Written Answers of 15 July 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum seekers claimed asylum(a) at port of entry, (b) within three working days of arrival in the United Kingdom and (c) within 14 working days of arrival in the United Kingdom. [36655]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  During 1995, there were 43,965 applications for asylum submitted in the United Kingdom, of which 14,410–33 per cent.—were made at the port of arrival and 29,555–67 per cent.—were made after entry. During the first six months of 1996, 14,860 applications for asylum have been submitted with 36 per cent. being made at ports and 64 per cent. made in country.

  Information regarding the length of time between arrival date and application date, for those who applied for asylum in the United Kingdom after having been previously granted leave to enter or remain under another section of the immigration rules, is given in the table.

  Average time taken1 to apply for asylum by persons2 previously granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under another section of the Immigration Rules, 1995 and January to June 1996

  Percentage

  Period of time between arrival and application

  1995

  1996 (January-June)

  Within 3 days

  10

  5

  Between 4 and 14 days

  15

  15

  Over 14 days

  75

  80

  Total

  100

  100

  1 Estimated and rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.

  2 Excludes those in-country cases for which arrival dates are not known.

  Isle of Wight (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual expenditure of his Department, including administrative expenditure, on the Isle of Wight; and what was the cost of the 1992 general election in respect of the Isle of Wight. [36916]

  Mr. Howard
  Expenditure from the Home Office votes in respect of the Isle of Wight in 1994–95—the latest year for which final outturn figures are available—was £51,619,183.

  The overall cost of the parliamentary election for the Isle of Wight constituency at the 1992 general election was £83,260.78. That total includes a sum of £27,942.44 for the cost of delivery of candidates' election material.

  Gaming Equipment
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) firms and (b) people were employed in the manufacture of (i) bingo and lottery tickets and (ii) other gaming materials and equipment in 1992 and at the last available date. [36888]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We do not collect such figures but we have been able to obtain gaming machine and bingo ticket estimates from relevant trade associations.

  The British Amusement Catering Trades Association estimates that there were 97 amusement and gaming machine manufacturers and distributors in 1992 and there are 112 now.

  The Bingo Association for Great Britain is aware of six manufacturers of bingo equipment and three printers of bingo tickets, the same totals as in 1992.

  Asif Das
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application of Asif Das for exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [37103]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  It was decided when refusing Mr. Das's applications for asylum and for student status in the United Kingdom that there were no grounds for allowing him to remain exceptionally. An appeal against the refusal of asylum was dismissed by the independent appellate authorities on 4 March.

  Run Away Children
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued in respect of the procedure for dealing with children who run away from(a) children's homes, (b) foster care, (c) educational residential establishments, (d) secure units, (e) boarding schools, (f) children's homes with education and (g) private fostering arrangements. [36515]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  Legislation gives local authorities a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in need within their area, wherever they are living.

  Guidance issued on children's services planning (LAC(96)10) identifies young runaways as a specific group requiring strategic planning by local authorities with other agencies.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council House Sales (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last five years the total receipts received by Cheshire county council for the sale of council houses. [36450]

  Mr. Clappison
  Cheshire county council does not have responsibility for the sale of local authority homes but the available information on the value, after discount, of such sales reported by each of the district authorities in Cheshire is presented in the following table. Actual cash
  349
  receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which sales were financed by mortgage advances from the authorities.

  Total capital receipts from the sale of council dwellings in Cheshire (net of discount)

  (£000)

  Local Authority

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Chester

  1,205

  1,492

  1,063

  978

  1,275

  Congleton

  739

  812

  1,320

  938

  792

  Crewe and Nantwich

  848

  620

  1,173

  976

  952

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  1,019

  737

  826

  1,396

  846

  Halton

  1,750

  1,339

  1,106

  938

  1—

  Macclesfield

  2,447

  1,480

  2,018

  2,203

  21,468

  Vale Royal

  1,422

  1,442

  1,630

  1,882

  1,341

  Warrington

  1,799

  1,961

  1,948

  1,942

  3602

  Notes:

  1Not reported.

  2 April-December only.

  3 April-September only.

  Source:

  Quarterly P1B and annual HIP2 housing returns by local authorities.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much local authorities have written off in uncollected council tax in each year since its introduction; and if he will list the authorities and amounts in each case; [36835]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 266, if he will list by authority the (a) estimated community charge arrears on 31 March 1995 and (b) the amounts written off. [36863]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Estimates of uncollected community charge and write-offs of community charge and council tax are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: figures for 31 March 1995 are available in its "Revenue Collection Statistics 1994–95" publication, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports have been(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by the London Docklands development corporation concerning proposals for an east London river crossing; and what alternative proposals he is assessing for improvements to cross-river public transport. [36668]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government published"A Transport Strategy For London" on 30 April this year. It includes proposals for a package of new crossings to improve cross-river road and public transport links in east London. One potential component of that package is a local multi-modal crossing, incorporating a dedicated public transport corridor, linking the Royal Docks and Thamesmead. The London Docklands development corporation and Thamesmead Town Ltd. have recently completed a range of studies exploring the feasibility of such a crossing at Gallions Reach. The results of these studies will make an important contribution to the further development of the crossings package.

  Internet
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that major publications from his Department are accompanied by a simultaneous electronic release of the text on the Internet. [37232]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department currently publishes the vast majority of its priced publications through HMSO. HMSO provides information on the Internet about these and other Government publications.

  Where appropriate, it carries a summary of the priced publication: it has, for example, summarised the housing White Paper, the Thames gateway planning framework and the Drinking Water Inspectorate's annual report, and will soon carry an executive summary of the environmental health action plan.

  Additionally, all departmental press notices are made available on the Internet.

  European Regional Development Fund (Kingsbridge)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a substantial financial commitment will be forthcoming from the European regional development fund for economic regeneration in Kingsbridge, including the building of a swimming pool, bowling alley and associated facilities; and if he will make a statement as to what progress has been made with the European Commission to provide funding under objective 5b. [36954]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration wrote to the hon. Member on 3 July. There are on-going discussions, including with the European Commission. A decision will be reached as quickly as possible.

  Area Cost Adjustment Review Team
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy of the area cost adjustment review team's final report in the Library; what consultation will take place on this report; what timetable he proposes for its implementation; and if he will make a statement. [37402]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The report of the review of the area cost adjustment was placed in the Library upon publication. The report will be discussed with the local authority associations. We shall also examine with them whether any consequential changes to other parts of the standard spending assessments would be required, if the recommendations of the review were adopted. We shall wish to consider the responses to the report in deciding what changes in the standard spending assessments should be made for 1997–98.

  EU Funding
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total amount paid to United Kingdom local government from European Union sources in each of the past five years. [34867]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have been asked to reply.
  351
  The figures show the total amounts paid to local authorities from European Union sources through supply estimates:

  1991–92: £172 million

  1992–93: £198 million

  1993–94: £301 million

  1994–95: £112 million

  1995–96: £156 million

  Information on European Union payments to local authorities outside supply estimates is not held centrally by Treasury, and could be collected from individual Government Departments only at disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

  Stagecoach
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received relating to the operations of Stagecoach in each of the last 12 months. [36852]

  Mr. Norris
  No central record is kept of the monthly total of representations received by my Department relating to specific transport operators, but about 20 letters have been received in the past year about the operations of Stagecoach or one of its subsidiaries.

  East and West Coast Main Lines
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average age of(a) the locomotives and (b) the passenger rolling stock on the east coast and west coast main lines. [36832]

  Mr. Watts
  Precise figures would be available only at disproportionate cost. I have set out in the table details of the build dates of locomotives and passenger rolling stock on the east coast and west coast main lines.

  EAST COAST MAIN LINE

  Locomotives

  31 Class 91s built between 1988 and 1991

  22 Class 43 HST Power Cars built 1976–82

  Coaches

  283 Mark IV coaches for electric services built 1989–1992

  76 Mark III HST trailer cars built 1976–82

  WEST COAST MAIN LINE

  Locomotives

  18 Class 86s built 1965–66

  35 Class 87s built 1973–75

  15 Class 90s built 1987–90

  7 Class HST Power Cars built 1976–1982

  Coaches

  138 Mark II built 1973–75

  249 Mark III built 1975–79

  38 Mark III built 1985

  20 Mark III HST Trailer Cars built 1976–82

  As at January 1996

  Airline Pilots (Lariam)
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority advised that Lariam should not be administered to airline pilots; and what factors underlay this decision. [36874]

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority's medical division has been advising against the use of Larium in response to specific inquiries for some years. The first general advice against the use of Lariam by aircrews was contained in an aeronautical information circular on malaria—reference AIC 2/1995 (Pink 107)—published on 12 January 1995. The circular explains the reasons for that advice. I have arranged for copies of the circular to be placed in the Library.

  Transport and Works Act 1992
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department are employed in the Transport and Works Act 1992 processing unit. [37002]

  Mr. Norris
  Six—one grade 7, two HEOS, two EOs and one AO.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 which have been subject to public local inquiry with in each case the date he received the inspector's report and the date of the Secretary of State's decision. [37004]

  Mr. Norris
  The applications listed in the table have been subject to a public local inquiry and reports have been made to the relevant Secretary of State by the inspector. Unless otherwise indicated, the decision whether to make the orders rests with the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Application

  Date of receipt of inspector's report

  Date of Secretary of State's decision

  Usk Barrage

  1 March 1995 (Secretary of State for Wales)

  13 September 1995

  East London Line Extension

  17 February 1995

  "Minded" letters issued on 27 September 1995 and 13 June 1996

  Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Eccles) Extension

  15 January 1996

  Not yet determined

  Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension)

  29 February 1996

  Not determined

  Highways Agency
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the terms of the redundancy settlement for former(a) directors and (b) other staff of the Highways Agency who (i) have left the service in the last 12 months and (ii) will be leaving in the next 12 months. [36897]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
  353
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 15 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the terms of the redundancy settlement for former (a) directors and (b) other staff in the Highways Agency who (i) have left in the last 12 months and (ii) will be leaving in the next 12 months.
  All staff, including those at Director level, who have left the Highways Agency in the previous 12 months on redundancy, or who will be doing so in the next 12 months, have been or will retire on compulsory early retirement (CER) or compulsory early severance (CES) terms in accordance with the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS).

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the Highways Agency overspent its budget in the last financial year; and what action was taken against those responsible for the overspend. [36896]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 15 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to rely to your recent question about expenditure against the Highways Agency's budget for 1995/96.
  The Agency did not exceed its vote in 1995/96. Details of last year's expenditure will be published in the Agency's Annual Report later this month.

  Rail Ticket Sales
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what enforcement measures are available in respect of train operating companies that do not comply with their licence obligation to give impartial sales advice on competitive routes. [37084]

  Mr. Watts
  The regulator's powers of enforcement are set out in sections 55 to 58 of the Railways Act 1993. Section 55 states that, where he is satisfied that an operator is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition of his licence, the regulator shall make an order to secure compliance. Section 55(5) states that no order need be made if, for instance, the regulator is satisfied that the relevant operator has agreed to take, and is taking all such steps as are appropriate for the purpose of securing or facilitating compliance with the condition in question.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will halt further sales of train operating company franchises until a review is made of impartial ticket sales. [37055]

  Mr. Watts
  No.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the temporary moratorium on the enforcement of the licence conditions for train operating companies to give impartial ticket sales advice on competitive routes was introduced; and when it ended. [37085]

  Mr. Watts
  No such moratorium has ever existed.
  354
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken against train operating companies that have not complied with their licence obligation to give impartial sales advice on competitive routes in each month since January. [37116]

  Mr. Watts
  The enforcement of licence obligations is a matter for the independent Rail Regulator. He has said that he will consider carefully any evidence which suggests that train operators are failing to fulfil their licence obligations.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish an independent national rail ticket sales organisation which can ensure that all rail passengers are given unbiased sales advice. [37054]

  Mr. Watts
  No. The sales of rail tickets is a matter for train operators, subject to the requirements on impartiality contained in their licences and policed by the independent Rail Regulator. The regulator has all the powers he needs to ensure that train operators comply with their licence obligations.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct the Rail Regulator to conduct an urgent review of rail ticket sales. [37053]

  Mr. Watts
  The independent Rail Regulator has already said that he intends shortly to launch a wide-ranging consultation exercise on the practical application of train operators' obligations on impartial ticket retailing.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current actual levels of expenditure on maintenance of the trunk road network; to what extent these accord with present public expenditure plans; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of maintenance to prevent longer-term deterioration of the network. [36742]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nicholas Winterton, dated 15 July 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking what are the current actual levels of expenditure on maintenance of the trunk road network; to what extent these accord with present public expenditure plans; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of maintenance to prevent longer term deterioration of the network.
  The Agency is planning to spend the following sums on trunk road maintenance in the current financial year:

  £ million

  Capital road maintenance

  250.0

  Capital bridge maintenance

  130.0

  Current maintenance (roads and bridges)

  146.4

  These figures are wholly consistent with the Government's expenditure plans set out in Transport Report 1996 (Cm 3206—March 1996).
  355
  This level of funding will not be sufficient to avoid some deterioration of the network. Some works are having to be postponed until 1997–98. However, by working hard and innovatively, the Agency expects to be able to maintain safety and to minimise the effect on serviceability and value for money.

  Congleton Station
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reasons have been given to him by British Rail west coast for the recent withdrawal of stops at the Congleton station; what consultation was undertaken with the local business and residential community prior to implementing that decision; and what assessment he has made as to the extent to which withdrawal is consistent with his policy of improvements in passenger services. [35882]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 8 July 1996]: I understand that InterCity West Coast withdrew the 08.30 service from Manchester to Euston and the 19.00 Euston to Manchester service, which both called at Congleton, from the summer 1996 timetable due to low passenger usage. Rail users consultative committees, Cheshire county council, Congleton borough council and Crewe and Nantwich borough council were consulted about the proposal to withdraw the services.

  The Government intend to improve passenger services by franchising them to the private sector. Franchise operators are contractually bound by the passenger service requirement—PSR—and the obligations set out in the franchise agreement. The PSR may not be changed without the franchising director's consent, and significant proposed changes are subject to consultation with rail users consultative committees and local authorities. The franchise agreement required franchise operators to consult RUCCs and local authorities about proposed significant timetable changes.

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Dixon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the terms of reference given to the admiralty salvage office of the Ministry of Defence in respect of its forthcoming investigation on site into the loss of the MV Derbyshire, together with the names of the independent technical assessors already appointed, stating which of the latter will be present on site; [37148]

  (2) pursuant to the oral statement by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) of 3 July, Official Report, columns 900–04, if he will list (a) the names of the bodies, persons, or organisations which will be on site for the projected investigation into the wreck of the MV Derbyshire, together with the details of those to whom they are responsible and their sources of finance and (b) the names of the bodies or organisations which have expressed a wish to send or nominate observers to be present on site during those investigations; and what are his reasons for treating the presence of any person representing a body named in (b) as prejudicial to the objectivity of the investigation, or the credibility of conclusions drawn by bodies concerned with that investigation. [37163]
  356
  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: The terms of reference given to the officers of the admiralty salvage office appointed as project managers for the return expedition are as follows:
  "to be responsible to this Department and the European Commission, taking account of advice from the technical assessors, Professor Douglas Faulkner and Robin Williams, and of the European Commission's assessor, Remo Torchio, for the co-ordination and operational management of the project, which we envisage will include:

  drafting the specification for the expedition;

  inviting and evaluating the bids received from contractors, and recommending who should carry out the work;

  any post-tender negotiations with the successful bidder;

  placing the contract;

  management and control of the contract on-site"

  Those on board the survey vessel carrying out phase 1 are expected to include: Dr. Remo Torchio, European Commission technical assessor; Professor Douglas Faulkner and Robin Williams, UK technical assessors; David Keogh and James Ward, Ministry of Defence, salvage officers and project managers; and the staff of Oceaneering Technologies, the contractors.

  The UK assessors are paid for by my Department and Dr. Torchio by the European Commission. My Department and the European Commission are sharing the other costs of the project.

  No specific request to have representatives on board has been made by an interested party, other than the Derbyshire Families Association. However, solicitors representing British Shipbuilders have said that, if the DFA were represented, they would also wish to be.

  It is essential that the results of the evidence gathered is, impartial, objective and thorough. To have any party represented could lead to challenges that the return was partial, lacked objectivity and was undertaken with a specific purpose in mind. To have all interested parties represented would be impractical.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AFFAIRS

  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's current policy in respect of entry into force arrangements for the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [37130]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 June 1996,Official Report, columns 197–98.

  Robert Hussein
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Kuwait in respect of Robert Hussein; and if he will urge the Government to issue him with a new passport and to guarantee his safe passage out of the country. [36867]
  357
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We continue to keep in close touch at a senior level with the Kuwaiti authorities about this case. They have assured us that there are no restrictions on Mr. Hussein's freedom of movement.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a Kuwaiti citizen has formally taken the Ja'aferi judgment in respect of the apostasy of Mr. Robert Hussein to an imam for that judgment to be confirmed. [36868]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are not aware of any such action.

  China (Nuclear Tests)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the radioactive discharges into the atmosphere as a result of recent Chinese nuclear tests; and what measures he is taking to prevent the provision of technological assistance to China's nuclear weapons programme by firms in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) its allies. [37009]

  Mr. David Davis
  No such estimate has been made. The UK and our allies maintain export controls on nuclear and nuclear-related dual use equipment, material and technology in order to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The UK considers all exports to China on a case-by-case basis.

  Isle of Wight
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from the leader of the Isle of Wight council to represent the Isle of Wight internationally. [36915]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  None.

  Lake Kojanovskoe
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to this letter of 30 April, to the hon. Member of Linlithgow, what progress has been made on assistance to counter the contamination of Lake Kojanovskoe. [36643]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  It is still too early to consider what concrete assistance might be made available to counteract contamination of Lake Kojanovskoe. Information on progress will be given to the hon. Member for Linlithgow as soon as consideration of the conclusions of the EU-financed study has been completed by the Government Departments concerned and considered with our EU partners prior to discussion with the European Commission.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects guidelines for editing the "St. Helena News" and for access to broadcasting in St. Helena to be made public. [37249]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The Government of St. Helena plan to publish the guidelines during August 1996.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on licensing arms exports to the states of the former Yugoslavia following the lifting of the United Nations arms embargo. [37694]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  On 18 June, the UN Security Council confirmed that the UN arms embargo on former Yugoslavia was terminated in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1021. The Government have decided that, taking into account the overall situation in the states of the former Yugoslavia and the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of British and other troops deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, applications for arms export licenses will be dealt with on the following basis:

  (a) for Slovenia and the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia, applications for licences to export military equipment listed in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 and dual use equipment will be considered on a case-by-case basis;

  (b) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, our policy is not to allow the export of military equipment listed in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order of 1994 during the period of the NATO-led implementation force's deployment. Within this context, applications for export licences will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as will applications for export of dual use goods.

  The EU as a whole has adopted a common position along these lines. We will keep this policy under review, particularly in light of progress in implementing the peace agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

DEFENCE

  U-Boats (Salvage)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to receive from the salvage of the U-boats sunk to the north of Ireland in Operation Deadlight in 1945; if the proceeds will benefit wartime Royal Navy and Merchant Navy crews and their families who survived; and if he will make a statement. [37123]

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

  Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. David Atkinson, dated 15 July 1996:
  I am responding to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about receipts from the salvage of the World War II U-boats scuppered in Operation Deadlight in 1945, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
  With the agreement of the Russian and US authorities, joint signatories with the UK to the 1945 Tripartite Agreement on the disposal of all ex-German shipping, my Agency let a licence for the scrapping of a number of surrendered U-boats sunk to the north of Ireland. In addition to a licence fee, the contract allows for a proportion of the proceeds from the scrapping operation to be paid to the Ministry of Defence by the Contractor. Both amounts, the latter being necessarily estimates at this stage, are commercially confidential and, in line with the Department's policy, are not disclosed publicly.

  359
  It has been the policy of successive Governments that any compensation paid to the victims of hostilities should be broadly similar for all. It follows that it would not be fair to the majority if money from an unexpected small windfall was to be used by a Government department to pay additional compensation, whether directly or through related charities, to particular groups of survivors or their families.

  Low Flying (Compensation)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in compensation in each financial year since 1990–91(a) to farmers whose cattle have aborted or been damaged and (b) to people who have been injured or whose health has been damaged by low flying aircraft. [36840]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not possible to provide details of compensation for cattle in the form requested without incurring disproportionate cost. My Department has paid the following amounts of compensation in respect of(a) livestock losses and (b) personal injury claims as a result of military aircraft activity since financial year 1990–91:

  (a) £

  (b) £

  1990–91

  270,000

  66,000

  1991–92

  320,000

  33,000

  1992–93

  182,000

  63,000

  1993–94

  379,000

  51,000

  1994–95

  327,000

  121,000

  1995–96

  196,000

  35,000

  Bett Review
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his ansfwer of 25 June,Official Report, column 64, if he expects his Department's consideration of the recommendations contained in the report of Sir Michael Bett to be completed by 21 September. [36860]

  Mr. Soames
  We have been studying all of the recommendations contained in Sir Michael Bett's report carefully, and hope to make a further announcement shortly on progress and our proposed way forward.

  Scottish Bases
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's jobs there were at each Navy, Army, Air Force and reserves defence installation in Scotland for the year ended 1 April 1996. [37543]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Accommodation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new armed forces married quarters and single quarters accommodation are currently being built by his Department. [37066]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: Sixty-one married quarters and 14 single accommodation projects are currently under construction.

  Procurement Projects
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's 25 most expensive current procurement projects; what was the original estimated cost of each of these projects at today's prices; what is the current estimated final cost of each of the projects; and if he will list the delays in the in-service dates of these projects. [33999]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Pursuant to my answer of 27 June 1996,Official Report, columns 247–48, I regret to say that the most recent major project report—MPR95—has not been placed in the Library of the House owing to the confidential classification of the document. An unclassified version is being prepared and will be placed in the Library of the House. The projects covered by the report are:

  1. Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile AMRAAM

  2. Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile ASRAAM

  3. Bowman radio system

  4. Bridging for the 90s—BR90

  5. Challenger 2

  6. Common New Generation Frigate—GNGF

  7. COBRA

  8. EH101 Merlin

  9. Eurofighter

  10. Hercules C-130J

  11. Infra Red Counter Measures —IRCM

  12. Landing Platform Dock (Replacement)—LPD (R)

  13. Landing Platform (Helicopter)—LP(H)

  14. Rapier—Field Standard C

  15. Sea Harrier attrition buy

  16. SKYNET 4 Phase 2

  17. SKYNET 5

  18. Spearfish Torpedoes

  19. Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines—update

  20. Tornado GR1 Mid Life Update

  21. Trafalgar Class Submarines—Batch 2

  22. Trident

  23. Tracked utility vehicles—TUL/TUM/TUM(HD)

  24. Medium range TRIGAT

  25. Vertical Launch Seawolf.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Oil Installations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 62, if he will (a) place in the Library a copy of the International Maritime Organisation guidelines to which he refers and (b) set out the considerations as a result of which the United Kingdom has not yet ratified the UN law of the sea convention of 1982; and when United Kingdom ratification is expected to take place. [35928]

  Mr. Page
  I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the International Maritime Organisation guidelines and standards for the removal of offshore installations and structures on the continental shelf.
  361
  Ratification of the UN law of the sea convention of 1982 is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  Composite Insurance Companies
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the regulatory organisations within his Department which have a responsibility in relation to composite insurance companies; and if he will indicate their responsibilities. [36035]

  Mr. Nelson
  The regulatory responsibilities of the Department in relation to composite insurance companies as such fall to the insurance directorate of the DTI, which carries out prudential regulation including, in the case of long-term business, safeguarding the reasonable expectations of policyholders under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and related legislation.

  Aerospace Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives he has taken to facilitate aerospace sales abroad. [36060]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Department of Trade and Industry actively pursues its responsibilities to promote the United Kingdom's civil aerospace industry overseas. We support and fund missions by sector trade associations to important overseas markets, particularly in the US and the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. Ministers also take opportunities to promote aerospace initiatives during their visits overseas. Aerospace companies use the market information and help available through the DTI's geographical market desks and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas posts. The DTI's aerospace and defence industries directorate also supports the industry and its trade associations in their overseas efforts. For some key markets, there are export promoters, seconded from industry, who focus on helping aerospace companies to develop their overseas business.

  North-west Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors of the north-west industrial development board have declared business interests; and to what value. [36249]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  All members must notify the Department of their business interests, including directorships and significant shareholdings, on appointment to regional industrial development boards. Changes are also notified during membership. Values are not placed on business interests.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the directors of the north-west industrial development board in the last five years. [36247]

  Mr. Taylor
  The information requested can be found in the Industrial Development Act 1982 annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many grants, and of what value, have been given by the north-west industrial development board in the last five years. [36248]
  362
  Mr. Taylor
  Grants are not given by the north-west industrial development board.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors underlay his Department's decision to send trade missions to Indonesia on 26 August, 23 September, 7 October and 11 November in 1996; and what is the projected cost of each mission to public funds. [36829]

  Mr. Nelson
  The missions have been planned to concentrate on sectors that have been identified as having the most potential for UK industry. The sectors are aerospace and airports; health care; oil and gas; power generation; and transport. The plan also recognises that opportunities exist in agribusiness; automotive components; environment and ports and harbours. The missions aim to take a group to the market focusing on one or more of these sectors.

  The projected costs to public funds of these missions is as follows;

  26 August : none, the mission has been cancelled.

  23 September : £6,000

  7 October : £6,000

  11 November : £9,000

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which members of the Indonesian military met members of the trade missions carried out in 1996; for what purpose; and what representations were made to them concerning Indonesia's human rights record. [36767]

  Mr. Nelson
  Meetings with the Indonesian military do not form part of the formal programme for Department of Trade and Industry sponsored trade missions to Indonesia. I am not aware that any members of these mission met the military.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to public funds of trade missions to Indonesia on 19 February, 15 April and 24 June. [36765]

  Mr. Nelson
  All of these missions visited two markets—Indonesia and Thailand. An eligible British company visiting only one of these markets receives a subvention of £600. For companies visiting both markets with the mission, grant is increased to £660. The costs to public funds of grants to British companies to travel with missions to Indonesia and Thailand was, therefore, as follows;The mission on 19 February, sponsored by the Leeds and Bradford chamber of commerce and industry—£13,080.
  The mission of 15 April sponsored by the Northern Development Company and the Railways Industries Association—£10,920.
  The mission on 24 June sponsored by the London chamber of commerce and industry—£9,060.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which public relations companies assisted the trade missions to Indonesia on 19 February, 15 April and 24 June; and when he last met personnel from each company. [36766]

  Mr. Nelson
  None. However, the missions were sponsored and administered by the Leeds and Bradford chamber of commerce and industry, the Northern Development Company in co-operation with the Railways
  363
  Industries Association and the London chamber of commerce and industry respectively. I would not expect to meet individual members of DTI-supported trade missions as a matter of course.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department last conducted an appraisal of human rights conditions in Indonesia; and in what circumstances companies which participate in trade missions to that country are made aware of the human rights record of the Indonesian military. [36768]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I have been asked to reply.

  We continually monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia. The British embassy in Jakarta briefs visiting missions on the general political and economic situation in Indonesia, including, where relevant or specifically requested, its human rights record.

  Trade Missions
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy, when appraising British companies intending to participate in trade missions, to notify them of the human rights record of the country involved. [36830]

  Mr. Nelson
  British diplomatic posts brief visiting missions on the general political and economic situations in the country concerned including, where relevant or specifically requested, its human rights record.

  Iraq (Arms Sales)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to the Export Credits Guarantee Department of underwriting the sales of arms to Iraq in(a) 1987–88, (b) 1988–89 and (c) 1989–90. [36613]

  Mr. Nelson
  The ECGD did not underwrite any arms exports to Iraq in these years.

  However, a relatively small amount of equipment with possible defence application—in particular communications equipment—was underwritten under the so—called "Defence Allocation" under the Iraq protocols; there are currently claims outstanding of £26 million in this respect.

  DTI Investigations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the DTI investigations which have been completed in the last three years and for which the report will not be published; and if he will make a statement. [37383]

  Mr. Lang
  In investigations leading to a report in respect of which there is a statutory provision allowing for publication that no reports have been completed in the last three years remain unpublished.

  My Department undertakes a number of confidential investigations for which there is no provision for the report to be published.

  Design Initiative
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for a design initiative involving business links, universities and private sector companies. [36999]
  364
  Mr. Page
  The Government are convinced that design is fundamental to winning in world markets and that goods design is a crucial part of competitiveness. At national level, Design Council activities include research at leading universities to develop knowledge and tools which will help business managers to make better use of design. At local level, design services are being made available to companies by business links. Business links have been invited to bid for Government funding to employ design counsellors. To date, 51 bids have been approved, and 28 design counsellors are in post.

  Statutory Holidays
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many statutory holidays there are in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England every year; and what are the equivalent figures in other European Union countries. [37088]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are currently eight bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Scotland, and 10 in Northern Ireland. The following table, based on information in the Official Journal of the European Communities (No. C 45, 1996, item 7), lists the number of current public holidays in other European Union member states.

  Number of public holidays in other EU member states

  Number

  Austria

  13

  Belgium

  11

  Denmark

  10

  Finland

  13

  France

  11

  Germany

  110 to 14

  Greece

  12

  Ireland

  10

  Italy

  9

  Luxembourg

  12

  Netherlands

  8

  Portugal

  15

  Spain

  110 to 15

  Sweden

  11

  1 A range of numbers indicates local variations.

  Holiday entitlement in the United Kingdom is not generally a statutory right but a matter covered by the contract of employment between the individual employer and employee.

  British Energy
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the British Energy share offer. [37788]

  Mr. Lang
  I am pleased to report that the Government's UK public offer and international offer of shares in British Energy plc were successfully completed this morning, when dealings in interim rights started on the London stock exchange.

  As a result of bids received in the international offer, the prices of the second instalments for all investors in the UK public offer and the international offer were set at 98p per interim right.
  365
  Accordingly, the price for British Energy interim rights purchased in the United Kingdom public offer was 198p per share, comprising 100p paid on successful application and 98p to be paid by 16 September 1997.

  The price for interim rights purchased in the international offer of British Energy shares was 203p per share, comprising 105p paid on successful application and 98p to be paid by 16 September 1997.

  The Government offered for sale up to 610 million British Energy shares in the UK public offer and the international offer.

  Some 600,000 applications were received in the United Kingdom public offer for a total of some 443 million shares. This represented about 2.4 times the shares initially expected to be sold in the UK public offer. In response to this demand, the Government increased the total number of shares allocated to the UK public offer to 260 million shares—some 43 per cent. of the shares offered. At this level, the number of shares applied for in the UK public offer represented some 1.7 times the shares available.

  Almost 98 per cent. of applicants in the UK public offer received an allocation of shares; 41 per cent. of all applicants had their applications met in full.

  Some 6,300 employees—about 94 per cent.—of the British Energy group applied for shares in their company. In addition 1,000 employees—about 24 per cent.—of Magnox Electric applied for shares. All employee and pensioner applications were met in full.

  Excluding the retail tender, 295 million shares were allocated to bidders in the international offer. This number does not include any shares that BZW Securities Ltd. may have over-allocated in connection with the international offer. The extent of any such over-allotment will not be disclosed until later. As already announced, BZW Securities Ltd. may also effect stabilisation transactions. Excluding the retail tender, bids covered the minimum number of shares expected to be sold in the international offer about 2.4 times.

  Individual investors bidding in the United Kingdom retail tender bid for some 72 million shares. Of this number, some 41 million shares were in respect of PEP applications. All PEP applications in the retail tender were met in full.

  In addition to the shares sold in the UK public offer and the international offer, BZW Securities Ltd., as global co-ordinators for the sale, holds an option to acquire from the President of the Board of Trade up to a further 90 million British Energy shares for the purpose of meeting any over-allotment made by it in connection with the international offer. This option must be exercised by 14 August 1996.

  Total gross proceeds from the privatisation, including debt and assuming the exercise in full of the option held by the global co-ordinators, amount to about £1,993 million, of which some £716 million of equity proceeds is expected to be received in this financial year.

  Following the offers, and assuming the exercise in full of the option over British Energy shares granted by the President of the Board of Trade to BZW Securities Ltd., Her Majesty's Government expect to hold not more than
  366
  1 per cent. of the issued share capital of British Energy plc. This amount comprises principally shares that may be needed to meet share bonus entitlements under the UK public offer.

  Research Councils (Quigley Review)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the Quigley review into the joint working arrangements of the research councils. [37396]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Costs incurred by the working group on cross-council efficiency relate primarily to the time of group members from the office of science and technology and the research councils in respect of five meetings between August 1995 and January 1996, and widely distributed small proportions of staff time relating to data gathering and analysis. These costs could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the research councils will contribute to the funding of the procurement function resulting from the Quigley review; and what savings have been projected for each of the research councils as a result of the new procurement arrangements over the next five years. [37397]

  Mr. Taylor
  The intention is that improvements in the procurement function resulting from the Quigley review should be self-financing.

  The Quigley review saw scope for potential savings in the region of £1.75 million from spending on payroll systems, travel and subsistence and computer support. A group of senior representatives of the research councils, chaired by the office of science and technology, has been set up to implement the recommendations of the Quigley review. The group has already begun the process of recruiting a procurement adviser. One of the tasks of the adviser will be to identify specific savings in all areas of procurement.

  Small Firms
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with small businesses about the compliance costs of the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [36657]

  Mr. Page
  The Asylum and Immigration Bill is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary. This Department has had no discussion with small businesses or their representative organisations.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his Department's current consultation with small firms regarding whether large companies should report payment practice in their annual report. [36656]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave her on 4 July 1996,Official Report, column 496.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the World Trade Organisation concerning trade in goods produced by child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36321]
  367
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: The Government deplore any exploitation of children and are fully committed to international action to stop it, for example through the UN and the International Labour Organisation, but do not consider that action through the World Trade Organisation would be an appropriate means to achieve this.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are placed on the importing of goods produced by child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36317]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19 June 1996, Official Report, column 508.

  Arabian Peninsula (Security Equipment)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funding was provided by his Department's export market research scheme for the market report, "Police and Public Security Requirements for Equipment and Services in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula" published in June 1994, and what proportion this was of the total cost of the report. [36362]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: The report was partially funded through the export marketing research scheme—EMRS—under the terms and conditions applicable at the time for trade associations using the scheme for the first time—75 per cent. The total cost of the project was £63,920, the EMRS contribution was £47,940. The report covered six countries in the Arabian peninsula and was restricted to marketing research only.

  Insurance Policies (Orphan Funds)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on the distribution of orphan funds between insurance policyholders; and what sums have so far been identified and apportioned. [37022]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: My policy remains as set out in the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State for Corporate and Consumer Affairs on 24 February 1995, Official Report, columns 362–63.

  The following companies have made announcements in the light of the policy:

  Company

  Long-term business assets £ billion

  Amounts reserved solely for benefit of shareholders £ billion

  United Friendly Insurance

  2.4

  0.3

  Legal and General Group

  21.8

  see below

  Pearl Assurance

  12.1

  1.0

  The remaining amounts within the long-term funds are largely for the benefit of policyholders, save that shareholders are entitled to receive a defined share of any surplus in the funds declared in future. For the bulk of the funds, the defined share is 10 per cent.

  In the case of Legal and General, policyholders have rights to receive at least 90 per cent. of any distributed surplus, except that directors have discretion over surplus arising from a sub-fund of some £200 million.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Arts Council Grants
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total grants provided by the Arts Council for organisations in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36386]

  Mr. Sproat
  Between 1991–92 and 1995–96, North West Arts made 25 awards totalling £63,735 to arts organisations in Crewe and Nantwich. In Cheshire as a whole, 324 awards, totalling £1,896,975, were made to arts organisations during the same period. I have today placed a full list of awards in the Library of the House.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total grants provided by her Department for museums and galleries in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36387]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department, through the museums and galleries improvement fund, and the Museums and Galleries Commission—MGC—which is funded by the Department, has awarded the following amounts to museums and galleries in Cheshire over the past five years. The north-west museum service, funded by the MGC, also made awards. They include one of £1,480 to the Nantwich museum in 1993–94.

  Grants for museums in Cheshire 1991–92 to 1995–96

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–84 £

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund

  0

  37,500

  7,500

  7,500

  25,000

  MGC capital grants

  0

  2,200

  0

  0

  10,000

  MGC Victoria and Albert museum purchase grants

  13,250

  7,500

  22,162

  12,300

  391

  PRISM1

  1,300

  7,700

  7,064

  3,800

  0

  North-West Museums Service

  44,518

  42,101

  43,167

  36,202

  2—

  Total

  59,068

  97,001

  79,893

  59,802

  35,391

  1 Preservation of industrial and scientific material.

  2—Not yet available.

  European Broadcasting Directive
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the European Commission will publish its second monitoring report on the implementation of articles 4 and 5 of the European broadcasting directive; and if she will make a statement. [36941]

  Mr. Sproat
  The European Commission has published its report today. The document will be deposited in Parliament and my Department will submit an explanatory memorandum in accordance with the usual arrangements for the scrutiny of European Community documents.

  I welcome the Commission's work on this subject, which shows that many of the television channels licensed in this country which qualify for meeting the quota regime are exceeding the minimum requirements set out in the broadcasting directive for programming of European
  370
  origin and for independent European production. The report also notes the good progress being made by those satellite services which have yet to achieve the quota targets.

TREASURY

  Finance Ministers
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Finance Ministers of other EC countries; and what subjects were discussed. [36268]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I represented the UK at the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Brussels on 8 July.

  The Council debated the incoming Irish presidency's work programme in open session. The programme will focus on European monetary union—EMU—employment, fraud, taxation issues, financial services and Community lending to third countries.

  I emphasised the importance we attach to tackling unemployment in the Community, through sound public finances, low inflation and labour market reform. I also urged the need for budget discipline in the Community and rejected any increase in the financial perspectives of the EU budget. I said the UK would continue to play a full and constructive part in discussions of EMU. I strongly supported the presidency's emphasis on fighting fraud. Recalling the UK's long-standing support for EU enlargement, I urged early consideration of reforms to the common agriculture policy and the structural funds so that enlargement could go ahead on the right terms.

  The Council welcomed the Austrian convergence programme. It also agreed recommendations to 12 member states—Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Finland and the UK—with excessive budget deficits.

  The Council heard Commission and European Investment Bank—EIB—proposals to modify guarantee arrangements for the bank's lending operations outside the EU.

  The Council agreed the conclusions of the Commission's 1995 annual report on the fight against fraud and noted progress with the SEM 2000 initiative designed to improve the Commission's financial management.

  There was a meeting with Ministers from the associated countries of central Europe, within the framework of the "Structured Dialogue", on the implications for the financial sector of eventual EU membership. The discussion focused on pension reform, EIB work in the region, and the implications of extending the transit regime.

  Unfunded Pension Liabilities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to improve the accounting and financial reporting to Parliament of United Kingdom unfunded pension liabilities. [36351]
  371
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government are planning to improve the accounting and reporting of the main occupational public service pension schemes administered by central Government. This will take place in the context of the development of resource accounting and budgeting. For each scheme, there will be a scheme statement attached as a note to the departmental resource account. There is further work to be done on the details of these statements, and this will be taken forward in accordance with the timetable for resource accounting published in the White Paper "Better Account for the Taxpayer's money"—Cm 2929.

  Medical Products (VAT)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if products designed for sufferers of ulcerative colitis are exempt from VAT; [36692]

  (2) what revenue the Treasury received from VAT on products designed for the sufferers of ulcerative colitis in the last year for which figures are available; [36693]

  (3) what medical products are currently exempt from value added tax. [36691]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Medical products, including those designed for sufferers of ulcerative colitis, are exempt from VAT when they are supplied in connection with the provision of care or medical or surgical treatment in any hospital or other institution which has been registered or exempted from registration pursuant to an Act of Parliament. Incontinence products which are supplied directly to disabled people are also zero rated. There are no official figures available for VAT receipts on medical products designed for sufferers of ulcerative colitis.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 355, when he will be in a position to give the cost of answering (a) oral and (b) written questions in April. [36566]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The average cost of answering questions in April this year will be calculated after data on movements in earnings become available in October. I expect the information requested to be available by the end of November.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 257, about parliamentary questions, what method would be used by his Department in collating the information requested. [37431]

  Mrs. Knight
  The examination of more than 20,000 files dating back to 1987.

  Paymaster
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the future of the Paymaster agency. [37789]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The report of the prior options review of the Paymaster agency that I announced on 4 December 1995,Official Report, columns 15–16,
  372
  has now been completed. I have accepted its recommendations and am placing copies of the report in the Library of the House.

  Briefly, the report confirms that Paymaster has made itself much more cost-efficient and responsive to customer needs since it achieved agency status on 1 April 1993. It has won a number of market tests for its existing work against private sector rivals, but remains constrained by statute from taking on work for the private sector. If it transferred to the private sector, it would be free to seek new work in both private and public sectors, thereby strengthening its long-term viability.

  The review showed that a small part of its banking business is concerned with work that must stay with the Government. The rest, including all its pensions business and IT support, could be contracted out to the private sector. Given that the agency has already proved its competitiveness against private sector rivals, the Government intend to privatise all but any non-divestible elements as a going concern.

  The proposal is that both the pensions and the banking business should be offered, jointly or separately, for a trade sale, with the present management, staff, IT support and their building in Crawley. At least the pension business—which constitutes some 85 per cent. of the whole—should be privatised within the current financial year. The preparations for the banking business may be more complex, but every effort will be made to have it ready for privatisation in the same timeframe.

  It is expected that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply to protect staff in the transfer, which will be achieved with initial contracts for existing work. To prepare itself for operating from the private sector in future, the agency will be allowed to seek new work in the pensions area in the private or public sectors at once.

  I believe that this represents a good outcome for the agency's existing customers and its staff, by keeping their expertise intact and granting access to new markets, and for the taxpayer, through reducing the cost of providing these public services. The pension schemes will, of course, continue to be funded, and have their rules set, by sponsoring Government Departments. It is the administrative functions that are to be contracted out. Where necessary, Parliament's approval will be sought under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 before the privatisation is effected.

  Central Statistical Office
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Central Statistical Office performed against its key targets in 1995–96. [37790]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Central Statistical Office's performance for 1995–96 is described in the agency's annual report and accounts, which are being laid before the House and published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The CSO achieved 29 of the 34 published targets, including 18 of the 20 targets relating to the quality of key economic statistics.
  373
  Targets for the future will relate to the performance of the Office of National Statistics, which was formed on 1 April 1996 following the merger of the CSO with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Targets for 1996–97 are set out in the ONS business plan 1996–97 to 1998–99, which was published in March.

PRIME MINISTER

  Stone of Scone
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Prime Minister at what time he first informed the Dean of Westminster of his intention to make a statement to the House about the Stone of Scone; and what consultations previously had taken place with the dean and chapter. [36913]

  The Prime Minister
  My discussions with the dean and others before the announcement were confidential.

  Isle of Wight
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Isle of Wight council calling for independence. [36917]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, none.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will undertake a study on the future status of the pound sterling as legal tender on the Isle of Wight following the council's call for independence. [36919]

  The Prime Minister
  No. The Isle of Wight is part of the United Kingdom and sterling continues to be the only legal tender on the island.

  Beef Exports Ban
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister when he proposes to take action if the EU committee of experts fails to agree to lift the ban on British beef exports to third countries. [37488]

  The Prime Minister
  We expect the Commission and other member states to act fully in accordance with the framework for removing the ban agreed unanimously at Florence.

HEALTH

  Dental Services (Duplicate Registrations)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many duplicate registrations were eliminated by the Dental Practice Board in each six-month period between January 1990 and January 1994 and in each month since January 1994; and what estimate he makes of the number of duplicate registrations in place in January of each year since 1990. [35088]

  Mr. Malone
  The table sets out the number of duplicate general dental service registrations that were eliminated by the Dental Practice Board in each six-monthly period between January 1990 and January 1994 and in each month since January 1994.
  374
  A reliable estimate cannot be made of the amount of duplication that remains within registrations. The Dental Practice Board is continually seeking to reduce the level of duplication.

  General Dental Service: Number of duplicate registrations eliminated 1990–96, England

  Month

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  July-December 1990

  0

  0

  0

  January-June 1991

  0

  0

  0

  July-December 1991

  0

  0

  0

  January-June 1992

  370,500

  0

  370,500

  July-December 1992

  469,855

  65,406

  535,261

  January-June 1993

  378,744

  124,542

  503,286

  July-December 1993

  129,310

  45,768

  175,078

  1994

  January

  87,983

  21,988

  109,971

  February

  49,881

  13,772

  63,653

  March

  54,022

  17,234

  71,256

  April

  115,593

  31,407

  147,000

  May

  447,505

  127,396

  574,901

  June

  104,052

  36,408

  140,460

  July

  98,484

  31,162

  129,646

  August

  100,723

  37,429

  138,152

  September

  103,504

  34,290

  137,794

  October

  105,400

  37,916

  143,316

  November

  105,197

  37,477

  142,674

  December

  95,478

  29,457

  124,935

  1995

  January

  93,583

  26,398

  119,981

  February

  96,792

  34,400

  131,192

  March

  106,942

  36,953

  143,895

  April

  98,407

  35,994

  134,401

  May

  98,249

  34,802

  133,051

  June

  100,535

  33,892

  134,427

  July

  98,091

  32,643

  130,734

  August

  99,407

  37,960

  137,367

  September

  101,805

  34,798

  136,603

  October

  109,898

  41,864

  151,762

  November

  98,404

  37,171

  135,575

  December

  103,385

  33,932

  137,317

  1996

  January

  102,101

  30,201

  132,302

  February

  105,089

  38,947

  144,036

  March

  111,490

  38,598

  150,088

  April

  98,339

  38,629

  136,968

  Central formal registration was introduced in October 1990. From the outset the Dental Practice Board's systems ensured that the same patient (as defined by first initial, surname, sex and date of birth) could not be registered more than once with the same dentist. The "eliminated duplicates" shown in the table represent detected duplicates where the same person was registered with more than one dentist.

  The numbers eliminated in 1992 contain estimates because recorded data is for England and Wales.

  GP Lists (Removals)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include in the patients charter a requirement for each GP practice to include in its annual report the number of patients removed from its list at the general practitioner's request; and if he will make a statement. [35841]

  Mr. Horam
  General practitioners routinely supply this information to health authorities and there are no plans to make publication of it a patients charter requirement.

  Primary Care Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that health authorities are able to commission primary care services from general practitioners according to locally expressed needs., and if he will make a statement. [36188]

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure that primary care services are developed according to local community needs and priorities; and if he will make a statement. [36159]

  Mr. Malone
  Health authorities are responsible for developing strategies in consultation with local people for improving health and health services, including supporting and developing primary care. A major consultation exercise is also under way to identify how primary care services might be further developed in future.

  Health Trusts (Consultation)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health ( 1 ) what guidance is issued to health trusts on the necessity for consultation with the public; and if he will make a statement; [35980]

  (2) what courses of action are open to members of the public in circumstances where a health trust declines to attend a public meeting to discuss changes in health care and its provision; and if he will make a statement; [35981]

  (3) what courses of action are open to members of the public if a health trust refuses to meet them to discuss changes in the level and provision of local health care; and if he will make a statement; [35982]

  (4) what guidelines are issued by his Department on the need for, and the extent of, consultation with patients about changes in availability or quality of health care and its delivery; and if he will make a statement. [35983]

  Mr. Horam
  It is for health authorities to assess the health needs of their population and purchase services to meet those needs. Where substantial changes in services are proposed, the health authority is required to consult with its local community health council. If the CHC objects to the resultant proposal, it is normally referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health for a final decision—regarding English HA proposals. Members of the public of course have the opportunity to put their views forward to the CHC. Copies of relevant guidance are in the Library.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Patten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated of health risks incurred by those who sleep rough, with particular reference to Victoria street, London SW1.[36003]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government recognise the health problems associated with rough sleeping and have developed two key initiatives to help homeless people, including those who sleep rough, obtain the health and personal social services that they need.

  The homeless mentally ill initiative provides accommodation and psychiatric care for rough sleepers with mental health problems in central London where the problem of rough sleeping is most acute.
  376
  The Department has also funded some 35 primary health care projects in England to help homeless people to access services they need. The projects provide a range of services in places where homeless people tend to congregate, such as hostels and day centres, and have been fully evaluated.

  Both initiatives provide services to rough sleepers in Westminster, including Victoria street SW1, and have provided valuable information complementing the Government's rough sleepers initiative.

  The Department also published, on 4 July, a report entitled "Tuberculosis and homeless people" which recommends strategies for the identification and treatment of tuberculosis in homeless people and contains measures to prevent tuberculosis in the homeless population.

  Taxi Fares
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [3601 I

  Mr. Horam
  The cost of taxi cab fares is not separately identified in the Department's accounts and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Contaminated Blood Products
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he has done to increase funding for(a) treatment and support services for haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C through NHS treatment with contaminated blood products, (b) research into this problem, (c) recombinant products and (d) core funding for the Haemophilia Society to provide services and support on a continuing basis. [36131]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department does not allocate money to support specific treatments for particular patient groups. National health service funds are allocated to purchasers of health care who are in the best position to decide what services (including treatments) they wish to purchase to meet local needs.

  An additional £1 million has been made available by the Department's research and development division to fund research into improving our understanding of hepatitis C.

  The Haemophilia Society receives grants totalling £155,000 from the Government in the current year. This compares with £126,900 in 1995–96.

  Pharmaceutical Products (Supermarkets)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the sale of pharmaceutical products in supermarkets on the availability and opening hours of dispensing chemists. [35989]

  Mr. Malone
  None. Health authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide adequate and accessible pharmaceutical services to meet local requirements.

  Dedicated Case Managers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of dedicated case managers for(a) head injury patients, (b) cancer patients and (c) fertility patients. [35991]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Alcohol Consumption
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the estimated percentage of(a) men drinking more than 21 units and (b) women drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week for each year since 1979, for each nation of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [36049]

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information, derived from the general household survey and the continuous household survey, is shown in the tables.

  Men drinking more than 21 units of alcohol per week, by United Kingdom country 1984 to 1994

  Percentages

  Men age 18+

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  1984

  25

  24

  25

  n/a

  1986

  27

  32

  24

  n/a

  1988

  27

  28

  23

  15

  1990

  28

  29

  24

  17

  1992

  26

  28

  27

  18

  1994

  27

  27

  25

  21

  Women drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week, by United Kingdom country 1984 to 1994

  Percentages

  Women age 18+

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  1984

  10

  6

  5

  n/a

  1986

  10

  9

  7

  n/a

  1988

  11

  8

  7

  4

  1990

  11

  11

  6

  5

  1992

  12

  11

  7

  6

  1994

  13

  11

  9

  7

  Notes:

  1. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole figure.

  2. Northern Ireland data relate to 1988, and 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1994–95 financial years.

  Sources:

  Office for National Statistics general household survey and the continuous household survey.

  n/a=not available.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated of pre and post-registration education for the care of older people; and if he will make a statement. [36117]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on research commissioned by the Department of Health is contained in "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme" and "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme:378
  Commissions in 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Emergency Medical Service
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since 1 January about the danger to patients arising from the operation of(a) inadequately trained private ambulance operators, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and ambulance technicians and (b) inadequate or poorly maintained vehicles and equipment used by such operators; and if he will make a statement on the incidence of accidents specifying complaints received by his Department arising from such operations. [36043]

  Mr. Horam
  My hon. Friend recently forwarded to me a letter from a constituent. There has been one other representation on the subject this year. Private ambulance operators must comply with the law on the administration of medicines and the conditions and use of vehicles. Any national health service trust considering using a private ambulance operator to transport patients should take account of the code of practice issued by the NHS executive in December 1993.

  Detoxification Units
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many detoxification units existed in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and how many
  currently exist. [36132]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not held centrally.

  Cancer Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons accreditation of specialist cancer centres will not be compulsory; and if he will make a statement. [36398]

  Mr. Horam
  It is the responsibility of individual health care providers to determine how they pursue and ensure quality services and systems within their own organisations. Once cancer centres have been designated, it will be a priority to ensure the maintenance of high quality standards through peer review.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list be region the courses currently being run solely for nursing staff on the care of cancer patients; and if he will make a statement. [36301]

  Mr. Horam
  Courses for nursing staff on the care of cancer patients currently approved by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting to be run in each region are as follows:

  Region

  Course

  Course name

  Northern and Yorkshire

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, or 12 of the Professional Register

  ENB 285

  Specialist Course in the Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family of Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts of the Professional Register

  ENB 931

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  379

  Region

  Course

  Course name

  ENB A11

  Breast Care Nursing for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 11 or 12

  ENB A18

  Palliative Care for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15

  North West

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1,2, or 12

  ENB 931

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB A11

  Breast Care Nursing for Nurse and Health Visitors on 1, 2, 11, or 12

  ENB N23

  Principles of Care Related to Bone Marrow Transplant for Nurses on parts 1,2, 8, 12, or 15

  ENB N29

  Supporting Patients and Relatives Experiencing Loss for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all parts

  ENBN 92

  The Nature of Cancer and its Treatments for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, or 15

  ENB N93

  Working with the Person with Cancer for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, or 15

  Trent

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, or 12

  ENB 285

  Specialist Course in the Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB 391

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patent and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB A11

  Breast Care Nursing for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 11, or 12

  West Midlands

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1, 2,or 12

  ENB 931

  Specialist Course in the Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB N29

  Supporting Patients and Relatives Experiencing Loss for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all parts

  Anglia and Oxford

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1,2, or 12

  ENB 285

  Specialist Course in the Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB 931

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB A18

  Palliative Care for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15

  ENB N37

  Developing Clinical Practice in Palliative Care for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, 8, 12, or 15

  North Thames

  ENB 285

  Specialist Courses in the Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB 931

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  380

  Region

  Course

  Course name

  ENB A11

  Breast Care Nursing for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 11, or 12

  ENB A18

  Palliative Care for Nurse and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15

  ENB N23

  Principles of Care Related to Bone Marrow Transplant for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, 8, 12 or 15

  ENB N37

  Developing Clinical Practice in Palliative Care for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, 8, 12 or 15

  ENB N59

  Care of the Patient Having Chemotherapy for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  South Thames

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, or 12

  ENB 931

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB A18

  Palliative Care for Nurses and Health Visitors on Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15

  ENB N10

  Caring for Patients Receiving Radionuclides for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, or 12

  ENB N37

  Developing Clinical Practice in Palliative Care for Nurses on Parts 1, 2, 8, 12 or 15

  South and West

  ENB 237

  Oncological Nursing for Nurses on Parts 1,2, or 12

  ENB 285

  Specialist Course in the Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all Parts

  ENB 931

  The Continuing Care of the Dying Patient and the Family for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors on all parts

  Cancer Services are identified as a priority in the Education and Training Planning Guidance (EL(96)46) issued in June 1996, a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to provide additional resources for cancer services; and if he will make a statement. [36303]

  Mr. Horam
  Current spending on the national health service will grow by over £1 billion in 1996–97. This additional funding, together with efficiency gains, will enable the NHS to make further progress in developing services of proven effectiveness, including cancer services.

  Cheshire Ambulance Service
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of paramedics employed by the Cheshire ambulance service for each of the last five years; and what was the average number per ambulance service; [36511]

  (2) if he will list the number of incidents attended by the Cheshire ambulance service for each of the last five years; [36513]

  (3) if he will list the number of emergency ambulances operated by the Cheshire ambulance service for each of the last five years; [36512]
  381
  (4) if he will list for each of the last five years the total budget allocated by his Department to the Cheshire ambulance service. [36510]

  Mr. Horam
  The former Cheshire county ambulance service merged with the former Mersey metropolitan ambulance service in September 1991 to form the Mersey Regional ambulance service. This new organisation commenced operating in "shadow form" as a national health service trust from that date until 1 April 1992, when it became fully operational.

  Information on the number of paramedics employed by ambulance services and the average number of paramedics per ambulance service is not available centrally.

  The number of emergency calls taken by Mersey Regional ambulance service which resulted in an ambulance arriving at the scene of an incident are as follows:

  1992–93: 147,700

  1993–94: 160,200

  1994–95: 165,700

  1995–96: 180,700

  Information for the final year of operation of the former Cheshire County ambulance service is not available centrally.

  Information of the number of emergency vehicles operated by ambulance services is not available centrally.

  The annual turnover of Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS trust for each full year of its operation is as follows:

  Financial year

  1992–93: £21.8 million

  1993–94: £22.6 million

  1994–95: £23.8 million

  1995–96: £25.3 million

  Information on the budget allocation of the former Cheshire County ambulance service in its final year of operation is not available centrally.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Utting inquiry will investigate the responsibilities of the social services inspectorate and the social services inspectorate Wales, in dealing with concerns raised with them directly by children and concerned individuals regarding the abuse of children looked after and in care. [36530]

  Mr. Bowis
  Sir William Utting's review is concerned with the safeguards for children living away from home, introduced since 1991. It will be for him to decide whether to recommend any changes in the responsibilities of the Department of Health or the Welsh Office.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of young people looked after or in care since 1972 who have committed suicide(a) while looked after in care, and (b) subsequently. [36522]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available centrally.
  382
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what psychological and counselling assistance will be given to children giving evidence at the Utting inquiry. [36524]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for Sir William Utting to determine how he proposes to conduct the review, including the manner in which any evidence is given.

  Health Care (Efficiency Drives)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that quality standards in health care are not compromised by efficiency drives, and if he will make a statement. [36361]

  Mr. Horam
  The Government's aim is to spend as much of the available resources as possible on direct patient care. Efficiency savings which can be made within the health service produce additional resources for patient care. The quality of care provided by the national health service has risen since the introduction of the patients charter in 1991. At a local level, health authorities have a responsibility to ensure the provision of health services for the population in their area. Health authorities' and general practitioner fundholders' contracts with hospital and community trust providers should include provisions concerning quality. It is for individual provider trusts to determine how best to use their available resources to meet all the requirements of their contracts.

  Osteoarthritis
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out to measure health outcomes in people with osteoarthritis; and if he will make a statement. [36374]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health's policy research programme has commissioned two research projects on osteoarthritis:Primary care interventions in osteoarthritis
  This is a four-year study designed to determine whether exercise can improve the burden of knee pain in the general population. Some 800 patients over the age of 50 will take part. Results will be available in 1999.
  Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of analgesics and NSAIDs—non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs—in the treatment of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
  This is a three-year randomised controlled trial which is planned to compare the treatment of knee pain by NSAIDs and analgesics among 600 patients presenting to their general practitioners. Results will be available in 1998.
  In addition, under the national health service research and development programme, Trent region is funding research on "measuring health outcome in people with osteoarthritis".

  This will look at the evaluation and audit of the costs and health consequences of surgery and other interventions for varying severity of osteoarthritis. The lead researcher for this work in based at the university of Sheffield.

  Health Care (Responsibility)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that the responsibility for
  383
  meeting the health care needs of people with physical or learning difficulties who are profoundly dependent on the skills of health care staff falls on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [36297]

  Mr. Bowis
  The national health service continues to be responsible for assessing and meeting the health care needs of the population is serves, including people with physical and learning disabilities.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department is giving to promoting autonomy and independence among older people, with particular reference to an evaluation of educational programmes in nursing; and if he will make a statement. [36305]

  Mr. Bowis
  Promoting continued independence and rehabilitation is a key principle of our policies on services for older people. To this end, we published recently a video on good practice in this area. We also work closely with, and provide substantial grant aid to, the voluntary sector in this field, much of whose work is also directed to this end.

  The English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting has commissioned two research evaluations of pre and post-registration education. One of these will look specifically at the care of older people and care of the elderly is a central theme of the other.

  Cheshire Health Authority
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of beds available for long-term elderly care in each of the hospitals in the Cheshire health authority for each of the last five years; and what is the national average figure; [36460]

  (2) if he will list the number of beds available for cancer patients in each of the hospitals in the Cheshire health authority for each of the last five years; and what is the national average figure; [36459]

  (3) if he will list the number of intensive care beds in each of the hospitals in the Cheshire health authority for each of the last five years; and what is the national average figure. [36461]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested. Information on bed availability by ward classification may be found in "Bed Availability, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  GP Fundholding
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of fundholding and 384
  non-fundholding general practitioners in (a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36493]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available below health authority level.

  Surgical Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into pre-operative information requirements of surgical patients; and if he will make a statement. [36365]

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

  Infant Nutrition
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has carried out on the influence of childhood nutrition and nutritional
  status on health and adulthood; and if he will make a statement; [36376]

  (2) what research his Department has undertaken into the responsibility of a relationship between infant feeding and schizophrenia; and if he will make a statement. [36366]

  Mr. Horam
  The Government have funded three studies, with long-term follow-up, of nationally representative groups of babies born in 1946, 1958, and 1970. These individuals, the oldest of whom are 50 years, continue to be followed up with support from the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. These three studies have provided a basis of much research on the influence of childhood nutrition and nutritional status on health in adulthood.

  Two Medical Research Council-funded units have a particular interest in infant and child nutrition and on its effect on health in later childhood and during adult life.

  The MRC Dunn clinical nutrition centre, in Cambridge, co-ordinates a multi-centre study of feeding and nutrition of pre-term infants. Follow-up of the study participants has continued since their birth in the mid-1980s. Contact will be maintained with these individuals as they enter adult life.

  The MRC environmental epidemiology unit in Southampton has reported a range of retrospective studies which assess relationships between adult health and aspects of nutrition in infancy including method of feeding and infant weight.

  We are unaware of any research into relationships between infant feeding and schizophrenia.

  Pharmaceutical Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate a review of the NHS Pharmaceutical Regulations 1992 with the objective of ensuring greater(a) simplicity in the processes for considering applications under the regulations, (b) flexibility in responding to the needs of different types of communities for pharmaceutical services, (c) openness in consultation processes and (d) ability to accommodate the provision of pharmaceutical services to different types of retail outlet selling general pharmacy products; and if he will make a statement. [36299]

  Mr. Malone
  The NHS Pharmaceutical Regulations 1992 are kept under constant review, but there are no immediate plans to make amendments.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health care workers have been infected by the hepatitis B virus since 1988. [36342]

  Mr. Horam
  Confirmed cases of acute hepatitis B infection are reported by laboratories to the Public Health Laboratory Service under a voluntary and confidential surveillance system. Information on the number of laboratory confirmed cases of acute hepatitis B infection in health care workers reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service from 1988–95 in England and Wales, where occupation was stated, is given in the table.

  Laboratory reports of acute hepatitis B infection in health care workers in England and Wales 1988–95 to the Public Health Laboratory Service

  Number

  1988

  21

  1989

  16

  1990

  13

  1991

  5

  1992

  9

  1993

  5

  1994

  6

  1995

  5

  1. Data for 1995 is provisional.

  2. Data includes hepatitis B infections acquired both occupationally and non-occupationally in the United Kingdom and abroad.

  3. Hepatitis B infection can occur asymptomatically and may not, therefore, be diagnosed.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to offer hepatitis B vaccination to persons outside the currently defined at risk groups. [36341]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department's current policy is to recommend immunisation for those groups at increased risk of infection because of their life style, occupation or other factors such as close contact with a case or carrier. This policy, including the risk groups for whom immunisation is recommended, is kept under review.

  Intensive and High Dependency Care
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will conduct a comprehensive review of the intensive care and high dependency requirements in each health authority with a view to revising funding to meet service requirements; and if he will make a statement. [36399]
  386
  Mr. Horam
  It is for health authorities to assess the level of provision of intensive care and high dependency facilities needed and to allocate resources accordingly. Following the recent publication of guidelines on admission to, and discharge from, intensive care and high dependency care, health authorities have been asked by the national health service executive to examine the level of local provision to ensure that best use is made of available resources.

  Beta Blocking Drugs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost to the NHS per patient, per month for patients receiving treatment with beta blocking drugs. [36294]

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

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish an independent commission of inquiry to review the current arrangements for collecting prescription charges; and if he will make a statement. [36302]

  Mr. Malone
  The scheme was last reviewed in 1993 as part of the fundamental review of health expenditure. There are no plans for a further review. Extensive charge exemption and remission arrangements, among the most generous in Europe, ensure that only those able to afford the prescription charge are asked to pay.

  Acute Hospitals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has committed to establishing the extent of skills and knowledge within acute hospital environments with particular reference to acute medical/haematological wards providing pain relief in patients with a malignant disease; and if he will make a statement. [36364]

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

  Hearing-impaired Children
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out on the impact of early detection on outcomes for hearing-impaired children; and if he will make a statement. [36375]

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1994, I asked the screening panel which supports the departmental standing group on health technologies to give priority to considering developments in the early identification of hearing impairment in children and to advise on whether the available evidence was sufficient to justify a review of policy and practice. To facilitate this, we commissioned the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research to produce a review paper. We expect to receive this paper shortly.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the impact of the private finance initiative on capital development in the NHS; if he will ensure that there is no reduction in capital investment in the NHS from public funds; and if he will make a statement. [36397]

  Mr. Horam
  The private finance initiative benefits capital development in the national health service by giving the NHS access to private sources of finance where this offers best value for money and transfer of risk to the private sector. It also enables the NHS to make the best possible use of private sector skills and experience. Some 57 privately-financed schemes worth over £1 million each have been approved to date, with a total capital value of £524 million, and schemes worth about £1.5 billion are currently testing for private finance. We cannot guarantee what the level of capital spending will be in the future, but what matters is not the level of public funding alone, but the total funding available to the NHS from public and private sources.

  Dentists (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of dentists accepting NHS patients in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36494]

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

  General Dental Service: number of dentists who had additions to their register in Cheshire as a whole, and in Crewe and Nantwich; year ending 31 March 1992–1996

  Number of dentists Cheshire

  Number of dentists Crewe and Nantwich

  1992

  352

  36

  1993

  363

  34

  1994

  357

  31

  1995

  352

  32

  1996

  354

  29

  Additions to the register include instances of patients registering with a dentist after a break in attendance and reinstatement of registrations that had been cancelled in error.

  Some dentists have contracts in more than one area.

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

  Social Services Inspectors
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number of social services inspectors were employed in each year since 1991(a) in England and (b) in Northern Ireland. [36525]

  Mr. Bowis
  From 1993, figures of directly employed regulation and inspection staff in social services departments in England are published in "Local Authority Social Services Statistics: Staff of Local Authority Social Services departments at September; England", copies of which are available in the Library. Corresponding data for 1992 and earlier years are not 388
  available centrally. Questions relating to Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Drug Abuse
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total Government funding to Trent region to counter drug abuse for each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [36242]

  Mr. Bowis
  Over the past three years, Trent regional health authority has been allocated the following amounts specifically to help develop drug misuse treatment services:

  1993–94: £2,253,000

  1994–95: £2,337,000

  1995–96: £2,429,000

  Health authorities may draw on general allocations for further funds.

  Following the abolition of regional health authorities, £3,384,000 has been allocated to health authorities within Trent region for 1996–97.

  Dementia
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from occupational therapists on the interventions to be used with patients suffering from mild or moderate dementia; and if he will make a statement. [36304]

  Mr. Bowis
  No such representations have been received.

  Playgroups
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into the role of a structured playgroup in social and language development of pre-school children; and if he will make a statement. [36377]

  Mr. Bowis
  This research is contained in "Playgroups in Practice: Self Help and Public Policy", and "Playgroups in a Changing World", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Nursing Homes (Visits)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that all health authorities publish the reports of their visits to nursing homes; and if he will make a statement. [36300]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 25 June, column 88.

  Mental Handicap Hospitals
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the mental handicap hospitals expected to be closed in each region of England, with details of the expected closure date, the current number of residents, and the plans for their future relocation, together with the total number of people currently resident in long-stay mental handicap hospitals. [36555]
  389
  Mr. Bowis
  The Department does not routinely collect information on hospital closures. However, inter-authority comparisons and consultancy was commissioned in 1994 to conduct a national survey of learning disability hospital closures and closure plans. A copy of its report is in the Library. It is estimated that, at 31 March 1995, there were 9,300 people with a length of stay of one year or more in national health service hospitals and units under the mental handicap (learning disability) specialty.

  Clinical Outcome Indicators
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 14 clinical outcome indicators which his Department is piloting for use in measuring the clinical effectiveness of NHS trusts in England; and when he plans to publish a report on clinical outcome indicators for England similar to the report published by the Scottish Office in December 1995. [36556]

  Mr. Horam
  The national health service executive is working with the Joint Consultants Committee to promote the development of new clinical indicators, which will enable aspects of NHS trusts' performance to be examined. The following set of clinical indicators, recommended by the JCC/NHS executive working group, will be piloted this year to ensure that the information is robust and unlikely to mislead, before publication is considered.

  Perioperative mortality;

  Surgical wound infections;

  Length of hospital stay of stroke patients, and discharge home;

  District rate of hernia recurrence;

  In-hospital mortality for acute myocardial infarction;

  Adverse drug reactions while patients in hospital;

  Reoperation after prostate surgery;

  Length of stay in hospital, mortality and discharge home after admission for fractured neck of femur;

  Frequency of diagnostic curettage in women under the age of 40 years;

  Perioperative organ damage (sentinel event marker);

  Perioperative pulmonary embolism as an alternative to perioperative myocardial infarction (sentinel event marker);

  Perioperative Central Nervous System complications (sentinel event marker);

  Some of the clinical outcome indicators mentioned in the report published by the Scottish Office in December 1995 require the linkage of patient records in a way not yet routinely available in England, and, accordingly, there are no plans at present to publish such indicators.

  NHS Clinical Staff (Suspensions)
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of suspensions of NHS clinical staff from(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands the NHS executive has had referred to it for each of the last five years. [36572]

  Mr. Malone
  Decisions on employment matters, including suspensions, rest with the employing authority. National health service employers have reported cases of suspension of hospital and community medical and hospital dental staff lasting more than six months since 31 March 1995. Information is, therefore, only available on those cases over six months and from that date.390
  The total number or reported cases from March 1995 to 30 June 1996 in England and the West Midlands is nine and one respectively.

  Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS patients in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands have been treated by alternative consultants as a results of NHS clinical suspensions for each of the last five years; [36573]

  (2) what was the total cost of investigating and processing suspensions of NHS staff to the NHS (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the west midlands over each of the last five years; [36574]

  (3) how many suspensions of NHS clinical staff concerned matters of (a) personal and (b) clinical conduct in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the west midlands in the last five years; [36575]

  (4) how many suspensions of NHS clinical staff have been followed by reinstatement in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands for each of the last five years; [36576]

  (5) how many NHS clinical staff suspensions there have been (a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands in each of the last five years; [36587]

  (6) how many NHS clinical staff suspensions have been processed within (a) three and (b) six months from the first date of suspension in each of the last five years (i) nationally and (ii) in the west midlands. [36588]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally. Decisions on employment matters, including possible suspensions, rest with the employing authority.

  Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS clinical staff suspensions have not been processed within(a) six months, (b) a year and (c) two years from first date of suspension in each of the last five years (i) nationally and (ii) in the west midlands. [36589]

  Mr. Malone
  Decisions on employment matters, including suspensions, rest with the employing authority. National health service employers have reported cases of suspension of hospital and community medical and hospital dental staff lasting more than six months since 31 March 1995. Information is, therefore, available only on those cases of suspension over six months and from that date.

  Nationally there were nine reported cases during the period 31 March 1995 to 30 June 1996 of which one was from the west midlands. Seven of these cases have now been resolved and two are still outstanding. Of those resolved nationally, two were cleared within six months to one year and three within one to two years. Two cases

  391
  lasted over two years, of which one was in the west midlands. One of the two unresolved cases has lasted over two years and the other between one and two years.

  Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the estimated public expenditure by the NHS on non-EU foreign nationals on(a) contraception and (b) all community health services in the most recent year for which figures are available. [36848]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected.

  Health Services Staff
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by family health services authority the number of(a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) midwives, (d) health visitors, (e) administration and clerical staff and (f) managers for the most recent year available. [36847]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information will be placed in the Library.

  War Disablement Pensions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the scheme for giving recipients of war disablement pensions priority treatment in NHS hospitals after emergency and other critical cases was introduced. [36834]

  Mr. Bowis
  Following a Government commitment given in 1953, war pensioners receive priority treatment in national health service hospitals for the condition or conditions for which they receive a pension or gratuity. Priority is not given for unrelated conditions.

  Shellfish-related Illness
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 335, how many cases of shellfish-related illness reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service were subsequently proved to be linked to (a) the consumption of shellfish, (b) the consumption of shellfish whose deficiencies were traced back to the production practices and (c) factors other than production practices; and in how many cases no link to the consumption of shellfish was established. [36595]

  Mr. Horam
  All of the 82 cases were reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service as associated with the consumption of shellfish. Information is not available on the precise cause of contamination in the shellfish implicated in each case.

  Health Care (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the chairs and chief executives of national health service trust hospitals, covering the Greater London area, to discuss health matters relating to care in the local community. [37195]

  Mr. Bowis
  Ministers meet chairmen and chief executives of national health service trusts as necessary to discuss various issues. I am not aware of any recent meetings with all the hospital trusts in the London area.

  Care for the Elderly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the German system of funding long-term care for the elderly. [37181]

  Mr. Bowis
  A system of social insurance for long-term care was introduced in Germany in 1995. The system is compulsory, and operates on a pay-as-you-go rather than a funded basis. We have no plans to introduce a similar system here.

  Radiotherapy
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been made to him regarding compensation for victims of radiotherapy following breast cancer; and if he will make a statement. [36924]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department has received a number of letters in support of the campaign by the group Radiotherapy Action Group Exposure—RAGE BREAST—which represents those suffering adverse effects following radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

  Morning-after Pill
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds are currently made available by his Department to(a) the Health Education Council and (b) other bodies, for the promotion of the use of, or awareness about, the morning-after pill; for what precise purpose those funds are used; which of these projects involve the provision of a telephone helpline service; at what cost; in what areas; for what purpose; to what age group of women and in which geographic areas such campaigns are being mounted; and if he will make a statement. [37492]

  Mr. Horam
  In support of the Government's "Health of the Nation" objective of reducing the level of unwanted pregnancy, the Health Education Authority is conducting a national campaign to raise awareness of emergency contraception among women aged 16 to 49. The Department has made available £600,000 to the HEA to run the campaign, which commenced on 25 June and runs until 24 July. It aims, through press and radio advertising, briefing for general practitioner surgeries and family planning clinics, and through posters and leaflets, to improve knowledge of emergency contraception, where it can be obtained and the time period in which it can be used. A 24-hour freephone helpline is available until the end of September.

  Health Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average expenditure per head for each health authority, and the average for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in the current financial year. [37515]

  Mr. Horam
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as is available as soon as possible.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which health authorities in Yorkshire have had in respect of previous years overspend, made by predecessor constituent health or family health services authorities,(a) sums written off and (b) additional grant aid to reduce those overspends; [37252]

  (2) if he will list those health authorities that have (a) had previous years overspend written off by his Department and (b) been given grant aid to reduce overspends in previous years. [37253]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not held centrally.

  Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 June,Official Report, columns 148–49, what drugs, other than paracetamol and codeine, were involved in the adverse reactions of erythema multiform and epidermal necrolysis; and how many cases were involved for each drug identified by its generic and trade name. [35492]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer on 4 July 1996]: A table has been placed in the Library which lists all drugs reported in association with erythema multiform and epidermal necrolysis between 1991 and 1995 and the number of reports for each drug.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 June,Official Report, columns 148–49, how many of the adverse reactions were fatal or caused serious damage to the patient's health. [35493]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 4 July 1996]: The Medicines Control Agency holds the following information relating to suspected adverse drug reactions reported through the voluntary yellow card scheme. These data have been mapped to two relevant preferred terms: erythema multiforme—which includes Stevens-Johnson syndrome—and epidermal necrolysis.

  There have been five fatal reports of erythema multiforme and 29 fatal reports of epidermal necrolysis where the fatality was associated directly or indirectly with the adverse reaction. None of the fatal cases were reported to be associated with products containing paracetamol and/or codeine.

  Epidermal necrolysis is a serious condition, as indicated by the high proportion of fatalities. However, many cases of erythema multiforme are mild and self-limiting. Of the 715 reported cases of erythema multiforme, 80 were known to have been hospitalised.

  Trusts and Health Authorities (Debts)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 July Official Report, column 25, on bad debts, if he will provide equivalent figures for each of the previous five years. [37102]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: Information for 1987–88 is not available. The information for 1988–89 to 1991–92 will be placed in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Upper Waiting Hall Exhibitions
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Achievements of the Engineering Industry, Present and Future", to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [37759]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 21 October to Friday 25 October 1996.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Working for Health in Wythenshawe" to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall. [37576]

  Mr. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 4 November to Friday 8 November 1996.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition in relation to "Cyprus:— A Photographic Record 1974–1966" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [37550]

  Mr. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November 1996.

  Standing Committee Reports
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions paperback versions of complete Official Reports of Standing Committees on Bills have been published (a) prior to the Report stage of the Bill and (b) to date, in the current Session of Parliament; and what changes there have been in this practice since the Session 1979–80. [37013]

  Mr. Newton
  There are no set timetables for the publication of paperback versions of complete Standing Committee Hansards. The practice is to publish them in recesses, usually summer recesses.

  No such versions have been published (a) before the Report stage of a Bill or (b) to date, in the current Session.

  There have been no changes in the practice since the 1979–80 Session.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Special Needs Education (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the funding for special needs education for Cheshire education authority for each of the past five years [36502]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Provision for special education is contained in the education standard spending assessment, but cannot be separately identified.

  Teaching Staff (Devon)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total number of(a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants employed by Devon education authority in (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97. [37049]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The latest available information on teachers and education support staff employed by Devon local education authority is shown in the tables. Staff in grant-maintained schools are excluded throughout.

  Full-time equivalent—FTE—teachers in the LEA-maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special education sector

  January

  FTE

  1994

  7,320

  1995

  7,400

  1996

  7,450

  Full-time equivalent education support staff in LEA-maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools

  January

  FTE

  1994

  1,540

  1995

  1,680

  1996

  n/a

  1 Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff and other support staff including librarians, technicians, medical staff and child care assistants. Voluntary or unpaid staff are excluded

  n/a=not available.

  New Apprenticeship Schemes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many hours are spent(a) in the classroom studying the theoretical subjects and (b) gaining practical experience under the new apprenticeship scheme in the engineering industry. [37078]

  Mr. Paice
  This information is not available because employers are free to decide how the skills and underpinning knowledge required by a modern apprenticeship are acquired. The training frameworks for modern apprenticeships specify the outputs to be achieved, but not the process. This allows employers the flexibility they need to organise training.

  Physical Education and Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 3 July,Official Report, column 454, when she will place
  396
  in the Library the full results of the survey her Department has recently conducted into physical education and sport in schools. [37126]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The report placed in the Library on 3 July 1996 gives full details of the results of the Department's survey of PE and sports in schools in England. The Department will try to meet any requests for further information on specific aspects of the survey, provided this can be done without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Nutrition
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines she has set out in respect of the serving of healthy meals in the canteens of(a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities; and if she will make a statement. [37090]

  Mrs. Gillan
  None. The nutritional content and presentation of school food is for individual LEAs and governing bodies of grant-maintained schools to decide. We expect to publish voluntary dietary guidance for them in the autumn. We hope LEAs and governors will adopt the good practices it recommends. Colleges and universities are autonomous institutions and responsible for their own catering. Although the guidance is not aimed at them, those institutions will no doubt also wish to ensure that healthy food options are available.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she has taken to ensure that the Government offices for the regions are aware of their responsibility to ensure TECs comply with the operating agreement in respect of equal opportunities. [36894]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department's operating guide for Government regional offices makes specific reference to the requirements relating to equality of opportunity. Training and enterprise council performance, including equality of opportunity, forms part of the regular dialogue between Government offices and the Department.

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many TECs have complied with an equal opportunities strategy under paragraph 8 of the TEC operating agreement. [36893]

  Mr. Paice
  All 74 training and enterprise councils or chambers of commerce, training and enterprise have agreed, and are taking steps to implement, an equal opportunities strategy in accordance with their contracts with the Government.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy to ensure that TECs spend a larger proportion fo their budgets on management training for small firms. [36682]

  Mr. Paice
  The Government are currently consulting businesses and their support organisations on the simplification of their business support. The purpose of the consultation, which ends in September, is to allow TECs and others greater flexibility in meeting their clients' needs. We look to TECs to tackle management development needs in local companies but have no plans to require TECs to dedicate a specific proportion of their funds to that area.
  397
  The TEC contract specifies activity in the skills for small business scheme by which TECs specifically assist small businesses to develop their own in-house training expertise. In addition, it is open to TECs to use the discretionary fund resources to target their small business sector.

  Education Funding (Devon)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was available for the local education authority in Devon to spend on each pupil, on average, in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97. [37424]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Allocations of education standard spending spending assessments—SSA—per pupil for 5 to 10-year-olds, 11 to 15-year-olds and over-16s are shown in the table. Actual expenditure per pupil is for the local education authority to decide: LEAs can and do spend more or less on education than is provided in their education SSA.

  £ per pupil

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  5 to 10-year-olds

  1,865

  1,879

  1,958

  11 to 15-year-olds

  2,605

  2,506

  2,609

  Over-16s

  3,484

  3,350

  3,280

  Objective 4 Status
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 335, on objective 4 status, how much money has been made available to firms (a) in total, (b) with under 100 employees, (c) with under 50 employees and (d) with under 10 employees in each EU country which has participated in the objective 4 programme. [36745]

  Mr. Forth
  No information has been made available by the European Commission on the breakdown of funds under objective 4 between firms or other bodies in the countries which have objective 4 programmes.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those local education authorities that pay education maintenance allowance, indicating the amount currently paid by each; and if she will list the practice of each authority as to when the allowance is paid. [36779]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following local education authorities in England and Wales informed the Department that they had paid educational maintenance allowances in 1994–95 as in the table.
  398

  Educational maintenance allowances paid by local education authorities

  England and Wales 1: academic year 1994–95

  Number of EMAs

  Total expenditure on EMAs

  Corporation of London

  1

  518

  Greenwich

  431

  82,050

  Hackney

  57

  23,020

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  219

  114,780

  Islington

  99

  19,800

  Kensington and Chelsea

  505

  256,270

  Lambeth

  801

  341,632

  Lewisham

  388

  139,882

  Southwark

  1

  500

  Tower Hamlets

  439

  133,100

  Wandsworth

  269

  126,743

  City of Westminster

  239

  96,600

  Barking and Dagenham

  129

  52,358

  Bexley

  3

  1,440

  Bromley

  256

  129,046

  Croydon

  55

  24,515

  Enfield

  267

  125,819

  Havering

  32

  16,902

  Hounslow

  131

  62,972

  Merton

  47

  20,550

  Newham

  65

  14,100

  Redbridge

  52

  21,619

  Waltham Forest

  703

  246,287

  Birmingham

  457

  110,505

  Coventry

  220

  33,487

  Walsall

  174

  81,457

  Knowsley

  326

  80,984

  Liverpool

  1,724

  545,618

  St. Helens

  69

  32,778

  Sefton

  321

  72,414

  Wirral

  460

  153,554

  Bury

  9

  2,800

  Manchester

  133

  19,883

  Oldham

  124

  58,156

  Tamside

  23

  7,620

  Wigan

  170

  80,835

  Doncaster

  128

  43,647

  Rotherham

  166

  92,949

  Sheffield

  121

  11,838

  Calderdale

  337

  65,963

  Kirklees

  435

  293,717

  Leeds

  773

  445,805

  Wakefield

  64

  11,196

  Gateshead

  185

  117,225

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  406

  278,837

  North Tyneside

  90

  24,435

  South Tyneside

  28

  20,440

  Sunderland

  161

  73,265

  Clwyd

  124

  8,820

  Dyfed

  417

  106,797

  Gwent

  704

  404,279

  Gwynedd

  88

  22,440

  Mid-Glamorgan

  857

  243,726

  Powys

  79

  24,024

  South Glamorgan

  360

  72,000

  West Glamorgan

  67

  19,890

  Avon

  514

  163,668

  Bedfordshire

  93

  21,340

  Berkshire

  188

  127,260

  Buckinghamshire

  273

  142,950

  Cambridgeshire

  910

  111,936

  Cheshire

  614

  298,821

  Cleveland

  66

  31,417

  Cornwall

  402

  130,328

  Cumbria

  226

  79,976

  Derbyshire

  380

  135,919

  Devon

  1,164

  576,973

  Dorset

  1,232

  288,254

  399

  Educational maintenance allowances paid by local education authorities

  England and Wales 1: academic year 1994–95

  Number of EMAs

  Total expenditure on EMAs

  Durham

  1,185

  548,639

  East Sussex

  214

  89,637

  Essex

  396

  232,832

  Gloucestershire

  112

  48,290

  Hampshire

  15

  8,426

  Hereford and Worcester

  907

  345,422

  Hertfordshire

  215

  93,027

  Humberside

  304

  177,723

  Kent

  686

  149,138

  Lancashire

  65S

  368,309

  Lincolnshire

  124

  36,770

  Norfolk

  17

  1,290

  Northamptonshire

  316

  147,399

  Nottinghamshire

  728

  429,077

  Shropshire

  161

  77,220

  Somerset

  74

  23,530

  Staffordshire

  203

  82,833

  Suffolk

  127

  50,996

  Surrey

  824

  197,868

  West Sussex

  229

  92,427

  Wiltshire

  1,577

  392,238

  Total all Leas2

  34,554

  12,191,668

  Source:

  F503G.

  Notes:

  1 Made by Local Education Authorities in England and Wales to students normally domiciled in their area.

  2 National totals have been grossed to compensate for incomplete returns.

  This information is derived from returns made by local education authorities to the Department; the fact that there is no entry for some LEAs does not necessarily mean that they paid no allowances. We have no information about the practice of authorities in making these allowances, which are discretionary awards. It is for individual LEAs to decide whether to pay education maintenance allowances and they are responsible for setting the conditions under which such allowances are paid, the level at which they are paid and the timing of payments.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the(a) gross and (b) net expenditure cost of the introduction nationally of a means-tested education maintenance allowance; how such an allowance would be paid; to whom it would be paid; and if such allowances are taxable. [36776]

  Mr. Squire
  No such assessment has been made by the Department.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the(a) number and (b) percentage of primary school children in classes of 31 or more (i) in each local education authority and (ii) nationally in 1996. [37151]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The number of pupils in one-teacher classes of 31 or more pupils in maintained primary schools in England in January 1996—provisional—was 1.26 million. This represented 31.8 per cent. of pupils in all 400
  one-teacher classes in maintained primary schools in England. Class size figures for local education authorities will be available in the autumn.

  English Tests
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the final guidelines issued to markers of key stage 2 English tests included lower thresholds for some levels than those set out in the draft guidelines; and if she will make a statement. [36642]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: The draft thresholds set by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on 22 April were confirmed in full following the level setting procedures based on an initial sample of actual scripts. Dummy thresholds had been issued to markers in March purely for training purposes.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dun woody
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of legal aid applications and the total sums involved received from members of the public in Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36391]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Legal Aid Board has an area officer in Chester which covers the county of Cheshire along with nine other counties or regions. The data gathered by the board do not separately identify applications received by individual counties.

  The total number of applications for civil legal aid received by the Chester area office over the last five years were as follows:

  1991–92: 26,391

  1992–93: 30,542

  1993–94: 24,969

  1994–95: 25,517

  1995–96: 24,593

  For civil legal aid certificates issued by the board's Chester area office, the net cost of cases which closed during the last four years were as follows:

  1992–93: £14.056 million

  1993–94: £17.657 million

  1994–95: £18.320 million

  1995–96: £18.622 million

  The figures for 1991–92 are not available.

  Court Closures (Cheshire)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the(a) magistrates and (b) other courts closed in the county of Cheshire in each of the past five years. [36390]

  Mr. Streeter
  In the last five years, two courts have been closed in Cheshire. They are: Winsford magistrates court, closed in September 1992; and Ellesmere Port county court, closed in December 1994.

  In addition, sittings ceased to be held at Ellesmere Port magistrates court with effect from 31 March 1996.

  Leeds Crown Court
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many prosecutions, heard at the Leeds Crown court in the last two years, have proceeded to the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement. [35541]

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

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 15 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of cases heard at Leeds Crown Court in the last two years which have proceeded to appeal.
  In 1994, 192 appeals in cases heard at Leeds Crown Court were received in the Court of Appeal. In 1995 this rose to 211.

  Court Debt-recovery Procedures
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the programme to streamline court debt-recovery procedures. [36744]

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

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 15 July 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the programme to streamline court debt-recovery procedures.
  There is an ongoing programme to streamline certain aspects of debt recovery business in the county courts. The Summons Production Centre, which opened in 1990, operates a computerised and highly automated system for issuing summonses and now handles 47% of all summonses issued. There are further plans to centralise and computerise the handling of payments under attachment of earnings orders which will enable all employers to make payments to a single central point. It is also planned to implement a new national computer system in local county courts beginning in 1997.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mohammed al-Masari
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Attorney-General when he will reach a decision on whether to prosecute Mr. al-Masari for reported anti-semitic remarks. [35540]

  The Attorney-General
  Material attributed to Dr. al-Masari has been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to deciding whether there is evidence that offences of incitement to racial hatred or incitement to murder have been committed. In the light of advice from leading counsel, the CPS has concluded that there is insufficient evidence at present to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence. Any further evidence will be closely reviewed.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress in the prosecution of persons under the War Crimes Act 1991. [35542]

  The Solicitor-General
  Proceedings have been commenced in the Serafinowicz case which was committed to the central criminal court on 15 April 1996 and is due for trial in January 1997. Nine other cases remain under investigation.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to reorganise the Serious Fraud Office. [35543]

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office continues to implement recommendations made in the Graham report and by the Davie group, including measures to rationalise its investigative function and to make the most efficient use of police resources. I have no plans for further reorganisation.

  Asil Nadir
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the latest position over the prosecution in the United Kingdom of Asil Nadir. [35544]

  The Solicitor-General
  Asil Nadir stands indicted before the central criminal court on 13 counts of theft involving over £33 million alleged to have been stolen from Polly Peck International plc. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The Crown is ready to proceed as soon as he returns or is returned to the jurisdiction.

  Pensions Ombudsman
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with the pensions ombudsman concerning legal proceedings in connection with decisions of the ombudsman. [36379]

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Solicitor's Cost
  Sir Julian Critchley
  To ask the Attorney-General, who is the taxation master in the matter of solicitors' costs; and if he will list the names and firms of those in the legal profession who assist him. [36309]

  Mr. Streeter
  I have been asked to reply.

  In accordance with the Solicitors Act 1974 and order 62 of the rules of the Supreme Court, taxations of solicitor and own client costs—Solicitors Act taxations—may be carried out only by a taxing master or district judge, sitting alone. Reviews of such taxations are carried out by a judge assisted by two assessors, one of whom is a taxing master, and the other a practising solicitor nominated by the president of the Law Society.
  403
  Deputy taxing masters and deputy district judges also conduct taxations. There are seven taxing masters, 331 district judges, 16 deputy taxing masters and 691 deputy district judges. There is no panel of practising solicitors acting as assessors. Individual nominations are made for each review. I will write to the hon. Member if he wishes to provide me with details of any particular case that he has in mind.

SCOTLAND

  Drugs and Aids
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total funding for Tayside drugs services broken down by the national services division, the helath board and the local authority figures in 1995–96. [31756]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total funding allocated for Tayside drugs services in 1995–96 was as follows:

  1995–96 £

  National Services Division

  11,091,000

  Tayside Health Board

  103,350

  Tayside Regional Council

  271,182

  1 This figure does not include additional funding of £13,000 and £33,000 allocated for the Tayside drug development officer, and community drug action projects respectively.

  2 This figure covers grants to the Dundee drugs and AIDS project, and the Perth misuse of drugs project only. In addition, funding was made available to other voluntary sector projects where drug misuse was a factor amongst clients but not the main thrust of the service.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the posts which will be lost in 1996–97 in(a) the Scottish Drugs Forum, (b) Dundee drugs and AIDS project, (c) Wishart centre and (d) Body Positive in Tayside. [31620]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information, which has been provided by Tayside health board, is set out in the table:

  Posts cut in 1996–97

  Scottish Drugs Forum

  None

  Dundee Drugs and Aids Project

  16

  Wishart Centre

  2

  Body Positive

  None

  1 This figure includes a social work secondment and a research post; both were fixed-term appointments which have now ended.

  GPs (Special Deprivation Payments)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of patients of(a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholders in Scotland live in areas attracting special deprivation payments under the regulations governing general practitioners' remuneration. [31818]
  404
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The percentages of patients of general practitioner fundholders and non-fundholders in Scotland who live in areas attracting special deprivation payments are 11 per cent. and 11.6 per cent. respectively.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were(a) the total national costs, (b) the total cost to each health board and (c) the cost to each NHS trust in Scotland of managing transactions with GP fundholders or supporting GP fundholding. [31814]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Hospital and Community Services Expenditure
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total budget for hospital and community services, excluding GP fundholding, in each year since GP fundholding was introduced in Scotland. [31816]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the list:

  1991–92: £2.488 million

  1992–93: £2.707 million

  1993–94: £2.895 million

  1994–95: £2.973 million

  1995–96: £3.037 million

  Constituency Statistics
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be(a) the number of Scottish constituencies at the next general election and (b) the average number of voters in each; what will be the equivalent figures for (i) England, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Wales and (iv) the United Kingdom. [35996]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Number of seats

  Average electorate based on the 1996 electoral registers

  Scotland

  72

  55,043

  England

  529

  169,083

  Northern Ireland

  18

  65,386

  Wales

  40

  155,507

  United Kingdom

  659

  166,620

  1 These figures are based on the 1995 electoral register as the 1996 electorate figures are not available.

  Environmental Pollution
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the responsibility of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in respect of environmental pollution in the Minches. [36457]
  405
  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency's pollution control powers are defined in sections 31 and 32 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. These powers cover the regulation of discharges to controlled waters as defined in section 30A of that Act. The Minches are wholly within controlled waters.

  Home Energy Conservation Act
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 will come into operation in Scotland. [36869]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The provisions of the Home Energy Conservation Act are to be introduced in Scotland on 1 December 1996. Guidance to local authorities on how they must carry out the duties required of them is being prepared and will be issued to the authorities later in the year following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

  1994–95

  NHS Trusts

  Income £000

  Management/Administration and board members £000

  Percentage

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals

  123,084

  8,790

  7.14

  Angus

  40,874

  2,500

  6.12

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare

  59,168

  4,408

  7.45

  Caithness and Sutherland

  15,308

  1,069

  6.98

  Central Scotland Healthcare

  47,655

  2,485

  5.21

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals

  39,798

  2,933

  7.37

  Dundee Healthcare

  58,211

  3,548

  6.10

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals

  114,524

  7,787

  6.80

  East and Midlothian

  53,711

  2,951

  5.49

  Edinburgh Healthcare

  85,132

  7,602

  8.93

  Edinburgh Sick Childrens

  27,091

  3,210

  11.85

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  36,970

  2,705

  7.32

  Fife Healthcare

  81,677

  5,686

  9.96

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University

  119,729

  7,241

  6.05

  Grampian Healthcare

  135,767

  10,190

  7.51

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services

  152,023

  11,295

  7.43

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals

  48,705

  3,703

  7.60

  Highland Communities

  52,258

  3,053

  5.84

  Inverclyde Royal

  39,095

  3,322

  8.50

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals

  46,759

  3,806

  8.14

  Law Hospital

  45,318

  3,789

  8.36

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals

  53,356

  3,771

  7.07

  Moray Health Services

  26,107

  2,416

  9.25

  North Ayrshire and Arran

  75,018

  5,616

  7.49

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare

  58,057

  3,379

  5.82

  Queen Margaret Hospital

  38,217

  2,867

  7.50

  Raigmore Hospital

  52,108

  3,641

  6.99

  Renfrewshire Healthcare

  69,419

  4,782

  6.89

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  50,653

  3,169

  6.26

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  157,192

  10,495

  6.68

  South Ayrshire Hospitals

  46,955

  3,790

  8.07

  Southern General

  81,170

  5,401

  6.65

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  40,741

  2,515

  6.17

  Stobhill

  66,459

  5,537

  8.33

  Victoria Infirmary

  59,298

  4,125

  6.96

  West Glasgow Hospitals University

  113,090

  7,582

  6.70

  West Lothian

  66,652

  4,762

  7.14

  Western General Hospitals, Edinburgh

  75,258

  5,222

  6.94

  Yorkhill

  55,747

  4,551

  8.16

  Total

  2,608,354

  185,694

  7.12

  Algrade Trust
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the investigations of the affairs of the Algrade trust by the Scottish charities office and the police. [37018]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that the further inquiries referred to in my answer of 24 April 1996,Official Report, column 186, to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson), are drawing to a conclusion. The investigators are awaiting the completion of accounts for the period of the administration of the former trustees. The Charities Office continues to monitor the work of the new trustees.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each trust in Scotland(a) total income, (b) the amount spent on the overall cost of management staff, administrative staff and board members and (c) (b) as a percentage of (a) [37373]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of funding allocated to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in respect of indirect costs relating to research projects in Scotland for each of the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95. [36861]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council did not receive any grant in aid for allocation to institutions before 1 April 1993. For the 1993–94 financial year, the Secretary of State approved the council's proposal that £98.8 million of the total recurrent resources available to it should be allocated to institutions to support research infrastructure. For 1994–95, he approved the council's proposal that £99 million should be allocated for the same purpose. It is for institutions to determine with project sponsors the appropriate level of contributions towards indirect costs of specific research projects, and in doing so to comply with the arrangements set out in the financial memorandum between the council and the institution regarding full-cost recovery.

  Private Landed Estates
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 512, on financial assistance to private estates, if he will list the criteria upon which monitoring conditions imposed on applicants for financial assistance are based; and if he will make a statement; [36771]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 4 July, Official Report, column 511, what options are under discussion for making more transparent the objectives of schemes involving public funds paid to private estates; and if he will undertake a study of the possibility of publishing assessments of whether all conditions attached to such schemes are fulfilled. [36770]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 11 July 1996]: In accordance with paragraph 3(ii) of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", we are progressively making available for public scrutiny internal guidelines about the Scottish Office's dealing with the public. This task will take some time to complete, since each document must be scrutinised to ensure that it is comprehensive and does not include any matter which should properly be kept confidential under part II of the code.

  The objectives for agriculture schemes apply equally to all applicants whatever their land tenure status, and are set out in the various explanatory leaflets, application and claim forms. Each scheme has its own criteria for monitoring.

  Where, as a result of monitoring by departmental officials, it is found that scheme requirements are not being met, steps are taken to withhold assistance or to recover any financial assistance paid, in whole or in part, in accordance with undertakings given. However, I have no plans to publish assessments of the fulfilment of scheme conditions.

  Epilepsy Association of Scotland
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial support he currently provides to the Epilepsy Association of Scotland. [36857]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: In the current financial year, the Epilepsy Association of Scotland has received funding of £13,500 from the Scottish Office Department of Health, £3,500 as a core grant towards its administration costs under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and £10,000 towards the cost of publishing the association's information pack on epilepsy and women.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Statistics
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for(a) family credit, (b) attendance allowance, (c) disability working and living allowance, (d) severe disability allowance and (e) invalidity care allowance have been processed since 4 February; how many people have (i) passed and (ii) failed the residence test in (a) to (e); and how many awards previously made or granted in (a) to (e) have been withdrawn. [36040]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table:

  Benefit

  Claims processed

  Residence and presence test

  Period

  Passed

  Failed

  Family credit

  668,227

  n/a

  360

  February 1996 to June 1996

  Attendance allowance

  163,575

  n/a

  181

  February 1996 to June 1996

  Disability living allowance

  216,039

  n/a

  651

  February 1996 to June 1996

  Disability working allowance

  9,758

  n/a

  5

  February 1996 to June 1996

  Severe disablement allowance

  32,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Invalid care allowance

  56,882

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

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

  2. Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Coventry local authority area in each of the last 12 months were in receipt of(a) unemployment benefits only, (b) income support only, (c) unemployment benefits and income support and (d) national insurance credits only. [35940]

  Mr. Evans
  [holding answer Monday 8 July 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
  409

  Thousands

  Total unemployed claimants

  Unemployment Benefit (UB) only in payment

  UB and Income Support (IS) in payment

  IS only in payment

  Neither UB nor IS in payment

  May 1995

  14.1

  1.2

  0.6

  11.0

  1.3

  August 1995

  15.1

  1.4

  0.8

  11.0

  1.9

  November 1995

  13.3

  1.3

  0.7

  9.9

  1.3

  February 1996

  14.5

  1.3

  0.9

  10.1

  2.2

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on a sample of one in 20 claimants.

  2. Figures relate to unemployed claimants who sign on at an employment service jobcentre—ESJ—in the Coventry local authority area. The ESJs included are Coventry Bankfield, Coventry Cheylesmore, Coventry Park Court and Coventry Tile Hill.

  3. Figures are subject to sampling variability.

  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Source:

  Quarterly 5 per cent. sample of unemployed claimants taken on the second Thursday of the months shown.

  Council Tax and Housing Benefits
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the number of claimants for council tax benefit in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years; [36336]

  (2) if he will list the number of claimants for housing benefit in (a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36338]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the tables.

  Average number of council tax benefit recipients for Crewe and Nantwich local authority and all local authorities within Cheshire from 1993 to 1995

  Number of recipients

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Crewe and Nantwich

  9,100

  9,100

  8,800

  Cheshire

  80,000

  80,800

  82,000

  Average number of housing benefit recipients for Crewe and Nantwich local authority and all local authorities within Cheshire from 1991 to 1995

  Number of recipients

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Crewe and Nantwich

  5,400

  5,700

  6,200

  6,300

  6,300

  Cheshire

  49,700

  54,300

  57,300

  58,700

  60,600

  Notes:

  1. Council tax benefit figures for 1993 are averages of the three quarters ie. May, August and November, due to council tax benefit being introduced from 1 April 1993. All other figures are averages of the four quarters.

  2. A proportion of housing benefit recipients may have also been in receipt of council tax benefit.

  3. Figures refer to benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.

  4. The local authorities within Cheshire are as follows: Chester, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Ellesmere Port, Halton, Macclesfield, Vale Royal and Warrington.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, quarterly 100 per cent. stock count inquiries taken at the end of February, May, August, and November for each year shown.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of annual savings resulting from changes to the reduced earnings allowance scheme. [36225]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) on 18 June,Official Report, column 420.

  Local Offices (Closures)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the offices within his Department that have been closed in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36344]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is set out in the table.

  During the last five years, no DSS offices have been closed in Crewe and Nantwich.

  Year

  Agency/Business unit

  Offices closed in Cheshire

  1991–92

  All

  None

  1992–93

  Benefits Agency

  Royal Avenue, Widnes1

  All other DSS units

  None

  1993–94

  All

  None

  1994–95

  All

  None

  1995–96

  Child Support Agency

  Wimslow2

  1The public caller facility was moved to the existing Caldwell road site in Widnes, which was deemed better suited in terms of location and accessibility by public transport. The telephone and correspondence work was transferred to Warrington.

  2 The work and staff from this site were transferred to Macclesfield.

  Appeals Tribunals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social security appeals tribunal hearings at(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough have been heard in each of the last five years. [36289]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
  411

  Social Security Appeal Tribunal Hearings in Doncaster

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Actual number of appeals heard

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  777

  Approximate number of appeals heard

  750

  800

  850

  900

  —

  The Independent Tribunal Service does not keep detailed records for periods before the previous financial year.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consultations have taken place on the operation of social security appeals tribunals in Doncaster and Mexborough; [36287]

  (2) what proposals he has to improve the operation of social security appeals in Doncaster and Mexborough. [38288]

  Mr. Evans
  The administrative arrangements for social security appeals tribunals are the responsibility of the independent tribunal service, which has been asked to write to the hon. Member.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of staff employed in his Department in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36343]

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

  Crewe

  Cheshire

  Benefits Agency

  109

  726

  Contributions Agency

  4

  32

  Information Technology Services Agency

  0

  0

  Child Support Agency

  9

  46

  War Pensions Agency

  0

  0

  Total

  122

  804

  1. None of the agencies employ staff in Nantwich.

  2. The figures are represented as staff in post figures and include permanent and fixed-term appointment staff as at 31 May 1996.

  3. The figures for Cheshire include staff employed in Crewe.

  4. Figures for previous years are not available.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, columns 370–71, on statutory sick pay, how many employers reclaimed statutory sick pay under the small earners relief scheme in 1994–95; what was the average amount reclaimed; and how many employers reclaimed in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) region. [36681]

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

  In 1994–95, the estimate of statutory sick pay costs reimbursed to employers under the small earners relief—SER—scheme was £25 million. This is a proportion of the total statutory sick pay—SSP—costs reimbursed to employers during 1994–95 arising from SER and from reimbursement of 80 per cent. of SSP paid by employers during 1993–94. Detailed information on recoveries made
  412
  under each scheme is not available as employers were not required to distinguish between reimbursement received under each scheme in their end of year returns.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for which groups the receipt of child benefit brings eligibility to other social security benefits; and at what income levels such eligibility is reached. [36773]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Receipt of child benefit is the principal qualification for child allowances and, therefore, a family premium in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, and for child dependency increases of retirement pension, widows benefit, short-term incapacity benefit—IB—at the higher rate, long-term IB, invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance, higher rate industrial death benefit, unemployability supplement, and short-term IB at the lower rate and unemployment benefit if the beneficiary is over pension age. In the income-related benefits, eligibility arises where applicable amounts, including any child allowances and family premium, exceed the benefit unit's income. Child benefit is counted as income for the purposes of income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, but not for family credit and disability working allowance.

  Child dependency increases in the non-income-related benefits are not subject to an income rule but, with exception of widows' benefits, the increase for the first child is withdrawn when the beneficiary's spouse or partner's earnings reach £130. Any increases for subsequent children are withdrawn for each subsequent £17 of earnings.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents or guardians of those aged 16 to 19 years in full-time education have received child benefit; and what was the(a) gross and (b) net cost of such payments in each of the last three years and in the current year to date. [36777]

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

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of families (000)

  1,016

  1,038

  1,089

  Gross expenditure (£ million)

  581

  598

  644

  Net expenditure (£ million)

  465

  480

  515

  Sources:

  1. 1996 Departmental Report.

  2. Child Benefit management information statistics.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents or guardians of those aged 16 to 19 years, in full-time education, over the last three years to date, have declined to accept child benefit. [36778]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Take-up of child benefit has always been close to 100 per cent. of those entitled. The benefit is paid only on receipt of a claim from the parent or guardian. No information is available about how many beneficiaries voluntarily relinquish child benefit where there is continuing entitlement, but the number is believed to be negligible.

  Widows
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total annual income lost by a widow with(a) one child and (b) two children, aged between 16 and 19 years, in full-time education, if child benefit were abolished; and if he will estimate the effects on widows in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) a third of average earnings, (iii) half average earnings and (iv) average earnings. [36774]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The widows benefit income lost by a widow with one or two children aged between 16 and 19 years in full-time education if child benefit was abolished would depend upon the age of the widow at the date child benefit entitlement ended. A widow with one child, who was aged 55 or over at the time child benefit ended would have widowed mothers allowance replaced with widows pension at a lower rate—a weekly loss, including lost child benefit, of £20.70 a week. Such a widow with two children would lose a total of £40.65 a week. Any additional pension paid with widowed mothers allowance would continue to be paid with widows pension.

  A widow with one child, who was aged under 45 when child benefit ended would lose widowed mothers allowance and receive no further widows benefit. With the lost child benefit, there would be a loss of £81.85 a week. Such a widow with two children would lose a total of £101.80 a week. Any additional pension paid with widowed mothers allowance would also be lost. Where, but for its abolition, child benefit would otherwise have continued for at least one child until she attained the age of 45, she would also lose entitlement to age-related widows pension of at least £18.35 a week from this later date. There would be different effects for women aged between 45 and 55 at the date of change. Special rules also apply in respect of women widowed before April 1988.

  The net income effect on a widow aged under 45 in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) a third of average earnings, (iii) half average earnings and (iv) average earnings is set out in the table.

  Weekly loss of income

  Widow in receipt of

  One child, age 16 £

  Two children, one age 16 and one age 18 £

  Income support

  Nil

  Nil

  ⅓ average earnings

  8.14

  10.54

  ½ average earnings

  22.20

  20.31

  Average earnings

  64.80

  82.07

  1. Indicates net loss of income, taking into account entitlement to income support, family credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit as appropriate (April 1996 rates).

  2. Assumes continuing child allowances in income support and family credit while children remain in full-time education.

  3. Assumes average local authority rent and council tax liability.

  4. For all in-work examples it is assumed that the widow is working 30 hours per week and paying not contracted out national insurance contributions.

  5. Assumes April 1996 average earnings figure of £349.80 per week, based on April 1995 figure uprated by average earnings index.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what account is taken of the payment of education maintenance allowance in calculating social security benefit. [36775]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Educational maintenance allowances paid to young people continuing their secondary education beyond the upper limit of compulsory school age are full disregarded when calculating entitlement to social security benefits.

  Asylum and Immigration Bill
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of the external legal advice he has received in connection with the consequences of Lords Amendments to the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [37401]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It is not Government practice to disclose legal advice.

  Lost Records
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many teenagers had their records lost as a result of problems in transfers of records between the Benefits Agency and the Contributions Agency; and what remedial action he is proposing. [37403]

  Mr. Heald
  No records were lost as a result of problems with the transfer of information between the Benefits Agency and the Contributions Agency. A transmission failure did, however, result in an estimated 5,000 data items not being transferred, which were intended automatically to register juveniles approaching age 16 for national insurance purposes. Any teenager affected by this problem can register by completing an application form at their local social security office.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers resident in(a) the London borough of Southwark, (b) south London and (c) London have lost benefits a direct result of two negative decisions on their applications for political asylum in each of (i) March, (ii) April and (iii) May this year. [37251]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Tied Aid
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the levels of returns to the United Kingdom economy of tied aid expenditure for(a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid in each of the last five years. [36654]

  Mr. Hanley
  The returns to the United Kingdom economy of bilateral tied aid expenditure were examined in the recently concluded tied aid studies, the findings of which ODA will publish shortly. The studies found that
  415
  bilateral tied aid has only a small impact on the UK economy. They did not provide a precise measure of the returns.

  None of the UK's contributions to multilateral aid is tied. But the returns to the UK economy from our contributions to multilateral aid are significant. The latest estimate is that for every £1 contributed, 90p is spent in the UK on procurement of goods and services—latest available three year moving average. These figures are imprecise, given differing definitions used by the multilateral organisations. But the trend is declining when compared with previous estimates because developing countries themselves are receiving a larger share of procurement and because a bigger proportion of our multilateral aid goes through the EU, where our share of procurement has tended to be lower than in the World bank or UN agencies.

  South Africa (Oil Suppliers)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protocols or agreements were entered into between Her Majesty's Government and Oman, Brunei or the United Arab Emirates in relation to the supply of oil to South Africa between 1979 and 1990; and if he will give the dates and summarise the nature of such protocols or agreements. [36610]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have found no record of any such protocols or agreements.

  Angola
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, columns 393–94, what is the latest total number of weapons of each kind handed in by UNITA personnel under the United Nationals verification mission III operation in Angola; and in what condition the verification mission has judged them to be. [37071]

  Mr. Hanley
  As at 10 July, the number of weapons handed in by UNITA was as follows:

  Vila Nova

  Lunduimbali

  Negage

  Piri

  Quibale

  N'Tuco

  N'Gove

  Andula

  Inducted

  5,002

  5,212

  5,013

  3,676

  4,000

  2,201

  5,053

  4,450

  Below 15

  74

  114

  201

  80

  74

  48

  55

  129

  15–18 years

  417

  736

  348

  263

  234

  135

  343

  240

  18–35 years

  4,158

  3,876

  3,635

  1,271

  3,045

  1,594

  4,281

  3,459

  Above 35

  353

  481

  824

  534

  647

  415

  374

  622

  TBC

  —

  5

  5

  1,528

  —

  9

  —

  —

  Absent

  1,229

  2,112

  205

  17

  724

  45

  215

  978

  Died

  5

  3

  21

  5

  2

  3

  6

  1

  Present

  3,768

  3,097

  4,787

  3,654

  3,274

  2,153

  4,832

  3,472

  Chitembo

  Catala

  Chicuma

  Caiundo

  Licua

  Lumege

  Muxinda

  Inducted

  3,319

  4,555

  3,809

  2,794

  2,472

  1,350

  0

  Below 15

  31

  284

  27

  15

  4

  12

  0

  15–18 years

  159

  656

  249

  60

  50

  41

  0

  18–35 years

  2,432

  3,364

  3,314

  1,977

  1,264

  939

  0

  Above 35

  697

  251

  219

  742

  1,071

  358

  0

  TBC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  83

  —

  —

  Absent

  0

  246

  884

  163

  76

  0

  0

  Died

  0

  8

  1

  0

  0

  2

  —

  Present

  3,319

  4,291

  2,924

  2,631

  2,396

  1,348

  0

  416

  Number

  Personal weapons

  26,805

  Crew served weapons

  3,641

  Artillery and air defence weapons

  65

  Tanks and armoured vehicles

  8

  Under classification

  113

  UNAVEM considers that at least 30 per cent. of the weapons handed in are unserviceable.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prevent by way of international action by the United Nations the export of illegally mined diamonds from UNITA-controlled areas of Angola. [37072]

  Mr. Hanley
  The prevention of illegally mined diamonds being exported from UNITA-controlled areas is the responsibility of the Angolan Government.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in the United Nations to increase surveillance, warnings and interdiction to prevent UNITA in Angola from obtaining supplies of arms and material from sources outside Angola, with special reference to Zaire. [37073]

  Mr. Hanley
  As a permanent member of the Security Council, the UK has supported all efforts to remind states neighbouring Angola, including Zaire, of their obligation to implement fully the provisions of paragraph 19 of United Nation Security Council resolution 864(1993). This was reaffirmed in UNSCR 1064 of 11 July.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, columns 393–94, what is the latest total number of UNITA military personnel quartered under the United Nations Angola verification mission operated in Angola in each of the UN quartering areas and in each of the age categories being monitored. [37074]

  Mr. Hanley
  As at 10 July, the number of UNITA military personnel in each of the UN quartering areas was as follows:

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Prices
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many beef cattle under 30 months have been sold and slaughtered in each week since 20 March; how much per kilogram they have averaged less than the average price in the week previous to 20 March; and what that shortfall amounted to per head. [30024]

  Mrs. Browning
  The weekly average price for clean cattle for the week ending 6 July was 18p/kg below the equivalent price for the week ending 16 March, a shortfall of some 15 per cent. Weekly average prices, throughput at selected auction markets and total slaughterings, for clean cattle—steers, heifers and young bulls—for the weeks following the 20 March, are detailed in the table.

  Week ending

  P/Kg

  Throughput (head)

  Slaughterings (1,000 head)

  23 March 1996

  115.81

  18,580

  41.6

  30 March 1996

  96.99

  447

  2.3

  6 April 1996

  108.77

  5,124

  16.4

  13 April 1996

  100.21

  13,498

  26.7

  20 April 1996

  101.21

  14,327

  31.8

  27 April 1996

  107.86

  14,225

  38.4

  4 May 1996

  103.18

  18,088

  40.4

  11 May 1996

  101.56

  13,497

  30.9

  18 May 1996

  100.74

  17,755

  38.6

  25 May 1996

  97.72

  16,059

  38.7

  1 June 1996

  99.71

  14,096

  31.9

  8 June 1996

  100.88

  16,118

  38.5

  15 June 1996

  101.84

  16,392

  35.8

  22 June 1996

  99.77

  14,913

  34.3

  29 June 1996

  100.22

  14,134

  n/a

  6 July 1996

  101.16

  16,215

  n/a

  Slaughtered Cattle
  Mr. Biffen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle have been slaughtered in the latest available four-weekly period in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and how many showed external signs of the disease. [31970]

  Mrs. Browning
  It is not possible to provide details of the numbers of animals slaughtered in the last four week period as there is a delay of between six to eight weeks from the date of slaughter and recording on the central BSE database. The latest four-week data set available for the numbers of animals slaughtered as BSE suspects is:

  Week beginning

  Number

  18 March 1996

  308

  25 March 1996

  328

  1 April 1996

  200

  8 April 1996

  161

  All animals slaughtered as BSE suspects would have been exhibiting clinical signs.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which members of the EU are currently opposing the removal of the ban on the export of British beef; and on what grounds. [32211]
  418
  Mrs. Browning
  In Florence on 21 June, the European Council unanimously accepted the framework and procedures put forward by the Commission for lifting the wider ban on British beef.

  Beef (Germany)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what justification the Germans have given for banning the sale of British beef to non-EU countries. [32183]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Germans have not banned the sale of British beef to third countries. The decision to prohibit exports of British beef was taken by the Commission in Commission decision 96/239 of 27 March 1996.

  Set-aside
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage the replacement of set-aside with an environment-friendly arable extensification policy. [36650]

  Mr. Baldry
  Set-aside is a requirement of the European Community legislation governing the support arrangements for producers of arable crops. While it remains so, the UK will continue to apply management conditions to set-aside land at national level designed to help maximise its environmental benefits. At the same time, the countryside stewardship scheme includes provisions intended to enhance the conservation value of arable field margins and the Department is in discussion with interested parties on further means of enhancing the conservation value of arable land generally.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that land previously subject to the environmental conditions attached to set-aside land will be subject to the same conditions when it returns to cultivation. [36651]

  Mr. Baldry
  Most of the environmental conditions that apply to the management of set-aside land would not be relevant in the context of cultivated land. However, during the set-aside period, farmers are required not to damage or destroy certain features on or adjacent to their set-aside land. The Government aim to lay regulations protecting important hedges, including those on agricultural land, by the end of the year.

  Rabies
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will arrange for veterinary surgeons to have unimpeded access to the inactivated rabies vaccines already approved by his Department for animals in their care; [36878]

  (2) if he will remove the restrictions imposed by his Department on access to rabies vaccines. [36879]

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

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the risks of European bat lyssavirus infection in the United Kingdom. [36880]
  419
  Mrs. Browning
  More than 1,880 bats belonging to 23 species from all parts of Great Britain have been screened for rabies since 1986 with negative results. The recent case of European bat lyssavirus 2—EBL 2—found in a bat in Sussex is the first time that rabies virus has been isolated from a bat in this country.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if European lyssavirus type 2 is a notifiable disease in the United Kingdom. [36882]

  Mrs. Browning
  Yes.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many scientifically proven cases of rabies confirmed by isolation of the rabies virus have occurred in animals in the United Kingdom over the last 25 years; in what species; and in what years they occurred. [36884]

  Mrs. Browning
  European bat lyssavirus 2 was isolated on 6 June 1996 from a bat found in Sussex. This is the only occasion in the last 25 years on which rabies has been confirmed by isolation of virus.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the comparative risks of infection from European bat lyssavirus and urban and sylvatic rabies virus; and if he will list his sources of information and the methodology used to reach his conclusions. [36881]

  Mrs. Browning
  No such comparative assessment has been made or is considered necessary while this country remains free from rabies except for the one isolated case of European bat lyssavirus in an insectivorous bat in Sussex. In this particular case, the risk of dissemination of disease to terrestrial wildlife was considered, on the basis of the circumstances of the case, to be very small.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take following the recent diagnosis of rabies in a Daubenton's bat; and if he will make a statement. [36883]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Staffordshire (Mr. Fabricant) on 11 June 1996, Official Report, column 139, and to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 18 June, Official Report, column 441. These outline the action already taken.

  The restrictions on the premises on which the bat had been held will remain in place until they pose no risk of dissemination of rabies. We have asked all members of the Sussex bat group to help us ensure that any dead or sick bats found in Sussex are sent for testing at the Central Veterinary Laboratory as part of our continuing British survey for rabies in bats. Bat groups throughout Britain are being contacted to ask for their continuing support in providing bat carcases for such testing.

  Beef Ban
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to get the beef ban lifted in the European Union. [31645]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement to the House on 24 June 1996, Official Report,
  420
  columns 21–24, about the outcome of the European Council in Florence. He informed the House that the bovine spongiform encephalopathy eradication plan had secured unanimous approval in Florence and that a framework of measures for lifting the wider ban on beef exports had also been agreed.

  Sheep Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the total number of live sheep exported from Dover port on 3 June on the Cap Afrique was recorded on the accompanying export health certificate with individual identification as required by the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996. [35668]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 11 July 1996]: Five consignments of sheep were exported from Dover on the Cap Afrique on 3 June 1996. Each consignment was accompanied by a health certificate recording the number of animals in that consignment and the individual identification numbers of each animal. Not all the animal identification numbers were in compliance with the requirements of the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996—SAGRIMO. However, we are satisfied that the identification numbers provided would enable the sheep to be traced back to the farm of origin as required by the EC directive. Steps have been taken to ensure that all sheep and goats exported in future are identified in accordance with SAGRIMO.

  Slaughter Programme (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that the economic advantages of competitive tendering, as set out in the Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993,
  have been effectively pursued in the allocations to abattoirs of cattle under the 30-month slaughter programme; [37030]

  (2) what steps he has taken to meet the requirements of EU directive 92/50 on competitive tendering in the allocations to abattoirs of cattle under the 30-month slaughter programme. [37032]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: The requirements of Council directive 92/50/EEC as implemented by the Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993 have only limited application to the procurement of slaughtering services. Competitive tendering for allocations to abattoirs of cattle under the 30-month slaughter scheme was precluded by a number of factors including time constraints, the interrelationships between the sectors of the industry and, in particular, the limitation on rendering capacity. Allocations were granted to abattoirs according to criteria which have been announced by the Government which were: a traditional large-scale trade in cows and heavy steers; logistical consideration such as geographical spread and proximity to Tenderers; committed to accepting casualty animals; currently operating and with EC approved status; and the ability to process at least 100 animals a day on days specified for participation.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to reply to the letters of 24 April and 28 May from the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby, in respect of a constituency case. [37091]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary replied to these letters on 11 July 1996.

WALES

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of representations he has received(a) in favour and (b) opposed to the nursery voucher scheme. [35551]

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received about nursery vouchers; and, of those, how many were in favour of the scheme. [35564]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In addition to letters to Ministers, over 40 petitions and some 4,300 separate representations opposing the Government's proposals have been received, mostly printed pro forma letters and postcards. So far, there has been one letter of specific support. I refer also to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) today.

  Rural Businesses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on the recently published proposals to afford non-domestic rate relief to small rural businesses; and if he will make a statement. [35559]

  Mr. Hague
  My hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) and I have received 93 responses to date including one from the hon. Member. These are now being considered.

  Cardiff International Airport Link Road
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has now received a bid for funding from Vale of Glamorgan council for the proposed new dual carriageway linking the Ely link road with Cardiff international airport. [35560]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend is providing transport grant support towards the preparation costs involved in improving the links to the airport in 1996–97. Bids for 1997–98 have recently been invited and need to be submitted by 2 August 1996.

  Hospitals (Capital Charging)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect of capital charging on smaller district general hospitals and their associated NHS trusts. [35561]
  422
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Trusts include capital charges as an element of their contract prices. In the allocation process, health authorities and GPs are funded to meet these contract prices. The size of the hospital should not affect this process.

  Incomes
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the gross weekly income per household as a percentage of(a) the English, (b) the Scottish and (c) the Northern Ireland average; and what were the percentages in 1980–81. [35562]

  Mr. Hague
  Average household income per head in Wales in 1994, based on regional accounts data, was 88 per cent. of the average for England, 89 per cent. of the average for Scotland, and 104 per cent. of the average for Northern Ireland. The corresponding figures for 1984, the earliest year available, were almost identical.

  An alternative source of information is the family expenditure survey. According to this, in 1994–95, average gross weekly household income in Wales was 75 per cent. of the English average, 78 per cent. of the Scottish average, and 87 per cent. of the Northern Ireland average. The corresponding figures for 1980–81 were 91 per cent. 96 per cent. and 116 per cent. respectively. Given the small sample size in Wales, these figures are subject to considerable variation from year to year.

  Schools
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals the Welsh Office is taking forward to increase self-government for schools. [35563]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, I launched the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" on Tuesday 25 June. It includes many proposals to increase substantially self-government in schools.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Bernard Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what incentives are offered to inward investors in Wales; and what inward investments have been attracted in the past 12 months. [35565]

  Mr. Hague
  The incentives available to inward investors into Wales are the same as those possible for indigenous companies: competitive overhead costs; good quality trained labour; a sophisticated industrial infrastructure; support and training; support by the Welsh Development Agency; and Government grant aid. The combination of these secured projects promising over 12,000 new and safeguarded jobs and capital investment of over £970 million in the last financial year. Since then, further new projects have been announced, including LG's £1.7 billion investment at Imperial park, Newport promising the creation of 6,100 jobs.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current level of inward investment to Wales. [35574]
  423
  Mr. Hague
  Wales continues to attract levels of inward investment which are higher than its population share. Last year was a good year in which Wales secured projects promising over 12,000 new and safeguarded jobs and capital investment of over £970 million. I expect this year to be even better, particularly in the light of my announcement last week of LG's investment at Imperial park, Newport.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on recent inward investment to Wales. [36923]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Over the past few months, there has been a steady flow of inward investment success for the whole of Wales. The LG project has become the jewel in the crown and my right hon. Friend and I expect it to herald a new phase of success for Wales. The work of everyone involved in the LG project, and in the other projects that we have won over the past few months, should be applauded.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received seeking the establishment of a Welsh Assembly. [35566]

  Mr. Hague
  Since 1 January 1996, I have received six written representations about the establishment of a Welsh Assembly—two in favour and four against.

  A55
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has recently been taken to improve the A55. [35567]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The opening of the Aber improvement in September 1994 completed the A55 duelling across mainland north Wales. Since 1979, over £700 million has been spent on improving the 60 miles from Chester to Bangor, cutting journey times from over three hours to about one hour.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the areas with the highest unemployment rates in Wales. [35568]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of Welsh travel to work areas in which the average rate of unemployment is more than three percentage points above the GB average has fallen significantly in recent years. In the year of 1979, there were 15 such travel to work areas in Wales. In the 12 months to May 1996, there were four.

  Privatised Utilities (Employment)
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussion he has had with heads of privatised utilities in Wales about their future employment forecasts. [35569]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many statutory instruments he has introduced in the last three years. [35570]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of statutory instruments introduced by the Welsh Office from 1993 onwards is as follows: 1993:48; 1994:64; 1995:109; 1996 (up to and including 31 May):76; total 297.

  Governance
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received on the reform of government structures in Wales with particular reference to the raising of revenue. [35571]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received on holding a referendum in respect of the future government of Wales. [35572]

  Mr. Hague
  Since 1 January 1996, I have received three written representations in favour of a referendum on a Welsh Assembly.

  Judicial Reviews
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has held with which bodies in respect of the length of time taken over judicial reviews. [35573]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans: No recent discussions have been held.

  Food Strategy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the people appointed to the advisory group set up in response to the consultation paper on a food strategy for Wales, and for each member to list the(a) commercial interest, (b) non-commercial interest and (c) value of all grants received from his Department in the last six years; and if he will make a statement. [36052]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The group members are listed in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales" a copy of which is available in the Library. Information on Welsh Office grant payments is commercially confidential and cannot be disclosed.

  GCSE Point Scores
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 27 June,Official Report, column 212, and the answer of the Secretary of State for Education and Employment of 19 June to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on GCSE point scores, Official Report, column 479, what factors specific to his Department led to his conclusion that to provide a substantive answer would involve disproportionate cost. [36119]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Welsh Office holds summary examination data at school level, drawn from the Welsh examination database and specified to meet the requirements of the school and college performance
  425
  booklets. To provide the information previously requested, a special analysis of the pupil level data held on WED would need to be commissioned.

  Beef
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to help re-establish the market position of Welsh beef; and if he will make a statement. [36053]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government are seeking to have the export ban on British beef lifted. Once this is achieved, the position of Welsh beef in the export market can be re-established.

  The Meat and Livestock Commission is working with Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions Ltd. and Welsh Food Promotions Ltd. to promote Welsh select beef in the UK market. Additionally, Welsh beef will be promoted throughout the Royal Welsh agricultural show 22 to 25 July.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has(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. [36055]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No research of this specific type has been commissioned in Wales.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the percentage of youths undergoing training who enjoyed employed status on the last date of their training in each of the training and enterprise council areas in Wales in 1995. [36581]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information is not available on the number of young people with employed status on the last day of their training. Employed status statistics are collected for those in training on the last day of each period. The percentage of young people with employed status who were in training in each TEC area at 31 December 1995 is shown in the following table:

  Percentage of young people with employed status in training1 at 31 December 1995 (provisional)

  TEC

  Per cent.

  Gwent

  66

  Mid Glamorgan

  63

  North-east Wales

  64

  Powys

  44

  South Glamorgan

  62

  TARGED

  69

  West Wales

  46

  Wales total

  59

  1 Includes Youth Training, Youth Credits, Modern Apprenticeships and Accelerated Modern Apprenticeships.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many individuals started youth training in each year since 1990–91. [36585]
  426
  Mr. Evans
  The number of young people in training in each year since 1990–91 is shown in the following table:

  Year

  Starts

  1990–91

  18,231

  1991–92

  17,955

  1992–93

  16,911

  1993–94

  17,567

  1994–95

  117,179

  1995–96

  1 218,939

  1 Includes modern apprenticeship first-time entrants

  2 Provisional.

  Education and Training
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department receives notification of applications made to the European Union for financial support for education and training projects. [36113]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Welsh Office is aware of applications made under the structural funds and some Community actions. Other applications, made to the European Commission either directly or through an intermediary, are not automatically notified to the Welsh Office.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the percentage of(a) males and (b) females currently unemployed in the (i) 16–19 years, (ii)20–29 years, (iii) 30–39 years, (iv) 40–49 years, (v) 50–59 years and (vi) 60 years and over age groups; and what were the figures in (1) 1979, (2) 1984, (3) 1986, (4) 1989, (5) 1990 and (6) 1992. [36667]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Unemployment rates by age are available from the labour force survey, which was carried out annually up to 1992 and quarterly from 1992 onwards. Estimates in the following table relate to spring (March to May) for years up to 1992; the latest estimate is taken from the winter quarter (December to February) for 1995–96. Data for 1979 are not available on a comparable basis.

  ILO unemployment rates, percentage by age and sex, Wales1

  Age

  1984

  1986

  1989

  1990

  1992

  1995–96

  Males

  16–19

  25.9

  24.3

  n/a

  18.6

  21.3

  n/a

  20–29

  21.5

  23.0

  11.3

  11.9

  15.1

  15.5

  30–39

  12.6

  11.2

  9.0

  7.0

  11.2

  9.4

  40–49

  10.5

  11.5

  6.4

  n/a

  7.7

  7.5

  50–59

  9.8

  9.4

  n/a

  n/a

  9.4

  n/a

  60 and over

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Females

  16–19

  32.0

  27.4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  20–29

  17.6

  18.4

  10.1

  9.5

  8.6

  10.5

  30–39

  12.9

  12.2

  8.8

  9.1

  n/a

  7.2

  40–49

  n/a

  9.7

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  50–59

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  60 and over

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Percentages based on estimates below 10,000 cannot be quoted as they are thought to be unreliable—these estimates are marked n/a.

  ILO=International Labour office.

  427
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of male unemployment in(a) Newport and (b) Wales. [35533]

  Mr. Jones
  In May 1996, the unadjusted number of males on the claimant unemployment count in the Newport travel-to-work-area was 5,619, that is 10.4 per cent. of the male work force. The corresponding figures for Wales were 79,696 and 11.2 per cent.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report column 507, what assessment he has made of the incidence of clusters of CJD in Wales. [37459]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There is no statistically significant evidence of clustering of CJD in Wales of the rest of the UK.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 507, if he will (a) draw up and (b) place in the Library a map, adopting the model produced by the CJD surveillance unit in Edinburgh for 1995, of definite and probable cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Wales for the period May 1990 to April 1996. [37456]

  Mr. Jones
  This information will be contained in the fifth annual report from the CJD unit. The unit anticipates that it will be publishing this report in the late autumn. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Abattoir, Marchwiel
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what controls he exercises over(a) the disposal of (i) solid waste and (ii) open running liquid waste and (b) the spraying of blood from the Marchwiel abattoir, near Wrexham. [37455]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Controls on slaughterhouses for disposal of waste materials are covered by the specified Bovine Materials (No 2) Order 1996, the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 and the Fresh 428
  Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) Regulations 1995. The Specified Bovine Material Order has the effect of separating specified bovine material from other waste materials. This specified bovine material is then rendered and the remaining waste material incinerated. As indicated in the latest progress report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Great Britain (May 1996), a copy of which is in the Library of the House, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has advised Ministers that the current and proposed methods of dealing with waste material from the slaughter of cattle are safe. Minor amendments to the Specified Bovine Material Order are currently being considered to reflect SEAC's recommendations.

  The Government are required by the EC framework directive on waste to take the measures necessary to ensure that waste is disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or methods which could harm the environment. The main requirements of the directive are given effect in Great Britain in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and related regulations. The Environment Agency (England and Wales) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are responsible for the enforcement of the regulatory systems. Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of some air pollution controls.

  BSE
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action the Intervention Board executive agency is taking to ensure that the products of rendered cattle aged over 30 months and currently stored in(a) Exeter, (b) Belfast, (c) Liverpool and (d) Gloucestershire are not contaminated with BSE; and if he will make a statement. [36339]

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  The produce of animals rendered under the over-30-month scheme is being stored pending destruction. The animals are processed in approved plants which meet Community standards for rendering ruminant waste. Those standards are implemented in GB in the Animals By-Product Order 1992 (as amended) and the Specified Bovine Material (No 2) Order 1996.

  Former Yugoslavia: Arms Sales Licensing Policy
  Former Yugoslavia: Arms Sales Licensing Policy
  EU and NATO Enlargement Costs
  EU and NATO Enlargement Costs
  UN Dues: US Arrears
  UN Dues: US Arrears
  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Tritium
  Tritium
  Nuclear Proliferation: Prevention Measures
  Nuclear Proliferation: Prevention Measures
  Outer Space Treaty
  Outer Space Treaty
  Mr. James Nichols: Death in Rangoon
  Mr. James Nichols: Death in Rangoon
  Burma: GSP Preferences
  Burma: GSP Preferences
  Human Rights Violation: European Commission Findings
  Human Rights Violation: European Commission Findings
  Passports
  Passports
  Military Museums: Funding
  Military Museums: Funding
  The Sevso Hoard
  The Sevso Hoard
  The St. Thomas a Becket Chasse
  The St. Thomas a Becket Chasse
  BSE and Scrapie
  BSE and Scrapie
  Scrapie in Lowland Sheep
  Scrapie in Lowland Sheep
  Scrapie Strains: Comparisons
  Scrapie Strains: Comparisons
  Pesticide Combinations: Synergistic Effects
  Pesticide Combinations: Synergistic Effects
  BSE Countermeasures: Cost and UK Contribution
  BSE Countermeasures: Cost and UK Contribution
  Foot and Mouth Disease in Imported Elephants
  Foot and Mouth Disease in Imported Elephants
  Meat Hygiene Service: Targets
  Meat Hygiene Service: Targets
  BSE in Bulls and Steers
  BSE in Bulls and Steers