Written Answers of 22 July 1996

PRIME MINISTER

  Internet
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [37239]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes, my Office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 18 July,Official Report, column 621.

  Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Prime Minister what inquiries to detect fraud by cross-checking his Department's payroll with details of those claiming benefit he has undertaken; when these exercises took place; and how many staff were(a) suspended, (b) dismissed and (c) prosecuted as a result. [37712]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 July 1996]: None, but where the Benefits Agency had reasonable grounds for suspicion that an individual might be involved in benefit fraud the Cabinet Office would respond to its inquiries. Employees found guilty of fraud or dishonesty are liable to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

  Next Steps Review
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to publish the next steps review; and if he will make a statement. [36660]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]: The review will be published in the autumn so as to provide an input into ministerial discussions and subsequent decisions on public expenditure and resource allocation. The 1996 publication will continue the development of the review, providing trend data and other measures common across agencies and will also report on progress towards developing benchmarking or organisational performance.

  TREASURY

    Customer Charters
    Mr. Donohoe
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the customer charters which are currently in use within his Department and its executive agencies and (b) the charters which have been withdrawn. [32839]
    2
    Mrs. Angela Knight
    HM Treasury does not have any customer charters nor has it withdrawn any. Of its executive agencies, the customer charters currently in use are listed. Neither the Royal Mint nor the Valuation Office has any customer charters, and no charters have been withdrawn by any of the agencies.

    Office for National Statistics

    Charter Statement for Customer and Suppliers

    Paymaster

    Paymaster Pensions—Assurance of Service

    Paymaster CS Pensions—Standards of Service and what to do if things go wrong.

    European Committee of Central Bankers
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Bank of England's membership of the European Committee of Central Bankers; and whose policies the bank represents on the committee. [37837]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    The committee of governors of the central banks of member states of the European Community was dissolved on 1 January 1994, in accordance with articles 109f(1) and 109e(1) of the EC treaty.

    Unemployment (Yorkshire)
    Mr. Bayley
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what number of people in(a) North Yorkshire and (b) York had been registered unemployed for (i) six months or longer and (ii) 12 months or longer in (1) January 1992 and (2) January 1996; and what proportion these figures were of the total number of people registered as unemployed at these dates; [38030]

    (2) what number of people aged under 25 years in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) York were (i) registered unemployed and (ii) had been unemployed for six months or longer in April 1990 and at each quarter thereafter. [38031]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    The information requested can be obtained from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.

    Credit Controls
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce selective controls on credit to reduce the rate of inflation in house prices. [38019]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    I have no intention of introducing selective credit controls for housing. The objective of monetary policy is to achieve underlying inflation in the lower half of the 1 to 4 per cent. range by the end of this Parliament and to keep it at 2½ per cent. or less thereafter. The growth in house prices is one of the many indicators I assess when determining what the appropriate level of interest rates is to achieve the inflation target.

    Immigration
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reports have been made by marriage registrars, from which registration areas, to the Registrar-General, that marriages are suspected to be
    3
    solely for immigration purposes, in 1994, 1995 and 1996 to the latest convenient date; and in how many of these instances information has been passed on to the Home Office. [38084]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    During 1994 and 1995, superintendent registrars reported 470 and 555 cases to the Registrar-General where they suspected that a proposed marriage had been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls. Of this number, information in respect of 404 and 467 respectively was passed to the Home Office.

    During the first six months of 1996, 309 reports have been received, of which 232 have been referred to the Home Office. Details of the reports received by registration district are shown in the table.

    District

    1994

    1995

    19961

    Andover

    —

    —

    1

    Barking and Dagenham

    —

    1

    —

    Barnet

    —

    7

    2

    Barnsley

    —

    1

    —

    Belper

    1

    —

    —

    Birmingham

    8

    1

    —

    Blackburn

    1

    3

    —

    Blackpool and Fylde

    —

    —

    1

    Bolton

    1

    1

    —

    Bournemouth

    1

    1

    2

    Bradford

    3

    1

    —

    Brent

    47

    39

    29

    Bristol

    —

    —

    1

    Bromley

    1

    —

    —

    Cambourne and Redruth

    1

    —

    —

    Cambridge

    2

    1

    Camden

    2

    1

    —

    Chichester

    1

    1

    —

    Colwyn

    1

    —

    —

    Coventry

    1

    4

    —

    Croydon

    1

    2

    2

    Dacorum

    1

    1

    —

    Darlington

    —

    1

    —

    Depwade

    2

    2

    —

    Dudley

    —

    1

    —

    Ealing

    10

    12

    1

    Eastbourne

    1

    —

    1

    Fulham

    —

    1

    —

    Greenwich

    3

    5

    —

    Hackney

    67

    142

    92

    Hammersmith

    —

    —

    1

    Haringey

    1

    1

    —

    Harlow

    1

    5

    —

    Harrow

    —

    1

    —

    Hatfield

    —

    1

    —

    Havering

    1

    1

    —

    Hendon

    14

    14

    3

    Hereford

    1

    —

    —

    Hounslow

    —

    4

    3

    Huddersfield

    —

    —

    1

    Hull

    —

    1

    —

    Ipswich

    1

    —

    —

    Islington

    50

    25

    6

    Kensington and Chelsea

    5

    —

    —

    Kettering

    —

    1

    —

    Knowsley

    1

    —

    —

    Lambeth

    1

    7

    —

    Leicestershire Central

    —

    1

    —

    Lewisham

    146

    120

    63

    Lichfield

    1

    —

    —

    Luton

    —

    —

    1

    Manchester

    1

    2

    —

    Mansfield

    —

    1

    —

    Melton and Rutland

    —

    1

    —

    4

    District

    1994

    1995

    19961

    Merton

    —

    3

    —

    Mid Warwickshire

    —

    1

    —

    Milton Keynes

    —

    4

    1

    Newham

    2

    1

    —

    Norfolk

    —

    1

    —

    Northallerton

    —

    1

    —

    Northampton

    —

    1

    —

    Norwich

    1

    —

    —

    Nottingham

    6

    4

    —

    Oldham

    7

    6

    2

    Oxford

    —

    1

    —

    Peterborough

    3

    4

    —

    Portsmouth

    —

    2

    1

    Preston and South Ribble

    —

    1

    —

    Redbridge

    9

    6

    2

    Richmond upon Thames

    1

    —

    —

    Salford

    —

    2

    —

    Sedgemoor

    1

    —

    —

    Sheffield

    1

    1

    1

    Southend on Sea

    1

    —

    —

    South Glamorgan

    1

    —

    —

    Southwark

    16

    14

    —

    Stevenage

    2

    —

    —

    Stroud

    —

    1

    —

    Surrey South Western

    —

    1

    —

    Sutton

    7

    2

    —

    Swindon

    —

    —

    1

    Taunton Deane

    —

    1

    —

    Towcester

    —

    1

    —

    Tower Hamlets

    3

    58

    83

    Trafford

    2

    —

    —

    Waltham Forest

    3

    6

    —

    Weyland

    1

    —

    —

    Westminster

    16

    8

    2

    Weston Super Mare

    —

    1

    —

    Wolverhampton

    2

    4

    2

    Wrekin

    2

    1

    —

    Wycombe

    2

    3

    4

    Total

    470

    555

    309

    1January to end of June 1996 inclusive.

    Footwear Industry
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) males and (b) females were employed in the United Kingdom footwear industry in 1975, 1979 and 1995. [38171]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    The available comparable information is for 1978 onwards. This is provided in the following table:

    Employees in footwear manufacture in Great Britain: June (thousands)1

    Standard industrial classification 1992(SIC92)

    Male

    Females

    1978

    16

    48

    1979

    16

    48

    1995

    14

    15

    Note:

    1 Unadjusted.

    Source:

    ONS.

    House Prices
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to restrain the increase in house prices. [38017]
    5
    Mrs. Angela Knight
    Monetary policy is set in order to achieve underlying inflation in the lower half of the 1 to 4 per cent. range by the end of this Parliament and to keep it at 2½ or less thereafter. House prices are just one of the many indicators used in monitoring the outlook for inflation. House price increases are expected to be held in check as more sellers are encouraged back into the market.

    Abortion
    Sir Graham Bright
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by gestation of the pregnancy of the abortions performed in the Anglia and Oxford region in the latest year for which figures are available. [38163]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    The figures presented give a breakdown of the number of abortions performed to women usually resident in the Anglia and Oxford health region by gestation of pregnancy, for the year 1994.

    Gestation of pregnancy in weeks

    Number of abortions

    Under 9

    5,753

    9–12

    5,841

    13–19

    1,086

    20 and over

    192

    Total

    12,872

    Sir Graham Bright
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many abortions have now been performed in total within the Anglia and Oxford region under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother. [38026]

    Mrs. Knight
    The total number of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act, to women usually resident in the Anglia and Oxford health region1, from 1970 to 1994 2was 241,882. During this period, 10 abortions, 0 per cent. of the total number of abortions performed, were carried out in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, to save the life of the woman3.

    Notes:

    1 Figures are based, where possible, on 1994 health authority boundaries. Other boundary changes have not been reflected in the figures.

    2 Figures for 1968–69 are not held on a comparable basis.

    3 Abortions performed under statutory grounds 5 (1970–31st March 1991) and F (1st April 1991-present) i.e. where in the case of emergency it was necessary to save the life of the woman.

    Sir Graham Bright
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by technique of the number of abortions performed in the Anglia and Oxford region in the latest year for which figures are available. [38161]

    Mrs. Knight
    It is not possible to give a reply, as abortion data are not routinely collected by technique.

    Sir Graham Bright
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by the procedure adopted of the number of abortions performed in the Anglia and Oxford region in the latest year for which figures are available. [38162]
    6
    Mrs. Knight
    The figures presented give a breakdown of the number of abortions performed to women usually resident in the Anglia and Oxford health region by procedure, for the year 1994, the latest year for which figures are available.

    Procedure

    Number of abortions

    Hysterotomy (only)

    3

    Hysterectomy (only)

    3

    Vacuum aspiration (only)

    10,510

    Vacuum aspiration with dilation and evacuation

    535

    Dilation and Evacuation

    261

    Other surgical

    1

    Prostaglandins (only)

    263

    Prostaglandins with other agents

    199

    Antiprogesterone with or without prostaglandin

    1,078

    Other medical

    16

    Other combined methods

    3

    Total

    12,872

    Dame Jill Knight
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many abortions have been performed within the West Midlands region under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother. [38346]

    Mrs. Knight
    The total number of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act, to women usually resident in the West Midlands health region1, from 1970 to 1994 2 was 351,747. During this period, nine abortions—0 per cent. of the total number of abortions performed—were carried out in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, to save the life of the women3.

    Notes:

    1 Figures are based, where possible, on 1994 health authority boundaries. Other boundary changes have not been reflected in the figures.

    2 Figures for 1968–69 are not held on a comparable basis.

    3 Abortions performed under statutory grounds 5 (1970–31st March 1991) and F (1st April 1991-present) i.e. where in the case of emergency it was necessary to save the life of the woman.

    Dame Jill Knight
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by gestation of pregnancy of abortions performed in the West Midlands region in the latest year for which figures are available. [38347]

    Mrs. Knight
    The figures presented give a breakdown of the number of abortions performed to women usually resident in the West Midlands health region by gestation of pregnancy, for the year 1994, the latest year for which figures are available.

    Gestation of pregnancy in weeks

    Number of abortions

    Under 9

    6,560

    9–12

    7,134

    13–19

    2,081

    20 and over

    225

    Total

    16,000

    The annual reference volume, 1994 Abortion Statistics, England and Wales, Series AB No. 21 is expected to be published on the 30 July 1996.

    7
    Dame Jill Knight
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by age of the mother of the abortions carried out in the West Midlands region in the last five years. [38348]

    Mrs. Knight
    The figures presented give a breakdown of the number of abortions performed to women usually resident in the West Midlands health region by age of the woman, for the years 1990 to 19941.

    1990

    1991

    1992

    1993

    1994

    Under 16

    399

    393

    387

    346

    393

    16–19

    4,322

    3,722

    3,229

    2,918

    2,764

    20–24

    5,716

    5,541

    5,073

    4,901

    4,531

    25–29

    3,709

    3,695

    3,664

    3,651

    3,775

    30–34

    2,277

    2,374

    2,396

    2,437

    2,553

    35–39

    1,368

    1,393

    1,369

    1,474

    1,437

    40–44

    539

    526

    518

    515

    498

    45 and over

    50

    45

    53

    63

    48

    Not stated

    —

    3

    3

    1

    1

    All ages

    18,380

    17,692

    16,692

    16,306

    16,000

    1 Abortion Statistics, England and Wales, Series AB Nos. 17–21.

    Inflation
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect of(a) an increase of 10 per cent. in house prices and (b) an increase of 10 per cent. in the import price of manufactures on the rate of inflation. [38020]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    House prices have a direct impact on retail prices index inflation through their effect on the following components: mortgage interest payments, depreciation, ground rent and estate agents' fees. The weights can be found in the Office for National Statistics RPI business monitor, MM23. These components include lagged values of house prices, so the initial effect of a rise in house prices is much smaller than the sum of the weights of these components.

    The impact on inflation of a rise or fall in import prices depends on the extent to which import costs are passed through to retail prices.

    Deaths
    Sir Robert Hicks
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths have been recorded for each of the past 10 years in the period December to March. [38044]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    The number of deaths in England and Wales occurring from December to March for the latest 10 years for which figures are available are shown in the table.

    December to March

    Deaths

    1985–86

    228,307

    1986–87

    204,090

    1987–88

    212,761

    1988–89

    201,492

    1989–90

    226,373

    1990–91

    214,839

    1991–92

    210,049

    1992–93

    198,124

    1993–94

    208,689

    1994–95

    203,932

    8

    Licences
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the licences issued by his Department; for what purpose they are issued; and what are the administrative costs involved for each. [37598]

    Mrs. Angela Knight
    [holding answer 16 July 1996]: HM Treasury issues licences under the Coinage Act 1971 which permits companies or individuals to melt down or break up metal coin. Two licences were granted during 1995–96 and one during the current financial year. I am unable to give details of which companies the licences were given to as this would compromise their commercial activities. As the granting of a licence involves a simple exchange of letters, the cost is minimal.

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

    Mr. Jack
    [pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1996, c.37–38]: I regret that the answer was incomplete. It set out the position applicable to income tax payers, and to companies before the changes made in the Finance Act 1996 for corporate debt. However, the position for loans made by companies was amended as part of the wider reform of the tax rules for corporate debt included in the Finance Act 1996. Relief remains available for bad and doubtful debt. How it is given will depend on whether the taxpayer uses an "authorised accruals basis" or an "authorised mark-to-market basis": the aim so far as possible is to follow the company's accounts prepared for non-tax purposes. Relief where loans have been extended for non-trading purposes will in future be allowed on essentially the same terms as for trading loans. Anti-avoidance rules apply to loans made between connected parties.

  TRANSPORT

    Coaches (Safety)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of incorrectly fitted seat belts in coaches; [38551]

    (2) what estimate his Department has made of the reduction in injuries likely to occur as a result of the fitting of three-point seat belts in coaches. [38550]

    Mr. Norris
    No estimate has been made.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department is making in relation to the introduction of three-point seat belts in coaches. [38549]

    Mr. Norris
    My Department successfully sought early implementation dates for seat belts in coaches during negotiations on amending the European directive on seat belts. The directive will require three-point seat belts, or lap belts with energy-absorbing seats, from 1 October 1997 for new vehicle types and 1 October 1999 for all new vehicle registrations.
    9
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the safety coach seat designed by the Cranfield impact centre; and what proposals he has to ensure the mandatory introduction of this seat type on new coaches. [38552]

    Mr. Norris
    The Cranfield project demonstrated the technical feasibility of energy-absorbing seats which could be fitted with a three-point seat belt. It resulted in one technical solution, which may not necessarily be a viable commercial product.

    I have no plans to require the mandatory fitment of this type of seat.

    Mr. Donohoe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to introduce the compulsory fitting of seat belts on coaches operating in the United Kingdom; [38644]

    (2) what recent changes have occurred in European Union legislation which allow Her Majesty's Government to legislate for the compulsory fitting of seat belts in coaches travelling the United Kingdom. [38645]

    Mr. Norris
    Earlier this year, agreement was reached on an amendment to an EC directive which will require seat belts to be fitted in all new coaches. To comply with the directive, all new types of coaches from 1 October 1997 will be required to be fitted with three-point belts or lap belts with energy absorbing seats. This will be extended to all new registrations two years later. We intend to implement the requirements of the directive as soon as practicable.

    Heavy Goods Vehicle Licences
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if drivers who have passed an HGV test at class 2 or class 3 prior to April 1991 will now be granted category C and E licences without the need to take an additional driving test. [38559]

    Mr. Norris
    We shall shortly be consulting on a range of issues arising from the second EC driving licence directive, including the treatment of these drivers.

    Motorway Traffic
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of(a) all traffic and (b) traffic on motorways and trunk roads is represented by (i) heavy goods vehicle and (ii) public service vehicle journeys of under (1) two miles and (2) five miles in length as shown in chart 1 A of the document "Transport—The Way Forward." [38600]

    Mr. Norris
    The information requested is not available.

    Heavy Goods Vehicles (Safety)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to introduce the compulsory wearing of seat belts by HGV drivers.[38601]

    Mr. Norris
    The wearing of seat belts by HGV drivers is already compulsory in goods vehicles which have them fitted.
    10

    Seagoing Skills
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date his Department received the first draft of the study to assess the shore-based demand for United Kingdom seagoing skills; and if he will give the reasons underlying the interval before publication. [38558]

    Mr. Norris
    The report "A study of the UK economy's requirements for people with experience of working at sea" was commissioned in February 1995 by the Department of Transport, the Chamber of Shipping and The Marine Society. The full draft of the report was delivered in May 1996. It was published on 18 July 1996.

    The intervening period was to allow the Department and the co-sponsoring organisations to digest the report and to make the arrangements for publication.

    Heavy Goods Vehicles (Accidents)
    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of road accidents resulting in(a) fatal, (b) serious, and (c) slight injuries, involving (i) articulated, and (ii) draw bar heavy goods vehicles from (A) 1986 to 1990, and (B) 1991 to 1995. [38779]

    Mr. Norris
    The information is shown in the table.

    Number of accidents1 involving articulated and draw bar heavy goods vehicles: GB 1986 to 1995

    HGV—Articulated

    HGV—Drawbar 2

    1986

    3,880

    347

    1987

    4,170

    305

    1988

    4,564

    332

    1989

    4,829

    408

    1990

    4,578

    379

    1991

    4,273

    448

    1992

    4,180

    428

    1993

    4,246

    456

    1994

    4,174

    351

    1995

    4,077

    362

    1 May include double counting—in cases where two or more HGVs are involved in the same accident.

    2 HGV towing a single, double or multiple trailer.

    Wheelchairs
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the safety aspects of carrying occupied wheelchairs in moving taxi cabs. [38785]

    Mr. Norris
    The Department has conducted research on carrying wheelchairs in moving vehicles over a number of years. The results of that work have already been applied to existing designs of purpose-built wheelchair-accessible taxis and will be reflected in the taxi accessibility regulations which we will be introducing under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

    In practical terms, many thousands of journeys have been undertaken by wheelchair users in taxis over many years. The Department is not aware of any incident in which the carriage of a wheelchair, appropriately positioned and restrained, has caused any difficulty.
    11

    Heathrow Airport (Approach Road)
    Mr. Robert Banks
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans exist to improve the approach road to London from Heathrow along the M4 and beyond; and if he will instigate a competition to(a) design landscaping on embankments, (b) improve central reservations and (c) site sculptural works so as to give a better impression to visitors and the pubic. [38422]

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

    Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Robert Banks, dated 22 July 1996:

    The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about visually improving the M4 and A4 from Heathrow.

    In accordance with the Green Corridor Study completed last year, and the Landscape Strategy for London's Trunk Roads launched at the end of last year, proposals are now being developed for the M4 and surrounding area in London. Consideration will be given during this work to opportunities for individual design competitions.

    Much good work has already been completed on the A4, including significant tree planting and three improvement schemes to provide new hardened central reserves and ornate guardrailing between Hammersmith Flyover and Chiswick Roundabout. A fourth scheme, to provide similar treatment from Gliddon Road to North End Road, is planned for September this year.

    Travel Passes
    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of travel passes currently issued to(a) deaf and (b) other disabled people in (i) Ealing and (ii) other London boroughs; what were the equivalent figures for 1995; and if he will make a statement. [38264]

    Mr. Norris
    Information on permits issued for the period April 1996 to March 1998 is not yet available. For the period April 1994 to March 1996, London local authorities issued 62,365 permits to blind people and disabled people. The equivalent figure for the London borough of Ealing was 4,986. The number of permits issued to deaf persons is not recorded centrally.

    Railtrack
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to ensure that the majority of shares in Railtrack remain in the ownership of United Kingdom-based investors. [38532]

    Mr. Watts
    None.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to remove Railtracks's operating licence. [38534]

    Mr. Watts
    The terms as to revocation of Railtrack's network and station operating licences are contained in the schedule to those licences. The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the regulator, and in the case of the network licence, the franchising director, revoke the licences on three months notice in certain circumstances including:by agreement with Railtack; or
    non-compliance by Railtrack within three months with an enforcement order in respect of a contravention or apprehended contravention of a licence condition; or
    12
    a person obtaining control of Railtrack which the Secretary of State has not approved and the Secretary of State serves notice of revocation unless that person ceases to have control and the required cessation does not take place; or
    in the case of the network licence only, cessation of licensed activities for a continuous period of one year.

    The Secretary of State may also, after consultation with the regulator and, in the case of the network licence, the franchising director, revoke the licences forthwith if Railtrack commits a serious breach of the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the shares of Railtrack are currently owned by investors based outside the United Kingdom. [38533]

    Mr. Watts
    This is a matter for Railtrack.

    Rolling Stock
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the rail franchises let, the number of mark 1 rolling stock projected to be in operation for the years 1997 to 2003. [38524]

    Mr. Watts
    No. It is not possible to project with accuracy what vehicles will be in service over the period 1997 to 2003. The number and type of vehicles that franchise operators use for services will depend on, among other things, changes in passenger demand, the level of services offered in excess of the passenger service requirement, the productivity improvements that franchise operators are able to achieve, and any safety requirements of the Health and Safety Executive.

    I have set out in the table details of the rolling stock at the time each franchise was offered for tender in respect of its mark 1 fleet and any subsequent obligations that the successful franchise has entered into the respect of these vehicles.

    LTS Rail
    It is expected that the 28 units of the class 302 fleet which are of mark 1 construction will be replaced completely by modern class 317 units displaced from West Anglia Great Northern following the introduction of class 365/5 stock to WAGN in due course.

    South West Trains
    At franchising the South West Trains fleet included seven class 412 units, 34 class 421 units and 77 class 423 units which are all of Mark 1 construction and represent 46 per cent. of that fleet by number of vehicles.

    Network SouthCentral
    At franchising the Network SouthCentral fleet included 15 class 20X units, 78 class 421 units 23 class 422 units and 39 class 423 units which are of mark 1 construction and represent 66 per cent. of that fleet by number of vehicles.

    Gatwick Express
    The existing fleet is not of Mark 1 construction, but the franchise operator is planning to replace it in 1999 with a new fleet as a condition of a longer franchise period.

    Great Western, InterCity East Coast, Midland Main Line
    These Train Operating Companies have no mark 1 vehicles in their existing fleets.

    Railtrack (Debt Management)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made for the management of the debts of Railtrack transferred to a Government-owned company. [38588]
    13
    Mr. Watts
    The Department of Transport is responsible for the management of the Railtrack debts transferred to DoA Ltd., a company wholly owned by the Crown.

    British Railways Board Subsidiaries
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many subsidiaries of the British Railways Board have closed down having failed to find a buyer since 1992; and how many jobs have been lost as a result. [38547]

    Mr. Watts
    The following businesses of the British Railways Board have closed having failed to find a buyer. The number of posts for each of these businesses is also listed; BR's policy is to redeploy staff where possible. The number of actual redundancies would have been less.

    Posts

    Taunton Concrete Works

    37

    Grove Management Development

    25

    Materials Engineering Group

    31

    Rail Privatisation
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amount spent on (i) accountants, (ii) consultants, (iii) lawyers and (iv) other professionals in relation to railway privatisation for each year since 1992. [38586]

    Mr. Watts
    Expenditure by my Department, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and the Office of the Rail Regulator since 1992–93 is as follows:

    £ thousand

    1992–93

    1993–94

    1994–95

    1995–96

    Accountants

    1,702

    1,992

    5,035

    8,837

    Lawyers

    1,393

    4,679

    10,659

    17,479

    Other consultants and professionals

    2,405

    5,757

    11,665

    25,401

    Expenditure by British Rail and Railtrack is a matter for the organisations themselves, but we understand that their total privatisation costs to the end of 1995–96:

    £ million

    1992–93

    1993–94

    1994–95

    1995–96

    British Rail

    —

    92

    85

    101

    Railtrack

    —

    —

    46

    32

    Any breakdown of the figures for BR and Railtrack would be for the organisations themselves to provide.

    Office of Passenger Rail Franchising
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the percentage of existing timetables which have been guaranteed in each of the passenger service requirements and draft passenger service requirements so far published by Opraf. [38526]

    Mr. Watts
    No. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Moreover, a percentage for each passenger service requirement—PSR—would be an average and thus not reflect the basis 14
    on which PSRs are prepared. When drawing up PSRs, the franchising director is required by his instructions and guidance from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to consider each service individually and not services for the franchise as a whole. The differing characteristics of the many services operated under each franchise are thus reflected in the individual specifications include din PSRs.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has given to Opraf to ensure that franchise operators provide services which connect with one another. [38527]

    Mr. Watts
    The franchising director is required by his instructions and guidance from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to encourage co-operation between operators to preserve and promote arrangements which facilitate the making of journeys which involve the use of services provided by more than one operator. In line with this, each franchise agreement includes provisions requiring operations to co-operate in the development of timetables so as to secure the provision of reasonable connections between services. In addition, the franchising director may specify connections in passenger service requirements where he believes these are of particular importance.

    Aircraft Accident Simulation
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by(a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority into the development of a computer model to simulate real aircraft accident conditions. [38553]

    Mr. Norris
    The Civil Aviation Authority has carried out extensive work in the development of computer models to simulate passenger evacuation in emergencies. To be of use, such models must predict real life with an acceptable level of accuracy. The CAA is currently collecting data from all possible sources to compare the predictions of computer models with actual outcomes. When this work is completed, the potential value of computer models will become clearer.

    Aircraft (Safety)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by(a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority into the benefits of the introduction of (i) rear-facing seats and (ii) three-point seat belts in aircraft. [38590]

    Mr. Norris
    None. The Civil Aviation Authority considered undertaking research into rear-facing seats but this did not proceed beyond the feasibility study stage because of the practical difficulties involved with this seating configuration. However, this subject may be discussed by the international group for cabin safety research of which the CAA is a member.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority into the effect of water misting sprays in aircraft; and what assessment he has made of the effects on evacuation times of such systems. [38554]

    Mr. Norris
    The Civil Aviation Authority participated in the international cabin water spray research management group, which oversaw a programme of
    15
    research in this area. The programme concluded that cabin water spray systems would be of benefit only in specific and rare circumstances and that the costs associated with the installation and operation of these systems cannot be justified when compared with the potential benefits. The conclusions of the research programme were published in June 1993—CAA paper 93012.

    Emergency Towing Vessel Coverage
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide year-round emergency towing vessel coverage in(a) the Dover strait, (b) north-western Scotland and (c) the western approaches. [38557]

    Mr. Norris
    There will be trials in the Dover strait, north-western Scotland and the south-west approaches for a period of six months this winter. We will continue to assess the results of the emergency towing trials before deciding on future commitments.

    British Railways Board
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making to ensure the British Railways Board maintains expertise in running trains against the event of a franchise being surrendered. [38529]

    Mr. Watts
    None. In the event that a franchise agreement is terminated and another agreement is not entered into at the same time, the franchising director is required under the Railways Act 1993 to secure the continued provision of passenger services. Generally, he would do this by transferring to another company the business in respect of which the franchise agreement had been terminated. It is expected that the staff of the business would also be transferred, ensuring that the expertise needed to run the passenger services safely, and with continuity, would remain available to the business. In the event that any staff of the business who were essential to its safe operation did not so transfer, arrangements are in place to ensure that they would quickly be replaced with suitably skilled staff.

    Channel Tunnel (Safety)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of a fire aboard a semi-open wagon of a freight train travelling through the channel tunnel; and what assessment he has made of the reduction in the risk to public safety from the introduction of enclosed wagons. [38593]

    Mr. Watts
    An assessment of the likely frequency and effects of a fire on board a semi-open heavy goods vehicle shuttle train formed part of Eurotunnel's formal application for an operating certificate for this service. The intergovernmental commission, having received advice from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and from the Maitre d'Oeuvre, independent project managers and advisers to the commission, granted the operating certificate on 14 May 1994.

    The Intergovernmental Commission has not been asked to examine any further risk assessments resulting from the use of enclosed wagons on HGV shuttle trains.
    16
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the results of the tests relating to the evacuation of trains travelling through the channel tunnel. [38592]

    Mr. Watts
    Tests relating to the evacuation of trains in the channel tunnel have been carried out by the operator, Eurotunnel. The methodology and conclusions of these tests were examined and found acceptable by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority. Publication is a matter for the operator.

    Road and Rail Construction Costs
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average construction cost per mile of the electrification of railways together with rate of construction per mile of new roads built since 1980. [38546]

    Mr. Watts
    The information is not available in the form requested. However, the cost of upgrading the east coast main line, including electrification, was around £360 million at current prices, equal to around £1 million per mile.

    Information on the construction cost per mile of new roads is available only since 1989–90. For the period 1989–90 to 1995–96, the average construction cost per mile of all-purpose dual carriageway trunk roads was around £6 million and the average construction cost per mile of motorways was around £14 million, both at current prices. These figures exclude design fees, VAT, land and other compensation costs, site supervision and contractual claims.

    Rail Vehicles
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new rail vehicles and of what type are currently stored in sidings awaiting Railtrack approval for use. [38589]

    Mr. Watts
    This is a matter for the vehicle owners and Railtrack.

    Le Shuttle Services
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department has taken to implement the recommendation of the first report of the Home Affairs Committee, HC Paper 23 of Session 1991–92, in respect of the separation of elderly and disabled passengers from coaches aboard Le Shuttle. [38591]

    Mr. Watts
    The Government response to the Home Affairs Committee made it clear that the tunnel had been built to provide full access for all passengers, whatever their mobility problems, and that procedures would be devised for routine travel and emergency evacuation for people with mobility problems. These procedures are now complete and are contained in Eurotunnel's safety arrangements.

    When Eurotunnel made its formal application to the Intergovernmental Commission for an operating certificate to enable it to carry coaches in single-deck wagons on tourist shuttle trains, it included supporting evidence showing the results of evacuation tests carried out with the participation of elderly and disabled passengers.
    17
    The Intergovernmental Commission, on advice from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and from the Maitre d' Oeuvre, independent project managers and advisers to the commission, gave approval to the application in June 1995.

    A46/A47 Link Road
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if additional information required by his Department on induced traffic for the Leicester A46/A47 link road will cover the wider area set out in the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment report. [38918]

    Mr. Watts
    The additional information requested by my officials on the A46/A47 link road relates specifically to the issue of induced traffic as highlighted in the SACTRA report. My Department has issued guidance to all local highway authorities on how best the effects of induced traffic may be assessed. The information, to be provided, by Leicestershire county council, should be in line with that advice.

    Road Link Ltd. (A69)
    Mr. Donohoe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the management of the A69 by Road Link Ltd. [38635]

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

    Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 22 July 1996:

    As you know, the Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for a statement about the management of the A69 by Road Link (A69) Limited.

    The A69 contract is the first to be awarded as a Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) scheme. This particular contract was won by Road Link (A69) Limited who are now responsible for the detailed design of the Haltwhistle Bypass scheme and its subsequent construction, together with the day to day operation and maintenance of the A69 between Carlisle and Newcastle. The concession period will last for 30 years during which Road Link will be reimbursed through "shadow tolls" paid by the Highways Agency. The Secretary of State for Transport, however, remains the highway authority for the A69 trunk road and this function cannot be delegated to the DBFO Co.

    Road Link are employing the A69 Construction Joint Venture (a consortium of Morrison Construction, Christiani & Neilson Ltd, Henry Boot Construction and lmpregilo S.p.A, with design support from Pell Frischmann Consultants) to construct the A69 Haltwhistle Bypass.

    The construction of the Bypass is currently making good progress and should be completed as programmed in August 1997. After that, there will be some minor works on the old trunk road once the new Bypass is opened to traffic.

    Bus and Coach Directive
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies and organisations he has consulted in connection with preparing a response to the European Commission's draft bus and coach directive. [39132]

    Mr. Norris
    Although we have not yet received any formal proposals from the Commission, my Department has been widely consulting with organisations, including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which 18
    represents major UK manufacturing interests, and the Coach and Passenger Transport Executive Group, which represents the major bus and coach operators in the UK.

  LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

    Repossessions (York)
    Mr. Bayley
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many actions for repossession of a mortgaged home were started, and how many repossessions were granted, in York county court in each of the last seven years. [38873]

    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. Hugh Bayley, dated 22 July 1996:

    The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about repossession proceedings at York County Court.

    The following table shows the number of possession actions started and the number of possession orders made at York in the last seven years. As not all orders result in the issue and execution of a warrant of possession, I am unable to tell you how many properties were repossessed in this period.

    Actions commenced

    Orders made

    1989

    368

    193

    1990

    505

    314

    1991

    577

    455

    1992

    456

    405

    1993

    346

    316

    1994

    358

    274

    1995

    332

    237

    Offenders(Psychiatric Assessments)
    Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many offenders have been referred for psychiatric assessments from magistrates courts for each of the last five years(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands; and at what cost. [37733]

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

    Children Act 1989
    Mr. Gapes
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a copy of all guidance issued by his Department concerning implementation of section 8 orders under the Children Act 1989. [37585]

    Mr. Streeter
    The Lord Chancellor's Department produced guidance on the provisions of and procedures under the Children Act for court staff and judiciary at the time of its implementation in October 1991. Similar information was produced in conjunction with the Home Office for the use of practitioners and other relevant
    19
    professionals. These refer to section eight orders in general terms, but do not give specific guidance on their implementation.

    The Children Act Advisory Committee, an independent body to which the Department provides the secretariat, has responsibility for monitoring the operation of the Act and issues guidance on its provisions. The committee publishes an annual report, copies of which are already held by the Library.

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Quota Hopping
    Mr. Waterson
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government propose to table treaty changes at the intergovernmental conference to regulate quota hopping; and if he will make a statement. [39014]

    Mr. Baldry
    A proposal to add a protocol to the treaty of the European Community to enable member states to take appropriate action to regulate quota hopping is being tabled at a working meeting of the inter governmental conference today. The protocol provides that"nothing in the Treaty establishing the European Community shall prevent any Member State from distributing the fishing availabilities allocated to it under the common fisheries policy to vessels flying the flag of, or registered in, that State in accordance with such requirements as the Member State considers appropriate to ensure that such vessels have a real economic link with the populations dependent on fisheries and related industries in that State including, for example, all or any of the following requirements:
    a requirement that a minimum proportion (determined by the Member State concerned) of the legal and beneficial ownership of such vessels should be held either by nature persons residing permanently int he territory of that State, or by companies or firms which have their principal place of business or central administration (or both) in the territory of that State, or by a combination of natural persons and companies or firms fulfilling the above criteria;
    a requirement that a minimum proportion (determined by the Member State concerned) of the membership of the crews of such vessels should reside permanently in the territory of that State;

    a requirement that such vessels should depart from a port situated within the territory of the Member State concerned on a minimum proportion (determined by that State) of the fishing trips undertaken by such vessels;
    a requirement that a minimum proportion (determined by the Member States concerned) of the catches of all or any of the different fish stocks which may be made by such vessels should be landed within the territory of that State."

    Copies of the full text of the proposed protocol and of the covering memorandum to the IGC are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses for information.

    Veterinary Medicines Directorate
    Mr. Gale
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the 1995–96 annual report and accounts for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is due to be published. [39013]

    Mr. Douglas Hogg
    I am pleased to report that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's annual report and accounts for 1995–96 was published today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
    20
    The report charts the continuing success of the directorate as a next steps agency, and I would like to congratulate the chief executive and his staff on their considerable achievements during the year.

    British Beef
    Mr. Gill
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to promote a public relations campaign extolling the safety of British beef. [32780]

    Mrs. Browning
    Product promotion and advertising is primarily a matter for the industry. The Ministry is actively involved in a programme to help promote beef. I am pleased that the Meat and Livestock Commission is running a campaign to reassure consumers about minced beef.

    Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commission and (b) evaluated to establish the route by which contaminated feed was fed to bovine animals after the 1988 ban. [35000]

    Mrs. Browning
    Results of the investigation of risk factors for cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy born after the introduction of the ruminant protein feed ban were published in the "Veterinary Record" on 1 April 1995—pages 312 to 318. A copy of the report can be found in the May 1995 progress report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

    Mr. Hardy
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to locate those animals which are within a condemned cohort which were previously sold on from the farm where they were bred; and what assessment he had made as to whether those who purchase cattle are keeping records in the same way as those responsible for dairy herds. [38098]

    Mrs. Browning
    Animals in the same cohort as a BSE case will be traced using farmers' records for cattle, which legislation under the Animal Health Act 1981 obliges them to keep.

    Mr. Hardy
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will revise the arrangements for the destruction of whole cohorts of cattle where one animal within that cohort is found infected with BSE; and what is his latest estimate of the number of cattle which will have to be destroyed under the proposed arrangement. [38107]

    Mr. Baldry
    The Government issued a consultation document on the accelerated slaughter scheme on 3 July. They are considering responses to this. The maximum number of cattle likely to be slaughtered under the arrangements set out in the consultation document is 120,000 and in practice is liable to be somewhat lower.

    Mr. Hardy
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect upon the price of replacement cattle if the numbers of cattle to be destroyed under the BSE eradication arrangements are at the highest level of his estimates. [38097]

    Mrs. Browning
    The accelerated slaughter scheme is not expected to involve more than about 1 per cent. of the total UK cattle population—although it is likely to have a
    21
    greater effect on dairy than beef herds. Details of the scheme, and therefore estimates of its likely effects, are yet to be finished.

    Ministerial Visits
    Mr. Harvey
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those constituencies he has visited in the last three months on official business and those constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [35761]

    Mr. Douglas Hogg
    I have visited the following constituencies on official business in the last three months:

    Constituency

    Event

    Date

    Gainsborough and Horncastle

    Lincolnshire Show

    19 June 1996

    Cirencester and Tewksbury

    Royal Show

    1 July 1996

    Lincoln

    Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board

    8 July 1996

    Stamford and Spalding

    Elsoms Seeds Ltd.

    8 July 1996

    During the next three months I plan to visit:

    Constituency

    Event

    Date

    Eddisbury

    Reaseheath College (Meeting with Beef/Dairy Fanners)

    15 July 1996

    Congleton

    Wimboldsely Hall/Weaver Bank Farm

    15 July 1996

    Stamford and Spalding

    CLA Game Fair

    26 July 1996

    Cattle Slaughter Scheme
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, under the accelerated slaughter scheme, compensation for cattle slaughtered will be to the value of a replacement heifer of the same breed and standard of the culled cow. [36837]

    Mr. Baldry
    The Government issued a consultation document on the accelerated slaughter scheme on 3 July. The deadline for responses was 9 July, and we are considering those we have received.

    EU Standing Veterinary Committee
    Dr. Strang
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the United Kingdom was represented at the meeting of the EU Standing Veterinary Committee meeting of 9 and 10 October 1990; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions concerning BSE arising from the meeting. [37866]

    Mrs. Browning
    The United Kingdom was represented at this meeting. Our record of the meeting shows that, although BSE was discussed, no conclusions were reached.
    22

    Fisheries Committee (European Parliament)
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many seats the UK is entitled to on the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament; and how many seats the UK currently occupies. [38404]

    Mr. Baldry
    The UK is entitled to have five full members on the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament and two substitute members. UK members of the European Parliament currently occupy all five full seats.

  HOUSE OF COMMONS

    Postage Costs
    Mr. Donohoe
    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how much has been spent on postage costs for the House in each of the last five financial years. [38637]

    Mr. Michael J. Martin
    Postage costs for the House of Commons for the last five financial years are as follows:

    1991–92: £1,304,419

    1992–93: £1,451,836

    1993–94: £1,760,770

    1994–95: £1,771,183

    1995–96: £1,710,899.

    Members' Salaries
    Mr. Winnick
    To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members notified the Fees Office after each increase in salary during the past 17 years that they did not wish to accept an increase in their salary; and for how long they maintained such decisions. [36772]

    Mr. Newton
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 10 July,Official Report, column 238. I have asked the Fees Office to write to the hon. Member with such additional information as it feels can properly be provided without incurring disproportionate cost, bearing in mind also its obligation to preserve confidentiality in its dealings with individual hon. Members.

    Mr. Winnick
    To ask the Lord President of the Council when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his question, for answer on 11 July, in respect of salaries. [38789]

    Mr. Newton
    I have replied to the hon. Member today.

    Mail
    Mr. Donohoe
    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many items of mail were delivered to the House in each of the last five financial years. [38638]

    Mr. Michael J. Martin
    This information is not recorded. Royal Mail estimates that 35,000 items are received on each sitting day and that this figure has not changed significantly over the last five financial years. This does not include items delivered via courier and messenger services.
    23

  ENVIRONMENT

    Air Pollution
    Mr. Barry Porter
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account the Environment Agency is obliged to take of(a) general air quality standards in a locality and (b) the cumulative effects of other emissions into the atmosphere in determining whether to grant an authorisation. [37839]

    Mr. Clappison
    Under section 7 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency is obliged to set such specific conditions as it considers appropriate to achieve any quality standards or quality objectives prescribed by the Secretary of state under any relevant enactments.

    Asbestos
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with other European Ministers on the production and use of asbestos-based building materials; and if he will make a statement. [38188]

    Mr. Clappison
    No discussions on the use of asbestos-based building materials have taken place at ministerial level, but our officials continue to play an active part in EU negotiations and to promote awareness and understanding in EU discussion of asbestos issues.

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken to ensure asbestos-based building materials are clearly marked. [38186]

    Mr. Clappison
    The Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulations 1985 as amended require that any products containing asbestos are labelled in accordance with the schedule to the regulations. The label serves as a warning that asbestos is present, and gives details of precautions to be taken in handling the product.

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the use of asbestos-based building materials in house building. [38185]

    Mr. Clappison
    The Department of the Environment has commissioned research on fibrous materials in the non-workplace environment. This includes a review of the past and current uses of asbestos in products and building materials. A report on this research will be published early next year.

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to promote a ban on the import and use of asbestos-based building materials; and if he will make a statement. [38187]

    Mr. Clappison
    The United Kingdom takes the view that prohibitions on the marketing and use of asbestos, including asbestos-based building materials, should be based on agreements within the European Union. The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 and their Northern Ireland equivalents implement EU legislation which totally prohibits the use of blue and brown asbestos, and some uses of white asbestos, in building materials. At present, the UK has no plans to promote an EU discussion for an extension of the existing ban.
    24
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics he has collected on the number of deaths from exposure to asbestos products. [38184]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    The Health and Safety Executive maintains a register on the number of deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis, which are mostly related to exposure to asbestos fibres. This is published in "Health and Safety Statistics", the statistical supplement to the Health and Safety Commission's annual report.

    Merseyside Development Corporation
    Mr. Parry
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, to discuss matters affecting his constituents living in the Merseyside development corporation area; and if he will make a statement. [38863]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    I assume that the hon. Member is referring to his constituents living at the Albert dock. For the most part, the issues raised by the residents at the dock have been matters for the residents to resolve themselves with the Merseyside development corporation or Arrowcroft. In those circumstances, I cannot see a meeting would be helpful. A meeting has, however, been arranged between Merseyside development corporation, the Government office for Merseyside and the Albert dock residents association to hear views on the proposed management company.

    Albert Dock Company
    Mr. Parry
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the owners of the Albert Dock Company; and if he will make a statement. [38839]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    The Albert Dock Company is owned by Arrowcroft.

    Rising Sun Sports Ground, Wallsend
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in for determination planning application NT074496DM made to North Tyneside council for development at the Rising Sun sports ground, Wallsend. [38787]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    The Secretary of State is aware of this application for five houses and two bungalows at Kings road, Wallsend and has asked the council for more information about it. When he has received this, he will consider the issues raised by the application and decide whether to call it in. I have asked the Government office for the north-east to write and let the hon. Member know his decision.

    Planning Inspectorate
    Mr. Waterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets he has set for the Planning Inspectorate for the financial year 1996–97; and how these compare with targets and outturns for earlier years. [38262]

    Mr. Robert B. Jones
    I have today set new performance targets for the Planning Inspectorate which reflect changes in the content and priorities of its work load. Since its launch in 1992, the proportion of inspector resources devoted to development plan inquiries has
    25
    grown rapidly from just under 20 per cent., to 32 per cent. last year. The new targets announced today reflect this change. Taken as a package, they are demanding and will require the agency to work more effectively if they are to be met.

    In particular, the timeliness target has been extended to embrace the three different methods of handling appeals. This replaces the previous target which was confined to written appeals and which did not take into account the more difficult appeals which take longer.

    The principal objectives will be to continue to preserve the impartiality and quality of the inspectorate's work while seeking further to improve efficiency.

    In detail, the key targets for the agency's work in England for 1996–97 are as follows:

    Timeliness

    (a) 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined in 22 weeks, reducing to 18 weeks by 1998–99;

    (b) 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined in 43 weeks, reducing to 24 weeks by 1998–99;

    The above targets are compared with previous targets and outturns in the Table below: Planning Inspectorate: targets for England

    Outturn 1993–94

    Outturn 1994–95

    Outturn 1995–96

    Proposed 1996–97

    aims, by 1998–99

    Casework targets

    Determine 80 per cent, of written appeals within 18 weeks

    achieved, 17 weeks

    missed, 19 weeks

    missed, 24 weeks

    22 weeks

    18 weeks

    Determine 80 per cent, of hearing appeals within set time

    not set, 25 weeks

    not set, 22 weeks

    not set, 37 weeks

    43 weeks

    24 weeks

    Determine 80 per cent, of inquiry appeals within set time

    not set, 40 weeks

    not set, 35 weeks

    not set, 41 weeks

    51 weeks

    36 weeks

    Provide an Inspector for Development Plan inquiry within 26 weeks of end of objection period

    achieved

    achieved

    achieved

    same

    Deliver 90 per cent, of reports on Development Plans to local authorities by dates agreed in service agreements

    not set

    not set

    not set

    new target

    Determine 19,500; 15,500, 14,900 appeals respectively, subject to intake not declining

    intake declined; no fault miss

    intake declined; no fault miss

    intake declined; no fault miss

    not set

    Financial targets

    Unit costs of written planning appeals not to exceed £690

    achieved, £683

    achieved, £689

    achieved, £673

    same

    Recover 90 per cent, of receipts written eight weeks of invoice

    achieved

    achieved

    achieved

    same

    Generate a 3 per cent, efficiency improvement in use of running costs compared with previous year

    achieved

    achieved

    achieved

    same

    Quality of casework targets

    The number of justified complaints about the way Inspectors have carried out their duties to be below 1 per cent, of decisions issuedmissed 1.3 per cent.

    missed 1.1 per cent.

    missed 1.5 per cent.

    new target

    Information and guidance targets

    Carry out set tasks to improve information about or guidance given to customers

    achieved by customer survey

    achieved by customer survey

    not set

    new "Plain English" task

    Offensive Poster Advertising
    Mr. Dafis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to strengthen safeguards against offensive poster advertising. [37755]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    The display of all outdoor advertisements is subject to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992. Among other matters, these powers control the location, size and design of posters in relation on amenity and public safety. They do not extend to consideration of whether the subject matter of an advertisement would offend public decency or moral values, since these matters are outside planning control.
    26
    (c) 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined in 51 weeks, reducing to 36 weeks by 1998–99;
    (d) to provide an inspector for local plan inquiries or request within 26 weeks of the end of the objection period and to deliver 90 per cent. of inspectors' reports to local authorities by the dates agreed in service agreements;

    Financial

    (a) unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £690;

    (b) recover 90 per cent. of receipts due within eight weeks of invoice date;

    Efficiency
    generate a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement in the use of running costs compared with 1995–96;

    Quality
    to satisfy the advisory panel on standards, and thus the Secretary of State, annually and following rigorous monitoring, that the quality of the inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard with 99 per cent. of its casework free from error;

    Information and Guidance
    to secure a plain English campaign crystal mark award for 50 per cent. of the Planning Inspectorate's key publications.

    These factors are separately addressed by a voluntary code of practice supervised by the Advertising Standards Authority, to which all reputable advertisers, including all the major outdoor poster companies, subscribe. There is no evidence to suggest that these arrangements have proved unsatisfactory or that legislative regulation is required.

    Towing Caravan Exemption Certificates
    Mr. Nicholas Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue a statement in
    27
    conclusion of the review of the touring caravan exemption certificate system which operates under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. [39056]

    Mr. Clappison
    We have today issued a statement announcing the conclusion of the review of the touring caravan exemption certificate system. Copies have been placed in the Library.

    Local Government Pension Scheme
    Mr. Jacques Arnold
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made to take forward his proposals for change initiative for the local government pension scheme; and if he will make a statement. [39055]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    Earlier in the year, we consulted widely on our proposals for change initiative for the local government pension scheme—LGPS—in England and Wales. There was wide support for our consultation proposals, which we have decided to adopt.

    The LGPS will remain a public service pension scheme prescribed in regulations. The scheme's provisions will be streamlined and local authorities will be able to manage more of the scheme for themselves. We intend early in 1997–98 to make and lay before the House regulations giving effect to these changes. Our aim will be to provide

    Largest

    Smallest

    District

    Ward

    Population

    Ward

    Population

    Greater Manchester

    Bolton

    Deane-cum-Heaton

    13,082

    Central

    7,608

    Bury

    Ramsbottom

    11,028

    Unsworth

    7,667

    Manchester (City)

    Longsight

    11,876

    Hulme

    5,468

    Oldham

    Saddleworth East

    9,948

    St. James

    5,742

    Rochdale

    Norden and Bamford

    9,400

    Middleton West

    5,277

    Salford

    Walkden South

    11,390

    Ordsall

    5,473

    Stockport

    East Bramhall

    12,768

    Brinnington

    7,692

    Tameside

    Audenshaw

    10,140

    Ashton St. Peters

    7,688

    Trafford

    Mersey St. Mary's

    9,564

    Park

    6,025

    Wigan

    Winstanley

    11,863

    Norley

    7,541

    Merseyside

    Knowsley

    Roby

    6,719

    Cantril Farm

    3,984

    Liverpool

    Warbreck

    14,223

    Everton

    4,544

    St. Helens

    Binge and Seneley Green

    10,570

    Marshalls Cross

    5,959

    Sefton

    Park

    11,618

    Netherton

    7,543

    Wirral

    Clatterbridge

    13,974

    Bidston

    8,446

    South Yorkshire

    Barnsley

    Darton

    10,400

    Wombwell North

    5,173

    Doncaster

    Armthorpe

    13,233

    Intake

    8,396

    Rotherham

    Bramley, Ravenfield and Wickersley

    13,617

    Central

    6,289

    Sheffield

    Mosborough

    25,069

    Manor

    9,134

    Tyne and Wear

    Gateshead

    Wickham South

    8,855

    Bensham

    5,106

    Newcastle upon Tyne

    Dene

    10,759

    Scotswood

    5,414

    North Tyneside

    Weetslade

    7,842

    Longbenton

    5,892

    South Tyneside

    Cleadon and East Boldon

    7,387

    Simon Side

    4,772

    Sunderland

    Washington South

    14,171

    South wick

    7,379

    West Midlands

    Birmingham

    Sutton Four Oaks

    24,484

    Kingsbury

    13,223

    Coventry

    Woodlands

    14,356

    Westwood

    11,108

    28
    easy-to-read regulations in plain English to assist administering authorities and employers in the operation of the scheme and, in particular, to help scheme members to understand better the benefits available to them. We shall be consulting the local authority associations and other interested parties on drafts of the regulations, which we intend to bring into force on 1 April 1998. This will allow adequate time for all the necessary administrative and other changes to be put in place and ensure a smooth implementation of the new scheme provisions.

    I believe these measures will be welcomed by local government employers and employees alike and will provide a satisfactory and secure long-term basis for the LGPS.

    Metropolitan Authorities
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the size of the electorate, and the name of(a) the largest and (b) the smallest of the three member wards in each of the metropolitan authorities in England; and which is the party of the councillors in each of these wards. [38753]

    Sir Paul Beresford
    All wards in metropolitan authorities in England are three-member wards. The table shows, for each authority, the name and size of electorate of the largest and the smallest ward. Electorate numbers are based on 1995 electoral registers.
    29

    Largest

    Smallest

    District

    Ward

    Population

    Ward

    Population

    Dudley

    Amblecote

    14,309

    Netherton and Woodside

    7,201

    Sandwell

    Tipton Green

    11,146

    St. Paul's

    8,147

    Solihull

    Shirley South

    13,510

    Kingshurst

    6,227

    Walsall

    Bloxwich West

    11,424

    Pheasey

    7,393

    Wolverhampton

    Bilston North

    10,991

    Heath Town

    8,123

    West Yorkshire

    Bradford

    Odsal

    12,790

    Keighley South

    9,816

    Calderdale

    Greetland and Stainland

    9,056

    Illingworth

    7,429

    Kirklees

    Birstall and Birkenshaw

    13,931

    Deighton

    10,067

    Leeds

    Morley South

    20,691

    Hunslet

    11,086

    Wakefield

    Stanley and Altofts

    13,773

    Castleford Whitwood

    9,776

    The Department does not keep records of party political affiliations.

    Office of Water Services
    Dr. Wright
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of Water Services publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests; and if he will indicate in each instance whether this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary; [37876]

    (2) if the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of Water Services are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) provisions for open government and (e) performance indicators; and (f) provisions under the citizens charter; [37877]

    (3) what is the statutory basis of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of Water Services; if they (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and if he will indicate in each instance whether this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [37880]

    Mr. Clappison
    [holding answer 18 July I996]: The 10 customer service committees—CSCs—of the Office of Water Services are statutory bodies, independent of the water industry, established and maintained by the Director General of Water Services under section 28 of the Water Industry Act 1991. CSCs fall outside the remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Audit Commission, but are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office. CSCs have the status of executive non-departmental public bodies but are administratively integrated with Ofwat. They operate to performance standards agreed with the director general and apply the same provisions for open government and the citizen's charter as does Ofwat itself.

    Meetings of the CSCs are held in public in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. Further details of the practices followed by the CSCs in undertaking their business are contained in the annual reports of Ofwat and the CSCs, copies of which are in the Library.
    30
    Dr. Wright
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the Ofwat national customer council(a) holds public meetings, (b) conducts public consultation exercises, (c) conducts consultation exercises with outside interests, (d) publishes a register of members' interests, (e) publishes agendas for meetings and (f) publishes the minutes of meetings; and if in each case this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary; [37909]

    (2) what is the statutory base of the Ofwat national customer council; if it (a) publishes its advice, (b) publishes an annual report and (c) lays an annual report before Parliament; and if he will indicate in each instance whether this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [37910]

    Mr. Clappison
    [holding answer 18 July 1996]: The Ofwat national customer council is a non-statutory body, independent of the water industry, established by the Director General of Water Services. The manner in which it conducts its business is a matter for the council, and is described in its annual report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  TRADE AND INDUSTRY

    Tied House System
    Mr. Nicholas Baker
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make representations to the European Commission about the benefits to customers, tenants and independent brewers of the tied house system. [37551]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    The block exemption which deals with the tie between brewer and landlord will first be considered as part of a wider debate on the treatment of distribution agreements under EC competition law. The Commission will publish a Green Paper on this issue later this year. Consideration of specific types of agreement such as the tie will follow on from this Green Paper. At that stage, I will be making representations to the European Commission on the tie.

    To that end, I am inviting those involved in the beer industry to provide me with their views on the future of this important regulation.

    Contracts
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number, nature and total value of contracts awarded by his Department to
    31
    (a) Coopers and Lybrand, (b)KMPG,(c) Price Waterhouse, (d) Ernst and Young, (e) Deloitte and Touche, (f) Arthur Andersen, (g) Grant Thornton, (h)BDO,(i) Stoy Hayward, (j) Pannel Kerr Forster and (k) Robson Rhodes and their subsidiaries and associates during 1995 and 1996. [37336]

    Mr. Lang
    Only data on external consultancy contracts are held centrally and the following information for the companies in question is available:

    Company

    Number of contracts in 1995

    Coopers and Lybrand

    1

    KMPG

    4

    Price Waterhouse

    0

    Ernst and Young

    4

    Deloitte and Touche

    3

    Arthur Andersen

    0

    Grant Thornton

    0

    BDO

    0

    Stay Hayward

    2

    Pannel Kerr Forster

    2

    Robson Rhodes

    0

    The total value of the contracts was £3,613,000.

    Company

    Number of contracts in 1996

    KPMG

    1

    Ernst and Young

    1

    The total value of the contracts is £104,000.

    Commercial sensitivity prevents the disclosure of individual contract details. Information on other contracts can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    The information does not include contracts let by the Department's executive agencies, and I have asked the chief executives to reply separately to this question.

    Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 22 July 1996:
    I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade about contracts placed with various named consultants.

    Firms

    Purpose

    1994–95

    Value of contract (including VAT) 1995–96

    Coopers and Lybrand

    Accountancy support

    £60,000

    —

    Price Waterhouse

    User survey

    £124,800

    —

    Ernst and Young

    Accountancy support

    £13,100

    —

    CSL (subsidiary of Deloitte and Touche)

    Contracted out accounting services

    —

    £88,812

    Stoy Hayward

    Contracting out and management consultancy

    £94,150

    —

    Total

    £292,050

    £88,812

    The £60,000 payment to Coopers and Lybrand for accountancy support for the Agency was in and about the setting up of systems to enable it to produce commercial style accounts. The £13,100 paid to Ernst and Young for accountancy support was to provide independent professional assurance that financial data had been properly transferred to The Service's new computer system for its Central Accounting Unit.

    The contract with CSL is for 5 years from 1 April 1995. The £88,812 paid in 1995–96 is for services provided in the year. The costs of the services are largely volume related.

    32
    The Patent Office has used two companies listed. In 1996 KPMG were given a single contract valued at £5000 for training advice on job search workshops. In the years 1995 and 1996, Coopers and Lybrand have been used for two contracts. The first addressed the contractorisation of our London Front Office and was completed this year. The total cost of this contract amounted to £55,700 of which £30,000 related to 1995 and £27,500 to 1996. The second was for advice on the possible contractorisation of IT services and has totalled £58,000 so far in 1996.

    Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 22 July 1996:
    The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Parliamentary Question about the Agency's use of various firms.2 In 1995 the Agency contracted with the following subsidiaries of Deloitte and Touche:CSL Managed Services Ltd for the provision of accountancy and financial services valued at between £800-£1m ex-VAT over a period of five years; and
    Touche Ross Management Consultants for a study into the development of channel communication quality limits valued at £56.5k ex-VAT

    Letter from John S. Holden to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 22 July 1996:
    You recently asked the President of the Board of Trade for information about contracts awarded to various organisations. I am replying as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.
    No contracts were awarded by Companies House to any of the firms listed in 1995 or 1996.

    Letter from Zélie Armstrong to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 22 July 1996:
    The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your questions about the number, nature and value of contracts awarded to those companies listed for the years 1995 and 1996.
    This Agency has not awarded a contract to any of the companies listed in your question.

    Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 22 July 1996:
    The President of the Board of Trade has asked Peter Joyce, The Insolvency Service Agency Chief Executive, to reply to your question about expenditure on external consultants and the number, nature and total of contracts awarded to named firms in 1995 and 1996 by The Insolvency Service. I am replying in Mr. Joyce's absence on leave.
    Details of contracts awarded to the named firms are:
    33

    Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors
    Mrs. Beckett
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when the Government were notified that Hinckley Point B and Hunterston B were to be shut down on 10 July; [37833]

    (2) what discussion (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants had with British Energy prior to the announcement of the shutdowns of Hinckley Point B and Hunterston B regarding (i) the timing of the closure and (ii) of the announcement; [37832]

    (3) when the problems at Hinckley Point B and Hunterston B leading to the shutdown on 10 July first came to the attention of (a) British Energy and (b) his Department; what assessment was made of the impact of these problems on the flotation of British Energy; and if he will make a statement. [37834]

    Mr. Lang
    I have nothing to add to the statement that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy made to the House on 16 July,Official Report, columns 1013–22.

    Labour Unit Costs
    Sir Irvine Patnick
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of relative labour unit costs for each European Union country, the United States of America and Japan; and if he will make a statement. [38612]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    The most comprehensive data which I have available is drawn from the Bank for International Settlements, and is shown on the table.

    Country

    Manufacturing Unit Labour Costs in October 1993

    United States of America

    100.0

    Japan

    165.9

    France

    142.2

    Germany

    171.2

    Italy

    107.4

    United Kingdom

    126.3

    Belgium

    125.2

    Netherlands

    129.1

    Sweden

    106.0

    Notes:

    Figures rebased so that USA=100. Figures above 100 show higher unit labour costs than the USA, e.g. Japan's unit labour costs are 65.9 per cent. higher than the US in October 1993.

    Source:

    'Measuring International Price and Cost Competitiveness' Turner and Van 't Dack. Bank for International Settlements, Economic Papers No. 39, November 1993.

    The figures show that the UK's unit labour costs are relatively low. It is important that we maintain this good position. Companies and their employees have the crucial role of ensuring that we remain competitive.

    Advertising Standards Authority
    Mr. Dafis
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to replace the Advertising Standards Authority with a statutory body. [37754]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    No. The Advertising Standards Authority was established to supervise the advertising code of practice. Self-regulation backed by the Control of 34
    Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988 works well and is the most effective way to protect consumers against misleading and offensive advertising.

    Mr. Dafis
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures are available to people who wish to make complaints about decisions made by the Advertising Standards Authority. [37783]

    Mr. Taylor
    Anyone who wants to complain about a decision made by the Advertising Standards Authority can apply in the first instance to the independent chairman, Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, for a review of that decision. They can also refer their complaint to the Director General of Fair Trading.

    Government Policy
    Mr. Nigel Evans
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to promote Government policy in relation to industry. [36808]

    Mr. Eggar
    DTI Ministers seize every opportunity to further Government policy in relation to industry, to promote the interests of British business and to promote the UK as a location for business investment. Recently, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set out our policies in relation to industry in a series of keynote speeches, including one in June to the Engineering Employers Federation on the subject of setting enterprise free.

    Briefly, the essence of our policy is to promote free enterprises and free trade, with vigourous competition as the driving force.

    At home, we adopt a rigorous approach to competition policy, and continue to drive forward the deregulation process. The Department has repealed or amended over 50 pieces of burdensome legislation in the last year alone.

    In Europe and beyond, we promote an open trading environment. We have launched a reinvigorated unit—action single market—charged with overcoming illegal barriers and unfair subsidies encountered by British firms in the single market. We are continuing to work with our European partners and in the World Trade Organisation to further the process of multilateral trade liberalisation.

    As a result of our commitment to free enterprise, we have seen another record year for inward investment, with over 48,000 new jobs expected to be created as a direct result of investments notified to the Invest in Britain Bureau in 1995–96.

    Manufacturing Investment
    Mr. Gerrard
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what policies the Government have put in place to improve investment in United Kingdom manufacturing. [36797]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    We are providing a stable economic environment with low inflation, low corporation tax rates, historically low interst rates and profits are high. The Treasury summer forecast expects that business investment—which includes manufacturing investment—will rise by over 7 per cent. both this year and next.
    35

    Fuel Consumers
    Sir Robert Hicks
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that fuel consumers who use pre-payment meters are not required to pay a surcharge on standing or unit prices. [38043]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    Subject to their licence obligations to avoid undue discrimination, this is a matter for the public electricity suppliers and gas suppliers. I understand that they have been able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the regulators, that there are additional costs involved in operating pre-payment meter systems for electricity and gas customers.

    Statistical Forms
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the forms his Department issues annually to businesses to gather statistics, indicating the number of each distributed. [37812]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    [holding answer 19 July 1996]: A list of regular surveys which gather statistics from business, together with the number of questionnaires distributed, is shown in the following table.

    Name of Survey, by Periodicity

    Number of forms per year

    Annual and Quarterly

    Inquiry into Electricity Generated3

    799

    Annual

    Renewable Energy Statistics (RESTATS)

    255

    Landfill Gas Monitoring

    49

    Census of Hospital-treated Firework Injuries

    442

    Quarterly

    Fuels Inquiry3

    1,200

    Inquiry into Oil and Natural Gas3

    900

    Monthly

    Price of Fuel for PPI

    672

    Biennial

    IT Security Breaches Survey1

    10,1252

    1 A mixed survey of both business and local authorities.

    2 Number of forms every other year.

    3 Surveys conducted for DTI by ONS.

    The table is based on records of regular statistical surveys going to 25 or more businesses only. Information on surveys with smaller samples is excluded. In addition, 34 ad hoc surveys were conducted during 1995, some of which collected statistical information.

    Trade and Human Rights
    Mr. MacShane
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his policy towards discussion of the linkage between world trade and human rights in developing countries at the World Trade Organisation. [36784]

    Mr. Nelson
    The UK Government are firmly opposed to abuses of fundamental human rights such as forced labour and the exploitation of child labour, wherever this occurs. But we believe that these should be tackled within the appropriate UN framework, which is the International Labour Organisation, and not by the World Trade Organisation.
    36

    Terrorist Damage
    Mr. Alfred Morris
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackey (Mr. Eastham) of 27 June,Official Report, column 202, what additional steps he will take to ensure that equivalent assistance in respect of terrorist damage is made available on the British mainland.[38263]

    Mr. Nelson
    The situation in Northern Ireland is not comparable with that in Great Britain. Compensation schemes operate in the Province because insurance cover against losses arising from terrorist activity is not available. As such cover is fully available on the British mainland in relation to industrial and commercial property, the question of equivalent assistance in respect of terrorist damage does not arise.

    Coal Authority
    Mr. John Marshall
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the annual report and accounts of the Coal Authority will be laid before Parliament. [39009]

    Mr. Lang
    I have today laid a copy before each House of Parliament.

    Brick Industry
    Mr. Nicholas Winterton
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what share of the brick supply industry would be held by(a) Ibstock plc, and (b) Hanson plc, were the proposed acquisition of Redland Brick plc by Ibstock Buildings Products Ltd. to be allowed to proceed. [38038]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    [holding answer 18 July 1996]: I am advised by Ibstock that it would have approximately 30 per cent of UK brick manufacturing capacity after the proposed divestment of the plants to which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade referred in his announcement of 11 July and that it believes Hanson has approximately 31 per cent.

    Mr. Winterton
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total output and product range of each of the brick plants which it is proposed by the Director General of Fair Trading should be divested under the terms of undertakings to be given by Ibstock Building Products Ltd. in connection with the proposed acquisition of Redland Brick plc by Ibstock Building Products Ltd. [38037]

    Mr. Taylor
    [holding answer 18 July 1996]: The total manufacturing capacity of each of the plants is as follows:

    Toddhills: 51

    Eldon: 20

    South Holmwood: 42

    Funton: 11

    Chailey: 13

    Steerpoint: 40

    Million bricks per annum: 177

    Each of the plants produces a full range of facing bricks for housing and commercial use. In addition, Chailey produces a range of pavers.

    Source:

    Ibstock.
    37

    Tender Documents
    Mr. Tipping
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what tender documents were produced by the Government office for the east midlands in February calling for a strategy for marketing the competitiveness agenda for the east midlands; if he will place copies in the Library; how many companies responded to the request; what framework was used to evaluate the bids; which companies were successful; and if he will make a statement. [38344]

    Mr. Page
    On 7 February 1996, the Government office for the east midlands,GO-EM, telephoned four local companies, inviting them to provide quotations for a small, short-term contract to help develop a plan for marketing competitiveness in the region. Each company was given the same oral briefing on GO-EM's requirements. Two of them requested—and were granted—meetings to discuss these requirements in more detail.

    Three of the companies provided quotations. These were evaluated on the basis of value for money—that is, price and suitability. The contract was awarded to Audax Communications.

    I am satisfied that GO-EM's actions in this case were wholly in accordance with the Government's public purchasing policy.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Anti-racist Year
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now support the European Union proposal to nominate 1997 as an anti-racist year; and if he will make a statement. [38224]

    Mr. David Davis
    We support the draft resolution designating 1997 as the European Year against Racism. We expect the resolution to be adopted by the Council in the near future.

    Bermuda (Asbestos)
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Bermudan authorities about disposal of asbestos; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement. [38226]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    The Bermudian authorities have asked the United Kingdom on a contingency basis to consider the possibility of disposing of asbestos by landfill in the UK. The Bermudians are also investigating other possible landfill options outside Bermuda. The feasibility of disposal in the UK is being considered as an option.

    Royal Visits
    Mr. Alan Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official visits aborad were made by Prince Michael of Kent in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; on what dates; at what cost; and which visits were made by use of the Royal Squadron. [38441]
    38
    Mr. Rifkind
    Prince Michael of Kent made no official visit overseas during this period.

    Entry Clearance
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applicants for visit entry clearance during 1995 and 1996 to the latest convenient date were dealt with under the pre-sift procedure at the British post in(a) Bombay, (b) New Delhi, (c) Islamabad, (d) Dhaka, (e) Manila, (f) Moscow, (g) Kingston and (h) in total; how many people at each post were (i) informed they could proceed to make application, (ii) informed they should not proceed with the application and (iii) asked to produce more documents; how many people in (ii) and (iii) proceeded with the application; and how many of them were (1) granted and (2) refused entry clearance. [38427]

    Mr. Hanley
    The following are the figures for entry clearance applicants dealt with under the pre-sift procedure during 1995:

    Number

    Bombay

    4,260

    New Delhi

    6,101

    Islamabad

    13,717

    Dhaka

    419

    Manila

    209

    Moscow

    0

    Kingston

    1,254

    The information required to answer the remainder of this question is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Western Sahara
    Mr. Gunnell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons his representative at the United Nations Securities Council voted in May to suspend the MINURSO votes registration project in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [37724]

    Mr. Hanley
    We, and other members of the Friends of the Secretary General on the Western Sahara, agreed with the UN Secretary-General's recommendations temporarily to suspend the voter registration process in view of the lack of progress.

    We continue to urge Morocco and Polisario to co-operate with the UN and its operation in the territory, MINURSO, so that voter registration can proceed and lead to a referendum on self-determination.

    Mr. Gunnell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the suitability of the United Nations voter registration project in Western Sahara for creating the conditions for a fair referendum on the future of Western Sahara. [37726]

    Mr. Hanley
    We believe that the UN operation in the Western Sahara,MINURSO, has developed strict criteria which should result in only those being eligible to vote being included in the electoral register for the referendum.
    39
    We urge both parties to put their trust in the process and co-operate with the UN Secretary-General and MINURSO so that voter registration can be resumed.

    We continue to believe that a referendum of self-determination represents the best solution to the conflict in the Western Sahara.

    Equal Rights
    Mr. Gunnell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the provisions in the Euro Mediterranean Association agreement in respect of the equal rights of all peoples to self-determination; and if he will list the states which are signatories to the treaty. [37725]

    Mr. David Davis
    The Euro-Mediterranean Association agreements, so far concluded with Tunisia, Morocco and Israel, state that respect for human rights and democratic principles constitute an essential element of the agreement. The principle of self-determination is not specifically mentioned in the association agreements, but in the declaration which was adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean conference at Barcelona in November 1995, 15 EU member states and the 12 Mediterranean partners undertake"to respect the equal rights of peoples and their right to self-determination, acting at all times in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter to the United Nations and with the relevant norms on international law, including those relating to territorial integrity of States, as reflected in agreements between relevant parties".

    Indonesia
    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have recently made to the Government of Indonesia concerning human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement. [38199]

    Mr. Hanley
    We regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Indonesian Government. Most recently I discussed human rights on 15 July in Jakarta with the Indonesian Foreign Minister and others.

    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made by (i) Her Majesty's ambassador to Indonesia and (ii) embassy staff to East Timor; and what reports have been made available to him concerning East Timor. [38115]

    Mr. Hanley
    Since 1994 British embassy staff in Jakarta have visited East Timor three times: twice in 1995 and once in 1996. On the most recent visit the FCO desk officer accompanied. Her Majesty's ambassador to Indonesia has not visited East Timor. We have received numerous reports concerning East Timor, including from non-governmental organisations and other Governments, in addition to those from our embassy in Jakarta.

    Antarctic Treaty
    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reach agreement with other signatory nations on the location of the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [38198]
    40
    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    The United Kingdom is keen to see this issue resolved, but the Antarctic treaty consultative parties have yet to reach an agreement by consensus on the location of the Antarctic treaty secretariat.

    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Japan concerning their policy in respect of the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement. [38102]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    At the recent annual meeting of the Antarctic treaty consultative parties in Utrecht, the United Kingdom urged Japan and the other three states that have not yet ratified the environmental protocol to do so at the earliest opportunity. Officials have also been in correspondence with their Japanese counterparts on a range of detailed technical issues relating to the protocol.

    Nicaragua
    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist independent monitoring of the forthcoming elections in Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement. [38103]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    The EU will send a team of observers to monitor the Nicaraguan elections in November. Dr. David Browning will be the UK observer assisted by the staff at the embassy in Managua.

    Asylum Seekers
    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has issued to British posts overseas regarding(a) the acceptance and recording of applications for political asylum, (b) the consideration of such applications, (c) the granting of such applications, (d) the refusal of such applications, (e) the right of appeal against refusal to grant asylum; if exceptional applications are considered at posts from women claiming they are victims of or threatened with forcible abortions or sterilisation; and if he will make a statement. [38582]

    Mr. Hanley
    Entry clearance officers at British posts overseas are guided by the following advice on asylum matters:

    In accordance with the 1951 Geneva convention and the 1967 New York protocol on the status of refugees the United Kingdom is under no obligation to accept a request for asylum overseas. Entry clearance officers have discretion, however, to accept outside the immigration rules an application for entry clearance for the United Kingdom where a foreign national demonstrates his circumstances meet the definition of the 1951 convention, he has particularly close ties with the United Kingdom and this is the most appropriate country of long-term refuge. Any such application is to be referred to the Home Office for decision.

    Rahmana Bibi
    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken on the application to the British post in Islamabad by Rahmana Bibi, Ref. D3059 to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [38580]
    41
    Mr. Hanley
    I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

    Falkland Islands Company
    Mr. Harvey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subsidies Her Majesty's Government pay to(a) the Falkland Islands Company (b) its subsidiary and (c) related companies; what was the value of these subsidies in each of the last five years; to what use they were put; and if he will make a statement. [38783]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    HMG have paid no subsidies to the Falkland Islands Company or any subsidiary or related companies in the last five years.

    "A Partnership of Nations"
    Sir Peter Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to table United Kingdom Government proposals for the European Union intergovernmental conference foreshadowed in "A Partnership of Nations". [39236]

    Mr. David Davis
    The United Kingdom negotiators are today tabling the following proposals in the IGC working party.

    (a) a memorandum on the European Court of Justice working up in detail the proposals outlined in paragraph 37 of "A Partnership of Nations";

    (b) the addition of a protocol to the EC treaty enabling member states to take appropriate action to regulate quota-hopping in the common fisheries policy. The details of this are set out more fully in a written answer to today's date from my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry).

    (c) a package of measures to improve the quality of EC legislation, including Commission legislation;

    (d) an amendment to article 42 of the EC treaty to provide for the state aid provisions of the treaty to apply to all agricultural products;

    (e) an amendment to article 129c of the EC treaty to make clear that private sector projects are eligible for Community budget support under the financial regulation on trans-European networks;

    (f) the addition of a protocol to the EC treaty which will place a formal legal obligation on Community institutions to give full regard to considerations of animal welfare in the exercise of their powers on agriculture, transport, research and the single market.

    These proposals were placed on the House Libraries this morning.

    The Government are currently working up a number of other proposals including on the health and safety article and on subsidiarity which will be tabled in due course.
    42

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Asylum Seekers
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance in order to seek asylum in the United Kingdom were(a) received and (b) granted by country during 1995 and the first quarter of 1996. [38070]

    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of days asylum seekers have been held in custody in 1995–96; and at what aggregate cost. [38105]

    Mr. Kirhope
    This information is not available.

    Immigration
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance from(a) wives, (b) husbands, (c) fiancés,(d) fiancees made at British posts in (1) New Delhi, (2) Bombay, (3) Calcutta, (4) Madras, (5) Dhaka, (6) Islmabad, (7) Karachi, (8) Colombo, (9) Accra, (10) Lagos, (11) Manila, (12) Bangkok, (13) Washington and (14) Ottawa for (y) each quarter since January 1995, and (z) in total, were (a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the primary purpose of the marriage was not immigration; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the couple could support and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds; what was the refusal rate at each post; and what percentage of those refusals were (x) wholly and (y) partly on primary purpose grounds. [38074]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    Information for the Indian sub-continent for each quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 1996 is given in the tables. As they are lengthy, copies of these have been placed in the Library. Where numbers are small, figures for individual posts have been combined. Information on reasons for refusals is not complied for periods shorter than 12 months. Corresponding information for Colombo, Accra, Lagos, Manila, Bangkok, Washington and Ottawa is not available centrally.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were waiting for special quota vouchers in(a) India, (b) east Africa and (c) the rest of the world in (i) June 1995, (ii) December 1995 and (iii) June 1996; when those issued with vouchers on those dates had applied; how many vouchers were issued in (1) India, (2) east Africa and (3) the rest of the world in (A) 1995 and (B) the first half of 1996; when those applying now can expect to receive vouchers; and how many applicants there were for vouchers in (v) India and (w) east Africa and (x) the rest of the world in (y) 1995 and (z) the first half of 1996. [38078]

    (c) Mr. Kirkhope
    The available information is given in the tables.
    43

    Persons applying for a special voucher of entry to the United Kingdom, 1995 and 1996

    Persons

    Applications newly received1

    Vouchers issued

    Applications awaiting a decision at the end of:

    1995

    Ql 1996

    Q2 1996

    1995

    Ql 1996

    Q2 1996

    Q2 1995

    Q4 1995

    Q2 1996

    India

    290

    80

    50

    180

    50

    50

    90

    120

    140

    Kenya

    130

    n/a

    n/a

    120

    n/a

    n/a

    120

    90

    n/a

    Tanzania

    20

    2—

    2—

    2—

    10

    2—

    40

    40

    30

    Malawi

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    nil

    nil

    2—

    2—

    Zambia

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    Rest of the world

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    2—

    n/a

    2—

    2—

    n/a

    1Includes applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.2 5 or fewer.

    n/a = Data not available.

    Waiting times for persons applying for a special voucher, 1995 and 1996

    Months

    Waiting times to first interview for persons at end of:

    Persons applying at end of:

    June 1995

    December 1995

    June 1996

    India

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    Kenya

    1.00

    0.25

    n/a

    Tanzania

    1.5

    1.00

    1.00

    Malawi

    0.25

    0.25

    0.25

    Zambia

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Rest of the World

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a = Not available

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by his Department to investigate cases referred from overseas posts in order to assess whether the maintenance and accommodation requirements of the immigration rules have been met. [38066]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The information requested is not available centrally.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate as to how many applications for(a) adult registration with entitlement,(b) naturalisation and (c) registration of minors his Department (i) will receive and (ii) expects to grant in 1996–97. [38072]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The latest estimate of the number of citizenship applications likely to be received and granted in 1996–97 is as follows:

    Intake

    Applications granted

    Adult registration

    3,800

    3,300

    Naturalisation

    40,500

    32,200

    Minor registration

    11,000

    10,400

    Total

    55,300

    45,900

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operations against people alleged to be in the United Kingdom illegally, involving both immigration officers and police, took place during 1995 and 1996 to the latest convenient date; and for each operation by date and by name, how many(a) immigration officers and (b) police officers were involved, how many people were arrested and found to be (i) legally in the United Kingdom, (ii) in breach of
    44
    immigration conditions, (iii) alleged illegal entrants and (iv) British citizens; how many requested and were granted legal advice before interview; how many were detained for (x) one day or less, (y) between a day and a week and (z) over a week; and how many have subsequently left the United Kingdom. [38060]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) single entry and (b) multiple entry visit visas were (i) received, (ii) granted and (iii) refused at each post in the Indian sub-continent, Ghana, Nigeria, the Philippines and Jamaica in each quarter of 1995 and the first quarters of 1996; and what was the delay between application and interview for those whose applications were felt to need a second or long interview at each of those posts in (i) June 1995, (ii) January 1996 and (iii) June 1996 or the nearest available date. [38069]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question on 9 January,Official Report, columns 191–92.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) husbands, (b) wives and (c) dependent children have been refused (i) extension of stay and (ii) settlement in the United Kingdom on the grounds that he is not satisfied that they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds, in each quarter since January 1995, and in total. [38083]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The available information relating to after entry cases is given in the table. Information on dependent children is not readily available.

    Refusals1 on grounds of maintenance and accommodation, of after-entry applications by husbands and wives (numbers of persons)

    Refusals to grant probationary year on grounds of:

    Accommodation

    Maintenance

    Maintenance and accommodation

    Refusals of settlement after probationary year2

    1995

    Quarter 1

    Husbands

    —

    2

    —

    10

    Wives

    —

    2

    —

    5

    45

    Refusals1 on grounds of maintenance and accommodation, of after-entry applications by husbands and wives (numbers of persons)

    Refusals to grant probationary year on grounds of:

    Accommodation

    Maintenance

    Maintenance and accommodation

    Refusals of settlement after probationary year2

    Quarter 2

    Husbands

    —

    —

    —

    2

    Wives

    —

    2

    2

    2

    Quarter 3

    Husbands

    1

    —

    —

    6

    Wives

    2

    1

    2

    5

    Quarter 4

    Husbands

    1

    1

    2

    6

    Wives

    1

    2

    4

    3

    1996

    Quarter 1

    Husbands

    —

    —

    —

    3

    Wives

    —

    1

    2

    2

    Quarter 2

    Husbands

    —

    —

    —

    6

    Wives

    —

    1

    —

    1

    Total

    Husbands

    2

    3

    2

    33

    Wives

    3

    9

    10

    18

    1 Excluding dependants.2 Refusals of settlement after probationary year on general considerations, including recourse to public funds.

    Applications for entry clearance for settlement made by wives and children in Dhaka and Islamabad, 1995 to 1996

    1995

    1996

    Year

    Q1

    Q2

    Q3

    Q4

    Q1

    Applications newly received1

    Dhaka

    540

    750

    580

    500

    2,370

    440

    Islamabad

    1,080

    960

    900

    900

    3,840

    1,110

    Applications granted2

    Dhaka

    330

    360

    370

    460

    1,510

    320

    Islamabad

    590

    770

    620

    540

    2,530

    820

    Applications refused initially

    Dhaka

    260

    310

    410

    340

    1,320

    250

    Islamabad

    260

    250

    320

    320

    1,170

    420

    Applications withdrawn or lapsed

    Dhaka

    4—

    4—

    10

    4—

    20

    20

    Islamabad

    50

    100

    80

    60

    290

    70

    Applications outstanding at end of period

    Dhaka

    2,190

    2,320

    2,160

    1,880

    1,880

    1,760

    Islamabad

    2,830

    2,810

    2,800

    2,870

    2,870

    2,790

    Applicants awaiting first interview at end of period

    Dhaka3

    30

    20

    nil

    nil

    nil

    nil

    Islamabad

    970

    1,290

    1,440

    1,280

    1,280

    1,340

    1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

    2 Granted initially or on appeal.

    3 In Dhaka the majority of applications are resolved without interview.

    4 Five or fewer.

    46
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people during 1995 and the first quarter of 1996 were(a) required to undergo a medical examination and (b) refused entry clearance abroad and in which countries, for (i) settlement and (ii) other purposes on medical grounds; and what are the most common medical grounds for refusal. [38061]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for settlement by wives and children in(a) Dhaka and (b) Islamabad were (i) received, (ii) granted, (iii) refused, (iv) deferred at first interview, (v) lapsed and (vi) outstanding and awaiting first interview for each quarter since the beginning of 1995. [38071]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The available information is given in the table.
    47
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding immigration applications there are at Lunar house from(a) students, (b) family members in the United Kingdom applying for variation of stay, (c) settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas post and (d) asylum seekers; and what are the average times applicants in each category might expect to wait before a decision. [38067]

    Mr. Kirhope
    The available information is that at the end of June 1996 there were in total about 21,500 cases in the general immigration and settlement caseworking groups of the after entry and appeals directorate—including referred entry clearance applications—the majority of which were under consideration of the subject of further inquiries, and about 64,700 cases in the asylum directorate caseworking teams.

    The estimated average length of time between the receipt of an application and the decision for cases in AEAD caseworking groups, in the second quarter of 1996, was about three months for students. The waiting time for asylum applications is on average about 11 months for post-Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 cases and 45 months for those made before. Information on average waiting times for family members in the United Kingdom for variation of leave and for settlement entry clearance application referred from overseas posts is not available.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981 have been(a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused in each quarter since January 1994; and how many of those granted have been on the grounds of service in the armed forces. [38073]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    One application was received in each of the months April, September and December 1994, June 1995 and June 1996. Of these, one has been granted, three have been refused and one has not yet been decided. The application which was granted was made on the ground of service in the armed forces.

    Detainees (Suicide Attempts)
    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicide attempts there have been since 1994 by people being arrested in the presence of immigration officers. [38200]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The hon. Member has corresponded with me about the circumstances in which, on 17 November 1995, one of his constituents who was to be detained for removal as an illegal entrant took up a position on the balcony of his flat and threatened to jump. In the event, he did not do so.

    We know of no similar suicide threats since 1994, although comprehensive inquires could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

    Deportation
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's current policy on enforcing deportation decisions against genuine students who have been found to be working in breach of their conditions of entry; how many deportation decisions 48
    have been made on the grounds of working without permission in each quarter since January 1995; what is his definition of a genuine student; and if he will (a)list the colleges which he does not recognise as providing courses of study for overseas students acceptable under the immigration rules and (b)give the criteria he uses to decide on such colleges. [38068]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    Any overseas student who wishes to work during his free time or vacation may do so by obtaining permission from the Department for Education and Employment. Each case where a student is found to be working without such permission is considered on its individual merits. As required by the immigration rules, the case for deportation is considered in the light of all known relevant factors. Records are not kept in a form which would enable the number of students made subject to deportation decisions to be identified.

    The immigration and nationality directorate collects information which comes to light about individual colleges, and account is taken of this by staff when dealing with applications from students. Staff are made aware of what information is available by means of internal notices which are part of staff instructions and are not published.

    Prisons (Self-inflicted Deaths)
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths have occurred in each year since 1992(a) in each prison and (b) by security category in each prison. [37978]

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

    Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, Dated 22 July 1996:
    The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about self-inflicted deaths in prison.
    The attached table shows the number of self-inflicted deaths that have occurred each year since 1992 in prisons in England and Wales by security category.

    Establishment

    1992

    1993

    1994

    1995

    1996

    Acklington

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    Albany

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    —

    Ashwell

    2(C, C)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Aylesbury

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    Bedford

    —

    —

    1(U)

    2(U, U)

    —

    Belmarsh

    —

    1(A)

    —

    2(U, U)

    —

    Birmingham

    1(U)

    —

    1(D)

    2(A. U)

    1(U)

    Blakenhurst

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    Blundeston

    —

    —

    —

    2(C. B)

    —

    Brinsford

    1(U)

    —

    1(U)

    —

    1(U)

    Bristol

    1(U)

    2(U, U)

    —

    1(C)

    1(U)

    Brixton

    1(U)

    1(U)

    3(U. B, U)

    —

    1(U)

    Bullingdon

    1(U)

    —

    —

    1(U)

    1(B)

    Canterbury

    —

    1(U)

    —

    —

    —

    Cardiff

    —

    —

    2(U, U)

    —

    —

    Chelmsford

    —

    —

    1(C)

    1(U)

    —

    Dartmoor

    —

    1(B)

    1(C)

    —

    2(B)

    Deerbolt

    1(U)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Doncaster

    —

    —

    2(U. U)

    2(U. U)

    1(U)

    Dorchester

    1(C)

    —

    —

    —

    2(U, U)

    Dover

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    Downview

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    Durham

    2(U. U)

    1(U)

    —

    —

    1(U)

    Elmley

    1(U)

    —

    1(U)

    —

    —

    Erlestoke

    —

    —

    —

    2(C, C)

    —

    Exeter

    —

    4(C. U x3)

    1(B)

    2(U, B)

    —

    Featherstone

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    Feltham

    2(U, U)

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    Frankland

    —

    —

    —

    1(B)

    —

    49

    Establishment

    1992

    1993

    1994

    1995

    1996

    Full Sutton

    —

    1(A)

    —

    1(B)

    1(B)

    Garth

    —

    —

    1(B)

    1(B)

    —

    Gartree

    1(B)

    —

    1(B)

    —

    1(B)

    Glen Parva

    1(U)

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    Gloucester

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    Grendon

    —

    —

    2(C, B)

    1(B)

    —

    Haverigg

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    Highdown

    —

    1(U)

    1(C)

    4(B, C. A, U)

    1(C)

    Hindley

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    —

    —

    Holloway

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    2(U, U)

    —

    Holme House

    —

    2(D, C)

    —

    —

    1(C)

    Hull

    2(U. U)

    1(C)

    2(C, U)

    1(U)

    1(U)

    Kirkham

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    Leeds

    2(U, U)

    2(U. U)

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    Leicester

    1(U)

    3(U. U. C)

    3(U x3)

    1(B)

    —

    Lewes

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    1(D)

    —

    Lincoln

    —

    3(U. C, U)

    1(D)

    2(C, C)

    1(U)

    Lindholme

    —

    1(C)

    —

    —

    1(C)

    Littlehey

    1(C)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Liverpool

    1(U)

    2(U. U)

    5(U x3. B. C)

    1(U)

    2(U, U)

    Long Lartin

    1(A)

    1(B)

    1(B)

    1(B)

    1(A)

    Low Newton

    —

    —

    2(U, U)

    2(U, U)

    —

    Maidstone

    1(D)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Manchester

    —

    2(U. U)

    2(U, C)

    —

    4(Ux4)

    Moorland

    —

    —

    3(U x3)

    —

    —

    New Hall

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    —

    Norwich

    2(U. C)

    2(U. U)

    —

    4(U x3, B)

    —

    Nottingham

    —

    1(B)

    —

    1(B)

    —

    Parkhurst

    1(C)

    1(C)

    2(B. B)

    —

    —

    Pentonville

    4(U x4)

    —

    —

    2(U, B)

    1(U)

    Portland

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    1(U)

    Preston

    —

    —

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    Risley

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    —

    Shepton Mallet

    —

    1(C)

    —

    —

    —

    Shrewsbury

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    1(U)

    Stafford

    1(C)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Stocken

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    Stoke Heath

    —

    —

    —

    1(U)

    —

    Styal

    1(U)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Swaleside

    1(C)

    —

    1(U)

    —

    —

    Swansea

    —

    —

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    The Mount

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    1(C)

    The Verne

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    —

    Usk

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    —

    Wakefield

    1(B)

    3(B. B. D)

    1(B)

    1(B)

    —

    Wandsworth

    —

    2(U. B)

    4(U x3, D)

    —

    —

    Wellingborough

    1(B)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Wetherby

    —

    1(U)

    —

    —

    —

    Whatton

    —

    —

    —

    1(C)

    —

    Whitemoor

    —

    —

    —

    1(B)

    —

    Winchester

    —

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    2(B. C)

    Wolds

    —

    1(U)

    —

    1(U)

    1(B)

    Woodhill

    —

    1(U)

    1(U)

    —

    —

    Wormwood

    Scrubs

    1(U)

    —

    4(B, B. U. U)

    —

    1(U)

    P.E.C.S. (Prison Escort Court Custody Service)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1(B)

    Key to security classification:

    A = Category A; B = Category B; C = Category C; D = Category

    D; U = Unclassified.

    N.B. Unclassified refers to the following categories: unsentenced on remand; sentenced but awaiting categorisation; young offender; females non category A.

    Prisons (Staffing Levels)
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the minimum staffing levels required to ensure that the protection of the public and staff and prisoner safety is maintained at(a) all privately operated prisons and (b) for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons; [38181]

    (2) if he will list the minimum permitted staffing levels at (a) all privately operated prisons for the next financial year and (b) for the prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period; [38179]

    (3) if he will list the lowest and highest staffing levels at (a) all privately operated prisons since commencing
    50
    operation and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period; [38177]

    (4) if he will list the minimum permitted staffing levels at (a)all privately operated prisons and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons in relation to the number of prisoners held; [38180]

    (5) if he will list the average staffing levels at (a)all privately operated prisons since commencing operation and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period; [38176]

    (6) if he will list the minimum permitted staffing levels at (a)all privately operated prisons since commencing operation and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period. [38178]

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

    Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 22 July 1996 The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about staffing levels at contracted prisons and their public-service comparators.
    Where minimum staffing levels are set by the governor of a Prison Service establishment this is done in consultation with the area manager concerned after consultation with staff. They are set at a level to ensure staff and inmate safety, security and control. Operational requirements will differ depending on a number of factors including the build and function of the prison and the size and mix of the inmate population.
    Contracts for the four privately-managed prisons also do not prescribe minimum staffing levels. Staffing levels and the deployment of staff are therefore a matter for the contractor concerned who must meet the standards required by the contract to ensure safety, security and control.
    For these reasons, I cannot provide minimum required staffing levels.
    Figures for the average, the highest and the lowest staffing levels at prisons are not available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

    London Fire Service
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 34, which hon. Members have made representations to him regarding (a) proposed changes in the level of London's fire service and (b) closure of fire stations. [38159]

    Mr. Sackville
    A list of the hon. Members referred to in my answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 34, has been placed in the Library.

    Departmental Visits (United States)
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97 on

    51
    which (i) he, (ii) other Home Office Ministers and (iii) officials visited the United States of America on matters of criminal justice policy; who made each visit; what was the purpose of each visit; with whom meetings were held; what were the outcomes of these meetings on each visit; and what was the cost to public funds of each visit. [37975]

    Mr. Howard
    During the period in question there have been four ministerial visits to the United States of America on criminal justice matters as follows:

    (a) 1 to 8 January 1994: I undertook a visit covering prisons, police, crime prevention and drug trafficking matters;

    52

    (b) 24 to 27 April 1995: The former Minister of State, Home Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth) accompanied by a private secretary and the Director General of the Prison Service, undertook a visit to high-security prisons;

    (c) 12 to 17 November 1995: I undertook a visit, accompanied by a private secretary and the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, covering prison and terrorism matters;

    (d) 12 to 15 December 1995: The Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and the Border (Mr. Maclean), accompanied by a private secretary, undertook a visit covering police and terrorism matters.

    The other details requested are either unavailable or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
    53

    Refugees
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996 to the latest convenient date with (i) European Union partners, (ii) other countries and (iii) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees about possible alterations to the UN convention relating to the status of refugees; what has been the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement. [38428]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    No proposals have been advanced for amendment to the 1951 convention.

    DNA tests on children under the Government scheme, results received and outcomes, 1995–1996

    Number of children

    Country/post where application made

    Number of tests carried out

    Tests offered but not taken

    Number awaiting results at end of period

    Number of results received

    Related as claimed to both parents

    Outcomes Related as claimed to one parent but not other

    Not related as claimed to either parent

    1995

    Indian sub-continent

    1,617

    23

    535

    1,772

    1,509

    160

    103

    Bangladesh (Dhaka)

    1,125

    19

    212

    1,270

    1,107

    88

    75

    Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi)

    404

    —

    280

    424

    332

    66

    26

    India (Bombay, New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras)

    88

    4

    43

    78

    70

    6

    2

    Outside of Indian sub-continent1

    202

    1—

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    41

    Ethiopia

    62

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    31

    Egypt (Cairo)

    10

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Ghana (Accra)

    16

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    1

    Guyana (Georgetown)

    1

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    —

    Kenya (Nairobi)

    6

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    —

    Nigeria (Lagos)

    29

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    5

    Philippines (Manila)

    23

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    1

    Sierra Leone (Freetown)

    32

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    2

    Sudan (Khartoum)

    4

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Sweden (Stockholm)

    1

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Thailand (Bangkok)

    3

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Turkey (Istanbul)

    14

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Yemen (Sana'a)

    1

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    1

    Q1 1996

    Indian sub-continent

    320

    1

    511

    326

    286

    12

    25

    Bangladesh (Dhaka)

    227

    nil

    171

    268

    238

    10

    17

    Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi)

    63

    nil

    278

    50

    43

    2

    5

    India (Bombay, New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras)

    30

    1

    62

    8

    5

    nil

    3

    1 Refers to the number of tests for which an invoice has been received.

    Immigration Rules
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he plans to make to paragraph 2 of the statement of changes in the immigration rules, HC 395 of Session 1994–95; what consultation he is having with interested organisations; and if he will make a statement. [38432]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    None.

    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have been (i) granted and (ii) refused (A) entry clearance and (B) leave to enter the United Kingdom in (1) 1994, (2) 1995 and (3) 1996 to the latest convenient date
    54

    DNA Tests
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA tests to prove family relationships for immigration purposes have been carried out under the Home Office-funded scheme during(a) 1995 and (b) the first quarter of 1996, listed by country of origin; what was the average waiting period for the test and for its origin; what was the average waiting period for the test and for its results; and in how many of those tests the family relationships proved to be as claimed by the applicants. [38054]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The available information is given in the table.

    In 1995, the average waiting time from the taking of a blood sample to a decision being made on DNA tests was six to eight weeks.

    under the provisions of paragraphs 246 and 247 of the consolidated immigration, rules HC 395 of Session 1994–95. [38430]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The information requested is not collected centrally.

    British Citizenship
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many minor children born to a British overseas citizen parent outside the United Kingdom have(a) been registered and (b) been refused registration as (i) a British citizen and (ii) a British overseas citizen in each year since 1 January 1994. [38075]
    55
    Mr. Kirkhope
    The information is not available in the form requested. Minor children may apply for registration as British overseas citizens under section 27 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The numbers of grants made under this section, most of which will have been made to minor children born abroad to a British overseas citizen parent, are as follows:

    1994: 2

    1995: 1

    1996: 1 (to date)

    Prisons (Assaults)
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (i) the latest available figures, (ii) the figures for 1992, (iii) those for 1988 and (iv) those for 1987 for(a) the prisoner-on-prisoner assault rates and (b) prisoner-on-staff assault rates, for each category C prison. [38746]

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

    Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 22 July 1996 The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking for assault rates in each category C prison.
    Provisional figures for 1995–96 are shown in the attached table. Statistics for assaults in each Prison Service establishment are published each year in 'Statistics of offences against prison discipline and punishments England and Wales'. The latest edition for 1995 (Cm.3316) and earlier editions are available in the Library.

    Assaults per 100 population in category C training prisons 1995–961

    Establishment

    Staff/others

    Prisoners

    Total

    Acklington

    2.2

    0.6

    2.8

    Aldington

    —

    1.7

    1.7

    Ashwell

    4.4

    0.3

    4.6

    Blantyre House

    —

    —

    —

    Brockhill

    4.5

    3.8

    8.3

    Buckley Hall

    7.3

    1.4

    8.7

    Camp Hill

    2.3

    4.1

    6.4

    Channings Wood

    0.5

    0.5

    1.1

    Coldingley

    4.6

    0.7

    5.3

    Downview

    —

    —

    —

    Erlestoke

    1.1

    0.8

    1.9

    Everthorpe

    1.4

    1.0

    2.4

    Featherstone

    3.4

    2.2

    5.6

    Haverigg

    1.8

    1.3

    3.0

    Highpoint

    3.4

    0.8

    4.2

    Kirklevington

    —

    —

    —

    Lancaster

    0.9

    0.9

    1.8

    Latchmere

    House

    —

    —

    —

    Lindholme

    1.8

    1.1

    3.0

    Littlehey

    2.7

    1.1

    3.8

    Moorland

    11.3

    6.1

    17.4

    Mount (The)

    1.8

    1.4

    3.2

    Ranby

    2.0

    0.3

    2.3

    Risley

    10.8

    6.0

    16.8

    Send

    —

    —

    —

    Shepton Mallet

    0.5

    4.0

    4.5

    Stafford

    4.1

    1.9

    6.0

    Stocken

    4.3

    0.5

    4.8

    Usk

    0.8

    1.7

    2.5

    Verne

    0.9

    0.7

    1.7

    56

    Assaults per 100 population in category C training prisons 1995–961

    Establishment

    Staff/others

    Prisoners

    Total

    Wayland

    0.9

    1.9

    2.8

    Wealstun

    0.2

    0.9

    1.1

    Wellingborough

    1.6

    —

    1.6

    Whatton

    0.5

    2.4

    2.8

    Wymott

    0.5

    1.2

    1.7

    Average

    3.0

    1.7

    4.7

    1 Provisional.

    Election Register Sales
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to stop the sale of election registers to commercial organisations; and under what authority such sales are presently authorised. [38259]

    Mr. Sackville
    None. Under regulation 18(2) of the Representation of the People Regulations 1990, the electoral registration officer appointed by each London borough or district council is required to sell the register upon publication to anyone who has ordered copies before 1 November in the previous year.

    Prison (Visiting Entitlement)
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the of State for the Home Department if he will list (i) the latest available figures, (ii) the figures for 1992, (iii) those for 1988 and (iv) those for 1987 for the average percentage of prisoners who exceed minimum visiting entitlements for each category C prison. [38750]

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

    Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 22 July 1996 The Home Secretary has asked me. in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the average percentage of prisoners who exceed the minimum visiting entitlement for each category C prison.
    The information is not collected in the form requested. The Prison Service had however a key performance indicator (KPI) which measured the proportion of prisoners held in establishments which gave all prisoners the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement, subject to qualifying for this under the earned incentives scheme.
    Last year the Prison Service succeeded in meeting this target in every establishment, for the second year running. In view of this achievement, Ministers agreed that this KPI should be dropped and replaced by other more challenging ones.
    Performance on this KPI since the beginning of agency status is shown in the attached table.

    Prison service key performance indicator—minimum visiting entitlement, 1992–1996

    Performance of population with opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement

    1992–93

    84

    1993–94

    99

    1994–95

    100

    1995–96

    100

    57

    Parliamentary Questions
    Mr. Alex Carlile
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary questions to his Department have been referred for answer to non-departmental public bodies for which he has responsibility, in each the last six parliamentary Sessions, and so far in the 1995–96 Session; and if he will make a statement. [38699]

    Mr. Howard
    No parliamentary questions have been referred for answer to non-departmental public bodies for which I have responsibility in each of the last six parliamentary Sessions or so far in the 1995–96 Session.

    High-intensity Training Programme
    Mr. Michael
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when preparations for the high-intensity training programme at Her Majesty's young offenders institution Thorn Cross will be completed; and what target has been set for(a) the selection and (b) the reception of the first group of offenders; [38045]

    (2) if it is his policy (a)that the high-intensity training programme, as well as being physically demanding, will focus on the education and social requirements of the inmates and (b)for intensive support to be provided to offenders on release from the high-intensity training programme; [38046]

    (3) if he will outline the procedures by which the high-intensity training programme will aim to reduce recidivism; and how the success or failure will be monitored (a)in general and (b)in individual cases; [38047]

    (4) what were the results of research carried out by members of the Prison Service senior management programme on boot camps in America; and how the schemes for the high-intensity training programme at Her Majesty's young offenders institution Thorn Cross will differ from schemes run in the USA. [38049]

    Miss Widdecombe
    The high-intensity training programme at Thorn Cross young offender institution receives its first intake of young offenders today.

    As well as being physically and mentally demanding, the programme aims to address the educational and social needs of the inmates. The level of supervision after release will be higher than that experienced by inmates who serve their sentence in a normal young offender institution.

    High-intensity training aims to reduce recidivism by combining:

    a demanding and disciplined approach;

    effective activities designed to bring about positive behavioural change;

    education and skills training;

    help into employment and good after release support.

    Changes in the attitudes and behaviour of young offenders during their time at Thom Cross will be assessed and re-convictions after release will be monitored. The results will be compared with those from
    58
    a control group of similar young offenders who experience conventional young offender institution regimes.

    Members of the 1993 Prison Service senior management programme, a training course for newly promoted senior staff, visited an American boot camp and other establishments as part of their training. An article by three of them was published in the May 1995 issue of the "Prison Service Journal", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. It represents the views of the writers and was not commissioned as a piece of research by or for the Prison Service or the Home Office.

    American boot camps vary considerably in terms of their regimes and performance. High-intensity training is not a copy of an American boot camp but combines positive elements to be found in prison regimes both in America and in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Michael
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the Army to be involved in running high-intensity regimes for civilian offenders(a) at the military corrective training centre, Colchester, and (b) elsewhere. [38048]

    Miss Widdecombe
    I announced our plans for a new young offender institution at Colchester in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 17 April Official Report, column 511. There are currently no plans for similar initiatives involving the Army.

  EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

    Pupil Level Data
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will amend the Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for the Core Subjects) Order 1995 to require external marking agencies to provide pupil level data to local education authorities when requested to do so. [38258]

    Mr. Paice
    It would not be possible to amend the Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for the Core Subjects) Orders in this way. The powers under which the orders are made would not extend to such an amendment.

    Assisted Places Scheme
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average pupil-teacher ratio of(a) schools providing education under the assisted places scheme and (b) of comparable state schools. [38431]

    Mrs. Gillan
    Separate information for schools participating in the assisted places scheme is not readily available, nor is it possible to identify a set of maintained schools comparable in all relevant aspects with those within the scheme. Pupil-teacher ratios for different types
    59
    of schools were published in statistical press notice 205/96 on 25 June. A copy of the press notice is available in the Library.

    Free School Meals
    Mr. Blunkett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the percentage of pupils(a) taking and (b) entitled to free school meals in(i) grant-maintained and (ii) local education authority-maintained schools. [38023]

    Mrs. Gillan
    The information requested is shown in the table:

    Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in England1: January 1996 (provisional)

    Primary

    Secondary

    All2

    LEA-maintained schools

    22

    20

    22

    Grant-maintained schools

    16

    13

    13

    1 Number of day pupils who were known to be eligible for free school meals expressed as a proportion of the number of day pupils on roll.

    2 Includes maintained special schools.

    Schools (Commercial Advertising)
    Mr. Dafis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will consult by letter the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority concerning the proposed sale of space on school noticeboards and walls for commercial advertising; and if she will publish its reply; [37756]

    (2) what assessment she has made of the effect of the use of space on school noticeboards and walls for commercial advertising on the promotion of moral education in schools; [37757]

    (3) what is her policy in respect of schools selling space on walls and noticeboards for commercial advertising; and what procedures are available to people who wish to make complaints about specific instances of such advertising [37758]

    Mr. Paice
    The extent to which an individual school enters into such an arrangement is a matter for the head teacher and governors of the school concerned. Anyone who wants to complain should address themselves to the head teacher and governors.

    My right hon. Friend has made no assessment of the effect of such arrangements and does not propose to write to the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority about it.

    Grant-maintained Schools (Devon)
    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each grant-maintained school in Devon(a) the amount of carry-forward in their budgets from 1995–96 to 1996–97 and (b) the amounts of special purposes VAT grant which each school received. [37868]

    Mr. Robin Squire
    These matters are now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the agency to arrange for a reply to be sent to the hon. Member.
    60

    Schools (Parents' Choice)
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total number of appeals made by parents against the non-admission of their child to the school of their choice in 1994–95; how many appeals were considered by a statutory committee; and, of these, how many were (i) rejected and (ii) found in the parents' favour. [38576]

    Mrs. Gillan
    The available information is shown in the table:

    Number

    Total appeals lodged1

    54,427

    Appeals heard by a statutory committee2

    38,032

    Appeals rejected

    23,169

    Appeals found in parents' favour

    14,839

    1 Includes appeals which were withdrawn by parents or settled to mutual satisfaction before reaching a statutory committee.

    2 Includes appeals heard by a statutory committee for which a decision was still to be made at the end of the academic year.

    Class Sizes
    Mr. Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was(a) the average class size and (b)the pupil-teacher ratio in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in North Yorkshire in 1978–79, 1992–93 and 1995–96. [38872]

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

    Average class size1 and pupil-teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools in North Yorkshire local education authority area: 1979, 1993 and 1995

    Position in January each year

    Pupil-teacher ratios

    Average class sizes1

    Primary

    Secondary

    Primary

    Secondary

    1979

    22.5

    17.1

    24.6

    20.8

    1993

    22.6

    15.8

    25.4

    20.3

    1995

    23.3

    16.3

    26.2

    20.7

    1 Average size of single teacher classes as taught during a single selected period on the census day.

    Mr. Blunkett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the number and percentage of primary school children in classes of 31 or more, per local education authority and nationally, in(a) maintained schools, (b) grant-maintained schools(c)independent schools and (d)in total for the maintained sector. [38864]

    Mr. Squire
    The latest available information for all maintained and GM schools is shown in the table. Information on class sizes in independent schools is not collected centrally. Information for LEA-maintained schools is not given to avoid disclosure of information for individual GM schools, through deduction.

    Authority area in

    Number and percentage

    All maintained

    Of which

    Pupils

    Percentage1

    Pupils

    Percentage1

    Corporation of London

    2—

    2—

    n/a

    n/a

    Camden

    605

    6.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Greenwich

    2,555

    14.5

    2—

    2—

    61

    Authority area in

    Number and percentage

    All maintained

    Of which

    Pupils

    Percentage1

    Pupils

    Percentage1

    Hackney

    569

    4.0

    2—

    2—

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    1,294

    16.6

    n/a

    n/a

    Islington

    1,055

    8.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Kensington and Chelsea

    221

    4.5

    2—

    2—

    Lambeth

    540

    3.4

    190

    10.9

    Lewisham

    1,192

    6.4

    2—

    2—

    Southwark

    2,483

    12.7

    221

    14.3

    Tower Hamlets

    778

    5.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Wandsworth

    1,459

    10.3

    2—

    2—

    Westminster

    646

    9.4

    n/a

    n/a

    Barking

    1,317

    8.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Barnet

    2,291

    10.9

    2—

    2—

    Bexley

    7,834

    39.2

    434

    63.9

    Brent

    2,444

    13.0

    164

    22.5

    Bromley

    11,596

    51.8

    1,035

    45.5

    Croydon

    5,973

    23.7

    611

    42.5

    Ealing

    4,137

    19.2

    0

    0.0

    Enfield

    8,192

    39.7

    2—

    2—

    Haringey

    1,045

    6.0

    n/a

    n/a

    Harrow

    4,152

    25.5

    n/a

    n/a

    Havering

    4,662

    24.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Hillingdon

    4,833

    26.4

    406

    13.9

    Hounslow

    5,691

    34.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Kingston upon Thames

    6,216

    64.0

    2—

    2—

    Merton

    3,299

    26.2

    n/a

    n/a

    Newham

    2,680

    11.3

    n/a

    n/a

    Redbridge

    8,337

    51.5

    n/a

    n/a

    Richmond upon Thames

    2,040

    20.4

    n/a

    n/a

    Sutton

    4,328

    35.7

    392

    51.8

    Waltham Forest

    3,330

    18.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Birmingham

    28,251

    29.2

    923

    53.9

    Coventry

    7,875

    29.4

    n/a

    n/a

    Dudley

    6,935

    28.5

    2—

    2—

    Sandwell

    10,815

    39.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Solihull

    7,506

    40.3

    2—

    2—

    Walsall

    6,428

    27.9

    2—

    2—

    Wolverhampton

    5,846

    26.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Knowsley

    6,300

    34.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Liverpool

    12,541

    27.0

    n/a

    n/a

    St. Helens

    5,507

    37.4

    n/a

    n/a

    Sefton

    8,793

    35.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Wirral

    6,076

    20.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Bolton

    10,366

    45.9

    2—

    2—

    Bury

    6,434

    41.1

    2—

    2—

    Manchester

    10,211

    24.2

    n/a

    n/a

    Oldham

    8,823

    41.0

    n/a

    n/a

    Rochdale

    8,102

    41.8

    924

    56.9

    Salford

    6,975

    30.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Stockport

    7,858

    31.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Tameside

    11,291

    51.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Trafford

    9,689

    51.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Wigan

    11,375

    42.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Barnsley

    6,201

    30.9

    n/a

    n/a

    Doncaster

    8,338

    31.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Rotherham

    3,269

    14.4

    n/a

    n/a

    Sheffield

    11,119

    28.3

    317

    23.5

    Bradford

    10,707

    32.4

    448

    28.9

    Calderdale

    5,666

    30.9

    393

    32.1

    Kirklees

    12,290

    38.2

    n/a

    n/a

    Leeds

    21,245

    35.1

    2—

    2—

    Wakefield

    10,544

    37.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Gateshead

    2,237

    13.2

    n/a

    n/a

    Newcastle upon Tyne

    6,744

    33.1

    n/a

    n/a

    North Tyneside

    4,930

    32.7

    n/a

    n/a

    South Tyneside

    3,618

    24.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Sunderland

    3,601

    13.5

    n/a

    n/a

    Isles of Scilly

    0

    0.0

    n/a

    n/a

    Avon

    26,919

    34.5

    n/a

    n/a

    Bedfordshire

    10,328

    26.7

    276

    42.1

    Berkshire

    15,605

    26.8

    299

    13.7

    Buckinghamshire

    21,248

    35.6

    785

    30.4

    Cambridgeshire

    14,946

    26.8

    31

    1.6

    Cheshire

    30,315

    35.5

    201

    39.1

    Cleveland

    13,859

    23.7

    n/a

    n/a

    Cornwall

    14,004

    35.6

    n/a

    n/a

    62

    Authority area in

    Number and percentage

    All maintained

    Of which

    Pupils

    Percentage1

    Pupils

    Percentage1

    Cumbria

    11,452

    29.0

    814

    28.0

    Derbyshire

    32,959

    42.7

    757

    36.5

    Devon

    23,659

    29.8

    2—

    2—

    Dorset

    18,038

    42.8

    2—

    2—

    Durham

    15,455

    29.5

    n/a

    n/a

    East Sussex

    19,691

    40.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Essex

    31,875

    25.8

    7,213

    35.6

    Gloucestershire

    11,595

    26.7

    1,073

    23.2

    Hampshire

    43,976

    33.9

    963

    25.3

    Hereford and Worcester

    10,533

    21.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Hertfordshire

    23,054

    29.0

    831

    37.2

    Humberside

    26,842

    33.8

    39

    10.7

    Isle of Wight

    1,860

    26.4

    n/a

    n/a

    Kent

    44,208

    34.4

    2,350

    35.0

    Lancashire

    48,832

    40.4

    474

    59.0

    Leicestershire

    17,567

    23.6

    n/a

    n/a

    Lincolnshire

    14,632

    29.8

    1,547

    20.3

    Norfolk

    12,066

    20.5

    312

    9.3

    North Yorkshire

    17,758

    31.3

    2—

    2—

    Northamptonshire

    10,576

    21.9

    348

    10.8

    Northumberland

    8,030

    41.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Nottinghamshire

    23,142

    27.8

    n/a

    n/a

    Oxfordshire

    6,422

    16.4

    2—

    2—

    Shropshire

    9,972

    29.0

    65

    8.5

    Somerset

    10,776

    30.1

    136

    26.7

    Staffordshire

    31,147

    35.3

    0

    0.0

    Suffolk

    6,396

    15.1

    n/a

    n/a

    Surrey

    12,118

    17.7

    765

    18.1

    Warwickshire

    13,980

    32.9

    n/a

    n/a

    West Sussex

    12,879

    24.2

    2—

    2—

    Wiltshire

    14,703

    31.0

    1,093

    29.7

    England

    1,155,715

    29.6

    28,293

    27.9

    1 Number of pupils in.

    2 Figures suppressed.

    n/a = not applicable.

    Nursery Voucher Scheme
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the advantages of extending the nursery voucher scheme to include child minding facilities. [38407]

    Mr. Robin Squire
    My noble Friend the Minister of State and I recently met the National Childminding Association. We are presently considering the association's framework document with the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the Office for Standards in Education.

    Modern Apprenticeships Scheme
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons are presently on the modern apprenticeship scheme(a) nationally and (b) by training and enterprise council area; and if he will list for each subject area the number of modern apprenticeships and in each training and enterprise council area the percentage taking each subject area. [38784]

    Mr. Paice
    As the reply will consist of a large amount of data, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

    Schools (Expenditure)
    Mr. Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money was spent in state
    63
    schools and colleges in 1995–96 per pupil or student in (a) nursery classes, (b) primary classes, (c) secondary classes and (d) further education funding council colleges in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) England. [38871]

    Mr. Robin Squire
    Information on spending in maintained schools in 1995–96 is not yet available and information on the spend per student in further education colleges is not available in the form requested.

    Schools (Statutory Duties)
    Mr. Sutcliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many complaints were made under section 99 of the Education Act 1944 in each of the years 1990 to 1996; in respect of how many of these complaints she was satisfied that a local education authority or school governing body had failed to discharge a statutory duty; and in how many cases she made an order declaring the local education authority or the governors to be in default of that duty. [38667]

    Mrs. Gillan
    My right hon. Friend receives many representations about the functions of local education authorities and governing bodies of schools and they are followed up where it seems appropriate to do so. The Department does not maintain a register of all complaints.

    Departmental Budget
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 12 July,Official Report, column 330, what factors led to a running cost underspend of £94,889,000 in the Department of Education and Employment. [38812]

    Mr. Squire
    The Department for Education and Employment has an entitlement to end-year flexibility on running costs of £94.9 million. This amount comprises underspends from 1995–96 and previous years.

    The 1995–96 underspend was £55 million. Of this amount, £36 million was the result of reducing work loads in the Employment Service, largely because of falling unemployment.

    The main factors giving rise to the balance of the 1995–96 underspend were payments falling due later than expected and the early achievement of some efficiency savings planned for 1996–97.

    Employment Service
    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the work of the Employment Service in 1995–96; and if she will make a statement. [39237]

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    I am pleased to announce that the Employment Service—ES—achieved excellent results in 1995–96. It has met or exceeded all but two of its targets this year, giving record levels of help to unemployed people. I have today placed a copy of the ES's annual report and accounts in the Library. It shows that over 1.93 million unemployed people were placed into work, of whom almost 566,000 had been out of 64
    work for six months or more. They exceeded their targets for placing people with disabilities and people in inner cities.

    I want the ES to continue to work as hard this year, as it has an important part to play in the successful delivery of the jobseeker's allowance. I have set the ES targets for 1996–97 that will require it to build on last year's extremely good performance; in the light of the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance in October, they will be especially challenging.

    The targets include placing 1.97 million unemployed people into jobs, over 580,000 of whom will have been out of work for six months or more.

    Medical Teaching and Research
    Lady Olga Maitland
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total allocation for 1996–97 of the service increment for teaching and research in England; and what proportion is allocated to the costs of general practice teaching in each medical school and university. [38395]

    Mr. Malone
    I have been asked to reply.

    In 1996–97, £458 million has been made available through the service increment for teaching in England to support the clinical teaching of medical and dental undergraduates in trusts and general practices. It is for regional offices to agree with each medical school dean an indicative budget and to agree what proportion of this will be used to support teaching in general practice.

    Information is not yet available centrally on the proportion of medical SIFT which has been used to support clinical teaching in a general practice setting.

  SOCIAL SECURITY

    Housing Benefit
    Mr. Byers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that housing benefit will continue to be available to provide staff and support services to residents of local authority sheltered housing. [38256]

    Mr. Roger Evans
    We have recently commissioned an interdepartmental review of the funding of services in supported accommodation. This will consider whether it is appropriate that housing benefit should meet charges for personal services in sheltered housing. We will consider the position when the review is complete.

    Benefit Fraud (Nottingham)
    Mr. Simpson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on commercial advertising for the campaign "Help Us Pick Out Nottingham's Benefit Cheats"; and how much has been spent nationally on the campaign. [33873]
    65
    Mr. Heald
    Forecasted expenditure is £26,000 locally and £440,000 nationally for this financial year.

    Benefits
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those benefits which have

    Benefit

    Current rate (£)

    November 1979 rate at April 1996 prices

    Difference between the two rates

    Number in receipt in 1979

    Latest available numbers in receipt

    Date of latest available numbers

    Child Special Allowance1

    311.15

    17.98

    6.83

    825

    55

    1 January 1996

    Child Dependency increases—

    Retirement

    Pension, Widows Benefit,

    63,520 (RP and WB only)30

    Unemployment Benefit2

    311.15

    17.98

    6.83

    192,870

    September (RP and WB only)

    Guardians

    Allowances1

    311.15

    17.98

    6.83

    3,669

    2,147

    1 January 1996

    One Parent

    31 December

    Benefit1

    36.30

    6.33

    0.33

    381,000

    941,000

    1994

    Retirement

    Pension Age

    30 September

    Addition

    0.25

    0.63

    0.38

    1,467,000 9,159,000 RP/WB 729,000

    2,294,000 9,995,000 RP/WB 2,015,000

    1995

    Christmas Bonus

    10.00

    25.33

    15.33

    IVB/SDA

    IVB/SDA

    Note 4

    Maternity Adult

    Dependency

    Increase5

    28.55

    29

    0.45

    1,000

    —

    —

    War Pensions:

    Unemployment

    Allowance

    Increase for 1st child

    339.9

    17.98

    808

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Unemployment Allowance

    increase for other children

    311.15

    17.98

    6.83

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    WWP increase for 1st child

    314.10

    25.33

    11.23

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    WWP increase for subsequent child

    315.35

    25.33

    9.98

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    Orphans Pensions increase for 1st child

    315.85

    26.85

    11

    6n/a

    6n/a

    6n/a

    Orphans Pensions increase for subsequent child

    17.103

    26.85

    9.75

    6n/a

    6n/a

    6n/a

    1 The figures are for the number of families who receive the benefit.

    2Current figures for Unemployment Benefit Child Dependency Increases (UB CDI) recipients are not available. The 1979 figures are produced from an average of May 1979 and November 1979 based on a 5 per cent, sample of unemployed claimants. UB CDls were abolished for claimants under pensionable age in November 1984. Consequently, the numbers receiving a CDI are very small and cannot be identified separately.

    3The formula used for calculating these allowances takes account of the Retail Prices Index and any increase in Child Benefit. Child Benefit, however, is paid in addition to the allowances.

    4Source for Retirement Pension/Widows Benefit recipients of the Christmas Bonus is the biannual enquiry using a 10 per cent, sample in November 1979 and a 5 per cent, sample in September 1995. Figures for Invalidity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients are based on a 1 per cent, sample in June 1979 and April 1995. They do not take into account entitlement conditions i.e. the residence test, the effect of overlapping benefits, or the number of adult dependants as they are purely numbers of beneficiaries at the given dates.

    5The rate of the Maternity Allowance Adult Dependency Increase was abated by 5 per cent, at November 1980 reflecting the intention to make Maternity Allowance taxable. The 1979 figure includes the 12 months to 31 March 1980 rounded to the nearest thousand. No reliable data exists for the latest period.

    6Individual figures are not available. However, the combined total of orphans pensions in payment to both first children and subsequent children was 400 in 1979 and 528 on 31 March 1996.

    n/a = Figures are not available.

    66
    fallen in real terms since 1979; and if he will list (a)the size of each shortfall and (b)the number of people currently claiming each benefit now and in 1979. [35647]

    Mr. Roger Evans
    [holding answer 4 July 1996]: The information is set out in the table:
    67

    Disability Living Allowance
    Mr. Hinchcliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what entitlements, and when, persons in private hospital or nursing home care, outside the NHS, will lose to mobility component disability living allowance as a result of proposed changes to benefit entitlements; and when this will apply. [38113]

    Mr. Andrew Mitchell
    The changes, which come into effect on 31 July, will apply only to people regarded, for benefit purposes, as hospital in-patients maintained free of charge by the NHS. Those affected by the change will have the payment of the mobility component of disability living allowance interrupted but underlying entitlement will not be affected.

    Mr. Hinchcliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what research he has conducted into the effect of proposals to change regulations for mobility component disability living allowance and the potential change to transport costs within the national health service following the response of the Social Security Advisory Committee on SI, 1996, No. 1436; [38111]

    (2) what research he has (a) commissioned and(b)evaluated into the effects of proposals to change regulations for mobility component disability living allowance concerning transport costs which may be claimed under social fund rules, for persons wishing to visit hospitalised relatives. [38112]

    Mr. Mitchell
    None. Social security benefits have never been available to meet NHS costs. Disability living allowance is an extra-costs benefit intended to help individuals meet the additional expenses associated with their disability; the mobility component is primarily intended to help them become independently mobile. Changes to the payability of a personal benefit should have no significant impact on help which is already available for fares to visit relatives in hospital.

    Mr. Hinchcliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the proposed transitional protection conditions for mobility component disability living allowance to persons detained under part II or part III of the Mental Health Act 1983 require such people to be treated under social security regulations in an identical manner to persons committed to hospital following involvement in criminal proceedings; and if he will make a statement. [38114]

    Mr. Mitchell
    No.

    The Department's position is explained at paragraphs 28 to 31 of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement in response to the report by the Social Security Advisory Committee on the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations, contained in Cm 3233, published on 7 June, a copy of which is in the Library.

    Operation Spotlight
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will(a) list the figures for weekly benefit savings achieved in each area where Operation Spotlight has taken place, (b) give a breakdown of these savings by the initiative which detected the fraud and (c) indicate how long each person from whom benefit was withdrawn remained out of receipt of benefit. [35975]
    68
    Mr. Heald
    [holding answer 8 July 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

    Where the spotlight on benefit cheats campaigns have finished, and the majority of results are available, the total amount of benefit savings achieved so far for the relevant months is as follows. The final savings for the area in 1995–96 are also shown to give a comparison of the relative success of the spotlight campaign.

    £ million

    Total savings in spotlight period (4 weeks)

    Full-year fraud savings for 1995–96

    Croydon

    1.6

    2.6

    Haringey and Enfield

    4.1

    5.6

    Edinburgh

    3.6

    9.0

    Glasgow

    3.2

    25.7

    Westminster and Camden

    0.8

    3.5

    Leeds

    3.2

    6.4

    1 Figures as at 5 July 1996.

    2 There are variations in the size and composition of the spotlight areas and the type of anti-fraud activities in each place. Simple comparisons of on area's results with another's would therefore be misleading and should be avoided.

    3 The savings shown are from fraud detection activity, and do not take account of any deterrent effect that may have resulted from the surrounding publicity. Spotlight has also generated additional savings from housing benefit fraud detected by local authorities, and extra activity for other agencies and departments, such as the Contributions Agency, Child Support Agency, Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, and the immigration service.

    4 Although spotlight operations have now finished in Birmingham, Nottingham and Bristol, cases referred during the operational period continue to be processed, and results are still being evaluated. Spotlight operations also continue in the Isle of Wight, Lancaster and Barrow in Furness. Cardiff. Plymouth, Great Yarmouth. Brighton, Darlington, Rhyl and the Medway towns.

    5 The individual savings figures have been calculated using the normal 32-week methodology, which is approved by the Treasury and the National Audit Office.

    Weekly benefit savings for other areas are not yet finalised, but the total estimated savings for the campaigns so far, including the above, now exceed £27 million.

    Child Support Agency
    Mr. Alan Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many maintenance accounts held by the Child Support Agency were in arrears between April 1995 to the end of March 1996; and what was the amount outstanding. [37421]

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

    Letter front Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 19 July 1996:
    I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency accounts.
    The total maintenance debt outstanding as at 31 March 1995 was £525.187m. The number of cases with maintenance outstanding recorded against them is not available as the Agency's Financial Management System could not provide this information at that time, although it has since been developed to do so.
    69
    As at 31 March 1996 the number of cases with at least some amount of maintenance outstanding recorded (even if this was the subject of an agreed repayment arrangement) was 267,720. The total maintenance debt outstanding at this date was £895.569m, an analysis of which is included in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts published on 16 July 1996.

    I hope this is helpful.

  NORTHERN IRELAND
  To identify the total number of cases would incur disproportionate cost.
  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Competitive Tendering
    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he plans to introduce during the current round of competitive tendering for health and education services in Northern Ireland on the basis of recommendations made by the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland on equal opportunities and the competitive tendering process. [38100]

    Sir John Wheeler
    Any such changes will be considered in the context of the Government's response to the Equal Opportunities Commission regarding its report and recommendations.

    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the recommendations made by the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland in the report on its formal investigation into competitive tendering in health and education services. [38099]

    Sir John Wheeler
    I have not yet responded to the report and recommendations and will do so as soon as is practicable.

    Terrorist Crime (Prison Releases)
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons convicted of terrorist crimes have been released since the IRA and

    Access fund allocations made by Higher Education Institutions and Education and Library Boards

    1990–91

    1991–92

    1992–93

    1993–94

    1994–95

    Number

    Expenditure £000

    Number

    Expenditure £000

    Number

    Expenditure £000

    Number

    Expenditure £000

    Number

    Expenditure £000

    Institution/Board

    Academic year

    Financial year1

    Academic year

    Financial year

    Academic year

    Financial year1

    Academic year

    Financial year1

    Academic year

    Financial year1

    Queen's University

    2,230

    173

    2,196

    191

    1,964

    186

    1,882

    228

    1,807

    229

    University of Ulster

    1,185

    150

    1,583

    151

    1,252

    152

    1,575

    193

    1,727

    215

    Stranmillis College

    6

    4

    48

    12

    81

    17

    18

    9

    38

    9

    St. Mary's College

    153

    14

    269

    23

    350

    23

    52

    15

    50

    14

    Belfast Board

    79

    24

    154

    85

    135

    77

    160

    81

    161

    88

    North-Eastern Board

    25

    8

    93

    35

    103

    52

    163

    59

    141

    74

    Southern Board

    67

    25

    182

    55

    n/a2

    65

    35

    72

    153

    91

    South-Eastern Board

    32

    23

    79

    48

    43

    38

    106

    47

    110

    75

    Western Board

    175

    28

    209

    59

    181

    62

    343

    68

    215

    83

    1 Figures for universities and colleges relate to their financial year i.e. August to July while figures for boards relate to the Government financial year.

    2 The records are not available.

    70
    loyalist paramilitary ceasefires began; how many of these were connected with each terrorist/paramilitary organisation; what percentage of their sentence they had served; and how many of those released were serving a life sentence. [38617]

    Sir John Wheeler
    Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. A. Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

    Letter from Alan Shannon to Mr. William Ross, dated 22 July 1996:
    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding the number of persons convicted of terrorist crimes who have been released since the IRA and Loyalist paramilitary ceasefires began; how many of these were connected with each terrorist/paramilitary organisation; what percentage of their sentence they had served; and how many of those released were serving life sentences.
    The information that you are seeking is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, I can confirm that since 17 November 1995, 131 scheduled offenders have been released on licence, between the half way and two thirds part of sentence, as a result of the changes in remission rules brought in by the Northern Ireland (Remission of Sentence) Act 1995. I can further confirm that since 1 September 1994, 41 life sentence prisoners convicted of scheduled offences have been released on licence in accordance with the normal life sentence review procedures. All other prisoners released during the relevant period were released "time served"
    I hope this information is helpful.

    Access Funds
    Mr. Worthington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number and value of access fund allocations made by education and library boards and higher education institutions since their introduction. [37211]

    Mr. Ancram
    The information requested is given in the table.
    71

    Contracts
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list showing the number, nature and value of contracts award by his Department to Coopers and Lybrand, KPMG, Price Waterhouse, Ernst and Young, Deloitte and Touche, Arthur Andersen, Grant Thornton, BDO Stoy Hayward, Pannel Kerr Forster, and Robson Rhodes and their subsidiaries and associates, during 1995 and 1996. [37322]

    Sir John Wheeler
    The total value of contracts awarded by the Northern Ireland Office and the Departments of Economic Development, of Education, of the Environment and of Finance and Personnel to all the companies listed and their subsidiaries and associates in 1995–96 was £1,962,095. The information is not available in the form requested in the Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Social Services. However, these Departments paid £474,326 to these companies and their subsidiaries in 1995–96. The value of contracts awarded and payments made to individual companies cannot be provided for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

    The total number and nature of contracts awarded in the Northern Ireland Office and the Departments of Agriculture, of Economic Development, of Education, of the Environment, and of Finance and Personnel are as follows:

    Company

    Number

    Nature of contracts

    Coopers and Lybrand

    53

    Management Consultancy Financial Consultancy Information and Control systems Evaluation Projects Training Project Research/Review Investment Appraisal Miscellaneous

    KPMG

    9

    Management Consultancy Projects Surveys Market Testing Marketing

    Price Waterhouse

    12

    Management Consultancy Financial Consultancy Production Management

    Ernst and Young

    7

    Financial Appraisal

    Deloitte and Touche (including Touche Ross)

    23

    Management Consultancy

    Financial Consultancy Evaluation Projects Investment Appraisal Market Testing Miscellaneous

    BDO Stoy Hayward

    4

    Management Consultancy Financial Consultancy Market Testing

    Pannel Kerr Forster

    1

    Prior Options Study

    72
    Information on the number of contracts awarded in the Department of Health and Social Services is not available. However, the nature of contracts awarded is as follows:

    Company

    Nature of Contracts

    Coopers and Lybrand

    Management Consultancy Financial Consultancy Project Research

    KPMG

    Financial Consultancy

    Price Waterhouse

    Management Consultancy Financial Consultancy Evaluation Projects VFM study

    Ernst and Young

    Financial Consultancy

    Deloitte and Touche (including Touche Ross)

    Management Consultancy

    Financial Consultancy Evaluation Projects

    Arthur Andersen, Grant Thornton and Robson Rhodes were not awarded any contracts.

    Education (Expenditure)
    Mr. Worthington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current annual expenditure by(a) Department of Education and (b) each other education administrative body in Northern Ireland; and what percentage this constitutes of expenditure on education. [37219]

    Mr. Ancram
    The administrative and other running costs are as follows:

    1996–97 £(000)

    DENI

    16,047

    Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

    1,450

    Education and Library Board:

    Belfast

    3,935

    North-Eastern

    5,239

    South-Eastern

    3,897

    Southern

    4,312

    Western

    3,775

    NI Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment

    1,751

    NI Council for Integrated Education

    378

    Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

    194

    40,978

    This represents 2.92 per cent. of overall expenditure on the relevant areas of education. The figures given are estimates for the 1996–97 financial year and those for the education and library boards exclude the costs of earmarked initiatives which formerly were included as part of headquarters administration costs and which in 1994–95 amounted to £4.1 million. The administrative costs of DENI relate not only to the services provided by the other bodies listed but to higher education, the museum service, the arts and sport.
    73

    Non-fossil Fuel Obligation Order
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Secretary of Stale for Northern Ireland when the next NFFO order is due to be published. [38619]

    Mr. Ancram
    Consideration of the composition of a second non-fossil fuel obligation order is nearing completion. An announcement is likely to follow within the next two weeks.

    Student loan percentage take up rates by Institution

    Institution

    1990–91

    1991–92

    1992–93

    1993–94

    1994–95

    Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education

    19

    35.5

    61.25

    78.3

    100

    East Antrim Institute of Higher and Further Education1

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    20

    Fermanagh College

    Nil

    Nil

    20

    5

    40

    Greenmount College of Agriculture

    Nil

    6

    14

    10

    24

    Lisburn College

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    25

    Loughrey College of Agriculture and Food Technology

    8

    12

    30

    30

    60

    Newry and Kilkeel College of Further and Higher Education

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    70

    North-Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education

    6

    Nil

    25.0

    32.5

    100

    North-East Institute of Further and Higher Education2

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    Nil

    90

    Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, Portrush

    2

    2

    12.5

    14.3

    29.3

    North-West Institute of Further and Higher Education

    22

    26

    12

    14.6

    19.2

    Portadown College3

    8

    16

    24

    30

    20

    Queen's University, Belfast

    22.8

    34

    42.9

    49.6

    55

    St. Mary's College, Belfast

    7.8

    24

    35.7

    44.6

    49.9

    Stranmillis College, Belfast

    7.6

    10.6

    14.1

    20.4

    25.6

    University of Ulster

    21.3

    30.6

    37.1

    37.8

    54.8

    Sex Offenders
    Mr. Robert McCartney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the offences in Northern Ireland law which are analogous to those covered by the proposals on address registration in the Home Office consultation paper "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders"; how many people in Northern Ireland were convicted of those offences over the last three years; of those how many received a custodial sentence; and of those so gaoled, how many were convicted of crimes which did not involve minors and an absence of consent. [36661]

    Sir John Wheeler
    I have placed in the Library a list of Northern Ireland sexual offences, analogous to those included at annexe A of the Home Office consultation paper "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders".

    Details of persons in Northern Ireland convicted of such offences and sentenced to immediate custody are as follows:

    Persons convicted of sex offences and those sentenced to immediate custody in Northern Ireland 1993 to 19951

    Total convicted of sex offences

    Total given immediate custody

    1993

    125

    65

    1994

    147

    61

    1995

    179

    77

    Total

    451

    203

    1 The statistics relate to convictions where the sex offence was the principal offence.

    74

    Student Loans
    Mr. Worthington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list student loan take-up rates in Northern Ireland since their introduction expressed by institution, sex, and age group. [37214]

    Mr. Ancram
    Available information is given in the table. Information by sex and age could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Statistics are not collated on those convicted of crimes which do not involve minors and an absence of consent and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Civil Service (Terrorist Damage)
    Mr. Robert McCartney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) claims and or (b) counter-claims each of the Northern Ireland civil service departments and agencies has commenced in the last five years in relation to damage and injury caused by individuals because of their involvement in terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [36662]

    Sir John Wheeler
    The Northern Ireland departments and agencies have not commenced any claims or counter claims in the last five years in relation to damage and injury caused by individuals because of their involvement in terrorism. For the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies the information is not available in the form requested. However, the total value of recoveries under the criminal injuries and criminal damage schemes in the last five years is:

    Amount recovered £000

    1991–92

    182

    1992–93

    232

    1993–94

    246

    1994–95

    376

    1995–96

    356

  Wind Farms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the costs of the transmission lines from a wind generation farm to the Northern Ireland grid are included in the capital costs; and who is responsible for(a) erecting the line and (b) maintaining it. [38618]

  Mr. Ancram
  The transmission line and connection facility cost of a renewable energy scheme is treated as a capital cost element and payment for it is made in full to Northern Ireland Electricity plc, before the project commences. NIE is responsible for erecting and maintaining transmission lines.

  Mr. Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of the wind farm being installed at the new Causeway hospital; what is(a) the height of the tower, (b) the highest point of the blades and (c) the size of the turbine; and what were the original dimensions proposed. [38620]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Health Estates under its chief executive, Mr. R.H. Browne. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from R. H. Browne to Mr. William Ross, dated 19 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the proposed Wind Turbine at Causeway Hospital.
  The estimated cost of the turbine, including installation and associated builder's work is £280,000.
  The dimensions of the proposed Wind Turbine based on an individual manufacturer's specification are as follows:

  Height of Tower = 30.5m

  Height of blades from ground at maximum position = 46.0m

  Size of Turbine = 300KW rating

  These dimensions have not changed since the original design.
  It is hoped that the above information fully explains the situation but should you require any further details I will be happy to provide them.

  Mourne Conduit
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what extra costs have been incurred as a result of the decision not to lay asbestos cement pipes in the contract for the Mourne conduit. [38813]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Water Service under its chief executive, Mr. H. R. F. Plester. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from H. R. F. Plester to Mr. William Ross, dated 22 July 1996:
  Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your parliamentary question asking what extra costs have been incurred as a result of the decision not to lay asbestos cement pipes in the contract for the Mourne conduit.
  The decision not to lay asbestos cement pipes in the contracts for parts of the Mourne Conduit was taken after consideration of the implications of a detailed report prepared by the Water Research Centre. Taking into account the estimated whole life costs of installation, maintenance and decommissioning it is considered unlikely that any significant additional costs will accrue.
  76

  Cattle Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what restrictions apply to the interval between export and slaughter in respect of cattle exported(a) for further fattening and (b) for breeding from Northern Ireland. [38416]

  Mr. Ancram
  Prior to the present ban on the export of bovines, Commission decision 94/474 permitted only the export of calves less than six months old to member states providing they were slaughtered before the age of six months. Such calves are required to remain on the premises designated on the export health certificate until moved directly to slaughter.

  Animals born in Northern Ireland are not exported to member states for breeding purposes.

  There are no restrictions on the interval between export and slaughter in respect of cattle exported for (a) further fattening and (b) for breeding from Northern Ireland to third countries.

DEFENCE

  Tornado GR4 (Logistic Support)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place a contract for the logistic support of the Royal Air Force's Tornado GR4 aircraft. [38909]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department has negotiated a major contract with British Aerospace for the logistic support of the new equipment on the RAF's Tornado GR4 aircraft over the next five years, and will sign a contract very soon. The contract will be worth well over £100 million to BAe and its major sub-contractors, GEC-Marconi Avionics and Smiths Industries. It will help to sustain approximately 400 to 500 jobs, primarily at sites in Warton, Edinburgh, Rochester, Portsmouth and Cheltenham.

  The contract will introduce a new degree of industrial support to front-line aircraft, embracing training, spares, technical publications and ground equipment. It will transfer financial risk to industry and this, with the exacting performance targets we have agreed, will provide the RAF and the taxpayer with a high-quality and cost-effective service.

  Equipment Co-operation
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 March to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans),Official Report, columns 648–49, what recent developments have taken place on the development of a new armoured vehicle in co-operation with France and Germany and on wider defence equipment co-operation with those two nations; and if he will make a statement. [38805]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Agreement has now been reached with France and Germany to amend tender documents to reflect the UK's requirement for a multi-role armoured vehicle. I have therefore written to my French and German colleagues confirming that we will join an international competition that is planned to lead to a
  77
  tri-lateral collaborative programme to design and produce an armoured utility vehicle. I have also informed them that the UK is pleased to join the armaments co-operation agency which the two nations decided last year to set up. We will now participate in the work necessary to establish the agency.

  The new armaments structure offers the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of co-operation between our countries to meet the requirements of our armed forces. It will also provide a platform for the development of a more efficient and competitive European defence industry.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 July to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane),Official Report, columns 27–28, if he will make a statement on the mission and function of the Anglo-French Army Equipment Commission. [38497]

  Mr. Soames
  The Anglo-French Army Equipment Commission—AFAEC—is a bilateral Army-level forum chaired at major general level. It exists to identify opportunities for co-operation, with the aim of achieving standardisation and interoperability objectives agreed by the two armies. In particular, AFAEC activity seeks to promote collaboration in the areas of research and operational analysis thus promoting cost-effective, collaborative equipment programmes.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 July to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane),Official Report, columns 27–28, if he will make a statement on the mission and function of the Anglo-French future land systems study group. [38499]

  Mr. Soames
  The Anglo-French future land systems study group—AFFLSSG, or Groupe Franco Britannique d'Etude de Systemes Aeroterrestres Futurs—exists to provide a mechanism for exchanges between the UK and France in the areas of land systems operational analysis, military history, and the performance of army equipment and its cost. The group's UK activities are managed by the Directorate of Science (Land), and it reports to the Anglo-French Army Equipment Commission, AFAEC. It has an active programme of work, concentrating on exchanges of information and joint symposiums and studies.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 July to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane)Official Report, columns 27–28, if he will make a statement on the mission and function of the European co-operative long-term initiative for defence. [38498]

  Mr. Soames
  The European co-operation for the long-term initiative for defence—EUCLID—programme operates under the auspices of the Western European Armaments Group. Its mission may be described as the co-ordination of joint research and exploratory development programmes, involving defence industries, in a number of common European priority areas, CEPAs. It functions by establishing a number of research and technology projects, RTPs, within each CEPA by multi-national industrial consortiums representing the participating nations led by a single lead industrial entity, SLIE. RTP participation is undertaken on the basis of equal Government cost shares and with the expectation 78
  that additional industrial private venture contributions will be provided by the consortiums, and is subjected to competitive bidding. Full and active participation of nations with developing defence industries is encouraged, and nations that participate in an RTP have free use of the results obtained.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 July to the hon. Member for Rotherham, (Mr. MacShane)Official Report, columns 27–28, if he will name the 14 separate working groups under the Anglo-French defence research group; and if he will make a statement on the missions and functions of each. [38496]

  Mr. Soames
  I regret that the answer I gave on the 8 of July to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) was inaccurate in identifying 14 separate working groups when in fact there are only 13.

  The 13 working groups which are responsible to the Anglo-French defence research group—AFDRG—are as follows:

  WG01—Aeronautics

  WG02—Human Factors

  WG03—Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence

  WG05—Structural Materials

  WG07—Energetic Materials

  WG08—Electronic Systems

  WG09—Electronic Components

  WG10—Nuclear Blast Effects

  WG11—Operational Research

  WG12—Guided Weapons

  WG13—Directed Energy Technology

  WG14—Land Systems

  WG15—Naval Research.

  The mission of each is to initiate, sponsor, and monitor the progress of collaborative defence in the areas stated, a co-operative activity which takes place under the auspices of the Anglo-French memorandum of understanding, MOU, on defence research of 24 October 1989.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 July to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane),Official Report, columns 27–28, if he will list where each of the 60 officers on exchange/liaison are based; and if he will make a statement on the roles and functions of each. [38495]

  Mr. Soames
  The following is a list of the UK/French exchange and liaison officer posts based in France and the UK.

  FRENCH OFFICERS IN UK

  FRENCH NAVY

  Exchange Officers

  HMS Sandown: Lt.

  Britannia Royal Navy College Dartmouth: Lt.

  Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) at sea (Type 42): Lt.

  Fighter Controller (FC) at sea (aircraft Carrier): Lt. (aircraft carrier)

  S03 G3 Plans 3 Commando Brigade RM: Capt. RM

  79

  Project Related Posts

  3 Posts "Horizon" Frigate programme: 1 x Capt. (Navy)

  2 x Lt. Cdrs.

  FRENCH AIR FORCE

  Liaison Officers

  HQ Infantry, Warminster: Lt. Col.

  Signal school, Blandford: Lt. Col.

  Director General Development and Doctrine

  UPAVON: Col.

  HQ Quarter Master General Andover: Col.

  Army Staff College Camberley/RMAS: Lt. Col. (TA)

  Exchange Officers

  SO2 HQ Directorate Army Aviation, Wattisham: Capt.

  1RHA Tidworth: Lt.

  RCDS/London: Col.

  FRENCH AIR FORCE

  Liaison Officers

  HQ 11 Group, RAF Bentley Priory: Lt. Col.

  Empire Test Pilot School Boscombe Down: Cdr.

  RAF Wyton: Cdr.

  Exchange Officers

  Staff Post RAF Brampton: Comdt.

  Tornado GR1A Pilot, RAF Marham: Capt.

  Tucano Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI), RAF Linton on Ouse: Lt.

  F3 Pilot, RAF Coningsby: Capt.

  Hawk (Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI), RAF Valley: Capt.

  Gazelle Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI), RAF Shawbury: Capt.

  Fighter Allocator, RAF Neatishead: Capt.

  E-3D Pilot, RAF Waddington: Capt.

  RAF Bracknell: Lt. Col.

  UK OFFICERS IN FRANCE

  ROYAL NAVY

  Liaison Officers (LO)

  French Jt. Planning Staffs International Dept. Creil: Cdr.

  Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) Officer; Paris (2 Posts): Cdr.

  Exchange Officers

  FNS Persee: Lt.

  Ecole Navale, Brest: Lt.

  Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) at sea: Lt.

  Fighter Controller (FC) at sea: Lt.

  9e Dima, Nantes: Capt. RM

  ARMY

  Liaison Officers

  Army Headquarters, Metz: Col.

  SO1 Commandement de la doctrine et de l'entrainement (CBE), Metz: Lt. Col.

  SO1 Joint Service Staff College, Paris: Lt. Col.

  School of Infantry, Montpellier: Lt. Col.

  Engineer School, Angers: Lt. Col.

  Ecole de St. Cyr, Coetquidan: Lt. Col.

  Artillery School, Draguignan: Lt. Col.

  Armoured School, Saumur: Lt. Col.

  Exchange Officers

  Pilot Aviation School, Le Luc: Lt. Col./Maj.

  11 Airborne Div., Toulouse: Capt.

  80

  Project Related Posts

  Tripartite Guided Weapon Project Office, Ruiel-Malmaison: Maj.

  Trigat Tripartite Guided Weapon: Lt. Col.

  ROYAL AIR FORCE

  Liaison Officers

  HQ Strike Command, Tavernay: Sqn. Ldr.

  Merignac, Bordeaux: Sqn. Ldr.

  Merignac, Bordeaux: Flt. Lt.

  Exchange Officers

  Airborne Equipment Officer L'Armee de L'Air, Paris: Sqn. Ldr.

  Mirage 2000 Pilot, Nancy: Flt. Lt.

  Qualified Hying Instructor (QFI), L'Ecole de L'Air. Salon: Flt. Lt.

  Mirage 2000 Pilot, Orange: Flt. Lt.

  Alphajet Instructor, Cazaux: Flt. Lt.

  Alouette Qualified Hying Instructor (QFI), Toulouse: Flt. Lt.

  Intercept Controller, Tours: Ht. Lt.

  E-3D Pilot, Avord: Ht. Lt.

  The role of a liaison officer is to act as a link between the two organisations. The role of an exchange officer is to work alongside the national officers of the host country and to perform a specific function within the host organisation.

  Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number, nature and value of contracts awarded by his Department to Coopers and Lybrand, KPMG, Price Waterhouse, Ernst and Young, Deloitte and Touche, Arthur Andersen, Grant Thornton, BDO Stoy Hayward, Pannel Kerr Forster, and Robson Rhodes and their subsidiaries and associates, during 1995 and 1996. [37318]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information requested is shown in the table. The details have been extracted from my Department's central contracts database; there may, however, be other contracts, such as those placed by defence agencies, which have not been included. The central database does not include details of the specific nature of the contracts, and further details could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is the policy of this Department not to release details of individual contract values and, as there have only been one or two contracts with some of these companies, to overcome this problem the following table includes some "banded" figures.

  Financial year

  Contracts

  Approximate value

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1994–95

  11

  £2 million

  1995–96

  10

  £1 million

  KPMG

  1994–95

  8

  Less than £1 million

  1995–96

  7

  Less than £1 million

  Price Waterhouse

  1994–95

  15

  £4 million

  1995–96

  28

  £2 million

  Ernst and Young

  1994–95

  Fewer than five

  Less than £1 million

  1995–96

  Fewer than five

  Less than £1 million

  81

  Financial year

  Contracts

  Approximate value

  Deloitte and Touche

  1994–95

  No contracts

  1995–96

  Fewer than five

  Less than £1 million

  Arthur Anderson

  1994–95

  Fewer than five

  £2 million

  1995–96

  Fewer than five

  Less than £1 million

  Grant Thornton

  1994–95

  No contracts

  1995–96

  Fewer than five

  Less than £1 million

  BDO Stoy Hayward

  —

  No contracts either year

  Panel Kerr Forster

  1994–95

  No contracts

  1995–96

  Fewer than five

  Less than £1 million

  Robson Rhodes

  —

  No contracts either year

  Army Base Repair Organisation
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the results of the current market testing of ABRO workshops; and if he will make a statement. [37889]

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

  Letter from Jim Drew to Mr. David Faber, dated 22 July 1996:

  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about when he expects to announce the results of the current market testing of ABRO workshops as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
  You may already be aware that a key target for the Agency in financial year 1996/97 is to recommend the results of the ABRO Land Command Support Service Market Test to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces by 31 January 1997. This service is currently delivered through a national network of workshops and contract repair offices—the ABRO Land Command Support Group. The approach adopted for the market test has been designed to ensure that bidders are encouraged to meet the full requirements of the service in the most cost effective way. Bidders are not confined to utilising the existing facilities employed by the Agency for this task; instead they may put forward their own innovative solutions.
  Invitations to tender were issued in October 1995 but, because of the difficulties associated with competing this vast and complex activity, the date for tender returns has been extended and they are now due on 6 August 1996. Two commercial consortia and an in-house team are still in the running in the competition.
  Because of the difficulties encountered thus far the timescale to meet the key target is very tight. Moreover the scope for innovation may produce some novel and unconventional proposals for evaluation when bids are received. Nevertheless it remains my objective to submit recommendations as early as possible in the New Year.

  Greenham Common (Contamination)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the paper by Cripps and Stimson on uranium and plutonium contamination around Greenham Common air force base has been reviewed with 82
  a view to its release since July 1995; and if he will make a statement on the criteria adopted to judge of its suitability for publication. [38220]

  Mr. Soames
  The report in question has been reviewed twice since July 1995, using Cabinet Office guidelines. On the first occasion, it was not considered suitable for its classification to be downgraded. The second review was prompted by recent public interest relating to Greenham Common: in these circumstances, it was judged appropriate to release the document.

  Nuclear Co-operation Agreement
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 June,Official Report, columns 163–64, if the United States Government have offered to provide Her Majesty's Government with a copy of the US-France nuclear co-operation agreement; and if the Government have requested of the United States Government details of what nuclear information or technology has been shared with France as a result of the arrangement. [38501]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We have neither asked for, nor been given, a copy of the memorandum of understanding signed on 4 June 1996. Nor have we sought details of what information or technology has been shared. Bilateral nuclear co-operation between the United States and France is a matter for the Governments concerned. Under the provisions of the UK-US 1958 mutual defence agreement for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for defence purposes, the agreement of the United Kingdom would be required before any transfer by the United States of any nuclear weapons information of British provenance to France.

  Lariam
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors were taken into account by his Department in deciding not to prescribe lariam as an anti-malarial prophylaxis for service pilots and air crew. [38425]

  Mr. Soames
  Lariam is not prescribed to pilots and air crew because of the possible side-effects of dizziness or distorted sense of balance, as advised by the manufacturer.

  Military Bases
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what revenue has been received in each of the last three years from the selling of former military bases in England and Wales. [38315]

  Mr. Soames
  Records are not separately maintained for military bases, as distinct from other forms of property, or by individual countries, and the information could be provided in the form requested only at disproportionate cost. The overall receipts from the disposal of surplus property were £70.7 million in 1993–94, £64.3 million in 1994–95 and £63.4 million 1995–96.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what responsibility his Department retains for removing asbestos from redundant former military bases in England and Wales which have been sold. [38332]
  83
  Mr. Soames
  None, unless a legal liability to do so can be shown to exist in any specific case.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the RAF's nuclear weapons role after the WE-177 is withdrawn from service. [38490]

  Mr. Soames
  RAF aircraft will have no operational nuclear role after WE177 is withdrawn from service.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nights in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 a member of the royal family spent aboard the royal yacht during official visits. [38503]

  Mr. Soames
  During the period 1994–95, members of the royal family spent 13 nights aboard HMY Britannia. In 1995–96, the total was 23 nights.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the origin and destination of the low-level flight northward over East Bessacarr and Carltey at 16.13 on 8 July; who authorised it; and what considerations led to its authorisation. [38326]

  Mr. Soames
  Two Tornado aircraft from the standards squadron, Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment, TTTE, normally based at RAF Cottesmore, but temporarily operating from RAF Marham, were conducting a circular low-level navigation training sortie. The sortie was authorised by the formation leader who is an instructor at the TTTE. As with all military low-level sorties, the authorising officer was responsible for ensuring that the flight complied with the regulations and procedures in the United Kingdom military low flying handbook and that the aircrew were suitably qualified to execute the planned sortie. Since Bessacarr is listed for avoidance by low-flying military aircraft, the RAF police are making further inquiries into the alleged overflight. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member when these have been completed.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those companies which have expressed interest at any stage during the proposed sale of married quarters estate for whom an hon. Member acts as an advisor, consultant or director. [38613]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I am unable to disclose the identity of companies or other parties who have expressed an interest in the sale of the married quarters estate. However, the successful bidder will of course be announced when the sale is complete, and we shall at that point disclose as fully as possible the details of the transaction. Meanwhile, a copy of the preliminary information memorandum, which sets out the main features of the sale of the married quarters estate, is in the Library of the House. Further detailed information on the sale is contained in the 84
  Defence Committee's sixth report of Session 1995–96, published on 16 July (HC 424). The registered interests of hon. Members is a matter of public record.

  Remploy Ltd.
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of all contracts placed by his Department with Remploy Ltd. in each of the last five years, in 1996 prices. [38345]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The following figures have been extracted from the central contracts database and are based on the financial year from 1 April to 31 March of the years in question. The values have not been converted to a 1996 baseline. It is possible that there may be other contracts placed in recent years by various Defence agencies which are no longer recorded on the central database. Identifying these could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost and it should be noted that as a result of this, a direct comparison from year to year may not show an accurate picture of the pattern of business with the company.

  1991–92: £18.7 million

  1992–93: £14.2 million

  1993–94: £19.9 million

  1994–95: £8.4 million

  1995–96: £13.5 million.

  Public Assets (Sale)
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ensure that all information which is made available to those tendering for the sale of public assets held by his Department is also available to hon. Members before any debate on such a sale; [38614]

  (2) what steps he will take to ensure that all hon. Members have equal access to information about the disposal of public assets held by his Department. [38615]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Information that is made available to those tendering for the sale of public assets held by my Department is also available to third parties except where such information is security classified or commercially confidential. Such information may not be passed on without the prior approval of my Department. Access to information provided by those who are responding to tenders for the sale of assets is a matter for the company concerned. The release of information in either direction to hon. Members will be determined by their status in relation to the bidding company.

  Defence Postal and Courier Services
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of publishing and distributing the annual report and accounts for 1995–96 of Defence Postal and Courier Services; and how many copies were printed. [38575]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Postal and Courier Services under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
  85
  Letter from T. McG. Brown to Mr. Robert Key, dated 22 July 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency I am responsible for the production and distribution of my Agency's annual report and accounts and I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the cost of publishing and distributing the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency's 1995/96 annual report and accounts, and the number of copies printed.
  The number of copies printed was 2,000. The cost of publishing the report, which is borne by the Agency, was £11,627 and the cost of printing the report, which is borne by HMSO. was £11.600. Distribution costs will amount to around £40. Additionally MOD staff time and other minor costs were incurred, but these have not been quantified. Copies of the report are available from HMSO at £11.40 each.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the correct postal address of the Defence Postal and Courier Service's mail 2000 centre at Plymouth. [38574]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Postal and Courier Services under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from T. McG. Brown to Mr. Robert Key, dated 22 July 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency I am responsible for Defence Mail Centres and I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo MP, regarding the correct address of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Mail 2000 Centre at Plymouth.
  The correct address is:
  Defence Mail Centre Plymouth

  Average monthly wind speeds for 1995 (in knots)

  Altitude (ft)

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Ballykelly

  39

  11.8

  14.0

  12.2

  9.1

  7.7

  7.2

  7.0

  5.9

  7.1

  10.2

  8.4

  5.5

  Hillsborough

  154

  8.8

  9.5

  8.9

  6.7

  6.6

  6.8

  6.3

  6.0

  5.6

  8.5

  7.3

  6.3

  Aldergrove

  262

  10.7

  12.0

  10.5

  8.5

  7.9

  8.6

  8.8

  7.0

  7.4

  10.1

  8.7

  7.4

  Ballypatrick

  545

  11.4

  11.0

  10.2

  9.5

  8.4

  7.7

  7.7

  6.7

  7.1

  9.0

  11.0

  11.4

  Gelnnanne

  561

  12.1

  12.0

  12.0

  9.0

  8.9

  7.8

  7.4

  6.2

  7.7

  11.3

  9.0

  7.0

  Lough Fea

  771

  0.1

  9.4

  10.4

  8.5

  7.6

  7.2

  6.6

  5.7

  6.8

  7.9

  6.8

  5.2

  Chemical Defence Establishment
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent volunteers in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, are informed before experiments of the possible long-term health effects of the chemical or chemical agent which is to be tested on them; and when this practice was introduced. [37621]

  Mr. Arbutnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the information provided to service volunteers about possible health effects from participation in studies at Porton Down. The Chemical
  86

  Building N161

  HM Naval Base

  Devonport

  Plymouth

  PL1 4SL

  Although the establishment of Defence Mail Centres was part of the Mail 2000 plan, the centres themselves are correctly known as Defence Mail Centres, without reference to Mail 2000.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Average Wind Speeds (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average wind speed in Northern Ireland for each month of the last available full year at(a) sea level, (b) between 200 and 300 ft altitude, (c) at 600 to 700 ft altitude, or as much of such information as is readily available to him. [38639]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Meteorological Office under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of the Meteorological Office to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. A. Bittleston to Mr. William Ross, dated 22 July 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about wind speeds in Northern Ireland as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.
  Average surface wind speeds (measured at 10m about ground level) are given below for each month of 1995 at 6 stations with heights above sea level between 12 and 235 metres.
  There is no clear relationship between wind speed with height of the station above sea level. This is because surface wind is highly dependent on the geographical position and the local topography.
  I hope you find this information useful.
  Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  All work involving the use of volunteers at Porton Down is subject to considerable scrutiny before a study can begin. Proposals for studies are examined by an internal review committee which must be satisfied that the proposed work is necessary, requires the use of volunteers and is not likely to have long term effects of the health of the volunteers. The study protocol must then be reviewed by the independent Ethics Committee who will recommend whether it should be accepted for inclusion in the volunteer programme. Only when this recommendation has been received can a study begin. The committee will not give their recommendation to any protocol where, in their judgement, there is likely to be long term effects on the health of the volunteers.
  Prior to participating in a study, volunteers have the purpose of the study, the procedures to be carried out, any expected reactions they may experience and any risks the scientists involved in the study have identified explained to them so that the volunteers can give fully informed consent to participate in the study. This

  87
  procedure has been followed for many years but has been formally documented and included in submissions to the Ethics Committee since this was established in 1991.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out by the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, to investigate if(a) delayed recurrent keratitis of the eye, (b) chronic bronchitis and (c) emphysema can be caused by short-term exposure to mustard gas; when this research was carried out; and what were the results. [37618]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning research conducted on health effects caused by exposure to mustard agent. The Chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  Scientists at Porton Down are not aware of any research having been carried out at Porton Down to investigate whether delayed recurrent keratitis of the eye, chronic bronchitis or emphysema can be caused by short-term exposure to mustard gas.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is provided to the War Pensions Agency by the Chemical Defence Establishment when individuals who took part in experiments at Porton Down claim disablement arising out of these experiments; if this information is available in its entirety to the claimant; and to what extent it includes(a) technical reports produced by Porton Down and (b) Porton Down's original laboratory data of the relevant experiments. [37619]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the information provided to the War Pensions Agency by staff at Porton Down. The Chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  CBD provides a range of information to the War Pensions Agency (WPA) in response to enquiries from individuals who took part in experiments at Porton Down. Typically information provided to the WPA confirms the dates of attendance of the volunteer and, when available, an outline of the type of study in which he/she participated and the substances to which she/he was exposed. Where the service volunteer records provide any information regarding the results of such exposures this is also supplied. Relevant extracts from technical reports of original laboratory data, where they exist, would be included if considered helpful. Similar material is provided to the volunteers when they write directly requesting this information.
  A copy of the material provided by Porton Down to the War Pensions Agency is not usually revealed to claimants unless an appeal against the WPA decision is made. In such circumstances a document called a "Statement of Case" is prepared to contain the relevant facts as known by the Secretary of State. This Statement of Case will be made available to the appellant. However Rule 22 of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals (England & Wales) Rules 1980 applies to any case where the medical history of the appellant
  88
  comprises of material which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, it would be undesirable in the interests of the appellant to disclose to him. This information will be marked for the Tribunal by broad "black lining" but will be omitted from the appellant's copy of the Statement of Case.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientific papers in the Porton memorandum series were produced by the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down; when the first paper in the series was produced; when the series was closed; and how many papers in this series are currently unclassified. [37616]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning papers in the Porton Memorandum series. The Chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  The Porton Memorandum series contained a total of 42 reports. The first of these was published in August 1939 and the last in April 1951. According to the records held by the Porton Down Information Centre fourteen of these reports are currently unclassified.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the ban on military and civilian aircraft flying over the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down began; and what factors underlay the decision to ban flights. [37615]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning flying by military and civilian aircraft over the Porton Down site. The Chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  There is an air exclusion zone (EGD 127) over the Porton Down site. This imposes the same restrictions on flights by military and civilian aircraft as are imposed in the large number of similar exclusion zones across the United Kingdom. It extends from the surface to 12,000 feet and its co-ordinates are defined in the Aeronautical Information Publication. The zone has been in force for over forty years and is in place because of the use made of the range area for experimental purposes.
  Planned flights may be made by military aircraft taking part in trials on the range area and are restricted to predefined routes. Any civilian aircraft breaching the exclusion zone may be reported to the Civil Aviation Authority so that action can be taken against them.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical Defence Establishment's assessment of the effect on human health, in the(a) short-term and (b) long-term, of one-off exposure to Adamsite; and what research the establishment has conducted into such exposure. [37613]
  89
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning effects on human health of exposure to.Adamsite. The Chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  CBD Sector at Porton Down has undertaken no research on the toxicology of Adamsite since the 1920s.
  It is not our practice, for obvious reasons, to make available details of our assessment of the effectiveness of chemical warfare agents. The Ministry of Defence circulates to military medical staff descriptions of the symptoms of exposure to such substances. The symptoms of exposure to Adamsite (DM) consist of acute pain in the nose and sinuses with a sense of fullness in the head and headache. There is a burning sensation in the throat with tightness and pain in the chest, accompanied by violent sneezing and uncontrollable coughing. The eyes are affected with irritation, pain and lachrymation. Nasal secretions and salivation are greatly increased and nausea and vomiting develop. People who are exposed to Adamsite in the field suffer these symptoms for several hours but they then disappear leaving no obvious long term effects.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies have been carried out by the Chemical Defence Establishment Porton Down since 1966 to evaluate the long-term health effects of short-term exposure to the nerve agent Tabun; when these studies were conducted; and what were their conclusions; [37612]

  (2) how many volunteers in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, have been exposed to the nerve agent Tabun since 1966; when was the last time that volunteers were exposed; and what was the conclusion reached following these experiments. [37620]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 16 July 1996]: These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 July 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your two questions about how many volunteers have been exposed to the nerve agent Tabun since 1966 at Potion Down and what work has been done to evaluate the long term health effects of short term exposures. I am replying to both questions in this letter since the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Potion Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  Mr. Harry Cohen MP asked a similar question earlier in the year and in my reply to him printed in the Official Report 16 January 1996, Column 529, I stated that work on Tabun had been conducted following the discovery of shells containing this agent after the collapse of the Third Reich. Work with volunteers ended over forty years ago and it would involve disproportionate costs to attempt to identify the precise date in the 1950s on which the last test was conducted. I also told Mr. Cohen the purpose of these studies was to evaluate the incapacitating effects of sub-lethal doses of this agent. The results of these studies were helpful in formulating appropriate defence measures against the threat nerve agents presented. No studies have been conducted since 1966 to evaluate long term health effects of exposure to this nerve agent.
  I hope this information is helpful.
  90

  Shoeburyness Range
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were received from the public about noise from the Shoeburyness range and locally related facilities in each of the last five years and 1996 to date. [37916]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 18 July 1996]This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 22 July 1996:
  1. I have been asked to reply to your question about complaints from the public about noise from the range at Shoeburyness. I am Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA) which includes a trials and evaluation range at Shoeburyness, Essex.
  2. As far as I am aware all the complaints about noise in the area relate to activities at the DERA Shoeburyness Range. This undertakes essential ammunition & gun proof testing, trials and evaluation of equipment and ordnance disposal activities on behalf of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence. The numbers of complaints over the period 1990 to 1995 are as follows:

  1990: 73

  1991:47

  1992: 223

  1993: 420

  1994: 912

  1995: 635

  The total number of complaints received so far in 1996 is 453, the monthly breakdown being as follows:

  Jan: 236

  Feb: 77

  Mar: 39

  Apr: 19

  May: 60

  Jun: 20

  3. DERA has introduced a number of measures to mitigate the effects of noise on the local population. Sound propagation predictions are made twice a day, based on up to date meteorological data and trials activities are curtailed if predicted noise levels over inhabited areas exceed certain limits. One exception occurred in January 1996 where an operationally urgent trial related to the IFOR deployment of UK forces in Bosnia had to be conducted. In addition where a particular trial may result in loud noise, and many do not, advance warnings are given in the local press and on Essex radio. There is also a telephone enquiry service which gives notice to callers of daily range activities.
  4. DERA is also looking at new methods to reduce the noise at source including enclosing firing points within earth ramparts or straw filled containers.
  5. I hope this is helpful.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Clergy
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the link between the Church Commissioners and(a) archbishops, (b) bishops, (c) deans and provosts and (d) sub-deans and vice-provosts. [36759]
  91
  Mr. Alison
  The 95 Church Commissioners include the two archbishops, the 41 diocesan bishops and five deans and provosts.

  The commissioners are required by statute to provide the stipends of the archbishops, diocesan bishops and the dean or provost and two residentiary canons at each cathedral. No distinction is drawn in this respect between a dean or a provost or whether a residentiary canon whose stipend is provided by the commissioners is, or is not, a sub-dean or ice-provost. Under current arrangements, the commissioners also meet the full cost of the pensions of all clergy including those referred to.

  The commissioners are by statute responsible for the housing and expenses of all diocesan bishops, including the archbishops. They also accept responsibility for the expenses of suffragan bishops.

  Church Halls
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many church halls and community facilities have been disposed of in the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [36760]

  Mr. Alison
  The Church Commissioners do not have responsibility for the disposal of church halls or community facilities. There are no central records of such disposals.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid Agencies
  Mr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations he has had over the regulation of aid agencies. [36788]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are in regular touch with aid agencies, but we have had no recent consultations over the regulation of aid agencies.

  Central Europe
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what responsibilities he has for aiding and assisting the economies of the countries of central Europe. [36789]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Sir N. Bonsor), and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development have responsibility for assistance to central European countries in transition, through the know-how fund, our emergency aid to Bosnia and our contributions to multilateral programmes of assistance.

  Zambia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of(a) total aid provided by Britain to Zambia and (b) programme aid provided by Britain to Zambia. [38403]

  Mr. Hanley
  In 1995–96, estimated expenditure on the British bilateral aid programme to Zambia was £29 million. Of this, £10 million was programme aid.92
  Britain also provided substantial aid via the multilateral agencies, including the European Community, the World bank, and the UN agencies. Valuable assistance is also provided through the investments of the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the provision of aid to Zambia; what conditions are attached to the granting of such aid; and if he will make a statement. [38402]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our aid programme to Zambia addresses four key objectives: economic reform, direct assistance to poor people, human development—health and education—and good government. A country aid policy statement is available in the Library of the House. Each project will support specific action towards these ends. We have not provided programme aid this financial year, pending resolution of concerns over economic and governance issues in Zambia.

  Conference of Cambodian Donors
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent conference of Cambodian donors and the role of the British delegation. [38222]

  Mr. Hanley
  The outcome of the Cambodia consultative group meeting was successful. Along with the leading donors—Japan, the World bank and the Asian development bank—the UK and other bilateral donors secured commitments from the Royal Government of Cambodia in the fields of human rights and economic policy, including steps to combat illegal logging, while donors pledged their continuing support for Cambodia's development.

  The RGC committed itself to implementing the recommendations on forestry policy made by the World bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation and requested international experts and advisers to assist it in this process. In addition, the RGC stated its willingness to appoint a reputable international company to verify the export of logs and ensure transparency and accountability of revenues.

  The RGC also committed itself to the democratic process, a free mass media, the rule of law and combatting corruption. Most donors, including the UK, in pledging further aid, made it clear that they expected to see further progress in these areas. The widespread presence of donors and non-governmental organisations in Cambodia and the UN centre for human rights in Phnom Penh—to which Britain has provided financial support—we will help to ensure the monitoring of progress.

  Liberia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of assistance is currently being made available to the people of Liberia; and by what means it is being distributed. [38104]
  93
  Mr. Hanley
  Latest reports from the United Nations indicate an easing of the security situation throughout Liberia, enabling agencies such as the World Food Programme, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Caritas to allocate and distribute sufficient food and medical supplies to currently accessible areas of Monrovia and its environs, plus Montserraclo, Margibi and Bong counties. Basic needs are being addressed.

  Since May 1995, the UK has provided over £3.3 million in emergency relief to Liberia through non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

  West Bank and Gaza Strip
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he has given to date to help Palestinians on the west bank and the Gaza strip. [36781]

  Mr. Hanley
  Since the signing of the declaration of principles on 13 September 1993, total British bilateral assistance for the west bank and Gaza is estimated at £12 million. Additionally, we are providing one sixth of the EC's 500 mecu—£417 million—programme over five years and contributing to the support of Palestinian refugees through the EC and by directly contributing £6 million annually to the UN Relief and Works Agency.

WALES

  Banned Animal Feeds
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how his Department plans to enforce legislation making it illegal for farmers to have outstanding stocks of banned feed on their premises; when that legislation comes into force; and if he will make a statement. [37357]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 19 July,Official Report, column 699–700.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each occasion in the last two months in which his Department has consulted farmers directly about policy development concerning BSE and the beef crisis; and if he will make a statement. [37364]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  We have issued consultation documents to the farming unions on the following policy developments in the last two months:

  3 May 1996: Mature beef assurance scheme.

  6 June 1996: Proposals for compulsory cattle passports.

  7 June 1996: Specified bovine material controls in abattoirs.

  10 June 1996: Mammalian meat and bonemeal (MBM) legislation and MBM feed recall scheme.

  12 June 1996: The fresh meat (Beef controls) Regulations 1996.

  3 July 1996: BSE: accelerated slaughter proposals.

  Welsh Office Ministers and officials have met farmers and their representatives on numerous occasions to hear their views on these and other issues.
  94

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of those remaining in full-time post-16 education were last year in(a) further education colleges, (b) tertiary colleges and (c) school, (i) in Wales and (ii) in each county. [37554]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is in the following table:

  Proportion of 16–18 Year Olds remaining in Full-time Education in Wales at Further Education Colleges or Schools, 1994–951

  Further Education

  Colleges2

  Schools3

  Local Education Authority

  Clwyd

  54

  43

  Dyfed

  37

  45

  Gwent

  53

  44

  Gwynedd

  47

  37

  Mid Glamorgan

  37

  51

  Powys

  38

  62

  South Glamorgan

  34

  36

  West Glamorgan

  63

  20

  Wales

  45

  40

  Source:

  Further Education Student Record, Higher Education Statistics Agency and Schools Census.

  Notes:

  1Ages as at 31 August 1994. Counties current at time of survey. Excludes students aged 16 to 18 on courses at higher education colleges (15 per cent. of 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education in 1994–95).

  2Provisional. Includes a small number of students on higher education courses at further education colleges. Includes further education colleges formerly designated as tertiary. At November 1994.

  3Includes all maintained and independent schools. At January 1995.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the relative public examination results performance of(a) grant-maintained and (b) locally managed schools. [38882]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  School performance tables covering the results of grant and locally maintained schools are published annually. The record of the former is pleasing: for example in 1994–5, 46 per cent. of 15-year-olds achieved five GCSE A*C, compared with 40 per cent. in locally maintained secondary schools.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral answer of 15 July to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, (Mr. Rowlands)Official Report, column 776, what are the private finance initiatives which will allow his Department to make greater investments in education. [38885]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  We have announced radical measures to help local authorities harness private sector finance and management expertise and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 21 May 1996 by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Environment,Official Report, column 164.
  95
  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each project currently under consideration through the private finance initiative, indicating the value in each case. [38874]

  Mr. Jones
  Projects being looked at currently by the Welsh Office, which have been made public, and their estimated capital value are as follows:A55 Anglesey (£125 million); M4 relief road (£375 million); A465 heads of the valleys road (£175 million); Easter Bay link of the Cardiff peripheral distributor road (£108 million); Bute avenue, Cardiff (£50 million); North Meirionnydd/East Dwyfor community hospital (£7 million); University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff (£21 million); staff residential accommodation, district general hospital, Llantrisant (£4.5 million); day surgery unit, Nevill hall, Abergavenny (£1.8 million); mental health development, Nevill hall, Abergavenny (£6 million); community hospital, Chepstow (£5 million); replacement of radiotherapy equipment, Velindre (£4 million); new general hospital at Baglan (£63 million).

  Information on schemes costing less than £1 million is not collected.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children had statements of special educational need in each of the old county councils at the date of their abolition. [38875]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The available information is as follows:

  Number of pupils with statements of special educational needs under section 168 of the Education Act 1993 at 16 January 19961.

  LEA

  January 1996

  Clwyd

  2,732

  Dyfed

  2,454

  Gwent

  12,475

  Gwynedd

  11,087

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,721

  Powys

  733

  South Glamorgan

  1,967

  West Glamorgan

  1,886

  1 The figures shown for Gwent and Gwynedd relate to January 1995.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each local authority the sampling sites for air pollution measurement, indicating at which sites the European Union guide levels have been exceeded; and what action has been recommended as a result. [38883]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government air quality monitoring sites in Wales are as follows:

  Local authority

  Site name

  Cardiff

  Cardiff Centre

  Cardiff East

  Ceredigion

  Cwmystwyth

  Flintshire

  Shotton

  Gwynedd

  Waunfawr

  Neath Port Talbot

  Cwmgwrach

  Glyn Neath

  Port Talbot

  Newport

  Marshfield

  Newport

  96

  Local authority

  Site name

  Pembrokeshire

  Cresselly

  Powys

  Aston Hill

  Welshpool

  Swansea

  Swansea Centre

  Torfaen

  Pontypool

  Wrexham

  Wrexham

  There are currently four European directives on air quality which set mandatory and non-mandatory limits for lead, sulphur dioxide and suspended particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels in the air. The only exceedences of the relevant thresholds at Government sites in Wales in the last three years for which figures are available were as follows:

  Limit

  Site

  Number of exceedences (days)

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Daily basis:

  Ozone information threshold

  Aston Hill

  3

  1

  1

  Cardiff Centre

  2

  —

  1

  Annual basis:

  Guide value for SO2

  Cwmgwrach

  Exc.

  —

  —

  Glyn Neath

  Exc.

  Exc.

  Exc.

  Port Talbot

  Exc.

  —

  —

  Guide value for suspended particles

  Wrexham

  —

  Exc.

  —

  Exc. = Exceeded the guide values, based on the average daily readings taken over the year.

  Further information is available in the "Environment Digest for Wales" and the report "Air Pollution in the UK 1994", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  The Government will shortly be publishing a consultation draft of the national air quality strategy as required by the Environment Act 1995. It will include air quality standards and objectives and set out the measures required to meet those objectives.

  The Environment Act 1995 also introduces a duty on local authorities to assess and review air quality in their areas, and to establish local air quality management areas where standards or objectives are being or likely to be breached. In such areas authorities must draw up action plans to help bring ambient pollution down to acceptable levels. The Government are currently developing guidance for local authorities sot help them discharge those duties.

  School Improvement Index Initiative
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the schools which received awards under the voluntary school improvement index initiative; and if he will make a statement about the factors which were significant in accounting for their success. [38881]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The school improvement index is a Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales initiative sponsored by the Midland bank. It is part of our "Bright Future" programme which, among other things, encourages all schools in Wales to set targets for improved performance, year on year.
  97
  Awards are made on an area and national basis to those participating schools with the most improved GCSE results over the last three years. The award winners for 1995 were;

  National

  1st: most improved school 1995—

  Aberdare girls' comprehensive school.

  2nd: Tonypandy comprehensive school

  Regional

  North Wales—Eirias high school, Colwyn bay

  South Wales—Aberdare girls' comprehensive school

  South-East Wales—Bettws high school, Newport

  South-west Wales—Ogmore comprehensive, Bridgend

  Mid and West Wales—St. John Lloyd RC comprehensive, Llanelli

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money his Department contributed towards each of the projects which were successful in the closed circuit television competition; and what percentage this was of the total cost of each project. [38876]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The majority of funds for the closed circuit television competition were provided by the Home Office. From the Department, additional money was provided so that seven school-only bids, which would not otherwise have been successful, could also be funded.

  Highways
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much in(a) cash (b) real terms each highway authority spent on (i) highway maintenance and (ii) road safety improvements. [38884]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on expenditure by local highway authorities is published each year by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in Highway and Transportation Statistics. Expenditure by my right hon. Friend on trunk roads in Wales is detailed in the Welsh Office departmental report (Cm 3215). Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Education and Training
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 426, if he will list those applications for education and training funds from the European Union of which he has been informed. [39018]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Food Strategy
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to monitor the progress of a food strategy for Wales. [39333]

  Mr. Hague
  The food strategy advisory group which I set up in March will continue to meet on a regular basis in order to monitor the implementation of the strategy.
  98

  Planning Inspectorate
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what performance targets he has set for the Planning Inspectorate agency's work in Wales for the financial year 1996–97. [39334]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The key objectives for the agency in 1996–97 continue to be to preserve the impartiality and quality of the inspectorate's work while seeking further to improve its efficiency. I have set the following key targets for the agency's work in Wales, in particular the timeliness target has been extended to include the three different methods of hearing appeals:

  Timeliness

  (a) Eighty per cent. of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined within 17 weeks;

  (b) Eighty per cent. of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined within 22 weeks;

  (c) Eighty per cent. of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined within 30 weeks;

  (d) To provide an inspector for local plan inquiries on request within 26 weeks of the end of the objection period and to deliver 90 per cent. of inspectors' reports to local authorities by the dates agreed in service agreements;

  Financial

  (a) Unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £690;

  (b) Recover 90 per cent. of receipts due within eight weeks of the invoice date;

  Efficiency
  Contribute to the generation of a three per cent. efficiency improvement in the agency's use of running costs compared with 1995–96;
  Quality
  To satisfy the Advisory Panel on Standards and thus the Secretary of State, annually and following rigorous monitoring, that the quality of the inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard with 99 per cent. of its casework free from error;
  Welsh Language
  To respond in Welsh to all inquiries, written or oral, received in Welsh within the same timescales as allowed for responding to inquiries generally.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 10, on the millennium exhibition if he will make a statement on the outcome of his work with Sir Peter Levene. [36791]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  Many leading companies have already pledged their support for the millennium exhibition. Sir Peter is continuing discussions with other interested concerns, and encouraging progress is being made.

  Civil Servants
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many civil servants were employed by the Government and by Government agencies at the most recent count; and what was the figure in May 1979. [36792]
  99
  Mr. Willetts
  In 1979, when we came to office, there were 735,000 civil servants. There are now 494,000: a fall of 33 per cent.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new proposals he has to reduce harmful effects arising from deregulation. [36793]

  Mr. Freeman
  I am satisfied that deregulation does not diminish necessary protection whether for consumers, employees, or the environment. The Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 includes safeguards to ensure that any necessary protection under existing legislation is maintained.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the work undertaken by(a) the deregulation task force and (b) the deregulation unit in the last 12 months; and what has been the cost to the public purse of each. [36806]

  Mr. Freeman
  The deregulation task force's first report recorded its work up to September 1995 and its programme for the following 12 months. A copy is available in the House Library. The work of the deregulation unit is shown in the Cabinet Office departmental report published as Cm 3220 in March 1996. Direct expenditure, excluding overheads, for the deregulation task force and the deregulation unit for 1995–96 was £14,700 and £1,480,600 respectively.

  Government Policy
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what have been the main changes he has made to the presentation of Government policy. [36795]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I chair the Ministerial Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy. The committee considers all aspects of presentation and works to ensure that the Government take every opportunity to emphasise the benefits of their policies for the UK.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the principal Government policy with which he was concerned in the week beginning 8 July. [36802]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have continued to work on a full range of those Government policies for which I am responsible.

  New Policies
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of his Department's time is spent in developing new policies for other Departments of state. [36796]

  Mr. Willetts
  None. However, the work of the Office of Public Service impacts across all Government Departments because it promotes competitiveness, deregulation, improving standards in public services and greater efficiency and effectiveness throughout the civil service.
  100

  Policy Initiatives
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the three policy initiatives which will constitute his Department's priorities for the next six months. [36798]

  Mr. Willetts
  The priorities for the Office of Public Service will be to promote the competitiveness agenda, the deregulation initiative and the effective administration of the services for which the Department is responsible.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the three policy initiatives to which his Department has devoted most resources since the creation of his office. [36805]

  Mr. Willetts
  The priorities for the Office of Public Service have been to promote the competitiveness agenda, the deregulation initiative and the effective administration of the services for which the Department is responsible.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he is taking to promote competitiveness. [36799]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The wide range of measures we are taking to promote competitiveness are set out in the 1996 competitiveness White Paper published last month.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has to help small businesses improve their competitiveness; and if he will make a statement. [36804]

  Mr. Willetts
  The wide range of measures we are taking to help small firms are set out in the 1996 competitiveness White Paper. The benefits of our approach are clear. More than a million new businesses have been created since 1979, and our small businesses are more optimistic than their European counterparts: 70 per cent. of UK businesses expect to increase turnover this year, compared with less than half on the continent.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his latest assessments of the impact of his competitiveness campaign. [36810]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I believe that our annual analysis of the UK's competitive position, through the competitiveness White Papers, is now widely accepted, and having an increasing impact on national performance. The 1996 White Paper, published last month, has been widely welcomed by business, including the Confederation of British Industry, the Engineering Employers Federation and the Institute of Directors.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minster if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in respect of the promotion of the private finance initiative. [36800]

  Mr. Freeman
  The central IT unit, which reports to me, is responsible for advising Departments, HM Treasury and agencies on the best application of the private finance initiative in the provision of information technology-based services.
  101

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on the measures he is taking to deregulate the activities of small businesses. [36790]

  Mr. Freeman
  We are pressing ahead with the package of new measures for small business announced at the "Your Business Matters" conference on 11 March. These include a draft Bill on industrial tribunals, a single notification point for tax and national insurance, and new rights for business in enforcement actions.

  Food Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent steps he has taken to improve the presentation of Government policy in so far as it affects the food industry. [36803]

  Mr. Freeman
  On 5 June, my hon. Friends the Parliamentary Secretary and the MAFF deregulation Minister hosted a food and drink seminar in Leeds for business and enforcement officers. Delegates supported our goal of fewer, better, simpler regulations which ensure consumer safety and choice while strengthening the competitiveness of the food and drink industries.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in respect of information technology policy. [36807]

  Mr. Freeman
  I am responsible for the work of the central IT unit, the principal task of which is to advise Ministers on the development of an IT strategy for improving the internal efficiency of government and the delivery of public services. It is also responsible for advising Departments and agencies on the application of the private finance initiative to information systems and information systems and information technology projects.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the use of performance-related pay in his Department. [36809]

  Mr. Willetts
  For this purpose, the Deputy Prime Minister's office forms part of the Cabinet Office.

  The White Paper "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change", published in 1994, set out the Government's intention to proceed with comprehensive pay delegation from 1 April 1996. Since then, the Cabinet Office has been adhering to the principles set out in the White Paper

  Longitudinal body mass index data for adolescents and adults in Scotland showing percentage in each BMI category

  Age

  Year

  Number assessed

  <20 Under-weight

  20–24.9 Normal

  25–29.9 Overweight

  <30 Obese

  Adolescents

  Boys

  15

  1987

  462

  50.9

  43.1

  5.2

  0.9

  18

  1990

  422

  19.2

  64.2

  14.5

  2.1

  Girls

  15

  1987

  494

  38.7

  51.2

  8.5

  1.6

  18

  1990

  470

  22.3

  55.3

  16.4

  5.7

  102
  for its own staff—that there should be a clear link between an individual's pay and their contribution to the achievement of the Department's objectives.

  European Union
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on co-ordinating Government policy initiatives between member states. [36794]

  Mr. Freeman
  During the past year, I have had regular contact with the Commission and with Ministers in other member states pressing the case for fewer, better and simpler regulations in Europe. Progress to date includes the SLIM—simpler legislation in the internal market—initiative to review and simplify areas of existing legislation, and a recently agreed Council resolution to help ensure that future rules from Brussels are proportionate, goal-based and small firm friendly.

  Appeals Mechanisms
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many appeals mechanisms in accordance with statutory instrument 1678 he expects to incorporate into new and existing legislation by 1 January 1997. [38408]

  Mr. Freeman
  The model appeals mechanism will be considered for all appeals against enforcement action in appropriate legislation put before the House before January 1997, and thereafter. The recently enacted Chemical Weapons Act 1996 contains provision which will allow the appeals mechanism to be utilised for enforcement.

SCOTLAND

  Obesity
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated percentage of(a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 16 to 64 years and (ii) 64 years and over, who were obese for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [37368]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available for all the years and age groups requested. Such data on obesity in Scotland as are currently held are given in the following table.

  Physical measurements, including obesity, are included in the current Scottish health survey and the resultant data will be published in the first report, which is expected in spring 1997.
  103

  Longitudinal body mass index data for adolescents and adults in Scotland showing percentage in each BMI category

  Age

  Year

  Number assessed

  <20 Under-weight

  20–24.9Normal

  25–29.9 Overweight

  <30 Obese

  Adults

  Men

  35

  1988

  420

  6.4

  43.3

  41.7

  8.6

  40–59

  1985

  4,676

  3.2

  36.5

  49.5

  10.8

  45–69

  1989

  115

  3.5

  42.6

  46

  7.8

  55

  1988

  396

  3.8

  34.1

  51.5

  10.6

  55–75

  1988

  808

  3.3

  40.6

  48.3

  7.8

  Women

  35

  1988

  516

  12

  56.4

  22.1

  9.5

  40–59

  1985

  4,225

  6.1

  49

  32.4

  12.4

  45–69

  1989

  127

  4.7

  44

  27.5

  23.6

  55

  1988

  528

  5.3

  44.1

  33.1

  17.4

  55–75

  1988

  782

  5.9

  44.6

  33.5

  16

  Banned Animal Feeds
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how his Department plans to enforce legislation making it illegal for farmers to have outstanding stocks of banned feed on their premises; when that legislation comes into force; and if he will make a statement. [37356]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 19 July 1996,Official Report, column 699.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the overall cost of management staff and administrative staff in the NHS in Scotland in(a) 1989–90 (b) 1995–96. [37372]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The overall cost of management staff and administrative staff in the NHS in Scotland in(a) 1989–90 was £130,055 million and (b) 1994–95 was £255,732 million. The figures for 1995–96 are not currently available. The expenditure shown for 1994–95 includes senior nurses and clinicians who have transferred to the general/senior mangers' pay scales.

  Abortions
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of States for Scotland if he will give a breakdown, by procedure, of the number of abortions performed in Scotland in the latest year for which figures are available. [37553]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The provisional number of abortions performed in Scotland in 1995 was 11,136. Of these, 7,868 were performed using surgical methods, 3,266 using medical methods and two cases had no method recorded.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many abortions have been performed in Scotland under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; and how many and what percentage of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother. [37562]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of abortions performed in Scotland between 1968 and 1995 was 233,805 including provisional figures for the last 104
  year. During this period 17 abortions—0.007 per cent. were performed in emergency to save the life of the woman.

  Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many readmissions to the Queen Margaret hospital in Dunfermline there have been over the last three years. [37847]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total number of patients readmitted within 28 days of discharge from Queen Margaret hospital for the only two available years is given in the table. The reason for a patient being readmitted is not necessarily related to the reason for original admission. The longer after discharge that a patient is readmitted, the less likely it is that the reasons are related.

  Period2

  Total readmissions within1 28 days of discharge

  April 1993-March 1994

  2,105

  April 1994-March 1995

  2,880

  1Includes both planned and emergency readmission with any diagnosis at any hospital in Scotland.

  2Hospital officially opened 28 June 1993 with first patients admitted in April 1993.

  Missionaries
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in place for grants to be provided for university education for the children of missionaries who have been working abroad. [37968]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  In Scotland, the provision of student grants for full-time courses of higher education up to first degree or equivalent level is governed by the Students' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1991. To be eligible for an award, a student must normally have been ordinarily resident in the British Islands for at least three years immediately preceding the academic year in which the course starts; and also be ordinarily resident in Scotland on 30 June of that year.

  In the case of children whose parents are employed outside the British islands, including those employed as missionaries, eligibility would depend on the nature of the

  105
  parents' absence. A student may be considered for a fees and maintenance award if the absence can be clearly demonstrated to be temporary, by way of fixed-term contracts, continuing links with the UK, and a clear intention at the outset to return to the UK at the end of the contract or contracts. The temporary absence provision is not specifically defined in terms of time and each case is decided on its merits.

  There is also provision for a student to be considered for a full award where the parents have returned from employment in the European economic area and are resident in Scotland on the relevant date. Where the parents continue to be ordinarily resident in the European economic area at that time, the student may be considered for an award of tuition fees only.

  Fife Health Board
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by the Fife health board in the financial year 1995–96 on(a) tendering for services, (b) tendering for the north-east Fife services and (c) administrating the general practitioner fundholding scheme within the health board. [37863]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The additional costs incurred in 1995–96 by Fife health board on tendering for services in north-east Fife and for other services were around £4,000 and £1,100 respectively.

  The work involved in any tendering process arid in administering the general practitioner fundholding scheme is regarded as part of the normal duties of relevant staff in Fife health board and no additional staff were employed specifically for this work.

  Glasgow Boundaries Act
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if section 43 of the Glasgow Boundaries Act 1912 is still in force. [37973]

  Mr. Kynoch
  No.

  Sport and Physical Recreation
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the national planning policy guidelines on sport and physical recreation; and what changes are proposed to the section on open space in the draft document published in August 1995. [37075]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Following wide-ranging consultation last year on draft guidance, on 27 June 1996 the Government published national planning policy guideline (NPPG) No. 11: "Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space". Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about plans to develop wind farms at West Gaily and Gartymore in Sutherland; and if he will make a statement. [37727]

  Mr. Kynoch
  To date, my right hon. Friend has received a total of 613 letters of which 440 are opposed to the development. The applications for planning 106
  permission have now been notified to my right hon. Friend. He will consider these and decide whether they should be called in for his own determination.

  Shared Parenting
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect of the recent legal decision on the principle of maternal preference relating to the custody of children on shared parenting as provided for by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. [37869]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The provisions in part I of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 are not due to come into force until 1 November of this year. Accordingly, it is not known what attitude the courts will take to the existing case law on custody of children when deciding whether or not to make an order under section 11(2)(c) of the 1995 Act regulating the arrangements as to the persons with whom a child is to live. Under the present law, and under the provisions of the 1995 Act, the court is required to regard the welfare of the child as its paramount consideration.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) pursuant to the letter from Mr. N. D. MacLennan of the Scottish Office development department to Mr. Alan Patterson, of the Wishaw Business Group dated 3 July, under what powers central Government bears three quarters of the cost of relief from rates on grounds of hardship granted by rating authorities under section 156 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994; and what has been the cost to central Government of doing so; [38577]

  (2)which rating authorities have used their powers to remit payment of rates on grounds of hardship under section 156 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994; [38579]

  (3) what steps have been taken to inform small businesses and rating authorities of the powers under section 156 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 to grant remission from non-domestic rates on grounds of hardship. [38578]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The cost of any relief borne by local authorities under section 156 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 is borne in the ratio 25:75, by local authorities and central Government respectively, in accordance with regulations made under schedule 12 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Figures are not yet available on the cost to central Government or the numbers of authorities granting relief under this provision which was introduced with effect from 1 April 1995. All local authorities were informed of the commencement of this provision by circular on 12 January 1995.

  Speeding Fines
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate for the last financial year for each of the police forces in Scotland(a) the total amount raised through the payment of fixed penalties for speeding, (b) the total of fixed penalty fines for speeding levied and (c) the average amount levied for each speeding fine. [38646]
  107
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the last financial year, the total number of fixed penalty fines levied for speeding were:

  Number

  Central Scotland police

  4,205

  Dumfries and Galloway constabulary

  3,478

  Fife constabulary

  3,113

  Grampian police

  5,871

  Lothian and Borders police

  112,768

  Northern constabulary

  3,582

  Strathclyde police

  31,494

  Tayside police

  5,276

  Total

  69,787

  1 January 1995-December 1995.

  The value of each fixed penalty fine was £40 but the total amount raised is not readily available since the calculation is affected by a number of fines which could not be collected.

  The average amount levied for each speeding fine is not readily available. Speeding fines are often levied along with fines for other offences such as reckless driving and are not readily separately identifiable.

  Vehicle Damage (Police)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will indicate for the financial years(a) 1991–92 and (b) 1995–96 for each of Scotland's police forces the amount paid out in insurance claims against these bodies in respect of damage to vehicles; [38648]

  Total hip replacement

  Cataract operations

  Hospital of treatment

  Median wait (days)

  Median wait (days)

  1993

  1994

  19951

  1993

  1994

  19951

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

  —

  —

  —

  53

  46

  65

  Albyn Hospital

  —

  —

  24

  —

  —

  —

  Ayr Hospital

  95

  75

  65

  207

  197

  153

  Borders General Hospital

  57

  66

  72

  43

  77

  174

  Bridge of Earn Hospital

  65

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  City Hospital

  —

  —

  70

  —

  —

  —

  Crosshouse Hospital

  57

  64

  69

  —

  —

  —

  Dr. Gray's Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  78

  79

  73

  Dumfries and Galloway Infirmary

  197

  255

  183

  194

  136

  121

  Dundee Royal Infirmary

  71

  93

  90

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfermline and West Fife Hospital

  75

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  87

  71

  198

  —

  —

  —

  Gartnavel General Hospital

  110

  —

  —

  27

  —

  —

  Gilbert Bain Memorial Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  150

  75

  58

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary

  93

  159

  150

  —

  —

  —

  Glasgow Western Infirmary

  120

  133

  134

  49

  45

  54

  Hairmyres Hospital

  49

  43

  74

  —

  —

  —

  Inverclyde Royal Hospital

  78

  110

  106

  164

  148

  208

  Kings Cross Hospital

  17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Law Hospital

  194

  180

  210

  —

  —

  —

  Monklands District General Hospital

  89

  111

  67

  —

  —

  —

  Ninewells Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  67

  50

  55

  Perth Royal Infirmary

  98

  126

  94

  —

  —

  —

  Princess Margaret Rose Hospital

  101

  133

  143

  —

  —

  —

  Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline

  72

  12

  90

  80

  65

  55

  108
  (2) if he will indicate for the financial years (a) 1991–92 and (b) 1995–96 for each of Scotland's police forces the number of claims against vehicle insurance lodged against the police giving the total number of police vehicles insured during each of these periods. [38647]

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

  Health Boards and NHS Trusts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when(a) health boards and (b) NHS trusts in Scotland will be in a position to publish their annual reports and accounts; and what instructions these bodies have been given about the time scale for publication of these documents. [38649]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Health boards are required to publish their annual reports by the end of October, and to include specific financial information in these reports. It is for each NHS trust to determine the timetable for publication of its annual report and accounts, but there is a statutory requirement on them to hold a public meeting to present audited accounts and annual reports not later than six months after their respective accounting dates.

  Operations (Waiting Times)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current median waiting periods for patients needing(a) hip replacements and (b) cataract treatment at (i) each hospital where this operation is provided and (ii) in Scotland indicating the equivalent waiting times for the two preceding years. [37495]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]The information requested is in the table:
  109

  Total hip replacement

  Cataract operations

  Hospital of treatment

  Median wait (days)

  Median wait (days)

  1993

  1994

  19951

  1993

  1994

  19951

  Raigmore Hospital

  121

  138

  178

  123

  116

  126

  Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  73

  27

  5

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  59

  69

  77

  62

  82

  84

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill

  —

  —

  —

  39

  50

  21

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  12

  14

  17

  191

  105

  94

  Southern General Hospital

  95

  64

  93

  304

  293

  188

  St. John's Hospital

  78

  24

  7

  345

  9

  26

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  133

  187

  196

  99

  102

  91

  Stobhill Hospital

  56

  62

  74

  92

  137

  199

  Stonehouse Hospital

  106

  101

  120

  129

  138

  146

  Stracathro Hospital

  51

  50

  76

  —

  —

  —

  Victoria Hospital

  117

  124

  98

  79

  —

  —

  Victoria Infirmary

  99

  153

  141

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles Hospital

  21

  40

  67

  —

  —

  —

  Woodend General Hospital

  66

  71

  63

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  88

  103

  99

  90

  86

  88

  1Provisional data. — No relevant operations performed.

  Asbestos (East Kilbride)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current legal action being taken against the former East Kilbride development corporation by residents of the Telford road area on the question of liability for the removal of asbestos from their properties. [38448]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]: It would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to comment while the matter is before the courts.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each health board in Scotland the number of acute beds for each of the last five years and the projected number for 2000. [38398]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]: The total number of average available staffed acute beds for each health board for each of the last five years is given in the table. There is no central projection for the number of acute beds in the year 2000. It is for health boards and NHS trusts to determine the number of beds required to deliver services taking into account their own local circumstances.

  Average available staffed beds in Acute Specialties1

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  19962

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,286

  1,248

  1,204

  1,188

  1,140

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,152

  1,136

  1,107

  1,075

  971

  Borders

  354

  354

  348

  335

  338

  Dumfries and Galloway

  435

  419

  406

  405

  416

  Fife

  851

  800

  791

  774

  754

  Forth Valley

  605

  600

  588

  592

  573

  Grampian

  1,640

  1,918

  1,885

  1,843

  1,804

  Greater Glasgow

  4,194

  4,036

  3,899

  3,651

  3,581

  Highland

  740

  743

  729

  724

  796

  Lanarkshire

  1,665

  1,632

  1,592

  1,550

  1,526

  Lothian

  2,659

  2,577

  2,455

  2,397

  2,298

  110

  Average available staffed beds in Acute Specialties1

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  19962

  Orkney

  62

  62

  97

  91

  85

  Shetland

  49

  46

  46

  46

  46

  Tayside

  1,801

  1,748

  1,622

  1,589

  1,540

  Western Isles

  85

  97

  103

  100

  95

  Scotland

  17,580

  17,414

  16,873

  16,360

  15,963

  1 Includes Acute, Supra-area and Special categories specialty groups. Excludes obstetrics.

  2 Provisional.

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when NHS waiting list figures for March 1996 will become available in(a) unpublished form and (b) published form; [38400]

  (2) when NHS waiting list figures for March 1995 (a) became available in unpublished form and (b) were published; [38397]

  (3) when NHS list figures for September 1995 (a) became available in unpublished form and (b) will be published. [38399]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]: Waiting list figures as at 31 March are published annually in December by the information and statistics division of the Common Services agency of the national health service in Scotland in "Scottish Health Statistics". Information on waiting list figures at other dates is held by the information and statistics division of the Common Services agency, but is not routinely published.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions apply to the payment by local authorities in Scotland of awards to students equivalent to education maintenance allowances paid by local authorities in England and Wales; if he will list those local education authorities in Scotland which pay such awards:
  111
  how much is currently paid by each; if he will list the practice of each authority as to when the allowance is paid; and if he will make a statement. [38446]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]: The equivalent of education allowances in Scotland are higher school bursaries. All the education authorities in Scotland have the power to offer these bursaries, and to determine the circumstances in which they will do so. Details of the policies and expenditure of individual authorities are not held centrally.

  Summary Case Costs
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he issued regarding the timing of the comparative research into summary case costs in different jurisdictions, referred to in paragraph 6.12.3 of the White Paper "Crime and Punishment"; who conducted the research; when the research was completed; and when he proposes to publish it. [38442]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 July 1996]: The research was conducted by Ms T. Goriely of TPR Social and Legal Research and Professor A. Paterson and Mr. C. Tata of the University of Strathclyde law school. The contract required the first draft of the research report to be provided to the funding bodies—that is, the Scottish Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Scottish Legal Aid board—by 30 April 1996. The draft report was provided on time and it is intended that, following further work, a short research findings summary will be issued towards the end of 1996.

HEALTH

  Mentally Handicapped Children
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of mentally handicapped children currently in NHS hospital care in(a) the north-west and (b) nationally. [36262]

  Mr. Bowls
  The table gives the number of children resident in national health service hospitals and units and under the care of a mental handicap consultant at 31 March 1995.

  Age at 31 March 19951

  0–14

  15–19

  North Western and Mersey2

  10

  20

  England

  120

  190

  The figures are estimates based on a combination of data from the hospital episode statistics system and data obtained directly from regional offices (and the former RHAs) and are rounded to the nearest 10.

  1 Estimates of those in hospital under the care of a learning disability consultant.

  2 All health authorities under North Western and Mersey regional health authorities including South Cumbria merged to form North West regional office.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that junior doctors gain clinical experience at specialist locations and district general 112
  hospitals with particular reference to (a) accident and emergency, (b) paediatrics and (c) maternity departments; and if he will make a statement. [37178]

  Mr. Malone
  The content of postgraduate medical training programmes, taking into account the needs of individual trainees, is the responsibility of the relevant royal college or faculty and the postgraduate deans. Opportunities exist to gain clinical experience in the specialties referred to in most district general hospitals.

  Tranquillisers and Anti-depressants
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total cost and the cost per head of population of expenditure within the GP prescribing scheme for(a) tranquillisers and (b) anti-depressants for each health district in England and Wales for the year 1995–96. [37565]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information will be placed in the Library. Questions relating to Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when was the most recent review of registration and inspection of privately run nursing homes. [37860]

  Mr. Bowis
  The review of the regulation and inspection of social services, launched in September 1995, covers the regulation and inspection of nursing homes which provide care of a kind which local authorities may be required to arrange under their community care responsibilities.

  Contract Settlements
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the principles used by each NHS region in its arbitration process on contract settlements between NHS purchasers and providers; and what measures are taken by the NHS executive to ensure that these principles are consistent between regions. [38032]

  Mr. Malone
  Guidance on the resolution of disputes and setting out the principles for arbitration was issued in March 1991 as EL(91)11 and copies were placed in the Library.

  DIY-related Accidents
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people(a) in total and (b) over the age of 50 years have been injured in do-it-yourself-related accidents in each of the last five years. [37897]

  Mr. Horam
  The data requested are contained in the Department of Trade and Industry's consumer safety unit "Annual Report on Home and Leisure Safety Research; Home Accident Surveillance System Monitoring Product Safety" reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to the NHS of treating people injured in do-it-yourself-related accidents in each of the last five years. [37896]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available.
  113

  Bed Blocking (Geriatric Wards)
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the extent of bed blocking in geriatric wards of NHS hospitals caused by patients being unable to obtain places in extra care homes run by charitable organisations, with particular reference to the Abbeyfield Society; if he will initiate discussions with the Secretary of State for Social Security to obtain authorisation for the provision of beds in registered extra care homes; and if he will make a statement. [37902]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for health and local authorities to make an assessment of any factors affecting delayed hospital discharges locally.

  Abortion
  Sir Graham Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the statistically most likely candidate for an abortion within the Anglia and Oxford region after the 24th week of pregnancy in the latest year for which figures are available in terms of(a) the age of the woman, (b) marital status of the woman, (c) the number of previous children of the woman and (d) the grounds on which the abortion is performed. [38028]

  Mr. Horam
  The statistically most likely candidate for an abortion for each of the variables listed is the category with the highest recorded frequency of legal terminations. The percentages are based on all legal terminations in the Anglia and Oxford region in 1993.

  The categories with the highest frequencies found in each of the variables were:
  age of the woman 30 to 34 age group comprised 46 per cent. 6 of all post-24th week gestation terminations;
  marital status of the woman; married women comprised 85 per cent. 11 of all post-24th week gestation terminations;
  number of previous children of the woman; women with no previous live and still born children comprised 53.8 per cent. of (7) of all post-24th week gestation terminations; and
  legal grounds under the abortion is performed; statutory ground E alone comprised 100 per cent. (13) of all post-24th week gestation terminations. Ground E is defined as meaning that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

  Sir Graham Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the statistically most likely candidate for an abortion within the Anglia and Oxford region in the latest year for which figures are available in terms of(a) the age of the woman, (b) marital status of the woman, (c) the number of previous children of the woman and (d) the grounds on which the abortion is performed. [38027]

  Mr. Horam
  The statistically most likely candidate for an abortion for each of the variables listed is the category with the highest recorded frequency of legal terminations. The percentages are based on all legal terminations in the Anglia and Oxford region in 1993.

  The categories with the highest frequencies found in each of the variables were:
  age of the woman: 20 to 24 age group comprised 28.7 per cent. (3,397) of all terminations;
  marital status of the woman: single women comprised 62.2 per cent. (7,356) of all terminations;
  114
  number of previous children of the woman: women with no previous live and still born children comprised 54.8 per cent. (6,483) of all terminations;
  legal grounds under which the abortion is performed: statutory ground C alone comprised 91.5 per cent. (10,821) of terminations. Ground C is defined as meaning that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

  Disciplinary Hearings (Northern Region)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (i) the number of(a) medical and (b) nursing staff suspended or dismissed at each NHS trust in the Northern region since 1 January 1993 and (ii) the number of staff in each category heard by disciplinary hearings of trusts who were not so suspended or dismissed in this period. [38160]

  Mr. Horam
  Such information on nursing staff is not available centrally. The information available is set out.

  Decisions on employment matters rests with the employing authority or national health service trust. Since 31 March 1995, national health service employers have reported cases of suspension of hospital and community medical and dental staff lasting more than six months. Information is, therefore, available only on those cases of suspension over six months and from that date.

  In the Northern and Yorkshire region only one such case of suspension was reported for medical and dental staff between 31 March 1995 and 20 June 1996.

  Dental Health (Morecambe Bay)
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number of teeth affected by decay in five-year-old children and what number of decayed, missing and filled teeth in 14-year-old children are found in the Morecambe Bay health authority's area; what is the national average for five and 14-year olds; and what changes, using the model of South Cheshire where fluorine is added to the water, he would expect to find in Morecambe Bay if water was similarly treated. [38223]

  Mr. Malone
  Every two years, the British Association for the study of community dentistry conducts a survey of dental caries prevalence in children aged five throughout Great Britain, and every four years for 14-year-olds. The 1993–94 figures for five-year-olds' dental caries experience, and 1994–95 figures for 14-year-olds in the Morecambe Bay health authority show mean values for decayed, missing and filled teeth for five and 14-year-olds to be 2.28 and 2.22 respectively. The comparative five and 14-year-old figures for England are 1.74 and 1.67 respectively. Studies have consistently shown that the prevalence of dental decay in fluoridated areas is between one third to one half lower than in comparable non-fluoridated water areas.

  Doncaster Family Health Services Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the payments made to Mr. Ray Hemming on the termination of his employment as chief executive of Doncaster FHSA. [38392]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 November,Official Report, column 519.
  115

  Psychiatric Patients
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collates about the number of patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 who go absent without leave from psychiatric hospitals. [38437]

  Mr. Bowis
  This Department collates no such information centrally.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients were admitted(a) compulsorily and (b) voluntarily to (i) NHS and (ii) private hospitals in each of the last five years. [38438]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information available is set out in the tables. Information is not available centrally on admissions to private hospitals.

  Formal admissions to national health service facilities of patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation1

  England

  Year

  Numbers2

  1990–91

  18,500

  1991–92

  21,100

  1992–93

  22,100

  1993–943

  24,000

  1994–95

  26,300

  Source:

  KH15.

  Special Hospitals Service Authority.

  Notes:

  1 Figures refer to the financial year.

  2 Figures rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3 Admission figures includes estimated data from East Anglian regional health authority.

  Mental Illness: All admissions, including formaI admissions to NHS hospitals1

  England

  Year

  Numbers2

  1990–91

  185,500

  1991–92

  192,500

  1992–93

  212,800

  1993–94

  224,200

  1994–953

  214,000

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Notes:

  1 Figures refer to the financial year.

  2 Figures rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3 Provisional figures.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority the number of short and long-stay beds in(a) NHS local psychiatric hospitals and units and (b) water tower mental hospitals in England, between 1982 and 1995. [38436]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. The number of short-stay and long-stay mental illness beds is contained in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Casualty Departments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that nurses are not hired solely to greet patients within five minutes of arrival in casualty departments. [38321]
  116
  Mr. Horam
  The patients charter states that patients going to an accident and emergency department can expect to be seen immediately and have their need for treatment assessed. In the period January to April 1996, 94 per cent. of such patients were assessed within five minutes. This patients charter standard has resulted in improved standards of practice and patient satisfaction. However, many clinicians would like this standard to be refined to fit more closely with clinical practice and a revised standard is being developed after consultation with the national health service.

  Health Care
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to discuss with his Austrian counterpart the health care from Austrian Gemeindeartz for British holidaymakers; and if he will make a statement. [38325]

  Mr. Malone
  Details of the way in which the reciprocal health care arrangements with Austria operate, including general practitioner services, are contained in leaflet T5 "Health advice for travellers", which is available from post offices. Copies of this leaflet are available in the Library. These arrangements generally work well and Ministers have no plans to discuss them with Austrian counterparts.

  Crisis Accommodation
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answers to the hon. member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) of 18 March and 24 April,Official Report, columns 79 and 172, what factors led to the omission from guidance in LASSL (96) 16/HSG (96) 6 of references to crisis accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [38493]

  Mr. Bowis
  A clear and explicit reference to crisis accommodation is made in "The Spectrum of Care" which was issued under cover of health service guidelines LASSL(96)16/HSG(96)6. copies of which are available in the Library.

  Health Authority Overspends
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health how many health service commissioner authorities in England(a) have had previous years' overspends written off and (b) been given additional funding to compensate for previous overspends; and if he will make a statement. [38439]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not held centrally.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 319, what progress has been made in tracing the illegally dumped clinical waste; and if he will make a statement. [38237]

  Mr. Horam
  Following action by the relevant waste regulation authorities to trace the producers of the clinical waste dumped in Hertfordshire, two summonses have been issued and further summonses are likely. Investigations by the Hertfordshire police fraud squad and Environment Agency continue.
  117

  Safety Glass (Licensed Premises)
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential savings to accident and emergency and surgical departments if toughened safety glass were to be introduced across the licensed victuallers' trade. [38322]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Water Tower Mental Hospitals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 June,Official Report, column 111, when he expects the national survey by the NHS executive of the water tower mental hospitals in England to be completed; and if it will be published. [38433]

  Mr. Bowis
  The survey by the national health service executive of the water tower mental hospitals in England should be completed around the end of October 1996. A decision on publication will be taken nearer the time.

  Medical Devices Agency
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the annual report and accounts for the Medical Devices Agency. [38993]

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

  Winter Mortality Rates
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the excess winter mortality rates over average annual mortality rates, have been for each of the last 10 years expressed(a) in numbers and (b) as percentages. [37997]

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information is shown on the table.

  Excess Winter Mortality, England and Wales

  Period

  Excess winter deaths

  Excess winter death index1

  1985–86

  49,446

  27.7

  1986–87

  26,449

  14.9

  1987–88

  33,089

  18.4

  1988–89

  21,235

  11.8

  1989–90

  47,083

  26.3

  1990–91

  37,845

  21.5

  1991–92

  24,845

  19.9

  1992–93

  25,656

  14.5

  1993–94

  25,890

  14.2

  1994–95

  27,512

  15.6

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics.

  Note:

  1 The excess winter death Index is the number of excess winter deaths expressed as a percentage of the average of the number of deaths in the autumn and summer periods.
  118

  Hepatitis
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence in the United Kingdom of(a) hepatitis B and (b) haemophilus influenzae type B— Hib—meningitis (i) at the time of the introduction of Hib vaccination to the immunisation schedule, (ii) in each of the five years before that introduction and (iii) at the latest available date. [38465]

  Mr. Horam
  Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine was introduced into the United Kingdom childhood immunisation programme in October 1992. Comparable and complete information for the periods specified is available only for England and Wales. This information is in the table.

  Laboratory reports for England and Wales to the public health laboratory service1

  Year

  Bacteraemia and meningitis of Haemophilus influenzae type B

  Hepatitis B

  1987

  n/a

  785

  1988

  n/a

  641

  1989

  655

  583

  1990

  658

  618

  1991

  667

  572

  1992

  627

  531

  1995

  2239

  2612

  1 Laboratory reports are made to the public health laboratory service under a voluntary and confidential reporting system.

  2 Provisional.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on the World Health Organisation's recommendation on the integration of hepatitis B into national vaccination programmes by 1997; and if he will make a statement. [38486]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department's current policy is to recommend immunisation against hepatitis B 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.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of health authorities screened pregnant women for hepatitis B in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [38460]

  Mr. Horam
  The public health laboratory service carried out a survey of English and Welsh district health authorities' hepatitis B ante-natal screening policies in September 1991. In England, there was a response rate of 81 per cent. All the health authorities responding carried out ante-natal screening for hepatitis B. Seventy-seven per cent. of those which responded had a selective screening policy, 21 per cent. had a universal screening policy and 2 per cent. had a mixed policy of selective and universal screening depending on the individual screening centre.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which(a) EU and (b) Group of Seven member countries have introduced national policies for routine vaccination of (i) infants and (ii) adolescents against hepatitis B; and if he will rank them according to the prevalence of hepatitis B, with rates of incidence. [38471]
  119
  Mr. Horam
  Member states are asked to report the number of cases of certain infectious disease to the World Health Organisation European regional office. These include cases of acute hepatitis B. It should be noted that methods of surveillance, case definitions and completeness of reporting vary between European member states and that caution should be observed when making comparisons. The WHO European office does not hold data of the seroprevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection in member states.

  The number of cases of acute hepatitis B reported to the WHO European office by European Union member states in 1994, the latest for year for which most complete data are available, are given in the table. The incidence of acute hepatitis B per 100,000 for EU member states who have provided data to WHO has been calculated using population figures as at 1 January 1994 taken from EUROSTAT (Demographic Statistics).

  Country

  Number of cases of acute hepatitis B

  Population in millions

  Incidence per 100,000

  Austria

  241

  8.0

  3.0

  Belgium

  51

  10.1

  0.5

  Denmark

  127

  5.2

  2.4

  France

  —

  57.8

  —

  Finland

  192

  5.1

  3.8

  Germany

  5,166

  81.3

  6.4

  Greece

  222

  10.4

  2.1

  Ireland

  —

  3.6

  —

  Italy

  2,733

  57.1

  4.8

  Luxembourg

  72

  0.4

  18.0

  Netherlands

  213

  15.3

  1.4

  Portugal

  1,114

  9.9

  11.3

  Spain

  —

  39.1

  —

  Sweden

  264

  8.7

  3.0

  United Kingdom

  1535

  [58.3]

  1—

  1 This figure includes only cases from England. Using a 1994 population for England of 48.7 millions the rate of acute cases of hepatitis B in England for that year was 1.1 per 100,000.

  Seroprevalence rates for chronic hepatitis B infection in other countries are not held centrally.

  We understand that in Europe, Italy and France have implemented national policies to immunise infants and adolescents, Spain and Portugal have implemented policies for adolescents; and Belgium has recently begun to introduce a policy for infant and adolescent immunisation.

  For the three non-European members of the Group of Seven, we understand that the United States has introduced a universal infant programme, Canada has mainly a universal adolescent policy but with some provinces favouring infant immunisation and Japan has not implemented a universal programme having a selective immunisation policy with particular focus on prevention of perinatal transmission through screening in pregnancy.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which Government policy has reduced the incidence of hepatitis B; and what new measures he plans to reduce such incidence. [38470]
  120
  Mr. Horam
  Reports of acute hepatitis B to the public health laboratory service have fallen from a peak of just under 2,000 reports in England in 1984 to 612 reports in 1995—provisional figure. This decrease occurred in most groups at increased risk of infection.

  This may be linked to the modification of risk behaviours in response to Government initiatives to promote safer sexual practices and recognised techniques for reducing the risks associated with injecting drug misuse, such as needle and syringe exchange schemes, in the light of HIV-AIDS, as well as our immunisation policy targeted at those at increased risk of infection.

  These initiatives will continue and hepatitis B immunisation policy will be kept under review.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate for(a) GPs, (b) nurses, (c) police, (d) homosexual males, (e) drug abusers and (f) babies born to carrier mothers. [38461]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of hepatitis B cases in each of the last three years fell within the definition of at risk categories in each(a) health authority and (b) region. [38485]

  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. The information requested, which is available only by regional health authority, is given in the table.

  Regional Health Authority

  Total reports of acute hepatitis B infection

  Number of reports with information about the patient

  Number of cases identified from information given as falling with defined risk groups

  Percentage of reports with information about the patient which fall within defined risk groups

  1993

  Northern

  15

  10

  10

  100

  Yorkshire

  49

  29

  29

  100

  Trent

  25

  18

  17

  94

  East Anglia

  19

  14

  12

  86

  North-west Thames

  64

  46

  45

  98

  North-east Thames

  74

  48

  45

  94

  South-east Thames

  67

  49

  44

  90

  South-west Thames

  29

  19

  18

  95

  Wessex

  23

  19

  18

  95

  Oxford

  25

  21

  20

  95

  South Western

  47

  45

  44

  98

  West Midlands

  47

  27

  26

  96

  Mersey

  56

  53

  42

  79

  North Western

  68

  50

  45

  90

  Total

  607

  448

  415

  94

  121

  Regional Health Authority

  Total reports of r acute hepatitis B infection

  Number of reports with information about the patient

  Number of cases identified from information given as falling with defined risk groups

  Percentage of reports with information about the patient which fall within defined risk groups

  1994

  Northern

  17

  12

  12

  100

  Yorkshire

  66

  55

  55

  100

  Trent

  49

  31

  28

  90

  East Anglia

  19

  14

  12

  86

  North-west Thames

  35

  24

  23

  96

  North-east Thames

  41

  27

  26

  96

  South-east Thames

  71

  60

  56

  93

  South-west Thames

  29

  20

  19

  95

  Wessex

  28

  20

  18

  90

  Oxford

  24

  19

  15

  79

  South Western

  50

  46

  45

  98

  West Midlands

  45

  8

  7

  88

  Mersey

  59

  47

  40

  85

  North Western

  69

  44

  41

  93

  Total

  601

  427

  397

  92

  1995

  Northern

  21

  9

  9

  100

  Yorkshire

  102

  67

  67

  100

  Trent

  49

  38

  38

  100

  East Anglia

  23

  9

  8

  89

  North-west Thames

  26

  11

  11

  100

  North-east Thames

  27

  15

  13

  87

  South-east Thames

  62

  40

  37

  93

  South-west Thames

  32

  20

  20

  100

  Wessex

  21

  19

  16

  84

  Oxford

  35

  23

  21

  91

  South Western

  21

  18

  14

  78

  West Midlands

  40

  18

  15

  83

  Mersey

  80

  65

  60

  92

  North Western

  45

  21

  20

  95

  Total

  584

  373

  349

  92

  1. The public health laboratory service reporting system records reports under the following risk groups: injecting drug users; sex between men; sex between men and women; sexual contact unspecified; children of hepatitis B carrier mothers; family/household contacts; medical treatments; occupational exposure; and institutional exposure.

  2. Approximately two thirds of reports received by PHLS provide information relating to risk groups.

  district Health Authority Finance
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each district health authority for each of the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 and subsequent 122
  years for which figures can be given or estimated (a) the recurrent deficit, (b) the non-recurrent surplus deficit, (c) movements in balances, (d) the cash deficit and (e) those deficits expressed as a percentage of revenue or expenditure. [38788]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is based on estimates subject to revision. It is not suitable for publication.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what informed consent is sought from, and what information is given to, blood donors concerning circumstances in which their donation may be sold(a) outside the NHS, (b) into the private sector and (c) outside the United Kingdom; [38469]

  (2) if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which the NHS patients charter commitment that blood donations will not be sold (a) applies fully, (b) applies with qualifications and (c) does not apply. [38472]

  Mr. Horam
  The consent of donors is not required for the national blood service to make supplies of donated blood available outside the national health service. Blood itself is never sold, although a handling charge is made to cover the costs of collecting, testing, processing and delivering blood. The commitment given in the blood donors charter therefore applies fully. However, as is also stated in the charter, surplus blood products derived from donations of whole blood may be sold to any other country after NHS demand has been satisfied. This avoids waste of a valuable resource and keeps down costs to the NHS. Details of what happens to donations is made available to donors through leaflets produced by the NBS and through the charter.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many units of each type of blood product were(a) supplied to private hospitals and (b) used by private patients within NHS units for each of the last three years; for which figures are available; [38516]

  (2) what is the order of priority for the supply of blood products for supply to (a) the NHS, (b) the private sector and (c) overseas users in times of acute United Kingdom or regional shortage; [38467]

  (3) what is the method of invoicing and payment for blood products supplied for private sector use; [38468]

  (4) what charges are levied on (a) private hospitals and (b) private medical practitioners for the supply of blood products for use outside the NHS. [38515]

  Mr. Horam
  Information about the amount of blood products supplied to private hospitals and to private patients within national health service units is not collected centrally. Blood products manufactured from plasma derived from freely donated blood in the United Kingdom may be exported only if they are surplus to NHS requirements.

  Methods of invoicing and payment and fees charged are a matter for suppliers.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to comply with the commitments given in the NHS patients charter in respect of blood donors; and if he will make a statement. [38466]
  123
  Mr. Horam
  As part of the national health service patient's charter programme, an interim blood donor's charter was published last November. The National Blood Authority is working towards the implementation of the targets for improved services to blood donors set out in that charter and will publish performance results each year. The charter will be reviewed after a year, taking account of the comments being invited from doctors.

  Growth Hormone
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy with regard to the financial compensation of those treated with contaminated pituitary-derived human growth hormone and gonadotrophin. [38616]

  Mr. Horam
  We will study last Friday's judgment in detail and consider what response is appropriate. We remain committed to providing, through the national health service, suitable support and counselling to all patients treated with human growth hormone, or gonadotrophin, and their families.

  Regional Health Authority Functions
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the functions previously carried out by regional health authorities which have been(a) transferred to the NHS executive, (b) transferred to district health authorities, (c) contracted out and (d) abandoned. [38870]

  Mr. Horam
  The functions of the national health service executive and new health authorities are set out in the statement of responsibilities and accountabilities published on 24 May 1995, copies of which are available in the Library. Regional health authorities were abolished on 31 March 1996, and on 1 April 1996 district health authorities and family health services authorities merged to form new health authorities. Prior to the abolition of the RHAs, the NHS executive issued guidance to the NHS, health service guidance (94)22 and (94)53, on the disposition of RHA functions.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts(a) are already paying nurses a locally negotiated pay award, (b) are negotiating with nurses over a local pay award, (c) have made an offer on which negotiation has yet to begin and (d) have not yet made an offer on which to negotiate locally. [38886]

  Mr. Malone
  The timing and structure of local pay offers is a matter for national health service management. It is for each trust to decide whether to make public the position it has reached.

  Health Care (Students)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State Health (1) how many staff are employed to assess eligibility for free prescriptions, dental work, eye tests and spectacle vouchers for students; and at what annual cost; [38405]

  (2) what is the estimated cost of extending free prescriptions, dental work, eye tests and spectacle vouchers to (a) all students within higher education and (b) all students entitled to a full student grant. [38406]
  124
  Mr. Malone
  Claims for entitlement to spectacle vouchers, free national health service prescriptions, dental treatment and sight tests under the NHS low-income scheme are assessed by the health benefits division of the Prescription Pricing Authority. Costs and staffing figures in respect of claims by students are not separately identified.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish a breakdown of members of ethnic minorities employed in the NHS as(a) ancillaries, (b) nurses and (c) doctors for each of the past five years and the grades held by these staff; [37034]

  (2) if he will publish a breakdown of members of ethnic minorities employed in health authorities as (a) executive members, (b) non-executive members, (c) senior officers, (d) managerial staff and (e) clerical/administrative staff; [37026]

  (3) if he will publish a breakdown of members of ethnic minorities employed in NHS trusts as (a) executive members, (b) non-executive members, (c) senior officers, (d) managerial staff and (e) clerical/administrative staff. [37027]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: Information about nursing and midwifery staff by grade at September 1993 was published in the Department of Health statistical bulletin "NHS Hospital and Community Health Services Non-Medical Staff in England" in November 1994, copies of which are available in the Library. Information about the ethnic origin of all non-medical staff as at September 1994 will be published shortly and placed in the Library.

  Information about medical staff for 1992/3/4 is published in the Department of Health statistical bulletins "Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service Medical and Dental Staff in England" and is held in the Library. Data for 1995 will be placed in the Library shortly.

  These are the latest figures available; figures for earlier years are not available.

  Information about executive members and senior officers is not available centrally.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 12 July, Official Report, column 334, for information about non-executive members.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) ethnic minority and (b) white nurses there were in the NHS in each of the last five years (i) by grade, (ii) by region and (iii) nationally; [37142]

  (2) how many (a) ethnic minority and (b) white nurses there were at grade G in each of the last five years. [37141]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: Information relating to the ethnicity of national health service nursing and midwifery staff in England in 1993 by grade was published in the Department of Health statistical bulletin 1994/11, copies of which are available

  125
  in the Library. This is the latest information available. Information relating to earlier years is not available centrally.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure equal access to the delivery of services within the NHS for ethnic minority groups. [37033]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: a number of measures are in place to ensure equal access to those from the ethnic minority communities: i) the patients charter, which aims to provide better information and health services to everyone (including ethnic minority groups) by meeting their religious and cultural needs. The patients charter has been produced in several ethnic languages; ii) in the last five years, the Department has made around £6.5 million available in direct grants to demonstration projects and ethnic minority voluntary groups to improve ethnic health—for example, it has funded a number of linkworker and advocacy schemes which improve access to services to ethnic minority groups. Copies of relevant reports published recently—"Consumer Empowerment" and "A Case For the Provision Of Bilingual Services Within The NHS"—have
  126
  been placed in the Library; iii) the NHS ethnic health unit has been established to work with health authorities, national health service trusts and general practitioners to experiment with new ways of improving services in partnership with local ethnic minority people.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current percentage of(a) midwives and (b) health visitors who are from ethnic minorities. [37100]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: Information relating to the ethnic origin of midwives and health visitors is not available centrally.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure on the ethnic minority health unit in his Department in each of the last five years; and what is the budget for the next three years. [37094]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 12 July 1996]: The national health service ethnic health unit was established for three years by Ministers in 1993, to work with NHS organisations to improve services for black and minority ethnic people by harnessing current Government health policies. This followed the report of a task force on how good practice might be spread throughout the NHS. The unit began a focused programme of work in March 1994 which is due to conclude, as intended, in March 1997. The unit's annual budget is of the order of £1.3 million

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  Northern Iraq: KDP Actions
  Northern Iraq: KDP Actions
  Indonesia: Death of Journalists, Balibo, 1975
  Indonesia: Death of Journalists, Balibo, 1975
  Rwanda: Human Rights Abuses
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  Burma: Sanctions Proposal
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  Former Yugoslavia: Arrest Warrants
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  Albania: Conduct of Elections
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  NATO Enlargement: Costs
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  General Affairs Council and IGC Ministerial Meeting, 15th-16th July
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  Intergovernmental Conference: UK Proposals
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  Microbial Culture Collections: Response to Report
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  Joint Rapid Deployment Force: New LPDs
  Joint Rapid Deployment Force: New LPDs
  Civil Service Code
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  MoD Contracts
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  Child Employment Controls
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  Alzheimer's Disease
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  Touring Caravan Exemption Certificate System Review
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  British Ships: Statistics
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  Scotland: Fires in Large Compartmental Single Storey Buildings
  Prisons: Drug Misuse
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