resume in the week beginning 15 July.

  Save Our Ships Campaign
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will receive a delegation from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, RMT, to discuss the Save Our Ships campaign. [35914]

  Mr. Norris
  Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of shipowners and the seafaring unions to discuss issues of common interest. My hon. Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping would be happy to consider a request from the RMT for a meeting.

  Motorways
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what provision will be made for public consultation on the cost-benefit analysis and environmental and traffic impacts of motorway widening schemes; [35829]

  (2) if he will list the motorway widening schemes currently in the national roads programme; and which of these will undergo (a) environmental assessment, (b) cost-benefit analysis and (c) a public inquiry. [35716]

  Mr. Watts
  All motorway widening schemes are subject to public consultation and statutory procedures when details of cost-benefit analysis and environmental and traffic impact assessments are available for public scrutiny and debate.

  The following motorway widening schemes are currently in the programme.
  194
  All will be subject to the preparatory processes including environmental assessment, cost-benefit analysis and, depending on the weight and nature of any objections received, a public inquiry.

  Those marked with an asterisk are in the longer-term category to be brought forward only after substantial progress has been made with the main programme.

  M1 junction 6A–10 widening

  M1 junction 10–15 widening

  M1 junction 15–19 widening*

  M1 junction 19–21 widening*

  M1 junction 21–21A widening (Phase 2)*

  M1 junction 21A–23A widening (Phase 1)

  M1 junction 21A–23A widening (Phase 2)

  M1 junction 23A–25 widening

  M1 junction 25–28A widening (Phase 2)*

  M1 junction 28–31 widening*

  M1 junction 31–32 widening

  M3 junction 2–3 widening*

  M3 junction 3–4 widening*

  M4 junction 3–4B widening

  M4 junction 4B–8/9 widening

  M4 junction 8/9–10 widening*

  M4 junction 10–12 widening*

  M4 junction 12–15 widening*

  M4 junction 18–20 widening and M5 junction 15–17 widening*

  M5 junction 17–21 widening

  M6 M1— junction 2 widening*

  M6 junction 2–4 widening*

  M6 junction 11A–16 widening

  M6 junction 16–19 widening

  M6 junction 19–20 widening*

  M11 junction 8–9 widening

  M11 junction 9–14 widening*

  M20 junction 3–5 widening*

  M23 junction 8–9 widening

  M23 junction 9–10 widening*

  M25 junction 3–5 widening*

  M25 junction 5–7 widening*

  M25 junction 12–15 widening

  M25 junction 15–16 widening

  M25 junction 16–19 widening

  M25 junction 19–23 widening*

  M25 junction 23–26 widening*

  M25 junction 26–28 widening*

  M27 junction 4–11 widening*

  M27 junction 11–12 widening*

  M40 junction 3–4 widening and junction 4 improvement*

  M42 junction 1–3A widening*

  M42 junction 3A–7 widening

  M62 junction 6–7 widening*

  M62 junction 8 and 8–9 widening

  M62 junction 12–18 widening

  M62 junction 18–21 widening*

  M62 junction 21–24 widening*

  M63 junction 6–9 widening

  195

  Maritime Strategy Paper
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the European Commission's paper on maritime strategy; and if he will make a statement. [35951]

  Mr. Norris
  We aim to send a response to the Commission in September. We are currently consulting interested parties and shall listen carefully to views expressed by Members of the House in Committee on 10 July. I shah arrange for a copy of the response to be placed in the House Library.

  Seafarers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to ensure British seafarers are employed on the same terms and with the same incentives as are available to employers resident in other nations of the EU. [35960]

  Mr. Norris
  Terms and conditions of employment are primarily a matter of negotiation between employer and employee.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) statutory instruments and (b) guidance notes his Department issued since January relating to local authorities. [35937]

  Mr. Norris
  The statutory instruments relating to local authorities issued since January are:

  The Public Airport Companies (Capital Finance) Order (SI 604).

  The Road Traffic Act 1991 (Amendment to Schedule 3) (England and Wales) Order (SI 500).

  The Road Traffic (Special Parking Area) (London Borough of Newham) (Amendment) Order (SI 1112).

  The Road Traffic (Special Parking Area) (Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames) (Amendment) Order (SI 1110).

  The Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order (SI 1553).

  The Local Authorities (Goods and Services) (Public Bodies) (Trunk Road) Order (SI 342).

  The guidance notes relating to local authorities are:

  The design manual for roads and bridges

  HA 78/96 Design of Outfalls for Surface Water Channels.

  BD 12/95 Design of Corrugated Steel Buried Structures with Spans not exceeding 8m (Including Circular Arches).

  HD 26/94 Pavement Design Amendment No. 2.

  HD 24/96 Traffic Assessment.

  The manual of contract documents for highway works

  SD 12/96 Geodetic Surveys.

  The trunk road maintenance manual

  Volume 1 amendment no. 6.

  Volume 1 amendment no. 7.

  Volume 2 revised.

  Routine maintenance management system

  Revised.

  Local Authority Circular 2/96—Transport Policies and Programme Submissions For 1997–98.

  TPP Submissions for 1997–98—Guidance Notes.

  TPP Submissions for 1997–98—Information Required on Individual Major Highway Schemes.

  196

  TPP Submissions for 1997–98—Information Required on Individual Major Highway Structural Maintenance Schemes.

  TPP Submissions for 1997–98—Supplementary Guidance Notes On The Package Approach.

  TPP Submissions for 1997–98—Supplementary Guidance Note: The Local Government Review.

  Circular Roads 4/96—Deregulation of Road Humps.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/96—Traffic Management in Historic Areas.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/96—75mm high Road Humps.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 3/96—Bike and Ride.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 4/96—Traffic Management and Emissions.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/96—Development of Advanced Stop Lines.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 6/96—Traffic Calming—Traffic and Vehicle Noise.

  Traffic Advisory Leaflet 7/96—Roads Humps Regulations 1996.

  Street Works Reinstatement Specification: Revised Appendix A10.

  Government Response to the Final Report of the Street Works Advisory Committee (Local Authority and Utilities Circular 1/96).

  Air Traffic Control System
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the new air traffic control system for the United Kingdom to come into operation; and if he will make a statement. [35923]

  Mr. Norris
  The Swanwick air traffic control centre, which will control aircraft flying over England and Wales, is due to come into operation in December 1997. The new Scottish air traffic control centre at Prestwick, which will control aircraft over Scotland and Northern Ireland, is expected to become operational in the winter of 2000–01.

  Light Rail Funding
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of light rail funding(a) nationally and (b) in the Greater Manchester area. [36282]

  Mr. Norris
  Bids for light rail schemes are submitted to my Department during the annual transport policies and programme round. I am prepared to consider supporting light rail schemes, including extensions to the Greater Manchester metrolink, provided it can be demonstrated that light rail is the most cost-effective solution to a particular urban transport problem. Schemes must attract significant private sector and local investment and be put forward as part of a package bid, incorporating a coherent transport strategy to achieve modal shift from the private car. However, light rail is expensive and not the only solution to urban transport problems. The difficulties and costs associated with developing schemes should not be underestimated.

  M42
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will exercise his discretionary powers to grant compensation to those dwellings in Barstow lane affected by his proposals to widen the M42. [35999]
  197
  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. lain Mills, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about compensation for properties on Barston Lane affected by the M42 widening proposals.
  Once a new or improved road has been opened to traffic for 12 months people who consider that their home has depreciated in value as a result of the physical factors arising from the use of the new or improved road may claim compensation under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (compensation for injurious affection). The physical factors are noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke and artificial lighting and the discharge of substances onto land.
  There are no powers to grant compensation to owners of dwellings affected by a road proposal prior to it being opened to traffic for 12 months. Owners who need to move for reasons unconnected with the road but who are unable to sell privately because of the threat of road improvements may apply to have their homes purchased by the Highways Agency. The Agency will consider purchase if all the qualifying criteria are met. The enclosed guidelines explain this in more detail.

  GUIDELINES FOR DISCRETIONARY PURCHASE UNDER S246(2A) OF THE HIGHWAYS ACT 1980 OF LAND IN ADVANCE OF THE START OF WORKS

  Introduction
  The Highways Agency acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport to build and improve trunk roads and motorways. If your enjoyment of your home is seriously affected by a proposal to build or improve a trunk road or motorway, you may ask the Highways Agency to buy it even if it is not needed for the proposed scheme.
  Each application for discretionary purchase will be considered on its merits. These guidelines indicate the general manner in which cases will be considered.

  Considering your application
  The Agency has no obligation to buy property which is not needed for a road scheme as the relevant powers under section 246(2A) of the Highways Act 1980 are discretionary. Some applications will not be successful, but in such cases you may be entitled to compensation under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 after the road or the road improvement has been opened. Your home may also be eligible for noise insulation.
  Section 246(2A) of the Highways Act 1980 makes pre-conditions which have to be met before an application can be considered. These are described in paragraphs 1 and 2 below. If your application meets these pre-conditions we will then consider it in two stages:
  First to see if, in our opinion, your enjoyment of your property will be seriously affected and, if we think it will be,
  Second, to decide whether to offer to buy, taking account of the information in your application.
  The factors we consider in deciding on serious effect are set out in paragraph 3 and those we take into account in deciding whether to offer to buy are set out in paragraphs 4–7.

  STATUTORY PRE-CONDITIONS

  Before your application can be considered:

  1. Work on blighted land
  The proposed road scheme must include work on land which is statutorily blighted within the meaning set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This means in most instances that the Agency has safeguarded the route by notifying the local planning authority, or has announced the preferred route for the scheme, or has published or made compulsory purchase orders for the scheme. If no land qualifies as being blighted (for example, in the case of maintenance work or, in some cases, widening within the highway boundaries), or the land that is blighted is remote from your property, the Agency may not be able to buy your property.
  198
  2. Qualifying interest
  You must have a "qualifying interest" (as set out in section 149(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) in the property which will be seriously affected. This broadly means you must be an owner-occupier. In the case of a dwelling, you must either:
  be living in your property at the date on which the Agency contracts to purchase it and have owned it and lived there for at least six months before this date; or
  if the property is empty, it must not have been empty for more than twelve months and you must have lived there during the six months prior to it becoming empty. You will not have a qualifying interest if the property is let by you or if you are a tenant.
  The rules for commercial and industrial properties are similar to those for dwellings, except that in order for it to be eligible the property must have an annual value for rating purposes not exceeding £18,000.

  ASSESSMENT OF SERIOUS EFFECT

  3. Serious effect

  The Agency must be of the opinion that your enjoyment of your property will be seriously affected by either the construction or the use of the road. Serious effect may be caused by a number of factors including:—
  (a) Noise: If the predicted noise levels at your property are:
  when due to construction, well in excess of 70 dB(A) (12 hour,,) or more for a substantial period of the day over at least three months; or
  predicted to increase by 1 dB(A) to a level of at least 68 dB(A) (18 hoursL10), due to the use of the road;
  we will normally consider that your enjoyment of your property will be seriously affected by noise. In assessing the predicted or relevant noise level, the Agency will take into account the benefits of any proposed environmental mitigation measures. These may include noise fencing or earth mounds and road surfacing may also be taken into account. A Glossary of terms related to Noise Measurement may be found in Appendix 1.
  (b) Diminution in Value: If, at the time of assessment, your property is or is likely to be, in the opinion of the Agency, significantly diminished in value as a result of the road proposal, we will normally consider it seriously affected. Diminution in value is the amount that the value of your property has been reduced due to the road scheme and is normally expressed as a percentage of the assessed unaffected market value. The diminution will be assessed by our Valuer but you may submit any valuation advice you may have obtained. As a guide, diminution in value of less than 15 per cent. would not normally be considered to have seriously affected your enjoyment of your property.
  (c) Medical Conditions: If you, or a dependant living with you in the property, suffer from a medical condition (such as a respiratory condition or tinnitus, but not stress or anxiety) and, in the opinion of the Agency, this medical condition is likely to be severely aggravated by physical effects, such as dust, noise or pollution, from either the construction of the road or its use, we are likely to consider that your enjoyment of your property will be seriously affected.

  The factors listed in these guidelines are not exhaustive. Other factors or combinations of factors may cause serious effect and the Agency will take these into account when considering your application.

  DECIDING WHETHER TO OFFER TO BUY—(EXERCISE OF DISCRETION)

  Foreknowledge
  We will not normally exercise discretion to buy if you bought your property after the Preferred Route for the scheme affecting your property had been published or the route had been safeguarded (this means notified to the local planning authority) and we consider that at the date of purchase the extent of information in the public domain concerning the proposed scheme was such that a reasonable person could have foreseen the general effects that the road proposal might cause upon the enjoyment of the property.
  199
  Your efforts to sell the property
  In all cases you must have made reasonable efforts to sell the property before your application Will be considered. You should be able to produce evidence that the property has been on the market for not less than three months at what is, in the opinion of the Agency's Valuer, a realistic market price. You must also show that no offer within 15 per cent. of the unaffected market value has been received or, if one has been received, that it has been subsequently withdrawn due to the presence of the proposed scheme.

  6. Reasons for sale
  Once we have concluded that your property will be seriously affected, that it was not purchased with foreknowledge, and that you have attempted to sell it on the open market, we must be satisfied that there are pressing reasons for selling and that severe hardship will occur if you are unable to sell. The reasons for selling must be, in most cases, caused by factors unrelated to the road scheme. For example, you should be able to demonstrate at least one of the following:
  (a) a need to move to a larger or different home, such as the need to accommodate a growing family or the need to move home for employment purposes;
  (b) external financial pressures that necessitate the sale of property, such as the need to realise assets in conjunction with divorce or to release funds in connection with your business, or if you are threatened with re-possession;
  (c) you, or a dependant living with you, in the affected property, have developed a medical condition (such as a severe handicap causing inability to negotiate stairs) which necessitates selling and which is not related to the proposed scheme;
  (d) you, or a dependant living with you, in the affected property, have a medical condition which is likely to be severely aggravated by the effects of the construction work or the use of the highway and this is supported by satisfactory written medical evidence. However, as this reason is linked to the construction or use of the road, we will not normally make an offer to buy earlier than nine months in advance of the start of the construction of the road. If you make an application on medical grounds early in the life of a scheme, you may be asked to re-apply later when the scheme reaches the relevant stage.

  7. Noise and diminution in value
  We will not normally offer to buy your property unless we are of the opinion that it will be seriously affected by BOTH diminution in value AND noise arising during the construction period or during the first year following the opening of the road to traffic (see paragraph 3 above for an explanation of serious effect). An exception is when the accepted reason for moving is based upon medical grounds as set out in paragraph 6(d) above.

  APPLICATIONS AND OFFERS

  8. Agreement to purchase
  We normally expect to arrive at a decision on a properly completed application within three months of its receipt. If we offer to buy, the offer will be open for acceptance by you for one month and will be subject to agreement on price and exchange of contracts within six months of the date of the offer. If you fail to meet these timescales the offer to purchase may be withdrawn.

  9. Compensation
  We will offer to buy your property at a price, assessed at the date of the offer, which disregards the scheme proposals. You will be required to bear your surveyor's and legal fees and moving expenses except where your reason for sale is related to the proposed scheme. In cases where the reason for sale is related to the proposed scheme, such as medical conditions as described in paragraph 6(d), we will also reimburse your agents and legal fees and we may also make payments for Disturbance. We will not make Home Loss payments.

  10. How to apply
  Use the copy of Form G1 attached as Appendix 2 of these Guidelines, or contact any of the Highways Agency offices listed in appendix 3 and ask for a further copy. When you, or your agent, have completed it, send it together with all the attachments to the appropriate office set out in appendix 3.
  200
  You should note that these Guidelines may be amended or withdrawn at any time without notice. Please check with one of the Highways Agency offices to ensure that this is the current version.
  Appendix 1: Glossary of terms related to Noise Measurement and Typical Noise levels.
  Appendix 2: Form G1.
  Appendix 3: List of Relevant Highway Agency Offices addresses and telephone numbers.

  APPENDIX 1

  1. Glossary of terms related to noise measurement
  dB(A): dB or decibel is the unit used for the measurement of sound on a logarithmic scale. (A) is the weighting applied to the decibel unit to represent the frequency response of the human ear.L10(18 hour): The arithmetic mean of the hourlyL10noise levels between 0600 and 2400 hours on a normal working day, L10 is the noise level exceeded for one tenth of a period of one hour.Leq: The equivalent continuous sound level in dB(A). This is the sound level which, if maintained continuously for a stated period of time, would give the equivalent amount of noise energy as the varying levels would over the same period.
  2. Typical noise levels

  0 dB(A): Threshold of hearing

  35 dB(A): Quiet bedroom

  40 dB(A): Library

  50 dB(A): Ordinary conversation

  60 dB(A): Office environment

  62.5 dB(A): Communication starts becoming difficult

  70 dB(A): Passenger car (60 km/h at seven metres distance)

  81 dB(A): Modern twin-engined jet

  83 dB(A): Heavy diesel lorry (40 km/h at seven metres distance)

  90 dB(A): Hazard to hearing from continuous exposure

  95 dB(A): Pneumatic drill (unsilenced) at seven metres

  120 dB(A): Threshold of pain.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his proposals to widen the M42. [35998]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. lain Mills, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about proposals to widen the M42.
  The original intention was to widen the motorway between its junctions with the M5 at Junction 1 and the M6 at Junction 7. We consulted the public about proposals for widening in June 1994. As you know, following the road programme review in 1995, it was decided that the more pressing need was to widen the section from Junction 3A (the M40 connection) north to Junction 7 and a scheme for that length was placed in the main programme. We are currently reviewing it to see whether the scheme objectives can be met in a more cost effective way. In doing so, we shall take account of the responses to the earlier proposals.
  The section from Junction 1A to 3 is now for the longer term. Work on all longer term schemes will be taken forward as the main programme is completed.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the criteria and methodology used by the Highways Agency to establish loss of value to properties affected by widening of the M42. [35997]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
  201
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Iain Mills, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he would publish the criteria and methodology used to establish the loss of value to properties affected by the M42 widening.
  The criteria and methodology used for the M42 are the same as for any other road scheme. In the case of discretionary purchase the published guidelines explain that diminution is the amount by which a property has been or will be reduced in value due to the road scheme and is normally expressed as a percentage of the assessed unaffected market value. Diminution in value of less than 15% would not normally be considered to have seriously affected enjoyment of the property. Diminution will be assessed by our valuer by applicants may submit any valuation advice they have obtained. In assessing the unaffected market price the valuer is instructed to disregard all scheme effects including the effects on a property valuation caused by the local purchase of property and its tenanting or subsequent resale by the Highways Agency. If, on the bases of the external examination, diminution is assessed at less than 15%, the valuer should consider whether an internal examination is likely to have a material effect on the valuations and, if it is considered it will, should seek to carry out and report on this basis.

  Signposts (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the director of the Highways Agency concerning motorway signposts to Bolton at the M6–M61 junction; and if he will make a statement. [36263]

  Mr. Watts
  The Highways Agency is signing Bolton in the way explained in my letter of 2 May to my hon. Friend.

  Second Severn Crossing
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what repair work has had to be undertaken on the approach roads to the second Severn crossing as a result of defective steel work; and what has been the effect on traffic flows. [35987]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Spellar, dated 10 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the approach roads to the Second Severn Crossing.
  Defects in some of the welding and some lack of fit were found in steelwork to some of the bridges but I am pleased to say that all the defects have now been put right. All but a very small number of weld defects were repaired prior to the opening of the motorway to traffic. Those repairs carried out after the opening involved minor traffic management at Pilning Roundabout, which did not affect traffic flows.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the remuneration of catering personnel employed in newly privatised rail services. [36163]

  Mr. Watts
  None.
  202

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the budget allocated to Cheshire county council for insulation against transport noise in each of the last five years. [36540]

  Mr. Norris
  The resources that my Department allocates to local authorities for construction or improvement of transport infrastructure may, where appropriate, be used partly to cover the cost of insulation against traffic noise, but we do not normally keep separate records of this element of scheme costs.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the budget allocated to Cheshire county council by his Department for(a) new road building projects and (b) road maintenance for each of the last five years. [36536]

  Mr. Norris
  Allocations to Cheshire for new road building projects and principal road maintenance are as follows:

  £ million

  New roads

  Road maintenance

  1992–93

  16.169

  4.480

  1993–94

  13.995

  7.520

  1994–95

  12.325

  5.429

  1995–96

  16.728

  4.915

  1996–97

  17.82

  3.090

  My Department funds only structural maintenance of principal roads. Most central Government support for highway maintenance expenditure comes from the Department of the Environment through the local government finance system.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the budget allocated to Cheshire county council by his Department for(a) street lighting improvements and (b) traffic calming measures for each of the last five years. [36537]

  Mr. Norris
  None of the resources that my Department has allocated to Cheshire county council in the last five years has been specifically targeted on street lighting or traffic calming. It is for the council to decide the proportion of its minor works, packages and local safety scheme allocations it wishes to spend on these services.

  Allocations to Cheshire for minor works, packages and local safety schemes in the last five years are as follows:

  1992–93: £0.529 million

  1993–94: £1.017 million

  1994–95: £0.940 million

  1995–96: £1,286 million

  1996–97: £1.284 million

  Driving Theory Test Centres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which driving theory test centres have been set up within 20 miles of another centre serving a district whose population density is between 1,250 persons per square kilometre and 100 persons per square kilometre. [36298]
  203
  Mr. Norris
  The table lists driving theory test centres located within 20 miles of a centre situated in a district with a population density between 1,250 and 100 persons per square kilometre.

  Theory test centres in districts with population density between 100–1,250 persons per sq kilometre

  Other theory lest centre within 20 miles

  Basingstoke

  Reading, Aldershot

  Chelmsford

  Harlow, Basildon, Southend

  Chester

  Runcorn, St. Helens, Liverpool, Birkenhead

  Colchester

  Ipswich

  Dunfermline

  Stirling, Edinburgh

  Durham

  Sunderland, Newcastle

  Greenock

  Clydebank

  Guildford

  Crawley, Slough, Aldershot, Kingston

  Harrogate

  Leeds, York, Bradford

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Newport, Cardiff

  Milton Keynes

  Luton, Northampton

  Motherwell

  Cleydebank, Glasgow

  Newport

  Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil

  Preston

  Blackpool, Southport, Wigan, Bolton

  Rhyl

  Birkenhead

  Solihull

  Stratford, Coventry, Redditch, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Dudley, Wolverhampton

  Stratford

  Redditch, Coventry, Solihull

  Taunton

  Yeovil

  Yeovil

  Taunton

  Windscreen Insurance Discs
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is studying the advantages of windscreen insurance discs; and what progress she has made. [36389]

  Mr. Norris
  We are awaiting the results of the insurance industry's study of the comparative benefits of various measures to tackle motor insurance evasion before reaching any conclusion.

  Sleeping Policemen
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which the increased use of sleeping policemen has affected response times of the emergency services. [36237]

  Mr. Norris
  Departmental guidance to local highway authorities has been to introduce less severe speed reduction measures along relevant routes. Speed cushions have become increasingly chosen for such routes, and the Road Hump Regulations 1996 (SI 1483), have been written to encompass their design and use. In 1994, to minimise the effect that traffic calming may have on emergency service response times, a code of practice for fire and ambulance services traffic calming was agreed. The Department of Transport, in conjunction with the Joint Committee on Fire Brigade Operations, the Department of Health's ambulance policy advisory group and the local authority associations, commends the code to its members.

  Road Traffic Casualties
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the number of road traffic casualties in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years; [36538]

  (2) if he will list the number of road traffic casualties involving (a) buses and coaches and (b) heavy goods vehicles in (i) Crewe and Nantwich and (ii) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36539]

  Mr. Norris
  The information is shown in the following table.

  All casualties by area and road user type: GB: 1991 to 1995

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Cheshire

  Bus and coach

  71

  73

  82

  163

  156

  HGVs

  118

  88

  102

  124

  103

  All casualties

  5,361

  5,516

  5,712

  6,349

  6,648

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Bus and coach

  3

  5

  3

  7

  9

  HGVs

  5

  6

  11

  11

  12

  All casualties

  538

  591

  615

  596

  639

  Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with whom he has discussed the effect of European Commission plans to cut exhaust emissions of vehicles on new car prices and costs to petrol and diesel fuel vehicle users; and if he will make a statement. [36000]

  Mr. Norris
  Regular discussions are held between this Department and other Government Departments and also motor and oil industry organisations as to the implications of new European Union proposals affecting vehicle and fuel standards.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36016]

  Mr. Norris
  Separate records of taxi cab fares are not maintained.

  Regional Bus Monopolies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to prevent the creation of private sector regional bus monopolies. [36038]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government believe that concentration in the bus industry is properly regulated through the general competition law regime, principally merger control. Mergers are considered on their merits by the competition authorities to determine whether there are competition issues that should be addressed.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving under-age drivers occurred(a) in the Greater Manchester area and (b) nationally during each of the past three years; and how many fatalities resulted from such accidents. [36265]
  205
  Mr. Norris
  The information is shown in the following tables.

  Accidents involving an under-aged1 car driver in the Greater Manchester area: 1993 to 1995

  Accidents

  Severity

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Fatal

  0

  0

  0

  Serious

  4

  4

  6

  Slight

  23

  20

  20

  All severities

  27

  24

  26

  1 Car drivers aged 0–16 years old.

  Accidents involving an under-aged1 car driver GB: 1993 to 1995

  Accidents

  Severity

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Fatal

  7

  11

  9

  Serious

  116

  103

  119

  Slight

  394

  376

  383

  All severities

  517

  490

  511

  1 Car drivers aged 0–16 years old.

  Casualties in accidents involving an under-aged1 car driver in the Greater Manchester area: 1993 to 1995

  Casualties

  Severities

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Final

  0

  0

  0

  Serious

  6

  4

  9

  Slight

  39

  27

  44

  All severities

  45

  31

  53

  1 Car drivers aged 0–16 years old.

  Casualties in accidents involving under-aged1 car drivers GB: 1993–1995

  Casualties

  Severity

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Fatal

  8

  19

  11

  Serious

  139

  150

  173

  Slight

  684

  649

  662

  All severities

  831

  818

  846

  1 Car drivers age 0–16 years old.

  Trunk Roads
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on the control of development adjacent to trunk roads; and if he will make a statement. [37120]

  Mr. Watts
  Good communications are vital to the economy. It is therefore important that trunk roads continue to meet their prime function of catering for long distance through traffic. We will ensure that they do so by maintaining strict control of new accesses to them. This applies particularly to motorways—where we will continue to consider new access only for motorway service areas, maintenance compounds and major transport centres such as airports—and to high standard rural trunk roads of strategic importance.
  206
  Where new or modified accesses from trunk roads to new development are allowed, or where the traffic demands on a trunk road would materially increase as a result of new development, we will also continue to ensure that those responsible for the development pay for any highway works needed to cater for the resulting extra traffic.

  I am nevertheless concerned that the additional costs imposed on developers under this policy have sometimes been excessive. In some cases, this has led to much-needed investment being lost altogether. I have therefore today issued new guidelines on the principles which the Highways Agency will adopt when considering development proposals affecting trunk roads. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Of particular importance is that developers will in future be expected to pay only for improvements necessary to ensure that conditions on the trunk road are, as far as possible, no worse than if the development had not taken place. Other changes affect the design life of developer-funded highway works; and introduce greater flexibility to take account of environmental concerns and existing constraints on the network, and the potential to increase the use of public transport, cycling and walking.

  I am confident that the new guidelines will significantly reduce burdens on intending developers and encourage sustainable development while maintaining effective protection for the most important trunk roads.

  Wheel Loss
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions in the past five years his Department has issued advice intended to reduce the danger of road traffic accidents attributable to lost wheels to(a) manufacturers and (b) operators of heavy commercial vehicles. [35241]

  Mr. Norris
  At the Institute of Road Transport Engineers conference in May 1991, my Department launched a pamphlet dealing with the subject of wheel loss and giving advice to operators.

  We are in constant contact with manufacturers and operator's trade associations on this problem through my Department's representation on the British Standards Institution committee for wheels and tyres and other forums.

  Dartford-Thurrock Crossings
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the impact on the public sector borrowing requirement of the Dartford-Thurrock river crossings in each year since 1988. [35830]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 8 July 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 10 July 1996:
  As you know, the Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the impact on the public sector borrowing requirement of the Dartford-Thurrock river crossings in each year since 1988.

  207
  The impact on the PSBR of the Dartford-Thurrock river crossings can be shown by the net expenditure incurred by the Department of Transport/Highways Agency since 1988 and is as follows.

  £000s

  1988–89

  1,105.7

  1989–90

  3,717.3

  1990–91

  22,804.5

  1991–92

  20,486.6

  1992–93

  6,327.7

  1993–94

  4,051.2

  1994–95

  4,993.8

  1995–96

  2,502.6

  1996–97

  1116.8

  Total

  66,106.2

  1 To the end of June.

  These are net totals as some expenditure incurred by the Department of Transport has been offset by contributions by Dartford River Crossing Ltd.

  The above totals not only include works costs on the three river crossings but also on related project work such as traffic control systems, toll booths and works on the approach roads.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce the regulations to apply section 20A of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, covering compensation to mobile home owners. [36326]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) on 25 April,Official Report, column 248.

  Central Railway plc
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he had received by 1 July about the Central Railway plc proposal to build a new railway; and how many were(a) in favour and (b) against. [36479]
  208
  Mr. Watts
  Some 13,650 representations have been received, of which about 200 support the proposal and 13,450 are opposed. These figures include representations which, having regard to the postal dispute or certain other considerations, have been accepted as valid although they were received after 1 July.

  Rail Franchising
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a survey of the wages of catering staff in privatised rail franchises. [36170]

  Mr. Watts
  No.

  Merchant Navy Statistics
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher), of 17 June,Official Report, column 342, what statistical information relating to Merchant Navy seafarers was discontinued; when his Department decided to discontinue the collection and publication of these statistics and for what reasons; if the decision was announced to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [36356]

  Mr. Norris
  The statistics no longer published were based on the Merchant Navy Establishment, a register, maintained by the General Council of British Shipping. The register was a list of seafarers available for employment under National Maritime Board agreements. The Merchant Navy Establishment was discontinued in September 1990, following six months' consultation between the General Council of British Shipping and the trade unions. As the statistics were a by-product of a register held outside Government for non-statistical reasons, no announcement was made to Parliament.

  Statistics of seafarers employed on vessels entered with the Chamber of Shipping continue to be available from the chamber's fleet and manpower inquiry and are published by the Department in merchant fleet statistics.
  209

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Budgets
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will list for each local education authority in England(a) the potential school budget expressed as a percentage of its standard spending assessment, (b) the potential school budget expressed as a percentage of its general schools budget and (c) the totals and averages for England for (a) and (b) for the year 1996–97; and if she will make a statement; [35851]

  1996–97

  LEA

  SSA £000

  £000

  GSB Percentage of SSA

  £000

  PSB Percentage of SSA

  Percentage of GSB

  Barking/Dagenham

  69,879

  68,065

  97.4

  61,126

  87.5

  89.8

  Barnet

  117,029

  85,792

  73.3

  75,939

  64.9

  88.5

  Barnsley

  76,867

  71,287

  92.7

  61,681

  80.2

  86.5

  Bath and North-east Somerset

  54,404

  54,735

  100.6

  48,609

  89.3

  88.8

  Bedfordshire

  220,156

  178,555

  81.1

  152,251

  69.2

  85.3

  Berkshire

  282,308

  216,108

  76.6

  195,984

  69.4

  90.7

  Bexley

  88,646

  67,803

  76.5

  60,283

  68

  88.9

  Birmingham

  448,721

  400,305

  89.2

  345,728

  77

  86.4

  Bolton

  100,891

  93,734

  92.9

  80,892

  80.2

  86.3

  Bradford

  209,868

  182,932

  87.2

  150,477

  71.7

  82.3

  Brent

  109,692

  57,755

  52.7

  47,858

  43.6

  82.9

  Bristol

  119,870

  125,740

  104.9

  111,852

  93.3

  89.0

  Bromley

  103,845

  48,238

  46.5

  44,048

  42.4

  91.3

  Buckinghamshire

  252,855

  194,681

  77.0

  174,158

  68.9

  89.5

  Bury

  61,635

  63,907

  103.7

  54,406

  88.3

  85.1

  Calderdale

  77,167

  50,060

  64.9

  42,764

  55.4

  85.4

  Cambridgeshire

  237,278

  183,953

  77.5

  159,124

  67.1

  86.5

  Camden

  78,312

  65,910

  84.2

  57,003

  72.8

  86.5

  Cheshire

  348,970

  337,431

  96.7

  301,969

  86.5

  89.5

  Cornwall

  164,930

  154,225

  93.5

  136,921

  83.0

  88.8

  Corporation of London

  759

  1,022

  134.7

  761

  100.3

  74.5

  Coventry

  119,872

  120,526

  100.5

  106,109

  88.5

  88.0

  Croydon

  118,396

  87,808

  74.2

  75,817

  64.0

  86.3

  Cumbria

  170,602

  131,817

  77.3

  113,416

  66.5

  86.0

  Derbyshire

  319,922

  265,304

  82.9

  222,302

  69.5

  83.8

  Devon

  345,862

  310,234

  89.7

  270,890

  78.3

  87.3

  Doncaster

  119,680

  116,705

  97.5

  102,611

  85.7

  87.9

  Dorset

  207,427

  163,163

  78.7

  144,951

  69.9

  88.8

  Dudley

  104,158

  90,308

  86.7

  78,438

  75.3

  86.9

  Durham

  216,644

  206,342

  95.2

  180,640

  83.4

  87.5

  Ealing

  112,151

  84,255

  75.1

  71,556

  63.8

  84.9

  East Riding

  102,954

  111,138

  107.9

  96,389

  93.6

  86.7

  East Sussex

  219,761

  213,851

  97.3

  189,364

  86.2

  88.5

  Enfield

  117,827

  93,322

  79.2

  81,133

  68.9

  86.9

  Essex

  566,981

  317,193

  55.9

  275,579

  48.6

  86.9

  Gateshead

  70,844

  71,226

  100.5

  63,294

  89.3

  88.9

  Gloucestershire

  183,797

  103,916

  56.5

  92,634

  50.4

  89.1

  Greenwich

  114,263

  104,682

  91.6

  89,798

  78.6

  85.8

  Hackney

  92,084

  84,648

  91.9

  66,319

  72

  78.3

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  56,047

  47,578

  84.9

  39,290

  70.1

  82.6

  Hampshire

  525,153

  470,732

  89.6

  424,463

  80.8

  90.2

  Haringey

  93,427

  92,970

  99.5

  77,147

  82.6

  83.0

  Harrow

  72,990

  69,836

  95.7

  64,591

  88.5

  92.5

  Hartlepool

  37,013

  34,489

  93.2

  30,587

  82.6

  88.7

  Havering

  87,183

  70,582

  81

  65,236

  74.8

  92.4

  Hereford/Worcester

  229,005

  200,258

  87.4

  182,361

  79.6

  91.1

  Hertfordshire

  387,245

  309,390

  79.9

  271,633

  70.1

  87.8

  Hillingdon

  93,797

  48,618

  51.8

  43,534

  46.4

  89.5

  Hounslow

  94,807

  84,196

  88.8

  74,553

  78.6

  88.5

  Hull

  102,701

  95,241

  92.7

  82,212

  80.1

  86.3

  Isle of Wight

  45,138

  41,447

  91.8

  37,173

  82.4

  89.7

  Isles of Scilly

  1,233

  1,095

  88.8

  902

  73.2

  82.4

  Islington

  81,095

  68,032

  83.9

  59,438

  73.3

  87.4

  Kensington/Chelsea

  34,193

  31,435

  91.9

  26,852

  78.5

  85.4

  Kent

  581,733

  379,899

  65.3

  344,908

  59.3

  90.8

  Kingston

  47,066

  35,725

  75.9

  32,964

  70.0

  92.3

  210
  (2) if she will list for each local education authority in England (a) the education standard spending assessment, (b) the general school budget, (c) the potential school budget and (d) the general school budget expressed as a percentage of its standard spending assessment for 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [35850]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table provides the information requested. The entries for general schools budget and potential schools budget have been derived from the local management of schools budget statements produced in respect of LEA—maintained schools under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988, and therefore excludes expenditure, recouped from LEAs, on grant-maintained schools.
  211

  1996–97

  LEA

  SSA £000

  £000

  GSB Percentage of SSA

  £000

  PSB Percentage of SSA

  Percentage of GSB

  Kirklees

  141,523

  137,697

  97.3

  116,341

  82.2

  84.5

  Knowsley

  73,138

  65,599

  89.7

  56,775

  77.6

  86.5

  Lambeth

  100,826

  64,018

  63.5

  53,359

  52.9

  83.3

  Lancashire

  510,448

  485,626

  95.1

  414,077

  81.1

  85.3

  Leeds

  252,509

  251,509

  99.6

  220,601

  87.4

  87.7

  Leicestershire

  333,840

  320,548

  96.0

  281,645

  84.4

  87.9

  Lewisham

  108,942

  93,934

  86.2

  82,202

  75.5

  87.5

  Lincolnshire

  213,026

  146,775

  68.9

  131,670

  61.8

  89.7

  Liverpool

  209,232

  176,403

  84.3

  152,041

  72.7

  86.2

  Manchester

  188,261

  170,636

  90.6

  143,067

  76.0

  83.8

  Merton

  58,096

  53,585

  92.2

  48,209

  83.0

  90.0

  Middlesbrough

  61,491

  57,234

  93.1

  50,342

  81.9

  88.0

  North-east Lincolnshire

  64,840

  64,954

  100.2

  56,063

  86.5

  86.3

  Newcastle

  99,652

  95,004

  95.3

  83,752

  84.0

  88.2

  Newham

  130,381

  106,110

  81.4

  91,614

  70.3

  86.3

  Norfolk

  243,384

  215,902

  88.7

  186,841

  76.8

  86.5

  North Lincolnshire

  56,381

  60,352

  107.0

  51,172

  90.8

  84.8

  North Somerset

  58,642

  63,083

  107.6

  56,149

  95.7

  89.0

  North Tyneside

  68,757

  67,820

  98.6

  58,734

  85.4

  86.6

  North Yorkshire

  185,854

  189,829

  102.1

  168,846

  90.8

  88.9

  Northamptonshire

  222,270

  182,454

  82.1

  163,777

  73.7

  89.8

  Northumberland

  113,513

  112,425

  99.0

  95,647

  84.3

  85.1

  Nottinghamshire

  365,135

  348,056

  95.3

  296,611

  81.2

  85.2

  Oldham

  94,759

  97,770

  103.2

  83,982

  88.6

  85.9

  Oxfordshire

  192,571

  176,720

  91.8

  154,322

  80.1

  87.3

  Redbridge

  98,258

  87,742

  89.3

  78.625

  80.0

  89.6

  Redcar and Cleveland

  59,590

  56,843

  95.4

  50,199

  84.2

  88.3

  Richmond

  45,854

  45,048

  98.2

  42,377

  92.4

  94.1

  Rochdale

  82,736

  68,263

  82.5

  57,693

  69.7

  84.5

  Rotherham

  102,425

  96,157

  93.9

  86,343

  84.3

  89.8

  Salford

  82,496

  82,924

  100.5

  71,365

  86.5

  86.1

  Sandwell

  118,096

  113,735

  96.3

  98,885

  83.7

  86.9

  Sefton

  106,847

  107,574

  100.7

  95,490

  89.4

  88.8

  Sheffield

  170,970

  157,470

  92.1

  134,029

  78.4

  85.1

  Shropshire

  145,332

  129,142

  88.9

  110,326

  75.9

  85.4

  Solihull

  73,069

  76,074

  104.1

  67,562

  92.5

  88.8

  Somerset

  150,908

  141,298

  93.6

  129,049

  85.5

  91.3

  South Gloucestershire

  78,677

  87,372

  111.1

  77,194

  98.1

  88.4

  South Tyneside

  59,030

  54,545

  92.4

  48,326

  81.9

  88.6

  Southwark

  109,297

  83,797

  76.7

  70,401

  64.4

  84.0

  St. Helens

  66,604

  68,653

  103.1

  59,467

  89.3

  86.6

  Staffordshire

  366,019

  337,494

  92.2

  293,568

  80.2

  87.0

  Stockport

  89,804

  91,538

  101.9

  81,968

  91.3

  89.5

  Stockton-on-Tees

  71,747

  71,961

  100.3

  63,165

  88.0

  87.8

  Suffolk

  217,470

  216,145

  99.4

  193,131

  88.8

  89.4

  Sunderland

  114,863

  106,741

  92.9

  95,675

  83.3

  89.6

  Surrey

  307,474

  249,116

  81.0

  215,844

  70.2

  86.6

  Sutton

  67,782

  43,154

  63.7

  37,808

  55.8

  87.6

  Tameside

  80.591

  70,527

  87.5

  60,908

  75.6

  86.4

  Tower Hamlets

  122,839

  109,375

  89.0

  86,792

  70.7

  79.4

  Trafford

  76,735

  61,402

  80.0

  53,731

  70.0

  87.5

  Wakefield

  111,605

  110,505

  99.0

  96.044

  86.1

  86.9

  Walsall

  108,588

  87,497

  80.6

  78,003

  71.8

  89.1

  Waltham Forest

  97,421

  82,337

  84.5

  69,543

  71.4

  84.5

  Wandsworth

  86,304

  63,133

  73.2

  53,758

  62.3

  85.2

  Warwickshire

  164,025

  149,999

  91.4

  129,650

  79.0

  86.4

  West Sussex

  235,410

  225,963

  96.0

  205,497

  87.3

  90.9

  Westminster

  58,134

  54,716

  94.1

  46,245

  79.5

  84.5

  Wigan

  110,133

  117,249

  106.5

  102,072

  92.7

  87.1

  Wiltshire

  197,517

  150,479

  76.2

  127,525

  64.6

  84.7

  Wirral

  132,298

  117,453

  88.8

  101,837

  77.0

  86.7

  Wolverhampton

  99,898

  93,029

  93.1

  76,544

  76.6

  82.3

  York

  52,793

  51,457

  97.5

  46,598

  88.3

  90.6

  Total average

  17,764,242

  15,382,148

  86.6

  13,433,993

  75.6

  87.3

  The GSB amount shown for each LEA excludes capital expenditure and finance charges.

  Education Awards Regulations
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many representations she has received since 1990 from(a) hon. Members, (b) local education authorities and (c) education and other
  212
  professional bodies regarding the effects of section 12(2)(a) of the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations. [36112]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has received a number of representations on this subject from various parties but does not keep information in the form requested.
  213

  Sex Offenders
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if her Department keeps a list of suspected sex offenders; [36506]

  (2) if she will list, in respect of those lists of convicted sex offenders held by her Department which may be consulted, (a) the number of names on each list currently, (b) those who have access to each list, (c) what the lists are used for, (d) how long it takes on average to check a reference with such lists, (e) under what circumstances people are placed on the lists, and (i) how the procedure described in (e) above is conveyed to local authorities. [36505]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department does not keep lists of convicted or suspected sex offenders. It does maintain a list, list 99, which contains details of people who are either barred from teaching and related employment in England and Wales or are subject to restrictions on their employment. Some of these people have been convicted of sex offences, but the list does not contain any explanation of why an individual has been barred.

  Teachers (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of teachers employed by the Cheshire education authority for each of the last five years. [36503]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The full-time equivalent numbers of teachers employed by Cheshire education authority, in the nursery, primary, secondary and special education sector, are shown as follows. Teachers in grant-maintained schools are excluded throughout.

  As at January of:

  Full-time equivalent

  19921

  8,210

  1993

  8,140

  1994

  8,040

  1995

  8,120

  1996

  8,190

  1 Teachers in sixth form colleges are included in 1992 but excluded thereafter.

  Class Sizes (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the average class size for schools in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years; and what was the national average. [36501]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is shown in the following table:

  Average class size in classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary and secondary schools

  Position in January each year

  Cheshire LEA Area

  England

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  1991

  28.1

  20.6

  26.3

  20.6

  1992

  27.6

  20.7

  26.4

  20.9

  1993

  27.6

  21.2

  26.6

  21.2

  1994

  27.4

  21.1

  26.9

  21.4

  1995

  27.3

  21.3

  27.1

  21.5

  1996

  1n/a

  1n/a

  27.3

  21.6

  1 Not available.

  214

  School Security
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to respond to the recommendations of the working group on schools security published in May in respect of the provision of additional long-term funding specifically allocated for improving school security. [36488]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government have accepted all the recommendations of the working group on school security. New money earmarked specifically for school security will be provided under the grants for education support and training programme in 1997–98. The DFEE also contributed £2 million to this year's Home Office closed circuit television challenge scheme so that an extra 112 schools can install security cameras.

  Higher Education Entrants (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of students from Cheshire entering higher education in each of the last five years; and what was the national average. [36504]

  Mr. Forth
  Centrally held information on student numbers is not available at local education authority level. The following tables show the number of new mandatory awards and discretionary awards made to higher education students by Cheshire local education authority and by all local education authorities in England, for the years 1990–91 to 1994–95, the latest year for which data are available.

  New higher education awards made by Cheshire local education authority

  Academic years

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Mandatory awards

  3,347

  4,516

  5,692

  6,036

  6,157

  Discretionary awards

  318

  238

  88

  24

  43

  All new higher education awards

  3,665

  4,754

  5,780

  6,060

  6,200

  New higher education awards made by all English local education authorities1

  Thousands

  Academic years

  1990–91

  21991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Mandatory awards

  180.9

  215.8

  253.8

  274.0

  268.4

  Discretionary awards

  17.0

  15.1

  14.9

  8.8

  8.3

  All new higher education awards

  197.9

  230.9

  268.8

  282.8

  276.6

  1 National figures have been grossed up to compensate for partial returns.

  21991–92 does not include data in respect of the London residuary body estimated to be 8,600 mandatory awards; an accurate breakdown of these figures is not available.

  Bus Passes
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines her Department issues in respect of the issue of bus passes to schoolchildren who live more than three miles away from their secondary school. [36395]
  215
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department issued guidance on the provision of home to school transport to local education authorities in England in a letter of 21 January 1994, a copy of which is in the Library. This makes it clear that free transport is always necessary for pupils of compulsory school age—five to 16—who attend their nearest suitable school if it is beyond statutory walking distance. LEAs also have a discretionary power to assist pupils whose parents have chosen to send them to a school other than their nearest suitable one, even if it is beyond walking distance, by paying their reasonable travelling expenses either in whole or in part.

  School Closures (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools closed in (i) Crewe and Nantwich and (ii) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36500]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table gives the numbers of primary and secondary schools for which closure proposals were approved for implementation in Cheshire for each of the last five years. No closure proposals were approved for the Crewe and Nantwich area. In many cases, schools which are formally closed are amalgamated with other schools or are replaced by new schools.

  Primary

  Secondary

  1991

  10

  2

  1992

  18

  —

  1993

  9

  1

  1994

  12

  2

  1995

  2

  —

  1996

  5

  —

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will update all the information printed in her answers of 27 November 1995,Official Report, column 445, and 30 November 1995, Official Report, columns 854–55, regarding assisted places provision and finance in three named schools in the Manchester, Gorton constituency. [36481]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Actual expenditure on the assisted places scheme in the 1995–96 financial year was £104.76 million. Provision for 1996–97, when the expansion of the scheme begins, is £117 million.

  The figures relating to the three named schools in the Manchester, Gorton constituency remain unchanged from those given on 27 and 30 November 1995 for the current academic year 1995–96, pending receipt of the schools' final claims.

  The numbers of assisted pupils at each school in the forthcoming academic year 1996–97, and the amounts spent on them, will depend on parental demand and take-up of places. Under the expansion programme, Manchester grammar school has been allocated 10 additional entry places, Manchester high school for girls, 10 such places, and William Hulme's grammar school, 30 such places.
  216

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the comprehensive test ban treaty negotiations. [35178]

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the negotiations in Geneva towards completion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [35950]

  Mr. David Davis
  The negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty adjourned in Geneva on 28 June, without agreement but with the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Ambassador Ramaker of the Netherlands, having tabled a full treaty text. Ambassador Ramaker has asked delegations to study this carefully with a view to reaching agreement when the conference on disarmament reconvenes on 29 July. We are now doing so and shall work for the earliest possible agreement.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next meet his counterpart in Saudi Arabia to discuss British-Saudi relations. [35181]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary had extensive discussions with the Saudi Foreign Minister during his visit to Jedda last week. Relations between the UK and Saudi Arabia are in very good shape.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to persuade the Government of Morocco to reach a settlement with Polisario in the Western Sahara. [35182]

  Mr. Hanley
  We continue to urge both Morocco and Polisario to co-operate fully with the UN and its operation in the Western Sahara, MINURSO, in reaching a settlement to the conflict.

  I stressed this point with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister during his recent visit.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK relations with Indonesia. [35183]

  Mr. Hanley
  UK relations with Indonesia are very good.

  China
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government about abuses of human rights in that country. [35184]
  217
  Mr. Hanley
  I raised human rights in China during my talks with Chinese leaders in Peking in January, and again with the Chinese Foreign Minister in The Hague on 20 April.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current relations between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China. [36266]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Our relationship with China is of great importance—particularly because of our shared interest in the successful transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong next year.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conduct of recent elections held in Kashmir. [35185]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent election procedures in Jammu and Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [35190]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the oral answer that my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Heppell) earlier today.

  Middle East Peace Process
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current developments in the middle east peace process. [35186]

  Mr. Hanley
  We give full support to the continuation of the peace process and look to both Israel and the Palestinians to fulfil their undertakings under the Oslo accords.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process in the Palestine—Israel dispute. [36274]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We welcome the confirmation by Prime Minister Netanyahu of his intention to proceed with the peace process.

  We look forward to full implementation of the Israel—Palestine interim agreement, and the declaration of principles. Resumption of negotiations with Syria is also important.

  Yousef Salam
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 151, to the hon. Members for Linlithgow and for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) and his answer to the hon. Member for Southend, East of 24 June, Official Report, column 14, what discussions he has had with the German authorities about the content of the Stasi files referred to and the time scale proposed by the German authorities for a trial of Yousef Salam alias Yassir al-Shuraidi. [35187]
  218
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have had occasional contact with the German authorities about the evidence implicating Yassir al-Shuraidi in the 1986 bombing of the "La Belle" discotheque. The investigation into the bombing remains a matter for the German authorities.

  We understand from the German authorities that no date has yet been set for Yassir al-Shuraidi's trial.

  South Africa
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent elections in South Africa. [35188]

  Mr. Hanley
  The local government elections in KwaZulu-Natal on 26 June completed the process of democratic elections in South Africa. We are pleased that these elections took place in a generally peaceful and orderly way, and we wish the newly elected local authorities every success.

  Sudan
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he(a) has made to and (b) received from, the Government of Sudan since the signing of the peace charter in Sudan. [35189]

  Mr. Hanley
  I discussed the political charter and other matters with the Sudanese ambassador on 2 July.

  We look to all sides in the Sudanese civil war to make genuine moves towards peace.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government on the incidence of female genital mutilation in the north of Sudan. [36171]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have made no formal representations to the Government of Sudan on this subject.

  At the last session of the UN Commission for Human Rights, in April 1996, the United Kingdom co-sponsored a resolution which stressed the obligations of states to enact and enforce legislation against the perpetrators of acts such as female genital mutilation.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current criteria for the admission of new members to the Western European Union; and if he will make a statement. [35191]

  Mr. David Davis
  Article XI of the modified Brussels treaty permits the members of Western European Union, by agreement, to invite any other state to accede to the treaty on conditions to be agreed between them and the states so invited.

  Such conditions would need to take into account the facts that the mutual defence guarantee of the modified Brussels treaty implies prior membership of NATO and that at Maastricht EU members were invited to accede to WEU on conditions to be agreed in accordance with article XI of the modified Brussels treaty.
  219

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress he has made towards re-negotiating the common fisheries policy at the intergovernmental conference. [35192]

  Mr. David Davis
  The UK will shortly be tabling proposals in the IGC to address the problem of quota hopping.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current political situation in Nigeria. [35193]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew)Official Report, columns 373–74, on 3 April; we remain deeply concerned about the lack of progress towards restoring human rights and democracy in Nigeria.

  Cyprus
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the political situation in Cyprus. [35194]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Cyprus problem has gone unresolved for too long. In May, my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary appointed Sir David Hannay to strengthen the Government's efforts to work with all parties concerned to bring about a solution.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances marriages at St. Andrew's Anglican church, Kyrenia, Cyprus, are recognised by United Kingdom authorities; and if he will make a statement. [36224]

  Mr. Davis
  The practice of this Department is to recognise, for its administrative purposes, the validity of church marriages conducted in northern Cyprus, provided that they are conducted in accordance with all local requirements, and are valid in the place of celebration. The legal validity of any particular marriage will depend on the facts of the individual case and would be a matter for the courts to determine.

  Iran
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between Britain and Iran. [35195]

  Mr. Hanley
  We restored relations with Iran on 27 September 1990.

  We and our European Union partners made it clear at Edinburgh in December 1992 that improvements in Iran's behaviour, particularly on human rights, the fatwa on Mr. Rushdie and terrorism, would be important in determining the extent to which closer relations and confidence in Iran could be developed. Our approach remains unchanged.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for 220
  Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the threat of Iranian-sponsored terrorism in respect of United Kingdom personnel abroad. [35344]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We remain alert to the threat to UK interests from Iranian-sponsored terrorism both in the United Kingdom and overseas and take all appropriate precautions against that threat.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs when he last met the Chinese ambassador to discuss Hong Kong. [35196]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Jiang Enzhu on 15 February. Our discussions with the Chinese authorities on Hong Kong issues take place at various levels in capitals and elsewhere.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people are currently living in camps in Hong Kong; and what is his policy on their future. [36275]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  On 1 June 1996 there were 18,125 Vietnamese living in camps in Hong Kong. This includes 1,347 refugees, for whom the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible, 332 people undergoing screening to determine whether they are genuine refugees, and 16,446 non-refugees whose future lies in Vietnam. It remains our objective to complete the repatriation of non-refugees before the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.[36277]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Hong Kong in January and looks forward to visiting again before too long. His travel plans are not yet firm.

  Yemen
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with the Yemen. [35197]

  Mr. Hanley
  We enjoy good relations with Yemen. The recent successful visit of the Yemeni Foreign Minister to the United Kingdom, and mine to Yemen last year, demonstrated our mutual wish further to improve co-operation.

  Burma
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent events in Burma. [35198]

  Mr. Hanley
  We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Burma. We issued a statement on 22 May. Our ambassador in Rangoon followed this up with a demarche to the State Law and Order Restoration Council on 7 June.
  221
  Together with our EU partners, we have consistently pressed the SLORC to work with Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's other democratic groups to achieve national reconciliation and democratic reform. We shall continue to do so.

  We make it clear to the SLORC that resumption of normal relations is conditional on progress in this and other key areas, including human rights.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate as to when the current IGC will end. [35199]

  Mr. David Davis
  There is no fixed timetable for the intergovernmental conference. But Heads of Government confirmed at the Florence European Council in June that the conference should end by mid-1997 if possible.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are currently in place to enable the general public to be informed of the topics to be considered at each meeting of the Council of Ministers of the European Community. [35200]

  Mr. David Davis
  Details of the topics to be discussed at forthcoming Council meetings are published in the Official Report on a monthly basis.

  English Language Teaching
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the British Council and the private sector compete on an equal basis in respect of teaching English as a foreign language. [36141]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The British Council does not teach English in this country and is not therefore in direct competition with English language schools in the UK. We try to ensure that so far as possible the Council's network of teaching centres overseas competes on an equal footing with the private sector by insisting that it operates on a self-funding basis and is not subsidised from the grants in aid from this Department.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the involvement of his Department in the effort to reduce the illegal import of drugs from Colombia. [36278]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The United Kingdom has provided over £13 million worth of drugs-related assistance to Colombia since 1989. This has included training and equipment for various Government Departments and agencies responsible for drug control. This Department's assistance has since 1993 focused on anti-drugs training for the Colombian anti-narcotics police. In recent weeks, this Department has paid for a course in container profiling to assist the detection of drugs in sea freight at the port of Barranquila and for the production of educational videos for use in drug prevention work in Medillin.
  222
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current United Nations policies to combat drug abuse; and if he will make a statement. [36276]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The United Kingdom strongly supports the leading role played by the United Nations drug control programme in co-ordinating the international fight against the scourge of drugs. We particularly support its regional and sub-regional approach, based on solid work at national level, and its efforts to promote greater focus on drug control issued in all relevant parts of the UN system. The United Kingdom is currently the third largest donor to the programme, to which three Government Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Agency and the Home Office, all contribute funds. UN drugs control projects funded by Her Majesty's Government are carefully monitored.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet his opposite numbers in the Council of Europe. [36280]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans for a meeting with his opposite numbers in the Council of Europe. The next scheduled Council of Europe ministerial meeting is in Strasbourg on 6 and 7 November 1996.

  British Council
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British Council's promotion of British interests overseas. [36279]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The British Council forms an integral part of the UK's overall diplomatic and aid effort overseas. Its activities are at a record level, with the Council operating 228 offices in 109 countries compared with 108 offices in 79 countries in 1980.

  Former Yugoslavia (War Criminals)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made as regards the arrest and extradition of indicted war criminals in the former Yugoslavia, with particular reference to Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. [35239]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have repeatedly called upon the parties to execute all arrest warrants issued by the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, including those issued against Dr. Karadzic and General Mladic.

  Implementation force troops will arrest anyone indicted by the tribunal whom they come across in the course of their duties, should the opportunity arise. As IFOR forces increase their presence throughout Bosnia in the run-up to the elections, indicted persons will find themselves at greater risk of arrest.
  223

  EU Directives
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many directives were approved by the Council of Ministers in each year since 1992. [35240]

  Mr. David Davis
  According to the latest data in the Commission's CELEX database on Community legislation, the number of directives adopted by the Council is as follows:

  1992: 93

  1993: 66

  1994: 49

  1995: 38

  1996: 6

  The CELEX database figures do not include acts of day-to-day management whose validity does not exceed a few weeks and purely informative documents of minor importance.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of China concerning the use of child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36318]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We continue to be deeply concerned about reports of the exploitation of child labour in China. We take every suitable opportunity to raise our concerns about all forms of human rights abuse in China with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our EU partners. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did so during his talks with Chinese leaders in Peking in January, and again with the Chinese Foreign Minister in The Hague on 20 April.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan concerning child and bonded labour; and if he will make a statement. [36320]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We regularly raise our concerns about child and bonded labour with the Government of Pakistan. Poverty clearly exacerbates the problem, but is not an excuse for abusive child labour; there is no justification for bonded labour. We welcome steps taken to improve the situation, but much remains to be done.

  Bahrain
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whom the Minister of State met to discuss human rights during his recent visit to Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [36322]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  During his recent visit to Bahrain, the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), discussed human rights with the Amir, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Interior and of Foreign Affairs.

  Russia (British Visas)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current facilities are 224
  for people who are waiting while applying for visas at (a) the British embassy in Moscow and (b) the British consulate general in St. Petersburg. [36323]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The visa section in Moscow has been completely refurbished and enlarged this year. There are eight counter positions for visa officers, seating for 108 applicants and standing room for a further 50, clear signposting and washroom facilities. Shelter is provided for those queuing outside.

  The St. Petersburg visa section moves shortly into much improved and larger premises. These will provide for three visa officer positions at the reception counter, public seating for 20 and standing for 50, and washroom facilities.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average time taken to process a visa application at(a) the British embassy in Moscow and (b) the British consulate general in St. Petersburg in each of the last five years. [36324]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The target time laid down in best practice for processing straightforward visit visa applications at all entry clearance issuing posts, is the same day if practical or 24 hours. Bulk applications from local courier firms of travel agents are processed, by agreement, in 10 days.

  Moscow and St. Petersburg have operated according to these target times.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications have been refused in each of the last five years from(a) the British embassy in Moscow and (b) the British consulate general in St. Petersburg. [36325]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The information is as follows:

  Visa refusals at Moscow:

  1991: 1,087

  1992: 1,502

  1993: 1,624

  1994: 1,894

  1995: 3,121

  Visa refusals at St. Petersburg, where the visa service started in November 1993:

  1993: 116

  1994: 622

  1995: 762

  The rates of refusal represent 3 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively of applications received.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  World Bank (Child Labour)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the World bank in the consideration of development projects concerning child labour. [36319]

  Mr. Hanley
  No formal representations have been made to the World bank concerning child labour. The ODA played an active role in the World bank consultation
  225
  on the world development report 1995 "Workers in an Integrated World" and helped ensure that the issue of child labour was properly addressed in the document.

TREASURY

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently claiming unemployment benefit; and what was the figure in 1979. [35483]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  On the consistent, seasonally adjusted basis, the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits—unemployment benefit, income support or national insurance credits—in the United Kingdom was 2,167,600 in May 1996 and 1,086,800 in May 1979.

  Fish Export Certificates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of how fish importers can verify EUR1 certificates issued by customs of exporting countries of fish or prawns; [35653]

  (2) what assessment he has made of how fish importers can verify the origins of imported fish and prawns under the present EUR1 certificate system. [35652]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Advice to importers is set out in customs notice 826. This recognises the difficulties that importers may experience in trying to establish whether a certificate is valid or whether goods shown on it are eligible for preferential tariff treatment. The notice warns of the potential further duty liability and advises importers to consider the advantages of including a clause in their contracts allowing them to recover any such duty charge from the supplier. Whether importers chose to take precautions against such business risks is, however, a matter of commercial judgment.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to claim compensation for inaccurate EUR1 certificates from the customs offices of exporting countries. [35522]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The trade agreements between the European Community and third countries do not provide for the payment of compensation.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what redress his Department(a) has taken and (b) proposes to take against customs offices of an exporting country who issue EUR1 certificates which turn out to be inaccurate. [35577]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The UK has made strong representations concerning these difficulties at EC meetings and gained considerable support from other member states. At the end of May, the Council of Ministers asked the Commission to produce proposals by 31 December 1996, taking into consideration suggestions by the UK and other member states, to tackle the problem of retrospective duty demands arising from inaccurate preference documents.
  226
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to eradicate fraud in respect of the issuing of invalid EUR1 certificates. [35521]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The customs authorities in the country of export are responsible for issuing EUR1s, verifying any certificates returned by foreign import authorities and considering sanctions against exporters who abuse the system. Customs confirms that appropriate action is taken against UK exporters who are found to have made false EUR1 declarations.

  Isle of Wight (Tax System)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Isle of Wight council to give the Isle of Wight a separate tax system. [35592]

  Mr. Jack
  I have received no representations from the Isle of Wight council about giving the Isle of Wight a separate tax system.

  EU Contributions
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EU for each year since 1975 in 1975 prices. [35708]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Kingdom's net contributions to the EU for the period 1975–76 to 1994–95, in 1975–76 prices are set out in the table.

  £ million

  1975–76

  16

  1976–77

  198

  1977–78

  434

  1978–79

  535

  1979–80

  528

  1980–81

  118

  1981–82

  104

  1982–83

  317

  1983–84

  395

  1984–85

  443

  1985–86

  368

  1986–87

  439

  1987–88

  618

  1988–89

  374

  1989–90

  733

  1990–91

  605

  1991–92

  246

  1992–93

  543

  1993–94

  533

  1994–95

  392

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those constituencies(a) he and (b) members of his Department have 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. [35759]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My ministerial colleagues and I have visited various parliamentary constituencies as part of our official duties. We also expect to make further visits in the future. A detailed list of the various places
  227
  visited by five Ministers over a period of six months could be compiled only at the cost of a great deal of official time and expense to ensure complete accuracy.

  Tobacco Industry (Employment)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to protect the employment of employees in the tobacco industry; and if he will make a statement. [36045]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government's role is to create the right conditions for employment growth across the whole economy through a stable macro-economic climate and a flexible labour market. Excessive employment protection can damage employment prospects by acting as a disincentive for businesses to create jobs.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the extent of revenue losses due to cross-border shopping and tobacco smuggling is currently estimated to be; [36157]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the discrepancy between the tobacco industry and HM Customs and Excise figures in relation to revenues lost to the Exchequer from cross-border shopping and tobacco smuggling. [36041]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs' estimate of excise duty revenue lost from legitimate personal importation of duty paid tobacco products for the year ending 30 June 1995 is £120 million. Additionally, VAT receipts of £30 million are estimated to have been lost. Thus, the estimate for the total loss of tax revenues from such legitimate cross-border shopping for the year ending 30 June 1995 is £150 million.

  Customs does not currently have a reliable estimate of the extent of excise duty losses due to smuggling of tobacco products. It is working with the tobacco and alcoholic drinks industries with the aim of achieving an objective measurement of smuggling of excise goods.

  Customs is currently discussing with the tobacco and alcoholic drinks industries the most reliable basis for estimates of revenue lost from the legitimate personal importation of duty paid alcohol and tobacco products.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36006]

  Mrs. Angela. Knight
  Expenditure on taxi cab fares is included in the published running costs.

  Building Societies
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many building societies there were in 1976; and how many there are currently. [36462]
  228
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  At the end of 1976, there were 345 authorised building societies. There are currently 79, including the National and Provincial, which is expected to be acquired by Abbey National plc later this year.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans next to meet representatives of the small firms sector. [36270]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets representatives of the small firms sector frequently.

  Oil and Gas Revenues
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the cumulative total for Government revenues from oil and gas production from 1979–80 to 1996–97 expressed in 1995–96 prices. [36286]

  Mr. Jack
  Total receipts of taxes and royalties from North sea oil and gas production are estimated to be about £130 billion from 1979–80 to 1996–97, at 1995–96 prices—measured by the GDP deflator. The summer economic forecast projects North sea tax and royalty receipts of £3.2 billion, and an increase in the GDP deflator of 2¼ per cent., in 1996–97.

  Privatisations
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of debt(a) nominally and (b) in 1995–96 prices written off in each of the privatisations and sale of Government assets since 1979 for each company privatised. [36284]

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 13 March, columns 612–13. Since then, Railtrack has been successfully privatised. On that sale, £1,229 million originally allocated to Railtrack on vesting was written off and debt on commercial terms of £589 million injected—1995–96 prices. The revised total for debts written off is therefore £23.78 billion. Debts injected total £14.53 billion.

  Mr. Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the cumulative total privatisation receipts from 1979–80 to 1996–97 in 1995–96 prices. [36285]

  Mr. Jack
  The cumulative total of privatisation proceeds from 1979–80 to 1995–96, in 1995–96 prices, was £81.3 billion. The Government's privatisation proceeds targets for 1996–97 is £4.5 billion.

  Mr. Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the privatisation receipts since 1979–80 to date for each company privatised(a) cash and (b) at 1995–96 prices. [36283]

  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 following table sets out annual proceeds in cash terms and in 1995–96 prices. It would not be possible to give current price proceeds on a sale-by-sale basis without incurring disproportionate cost.
  229

  Privatisation proceeds

  (£ billion)

  Year

  Cash

  1995–96 prices

  1979–80

  0.4

  1.0

  1980–81

  0.2

  0.5

  1981–82

  0.5

  1.0

  1982–83

  0.5

  0.8

  1983–84

  1.1

  2.0

  1984–85

  2.1

  3.4

  1985–86

  2.7

  4.3

  1986–87

  4.5

  6.9

  1987–88

  5.1

  7.5

  1988–89

  7.1

  9.7

  1989–90

  4.2

  5.4

  1990–91

  5.3

  6.4

  1991–92

  7.9

  8.9

  1992–93

  8.2

  8.8

  1993–94

  5.4

  5.7

  1994–95

  6.4

  6.6

  1995–96

  2.4

  2.4

  Total

  64.0

  81.3

  Banks and Building Societies
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what represtations he has received about the benefits of mutual status; and if he will make a statement. [36463]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  During the recently concluded consultation on the draft Building Societies Bill, a number of societies, and others, mentioned the benefits of mutual status. We are currently considering these responses along with all the others we have received.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the difference in operating ratios between retail banks and mutual building societies. [36451]

  Mrs. Knight
  The rates offered by individual banks and building societies are publicly available, and the financial press provides regular comparisons between them.

  British Industry (Investment)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to bring investment in British industry to a level comparable with major competitors. [36271]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Since 1979, the ratio of business investment to GDP has been very similar in the UK to that in most other G7 countries. Our policies to deliver macro-economic stability and strengthen the long-term performance of the economy will continue to promote a climate in which businesses can plan ahead and invest with confidence.

  Business Investment
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the future levels of business investment. [36269]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  My right hon. and learned Friend is planning to meet the CBI on 12 September. I note that the CBI, in common with virtually all other independent forecasters, expects investment to accelerate in both 1996 and 1997.
  230

  Utility Prices
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 286, if he will express in real terms and where the year of privatisation equals 100 the utility component of the RPI including VAT in (a) 1979 and (b) the latest available period for (i) gas prices, (ii) electricity prices, (iii) electricity and gas prices, (iv) water prices and (v) gas, electric and water prices. [36378]

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Gas

  Electricity

  Electricity and gas

  Water

  Gas, electricity and water

  Year of privatisation

  1986

  1990

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1979

  77

  98

  94

  73

  91

  May 1996

  80

  100

  97

  146

  104

  The components of the retail prices index for electricity and gas, and for gas, electricity and water, assume a privatisation year of 1990—the year that electricity utilities were fully privatised. These figures have been deflated by the RPI, and include VAT for gas and electricity.

  Tobacco-related Jobs
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there has been in the number of tobacco-related jobs in the United Kingdom since 1 January 1993. [36558]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The latest information specific to tobacco-related jobs relates to September 1993. This is shown in the following table. Annual estimates, beginning in September 1995, will be available from September 1996.

  Employees in Great Britain: September 1993 (thousands)

  Standard industrial classification 1992

  Manufacture of tobacco products

  8.0

  Wholesale of tobacco products

  2.1

  Retail sale of tobacco products

  5.2

  Total

  15.3

  Source:ONS

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy for the collection of revenues from commercial trading at car boot sales. [35527]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 8 July 1996]: Those who trade commercially at car boot sales are expected to meet their tax obligations in the same way as any other trader. Equally, those who fail to meet these obligations are liable to investigation by the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise. The tax authorities are continually on the look-out for any areas where there might be tax evasion.

  Control Totals
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in percentage terms the annual alteration in control totals of each Department for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [36254]
  231
  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 9 July 1996]: These figures can be calculated from table 2.2 of the public expenditure statistical analyses 1996–97, Cm 3201. The latest estimates for 1995–96 were published in the public expenditure outturn White Paper, Cm 3318, on 9 July.

  Pensioners (Taxation)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in receipt of a state pension pay(a) higher rate income tax, (b) basic and lower rate income tax only and (c) the lower rate of tax only. [36358]

  Mr. Jack
  The esitmated numbers of taxpayers by marginal rate in receipt of state retirement pension—men aged 65 or over and women aged 60 or over—at 1996–97 income levels are given in the table.

  Number of taxpayers (millions)

  Lower rate

  1.50

  Basic and lower rate

  1.65

  Higher rate

  0.15

  Total

  3.30

HEALTH

  GP Fundholding (Wakefield)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the savings held by general practitioner fundholder practices in the Wakefield district has been used under provision 25(2)(c)(i) and (ii) of statutory instrument No. 706 (1996); what measures were used by the local health authority to satisfy itself that such expenditure complied with paragraph 25(3)(b); and what expenditure was devoted to activities which duplicate medical provision at Pontefract general infirmary. [33854]

  Mr. Malone
  In the first four years of the scheme', 15 per cent. of fundholder savings in Wakefield health authority were used on improving practice premises for the benefit of patients.

  Regional health authorities were responsible for managing the scheme during this period, including ensuring that savings expenditure was in accordance with regulations. More detailed information is not available centrally.

  1The latest period for which audited information is available.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list for each general practitioner fundholder practice in the Wakefield district the amount(a) of savings by financial year, (b) spent to date and (c) retained in balances; [33855]

  (2) what contracts for medical services have been let by general practitioner fundholding practices in the Wakefield district to acute or community NHS trusts lying outside the Wakefield district. [33857]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.
  232

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July,Official Report, column 368, if he will make it his policy to collect data on the incidence of multiple sclerosis by health authority region. [35964]

  Mr. Horam
  It is for health authorities to decide how best to determine the local needs of their population and then purchase services accordingly to meet those needs within their available resources.

  Migraine
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department is giving to a European randomised double blind trial of BMS-180048 compared with oral sumatriptan and to a placebo in the treatment of acute migraine attacks; and if he will make a statement. [35836]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department is not contributing funds to this trial, which is industry sponsored.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned relating to(a) attentional bias in schizophrenia and (b) severe mood disorder and mood changes over time; and if he will make a statement. [35825]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on research commissioned by the Department of Health is contained in "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme" and "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme: Commissions in 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Cancer Services (Trent)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the provision and effectiveness of services for cancer in the Trent NHS region; if he will make an assessment of progress towards "The Health of the Nation" targets; and if he will make a statement. [35837]

  Mr. Horam
  The national health service executive has funded the Trent institute of health services research to look at the provision and effectiveness of services for cancer in Trent, and the assessment of progress against "The Health of the Nation" targets. This work commenced in October 1993 and is scheduled for completion around September 1997.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to make GPs directly accountable to local health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [36178]

  Mr. Malone
  We are currently undertaking a major consultative exercise on the future development of primary health care services.

  "Primary Care: The Future", the report on the first stage, was published on 10 June 1996.

  We will decide on further action after the second stage of consultation is completed in the autumn.
  233

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that community health councils are given the right formally to inspect those services provided on general practitioner premises which were formerly provided by NHS trusts or health authorities; and if he will make a statement; [36190]

  (2) if he will confer upon community health councils the statutory duty to assist complainants through NHS complaints procedures; if he will make it a right of all patients to receive support, advice and advocacy from their local community health council with any complaint that they have about the NHS and its services; if he will ensure that all community health councils are adequately resourced and staffed specifically to undertake this statutory duty and if he will make a statement. [36158]

  Mr. Malone
  We have no plans to change the statutory rights or duties of community health councils.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if community health council members, and co-opted members are covered by NHS insurance while on CHC business; and if he will make a statement. [36118]

  Mr. Horam
  Community health council members and co-opted members are not covered by national health service insurance. The NHS executive would consider any cost or damages arising from claims against CHCs on a case-by-case basis.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that when the commercial price of medicines is less than the standard NHS prescription charge, the commercial price is charged to patients; and if he will make a statement. [36115]

  Mr. Malone
  No. The prescription charge has never been related either to the cost of medicines or to the cost to the national health service of dispensing them. It is an amount which successive Governments have seen as reasonable for those who can afford to do so to pay towards the costs of their medicines.

  Systolic Blood Pressure
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the mean systolic blood pressure in the adult population for each year since 1979, for each nation of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [36050]

  Mr. Horam
  The table shows the mean systolic blood pressure for the adult population of England in each of the years 1991 to 1994 inclusive. The fall in blood pressure between 1991 and 1994 is statistically significant. Data for England before 1991 are not available on a comparable basis. Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  234

  Mean Systolic Blood Pressure of the Adult Population, 1991 to 1994

  mm Hg1

  1991

  139

  1992

  138

  1993

  137

  1994

  136

  Note:

  1Millimetres of mercury.

  Source:

  Health Survey for England, 1994.

  Sex Offenders
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of employees of his Department who have committed sexual offences against children, from among those listed in "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders" while serving, and for which they were subsequently prosecuted, since 1972. [36521]

  Mr. Bowis
  I know of none.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department keeps a list of suspected sex offenders. [36528]

  Mr. Bowis
  No. The Department's consultancy service index contains details of some ex-child care workers who have resigned, been dismissed, or moved less sensitive posts in circumstances which suggest that the welfare or safety of children has been, or may be, put at risk.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of employees or volunteers in voluntary organisations who have committed sexual offences against children, while serving and for which they were subsequently prosecuted since 1972. [36520]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not collected.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in respect of those lists of convicted sex offenders held by his Department which may be consulted(a) the number of names on each list currently, (b) those who have access to each list, (c) what the lists are used for, (d) how long it takes on average to check a reference with such lists, (e) under what circumstances people are placed on the lists and (f) how the procedure described in (e) above is conveyed to local authorities. [36527]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department operates a consultancy service, which enables local authorities and private and voluntary child care organisations in England and Wales to check on the suitability of those they propose to employ to work with children.

  Procedures for making referrals to the consultancy index are set out in circulars to local authorities and child care organisations issued jointly by my Department, the Home Department, the Department for Education and Employment and the Welsh Office.

  Employers are encouraged to notify names to the consultancy service index in circumstances where a member of their staff has put the welfare of children at risk. There is no requirement for a conviction before referring a name to the index.
  235
  The index also contains the names of child care workers, or former child care workers, notified to the Department by the police following conviction for certain offences. In addition, it incorporates the Department for Education and Employment's list 99, a register of staff barred for working in educational establishments.

  Checks against the index are normally processed within 24 hours of receipt of an inquiry. If a positive identification is made, the prospective employer is advised to seek a reference from the organisation which referred the name to the index.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of statements taken in each individual local authority inquiry into abuse of children looked after or in care since 1972. [36519]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he issues in respect of the procedure for joint investigations between local authority social services departments and police forces for investigating allegations regarding abuse against children receiving a service from social services departments. [36526]

  Mr. Bowis
  Guidelines for joint investigations of allegations of abuse against children are contained in "Working Together under the Children Act 1989", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number and names of local authority inquiries into the sexual abuse of children looked after or in care since 1972; and which of these reports were made public. [36518]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the procedure for area child protection committees dealing with internal investigations into abuse of children in receipt of services from local authority, voluntary and private organisations. [36529]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for each individual area child protection committee to devise its own procedures for investigating abuse of children. The procedures should be derived from and consistent with the guidance given in "Working Together under the Children Act 1989", copies of which are available in the Library. Internal investigations should include an independent element.

  Operations Waiting Times (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the waiting times for(a) non-urgent operations and (b) urgent operations for hospitals in the Cheshire health authority for each of the last five years; and what is the national average figure. [36458]

  Mr. Horam
  Such information as is available on waiting times at hospitals in Cheshire is contained in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics, England" copies of which are available in the Library. On 31 March 1996, hospitals in Cheshire reported no one waiting more than 236
  one year for admission. Nationally, the average time waited by people still on a waiting list is 3.7 months compared with 7.6 months five years ago.

  Young People (Deaths)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of young people who have previously been looked after or in care at any time after 1984 whose subsequent deaths have been recorded in coroner's reports under each of the verdicts in the Coroners Rule 1984, (SI 1984 No. 552). [36523]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Opticians
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of opticians accepting NHS patients in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36495]

  Mr. Malone
  Below are the number of ophthalmic opticians, OOs, and ophthalmic medical practitioners, OMPs, under contract with Cheshire family health services authority to carry out national health service sight tests as at 31 December each year. Separate figures for Crewe and Nantwich are not held centrally.

  Year

  OOs

  OMPs

  Total

  1991

  153

  17

  170

  1992

  171

  13

  184

  1993

  157

  16

  173

  1994

  174

  15

  189

  1995

  178

  20

  198

  Preventive Medicine
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the NHS funding formula is revised to give greater weighting to community health and preventive medicine programmes; and if he will make a statement. [36388]

  Mr. Horam
  A team of independent researchers from the universities of Plymouth and Kent have been commissioned to develop a needs weighting for community health services.

  Blood Donations
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the figures for donations of blood in the area covered by the Lancaster centre(a) in each of the two years before its closure and (b) in the period since its closure. [36058]

  Mr. Horam
  Donations of blood in the area covered by the Lancaster centre in the periods covered by the question have been:

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1st quarter

  13,198

  15,401

  16,044

  2nd quarter

  13,928

  14,964

  14,004

  3rd quarter

  14,327

  16,270

  —

  4th quarter

  15,111

  15,155

  —

  Total

  56,564

  61,790

  —

  237
  The Lancaster centre remains open, both as a donor centre and as a blood bank. Only the bulk processing and testing work it previously undertook was transferred to other centres in March 1996. The figures above for the second quarter of 1996 relate to the period since that transfer took place.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (I) if he will list for each local authority in England and Wales the number of children registered as working in(a) 1986 and (b) the last year for which figures are available; [36312]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) children working in the United Kingdom and (b) violations of the registration requirements. [36316]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not collected centrally. Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for 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 respectively.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce legislation further to restrict child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36314]

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  NHS Advertising
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on advertising costs in each region in each year since 1990–91. [35342]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 2 July 1996]: The information requested is not available. It is not possible to extract information on advertising costs from expenditure on areas such as health promotion initiatives and measures to improve local accountability, including the production of annual reports and information about services.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  EC Documents
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will state for each Session since 1990–91(a) the number of motions made consequent to debates on documents of the European Community considered in European Standard Committees, (b) the number of amendments relating thereto tabled in the house, (c) the number of Divisions arising and (d) the number of motions amended. [36310]

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Motions are made in the house to take note of European Community following reports from European Standards Committees:

  Sessions:

  1990–91: 30

  1991–92: 11

  1992–93: 51

  238

  1993–94: 31

  1994–95: 37

  1995–96: 24 (up to 4 July 1996)

  (b) Amendments to such motions moved in the House (information is not available as to amendments tabled but not moved).

  Session 1990–91: 1

  (c) Divisions on such motions:

  Sessions:

  1990–91: 2 (in the case of one motion both the amendment and main question were divided on)

  1991–92: 0

  1992–93: 3

  1993–94: 5

  1994–95: 2

  1995–96: 1 (up to 4 July 1996)

  (d) No such motions have been amended.

  Members' Pay and Allowances
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list(a) for each of the last 10 years, the annual rate for (i) hon. Members' pay and (ii) each category of allowance and (b) the proportion of hon. Members who draw these amounts in full, together with the average amount paid for each category in the most recent year for which figures are available. [36202]

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is as follows:

  i. Annual salary (as at 1 January each year)

  Year

  Full salary £

  Number of members who draw the full salary

  1987

  18,500

  1—

  1988

  22,548

  1—

  1989

  24,107

  1—

  1990

  26,701

  1—

  1991

  28,970

  649

  1992

  30,854

  648

  1993

  30,854

  650

  1994

  31,687

  646

  1995

  33,189

  646

  1996

  34,085

  649

  1 This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The average amount paid for salary-related costs for 1995–96 was £33,413.

  ii. Travel allowance; motor mileage allowance rates shown are in pence per mile, as at 1 April each year. Allowances reduce where aggregate mileage exceeds 20,000 at any point during a year, 1 April to 31 March.

  Year to 31March

  Rate 1

  Rate 2

  Rate 3

  Number of members exceeding 20,000 miles

  1987

  21.3

  32.0

  46.9

  1—

  1988

  22.7

  34.1

  53.5

  1—

  1989

  23.3

  35.4

  56.0

  1—

  1990

  25.4

  39.3

  61.9

  1—

  1991

  28.8

  43.4

  68.2

  1—

  1992

  28.8

  43.4

  68.2

  1—

  1993

  28.8

  43.4

  68.2

  163

  239

  Year to 31March

  Rate 1

  Rate 2

  Rate 3

  Number of members exceeding 20,000 miles

  1994

  29.5

  44.4

  69.8

  151

  1995

  30.5

  46.0

  72.2

  187

  1996

  31.3

  47.2

  74.1

  176

  1 This information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The following table shows the number of Members whose spouse and employees have taken up their full journey entitlement. Information for the years 1987 to 1991 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Year to 31 December

  Full spouse entitlement

  Full employee entitlement

  1992

  62

  90

  1993

  83

  118

  1994

  67

  80

  1995

  84

  31

  The average travel allowance expenditure per Member—including spouse and employee costs in 1995–96 was £13,552.06.

  iii Office costs allowance figures as at 1 April each year

  Year to 31 March

  Allowance £

  Members' take up of full allowance

  1987

  21,302

  1—

  1988

  22,588

  1—

  1989

  24,903

  1—

  1990

  27,166

  1—

  1991

  28,986

  1—

  1992

  39,960

  1—

  1993

  40,360

  1—

  1994

  41,308

  1—

  1995

  42,754

  1—

  1996

  43,908

  1—

  1 This information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The average expenditure per Member for the 1995–96 financial year was £42,507.15.

  iv. Additional costs allowance figures taken as at 1 April each year

  Year to 31 March

  Allowance £

  1987

  8,674

  1988

  9,298

  1989

  9,914

  1990

  10,570

  1991

  10,786

  1992

  10,901

  1993

  10,958

  1994

  11,268

  1995

  11,661

  1996

  11,976

  Information relating to Members taking the maximum allowance could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The average expenditure per Member for the 1995–96 financial year was £10,525.13.

  v. Secretarial pensions—restricted to 10 per cent. of the office costs allowance for each Member. Figures taken at 1 April each year.
  240

  Year to 31 March

  Allowance £

  1987

  2,130

  1988

  2,258

  1989

  2,490

  1990

  2,716

  1991

  2,899

  1992

  3,996

  1993

  4,036

  1994

  4,131

  1995

  4,275

  1996

  4,391

  vi. Private Member's Bill allowance is limited to £200 per Bill, and the total expenditure for 1995–96 financial year was £600. Three Members used the full allowance.

  vii. Winding-up allowance is limited to Members who leave the House.

  Year to 31 March

  Allowance £

  1994

  13,769

  1995

  14,251

  1996

  14,636

  Average expenditure per claimant for 1995–96 financial year was £3,791.39.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Motorway Accidents
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the locations of all accidents that occurred on the motorways of Northern Ireland 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. [35305]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. Frank Field, dated 8 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about accidents on the motorways in Northern Ireland.
  A schedule listing injury accidents which occurred on the motorways in 1995 is attached together with a map, a copy of which has been placed in the library.

  1995 Road traffic injury accidents on motorways in Northern Ireland

  Motorway number

  Location of accidents

  Accident reference numbers

  M1

  At start of motorway

  951148

  M1

  At start of motorway

  951565

  M1

  At start of motorway

  952868

  M1

  At start of motorway

  953731

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  951233

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  951272

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  951564

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  951805

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  954312

  241

  1995 Road traffic injury accidents on motorways in Northern Ireland

  Motorway number

  Location of accidents

  Accident reference numbers

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  954665

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  955179

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  955249

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  955860

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  956035

  M1

  Between start and junction 2

  956062

  M1

  At junction 2

  95736

  M1

  At junction 2

  954303

  M1

  Between junctions 2 and 3

  952991

  M1

  At junction 3

  952384

  M1

  At junction 3

  954783

  M1

  At junction 3

  954943

  M1

  Between junction 3 and 6

  952379

  M1

  Between junction 3 and 6

  954049

  M1

  At junction 6

  95655

  M1

  At junction 6

  954333

  M1

  At junction 6

  954367

  M1

  At junction 7

  951767

  M1

  At junction 7

  952576

  M1

  At junction 7

  952673

  M1

  At junction 7

  953054

  M1

  At junction 7

  955411

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  95461

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  95710

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  952128

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  952204

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  952507

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  953888

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  953997

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  954248

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  954770

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  954957

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  955228

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  955509

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  955578

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  955581

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  956179

  M1

  Between junctions 9 and 10

  956446

  M1

  At junction 10

  95399

  M1

  At junction 10

  954129

  M1

  At junction 10

  954380

  M1

  Between junctions 10 and 11

  954332

  M1

  Between junctions 10 and 11

  954758

  M1

  At junction 11

  953043

  M1

  Between junctions 11 and 12

  955195

  M1

  Between junctions 11 and 12

  955273

  M1

  At junction 12

  95340

  M1

  Between junctions 12 and 13

  955763

  M1

  At junction 13

  95101

  M1

  Between junctions 13 and 14

  952632

  M1

  Between junctions 14 and 15

  953063

  M1

  Between junctions 14 and 15

  954659

  M1

  Between junctions 14 and 15

  955478

  M1

  At junction 15

  951940

  M12

  On M12

  95393

  M12

  OnM12

  956779

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  9568

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  95237

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  951245

  M2

  Between start and junction I

  951756

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  953004

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  953459

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  955806

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  955822

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  955837

  M2

  Between start and junction 1

  956115

  M2

  At junction 1

  9583

  M2

  At junction 1

  953853

  M2

  At junction 1

  956002

  M2

  At junction 1

  956679

  242

  1995 Road traffic injury accidents on motom>ays in Northern Ireland

  Motorway number

  Location of accidents

  Accident reference numbers

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  95240

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  952103

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  954995

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  955196

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  955253

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  956544

  M2

  Between junctions 1 and 2

  956606

  M2

  At junction 2

  954793

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  95218

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  95384

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  95980

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  95983

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  951064

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  951561

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  951967

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  952933

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  953460

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  953640

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  954560

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  954564

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  955248

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  955250

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  955254

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  955529

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  955708

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  955823

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  956292

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  956437

  M2

  Between junctions 2 and 4

  956672

  M2

  Between junctions 4 and 5

  95174

  M2

  Between junctions 4 and 5

  95639

  M2

  Between junctions 4 and 5

  951063

  M2

  Between junctions 4 and 5

  951845

  M2

  Between junctions 4 and 5

  955164

  M2

  At junction 5

  951567

  M2

  At junction 5

  955167

  M2

  Between junctions 5 and 6

  955189

  M2

  Between junctions 6 (M2) and 1 (M22)

  952636

  M2

  At junction 10

  95125

  M2

  At junction 10

  95151

  M2

  At junction 10

  954666

  M2

  At junction 11

  95377

  M2

  At junction 11

  951375

  M2

  Between junctions 11 and 12

  951247

  M22

  At junction 1

  954939

  M22

  Between junction 2 and end of Motorway

  955951

  M3

  OnM3

  956127

  M3

  On M3

  956433

  M5

  OnM5

  952928

  A8(M)

  On A8(M)

  952915

  A8(M)

  On A8(M)

  954433

  Arson
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will setup a task force to deal with ritualized arson attacks on Protestant churches and Orange halls.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The attacks on Protestant and Orange halls are serious criminal offences and as such the responsibility for investigation rests with the RUC. I understand, however, that it is not intended, at this time, to form a special task force for this purpose, but I can assure the hon. And learned Gentleman that the RUC is fully committed to prevent such attacks and a detailed thorough investigation will always be carried out.
  243

  Heart Surgery
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the current average waiting time for heart surgery for children(a) in Northern Ireland and (b) in each of the four area health and social services boards; [35497]

  (2) how many children are currently on the waiting list for heart surgery (a) in Northern Ireland and (b) in each of the four area health and social services boards: [35517]

  (3) if he will list the changes in spending on cardiac catherisations in each of the four area health and social services boards over the last five years; [35499]

  Mr. Moss
  Information is not collected centrally on the number of children in Northern Ireland waiting for heart surgery. The information held in the Department relating to the waiting list shows only the total number of patients and the lengths of time which they have been waiting. For this reason, it is not possible to provide a "current" average waiting time for children presently on the list. However, in regard to those children—aged 14 and under—who had cardiac surgery during the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 the average waiting time was as follows:

  Board of residence

  Days

  Eastern Board

  121

  Northern Board

  91

  Southern Board

  131

  Western Board

  269

  Total for NI

  1 151

  1 The information in regard to 1995–96 is still provisional.

  Information is not collected centrally on expenditure on cardiac catheterisations.

  Railways Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to privatise Northern Ireland Railways. [36357]

  Mr. Moss
  There are no plans at present to privatise Northern Ireland Railways.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cattle Culling
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the need for national legislation to provide for the implementation of a policy of culling cattle. [25867]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Department's on-going consideration of options for the selective slaughter of cattle in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy cover all the relevant aspects of the options including the need for a proper legislative basis.
  244

  Beef
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consumer research he has commissioned into consumer preference for beef marked as of British origin in fast food outlets. [35709]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government do not undertake consumer research of that nature. However, I understand that the Meat and Livestock Commission, with which we are in close contact, does carry out consumer research into consumers' preferences about the origin of beef products.

  Hong Kong (Quarantine)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Governor of Hong Kong on reform of the present quarantine system. [35764]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am of course aware of the views of the Governor of Hong Kong on this issue, as these have been well reported in the media. I can confirm, however, that he has made no direct representations on this to me, my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or, to the best of my knowledge, anyone in my Ministry.

  Rabies
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that veterinary surgeons have unrestricted access to the inactivated rabies vaccines approved by his Department for use on animals under their care. [35762]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith), column 710.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the percentage of the European Union budget that goes to the common agricultural policy. [35777]

  Mr. Baldry
  Currently about half the European Union budget is spent on the common agricultural policy. This compares to about two thirds in 1988.

  Agricultural Subsidies
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the European Union budget goes to providing agricultural subsidies to the 1 per cent. of landholders. [35778]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is not available.

  New Zealand Lamb
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on the quotas for the importation of New Zealand lamb of the worldwide ban on the export of British beef imposed by the European Commission. [31065]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 4 June 1996]: We do not consider the EU ban on exports of British beef to have any significant effect on the New Zealand lamb quota.

  245
  Furthermore, at a recent meeting of the World Trade Organisation International Meat Council, the New Zealand delegate took a similar view.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of confirmed BSE cases in England for each of the last 36 months. [33306]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 18 June 1996]: The number of confirmed BSE cases by date of confirmation in England for each of the last 36 months is:

  Month/Year

  Cases

  May 1993

  2,384

  June 1993

  2,815

  July 1993

  1,876

  August 1993

  2,322

  September 1993

  2,210

  October 1993

  2,228

  November 1993

  2,762

  December 1993

  2,013

  January 1994

  1,678

  February 1994

  2,655

  March 1994

  2,754

  April 1994

  2,141

  May 1994

  1,634

  June 1994

  2,140

  July 1994

  1,223

  August 1994

  1,338

  September 1994

  1,612

  October 1994

  1,757

  November 1994

  1,642

  January 1995

  1,441

  February 1995

  1,746

  March 1995

  1,434

  April 1995

  967

  May 1995

  1,220

  June 1995

  1,098

  July 1995

  1,080

  August 1995

  894

  September 1995

  827

  October 1995

  920

  November 1995

  945

  December 1995

  655

  January 1996

  785

  February 1996

  1,000

  March 1996

  736

  April 1996

  545

  246

  Month/Year

  Cases

  May 1996

  515

  June 1996

  939

  Total

  58,023

  There is a delay of around several weeks while diagnostic tests are completed, between the slaughter of BSE suspect animals and the confirmation of the case as being BSE. Procedural changes within the veterinary investigation service significantly reduced processing capacity from March to May, and the subsequent increase in June represents clearance of the backlog. A similar backlog resulting from public holidays and Christmas was cleared in February.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest date on which a BSE confirmed bovine was born. [33034]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 18 June 1996]: As at 9 July, the latest date on which a confirmed BSE bovine was born was 17 June 1993.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [35034]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 2 July 1996]: In 1995, the following statutory instruments repealed one or more previous statutory instruments without replacing them with a new regulation:

  The Dairy Products (Hygiene Regulations 1995: (S.I. 1995/1086)(6.S.I.s)

  The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995: (S.I. 1995/3116)(4 S.I.s)

  The Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995: (S.1. 1995/3187)(2.S.I.s)

  The Food (Miscellaneous Revocations and Amendments) Regulations 1995: (S.I. 1995/3267)(8.S.I.s)

  The Ministry has not found any such instruments in respect of 1994 or 1996, up to 1 May.

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  Turkey: Mr Abdullah Yildrim
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  UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
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  Turkey: Security Agreement with Israel
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  EU and NATO Enlargement: Costs
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  Asylum Cases: Statistics
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  Immigration Appeals
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  Rent Arrears: Civil Legal Aid
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  Mental Incapacity: Draft Legislation
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  Prisons: Visiting Ministers
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  Income Tax and National Insurance: Integration
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  Wallingford Conservation Area: Development Proposals
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  Overwork
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  BSE: Ruminant Feed Ban
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  BSE: Maternal Transmission
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  Organophosphate Exposure: Effects on Calf Foetuses
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  "Sea Empress" Oil Spill: Clean-up Operation
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