Written Answers of 11 July 1996

TRANSPORT

  Pilots' Hours
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has in respect of pilots' hours; and if he will make a statement. [35915]

  Mr. Norris
  We have been working within the joint aviation authorities with regard to the production of new standards to be set out in joint aviation requirements operations, subpart Q.

  Aviation Standards
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what inspections the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken to assess the adherence of Ghana to international civil aviation regulations. [35978]

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority has made two inspections this year of flights originating from Ghana to assess adherence to International Civil Aviation Organisation safety standards. These checks took place in February and May respectively. Neither check revealed any safety levels that fell below ICAO requirements.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report column 349, what conclusions (a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority reached following the inspections in Bulgaria. [36252]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 9 July 1996]: The Civil Aviation Authority was generally content with the level of safety achieved in Bulgaria. It has made a number of recommendations on procedural and organizational matters which have been passed to the Bulgarian authority. As the audit did not reveal any significant variations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation's minimum safety standards, we will continue to permit Bulgarian airlines to operate services into the UK.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the gross proceeds in each year since 1994–95 of the sales so far made of the former subsidiaries of British Rail and Railtrack, excluding any payments relating to profits made while these organisations were still in the public sector. [35900]

  Mr. Watts
  The gross proceeds of such sales received to date are as follows:

  1994–95: £5.75 million

  1995–96: £2,454 million

  1996 to date: £1,054 million

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  The sales figure for BR subsidiaries is subject to post-completion adjustments.

  The 1995–96 figure includes £1,822 million received for the three rolling stock leasing companies.

  The 1996–97 figure includes the proceeds of the first instalment in respect of Railtrack shares.

  Comparative Cost Analysis
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government have undertaken a comparative cost analysis between increased investment in public transport and reconstructing new roads and improving old ones. [36281]

  Mr. Norris
  The relative costs and benefits of investment in roads and public transport can depend significantly on the type of schemes considered. In recognition of the wider environmental benefits that public transport can offer, the Government set out in the recent Green Paper, "Transport: The Way Forward" their intention to switch the emphasis in public spending from roads to public transport.

  EU Bus and Coach Directive
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 402, when he expects the European Commission to publish its proposals for a bus and coach directive. [36570]

  Mr. Norris
  The Commission has not yet issued a proposal for a European bus and coach directive. We do not know when a proposal will be made, but believe that it may be later this year.

  Traffic Growth
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for traffic growth(a) on the motorway network, (b) on other roads, and (c) by region; and how these relate to those on which the Department's traffic congestion or stress maps, published earlier this year, were based. [36059]

  Mr. Watts
  Over the period between 1985 and 1995 traffic on motorways increased at an annual average rate of 6.4 per cent.: on other roads the annual growth was 2.9 per cent. Figures for annual traffic growth for the regions are not available and could not be provided at reasonable cost.

  The Department's traffic congestion or stress maps were produced using the national road traffic forecasts high and low projections and taking account of the composition of traffic on each part of the network. The latest published NRTF forecasts (1989) predict:

  Percentage per annum growth

  Low forecast

  High forecast

  1995–2005

  2005–2015

  1995–2005

  2005–2015

  Cars

  1.706

  1.431

  2.615

  1.904

  Goods vehicles

  1.444

  1.459

  2.467

  2.496

  Others

  1.688

  1.717

  2.828

  2.901

  Source:

  National Road Traffic Forecasts.
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  Other vehicles include light goods vehicles below 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, buses and coaches.

  New Car Assessment Programme
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 11 June, Official Report, column 104, when work on the new car assessment programme will be completed. [36622]

  Mr. Norris
  It is hoped to have the assessment completed in September.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sports Council Grants
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total grants provided by the Sports Council for sporting activities in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire, for each of the last five years. [36348]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Sports Council's grant in aid from public expenditure to all sports organisations in Crewe and Nantwich and in Cheshire for each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Crewe and Nantwich £

  Cheshire £

  1991–92

  20,000

  251,089

  1992–93

  10,000

  295,081

  1993–94

  —

  279,028

  1994–95

  157,318

  319,326

  1995–96

  41,822

  209,452

  Since the introduction of the national lottery, grants awarded by the Sports Council from the national lottery sports fund for sports projects in Cheshire total £4,716,999. These include the following grants for sports projects in Crewe and Nantwich:

  £

  Bunbury Cricket Club

  23,560

  Crewe Rollers BMX Club

  9,412

  Crewe Vagrants Sports Club

  495,300

  Nantwich Cricket Club

  90,000

  Statutory Nuisance
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what monitoring is undertaken by her Department to review the operation of legislation concerning statutory nuisance as it relates to national heritage issues. [36245]

  Mr. Sproat
  I should first point out that the policy responsibility for statutory nuisance rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Although this Department is responsible for listing buildings of special architectural or historic interest for their protection we do not monitor or review whether they are causing a statutory nuisance. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on local authorities to
  250
  investigate a complaint made by anyone living within its area about a possible statutory nuisance. It is for the local authority to decide whether a statutory nuisance exists and what action to take in the light of all the relevant circumstances. A complainant can also seek an abatement notice from a magistrates court under the 1990 Act.

  Crewe Alexandra Football Club
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total grants provided by(a) her Department and (b) the Football Trust to Crewe Alexandra football club for each of the last five ears. [36349]

  Mr. Sproat
  (a) My Department has made no direct grants to Crewe Alexandra.

  (b) The Football Trust made a grant of £581,913 to Crewe Alexandra towards the new west and north stands, along with a loan of £150,000, repayable over five years, on 31 March 1995. In addition, Football Trust grants to Crewe for safety measures and ground improvements in each of the last five years are as follows:

  £

  1991–92

  40,158

  1992–93

  64,087

  1993–94

  45,641

  1994–95

  7,593

  1995–96

  15,029

  Total

  172,508

  Source:

  The Football Trust.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the half-year ended 30 June, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institutions; and if she will list any items for which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case(a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit.

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows.

  Description of item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A painting Erminia finding the wounded Tancred, by Guercino (1591–1666)

  3,500,000

  Decision deferred until after 15 July 1996

  A pair of paintings Portrait of Master de Winton/Portrait of his wife, by John Lewis (1765)

  40,000

  Export licence granted

  A pair of George I gilt gesso open armchairs (c 1725)

  909,935

  Export licence granted

  A pair of burr walnut and parcel gilt sidechairs (c 1717)

  295,052

  Export licence granted

  251

  Description of item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A pair of French Empire armchairs by Jacob-Desmalter (c 1803–1813)

  249,904

  Decision deferred until after 9 August 1996

  A Louis XVI bedstead by Jean-Baptiste Tilliard (1723–1797)

  82,222

  Acquired by Leeds City Museum

  A 'ideal' marble bust by Antonio Canova(1817)

  695,000

  Decision deferred until after 9 August 1996

  An Anglo-Saxon glass claw beaker (6th/7th century)

  25,000

  Acquired by Maidstone Museum

  A double-sided painting The Journey of the Three Kings/The Assumption of the Virgin, by the Master of St. Bartholomew (c 1470–1480)

  2,600,000

  Export licence granted

  An Egyptian statue of Amenhotep II (c 1426–1400 BC)

  426,412

  Export licence application withdrawn

  A London delftware clapmash dish (1637)

  280,000

  Decision deferred until after 5 August 1996

  A pair of George II open armchairs by William and John Linnell (c 1753)

  192,307

  Decision deferred until after 16 July 1996

  A marble bust of Henry Fuseli by EH Bailey (1824)

  128,000

  Decision deferred until after 16 July 1996

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half-year ended 30 June of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historic or artistic interest which have been accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax, together with information, where applicable, as to conditions or wishes expressed by testators or executors in the matter of allocation; and if she will list the works of art and museum objects which are still awaiting allocation, with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of inheritance tax. [36223]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information which the hon. Member requests is as follows:

  Item(s)

  To whom allocated

  Conditions/ wishes expressed

  La Journiée Bleue (painting) by Yves Tanguy

  Tate Gallery

  Conditional

  Two Girls Dressing a Kitten by Candlelight (painting) by Joseph Wright

  Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (display at Kenwood House)

  Conditional

  Paintings and silver

  Leeds City Council (display at Temple Newsam House)

  Conditional

  252

  Item(s)

  To whom allocated

  Conditions/ wishes expressed

  Lower Woods, North Avon

  Gloucester Trust for Nature Conservation

  Unconditional

  A collection of military orders, decorations and medals

  Imperial War Museum

  Conditional

  A collection of six modern works of art

  Tate Gallery

  Wish

  A Lemon and White Spaniel by a Tree in a Landscape (painting) by George Stubbs

  Lincolnshire County Council (display at Usher Art Gallery)

  Wish

  Items awaiting allocation

  Date of acceptance

  The Old Man and His Grandson (watercolour) by Arthur Rackham

  20 May 1996

  Les Andelys (painting) by Maurice de Vlaminck

  30 April 1996

  Paintings by Thomas Girtin and John Opie

  25 April 1996

  Pair cased clock watch by Edward East

  25 April 1996

  An archive of family papers

  25 March 1996

  Two archives

  13 March 1996

  Four portraits by Richard Cosway and Thomas Hudson

  13 March 1996

  Ivory panels of 13th century triptych

  7 February 1996

  Furniture and drawings

  1 February 1996

  French Furniture

  10 January 1996

  Prints by Picasso, Dubuffet, Pasmore and other such items

  8 January 1996

  Furniture by Giacometti

  21 November 1995

  German Stoneware

  1 November 1995

  Joan of Arc Manuscript

  31 October 1995

  Christ Brought before Pontius Pilate (painting by Luca Cambiaso)

  12 September 1995

  BÖttger Teapot

  16 August 1995

  An archive of family papers

  2 August 1995

  Landscape with Lord Coventry (painting) by John Wootton

  26 July 1995

  A collection of items related to the theatre

  25 May 1995

  Musical automaton clock by Thomas Weekes

  19 October 1994

  Library Furniture by William Gomm

  2 December 1993

  A portrait of John Ker by Batoni

  2 December 1993

  Woodland at Tadworth

  18 August 1993

  George II Giltwood Pier Glasses

  10 March 1992

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  Channel 4
  Mr. Renton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make it her policy not to privatise Channel 4. [36769]

  Mr. Sproat
  Channel 4 has demonstrated great success in meeting its high quality public service broadcasting remit. However, it must be right to keep the position of any statutory body under review and to consider whether it should remain in the public sector.

  Royal Parks Review Group
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she has accepted the recommendations made by the royal parks review group in its report on Richmond and Bushey parks; and if she will make a statement on the group's final conclusions in respect of progress made since the inception of the group. [37308]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Secretary of State and I have now considered the group's report on Richmond and Bushey parks in detail. As with previous reviews—the first on Hyde park and Kensington gardens, the second on St. James's, Green and Regent's parks and the third on Greenwich park—the review group, chaired by Dame Jennifer Jenkins, has examined a wide range of issues relating to the role and management of the parks, and consulted with a great number of individuals and organisations before arriving at its conclusions. These conclusions were discussed at a one-day conference, of which I was able to attend a part, and were, in the main, well received. The conference delegates supported the thrust of the recommendations, with lively discussion on a number of matters and the views expressed were considered by the group in submitting the report to the Secretary of State.

  The group's recommendations focus on the opportunities to provide for changing demands and pressures without losing sight of the parks' prime function of providing a green open space, and I can confirm that I accept them in principle. Indeed, action has already been taken on some matters, although consultation will be required before others are taken forward. Many will be affected by the availability of financial resources.

  The group's principal recommendations are intended to reduce the impact of traffic on each park, with a view to improving the safety of pedestrians and wildlife, and restoring the ambience of the parks. One of the group's chief recommendations is that subject to the outcome of traffic studies, Richmond park should be closed to through traffic at busy weekends. I agree that consideration should be given to this recommendation and have asked the Royal Parks agency to consult the London borough of Richmond Upon Thames, the Traffic Director for London and local interest groups, with a view to carrying out the necessary studies within the next year. No decision will be taken until the discussions have been completed and the results of the studies carefully assessed.

  Commenting on the injuries caused to deer by traffic crossing the park during the hours of darkness, the group also suggests that Bushey park should be closed to traffic at dusk, rather than midnight. This would bring Bushey park in line with other royal parks, including Richmond park, many of which already close to traffic at dusk.
  254
  I have asked the agency to discuss this proposal with those most likely to be affected. A decision will be taken in the light of these discussions.

  In considering ways in which the impact of traffic on each park might be reduced, the group expressed concern about the size and location of major car parks in the two parks: most notably the Pen Ponds car park in Richmond park and the Diana car park in Bushey park. Whilst I agree that the degree of erosion caused in the Pen Ponds area is threatening the long-term stability of the park, I also accept that for many visitors this area would otherwise be out of reach, and I have asked the Royal Parks agency to consider how the needs of less mobile visitors can be taken into account without further damage to the park's ecology. The agency will also consider whether alternative parking space can be provided elsewhere, but on the perimeter of the park.

  The group's proposals for the Diana car park in Bushey park are part of a wider recommendation that the size and location of all car parks should be reassessed, with a view to better integration within the landscape, and the Royal Parks agency plans to discuss options with its landscape consultants as to how this might be achieved.

  The group also suggests that car parking charges should be considered. Although car parking charges were introduced in Hyde park and Regent's parks during 1994, this was mainly to deter commuters and shoppers from taking up spaces which should properly be reserved for use by park visitors. The situation in Richmond and Bushey parks, where surveys have shown a far higher percentage of regular and local visitors, is quite different. I have asked the Royal Parks agency to examine the financial viability of this proposal and to consult the local authority and regular park users.

  The group also highlights the importance of the listed buildings in each park, and makes specific recommendations for many of these. It recommends that Pembroke lodge in Richmond park should be refurbished, to include improved catering and toilet facilities. I am pleased to report that an advertisement by the Royal Parks agency for a privately-financed development scheme has already attracted several expressions of interest.

  Upper lodge in Bushey park, is currently being offered for residential use on a 125 year lease by the Crown Estate, which has agreed to take the review group's recommendations into account, and this will undoubtedly benefit the future of the building.

  Again in Bushey park, Bushey house, currently occupied by the National Physical Laboratory is mentioned by the group, and discussions have already begun with the NPL about how the group's recommendations might be implemented. These will continue.

  In its report, the group asks the Government to reaffirm their commitment to opening up for public use wherever possible the various enclosures in private occupation within the royal parks, and to reaffirm the policy against new building in the royal parks unless essential for public use and enjoyment. I am pleased to do so. Discussions with the Crown Estate and others continue to address the first issue; on the second, the Royal Parks agency is assessing the role of all buildings in the parks, and

  255
  considering how to make the best use of them. I can confirm that any new building would take place only if considered to be of benefit to park visitors.

  I was particularly interested to read the group's views on sport in the two parks, and pleased to note the group's recommendations, which assess how the changing needs of sports enthusiasts can be met in future years, without spoiling the character of the parks.

  Like the review group, I endorse the recommendation to relocate the golf centre to the disused nursery site at Chohole gate, and have asked the Royal Parks agency to discuss with the relevant authorities the impact of such a scheme on the surrounding road network. I note the opportunities for private investment and for improving what is already a much loved facility. Any change to the existing arrangements will undoubtedly have an effect on the current contractor and I am pleased to note that they have been involved in discussions and assured that they will be included in any future tender.

  As Minister responsible for the royal parks I am conscious of the fact that many organisations put back into the parks as much as they take out, and I have been pleased to note the group's recommendation that a joint sports club working party should be established to discuss the group's recommendations on how sports facilities can best be integrated into the parks.

  The group made a number of other recommendations to improve the ambience of the parks, including improvements to entrances, highlighting links with the Thames and other attractions and ensuring that wherever possible the landscape of each park is maintained without artificial or unsightly boundaries. Discussions have already begun on a number of these matters, which impact on sports clubs and neighbouring properties.

  I also note the group's comments about the potential benefits of the Longford river, of making sections more accessible to the public, and endorse the recommendation to establish a working party to discuss these with local residents and interested groups.

  The full cost of implementing the recommendations is not yet known as further studies are required in many instances and it will also be necessary to consider the royal parks' requirements alongside other demands on my Department's budget. In the main however, all expenditure will have to be met from the Royal Parks agency's current and future maintenance budgets. However, the agency will be seeking sponsorship, private finance or lottery funding where appropriate.

  With its report on Richmond and Bushey parks, the group also submitted its final conclusions, based on its findings in the five years since its inception in 1991. Many of its comments on the management of the royal parks are encouraging and applaud the progress which has been made by the Royal Parks agency over the past three years: the appointment of landscape architects for all parks, the pedestrianisation in front of Buckingham palace in St. James's park, the restoration of the Avenue gardens in Regent's park, improved catering facilities in Hyde park and Greenwich park—all carried out alongside continuing high horticultural standards.

  The report also refers to projects which have not, as yet, been progressed. In some cases this is due to the unavailability of necessary funds; in others the
  256
  prioritisation of work had resulted in concentration on other, more pressing objectives. Nevertheless, I believe that what the Royal Parks agency has already achieved within the three year's since its creation, is truly impressive.

  I am most grateful for the contribution and time Dame Jennifer and her group have given to the review and for their comprehensive reports and constructive recommendations. Their work over the past five years has helped to shape the future of the royal parks and is much appreciated.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Unpaid Court Fines
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each year since 1990 the total number of(a) distress warrants, (b) attachment of earnings orders and (c) direct deductions from income support issued by the Sunderland magistrates court for unpaid court fines of £150 or less. [35701]

  Mr. Streeter
  (a) The information requested in respect of distress warrants for unpaid fines under £150 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the total number of distress warrants issued by the court each year for the years 1990 to 1995 is:

  1990: none

  1991: 462

  1992: 808

  1993: 882

  1994: 956

  1995: 1,663

  For the period 1 January 1996 to 31 May 1996 the number is 595. It is estimated that 98 per cent. of warrants issued between 1991 and May 1996 were for amounts under £150.

  (b) No attachment of earnings orders for fines under £150 have been made in any of the years 1990 to 1996.

  (c) No direct deductions from income support have been made for fines under £150 in any of the years 1990 to 1995. For the period 1 January 1996 to 31 May 1996, the number is 16.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council Homes
  Sir Irvine Patrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of council dwellings owned by each metropolitan council and the total number in each sold off in each of the last three years and the total income accruing to each council for each year. [35848]

  Mr. Curry
  The available information reported by authorities is in the following table. Actual cash receipts will depend on the extend to which sales had been financed by loans from the authorities.
  257

  Council dwelling stock, number and capital value of sales

  Metropolitan councils in England

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Metropolitan councils

  Total sales

  Value of sales (£000)

  Total sales

  Value of sales (£000)

  Total sales

  Value of sales (£000)

  Local authority stock at 1 April 1995

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  150

  2,615

  156

  2,233

  129

  1,775

  22,710

  Bury

  104

  1,989

  119

  2,044

  177

  1,874

  10,043

  Manchester

  506

  8,103

  654

  9,996

  12,001

  117,412

  83,406

  Oldham

  140

  2,335

  113

  2,162

  93

  1,615

  21,076

  Rochdale

  180

  2,858

  209

  3,615

  128

  2,164

  17,851

  Salford

  558

  3,720

  498

  3,452

  289

  2,387

  33,445

  Stockport

  66

  1,297

  90

  1,757

  53

  962

  14,028

  Tameside

  106

  2,013

  124

  2,239

  87

  1,595

  18,745

  Trafford

  83

  1,764

  77

  1,769

  250

  21,199

  11,749

  Wigan

  150

  2,491

  168

  2,748

  104

  1,578

  28,496

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  248

  3,473

  230

  3,276

  194

  2,908

  20,629

  Liverpool

  31,131

  35,643

  658

  4,588

  4112

  4755

  48,685

  Sefton

  133

  2,148

  148

  2,646

  122

  2,120

  14,840

  St. Helens

  87

  1,668

  92

  1,758

  95

  1,758

  16,594

  Wirral

  117

  1,828

  130

  2,061

  126

  2,026

  19,799

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  177

  2,471

  212

  3,448

  111

  1,964

  26,640

  Doncaster

  299

  4,588

  290

  4,517

  237

  3,629

  29,101

  Rotherham

  214

  3,389

  191

  2,939

  258

  4,238

  30,102

  Sheffield

  566

  8,902

  617

  10,084

  491

  7,935

  71,696

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  291

  4,233

  308

  4,706

  308

  4,903

  29,375

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  282

  4,007

  333

  5,593

  255

  4,080

  39,224

  North Tyneside

  124

  2,044

  175

  2,940

  172

  2,984

  23,018

  South Tyneside

  275

  4,563

  263

  4,398

  208

  3,507

  24,742

  Sunderland

  560

  8,091

  819

  12,018

  2603

  28,807

  42,450

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  5865

  513,661

  760

  14,028

  663

  12,412

  99,816

  Coventry

  136

  2,160

  144

  2,359

  117

  11,774

  21,039

  Dudley

  317

  5,926

  253

  3,756

  291

  5,283

  30,975

  Sandwell

  417

  7,448

  481

  8,513

  449

  8,086

  44,776

  Solihull

  114

  2,525

  119

  2,542

  109

  2,292

  13,319

  Walsall

  356

  5,684

  435

  6,917

  Not reported

  31,978

  Wolverhampton

  379

  6,092

  397

  6,520

  2230

  23,789

  32,975

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  257

  4,387

  225

  3,724

  173

  2,668

  29,856

  Calderdale

  47

  892

  44

  849

  56

  1,011

  13,741

  Kirklees

  250

  4,126

  251

  4,518

  182

  3,247

  30,498

  Leeds

  656

  11,065

  810

  11,796

  648

  10,953

  78,142

  Wakefield

  240

  4,644

  376

  7,538

  285

  5,679

  39,434

  Notes:

  1Includes a partial large scale voluntary transfer of 1,409 dwellings in March 1996.

  2April-December only.

  3Excludes transfer of 5,335 dwellings to a housing action trust in October 1993.

  4April-June only.

  5Excludes transfer of 3,320 dwellings to a housing action trust in February 1994.

  Source:

  Sales/value—Quarterly P1B and annual HIP2 returns from local authorities stock—Annual HIP1 returns from local authorities.

  Supplementary Credit Approvals
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each metropolitan district the total amount granted in supplementary credit approvals for each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [35856]

  Mr. Curry
  The table lists the total amount of supplementary credit approvals issued to metropolitan districts for the three years 1992–93 to 1994–95. Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available.
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  Total supplementary credit approvals (SCAs) issued, metropolitan districts1

  £ million

  1992–93 SCAs issued

  1993–94 SCAs issued

  1994–95 SCAs issued

  Bolton

  6.0

  6.5

  4.3

  Bury

  1.6

  1.7

  3.0

  Manchester

  23.2

  41.2

  35.6

  Oldham

  8.2

  10.0

  5.4

  Rochdale

  9.7

  6.2

  5.6

  Salford

  4.0

  8.0

  7.9

  Stockport

  4.5

  5.7

  3.2

  Tameside

  4.8

  7.5

  8.6

  259

  Total supplementary credit approvals (SCAs) issued, metropolitan districts1

  £ million

  1992–93 SCAs issued

  1993–94 SCAs issued

  1994–95 SCAs issued

  Trafford

  0.9

  4.5

  2.9

  Wigan

  3.5

  4.8

  5.3

  Knowsley

  5.5

  7.6

  3.8

  Liverpool

  20.9

  35.3

  24.9

  St. Helens

  6.3

  18.0

  6.9

  Sefton

  4.9

  6.2

  4.5

  Wirral

  11.2

  13.4

  9.2

  Bamsley

  6.2

  8.3

  3.7

  Doncaster

  8.7

  12.1

  11.8

  Rotherham

  4.4

  8.3

  6.3

  Sheffield

  9.3

  13.7

  13.4

  Gateshead

  5.4

  4.6

  3.7

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  9.7

  7.1

  8.3

  North Tyneside

  4.5

  6.1

  7.2

  South Tyneside

  2.7

  3.1

  2.7

  Sunderland

  9.5

  14.9

  7.1

  Birmingham

  34.7

  66.8

  59.3

  Coventry

  8.3

  14.4

  12.1

  Dudley

  9.1

  9.1

  6.6

  Sandwell

  12.8

  18.6

  13.3

  Solihull

  1.9

  2.5

  1.7

  Walsall

  9.7

  13.4

  5.9

  Wolverhampton

  13.4

  12.9

  10.7

  Bradford

  18.3

  14.9

  11.2

  Calderdale

  3.2

  4.5

  5.0

  Kirklees

  7.2

  10.2

  9.5

  Leeds

  14.1

  12.7

  14.7

  Wakefield

  5.0

  11.1

  7.3

  Source:

  1Capital outturn returns.

  Note:

  These figures do not include reductions in respect of specified capital grants.

  Plymouth Development Corporation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what selection procedure, was followed in respect of(a) the successful candidate and (b) the unsuccessful candidates for the position of chairman of the Plymouth development corporation. [36498]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All candidates for the post o f the chairman of the Plymouth development corporation were subject to the same selection procedure. Executive recruitment consultants were employed following a competitive tendering exercise and, through them, the post was advertised both nationally and locally and a search was conducted. A sift was conducted of the candidates identified by this process and a long list of candidates was prepared who were contacted by the consultants to confirm their suitability. This long list was then reduced to a short list by a panel comprising two officials from the Department of the Environment and an outside independent member. All candidates on this short list were interviewed by the panel. The panel then submitted their recommendation to Ministers who took the final decision.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the remuneration paid to each member of the Plymouth development corporation. [36496]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The remuneration paid to each member of the Plymouth development corporation is as follows:

  Chairman: £27,365

  260

  Deputy chairman: £9,285

  Board member: £5,430

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many candidates(a) applied for the chairmanship of the Plymouth development corporation and (b) were interviewed; and how many of (a) and (b) came from Plymouth. [36499]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There were 57 applicants for the chairmanship of the Plymouth development corporation. During a detailed selection procedure a long list of candidates was identified and all candidates on the long list were interviewed by the executive recruitment consultants. A selection panel then decided on a short list of three candidates all of whom were interviewed by the panel. Of the full list of applicants 10 gave addresses in Plymouth and 22 of the others lived or worked in Devon and Cornwall and two of them live in the Plymouth area, but none within the City of Plymouth.

  Workplace Accidents (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of people(a) injured and (b) killed in workplace accidents in (i) Crewe and Nantwich and (ii) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36535]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of people(a) injured and (b) killed in workplace accidents in (i) Crewe and Nantwich and (ii) Cheshire for each of the last five years is as follows:

  Crew and Natwich

  Cheshire

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  1994–95

  194

  nil

  2,891

  4

  1993–94

  178

  nil

  2,896

  7

  1992–93

  222

  1

  2,816

  6

  1991–92

  196

  nil

  2,875

  7

  1990–91

  279

  nil

  3,002

  9

  "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants have been given formal training on the use of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and what plans the Department has to increase awareness of "Policy Appraisal and Environment" among Government Departments. [35643]

  Mr. Clappison
  A total of 248 members of my Department were given formal training on the use of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment". I understand that 93 members of Government Departments received training from the Civil Service College.

  As far as increasing awareness of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is concerned, consultants have been appointed who will evaluate the degree to which "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" has been used by Government Departments and recommend how the integration of environmental considerations into policy making in government can be reinforced. Green Ministers intend to publish a booklet of case studies which will show what measures Departments have taken to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account in policies and programmes. All directors in my

  261
  Department have recently been reminded of the guidance in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" and of the need to appraise policies with a significant environmental impact.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 27 June, Official Report, column 222, if he will list the non-ministerial departments which will be included in the work of the consultants appointed by his Department to evaluate the degree to which "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" has been used by Government Departments. [36625]

  Mr. Clappison
  "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is intended to guide those in central Government who are charged with advising Ministers on policies. The evaluation will therefore aim to consider appraisal practices throughout central Government only. It will not include executive agencies or other organisations.

  Colliery Accidents
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the rate of underground accidents involving serious injury or fatality in British collieries in 1995; what it was in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994; and when the statistics concerning underground safety in 1995 will be published. [36327]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not available in the form requested except for the period 1 October 1995 to 31 December 1995.

  The rate was:

  Fatalities: 0.18 per cent.

  Major injuries: 3.15 per cent.

  The provisional accident figures for 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 are expected to be published on 23 July 1996.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the letter from the Under-Secretary of State dated 16 November 1995, if he will instruct the Local Government Commission to consider the case for a parish council for Cleethorpes during its forthcoming review of the electoral arrangements for north-east Lincolnshire. [36676]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The scope of the periodic electoral reviews carried out by the Local Government Commission under schedule 13(2) of the Local Government Act 1992 does not include parish boundaries or the creation of new parishes. There would need to be a separate parish review and this would involve a substantial amount of work. To direct the commission to undertake this extra work would delay completion of the periodic electoral reviews, already well overdue in a number of places, to which we must give preference.

  Director General of Electricity Supply
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the (i) speeches, (ii) reports and (iii) other statements made by the Director General of Electricity Supply in relation to his statutory duties concerning the environment. [36626]
  262
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Under section 3(3) of the Electricity Act 1989 the Director General of Electricity Supply has a duty"to promote efficiency and economy on the part of persons authorised by licences to supply or transmit electricity and the efficient use of electricity supplied to consumers".
  He also has a duty to take account, when exercising all the functions in section 3(3) of the Act
  "the effect on the physical environment of activities connected with the generation, transmission or supply of electricity".
  The implementation of those duties is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  Director General of Gas Supply
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the (i) speeches, (ii) reports and (iii) other statements made by the Director General of Gas Supply in relation to her statutory duties concerning the environment. [36627]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Under section 4 (2) of the Gas Act 1986 as substituted by section 1 of the Gas Act 1995, the Director General of Gas Supply has a duty"to promote efficiency and economy on the part of persons authorised by or under this Part to carry on any activities, and the efficient use of gas conveyed through pipes".

  She also has a duty to take into account, when exercising all the functions in section 4 (2) of the Act, as similarly substituted,
  "the effect on the environment (whether by pollution or otherwise) of activities connected with the conveyance of gas through pipes."

  The implementation of those duties is a matter for the Director General of Gas Supply.

  Planning Policy (South Devon)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will(a) call in the application by McAlpine to the Torbay borough council local plan for a 63-acre business park on the banks of the Dart valley, south Devon and (b) set up an inquiry in public to take place before an inspector from his Department prior to the final determination of the application being made. [36730]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering whether this application should be called in for his own decision and he will reach his conclusion as soon as practicable given the complex issues involved. If the application is called in, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will appoint an inspector to conduct a public local inquiry and report to him on the merits of the proposal.

  Planning Inspectorate
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the outcome of the prior options review of the Planning Inspectorate. [37309]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  As part of the usual arrangements for next steps agencies, a prior options study of the Planning Inspectorate has been carried out. The review concluded that the core functions of the inspectorate, which is to hear appeals or objections against
  263
  decisions of local planning authorities, should not be abolished, privatised or contracted out in whole to the private sector. The review recommended that the inspectorate should remain as an executive agency in the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office. The review also recommended that certain non-core functions should be considered for market testing or contracting out.

  The Government have accepted these recommendations which were informed by the views of a large number of organisations who responded to the invitation to submit evidence. Action is already in hand to follow up a number of other detailed recommendations to improve the service offered by the inspectorate and to subject more of its activities to competition.

  I have today placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House, along with a copy of the evaluation report into the Planning Inspectorate. The latter explains what the inspectorate was set up to do and how it has met its ministerial key performance targets.

  Rural White Paper
  Sir Kenneth Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will respond to the third report of the Environment Committee on "Rural England: The Rural White Paper" (HC 163 of Session 1995–96). [37420]

  Mr. Gummer
  Our response is being published today.

  We welcome the Committee's report as a contribution to the continuing debate about the future of rural areas in England. The response gives our considered reaction to the recommendations made in the report.

  We agree with the Committee that targets are important and we shall continue our efforts to develop targets in support of rural policies. We will produce a report later this year on the progress we have made in achieving the White Paper's commitments and we shall continue to monitor and report on progress annually.

  Packaging Waste
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be able to publish draft regulations to give effect to producer responsibility for packaging waste. [37479]

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales I am today publishing a consultation paper, with draft regulations, which set out the Government's proposals for producer responsibility obligations for packaging waste and which will give effect to the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste—94/62/EC. Copies are being placed in the Library. This is the most outstanding example of partnership between government and industry to achieve an important environmental goal. We hope that the rest of Europe will follow this example. The regulations are based on the principles of a shared approach and the 15 December agreement as set out in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 7 May, Official Report, columns 73–75. They are the outcome of a very substantial series of discussions with business to find the best way in which we can work together to meet
  264
  an environmental goal, in this case the need to recover greater value from the 8 million tonnes of packaging waste which we generate each year.

  This is a pioneering process of partnership and dialogue which has wider lessons for how we seek to achieve environmental objectives. Inevitably there were differences of view along the way and difficult judgments on the right balance between fairness, effectiveness and minimising burden. There will be many issues in these proposals requiring further careful consideration on which the Government are keen to obtain views. Nevertheless I believe that there is a growing consensus on the best way forward, and the active and continuing involvement of all sectors is the right way to generate a sustainable long-term approach, as well as achieving the co-operation necessary between businesses.

  As an example of how we can help businesses assess what is required, I am making available on request a PC-operable disc which will calculate the tonnage obligation for an individual business in relation to its own processes and patterns of trade.

  There are three underlying aims which the Government remain committed to achieve:

  (i) A more sustainable approach to dealing with packaging waste by internalising the costs of meeting higher targets for recovery and recycling. This harnesses the efficiency and creativity of the supply chain to meet environmental goals. Additional costs to business may, like other costs, be passed onto consumers, to the extent that they are not absorbed;

  (ii) To help implement the EC directive for which the United Kingdom worked so hard. The main purpose of the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste is to ensure a single market for the free circulation of packaging but, in addition, member states must meet the minimum targets for recycling and recovery;

  (iii) To achieve both these ends in the most efficient and least burdensome manner. The principle of having the choice of doing so through collective business-led schemes, which have the maximum freedom and flexibility in which to operate, remains a fundamental objective.

  We are greatly encouraged by the work now under way to develop collective business-operated schemes, and in particular the efforts to establish VALPAK, which is supported by 60 leading UK businesses. The establishment of such schemes will be evidence that when given the opportunity, industry will deliver environmental targets with real efficiency gains.

  This is a new approach. We have endeavoured to achieve a wide measure of consensus, but we will need to monitor closely the operation of the regulations and review their impact and effectiveness. The Advisory Committee on Packaging has proposed a framework for future monitoring and review which we fully endorse. The committee will have a major part to play over the next two years and we shall follow its advice carefully in the future development of this initiative.

  Phurnacite
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the disposal of contaminated waste following the Health and Safety Executive investigation into the burning of phurnacite in Abercwymboi; and if he will list the sites under consideration for that disposal. [34655]
  265
  Mr. Hague
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is an operational matter for the Welsh Development Agency. I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Custody (Deaths)
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have died in police custody from alcohol or drug-related causes in each of the last 10 years; [36133]

  (2) how many people have died in police custody in each of the last 10 years. [36155]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information collected and published centrally excludes the Metropolitan police and is contained in the table. Information for the Metropolitan police is published annually in the report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Deaths in police custody or otherwise with the Police England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police Service)

  Year

  Poisoning due to drugs or alcohol

  Total

  1985

  9

  23

  1986

  Not known

  26

  1987

  3

  26

  1988

  7

  38

  1989

  6

  36

  1990

  4

  41

  1991

  3

  36

  1992

  10

  33

  1993

  4

  18

  1994

  13

  36

  1995–961

  5

  48

  1 These figures are provisional and relate to the period 1 January 1995 to 31 March 1996. Figures are due to be published later this year.

  Licensed Trade (Toughened Glassware)
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to encourage the use of toughened glassware in the licensed victuallers trade; [36142]

  (2) what consultations he has had with representatives from the licensed victuallers trade about the possibility of introducing toughened glassware for use within the industry; [36144]

  (3) what plans he has to require the licensed victuallers trade to use toughened safety glassware; [36143]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the possible reduction in the number of injuries in pubs, clubs and restaurants involving drinking glasses or glass bottles if toughened safety glassware were introduced into the industry. [36145]

  Mr. Maclean
  Licensing authorities already have wide powers under both the liquor and entertainment licensing laws to require the use of toughened glass or synthetic 266
  drinking vessels on particular occasions or in particular premises if they consider the circumstances justify their doing so. We have no plans to require the licensed victuallers trade to use toughened, safety glassware. I am aware of the research which has been carried out into the relative merits, from a public safety point of view, of toughened safety glassware and ordinary, annealed, glassware.

  We have had no recent representations from the licensed victuallers trade on this issue.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of(a) injuries per year and (b) injuries to members of staff per year, in pubs, clubs and restaurants, which involve drinking glasses or glass bottles. [36146]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is based on the 1988 and 1992 British crime surveys which estimate that annually there were about 32,000 incidents of violence—woundings and common assaults—in and around pubs, clubs and other licensed premises involving bottles or drinking glasses. Of these, about half, or 17,000, resulted in the victim receiving cuts. However, the data do not separately identify whether the cuts were due to a bottle or glass. Another 11,000 of these incidents resulted in injury of some other type, for example, bruises and scratches. Incidents against staff cannot be separately identified.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Access to Health Records Act 1990 to provide for missing persons. [36031]

  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Detoxification Units
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have access to detoxification units for use by people immediately after arrest. [36140]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking in respect of the level of fees charged by private wheel clamping firms; what proposals he has to license such firms; if he will ensure that the clamping of vehicles on private land is governed by contracts; if he will introduce a code of conduct and a standardised complaints procedure; and if he will make a statement. [36026]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are considering what action, if any, should be taken in respect of wheel clamping on private land. Matters such as levels of fees, the idea of licensing clamping firms, codes of conduct, and so on, all form part of that consideration. It is important, in the Government's view, that any measures which might be taken in this field should not hinder the proper control of genuine parking problems.
  267

  Crime (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the crime rate in Cheshire relative to the national average for each of the last five years. [36534]

  Mr. Maclean
  The crime rates, in terms of recorded offences per 100,000 population, are given in the following table:

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police per 100,000 population

  Year

  Cheshire

  England and Wales

  1991

  6,913

  10,403

  1992

  8,228

  10,943

  1993

  8,290

  10,777

  1994

  7,709

  10,222

  1995

  7,503

  9,926

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of reported incidents of(a) burglaries, (b) car theft, (c) assault, (d) rape, (e) grievous bodily harm, (f) manslaughter and (g) murder in Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36533]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information relates to notifiable offences recorded by the police and is given in the following table:

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police in Cheshire 1991–95

  Year

  Burglary

  Theft of a vehicle

  Less serious wounding

  Rape

  More serious wounding

  Homicide

  1991

  16,537

  8,289

  2,407

  37

  128

  10

  1992

  21,766

  9,019

  2,547

  53

  173

  11

  1993

  22,034

  9,005

  2,764

  75

  135

  13

  1994

  19,248

  7,451

  2,974

  80

  189

  8

  1995

  18,155

  6,739

  3,191

  63

  185

  12

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the board of visitors' first annual report for Doncaster prison; if he will permit the board to publish it; and if he will supply a copy to the hon. Member for Don Valley. [36394]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to him and to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Howarth) on 20 November 1995, Official Report, column 15.

  Cheshire Police
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of incidents attended by Cheshire police in each of the last five years. [36474]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not available centrally.

  Sex Offenders
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in respect of the list of suspected sex offenders held by the North Wales police authority(a) the number of names on the list currently
  268
  (b) those who have access to the list, (c) what the list is used for and (d) under what circumstances people are placed on the list; [36517]

  (2) if he will list in respect of the list of convicted sex offenders held by the North Wales police authority the number of names on the list currently, those who have access to the list, what the list is used for, how long it takes on average to check a reference with the list and under what circumstances people are placed on the list. [36516]

  Mr. Maclean
  The North Wales police authority does not hold lists of convicted or suspected sex offenders. Like all police forces in England and Wales, North Wales police have access to the national collection of criminal records which holds information about every person convicted of a serious sexual offence, the paedophile index held by the National Criminal Intelligence Service and its own criminal intelligence information. Arrangements for supplying employers in the statutory sector and parts of the voluntary sector with information about those seeking to work with children on a regular, unsupervised basis are set out in Home Office circulars 47/93, 42/94 and 46/94. In the year to 31 March, criminal record checks by the North Wales police took between seven and 28 days depending on whether it was necessary for them to contact other police forces.

  Prison Security
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he intends to spend on bringing security up to the minimum standards required by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [36240]

  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. Gordon Prentice, dated 11 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how much he intends to spend on prison security to bring security up to minimum standards.
  A decision has not been reached on the minimum security standards which should apply to all prison establishments in England and Wales. The cost of any minimum standards will be considered as the standards are developed.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of prison officers to prison inmates in(a) each privately operated prisons and (b) prisons operated by the Prison Service. [36255]

  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. John Hutton, dated 11 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ratio of prison officers to prisoners in the privately operated prisons and those operated by the Prison Service.

  269
  The information requested is shown in the attached table. The most recent data available concerning the private prisons was produced in January 1996. The information relating to Prison Service establishments is as at 1 April 1996. Due to the differences between the private and public prisons grading of officers, two ratios have been provided. The first ratio includes all officer grades and the second ratio is calculated from discipline officers. Both ratios for the publicly managed prisons include prison officers, senior officers and principal officers.

  Prison establishment staffing: officer:inmate ratio

  Officer: inmate ratio

  Private prisons ratio

  1:2.9

  Public prisons ratio (all grades)

  1:2.1

  Public prisons ratio (discipline)

  1:2.5

  Prison Statistics
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men aged between 55 and 64 years and women aged between 55 and 59 years are currently being held in prison on(a) remand and (b) after sentence. [36259]

  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 Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 11 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many men aged between 55 and 64 years and women aged between 55 and 59 years are currently being held in prison on (a) remand and (b) after sentence.
  The latest available provisional information is for 31 May 1996 and is given in the attached table.

  Population of males aged 55–64 and females aged 55–59 on remand and under sentence in prison in England and Wales on 31 May 19961

  Remand

  Sentenced

  Males

  140

  1,130

  Females

  4

  30

  1Provisional figures.

  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 the Wolds prison; what category were the prisoners on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [36296]

  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. Martin Redmond, dated 11 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the use of taxis to escort prisoners at Wolds prison.
  Between June 1995 and May 1996 taxis were used by Wolds prison on 200 occasions to transport prisoners. Information on the breakdown of prisoner category is not collected centrally and could
  270
  be provided only at disproportionate cost. After May 1996 Group 4 court services took over responsibility for transporting prisoners as and when required.

  Wolds Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the board of visitors' latest annual report for the Wolds prison; and if he will permit the board to publish it. [36393]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The board of visitors' annual report for Wolds for 1995 was received by my right hon. and learned Friend on 27 February.

  The board published its annual report and press release on 26 March. The hon. Member can obtain a copy of the report from the board's chairman, Mr. F. Henry.

  Kwik-Kuffs
  Sir Julian Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the use by the Metropolitan police of American Kwik-Kuffs and of the level of pain which they inflict. [36308]

  Mr. Maclean
  A review of the use of rigid handcuffs and other self-defence, arrest and restraint techniques has recently been completed by the Association of Chief Police Officers. A training manual on rigid handcuffs has been produced which advises on the technique for applying the handcuffs, points out the injury potential of incorrect application and stresses that the handcuffs should never be twisted. I am satisfied that this manual provides useful guidance for all police forces including the Metropolitan police.

  Sex Tourism
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Home Office review of extra-territorial legislation in its applicability to sex tourism. [36669]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government will announce the conclusions of the review as soon as possible.

  Firearms
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will lay before Parliament the seventh annual report of the Firearms Consultative Committee. [37248]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have today placed a copy of the annual report of the Firearms Consultative Committee in the Library.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report by Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary on No. 2 area of the Metropolitan police. [37311]

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with the commissioner's responses and the police
  271
  authority responses, which take into account the advice my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received from the Metropolitan police committee.

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many doses of medicinal drugs have been issued to prisoners in British gaols in each of the past five years; and how many were(a) analgesics, (b) anti-depressants and (c) other drugs; [36311]

  (2) how many prisoners have (a) died and (h) become seriously ill following the use of (i) illegal drugs, (ii) legal drugs and (iii) medicinal drugs in each British gaol in each of the last five years. [36328]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: 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. Paul Flynn, dated 11 July 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about medicinal drugs issued to prisoners in British jails and deaths in British jails following the use of illegal and legal drugs.
  Information on doses of medicinal drugs issued to prisoners is not available could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  Information on the number of prisoners who have died or became seriously ill following the use of drugs is not available in the form requested, however the number of self-inflicted deaths in prisons in England and Wales where drugs were involved during the last five years are as follows:

  1991–92: 4

  1992–93: 2

  1993–94: 1

  1994–95: 3

  1995–96: 2

  Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretaries of State for those Departments.

DEFENCE

  Service Personnel (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of service personnel in the Cheshire region for each of the last five years. [36455]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of UK regular service personnel deployed in the Cheshire region on 1 July for each of the last five years are as follows:

  1991: 861

  1992: 271

  1993: 936

  1994: 909

  1995: 824

  Figures for 1 July 1996 are not yet available.

  ISC-Ferranti
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date officials from his Department were 272
  made aware of the contents of the Ferranti Cooper report into the merger with ISC; and what action was taken as a result of the conclusions of that report. [36818]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to a document which appears to be a report to the board of Ferranti Ltd. dated 8 September 1987 and entitled "Ferranti/International Signal and Control". There is no evidence that my Department was aware of the existence of this document until an extract from it was sent to the Department by the secretary of the Scott inquiry on 7 September 1994. My Department has taken no action based on the report other than to tell the Scott inquiry that there is no evidence of any previous knowledge of it.

  Royal Naval Armaments Depot Trecwn
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by his Department to initiate the Critchel Down procedures in respect of the sale of RNAD Trecwn; and when these procedures were begun. [36736]

  Mr. Soames
  The assessment that the Critchel Down rules apply to part of this site was made in June this year. Legal advice on the applicability of the rules has been sought and as the next stage we will be seeking to identify former owners or their successors.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when negotiations began between his Department and PAS-Otto over the sale of RNAD Trecwn; and what agreement was reached in December 1995. [36733]

  Mr. Soames
  Detailed negotiations with PAS-Otto over the sale of RNAD Trecwn commenced in March 1995, when the company was selected as the preferred bidder. In December 1995, agreement was reached with PAS-Otto on the heads of terms for the sale, subject to contract.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of the Critchel Down procedures to the sale of RNAD Trecwn. [36734]

  Mr. Soames
  The Critchel Down—former owner—rules apply to the agricultural land at RNAD Trecwn which is situated outside the perimeter fence of the former establishment. My officials will seek to identify the former owners and offer them the opportunity to re-purchase the land at current market value. Generally the rules apply only where land has not materially changed since the time of original acquisition. The land inside the perimeter fence has changed, and it is our judgment, therefore, that Critchel Down rules do not apply.

  Merchant Vessels
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the name of each merchant vessel, and its country of registration chartered by his Department for(a) exercises and (b) military support and re-supply operations in the first six months of 1996. [36729]

  Mr. Soames
  The names of merchant vessels and their country of registration chartered for(a) exercises and (b) military support and re-supply operations for the first six months of 1996 are as follows:

  273

  Name

  Flag

  Vessels chartered for exercises

  Jenstar

  Denmark

  Arcade Eagle (x 4)

  Norway

  Dana Cimbria

  Denmark

  Condock V (x 5)

  Germany

  Belvaux (x 2)

  Panama

  Feederteam

  Malta

  Arroyo Frio Uno

  Finland

  Villars

  Switzerland

  Arcade Falcon (x 2)

  Norway

  Mercandian Senator

  Denmark

  Prince of Scandinavia

  Denmark

  Dana Hafnia

  Denmark

  Kidira

  Bahamas

  Kapitan Mezentsyev

  Ukraine

  Chodziez

  Poland

  Sochi

  Malta

  Norcliff

  Norway

  Aida

  Sweden

  Sine Boye

  Denmark

  Ocean Stephanitur

  Bahamas

  Aquamarine

  Liberia

  Italica

  Italy

  Nordica

  Finland

  VSV50

  Britain

  Vessels chartered for support/re-supply

  Yuriy Maksaryov

  Ukraine

  Elein K

  Cyprus

  Kapitan Mezentsyev

  Ukraine

  Saint Brandan

  Britain

  Ben Elian (x 2)

  Britain

  Ben Maye

  Britain

  Egmondgracht

  Netherlands

  Villars

  Switzerland

  Fleur de Lyse

  Spain

  Vladimir Vaslayev

  Ukraine

  Kidira

  Bahamas

  Arneb

  Germany

  Cap Afrique

  France

  Indomitable

  Britain

  Marine Explorer

  Britain

  Proud Seahorse

  Britain

  Maersk Gannet

  Isle of Man

  Fionan of Skellig

  Ireland

  Northella

  Britain

  Oil Mariner

  Britain

  Maersk Ascension

  Isle of Man

  Lady Ross

  Britain

  Forth Constructor

  Britain

  Parentis

  France

  Sovereign

  Britain

  Kalil

  Italy

  Scarlet Star

  Norway

  Aquamarine

  Liberia

  Siren

  Britain

  Anglian Warrior

  Britain

  Tugs (x 2)

  Britain

  Maersk Shipper

  Britain

  Rasmine Maersk

  Denmark

  Petro Maersy

  Britain

  The Performa

  Bahamas

  Cardissa

  Holland

  Tugs (x 2)

  Britain

  International Court of Justice
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the International Court of Justice decision announced on 8 July in respect of the use of nuclear weapons. [36497]
  274
  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  The court's advisory opinion is long and complex and we are studying it. We note, however, that among other things the court concluded by a large majority that there is in international law no comprehensive and universal prohibition of the threat or use of nuclear weapons as such.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Robert Hussein
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the case of Robert Hussein at the United Nations General Assembly. [36703]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have no plans to raise this case at the United Nations.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations to the Kuwait Government are being made by Her Majesty's Government over the case of Robert Hussein. [36675]

  (2) what measures the Government propose to take in the case of Robert Hussein; [36702]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have raised our concerns about the safety of Mr. Robert Hussein at a senior level with the Kuwaiti authorities on a number of occasions. We will continue to do so, when appropriate.

HEALTH

  Extra-contractual Referrals
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 April, Official Report, column 506, if he will provide a regional breakdown of extra-contractual referrals. [29467]

  Mr. Malone
  Expenditure on extra-contactual referrals is shown in the table. The 1995–96 data will be available in August.

  Figures in £ million (Percentage of total expenditure)

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  Northern

  12

  0.9

  14

  1.0

  Yorkshire

  14

  0.9

  17

  1.2

  Trent

  27

  1.6

  28

  1.5

  East Anglia

  11

  1.3

  12

  1.5

  North-west Thames

  29

  1.7

  37

  2.3

  North-east Thames

  38

  2.2

  49

  2.6

  South-east Thames

  28

  1.7

  37

  2.2

  South-west Thames

  20

  1.6

  26

  2.0

  Wessex

  17

  1.5

  22

  1.9

  Oxford

  18

  2.0

  20

  2.2

  South Western

  17

  1.3

  19

  1.4

  West Midlands

  20

  1.0

  24

  1.2

  Mersey

  8

  0.7

  8

  0.8

  North Western

  12

  0.8

  16

  0.9

  England

  271

  1.4

  329

  1.6

  275

  Figures in £ million (percentage of total expenditure)

  1994–95

  £

  Per cent.

  Northern and Yorkshire

  33

  1.1

  Trent

  30

  1.6

  Anglia and Oxford

  41

  1.4

  North Thames

  106

  3.0

  South Thames

  65

  2.1

  South and West

  46

  1.7

  West Midlands

  31

  1.5

  North West

  34

  1.2

  England

  386

  1.8

  NHS Executive
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the number of people currently employed by and (b) the current annual budget of the NHS executive; and what were the figures for each year since it was established. [35350]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is given in the table. The figures are not comparable from year to year because of the transfer of responsibilities to the national health service executive from other parts of the Department of Health. The increase in staff numbers in 1996–97 followed the abolition of the regional health authorities, who on 31 March 1993 employed 3,905 core staff.

  Annual budget (£ million)

  Staff in post on 1 April

  NHS Management Executive

  1989–90

  Not available

  666

  1990–91

  31.6

  797

  1991–92

  27.1

  677

  1992–93

  43.1

  776

  1993–94

  34.8

  931

  NHS Executive

  1994–95

  43.3

  848

  1995–96

  53.0

  1,0722

  1996–97

  117.0

  1,9143

  1 The budget for 1992–93 reflects the initial set up costs of the NHS executive during its relocation to Leeds in 1992.

  2 The increase in staff numbers, the largest in 1995–96, followed the transfer of staff and additional responsibilities in to the NHS executive from other parts of the Department of Health.

  3 The increase in staff numbers in 1996–97 followed the abolition of the regional health authorities on 31 March 1996 and the creation of a single structure for central management of the NHS—the NHS executive comprising a headquarters and for the first time eight regional offices.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount spent on home care by each local authority as a percentage of its special transitional grant for(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [36704]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on home care expenditure by local authority has been published in "Personal Social Services: A historical profile of reported current and capital expenditure 1983–84 to 1993–94 England" for 1993–94, copies available in the Library, and it is planned to publish the 1994–95 information in a statistical bulletin later this month.

  The amounts of local authorities' special transitional grants for 1993–94 and 1994–95 have been published in "Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Reports" No. 13 and No. 17 respectively.
  276

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 June, Official Report, column 669, if he will list the 56 inter-departmental agencies referred to in his answer, indicating how many questions were referred to each agency listed in the 1994–95 parliamentary Session. [36846]

  Mr. Horam
  There were 32 non-departmental agencies which had 56 questions referred to them during the 1994–95 parliamentary session. These agencies are listed. Information on the number of referrals each agency received is available in the Library.

  BODY

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  National Blood Authority

  London Ambulance Service Leeds Healthcare

  Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Northumberland District Health Authority

  South and West Regional Health Authority

  Burnley Health Care National Health Service Trust

  Bishop Auckland Hospitals National Health Service Trust

  North Durham Acute Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Bradford Hospitals National Health Service Trust

  Bradford Health Authority

  Shropshire Health Authority

  The Health Commission

  Northern Birmingham Mental Health Trust

  North Thames and South Thames Regional Health Authorities

  New River Health Authority

  Exeter and North Devon Health Authority

  Royal Hospitals National Health Service Trust

  South Birmingham Health Authority

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority

  Barnet Health Authority

  Special Hospitals Service Authority

  Liverpool Health Authority

  Rotherham Health Authority

  Anglia and Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority

  Hammersmith Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Dorset Health Commission

  NHS Properties
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 321, on NHS properties what use is made of the proceeds of sales of surplus properties. [36741]

  Mr. Horam
  Proceeds from the sale of surplus properties are used to fund capital expenditure within the overall public expenditure provision for the national health service.
  277
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 April, Official Report, column 106, how many of the NHS surplus properties are currently occupied and utilised by NHS trusts; and what is their value. [36740]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not held centrally.

  NHS Computers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 371, what action the NHS executive has taken about the year 2000 problem. [36738]

  Mr. Horam
  The national health service executive has established a project team which is responsible for providing technical guidance and advice on site audits. including briefing notes and a telephone help line. NHS organisations are being alerted to the problems and will shortly be required to draw up action plans. Progress against these plans will be monitored by the NHS executive.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has carried out into the compatibility of the Read Codes 3 medical terms language with ICD-10; what assessment he has made of the importance to the NHS of compatibility between ICD-10 and medical terms computer languages used in the NHS; if he will place a copy in the Library of his Department's research into compatibility issues; and if he will make a statement. [36671]

  Mr. Horam
  Read codes to international classification of disease maps are national standard cross references from Read codes to the ICD classification. The cross mappings in Read version 3 have been the subject of a large validation project that involved clinicians, academics and expert coders. The underlying philosophy was the product of extensive consultation. This is documented in "Cross-Mapping in Version 3 of the Read Codes" (F60 15), copies of which will be placed with the Library.

  Validation of the Read version 3 maps was undertaken using expert clinical coders. Both the methodology and its findings were signed off as acceptable by the NHS centre for coding and classification classifications projects board.

  "Medical terms computer languages used in the NHS" can be regarded as: (i) Read terms which provide the detail necessary for clinicians to capture clinical information in computers; (ii) ICD-10 which provides the analytical classification for central returns; and (iii) healthcare resource groups which provide information necessary for costing and resource management. For those seeking to derive ICD-10 central returns from data captured in Read codes, a cross map is essential. Healthcare resource groups are now expressed in ICD-10 terms but, through the cross map, can be derived from Read data.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 371, on the NHS executive and the year 2000 problem, what initial assessment he has made of the likely impact
  278
  of the millennium; what have been the costs of the initial assessment; what is the budget for future work; and who is undertaking this research. [36739]

  Mr. Horam
  An initial analysis of typical applications which could be affected has already shown that for many systems there are no problems. These systems are capable of handling the change of millennium or the suppliers are in the process of making them so. A number of other systems will have reached the end of their lifetimes before 2000 and will be replaced by systems with the correct software. The remaining systems must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

  A project team has recently been set up and its costs so far are minimal. The projected costs of this project team are £50,000. Costs for the audit of systems within each national health service organisation are the responsibility of that organisation. When such audits have been completed, it will be possible to determine the full costs of rectifying the systems.

  The work is being undertaken by the information management group of the NHS executive with the assistance of external consultants.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each evaluation(a) conducted and (b) commissioned by his Department into the efficacy of the Read 3 coding system; indicating for each the date and category of author; and if he will place these in the Library. [36674]

  Mr. Horam
  The first release of version 3 of the Read codes deemed suitable for evaluation and testing in live use in a clinical setting was in October 1995 followed by an update in April 1996.

  Evaluation in use of the efficacy of these releases has commenced at several sites and I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 May, Official Report, column 608.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued concerning the mandatory use of ICD-10 in hospital returns; and what proposals he has to amend these guidelines. [36670]

  Mr. Horam
  The use of ICD-10—International Classification of Diseases version 10—for defining diagnostic information in central returns and contract minimum data sets was made mandatory for England and Wales from 1 April 1995. Key guidance supplied to the national health service was provided by executive letter (EL(93)63) "The introduction of ICD-10 into the NHS", data set change notice (DSCN 20/93) which mandated the use of ICD-10 in the NHS for statistical returns and DSCN 41/941P28 which detailed relevant clinical coding standards for the use of ICD-10. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library.

  The executive letter allows the capture of data using Read codes and cross mapping to ICD-10 for central returns. There are no plans to alter this arrangement in the immediate future.

  Wiltshire Health Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with the chairman of the
  279
  Wiltshire health authority concerning the filling of the vacancy for chief executive. [36854]

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure is planned by each health authority on(a) non-NHS purchases, (b) extra-contractual referrals and (c) medical negligence claims. [36713]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount as a percentage of its special transitional grant for 1994–95 spent by each local authority in the independent sector. [36720]

  Mr. Bowis
  The percentage of the 1994–95 special transitional grant which was spent in the independent sector is not yet available for every local authority.

  Newbury Hospital
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the plans for the new Newbury hospital; when he expects it to open; and how it will be funded. [36631]

  Mr. Horam
  The West Berkshire Priority Care national health service trust has plans for a new hospital. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Jim Kerevon, chairman of the trust for further information.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has collated in respect of individual trusts' plans to increase hospital waiting times. [36709]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no such plans.

  Hospital Costs
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on costs per hospital procedure in each trust. [36716]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department does not collate information on costs per hospital procedure in each trust.

  Property Sales
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 May, Official Report, columns 536–37, how many of the properties scheduled for sale are in operational use; and what is their value. [36726]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 May, Official Report, columns 36–37, on sales of NHS property what has been the (a) estimated (b) actual value of NHS property sales in each of the last five years. [36727]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is given in the table
  280

  (Figures in £ millions)

  Actual

  Estimate

  1990–91

  178

  292

  1991–92

  169

  242

  1992–93

  115

  200

  1993–94

  213

  200

  1994–95

  208

  234

  Source:

  Public Expenditure White Paper and Department of Health departmental reports.

  Health Authorities (Chief Executives)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued to health authorities concerning the appointment of chief executives subject to recommended disciplinary proceedings in similarly responsible posts with another health authority. [36855]

  Mr. Malone
  It is for health authorities to ensure the suitability of staff appointed. They are expected to have in place systems of recruitment and selection, which would include the taking up of references from former employers.

  Health Care (Berkshire)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there are in west Berkshire. [36628]

  Mr. Malone
  The number of dentists whose major practice was in Berkshire on 31 March 1996 was 263.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) eye tests and (b) dental check-ups were undertaken last year in Berkshire; and how many in the last year when they were free. [36629]

  Mr. Malone
  The comparative information requested is not available.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) acute psychiatric and (b) hospital beds there are in west Berkshire now; and how many there were in 1979. [36630]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information relating to the number of beds in west Berkshire is contained in "Bed Availability, England". A copy of this document is in the Library, however information for 1979 is not available centrally.

  Mental Health Services
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the community health budget has been spent on mental health services in each year since 1979. [36680]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is not available prior to 1988–89. Information from 1988–89 to 1994–95 is shown in the table.

  Year

  Percentage of community health expenditure spent on mental health nursing services

  1988–89

  7.5

  1989–90

  8.6

  281

  Year

  Percentage of community health expenditure spent on mental health nursing services

  1990–91

  9.2

  1991–92

  7.4

  1992–93

  8.7

  1993–94

  8.4

  1994–95

  9.5

  1.The community mental health expenditure included in the table is community mental health nursing expenditure only.

  2. Prior to 1988–89, expenditure on community mental health nursing was not collected separately from other categories of community nursing.

  3. The share of community mental health expenditure in 1991–92 may be affected by changes to accounting practices in that year.

  Children (Exclusion from School)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation his Department has undertaken of(a) individual social services departments' policy and (b) individual psychiatric services in relation to children excluded from school. [36715]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department has not undertaken any evaluation directly relating to these issues.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which consortiums are involved in private finance initiative bids for the proposed Norfolk and Norwich hospitals; and if he will list the individual companies concerned. [36723]

  Mr. Horam
  Norfolk and Norwich national health service trust has chosen the Octagon Healthcare consortium as its preferred bidder, and is currently in the final stages of negotiations with the consortium. Octagon Healthcare consists of John Laing Construction and General Health Care Group, advised by the merchant bank BZW.

  Community Care
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community care assessments were undertaken; and how many services were provided by each local authority in each year since 1993–94. [36737]

  Mr. Bowis
  Centrally available information on community care assessments was published in "Community Care Monitoring Report 1994—findings from local authority self monitoring and NHS surveys". Information on services provided by local authorities is published in a number of statistical sources, the latest being statistical bulletin 1996/5: "Community Care Statistics 1995". Copies of both these publications are available in the Library.

  Nurses
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 July, Official Report, column 24, if the performance tables of the five-minute standard for a nurse to contact incoming accident and emergency patients differentiates non-clinically qualified nurses from clinically qualified nurses undertaking initial triage. [36865]
  282
  Mr. Horam
  Immediate assessment should be undertaken only by clinically qualified staff.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on trusts establishing their own limited companies. [36706]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 May, Official Report, column 286.

  Fraud Liaison Officers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities have appointed a fraud liaison officer. [36712]

  Mr. Horam
  Sixty health authorities had designated officers as prescription fraud liaison points by 10 July. All health authorities are expected to designate a prescription fraud liaison point.

  NHS Estates
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the annual report and accounts of the NHS Estates agency. [37307]

  Mr. Horam
  I have received the report and accounts, which has today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

  Copies have also been placed in the Library.

  Hypothermia
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificates as the main contributory cause of death took place in England and Wales in(a) 1993, (b)(c) 1995 for (i) all age groups, (ii) people aged 65 years and over and (iii) people aged 80 years and over. [36261]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is in the following table.

  All ages

  65 years+

  80 years+

  1993

  480

  402

  255

  1994

  386

  309

  198

  1995

  431

  265

  251

  Death Statistics
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths were registered in England and Wales between(a) 1 April 1994 and 30 September 1994, (b) 1 October 1994 and 31 March 1995, (c) 1 April 1995 and 30 September 1995 and (d) 1 October 1995 and 31 March 1996 of people aged (i) 60 to 69 years, (ii) 70 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years and (iv) in total. [36260]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is in the following table.
  283

  Age groups

  April 1994 to September 1994

  October 1994 to March 1995

  April 1995 to September 1995

  October 1995 to March 1996

  60 to 69

  39,522

  42,052

  38,160

  41,890

  70 to 79

  76,102

  84,212

  74,782

  88,204

  80+

  112,917

  134,708

  116,598

  145,496

  All

  260,163

  294,640

  261,420

  309,908

  1 Provisional data.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Business Links
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have contacted business links since its inception in Sheffield. [35847]

  Mr. Page
  Business links are private sector partnerships, not Government bodies. National statistics on businesses using business links are available in the quarterly "Report on Business Link and Business Link Regional Supply Network Management Information" and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Local statistics are a matter for local business links partnerships and I will ensure that the chief executive of the Sheffield business link is aware of the hon. Member's question.

  Receiverships
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of companies entering receivership in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire, for each of the last five years. [36454]

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

  Uranium
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 10, if the discussions with German officials included the supply of highly enriched uranium to research reactors; and what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure compliance with the reduced enrichment for research and test reactors agreement of 1978. [36466]

  Mr. Page
  Discussions with German officials did include the possible supply of HEU to research reactors.

  As the United Kingdom Government did not participate in the reduced enrichment for research and test reactors programme, we have no obligations under the agreement referred to.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 10, if the discussions with German officials included the supply of highly enriched uranium from resources at Dounreay. [36467]

  Mr. Page
  Discussions with German officials included the possible supply of HEU from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's own resources. For security reasons, I am not able to comment on the location of the HEU.
  284

  Clean Coal Technology
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish the results of the evaluation of the clean coal technology research and development programme; and if he will make a statement. [37306]

  Mr. Lang
  Copies of the evaluation report by an international panel of experts have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The independent experts from the United States, Japan and Denmark have conducted a thorough mid-term evaluation and made a number of recommendations with respect to the future direction of the programme. This is a useful report which the Government will have to study very carefully.

  Simpler Trade Procedures Board
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has completed the actions arising from the review of the Simpler Trade Procedures Board; and if he will make a statement. [37305]

  Mr. Nelson
  I am pleased to report that, since my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring) on 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1545, the United Kingdom Confederation for Electronic Data Interchange Standards—UKCEDIS—assumed responsibility for the United Kingdom input to international electronic data interchange standards with effect from 1 January 1996. On the same date, SITPRO's EDI standards development functions were transferred to the Electronic Commerce Association—ECA—formerly called the Electronic Data Interchange Association. The former SITPRO staff concerned joined the ECA and are undertaking EDI standards development agreed in the UKCEDIS workplan. The transfer is being supported by the Department with funding on a tapering basis.

  An advertisement for the sale of the SITPRO software business was issued on 26 September 1995. Kewill Systems plc was selected as preferred bidder on 19 February 1996 following an evaluation of shortlisted bidders. This demonstrated that its bid met my Department's objectives of the sale to secure best value for money while minimising any adverse impact on existing customers and the distributor network. The Government completed the sale of SITPRO's software business to Kewill Systems plc on 28 June for a consideration of £359,000 including net assets. The 11 staff in the software business project transferred to the purchaser.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when financial statements for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will be published. [37310]

  Mr. Lang
  Today I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses sets of the MMC's financial statements for the last financial year. The accounts which have been reviewed by the National Audit Office are the first to have been published since the basis for funding the commission was changed from grant to grant-in-aid. It is expected that the first set of audited accounts will be for 1996–97.
  285

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what(a) correspondence or (b) telephone conversations he has had with Mr. O. J. Williams concerning the importation of orimulsion for burning at Pembroke power station. [36732]

  Mr. Page
  Neither I, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor any of my officials has been in correspondence or has had any conversation with Mr. Williams about the use of orimulsion at the Pembroke power station.

  Annual Report
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he has taken to ensure that the non-ministerial departments listed in his annual report to Parliament take account of(a) "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", (b) the White Paper on sustainable development and (c) the competitiveness White Paper. [36621]

  Mr. Page
  It is for the respective Directors General of the Office of Fair Trading, the Office of Telecommunications, the Office of Gas Supply and the Office of Electricity Regulation to take appropriate account of all relevant developments in fulfilling their duties.

  Public Interest Disclosure Bill
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what public consultations his Department proposes to make in respect of the Public Interest Disclosure Bill. [36624]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  We have no current plans for public consultations.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations his Department undertook on the Public Interest Disclosure Bill between April and June. [36623]

  Mr. Taylor
  My Department has had informal discussions with industry on the Bill.

  Weapons Exports
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the British Government's policy on the export of non-lethal weaponry; and on what basis export licences are granted. [36482]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: The Export of Goods (Control) Order lists the goods on which the Government maintain export controls. Group 1 of part III to schedule 1 of the order lists military, security and paramilitary goods and arms, ammunition and related material. It does not define or categorise "non-lethal weapons". The Government maintain strict control over all arms exports, primarily by means of considering applications for export licences against strict established criteria; these have been agreed within the European Union, in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and by the permanent five members of the UN Security Council. I am arranging for copies of the three sets of criteria to be placed in the Library of the House.
  286
  The Government do not allow the export of controlled equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.

  Electric Shock Weaponry
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the current level of international trade in electric shock weaponry. [36484]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: None.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulations govern the labelling and selling of Scotch whisky. [35972]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Food Safety Act 1990, and regulations made under it, govern the sale of all food in Great Britain. Detailed labelling rules applicable to foods generally, including drink, are contained in the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 and the Food (Lot Marking) Regulations 1996, which implement EC requirements. In addition, EC regulation 1576/89 and the Scotch Whisky Act 1988 contain specific controls on the composition and marketing of Scotch whisky.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Occupational Health and Safety Agency
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what performance targets he has set for the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for the current financial year. [37416]

  Mr. Freeman
  My primary objective for the Occupational Health and Safety Agency is to secure its privatisation this summer. Until then it will be managed within the public sector on the basis of achieving the following annual key performance targets:

  Financial:

  to break even in accrual accounting terms;

  Quality of Service:

  (a) to turn round within II working days of receipt, 85 per cent. of case referrals on which no additional medical reports are required;

  (b) to turn round within 40 working days of receipt, 70 per cent. of case referrals on which additional medical information is required;

  (c) to earn client satisfaction ratings on training courses, comprehensive medical examinations and health screening programmes of 95 per cent. in the top two categories on a six point post-service questionnaire;

  (d) to issue at lease 97 per cent. of invoices error free.

  In addition, the agency has efficiency targets on cost containment, details of which are commercially sensitive.

  Recruitment and Assessment Services
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what performance targets he has set for the Recruitment and Assessment Services executive agency for the current financial year. [37417]
  287
  Mr. Freeman
  My primary objective for the Recruitment and Assessment Services for the current year is to achieve its privatisation this summer. Until then it will be managed within the public sector on the basis of achieving the following targets in 1996–97:

  1. a financial surplus of £200,000 in accrual accounting terms;

  2. at least a 4 per cent. increase in efficiency over 1996–97 performance;

  3. customer evaluation ratings for overall service of 97 per cent. satisfied or better with the service they have received and 81 per cent. more than satisfied or better.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an announcement on the progress of the sale of Recruitment and Assessment Services. [37418]

  Mr. Freeman
  The House was informed on 23 November last year that it was the Government's intention to sell Recruitment and Assessment Services as a single viable business in a way which would ensure that it retained its reputation for the provision of high-quality recruitment services to Government Departments and the wider public sector while allowing it to benefit from the freedom and opportunities for attracting new customers to be gained outside the constraints of operating within government.

  A large number of expressions of interest were received following the advertisement of the sale in January this year. A final short-list of three has now been selected. Those being invited to submit final bids are:

  The Capita Group plc

  NFER-NELSON Publishing Company Ltd.

  Saville and Holdsworth Ltd.

  I believe that this short-list will lead to final bids which maximise the prospects of securing good long-term value for money for the Government, the taxpayer and customers while meeting the objectives set for the sale of the business.

SCOTLAND

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36013]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office spent £40,940.81 on taxi fares in Edinburgh in 1995–96 under a central contract which provides significant discounts on normal fares. Expenditure on taxi costs incurred outside Edinburgh is not maintained centrally and could be identified only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Services Inspectors
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many social services inspectors were employed in each year since 1991 in Scotland. [36509]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In Scotland social work services inspectors are employed by local authorities and by the Scottish Office. The number of social work 288
  services inspectors in local authorities is not routinely collected. The information on social work services inspectors employed by the Scottish Office is set out in the table.

  Year

  Social Work Services Inspectors Inspecting Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System1

  Total Social Work Services Inspectors Employed by The Scottish Office

  1992

  4

  18

  1993

  4

  18

  1994

  4

  19

  1995

  4

  17

  1996

  3

  16

  1 The function of the Social Work Services Inspectorate in Scotland is wider than that of the Social Services Inspectorate in Wales and includes the inspection of social work services in the criminal justice system. This function is performed by the Home Office Probation Inspectorate in Wales Consequently the figures are shown separately.

  Common Services Agency
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the salary and benefit package payable to the chief executive of the Common Services Agency in(a) 1992 and (b) 1996. [36614]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The salary payable to the Common Services Agency board general manager in 1992 was in the range of £48,300 to £62,790 and in 1996 the range £60,855 to £76,068. The benefits package for both years includes NHS terms and conditions, Crown car and eligibility of entry to the NHS pension scheme.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff were employed by the Common Services Agency on a(a) permanent and (b) a temporary basis for (i) 1992 and (ii) 1996; and how many vacancies there were in the Common Services Agency in (i) and (ii). [36618]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of whole-time equivalent staff employed by the Common Services Agency in 1992 was 5,262; in 1995, the latest year for which figures are available, it was 2,360. The 1995 data exclude the Scottish Ambulance Service, which is now a trust containing 2,722 staff. Identification of permanent and temporary staff is not possible from data held centrally. Vacancy information is available only for medical, dental and nursing staff.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on running the board of the Common Services Agency; how much was spent on the remuneration of the members of the board of the CSA including the remuneration of expenses; and what was the overall budget administered by the Common Services Agency in(a) 1992 and (b) 1996. [36619]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The board is an integral part of the administrative structure of the Common Services Agency and its running costs are not identified separately.

  The remuneration of board members, including the general manager and director of finance, and the overall budget administered by the agency are as follows:

  289

  1991–92

  1995–96

  Remuneration of Board Members

  £141.753

  1£164.164

  Overall budget

  £126 million

  £143 million

  1 Figures for 1995–96 still to be audited.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members there were on the board of the Common Services Agency; and if he will list the members of the board in(a) 1992 and (b) 1996. [36620]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The board of the Common Services Agency had 11 board members in 1992 and nine board members in 1996. The board members for these years are listed as follows:

  1992

  Chairman

  Mr. Don Cruikshank

  Non-executive Board Members

  Mr. Ian Mullen

  Dr. Rowland Mitchell

  Mr. George Mackie

  Mr. John Blanche

  Mr. Victor Wood

  Mrs. Fiona Stephenson

  Executive Board Members

  Mr. Jim Donald (General Manager)

  Mr. Gavin Anderson (NHS in Scotland Management Executive)

  Mr. George Tucker (NHS in Scotland Management Executive)

  Mr. Trevor Callaway (Director of Finance)

  1996

  Chairman

  Mr. Geoff Scaife

  Non-executive Board Members

  Mrs. Fiona Stephenson

  Mrs. Jane Jolly

  Mrs. Christine Lenihan

  Mr. Sandy Barrie

  Mrs. Linda McPherson

  Mr. Gordon Lounsbach

  Executive Members

  Mr. Francis Gibb (General Manager)

  Mr. Eric Harper Gow (Director of Finance)

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which areas of responsibility administered by the Common Services Agency have left the responsibility of his Department since 1992; if he will list the functions which have been lost by the CSA; and to which departments they have been transferred. [36637]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has powers under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 to delegate to the Common Services Agency a range of statutory and other functions.

  Responsibility for the national services division passed from the NHS management executive to the Common Services Agency in 1993. The national services division purchases a range of clinical and other services on behalf of the NHS in Scotland as a whole. The Common Services Agency also now performs a small number of administrative functions formerly carried out by the Scottish Office Department of Health. These include the provision of oxygen concentrators for domiciliary oxygen
  290
  therapy and the processing of advertisements placed in the EC Journal by NHS bodies in Scotland. These activities are regulated and funded by service level contracts between the Common Services Agency and the NHS management executive.

  The Common Services Agency is no longer responsible for the Scottish Ambulance Service, which became an NHS trust on 1 April 1995. Following a tendering exercise, the agency's building division was sold to a private sector buyer on 1 November 1995. The services formerly provided by the agency's data centre are now supplied by a private sector company, the Computer Sciences Corporation.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reviews his Department has undertaken of the role and responsibilities of the Common Services Agency during the last five years. [36639]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The role and responsibilities of the Common Services Agency are kept under review by the Scottish Office Department of Health. As part of this process, accountability reviews took place in June 1992 and November 1993.

  In addition, since 1994, the following divisions of the agency have been subjected to specific internal reviews:

  Building Division

  Central Services

  Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

  Supplies Division

  Pharmacy Practice Division

  Dental Practice Division

  Central Legal Office

  Scottish Antibody Production Unit

  As a result of these reviews, the building division was sold to the private sector and the central legal office and the supplies division became fee earning.

  The overall effect of these changes has been to reduce the running costs of the agency and to provide more effective and efficient support for the national health service in Scotland.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes have occurred in the areas of responsibility of the Common Services Agency between 1992 and 1996 with particular reference to changes in the status of(a) the ambulance service, (b) the building division and (c) dental service payments; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these changes. [36640]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  During the past few years the CSA has undergone a period of significant change in its structure and activities.

  The Scottish Ambulance Service became an NHS trust in April 1995 and the agency's building division was sold to the private sector in November 1994. There has been no change in the agency's responsibility for dental service payments

  The agency's services have been realigned to meet the needs of its customers and to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. The agency is now a more streamlined organisation supporting the NHS in Scotland for the overall benefit of patient care.
  291

  Blood Transfusion Service
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to which individual within the NHS in Scotland the chief executive of the blood transfusion service is directly answerable. [36615]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The national director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service reports to the general manager of the Common Services Agency.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the appointment of a new chief executive of the blood transfusion service indicating the terms that will be offered in respect of the post. [36616]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The post of national director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is currently advertised. The salary is in the range of £55,000 to £60,000 with NHS terms and conditions, Crown car, and eligibility for entry to the NHS pension scheme.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the severance terms offered to the former chief executive of the blood transfusion service following his departure from his post indicating the terms of the financial agreement. [36617]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The terms agreed with the former national director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service were in line with the normal guidance on termination settlements and his contractual arrangement with the Common Services Agency.

  Health Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number(a) employed and (b) in training as (i) health visitors, (ii) school nurses, (iii) district nurses and (iv) community psychiatric nurses. [36728]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Estimates for the information requested are not available. The table provides the latest "actual" information available.

  Selected qualified nurses employed in the NHSiS at 30 September 1995; and nurses in training at 31 March 1996

  Headcount

  Whole-time equivalent

  (a) Employed

  (i) Health visitor (HV)1

  1,604

  1,429.6

  Grade G and above

  1,460

  1,316.8

  Below grade G

  144

  112.8

  (ii) School nurse

  371

  278.8

  (iii) District nurse (DN)1

  2,174

  1,733.1

  Grade G and above

  1,190

  1,027.7

  Below grade G

  984

  705.4

  (iv) Community psychiatric nurse

  445

  432.4

  (v) Combined duty nurse

  519

  462.6

  HV/DN

  24

  23.5

  HV/DN/Midwife

  93

  91.0

  DN/Midwife

  365

  313.1

  HV/Midwife

  37

  35.0

  (b) In training2

  (i) Health visitor

  124

  —

  292

  Selected qualified nurses employed in the NHSiS at 30 September 1995; and nurses in training at 31 March 1996

  Headcount

  Whole-time equivalent

  (ii) School nurse

  37

  —

  (iii) District nurse

  130

  —

  (iv) Community psychiatric nurse

  69

  —

  Notes:

  1Includes health visiting and district nursing teaching staff, and staff working in the field without a HV/DN qualification. The category `grade G and above' gives a broad indication of those staff with a HV/DN qualification.

  2'Includes nurses in training who are not sponsored by the NHS. Some nurses in training may also be included in nurse figures elsewhere in the table.

  Source:

  National Manpower Statistics from Payroll (NAMS), Information and Statistics Division, NBS Computerised Training Index, National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.

  M80
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors will inform his decision as to calling a local public inquiry into the line of route determined for the proposed M80 motorway between Stepps and Haggs; and if he will make a statement. [36638]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The route for the new motorway will be selected on the grounds of economic performance, engineering feasibility, cost and environmental impact and will reflect the wide-ranging views emerging from the current consultation process.

  Statutory procedures will be published after a choice of preferred line has been made. The need for a public local inquiry will depend on the reaction to the publication of draft procedures.

  Acute Services Review
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made on the review of the acute services planning assumptions used by the national health service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [37415]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The review is now complete and my right hon. Friend and I have considered the internal report which was prepared by the management executive following consultation with clinicians and others in the NHS in Scotland. The formal terms of reference of the review were to review the planning assumptions used by the NHS in Scotland in developing acute hospital services by considering:

  (i). trends (in activity and changing patterns of care, resource utilisation, staffing etc);

  (ii). factors which may affect those trends and the response to them (including the need to take account of peaks in demand); and

  (iii). models which may be appropriate for acute services in future.

  A copy of the report's summary of findings has been placed in the Library of the House. The main findings include:

  Between 1979–80 and 1994–95 the number of in-patient and day cases has increased on average by 3.1 per cent. a year. For most of this period, up to 1991–92, the annual rate of increase was 2.5 per cent., but since then has risen to 5.5 per cent. a year.
  293
  The rapid growth in the number of day cases explains much of the recent increase, and the proportion of elective patients treated as day cases has risen from 38.1 per cent. in 1991–92 to 52.2 per cent. in 1994–95.

  The number of emergency in-patient admissions increased by almost 4 per cent. a year on average between 1991–92 and 1994–95, while the number of elective in-patient cases remained largely unchanged. Emergency cases as a proportion of all in-patient cases has expanded steadily and now account for 60 per cent. of all in-patient admissions. This means that the scope for accommodating peaks of demand in beds normally used for non-emergency work has diminished, and when peaks in emergency workload occur the disruption to the non-emergency work of the hospital is correspondingly greater.

  The reasons for the growth in the number of emergency admissions is not well understood; a multiplicity of factors is involved. Aging of the population is not the principal reason and increases in admission are observed across most diagnostic categories. A significant part of the growth is explained by a relatively small number of patients who have numerous admissions within a five-year period. These are not readmissions due to treatment failure or to early discharge; the patients concerned are commonly over 75 and have appropriate need for admission arising from their chronic and multiple morbidity.

  Emergency admissions show a predictable seasonal fluctuation, with peaks in the winter months. The size of the seasonal variation has remained relatively stable; between 1982 and 1994 the difference between the peak average occupancy and its low point averages 12 per cent. of occupied beds. The timing of the winter peak is most likely to be determined by cold weather and fluctuations in respiratory disease. During peak admission periods, length of hospital stay tends to increase despite the pressure on hospitals which, other things being equal, might be expected to reduce lengths of stay. This is because during winter peaks the increase in admissions is age related.

  During the winter crisis of early 1996, Scottish hospitals managed to cope with difficult circumstances because staff worked flexibly and beyond their contracts. The situation in Edinburgh royal infirmary was exceptional in part because of failure of water supply, ward closures due to multi-resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, infections and the increased number of accidents among the tens of thousands of Hogmanay revellers. The problems faced by hospitals were compounded by staff sickness. Many hospitals had contingency plans which worked well. Nevertheless, it is clear that staff were under considerable strain during this period.

  There is a need to plan the management response to sudden rises in demand in terms of the overall "system of care". Health boards have a central role in ensuring the adequacy of plans and, through their service contracts, for ensuring that the needs of acutely ill emergency patients receive the appropriate priority in their requirements of providers.
  294
  The emphasis given to "beds" and "occupancy" as measures of resource and efficiency fails to acknowledge the importance of case mix, staffing levels, and patient throughput per bed as determinants of workload intensity.

  The suggestion that there should be a moratorium on bed reductions is unrealistic. Health services must change in response to new patterns of need, and in response to developing medical technologies. It would have implications for existing NHS and NHS private finance initiative schemes. Fixing for some indeterminate period of time one aspect of supply ignores the interplay between these changes, and could prevent the appropriate transfer of resources within hospitals and between hospitals and alternative forms of provision. On the other hand, the legitimate pursuit of greater efficiency and changes to accommodate changes in working practices need to be managed with proper regard to the quality of care, and the workload intensity which higher rates of throughput bring to hospital staff. Occupancy of hospital beds is only a partial measure of efficiency of these factors, and ought to be supplemented by other local measures of workload intensity in determining the scope for changes in bed complements.

  The findings of the report and the way forward will now be discussed further with those who contributed to the review.

  As a first step, guidance will now be prepared in consultation with the NHS. This will incorporate examples of good practice and will be issued to the NHS in Scotland later this year.

  I will also ask health boards and NHS trusts to look again at their plans for peaks of emergency admissions in the light of the review's findings in order to satisfy themselves that these will enable boards and trusts to respond appropriately and effectively.

  For the longer term, I wish to establish a much wider-ranging review of acute hospital services in Scotland. I will be seeking the views of senior clinicians and others on the scope, remit and timing of such a review in the coming months.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Mark Thatcher
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the dates of communications received by Her Majesty's Government from missions abroad since 1980 in relation to the activities of Mr. Mark Thatcher in Oman. [36580]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not possible to establish whether there are any communications except at disproportionate cost.

  Wales and Scotland (Constitution)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to hold a multi-optional referendum on the constitutional future of Wales and Scotland prior to a general election. [36598]

  The Prime Minister
  No.
  295

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 July. [35744]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 July. [35745]

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 July. [35414]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is representing Her Majesty's Government at an official function with President Mandela.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role of senior civil servants in relation to(a) the answering of parliamentary questions, (b) the presentation of information to Parliament and (c) informing Parliament of Ministers' policies. [36487]

  The Prime Minister
  As set out in the civil service code, it is the role of civil servants to assist Ministers in their duty to give Parliament and the public as full information as possible about the policies, decisions and actions of the Government.

  Robert Hussein
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the head of the Kuwait Government over the case of Robert Hussein; and if he will make a statement. [36678]

  The Prime Minister
  We have raised our concerns about the safety of Mr. Robert Hussein with the Kuwaiti authorities on a number of occasions and will continue to do so, when appropriate.

WALES

  Welsh Language
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for transferring responsibilities for support for specific grants to local authorities for bilingual education projects to the Welsh Language Board. [37419]

  Mr. Hague
  At present, my Department makes specific grants for this purpose to local education authorities under section 21 of the Education Act 1980; these resources are largely used to support teams of area teachers—athrawon bro—which assist schools to deliver Welsh in the national curriculum.

  In accordance with a commitment in the White Paper "A Working Countryside for Wales", I have consulted local government in Wales about transferring this responsibility to the Welsh Language Board. I have now decided that this responsibility, together with appropriate resources. should be transferred to the board with effect from 1 April 1997; it will therefore be for the board later
  296
  this year to invite bids from local education authorities for support for bilingual education projects from 1997–98. The board will be able to make grants for this purpose under its existing statutory powers. Grants from the board to local authorities in support of bilingual education will remain specific grants within aggregate external finance and cannot be transferred to other expenditure categories.

  I am asking the board to convene an early meeting with officials of the Welsh Local Government Association and with the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector to take this matter forward.

  Cattle Remains
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what quantity of rendered remains of cattle rendered aged 30 months or more are currently stored in(a) Exeter, (b) Belfast, (c) Liverpool and (d) Gloucestershire. [36291]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have been asked to reply.

  Quantities of rendered meat and bone meal in store at these locations on 8 July 1996 were:

  Tonnes

  Exeter

  6,649

  Belfast

  2,066

  Liverpool

  11,134

  Gloucestershire

  2,001

  Child Care
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the capacity of the social services inspectorate to carry out adequate and frequent inspections of children's services in Wales; [35098]

  (2) what plans he has to review the recruitment, selection and support of foster carers by social services departments in Wales; [35097]

  (3) what plans he has to increase the resources available for the external inspection and monitoring of child care provision by social services departments in Wales.[35099]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Sir W. Roberts) on 4 July, Official Report, column 507.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36014]

  Mr. Hague
  Such costs form part of the total expenditure for travel by road and could be identified only at disproportionate cost.

  Nurse Training
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many whole-time equivalent(a) health visitors, (b) school nurses, (c) district nurses and (d) community psychiatric nurses were in training in each region in

  297
  September of each year since 1990 broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnic origin. [36724]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Reliable information is not available prior to 1993 and information on the number of school nurses in training is not collected centrally. Nor is information on the ethnic origin of students. The available information, which relates to the number whose courses are commissioned centrally, is given in the following table.

  Numbers commencing training in September of each year

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Health visitors

  —

  33

  1

  25

  1

  26

  District nurses

  1

  31

  1

  29

  —

  35

  Community Psychiatric nurses

  —

  16

  7

  11

  10

  12

  Source:

  Education purchasing unit, Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Gwent Health Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Gwent health authority concerning the appointment of a chief executive. [36673]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of(a) Gwent health authority and (b) Gwent Community Healthcare Trust concerning the refunding of the severance pay awarded to a previous senior manager of the trust currently employed by the health authority; and if he will make a statement. [36672]

  Mr. Hague
  None. Gwent health authority is considering the report on the procedure adopted for this appointment at its meeting on 12 July. The authority will let me know what action it intends to take on it.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what(a) correspondence or (b) telephone conversations he has had with Mr. O. J. Williams concerning the construction of a jetty to import orimulsion for burning at Pembroke power station. [36731]

  Mr. Hague
  I have had a private meeting with Mr. Williams, during which a number of issues were discussed. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary was unaware of this meeting when he answered a question on this issue on 4 July, Official Report, column 507.

  International Projects
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency in relation to the role of the Invest in Britain Bureau in attracting large international projects to Wales. [36701]
  298
  Mr. Hague
  I regularly meet the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales. The capture of the project by LG is a good example of how well the arrangements for major projects work.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions senior officers and the chief executive of the Child Support Agency are engaged in, or planning to hold, about replacing the current child support computer system. [36172]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the chief executive of the Child Support Agency to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Ms Lynne) on 20 June, Official Report, column 603.

  State Retirement Pensions
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of the basic state retirement pension for(a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couples for each year between November 1979 and April 1996; and what it would have been if it had been uprated in line with whichever was the higher of average earnings or prices. [36382]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table:

  Basic Rales of retirement pension (RP)

  Rate of RP if uprated by higher of average earnings or prices since November 1979

  Single

  Couple

  Single

  Couple

  November 1979

  23.30

  37.30

  23.30

  37.30

  November 1980

  27.15

  43.45

  27.60

  44.20

  November 1981

  29.60

  47.35

  30.90

  49.50

  November 1982

  32.85

  52.55

  33.50

  53.65

  November 1983

  34.05

  54.50

  36.40

  58.30

  November 1984

  35.80

  57.30

  38.25

  61.25

  November 1985

  38.30

  61.30

  41.60

  66.60

  July 1986

  38.70

  61.95

  43.45

  69.55

  April 1987

  39.50

  63.25

  45.90

  73.45

  April 1988

  41.15

  65.90

  49.50

  79.20

  April 1989

  43.60

  69.80

  53.90

  86.25

  April 1990

  46.9

  75.10

  59.15

  94.65

  April 1991

  52.00

  83.25

  65.60

  104.95

  April 1992

  54.15

  86.70

  70.80

  113.25

  April 1993

  56.10

  89.80

  74.25

  118.80

  April 1994

  57.60

  92.10

  76.40

  122.25

  April 1995

  58.85

  94.10

  79.45

  127.15

  April 1996

  61.15

  97.75

  82.55

  132.10

  Note:

  The values of Retirement Pension uprated by the higher of the Retail Prices Index or earnings have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence.

  Source:

  The Retail Prices Index (all items) and the Average Earnings Index (Whole economy unadjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics, have been used in this table.

  Pensioners
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioner households are dependent on state benefits for at least(a) 50 per cent.,

  299
  (b) 75 per cent. and (c) 100 per cent. of their income in the latest year for which figures are available. [36256]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.

  State benefits as a percentage of income

  Proportion of pensioner units (per cent.)

  At least 50 per cent.

  72

  At least 75 per cent.

  51

  100 per cent.

  15

  Notes

  1. Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  2. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.

  3. The proportion of state benefits is shown as a percentage of weekly gross income, before housing costs.

  Source

  Estimates derived from the 1993 Family Expenditure Survey, the latest date for which the information is available.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those in receipt of a state pension are(a) women aged 60 to 64, (b) men and women aged 65 to 69, (c) men and women aged 70 to 74, (d) men and women aged 75 to 79 and (e) men and women aged 80 years and over. [36359]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is set out in the table:

  Age

  Men

  Women

  Both

  60–64

  —

  1,060,320

  1,060,320

  65–69

  968,400

  1,314,620

  2,283,020

  70–74

  1,041,620

  1,315,140

  2,356,760

  75–79

  681,480

  1,019,060

  1,700,540

  80 and over

  695,900

  1,602,980

  2,298,880

  Total

  3,387,400

  6,312,120

  9,699,520

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for Great Britain only.

  2. The figures include those in receipt of the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) additional pension only and graduated retirement benefit only.

  Source:

  Biannual inquiry using a 5 per cent. sample at September 1995.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make changes to the discretionary social fund in the light of the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement. [37247]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We are introducing amendments to the Secretary of State's directions and guidance on the help available form the discretionary social fund to take effect from 7 October 1996. These changes include amendments in consequence of the introduction of jobseeker's allowance and a range of other minor improvements the need for which we have identified in the course of our routine monitoring of the social fund.

  Details of these changes have been placed in the Library.
  300

TREASURY

  Retail Banks
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will require all retail banks to display the word bank on the fascia of their premises. [36464]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  No.

  Wealth and Poverty
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reduce the discrepancy between the wealth of the richest and the poorest groups. [36267]

  Mr. Jack
  The Government believe that the prosperity of all groups depends on a healthy and growing economy. Our economic policies are delivering sustainable growth and low inflation.

  Unemployment Benefit Claims (York)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for unemployment benefit have been made by people living in the York parliamentary constituency since April 1992; and how many people living in the York parliamentary constituency have made one or more new claims for unemployment benefit in the same period. [36554]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Figures for those living in the York parliamentary constituency are not available. However, since April 1992 there have been approximately 58,000 claims for unemployment-related benefits from claimants signing-on at York Clifford street Employment Service jobcentre and York Stonebow Employment Service jobcentre. The number of claimants at these jobcentres who experienced at least one spell of unemployment in the same period was approximately 33,000.

  Private Sector Borrowing
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions of treaties or draft proposals of the European Union limit the percentage of private sector borrowing as a proportion of gross product or similar figures. [36822]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There are no treaty provisions or European Union proposals to limit private sector borrowing.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he has made to his estimate of annual revenue from the landfill tax since his Budget statement. [35345]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In the 1995 Budget the net revenue from the landfill tax was estimated to be £110 million in 1996–97 and £450 million in a full year. In the "Summer Economic Forecast", published on 9 July, the estimates are unchanged.
  301

  Taxation Policies
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the report of the EU monetary committee on United Kingdom policies in relation to the qualification of economic and monetary union membership. [36633]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The EU monetary committee has participated in discussions on excessive deficits as required by article 104c of the treaty establishing the European Community. It has produced no reports on UK taxation policies which are entirely the responsibility of the British Government and do not fall within Community competence. The ECOFIN Council of 8 July agreed recommendations for member states with excessive deficits, including on the United Kingdom. These recommendations are not binding on the Government and are merely advisory. Once they are adopted, the recommendation on the UK will be made available to Parliament as usual through the normal scrutiny channels.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the extent to which the United Kingdom is obliged to(a) consider and (b) respond to the recommendations of the EU monetary committee on United Kingdom tax policy. [36635]

  Mr. Clarke
  The EU monetary committee has produced no reports and made no recommendations on UK taxation policies.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the origin, responsibilities and role of the EU monetary committee. [36632]

  Mr. Clarke
  Article 109c(1) of the EC treaty provides for the establishment of a monetary committee with advisory status in order to promote co-ordination of the policies of member states to the full extent needed for the functioning of the internal market. It states that the committee's tasks include: to keep under review the monetary and financial situation of the member states and of the Community and the general payments system of the member states and to report regularly to the Council and the Commission, to deliver opinions at the request of the Council or of the Commission or on its own initiative and to contribute to the preparation of the work of the Council in areas such as economic and financial policy.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of each recommendation contained in the report of the EU monetary committee on tax policy. [36634]

  Mr. Clarke
  The Government agree with the committee's recommendation that the United Kingdom adhere to its existing policy of continued fiscal consolidation and that tight control of expenditure will continue to be necessary.

  Single Currency
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure for assessing eligibility of member states for participation in the single currency; and what is the role in such consideration of the EU monetary committee. [36636]
  302
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Article 109j of the EC treaty sets out the procedure for participation in the single currency. The Commission and the European Monetary Institute shall report on the convergence achieved by the member states. On the basis of these reports, the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers—ECOFIN—shall assess, by qualified majority, member states' fulfilment of the necessary conditions for the adoption of a single currency and recommend its findings to the Council in the form of the Heads of State or Government. The European Parliament will also be consulted. Taking account of the reports of the EMI and the Commission and the opinion of the European Parliament, Heads of State or Government shall, acting by a qualified majority, and on the basis of the ECOFIN recommendations, decide which member states fulfil the necessary conditions for the adoption of a single currency.

  The EU monetary committee will, according to the article 109c (1) of the EC treaty, contribute to the preparation of the work of ECOFIN in this procedure.

  Excise Verification Officers
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the number of excise verification officers in the United Kingdom. [36559]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: Customs keep the number of staff required for this work under close review. At 31 March 1996 there were some 252 staff engaged on single market excise work, most of whom were excise verification officers. For the current financial year an increase of 20 EVO posts has been made.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is HM Customs and Excise's(a) current and (b) target detection rate for tobacco smuggling. [36560]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: In the year to 31 May excise verification officers detected single market excise offences with a revenue value of some £13 million, of which £6.1 million related to tobacco goods. The EVOs, target for the financial year to 31 March 1997 is £14 million for all types of excise goods; there is no separates target for tobacco goods.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls have been received on HM Customs and Excise's "Bootleggers" hotline for reporting tobacco smuggling; and how many prosecutions have been effected as a result of that hotline. [36561]

  Mr. Heatcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: The Excise anti-smuggling hotline—0800 901 901—is a freephone, 24-hour, confidential service which has received 4,206 calls in the two years of its operation to 31 May 1996. The great majority of cases are dealt with by imposing a civil penalty rather than by prosecution and Customs' records are not held in a manner which indicates the number of hotline calls that result in prosecution.
  303

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the provision of support in schools for children with dyslexia; and ii she will ensure that providers of teacher training take account of the code of practice on special educational needs. [36001]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The code of practice gives practical guidance to LEAs and the governing bodies of maintained schools on their responsibilities towards children with special educational needs, including those with dyslexia. The specific forms of support provided are a matter for individual schools and—in the case of children with statements—LEAs to determine, in consultation with parents. The Teacher Training Agency is developing national standards for newly qualified teachers, which will clarify the existing criteria, used in DfEE circulars, in the light of the code of practice.

  Pupil Testing
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the results of the International Association for Educational Progress tests with special reference to the capabilities of 13-year-olds to multiply 9.2 by 2.5; and if she will make a statement. [36230]

  Mr. Paice
  The tests to which my hon. Friend refers were conducted in 1988. The results showed that English 13-year-olds were comparatively strong in geometry and problem solving and weaker in arithmetic.

  Since 1988, we have introduced a number of major reforms. Among these, the recent revisions to the mathematics national curriculum have increased the emphasis on numeracy skills, particularly in the primary phase; our network of numeracy centres will continue to focus on this key skill, helping teachers to use methods that work.

  Examination Results (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number of school students achieving grades C and above in A-level examinations in Cheshire for each of the last five years and how that number relates to the national average. [36371]

  Mr. Paice
  The following tables give (i) the number and (ii) the percentage of 17-year-old pupils attaining grades C and above in GCE A-level examinations in Cheshire and England for the years 1995, 1994, 1993 and 1992. The data for 1991 are not available on a consistent basis.

  GCE A-level achievements of 17-year-old pupils1 in all maintained schools2

  Cheshire

  England

  Number of 17-year-old pupils

  1991–923

  2,106

  72,333

  1992–93

  1,708

  58,006

  1993–94

  1,732

  60,458

  1994–95

  1,677

  62,368

  304

  GCE A-level achievements of 17-year-old pupils1 in all maintained schools2

  Cheshire

  England

  Percentage of 17-year-old pupils

  1991–923

  60

  54

  1992–93

  61

  55

  1993–94

  62

  57

  1994–95

  62

  58

  1 Those pupils aged 17 at 31 August.

  2 Including grant-maintained schools, city technology colleges and maintained special schools.

  3 Prior to 1992–93, sixth-form colleges were part of the schools sector. Figures for 1991–92 therefore include sixth-form colleges.

  Education Expenditure (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the standard spending assessment for Cheshire education authority in respect of(a) school capital building projects and (b) school transport in each of the last five years. [36372]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Provision for school capital is contained within the capital financing standard spending assessment and that for school transport within the education standard spending assessment. However, amounts for school capital or transport are not identified separately.

  Capital and Grant Funding (Northamptonshire)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list each(a) capital allocation and (b) grant awarded to each (i) grant-maintained and (ii) city technology college in Northamptonshire in each year since 1989 which has been in excess of f 10,000. [36694]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Funding for grant-maintained schools is a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the Funding Agency to write to my hon. Friend with the information.

  The Department maintains one city technology college in Northamptonshire: Brooke Weston college in Corby. Capital allocations are not made down to individual CTCs. Information on capital grant awarded to Brooke Weston college is set out as follows:

  Financial year

  Capital grant awarded (£ million)1

  1989–90

  nil

  1990–91

  5.024

  1991–92

  2.648

  1992–93

  0.424

  1993–94

  0.143

  1994–95

  0.120

  1995–96

  0.615

  1 Includes DfEE contributions towards initial capital building costs.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 27 June,Official Report, column 224, (1) what considerations led the chief executive of the Employment on the cost of the refurbishment of offices in Swansea; [36864]
  305
  (2) on what terms the Employment Service, in June, disposed of its lease on its Swansea office; what dilapidation claim has been made; who owns the office; how much of the lease was outstanding; and what rent, rates and running costs will be incurred at the new office. [36816]

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

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Alan Williams, dated 11 July 1996:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your additional questions about the refurbishment and lease disposal of my office at Grove House, Swansea. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  I am sorry that part of your original question about the cost of refurbishing these premises was not answered. The refurbishment cost £208,000. The greater part of these costs was the replacement of electrical fittings as required under the Health & Safety (Design Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992.
  The building is owned by Estateways PLC and we held the building on a twenty-year lease from 20 June 1986. The lease included a break clause at the end of the tenth year which we served this year. To date, no dilapidation claim has been received.
  There were no additional costs incurred in moving from the building in Grove House to the integrated Jobcentre in High Street, Swansea. We had been occupying this building since June 1994 when the two separate Unemployment Benefit Offices in Swansea were integrated into the one site. The enclosed table shows the costs of the three buildings in Swansea which we used to occupy and the cost of the single integrated office. Substantial savings have been made to the cost of running the Employment Service in Swansea as a result of these moves.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Annual charges

  Rent

  Rates

  Service charge

  Total

  Swansea High Street Jobcentre

  17,500

  43,095

  Nil

  60,595

  Northampton Lane

  23,985.72

  11,044

  Nil

  35,029.72

  Unemployment Benefit Office (UBO)1

  Orchard Street UBO1

  72,912.12

  21,010

  2,255.16

  96,177.28

  Grove House Jobcentre2

  42,500

  19,882

  1,815

  64,197

  Total

  139,397.84

  51,936

  4,070.16

  195,404

  1 Offices vacated in June 1994.

  2 Office vacated in June 1996.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many youths started youth training in each year since 1990–91. [36584]

  Mr. Paice
  The number of people starting youth training in Great Britain in each year since 1990–91 is as follows:

  1990–91: 347,800

  1991–92: 290,400

  1992–93: 286,700

  1993–94: 290,300

  1994–95: 303,600

  1995–96: 304,400

  306

  List 99
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many inquiries have been made by voluntary-aided and grant-maintained schools to DfEE list 99 for each year since 1979. [36718]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is not available. Voluntary-aided schools are maintained by local education authorities, which make List 99 checks on their behalf, and the Department does not have a record of the number of checks requested by grant-maintained schools.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make samples from carcases in beef intervention stock held in the United Kingdom available to researchers investigating BSE. [24419]

  Mrs. Browning
  Community rules currently require that beef purchased into intervention must be derived from steers aged less than 30 months at slaughter, or 24 months in the case of bull beef. Beef stored in intervention is subject to regular and comprehensive controls, including analyses, to ensure that it remains safe to eat.

  No BSE infectivity has ever been detected in the muscle of cattle. Moreover, all specified bovine materials must be removed from all cattle at slaughter and destroyed, this includes from those animals going for intervention. It is, therefore, not clear what use researchers investigating BSE would derive from working on samples of intervention beef.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish all the scientific evidence he has evaluated since 1992 on bovine spongiform encephalopathy. [24525]

  Mrs. Browning
  It is not possible for the Government to re-publish all the hundreds of scientific reports worldwide on BSE which are considered by experts and the members of the independent Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, SEAC, many of which are published by scientific journals which hold the copyright. In other cases, interim results have been reported to the committee on a confidential basis by the scientists involved and it would be wrong for the Government to pre-empt the rights of those scientists to publish their results in the scientific literature in the normal way. In 1995 SEAC published a major report summarising present knowledge and research on BSE and similar diseases. A copy is available in the Library of the House (ISBN 0 11 242 9874).

  A list of recent projects financed by the Government is given at appendix B of the "Programme to eradicate BSE in the United Kingdom" produced in May 1996 which is also available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of(a) head boning firms, (b) food processing companies, (c) abattoirs and (d) other

  307
  companies or organisations connected with the beef trade that have ceased trading as a result of the BSE crisis. [31106]

  Mrs. Browning
  Precise figures are not available. However we estimate that 30 head boning plants, 200 retail butchers, two livestock markets, and a total of 15 wholesalers, meat processors and exporters, may have ceased trading since 20 March. There are no figures available for food processing companies. We believe that only one abattoir has ceased trading as a direct result of the crisis.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle(a) assessed to be incubating and (b) suspected to be incubating BSE have been imported into the United Kingdom from each EU member state in each year since 1990. [36677]

  Mrs. Browning
  No cattle imported into Great Britain have at the time of import been suspected of having BSE. However one animal which was reported to the Ministry as a BSE suspect in June 1994 and subsequently confirmed as a BSE case had been imported from France in April 1993. BSE has been confirmed in nine other imported cattle, originating from five member states. All had been resident in Britain for long enough to have become infected after arrival, and therefore no inquiries have been made in the exporting countries.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minsiter of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle, born after the ban on ruminant remains in cattle food, have been confirmed as BSE cases in each of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England; what action his Department has systematically undertaken to determine the cause of such cases of BSE; and how many prosecutions or formal warnings have arisen from such cases. [31577]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: The number of confirmed number of BSE cases born after the ruminant feed ban as at 10 July 1996 is:

  Number

  England

  24,944

  Scotland

  1,093

  Wales

  2,163

  Northern Ireland

  168

  Detailed investigations of a significant proportion of all born after the ban cases—BABS—have been undertaken. In particular details on consumption of feed, particularly in the first year of life, risk of carryover on the farm of feed produced before the ban and the type and source of feed have been obtained. No farmers have been prosecuted for failure to comply with the feed ban because the incubation period of the disease makes it impossible to travel back to a particular feed source.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the date of birth by month and year of the 10 youngest cattle confirmed as BSE cases during 1996 in each of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. [31578]
  308
  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: The date of birth by month and year of the 10 youngest cattle in each of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England for 1996 is:

  Scotland

  Wales

  England

  Northern Ireland

  March 1991

  November 1991

  July 1992

  February 1991

  May 1991

  February 1991

  July 1992

  August 1991

  June 1991

  February 1992

  July 1992

  September 1991

  July 1991

  March 1992

  August 1992

  September 1991

  October 1991

  March 1992

  September 1992

  October 1991

  December 1991

  April 1992

  October 1992

  October 1991

  January 1992

  June 1992

  November 1992

  December 1992

  April 1992

  June 1992

  December 1992

  January 1992

  August 1992

  September 1992

  December 1992

  January 1992

  October 1992

  September 1992

  December 1992

  January 1992

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the confirmed percentage of the incidence of BSE in cattle for each year since 1989. [32268]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: The percentage of confirmed BSE cases in adult animals, as recorded on agricultural census data, since 1989 by year of clinical onset is:

  Year of onset

  Percent of adult animals affected

  1989

  0.20

  1990

  0.37

  1991

  0.66

  1992

  0.97

  1993

  0.88

  1994

  0.56

  1995

  0.33

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he proposes to use to establish whether a herd is BSE-free for the purposes of the exemptions from the 30-month cattle disposal scheme; and if he will make a statement. [33180]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: Proposals for a beef assurance scheme for those herds which are considered a low risk to contracting BSE were issued for consultation on 3 May. The consultation demonstrated broad support for the introduction of such a scheme. The detailed rules are now being developed in conjunction with the advice of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. I hope to announce full details of the scheme shortly.

  Beef Disposal
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost of disposal of(a) beef, and (b) dairy cattle sent for slaughter in the United Kingdom (i) per head and (ii) in total; and if he will make a statement. [24494]

  Mrs. Browning
  On the question of costs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 27 June 1996, Official Report column 234.
  309
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the period of time over which all(a) beef and (b) dairy cattle aged over 30 months in the United Kingdom could be slaughtered; and if he will make a statement. [24495]

  Mrs. Browning
  No estimate has been made of the timescale in which all such animals could be slaughtered. The objective in the short term is to eliminate the backlog of cattle eligible for slaughter under the over 30 month slaughter scheme as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House on 24 June, Official Report column 21.

  Abattoir Waste Spreading (Bradford)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he took upon receipt of a letter, dated March 29 from the chair of the public health and protection sub-committee of Bradford council, concerning abattoir waste spreading to land; if he will place a copy of the letter and his reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [26236]

  Mrs. Browning
  I must apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member. A reply to the letter has been sent explaining the position and offering a meeting with MAFF's divisional veterinary manager at Leeds. A copy of the letter and the reply have been placed in the Library.

  Shingle Dredging (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the hon. Member may expect a substantive answer to his question of 2 July on the difference in millimetres in the size of shingle available commercially from Hurst Spit and the shingle to be taken from the Shingles bank. [36856]

  Mr. Boswell
  I replied to my hon. Friends's question on 9 July 1996, Official Report, column 165.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has made of the effect of dredging shingle from Shingles bank on the southern west coast of the Isle of Wight. [36028]

  Mr. Boswell
  In contributing to the Government view on applications for dredging licences, the Ministry does not commission separate studies on the potential impact of dredging on the neighbouring coastline but does take account of independent studies. In the case of Shingles bank the study was undertaken by Wimpey Environmental Ltd. and it was re-appraised by HR Wallingford Ltd. A copy of the report can be viewed by arrangement at the New Forest district council's town hall in Avenue road, Lymington, Hampshire.

  Fat Consumption
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average percentage, for each nation of the United Kingdom, of food energy derived from(a) fat and (b) saturated fatty acids for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [36047]
  310
  Mrs. Browning
  Data on the food energy derived from fat and saturated fatty acids in England, Scotland and Wales for the years 1979 to 1994 is given in the table. Equivalent data for 1995 will be published in November this year.

  The data are derived from the "National Food Survey" which during this period covered only household consumption. They therefore take no account of food energy and fat intake derived from food consumed outside of the home.

  Comparable data on the intake of fat and saturated fatty acids in Northern Ireland are not available.

  Total fat and saturated fatty acids as a percentage of food energy in England, Wales and Scotland, 1979–1994

  Percentage

  Total fat

  Saturated fatty acids

  Year

  Scotland

  Wales

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  England

  1979

  41.2

  42.3

  42.6

  18.7

  19.1

  19.1

  1980

  40.8

  42.8

  42.8

  18.1

  19.4

  18.9

  1981

  41.5

  41.1

  42.3

  18.4

  18.4

  18.5

  1982

  41.3

  42.4

  43.2

  17.6

  18.8

  18.4

  1983

  42.3

  42.7

  42.6

  18.8

  19.0

  18.6

  1984

  41.5

  41.3

  42.4

  18.1

  18.2

  18.3

  1985

  42.0

  42.4

  42.7

  18.3

  18.3

  18.1

  1986

  42.0

  42.3

  42.7

  17.7

  17.7

  17.7

  1987

  41.4

  42.3

  42.3

  17.2

  17.3

  17.3

  1988

  41.5

  41.9

  42.1

  17.4

  17.3

  17.2

  1989

  41.1

  41.5

  42.0

  17.1

  17.0

  17.1

  1990

  40.5

  42.2

  41.7

  16.4

  16.8

  16.6

  1991

  40.6

  41.4

  41.7

  16.2

  16.8

  16.4

  1992

  41.5

  41.0

  41.7

  16.5

  16.0

  16.3

  1993

  42.3

  40.5

  41.2

  16.7

  16.2

  16.0

  1994

  41.0

  40.2

  40.4

  16.0

  15.6

  15.6

  Source:

  "National Food Survey".

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money has been received by farmers in the form of organic aid since August 1994; and if he will make a statement. [36227]

  Mr. Boswell
  A total of £363,976 has been paid under the organic aid scheme in England for the period August 1994 to May 1996. Separate schemes operate in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Efforts to encourage greater uptake for the scheme continue. For example, we launched the new organic conversion information service on 27 June which provides free technical and other advice to prospective organic farmers.

  Tamper-proof Seals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require tamper-proof seals to be used on processed foods, drinks and other items intended for human consumption [36238]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have no plans to introduce additional legislation on tamper-proof seals. Existing food safety law requires manufactures and suppliers of processed food products to take all reasonable precautions to ensure food safety and to protect the interests of the consumer. Additional legislation would do no more than gold-plate the existing provisions. Furthermore, I believe that food manufacturers are best placed to take appropriate
  311
  measures to protect the integrity of their products, and applaud the steps already taken by many manufacturers to supply their products in tamper-proof containers.

  Beef Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his calculation of the amount of moneys required by the beef industry from his Department in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [24323]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 18 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 27 June 1996, Official Report, column 234.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those areas where the Government are entitled to pay compensation within the beef and ancillary industries compatible with EU law. [23999]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: National compensation measures must conform with the requirements of articles 92 and 93 of the treaty of Rome, which prohibits aids which distort or threaten to distort competition. All national measures must be notified to the Commission which has the power to decide on the compatibility of the aid with the treaty. The Commission has approved the following emergency market support measures necessitated by the present circumstances of the UK beef market: financial assistance to the rendering and slaughtering industries, supplementary compensation on steers and heifers; and compensation for bulls aged between 24 and 30 months in Northern Ireland.

  Other measures to support the market in beef include:
  premiums payable on beef cows and other male animals under the suckler cow and beef special premium schemes;
  beef offered for sale into intervention when average market prices in the EU fall below 84 per cent. of the intervention price and where, in an individual member state, the average market price falls below 80 per cent. of the intervention price;
  premiums payable on male dairy calves taken out of production by the age of 10 days; and
  subject to upper limits, compensation paid in respect of UK animals aged over 30 months which are currently unable to be sold into the human food chain.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Noise Prosecutions
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many successful prosecutions for noise have been brought in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [35390]

  Mr. Moss
  The total number of successful prosecutions for noise pollution in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 was three, eight and two respectively.
  312

  Irish Republic (Security and Co-operation)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the relationship of his Department with Irish Ministers on security and co-operation. [35393]

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his relations with the Irish Government in respect of security and co-operation. [35397]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I and my colleagues regularly discuss security issues and security co-operation with Irish Ministers. Both Governments are committed to ensuring the effectiveness of security co-operation between our two Governments and between our respective security forces, and will vigorously pursue improvements to those arrangements.

  Extradition Arrangements
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the current extradition arrangements between the Republic and the north of Ireland. [35394]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I am pleased to say that the current extradition agreements between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland work well. In the past 12 months we have co-operated to ensure the successful extradition of four individuals to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland and another four in the opposite direction. I believe this is a good record.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the conditions which Sinn Fein must now meet before being allowed to enter the peace talks. [35395]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Sinn Fein may participate in negotiations only after the unequivocal restoration of the IRA ceasefire.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has to report on the peace process. [35405]

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the Stormont talks. [35387]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) and my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes).

  Terrorist Arms
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decommissioning of terrorist arms. [35396]

  Sir John Wheeler
  We remain committed to the decommissioning of illegal arms, the need for which has been underlined by the Provisional IRA's continuing pursuit of violence, and which remains vital if there is to be sufficient confidence to ensure a successful outcome to political talks.
  313

  Bill of Rights
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring forward a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [35398]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The framework documents published in February last year identified common ground on which agreement on the future protection of rights can be founded. The question of what specific rights require added protection, and the means of protection, is a matter for discussion within the multi-party talks which are currently under way.

  Higher Education
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the number of applicants for higher education courses in 1996–97. [35400]

  Mr. Ancram
  There have been 21,200 applicants to Northern Ireland universities and 3,600 applicants to Northern Ireland colleges of education for entry in 1996–97. Information is not available on applicants to higher education courses at further education colleges.

  Social Services Charges
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the charges made for(a) home help, (b) wardens, and (c) meals on wheels; and if he will make a statement. [35401]

  Mr. Moss
  The home help service is provided free to persons aged 75 and over. For others, the amount payable is determined in accordance with my Department's model scheme, introduced in 1980. Boards and trusts have some local discretion, and are required only to ensure that the charge does not exceed the actual cost of providing the service. Depending on locality, the range of charges runs from £4.32 to £6 per hour. However most clients pay only a proportion of this, or nothing at all, following assessment of their financial circumstances.

  There is no charge for wardens. The standard charge for meals on wheels is 85p per meal.

  Radiation
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent(a) representations he has received and (b) consultations he has held about the extent, impact and source of radiation pollution in Northern Ireland and in the Irish sea. [35402]

  Mr. Moss
  I have received no representations and held no consultations about the extent, impact and source of radiation pollution in Northern Ireland and the Irish sea.

  Terrorists (Remission of Sentences)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review remission arrangements for prisoners convicted of terrorist activities. [35406]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The arrangements for the release of those persons convicted of serious scheduled offences will remain under review.
  314

  Employment Programmes
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that the Northern Ireland Forum discusses positive action in employment programmes in Northern Ireland. [35407]

  Mr. Ancram
  The remit of the forum as provided by section 3(1) of the Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiations, etc) Act 1996 is to discuss any issue which is relevant to promoting dialogue and understanding within Northern Ireland. It is a matter for the forum delegates to determine within that remit which issues they may wish to discuss.

  Health Budget
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact of changes in the level of expenditure in respect of the Northern Ireland health budget in the current financial year. [35408]

  Mr. Moss
  The Government's expenditure on health and personal social services in Northern Ireland in 1996–97 will increase by £54 million. This is a real-terms increase of 0.2 per cent. on estimated expenditure for 1995–96. In order to meet a range of pressures facing services, including a rising drugs bill and increases in emergency admissions to hospital, and to finance a small number of high priority service developments, spending on existing services has been reduced by 3 per cent. Half of this is being met by securing greater efficiency, including reductions in management costs, and half by selected reductions in services, principally non-urgent admissions to hospital and some elements of community services.

  Home Help Provision
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many recent representations he has received concerning home help provision. [35409]

  Mr. Moss
  Since 1 January 1996 I have received 11 general inquiries about home help provision, and one concerning the circumstances of an individual case.

  Elected Bodies (Women)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he will take to promote the role of women in elected bodies in Northern Ireland. [35403]

  Mr. Ancram
  Women have an important role to play in the political arena in Northern Ireland. Promoting the role of women in elected bodies in Northern Ireland is however a matter for the political parties involved in those bodies.

  All-party Talks
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the salaries and terms and conditions relating to appointment as a chairman of each strand of the all-party talks. [35322]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The three independent chairmen are not being paid a salary. They have been offered a per diem rate up to a maximum of £500 while they are engaged on talks-related business. The terms and
  315
  conditions attached to their appointment are determined by precedent and analogy to the arrangements for the chairmen of the 1992 talks, Sir Ninian Stephen.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on comparative costing of (i) organic, (ii) bio-dynamic, (iii) permaculture and (iv) conventional intensive agricultural systems where the external costs have been internalised; and if he will make a statement. [36057]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland funds research into the environmental aspects of conventional farming to support its aim of protecting and improving the environment through environmentally sensitive farming. This research includes a number of projects which take into account external costs and benefits for example, research on low input systems and their effect on the environment, and

  Nursing staff Northern Ireland

  Health visitors

  School nurses

  District nurses

  Community psychiatric nurses

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  1990

  3.00

  492.52

  0

  75.40

  2.0

  496.59

  35.0

  51.0

  1991

  3.00

  495.80

  0

  79.95

  2.0

  487.76

  51.0

  62.0

  1992

  4.00

  504.36

  0

  81.97

  2.0

  445.75

  56.0

  68.0

  1993

  4.00

  482.16

  0

  73.76

  2.0

  399.48

  60.0

  83.0

  1994

  4.50

  456.27

  0

  81.61

  2.0

  369.95

  62.0

  84.0

  1995

  5.50

  442.46

  0

  89.83

  2.0

  335.88

  62.0

  89.5

  Information on ethnic origin is not held centrally.

  Terrorist Incidents
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many IRA-related terrorist incidents there have been in(a) Northern Ireland, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) the Irish Republic in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [35399]

  Sir John Wheeler
  It is difficult sometimes to be certain whether any particular incident is terrorist-related and therefore it is not possible to give precise figures. However, the seven bombs in London and Manchester, the mortar attack on the British Army base in Osnabruck, the murder of Garda McCabe in the Republic of Ireland and the increasingly horrific nature and number of beatings and robberies in Northern Ireland are profoundly evil, wicked and incompatible with democracy. They will not deflect us from the search for a democratically agreed political settlement in which we are engaged with other participants in the current negotiations.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much inward investment has been attracted to Northern Ireland in the most recent year for which figures are available. [35391]

  Mr. Ancram
  The year ended 31 March 1996 was the best ever year for inward investment in Northern Ireland with 35 projects secured, offering 4,869 jobs and representing a total investment of £432 million.316
  containment of silage effluent. No research has been commissioned so far on the non-conventional types of farming listed in the question.

  Cattle Remains
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what quantity of rendered remains of cattle aged 30 months or more are currently stored in(a) Belfast and (b) Liverpool. [36292]

  Mr. Ancram
  As of 7 July 1996 the quantities stored were:

  (a) 4,720 tonnes—Belfast (meat and bonemeal);

  (b) 1,920 tonnes—Liverpool (tallow).

  Health Service Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many whole-time equivalent(a) health visitors, (b) school nurses, (c) district nurses and (d) community psychiatric nurses were employed in each region in September of each year since 1990 broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnic origin. [36725]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is as follows:

  Training and Employment Agency
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Training and Employment Agency for the financial year 1996–97. [37481]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The following key targets have been set for the agency for 1996–97.

  To place 38,000 people, of whom 85 per cent. are unemployed, into jobs.
  To ensure that 35 per cent. of mainstream participants in Jobskills achieve NVQ level 2 or above.
  To increase the number of action for community employment leavers who move into jobs, training or further education within three months of leaving from 41 per cent. to 45 per cent.
  To encourage the commitment of Northern Ireland industry and commerce to the investors in people standard with the aim of increasing the number of recognitions from 32 at 31 March 1996 to 80 recognitions by 31 March 1997.
  To increase the percentage of employees of company development programme clients to have achieved NVQ level 2 or above, or to be working towards units of NVQ level 2 or above, from a total of 10 per cent. in March 1996 to 15 per cent. in March 1997.
  To achieve an annual efficiency saving of 4 per cent.

  Copies of the agency operational plan 1996–97 will be placed in the parliamentary Libraries.
  317

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which next steps agencies have attained trading fund status in the last six months. [37482]

  Mr. Moss
  The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency attained trading fund status on 1 April 1996. It is the first of the Northern Ireland agencies to do so.

  Human Rights Report
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he received the annual report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement. [37483]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The report for the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 has been published today and copies have been laid before Parliament.

  The Commission has undertaken a heavy programme of work in the past year, playing an active role in the shaping of legislation and policy, and commenting on the Government's record in meeting their international human rights obligations. In addition, it is carrying out an exceptionally demanding research commitment in connection with the employment equality review. The thorough, challenging and independent advice it offers plays a significant part in the protection of human rights in Northern Ireland.

  Copies of my response to the report will also be placed in the Library in due course.
  318

  Emigrants
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland emigrants have returned to Northern Ireland with the aid of the making it back home initiative since its launch. [36150]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 8 July 1996]: Since the launch of the making it back home campaign in January 1992, 40 individuals have returned to set up businesses in Northern Ireland.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each local government district the number of children registered as working in(a) the current year and (b) 1986. [36315]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: In Northern Ireland information is not available at district council level, but the number of children registered as working in each education and library board in 1996 is as follows:

  Number

  Belfast education and library board

  61

  South Eastern education and library board

  16

  North Eastern education and library board

  10

  Southern education and library board

  9

  Western education and library board

  6

  Information is not available for 1986.

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